Predicting The Opening Day Roster

The countdowns have begun around the league with the fans and on Twitter as Spring Training draws closer and so does Opening Day. With the Yankees likely done making any significant moves on the free agent and trade markets now is a good a time as any to predict your 2015 Opening Day roster. Enjoy.

Starting Pitchers:

CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Capuano

Relief Pitchers:

Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, David Carpenter, Adam Warren, Justin Wilson, Chris Martin, Esmil Rogers

Infielders:

Brian McCann, John Ryan Murphy, Mark Teixeira, Garrett Jones, Stephen Drew, Didi Gregorius, Chase Headley, Alex Rodriguez, Brendan Ryan

Outfielders:

Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brett Gardner, Chris Young, 

The Yankees Farm System "Deepest in the Game"

With the Orioles in the rear view, next list up is the Yankees. Their list/others will have 68 dudes, may be the deepest system in the game.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) January 20, 2015

Riley McDaniel knows more about prospects, specifically Yankees prospects after being a former scout for the team before going to work for Fangraphs, than most people on the internet today. McDaniel also knows the Yankees better than most and has broken numerous stories about the team recently including the International Free Agent spending spree months before anyone else had it. McDaniel has spent the offseason going over prospects and farm systems and is now readying himself to reveal his work on the farm system of the New York Yankees.

McDaniel is a source I trust more than most and when he is quoted like he was above it makes me feel good as a Yankee fan. It especially makes me feel good when his words mirror what I have been saying all offseason long and have been questioned about all offseason long.

Be sure to check out McDaniel's work when it comes out later this week by heading over to Fangraphs.com

Yankees Who Need a Strong Spring

The New York Yankees are preparing to head to spring training camp down in Tampa, Florida with more questions than they have answers. New York has the ability to have one of the most talented teams in all of baseball in 2015 that can run the gauntlet all the way to October and they have the same ability to be in last place on July 31st. This season will all hinge on the health of certain players and the bounce back of others and while health can never be predicted it is more likely that the bounce backs can. In this article we will look at the Yankees who most need that bounce back and the Yankees that are most likely to achieve them.

Carlos Beltran heads this list in my opinion as an elbow injury, whether it physically hurts or not when you swing the bat, has to factor into your hitting. With a clean bill of health and an entire offseason to rest and rehab the elbow I truly believe that Beltran will have a much better season in 2015. He almost has to have a better season next year which is why I was careful to say "much" better season.

In all my years of being a Yankees fan, especially when George Steinbrenner's checkbook was at its peak in the 90's and 2000's, it always seemed to me that the first year a free agent came over was a wash. It always seemingly took a full season for the player to adjust to the city, the media, the fans, the stadium, the league's opposing pitchers etc. For that reason alone I expect improved seasons from Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury specifically. While I do not believe they will win any MVP Awards I do believe they will play much closer to the back of their baseball card.

Stephen Drew did not have a Spring Training last season and while he worked out at the complex owned and operated by Scott Boras nothing can replace full speed major league action. For that reason alone Drew should at least improve on his 2014 numbers and once again play closer to the back of his card historically. Drew doesn't need to hit 30 home runs or bat .300 he just can't hit .160 again.

Finally I stop at Didi Gregorius. The only thing that worries me about the man replacing Derek Jeter is the fact that he seems, on the surface anyway, as his "own worst enemy" type of player. I don't pretend to know Didi personally and I don't pretend to be an expert on him and his time in Arizona because I wrote a "Meet a Prospect" post on the guy. I only know what I have seen on Twitter, what has been written about him by people who know more than I and the Jack Curry interview. Didi seems like a "when it's good it's good and when it's bad it's real bad" type of person. Didi seems like he would let an extending slump or boos from the crowd get to him making it especially important that he come out strong and show the Yankee faithful just what he brings to the table in 2015.

The Jorge Posada Retirement Press Conference

After 17 seasons Jorge Posada officially announces his retirement from the game of Major League Baseball and from the New York Yankees. Never forgotten, but always missed on the field and in the club house. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 1/25: Jorge Posada Says Goodbye

On this day in 2012 the second of the Cour Four announced his retirement when Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced it at a SRO Yankee Stadium news conference. Posada played with the Yankees for his entire 17 year career and joined Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte in retirement.




