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Mary Rose Byrne is an Australian Actress.

Jose Mojica – Prospect Profile
by Sean Serritella YankeesDaily

Full Name: Jose A Mojica
Position: Short Stop
Born: 12/26/1988
Birthplace: Bani, Dominican Republic
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 145
Bats: R
Throws: R

Background:

Signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic. His missed all of the 2008 season with a leg injury and didn’t start his pro debut with the New York Yankees until this past year. He previously played for the Kansas City Royals organization at 17 years of age.

Minor Leagues:
Gulf Coast Yankees:

Led the Gulf Coast League Yankees with a .278 average.

Scouting Report:

He put on 30 lbs because he wasn’t able to run because of his injury.

Positives:

Jose Mojica had a pretty good season considering that he started the year at CGL after coming off an ACL injury. He has great athleticism and gained more confidence in his knee as the year went on which allowed him to be a better player. He was able to relax once he got his brace off and he was able to show his natural ability.

Mojica is a gap hitter that makes great contact with a good idea of the strike zone. He hits the ball hard and could hit the ball to all fields. His power potential is that of a Derek Jeter.

Mojica is known for having “great hands” whether it’s in the field or at the plate. He has a strong throwing arm and in the field he moves from side to side well. He’s a solid defender that’s always in position to make the play because of his ability to be in the right spot at the right time.

He’s average on the base paths.

He has a great work ethic.

Negatives:

He doesn’t control the zone well and lacks patience at the plate as evidenced by his low walk total. He doesn’t strike out as much because he’s over aggressive and swings and makes contact with a lot of pitches.

The future:

Mojica hasn’t really fully recovered from his ACL injury so there’s potential for more power in his swing. If he gains no more power he’ll be a good utility infielder. He’s already 21 years old and playing in low level baseball in a farm system that has better players than when he first signed. How high is ceiling is up for debate. He’ll most likely start the year for Staten Island.

Noémie Lenoir is a French Model.

I’m not going to post much today if at all. I’ll be with my family at their house in East Hanover N.J. watching the Super Bowl and eating a whole bunch of Italian food.

I see the Indianapolis Colts scoring a lot of points and winning by a lot in Super Bowl XLIV. I don’t think the New Orleans Saints’ defense is up to task. I say Colts 44 – Saints 14.

I can’t wait to eat Suppreseta or supresseta with Italian bread and roasted peppers.

Adriana Lima holding a football pic

Full Name: David Lee Adams
Position: Second Base
Born: 05/15/1987
Birthplace: Margate, FL
Height: 6′ 2″
Weight: 190
Bats: R
Throws: R

Background:
High School:

David was a four-year letterwinner at Grandview Prep where he played for his father Dale. He was drafted in 21st round of 2005 MLB Draft by Detroit Tigers but opted to go to college.

Here are some of his accolades..

Was a first-team all-state selection as senior and was named team captain and most valuable player. He was named third-team high school All-American by the Baseball Coaches Association after hitting .500 with eight doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 17 RBI as a senior. He was rated No. 19 prospect by Baseball America and No. 29-ranked prospect by Team One Baseball

Member of National Honor Society, Student Senate, Beta Club and SADD. He was the Student Government Vice President and also lettered three years in basketball.

College:
2006:

Named second team Baseball America Freshman All-American. Was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He ranked second on team in home runs, total bases and third on the team in hits and RBI. Hit .354 with runners in scoring position. Named to Baseball America’s Fab 50 list for top freshmen.

2007:

Named second team All-ACC. Tied for sixth in ACC in batting and eighth in on base percentage. Finished with 84 hits – tied for sixth-most in single season at UVa. Led the team with 30 multi-hit games, including eight three-hit games. Named to Baseball America’s Top 30 prospect list (No. 27) from Cape Cod League after hitting .302 for Falmouth.

2008:

Named to 2008 Third-Team Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America squad and Wallace Award Watch List Was 2008 team captain with Robert Poutier.

If you look at his stats, he didn’t have as good a year in 2008 as compared to his sophomore year in 2007. He underperformed and hit 100 points lowers in 2008. The Yankees however had their eye on Adams and believed they located the flaw in his swing which represented the drop in production. The Yankees looked past his ’08 struggles and instead focused on his solid approach at the plate, good hand/eye coordination and ability to square-up. He had a hitchy load that lead to an inconsistent swing plane that some thought would be problematic at the upper-levels.

Minor Leagues:
Staten Island 2008:

With the Staten Island Yankees, he spent much of the season retooling his new swing as well as learning to hit with a wooden bat. The thing he worked mostly on was driving the ball to the left-center. The Yankees had him do this so he would regain some power in his swing.

