April isn't over, the season isn't over, but this week will test the Rays.

There is much I want to say and more, particularly after missing the last week on vacation, but let me start here:

The Rays stand with an 11-15 record, four games below break even and last in the division. The Yankees lead with a 15-10 record and will welcome the Rays to New York this weekend, but not before the Rays face the fourth place team, Boston (12-14).

The entire division is separated by less than five wins after ~25 games played, and the entire division is still projected as a coin flip toward the playoffs; that is to say, around 50% odds of making the postseason. It's still wide open, but only one of these teams is treading water while in a crisis of depth.

Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

State of the Rotation

Tampa Bay started the off-season with the expectation of trading front line starter David Price, but the team never found a deal they liked and held on to the growing salary of their ace. Shortly thereafter, the Rays lost four pitchers on the depth chart: Jeremy Hellickson (loose bodies in the elbow), Alex Cobb (strained oblique while batting in NL game), Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery), and Alex Colome (50 game suspension during elbow recovery).

Now the Rays are faced with starting what was likely the 5th, 7th, and 8th starters on the depth chart in Jake Odorizzi, Cesar Ramos, and Erik Bedard. Following from there would be rookie starters still marinating in the minors: Nate Karns, Enny Romero, Matt Andriese, Mike Montgomery, and Merrill Kelly.

The first two mentioned are considered top prospects in the system and have experience at the major league level, but the Rays choice to hold them down in a situation like this is indicative of their progress in development, likely due to their deliveries (one rigid, the other wild). Matt Andriese is a groundball specialist with much to prove.

Mike Montgomery is a wildcard who recently pitched all but two outs of a no-hitter, but has seen his prospect ranking drop off the board twice in his minor league career, and Merrill Kelly is another rigid starter not expected to succeed above Triple-A. I mention Merrill because there aren't many names the Rays could vault from Double-A either.

Should the Rays promote Montgomery? He's been the most consistent starter in Triple-A through five turns in the rotation, and earned unsolicited praise from Jim Hickey during spring training, but bringing him up now could just ruin everything. He's gone from top-5 prospect, to blue chip trade piece, to probable reliever, and now back to solid starter when no one was looking? I don't buy it just yet, or if he's finally putting his mechanics together I'm not sure facing MLB hitters would help just yet, but if he continues to show he can hold his own we might be approaching a "why not" situation.

The scouting report on Montgomery is simple enough, and was confirmed by Bernie Pleskoff this winter:

Of the three pitches I saw Montgomery throw, I felt his fastball was average in movement and efficiency, the curve had nice tilt and deceptive movement, and the changeup was a plus pitch. The changeup did what was intended. It consistently changed the balance and eye level of the hitters.

Montgomery effectively kept the ball away from hitters. It will help if he busts some pitches inside, but working away was his general game plan

[...]

Montgomery has had a barking shoulder at times, and it's something he has monitor. There were times when Montgomery looked very comfortable and in rhythm on the mound in the AFL. Other times, it looked as if he was struggling to find a consistent release point and arm slot.

If Montgomery can keep the ball low in the zone, he will be most effective. With his height -- and pitching downhill -- he can induce groundouts by keeping the ball down. I saw him do that with good results.

Montgomery has upside and a bright future as either a starting pitcher or a situational or late-inning reliever. I project him as a starter. Montgomery has the repertoire, the mound presence and fairly efficient mechanics to give his team innings from the rotation.

Smart use of the change and curve is enough to get by at the major league level, and if his command has improved then ground balls should follow in a well-called game. Sure enough, through his five games thus far, Montgomery has a 50% GB-rate (up five percent) and a sparkling 26.4% K-rate (up nearly ten percent). It's hard to know much more or what is sustainable. When I saw Montgomery pitch in the AFL he looked horrible, but as Pleskoff notes, Monty would fluctuate from good to bad. I saw the bad. In Durham he's shown the good. What's real?

Alex Cobb is still a month away from joining the Rays and currently throwing at 90 feet, and Hellickson recently had his first session on the mound but is eyeing a return in early June. Their replacements have yet to pitch into the fifth inning.

The Rays need one more month of Bedard and Ramos to hold up, and the bigger question mark there is Bedard. I'll have more on him later today, but with his innings limit lifted, he'll have tonight to prove he can command the strike zone this time around. If he doesn't, I wouldn't mind seeing a few minor league arms getting the nod. With Ramos I'm comfortable with the Rays sending him out there through May, but Bedard is less of a solid bet.

Photo credit: Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images

State of the Offense

As of publication, the Rays have three players in the top-20 in offensive WAR, as ranked by Fangraphs. Ben Zobrist is fifth (1.5 WAR, 148 wRC+), Evan Longoria twelfth (1.1 WAR, 123 wRC+), and Desmond Jennings seventeenth (1.0 WAR, 132 wRC+).  The former two are helped along by strong defensive play.

For wOBA performances, turn to Dock of the Rays, where we see Matt Joyce has been tearing the cover off the ball, with Loney and Hanigan also exceeding expectations. Follow the link, Jason's quality of analysis is a primary influence on who I am today as a writer and thinker, and the article is worth your time if you're interested in comparing your feelings on the offensive performances thus far to what expectations are for those players.

Overall the Rays rank fourth in WAR for positional players at 5.3, the second best mark in the American League, trailing the Angels with a decent mix of offense and defense. The Rays had a surge of errors in Chicago this week, but that was uncharacteristic for an otherwise solid field.

The outfield is an a strange place, as Matt Joyce* has taken the field while David DeJesus has been hitting from DH due to a sore shoulder after an awkward crash on April 18th. In this situation it helps that Joyce is an adequate defender. DeJesus may return in Fenway, thanks to the limited grass in left field and the expectation of shorter throws, but why push it?

*Currently with the third highest OBP in baseball.

Meanwhile, we recently learned that Wil Myers was battling his own sore shoulder last season, which explains why he was so hesitant to make throws from the outfield. He recently unleashed a throw that would have had a runner dead to rights at second base, had Yunel Escobar not dropped the throw, and I was floored. Myers is a converted catcher and I've always presumed he would have a great arm if the Rays let him air it out. We're starting to see that this season.

Photo credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Weathering the Coming Storm

Beyond the Box Score had a great read on playoff odds based on early records, between 20 and 60 games played, but I would encourage that this barely applies to this year's AL East.

Tampa Bay, Boston, and New York each have 40% or better odds to make the playoffs, according to Baseball Prospectus's current percentage standings, with all three teams between 30-50% on making the divisional round. From there, the Rays and Red Sox have 5% odds of the World Series, and the Yankees a 6.5% -- though that may nor properly reflect Ivan Nova's recent Tommy John surgery assignment.

The Rays have lost 12% in the standings to New York over the past week thanks to the current losing streak, but this week could change everything.

Here are the expected match ups over the next six games:

Bedard v Lackey
Archer v Doubront
Ramos v Peavy
Price v Nuno
Odorizzi v Tanaka
Bedard v Sabathia

Jason from Dock of the Rays ran quick wOBA projections on the match ups and found advantages toward the Rays in the first, second, and fourth start listed, with close results for Odorizzi and Bedard in starts five and six. Meanwhile, Ramos remains a strong candidate to stare down lefties, which Boston has plenty of.

All of that is to say, the coming week will test the Rays endurance after some difficult and high-scoring losses, but are each winnable games. If the Rays can take four of these games, the division race is even slimmer than the current 4.5 game spread, and easily obtainable. However, surviving a chilly and rainy road trip through New England is no easy task.

Robinson Cano is back in the Bronx. So is the rain. Will the Yankees get tonight's game in? Will they get tomorrow night's game in? New PSA DP questions await you.

Weather permitting, tonight will kick off a three game series against the Seattle Mariners. Robinson Cano, former super awesome, talented, healthy Yankee second baseman, returns to the Bronx for the first time since he signed the Mariners' "Bruce Wayne-ish" contract. It's nothing compared to that sweet blogger coin though. Hahahahaaa...siiiiigh. New DP questions for the week.

4/29/14 Daily Predictions & Fun Questions

Hipster Fill in the Blank: I was _____________ before it was ________. (You can decide on the last blank being "in" or "a thing" or whatevs)

Least favorite commercial on TV or Radio?

What food/drink/condiment/spice/etc. did you once hate but now love?

Preferred brand of toothpaste?

Michael Pineda would have been the starting pitcher tonight, but he is unavailable after coming down with a bad case of suspension. CC Sabathia is now the scheduled starter, but the Yankees will be lucky to get this game in tonight. Or tomorrow night. In fact, we're looking at a potential triple header on Thursday. Okay, they're probably not going to play a triple header on Thursday. Nevertheless, this is the Mariners' only trip to the Bronx this season, so the teams are going to have to get creative when it comes to make up dates.

So, loyal PSAer, what would you do? If tonight's game and tomorrow night's game are rained out, how would you solve the problem?

Look at this face. How can you boo this face?

Much has already been made of Robinson Cano's first trip back to New York City following his lucrative contract signing in Seattle. There's no question that his East Coast departure ruffled some feathers among the Yankee Faithful, and it's safe to say that the sound accompanying his first at-bat in Yankee Stadium will not be thunderous applause, but unrestrained antagonism.

Preceding Cano's appearance on the Tonight Show yesterday evening, Jimmy Fallon sent him to the streets of NYC to get a feel for the reception awaiting him. Cano was instructed to step inside of a box that was plastered with Mariners logos and a large cutout of his headshot, complete with a Seattle cap. Fans were first asked to verify their Yankee fandom, then to practice booing at the cutout.

The Yankees: A preponderance of pomposity

Robinson Cano is returning to Yankee Stadium as an opponent playing for that one team that plays way out there ya know?

The reactions ranged from mild expressions of disappointment to passionate bouts of cursing and screaming.

"BOO! YOU SUCK!" one fan yelled at the top of his lungs, waving his hands at the cutout until Cano stepped out. The fan laughed as he welcome Robbie back to New York.

