Yeah, I know it is high and I am not saying those guys will get there, but it they have at least three or four Latin American right handed starters that throw extremely hard and have at least one other quality pitch.That is an insanely high bar (Severino was both the youngest and hardest throwing SP this year, maybe the 3rd best SP in the AL at 23) but at some point in the offseason I will try to do a list of all of the high ceiling arms at all levels, because it really is crazy.
The Cubs were last year's next dynasty. A lot of their young stars regressed this year. And their pitching fell short of championship standards. Most experts felt Theo was building something with a deep foundation.Joel Sherman with a pretty good summary piece of everything we keep talking about here and all of the guys still on the way:
http://nypost.com/2017/10/19/yankees-have-barely-scratched-the-surface-of-what-they-can-be/
They never had any internal high-ceiling pitching really, it was all veteran studs and awesome young position players.The Cubs were last year's next dynasty. A lot of their young stars regressed this year. And their pitching fell short of championship standards. Most experts felt Theo was building something with a deep foundation.
I liked how Sherman analyzed the Mets' regression today, saying the team was centered around its young pitching core. Pitching, he wrote, is so much more volatile than position players.They never had any internal high-ceiling pitching really, it was all veteran studs and awesome young position players.
This is what Theo said his philosophy was going to be with the Cubs and obviously it worked very well. Cashman is trying to do both and then spend big after 2018 if he still needs to, Severino/Montgomery/Green all put into place this year plus Kahnle (controlled through 2020) and guys like German and Heller on down who seem fully ready but haven't really gotten a chance yet.I liked how Sherman analyzed the Mets' regression today, saying the team was centered around its young pitching core. Pitching, he wrote, is so much more volatile than position players.
What is frightening there is arguably the 2 best prospects they have in Arizona didn't even make the team. Although it seems Sheffield/Abreu is a tossup at this pointNY with 3 starters in today's All-Star game in Arizona, McKinney impressively hitting cleanup and Sheffield the SP, this is being televised on MLBN for those of us already going through baseball withdrawal:
- CF: Victor Robles (Nationals)
- DH: Corey Ray (Brewers)
- 3B: Ryan Mountcastle (Orioles)
- LF: Billy McKinney (Yankees)
- RF: Kyle Tucker(Astros)
- C: Tomas Nido (Mets)
- 1B: Matt Thaiss(Angels)
- 2B: Thairo Estrada(Yankees)
- SS: Luis Guillorme(Mets)
- SP: Justus Sheffield (Yankees)
Fair enough, and Sheffield is a lefty. I guess I just think Abreu has a higher ceilingSheffield is ahead of Abreu, Sheffield is 21 and pitched in AA last year, Abreu is 22 and pitched in high A last year plus he missed most of the season with injuries.
I think that is probably true. If you dream a little on Abreu the upside is huge.Fair enough, and Sheffield is a lefty. I guess I just think Abreu has a higher ceiling
Everything out of the AFL has been so glowing about him. Him being "off limits" is huge.Justus Sheffield: "Five colleagues told me he's a top of the rotation guy. Athletic. Excellent feel for pitching. True competitor. SL will be a nasty out pitch. Shown vast improvement with his FB command, his biggest weakness. Reminds me of Don Gullett. He has a veteran presence with great upside. He should be a factor for the Yankees this upcoming year. If he does well, I can see him up in May. Yankees aren’t trading him no matter what Off limits."
Up your game Gleyber, Florial is chasing you down.Estevan Florial: "He just began to scratch the surface last year. He's a young, athletic center with an exciting power/speed combo. I've seen enough flashes in every component of the game to get me excited for him. K's are a concern but not surprising at young age. Best prospect in Yankees system, bar none. Needs discipline but kills fastballs and mistakes. Ceiling is limitless. Plays hard, hustles and is team oriented. Potential 30/30 player. Great instinct and they will improve as he plays more. Big jump from Low-A to AFL but that's what they think of him. Will be in AA by the end of 2018, will be in Bronx by 19, starting CF by 2020. Like Sheffield, completely off limits."
Well, and probably unfairly, Gleyber is probably being dinged a bit by some because he is hurt.Yeah, I even queried Dan about that specifically ('better than Gleyber? really?') and he didn't back down.
Astros will never regret it though, and they shouldn't. McCann helped them with their first world series.It really is amazing that Cashman was able to get that type of talent back in a pure salary dump deal