Giving The Kids The Keys

(Courtesy of the AP)

Call me crazy, but I saw something significant in the small flurry of personnel moves the Yankees made last Friday.  No, it wasn't the end of the saddest SS platoon in history, although it did get a little dusty in here when I read that Reid Brignac was gone (not really).  It was the commitment being made to the young guys on the active roster that stood out to me.  In making that move to dump Brignac, call Alberto Gonzalez back up from Triple-A, and make Jayson Nix the everyday shortstop, the Yankees were also in effect giving the everyday starting third base job back to David Adams.  Add to that the insertion of Zoilo Almonte into the everyday lineup for Vernon Wells and it looks like the Yankees are finally ready to follow the demands of tons of fans out there and let the kids play.

First Impressions Of Adams And Romine

(Courtesy of Getty Images)

(Originally published at IIATMS/TYA)

While the unexpected success of veterans like Wells and Hafner dominated the early headlines, lately it's the kids getting the bulk of the spotlight as the Yankees continue to get helpful contributions from rookies.  5 in all have made their Major League debut already this season, something that the Yanks haven't done since guys like Mo and Jeter debuted back in '95.  For a team that's had its MiL system defined by a lack of upper-level impact talent, it's notable not only for the number of players but also for the fact that the team continues to win ballgames and have those rookies be major contributors to those victories.  Vidal Nuno throwing shutout starts, Preston Claiborne getting late-inning outs in big spots, David Adams raking from the middle of the order, it's all great.

Whether you're a prospect hugger or not, something like watching a bunch of  homegrown rookies come up and play well is always exciting from a fan's perspective.  Those guys are easy to root for and I always find myself paying more attention to their at-bats and plays in the field to see how they look as Major Leaguers.  For a number of reasons, I hadn't watched a live Yankee game in a couple weeks up until last night's ESPN broadcast.  I got my first ever look at Adams and Austin Romine last night, two guys who I ID'd last year as rookies I expected to contribute this season, and as a fan and a pseudo-prospect hugger here's my take on them.

David Adams Officially Called Up (Updated)

This was hinted at over the weekend and it's become a reality today, at least according to Josh Norris' tweet earlier this morning.  David Adams, almost 3 years removed from an ankle injury that seriously jeopardized his career, has been called up by the Yankees to play third base while Kevin Youkilis continues to rehab.

It's been a long, strange trip for Adams.  From hot young prospect to almost having his career ended to being the player who caused the Cliff Lee trade to fall apart to a long, tough rehab, back to top prospect, and now to Major League starting third baseman.  With a Robbie Cano extension looking more likely these days, a situation like this was Adams' best chance to break into the Majors and now he can take that chance and try to carve out a permanent role for himself.

No word yet on who will be sent down/DFA'd/released to clear a 25-man spot for Adams, although the smart money and every ounce of hope I have would be and is on Ben Francisco.  Should he get the axe, the Yankees would have a bench of Alberto Gonzalez and Chris Nelson covering the infield, Ichiro the outfield, and Austin Romine the backup catcher spot.

** UPDATE 3:17 PM-  The team has made it official, Adams is in the locker room, he might be in tonight's starting lineup, and Nelson gets DFA'd.  Francisco survives again. **

Yanks Could Call Up David Adams Next Week

I haven't seen it confirmed by many other reporters, but according to Mark Feinsand the Yankees are planning on calling up David Adams next week to assume the full-time replacement third base job while Kevin Youkilis is on the DL.  Adams, who was surprisingly released by the team in March due to the roster problems, is eligible to be called up on May 15th per MLB's rules on player release and re-sign and would be another option to help cover for the loss of Youkilis.  With Eduardo Nunez still banged up, the team has few options on the left side and Chris Nelson has been little help.

Adams, who also happens to turn 26 on May 15th, has been raking since returning to Triple-A SWB.  He's currently hitting .314/.404/.477 in 99 PA, with 9 XBH, 9 RBI, and a healthy 11.1% BB rate.  He's been the full-time third baseman for the RailRiders, and has also recently got some work at second and first.  Adams' right-handedness would not only be a likely upgrade to the production of Nunez/Nix/Nelson, he could also offer some depth behind Cano and Overbay on the right side, and they're two players that could probably use a day off.