One timid fan couldn't find it in himself to let loose at the picture, but instead spread his palms wide and tried to reason with it. "You got a beard now? Come on. You're better than that," he said.

Perhaps the best reaction was delivered by a fan who punctuated his shouts with a double-thumbs down at the box. When Cano opened the door, things got a little awkward. "I won't actually boo you," the fan said sheepishly. "I'll be rooting for you to, uh... play well but not win." Cue nervous laughter.

To their credit, each of the fans quickly recovered after seeing the slugger and extended him a handshake and a warm, if somewhat embarrassed, welcome. Robinson seemed to have fun with it -- admittedly, a lot more fun than he'll have tonight against a crowd that won't be face-to-face with the former Yankee, either to shake his hand or offer him a courtesy 'welcome back'.

"I left in a good way," Cano told Fallon later in the show. "I'll hopefully get a good standing ovation. But if it's not I'm going to have fun. I'm still going to have some love for the New York fans, for all those years I was here."

Stay classy, Yankees fans.

What do you think: If you were put in a similar situation -- but, say, A-Rod was in the box behind that cutout -- how would you react?

Believe it or not, Yankees/Mariners games were once arguably more heated than Yankees/Red Sox.

During the mid-1990s, baseball featured a resurgence following the heartbreaking players' strike that cancelled the end of the 1994 season. Two of the teams that broke through around this time that became perennial powerhouses were both absent from the playoff picture for at least 14 years--the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. A decade of near-miss playoff berths in the '80s had devolved into some pretty awful baseball in the early '90s for the Yankees, and the Mariners were a laughingstock, having finished above .500 just twice during their 18 seasons since joining the American League as an expansion team in 1977. They were within 10 games of a playoff berth in only one of those seasons, and that was a seven-game deficit as a sub-.500 team in '87.

Fortunately for the two teams, they both featured very capable general managers who each had a real eye for talent: Gene "Stick" Michael and Woody Woodward. Under their watch, young talent was acquired through superb scouting of amateur players and trades. An obvious pre-Woodward move that was a boon for Seattle was the number one overall pick in the '87 MLB Draft, the son of a former All-Star outfielder who always seemed to have a smile on his face named Ken Griffey, Jr. Called up to the majors in '89 at the precocious age 19 after tearing up the minors, he became the greatest player to ever put on a Mariners uniform, beginning a streak of 10 straight All-Star appearances with the Mariners in 1990. "The Kid" would go on to hit a franchise record 417 homers, twice bashing 56 in a season, and unanimously winning the '97 AL MVP.

Woodward made a brilliant move in May of '89 by dealing starter Mark Langston to the Expos in exchange for an intimidating 6'10" flamethrowing lefty with little control named Randy Johnson. "The Big Unit" led the league in walks for three straight years before finally honing his control from 1993-95. He led the AL each year in strikeouts from 1992-95, capping that streak off with the '95 AL Cy Young Award. By the time he left Seattle in '98, he had struck out an incredible 2,162 batters in 1,838 1/3 innings, a remarkable 10.6 K/9. Seattle also fleeced the Yankees for power-hitting right fielder Jay Buhner in July of '88; "Bone" became an instant fan favorite and recorded the first of seven straight 20-homer seasons in '91. Buhner made a habit of hurting the team that gave him away, punishing Yankees pitching to a .283/.379/.578 triple slash in his career with 28 homers in 104 games.

In the midst of an awful 98-loss campaign in '92, a hitting expert third baseman named Edgar Martinez belted a league-high 46 doubles while winning his first batting title thanks to a .343/.404/.544, 164 OPS+ batting line. Injuries forced him off of third and superior defensive first baseman allowed to focus on developing his skills as a designated hitter. Martinez mastered the position so thoroughly that the award for the greatest DH in baseball every year was eventually titled the "Edgar Martinez Award." Like Buhner, he thrashed Yankees pitching, batting .317/.423/.542 with 44 doubles and 22 homers in 138 games against them.

With this talented core complemented by other fine young players like first baseman Tino Martinez and catcher Dan Wilson, the Mariners were primed for a dark horse run at the playoffs in '95. They fell behind by 13 1/2 games to the California Angels though, and they lost Griffey for a couple months on a phenomenal play in May. Things were bleak in Seattle, and there was a very real possibility that the team would abandon the city soon without a new stadium plan approved to replace the ugly Kingdome. Their fortunes turned on a walk-off homer by Griffey against the Yankees in his first game back, and they were tremendous down the stretch.

The Mariners went 19-8 in September and caught up to the free-falling Angels. Behind Johnson, they beat them in a one-game playoff for the AL West division title. Their Division Series opponent would be their newfound rival, who always seemed to show up in their biggest games--the Yankees.

The story of the Yankees' phoenix-like rise from last place in '90 to a playoff berth in '95 has been well-documented. Michael made a habit of shedding players who did not have any plate discipline or pitching poise. Gone were the days of Tim Leary and Mel Hall, and in were the days of Paul O'Neill, Jimmy Key, Wade Boggs, and their burgeoning center fielder, Bernie Williams. Losing Key to rotator cuff surgery was damaging in '95, but at the trade deadline, the Yankees added defending Cy Young Award winner David Cone to their rotation. They had also started the season slowly, but a red hot September led to the first ever AL Wild Card going to the Yankees. Their 14-year playoff drought was over and their longtime captain and first baseman Don Mattingly was finally going to play in the post-season.

The '95 ALDS was as epic as a best-of-five series could be, and it was impactful enough that a book was later written about it. The Yankees won a pair of close games in the first two matchups, both played at Yankee Stadium. A walk-off 15th inning homer by Jim Leyrtiz gave them a 2-0 lead and they needed to win just one of the next three games in Seattle to move on to the ALCS.

Sadly, it was not meant to be, as the Mariners ripped the Yankees' and their fans' hearts out with three straight wins in Seattle, a streak highlighted by blown saves, an Edgar game-tying grand slam, and Griffey setting a record with five homers in a five-game series. Cone threw 144 pitches in Game 5, desperately clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth, but a bases-loaded walk to Pat Strange tied it and ended his night. His manager, Buck Showalter, no longer trusted the bullpen, even though a hard-throwing up-and-comer named Mariano Rivera had thrown scoreless ball in the series to date.

The game moved to the 10th and thanks to a clutch hit by Randy Velarde, the Yankees actually took a one-run lead on Johnson, pitching in relief. Starter Jack McDowell entered in relief to try to close out the Mariners, but to no avail. A two-run double by Edgar ended the series, and the Mariners mobbed Griffey at home plate after he scored the winning run. Baseball in Seattle was saved (a change of heart led the local council to approve the construction of what is now Safeco Field), though at the expense of Mattingly's career.

Over the next few seasons, the rivalry would continue, highlighted by Dwight Gooden's no-hitter, intense brawls following beanballs (likely encouraged by former Yankees player-turned-Seattle manager Lou Piniella, who loved to beat his former team), and the rise of their two amazing shortstops, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. The Yankees won the World Series in '96, '98, and '99 while the Mariners reached the playoffs in '97, though a late '90s slump led to Griffey's and Johnson's respective decisions to depart. It would take until 2000 when the teams would meet again in the playoffs. Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick was now in charge, and A-Rod was the star of the team, though he was nicely complemented by Edgar, Buhner, center fielder Mike Cameron, and first baseman John Olerud.

The Yankees' core of course featured Jeter, Bernie, Rivera, and Tino Martinez, the former Mariners first baseman. This time, it was the ALCS, and the Mariners jumped out to a 1-0 lead at Yankee Stadium and seemed poised to take a 2-0 lead when the Yankees were scoreless for 16 straight innings. The offense erupted with a seven-run eighth to capture a 7-1 lead and tie the series. Led by Roger Clemens' one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout in Game 4 at Safeco Field, the Yankees took a 3-2 series lead back to Yankee Stadium. The Mariners held some hope, as they had a 4-3 lead in the seventh in the hands of Arthur Rhodes. Trade acquisition and ALCS MVP David Justice had other plans though, as he socked a three-run bomb off Rhodes to give the Yankees the lead and avenge Edgar's double of five years prior, effectively ending Seattle's exciting season. The Yankees closed out the 7-4 victory and won their third straight World Series title.

A year later, the two teams were back in the ALCS, and Seattle was the heavy favorite. They had lost A-Rod to free agency but added Japanese phenom Ichiro Suzuki, who went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001. The Mariners were unbelievable, breaking the '98 Yankees' AL record for victories with 116. Like the Yankees of the late-'90s, they just seemed to be an incredibly deep team. They had a damn difficult lineup with Ichiro, Cameron, Edgar, Olerud, and slugging second baseman Bret Boone, and their rotation had a threat in each spot with Freddy Garcia, Aaron Sele, and Jamie Moyer.

To the shock of the baseball world, the '01 Yankees pretty much steamrolled the best team in baseball in five games. They opened the series with back-to-back wins in Seattle behind strong pitching from Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina, then after losing Game 3 in a 14-3 blowout, they tied Game 4 at one in the eighth with a Bernie Williams homer off Rhodes (their whipping boy) and walked off dominant closer Kazuhiro Sasaki on a two-run homer by rookie second baseman Alfonso Soriano in the bottom of the ninth.

Another strong performance by ALCS MVP Pettitte the next day ended the series and the Yankees won their fourth straight pennant.

Seattle has not returned to the playoffs since then. After back-to-back near-miss playoff seasons in '02 and '03, they fell into a still-active, decade-long malaise thanks to some awful GMs to follow Gillick (Bill Bavasi and Jack Z). Despite terrific seasons from Ichiro and 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez, they have posted just two over-.500 seasons since 2003. Their 12-year playoff drought is longer than all other teams in baseball except for the Royals and Blue Jays. Maybe things are on the rise now that Robinson Cano is in Seattle and they have other superb players in" King Felix," Kyle Seager, and Hisashi Iwakuma. Maybe one day Yankees/Mariners will have the cache it once did. For now though, all we can do is look back upon those late-'90s and early-2000s days and marvel at the intensity shared by these two teams whenever they matched up.

