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On Thursday evening, Major League Baseball teams will partake in the annual June draft, casting the future of the franchise into selections of players fresh out of high school or college. Their arrival into the minor league system will bring about projections, often towards the very, very optimistic side.

Of course, many high draft picks won’t pan out. On the other hand, many players will be undervalued, progress to a level not envisioned during the draft weekend and go on to become stars in the show.

Assessing the future of raw talent is an unenviable task for any talent evaluator in sports.

When the projection is correct, we’re told that those front office minds are simply doing their job correctly. But if that projection is wrong, it often results in the loss of a job.

Clearly, some talents, both good and bad, are easier to evaluate than others.

Bryce Harper was supposed to be a star. Yet so was Todd Van Poppel.

With two days left before these names hit your radar screen, here are the Top 10 Boom or Bust Draft Prospects in the 2013 Class.

Don’t be surprised if some are stars before long, but try not to hold your breath if they stall in the minors.

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In a sport dominated by pitching, it’s hard to remember a better time to be invested in the respective Cy Young races.

This a great season if you’re a fan of stellar pitching, as there are a number of frontline starters who have routinely left us in awe. Having to decide on just one Cy Young candidate in each league will be an unenviable task for voters later this year.

Odds are, you don’t have an American or National League Cy Young vote, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy in or sell on several candidates throughout the season.

Here is a stock watch for the AL and NL Cy Young candidates as we enter June.

All statistics are valid through the beginning of play on May 31, and of courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, FanGraphs and MLB.com

AMERICAN LEAGUE
 

1. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners: 12 GS, 83.1 IP, 87 K, 16 BB, 2.38 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 2.6 WAR

The combination of durability and dominance of the Seattle ace is unique, setting him apart from other pitchers in the majors.

After Thursday afternoon’s gem in San Diego, Hernandez leads all of baseball in innings pitched thus far this season. If he can maintain his workload—along with his sterling ERA—he’ll capture a second Cy Young.

Stock: Up

2. Anibal Sanchez, Detroit Tigers: 11 GS, 71 IP, 89 K, 18 BB, 2.79 ERA, 1.87 FIP, 3.1 WAR

Always known as a good, but not great, pitcher, Sanchez has taken a leap, justifying the five-year, $80 million deal given to him by the Tigers last winter.

While his ERA since 2009 is in the top 25 of all qualified starters, he’s never done it over a 200-inning season.

If Sanchez can stay healthy, he’ll have the chance to do that in 2013 and improve his chances for winning a Cy Young.

Stock: Up

3. Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers: 11 GS, 74.1 IP, 105 K, 22 BB, 3.03 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 2.2 WAR

Pitching in Texas may always keep Darvish‘s ERA than his Cy Young competition, but that won’t stop fans and observers from recognizing his dominance.

With a ridiculous combination of pitches, arm angles and speeds, Darvish might be the most athletically pleasing pitcher to watch since Pedro Martinez in his prime.

If he continues on his blistering pace toward upwards of 300 K’s for the season, the Pedro comparisons will just intensify.

Stock: Even

4. Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox: 10 GS, 72.2 IP, 73 K, 27 BB, 1.73 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 2.5 WAR

If this column was written in the 1980s, Buchholz would clearly take the top spot. After all, he’s 8-0 with the best ERA in the AL!

Of course, it’s 2013 and baseball scribes, fans and analysts have come up with more thorough ways to evaluate pitchers than just W-L records and ERA.

That being said, Buchholz‘s peripherals, including a strong 2.53 FIP, spell good things for his season and Cy Young potential.

His stock has fell due to a missed start from the inflammation experienced in his AC joint. If he stays healthy and pitches well this Sunday, this stock will rise. If not, he could fall off the watch by early July. 

Stock: Down

5. Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers: 10 GS, 68.1 IP, 81 K, 16 BB, 3.42 ERA, 2.39 FIP, 2.5 WAR

It might seem to some observers that Scherzer is just now putting it all together, finally fulfilling in Detroit the potential he flashed as a rising prospect in the Diamondbacks’ organization.

If that’s the narrative surrounding the Tigers’ righty, then the folks promoting it somehow missed out on his dominance over the last calender year.

Since mid-May of 2012, Scherzer ranks among the Top 10 in baseball in ERA, WAR and K/9. In short, he’s been dominant for a while.

If he continues that production for another few months, he could have an award to prove it.

Stock: Up

Just missed the cut: James Shields, Chris Sale, Hiroki Kuroda

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Matt Harvey, New York Mets: 11 GS, 78 IP, 84 K, 17 BB, 1.85 ERA, 2.27 FIP, 2.5 WAR

It would be easy to say that Harvey is a New York media creation, more hyperbole than substance and the product of a porous Mets team that make his outings look better in theory than reality.

Easy, but far from the truth.

Harvey is the real deal, dominating on the mound since his call up last July on a Monday night in Arizona.

While he’s clearly been more fired up for big games against Stephen Strasburg and the New York Yankees, his dominance over lesser competition—the Marlins, White Sox and Twins—shows his laser like focus from start to start.

Stock: Up

2. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals: 11 GS, 80 IP, 74 K, 6 BB, 2.48 ERA, 1.88 FIP, 3.0 WAR

Through the first two months of the 2013 season, Wainwright has posted a 12.33 K/BB ratio. In other words, he’s striking out 12 opposing batters for every one he walks.

If that ratio seems outrageous, it is. In fact, it’s the best mark baseball has seen in the last 20 years. Some names directly below Wainwright on that single-season list for K/BB (since 1994): Saberhagen, Lee, Schilling, Martinez and Maddux.

In case you were wondering, all of them posted pretty decent seasons in those particular years.

Something tells me Wainwright is about to join that group.

Stock: Even

3. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 11 GS, 80.1 IP, 77 K, 21 BB, 1.68 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 2.2 WAR

Full disclosure: Clayton Kershaw has spoiled baseball fans with his young career.

While watching Kershaw throw this season, I’ve found myself expecting more, surprised when he allows a run and wondering when he’s going to turn it up a notch this season.

Then I’m reminded of his 1.68 ERA and WHIP under .90.

We’re watching the start of a very, very special career, folks.

Stock: Even

4. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies: 11 GS, 80.2 IP, 63 K, 13 BB, 2.34 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 2.0 WAR

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro has made many questionable decisions during his tenure in Philadelphia.

Reacquiring Lee, after shipping him to Seattle in one of those strange moves, profiles as one of his best achievements.

The strike-throwing left-hander may compete for another Cy Young this year—unless Amaro reverses course, begins an overdue rebuilding process and moves Lee for young talent.

If that move happens, perhaps to an AL contender, Lee’s name would be removed from the list.

Stock: Down

5. A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates: 12 GS, 76 IP, 89 K, 29 BB, 2.72 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 1.7 WAR

Who? What?!

Yes, that same Alan James Burnett is a legitimate NL Cy Young candidate this season.

If that surprises, this may shock you: He’s not just thriving, but doing it by putting on a 2012 David Price impersonation.

Last year, on his way to the AL Cy Young, David Price finished sixth in ground-ball (GB) percentage and eighth in K/9.

Remarkably, A.J. is bettering that pitching production in 2013. Currently, Burnett leads the NL in K/9 and ranks third in GB percentage.

Stock: Up

Just missed the cut: Patrick Corbin, Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Minor

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From misplayed fly balls in center field to an 0-for-5, four-strikeout game at the plate, it’s safe to say that the Los Angeles Dodgers won in spite of Matt Kemp on Memorial Day.

As the fans of both Los Angeles franchises piled into Dodger Stadium for the Freeway Series, it would have been easy to overlook the struggles, both last evening and for the entirety of the 2013 campaign, of Kemp. After all, it’s hard to find more than a few players in the entire town playing up to or above expectations.

Despite the disappointing start to the season by both teams, the Dodger faithful had had enough on this night, booing Matt Kemp during his at-bats, at one point when the count reached two strikes in anticipation of the impending strikeout.