Also on this day in 2008 the New York Yankees offered Robinson Cano a six year contract worth $55 million to buy out his arbitration and some free agent seasons. Cano was 25 years old and was under contract through the 2011 season with the Yankees, although New York held two team options for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Cano was coming off a season in which he hit .306 with 19 home runs and 97 RBI's.




Also on this day in 1999 the Yankees lost one of their free agents after winning the 1998 World Series in Tim Raines. Raines signed with the Oakland Athletics on a one year deal worth $600,000 at age 39.

On this day in 1966 the Yankees Tony Kubek announced his retirement after nine seasons. Kubek was diagnosed with having three crushed vertebrae from a childhood injury and decided to retire rather than risk further harm to his back.




Also on this day in 1945 the Ruppert estate sells the New York Yankees to Dan Topping, Del Webb, and Larry MacPhail for $2.8 million. Topping and Webb, who ended up buying out MacPhail two years later, will sell 80% of the Yankees to CBS for $11.2 million after 1964.




Finally on this day in 1943 The New York Yankees sold Lefty Gomez to the Boston Braves. Gomez will be released before playing a game with the Braves and will sign with the Washington Senators in May.

Remembering Bud Selig as Commissioner

Bud Selig's final day as MLB Commissioner is tomorrow so I wanted to take a quick minute to remember some of the good things about his legacy and what he is leaving in Major League Baseball. Selig was the Commissioner of Baseball for 22 seasons starting in 1992.

When Selig took over there were just 26 teams in the league, now there are 30, and has enjoyed labor peace with the players since the 1995 season. When Selig took over the Yankees had the highest paid player in baseball in Danny Tartabull and his $5.3 million but Bud has helped bring so much money into the game it is becoming more and more common to see $30 million annually for certain players.

Selig "cleaned up the game" while making the game more international with new Japanese posting rules and the World Baseball Classic. Selig may have turned a blind eye to the steroid era, he may have contributed to the cancelling of the World Series and the subsequent demise of the Montreal Expos but overall Selig has been one hell of a commissioner, even if he is a Yankees hater. So today we salute you and wish you well Bud. Thanks for the memories, even when they weren't so great.

OJ Mayo's Top 10 First Base Prospects

OJ Mayo of MLB.com is at it again releasing his Top 10 prospects at every position and yesterday's position was first base. Naturally we wouldn't be here if a member of the Yankees didn't make the list but thankfully for us Greg Bird is the third best first baseman on the list. CLICK HERE for Mayo's complete list and see below for an excerpt from the article:

3. Greg Bird, Yankees
Speaking of patient hitters at the position, Bird led the Minors in walks in 2013 and has a career .407 on-base percentage heading into the 2015 season. While back issues have hampered him in the past, he's shown more than enough power for the position, including during an MVP performance in the Arizona Fall League in 2014.

James Shields Could Replace Hiroki Kuroda

The most underrated loss this offseason for the New York Yankees was that of Hiroki Kuroda in the starting rotation. Kuroda was the ace of the Yankees staff for his first two seasons while being the rock and the last man standing during his 2014 campaign. Now he is back at home in Japan presumably for one more season before riding off into the sunset and the Yankees are left without that ace, that stopper, those 200 IP and that lock in the rotation. Could that rock be James Shields?

I am in no way an advocate for James Shields in any way because I don’t believe he should receive the moniker “Big Game” after just one playoff start and I don’t think he would be worth the contract. If Shields had an offer of five years and $110 million it sounds like he is either being picky, a liar or he is asking for more and is in no way worth that let alone more. The problem is, and this is of course assuming the Yankees can get him on “their” terms, New York may need a guy like Shields just to survive the season.

We have all had CC Sabathia’s knee, Michael Pineda’s shoulder, Ivan Nova’s UCL, Nathan Eovaldi’s straight fastball, Masahiro Tanaka’s UCL and Chris Capuano being Chris Capuano so there is no need to harp on that any more than it already has been. Does anybody see 200 IP in that rotation? I don’t, not even with Eovaldi due to his performance and not so much any sort of injury, which could make for a lot of use, and overuse, of the Yankees bullpen. New York has a lot of promising arms down there for now and the future and the team should not jeopardize that with a player like Shields still available on the market.