BONUS

A bonus GIF for you Yankees fans who hate the Kingdome because of 1995. Crumble, you filth, crumble! (h/t Greg Kirkland)

Tanya Bourdurant stops by to answer some questions about the Yankees.

The Mariners are about to begin a critical road trip, starting in New York. At 10-14, it's imperative that the Mariners stay afloat during this road trip, and it begins this evening with a matchup against C.C. Sabathia, as he faces off against extreme fly-baller Chris Young in Yankee Stadium.

Gulp.

I reached out to Tanya Boudurant, managing editor of Pinstripe Alley. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions about the current state of the Yankees, and what we can expect from them in this series. Here are the answers.

Scott: Where did Yangervis Solarte come from, and what has contributed to his breakout? Do you feel his April is something he can sustain, or is this just a fluke where you're enjoying the ride?

Tanya: The Yankees signed Solarte as a free agent this offseason after he'd been in the Texas Rangers organization since 2011. He became a bit of a running gag on Pinstripe Alley before spring training even began because he has such a fantastic name and everyone was beyond tired of the team's ongoing love affair with Eduardo Nunez. Solarte came to big league camp and just never stopped hitting. Despite the fact that Solarte did nothing but hit all spring, most of us figured the Yankees would go with what they knew in Nunez. As the team was packing up to leave Tampa for their first series of the season they finally decided to give the final roster spot to Solarte instead of Nunez. The rest is history.

I don't think he can sustain the amazingly hot start he's gotten off to in April, but he does show signs of having the plate awareness needed to be a big league player. He's selective and doesn't expand the zone very much. He's been great defensively at third base, which was an absolute disaster for the Yankees last season. The league will adjust to him and Solarte will have to adjust right back, but I do think he shows some signs of being able to perform at the major league level, even if it isn't at his current torrid pace. That being said, none of us would be shocked if it all ends up being a fluke. We've really enjoyed watching him play and succeed.

Scott: How much concern is there over Brian Roberts and the second base situation at this point? If the Yankees make a move, how much longer do they give Roberts to perform?

Tanya: Worrying about second base production is a new thing for Yankees fans, but I think anyone would be pretty silly to not wonder if Roberts is just done. It seems like he swings with all his strength at times with only the ability to get a fairly lazy fly ball to the warning track with it. That doesn't even get into the fact that he is pretty notoriously made of glass at this point, having already missed a few games with a bad back.

The Yankees love their veterans and I wouldn't be surprised to see Roberts get a very long leash. Kelly Johnson and Solarte could force Joe Girardi's hand into giving them both a starting job if Roberts continues to struggle. If a move is made to either make Roberts a permanent bench player or to send him to the waiver wire, I expect that it would be the end of May before the team really starts to seriously consider it. Who knows what happens between then and now. A fluke injury could very well answer the question for them.

Scott: Michael Pineda's pine tar fiasco has been a hot issue. If he was careless enough to do it twice without hiding it well, do you worry that he simply can't get a grip on the ball and his performance may be affected when he returns?

Tanya: The good news is that the weather is going to start getting warmer and Pineda shouldn't need to resort to pine tar as much as his two notorious starts on cold nights against the Red Sox. I think, more than anything, it's a case of a young player making an incredibly poor decision he didn't fully understand the consequences of. There has been speculation that the Yankees gave him a stern talking to after the first time, but that the message of the severity of what he did and the penalties he could face were relayed in English. Obviously the need for more Spanish-speaking translators has also come to the forefront of MLB recently, but that's a separate matter. Pineda deserved his punishment for being so blatant about it.

I do worry a bit that Pineda needs some sort of substance to grip the ball better and he's obviously going to be the most heavily watched pitcher in the major leagues for a long time to come. He just didn't seem to have the same control (or even velocity) in his first pine tar incident after he washed it off between innings. Managers are certainly going to keep an eye out for anything he may be using to aid his grip, which is especially unfortunate for Pineda considering how rampant the use of tacky substances by pitchers all around MLB is thought to be since it became a hot button issue. Hopefully a combination of warmer weather and savvy veteran teammates can help him be a little less foolish going forward.

Scott: Besides the velocity, what are you seeing out of CC Sabathia this year that may be contributing to his struggles on the mound?

Tanya: The velocity is obviously the main issue with Sabathia. You have to be pretty perfect when your fastball sits around 90 mph and I don't think CC has figured out quite how to fully cope with his lack of velocity just yet. He did learn a cutter from Andy Pettitte that I think has helped a bit, but he has shown a propensity for big innings that I think has really contributed to his struggles. His mistakes seemingly all go for home runs or extra bases. He could give up multiple runs early and then really settle down or be cruising along and let the opposing team hang a crooked number late. Minimizing the damage instead of letting it spiral out of control would go a long way to making Yankee fans feel a little better about the pitcher who was supposed to be the ace of the staff.

Scott:  Masahiro Tanaka has been missing bats like crazy and his control has been pristine. Is he really as good as advertised, or do you think this is bound to come back to earth?

Tanya: Tanaka has been even better than advertised, I think. I was fully onboard the hype train before he signed and he's shattered all my expectations. Sunday night was the first time I've seen Tanaka really struggle with his control, walking more Angels (4) than batters he'd walked all season prior to that game (2). Still, he managed to hold the highest scoring offense in MLB to this point in check and give his team a chance to mount a late comeback. All while striking out 11 without any of his best stuff. Watching him pitch is truly a treat and he is absolutely lethal once he gets two strikes on a batter.

What the Angels were able to do was possibly expose a bit of a flaw in Tanaka's game by finding success swinging at the first pitch. Nearly all of their hits Sunday night came on the first pitch of the at-bat. Now that the Yankees are aware of that, I expect pitching coach Larry Rothschild to work with Tanaka on mixing it up and not throwing a fat pitch to try and get ahead early. Tanaka claims that his splitter is even better with MLB's version of the baseball than it was using NPB's baseball. He's a smart pitcher with a very good arsenal at his disposal. I think some of his numbers (like his walk rate) will be a little more human by the end of the season, but that still leaves the Yankees with an insanely good pitcher who only gets better once he actually makes a mistake that allows a hitter to reach base. Opposing batters are currently 0-22 with 13 strikeouts with runners on base over Tanaka's three starts.

Previewing Yankees/Mariners with Scott Weber, managing editor of SB Nation's Mariners blog.

With the Yankees and Mariners set to kick off a three-game set at Yankee Stadium tonight, weather permitting, Scott Weber of Lookout Landing was kind enough to answer a couple questions about the Mariners, a couple of our old former friends, and those never-ending trade rumors about Nick Franklin. I also answered some questions for Scott, which you can read by clicking here and heading over to Lookout Landing. I gush about Masahiro Tanaka, worry a little about Michael Pineda, and recite the story of the hero of our time, Yangervis Solarte.

Onto the Q&A!

1. The Mariners gave Robinson Cano a contract that far exceeded what the Yankees were willing to give their homegrown superstar. What were your feelings on the signing when it happened? Have those feelings changed at all now?

My feelings on the Cano contract are about the same as they were before. It isn't going to be worth it in the later years, but he should deliver close value early on. It was always about changing the culture in Seattle more than anything else, avoiding the stigma. The Mariners had their crack at a superstar and they took it, knowing that a sure thing is sometimes better than gambling on several individual pieces only to find out they had no interest, much like it seemed (thankfully) with Nelson Cruz. It's hard to worry too much about it now, Cano is such a pure hitter and a joy to watch that I will manage up the proper amount of concern when he starts to show signs of decline. Despite a slow start, I don't have any concerns yet.

2. With Michael Pineda finally making it back to the majors after recovering from shoulder surgery and finding quite a bit of success early on, do you have any hope left that Jesus Montero's career can help salvage that trade in your mind?

There's some, and I wrote about it a bit yesterday. (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2014/4/28/5661558/jesus-montero-doing-things-in-tacoma) At this point, Montero has zero expectations. Nobody expects him to succeed, and the organization has pretty much moved on without him. But he's starting to hit in Tacoma, finally dominating a minor league level. He was always very good in the minors, but never great. The disclaimer was that he was young for the level, but it's good to see him really starting to impose his will. All the weight issues, the concerns about being lazy and unfocused, it just doesn't matter if he can't hit. He has to hit. Now, he's hitting, but it's also paired with a lot of strikeouts and not a lot of walks. Who knows. He has to develop into a hell of a hitter to justify the deal, even after Pineda's injuries and the pine tar. Montero is only 24, but he feels like he's 27. He's younger than many prospects who have yet to make their debut. His path isn't completed yet.

3. Everyone is familiar with how good Felix Hernandez has been and continues to be. How do you feel about the results from the other probable pitchers for this series, Chris Young and Roenis Elias, so far this season? What should Yankee batters expect to see from them?

Chris Young is an extreme fly ball pitcher who only throws in the mid 80s. You'd think he would get shelled, but his length allows the ball to appear faster than it really is, and somehow he's managed to make a career out of giving up long fly balls that stay in the park. That, as you can imagine, probably won't play very well in Yankee Stadium. Young has danced around the advanced metrics his entire career, keeping his ERA under his FIP, xFIP, and SIERA. His batted ball profiles make him look like one of the worst pitchers in the league, but he's been solid, even late in his career, with his current skillset. It still feels like he's hanging on by a thread at all times.

Roenis Elias is an enigma, jumping up from AA and filling a spot nobody expected him to. He's our own sort of Yangervis Solarte. He'll come at batters with nasty breaking stuff, but consistency is key with him. He's bounced around a bunch of different arm angles/release points through his career, and making them more repeatable was something the Mariners really worked to fix. The returns have been tremendous so far, and while the ERA will probably come a little bit up from where it is now, he really looks like he could be a rotation staple for the Mariners this year as they deal with tons of arm injuries. He can be devastating against lefties when he locates his curveball on the inner half.

