NYYfans.com Can Suck It

As per NYYfans.com, this is the following organizational rankings in M.L.B for 2006 in terms of their Minor League system.

1. Dodgers
2. Marlins
3. Angels
4. D-Backs
5. Brewers
6. Twins
7. Red Sox
8. Braves
9. Rockies
10. D-Rays
11. Indians
12. White Sox
13. Orioles
14. Tigers
15. Cubs
16. Rangers
17. Yankees
18. Giants
19. Pirates
20. Astros
21. Cardinals
22. Phillies
23. Royals
24. Nationals
25. Blue Jays
26. Athletics
27. Mariners
28. Padres
29. Reds
30. Mets

While I know their system blows when compared to others, they have two players more highly regarded than anyone in the Reds, Padres, Mariners, Athletics, Blue Jays, and Nationals system. I realize they obviously may not have as much depth, they have a lot of intriguing players. However, the fact they have two A++++ prospects that trump any of the other teams' top two prospects, that alone should bump them up. After all, when you look at a system that has two potential stars of Milledge's and Pelfrey's stature, are you really going to split hairs about how many more future utility players or more future middle relievers they have?

* * *

In case, like me, you missed this story in Ask BA the other day:

In 1966, the Braves made Tom Seaver their first-round draft pick out of the University of Southern California. For some reason, the commissioner voided Atlanta's rights to him and opened bidding to other teams. Three teams anted up and their names were thrown into a hat. The commissioner picked the Mets and the rest, as they say, is history. What were the crazy circumstances that went into this decision?

Paul R. Raybold
Seminole, Fla.

Seaver, who had turned down the Dodgers as a 10th-round pick in 1965, was selected by the Braves as the 20th and final pick of the first round of the secondary phase of the January 1966 draft. That February, he signed with Atlanta for $40,000.

However, Seaver wasn't eligible to sign because Southern California already had begun its college season. Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the contract, fined the Braves $500 and barred them from signing Seaver for three years. Though Seaver never received any money from Atlanta, he had signed a pro contract, costing him his NCAA eligibility.

Eckert ruled that Seaver had signed a contract in good faith and that it was the Braves' fault that it had to be invalidated. As a result, Eckert set up a special draft for him. Any team willing to at least match the $40,000 bonus could enter a drawing for his draft rights.

The Indians, Mets and Phillies were the only clubs to do so, and Eckert picked a slip of paper that said "Mets" out of a hat on April 2. Seaver signed with New York the next day for $51,000 and launched a Hall of Fame career by winning the National League rookie of the year award in 1967.

Interesting tidbit indeed.

Potheads everywhere are crying. In case you stick your head in a hole in the ground for the entire day, you probably heard this. However, if you are here, you probably don't care much for creditable news or actual information and you probably did miss it.

Nice touch with the terrorist looking guys standing guard.

Drug smugglers have dug one of the longest, most sophisticated tunnels discovered in recent years along the Mexican border, and the American and Mexican authorities have hauled nearly two tons of marijuana out of it since they entered it on Wednesday, officials said.

Ok two tons of ganja. That has to be worth at least $45.

Justin Verlander is good. Back in 2004, Rick Peterson said "Get Verlander. If you can't get him, get Humber." Well that might not have been an EXACT quote and Verlander never made it down to the Mets and got swiped in the second spot while the Mets took Humber with the third pick. Of course Humber's future is still bright despite the Tommy John surgery, but he has been thrown off track. Here is what Baseball America had to say about Verlander for those of you who not have a BA subscription. Here's a hint though, they like him.

Background: Verlander was considered a possible top-five-round talent out of high school, but his commitment to Old Dominion, strong grades and raw arm prompted him to pass through the 2001 draft untouched, much to his disappointment. He went to Old Dominion and became the No. 1 starter instantly. While his college career included several highs, such as pitching for Team USA in 2003 and setting school and Colonial Athletic Association strikeout records, he posted a modest 21-18 record and all three Monarchs teams he played for posted losing records. The Padres considered Verlander with the No. 1 overall pick in 2004 but he wasn’t in their final trio of choices, leaving him available for the Tigers at No. 2. Negotiations broke off in October before his father stepped in, called the Tigers and got the contract settled. Verlander signed for a $3.12 million bonus and $4.5 million guaranteed major league contract. His late signing delayed his pro debut until 2005, when he was spectacular. Verlander led the minors in ERA (giving up only one run in 33 innings at Double-A Erie), started the Futures Game in Comerica Park and made his major league debut at Jacobs Field on Independence Day.

