Bronx Bound 4/19

After a 9 day road trip (yay Spring Break!) and about 6 hours of grading the papers I should have graded while I was on the road (boo end of Spring Break!), I'm finally ready for opening day of Bronx Bound.

For those of you new to Pinstripe Alley, this is my little weekly feature checking in on the Yankee minor leaguers most likely to find their way to the big leagues in 2009.  I'm more concerned with MLB readiness than ceiling, so if you're interested in high projection guys like Jesus, stay tuned to Travis' Trenton to the Gulf Coast feature.

This should post Sunday mornings, but (obviously) sometimes I'm side tracked.  Those days just set your browser to auto-refresh and check the computer every 5 minutes.

Steven Jackson's AAA performance has earned him a spot in the bullpen (for now).  I want to see Phil Hughes or IPK take Wang's next start (against the Red Sox at Fenway).  Boston has been Kryptonite for the Wormkiller (bandbox with a fast/ uneven infield + powerful lineup); might as give the team a chance to win.  IPK has been better than Phranchise so far this season (fewer hits, more K's), but I still favor the power arm.

Speaking of worm killers, check out the grounder to fly ball ratio on powerarmed 21 year old Zach McAllister. 6'6", 230 lbs., McAllister will remind you a lot of CMW- pound the strike zone, producing weak contact and few Ks.  Count McAllister and former Tiger farm hand Kevin Whelan (Sheffield trade) as pitchers who are hurt by the Yankees' depth- in most other systems they'd be at AAA.  Would someone accidently trade for Kei Igawa already?

Humberto Sanchez and Wilkin de la Rosa have not pitched this season.  Anyone have more info?  Likewise, Ramiro Pena is listed as a shortstop on Scranton's roster, but he has no stats.  Is his coming off an injury (I know he was hurt a lot last season)?

Slammin' Shelley Duncan is doing his thing in Scranton, while overshadowed catching prospect Francisco Cervelli is probably looking for a live rooster to remove the hex from his bat.  Cervelli's SLG is one-tenth Duncan's.  Don't think about that too long, you'll give yourself an aneurism. 

Finally, Austin Jackson is off to a Swisher-esque start in Scranton (.480/.563/.560).  Put him on the mound, Skip.