4. Nearly a month into the season, what do you think is the biggest strength of the Mariners? What is their biggest weakness so far?

The strength is their ability to stay respectable while the rotation is without Hisashi Iwakuma, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton. That's it, really. They aren't doing a ton of things well outside of a few players, but are finding ways to stay afloat, at least somewhat, through a very difficult April. The weakness, as it has been in many years, is the offense. While Kyle Seager is now on fire, Brad Miller has struggled immensely, Abraham Almonte is not the player the Mariners hoped he would be, and Dustin Ackley is starting to sputter again. The outfield is thin and doesn't offer much in terms of defense. Corey Hart has been a bright spot, decidedly less rusty than a lot of us expected he would be.

5. Nick Franklin has been the subject of trade rumors for months. Do you think the Mariners move him at some point this season? What kind of hypothetical return would you expect if they did?

At this point, I have no idea what the Mariners are doing with Nick Franklin, and I'm not sure they do either. They didn't get the kind of offers they wanted, so they held onto him. He then only played second base and shortstop in AAA, killed it, earned a call-up, and played all over the field in scattered starts. It didn't go great, and they demoted him but not until after they stuck him in the outfield, since it's really the only position he can play for the Mariners in the future assuming Brad Miller fixes himself. He still hasn't played a game in the outfield in the minors. There's just no room for him, but he's still a young and promising player with a lot of offensive potential. If he can play the outfield, the Mariners might just hold onto him, giving their lack of depth in the organization at the position.

It's just tough because the Mariners don't really need more prospects at this point. They need immediate help, and a contending team that would want to trade for him wouldn't want to give up one of their current contributors just to get Franklin. It might happen, or it might not. But if they don't deal him this year, his value might take a dive as a post-hype guy. The most important thing for the Mariners, and Franklin, is to continue dominating in AAA.

The Yankees will face the Mariners for the first time this season, but the big news is that Robinson Cano will be making his return to Yankee Stadium. Many words have been written about what his reception will be like and what his legacy in New York will be, but baseball continues and the Yankees want a win.

#Yankees lineup vs. SEA: Gardner CF, Jeter SS, Beltran RF, McCann C, Soriano DH, Teixeira 1B, Solarte 3B, Suzuki LF, Roberts 2B, Sabathia P

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 29, 2014

Jacoby Ellsbury having a day off after Monday's off-day is a bit concerning, but there's no word yet saying whether or not he's hurt.

Original lineup card had Ellsbury playing, Gardner out, so stay tuned #Yankees#Mariners

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) April 29, 2014

There's more to come, I'm sure.

In his place, Brett Gardner will be in center field and batting leadoff. Derek Jeter bats second, Carlos Beltran is in right field and batting third. Brian McCann is behind the plate and hitting cleanup while Alfonso Soriano is the DH. Mark Teixeira will bat sixth with Yangervis Solarte and third base, Ichiro Suzuki in left field, and Brian Roberts at second base.

If you were wondering and/or hoping for a Robinson Cano tribute video tonight, then you can stop wondering and/or hoping. Apparently there won't be one.

Yankees spokesman: "We are not planning for a Robinson Cano video to be shown." Would not comment on why that decision was made.

— Anthony Rieber (@therealarieber) April 29, 2014

Would one have been nice? I guess, but it's not really that big of a deal. Cano is only in his early 30s with plenty of career left to play, he isn't a Hall of Famer in waiting like Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera. There's no reason to have a ceremony for only one part of his career. Usually when returning heroes step up to the plate, the fans cheer for him until he steps out and acknowledges the crowd. I would hope that Yankees fans cheer him when he comes up, but I won't be expecting it and you shouldn't either.

Also, just as a warning:

Rain has begun falling in the Bronx. Forecast is for more. Tarp is on the field

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) April 29, 2014

It's supposed to rain all night and tomorrow as well, so tonight's game could be delayed. Who knows if they'll even be able to get all three games of this series in.

The injury bug takes a little nibble

Tonight's lineup originally included Jacoby Ellsbury in center field and Brett Gardner sitting. Now we know why. Joe Girardi is holding Ellsbury out of tonight's game because of a a sore left hand.

Girardi said Ellsbury has had a sore left hand for a couple days. He had tests which came back fine, so Girardi hopes to play him tomorrow.

— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) April 29, 2014

Ellsbury has been dealing with a sore hand. Girardi said its the top part of hand all tests negative. Said could use him for d if needed

— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) April 29, 2014

Girardi says that the center field would be available as a defensive replacement, if needed. and should be fine to play tomorrow night. I was expecting something much worse.

If Ellsbury's hand was going to be the extent of the injury bug tonight, I would have considered the Yankees to be lucky. Of course, that's not all as now there's trouble with Michael Pineda:

Pineda left a sim game with tightness in his right lat. Start Monday is "probably in jeopardy" according to Girardi.

— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) April 29, 2014

Pineda is supposed to return from his 10-day suspension to make a start against the Angels on Monday, but that might not happen. He will have an MRI on his right lat, and for the medically inept, like myself, here is a diagram of what Pineda hurt:

via upload.wikimedia.org

As you can see, it has nothing to do with his surgically repaired shoulder or even his pitching arm. If it's just tight, it might not end up being serious at all and he could return to the rotation for his next start. In the meantime, David Phelps is expected to remain in the rotation. After the suspension, and with off-days, it was believed that Phelps was only going to have to make one start. Now, it looks like it might be a little longer and Pineda could end up on the disabled list.

Another big inning doomed CC Sabathia as Robinson Cano made his return to Yankee Stadium.

Tonight, Robinson Cano returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since signing his big 10-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. Many wondered what the reaction would be like; would they boo or cheer? At first it seemed to be a mix of cheers and boos; as YES panned through the crowd, you could see people doing both. However, the boos got louder and just kept going. After each pitch, the boos would rise again, and turn to cheers when the call was a strike. Then there was a burst of glee from the crowd when CC Sabathia struck him out. When the Yankees came up to bat in the bottom of the first, the Bleacher Creatures started a roll call chant for Cano, but once he acknowledged them those cheers turned to chants of "You sold out" as they threw fake money onto the field. The boos and jeers continued throughout the night. Not a shining moment for the Yankees fanbase, to be sure.

The Yankees got the scoring started in the second inning with a solo home run to right field off the bat of Mark Teixeira. They scored again in the bottom of the third, thanks to a lucky break. Brian Roberts drew a walk and Brett Gardner singled to put two on before Carlos Beltran launched a sac fly that allowed Roberts to move to third. During the next at-bat, Gardner stole second and catcher Mike Zunino threw the ball into the outfield, allowing Roberts to score and the Yankees to take a 2–0 lead.

Unfortunately, CC gave it all up in a big top of the fifth. It all started when Zunino reached on a single after a replay overturned the initial out call. Then Willie Bloomquist hit a single down the first base line, just passed the reach of a diving Teixeira. Things then got bad when Abraham Almonte bunted and Brian Roberts didn't cover first in time. With the bases loaded and no one out, the Yankees looked like they were in major trouble. CC fought back by striking out Stefan Romero and getting Cano to ground out to first while conceding a run, but the success stopped there. Corey Hart hit a two-run double to take the lead and Justin Smoak singled to tack on another run and make it a 4–2 game.

Sabathia was finally knocked out of the game in the sixth, having given up four runs on nine hits, while striking out six in just five innings. The Mariners added a few more runs in the seventh against Dellin Betances when Cano reached on an infield single, stole second base, and then scored on a Dustin Ackley single right through the shift. Preston Claiborne came in and gave up another single through the shift and a second hit knocked in their sixth run of the night. Betances struck out four, but also surrendered two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings. Claiborne struck out a batter and allowed two hits in 1.1 innings, though the run he let score was charged to Betances. Chris Leroux pitched in the pouring rain and allowed two hits and got a strikeout in the ninth inning.

The Yankees lineup was relatively ineffective against the Mariners pitching staff. Chris Young pitched into the sixth inning and the offense was held to two hits against Charlie Furbush and Danny Farquhar over 2.1 innings. Fernando Rodney came in to end it in the ninth, but also to make it at least a little interesting. With one out he allowed a hit to Ichiro and a double to Roberts. Gardner hit an infield single to score their third run of the night, but they didn't get any closer than that.

In the end, Gardner had two hits and a stolen base, Derek Jeter had a hit, Teixeira hit a home run, Yangervis Solarte had a double and a walk, Ichiro had two hits and a walk, and Brian Roberts had a double and a walk. They had a few opportunities, but left nine runners on base and were only 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position with nine strikeouts. This is not a game to remember, so let the rain wash it out of your memory.

Sigh.

Michael Pineda had an MRI on his back that tightened up during a simulated game in Tampa while he sits out his suspension for using pine tar. That MRI has revealed that the Yankee right-hander has a Grade 1 strain of his teres major muscle and will be examined by team doctor Christopher Ahmad in New York later tonight or tomorrow.

This injury will almost certainly mean a DL stint is ahead for Pineda, causing the Yankees to keep David Phelps in their rotation. Having Ivan Nova and Pineda replaced by Vidal Nuno and Phelps so early in the season is obviously not the ideal scenario anyone would have dreamed up, but it could possibly work out in the Yankees' favor over the long haul. The team obviously needed to find a way to limit Pineda's innings in his first season back in almost two years while recovering from surgery on his shoulder. A small non-serious DL stint would allow Pineda to pitch deeper into the year and the Yankees to have to worry just a little less about how they are going to manage Pineda's innings. Not anything that could be considered the best case scenario, but it is a bit of a silver lining if you need one.

The flip side of that coin is this:

Let's not sugarcoat the Michael Pineda injury: While the teres major isn't part of the rotator cuff, it is part of the shoulder. Never good.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 30, 2014

But then there's this!

@JeffPassan It's below the shoulder. The teres major and minor muscles bound the axillary space (armpit). Not connected to labrum or r. cuff

— keithlaw (@keithlaw) April 30, 2014

We should know more about the course of action and how much time the team expects Pineda to miss with this particular ailment after he is examined by Dr. Ahmad, but here is the preliminary plan.

