RLYW.net: Looking Ahead to 2010: Jorge Posada

Well, we've finally got the site back up on a different host. The URL for now is http://www.rlyw.net.

I still haven't moved any of the old posts or comments over, but all member info has been transferred so you can log in just like you did at http://www.replacementlevel.com.

This is still a work in progress, so bear with us through any growing pains, but our hope is that we should eventually end up with a more stable site, even if it doesn't look all that different on the front end.

NY Post: Jeter's upcoming deal is all about the time

The Yankees know what Jeter means to them, and to their fans. Jeter knows what the Yankees mean to him, to his legacy, to his place in history.

It is a marriage destined to continue, and one that should continue, especially if Jeter has a 2010 that resembles 2009, when one of the five best shortstops ever born had one of his finest offensive seasons, when he addressed his lacking defense and responded with as strong a season with the glove as anyone could have asked. Jeter is not LaDainian Tomlinson. He may have miles on his odometer, but his engine is still in prime condition. And still has prime years left.

But over the past couple of days, the Yankees have gotten a taste of what renewing those vows will really mean. Adeinis Hechavarria, a 21-year-old Cuban refugee who starred for his homeland's junior team two years ago and defected to Mexico last year, was widely believed earmarked for the Yankees.

It made all the sense in the world: Hechavarria's talents translate to $10 million, about $2 million more than the Red Sox gave Jose Iglesias, another Cuban defector. Hechavarria's skills could easily translate to second base or center field, where the Yankees might have openings in the near future. And the Yankees . . . well, they are the Yankees. More often than not they get what -- and whom -- they want.

Only it doesn't appear they are going to get Hechavarria.

Sunday, the Post's George King, citing industry sources, reported that Hechavarria is all but assured of signing with the Blue Jays. Losing Hechavarria is hardly a gut-shot for the Yankees; whether he could withstand the rigors of major-league baseball and ever be Jeter's true heir remains unanswered, and will for a few years. It's why Hechavarria looked elsewhere that's intriguing.

He doesn't want to be a second baseman. He doesn't want to be a center fielder.

He wants to be a shortstop.

And right now -- and for the foreseeable future -- the Yankees already have a shortstop.

I don't think losing out on Hechavarria is a big deal considering he has gone from 19 to 21 in a few months and didn't really hit all that well in Cuba. I also don't know if Jeter as a roadblock is really going to be an issue after the next year or two, at least as far as blocking the signing of an amateur talent who's a few years away from seeing the majors.

I just fear a 5 year or 6 year extension that keeps Jeter in pinstripes past an age where he can remain useful, but we'll see what happens.

MLB.com: Aceves hard for Yankees to ignore

The 27-year-old right-hander turned in another four strong innings in Saturday's 5-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field, allowing his first earned run of the spring but otherwise holding his bid together heading through the second half of camp.

Aceves served up a home run to the first batter he faced in relief of starter Javier Vazquez -- a solo shot to center off the bat of Garrett Atkins -- but the rest of Aceves' spring outing went smoothly.

Scattering three hits with no walks and one strikeout, Aceves exited with a 0.90 ERA through his 10 spring innings.

The Yankees headed to camp with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes thought to be leading a pack that also includes Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre for the final spot in the rotation, but on a day when Gaudin allowed three runs in three innings in a 6-2 loss to the Tigers, it seemed to be Aceves who has stated his case most convincingly.

"It's impressive, because of the different things he's been able to do with the baseball," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He changes speeds, [has] late movement, pitches up and down. He changes eye level, in and out. He can do all of those things.

I really didn't think Aceves had a chance at the rotation heading into this spring, but if his competition continues to suck and he continues to pitch well, it's starting to look like more and more of a possibility.

While I think Aceves could probably be around league average as a starter, and could conceivably be the best fifth starter candidate in camp right now, I don't think a scenario that sees neither Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain in the rotation to start the year is good for the Yankees in the long-term, unless they would be willing to put one of them in the AAA rotation.

RLYW Fantasy League

Just a reminder that we still have spots open in the RLYW fantasy league. The ID is 234542 and the password is CAIRO.

Spring is for the Young

Jesus Montero has looked better than expected, defensively. However, this may not be saying much as the expectation going in was that he would drop the ball on every pitch/fielding opportunity and struggle to toss it back to the pitcher’s mound. In actuality, the times he’s been behind the plate I’ve forgotten he was there other than the fact that he is noticeable larger than your average backstop. Acknowledging that there is likely inherent bias, the reports that I’ve read/heard out of camp about his defense this spring seem to indicate the same thing: not a butcher, which is all that’s being asked of him. Offensively, he looks very imposing and has demonstrated a good command of the zone.

