Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Phil Coke

Where Would the Yanks Be Without Granderson?

Monday, May 30th, 2011

I was skeptical about the Yankees acquisition of Curtis Granderson in the winter of 2009. Although he was a good defensive centerfielder with pop, his inability to hit left handed pitching, high strikeout rate, and average OBP made wonder if he was a good fit.  I hated it even more when I factored the young […]

Granderson an Albatross in Many Ways

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

When I first heard the Curtis Granderson trade this winter I turned up my nose. I thought Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy could provide nice depth for the Yankees in 2010. After listening to individuals from both the New York and Detroit side I warmed up to Granderson in centerfield. All along I […]

Jackson, Coke, Damon Would Look Good

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

It’s a bit of an armchair quarterback situation, but with the Yankees bullpen and offense struggling how would Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, and Johnny Damon look in Yankees uniforms right now? With Granderson still out due to injury its premature to judge the deal (as it has been) constantly. The fact remains that all of […]

Catching Up With Some Traded Yankees Prospects

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Just a quick look at some of the prospects the Yankees have traded away. Austin Jackson After a torrid start, Jackson, the past two weeks has cooled off considerably. Still Jackson is batting .331, including 3 triples and has 6 stolen bases. he has taken well to playing in center field and should improve with […]

Early Returns

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Sure, it’s not even a month into the season and it’s far too early to judge any off-season moves. But why not do it anyway? Let’s take a look at how the Yankees off-season moves have panned out so far. Curtis Granderson for Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke Austin Jackson, the chip the […]

Yanks Better Be Right on Granderson

Monday, March 29th, 2010

I wouldn’t go as far to say, as Steve Lombardi of Was Watching speculates, the Curtis Granderson deal could be a modern day version of Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps, but the Yankees better be right. For all the star power on the roster, the team traded away a great deal of depth that could […]

Are the Yanks Better?

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

The Yankees won the World Series last year going away. Since then, they’ve turned over a third of their starting lineup, traded away relievers who threw 100 innings as well as the “center fielder” of the future,” and a former no 1 draft pick and let go of a two-time 19-game winner.  Normally teams that […]

Melancon and Whelan Need to Step Up

Monday, January 11th, 2010

With lefties Phil Coke and Michael Dunn heading to Detroit and Atlanta, respectively, righties Mark Melancon and Kevin Whelan will be given chances to fill bullpen spots in spring training. If they can accomplish that, and lefty Damaso Marte is healthy and flashes the form he did in the postseason – and fellow southpaw Boone […]

Trades Don’t Mean Yanks are Downplaying Development

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Yankees fans seemed pleased with the acquisition of pitcher Javier Vazquez, a perfect No. 4 starter for the club. Mets fans, who sit waiting for a move that is at least similar, wish their team had the resources to accomplish that. Those “resources’’ are prospects and major-leaguers, not stars, such as Melky Cabrera.  The Yankees […]

Analysis of the Javier Vazquez Trade

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Earlier today the Yankees pulled off a trade with Atlanta, not for Derek Lowe, but former Yankee Javier Vazquez. This is the type of pitcher the Yankees rotation needs. He can give you innings, misses bats, and has only a year left on his contract. This trade also can be viewed with skepticism. There is […]

Listen to Howard and I Talk Granderson, Holliday, and Catchers

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Short 30 minute segment for everyone to download today. Howard will be at the Jimmy V Classic while I am headed to NYC to watch Joe Buck Live. Before we go out for the evening we recorded a short edition of NYBD Radio. We weighed the pros and cons of Curtis Granderson, gave our thoughts […]

Yanks OF With Granderson Just Average

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

What is sweet Jehoshaphat just happened? Did someone secretly replace Brian Cashman’s brain with delicious Folgers’s crystals? So Cashman in all seriousness, thought a trade for an in-decline centerfielder, who batted .249 last season, was worth our best ready-to-play prospect, Austin Jackson (who we didn’t want to part with to get Johan Santana), Phil Coke and […]

The Upside of Curtis Granderson

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

The Yankees acquisition of Curtis Granderson doesn’t come without risk. They gave up prized prospect Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy. The absence of Phil Hughes and the removal of Michael Dunn make the deal far more palatable, but some feel that Austin Jackson was going to be the next great Yankees centerfielder. Rather […]

Rumor Mill: Skepticism on Curtis Granderson

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

I wrote yesterday about why I didn’t like the Yankees giving up 4 young prospects for Curtis Granderson. Some of the names you heard possible on the move were Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson, Michael Dunn, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy. NYBD contributor Frank Russo asked around and was told by a Yankees source that “Brian […]

Yanks Must Not Trade Chips for Granderson

Monday, December 7th, 2009

I am all for the Yankees trading their prospects for a chance to win now. In my opinion prospects are “maybes” while established players are proven. The Yankees are in a position to begin the next dynasty in their history, but need to make some changes in order to see it through. That is why […]