398 replies to this topic

[StuckOnYouk]

Doesn't happen often, so let's make note of it when it does....

Banuelos getting the Navy SEAL treatment by the Portland Red Sox tonight

3.2 innings, 8 hits, 4 BB, 2K

Yowsa...

Edited by StuckOnYouk, 05 May 2011 - 09:09 PM.

[jon abbey]

Yikes. Pawtucket lit up Brackman tonight also, he has shown very few signs so far this year of having any chance to contribute in NY.

[Saby]

It's only 89 ABs but Smoak's hitting .315/.410/.573 for the Mariners. Seattle might have known what they were doing when they allegedly picked him over Montero. And I wonder if Texas regret that trade a bit soon, given they lost the WS and Lee turned out to be a rental.

[abty]

They may not only because they seem to have offense as well as an ability to develop hitters. With that said, it will sting for a few years as he excels with Seattle.

[jon abbey]

The Scranton game is on SNY at 1 PM today, Adam Warren starting, if people want to check out Montero or whoever a bit.

Edit: This doesn't seem to actually be true, on my system anyway. I was just reposting what the SWB beat writer said:

https://twitter.com/#!/swbyankeesTT/status/68719620269412353

Edit #2: It's not on SNY due to Mets makeup game in Colorado at 3. It's on SNY on tape tomorrow at 2. Day old AAA baseball, WHOOOOOOOOO!

[bosox79]

Atm, with a game in progress, Montero is now at .324/.345/.398. Have to imagine the power will come, but clearly he still has stuff to learn in AAA.

[jon abbey]

Heh, and on command, he hits a 3 run HR to put Scranton ahead 5-3 in the 8th off Bobby Parnell, only his second of the year.

[derekson]

Atm, with a game in progress, Montero is now at .324/.345/.398. Have to imagine the power will come, but clearly he still has stuff to learn in AAA.

That line is also being inflated by a .405 BABIP. Obviously this is a guy who you'd expect to post a higher than average BABIP, but over .400 is a bit much. His power will regress (and thus increase), but his BABIP should come down a bit too. And after today's game he has 24 strikeouts and just 4 walks. It definitely looks like the Yankees made the right call in sending him to AAA, at least for the time being.

Edited by derekson, 12 May 2011 - 03:20 PM.

[SoxScout]

Read good read: Tale of salvation: Formerly a tormented teen, RiverDogs star and top Yankee prospect Slade Heathcott has turned his life around

[jon abbey]

Read good read: Tale of salvation: Formerly a tormented teen, RiverDogs star and top Yankee prospect Slade Heathcott has turned his life around

Tonight, Heathcott evidently got hit by the second pitch of the game, then he turned around and punched the catcher in the face and started a bench-clearing brawl according to two reports:

http://twitter.com/#...192386592522240
http://twitter.com/#...201183251767296

[sittingstill]

Tonight, Heathcott evidently got hit by the second pitch of the game, then he turned around and punched the catcher in the face and started a bench-clearing brawl according to two reports:

http://twitter.com/#...192386592522240
http://twitter.com/#...201183251767296

[Bob420]

It is always fun to watch these and see the guys that have no idea how to fight. The old, hold me back so I can look like I want to jump in, the kick the other guy while on the ground and being held down by teammates, the little slaps. Slade looks like a crazy person. That left dropped that catcher and then the wrap up tackle. Catcher must have said something.

[terrynever]

Montero 0 for 2 with a walk today off Matt fox. He grounded out in fourth and walked slowly back to the dugout. I wonder what he's thinking. Scranton blogger says he wouldn't call him bored. Says maybe a little pissed off and distracted. He's the DH today. Plenty of time to get distracted.

[E5 Yaz]

Montero 0 for 2 with a walk today off Matt fox. He grounded out in fourth and walked slowly back to the dugout. I wonder what he's thinking. Scranton blogger says he wouldn't call him bored. Says maybe a little pissed off and distracted. He's the DH today. Plenty of time to get distracted.

Yankee catchers don't like to DH

[jon abbey]

The player I am most looking forward to seeing in pinstripes, Dellin Betances, had another nice day today in AA, albeit a bit wild.

5.2 3 1 0 5 6, totals for the year now at 23.2 15 6 2 11 24. Yep, only two earned runs allowed so far this season, a 0.76 ERA.

[terrynever]

Montero finishes his day with a ringing double down the third base line.
I like betances, too, but hope banuelos advances to at least Scranton this year and throws 150 innings.

