[N]ESPN Pulls Spygate Part II?

I had heard rumors about ESPN going above and beyond their normal dugout camera duties Sunday night. Using MLB.TV I went back and checked it out for myself.

While Brett Gardner led off the eighth inning, the ESPN cameras peered into the tunnel - which they're not supposed to do - and caught Bobby Abreu showing Alex Rodriguez how Manny Delcarmen tips his pitches.

As opposed to cutting the cameras and respecting the gamesmanship of the sport, the cameras inexplicably continued to roll. Immediately, Joe Morgan said, "I don't think we should have showed that," and he was right. Morgan then promptly explained what Abreu and Rodriguez were doing.

Over the past few years, baseball fans have been jokingly calling the world wide leader [N]ESPN to make fun of the channel's love affair for the Red Sox. I had always considered it to be conspiracy theory at best, and merely ESPN showing love to a team who had won two World Series over the past four years.

However, that Sunday night expedition into the private confines of the Yankees dugout tunnel makes me think twice before dismissing the [N]ESPN theorists. Now this wasn't an ALCS game or anything, but revealing to one of Boston's key late-inning relievers how he tips his pitches is absolutely inexcusable. Imagine if Abreu and A-Rod had been talking about Jonathan Papelbon's tell - those kinds of advantages can determine who wins or loses a tight game in the late innings.

There's no doubt in my mind ESPN understood that they were breaking the rules in filming such a discussion. And it makes you laugh considering I've never seen such a scene captured in the Red Sox dugout. Next time ESPN wants to use an in-game dugout cam, the Yankees should chuckle and reply no thanks.

If a reliever is tipping his pitches he will in all likelihood eventually realize that the hitters are picking up on something. But it is completely ridiculous for a tv network to literally broadcast that pitcher's mistake so he can then make the adjustment. Looks like Boston got the benefit of Spygate II - and nobody even realizes it.




This Better Be Just A Rumor

As we all know, the Yankees [and several other teams] have a mancrush on Brian Fuentes and hope to add the hard throwing lefty to their bullpen. According to Ed Price of the Star Ledger, the Rockies have begun scouting the Yankees farm system and have their eye on Mark Melancon.

Not that Melancon has proven anything at the major league level, but I firmly believe the current lights-out Trenton Thunder closer [who should be pitching at AAA] may very well surpass Fuentes in terms of effectiveness within the next couple years. Remember, Fuentes is 32, a whole nine years older than Melancon.

Giving up a talent like Melancon for a guy like Fuentes would be discarding a potential high-caliber closer for the next decade in exchange for a very good lefty reliever who could sign elsewhere this offseason.

This is not to marginalize the current Colorado closer's career, but there is some question as to whether he could even handle New York and he had been relieved of closing duties due to ineffectiveness in the past.

I'm all for acquiring an arm as talented as Fuentes, but only if it makes sense. You don't give up a 23 year-old closer type knocking on the big league door who, in the very near future, could be as good or better than the player you're trading for.

DRAFT COVERAGEYanks Could Target RHP Cole

The upcoming draft has a handful of top-tier talent. Unfortunately, the majority of these top draft prospects will most likely fall off the board before the Yankees pick at #28. There have been some rumors that Gerrit Cole, the talented California prepster, could slide to the Yankees on draft day. Could this be one time where Scott Boras' greed factor assists the Yankees?

Cole boasts a lightning quick arm that pumps lively fastballs at 93-97 mph as well as a solid slider in the 80's which projects as a plus pitch to go along with a developing changeup. Most reports paint Cole as a strike thrower with all three pitches which is even more impressive considering he is not a collegiate prospect.

How well Cole can command and advance his secondary pitches will dictate whether he is a frontline starter or backend bullpen arm. Either way, as unlikely as it may be, he could end up another high ceiling power pitcher [who touches 100 mph] amongst names like Brackman, Betances, McAllister, etc. If he's there, expect the Yankees to buy Cole out of his UCLA commitment.

From Keith Law's most recent ESPN chat:

Chris: Kennewick,WA: Keith Who do you see the yankees taking with #28? I know they take the best player left on the board, anychance that Gerrit cole is still around?

Keith Law: (1:54 PM ET ) I think they'd take Cole if he reached them, or Hosmer, Crow, or Alvarez if any of them slides that far. What I don't know is what they'll do if all the legit first-rounders with high bonus demands go before them.

Though Cole would be a great get at #28, Yankee fans would have wet dreams about Aaron Crow donning pinstripes.

Joe Morgan, Pearl Of Wisdom

First of all, Joe Morgan now has a weekly chat on ESPN.com?

Can you imagine Joe sitting behind a computer screen, a jar full of baseball cliches and a lovable David Ortiz reference awaiting somewhere nearby? What a concept.

Inexplicably, I scanned yesterday's Morgan Chat and immediately caught hold of this gem:

MJ (Edmonton): Joe is this the year the Blue Jays can catch the Yankees or the Red Sox and make the playoffs?

Joe Morgan: They will not catch the Sox, but they could battle the Yankees. But I think the Red Sox are still the best team in the AL, and it will be hard for the Blue Jays to beat them. The Yankees still have questions, especially with that young pitching so they could battle New York.

So, according to Mr. Big Red Machine, the Yankees have young pitching question marks. No doubt the beginning of the season has not been kind to Hughes or Kennedy, but did Joe ever take a look at the Red Sox starting rotation? If he had, he'd notice two unproven young starters named Buchholz and Lester.

Eh. The Sox are off to a hot start so there's no reason to address the fact that Lester has piled up more walks than strikeouts, more hits than innings-pitched and has an ERA over 5.00. Right, no question mark there. Buchholz, who is two years older than Phil Hughes, has a 4.79 ERA and one more win than Ian Kennedy.

Make no mistake, I believe all four of these budding pitchers will eventually become solid, reliable starters in the majors. However, the idea that Boston's twosome is now a lock over New York's youngsters is simply inaccurate in that it is without any particular basis. This being a Joe Morgan chat, there is little reason to expect accuracy, basis or much in the way of facts.