TRENTON, N.J. – Almost any Yankees fan knows the story behind the story of Slade Heathcott, blue-chip outfield prospect with a world of talent.

Heathcott, whose faith and girlfriend have shown him a path he can follow with comfort and confidence, is facing a key season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder.

The 22-year-old native of Texarkana, Texas, is finding, despite accolades as a prospect, it all doesn’t come easy in the world of professional baseball.

“I watch myself on video and talk with (Trenton hitting) coach Justin Turner, and I see just how much I have to work on,’’ said Heathcott, who entered Trenton’s Thursday morning game batting .216 (25-for-116) with one homer and 14 RBIs.

That home run, by the way, which came a few weeks ago at ARM&HAMMER Park in Trenton, easily cleared the right-field fence and almost landed in the Delaware River. It was a glimpse of the power Heathcott can unleash from the left side if all is working as it could.

“That’s exactly what we’re aiming for,’’ said Heathcott. “I’m always looking to see how I can get better and help this team more.’’

Hus work with Turner appears to be paying off.  Over his last 10 games, Heathcott is batting .308 (12-for-39) with a pair of doubles and seven RBIs.  In this run are a trio of multi-hit games.

“Slade is having better at-bats,’’ said veteran Thunder manager Tony Franklin.  “He was kind of vaulting at pitches, He’s not doing that anymore.’’

When Heathcott does that, swinging off his front foot, he short-circuits his power. In addition to working to clear up that habit, he is becoming more patient at the plate.  If he can get on base with a walk, his speed will often lead to steals.

“Patience and getting on base are two things we all have to do,’’ he said.

Having appeared in 30 games, Heathcott has had his moments, like against Binghamton and blue-chip Mets pitching prospect Rafael Montero May 7.

It was Heathcott’s seventh inning single, hitting a slider from Montero, that put the game away and gave the Thunder a win over the B-Mets. He also made two exceptional catches in center field that evening,

“Heathcott hit a good pitch,’’ said Montero. “I tip my cap to him. He beat me on that pitch.’’

A few minutes later, when Heathcott was informed of Montero’s tribute, he accepted it, but also mentioned how he feels about his game right now.

“Sometimes you get lucky,’’ he said with a bit of a grin. “Montero is a good pitcher. He was filling up the zone. I certainly feel good about getting a game-winning hit like that for us, but, again, I also know how much work I need to do.’’

Fans constantly ask when will a prospect such as Heathcott, or Tyler Austin, or Gary Sanchez be ready. It takes time. When a player reaches Double-A, it means part of his game is major-league ready. Part, but not all.

Heathcott, a player with immense talent, is yet another trying to make a part a whole.

It was disappointing to hear that MSG hierarchy pulled the plug on Mike Woodson’s regular segment on ESPN-98.7 with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco. I don’t believe this is much of a loss from a radio standpoint – Woodson’s matter-of-fact interview style probably would annoy the bloodthirsty fans  - but from an organizational Q-Rating  it’s a black eye. I also think it sends the wrong message to the team.

There is always a conspiracy theory around the Garden. Five years after his dismissal there are those that believe Isiah Thomas is still managing the roster. I believe some of that is naive paranoia, but when MSG puts up the iron curtain during difficult times it promotes such a mentality.

Twenty years ago the Knicks suffered perhaps their worst loss in franchise history during Game 5 of the Conference Finals. Down one, Charles Smith had four chances at the basket only to be rebuffed by one of the Bulls big three. The 97-94 loss snapped a 27-game home winning streak and put the Knicks in a position where they had to stave off elimination at the old Chicago Stadium. Everyone knows what happened next.

During the days between Games 5 and 6, the fans and media killed Smith and the Knicks for their performance. Despite that, no player hid from the media. The following year after the Reggie Miller-Spike Lee episode, I distinctly remember Pat Riley going on WFAN with Mike & the Mad Dog to discuss the team’s mindset going into Indiana. Again, no one was hiding during tough times. How would the Garden react to those two terrible losses today? I shutter just imagining it.

