1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back, everybody, Welcome back. 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 2: Joining me today is Jeff Pontus of Baseball America and 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 2: we're going to talk some Yankees prospects. 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: How's it going, Jeff? 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 3: Pretty good man? How you doing? 6 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: I'm good. I'm ready for baseball season to get going. 7 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 2: Here just a couple of weeks away from spring training 8 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: where we'll get to see I'm sure some of these guys. 9 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: And for those of you who are unfamiliar, Baseball America 10 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 2: puts out a top list of prospects for every team 11 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: every year. We just got the thirty prospects for the Yankees. 12 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: And if you want to go ahead and read through that, 13 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 2: it's a great read. You can scan the QR code 14 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: on your screen use the code Pinstripe thirty and you'll 15 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: get thirty percent off of your first year of any 16 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: annual subscription at Baseball America. And it's a great way 17 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: to kind of compliment the coverage that you're going to 18 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 2: get here and other places, because, I mean, these guys 19 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: know their stuff. So let's get started with a guy 20 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: that I'm pretty excited about, and that is Henry Lalane. 21 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 2: He is a lanky lefty, he's got a nasty change up. 22 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: I look at the highlight light here and I see 23 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: some Johann Santana in that change up? 24 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: Am I dreaming on this guy too much? What do 25 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: you think? 26 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if you are. 27 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 4: It was an unusual season, but I saw Lalane. I 28 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 4: was down there for Florida Complex League back in twenty 29 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 4: twenty three in August. It was one of the It 30 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 4: was considered one of the best Florida Complex League teams 31 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 4: of all time. It was loaded, had some other guys 32 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 4: we'll talk about later in the show, and he came out. 33 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 4: I kind of knew a little bit about him. I 34 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 4: had heard him mentioned, but I mean, the guy comes 35 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 4: out of the mound. You know, he looks like he 36 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 4: plays power forward for the Knicks. He's six foot seven, 37 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,040 Speaker 4: six foot eight, super long, but really athletic, and I 38 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 4: think that's one of those things that, like we all know, 39 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 4: really tall guys, we've all met somebody who's over six 40 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 4: foot five. They're not that coordinated, all that often super coordinated. 41 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 4: The delivery was, you know, consistently on point. You know, 42 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 4: he was sitting ninety four to ninety six, touching ninety. 43 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 3: Seven miles an hour. 44 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 4: You know, had I would say multiple pitches, you know, 45 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 4: between the fastball, the change up, and maybe even the 46 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 4: slider that you could say or fifty five to sixty 47 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 4: great pitches. You know, that's talking about above average to 48 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 4: plus on sort of the twenty eighty scale when we're 49 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 4: comparing it to major league equivalencies. And there was command too, 50 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 4: he was throwing strikes. Injuries happen this year that sort of, 51 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 4: you know, I think killed some of the enthusiasm. 52 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, six seven, two hundred and eleven pounds is what 53 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 2: he's listed at one hundred and twenty three minor league 54 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 2: innings in his minor league career out of the Dominican Republic. 55 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what, if he fills out a little bit, 56 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 2: I think there's probably a little bit of extra velocity 57 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: there as well. I mean usually with a guy that 58 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: that frame, they add a little bit of muscle over time. 59 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 2: Is he somebody you could potentially see, you know, making 60 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 2: a run at the Yankees rotation in the next couple 61 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: of years. 62 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think you know, the big question with a 63 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 4: guy like this is you know, how how how much 64 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 4: you know, did that injury impact him last year? Is 65 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 4: it something that has been sort of healed and everything 66 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 4: else in the offseason. That's the thing with pitching prospects, right, 67 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 4: It's like they you can have a guy like Andrew 68 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 4: Painter or Ricky Tiedeman, where it looks like this guy 69 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 4: is going to be in the big leagues by the 70 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 4: time he's twenty years old, and then there's an angry 71 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 4: and then all of a sudden, it's two years away. 72 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 4: He certainly has the ability, but I would say, you know, 73 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 4: twenty twenty six is probably unlikely. Twenty twenty seven is 74 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 4: probably a more sort of prudent eta on this guy. 75 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 4: But he's got huge stuff. He's got huge ability. I think, 76 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 4: you know, this guy will be coming in the next 77 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 4: couple of years. One of the more interesting Yankees pitching 78 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 4: prospects I've seen in probably five or six years. 