Sending Out An SOS: Yankees Need the Cavalry

Teams lose to other teams. Some of those other teams might not be as good as the losing team. It happens - well Suzyn, you can't predict baseball, etc.  The Yankees lost four straight to the Mets after Thursday night's 3-1 debacle (at least the game was quick) and have dropped five straight overall as they head into a much more important series with the Boston Red Sox this weekend.

Vidal Nuno pitched beautifully for six innings, but allowed a 2-run home run to Marlon Byrd in the early going. That's about one or two runs more than the Yankees can handle these days. The bats are coming back to Earth, which means the Friday arrival of Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis is coming just in the nick of time.

The Mets starter for Thursday night was Dillon Gee. The 27-year old Texan had made 10 starts this season prior to the finale with the Yankees. In those 10 games, Gee allowed less than three earned runs just three times and recorded an out in the 7th inning just once. So tonight Gee and his 6.34 ERA threw 7.1 innings and struck out 12 Yankees. His season high had been six strikeouts, which he accomplished twice. The only blemish on his stat line was a solo home run served up to Robinson Cano.

The Yankees hitting a brick wall was not unexpected; it's about the only thing they can hit right now. There were signs of this earlier in the season, but the lineup bounced back. Not so in the series with their crosstown rivals. So Brian Cashman has some decisions to finalize tonight. With two everyday players returning, room needs to be made on the 25-man roster, and for Teixeira, on the 40-man roster as well.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Cashman was quite frank when he spoke Tuesday to ESPN radio's Don LaGreca concerning the future of first baseman Lyle Overbay. Though the 36-year old has done a marvelous job (The YES Network showed a graphic prior to tonight's game that showed Overbay's numbers after 50 games were very similar to Teixeira's first 50 games in 2012.), his position limitation does not make him an ideal candidate for the everyday roster. Things are even more complicated when you consider Travis Hafner cannot play a position at all.

Letting Overbay go with no return would be a terrible mistake (he certainly would not pass through waivers without being claimed), but he's the logical choice to be removed from the roster.

The second player is likely to be David Adams who has been seeing most of the playing time at third base since he was recalled from Triple-A on May 15. Despite the organization's love of his bat, Adams should be sent back to Scranton to play every day.  Another less likely option would be to get rid of recently acquired Reid Brignac, but the Yankees don't have another infielder besides Jayson Nix that can handle shortstop.

The Yankees also announced that Andy Pettitte would be returning to start Monday's game against Cleveland. Thursday's starter Vidal Nuno would be the logical choice to go back to Scranton.

Francisco Out in a Huff: Gets DFA'ed for Bullpen Help

According to WFAN's Sweeny Murti, Ben Francisco's days as a Yankee are no longer numbered. The outfielder has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40 and 25 man rosters for pitcher David Huff. The Yankees claimed Huff off waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.

Francisco was a nice pick up as a reserve outfielder, but lack of playing time and lack of production (which came first, the chicken or the egg?) made him dispensable. The right-handed hitter had just five hits in 44 at-bats (.114) with a home run also his only RBI.

Huff was a part of the Indians rotation in 2009 and 2010 without much success. His 11 wins his rookie year was despite an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP of 1.558. He bounced between the minor and Major leagues the last few years and has been used more in relief of late.

After he allowed five earned runs in three innings over three appearances, the Indians decided to free up some space on their 40-man roster. He gives the Yankees another left-handed option out of the pen.

Adams Coming to the Rasta, Mon

No, David Adams isn't Jamaican, but I am tired.  Per a tweet Trenton Thunder beat writer Josh Norris (@jnorris427), Mr. Adams is headed to the Bronx today, the first day he was eligible to be recalled from the minor leaguers.

The Yankees front office has always like the second baseman's bat and they moved him over to third base to  have a better chance of helping the big ball club.

Adams was designated for assignment this spring to make room for Vernon Wells on the 40-man roster and then he was re-signed to a minor league deal. MLB stipulations state that in such cases the player may not be recalled until May 15.

