New Big Unit to Debut Soon

We all heard good things about Andrew Brackman when the Yankees drafted the 6'10" pitcher with their first pick in the 2007 draft. But we quickly learned the NC State product would also need Tommy John surgery, meaning he wouldn't be contributing to the Yankees any time soon. That's all about to change.

Lisa Winston of MLB.com reports that Brackman is almost ready to make his professional debut. When pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, Brackman should be ready to go. He was expected to pitch in the Gulf Coast League late last season, but an emergency appendectomy threw those plans out the window. He did get to throw in the Hawaiian Winter League.

Brackman went 3-4 with a 5.56 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 34 innings and limiting the league's batters to a .235 average. He went five or more innings in four of his starts, including three of the last four.

"His velocity was between 94-97 [mph], so he had no problems and he's ready to go for Major League camp," said Mark Newman, the Yankees' senior vice president of baseball operations. "His stuff is outstanding, and he's getting a feel for his delivery and throwing strikes. But first and foremost, he was healthy and, at times, dominant."

The delivery and mechanics are definitely the biggest challenge for Brackman, and not just because he has had so little mound time. For a pitcher of his size, there are both benefits and challenges.

"The benefits are the power and deception because the ball is released closer to the plate," Newman explained. "But the downside is you have long levers to manage, and it takes time. There aren't many of those guys in the environment to use as test cases, but most people believe that taller guys take a little longer to get their command."

That said, Newman added that Brackman has the advantage of being an exceptional athlete.

"To watch him run, he looks like he's 6-foot-2," Newman said of the young man who offsets that explosive heat with a knuckle curve and a developing changeup.

Here's hoping he can have a comparable career to the real Big Unit...with much less acrimony.

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The Daily Yankeeland

According to Joe Girardi, Harlan Chamberlain's condition has improved slightly, but the hospital is still running a battery of tests. There's no timetable for Joba Chamberlain's return to the team.

Jorge Posada made 45 throws from the outfield yesterday and said he felt better. He's still not sure when he'll be back behind the plate though. Jose Molina's hamstring has improved enough to the point where he doesn't think he'll need to go on the DL.

Ian Kennedy woke up yesterday morning with just a mark from the seams of the baseball that Jason Bartlett lined off his hip area. The team kept him from running yesterday, but he'll be able to resume normal activities with no problem.

The Tommy John surgery twins are making some progress. Humberto Sanchez threw off a full mound for the first time this year, while last year's number one pick, Andrew Brackman, threw off a half mound.

The Star-Ledger's Lisa Kennelley has a piece today on the waste of money known as Carl Pavano. The angle is that while he can rehab his arm, he can't rehab his image. The best line though comes from Pavano's agent, Tom O'Connell.

"Carl's a 1-2 starter," O'Connell said. "Those guys don't grow on trees. Those guys are very rare, 200-inning guys are very rare in this game, and they're the ones that make the money. And he did it two years in a row, before he got hurt, and I'm sure he's going to do it again."

Yeah, okay.

Tonight's first pitch may take a while to get to home plate. Astronaut Dr. Garrett Reisman will be throwing out the ceremonial ball from the International Space Station.

Reisman, a lifelong Yankee fan, carried a Yankee banner, a cap autographed by George Steinbrenner and a pile of dirt from the Yankee Stadium pitcher's mound with him onboard the International Space Station on March 12.

The New Jersey native said throwing the first pitch will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I am really honored to have this opportunity, in such a historic season, in the House that Ruth Built," he said.

Alex Rodriguez has exemplified the Yankees problems with runners in scoring position. He's just 1-14. He's got a chance to avenge his poor weekend series in Boston, with a 2-game series against the Red Sox in front of the home crowd.

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The Daily Yankeeland

Peter Abraham of the Journal News has a piece on the Yankees high hopes for Robinson Cano. Even Cano isn't sure what his limitations might be.

"This guy can hit 30 home runs. He could hit .330, .340 or even .350," Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said. "He can be a middle-of-the-lineup guy. It's not going to happen at this junction in time, but he's pretty special."

Some of us are miffed about the whole Billy Crystal sideshow, but Lisa Kennelly of the Star Ledger tells us, a lot of the players are looking forward to it.

"I'm going to ask him, see if he wants to," said Chamberlain, giddy at the prospect. "And I think he might be left-handed. I'm going to ask him and see what he's doing."

"Sweet!" Jason Giambi said. "Great guy. Funny. Loves the Yankees. We love having him around."

The Post's Joel Sherman talks about Mo being Mo. Here's the cutter, try and hit it.

"It must drive hitters crazy to know what it is coming; know what is coming and still not get the barrel of the bat on it," Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland said.

The Daily News' John Harper has a feature on the Yankees patient approach with 2007 #1 pick and favorite prank victim, Andrew Brackman.

"It will just take a little more of what we've been asking for around here," Cashman said. "And that's patience."

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Brackman Makes for Large Target

Ian Kennedy has warned him, but the Yankees 1st round draft pick in 2007 refuses to back down. At 6'10", Andrew Brackman makes for a very large target for the team's veteran pranksters. Yesterday Brackman felt the full force of retaliating on an earlier prank with one of his own.

All of his sliders- the knee length underwear used to protect the legs - were slit down the middle. His Yankees cap fell to the same fate (hmm, that seems a little baseball blasphemous). But that was nothing compared to the damage done to the half-dozen pairs of work out shoes, new spikes included. All shoelaces were cut in half and each pair of shoes was sliced right down the middle.

Brackman's car has also mysteriously disappeared from the player's parking lot at times. But Brackman isn't fazed by what has occurred..

"I'm not quitting," Brackman said of the prankster battle.

Brian Bruney and LaTroy Hawkins are thought to be two of the biggest pranksters in the clubhouse. And though Hawkins denied having any direct responsibility for the action, his hands didn't seem totally clean. He also gave Brackman some words of advice.

Source: NY Post

While looking over the damage, he (Hawkins) did say, "My people took care of some business."

Asked if he had any advice for the 22-year-old, Hawkins offered, "You got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em."

Another unnamed player added, "If you get hit by a veteran and fire back," one Yankee insider noted, "they come at you 10 times harder."

Brackman has also gained celebrity/notoriety in the locker room for a Youtube video that has been making the rounds. Besides baseball, Brackman was also on the N.C. State basketball team. In the video, UNC's Reyshawn Terry dunks over the big man, who claims a charge should have been called.

In case you haven't seen it, here it is.



In the spirit of equal time, here's Brackman taking it to the hole at Moeller Prep in Cincinnati.

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Team Photo Day - Prospects

Prospects - in no particular order

Eric Duncan Justin Christian

Francisco Cervelli Bernie Castro

Colin Curtis Jason Brown

Steven White Andrew Brackman

Kyle Anson Chase Wright

Marcos Vechionacci Humberto Sanchez

Austin Romine Jose Tabata

Cody Ransom Greg Porter

P.J. Pilittere Jesus Montero

Eduardo Nunez Juan Miranda

Mark Melancon Jeff Marquez

Steven Jackson Daniel McCutchen

Alan Horne Alberto Gonzalez

Austin Jackson Brett Gardner

Dan Giese

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Top 10 Prospects

Thanks to the boys at River Ave. Blues, here are Baseball America's Top 10 Yankees prospects for 2008.

1. Joba Chamberlain
2. Austin Jackson
3. Jose Tabata
4. Ian Kennedy
5. Alan Horne
6. Jesus Montero
7. Jeff Marquez
8. Brett Gardner
9. Ross Ohlendorf
10. Andrew Brackman

This was the list prior to the 2007 season:

1. Philip Hughes, rhp
2. Jose Tabata, of
3. Dellin Betances, rhp
4. Joba Chamberlain, rhp
5. Ian Kennedy, rhp
6. Chris Garcia, rhp
7. Tyler Clippard, rhp
8. J. Brent Cox, rhp
9. Mark Melancon, rhp
10. Brett Gardner, of

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Top Pick to Have TJ Surgery

The Yankees number one pick in this year's amateur draft, Andrew Brackman, will undergo Tommy John surgery. It was thought that surgery would be needed eventually, but it has now been decided that the time is right. Dr. James Andrews will be performing the surgery.

Brackman recently signed a four-year deal worth $4.5 million that includes a $3.3 million signing bonus and could escalate to $13.8 million if incentives are met.


Source

Photo courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com

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Yankees Sign No. 1 Pick

From Baseball America:

Yanks Get Brackman Done

Posted Aug. 15, 2007 3:16 pm by John Manuel
Filed under: Signings

The Newark Star-Ledger’s Dan Graziano and Ed Price–a former BA staffer, in the interest of full disclosure–have reported that the Yankees have signed their first-round pick, righthander Andrew Brackman. Baseball America has confirmed the contract’s details with another source with knowledge of the deal.The former North Carolina State two-sport talent signed a major league contract, worth a guaranteed $4.5 million with a $3.3 million bonus.

However, that’s the low-end guarantee. Even though Brackman might need elbow surgery–he’s in Birmingham, Ala., right now to see Dr. James Andrews–the Yankees have signed him to a deal that could be worth up to $13 million when escalator clauses and team options are included.
It’s a significant contract for the 6-foot-10 pitcher and Boras Corporation client, who went 6-4, 3.81 for the Wolfpack this spring in a career-high 78 innings. Brackman played basketball and baseball his first two seasons at N.C. State, limiting him to 71 innings combined. He appeared to wear down under the heavier workload this spring, withering down the stretch. However, at his best, Brackman had some of the best stuff and athleticism of any pitcher in the draft, touching 99 mph at times with his fastball and flashing a plus spike curveball.

Brackman’s deal leaves seven unsigned first-round picks: Nos. 1 (David Price, Devil Rays), 2 (Mike Moustakas, Royals) and 3 (Josh Vitters, Cubs) overall; No. 5 pick Matt Wieters (Orioles); and Nos. 9 (Jarrod Parker, Diamondbacks), 11 (Phillippe Aumont, Rockies) and 12 (Matt Dominguez, Marlins).

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Yankees Select Future Big Unit

The Yankees have taken 6'10" right-hander Andrew Brackman with their first round pick, 30th overall, in today's amateur baseball draft.

Here's info from minorleaguebasell.com in February.

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