In the Times, Ben Shpigel profiles Manny Banuelos:

Most young pitchers, Newman said, have a good fastball but must develop a feel for the craft. With Banuelos, it was the opposite. Based on a recommendation from Lee Sigman, their scout in Mexico, the Yankees in March 2008 paid $450,000 to the Sultanes de Monterey for a package of four players highlighted by the former reliever Alfredo Aceves and Banuelos, whose command and savvy as a 17-year-old intrigued them more than his velocity.

That is what Greg Pavlick, his pitching coach last year at Class A Tampa, noticed about Banuelos when he saw him for the first time, in a rookie league game that summer in nearby Clearwater. Pavlick, a Mets coach during their championship season of 1986, worked with the 18-year-old Dwight Gooden and said Banuelos was one of a few young pitchers he has encountered who had a similar presence.

“Certain guys just stand out,” Pavlick said. “It’s like a hitter who has power. Fans pay to watch that. If you have a guy who can get on the mound and pitch like Manny, they’ll come watch him, too.”

I’m ready…