79 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: Nice. 80 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 2: Well, there's an international prospect that I want to talk about. 81 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: Roderick Arius seem to take a little bit of a 82 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 2: step backwards last year. He was the second of two 83 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: major international signings that the Yankees got attention for in 84 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: recent years. 85 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: Domingiez was the first. He's of course. 86 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: Going to be a Yankee stadium this year. Roderick Arius 87 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 2: was the second. Of those, you know, kind of premier signings, 88 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: and his numbers really haven't jumped off the page. Jet 89 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 2: tell us a little bit about Roderick Arias. 90 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, I think he's one of these guys where, 91 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 4: you know, you're looking at the international market every single 92 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 4: year you're going to see these like athletic, tooled up, 93 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 4: switch hitting middle infielders that have you know, potential above 94 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 4: average regular it's a sort of plus regular offside dealt 95 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 4: with some injuries in his first year in the Dominican 96 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 4: Summer League was a thumb injury return in twenty twenty three, 97 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 4: was you know, part of that star studied FCL team 98 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 4: was kind of considered like the jewel or the standout 99 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 4: tons of bat speed from both sides of the plate. 100 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 4: What happened was, you know, I think some of the 101 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 4: contact issues that were kind of lurking there definitely showed themselves. 102 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:48,679 Speaker 3: In his low a debut. 103 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 4: But a lot like many of the Yankees prospects that 104 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 4: we saw sort of make that jump from either the 105 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 4: draft class last year or from the FCL, there were 106 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 4: some there were something just in terms of adjustment to 107 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 4: you know, professional pitching, the type of stuff that they 108 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 4: were seeing first half was really bad for this guy. 109 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 4: Second half he did make stark improvements. If you sort of, 110 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 4: you know, do the splits and look at how the 111 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 4: numbers looked after you know, the All Star break, we'll say, like, 112 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 4: you know, July twelfth or something like that, go to 113 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 4: your fangrass page and check that out. 114 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: You'll see that there was a big improvement. 115 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 4: But I think, you know, overall, the tools are there, 116 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 4: there's some stuff about the swing, some hitch stuff, et 117 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 4: cetera that he's going to have to iron out. Still 118 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 4: a super young prospect, somebody that I think you know, 119 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 4: has above average power and above average speed potential and 120 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 4: has a really smooth, slick defender in the infield. Even 121 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 4: if he's not a shortstop long term, he's got a 122 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 4: double plus arm. That rocket arm is going to work 123 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 4: at third base. So I think a really overall talented player. 124 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 4: But there's some sort of kinks in the swing that 125 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 4: he's got to step out. 126 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 2: When the Yankees first picked him up, I remember hearing 127 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: that he, like Dominge, has had kind of an advanced eye, 128 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: a command of the strike zone. Have we seen that 129 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 2: so far in his minor league career. 130 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we have seen that. That's certainly the strength. 131 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 4: You know, the swing decisions is what we call it. 132 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 4: He's not somebody that's chasing at an alarming rate or 133 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 4: anything like that keeps a really tighty zone. But when 134 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 4: he does chase, he seems to miss consistently. 135 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 3: There's a lot of inzoon with But I. 136 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 4: Will say, you know, if I have a choice between 137 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 4: someone who swings at everything but has really good contact skills, 138 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 4: or someone who doesn't swing at everything but we'll swing 139 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 4: and miss in the zone, I'd take the guy who's 140 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 4: swinging at strike at strikes you know, nine times out 141 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 4: of ten, especially when they have power, especially when it's 142 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 4: a switch hitter, and we know that switch hitters, you know, 143 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 4: it's twice as hard to sort of learn to hit 144 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 4: the pro level. 145 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 3: That's why those guys typically take a little bit longer. 146 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 4: But you know, as you've seen with switch hitters historically, 147 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 4: once those guys get going and you know, if they 148 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 4: can sort of meet that average hit tool sort of 149 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 4: marker to get to the big leagues, those guys are 150 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 4: a matchup problem, you know, in any lineup, a great 151 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 4: part to have as a manager. 152 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 2: Let's talk about the biggest prospect on this list, Spencer Jones. 153 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: When the Yankees drafted him, there was obviously immediate comparisons 154 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: to Aaron Judge. I left handed Aaron Judge, and right 155 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 2: away I cringed, because you can't recreate Aaron Judge. I mean, 156 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: just having the guy be the same size doesn't mean 157 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: he's going to turn into the same type of hitter. 158 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: There's been some videos on social media in recent weeks 159 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 2: where people compare Jones and Judges mechanics basically kind of 160 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: in reverse. 161 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: They look very similar. 162 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 2: But despite the size, the potential, the mechanical similarities, he's 163 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: had a lot of strikeouts. He has struggled to make 164 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: contact as well in the minor leagues. What are your 165 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: thoughts on Spencer Jones as a prospect at this point? 166 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: Is he somebody that you know? It took Judge a 167 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: while to put it together too. 168 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: Really, it wasn't until his first full season in the 169 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 2: major leagues the offseason, after his cup of coffee that 170 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: he really made the adjustments necessary. Is Spencer Jones somebody 171 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: who you could see making those adjustments or the strikeout 172 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: numbers just too high? 173 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? 174 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 4: I mean, I think we've seen a better version of 175 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 4: Spencer Jones in previous seasons. His year kind of was 176 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 4: uneven in terms of how it started out. Had an injury, early, 177 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 4: came back. I think that you know, was nagging him 178 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 4: a little bit. You know, had spurts during the year 179 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 4: where it looked like everything was starting to click. I 180 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 4: will say in terms of the athlete and the overall 181 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 4: skill set, there's not a lot of guys that are 182 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 4: as big and as strong and as athletic as Jones. 183 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 4: He's sort of an athletic freaking outlier in that sense. 184 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 4: And I think like that's where the Jones or like 185 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 4: the James Woods sort of comparisons are app because it's 186 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 4: similar to athletic testing data. There's sort of similar question marks, 187 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 4: you know, around a bigger guy, some swinging myths that's 188 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 4: built in. The thing is though Judges hit tool was always. 189 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 3: Significantly better than what Jones was. 190 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 4: He had maybe a little bit more of an amateur 191 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 4: track record than Jones. Jones had some injuries. Jones was 192 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 4: a two way guy when he came out of a 193 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 4: you know, California high school and went to Vanderbilt. You know, 194 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 4: I was here in the Cape when you know, the 195 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 4: sort of the gospel was written on Jones when he 196 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 4: really broke out and people were like, this is a 197 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 4: potential first rounder. 198 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 3: It's huge power. 199 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 4: You know, he's a good he's a good enough athlete, 200 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 4: good enough defender and center field to handle any you know, 201 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 4: any outfield spot. He's got a huge arm. The swing 202 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 4: decisions are actually pretty good. He's a guy that walks 203 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 4: quite a bit, but there are some holes in the swing. 204 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 4: And I don't think there's you know, any doubting that 205 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 4: if you watch any you know, video of Spencer Jones 206 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 4: for any sort of extended period. 207 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 3: Of time, I think that can probably be ironed out. 208 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 4: I mean, I think we're talking about a year where 209 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 4: you know, he had a thirty six point eight percent 210 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 4: strikeout rate. You know, any season prior to that it 211 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 4: was under thirty percent. If you could sort of just 212 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 4: bring that down a couple of ticks, and we're working 213 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 4: in that like twenty seven to twenty eight percent range. 214 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 4: When he's in triple A next year, especially if those 215 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 4: autozones are coming or excuse me, the challenge systems, you know, 216 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 4: coming to MLB. He's somebody that probably takes advantage of 217 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 4: that because he does have really good eyes at the plate. 218 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 4: But I think it's just small incremental improvements could really 219 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 4: show drastic improvements in terms of results if he just 220 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 4: makes a little bit more contact. He has the power, 221 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 4: he has the ability to elevate and do damage. And 222 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 4: I think when it's all said and done, he put 223 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 4: one hundred and twenty two games at double A last year, 224 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 4: and you know, despite that strikeout rate still was twenty 225 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 4: four percent better than the average player in the Eastern League, 226 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 4: And I think that says a lot. 227 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 3: The Eastern League was a talented league last year as well. 228 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's one of those things about these 229 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,719 Speaker 2: physical anomalies right where they don't necessarily have to be 230 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: as good because they can miss a ball basically get 231 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 2: under a pitch and it's still fifteen rows deep in 232 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: the seats. Just on sheer size and strength. That's what 233 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 2: we see from Aaron Judge. I remember when he first 234 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: came up, Michael Kay was on the broadcast and they said, 235 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 2: you know, this guy, he hits pop ups in batting 236 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 2: practice that are going in the right field upper deck. 237 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: This guy might be something. 238 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 2: And then you know, obviously he became one of the 239 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: generational home run hitters that we've seen, so you know, 240 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 2: I still have some hope for Spencer Jones, but like 241 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: you said, gonna keep an eye on the strikeout rate 242 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: and hope it comes down a notch. 243 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: Let's talk a. 244 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 2: Little bit about a guy who if you were going 245 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: to create a shortstop from central casting. I mean, George 246 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: Lombard is the guy. Beautiful swing, athletic body type. You 247 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: look at his stride, the way he jumps, the way 248 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: he moves. 249 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: I see a young Carlos Korea. 250 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 2: Now I'm not saying he's gonna become Carlos Korea, but 251 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: just from a physical. 252 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: Standpoint, he guy. 253 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 2: He even looks like him in the face, great smile, 254 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 2: they would say, good face and moneyball. What are your 255 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: thoughts on George Lombard Junior. 256 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you know, of course has some major league bloodlines. 257 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 4: His father, George Lombard, was a longtime Major leaguer coach 258 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 4: as well. Somebody that's just a student in the game. 259 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 4: I mean, he grew up around clubhouse. Whether his father 260 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 4: was a was a ballplayer at the time or a coach. 261 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 4: I think that sort of exposure often sort of lends 262 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 4: itself to players who are just more advanced in terms 263 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 4: of their overall tools and just sort of understanding of 264 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 4: the game. You know, that's a big part of it, 265 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 4: I think now is like we see all these tools, 266 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 4: we see all these underlying metrics, and sometimes it's just 267 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 4: a matter of like how well does this guy play 268 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 4: the game? 269 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 3: Right? We all know players like that. 270 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 4: We all if we played baseball growing up, we all 271 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 4: played with players like that. There's just like there's like 272 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 4: innate decisions that are like split second things like he's 273 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 4: just so drilled in him that he makes the right 274 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 4: play all the time. He was a guy that consistently 275 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 4: throughout the top one hundred process. We had him sort 276 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 4: of on the back end of the list, like maybe 277 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 4: right outside the one hundred. And we had seven or 278 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 4: eight different front office pieces of feedback and we send 279 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 4: it around to all thirty teams. We try to, you know, 280 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 4: collect as much feedback. 281 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 3: As we can. 282 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 4: And none of these, none of these pieces of feedback 283 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 4: were from the actual Yankees organization, but we had eight 284 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 4: different pieces of feedback that like, you need to move up. 285 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 3: George Lombard Junior. 286 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 4: He was the highest green arrow guy in our feedback 287 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 4: sort of process. Now, some of that is people may say, hey, 288 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 4: you're already high enough on this guy. 289 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 3: You already have him as high as you need to 290 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 3: have him. 291 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 4: He was the guy that I think the public perception 292 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 4: of Lombard is detached from how much the industry is 293 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 4: in on Lombard. 294 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 3: And that's why you've seen him on so many top 295 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 3: one hundred lists. 296 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: One thing I like about it swing, And I want 297 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 2: you to tell me if I'm just, you know, out 298 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 2: of my mind. Here he hits on that closed front 299 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 2: side and it's got a little he's a little Mike trout. 300 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 2: Do you see that. Let's take a look back at 301 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 2: this swing. Let's see if we can rewind it a 302 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 2: little bit. Here we'll get to the how I see 303 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 2: how he kind of hits on that closed front side 304 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 2: and kind of bowls over that front ankle. 305 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 3: It's what I would call a scissor kick. 306 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 4: It's kind of similar to like what like Chase de 307 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 4: Latter has one too. It's actually like Bryson d. Chambeau, 308 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 4: like the golfer sort of hits with this as well. 309 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 4: It is a dynamic movement. When I see somebody like that, 310 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 4: it sort of portends itself to power. It's somebody that 311 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 4: doesn't have to be like overly rotational, just of rotate 312 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 4: really quickly. 313 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 3: That's a great lower half. That's really what that is. 314 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: So like, yeah, that's a scissor kick. 315 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 4: It is exactly what Mike Trout does when he's hitting, 316 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 4: you know, and how he utilizes and sort of leverages 317 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 4: his lower half, which is a big part of hitting 318 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 4: and getting to power. 319 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: Well, that's a good thing to hear. 320 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 2: But the thing that's got me excited is how many 321 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 2: pieces of feedback you guys got that move him up. 322 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: So maybe I'll move. 323 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 2: Him up on the guys that I pay a little 324 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 2: special attention to this year. The last thing I want 325 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 2: to talk about is prospects that could move quickly through 326 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 2: the system. Every once in a while. Then, know, the 327 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 2: Yankees are typically pretty slow with their prospects. You know, 328 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 2: Judge didn't come up for a couple of years, and 329 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: you know, it's just rare that they rush guys. But 330 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 2: every once in a while, somebody shoots up the system. 331 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 2: Melkie Cabrera made it really quickly. Jaba Chamberlain I and 332 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: Kennedy both came up the year after they got drafted. 333 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 2: Clark Schmidt only made twenty seven appearances in the minor 334 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: leagues before he made his major league debut. 335 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: Are there anyone? 336 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: Is there anyone in the minor league system right now? 337 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: Maybe at the lower levels. Maybe it is a Lombard, 338 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: Maybe it is a Lulanie who you could see just 339 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: taking off like a rocket. 340 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. 341 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 4: For me, I think it's a couple of pitchers that 342 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 4: they drafted in the first round, excuse me, in the 343 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 4: in the early rounds last year. Ben Hess in particular, 344 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 4: you know, bigger right hander, big extension, good stuff. You know, 345 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 4: they took them in the first round. It was an 346 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 4: underslot bonus, but it was still I mean almost three 347 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 4: million dollars and they use some of that money to 348 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 4: then go get Bryce Cunningham. Both of these guys are 349 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 4: experienced SEC pitchers. 350 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 3: You know, when we. 351 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 4: Talk about the level of competition in the different leagues 352 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 4: in college baseball, it's kind of like football. We talked 353 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 4: about how much higher the SEC is. I would actually 354 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 4: say the separation now between the SEC and baseball and 355 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 4: the other conferences is more significant than it is in 356 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 4: football by a long shot. The best teams in the 357 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 4: country are in the SEA. You know, the ACC at 358 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 4: this point really can't compete the big twelve can't compete 359 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 4: the Big ten even though they've gotten better. Forget about it. 360 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 4: It's not even in the same conversation. These are guys 361 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 4: that have sort of already pro experience. That's almost the 362 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 4: way that I look at the SEC at this point. 363 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 4: This is a conference that is probably on par with 364 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 4: High A, you know, at this moment in terms of 365 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 4: all the talent, the age of the league now with 366 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 4: the amount of you know, guys that are filling in 367 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 4: rosters that are twenty four years old and have played 368 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 4: five years at college baseball or something crazy. So I 369 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 4: think when you look at both these guys, they could 370 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 4: move really really quickly because they have good stuff. You know, 371 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 4: they have the ability to execute, and they've already kind 372 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 4: of gone through big games, big moments, big battles, playing 373 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 4: for big programs against really talented lineups. So I think 374 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 4: when I look at both Cunningham and I look at Hess, 375 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 4: these are guys that can move really quickly. They have 376 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 4: good stuff, and you know, it's not like they're just 377 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 4: stuff monsters that are going to the pen. 378 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 3: I think they could start a little bit. 379 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 4: Yankees haven't had one of these guys really bust out 380 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 4: and stay healthy in a couple of years. 