REMEMBER JEFF KARSTENS? SOMETHING HAPPENED

Jeff Karstens was a good pitcher for the Yankees, but they just didn't give the guy enough time and much like they do with their young prospects, he was eventually traded.

Baseball Reference had it best: "July 26, 2008: Traded by the New York Yankees with Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Tabata to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady."

Jeff then pitched with the Pirates after that up to 2012, but never made it back to the show due to injury.  Today, on Instagram, he made his annoucement... he retired.  It was a cool way to do it actually:

A class act. Wish Jeff well.

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REMEMBER WHEN JOSE TABATA WAS THE "NEXT BIG THING"?

Remember when Jose Tabata was on the Yankees farm and he was the next Derek Jeter? I was just thinking about it this week when the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly decided that it was time to shop Tabata because they found alittle something extra in prospect Gregory Polanco. It's amazing how quickly time flies.

It was July 26, 2008 and the Yankees made a move to trade Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, Jeff Karstens to the Pirates, even after they hyped up Tabata as being the prospect that was "untouchable" and someone they "wouldn't move". Well, we did move him... and that's something the Yankees seem to always do.  In return, we received Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.

(In Photo: Damaso Marte)
Now, Nady didn't give us much, but Marte was part of that Yankee pen that put us over the top in 2009 when we won the World Championship.

But before that trade, Tabata was supposed to be the "next big thing". Tabata was psyched to be a Yankee an if you read Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News from back when the trade went down, you almost felt bad for Jose:

"... Jose Tabata was considered the top prospect among position players in the Yankees' system. A trade to the Pirates ended Tabata's dream of playing in pinstripes, but the 20-year-old believes the move was the best thing that could have happened for him. 'I think it's better for me,' Tabata said Tuesday night before playing right field against the Yankees. 'I have more of a chance here. There's less pressure, where with the Yankees, there's a lot of pressure. I feel good.'"

It was good for Tabata for alittle bit. But now, according to CBS Sports, his baseball career almost comes full circle and we see a new guy in town for the Pirates and their eagerness to ship him out:

"The Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco really impressed the team with his performance in spring training this year, to the point that they’re now reportedly shopping Jose Tabata."

Does this affect your life in any way? No.  But I am always fascinated by certain things, one of which is how the Yankees have always given away their farm system even after they prop them up.  It's strange. I mean sure, Marte worked out, but what if he didn't? And what if Jose Tabata became larger than life in Pittsburgh, much like Jay Buhner did in Seattle, what then? All I'm saying is, I hope the Yankees learn to keep our guys and develop them right.  We actually have a lot of potential, whether Baseball America thinks so or not. Sometimes talent is part of it, but giving chances and believing in yourself help as well.

Whatever the case, Tabata's back in the news... not a Yankee anymore, but still playing and we wanted to report it, like we try to do with our former Yanks... Good luck to him.

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MAYBE THE GROOMING OF YOUNG YANKEE TALENT AIN'T WORKING

I'd love to tell you that I'm still "all-in" with the idea of young Yankee talent being trained and groomed to one day be New York Yankee superstars, but it's my opinion that the days of a goldmine grouping of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera are long gone. That happens once in a lifetime...and guess what? It happened.

This is not as much as a criticism as an analysis. The Yankees have over-hyped talent since their historic run from 1996 to 2000. We've heard every big name youngster be mentioned as "the next best thing." Then, like clockwork, something happens, be it a trade, or they get hurt and are never the same, or, they just disappear.

I remember JB Cox was the next closer for the Yankees back in 2005. Cox is still in the minor leagues years later. He's 28. I'm tired of waiting, when are we going to see this guy?

(In Photo: Jose Tabata)
Jose Tabata was "untouchable", until we traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady, some veteran help.  Tabata was also traded with Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.  2 other prospects that were supposed to be the Yankees future.

Chase Wright had a future in pinstripes. He's currently employed by the Somerset Patriots in an Independent League. But back when he came up for New York, he gave up 4 straight Red Sox home runs in 2007, read HERE. That cemented his fate. That was his 1 and only season in the Major Leagues.

Remember when Phil Hughes was supposed to be the next Roger Clemens? I do, read HERE. Hughes is just a regular pitcher these day...not lights out, and it's been a long and sometime impatient road.  I like Hughes and out of all of these stories, he and Joba are dudes I truly want to stay with us, but once you see the Yankee track record, you will understand where my doubt comes from.

Speaking of Joba Chamberlain, he was messed with alittle too much. Ian Kennedy, he was traded away and Tyler Clippard's now a bad ass closer for the Washington Nationals.