Today is May 15 so Adams is on his way. Now a 40-man roster space needs to be opened up for him. It's likely that either Chris Nelson or newly reacquired Alberto Gonzalez will be designated for assignment. Nelson is more likely to get the boot since Gonzalez is the only player other than Jayson Nix right now that can play shortstop and a Nelson plays the same positions as Adams.

Adams was quickly making his way through the farm system until he badly broke his ankle in 2010. Through 27 games at Triple-A Scranton this year, Adams has an .897 OPS with 3 HR and 12 RBI.

To learn more on Adams, click here to read the interview I did with him in 2009.

Warren Warrants Attention

Warren's performance in 2013 has given him something to smile about.

I'll be the first to admit I did not see what all the hype was about when Adam Warren pitched for the Yankees at the end of last season and in Spring Training this year. He was shelled by whatever teams he faced. And Yankees top pitching prospects haven't exactly panned out lately or moved along as quickly as we were told they would. (In fairness, it's much harder to predict a pitcher's progress than a hitter's progress.)

On a team beset by injuries and doing whatever it takes to win, Warren has stepped up. Thursday afternoon in Colorado he picked up his first Major League win after a long rain delay deprived starter CC Sabathia from continuing in the game.

Warren has never been ranked in Baseball America's top 100 prospects or MLB's top 50 prospects, but the Yankees organization has been very high on him since his performances at Single-A Tampa (2.22 ERA, 1.099 WHIP) and Double-A Trenton (3.15, 1.196) in 2010. A fourth round selection out of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2009, Warren got a call to the bigs last year and made one forgettable start in Major League debut.

Pitching in front of his home crowd, Warren got hammered by the Chicago White Sox to the tune of six earned runs and eight hits, including two home runs, in just 2.1 innings pitched. He got saddled in what turned out to be a 14-7 loss. Some pitchers never bounce back from that and others never get a chance to return to the Major Leagues (it was Warren's only Major League appearance in 2012.)

Warren's ascent to the Majors this year could not have been predicted after he allowed 16 earned runs, 24 hits and 10 walks in 17.2 innings pitched in Spring Training. In fact I thought he would be designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for last minute additions like Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay. But Warren headed north with the big ball club as the long man out of the pen, and he has made the most of his opportunity.

In Thursday's game with the Rockies, Warren entered the 5th inning after a nearly two hour rain delay with the task of holding a 2-1 lead until the Yankees could get to set up man David Robertson and closer Mariano Rivera. He needed just seven pitches, only one a fastball, to set the side down in order. The 6th inning was a little trickier; it took Warren more pitches just to retire the lead off hitter Adam Ottavino.

Warren needed just two pitches, a 79-mph curveball and a 92-mph cutter to get Eric Young Jr. to ground out for the second out of the inning. Things got tougher after that when Warren had to face Dexter Fowler and Troy Tulowitzki. Relying on his 90-92-mph fastball, Warren walked both hitters and was sent to the showers by manager Joe Girardi. Boone Logan stranded the runners and the Yankees went on for a 3-1 victory, the first win of Warren's Major League career.

Though it may have "only" been five outs, Warren did what the Yankees needed him to do, much like he has all year. In six appearances, Warren has limited the opposition to three runs (1.84 ERA) and 12 hits in 14.2 innings pitched. He still needs to work on his control, the six walks he has issued is three or four too many, but the 25-year old has done what has been asked of him. Keep your team in the game or mop up and save the bullpen for another day is his unwritten mission statement.

No games exemplified Warren's contribution more than the 5.1 innings of one run ball he tossed against Boston in the second game of the season (a 7-4 Yankees loss), three scoreless innings in the team's 2-0 loss to the A's last Friday, and yesterday's "get some outs" assignment. Though he may never make it as a starter in the league, Warren has certainly found his niche.

Notes

CC Sabathia was pitching beautifully - one run and one hit allowed in four innings pitched until the skies opened up for a one hour and 59 minute rain delay. It was one of Sabathia's most efficient performances this season - only 51 pitches thrown, 37 of them for strikes.

