Nieves, Henn, and Phelps win spots

[MassNYYfan]

Can't argue with any of the 3 based on performance. You could nit-pick Nieves because there wasn't much in camp for the backup catcher job if you wanted I guess.

Nice job, Yankees. Whoever helped make the decisions.

[Yankees1962]

It must have killed Joe to have to pick players with more talent than his guys. I feel that Cashman was involved on this one. If it were up to Torre, we would have Andy, Pratt, Villone and Scott Erickson.

Here we go again.

[flymick24]

nieves might not be that much of an upgrade offensively than pratt.. maybe not an upgrade at all. but he's younger, out of options, and might play with a little more fire than a grizzled old vet.

i've supported henn since day 1, and i'm glad that he's gotten his due... i just hope torre deals with the bumps and bruises early on and sticks with him

[Dynasties R Forever]

I think you are so wrong. I do think Cashman was very involved but not in the sense that he was overruling Torre. I think Cashman has sold Torre on the younger/cheaper meme and they are both working on the same page. And I'm thrilled.

What makes you think this?

[Yankees1962]

What makes you think this?

Just listen to Cashman or Torre whenever they talk about the other person and then you will see why he thinks this.

[OldYankeeFan]

Wonderful, see ya Villone.

Not so fast.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Still unsettled is the matter of left-hander Ron Villone, a non-roster invitee who had been hoping to latch on as the second southpaw behind Mike Myers in the bullpen. Torre declined to presume that Villone will become a free agent, stating that the Yankees are still in the "talking stages."


Not exactly sure of what that means, but sounds like he might be hanging around for a little while.

[MinorFan]

Not so fast.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Still unsettled is the matter of left-hander Ron Villone, a non-roster invitee who had been hoping to latch on as the second southpaw behind Mike Myers in the bullpen. Torre declined to presume that Villone will become a free agent, stating that the Yankees are still in the "talking stages."


Not exactly sure of what that means, but sounds like he might be hanging around for a little while.

It means they are trying to convince Villone to report to Scranton.

[Gusto]

Not so fast.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Still unsettled is the matter of left-hander Ron Villone, a non-roster invitee who had been hoping to latch on as the second southpaw behind Mike Myers in the bullpen. Torre declined to presume that Villone will become a free agent, stating that the Yankees are still in the "talking stages."


Not exactly sure of what that means, but sounds like he might be hanging around for a little while.

I think they are trying to talk him into going to AAA (he has the option of becoming a FA).

[simmy886]

Lets see here. The rotation is:

1. Moose
2. Pettitte
3. Pavano
4. Igawa
5. Rasner

The bullpen is:

6. Mo
7. Farnsworth
8. Proctor
9. Vizcaino
10. Myers
11. Bruney
12. Henn

So, when Wang comes back, Rasner (or Karstens if he's off the DL by then) will either move down to AAA or move to the bullpen to be the long man and Henn or Bruney will have to be optioned down.

That's exactly how I see it. It will depend on the performance of Rasner, Henn and Bruney... When Wang returns, one of them will go down and 2 will stay (or in Rasner's case, move) to the pen.

[OldYankeeFan]

I think they are trying to talk him into going to AAA (he has the option of becoming a FA).

OK. Hope they give him a very generous contract to keep him in the organization just in case (consider it back pay for overuse last year).

[Gusto]

That's exactly how I see it. It will depend on the performance of Rasner, Henn and Bruney... When Wang returns, one of them will go down and 2 will stay (or in Rasner's case, move) to the pen.

I think Henn will be the odd man out when Karstens and Wang are healthy. But then again, who knows, he might wally pipp myers.

[Gusto]

OK. Hope they give him a very generous contract to keep him in the organization just in case (consider it back pay for overuse last year).

Torre has said several times that Villone gets better as his arm strength improves. I'm sure this has to do with wanting him in AAA.

[ajra21]

i like these moves.

why when we have found a way of henn suceeding, do people want to change his role? he's a one inning lefty. not a specialist and not a longman. leave it alone.

[yankeebot]

What makes you think this?

Nothing concrete. I just sense a subtle change in Torre when he talks about the "youth movement." I also think that he and Cashman have a great deal of respect for each other and that accepting and supporting Cashman's philosophies is a part of that respect.

[ajra21]

Nothing concrete. I just sense a subtle change in Torre when he talks about the "youth movement." I also think that he and Cashman have a great deal of respect for each other and that accepting and supporting Cashman's philosophies is a part of that respect.

good point. cash wanted joe to stay and i'm sure there is a part of torre who respects that his GM stood up for him. not saying it's a pay off, but the two work together well.

