Yankees 2011 individual game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. this morning at their official website.
- The Yankees signed 20-year old Dominican RHP Juan Carlos Paniagua, for a reported $1.1 million. Said Baseball America -
Paniagua, who had previously been suspended by Major League Baseball for one year due to age and identity fraud, is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with excellent arm speed and a power fastball that sits around 93-95 mph and touches 98. Some scouts said Paniagua has shown feel for a curveball and a changeup that could become above-average offerings in the future, though other scouts weren't quite as sold on his secondary pitches.
Sounds promising.
- Baseball Prospectus' injury prediction system, CHIPPER, took on the 2011 Yankees. The most injury-prone players apparently are Mariano Rivera, Russell Martin, Jorge Posada, Andruw Jones and Alex Rodriguez. The healthiest are supposed to be CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and a few relievers. It's surprising that the pitchers are almost universally predicted to be healthier than the batters. (BTW, Rivera is scheduled to debut on Sunday.)
- Kevin Long said it's "not even an option" that Derek Jeter wouldn't be in the top third of the lineup. Is he talking about the same Jeter that OPS'ed .710 last year?
- Ivan Nova says his mentor is A.J. Burnett... let that sink in. Of all the pitchers to be the protege to (Rivera, Sabathia, etc.), he chooses Burnett?!
- A storage company in New York has ads in the subway poking fun at the Mets.
- The Yankee Analysts interviewed beat writer, Bryan Hoch.
- The Royals are considering offers for former third-baseman-now-outfielder Alex Gordon. He OPS'ed .671 last year in 74 games, but is only 27, so the Royals still think highly enough of him to ask for a top prospect in return. Would you ever consider trying to acquire the former elite prospect?