Phil Coke beat us in the ALCS after we traded him away to the Tigers. And remember Colin Curtis? I barely do... That's because he was over-hyped and the was released this season after a long time in our farm system, read HERE.

(In Photo: Andrew Brackman)
Oh and the Killer B's story was both dynamic and highly anticipated. But Andrew Brackman eventually went to the Cincinnati Reds, and I don't even think he has a job right now.  Manny Banuelos is recovering from Tommy John surgery and Dellin Betances, while a decent pitcher, will never be the greatest pitcher the Yankees have ever had in their farm system... He's just not ready.

(In Photo: Kevin Russo)
We had Kevin Russo who never had a chance to be a major leaguer, despite what the Yankees said and he's now a minor league Free Agent. And Brandon Laird went to the Astros this season, read HERE. Remember him? The kid who had a future in New York?  Oh and what about Eduardo Nunez?  He's an infielder who can't field, yet, he's the guy the Yankees believe in.

(In Photo: Jesus Montero)
And then there is Austin Romine, a kid catcher with a bad back and Jesus Montero, another catcher and the only kid in our farm system that Yankee fans truly fell in love with, yet, we traded him away for a possible lemon.

(In Photo: Ty Hensley)
And sure, we have guys like Gary Sanchez and Slade Heathcott, Mark Montgomery, Dante Bichette Jr and Ty Hensley down there, and it's exciting to see these guys grow up in the Yankees system, but sometimes I wonder just how much time I should invest emotionally in these guys given the track record of the Yankees and the handling of these kids.  Sometimes I get discouraged, that's all.

Look, no one can predict the future, but the Yankees minor league system in recent memory is a joke and us fans need to stop falling into the trap of wanting these guys up so we can search for our next Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, because, the reality is, I don't think it's going to happen the way it did when Jeet, Bernie and the rest roamed the field at the same time. We can all agree that that was a special time, but with all those minor leaguers I mentioned above, it's the perfect script for a 4th "Major League: Broken down in the Minors" movie.

I can see it now,  Michael Keaton plays Brian Cashman and he's constantly on the phone making deals, but he can't because everyone's hurt or there's no trade value with the guys they have. Then, with a big veteran bat available, he trades off the top guy we've been developing. No thanks, I've seen that movie before...

Look, I love my Yankees, but the kids thing doesn't seem to work anymore. We're all so used to big spending and winning and it seems that we get too impatient with groom the kids. On a personal note, I tried to stick with my Yanks when they talked about grooming young talent and keeping the payroll down to $189 million, but we need to get back to the way it was, and if the Core Five surfaces again like it did in the 90's, I welcome it. But let's face it, I'm tired of forcing it and I'm tired of being disappointed.

That's my take anyway.

By the way, be sure to read Jeana Bellezza's piece THE YANKEE FARM IS THE FUTURE which will be posted tomorrow. It's another take on our farm system you'll need to read.

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THE NOT-SO-GREAT CATCHER THAT BECAME A CATCHER

Jesus Montero caught his first no-hitter with the Seattle Mariners this year, but why is no one talking about that? I mean, why isn't it a bigger story in the East like it was in the West?   Now, clearly people spoke of the Mariners no hitter last Friday, read HERE, but that’s not the story I’m talking about.  I’m talking about the story where everyone in Yankeeland chalked Jesus Montero up as an OK catcher but a better Designated Hitter.  Yeah…remember that? What happened there?

Look at this picture above.  Jesus Montero is happily staring into the camera.  No, he didn’t just crank out a home run. He caught a no hit game with 6 of the Mariners pitchers.  No, not 1 pitcher which is hard enough, 6 of them.  That’s different personalities, different pitches, different research to remember and study for every single at bat. Montero caught a full game and called a good one too.  People in the Bronx wouldn’t have ever let that happen, yet, but it happened in Seattle. 

I miss Jesus Montero.  No, catching one no-hitter does not make Montero an all-star catcher, but it doesn't boost this kids confidence and sends a very big message to Yankeeland..."never say it can't happen, because it can," meaning, Montero could have been the Yankees backup catcher in 2012 if they really wanted him too, but they had other plans all along, at least that's my opinion on the whole thing.  

And let's go further, Montero was was never going to be the starting catcher in New York with Russell Martin there, but he deserved a shot.  Sure, if we’re comparing catchers, defensively Austin Romine is better behind the plate, but think about this for a second;  Jesus Montero was the kid that the Yankees had raved about for a while in the minor leagues...untouchable if you will... and then, just when we thought Montero would get his big break in the Bronx, after Brian Cashman blabbed to the press that he wanted Montero to get at least 500 at bats, read HERE, he’s shipped off to Seattle for Michael Pineda, a kid who’s rehabbing until 2013.  It’s crazy how things work.

 (In Photo: Former Yankee Jose Tabata)

 The Yankees do that. They rave about their prospects and the media buys into it too. There's this feeling around Yankeeland like the Yanks just struck gold, then, these kids linger in the minors, and suddenly they’re gone.  Don’t believe me? Ask Jose Tabata about that. Ask Andrew Brackman about that…and by the way, don’t be fooled, either Manny Banuelos or  Dellin Betances are next, I really believe that. Don't believe me? Read YOUNG GUNS III: STRUGGLE OF THE KILLER B'S.

Look, this piece isn’t me bitching and moaning about wanting Jesus Montero back, what’s done is done, I get that, but you have to wonder what could have been, especially looking at Jesus Montero looking like he just won the World Series in that great photograph above.  Hell, I’m thrilled for him but he’s not happy like “ha ha” in that picture. No, he’s happy like “You guys didn’t believe in me, but I believed in me and I will continue to and be the biggest thing coming out of Seattle since Ichiro, Ken Griffey Jr  and Alex Rodriguez. Don’t believe me? Game on bitches…game on.”  

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CHECKING IN WITH ROSS OHLENDORF & JUSTIN CHRISTIAN

Give 2 former Yankee kids credit, they may have left the Yankees organization but their still trying to climb the Major League ladder and good for them. A few guys just signed minor league deals with the Red Sox and the Giants and I wanted to just keep you in the loop. Check it out:

Ross Ohlendorf: Yes, He’s back in the American League East after spending some time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. Ohlendorf was one of the guys that was traded with Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen and Jose Tabata for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte back in 2008. He’s a pitcher with a good head on his shoulders and he has OK stuff. I never envisioned Ohlendorf as becoming a superstar and neither did the Yankees, but the bottom line is, the Red Sox have faith in the kid…there you go. While Ross was with the Pirates, he posted a 4.60 ERA and was 13-27. He was released by the Pirates at the end of 2011 after he posted a 8.15 ERA and was 1-3 in 9 starts.

Justin Christian: Remember him? Not many do but Christian was a kid I liked and was only with the Yankees briefly back in 2008. Christian signed a minor league deal with the Giants after he was designated for assignment 8 days ago…by the Giants, read HERE. Hmm. Ok. I just remember Christian as being a hungry kid but again, it was a brief time for him in the Bronx and I don’t remember much. With the Giants in 2011, Christian had a .255 AVG, 12-47. Back in 2008 with the Yankees, he had a .250 AVG and was 10-40.

Good luck to both of these crazy kids. I’m glad they’re still playing and still able to latch on to a club.

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WHY THE YANKEES WILL SNAG GIO GONZALEZ

I've now written 3 posts about Gio Gonzalez, all have been complimentary and all have made my argument. Read them:

GIO GONZALEZ: MAKING OF A YANKEE SUPERSTAR?

WOULD YOU TRADE FOR GIO GONZALEZ?

As you can tell, I want this stud on the New York Yankees. We need a lefty, we could use a stud and he is, to me, Andy Pettitte Part II. Brian Cashman loves this kid and if he didn't, there wouldn't be rumors floating around. Cashman and Billy Beane know each other, Cashman and Billy Beane like each other and at the end of the day, Billy Beane knows that Cash has kids that he's willing to give up. The question is who?

Sean Hartnett of CBS Sports writes a smart piece HERE and highlights 2 players that can pry Gio Gonzalez away from Oakland. He mentions Dellin Betances and Jesus Montero. Now before you get all crazy, you need to understand something; Kids are kids and while they look good on paper, or while you were encouraged by what they did on the field last September, you can't base a career on that. I'm not agreeing with Hartnett's choice, but I am agreeing that the Yankees can pull this off. It's just the shell game that Brian Cashman needs to play and if he can put something genius into affect, and the Lord knows he can, it will be great. But, it's going to be hard to pull one over on Billy Beane.

I like Dellin Betances and the Yankees do too, but let's not forget, they also liked Andrew Brackman and they cut him loose. They also liked Jose Tabata a lot a few years back and they traded him away for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady. Hell, we can go back to the 90's when they thought for sure that Roberto Kelly was the next best thing for the Yankees, yet, they traded him for Paul O'Neill. No one is untouchable and the kids aren't either. Those past moves proved championships, Damaso had a huge performance in 2009 and well, we all know the run Paulie had.

