"Stop Trading Our Prospects"
Mr
STOP
(BTB's own David
Galemore)
has been daydreaming
of a home-grown starting rotation. Here he shares some of his hopes and
dreams.
Visions of Things to Come
David
Galemore
With the euphoria of the Hot Stove season winding down (there is no “off season” for this Yankee fan), thoughts turn to spring (training) and dreams of future Yankees. Aside from the Dynasty years brought on by all-time greats like Jeter, Bernie (Williams), Andy Pettitte and (Mariano)Rivera ascending from Columbus, there have been too many years when a Jeff Johnson/Dave Eiland -type was the top young arm and the best hitters were either traded or never worked out. Even recently, Jorge DePaula, though a fine AAA pitcher, resided on the Yankees top- 10 prospects list. Times are changing….and Yankee fans have much to look forward to. A fleet of young outfielders led by Melky Cabrera, Tim Battle, Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata are moving upwards through the system and there are 3 legitimate top-of-the rotation starting pitchers on the horizon. One can’t get too carried away with prospects until they reach the AA level, but Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang have helped open Brian Cashman’s eyes…. Leaving him reluctant to trade pieces of the Yankees future. Within the past 2 years, there were only 1 or 2 prospects other teams would be interested in trading for. Stock in the Yankees minor league system is rising…… the system has risen from approximately 25th best to arguably top- 15. 2006 is the year that could pave the way for a top 10 ranking. Soon to be 21 year old Tyler Clippard, 19 year old Phillip Hughes, and 20 year old Christian Garcia lead a pack of young starters on the way up. Clippard (10-9 3.18 ERA 169 K in 147.1 IP in high-A Tampa in 2005) should open in AA Trenton, and is likely to pitch in AAA Columbus later in the season. Clippard has a chance to replace Mike Mussina in the Yankees 2007 rotation and is at worse a likely option for 2008. Hughes (9-1 2.19 ERA 93K in 86.1 IP for low-A Charleston/high-A Tampa) and Garcia (5-6 3.91 103K in 106 IP for Charleston) should open in Tampa, likely ending 2006 in Trenton. With good health, all 3 could be forces in the Yankees rotation by 2009. Several other solid starters are in the system, but these are the 3 with the highest ceiling. The Yankees must show the same patience demonstrated with Wang…. No more rush jobs, allowing these Young Guns to rise at their own pace. Continued patience by the Yankees brass and good health from the guns could lead to the unthinkable by 2008 /2009: a primarily home-grown starting rotation. A mere year or 2 back, such a statement would have been no more than a pipe dream. Wang, the Young Guns, and prospects including Sean Henn, Jeff Karstens and Steven White at the very least leave the door open to such a possibility. The magic of the internet allows a Yankee fan from the heartland such as myself the ability to track the 2006 seasons of everyone from Randy Johnson to Christian Garcia. Here’s to hoping for that 27th championship……. and a continued rise to fame by Clippard, Hughes and Garcia.