New York Yankees: Ranking the 10 Best Pitchers in the Organization

I have to admit something.

Some of my best friends are die-hard Boston Red Sox fans.

Hell, my aunt is a die-hard Sox fan.

As we know, the Red Sox won two championships between the Yankees' 2000 and '2009 World Series titles.

Regardless of what we were arguing about, when it came to the Yanks and the Sox my buddies loved to pull out one line over-and-over again: "stop living in the past."

I'm telling you this because last week, when we took a look at the 20 greatest pitchers to take the mound for the New York Yankees, guess what I heard—"stop living in the past."

For once, maybe my friends are right (OK, they're right fairly often...damn, I just put that in writing).

Maybe I need to do something more forward thinking.

Something like the 10 best pitchers in the Yankees organization right now. A mix of young and old, guys who have already made the big show and others who are on their way.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

After the jump, let's meet the pitchers who are the best-of-the-best in the Yankees organization...and with any luck, the guys who will keep my friends up at night for years to come.

 

10. Adam Warren

2011 Stats (For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 6-8, 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 152 IP, 145 H, 53 BB, 111 K

2011 has been a strange year for Adam Warren, the 24-year-old RHP currently pitching for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

We first looked at Warren at the end of June, when he was 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.

Since then, he has gone 0-6 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.

His stuff is still good, he just seems to be missing with his location—something that can be fixed.

Warren still should be expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees rotation in Spring Training next season.

9. David Phelps

2011 Stats (For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 6-6, 3.16 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 107 IP, 115 H, 26 BB, 90 K

After missing part of this season after a stint on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, 24-year-old RHP David Phelps has gotten back on track for the SWB Yankees.

Phelps has three go-to pitches: a four-seam fastball that sits in the low-to-mid-90's, a two-seam fastball that sits in the low-90's and a slider that Baseball America called the best in the Yankees' minor league system prior to the 2011 season.

The Yankees will have to add Phelps to their 40-man roster prior to baseball's Rule 5 Draft in December or risk losing him to another team.

Assuming they protect him, Phelps could be in the competition for the fifth spot in the Yankees' rotation depending on how he performs in spring training.

8. Hector Noesi

2011 Stats (For Yankees): 2-0, 3.42 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 47 IP, 49 H, 15 BB, 36 K

2011 Stats (For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 1-1, 3.28 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 25 IP, 28 H, 9 BB, 17 K

A starting pitcher throughout his minor league career, 24-year-old RHP Hector Noesi has been more than serviceable in his nearly 50 innings with the Yankees in middle relief this season.

His ability to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen, coupled with the Yankees potentially having a plethora of options for their 2012 starting rotation sitting in the minors makes Noesi's permanent move to middle relief a foregone conclusion.

7. Joba Chamberlain

2011 Stats: 2-0, 2.83 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 23 H, 7 BB, 24 K

Prior to blowing out his elbow, Joba Chamberlain was on his way to reclaiming his status as a big-time reliever for the Yankees, a potential successor to Mariano Rivera and a fan-favorite.

While he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and very well could miss the beginning of the 2012 season, there is no denying his raw talent and ability to dominate the opposition.

6. Dellin Betances

2011 Stats (For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 0-3, 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 21 IP, 16 H, 15 BB, 27 K

2011 Stats (For Double-A Trenton): 4-6, 3.42 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 105.1 IP, 86 H, 55 BB, 115 K

Ranked higher than Manny Banuelos by Baseball America entering the 2011 season, 23-year-old RHP Dellin Betances is one of the prize jewels of the Yankees' farm system.

Like Adam Warren, we took a look at Betances at the end of June as someone fans can get excited about.

One of the "Killer B's,"  Betances will be invited to spring training and many will expect him to make the team. However, seeing as he is on the 40-man roster and easily could have been called up this month, the Yankees chose to leave him in the minors.

Brian Cashman and the Yankees may feel that he could benefit from a full season against Triple-A talent before making the jump to the major leagues.

5. Ivan Nova

2011 Stats (with Yankees): 15-4, 3.89 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 138.2 IP, 139 H, 47 BB, 85 K

Thought of as a back-of-the rotation option or long reliever out of the bullpen entering the season, 24-year-old RHP Ivan Nova has arguably been the Yankees' second best starting pitcher in 2011.

In 2011, the better the competition, the better Nova has pitched.

Against teams with a record below .500, Nova is 9-2 with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Against teams with a record of .500 or better, Nova is 6-2 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

Once the playoffs start, there is a very good chance that Ivan Nova will be the Yankees' second starter in the rotation.

4. David Robertson

2011 Stats: 3-0, 1.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 56.1 IP, 37 H, 30 BB, 85 K

In his fourth season in the major leagues, 26-year-old RHP David Robertson has announced to the league that he is one of the best setup men in the game and he doesn't care who knows it.

It doesn't matter what side of the plate the batters are coming from, Robertson has been dominant against both this year, holding hitters to a .181 average overall.

After his All-Star first half where he went 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, Robertson has become even better, pitching to a 1.29 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.

Against teams with a winning record, Robertson is 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Next to Mariano Rivera, David Robertson is as good as it gets in the Yankees' bullpen,

3. Manny Banuelos

2011 Stats (For Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 2-2, 4.19 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 34.1 IP, 36 H, 19 BB, 31 K

2011 Stats (For Double-A Trenton): 4-5, 3.59 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 95.1 IP, 94 H, 52 BB, 94 K

While his stats are underwhelming, 20-year-old LHP Manny Banuelos is the best pitcher in the Yankees organization who is not on their 40-man roster.

There's a reason that nearly every trade rumor the Yankees were linked to this season included the other team wanting Banuelos—his talent is undeniable.

With a fastball and changeup that are both major league ready, his curveball still needs refinement and he still needs to work on locating his pitches better.

Manny will have a chance to make the team out of spring training next season, but like the other "Killer B," Dellin Betances, Banuelos may be better served by spending a full season in Triple-A.

2. C.C. Sabathia

2011 Stats: 19-7, 2.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 218.1 IP, 205 H, 51 BB, 211 K

Much like the man who wears the crown of "Best Pitcher in the Yankees Organization," there is nothing I can tell you about CC Sabathia that you don't already know.

One of the best pitchers in all of baseball, C.C. Sabathia is the unquestioned ace of the Yankees' pitching staff.

A perennial All-Star and Cy Young Award contender, chances are that Sabathia will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract after the season, becoming a free agent. This of course will be nothing more than a formality, as Sabathia will spend the better part of the next decade in pinstripes.

1. Mariano Rivera

2011 Stats:

Two words sum up this legendary figure.

Mariano Rivera.

His name says it all.

There's Mariano Rivera...and there's everyone else.

Who Just Missed the Cut?

The next five pitchers, in no particular order:

D.J. Mitchell (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)

Graham Stoneburner (Double-A Trenton)

Nik Turley (Single-A Tampa)

Rafael Soriano

Phil Hughes (yes, I am still a believer)