Now, Cashman is no dummy and he's not going to just trade away a kid like Jesus Montero unless the fish is big...like a Tim Lincecum, but that's another post. Personally, I don't think Gonzalez for Montero is a smart idea, but I would consider Austin Romine. I would consider someone like Hector Noesi or Betances and if a deal could be made with minimal damage, I would try and get Gio Gonzalez to be our other ace in the starting rotation. There is no doubt that Gio is blossoming and I believe he'd be a huge asset in the Bronx. I think he's got some great stuff and I believe he'd handle the spotlight with class and grace. Gio's no Yankee yet, but he knows the Yankee way.Bottom line, the Yankees can do what the Miami Marlins can't, they can give up young talent of tomorrow for a winning pitcher for now! I've said it a million times... you don't play to win in 2014 if you're the New York Yankees...you play to win now and if that means you need to trade away some pieces that may or may not shine in the future, you need to pull the trigger and get immediate quality and that could be Gio Gonzalez, I swear.

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WHY I IMAGINED MIGUEL CABRERA IN PINSTRIPES

The way the Yankees lost to the Tigers in the ALDS still has me a bit aggravated. The Yankees had a number of opportunities in Game 5 to win the series and advance to the ALCS to play the Texas Rangers, but they failed. And right in the middle of that failure was of course Alex Rodriguez. Sure, there were a number of other culprits to the series loss, but because of the spotlight and scrutiny he receives, he'll deserve the majority of the blame. But I was wondering, what if the Yankees let ARod go after he opted out following the 2007 season, and they traded for then Florida Marlin Miguel Cabrera?

Maybe some of you forgot that the Yankees had a great opportunity to land Miguel Cabrera before the 2008 season. You see, after the 2007 season had ended, Alex Rodriguez had opted out of his contract, thus becoming a Free Agent. Before he opted out, the Yankees said that if ARod opted out, the Yankees would not negotiate a new deal with him. Of course we all know that was a bunch of bull, but you can read that story HERE.

Miguel Cabrera was set to earn $10 million during the 2008 season for the Marlins, and much more beyond. That is ridiculously high for their payroll down the line, thus they had to move him. If the Yankees wanted to pry Cabrera way from the Marlins, they'd have to include one of Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, or Phil Hughes, while including a combination of then prospects Alan Horne, Humberto Sanchez, Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Tabata.(In Photo: Ian Kennedy)
Unfortunately, GM Brian Cashman was unwilling to part with either Kennedy, Joba, or Hughes in the deal. You can read that story HERE. The author of the Daily News piece, Mark Feinsand, suggested that the Yankees could be gun shy in parting with their top prospects due to Cabrera's weight issue and possible work ethic issues. But, this is what Joe Girardi told the Daily News about Cabrera when he managed him while with the Florida Marlins in 2006:

"I didn't have any problems with him. I had him and I know what he did for me. He's a great player and a smart player. He really understands the game of baseball. I loved having him."

You can obviously tell that Girardi--who was entering his first season in 2008 as Yankee manager--didn't have a problem with him. Maybe Girardi could have played a mentor to him if he landed in New York, who knows.Just think, if Cashman could have traded say Phil Hughes, Alan Horne, and Jose Tabata for Miguel Cabrera, the Yankees would have been set for a much longer period of time with Cabrera in the middle of their order--who was then 25 years old--than ARod, who was 33 years old at the time. But that possible trade could have affected other trades;
Like the Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in July of 2008. It also could have even affected the Curtis Granderson three-way trade with the Detroit Tigers and Arizona D'Backs before the 2010 campaign.

Remember, when Detroit acquired Cabrera from Florida in exchange for six players including then top prospects Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, he played one more season at third base in 2008 before moving over to first base in 2009. So, if the Yanks acquired him he'd still be at third base for the 2008 season, and likely move over to first in 2009, thus this means no Mark Teixeira. The Yankees then could have acquired a new third baseman before the 2009 season for say, Adrian Beltre who was with the Seattle Mariners at the time and he probably needed a new change of scenery.
Looking back, one caveat of this trade could have been Miguel Cabrera's recent history off the field with his alcohol issues. He's been arrested way more than his fair share of times since arriving in Detroit, how would it play out in New York? Again, who knows. Maybe Girardi could have gotten in Cabrera's head and steered him in the right direction. Am I saying that would happen for sure? No, but it's a possibility.