Of course, Kemp is struggling mightily. After finishing second in the 2011 NL MVP vote and signing a lucrative long-term deal, the Dodgers’ center fielder was supposed to be a linchpin, along with starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, in Los Angeles’ run to the top of the NL West.

Instead, Kemp has been a below-average offensive player, posting a career-worst slugging percentage and an OPS (.637) that ranks 60th among 66 qualified outfielders this season.

If the boos and jeers were intended to spur on better play from Kemp, the tactic could backfire for the hometown crowd.

Although it’s early and sample sizes are still too small to conclude much from, Kemp has hit much better away from Dodger Stadium than he has at home. His .748 road OPS isn’t spectacular by any means, but it’s leaps and bounds better than the .537 mark in front of the fans at Chavez Ravine.

While booing is a longtime tradition in sports, the reasons for it can vary from case to case. It’s unlikely that Kemp isn’t giving 100 percent to snap out of his slump. If heart and desire were being questioned in Los Angeles, the jeers would be far more justified.

Instead, a lingering shoulder condition is much more likely the reason for Kemp’s power outage and issues at the dish in 2013.

As pointed out in a tremendous piece by Peter Gammons this weekend for Baseball Analytics, Kemp’s injury issues in 2012 were culminated with a labrum tear and rotator cuff issue suffered when crashing into a wall in late August against Colorado.

While Kemp’s shoulder has been surgically repaired, it can take a good deal of time for the strength and comfort to return. As a right-handed hitter, the left shoulder acts as Kemp’s lead shoulder when hitting. It’s clear that he’s not swinging through the baseball with his lead arm the way he did in 2011.

Booing the star of a poor Dodgers team won’t motivate Kemp beyond the motivation he already takes to the field on a daily basis. In fact, if he’s still hurting or not strong enough to get the job done at the level expected, it could lead to him pressing at the plate or playing through soreness, potentially damaging the shoulder again or delaying the full healing process.

Ultimately, when talking injuries, poor play from the entire team and the cloud hanging over manager Don Mattingly’s head, it’s futile to waste time and energy chiding Kemp.

Over the course of the next few months, he’s one of the players that can carry the Dodgers out of their funk and back into contention (if his shoulder allows it).  

Fans are fickle, demand success and can become frustrated when expectations aren’t met, but Kemp is far from the only problem.

But he could be the solution.

If Dodgers fans are lucky, the boos will motivate him. If they’re not, the town runs the risk of a star player doubting his skills and ability in his own park.

In a season of disappointment, that would rank up there with the worst developments for the 2013 Dodgers.

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Led by the hitting approach of Joey Votto, experience of Dusty Baker and energy of Shin-Soo Choo, the Cincinnati Reds are steamrolling National League competition, taking the second-best record in baseball into play on Tuesday.

Of course, success shouldn’t be new to this group of Reds.

Two of the last three postseasons have included this franchise. With a potent lineup, superlative closer and MVP candidate in the middle of the order, there’s little reason to imagine the 2013 postseason without another appearance by Cincinnati.

Despite their overwhelming regular-season success, failure in the National League Division Series has been a theme for this team.

Baseball knows the Reds are good, but there seems to be an initiative within their own clubhouse to develop an edge in order to get over the hump in October. That’s why the recent behavior and comments from this team shouldn’t come as a surprise.

From the Matt Garza-Johnny Cueto flap to Dusty Baker’s comments on fighting in baseball to Aroldis Chapman brushing back Nick Swisher, the 2013 version of the Big Red Machine is hearkening back to the personality and bravado of the “Nasty Boys” in Cincy’s past.

While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong in the 2010 and 2012 NLDS, passivity probably wasn’t the cause for recent October hiccups in Cincinnati.

Three seasons ago, the Phillies outclassed that Reds group by a wide margin, sweeping them on their way to the NLCS.

Last October was a far different story. Up 2-0 in the best-of-five series against San Francisco, Baker’s team looked on the verge of a deep run into October, possibly to the World Series. Of course, three straight losses, all at home, ended their season in a swift manner.