It would hurt to lose the same draft pick for Shields that the team refused to lose for Max Scherzer but the team may be forced to or will be regretting it by June or July. Call it intuition or call it a hunch. 

Seattle Still Getting Their Hopes Up w/ Jesus Montero

Every morning when I am supposed to be working I take a minute to skim the headlines and read the sports news, especially from the USA Today. Yesterday morning I read an article that the Seattle Mariners were still hopeful that Jesus Montero could help the team in the future. Montero, the same guy who was trolled by an ice cream sandwich in a minor league game (he was sent to the minors because he came to camp 40 lbs. overweight and couldn’t hit a lick) by one of his own scouts in Single-A. Yeah good luck with that.

Montero has reportedly lost the 40 lbs. this offseason which is great news for him but, and not to play Devil’s Advocate and rub it in too much, he did not hit a lick before he gained a pound. Montero was traded from the Yankees for RHP Michael Pineda for the same reasons he is struggling in Seattle; his weight and size made his future look unlikely at the catcher position, his hitting would likely make him an average at best corner outfielder or first baseman, his drive and motivation along with his attitude were always being questioned and his hitting was never able to get over the “great” hump out of just being good or average.

The Biogenesis suspension didn’t help Montero’s stock and value last season which has left the former top prospect and catcher as a designated hitter only, and that’s if he even makes the team. Remember Seattle signed Nelson Cruz to presumably be what Montero was supposed to be so it’s going to be tough for the 25 year old Venezuelan and former Yankee to start the season in the major leagues. If he wants to come back to New York though, all things considered, I think I welcome him back with open arms and plenty of forgiveness and understanding. 

Thunder Welcome 14 To Front Office Positions

Lydia Rios brings 22 years of sales experience to the Thunder's Corporate Sales Department

The 2015 season is now 83 days away and the Thunder are proud to welcome 14 members of their front office to new positions for the upcoming season.



A lifelong resident of Hamilton Square and proud graduate of Trenton State College in 1991, Lydia Rios joins the Thunder as Director, Marketing and Sponsorships. Rios served the last 14 years in sales at WPST Radio, most recently serving as General Sales Manager for the station. Prior to her time at WPST, Rios spent seven years in sales with The Trentonian.



"I came to work here because of the small, family oriented business that exists with the Thunder," said Rios. "Knowing the Joe's and Will Smith for so long from our business dealings over the years, this felt like such a great fit and the front office really feels like a family."



In her role as Director, Marketing and Sponsorships, Rios will oversee corporate partnerships, service existing accounts and provide leadership in the team's sales department.



"Lydia's professionalism and management experience are exactly what we need. When Lydia worked for PST, we created a business partnership from opposite sides of the table. She is the best salesperson I encountered. We are thrilled to add Lydia to our staff," said General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Will Smith. "Lydia's familiarity with the marketplace in Bucks, Burlington and Mercer counties will greatly benefit the Thunder and enhance our impression in the community."



Joining Lydia in the corporate sales department is Nick Beers. Beers spent the 2014 season as the Stadium Operations Assistant and was recently promoted to Corporate Sales Executive. Prior to his arrival with the Thunder, Beers served as an intern in Publications with the New York Yankees after graduating from St. John's University in 2013 with a degree in Sport Management. In addition to his experience in baseball, Beers is a certified high school basketball official in New Jersey through IAABO Board 193.



In the group sales department, Jack Rymal, Jon Bodner, Nick Luongo, Dean Fritz, and Chuck Keller have been hired as Group Sales Account Representatives and Michael Heyer has been hired as Group Sales Coordinator for the 2015 season.



Fritz joined the Thunder front office in July of 2014 as a Group Sales Account Representative after his graduation from Temple University's Sport and Recreation Management program in May of 2014. Prior to joining the Thunder, Fritz served as a Football Operations Intern for the Philadelphia Eagles and has interned in Sales and Marketing with Brunswick Zone, located in Feasterville, PA, and in Management with SMG Sportsplex in Warminster, PA.



Rymal, originally from Somerton, PA, graduated from Temple University with a degree in Sport and Recreation Management in August of 2013. He served as an intern in tournament operations for Ripken Baseball in Myrtle Beach, SC and interned for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 as the Game Day Presentation Intern. Rymal, who most recently served as the Group Sales Coordinator for the Camden Riversharks (Independent) during the 2014 season, is an avid golfer and has completed one hole-in-one in his life.