Of course we all know by now that if Cabrera was traded to the Yanks, ARod's time with the Yankees would be over. Where would he have ended up? Who knows. Maybe he could go out west with Joe Torre and the Dodgers. What about the Angels? The Mets? Remember, ARod could have gone to the Mets before joining the Rangers prior to the 2001 season. Read that story HERE. He also could have ended up with the Red Sox, but they would have had to part ways with Mike Lowell who was fresh off winning the 2007 World Series MVP. It would definitely be a bold move by the Red Sox for sure.

Hindsight is 20/20, thus anyone can critique Cashman's work. But I'll say that if this trade was completed, it would have set up the Yankees much better for the future with Cabrera than they are now with ARod. As we know, A-Rod is 36 years old while Cabrera is 28. Also, ARod has six years and $143 million left on his contract that he signed before 2008, while Cabrera has four more years and $86 million left on his contract he signed before the 2008 season as well. As you see, the Yankees would be better set up financially for a player in Cabrera than ARod who looks like along with all his injuries, he's clearly going downhill. It's all very interesting, isn't it?

Finally, I just want to say that Bleeding Yankee Blue has allowed me to grow as a writer and I am thankful. Now comes something that I need to get off my chest. The other night, while writing this piece, I decided to float the discussion on River Ave Blues. You can see the thread HERE.To my surprise, the next day on River Ave Blues, a story appeared with my exact idea. You can look at it HERE. Now, I get it, it's the Internet; ideas are thrown around all the time, but I was both disappointed and sorry. I was disappointed that a website who is usually top notch with their posts would blatantly rejigger my idea into a piece for their audience. Of course, I am sorry that I didn't bring my idea to our Bleeding Yankee Blue readers first. It's true, there was no true violation here, but it's just disappointing and so, later that day, I commented back on RAB:We decided we wouldn't wait until Winter. Lesson learned I guess. But let's be honest here; River Ave Blues now has a black eye in my opinion. This was a site that was once reputable. Suddenly it's taking ideas from a comment section and twisting it into their own idea. Wow...baffling. You really need to ask yourself... are they really all that?




--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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WHY THE YANKEES AND ROCKIES ARE CHATTING

It’s still early but it is interesting how things progress sometimes. We all first heard a whiff of the Yankees being interested in Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies around the All-Star Game and there is no doubt in my mind that the rumor is probably true based on the fact that yesterday it is being reported that the Rockies have been checking out the Yankees Farm System HERE. Now, clearly we have some good kids down there and we all know Jimenez is a talented arm as well, so It leads me to believe that if Cashman can get creative and not give away the true talent, but instead deal some of the kids who we are not hard pressed to keep, we may see some movement on this “rumor”. But the reality is, I can't see the Rockies parting with Jimenez.

Look hear me out. Let me be the first to say that Jesus Montero is a talented catcher and many of us, no no, let me rephrase that… almost all of us thought we’d see Jesus Montero behind the plate for the Yankees this year. Many saw him as the main catcher early, then we saw him as a backup catcher and then we saw him as coming up by the All-Star break. Yes, it’s true, his bat is terrific and his defense is a work in progress, but still, this guy will be a young talent. But let's be honest, I’m not so sure Montero is the guy we should be protecting when it comes to the trade deadline. I think it may infact be Austin Romine. My opinion, I may be wrong.

Now, clearly no one has a crystal ball and knows if either one of them will because a superstar in the future, but I’m going with my gut on this one. I believe Montero could be moved. Why? Because if the Yankees want to win, they’ll need some solid pitching. CC, AJ and Colon have been solid, but as we saw the other night, Colon could possibly be breaking down and that’s worrisome. That would leave us with 2 solid starters, a guy named Hughes with a “dead arm” mystery and The Chief, who while solid, you have to think, if Colon is first, is The Chief next? The point is one quality starter is going to require us moving 1 quality prospect, or 2 or 3 and that’s how you win, you give up good stuff to get good stuff.

That being said, the Rockies probably want pitching and Montero is a great prospect, but a catcher. Would they ask for Manny Banuelos? I say he’s off limits. How about Dellin Betances? Well, I may be willing to part with him, but it depends on for who. Andrew Brackman? I’d be willing to part with him.

(In Photo: Jose Tabata / Getty)

I think back to 2008 when the Yankees needed alittle pitching and a bat. The Yankees at the time were not willing to part with Jose Tabata. They were sure he was the next best thing for the Yankees. At the end of the day, the Yanks unloaded Tabata right before the deadline. The New York Yankees traded he, Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen and Ross Ohlendorf to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady.

The point is, anything can happen. So, with all the talk about the Yankees and Jimenez and the Rockies creeping around the Yankees farm, never say never, because there’s always a chance it may be now…especially if they need a hard throwing pitcher, believe me.

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