Christian Garcia has shown flashes. Despite annual trips to the DL lasting months (or seasons) at a time he seems to have found the time to develop a good change-up (ask Ryan Howard). The low to mid 80s change, nicely complements his 91-93 sinking fastball. The curveball hasn’t been as electric as advertised, but with a guy coming off 79 surgeries, I suppose you take what you can get. Hopefully, he’s able to stay healthy this year, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Despite going 5 for 12, Brandon Laird hasn’t stuck in my memory offensively. However, I will remember him for an awesome defensive play on Joey Gathright in the Blue Jays game. Laird stabbed a bouncing ball to his backhand side, then fired a laser over to first to get…THE SPEEDY GATHRIGHT. Didn’t know he had an arm like that.

McAllister and Nova both looked solid in brief appearances. Physically, they looked the part and both had good, not great, stuff. Nova kept the ball down and seemed to have good movement on his pitches. The velocity wasn’t blazing, but his motion was effortless, you can see why the organization’s scouts have always been high on him. McAllister had a decent slider and mixed things up with a 2 seamer and a 4, but I didn’t see a change-up.

Random Thoughts:

-Romulo Sanchez is Fat K-Rod.

-Eduardo Nunez has a poor approach and wild swing, don’t see things working out for him in AAA.

-Colin Curtis has shown surprising pop

-Melancon’s curve has looked pretty good, but the fastball command still isn’t where it needs to be.

I haven't seen every inning of every game, so I'd love to get some discussion about other things people have noticed about some of the younger players

NY Post: CC knows what Phil and Joba are feeling

TAMPA -- Nine years ago, CC Sabathia was in a spot similar to the one Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are in today.

He was 20 years old and locked in a fight with Steve Karsay for the fifth spot in the Cleveland rotation.

One difference was that Sabathia and Karsay waged their battle in Winter Haven, with only two newspapers covering the competition.

Chamberlain and Hughes? Their fight plays out on the back page of The Post. They also have Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves in the hunt.

I still think Joba can be a good starter, so I'm pulling for him to win the fifth starter spot out of camp. I think if Hughes starts out in the pen he'll still have a chance at the rotation in the future, whereas if Joba starts out in the pen that is pretty much where he's going to end up.

NorthJersey.com: Brett Gardner off to races for Yankees

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Leading off Sunday’s third inning at Hammond Field, Brett Gardner made good on a spring training promise.

The Yankees’ speedy outfielder bunted for a single — an element to Gardner’s game that Joe Girardi wants to see more of this season. “That’s a weapon that he has to use,” the manager said.

Once on first base, Gardner displayed his ability to further disrupt a game by trying to steal second. Only this time, he had to outrun a mistake.

Twins veteran lefty Mike Maroth threw to first as Gardner bolted for second. Between the bases, Gardner slammed on the brakes and sprinted back to first base safely — narrowly avoiding the pursuit of shortstop Matt Tolbert.

On a team that is pretty much set everywhere, Gardner's one of the more interesting stories in camp this year. Really, if he can maintain the same offensive performance he had in 2009, he's a viable starter in LF.

BTW, sorry for the lack of meaningful posts lately, I'm dealing with some stuff that's cutting into my blogging time. I'm hoping to be able to start my player projections next week.

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees, 1:05 PM ET **Game Chatter**

Javy's first pitch gave me flashbacks to 2004.

The game's on YES and the Yankees are playing with a split squad. And Nick Johnson is alive.

NY Yankees hope Francisco Cervelli's surprising season was more than a fluke

Two years ago, Cervelli broke his wrist in an infamous home plate collision in spring training that delayed his development as a hitter. Last November, he suffered a concussion playing winter ball when the backswing of a bat hit a spot on his head about three inches above his left ear.

And Saturday, he suffered another concussion that will sideline him for at least a few days when he was hit by a fastball on that exact same spot above his ear. His latest bad break came on his 24th birthday.

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As they did with Molina, the Yankees view Cervelli strictly as a defensive specialist. Any offensive contribution is a bonus. And if Posada catches between 100 to 120 games, which is Yankees manager Joe Girardi’s stated goal, Cervelli’s bat will be as much of a non-issue as Mariano Rivera’s pitch selection.

But if Posada is sidelined for any significant period with injuries — the 38-year-old battled hamstring issues last season — the Yankees could find themselves leaning on a player whose line-drive rate went from 12.7 percent in the minors to an inexplicable 20.5 in the big leagues.

It doesn't sound like his recent injury is too serious, although concussions are never really "minor". Cervelli was one of the unexpected fun parts of last season's run. He's probably not likely to repeat his performance from last year. But he's sure to get a chance to try with a 38 year old catcher starting in front of him.