Robinson Cano picked up his 1,500th hit in the game on an infield single and later hit his 9th home run to give the Yankees an insurance run. Trainer Steve Donahue marked the milestone baseball and then, at Girardi's behest, marked up another ball with an undisclosed inscription on it. Cano got a good laugh from whatever was written as Girardi, Donahue, and his teammates looked on.

Aardsma Released As We Get Down to the Wire

Joe Girardi's lukewarm praise of David Aardsma- "He's been good"- was an omen that Aardsma's days in Yankees camp were numbered. Aardsma's number was up today as the Yankees designated him for assignment.

Among those sent to the minors were Vidal Nuno, the left-hander who was named as the winner of the James P. Dawson Award for the best rook in camp. I really thought Nuno would make the squad, but perhaps Brian Cashman would rather see him starting games every five days for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders rather than throwing parts of an inning here and there at the Major League level.

Also reassigned to the minor leagues were outfielder Melky Mesa and pitcher Jim Miller, both of whom had legitimate chances to make the squad. Pitcher Sam Demel, picked up on waivers yesterday, was sent outright to Scranton, while pitchers Preston Claiborne, Branden Pinder, Juan Cedeno, Josh Spence,  catcher Bobby Wilson, infielders Dan Johnson, Jose Pirela, Gil Velazquez and outfielders Thomas Neal were sent to the minor league camp.

The Yankees added Jayson Nix and Ben Francisco to the Major League roster and re-signed infielder David Adams to a minor league contract. Adams had been designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

So, he says, who is going north now?

C -  Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart
1B - Lyle Overbay
2B - Robinson Cano
SS - Eduardo Nunez
3B - Kevin Youkilis
LF - Vernon Wells
CF - Brett Gardner
RF - Ichiro Suzuki
UT - Jayson Nix
OF - Ben Francisco, Brennan Boesch
DH - Travis Hafner
SP - CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, David Phelps, Ivan Nova
RP - Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Shawn Kelley, Cody Eppley

That leaves one one pitcher's spot open. It's possible it will be Adam Warren, who will get the start against the West Point. If not Warren, it likely would be a pitcher not currently on the 40-man roster.

Also, though there is no room on the 25-man squad, Ronnier Mustelier has not been shuttled someone where else as of yet. As I mentioned before I would love to see him get some big league AB's early, but a banged up knee has not helped his cause.

Ramon Hernandez was released by the Rockies today. The veteran catcher stands to make $3.2MM this year. II would get a deal done in a heartbeat if Colorado was willing to include $2MM. Then we could say good bye to Chris Stewart and his overrated defensive game.

YCN: Nova-Phelps Among the Few Battles in Yankees Camp

My newest column for Yahoo:

I previously wrote that the Yankees off-season was quite different than in years past, but one thing has remained constant, there's not much competition to earn starting or back up jobs.

That's what happens when you have a roster filled with aging and/or established stars at nearly every position. Four-fifths of the starting rotation is set - CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes man the one through four sports - leaving the fifth and final opening as the lone opportunity for any would-be starters.

The two names at the forefront of said competition are Ivan Nova and David Phelps. One would think the Yankees would like Nova to re-establish himself with Phelps ready to step in if an injury occurs. The 26-year old Nova burst on to the scene in 2011 when he went 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA. He even added a post-season victory when he finished out Game 1 of the ALDS.

Though he won 60% of his decisions (12-8) in 2012, Nova was not close to the effective pitcher he was the prior year. His ERA ballooned to 5.02, he went from allowing less than a hit per inning to 1.5 per inning, and his WAR dipped from 3.0 to 0.4.¹

To make matters worse, Nova had some inflammation in his rotator cuff in August. He had also suffered from a sore arm in his short start in the final game of the 2011 division series with Detroit. You can bet Joe Girardi is more concerned if Nova's confidence will rebound from his off year than if his arm is completely healthy.

