Yankees Suck (at player development)

by 0157H7 on Sep 24, 2008 4:36 PM EDT

I found this cool Buster Olney article on ESPN about the Yankees terrible drafting from 1997 to 2005 (when Cashman took over). Not essential reading, but it was illuminating. Some highlights:

The 10 position players drafted by the Yankees had accounted for a total of 888 career at-bats as of Sept. 9, which means that not only have the Yankees generated few major league position players, but they have produced no stars, and just a handful of journeymen. The draftees of the Toronto Blue Jays from the same time frame, by comparison, have combined for 27,427 big-league at-bats; the Mets, 11,469.

And also:

The Yankees drafted and developed 20 pitchers, which is tied for the 12th-most among the 30 major league teams. However, those 20 pitchers selected by the Yankees have amassed 1,852 2/3 innings in the majors -- the fewest innings for any group of pitchers drafted by any team. The Oakland Athletics' draftees rank first, at 9,686 innings, according to Elias.

In the same span, the Red Sox developed 15 position players, good for 16,296 AB (9th by my count in MLB AB). They brought up the same number of pitchers, 20, as the Yanks, but got 3,849.2 innings out of them, versus the Yankees' 1,852.2. Even before Theo, we had a pretty good player development system, and it's only gotten better under the new regime. Pretty awesome, eh?

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Yankees Suck

at everything. Not only do they buy ~~half~~ ~~most~~ nearly all of their players because they can’t raise a farm system, buit the players they do buy are almost never producign as well as they should.

My last sig was too long, so my new one is: He who hesitates is a mediocre ambidextrious stupid person who thinks the Rays suck and stole Joe Maddon's shoes while thinking he was at a baseball game but was at church.

by BoSox415 on Sep 24, 2008 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

eg:

Senor Rodriguez

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bdalebs on Sep 24, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Nothing's More Important Than Focusing On the Young 'Uns

The Wankees suck and always will, on that we are obviously agreed. Spending $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on star players has always been their forte and, granted, it worked for the last (15 years?!). However, in the long run big spending on big stars is bound to grow old and lead to trouble down the road when the stars of old begin to fade. And then were are you? Spurning a prospect system because you need to win championships NOW is both short-sited and downright dumb.

Granted the Sox spend big money too. But as you mentioned in your article here, we’ve always focused on building on our prospects. There is nothing more important (in real life) as well as in baseball as ensuring you’ve got a steady stream of hard working, skilled young guys ready to take over at a moments notice. Good work by the Red Sox Front Office all these years on sparing enough $$$ to keep the Sox youth strong.

Forever Red Sox, screw all those pink-hatted babes, 'got no family, 'got no friends, 'got no life--RED SOX I LIVE FOR THIS.

by RedSoxUltras on Sep 24, 2008 6:21 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting figures

I assume those numbers are attributed to players who have reached the majors. That is to say that the Yankees have had 10 position players reach the bigs from 1997 until Sept. 9. This that correct?

It’s not surprising that the Red Sox lag behind teams like the Oakland A’s given the Sox’ propensity to bring in Free Agents in in lieu of growing their own talent, especially pitching (until lately). Considering our payroll I think it’s impressive that we rank in the upper-middle for position players.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Sep 25, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions