How Long Until Sterling Makes Horrible AJack Call?

Tyler Kepner has a great piece on Yankees top prospect Austin Jackson:

The next thing Jackson must learn, the final piece for him to be polished enough for New York, is power. He hit nine home runs in Class AA last season but has none in 175 at-bats this year. [...]

With Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner ahead of Jackson, there is no reason for the Yankees to bring him to the majors right now. But with Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady and Hideki Matsui playing in the last year of their contracts, Jackson could play a major role in the outfield in 2010.

“I think that I still have a lot more things I need to improve on and learn before I’m called on to be a part of it up there,” Jackson said. “You don’t want to be up there and have things get exposed. You want to be ready and you want to be able to make an impact when you go up there.

“I just leave it to them. I don’t know too much about people’s contracts or what the situation is with that. I know once it’s my time and they feel that I’m ready, I’m going to show them I’m capable of playing up there.”

Power may be the final piece to the puzzle, but as the article touches upon, it's not a necessity. The great players can hit for average and power, but in 2010 Austin Jackson doesn't need to hit for much power to merit playing time, and to be successful.

The Yankees got themselves into a bit of trouble last year handing Hughes and Kennedy jobs to start the year, I don't think it would be wise to go into 2010 with Melky, Gardner, and Jackson guaranteed 2 spots . Matsui is as good as gone, and Nady isn't a good regular, but Damon they should keep. The New New Yankee Stadium may be different next year, but in the New Yankee Stadium Damon is quite the hitter. He has aged better than anyone (Red Sox) imagined, and would deserve an extension. The Yankees right now aren't 100% sold on Swisher as an every day player and one can't actually believe Gardner and Melky will be start-worthy next year. With Damon in left Austin Jackson still deserves a long look in spring next year and I'll be surprised if he doesn't win a job, his competition isn't that good.