Everyone is calling for the Knicks to show some toughness in this series. I don’t often agree with Mike Francesa, but when he said the Knicks need to “stop trying to be tough games and play their game,” he couldn’t be more correct. The Knicks are an energy and passion team, not a tire iron crew like Indiana. This isn’t Riley’s or Jeff Van Gundy’s Knicks. They don’t have to be as they are good enough to win if they play their game. That doesn’t involve wrestling in the post, but rather up-tempo energy and ball movement.

If the Knicks lose tonight at MSG and go home, the media meme of toughness will be pervasive throughout the blogosphere and Twitterverse. I have a hard time believing a team that suffered as many setbacks as these Knicks aren’t tough. I think they have shown a propensity to panic during some challenging segments. Even so, they found a way to settle down and right the ship. The win in Utah during the west coast trip is a perfect example.

In the end, I don’t blame the players if toughness is a problem. This all starts and stops at the top. Mike Woodson didn’t cancel on ESPN; it was the Garden Gulag that feared the radio appearance. In the end, what kind of message does that send to the team? How does it make Woodson look as a leader? It certainly isn’t one that says man up and win three ballgames in the next five days.

My home state of New Jersey is home to two affiliated minor league franchises, the Double A Eastern League Trenton Thunder, a New York Yankee affiliate, and the Low A South Atlantic League Lakewood Blue Claws, a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate. The Trenton home field is about 40 minutes away, while the Lakewood field is a mere 15 minutes away. I also get to see the short season Staten Island Yankees, the short season Yankee affiliate.

So I get a great opportunity to see three different levels of professional baseball, and two of the local major league teams for me. The Phillies actually play closer to my Jersey Shore home than either of the two New York teams.

I do like to see guys on more than one occasion before I assess their talent, especially here in the northeast, where early weather (usually rainy and cold) can cause slow starts by many players who are not used to such terrible weather.

*One of the reasons Mike Trout wasn’t drafted higher than 27th in 2009 was because he played in New Jersey, which typically doesn’t get the same game opportunities of kids in Florida, Texas and California. Trout had scouts at his games, but during his senior year, the rainy weather was especially bad, and had canceled opportunities for many scouts to see Trout play. Can’t really draft what you don’t get to see.

However, I did see a couple games played by Trenton, when they hosted the Cleveland Indians Double-A affiliate Akron Aeros, and the Richmond Flying Squirrels, a San Francisco Giants affiliate, and will give my early reports. Since I am a Yankee fan, I generally follow the Yankee minor league teams closely and have seen games from every one of their affiliates.

Let me first get the analysis of the Akron team out of the way: I did not see anyone on this roster that will have an impact for the Cleveland Indians major league franchise. No one. Not anyone in their lineup, not even a single reliever. Chien-Hsiu Chen did not play in the game I saw, but has mostly DH’d this season. I saw a bunch of mid-range type players, with some who might become major leaguers, but few which warrant much conversation. One, a very large first baseman named Jesus Aguilar, has shown power in the past but he does not possess a good build and is brutal around first base.

Unless the Indians sign a bunch of quality free agents who perform, they could be bad for quite awhile. A handful of garbage they received in trades for CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee didn’t help their system.

The Richmond team had a couple of interesting players, former top picks. Joe Panik, a former 2011 first round pick, is similar to current Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford as he is a quality fielder who will never hit for any type of power. Panik was converted to second base this season and showed an ability to put the bat on the ball with two opposite field singles. He kept his hands tight on both hits, basically pushing the ball out to left field. These were hits more reminiscent of dead ball era game than the power game of today. While he does have strike zone discipline, he is similar to many of these “work the count” guys who take way too many hittable pitches over the middle of the plate. His second at bat saw Panik take two (very hittable) pitches down the middle, getting behind 0-2 before working the count even then pushing that first base hit.