Phelps did a nice job as the long man out of the pen, and had some success in his 11 starts. (3.76 ERA, 1.256 WHIP, 8.5 K's per 9 innings). He faltered a bit in September and didn't look good in the post-season, but the Yankees have high hopes for the University of Notre Dame product.

The Yankees would better off with Nova reverting to his 2011 form and Phelps working either as a long man or pitching every fifth day for Scranton in Triple-A. The Yankees have a lot of confidence in Phelps' "stuff" and he could step in a starting role next year when it is likely that either Kuroda and/or Pettitte retire. (Phil Hughes could also walk as a free agent). The Yankees also hope that Michael Pineda, who missed all of last year with shoulder surgery, could be a factor in the last quarter of this season.

Just like the rotation, the starting infield is set with Kevin Youkilis, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Mark Teixeira manning their positions from left to right. Jeter, of course, is counting on the ankle he broke during the post-season to be completely ship-shape by opening day.

Continue reading the remainder of this free article at Yahoo by clicking here.

Yankees Move A Bust

I'm no Young MC and Andrew Brackman is no Randy Johnson. Many an eyebrow was raised when the Yankees selected Brackman with their first round pick (30th overall) in the 2007 MLB amateur draft.


The team already knew that Brackman needed Tommy John surgery, but still felt that picking the former N.C. State Wolfpack basketball player was a slam dunk. Were they ever wrong. Tuesday, the Yankees declined the 2012 option on Brackman, making him a free agent. While there's always a possibility the Yankees could bring him back with a minor league deal, the soon to be 26-yr old is likely headed to a new organization.

It's well documented that it's a difficult transition to the big leagues for exceptionally tall pitchers and the 6'10" Brackman fell in that category. It took Randy Johnson years to perfect the art of pitching, but not everyone is so lucky. The Mariners had another big lefty, 6'10" Ryan Anderson, in their farm system and dubbed him "Little Unit" as an homage to Johnson. It also told just how much the M's thought about Anderson.

Anderson was rated a top 25 prospect by Baseball America for five straight years (1998-2002). He averaged better than 12 strikeouts per nine innings, but injuries and a questionable work ethic ended his baseball career after the 2005 season. He never made it to the Major Leagues.

Will Brackman have the same fate? After rehab from surgery, Brackman pitched for Charleston in 2009 and was, as expected, not very good. He showed a lot of rust and his strikeout to walk ratio was an awful 1.36. He also threw 26 wild pitches and had an ERA above 5.00.

Brackman showed promise the following year at Tampa ('A+') and Trenton ('AA'), excelling after his promotion to the Eastern League's Thunder. Between the two levels he struck out 126 in 146.2 innings and walked 39 with a 3.90 ERA.

But this past season Brackman took a step backwards at Triple-A Scranton. He had a career low in strikeouts per nine innings and set a career high in walks per nine frames, with both figures at 7.0. A 1.635 WHIP, 19 wild pitches, a 6.00 ERA, and just 13 starts in his 33 appearances all added up to his subtraction from the Yankees 40-man roster.

While he is not yet in the category of a Brien Taylor, Brackman's window of opportunity to mak e the Majors is closing fast.

40 Man Roster Update

With Mariano Rivera officially putting ink to paper today, the Yankees' 40-man roster now looks like this.....

40-Man Roster

Pitchers

-- Jonathan Albaladejo

-- Andrew Brackman

39 Chris Britton

33 Brian Bruney

62 Joba Chamberlain

48 Kyle Farnsworth

34 Sean Henn

65 Phil Hughes

29 Kei Igawa

58 Jeff Karstens

36 Ian Kennedy

-- Jeffrey Marquez

35 Mike Mussina

60 Ross Ohlendorf

-- Scott Patterson

45 Carl Pavano

46 Andy Pettitte

31 Edwar Ramirez

27 Darrell Rasner

42 Mariano Rivera

77 Humberto Sanchez

41 Jose Veras

40 Chien-Ming Wang

-- Steven White

38 Chase Wright

Catchers

-- Francisco Cervelli

26 Jose Molina

20 Jorge Posada

Infielders

14 Wilson Betemit

24 Robinson Cano

63 Alberto Gonzalez

2 Derek Jeter

72 Juan Miranda

13 Alex Rodriguez

Outfielders

53 Bobby Abreu

28 Melky Cabrera

18 Johnny Damon

17 Shelley Duncan

55 Hideki Matsui

Designated Hitters

25 Jason Giambi

40 Man Roster Update

With Mariano Rivera officially putting ink to paper today, the Yankees' 40-man roster now looks like this.....

