YOUNG GUNS III: STRUGGLE OF THE KILLER B'S

Once again this Spring the Yankees gave the Killer B's Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos a few moments to shine and then, much like they've always done with young talent, they send them back down to the minors to work during the regular season.  As time goes on, articles pop up about progress and just when we think we may get a glimpse of these "Young Guns"...nothing.  Sure, everyone is looking forward to it and let's face it, last year when Betances came up for a brief time in the fall, many wondered if Banuelos would follow.  It never happened.

Now we're looking at 2012, a season which brought plenty of injury to Banuelos, read HERE and questions have started popping up... Could the Killer B's not be the "Young Guns" we think they are?  Instead, are Betances and Banuelos just overhyped?

The New York Post's Joel Sherman is one of the most respected journalists out there and wrote a really good piece you should check out titled Veterans carry Yankees as young guns struggle. In it, Sherman breaks down the concern with Betances and Banuelos and says: "The potential high-level reinforcements at Triple-A were supposed to be Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances. But Banuelos is on the disabled list for the second time this season, now with an elbow injury. And Betances again is reinforcing the notion — like another supposed Killer B before him, Andrew Brackman — that he is a big guy unable to master a consistently smooth delivery (38 walks in 44 2⁄3 innings).  One person who has worked with both prospects told me this week he thinks Banuelos and Betances were overhyped, citing a lack of fastball command for both."

OK, so all of that is critical of the B's but practice makes perfect right? Wrong, this is the part that bothered me most. Sherman writes: "...the Yankees’ duo remains nowhere near helping the rotation in 2012, and maybe beyond."

Now I've seen players over the years placed on a pedestal  in the Yankees organization as the next great thing and eventually either injury, or a trade takes place with that player involved.  I'm not saying any of that will happen...I'm just saying that if the Yankees have grand plans for the Killer B's in the Yankees rotation, and we attach an injured Michael Pineda to that... what are we looking at for seeing these kids as our future leaders...2015, 2016?  If this Sherman report is right, it almost seems like the Yankees will end up doing what they always do when they're looking for pitching, go out and buy it on the Free Agency market.

Look, you never know, Betances and Banuelos still could develop into superstars, but one thing's for sure, if they don't start acting like it, they may be shipped off, much like Andrew Brackman...remember him?

Anyway, Sherman wrote a good piece and it's definitely something we need to keep our eyes on as Yankee fans.

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