[NelsonMuntz]

why when we have found a way of henn suceeding, do people want to change his role? he's a one inning lefty. not a specialist and not a longman. leave it alone.

I just don't think Henn is that good. He's just better than Villone.

[ajra21]

I just don't think Henn is that good. He's just better than Villone.

ok, but so far he's shown some success in the one inning role. leave him there til he blows or we find someone better. don't change his role.

[LeapsNbounds]

so what is the final 25 man roster then?

[ajra21]

so what is the final 25 man roster then?

C posada, nieves
1B doug, phelps
2B cano
3B a-rod
SS jeter
UT cairo
RF abreu
LF matsui
CF damon
OF melky
DH giambi

SP pavano, igawa, pettite, moose, rasner
RP farnsworth, proctor, myers, henn, bruney, vizcaino, rivera

[LeapsNbounds]

C posada, nieves
1B doug, phelps
2B cano
3B a-rod
SS jeter
UT cairo
RF abreu
LF matsui
CF damon
OF melky
DH giambi

SP pavano, igawa, pettite, moose, rasner
RP farnsworth, proctor, myers, henn, bruney, vizcaino, rivera

Love that pen. Is bruney a definate?

[primetime714]

Good moves! I hope Henn continues the success he had in ST. I'm a little skeptical about him due to his past failures with the team.

Phelps I think should be great. As for Nieves like everyone else said does it really matter who the team went with at backup catcher none of them were that good. Nieves was the right choice though because he is the youngest, he's been around the organization the longest, he works well with the staff, and he is good defensively. Offensively we're probably looking at Sal Fasano type numbers again, but whatever we'll have to deal with that.

Right now I think Rasner and Henn are both being given extended auditions. When Wang comes off the DL it is likely going to be one of these guys that goes down to AAA. And both of them could be sent down when Karstens is healthy.

[ajra21]

Love that pen. Is bruney a definate?

99% sure.

[dont_ya_know24]

henn= 2007 scott proctor.

[ajra21]

henn= 2007 scott proctor.

have been thinking that myself.

[Yankeeah]

I'm digging that pen

[ajra21]

I'm digging that pen

i love the fact we have 4 mid 90mph righties, not including mo. love it.

bruney and vizcaino can do the 7th and proctor and farns can do the 8th.

[jimmykey2]

henn= 2007 scott proctor.

That seems like a stretch to me. I'll believe it when the kid can consistently throw two different (I might settle for one) pitches for strikes.


I get the feeling Cashman twisted Torre's arm on at least 2 of these moves and perhaps all 3. I wasn't believing Phelps made the team until it was official and I thought a bad Ron Villone would still make the team over Henn. It's almost shocking that Pratt didn't make the team over an inexperienced minor-leaguer.

[OlgMvp]

Taking Henn north does intrigue me...lots of upside with this move...and if it doesn't work out...we can most likely just turn back to Villone. Combined with a good spring and being taken up North to start the day, this should be a tremendous confidence boost for Henn, hopefully he doesn't look back. Phelps was a no brainer, wasn't that concerned about them not making the right call there...and Nieves doesn't really matter to me...whether it's Pratt or Nieves, we're going to have a bad backup C.

[simmy886]

I'm actually surprised it was Nieves (3 singles in 20 at bats, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 run 1 rbi) over Pratt (3 hits in 21 at bats including a double, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 run, 2 rbis). Both had crappy springs offensively but why do you think the youngster was taken over the veteran?
How are they each defensively?

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

I'm actually surprised it was Nieves (3 singles in 20 at bats, 3 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 run 1 rbi) over Pratt (3 hits in 21 at bats including a double, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 run, 2 rbis). Both had crappy springs offensively but why do you think the youngster was taken over the veteran?
How are they each defensively?

Nieves is far superior...

[ring403]

The right choices were definitely made all around, and for the record, I don't think that this was a matter of Torre being overruled. Henn and Phelps both blew away their respective competition, and played their way onto the roster.

[gold23]

Nieves has a quick release, is more mobile behind the plate, and is a better receiver. Neither was likely to hit much.

[shroud]

Nieves has a quick release, is more mobile behind the plate, and is a better receiver. Neither was likely to hit much.

Chavez looked better defensively than either of them. If none of them can hit they should go after the guy with the best defense, right?

[NYYFAN5388]

i feel bad for phillips but I like Nieves better

[Maynerd]

That seems like a stretch to me.