Pineda getting shut down for 10 days and will have to be built up again after that. So he's out a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) April 30, 2014

The Mariners defeated the Yankees on Tuesday, 6-3. Robinson Cano's return was about what you expected.

She was wearing the rain like a blanket, draped over tired shoulders and tired eyes desperate for relief. Her phone was aglow. New Message, it read. Hank (Cell).

At first, she didn't want to read it. But then she realized that she was only sitting in Yankee Stadium's section 236 in the rain because of Hank, with the abstract hope that maybe he would see her on television like she saw him weeks ago, wondering if this whole divorce thing was a good idea after all. Sure, his gambling problem was difficult to live with, and those years of watching Goodfellas surrounded by cans of Miller Light did little to save the floundering marriage, but once she threw Hank out of the house, sending him to take up residence in Sacramento, California, she realized it may all have been one step too far. It wasn't that she missed a partner, or a man. No. None of that. Carol was a strong woman. She missed Hank.

She took her seat in the left field section of Yankee stadium, remembering the days with Cano in pinstripes, bringing the kids to the games and cheering the boys with her husband. But now all she had on the field was an emblem from the past, re-emerging like a spectre and wearing new colors and a blue crown with the letter 'S.' She thought of all the day games she had attended with Hank--those obnoxious trips downtown with a husband drunk by the third inning, the baseball strategy walkthroughs that never materialized the way Hank predicted, and the lonely subway rides back to their Staten townhouse. But for some reason, tonight, seeing this Robinson Cano wearing navy blue and green was just enough to push her over the edge. Something was different.

All too different.

The first inning began without a hitch, as she watched CC Sabathia quickly strike out Abraham Almonte and get Stefen Romero to pop out in foul territory next to first base. By this time, her phone was ablaze with a text from Hank, presumably drunk, still trying to get her attention here weeks after the Mariners' opening series in Anaheim.

hi carol hope your booing cano tonight do one for me

he texted, grammar a casualty of getting the message to her before Cano's at bat. She knew, she knew full well that this was the story in New York that week--Robinson Cano's return, the impending boos. She just couldn't help care, though, despite her hoping to reconnect with Hank in some way. It was why she was at the game, after all. But when she saw Robbie walk into the box, digging his foot in to face Sabathia, she could only feel a nostalgia hovering in the air, drenched in memories of times long past: Hank's 36th, Robbie hitting a homer into the upper deck in '09, wrecking their Honda civic on the way to catching the Battleship movie in summer of 2013.

But the boos--the boos were sent down from the few Yankees fans taking up real estate at Yankee Stadium this evening, braving the rain to tell this traitor that he screwed up big time by leaving the sacred pinstripe empire.

Boooo!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They shouted.

SELLOUT!!! YOU SOLD OUT!!!

Sabathia threw his pitches. Cano struck out. And then, the cheers. Utter joy from the frenetic, mad Yankee crowd. The golden boy had come home with lipstick on his collar, and was caught red handed. Their anxiety was satiated.

But Carol didn't notice. For the very moment that Cano swung to gather his third strike, she was thumbing the buttons on her Blackberry bold--still sharing the same family plan with Hank--trying her best to connect what was happening on the field with something bigger in her life, just like everyone else in the stadium. She wanted to tell the truth, for just a moment. But she lied instead, telling him she booed, setting the phone down and waiting for a response. Nothing.

Then, it was the second inning, and Hank still had yet to respond. Mark Teixeira had hit a home run off Mariners' starter Chris Young, and while Carol clapped tepidly, she could only ponder why her phone wasn't ringing with a response from Hank. By now the rain was too much, and she left her seat to find a spot in the outfield brim, under cover to protect her from the weather while camping out with glasses of white wine from the Deux Vino stand out in left field. Two glasses. Three. Three and a half. She couldn't finish the third, because by then, she was busy texting Hank again, ignoring the M's starting to rally off a tiring CC Sabathia.

All along, there were a series of batters striking out, popping out in foul territory, or grounding softly to first. Both Sabathia and Young were limiting damage, despite a run sent in from a wild pitch in the third thanks to Mike Zunino trying to throw out Brett Gardner stealing second. In fact, during the top of the fifth, Carol didn't even notice when Zunino reached base after a replay call that initially ruled him out, followed by singles from Willie Ballgame and Abraham Almonte. Robinson Cano was back up to bat, and after he grounded in a run and Corey Hart hit a double, the score was suddenly 3-2 Mariners. A Justin Smoak single a minute later had it at 4-2, but by now Carol was unfortunately drunk, and upset that Hank had yet to text her back. What was wrong with him anway? Drunk like usual? Irresponsible?

The bastard she thought. Trying to get my attention and then ignoring me like he usually did was what was occupying her mind. A few more innings passed, confusingly seeing whoever Chris Young was get through these Yankees hitters like sliced cheese. In the seventh it was suddenly Robbie Cano back up to bat. The past three innings had all been a blur but suddenly she remembered Cano! Cano! It was like a familiar song to her. She remembered that warm feeling of nostalgia from before, but this time it was mixed with the furor of Hank ignoring her. She writhed in anger, biting her lip. Then, she stepped back into the pouring rain, hood down with blood-red eyes.

Boooo!!!

BOOOOO!!!!

The years of pain were coming back to her. Hank's drinking problem. The card games. Divorce. Insurance bills.

BOOOOO!!!!

Robinson Cano was everything at that moment--Hank, her divorce, her health problems and money and taxes. Robinson Traitor Cano, dogging out a ground ball to first and taking a payday to go to wherever Washington State was and abandoning her and her life just like providence and hope had.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

But then Cano singled, and was sent home moments later by a pinch-hit single from Dustin Ackley. Then, after Kyle Seager sent Ackley to third, the score was 6-2 Mariners with Mike Zunino's fourth hit of the game, and the M's had all but won.

Carol didn't notice when Rodney had trouble getting out of the ninth, but it was okay because she had drank too much wine. Her reflection in the face of her blackberry was all too much--and that combined with success by that jerk Cano and a Yankees' loss was just the icing on the cake for what would otherwise be considered the worst month in the life of Mrs. Jespen, still carrying the name of her alcoholic, card-counting husband now camped in the Pacific Time Zone.

No, she didn't notice this because they stop serving alcohol in the seventh inning, and there was no way she was going to stick around an open-air stadium that reminded her of her past life without some more wine. So a quick stop at Louie's down the street granted her a white zinfandel and an electrical outlet for her Blackberry bold, which was by then holding a 12% charge thanks to her minute-by-minute refreshing of text messages.

By the time her glass was empty, Sportscenter was on the screens of Louie's, espousing catchy little messages about Cano's return to New York. A Mariner win. A Chris Young victory. A successful, albeit strange evening from the former Yankee. Carol didn't care. Then, her phone buzzed.

sorry carol had to go in2 work, call me 2morrow and lets chat

She ordered another zinfandel, looking at the wedding ring she still wore on her finger. She remembered seeing his ring on his, in that embarrassing ESPN screengrab that permanently linked him to that Cano sign, which, she imagined, was better than being linked to empty bottles or a hand of cards. She realized that life was messy and difficult and far from perfect, and although she always imagined it would be clean and fit into a box, it took watching Robinson Cano play baseball in a Mariners uniform to realize that maybe it wasn't all Hank's fault.

Hank was broken, but so was she. And so were the Yankees, and even the Mariners, but she didn't really care about that. She picked up her phone, gingerly pressing the keys to respond to her ex-husband who still wore the ring he first placed on his finger so many years ago. She was happy for the first time in months, and she realized that she didn't need Hank, if she didn't want him. She remembered being young, being all but careless.

She remembered being in her twenties, doing what she wanted, staying up too late and camping in Hank's truck bed in upstate listening to R.E.O. Speedwagon and staring at the stars like a presciently designed map to the future. She missed those days, but then she realized that you can have them again later in life if you really wanted them, and she could, and she did. Carol looked at her phone, and decided that if she didn't need Hank, she could have a tiny part of him again.

Talk to you tomorrow, Herbert,

she wrote. She didn't know if she actually would, though, but when the television showed Mike Zunino driving his fourth hit into the outfield, she took another sip of wine and thought boy that kid has a bright future ahead of him.

Last Time on Pinstripe Alley

Yankees News

ESPN New York | Andrew Marchand: Yankee Stadium did not receive the returning Robinson Cano very warmly last night.

It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski: Mark Teixeira has so far shown mixed results at the plate since coming off the disabled list.

Double G Sports | Matt Kardos: Manny Banuelos has been promoted from High-A to Double-A in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Pinstripe Pundits | Derek Albin: A look a the updated ZiPS hitting projections for the Yankees.

New York Post | George A. King III: The Yankees are getting hit with injuries again as Jacoby Ellsbury and Michael Pineda are dealing with injuries.

New York Daily News | Nathaniel Vinton:Roger Clemens is angering the judge overseeing his defamation lawsuit against Brian McNamee.

It's About the Money | Brad Vietrogoski: See whose stock is up and whose is down in the Yankees farm system.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Carlos Beltran is not just here for his bat, but for his leadership and presence in the clubhouse.

New York Times | David Waldstein: The Yankees have dealt with injuries, but Robinson Cano continues to prove he will play everyday.

It's About the Money | Michael Eder: A look back at the New Yankee Stadium wind tunnel theory from 2009.