[jon abbey]

In a sneak peak of 2015, Gary Sanchez hit a HR off Anthony Ranaudo in A ball tonight.

[jon abbey]

Jorge Vazquez is far from a prospect at 29, but he has two more HRs tonight for a IL-leading 16 (in 150 ABs), both off Vance Worley, who was just dropped from the Phillies' rotation when Oswalt came back.

[terrynever]

Jorge Vazquez is far from a prospect at 29, but he has two more HRs tonight for a IL-leading 16 (in 150 ABs), both off Vance Worley, who was just dropped from the Phillies' rotation when Oswalt came back.

Montero says he is seeing more fastballs this season with Vazquez hitting behind him. Not sure how that explains his paltry home run total of two so far this season.

[jon abbey]

The player I am most looking forward to seeing in pinstripes, Dellin Betances, had another nice day today in AA, albeit a bit wild.

5.2 3 1 0 5 6, totals for the year now at 23.2 15 6 2 11 24. Yep, only two earned runs allowed so far this season, a 0.76 ERA.

Two more starts since this, including 10 Ks in 6 IP tonight. Totals for the year now:

34.2 22 9 5 16 39

[crow216]

Two more starts since this, including 10 Ks in 6 IP tonight. Totals for the year now:

34.2 22 9 5 16 39

Can't wait for him. He grew up a few blocks away from me in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

[SMU_Sox]

Can't wait for him. He grew up a few blocks away from me in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The most impressive part for me is his ability over the past 3 years to both lower his BB/9 and increase his K/9. You'd think he would be in line for a promotion to AAA, or maybe even the bigs if the Yankees experience significant injuries to their starting rotation. I know that's a bit of a stretch since he only made it to AA last year but he's been lights out in the minors since 2010. Where is he on the Yankee depth chart? Is he so far down that it isn't even a remote possibility he would see action on the Yankees this year?

[jon abbey]

Where is he on the Yankee depth chart? Is he so far down that it isn't even a remote possibility he would see action on the Yankees this year?

I would put the depth chart right now as follows:

CC
Burnett
Colon
Garcia
Nova

Then you have Hughes on the DL, Noesi in the pen currently and Silva in AAA (pitching a shutout in AAA tonight through 5). After that, I think David Phelps and Adam Warren are both still ahead of Betances/Banuelos as far as rotation spots, so it'd probably take a wave of injuries for Betances to debut this year. Banuelos is a bit different since he's a lefty, and NY could really use a second lefty, so he is more likely to join the team this year, I'd think.

[SMU_Sox]

I would put the depth chart right now as follows:

CC
Burnett
Colon
Garcia
Nova

Then you have Hughes on the DL, Noesi in the pen currently and Silva in AAA (pitching a shutout in AAA tonight through 5). After that, I think David Phelps and Adam Warren are both still ahead of Betances/Banuelos as far as rotation spots, so it'd probably take a wave of injuries for Betances to debut this year. Banuelos is a bit different since he's a lefty, and NY could really use a second lefty, so he is more likely to join the team this year, I'd think.

Thanks man.


So you're saying there's a chance?

Kidding aside as NY's salary commitments escalate over the next few years it looks like they have cheap starting pitching prospects on the way.

[Meff Nelton]

Kidding aside as NY's salary commitments escalate over the next few years it looks like they have cheap starting pitching prospects on the way.

As excited as I am about Banuelos and Betances, it's arguable that the Yankees had the two top pitching prospects in baseball three years ago, and have gotten little out of it. Maybe they get lucky for the first time in a while (on the mound at least,) but pitching prospects....

[jon abbey]

My man Justin Maxwell had two hits off Aroldis Chapman in two innings tonight.

[jon abbey]

Maxwell with his 15th HR tonight, he has 10 SBs also (2 CS), so that would be on pace for 54 HRs and 36 SBs in 162 games. When does Swisher start to hear footsteps?

[abty]

Is Maxwell a real prospect or a "Austin Jackson is available? Oh, I can't wait to jump on this one....hey, wait a minute, why is there a pumpkin with a baseball bat on my field?!" prospect? In other words, what is his upside and what do you project him to be? If he's a legit prospect then I hope the Yankees are simply waiting for Swisher to get hot again, regain his value and trade high. I am always an advocate of trading non impact talent (stars) who are older than 30 when they have peak value. Last year for Swisher was a perfect example.