The Giants 2011 second round pick, catcher Andrew Susac, showed good pitch recognition, never once flinching on off speed pitches out of the zone. He walked three times, and was especially impressive laying off several two strike sliders from one of the hard throwing Yankee relievers.  I wasn’t a big fan of his pre-swing hand movements, and his tendency to pull his front shoulder out too early which forces his arms to cast out from his body. But those are easily correctable faults a decent hitting coach should be able to fix in the cage.

Behind the plate Susac receives the ball well and has good footwork when throwing. Who knows what the Giants will do with Buster Posey a few years from now (maybe move him to 1B?) which could all depend on how well Susac develops.

The Yankees Double-A squad is full of top prospects, with three of their top 11 at this level, all of which are on the offensive side. There are also boatloads of bullpen arms, many who can bring the heat.

First, the offense

Tyler Austin

Austin is ranked by MLB.com as the third ranked Yankee prospect, behind Gary Sanchez and Mason Williams, both who are a level below. Austin is not very patient at the plate (he often is a first pitch swinger), but does draw his share of free passes as he has a pretty good idea of the strike zone. However, he sometimes expands the zone early in the count, especially on the first pitch. While I love first pitch hitters, especially with runners in scoring position, it is usually better to swing at pitches in your zone in 0-0 counts.

Austin has a wait and be quick approach, allowing the ball to get deep before unleashing quick hands directly to the ball. In one at bat, Austin belted a line drive single up the middle on a 1-2 change up, waiting for the outside corner pitch to get there before he attacked. He also pulls his hands in pretty well on inside heat, often getting the barrel on the ball.

He never appears off balance whether swinging the bat or taking pitches. In one at bat versus a submariner, Austin calmy fouled off two tough breaking pitches before working an eight pitch walk.

Austin didn’t have many opportunities in the field, but he appears to have strong instincts, often adjusting his pre-pitch positioning due to the count.

It is these factors which will propel Austin up the ladder to the majors. Although he has started slow this season with the average and power numbers, these should improve due to Austin’s quality approach.

Slade Heathcott

I had seen Heathcott a couple seasons ago in Charleston, and he was raw, showing great speed, good outfield range and strong throwing arm, but lacked refinement. I heard quite a few great things from his Arizona Fall League appearance, and was looking to see Heathcott improve on his quality 2012 season.

Man, was I severely disappointed.

Heathcott was often off-balance when swinging (vs. a LH starter), mainly all upper body, and using nothing from his lower half. This caused him to move over his front side several times and end up swinging one handed. His swing was very reminiscent of current Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, another hitter who rarely uses his lower half.

Heathcott showed his tremendous speed in forcing the shortstop into an error on a routine ground ball, and putting down a great bunt to the first baseman for a single. Bunting is an important part of Slade’s game, even from his time in Charleston.

With Heathcott’s injury history it is very apparent the Yankees want him healthy all season. On one play a shallow fly ball was hit to center and Slade rushed in, then slowed to let the ball fall just in front of him. A clean hit for sure, but I was thinking the old 110% effort Slade would have dove for that ball. It is very clear to me the Yankees have spoken to Heathcott about not going all out on outfield plays.

I was disappointed that Heathcott has such a terrible swing at this point of his 2013 season, a season which has such high promise. It is time for the Thunder hitting coach to get some extra cage time with Heathcott to change his overall mechanics to use his lower half (that is where power is derived) and stay back.

Ramon Flores

Flores is a tweener guy who shows very good hitting skills, great strike zone discipline, but doesn’t project for me as having much future power.

He takes an inordinate amount of pitches, early and late in the count, ahead and behind, many just off the plate even with two strikes. Flores just doesn’t swing at bad pitches or good pitchers pitches, which is very important. He has a great line drive stroke and quick bat, but no loft where home runs will come. He is adequate in the outfield, and has shown the ability to play each of the outfield positions. This versatility, plate discipline lends Flores as a fourth outfielder type, but if he gets to the major leagues, working with Kevin Long could help Flores in the power department and boost his potential.