Recapping the Yankees' minor league affiliates' results from April 29th.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L 5-6 vs. Durham Bulls

RF Ramon Flores 2-4, double, HR, RBI, BB, K - first homer of the season
CF Antoan Richardson 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB, SB - first homer of the season
SS Dean Anna 1-5, RBI, 2 K, E6 - fielding error, second of the season
LF Zoilo Almonte 1-4, double, K
3B Russ Canzler 1-4, 2 K
DH Ronnier Mustelier 2-4, double
2B Jose Pirela 1-3, triple
C Austin Romine 0-4, RBI, K
1B Corban Joseph 1-4, RBI, 2 K, CS

Shane Greene 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K - 34 of 47 pitches for strikes
Chase Whitley 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K
Cesar Cabral 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB

Double-A Trenton Thunder: W 4-2 vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats

CF Mason Williams 1-4, BB, CS
LF Ben Gamel 1-5, K
3B Rob Segedin 0-3, 2 BB
C Gary Sanchez 2-5, 2 K, passed ball - fourth two-hit game in a row
1B Kyle Roller 3-5, double, RBI, K
2B Rob Refsnyder 1-4, BB, 2 SB
RF Yeral Sanchez 1-4, HR, RBI - first homer of the season
DH Taylor Dugas 1-2, RBI, 2 BB, K
SS Ali Castillo 1-4, RBI, K

Manny Banuelos 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K - 29 of 40 pitches for strikes
Joel De La Cruz 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K
Pat Venditte 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB
Branden Pinder 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB

High-A Tampa Yankees:L 1-4 vs. Dunedin Blue Jays

CF Jake Cave 0-4, 2 K
SS Brendan Ryan 0-3, BB, K
3B Eric Jagielo 0-3, BB, K, E5 - fielding error, sixth of the season
DH Dante Bichette Jr. 2-4 - .878 OPS this season
C Peter O'Brien 1-4, triple, K - batting .333/.366/.724 this season
2B Angelo Gumbs 0-4
1B Zach Wilson 1-4, RBI
RF Jose Toussen 1-2, BB, K, CS
LF Cody Grice 0-3, K

Eric Ruth 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 K, hit batsman - 1/6 GO/AO
Alex Smith 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 WP
Dietrich Enns 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:W 8-4 vs. Augusta GreenJackets

SS Tyler Wade 2-4, double, 2 RBI, BB, SB - batting .303 this season
CF Jose Rosario 0-4, HBP
RF Aaron Judge 3-4, HR, RBI - second homer of the season (1.226 OPS over his last 10 games)
DH Mike Ford 0-2, 2 BB
LF Michael O'Neill 0-4, 2 K
3B Miguel Andujar 3-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, E5 - throwing error, eighth of the season
C Kale Sumner 1-4, 2 K, passed ball
2B Gosuke Katoh 1-4, triple, RBI
1B John Murphy 2-4, K, SB, E3 - fielding error, third of the season

Brady Lail 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K - 49 of 70 pitches for strikes
Andury Acevedo 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R/2 ER, BB
Stefan Lopez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, K

Beards are alien to lifelong Yankee Jeter. He must investigate.

Derek Jeter does not have a beard. Former teammate Robinson Cano, now on the Mariners and free from the tyranny of the Yankees' facial hair policies, does.

It's possible Jeter has never grown a beard in his 40 years. He's been in the majors and on the Yankees, banned from even the possibility, since he was 21 years old. He's retiring after this season, though, so maybe then he can finally put the razor away and let nature take over his face. Jeter has a lot of catching up to do on the beard front, so expect something like this:

The Yankees are poised to go on an international shopping spree come July 2nd, but who is on their radar? In Part I of II, I will take a look at the three top prospects who reportedly have verbal deals with the club.

It's pretty clear at this point that the Yankees have a depleted farm system. With only one top prospect in just about every Top 100 list (Gary Sanchez), the state down on the farm has looked pretty bleak. The system obviously has been plagued by injuries and under-performing scouts' projections, so a good year could give it a shot of adrenaline. But what they're really missing is high-ceiling talent for the long-term future. That's where the international signing period comes in. They Yankees have netted a large number of their top prospects through international signing: Gary Sanchez, Manny Banuelos, Ivan Nova, Jesus Montero, Robinson Cano, and Mariano Rivera. Not all of them have worked out, but the seemingly minuscule amount a team has to pay for them pays off immensely. The Yankees paid just $45,000 for Robinson Cano and $3,000 for Mariano Rivera. Traditionally each team is assigned a "slot value", a designated amount of money they are allowed to use to sign international amateurs. But to replenish this aforementioned system, the Yankees are rumored to blow that out of the water; some believe that they will spend upwards of $20-30 million on prospects and the associated penalties in going over the slot limit. Some believe that this is because the team is afraid that there will one day be an international draft, but it could just be a concerted plan for the future. Signing a slew of talented 16 year old players would mean that when the old guard of Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and David Robertson fade, an army of talented youngsters will fill the ranks between 2019 and 2021. I'll be taking a look at some top international prospects the Yankees are shooting for, and what they can possibly get out of them far into the future.

Dermis Garcia

At six feet, two inches tall and 185 pounds at just 16 years old, Garcia is easily the top prospect in this international signing period. He's billed as a shortstop, and while some think he may eventually move to third base, many also believe he will remain at shortstop. Many scouts have also noted that his trainer is Moreno Tejada, a trainer who has helped develop both Miguel Sano and Robinson Cano. This kid seems like the real deal, which is confirmed by this report from Kiley McDaniel of Scout.com:

"Last January, Garcia's swing was upright, narrow and somewhat lazy while yesterday, he showed the best combination of hitting tools and balanced swing mechanics I've seen this week. Garcia is stronger now but also matured, growing into his 6'2/182 frame and leveraging those newfound abilities in a more efficient swing. Garcia launched a number of homers to his pull side yesterday, flashing plus raw power that was also the best I've seen this week... Garcia's arm strength and speed are both about average now, though many 16-year old prospects improve those tools from this young age with physical maturity... He is one of the players that is widely believed in the industry to have a deal in place and every source I talked to said Garcia has a verbal deal with the Yankees".

According to McDaniel's sources, Garcia is on his way to becoming a Yankee to the tune of $3 million. This signing would go a long way to injecting some high-ceiling talent into the system, especially someone like Garcia who could be an infielder of the future with above-average defense, great speed, and power. Here's a video of Garcia smashing a triple, and keep in mind that this is a boy of sixteen:

Nelson Gomez

At six feet, three inches and 190 pounds, Gomez is also among the top international amateurs, most likely the second best middle infielder next to Garcia. He's also a shortstop, but his build looks more like a third baseman--he's incredibly top heavy and strong. That's not a bad thing at all, especially considering how well he could do at third as he features an incredible amount of raw power and arm strength. His swing has a little too much upper cut and can be a bit busy at times, but the maturity of that swing is better than many decent minor league players. If he develops on track, he could grade out to be an average to above-average defender and hit 30+ home runs a year. The Yankees also reportedly have a verbal deal with Gomez worth $2.8 million.

Juan DeLeon

At a similar build to the previous top prospects--six feet, two inches and 185 pounds--De Leon is an outfielder with what looks like plus-power potential from a corner outfield position. In the following video, which is the only one I could find of him, DeLeon is playing right field and showcases his throwing ability. At the moment it's below average, but it will clearly be at least average to above-average when he develops. If everything goes his way, that could be a gun. There isn't any video on his range, which is unfortunate, but from I can glean it appears like power is what will be his main tool. His swing is incredibly compact and powerful, showing the ability to drive the ball to left and center. His ceiling definitely has to be 20-30 home runs per year. If he can learn to drive the ball to the opposite field, he could be deadly and hit for an incredibly high average. The Yankees clearly think he has the potential, as they have reportedly offered him $2 million.

Even though there are limited reports and videos on these young players, it's hard not to get excited about the long-term future of the farm system with young talent like this. Money speaks, and when a team invests $7.8 million in three 16 year-old players, it speaks volumes about their confidence. In Part II, I'll take a look at a few more prospects who have reportedly negotiated verbal deals.

Yesterday was awful. Robinson Cano was back in a non-Yankee uniform. The Yankees lost the game. The Yankees lost Pineda for four weeks. Did anyone actually win in the PSA DP? UPDATE: Rain has cancelled tonight's game.

Yesterday was awful. The game was dreary and depressing, the month long Michael Pineda injury sucked, and Yankee fans lived up to their usual rep. The old Greg Kirkland, disguised as wild mannered PSA ranter I'mGivingYouARaise, would have gone to the FanPost section to go on an epic, 1,000+ word, clever profanity laden rant about what happened last night. Alas, those days are behind me. The FanPosts I mean...not the clever profanity laden ranting.

4/29/14 Daily Prediction Answers

Picture three sad Aardvarks sitting at a bus stop in the rain, waiting to go home. That would be the Aaron's last night after that game. They weren't even drunk. Or high. They were just morose. As for the Daily Predictions, no one won. There was a three way tie between LTL, Blanky, and YankeeCarp. Each of them scored 2,000 points each. Still plenty of winners to be had this week though.

4/30/14 Daily Predictions & Fun Questions

Peanut Butter: Crunchy or Creamy? (THE WAR RAGES ON)

Alarms: What do you use to wake up? (Buzzer/Radio/Specific song/etc)

Where did you go on your last vacation?

What TV station do you sometimes tend to keep on for background noise?

In all honesty, the Pineda blow was way worse than the game or what happened at the game. Fans will be fans and CC Sabathia is still learning a whole new way to pitch. Having to do so on a cold, damp night isn't easy. Despite his few bad starts, his good starts have been some of his better April starts from recent memory. Feel free to prove me wrong on this though. Always feel free to prove me wrong.

Meanwhile, David Phelps will get the start tonight for the Yankees against the Mariners. And by tonight, I possibly mean tomorrow afternoon, as it is supposed to rain most of the day.

Just like Vidal Nuno, this is truly Phelps' time to shine. As Captain Falcon once said, "Show me your moves!" Show the Yankees your worth in the rotation for later this year or next year. Show other teams your worth by pitching well enough to warrant a trade. Let's go Yankees.

UPDATE: Tonight's game has indeed been cancelled due to rain. Use this as your Open Thread for the day.

The spot starters are now suddenly in the rotation, and that means the bullpen will be playing an even greater role in ballgames.