Bodner, a native of Sewell, NJ, graduated from James Madison University with a degree in marketing in May of 2013. Bodner spent two seasons with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies, Class-AAA), the first in 2011; as Game Day Intern, and the second in 2013; as a full-time Ticket Associate. Bodner played in the marching band at Washington Township High School and at James Madison and has performed in three NFL stadiums.





Luongo graduated from SUNY Albany in May of 2011 and hails from Windsor, NY. Luongo spent two seasons as an intern with the Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays, Low-A) in 2010, as Food and Beverage Intern and 2011, as Ticket Office Intern. Luongo is a lifelong Yankees fan and witnessed Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit and both Jeter and Mariano Rivera's final home games in person.



Keller joins the Thunder after three seasons of experience in minor league baseball. Keller was a member of the Game Day staff for the Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies, Class-A) in 2009 and served as Ticket Sales Intern with the Lakewood Blueclaws (Phillies, Class-A) after his graduation from Western Carolina in 2010. Most recently, Keller spent the 2014 campaign with the Camden Riversharks as a Ticket Sales Representative and hails from Maple Shade, NJ where he cared for his pet Piranha, Daisy, in high school.



Heyer graduated from Monmouth University in May of 2014 with a degree in Communications. The South Brunswick, NJ native served as an intern for Clear Channel Radio and Monmouth University's Athletic Department prior to his arrival with the Thunder. Heyer is also an experienced seaman after spending an entire summer aboard a parasail boat off the coast of Long Beach Island in 2014.



In the ticket sales department, Sol Prensky and Sean O'Brien join the front office as Ticket Sales Account Executives and Steve Carpenter as Ticket Assistant.



A native of Washington D.C., Prensky is a 2013 graduate of American International College in Springfield, MA. Sol returns to the Eastern League after serving as a Front Office Intern for the Bowie Baysox in 2009. After graduation from AIC, where he played three sports (Baseball, Rugby and Club Soccer), Prensky served as a full-time Sales Associate for the Sacramento Kings for the 2013-14 season.



O'Brien, a native of Cinnaminson, NJ, comes to the Thunder after serving as an Inside Sales Representative with the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals, Class-AAA) in the 2014 season. O'Brien graduated from Marshall University in 2011 and has visited or driven through 35 of the 48 mainland states.



Carpenter graduated from Loyola University in Chicago in May of 2014 with a degree in Finance and Sport Management. Carpenter, originally from Hopewell Township, NJ served as a Customer Service and Sales Representative for Vivid Seats; an independently owned and operated online secondary ticket resale marketplace prior to joining the Thunder. Carpenter lived briefly in the state of Ohio which led to his rabid fandom of the Ohio State Buckeyes and attended the 2015 Sugar Bowl.



Rob Faulstick and Christina Jennings have been hired as Promotions Assistants for the 2014 campaign and Amanda Rossetti joins the Thunder as the Administrative and Community Relations Assistant.



Faulstick is no stranger to ARM & HAMMER Park after serving as a fill-in emcee and working in the promotions department for the previous two seasons. Faulstick is currently a senior Radio and TV Communications student at Rider University and spent his first two years in Lawrenceville as a member of Rider's Swim team.



Jennings, a native of Wall, NJ, is a senior Marketing major at Delaware Valley College. Prior to joining the Thunder, Jennings wore many hats for Fun Fieldz; a company that brings baseball and fun events to local communities, most recently as the Promotion and Marketing Assistant. Jennings has been involved in sports for her entire life as a competitive horseback rider.



Rossetti graduated from High Point University in May of 2014 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Sport Management. In her position, Rossetti will coordinate donation requests and assist Boomer and Strike as they travel throughout region during the 2014 campaign. Always punctual, Rossetti did not miss a day of school from kindergarten through her senior year of high school while growing up in Hamilton, NJ and attending Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville.



The Thunder, the Double A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, will begin the 2015 season on April 9 in Erie against the Seawolves. The first home game at ARM & HAMMER Park is on Thursday, April 16. Season tickets, group outings, Pic-A-Plans, and Mini Plans are on sale now. Single game tickets will go on sale on Saturday, March 14. For more information about tickets, fans should call 609-394-3300 or visittrentonthunder.com.