From NYYFans archives: June, 2003:
From NYTImes: With their first-round draft pick on Tuesday, the Yankees selected ERIC DUNCAN, an 18-year-old third baseman from Florham Park, N.J. Duncan batted .535 with 10 homers for Seton Hall Prep and has captured principal owner GEORGE STEINBRENNER's imagination. "This young man, we think, has a great future as a Yankee," Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview from Tampa, Fla. "We were surprised he ever got to us."
From Yankyfan: TJ Beam In the 10th!!!! Yea baby I happy .I can't believe he lasted till the 10th rd.
Third10: According to reports, Eric Duncan has pretty much agreed to a contract with the Yanks... He'll probably be assigned to the Gulf Coast Rookie league. So far, the only one I see on any roster is 9th rounder, rhp Tyler Clippard, who is listed on the GUlf Coast Rookie roster. This could be one of the Yanks best drafts in years.
Third10: In Ottawa yesterday, Drew Henson had an RBI double in the 2nd inning and homered in the 10th inning to put Columbus ahead 4-3. The game was suspended by rain before the bottom of the 10th could be completed. It will be completed before the regularly scheduled game this afternoon But could this be a sign that Henson is satring to turn a corner? I read that Reggie Jackson was in Columbus last week working with him and changed his batting stance. Reggie told him that he doesn't need to try and muscle the ball through the zone, that he has the power, and to keep his hands back. SO far the new stance has produced results. He's making better contact and has been hitting the ball hard, even making outs.
PinstripePride (Originally posted by Donnybaseball72) Danny Borrell has been solid at AAA all season with a 3-2 record as a starter. His 2.56 era is the best in the International League for lefthanders. Hopefully we will see him in September.
I hope too see him as well. He played on SI's championship team w/ Jason Anderson, Andy Beal, Matt Smith, and Chien Ming Wang....oh man what a KILLER staff that was... I would like to maybe see Alex Graman next year. He's doing pretty well in AAA.
NYMike: So...from what I gather from this thread, we've got about 4 guys who could be ready for the major leagues by next season... Danny Borrell, Brandon Claussen, Julio DePaula, Alex Graman. Not to shabby, I guess.
Nope, not to shabby at all.
In a way it's reassuring to note that of all those names listed, only one -- Clippard, the Yankee Clippard -- made any noise for another major league club. The 1980s and 1990s were so much more discouraging because we used the minor leagues to groom stars for other teams -- Drabek, Tewksbury, Buhner et. al. Which is why I think Cashman and his lieutenants should get a raise and several years added to their contracts, for not sending good young players out into the world where they can star for other teams. Big improvement. Now if they could figure out how to draft some young players for the Yankees, well, that would be swell.
ReplyDeleteTom, you started my laugh with a hearty, if rueful, laugh. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIf only Shane Spencer hadn't got injured that year he was finally made starting left fielder, everything would be different today. Not that he belongs in this discussion, I've just always felt that way.
Unfortunately, I think Shane's downfall was alcohol, not injury. Maybe one related to the other, but I think not so much.
ReplyDeleteLast night, for the hell of it, I looked through those past June threads. There has not been a season where people weren't convinced we had budding stars, just waiting for the call.
ReplyDeleteI cannot get my hopes up over this big guy, Aaron Judge. We've seen this movie way too many times. And the first pick, the 3B, reminds me of Brad Suttle. Remember him: Best pure hitter in the draft.
The only guy to make it from the 2011 class is Preston Claiborne, who I can honestly say never drew one word of hype.
Still... every now and then a Shane Spencer comes along and makes it all worthwhile.
Shane hit the bottle? I did not know that. The returns are not as good as hitting the ball.
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