Joel Sherman makes an important point about the Yankees and their minor league depth:
It is not just players with star possibility coming from the farm such as Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
The Yanks have found useful roles for a bunch of secondary players. Phil Coke, for example, is evolving into one of the better lefty set-up men in the league. Working mainly in non-pressure situations, David Robertson is averaging 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera have pushed each other to provide legitimate production from center field and outfield depth in general; and Gardner’s speed is a significant weapon. Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena are Grade-A defenders who have brought that component when they have played while not being completely overwhelmed on offense.
For years, the Yankees have been filling in the smaller holes on their roster with free agent gambles, aging former stars, and retreads coming off a solid year. Building a bench and bullpen in that fashion has produced middling results, and the Yankees have spent the last few seasons attempting to create enough depth in the minors to eschew that strategy. It seems like that plan has come to fruition in 2009. The bullpen and bench are built primarily from pieces that have spent at least some time developing in the Yankee minor league system. Those acquired from outside the organization (ie Bruney, Aceves) were obtained at a young age, so that the Yankees essentially treated them like prospects and developed them accordingly.
Because the Yankees have found the necessary pieces in the minors, it may be unnecessary for them to give up assets to obtain someone like Ivan Rodriguez or Damaso Marte, as they have in the past. This is an exciting development, and one that is often glossed over when people look at the minor leagues. Typically, fans want to know about the big names and high ceiling prospects, while largely ignoring guys who are destined to become bench players. I think 2009 has gone a long way towards correcting that tightly focused view. The Yankees are building depth from within, a development that bodes well for the future.
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6 Responses to Youth Filling The Holes
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TIQ IQ
Yeah it’s great but it’s too bad they are being sent down. First Pena and now that Molina is in rehab games Cervelli will be next.
It will be back to veteran laden/backups and in 1 case isn’t as good as a kid like Pena; Cody Ransom.
They did not want lose Molina or Ransom, and the kids were good, but not good enough to make that an easy decision. I have no real problem with it.
Losing Molina would be unfortunate. He’s a proven commodity, a defensive catcher with a light but not embarrassing bat. Losing Ransom would not be. He’s an erratic hitter, an average fielder, and he plays positions at which, with the Hinske acquisition, we are pretty deep. He’s also old, thus a non-prospect.
I have a major problem with it. Ransom does not do anything well. Pena is a very good defensive player and pinch runner. But he gets sent down because he’s young. Its incredibly stupid and more evidence that the Yankees don’t run their organization in the most optimal fashion.
Yep the problem is they sign these journeyman and they find something they like about them. But they end up not being very good. but the Yankees would have some younger guys who are better then the journeyman that they like.
The young player has options making it easy to be sent down but the journeyman who they don’t want to lose is out of options and can only be DFA.
A prime example of this is Jose Veras. Took them forever to get rid of him. It was quite obvious that Dave Robertson was the better option. Just like Pena IMO is the better option over Ransom.
But Ransom of course is out of options and the Yankees probably don’t want to lose him. So bye bye Pena.
Melky sucks!