381 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 3: I think. 382 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: I look at Ben Hesson, I see Lance Lynn. Am 383 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: I out of my mind on that? 384 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: No? 385 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 4: I think that's uh. I think that's pretty reasonable. I 386 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 4: mean in terms of like the the actual like pitch mix, 387 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 4: it's a little different because Lynn kind of mixes like 388 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 4: three different versions of a fastball. 389 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 2: Essentially, I'm thinking more size, size and fastball. 390 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: He's that riding heater, you know. 391 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 4: He's he's a He's six foot five, two hundred plus pounds, 392 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 4: you know, absolutely bigger body guy for sure, which is 393 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 4: you know, similar to lin That's how I would describe Linn. 394 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 4: It's kind of the same with Bryce Cunning him. He's 395 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 4: even bigger. He's six', five a little bit, thicker probably 396 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 4: a little bit more of A linn style. Body but you, 397 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 4: know both big physical right. Handers as much as you 398 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 4: know a six foot. Talls you, know shorter guys want to, say, 399 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 4: oh shorter pitchers can work with At Pedro, Martinez, dude 400 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 4: you need the big host body to last the whole. 401 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 4: Year and you, know these guys are both six' five 402 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,199 Speaker 4: and are able to really. Eat INNINGS and i think 403 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 4: that's going to be a benefit To. 404 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: The yankees it's, biology bro as. THEY say i, Appreciate. 405 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 2: It jeff, once again SCAN the qr code on, your 406 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 2: screen use the promo Code pin stripe thirty and get 407 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: access to the complete top thirty Rankings From baseball america 408 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: and Check Out Baseball America. 409 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: Hot Sheet jeff pontus is part. 410 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 2: Of that they do great coverage every week all, year 411 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 2: long part Of The Foul, territory network Just Like. Pinstripe, 412 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 2: TERRITORY jeff i thank you very much and we'll. 413 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 5: See, Soon Hey valentine's day is coming up and we 414 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 5: have the recommendation for you to check out. 415 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 3: Right now. 416 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 5: Don't wait it's one eight hundred Flowers. Dot com, this 417 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 5: year we're partnering with one Eight hundred flowers to make 418 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 5: sure You're a valentine's legend with an exclusive offer for the. 419 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 5: Ft fam it's double the roses. For free when you buy, 420 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 5: one dozen they're going to double your brouquet to two. 421 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 5: Dozen roses it's the perfect way to wow her without breaking. 422 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 5: The bank one Eight hundred flowers. Always delivers let them dominate. 423 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 5: This holiday it's what they. 424 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 3: Do best think. 425 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: About everyone in your fam that deserves. 426 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: Some Love On, VALENTINE'S day i sent a bouquet to 427 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 2: my daughter a college and it lit up. 428 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: HER day i also added an awesome base to the 429 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: order for so she's got. 430 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 5: It all all roses from one Eight hundred flowers are 431 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 5: picked at, their peak cared for every step of, the 432 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 5: way and shipped fresh to ensure. Lasting beauty don't wait 433 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 5: think ahead. This year make it easy and get that deal. 434 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 5: Right now when you order, one dozen they'll double the 435 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 5: rose bouquet. For free that's the ft deals that we're 436 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 5: always looking. Out for go to one eight hundred flowers 437 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 5: dot com. Slash ft that's one eight hundred flowers dot com. 438 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,360 Speaker 3: Slash, ft. 439 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: Hey while i've got, you here be sure to like 440 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: the video and subscribe to. 441 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 2: The Channel pinstripe territory is The official yankees podcast Of 442 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 2: The Foul. Territory network we are home to the number 443 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 2: one MOST watched mlb postgame show on YouTube since twenty. 444 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: Twenty one we're here After. 445 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,719 Speaker 2: Every yankees game and for reactions to all the best 446 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 2: news and rumors during. The offseason be a part of 447 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 2: the show by calling into the voicemail, seven, one, eight, eight, 448 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: nine nine ten. 449 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: Sixty eight try. 450 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: To keep it clean, for me and if you ever 451 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 2: miss us, on YouTube be sure and subscribe on all 452 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 2: your favorite. Podcast platforms go ahead and rate us. Five 453 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 2: stars it'll help other people find. The show thanks, for 454 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: watching see y