Kyle Roller

Speaking of power, Kyle Roller has immense power. The over sized, but compact left handed hitter is mostly pull oriented, often pulling off the ball and letting his hands get away from his body. Roller has a slight drop to his hands and sometimes gets over his front side, bringing his hands along for that ride. However, on one swing Roller kept his hands in and belted a very high and long home run, which had tremendous back spin – a true major league blast. If Roller can get his swing a little more compact, and stay back more consistently, he could do major damage with a short right-field porch.

He was smoother than I expected around the first base bag, shifting his feet well and showing the ability to throw to second base, but he lacks range and wouldn’t be a long term, full time defensive option.

Rob Segedin

A very solid hitter who consistently puts the bat on the ball and can work the ball from line to line. But Segedin could be had inside and I don’t project much home run power with his type of swing. He also rotates too much, pulling up and out on the ball, and can roll the ball over too much.

He is also very shaky on defense, both with a consistent glove and ability to make a quality throw.

Unfortunately, a hip injury similar to A-Rod’s will likely sideline him for the season.

Neil Medchill

There has been lots of talk about the possibility Medchill has resurrected his prospect status with a hot start including four home runs.

Stop the talk, please. Medchill still has a long swing which causes him to come around the ball far too often. During the Richmond game I saw, I was sitting behind a Flying Squirrel starting pitcher keeping a chart. On one pitch Medchill swung and fouled off a pitch. I said to the pitcher, “You can get this guy inside all day long with that swing.” He replied, “You see that too?” NEXT PITCH on inside corner splintered Medchill’s bat for a weak ground ball to second base.

Medchill can connect on mistakes over the plate once in a while, but at higher levels when pitchers can locate much better, his power will be non-existent, but the strikeouts will still be there.

On the Mound

Daniel Burawa

Burawa was flat-out filthy the first time I saw him. Fastball was between 94-96 and he hit 97 six times. Everything was down in the zone, and the fastball and slider was getting quite a few swings and misses. He was also able to back door his slider for called strikes.

His arm gets up high pretty early and he throws slightly across his body, with his foot plant off by a couple inches in his direct line to the plate. I would try and clean up his mechanics a bit.

However, the second time I saw him, Burawa was all over the place. The velocity once again was there, but the command was not. His slider was also flat, and could use some tightening and consistency. Major league hitters will slap around that pitch when flat. It seemed Burawa could “get comfortable” with the fastball and lose the zone with a lack of concentration.

Tommy Kahnle

Another power arm in Trenton, Kahnle has a smooth delivery with a solid fastball sitting 94-96. He located very well, even his slider, peppering the low outside corner to RHH. Control has always been an issue, but he had command and control in this one inning. However, there have been a couple games this season where he makes Daniel Cabrera look like Greg Maddux.

When he locates his pitches, Kahnle is virtually unhittable as his fastball and slider grade even higher.

Follow Joe on Twitter @JosephDelGrippo

Steve and I discuss the state of umpiring and MLB’s response to the botched calls this week.

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Moosic, Pa. (SWB RailRiders)  – Despite the addition of the rehabbing Curtis Granderson, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ (Triple-A/New York Yankees) offensive woes at home continued as they fell on Thursday night in 11 innings to the Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates), 2-1.

Granderson started in right field, and batted second for the RailRiders. He reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and grounded out to second in the third, but recorded his first hit of the 2013 season in the sixth. He hit a fastball from Indianapolis starter Gerrit Cole up the middle into center field. Second baseman Ivan DeJesus, Jr. made a diving stop, but did not have a chance

Curtis Granderson begins rehan stint with Triple-A Scranton. (Photo by Nicole Sorce)

to throw out the speedy Granderson, who legged out the infield hit.