Would a “nasty” attitude have changed things? From a baseball sense, no. It’s about hitting, pitching and fielding.

Yet, there’s a sense from the 2013 team that it’s on a mission. If chin music, verbal spats in the media or a few brawls decorate the path to sustained postseason success, few will complain.

Ultimately, results trump mentality.

As long as the Reds are winning, self-motivation and demeanor will be a positive story. If internal toughness is the final piece to the puzzle for a team on the verge of greatness, kudos to Dusty Baker for cultivating the attitude in the clubhouse.

Of course, it’s possible that these recent incidents are coincidences along the path of a long, winding season. If another NLDS exit awaits Votto and Co. in early October, the war of words with Matt Garza will come off as nothing but early-season noise.

It’s unlikely that the Reds are trying to intimidate the league, as it seems they’re proving their own toughness to each other as a group that needs it when the lights shine brightest this fall.

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The announcement in the New York Times of a Major League Soccer team owned by Manchester City of the English Premier League and the New York Yankees made headlines on Tuesday afternoon, raising the stakes for soccer and sports in an already crowded New York sports business landscape.

While the involvement of Yankees ownership is intriguing from a business standpoint for both the baseball and soccer club, the investment should only lead to success for both sides. From the Yankee perspective, there’s little that should cause fans to worry about a John Henry-Liverpool scenario.

No, the New York Yankees’ ownership group isn’t going to suddenly stop paying big money to baseball players in order to grow their stake in a startup soccer team.

Instead, look for the soccer team, known as the New York City Football Club, to play some games at Yankee Stadium and have their games televised on the YES Network.

I spoke to Chris Ravita, Soccer Editor for The Sports Network US, whose first opinion of the deal was that of a win-win for both the baseball and new startup soccer entity.

“My impression was the Yankees are on board predominantly for two functions: identify potential sponsorships by using their own brand equity, and also assist with the stadium development as they are quite familiar with the NYC landscape,” said Ravita.

Furthermore, we spoke about the involvement of the YES Network, which outside of Brooklyn Nets games and a simulcast of Mike Francesa’s sports talk show on WFAN in New York, is a channel without regular programming, especially in the baseball offseason.

“New York City Football Club on YES will contrast Red Bulls games on MSG quite nicely,” Ravita explained.

At some point, an acquisition of this caliber was inevitable for Yankees ownership, due to the cost and magnitude of building the new Yankee Stadium in 2009. Simply put, the building is too spectacular, too much of a draw and too much of a grand stage to only be functioning for 81 home dates per season.

The soccer partnership is just an extension of Cotto-Foreman, The Pinstripe Bowl and Legends of the Summer at the new Yankee Stadium.

While it’s easy to assume extra entities and commitments will detract from the overall tunnel vision of ownership to win baseball games and compete at the highest level in the AL East, the facts don’t bear that out.

The growth of the New York Yankees’ brand isn’t just about baseball in 2013. As the majority soccer ownership group expounded on in a press release today (via MLB.com), the partnership works both ways.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City Soccer,” said Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City Football Club. “In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organization and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”

With the expansion of Manchester’s soccer brand into the MLS, comes increased revenue and opportunities for the Yankees.

Of course, there is always a chance that the Yankees’ stake becomes bigger and more pronounced as the years move along, taking away from their focus on the baseball team. Yet, despite the rising popularity of soccer in New York and in the Northeast, it doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint to ever truly bite the hand that feeds the Yankee ownership.

In other words, don’t expect the baseball team to suffer or be affected in the slightest.

Different organizations with less skilled and experienced baseball operations departments might have an issue if ownership was pulled in different directions from time to time.

With Brian Cashman and a capable baseball operations department in place—along with a minimum $189 million payroll—that won’t be an issue for the New York Yankees’ fanbase any time soon.

Is this a good move for the New York Yankees?

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When it comes to winning games consistently over the course of a 162-game regular season, some fans denounce luck playing a major factor. While that ideology has merit, the numbers don’t lie.

The 2012 Baltimore Orioles were an example of a “lucky” team, riding a mediocre run differential all the way into October. It’s not to say they weren’t good, but it was hard to look at their team objectively and come to the conclusion that they were as good as their record stated.

Thus far in 2013, three teams stand out as beneficiaries of luck. From run differential to early-season scheduling favors to fellow rivals off to slow starts, all are fortunate to be in the position they are in heading into play on Tuesday evening.

Ironically, not every single one of the lucky teams actually has a winning record right now. While sitting under .500 rarely constitutes luck, the flip side could be a team in much, much worse shape.

Without further ado, the three luckiest teams in baseball in 2013.

*All stats and rankings valid through the end of play on May 20.

Washington Nationals, 23-22 (-25 run differential)

If not for Atlanta’s crash back down to earth after their sizzling start, the below-average play of the Washington Nationals would be a much bigger story around baseball right now. Despite coming into the season as the prohibitive National League favorite, the Nats have underperformed, playing more like a 19-26 mess than the slightly above .500 squad they’ve pretended to be this season.

While the offensive woes (28th in runs scored) can be directly correlated to injuries to Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, the real worry stems from a pitching staff that has gone from dominant to average in the span of a year.

Outside of Jordan Zimmermann’s rise to prominence, the staff has been disappointing. Although 180 runs allowed at this juncture of the season may not seem horrible, it pales in comparison to the early-season dominance from this staff in 2012. Last summer, Washington didn’t allow it’s 180th run until June 7.

A good deal of the blame can be placed on Gio Gonzalez’s above 4.00 ERA and the mess that has become Dan Haren, but the ability to miss bats has eluded the group as whole. In 2012, Nationals pitchers ranked sixth in strikeout rate. They rank 22nd this season.

Furthermore, the numbers against everyone but the Miami Marlins are staggeringly bad.

When the Nats square off against Miami, they are 5-1, outscoring the Fish by 16 runs over the six games. Of course, that means they are just 18-21, with a -41 run differential, against the rest of the majors.

New York Yankees, 28-16, (+27 run differential)

Make no mistake: The Yankees are good, deserving of their spot atop the AL East and thriving amid a sea of expectations to fail.

Yet, they’re not this good. At least not as presently constituted.

While some may derive that winning close games is a mark of mental toughness and fortitude, it can also be deemed random and unsustainable. Thanks to the heroics of Lyle Overbay and Travis Hafner in the big spot, New York is 8-3 in one-run games early on in 2013.

At 10-4, New York has the best winning percentage in the sport against left-handed starters. While there’s not necessarily luck in that statistic alone, it’s beyond staggering when you factor in the .654 team OPS that Joe Girardi’s club has put up against left-handed pitching.

To put that into perspective, the Yankees are winning at over a 71 percent clip against lefties despite running out a lineup (on those nights) that is the equivalent of having nine Josh Rutledge’s.

Also, let’s not forget the gift of timing from the schedule makers.

Nine early-season games against the new, improved Blue Jays looked daunting for the banged up Yankees. Instead, it’s resulted in an 8-1 record.

If you remove the games against Toronto from the Yankee equation, they are an 18-15 squad with a plus-eight run differential.

Philadelphia Phillies, 21-24, (-38 run differential)

Yes, somehow, someway, the Phillies have over-performed this season. In reality, the roster is performing more like an 18-27 group through the first 45 games of the campaign. Due to the walk-off win on Sunday against Aroldis Chapman, a competitive NL East and a fanbase holding on to this group for one more run, the organization may be fooled into thinking a complete rebuild isn’t necessary.

That would be a mistake.

The story of the Phillies has been about big-ticket pitchers. From Roy Halladay to Roy Oswalt to Cliff Lee to Cole Hamels, the rotation was expected to carry this franchise to a second World Series title since 2008. Of course, injuries and attrition haven’t allowed that to occur.

Yet it’s the offense that has gone from great to good to anemic over the last half decade.

The following represents Philadelphia’s year-by-year OPS marks since 2007: .812, .770, .781, .745, .717, .716 and .682.

From the rapid decline and health issues to former standouts to nonsensical additions by general manager Ruben Amaro, the Phillies lineup has taken a total nosedive into irrelevancy.