Strengths: Verlander has one of the best arms in the minors and features both the best fastball and curveball in the organization. Tall, lithe and athletic, he generates tremendous arm speed that gives him an electric fastball with both above-average velocity and life. His heater sits at 93-96 mph and touches 99. He commanded his fastball--and all of his pitches, for that matter--much better as a pro than he had in college. Most scouts had noticed that as an amateur, Verlander landed on a stiff front leg, cutting off his follow-through and leading to a tendency to leave his pitches up in the strike zone. The Tigers deemed this flaw correctable, but what impressed them most was how quickly Verlander took to his new delivery. He rarely if ever reverted to his old form. Verlander’s curveball is a true knee-buckler, a power breaker with excellent depth and late bite down in the zone. He has excellent arm speed on his late-moving changeup, which also improved with his new delivery and ranks among the best in the organization.

Weaknesses: Stuff-wise, Verlander has none. His changeup helped him shackle lefthanded hitters in the minors (.175 average, no homers in 171 at-bats). He didn’t have that kind of success in his first two big league starts against the Indians and Twins, as lefties went 10-for-30 against him and drew four walks. The Tigers attribute much of that to nerves and inexperience, though. Verlander did recover from a three-run first inning in his first big league game to later retire 12 of 13 batters. As an amateur, he had the reputation of responding to adversity by trying to throw harder, and opponents thought he could be easily rattled. Neither was evident in his first pro season, however.

The Future: The Tigers already have one power righty in their big league rotation in Jeremy Bonderman, who is just four months older than Verlander. He should join Bonderman in the rotation in 2006, if not out of spring training then shortly thereafter. If Verlander learns the nuances of pitching to go with his electric stuff, he could supplant Bonderman as Detroit’s No. 1 starter.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper; A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked; If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked? Oh, and Piazza signed with the Padres.

The longtime Mets catcher signed a one-year, $2-million contract with the defending National League West champions Sunday, with an $8-million mutual option for 2007, according to an official familiar with the situation.

What's the chance of that option being picked up?

Q&A with Rick Peterson at NYSportsdaily.com.

NYSD: Do you think the organization’s faith in Victor Zambrano is justified?

RP: In the middle of the season last year, there was a stretch where he was our best pitcher. He certainly has the ability, but it’s about him going through the full season and it’s a marathon.

NYSD: What do you like most about Zambrano as a pitcher?

RP: If he focuses and takes it one pitch at a time, he’s a dominant pitcher. It’s a matter of focus with him. There are times he is in there throwing pitch after pitch after pitch and something happens that causes him to lose focus.

Ken Rosenthal gives Anderson Hernandez some ink.

A pair of switch-hitting middle-infield prospects — the Angels' Erick Aybar and Mets' Anderson Hernandez — made a strong impression while playing for Licey, champion of the Dominican winter league.

"They're both live-bodied guys," one scout says. "The more you watch them play, the more you see all the things they can do. Both have a chance to be pretty good big-league players."

Bill Madden is critical of some of Omar's moves.

While it would be hard to argue Minaya hasn't improved the Mets significantly this winter with the free agent signing of Billy Wagner and the acquisitions of Carlos Delgado and Paul LoDuca for far-away prospects, his overall trading record is dubious.

Dubious indeed Bill, dubious indeed.

Rest easy. Rest easy.

Sammy Sosa: Not the Mets, insisted Minaya, his special relationship with Sosa notwithstanding. "We're committed to [Victor] Diaz and [Xavier] Nady," Minaya said Friday. "It's only fair to give these guys an opportunity. If we bring Sammy in, we take away their opportunity."

I think we all knew he was not coming no how, no way, but it is still nice to read.

Jorge gets $2,525,000 and a one year contract from the Mets.

Now playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Jose Reyes.

Ummm...but he's American. He was born here.

"Alex is American because he was born in the United States, but after what Mike Piazza - a future Hall of Famer - did, who will be playing for Italy, and Nomar Garciaparra, who will be playing for Mexico, he had an excuse to do the same with the Dominican Republic," said Martinez, who intends to pitch for his native Dominican Republic. Martinez's statements were spoken to the Dominican-based television network Color Vision. ESPN.com first reported of the interview here.

"Now Alex must prepare for the nasty comments that will arise in the Bronx, where almost half of the citizens are Latino and purely Dominican," Martinez said. "In fact, when Alex gets [to the Dominican Republic] it's possible that not even the reporters will be here to welcome him."

I'm not a fan of anyone playing for a country they weren't born in and A-Rod made the right decision.