The RailRiders struck first with a run in the fourth. With one out, Ronnier Mustelier singled to center field. He then stole second and advanced to third when Dan Johnson grounded out to second. David Adams came through with two outs, as he singled through the left side to plate Mustelier.

The Indians quickly tied the ballgame in the top of the fifth. With one out, Brett Carroll homered off of SWB starter Caleb Cotham.

Both pitching staffs settled into a groove after the fifth and the game remained tied at one after nine innings of play. The RailRiders loaded the bases with just one out, but Erik Cordier recorded a strikeout and groundout to end the threat and send the game to the 11^th inning.

A pair of doubles helped Indianapolis secure the lead in the 11^th. With one out, Jerry Sands doubled to right field. Mustelier almost reached the ball, but it went off the tip of his glove near the warning track. Tony Sanchez followed with a double down the left-field line, and Sands came around to score what proved to be the winning run.

Cole did not factor into the decision, but was very effective for Indianapolis. He allowed just one run over seven innings, struck out five, and issued just two walks. Cordier (1-0) received the win in relief, and Vic Black pitched a scoreless 11^th frame for his ninth save of the season.

Cotham, who was making his Triple-A debut, was impressive in a no-decision. He worked four and two-thirds innings, and struck out five batters. His only blemish was the Carroll home run in the fifth. Kelvin Perez (0-1) allowed the run in the 11^th, and was handed the loss.

The RailRiders will remain home as they welcome the Gwinnett Braves to PNC Field on Friday night. Chris Bootcheck (4-0, 0.60) will put his International League-best earned run average on the line for SWB. It will be the first of 20 televised games this season on My Network TV. A fireworks show presented by Jack Williams Tire will follow the contest, and the RailRiders will pay tribute to “The Office” all night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

TRENTON, N.J. – So, just how good is Mets pitching prospect Rafael Montero? Where does he rank in comparison to highly regarded right-handers Domingo Tapia and Noah Syndergaard?

Montero, pitching at Double-A Binghamton, impressed just about everyone Tuesday night at Trenton’s ARM&HAMMER Park, despite taking loss in a 5-1 Thunder victory before 3,980 fans.

He is listed as the Mets’ No.5 prospect by Baseball America.

“Montero was impressive,’’ said veteran Trenton manager Tony Franklin. “His mechanics were outstanding, and he has a special arm. He’ll have an excellent career.’’

One can’t help but notice Montero’s easy delivery, which he repeats consistently, that produces power in a fastball that sits at 91-92 mph, but can be dialed-up to 95, a sweeping curve with hard break at 83-85 mph and an improving changeup he works hard at.

And the 21-year-old doesn’t walk many, with a strikeout-walk ratio of 48-6 in 40.2 innings. He uses the corners magnificently and works quickly. After Tuesday night, he is 3-3, 3.54 in seven Eastern League starts.

“I’m just trying to execute what I’ve learned, and continue to improve,’’ said Montero, with his catcher Tuesday night, Francisco Pena, Tony’s son, translating.

He handcuffed the Thunder for six innings, allowing only a single to Kyle Roller, before Trenton got to him in the bottom of the seventh, the key blow being a two-run single by Yankees outfield prospect Slade Heathcott, who is beginning to put his offensive game together with the Thunder.

“I wasn’t tired,’’ said Montero, who threw 93 pitches and 68 strikes Tuesday night, pitching into the seventh inning for the first time this season. “He (Heathcott) hit a good pitch. He went down and got it. I give props to the batter.

“The only reason I came out of the game right after that was my pitch count.’’

Heathcott, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America, was also impressed by Montero.

“I guess a got a little lucky on that single,’’ he said.  “I’ve been working on correcting things at that plate and, with us down 1-0 and runners on second and third, I just wanted to put the ball in play.

“I wanted to get it up in the air, but I got enough to get it into right field.  Montero was good. He had all kinds of pitches that were filling up the zone.’’