40-Man Roster

Pitchers

-- Jonathan Albaladejo

-- Andrew Brackman

39 Chris Britton

33 Brian Bruney

62 Joba Chamberlain

48 Kyle Farnsworth

34 Sean Henn

65 Phil Hughes

29 Kei Igawa

58 Jeff Karstens

36 Ian Kennedy

-- Jeffrey Marquez

35 Mike Mussina

60 Ross Ohlendorf

-- Scott Patterson

45 Carl Pavano

46 Andy Pettitte

31 Edwar Ramirez

27 Darrell Rasner

42 Mariano Rivera

77 Humberto Sanchez

41 Jose Veras

40 Chien-Ming Wang

-- Steven White

38 Chase Wright

Catchers

-- Francisco Cervelli

26 Jose Molina

20 Jorge Posada

Infielders

14 Wilson Betemit

24 Robinson Cano

63 Alberto Gonzalez

2 Derek Jeter

72 Juan Miranda

13 Alex Rodriguez

Outfielders

53 Bobby Abreu

28 Melky Cabrera

18 Johnny Damon

17 Shelley Duncan

55 Hideki Matsui

Designated Hitters

25 Jason Giambi

Yankees Add to 40 Man Roster

Pitchers Scott Patterson, Jeffrey Marquez, Steven White, and catcher Francisco Cervilli (not to be confused with Guiseppe Franco) were signed to major league contracts yesterday and added to the Yankees' 40 man roster. Here's the complete list, courtesy of Yankees.com

	40-Man Roster
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	-- T.J. Beam	R/R	6-7	215	08/28/80
	-- Andrew Brackman	R/R	6-10	230	12/04/85
	39 Chris Britton	R/R	6-3	280	12/16/82
	33 Brian Bruney	R/R	6-3	245	02/17/82
	62 Joba Chamberlain	R/R	6-2	230	09/23/85
	19 Tyler Clippard	R/R	6-4	170	02/14/85
	61 Matt DeSalvo	R/R	6-0	180	09/11/80
	48 Kyle Farnsworth	R/R	6-4	235	04/14/76
	34 Sean Henn	R/L	6-4	225	04/23/81
	65 Phil Hughes	R/R	6-5	220	06/24/86
	29 Kei Igawa	L/L	6-1	210	07/13/79
	58 Jeff Karstens	R/R	6-3	185	09/24/82
	36 Ian Kennedy	R/R	6-0	190	12/19/84
	-- Jeffrey Marquez	R/R	6-2	175	08/10/84
	35 Mike Mussina	L/R	6-2	190	12/08/68
	60 Ross Ohlendorf	R/R	6-4	235	08/08/82
	-- Scott Patterson	R/R	6-6	230	06/20/79
	45 Carl Pavano	R/R	6-5	240	01/08/76
	31 Edwar Ramirez	R/R	6-3	150	03/28/81
	27 Darrell Rasner	R/R	6-3	210	01/13/81
	77 Humberto Sanchez	R/R	6-6	230	05/28/83
	41 Jose Veras	R/R	6-5	235	10/20/80
	40 Chien-Ming Wang	R/R	6-3	225	03/31/80
	-- Steven White	R/R	6-4	205	06/15/81
	38 Chase Wright	L/L	6-2	205	02/08/83
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	-- Francisco Cervelli	R/R	6-1	170	03/06/86
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	14 Wilson Betemit	S/R	6-3	230	11/02/81
	24 Robinson Cano	L/R	6-0	205	10/22/82
	63 Alberto Gonzalez	R/R	5-11	165	04/18/83
	2 Derek Jeter	R/R	6-3	195	06/26/74
	72 Juan Miranda	L/L	6-0	220	04/25/83
	12 Andy Phillips	R/R	6-0	210	04/06/77
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	53 Bobby Abreu	L/R	6-0	210	03/11/74
	28 Melky Cabrera	S/L	5-11	200	08/11/84
	18 Johnny Damon	L/L	6-2	205	11/05/73
	17 Shelley Duncan	R/R	6-5	215	09/29/79
	55 Hideki Matsui	L/R	6-2	210	06/12/74
	64 Bronson Sardinha	L/R	6-1	220	04/06/83
	Designated Hitters	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	25 Jason Giambi	L/R	6-3	235	01/08/71

Yankees Add to 40 Man Roster

Pitchers Scott Patterson, Jeffrey Marquez, Steven White, and catcher Francisco Cervilli (not to be confused with Guiseppe Franco) were signed to major league contracts yesterday and added to the Yankees' 40 man roster. Here's the complete list, courtesy of Yankees.com

	40-Man Roster
	Pitchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	-- T.J. Beam	R/R	6-7	215	08/28/80
	-- Andrew Brackman	R/R	6-10	230	12/04/85
	39 Chris Britton	R/R	6-3	280	12/16/82
	33 Brian Bruney	R/R	6-3	245	02/17/82
	62 Joba Chamberlain	R/R	6-2	230	09/23/85
	19 Tyler Clippard	R/R	6-4	170	02/14/85
	61 Matt DeSalvo	R/R	6-0	180	09/11/80
	48 Kyle Farnsworth	R/R	6-4	235	04/14/76
	34 Sean Henn	R/L	6-4	225	04/23/81
	65 Phil Hughes	R/R	6-5	220	06/24/86
	29 Kei Igawa	L/L	6-1	210	07/13/79
	58 Jeff Karstens	R/R	6-3	185	09/24/82
	36 Ian Kennedy	R/R	6-0	190	12/19/84
	-- Jeffrey Marquez	R/R	6-2	175	08/10/84
	35 Mike Mussina	L/R	6-2	190	12/08/68
	60 Ross Ohlendorf	R/R	6-4	235	08/08/82
	-- Scott Patterson	R/R	6-6	230	06/20/79
	45 Carl Pavano	R/R	6-5	240	01/08/76
	31 Edwar Ramirez	R/R	6-3	150	03/28/81
	27 Darrell Rasner	R/R	6-3	210	01/13/81
	77 Humberto Sanchez	R/R	6-6	230	05/28/83
	41 Jose Veras	R/R	6-5	235	10/20/80
	40 Chien-Ming Wang	R/R	6-3	225	03/31/80
	-- Steven White	R/R	6-4	205	06/15/81
	38 Chase Wright	L/L	6-2	205	02/08/83
	Catchers	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	-- Francisco Cervelli	R/R	6-1	170	03/06/86
	Infielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	14 Wilson Betemit	S/R	6-3	230	11/02/81
	24 Robinson Cano	L/R	6-0	205	10/22/82
	63 Alberto Gonzalez	R/R	5-11	165	04/18/83
	2 Derek Jeter	R/R	6-3	195	06/26/74
	72 Juan Miranda	L/L	6-0	220	04/25/83
	12 Andy Phillips	R/R	6-0	210	04/06/77
	Outfielders	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	53 Bobby Abreu	L/R	6-0	210	03/11/74
	28 Melky Cabrera	S/L	5-11	200	08/11/84
	18 Johnny Damon	L/L	6-2	205	11/05/73
	17 Shelley Duncan	R/R	6-5	215	09/29/79
	55 Hideki Matsui	L/R	6-2	210	06/12/74
	64 Bronson Sardinha	L/R	6-1	220	04/06/83
	Designated Hitters	B/T	Ht	Wt	DOB
	25 Jason Giambi	L/R	6-3	235	01/08/71