But, a year ago it would have been a stretch to say Scott Proctor would be = 2006 Scott Proctor.

[BombersBlvd]

henn= 2007 scott proctor.

I don't know, that would be nice. Right now, I'm hoping Proctor can still be a 2007 version of the 2006 Scott Proctor.

[speedyg]

Hoch's article says that Torre and Cash chose Nieves because he was out of options and they did not want to lose him by removing from the 40-man roster. Something that was suspected to have weight in their decision.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnered=rss_nyy

[Yankees1962]

Chavez looked better defensively than either of them. If none of them can hit they should go after the guy with the best defense, right?

However, none of us watched every game they played in this spring so perhaps Nieves looked better than Chavez in those games? Don't know, but I would think the Yankees would choose who they feel is the best catcher in this type of situation.

[Jasbro]

It must have killed Joe to have to pick players with more talent than his guys. I feel that Cashman was involved on this one. If it were up to Torre, we would have Andy, Pratt, Villone and Scott Erickson.

This has been a common theme: "Cash must have overruled Torre". Of course, it is just another myth.

Today on Kay's show, Cashman himself said there was a team of people in a room actually voting on the final roster spots. For the first time in a long time, these types of decisions are team decisions, not individual ones.

It is noteworthy that Cashman said Henn was a unanimous choice. He may have said the same about Phelps and Nieves, but I didn't hear the entire interview.

[Michaels07]

It must have killed Joe to have to pick players with more talent than his guys. I feel that Cashman was involved on this one. If it were up to Torre, we would have Andy, Pratt, Villone and Scott Erickson.

Don`t forget Bernie

[Michaels07]

Yanks can get away with 4 starters early on.

[Panamaniac42]

I was hating on Henny before ST but I stand corrected.

[budstinks]

Any chance Villone can be sent to AAA on a rehab assignment?

He's basically throwing as if he is hurt.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Hoch's article says that Torre and Cash chose Nieves because he was out of options and they did not want to lose him by removing from the 40-man roster. Something that was suspected to have weight in their decision.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnered=rss_nyy

If that's the case, that's on the GM. He, unlike the manager, is the guy thinking about people's options and all that.

[JDPNYY]

I may have missed it somewhere...

Will Ben Davis be staying with the Organization?

[Panamaniac42]

I may have missed it somewhere...

Will Ben Davis be staying with the Organization?

Good question, I couldn't find anything in google news but I did find this article on Ben from the Denver Post.

http://www.denverpost.com/renck/ci_5515170

Tampa, Fla. - Ben Davis is straight out of central casting. A hulking figure with tattoos and a snarl smile ideally suited for a catcher. He strolls over to Yankees star Derek Jeter's locker to show off scissor work from a local barbershop. Jeter shakes his head, insisting that Davis didn't make the cut.

It's symbolic of Davis' career and begs the question: What exactly separates players like Davis from similarly talented players who have found success?

"Confidence," Jeter said. "It makes all the difference in this game because every guy in this room can play."

As recently as 2000, Davis was a 23-year-old phenom with the San Diego Padres. Then-manager Bruce Bochy predicted the kid would be an all-star within three years. Davis has played with three teams since - the Mariners, White Sox and Yankees - never hitting more than 11 home runs. Not only is he not known around the American League, he won't be in the AL, penciled in for Triple-A duty.

[yanksphan]

I may have missed it somewhere...

Will Ben Davis be staying with the Organization?

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

Reassigned to the minor-league camp
INF Chris Basak
C Ben Davis
C Jason Brown

[ajra21]

http://yankees.lohudblogs.com/

was impressed with basak this spring. kinda prefer cairo but not by much. thought that alberto gonzales (part of the RJ trade) was decent too. very fine defensive player, who has hit .280 in the minors. may play a part in the next couple of years.

[rajah]

Yanks can get away with 4 starters early on.

No; they can't. Check the schedule. Rasner will have to start the first Sunday unless there is a rainout. (There is no way that Torre is going to try to use the bullpen for a start that early in the season.) Hopefully, Wang will be back soon enough to obviate another start by Rasner or Karstens on the 23rd.

[yankeebot]

No; they can't. Check the schedule. Rasner will have to start the first Sunday unless there is a rainout. (There is no way that Torre is going to try to use the bullpen for a start that early in the season.) Hopefully, Wang will be back soon enough to obviate another start by Rasner or Karstens on the 23rd.

It looks to me like a 5th starter will be needed on the 11th, 22nd and 27th. Anyone else want to take a look and chime in?