The Thunder got to Montero late in Tuesday’s game, but the Binghamton pitcher certainly showed he can dominate at the Double-A level. There is no reason why he can’t continue to polish his craft even more and have a legitimate shot of joining the Mets’ rotation in 2014.

Montero vs. Heathcott was the scintillating kind of meeting one sees at the important Double-A level.

Trenton sent another “special arm,’’ Jose Ramirez out to start the game. He was not as sharp as Montero, throwing 84 pitches in four innings. He allowed just one run, produced via a second-onning home run by Binghamton outfielder Cesar Puello, another performer the Mets are high on.

“Jose might not have been sharp, but he kept us in the game,’’ said Franklin, whose 18-14 club dropped Binghamton to 16-16. “When teams have players of this ability, you are going to get an outstanding ballgame.’’

The star of Tuesday’s contest turned out to be the Thunder bullpen, as lefty Josh Romanski and righty Danny Burawa combined to throw five hitless innings at the B-Mets. On the other hand, lefty relieverb Josh Edgin, who started the season at Citi Field, allowed the Thunder a pair of tack-on runs courtesy pf a seventh-inning Ali Castillo triple.

Montero has all the tools, and his approach to pitching is advanced. He has proven one thing Tapia and Syndergaard, so far the backbone of an impressive rotation at Class-A Advanced St. Lucie, have not. Her can dominate at Double-A.

Both Tapia, who is 2-3, 2.23 in seven starts at St. Lucie, and Syndergaard, who is 1-1, 2.90 in six Florida State League starts, will perhaps get their chances to dominate at Double-A later in the season.  One can’t leave righty Hansel Robles, who is 3-1, 2.36 in five St. Lucie starts, out of this conversation, either.

There are reports that rate both Tapia and Syndergaard higher than Montero, which may be proven eventually, but until those two show they can dominate at Double-A, Montero has the upper hand on them.

He’s certainly a proven commodity in the Eastern League.

TRENTON, N.J. – Every so often, it all falls into place for a starting pitcher.

A pregame bullpen session with a good feel brings about a better feel on the mound, What results is a dominating performance Yankees’ No. 26 prospect – according to Baseball America – left-hander Matt Tracy turned in Monday night vs. Binghamton.

Tracy, who entered the game with a 10.98 ERA – inflated by a tough outing in Erie April 18 in which he surrendered 10 earned runs in three innings – was in total command as Trenton blanked the Binghamton Mets, 5-0, at ARM&HAMMER Park.

“I’ve been working on things all year,’’ said Tracy, 24, whose fastball, sitting at 94 mph, and cutter and curve, were all effective Monday. “It was just little things (with delivery), but you have to stay with the process.

“I was able to keep the ball down, command all my pitches.  That doesn’t happen all the time.’’

On the other hand, the Thunder (17-14), helped by a throwing error, managed to scored five runs – two earned – off Binghamton starter and Mets No. 10 prospect Cory Mazzoni, who was making his first start in a month due to elbow neuritis.

As one might expect, Mazzoni’s command was a bit rusty after several weeks without game action.

Ramon Flores, J.R. Murphy and Ali Castillo each had two hits for Trenton, while Slade Heathcott and Reegie Corona each contributed a pair of RBIs. Binghamton outfielder Cesar Puello, the Mets’ No. 18 prospect, extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

The story, however, was Tracy, a native of St. Louis who, after the Erie debacle turned in an effective, six-inning effort vs. New Hampshire April 30, but nothing that would predict what happened Monday night.

Tracy did not allow a hit until there was one out in the sixth inning, when Binghamton (16-15) outfielder Darrell Ceciliani, the Mets’ No, 27 prospect and 2010 New York-Penn batting champion at Brooklyn, blooped a single to center. He threw 97 pitches, 62 of which were strikes, and recorded nine strikeouts.