2009

Adams played for the Charleston River Dogs and the Tampa Yankees. Adams had a good first half season with Charleston but when he moved up to Tampa, he maintained his good plate discipline, walking over 10% of the time and actually cut down his strike outs, to about 17% of his at bats. His ISO rose 100 points, which is the ability to get extra base hits, from Charleston to Tampa.

While having no home runs for Charleston, he all of a sudden exploded with seven in his remaining time with Tampa. The amazing thing is that he hit better in a pitching friendly park.

Positives:

Adams is a cocky but hard nosed and intelligent player who makes the most of his average tools on both offense and defense. He works hard on and off the field. He soaks up every little detail to help him understand how to be a better defender. He never wants to be satisfied and always strives to be a better ball player. He has a strong arm, turns the double play well, is solid around the bag and gets the job done on defense. He is said to be one of the best at turning the double play.

He’ll say things like, “I feel I am a great baseball player. I think I am one of the best hitters around.” If you think that’s a bad thing, that’s up to you, the reader. I did put it under positives however.

He shows advanced plate discipline, has above average to good bat speed and is extremely patient at the plate. His approach is going the other way and using his hands for contact. He has a great ability to draw walks and waits for his pitch which could also be a detriment which I put in the negative section as well. He can hit home runs to all fields and has a thick frame which gives optimism that more power should come.

Adams is a savvy and aggressive base runner who is always looking to take the extra base to get himself into scoring position.

Negatives:

He is a patient hitter but sometimes this can serve as a detriment as pitchers will exploit him with fastballs early in the count and breaking pitches with two strikes.

Does not have good range at second base.

Future:

Some scouts believe that Adams doesn’t have good enough range for second base and will make the move to third base. The thing about players like Adams is that his lack of projectivity or standout tools limits his potential ceiling. However, he will work tirelessly to scratch his way to Yankee Stadium and if he gets there it will be because of hard work.

He will start for the Trenton Thunder in 2010.

David Adams scouting report.

Hank: Yanks can repeat - Bryan Hoch – Bombers Beat

Great article by the Hochster. Talks about Hank Steinbrenner’s feelings on the upcoming season.

Cash grilled by Chinese sportswriters - el duque – It is high, it is far, it is… caught.

Another funny article by el duque and the boys. I still don’t know their names. lol.

Q&A: Phillip Sims, Alabama (Signing Day) - College Football Insiders – Nfl Draft Bible

I don’t think this is my brother who wrote the article but some one who works for him. Great stuff like usual.

Ilya Kovalchuk has two assists in NJ Devils debut, a 4-3 comeback victory over Toronto Maple Leafs - Rich Chere – The Star-Ledger

All I have to say is wow, the guy makes an impact in his first game. What stinks is that we all know that the Devils won’t resign him before the year is over. He’s a one year rental.

Setting Sun? - CHRIS MANNIX – NetsDaily

Amar’e Stoudemire to the Nets? Does it matter this year? The Nets are a mess.

Ninel Conde Might be Posing for Playboy - Amanda – F-Listed

I don’t know who Ninel is but she looks good.

10 Hottest NFL Cheerleader Squads - jfriel1990 – COED magazine

I like number 10.

Page 11 of YankeesDaily Girls -  Sean Serritella – YankeesDaily

So I have 11 pages. All you have to do is change the number on top and you scan from 11 pages to one.

Arianna: Sarah Palin Has Demeaned Herself With Rush Limbaugh Hypocrisy (VIDEO) – Arianna Huffington – Huffington Post

I go to two political webpages every day, Huffington Post and the Drudge Report. I try to get a view from both sides.

‘Idol’ producers want Howard Stern to replace Cowell - NY Post

I think that’s a good idea. Howard has a way of making people like him. He might even make American Idol bigger than it is now.

Eduardo Nunez – Prospect Profile
by Sean Serritella YankeesDaily

Full Name: Eduardo Michelle Nunez
Position: Short stop
Born: 06/15/1987
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 155
Bats: R
Throws: R

Background:

Signed by the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 25, 2004.

Minor Leagues:

2004:

Spent his first professional season with each level of the Yankees’ Dominican Summer League program, appearing in a total of 120 games and batting.233 with three home runs and 53 RBI.

2005:

Was selected to participate in the NY-Penn League All-Star Game and was 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI. He ranked third in the NYPenn League in hits (88), third in triples (six), fourth in games played (73), fourth in at-bats (281), and eighth in average (.313).

2006:

Named the sixth-best prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America on 1/16.

2007:

Started at shortstop in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. He recorded multiple hits in 13-of-30 games with Tampa.

