Competition is Good!

[budstinks]

I can NEVER remember the Yankees having so many position battles in the minor league system. Last year it was the pitchers seeing who could be the one or few to get promoted.

This year we have:

Miranda vs Duncan
All the SS and 2b's fighting for jobs
Montero vs Romine
Vech vs the players coming to take his job
The Dominican outfielders

Virtually every position out there is being contested whereas in the past it seemed like every player was just moved up just because the slot was open.

You really have to love this farm system and what the Yankees have been able to do. Keep it up boys.

[mhmajp]

Virtually every position out there is being contested whereas in the past it seemed like every player was just moved up just because the slot was open.

You really have to love this farm system and what the Yankees have been able to do. Keep it up boys.

Great point, Bud! Competition makes everyone work harder. And if the farm stays deep and young players are constantly pushing up, players in the Show will get used to staying on their toes too, so as not to be replaced by cheaper competition or let go for draft picks.

One obvious benefit to this, too, is that last point. Constantly having a deep pipeline means you can let go type A free agents and get the picks to keep the virtuous cycle rolling while still having top talent with which to replace the free agents who leave.

[mbn007]

To me, the real competition is in the pitching area, which obviously has been re-built to a very high degree in 2 short seasons. We have relief guys in AAA who belong on the big club, but there is no room for everyone. We also have relief guys coming along who will push these folks, Robertson, Melconan and JB Cox, to mention a few.

Same with the starters. Horne, Marquez, are right on the doorstep. Joba probably could have been a starter, but he is not yet needed there. In lower levels, Kontos, among many others, are hopefully ready to move up, and push the ones ahead of them.

A great problem to have. No need to push the panic button if an arm goes down. The help is in Scranton and Trenton.

[mhmajp]

A great problem to have. No need to push the panic button if an arm goes down. The help is in Scranton and Trenton.

Good points all. The thought of being able to combine the best of what the NYY, BOS, DET and OAK all bring to the development, MLB and FA/draft pick table is pretty exciting. Especially knowing that the team can afford to retain anyone it wants to.

There is definitely more competition in the rotations/BP today, but that should begin to change pretty soon. We're already seeing some of that at C and in the OF.