While the Yankees are running out nine Josh Rutledge’s against left-handed pitching, the Phils are running out the equivalent of eight Dan Uggla’s and the pitcher’s spot on a nightly basis.

Assuming Cole Hamels turns his season around and Cliff Lee remains a consistent ace, their rotation, even without Roy Halladay, will be enough to stay in most games.

Unfortunately, the team can’t hit enough to win them.

That’s why it’s not surprising to see that the 2013 Phillies can only claim a winning record over the Mets among teams they’ve seen for more than three games.

With Roy Halladay’s struggles, 21-24 seems lucky, yet the Fightins are far from it.

Do you believe in luck over the course of a baseball season?

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At some point in every Major League Baseball season, small sample size ceases to apply, context can be applied and conclusions on players, teams and pennant races can be made.

While we may not be there on all accounts, the clock is ticking on the 2013 season.

Each team has played roughly 40 games (the first quarter of the MLB season). That allows for each fanbase to develop positive or negative feelings, clamor for midseason moves and look forward to the summer to fully arrive.

After watching countless innings through the spring, here are my 10 biggest takeaways from the first quarter of the MLB season.

All statistics and standings valid entering play on May 17, 2013.

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Over the last year, baseball fans have celebrated the rise of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout as the seminal players of the next generation. Both are dynamic talents with the potential for superstardom and possibly future tickets to Cooperstown.

Quietly, another phenom is emerging in Baltimore. While Harper and Trout were called up early in the 2012 season, giving them an entire summer to dazzle and amaze the baseball world, Manny Machado didn’t arrive to the Orioles until August.

Amid much less fan fare, Machado stepped into a contending team’s lineup, played a new position and contributed to Baltimore’s first postseason berth in 15 years.

Now, in his first full year in the majors, the 20-year-old third baseman is more than a contributor. Machado is an emerging star in the AL East, garnering high praise and knocking on the door of the elusive Harper-Trout conversation.

Before we answer the question of Machado‘s future, let’s first take a quick look at how great, not good, Harper and Trout have been.

While Steve Melewski of MASN did his best to give Machado an edge in their early careers, more context is needed to describe what Harper and Trout have done thus far in the big leagues.

Mike Trout’s 2012 season wasn’t just great, it was historic. Despite spending the first few weeks of the season in Triple-A, Trout was prolific enough to post the 21st-most valuable season in major league history. At 10.9 WAR, Trout’s 2012 belongs in the conversation with the best years of Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

To put his value in perspective, the 10.9 single-season WAR was never reached by Alex Rodriguez, Rickey Henderson or Albert Pujols in any year of their respective careers.

Amazingly, Bryce Harper might be even better than that.

While Trout completed his age-20 season with all-time great value, if not a valid claim at being deserving of the AL MVP, Bryce Harper burst on the scene as a 19-year-old.

Last month, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs looked into Harper’s first 162 games in the majors. The results of his study were astonishing.

With a skill set and swing like Harper’s, it’s foolish to compare him to his young peers. His production is up there with former MVPs, current All-Stars and the best players in the sport. The fact that he played his first 162 games mostly at the age of 19 is astonishing, but even more so when you consider the numbers he compiled.

As Bill Baer points out at Hardball Talk, Machado is a tremendous young player but not quite as even as MASN‘s Steve Melewski makes it seem.

However, Machado‘s plays seems to have grown leaps and bounds from his short stint as a 19-year-old last season.

With a declining strikeout rate, increasing walk rate and stronger isolated slugging numbers, Machado is well on his way to exceeding expectations and projections placed upon him entering the season.

Of course, Machado, much like Harper and Trout, excelled off the bat. While that’s rare for very young players, phenoms and future stars tend to find a way to play well, regardless of age.

Machado‘s .445 slugging percentage in 2012 may not look outstanding on the surface, but it is when put in context. That mark was the fourth highest by a 19-year-old third baseman since 1920. Two of the three names ahead of him: Eddie Matthews and Jimmie Foxx. Considering those two combined for 3,375 RBI, it’s not bad company to start a career in.

