AGRI Biz

It was only one game into the 2010 baseball season for New York Yankee fans, there were 161 more to go, but panic was in the air. The newest addition to the bullpen, Chan Ho Park, was roughed up. Curtis Granderson reiterated to all involved that he couldn't hit left-handed pitching, CC Sabathia couldn't last through six innings, and Joba Chamberlain's performance in the eighth inning indicated that he couldn't ...

Both New York teams have a new starting outfielder on their squads this year. Both are upgrades over their 2009 counterparts. The Mets signed free agent Jason Bay while the Yankees pulled off an old-fashioned trade as they acquired Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team, seven-player swap. That trade also involved the Arizona Diamondbacks, and appears to be good for all three teams involved. Now that both New York clubs have ...

I read the latest scouting report on Jesus Montero's defensive skills. It might be the first decently positive report on his defensive talent—but the secondary reports by bloggers mostly reported the negative. I bet those guys will be all over the Tiger Woods interview next week. The biggest knock on Montero is that his big 6'4", 225-pound body will not allow him to catch at the major league level. The immense size ...

This spring has brought us more stories of the Joba Rules. It has also created more pitchers likely to go under similar rules and talked about in "Is he (pick your guy) best suited as a starter or a reliever?" Most relievers are failed starting pitchers. The New York Yankees closer extraordinaire Mariano Rivera is one such example. At 25 years of age, Rivera started 10 games in ...

Too many articles talked about Joe Mauer heading to free agency after this season and signing with the Yankees. That was never going to happen because of Mauer's native roots and his homegrown status of being a Twins first-round draft choice and first pick overall.* * Do you think the Twins feel good that they did not take Mark Prior first overall? Just before the draft, Prior was going all John Elway ...

After Alfredo Aceves gave up five runs in four-plus innings yesterday, the Yankees hierarchy was secretly giddy. Phil Hughes, the darling prospect of the team since being drafted in 2004, is now back in the lead! Headlines in Sunday's papers shouted, "Aceves' Bad Outing Could Cost Him in Yankees Contest ," and "Aceves Puts Himself In Hole With Poor Start ." Unless Aceves had a completely dominant spring training, he never had ...

On the day that the Minnesota Twin fans received terrible news about their closer Joe Nathan, they have good news from the receiving end of the battery, Joe Mauer. According to many sources , the Twins have re-signed their 2009 American League MVP and three-time batting champion catcher to an 8-year deal for $184 million. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and keeps the homegrown (and hometown) All-Star with the team ...

I am not of the mindset to obtain some other team's castoffs. When a veteran player is released or available, usually the call from most Yankees fans is for the Yankees to sign the guy. Reed Johnson, Rocco Baldelli, Randy Winn, and others were available for left field, and many pieces were written about the Yankees signing one over another. For the record, I wanted none of these guys. Brett Gardner was ...

Today is March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day , and many people across this world are celebrating the Luck of the Irish, enjoying corned beef and cabbage, and getting their drink on. This day also marks the 91st anniversary of the birth of the greatest natural baseball player who ever lived. A player so remarkable that the natural right handed hitter taught himself how to switch hit in the minors, and it ...

The New York Yankees are usually one of the teams where most, if not all, the 25-man roster spots are already accounted. But, as is the case with a team based in New York, the hype does follow the younger players. Many times this hype is unwarranted. In the case of these young Yankee players, it might be justified. This list is not predicated on which Yankee farmhand is the best prospect or ...