The Yankees' bullpen has certainly gone through its share of trials and tribulations already during this young season. Closer David Robertson had to miss time due to a groin injury, bumping everyone in the mostly-inexperienced bullpen up a notch on the depth chart. They weathered that storm nicely, but were then dealt another blow when it was revealed that Ivan Nova needed Tommy John surgery. That meant lefty long reliever Vidal Nuno would move to the rotation and a roster spot was quite unclear in the 'pen.

Things only got worse when Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games due to having pine tar on his neck, and the Yankees learned that Pineda's absence would be longer than expected because of a lat injury that will keep him out for a month. David Phelps thus takes Pineda's spot and yet another bullpen spot is now in flux. For those keeping score at home, here's who is left of the seven relievers the Yankees had in the bullpen on Opening Day:

David Robertson
Shawn Kelley
Matt Thornton
Adam Warren
Dellin Betances

Joe Girardi obviously has confidence in Robertson, Kelley, and Thornton, and both Warren and Betances seem to be finding themselves in more important roles. However, there are two more spots in the bullpen, which are currently occupied by Preston Claiborne and Chris Leroux. Pineda's suspension means that the Yankees won't be able to fill his roster spot by putting him on the DL until it is complete, and even then, there's a decent chance the Yankees will just call up a position player to take his spot since they're currently playing with a short three-man bench.

Claiborne and Leroux's spots have also been filled by numerous other temporary call-ups already this year. Matt Daley, Cesar Cabral, Bruce Billings, Shane Greene, and the unused Bryan Mitchell have all been up to the majors at points in April. It seems like the Yankees are playing these spots day-to-day and could very well recall other minor league relievers if they so desire. Alfredo Aceves, Chase Whitley, Mark Montgomery, and others are all waiting in the wings at Triple-A Scranton should the Yankees want them. In three games this year, Claiborne has pitched decently after an awful second-half and spring training, so perhaps his spot is a little bit more secure than the long reliever Leroux, who just made his 2014 debut yesterday.

Regardless of who exactly is out there in the 'pen these days, it's quite evident that the middle relievers are going to have to do some work getting leads to Kelley in the eighth and Robertson in the ninth. Nuno and Phelps are still both getting stretched out. Nuno has averaged about 70 pitches in his first two starts in place of Nova, and Girardi stated that he hopes to get between 70-75 pitches from Phelps in his first start, be that today or tomorrow due to the foreboding weather. That's not many innings at all, likely only five or so at most, and while neither is a terrible emergency starter like Hector Noesi (somehow starting today for the White Sox despite two DFAs in one month) or anything like that, it's difficult for fans to hope for that much from them.

Hopefully, Nuno and Phelps will be able to give the Yankees a little bit more length in their next starts, but for now, the middle relief is essential. Hell, Hiroki Kuroda has only averaged 5 2/3 innings in his five starts thus far, so the middle relievers could be crucial to his games, too. Betances is going to have to prove that his dynamic potential (15.5 K/9 and .130 average against in 13 1/3 innings thus far) can last without his control problems sneaking up. Warren is going to have to continue honing his commendable control and the 1.93 ERA he's posted in 12 games. Thornton might have to step up and retire some righties as well as lefties, which he once was fine with as recently as 2012. Yes, even Claiborne will need to pitch some crucial innings. Hell, the mystery man who we can only refer to as "Leroux placeholder" (Greg can come up some clever portmanteau of his name and the other mops, I'm sure) is going to have to soak up some innings, too.

I remain confident in Joe Girardi's skills in control of the bullpen. Even though the Yankees had the obvious advantage of Mariano Rivera and Robertson, it's not an accident that the Yankees have some of the best bullpen numbers in the league since he took over in 2008. Betances, Warren, Thornton, and company all have the skills to succeed, and Girardi is typically superb at finding the appropriate spots to deploy these skills. It's going to be yet another challenge early in 2014 to spark some bullpen success, but there is still good reason to hope that the middle relievers will get the job done.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that at least five teams remain in contention for Joel Hanrahan, who is trying to return from 2013 Tommy john surgery. Heyman says that the right-hander has received multiple contract offers, which have likely come from the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Red Sox, and Rockies.

When last we heard about Hanrahan's progress to return to the majors, he had a showcase for interested teams. Scouts had good things to say about the closer, believing he was in excellent shape and appeared ready to help a major league team very soon. He was clocked at 92-93 mph on the radar gun, just short of his career average of 95 mph. As a fastball-slider pitcher, he relies on his fastball velocity to blow hitters away and set them up with a slider out of the zone. Hopefully his velocity will increase as he distances himself from surgery.

New York could use Hanrahan as a late-inning reliever to add depth to a somewhat shallow corps of relievers. They had a nice thing going with David Robertson, Shawn Kelley, and Adam Warren in the back of the bullpen, but with both David Phelps and Vidal Nuno now in the rotation, they could use someone like Hanrahan to add depth. The Yankees have already used 13 relievers in the first month of the season, and though Dellin Betances has been impressive, another option can only help.

The Tigers would likely use him to replace the injured Bruce Rondon and pair him with Joe Nathan, the Rangers could use more depth thanks to their injured-plagued pitching staff, and the Red Sox and Rockies are still both very interested as well.

The Yankees won't be able to sign him to the same deal they signed his former teammate Andrew Bailey to. Bailey signed a one-year deal with a team option for 2015 because there's a good chance he won't be able to make it back to the majors this season. By agreeing to an option-year, Bailey makes money now while rehabbing, but the Yankees also get him in 2015 when he's healthy and cheap. Hanrahan should be able to return sometime during the summer, so he'll want a short-term deal now so he can showcase himself during the season and sign a new contract in the offseason.

Who'll stop the rain?

Wednesday night's game between the Yankees and Mariners has been rained out because practically the entire east coast is in the middle of a monsoon. Contrary to previous popular belief, the game will not be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday. The makeup date has not yet been announced. New York and Seattle do not meet again at Yankee Stadium this season, but there are two mutual off days (one in June and one in August) in which the Mariners are on the right coast. Look for one of those days to be turned into a game day.

Taking advantage of the rain, the Yankees will skip David Phelps in the rotation tomorrow and go with Hiroki Kuroda instead. The Mariners will push their starter, Roenis Elias, back one day. That means that the Yankees will miss Felix Hernandez in the series. Thank you, rain.

It is entirely possible that the Yankees did not want to play a doubleheader tomorrow with their rotation already short due to injuries with Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda. Two of their long relievers have already been forced into the rotation and a doubleheader would mean that they'd need an additional starting pitcher to pitch in Anaheim on Monday to keep everyone else on regular rest. West coast trip and scrambling for a starter in a thin pitching staff sounds exactly like the kind of mess that would be best to avoid. The Yankees have managed to do that by tonight's game not being made up immediately.

Take a look at a projected pre-draft Staten Island roster and see who could end up in Short Season

If you've been following along with our daily Baby Bomber Recaps, you'll know that Minor League Baseball is in full swing, at least for the most part. While levels Single-A through Triple-A are now a few weeks into the season, we still have several months before Short Season and Rookie Ball start up again. Both will begin play in the weeks following the 2014 MLB Draft as a place for new professional players to get their feet wet.

The Yankees will generally assign high schoolers to one of the two GCL teams and college picks will go to Staten Island. But there are more roster spots available than there are newly drafted prospects, so those spots are filled by players who have yet to be assigned to a level and are currently in extended spring training. We obviously don't know who the Yankees will draft, but we do know who from within the system could be added to at least one of these rosters. To give you an idea of who might be hanging around in extended spring training and who we have yet to see this year, I tried to construct a very early Staten Island Yankees roster. There are a few here who will definitely be on this team, but a many others will get replaced by incoming draftees. All I'm doing is reminding you that these players exist.

Rotation

Ian Clarkin - LHP
2013 MLB Draft, 1st Round
The pitching crown jewel of the Yankees' 2013 draft, Clarkin was limited to only five innings last season, so he doesn't have much professional experience under his belt. There was talk about him starting out as high as Low-A this season, but it looks like they'll take a slightly less aggressive, though not totally unaggressive, approach as he'll be only 19 this season. Draft evaluators talk about how refined he is for a high school pitcher, so it's not completely unrealistic to see him start the season in Staten Island and end up in Charleston at some point, depending on how well he does in his first real taste of pro ball.

Ty Hensley - RHP
2012 MLB Draft, 1st Round
The steal of the 2012 draft hasn't proven to be much of a steal at all. Thanks to double hip surgery he had before the 2013 season, Hensley has yet to pitch more than 12 professional innings now going into his third year in the system. He's still recovering, but could be ready to return to the mound by the summer. He was once billed as a potential workhorse at the major league-level, but now it's not too crazy to question whether he has the body to make it that far. Hopefully this is just a spat of bad luck and he'll move on from here, but he'll be 21 in July and has missed precious development time.

Omar Luis - LHP
International Amateur Free Agent
The Yankees' best Cuban prospect, Luis ended up having somewhat of a disappointing season with a 5.68 ERA and 8.2 BB/9. It wasn't all bad because he put up a 12.2 K/9 as well. When he was initially scouted, the consensus was that Luis relies on a multitude of pitches, and rather than a real out-pitch, he relies on mixing his arsenal and changing locations. It's probable that his struggles were due to some leftover rust from when he didn't pitch for much of a year following his defection. While a repeat of Rookie Ball wouldn't be unwarranted, he's already 21 and the Yankees might want him to see better hitters quicker.

Cale Coshow - RHP
2013 MLB Draft, 13th Round
Described as having "a plus fastball that he can run up to 96 mph and also throws a curveball and a changeup, both of which could be average or better in the future. He does have weight problems [he's a big boy], however, and lacks command of his pitches," Coshow lived up to his scouting report in 2013. He had a decent start to his professional career with a good 3.76 ERA and 8.0 K/9, but a 4.9 BB/9 shows that he struggled with his command. The Yankees likely kept him back so he could focus on his conditioning and control issues. Once he has those under control, they'll let him roll on.