Adams doesn't project as that type of hitter in the Majors, but he's a likely upgrade over what the Yanks have right now and this is his best shot to break into the show.  If it happens, it sounds like a good move.

David Adams Release Reaction

(Photo courtesy of Jordan Megenhardt/MLB.com)

(Originally published at IIATMS/TYA)

The Irrational Fan's Take:

'"What are the Yankees doing??  Why would they get rid of Adams?  He's only 25 years old and he's coming off the best year of his career.  He hit .306/.385/.450 and he can play second base and third base.  The Yankees are going to need infield depth this season and possibly next depending on what happens with A-Rod and Cano and they just gave away one of their top young players at those positions to clear a roster spot for Vernon Wells!  That guy Brad V. from IIATMS/TYA ranked Adams 14th in his Top 30 Prospects this year, so he's gotta be good.

Not to mention the fact that Adams and Corban Joseph could have made a nice lefty/righty platoon DH on the bench if Hafner got hurt this season and then transitioned to second in 2014 if Cano doesn't get re-signed.  I don't get it.  How can they start playing Adams at third base last season and then just dump him for a player they didn't even need?  This is why the Yankees never develop any good young position players.  They never give them a real shot.  They've got a bunch of kids in the Minors who can play and now they're getting rid of them to get older.  Horrible move.  Cashman should be fired right now."

The Rational Fan's Take:

The Young Guys Most Likely To Contribute In 2013

(Opening Day catcher?  Don't rule it out.  Courtesy of the AP)

There's still the possibility of a blockbuster trade, something I think almost all of us are secretly hoping for after the excitement-less Winter Meetings.  But with the Yankees holding firm on their free agent signing plans for this offseason, and with that plan assuredly continuing into the next offseason when the payroll goal will loom largest, the likelihood of the Yankees having to use their top-level Minor Leaguers as more than just emergency filler or roster expansion fodder is very high.

We all know the Yankees don't have much high-impact, high-level talent in their system, but that's not to say they don't have players capable of contributing as useful bench or bullpen pieces or even winning a starting job if it comes to that.  The only "top" prospect with a shot at making the show in 2013 is Tyler Austin, and even that is a longshot, but here are some other guys who could see some significant PT at the Major League level next season.

Adams & Heathcott Getting It Done In The AZFL

Maybe the folks at Baseball America knew what they were talking about after all putting Slade Heathcott 2nd in their top 10 organizational prospect rankings for the Yankees this week.  Despite his inability to be smart, eloquent, or a good speller when discussing the election on his Twitter account, Heathcott has been a standout since day 1 in the Arizona Fall League this year.  And David Adams, who continues to impress and create buzz for himself heading into ST 2013, has been no slouch either:

Heathcott- .333/.457/.526, 5 2B, 3 3B, 10 R, 12 RBI, 12 BB/14 K in 69 PA

Adams- .261/.363/.507, 10 XBH (3 HR), 9 R, 14 RBI, 11 BB/12 K in 80 PA

And if you're a visual learner, he's a piece from YES.com on the Yankees' AZFL participants.  Mmmmmmm, prospects...



P.S.- Heathcott has no neck, Austin Romine looks like he's 35 years old, Mark Montgomery looks and sounds like a meathead who doesn't give a shit about anything other than striking guys out, and Dellin Betances fucking blows.

Some Glimmers Of Light In The Injury-Filled Prospect Darkness

(Don't sleep on this guy.  Courtesy of Mike Ashmore)

This has not been a good season for the Yankee farm system.  EJ Fagan made that perfectly clear yesterday in his evaluation of the Manny Banuelos shutdown story, which was much more level-headed than mine.  By my count, the Yankees have seen 4 of their top 5, 5 of their top 8, and 7 of their top 12 prospects miss time with injuries this season, and have had another handful of their top 20 have fantastically bad years (see: Betances, Dellin or Bichette, Jr., Dante).  I guess the one good thing about all of this is that at least Jesus Montero hasn't gone over to Seattle and started becoming the next Miguel Cabrera, right?  But fear not, Yankee fans, because all hope is not lost.  The injured will return to full health at some point, and further down the prospect food chain there have been some strong performances in the Yankee system this year.  The names aren't as sexy as the ones filling up the disabled lists, but their results do provide a bit of comfort in the face of all the injury/regression devastation.