THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT AT YANKEE CATCHER

(Photo: Getty)
The Yankees have many questions in numerous positions including starting pitcher, shortstop, 3rd basemen, and outfield for the future of the franchise. But there is one huge bright spot that the Yankees have covered for years to come...Catcher.Currently the Yankees starting catcher Russell Martin is doing more than enough to deserve a new contract, but because the farm system is so stacked, Martin may not get one with the Yankees youngsters Jesus Montero, and Austin Romine waiting in the wings.

Both have recently been called up, and both have shined as the future of our team. Between the fans and Montero and Romine, it's a true love connection. Montero is obviously option #1 because of his bat, while Romine is a close second as a defensive upgrade over Montero.

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com has a great piece about both Montero and Romine. In it, he talks about the day in day out learning curve for both of them this September, and how they approach each day as they feel happy to be part of the big club.

Gonzalez writes: " Romine and Montero have prepared by poring over their scouting binders and trying to soak up as much knowledge about the Yankees' pitching staff as possible.

'I need to know what we need to do and how to pitch certain guys,' Romine said. 'Being the young guy, I want them to know that I take this seriously and that I care deeply about our pitchers throwing well.'"

He goes on:

Montero would figure to be in the Yankees' postseason plans because of his bat. But if Cervelli -- on the disabled list retroactive to Sept. 9 -- continues to be out, there's a chance both would make the Yankees' postseason roster.

"'I don't know what's going to happen in the playoffs,' Montero said. 'I hope to be with the team. I'm hoping, like whenever they give me an opportunity, however I can help, I'll be here. It's going to be the best to be in the playoffs.'

'I really haven't [thought about being on the postseason roster],' Romine added. 'I've got so much stuff going on right now, and if that happens, that would be another amazing thing going on in my life. But for right now, I have to worry about getting through [the next game] and showing that I can catch; that I belong here and that I can do it.'' Read the full piece HERE.

I tell you what, the future looks exciting. Look, we love Russell Martin here at BYB, but the reality is, the catcher position was stacked for a reason. We believe in these kids and who knows how long Russell Martin will be with us. Even 19 year old Gary Sanchez is down on the farm and expected to grow into a superstar in the next few years. Our catchers will be the bright spot of the Yankees for years to come, and I am as excited as anyone to see these players develop.

--Will Cohen, BYB Staff Writer

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WHY IT'S CERVELLI'S END, MONTERO'S BEGINNING

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I am a huge fan of Fransisco Cervelli but his bat is clearly not there and if he wasn’t as passionate as he was on the field, fist pumping and getting extra excited, I probably would have dismissed him a while back, let’s be honest. Now there are some Cervelli fans out there that think I’m being a dick. I’m not, let’s face facts, Cervelli is not a backup catcher, he’s a third string catcher. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just life. Passion is great and energizes a ball club but you need to hit and throw bulls eyes to second on a stealing play. If you can’t do that, we have a problem and it seems, we may have a problem with Fransisco Cervelli.

(Photo: Getty)

Look, we all know what we have in the farm, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, the catchers down there have “future legend” written all over them. Now I know Brian Cashman has made it clear that Jesus Montero is NOT coming up to back up Hustle Martin, but we are all salivating at seeing what this kid has in him. He will no doubt be a superstar, we just want a taste. Cashman is sticking to his guns though, he has told The Record: “If Montero comes, I want him to play…I don’t want him to come and sit and play once every five days… is Montero better than (Francisco Cervelli)…Yeah he is.”

So, will we see Montero this year? Yes. Why do I say that? Because Cashman, while he comes off a guy who seems to be honest to the fans, isn’t at all. He’s a smart guy, he’s a strategic guy and he’s lying to us juste so he can get his ducks in a row and sees what he’s got to work with. But these are some scenerios that I believe will change the catching situation for the better with Montero coming to the Bronx:

• If Russell Martin were to have some dramatic injury, Montero will be up, believe me. Why waste a hitting spot in the lineup for a stretch, if god fobid Martin gets hurt for a long period of time? You won’t want Cervelli there when you could get a quality bat in the lineup in Montero.

• If Cervelli were to make one move that blows a game or is deemed unacceptable, Montero will be up.

• If Cervelli get’s shipped off by the trade deadline, Montero is coming up.

Bottom line, the rise of Jesus is coming, the question is how and when? My feeling is you don’t choose a player with less talent for some one with more, and that’s just fact. It goes back to high school ball, the kids that didn’t have the talent sat a hell of a lot more than the ones that gave you a chance to win and there is no doubt in my mind that Montero is coming up soon and Cervelli’s days are numbered.

CBS Sports.com had a story today that stated that Jesus Montero was benched for "lack of energy". Read it HERE. They quote Butch Wynegar, the Scranton hitting coach who said: "I just get the feeling that Monte is so blessed physically -- and I hate to say it -- he is almost bored here in Triple-A. Maybe if he went to the big leagues tomorrow, this kid might just go off and he just might lock in."

Interesting theory Butch and you may be right. Montero is talented and probably ready to be a top contributor in the Bronx. Sorry Francisco, it’s survival of the fittest, and you may not be surviving long.

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WHY SOMEONE NEEDS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

(Photo: MiLB)
No, believe it or not, it’s not Rafael Soriano.

Yeah, interesting nugget not a lot of people knew about but something I'd love to bring to your attention. Mark Feinsand from the New York Daily news had it HERE. This Yankee is not even close to being an official Yankee yet, but it seems all the talk about him has gone to his head already, at least it's my opinion. According to several reports last week, Gary Sanchez, the Yankees catching prospect was up in Charleston, but because of a "bad attitude", was ordered back to Tampa.

According to Baseball America, Sanchez is number 2 on the Yankees prospects list right behind Jesus Montero and the reports are that Sanchez was frustrated because of his slow start this year. He’s only batting .238 with 4 home runs.

When asked to enter a game as a replacement, Sanchez refused and on a separate occasion, when asked to catch a pitcher in the bullpen, he blew that off as well. Stop right there; If I’m that manager, I’m benching this kid immediately and i will follow it up with a "Who do you think you are?"

I can tell you right now that blogs and sports news are to blame. What I mean by that is for an 18 year old prospect to have that much pressure on himself is terrible and we, fuel that fire.Yes he's talented and yes, he knows he's talented but I feel like that pressure really helped bring this kid over the top. Obviously, If he’s getting frustrated, he's hyped himself up. It’s hard to teach an 18 year old to turn it down a notch, slow down and take a deep breath.

Baseball could never be more clearer to me that it’s a team sport inside and out. I find it unbelievable that a kid would refuse to be a "replacement." Even Jorge Posada, who has rings, and had some amazing years as Yankees catcher behind the plate would never pull that. He even apologized after Posada-gate and has moved on. This kid, Sanchez, would be nothing in my mind if we didn’t take a chance on him and he needs to come to the realization that a bad attitude is a disease.

But there is a happy ending. It's being reported by The Times Tribune that Sanchez returned to Charleston and is "a bit more humble than he was when he left."

Let's hope that sticks and we see this guy shine in a few years.

And another little nugget, The Yankees 13th-round pick was a junior college outfielder by the name of Justin James. Read HERE. That may not "WOW" you. What will "WOW" you is he is the son of former Yankees outfielder Dion James. Us older guys know who that is. If you don't, read about my delirious flu dream titled WHY I SALUTE 2 FORGOTTEN YANKEES.

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