2008:

Set a career high in doubles. Opened the season on the disabled list with a sprained right thumb and was activated on April 20. Returned to the D.L. from May 12-June 3 with a left thumb sprain. He recorded five consecutive two-hit games from June 8-12.

2009:

Was a EAS Mid-Season All-Star on 07/15/2009, a EAS Post-Season All-Star on 08/28/2009 and a Topps Double-A All-Star on 11/18/2009.

Positives:

Eduardo Nunez is one of four minor league players who will win the utility infield job in New York in 2010. He has by far his best year in 2009 where he hit .322 with nine homers and 19 stolen bases in Trenton and the Yankee scouts were encouraged by improved plate discipline in the second half.

A good reason for his improved hitting is because he is now hitting from his right side exclusively. He was a switch hitter and he’s been hitting only right-handed for these past two years.

He’s an ultra-aggressive hitter with decent pull power and great hand-eye coordination. He has great bat speed with a knack for making consistent contact and has a good idea of the strike zone. He doesn’t swing at pitches out of the zone.

His throwing arm is tremendous, and that’s probably his biggest standout tool. It’s so tremendous that in 2008 while he was struggling offensively the Yankees wanted to turn him into a pitcher. There are times when he’ll save runs for his pitcher by diving for a ball and making an erratic throw which will count as an error.

He’s a decent base stealer as evidenced by his 19 stolen bases.

Negatives:

His defense isn’t good. He made 33 errors in 2009 because he lacks concentration and fundamental consistency. His range may be above average but he apparently has footwork issues. Mike Ashmore from Trenton’s Thunder Thoughts had this to say about him…

Defensively, Nunez has an outstanding arm that he doesn’t always seem to be able to harness. Whether it’s issues with footwork or just getting lazy on a few throws, errors have plagued him throughout his career, and last season was no different. Nunez’s 33 errors were good enough to earn him the Eastern League’s Pewter Glove… he led the league with his penchant for the E-6. Nunez likely needs to develop a bit of a better work ethic in the field as well, as for someone who clearly needs to improve defensively, I’d often see him not taking his time in the infield during batting practice as seriously as he should.

TotalZone by Sean Smith at BaseballProjection.com has him having the same batting average he did before 2009 with the same strikeout to walk ratio. He only had 22 walks in 497 at bats in 2009 which is very low. His walk, strikeout, ISO, and line drive rates all remained identical to 2008 as well. ISO rate is the ability to get extra base hits.

Total Zone also says that he would have cost the team 14 runs on defense had he played 150 games last year.

Future:

As a 22 year old in the pitcher friendly Double-A Trenton, his improved hitting impressed the Yankees organization that they protected him from the Rule 5 draft. This suggests they believe he could have played for a major league team for the 2010 season.

His lack of consistency on defense will likely have him back in Scranton in 2010. He doesn’t have a ton of power and primarily hits for singles. He did connect for a career high in home runs in 2009 so his bat will overshadow his glove enough to where he will get the call to the big show some time in 2010.

Scouts believe that if he can draw more walks, improve his on-base percentage and get his defense to be as good as his bat, there’s no limit to what he could do and he could be a solid big league player that can probably start on a lot of teams.

He’s on the 40 man roster so he’s an injury away from a call up.

Eduardo Nunez Scouting Report:

Eduardo Nunez video:

top picture is from Mike Ashmore.

Some one in my family passed away and I’m going to their wake at 1:00 PM. The good news is that I might have some one really good lined up for a radio interview.

Dellin Betances – Prospect Profile
by Sean Serritella YankeesDaily

Full Name: Dellin Betances
Born: 03/23/1988
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Height: 6′ 8″
Weight: 245
Bats: R
Throws: R

Background:

Went to Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn.

Played basketball during his freshman and sophomore years at Grand Street but gave up that sport to concentrate on his promising baseball career. He grew six inches from his sophomore year in high school to his senior year.

As a junior he went 6-0 with a 0.17 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 41-2/3 innings and recorded 98 mph on the radar gun.

As a senior, he was 4-0 with 65 strikeouts in 27 innings and his E.R.A. was a perfect 0.00.

Teams that thought about drafting Betances were scared by a reduction in his velocity during his senior-year season. They also worried that at six-foot-nine, the repeated motion required to throw secondary pitches effectively would be hard for Betances to find.

John Sickels had this take on Betances at the time: “From a development perspective, his height is as much a hindrance as an asset,” John Sickels, who publishes an annual book rating more than 1,000 minor league prospects, said in his 2007 report on Betances. “Pitchers that tall often have problems keeping their mechanics consistent, which can result in command problems and injury vulnerability.”

