Cashman Vindicated by Performances in 2009
By Jed Weisberger ~ October 5th, 2009. Filed under: Jed Weisberger, Yanks Minors.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is not a perfect baseball executive. Carl Pavano didn’t work out. He didn’t part with Phil Hughes and others for Johan Santana and came under harsh criticism after the 2008 season.
You may agree or not, but Cashman, with the performance of Hughes, Phil Coke, Alfredo Aceves, Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera , Francisco Cervelli and others, has been vindicated.
No, you can’t hold on to every prospect, nor will every prospect become what is expected of him. The Yankees, however, have a working plan of both developing from within and filling in the spots where they need to – C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeria – with the bankroll they have at their disposal.
After looking for that “bridge’’ to Mariano Rivera for years, the club solved the problem with Aceves, Coke and Hughes. David Robertson and Mark Melancon are waiting in the wings.
The Yankees farm system stumbled along for years, but development now occupies a spot near the top of the list and Cashman is one of the keys to this program. Boston’s people obviously feel the same way, refusing to trade players such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester.
Any of these kids can stumble – it’s learning how to play the game and adjusting to the speed of the game in the majors. Hughes was called a failure, Gardner was labelled no-hit. Who is this Aceves?
They all answered the call, including Cashman.
STEEL CITY SHUTTLE: Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Yankees, every time they needed a spare part, made a trade with the downtrodden Kansas City Athletics.
Roger Maris came to the Yankees in one of those trades and promptly hit 39 homers in 1960 and 61 in 1961.
The Pirates, on the other hand, quite comparable to the old Kansas City Athletics, added right-hander Anthony Claggett on waivers last week and he made his Pittsburgh debut Saturday. Claggett is the sixth former Yankees pitcher or prospect on the Pittsburgh staff, joining Eric Hacker, Steven Jackson, Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen and Ross Ohlendorf.
“It’s a new start for me,’’ said Claggett, who made his Pittsburgh debut vs. Cincinnati, allowing a home run and two hits, including a home run to Joey Votto. He allowed 10 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in two appearances for the Yankees in 2009.
Ohlendorf, who was 11-10, 3.93 in 29 starts, was the most successful of the bunch.
FIVE PROSPECTS WHO COULD STAR IN 2010: Here are five Yankees prospevts who could make a major splash on their w ay to 161st Street and River Avenue in 2010.
C Jesus Montero: Hit .337 117-for-347) between Class-A Advanced Tampa and Double-A Trenton. Hit 17 homers and drove on 70 runs in 92 games before breaking a finger. Was just beginning to improve his catching mechanics when he was hurt. Starting 2010 destination: Trenton
C Austin Romine: Batted .276 (122-for-442) with 13 homers and 72 RBIs in 118 games at Class-A Advanced Tampa. Will play in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Rafters. More advanced and more agile behind the plate than Montero with developing power. Starting 2010 destination: Trenton.
P Pat Venditte: Switch pitcher with better stuff from right side than left. Dominated Class A South Atlantic League, recording 2-2, 1.47 mark woth 20 saves and 40-2 strikeout-walk ratio. Was 2-0, 2.21 as setup man with Tampa with a 47-9 strikeout/walk ratio. Double-A will be his biggest hurdle. Stariing 2010 destination: Tampa.
OF Dan Brewer: Hit .306 (130-for-425) between Charleston and Tampa. Must settle into a position, but has a bat that appears ready for Double-A. Starting 2010 destination: Trenton.
P David Phelps: Righty is a Notre Dane prospect who went 13-4, 2.38 in 26 starts between Charleston and Tampa. Had a strikeout/walk ratio of 122-31. Progressed well in 2009. Starting 2010 destination: Trenton.
Mike adds:
I like to welcome aboard Jed Weisberger. Jed has over 35 years of experience in the newspaper industry and currently writes for both the Trenton Thunder and MLB Advanced Media. His knowledge of the minor leagues is extensive and I look forward to having him contribute to the site as well as make appearances on the radio show. Stay tuned for more from Jed.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Venditte isn’t getting any younger. It’s sink or swim, and they absolutely need to start him in AA at the beginning of the year. He’s on pace to make the Major Leagues by 31 at this rate. Apparently the Yankees scouts are still trying to keep him down while his coaches are scratching their head over the discrimination. How irritating.
It won’t hurt to put him in AA. Just do it already.