David Palladino - RHP
2013 MLB Draft, 5th Round
The Yankees actually managed to find a pitcher even larger than Dellin Betances when they drafted the enormous six-foot-nine right-hander from New Jersey. He has a fastball that sits in the low-90s, but can reach as high as 95 mph, and can throw a changeup, curveball, and slider. Initial reports suggest that his fastball is more or less straight, so he will have to use his incredible height to create a good downward angle on his pitches. He saw mixed results in his first professional season, accumulating a 4.67 ERA and 4.3 BB/9, but also showing the ability to strike batters out with an 8.2 K/9. A second go-around at Staten Island could ease him into a full season of professional baseball before he moves on to Low-A.

Bullpen

Tim Giel - LHP
Non-Drafted Free Agent
Giel was signed out of Columbia University to an unusual $100,000 signing bonus. We interviewed him back in July about signing with the Yankees. Giel can spot his fastball to either side of the plate and shows good breaking stuff. He pitched well in Rookie Ball, accumulating a 2.18 ERA to go along with a good 8.7 K-rate and impressive 1.7 walk-rate out of the bullpen. He got a small taste of Short Season-ball, but this year he'll get a full year. He's already 23, however, so hopefully he impresses early and can move up to A-ball before the end of the season.

Conner Kendrick - LHP
2013 MLB Draft, 9th Roundz
The 21-year-old lefty likely projects as a future reliever, but he was given ample opportunity to start in 2013, finishing with a 4.15 ERA with a underwhelming 5.6 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9. He throws a 90 mph fastball with secondary offerings including a 77-80 mph curveball and a changeup, both of which project to be average MLB pitches. It has also been said that he possesses some deception in his delivery that should help him as a potential LOOGY. Given his projections, it's easy to push him into the bullpen where he will ultimately end up, but he'll still see some time in the rotation at some point.

Rony Bautista - LHP
International Amateur Free Agent
The gigantic 6-foot-7 Bautista signed with the Yankees out of the Dominican Republic before the 2010 season and all he's done since then is strike everyone out (10.1 K/9) and walk everyone (5.0 K/9). After two years as a starter, he spent 2012 in the bullpen where he saw his control issues improve. They moved him between the rotation and the bullpen in 2013 and he struggled with his control once again. He's essentially Dellin Betances, but hopefully the Yankees have learned their lesson and can handle Bautista better. He could get a shot in the Staten Island rotation and see how it goes, but at the age of 22, if he continues to struggle with his control, it might make sense to make him a reliever and let him move quickly through the system.

Dillon McNamara - RHP
2013 MLB Draft, 27th Round
McNamara performed well out of the bullpen in his first professional season; he had a 2.19 ERA and 7.5 K/9, but also had a rather high 4.1 BB/9. He probably could have moved up to Low-A Charleston, but the control issues are likely what has forced him to stay back. He was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome when he was in college, so the Yankees will keep him in the bullpen to keep him healthy.

Sam Agnew-Wieland - RHP
2013 MLB Draft, 24th Round
After seeing an uptick in velocity during his college career, Agnew-Wieland had a decent professional debut in Staten Island. He had a 3.72 ERA with a 9.8 K/9. His 4.0 BB/9 is probably what kept him from being promoted this year, but scouts believe he can be a sleeper if he keeps his velocity up.

Ethan Carnes - LHP
2013 MLB Draft, 21st Round
Described as a "touch-and-feel lefty who throws four pitches for strikes" by Baseball America, Carnes had a decent debut in a small sample size. In only nine games, he had a 3.86 ERA with a 3.9 BB/9 and an impressive 8.8 K/9 in Staten Island. His numbers alone should have earned him a promotion, but they probably want to see success over a longer period of time before they move him up.

Chaz Hebert - LHP
2011 MLB Draft, 27th Round
Taken out of high school three drafts ago, Hebert has only gotten into one Short Season game in his career. After a 4.50 ERA, a 2.8 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 in two seasons of Rookie Ball, it might be time to give him a push up to the next level. The 21-year-old has seen time in the bullpen and rotation, but I plugged him in as a reliever because he's likely been passed over by quite a few prospects at this point.

Infield

Isaias Tejada - C | R
International Amateur Free Agent
Tejada was identified as a potential sleeper prospect just last March, but it's probably time to lay that idea to rest. He had a very impressive 2011 season where he hit .402/.563/.965 in his American debut, however, he's posted a .579 OPS over the last two seasons and seems destined for his third year at Staten Island at the age of 22.

Bubba Jones - 1B | L
2011 MLB Draft, 7th Round
Jones, now 21, spent two seasons with the Gulf coast Yankees before getting his first taste of Short Season action in 2013. He hit a respectable .284/.348/.393, but he lacks any real power after hitting his first two professional home runs just last year. Limited to first base, he can only go as far as his bat takes him, which isn't very far. He probably could have started the season in Low-A if not for the presence of Mike Ford, who is currently raking for the RiverDogs. Instead, Jones will spend his second season playing for Staten Island and will have to wait until a spot opens up above him.

Derek Toadvine - 2B | R/S
2013 MLB Draft, 22nd Round
The 22-year-old will have to repeat Short Season-ball after hitting .237/.329/.279 last year. Being drafted alongside Tyler Wade and John Murphy won't help him move any quicker. We also interviewed him back in November where he explained that he was learning to switch-hit, so he's working on that at the Yankees complex.

Thairo Estrada - SS | R
International Amateur Free Agent
Estrada is the one real infield prospect they have and he's probably No. 3 in the system at shortstop behind Abiatal Avelino and Tyler Wade. Signed out of Venezuela before last season, he was described by Baseball America as having "plus speed, fast hands and quick feet in the field. He's a line-drive hitter who has shown the ability to take the ball to the opposite field." Estrada went directly into Rookie Ball where he hit .274/.344/.429 as one of the youngest players in the GCL. Judging by the way they have handled their other young prospects (Luis Torrens, Gosuke Katoh, Tyler Wade, etc.), it's possible they will be aggressive with him if he continues to improve.

Kale Sumner - 3B/1B | R
2013 MLB Draft, 32nd Round
Sumner is a bit of a wild card; I'm not even sure where he's going to play. He was drafted as a catcher, but primarily played third base and some first base in 2013. It seemed he was no longer going to be considered a catcher this season until Low-A Charleston catcher Luis Torrens injured his shoulder and Sumner, who was still not assigned to an affiliate, was used to fill in. He has since played three games behind the plate, so maybe he could be a catcher still, at least part-time? I imagine he will move back to obscurity once Torrens comes back, but he could end up getting a lot of playing time for Staten Island at any of his three positions.

Outfield

Nathan Mikolas - LF | L
2012 MLB Draft, 3rd Round
After two seasons in Rookie Ball, it's time for Mikolas to move to Staten Island and show whether or not he has a bat. We interviewed the 20-year-old outfielder in August, who has had one underwhelming season in 2012 (.479 OPS) and one good season in 2013 (.765 OPS), but an increase in competition will show whether or not he should be considered any kind of prospect going forward.

Daniel Lopez - CF | R
International Amateur Free Agent
At one point Lopez was considered to be an under-the-radar prospect, but two seasons in Short Season will wipe that label right off you. He has decent on-base skills, but lacks any semblance of power. This would be his third year with Staten Island at the age of 22, so don't expect much from him going forward.

Austin Aune - RF | L
2012 MLB Draft, 2nd Round
It's probably about time Aune was allowed to either sink or swim. Drafted as a shortstop, he struggled mightily in the field, committing 15 errors in 31 games, while hitting a solid .273/.358/.410 in Rookie Ball. Last year, he was made a full-time outfielder, but his offense completely fell off a cliff with a .192/.230/.263 season. Now 20, it might be time to move him up and see if his bat can come back to life. I chose him as a starter, but the draft is going to include more than a few outfielders who might push him to a reserve role or even back to the GCL.

Bench

Kevin Cornelius - 3B | R
2013 MLB Draft, 31st Round
After a solid first pro season with a .269/.330/.376 batting line in Rookie Ball, the 21-year-old Cornelius should move up to Short Season. He primarily played third base last season, but could be capable of manning short and second as well. Hopefully Cornelius proves to be versatile enough, because utility infielders are still useful.

Radley Haddad - C | L
Non-Drafted Free Agent
We interviewed Haddad in August, just a few months after he signed with the Yankees. He didn't hit much in Rookie Ball last season, and given his age (23) and status as a non-drafted free agent, it's likely he never will. Haddad would really just be filler on this roster, so any college catcher would take his spot and push Tejada to the bench.

Christopher Breen 1B/OF | R
2012 MLB Draft, 12th Round
Drafted as a catcher and transitioned to a first baseman and outfielder, the 20-year-old will likely forgo a third straight season in the GCL for a chance in Short Season. Even if he's not pushed off the roster by some of the incoming draftees, he won't be more than a bench option.

Dustin Fowler - OF | L
2013 MLB Draft, 18th Round
At the age of 19 and coming off a debut where he hit .241/.274/.384, Fowler will likely end up repeating Rookie Ball instead of starting with Staten Island when new prospects need playing time. He's one of the younger players on this list, so going back to the GCL isn't the worst thing in the world.

Bryan Cuevas SS/2B
International Amateur Free Agent
His ability to play both second and short makes him a solid option to backup both Estrada and Toadvine (or any 2014 draftees). Depending on how the Yankees decide to draft, Cuevas could end up in the GCL again at the age of 20.

This roster might not sound very impressive, mostly because it's not. Clarkin, Hensley, Luis, and Estrada are really the extent of legitimate prospects on the team, though a few others show some hope. Keep in mind that a lot of these guys won't make it onto the team because new draft picks will be coming in and taking their spots. Right now I have 2013 draftees Drew Bridges, Kendall Coleman, Jordan Barnes, Alex Polanco, and Nestor Cortes returning to Rookie Ball this summer, with others likely to join them once the Short Season roster is actually finalized.