Since he dropped in the draft and teams passed him by, Bentaces was drafted out of Grand Street Campus School in Brooklyn, New York by the New York Yankees in the 8th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He was signed for a record one million dollar signing bonus which he asked for. It was the highest bonuse for an eighth round pick and this prompted Betances to spurn Vanderbilt Miami, LSU and Notre Dame and sign out of high school.

Baseball Intellect did a scouting report on his mechanics between the time he was drafted out of high school and the the start of the 2007 season. They compare his high school pitching to his first season with Staten Island.

He was rated the Yankees’ third best prospect for 2007, and their fifth best for 2009, according to Baseball America. Pinstripe Plus has him rated as their number 16th prospect for 2010.

Minor Leagues:

Betances spent 2007 with the Class-A Short Season Staten Island Yankees where he logged just 25 innings because he was raw and came down with forearm tightness.

After a slow start in 2008 with the Charleston Riverdogs, Betances finished the summer on a roll, allowing just one home run in his last 60.3 IP and posting a solid 71/19 SO/BB rate over the same two month span. He led the South Atlantic League starters by averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

In 2009 with the Tampa Yankees, his shoulder and elbow started bothering him and this could account for the poor season he had. He had surgery late in the season, which was erroneously reported as Tommy John surgery but was instead a ligament reinforcement procedure.

Strengths:

First, this guy is huge. He stands 6′9 and weighs 245. He could be a linebacker for the New York Giants.

Betances has two plus pitches when he’s throwing to his potential. His four-seam fastball sits between 92-94 mph and he uses his height to throw it on a steep downhill plane. He has a better angle toward the plate and can get more sink and movement on his pitches. The young right-handed pitcher relies primarily on a mid-90s fastball with plus-life and it he has been known to dial it up to 98 mph in the past. When his fastball command is on, it’s a plus pitch.

Since he has the natural ability to have sink on his pitches, the Yankees want to introduce a two-seam sinker to his repertoire but they will have to smooth out his mechanics first.

He throws a power knuckle curve with 12-to-6 movement that flashes plus with hard, late, downer action with wicked movement and it serves as a solid swing-and-miss pitch. He has great command of his curve ball.

He has improved markedly at quickening his feet, holding runners and fielding his position.

Weaknesses:

The biggest trouble with Betances has been his command. He loses balance in his delivery and it tends to fly open, costing him command and leaving him injury-prone. Since he is such a big dude, he has larger moving parts and his mechanics can get out of whack more frequently. Taller pitches take a longer time to develop command because it’s much harder for tall pitchers to coordinate all their moving parts and consistently repeat their mechanics. Betances struggles at times to repeat his motion and, as a result, can struggle to find a consistent release point particularly with his secondary stuff.

His change up is in it’s developing stages. It comes with some fade, but it’s still fairly inconsistent and he doesn’t have great command of it.

The Future:

He has to prove that he can stay healthy because he has front-of-the-line rotation potential. The Yankees will need patience with Betances because the upside is still there. If he could put it all together, he can become a very dominant pitcher. Betances is one of the more interesting prospects in baseball because of his raw stuff and size.

He’ll be rehabbing the first half of 2010 with the Gulf Coast Yankees and then will join the Tampa Yankees towards the end of the season.

Dellin Betances scouting report

Dellin Betances 2007 Video

I don’t know why the owner of the Ravens is talking trash about the New York Yankees. It’s weird. Out of all the teams in the world to trash the Yankees, you would expect it to come from the Red Sox organization.

Did Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Ravens, just wake up one day and say, “I’m going to trash the Yankees.”? I have to admit, I had to wiki Bisciotti just to make sure he wasn’t part owner of the Orioles so I wouldn’t sound like a dufus.

Here’s what he said…

“It certainly doesn’t show up in the standings,” Bisciotti said. “If I’m a Yankees fan, I’m upset we’re not winning 130 games with the roster that they have and the money that they pay out. I think it’s a disgrace they only beat the average team by 10 games in the standings with three times the money. I’d fire that GM. You don’t need a GM. All you have to do is buy the last Cy Young Award winner every year.”

“I think the genie’s out of the bottle,” Bisciotti said, pointing out that the huge value of the Yankees franchise is based on the current economic system and nobody is going to impose a new system that might damage the value of the top revenue-producing teams. “There’s just no way of solving it.”

Wow, think about the Yankees much? Maybe he wanted to buy the Yankees and never had the chance to? I’m not sure but he should worry about football. Worrying about a team that’s not even in the same sport will give you a lot more stress.

I’m going to have to give Steve Bisciotti disgraceful person of the day because not only what he said is a disgrace, but a nightmare.