Over the last calender year, despite not playing a single game above the minors prior to last August, Manny Machado has been the 10th-most valuable third baseman in the sport. Some names below him on that list: Pablo Sandoval, Brett Lawrie and Hanley Ramirez.

This much is clear: Harper and Trout look to be all-time great players. Machado is phenomenal, on the path to superstardom and deserving of accolades.

But he’s not quite in their class yet.

On the other hand, 2015 is more than enough time for Machado to catch up in the race for best young star in the sport.

In terms of value, a move back to his natural position of shortstop, coupled with Harper’s and Trout’s respective switches from center to left field, would enhance Machado‘s standing.

The comparisons to A-Rod weren’t for naught. If Machado takes over for J.J. Hardy at shortstop in Baltimore, hits like a corner infielder and fields as well at an up-the-middle position as he has at third base, his WAR could exceed Trout’s and Harper’s by 2015.

Furthermore, health and attrition will play a major role in value, counting stats and perception moving forward.

If Harper continues to run into walls and Trout gains more weight next offseason, Machado could be looked at as the safest bet to stay healthy and productive for the long haul.

Last fall, Machado‘s name didn’t belong in this conversation. Today, it does. For right now, it belongs third, behind Harper and Trout.

By 2015, expect Harper to be a notch above both Trout and Machado, but don’t count out Manny in the race for the AL MVP in a few seasons.

Does Manny Machado deserve to be in the Harper-Trout conversation?

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The New York Yankees do many things that opposing fan bases dislike. From spending outlandish amounts of money on payroll to traveling with road crowds that overwhelm home field advantages to winning on a consistent and grand scale.

If there’s one attribute that all fans would like their team to copy from New York, it would have little to do with perception or attendance or past success.

Since Brian Cashman was named general manager of the Yankees in 1998, no franchise in baseball, and maybe even all of professional sports, has received so much production out of aging players.

This year, helped in part by the trio of Lyle Overbay, Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells, New York is in first place in the American League East entering play on May 14.

If the idea of New York finding contributions from aging, former All-Star level players is surprising, you haven’t been paying attention for the last 15 years.

While the bulk of the roster has always been led by prime superstar level contributors, it’s clear that Brian Cashman has always felt more comfortable handing role player positions to former stars than rising prospects.

In theory, especially when the Yankees financial might is taken into context, the practice is brilliant.

If a young player is a true prospect with a future in the major leagues, sticking them on the bench or bullpen won’t accelerate their development. Consistent at-bats or innings is necessary to growth.

Of course, per-arbitration players are cheaper than veterans, thus the reason many organizations take the younger route.

With a payroll of at least $189 million to work with, handing out a few $1 million deals won’t hurt the bottom line in New York.

The secret to the success of older players in New York isn’t magic, pixie dust or great coaching. It’s rooted in the idea that great or very good players have farther to fall from the top of the sport to replacement level. If they are 50 percent of the players they were, respectively, when they were, say, 28, that’s still likely more productive than a fringe prospect or less accomplished older player.

Furthermore, transitioning the former stars into utility and spot duty roles saves the wear and tear on their older bodies. While their counting stars have almost never been great for New York, their at-bat by at-bat or inning-by-inning contributions have matched, or even exceeded, their prime seasons.

The following is a year-by-year list of contributors that Cashman has added to the roster since his first season on the job. Over the last 15 seasons, New York has missed the postseason a grand total of one time, been to the World Series on six separate occasions and captured four World Series titles.

Every single member on the list was either a former All-Star, MVP, Cy Young Award winner or Rookie of the Year.

1998-1999: Chili Davis, Darryl Strawberry
2000: David Justice, Jose Canseco, Denny Neagle, Dwight Gooden
2001: Mark Wohlers, Henry Rodriguez
2002: Ron Coomer
2003: Robin Ventura, Raul Mondesi
2004: Tony Clark, Ruben Sierra, Kenny Lofton, John Olerud, John Lieber
2005: Tino Martinez, Matt Lawton, Kevin Brown, Al Leiter
2006: Randy Johnson
2007: Roger Clemens
2008: Ivan Rodriguez, Richie Sexson
2009: Eric Hinske
2010: Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood
2011: Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia
2012: Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones, Derek Lowe, Raul Ibanez, Ichiro Suzuki

Of course, not all of the moves worked out, but the grand majority contributed to the cause, sometimes in standout roles.