“It started coming together in my last start,’’ said Tracy, who has been working on repeating his delivery more consistently.  The Yankees modified his grip during Instructional League, which has led to more snap and movement on his cutter, which acts as a slider, and curve. He also throws a changeup.

A strained hamstring limited him in 2012, in which he made 18 starts in Tampa, recording a 5-7, 3.27 mark, and a single start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which he won.

“This has to be a big boost for him,’’ said Thunder manager Tony Franklin. “He was there all night with all of his pitches.’’

The Yankees like the southpaw’s 6-foot-3, 212-pound presence. They also like his arm and determination. As he showed Monday night, he also is comfortable pitching inside, which naturally makes opposing hitters uncomfortable.

Signed by scout Andy Cannizaro to a bonus of just $2,000 after being selected by the Yankees in the 24^th round of the 2011 draft out of Ole Miss, Tracy has already paid dividends.  An outfielder for much of his collegiate playing days, he earned himself a place on the mound in Staten Island in 2011 by displaying that 94 mph fastball.

“I went into the fifth in a game last year with a no-hitter, but this was the furthest in a game for me,’’ said Tracy. “I knew I had it. Nobody was talking to me in the dugout.’’

Some sign for big money and falter. Others sign for much less and flourish. Tracy is one his way to doing the latter.

Steve and I recap a wild week of playoff sports in New York. Hear their thoughts on the Knicks, Nets, Islanders and Rangers. They discuss Jason Collins Sports Illustrated story and touch on how the criticism of Jets draft pick Geno Smith might be off base.

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LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Charleston RiverDogs right-hander Gabe Encinas admits his time in Staten Island wasn’t all that enjoyable last summer.

Oh, he liked Richmond County Bank Ballpark and the outfield views of Lower Manhattan and the freighters chugging past the outfield wall.

The 21-year-old native of Whittier, Calif., rated the Yankees’ No. 30 prospect by Baseball America, just didn’t like the way he was pitching.

“It was a real struggle,’’ said Encinas, now a member of the Class-A Charleston RiverDogs. “I just didn’t relax out there. This season, so far, has been different.’’

The word out of the South Atlantic League in April was Encinas, part of a prospect-laden RiverDogs pitching staff in the South Atlantic League, “is dealing,’’  As the season, heads into May, those words, and his performance, ring true.

Encinas, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, taken by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2010 draft out of St. Paul High in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., – signed by scout Jeff Patterson and given a $300,000 bonus – has been just about untouchable.

In five starts and 29 innings, Encinas has allowed just a single earned run, 16 hits and has a strikeout-walk ratio of 23-9. His 3-0 record comes with a minuscule 0.31 ERA. The reports are correct. He “is dealing.’’

So what’s the difference between the young hurler who went 3-7, 4.97 in 16 appearances (15 starts) at Staten Island last season and the one who has dominated the full-season SAL from the start this year.

“With Gabe, we had to change his mental approach,’’ said Charleston pitching coach Danny Borrell, who also has promising right-handers Jose Campos and Rafael DePaula under his wing. “He just had to relax and use his pitches.’’

Encinas agrees.

“I had to learn to trust my stuff and just throw strikes,’’ he said. “I feel my fastball is moving and I’m throwing my curve ball for strikes.  I just have to keep the consistency going.’’

Borrell also worked with Encinas on his delivery, which he is repeating well, and to make sure his arm slot and release point stay consistent.  This has shown on the mound, as Encinas’ strikeout-to-walk ratio is greatly improved over last season.

“I’m learning to spot my pitches and work with my fastball,’’ Encinas said. “It doesn’t matter if a fastball is 91 or 99 (mph). If it doesn’t move, they’ll hit it.’’

Pitchers can dominate in the SAL with an overpowering, moving fastball and a snappy curve, but not at higher levels. A hurler needs to have at least three pitches if he is going to succeed at Double-A and above. Encinas realizes this.