As a Met fan, I said the same thing for a younger player in Angel Pagan. So, that is why I ask because you may be onto something. Maybe this could be Swisher's last year.

Edited by abty, 30 May 2011 - 05:44 PM.

[jon abbey]

It's hard to call a 27 year old a real prospect, but Maxwell may be a late bloomer. This is the start of his writeup in this year's BP Annual:

"Already 27, Maxwell is everything you should want in an everyday center fielder. He's a quality glove afield and a plus baserunner, armed with power in his stroke, strong of arm and fleet of foot."

NY can't be too high on him, though, since they promoted Dickerson over him solely because Dickerson is a LHH and Maxwell is a RHH.

[th@tkid]

Or they want him to continue to rake minor league pitching in hopes some team decides he is the real deal rather than allowing him hit to MLB pitching and risk actually exposing him as a AAAA player. He may be the real deal but its doubtful because the track record of 27 y/o prospects who finally figure it out is slim.

[abty]

Thanks, guys. Hopefully he at least gets a chance. If 40 year old lefty slop throwers and Matt Stairs keep getting jobs it's only fair that somebody who tears up AAA, even if they aren't a prospect, gets a chance to prove themselves. Sometimes people do figure it out later in their careers.

[jon abbey]

In case Montero, Gary Sanchez and Romine weren't enough C prospects for one organization, JR Murphy has been tearing it up in low A with a .872 OPS and will likely get bumped up to high A soon, breathing down Romine's neck.

All four are in the top 7 of RAB's latest top 20 NY prospect list (released today, pre-draft), and Romine is amazingly the old man of the group at 22 (Montero-21, Murphy-20, Sanchez-18).

http://riveraveblues...519/#more-49519

[Sampo Gida]

It's hard to call a 27 year old a real prospect, but Maxwell may be a late bloomer. This is the start of his writeup in this year's BP Annual:

NY can't be too high on him, though, since they promoted Dickerson over him solely because Dickerson is a LHH and Maxwell is a RHH.

72 K in 177 AB might have something to do with it. Not hitting more XBH really, but the ones he hits tends to go for HR. He is at the age when hitters figure out how to hit more HR.

If Andruw Jones got hurt he might be a good guy to have up.

[jon abbey]

Maxwell is on the 7 day DL now, he hurt his shoulder the other day going over the wall to rob a HR. It's not supposed to be very serious, though.

[jon abbey]

Updating the previous post, because when it rains, it hails: Justin Maxwell out for the year with a torn labrum.

[jon abbey]

My man Betances bounces back nicely from presumably his worst start as a pro last time out. Today he gave up a leadoff hit in the 1st, and that was the only hit he allowed in six scoreless innings. He's still walking too many people, but that .177 BAA is pretty impressive.

http://web.minorleag..._pbp&pid=476454

Also, Brackman looks hurt or cooked or both, clocked at 87 in his latest shelling today.

[Bigpupp]

@Kevin_Goldstein Source indicates #Yankees RHP Andrew Brackman threw past the bullpen catcher a half dozen times in warmups today.

[jon abbey]

Chad Jennings, back from vacation and evidently bursting with energy, has an epic minor league update post up, starting with Brackman:

http://yankees.lhblo...ng-in-triple-a/

[jon abbey]

Lengthy, interesting interview with Mark Newman:

http://nomaas.org/20...ss-mark-newman/

[jon abbey]

Our boy Montero might be heating up, 6-12 in his last 3 games with a BB, a 2B and 2 HRs, one of which he just hit off Scott Atchison.

[jon abbey]

Brackman with the IL Triple Crown lead, first in the league in walks, wild pitches and hit batters.

[terrynever]

Rhode Island native Mason Williams, son of former Patriots receiver Derwin Williams, is off to a good start this month with Staten Island. He's hitting .337 with a .505 slug percentage through 95 ABs. Williams, taken in the fourth round last year but signed for the highest 2010 bonus, is listed at 6 feet and 150 pounds. He can run, although so far just six steals in 11 attempts. Considered a very raw talent. Hitting was supposed to be an issue. He turns 20 next month.

Edited by terrynever, 14 July 2011 - 09:48 AM.

[terrynever]

Mason Williams went 4-for-5 last night, up to .360 for 100 ABs. His dad says he's getting today off.

Edited by terrynever, 14 July 2011 - 09:48 AM.