If not for the 20 home runs provided by David Justice in the second half of the 2000 season, it’s likely the Yankees dynasty ends a year earlier. Without the contributions from Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in 2011, a playoff berth wouldn’t have materialized. While Raul Ibanez’s 2012 season wasn’t spectacular, he’ll be remembered forever in New York for clutch, pinch hit magic in the postseason.

You can make the case that Cashman has had to rely on veterans because of a minor league system that failed over the years, but it doesn’t take away from the belief in former stars to harness their ability and turn back the clock in pinstripes.

Anyone can hit on a few veterans, but 34 former All-Stars isn’t an accident. It’s a philosophy that has helped New York remain one of the most consistent outfits in professional sports for nearly two decades.

Does Brian Cashman get the credit he deserves in New York?

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Through the first 33 games of the 2013 season, the New York Yankees are defying predictions and poor expectations. When they take the field on Friday night in Kansas City, they’ll do so as a first-place club.

At 20-13, New York is playing .608 baseball.

While much of the credit in New York has gone to general manager Brian Cashman‘s ability to find contributors on the scrap heap over the winter and into spring training, it’s been manager Joe Girardi who has gotten the most out of those players.

The 2006 Manager of the Year arrived in New York for the 2008 season, taking over a franchise that hadn’t missed the postseason since prior to the 1994 strike. If replacing a legend like Joe Torre wasn’t hard enough, a portion of the fanbase was unhappy with Girardi‘s hiring at the expense of former Yankee legend Don Mattingly.

Even though Girardi was a former Yankee, had success in Florida and was the top choice of Brian Cashman, few were sympathetic when the 2008 Yankees missed the postseason during his first year in the dugout.

While that team was flawed, few gave Girardi credit for coaxing them to 89 wins. Instead, his rigid personality and decision-making were routinely questioned.

Over the years, Girardi has been accepted, if not lauded. The 2009 World Series championship helped, but for the most part he’s still underrated in his own town.

In fact, you can make the case that he’s a better game manager than Joe Torre ever was—especially when it comes to handling the bullpen. Throw in his preparedness, willingness to make the unpopular move and yearly success and Girardi should have gotten praise before the 2013 season began.

As this campaign has played out, the masses are coming around.

Not only is Girardi winning with a lineup that features Chris Nelson, Jason Nix and Chris Stewart in prominent roles, he’s coaxing the most of these players and consistently winning one-run games.

This Yankee team doesn’t have the margin for error to win 90-plus games if it leaves winnable games on the table. Thus far, it hasn’t.

Girardi has been an excellent manager, but almost handcuffed at times in his Yankee tenure. With the American League featuring the DH, his roster featuring an overwhelming number of veteran everyday players and few base stealing threats outside of Brett Gardner at his disposal, Girardi has kept his gambling to pinch hitting and bullpen maneuvers.

That’s all changed early on this season.

Daily lineup shifts—including using Robinson Cano in the No. 2 hole to increase his plate appearances, long-term plans to keep Travis Hafner healthy and using Vernon Wells at third base—have shown how good of a manager he can be without the luxury of an All-Star lineup.

In fact, Girardi‘s ability to think through a game, both on the fly and through pregame preparation, is reminiscent of what Tony La Russa brought to the dugout on a nightly basis for over 30 years.

When the reinforcements do trickle back to the Bronx this summer, Yankee fans should be in good hands with a manager who can juggle a platoon, find playing time for everyone and not panic if a star is slow to find his stride.

Handing out contract extensions is against the new organizational policy of the Yankees, but if anyone deserves to be considered for one right now, it’s the manager that looks to be improving by the year.

Has your opinion of Girardi as a manger changed over the years?

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