“That’s why we’re working hard to improve my change-up this season,’’ said Encinas. “It’s such an important pitch in so many situations and I’m throwing it with more confidence as well. I realize I’ll have to go to it in a lot of situations.’’

Encinas began to show progress over the winter in instructional league. He’s coachable and enjoys making progress.

“This is a big season for me, the first time I will make over 20 starts,’’ Encinas said. “They’ll be watching my innings (the most he has pitched in any start is six innings so far).  It’s my first year in a full-season league.’’

Continued success, along with his increased velocity, could earn Encinas a promotion to Class-A Advanced Tampa later in the season, and perhaps a shot at Double-A Trenton some time in 2014.

“That’s the goal, keep moving up,’’ he said, “but I have to take care of business where I am at first. It’s been fun so far this season.’’

For Encinas, but not the rest of the SAL.

YES Network finally got around to putting together and airing a “Yankeeography’’ featuring Gene Michael.

Perhaps I’m a bit prejudiced about the production, but I think it is one of the best this outstanding series has aired.

“Oh, I was lucky with a lot of those trades that went down,’’ said Michael, 74, who has been the Yankees’ “Super Scout,’’ officially Senior Vice President and Special Advisor presently, since 1966. “Some of those guys made me look good.’’

Like Paul O’Neill, whom he acquired for popular Yankees prospect Roberto Kelly Nov. 3, 1992. O’Neill easily surpassed Kelly in both individual and team accomplishments, during his tenure as Yankees general manager from 1990-95.

“I liked Roberto a lot,’’ Michael said, “but we were very right-handed at the time. We needed a left-handed bat and a player with intangibles. Cincinnati asked about Kelly, and we made what turned out to be a great deal for us.’’

That was just one of many moves – including the rebuilding of the Yankees farm system, that set the tone for the Yankees Dynasty of the late 1990s – and the program finally gives a man who batted .229 in a 973-game big-league career, spent mostly with the Yankees, credit for what he has done.

Insiders have long known this about the man who, as a light-hitting shortstop, perfected the hidden-ball trick, then, as outsiders now realize, to become one of the sharpest talent scouts baseball has ever seen.

These days, you will not only see Michael at meetings with Cashman and others in New York, but also watching Yankees prospects at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  He’ll be totally focused, taking note after note on each player.

“Gotta see the kids, what they’ve got and how they are developing,’’ said Michael, who will get a glimpse of the Yankees’ Class-A prospects when the Charleston RiverDogs visit the Lakewood BlueClaws in a series beginning tonight.

Michael is most-known for being the force behind the trade that brought the Yankees star first baseman Tino Martinez from Seattle between the 1995 and 1996 seasons.  The Yankees received Martinez, Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir for Sterling Hitchcock and Russ Davis.

The trade wasn’t all that easy to complete, Michael reveals.

“It  was at the time I was stepping down (as GM) and Seattle wanted Andy Pettitte.  It was tough to part with either Pettitte or Hitchcock, who we did trade, And I liked Russ Davis as well, but we had to replace Don Mattingly.

“There were some things about Pettitte, and his determination to be one of the best that set him apart. I wanted the Yankees to keep him, and we did. Hitchcock was in the trade.’’

While both Hitchcock, won 13 games for Seattle in 1996, and Davis hit 20 or more homers in a season as a Mariner a few times, Martinez and Pettitte certainly overshadowed them.

“As I said, I got lucky a few times.’’

And appreciated. When the Boston Red Sox approached the Yankees in 2002 about Michael becoming their general manager, permission was denied.

The man built the Yankees’ 1990s dynasty, and his influence has helped keep the Yankees’ farm system strong. He enjoys watching Tyler Austin, Ramon Flores, Slade Haethcott and Jose Ramirez in Trenton. He’ll be taking notes on Charleston’s Gabe Encinas and Dante Bichette Jr. at Lakewood this week.

The Yankeeography was overdue. Michael has done as much to mold the Yankees over the last 30 years as anyone.