[fenwaypaul]

Mason Williams went 4-for-5 last night, up to .360 for 100 ABs. His dad says he's getting today off.

He must be classically gassed.

[terrynever]

He must be classically gassed.

Did you know the other Mason Williams was also a lead comedy writer for The Smothers Brothers and hired Steve Martin to write for the show?

Here's a cool photo of the hot baseball prospect, Mason Williams:

http://www.pawtucket...-island-yankees

[jon abbey]

Your boy Williams is still killing it, two more 3 hit games in the three days since you last posted, up to .371 now for the year with a .943 OPS.

He's doing it without almost any HRs or BBs, not totally sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but probably towards bad, his BABIP must be close to .500.

http://web.minorleag..._pbp&pid=592863

[StuckOnYouk]

A little past the halfway point and I think it's time to take stock of the performance of the Yankees top catching prospects...or shall I say "under" performance

The Mount Rushmore of Catching Prospects

(A) Sanchez, 18 y/o, 270 PA's, 333/421/745....25 PB's in 43 games, 33% caught stealing **2011 BA's #30 overall pre-season prospect
(A+) Murphy, 20 y/o, 356 PA's, 331/444/776 (691 OPS in 79 PA's in A+, 800 OPS in 277 PA's in A)....24% CS
(AA) Romine, 22 y/o, 262 PA's, 347/381/729....27% CS **2011 BA's #98 overall pre-season prospect
(AAA) Montero, 21 y/o, 313 PA's, 342/406/747...17% CS **2011 BA's #3 overall pre-season prospect

Contrasting their performances to a little more veteran, unheralded collection of Red Sox minor league catchers..

(A) Vazquez, 20 y/o, 310 PA's, 342/485/827...35% CS
(A+) Butler, 24 y/o, 317 PA's, 347/418/765...38% (**non-prospect)
(AA) Federowicz, 23 y/o, 337/383/720...37% CS
(AAA) Lavarnway, 23 y/o, 368 PA's split between AA and AAA, 386/573/959 (1.121 OPS in 129 AAA PA's)..38% CS

I don't know if I bought the kool-aid last year but I have to say it's stunning to see Montero, Romine and Sanchez all having underwhelming seasons. In fact if you look at the Yankees minor league system as a whole there is very little punch out there. Clearly they have done a good job developing young pitching in the minors, but it's stunning to see that the Yankees system looking like a massive black hole offensively.

[jon abbey]

You can't do that without focusing a bit more on their ages, Sanchez, Murphy and Montero are all among the youngest players in their leagues, and Romine is only 22.

[terrynever]

Your boy Williams is still killing it, two more 3 hit games in the three days since you last posted, up to .371 now for the year with a .943 OPS.

He's doing it without almost any HRs or BBs, not totally sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but probably towards bad, his BABIP must be close to .500.

http://web.minorleag..._pbp&pid=592863

Mason is third in the NYP league in batting and sixth in OPS (.943). His OPS is high because he has eight doubles and three triples in 116 ABs, along with his two homers. Frankly, I'm surprised he has two homers because they're still listing him at 150 pounds (and six feet tall).
He has six walks and 21 Ks in 116 ABs so his batting approach is still pretty raw. I think he likes to make contact and start running, kind of like Brett Gardner.


Williams turns 20 on August 21, during a weekend road series at Lowell, Mass. That might be my first chance to see him up close.

Like Jeter and so many other modern players, Williams got himself drafted high by playing an extensive AAU schedule during the summer that took him all over the country. That kind of experience must have helped his transition to pro ball. Having a father who played pro sports probably didn't hurt, either.

Staten Island has the league's batting leader, a 23-year-old college grad named Shane Brown, who is batting .456 in 68 ABs.

Williams could be a candidate for the Arizona Fall League, unless the Yankees don't want to rush him too much due to his age.

[StuckOnYouk]

You can't do that without focusing a bit more on their ages, Sanchez, Murphy and Montero are all among the youngest players in their leagues, and Romine is only 22.

No doubt, I get that JA. They're definitely a very young crop and age plays a role.

None of them are having "bad" seasons when you consider their performance compared with their league averages. But what sticks out to me is that with all they hype thrown upon them (3 of them in BA's top 100), that not a single one is having a year that is better than average.

Not saying the Yankees 4 C's will be busts, we'll find out over the next several years. But present day performance, they're very far from what they were supposed to be this year as a group.