Thursday, September 12, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/12/13: Trenton Takes Crown In Dominating Fashion

Crushed Harrisburg, 11-4.   Trenton didn't lose any games this postseason.  (6-0)

This will conclude my minor league game reports for 2013.  More coverage coming during the off-season.

Ben Gamel had a strong posteason.  He went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks tonight and batted .533 this posteason (8-for-15, as he didn't play every day)
Mason Williams:  2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, BB - Off to the Arizona Fall League!
Gary Sanchez:  2-for-5, RBI, RS
Tyler Austin:  2-for-5, 3B, RBI, RS - Also off to the Arizona Fall League.
Ramon Flores:  3-for-6, 3B, RBI - Continued his hot late-season hitting right into the playoffs (.321)
Jose Pirela:  1-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 RS 

Shane Greene:  5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K - Very impressive season.  If he can get off to a strong start in 2014, he is going to be right in line for a call up.  The biggest thing he proved this year is that he may just have the goods to stay in the rotation.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/11/13: Trenton Takes 2-0 Lead on Harrisburg

Tough night for Brian Mitchell,  He lasted 5.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits with seven (!) walks and two strikeouts.

Francisco Rondon, Danny Burawa, and Thomas Kahnle were unscored upon in 3.2 innings of work to lead the team to victory.

Ben Gamel had three hits and a run batted in, while Tyler Austin walked twice and scored a run.  

Gary Sanchez chipped in with a single, walk, and run scored while Mason Williams singled and scored a run.  Williams drove home three runs in the series opener on Tuesday.   Ramon Flores and Jose Pirela had a hit apiece.  Pirela also drove home a run.


Yankees Minor League Note: Vidal Nuno to Arizona Fall League; Full Roster Released

The Yankees have announced that Vidal Nuno will head to the Arizona Fall League.   Nuno has been out since June 7th with a groin injury.

Here is a list of players going to that league:

Vidal Nuno (LHP)
Brett Gerritse (RHP)
Fred Lewis (LHP)
James Pazos (LHP)

Pete O'Brien (C/3B)
Tyler Austin (1B/OF)
Mason Williams (OF)
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Obviously, the most significant prospects in the bunch are Williams and Austin, both of which can really use the extra playing time.  Austin is coming off of an injury, while Williams is coming off of a mediocre overall season.

Pete O'Brien is listed as a catcher on the roster, but I have to assume he will be given some time at third base as well.   

Lewis & Pazos are both left-handed relief pitchers.  There isn't another job in baseball that has a longer leash.  With a good showing, Lewis could get himself on the radar for some point in 2014.

Gerritse has been a bit of a tweener.   He has done the starting thing and the relief thing in the minors.  This year, he appeared in 30 games, 9 of which were starts.    This follows a trend, as he has never had a full season where he pitched exclusively in one role.  

Nuno is the only one on the list who made it to the big leagues, using an impressive assortment of slop to help the Yankees earlier in the season.  Without the groin injury, he is likely in the rotation right now, actually.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/6/13: Trenton Completes Sweep of Binghamton

Trenton: (Defeated Binghamton, 3-0, to advance to the championship series.   Winning the series is nice, but getting more at-bats for some of the prospects is even nicer.)

Zoilo Almonte:  3-for-4, RBI
Ramon Flores:  1-for-4, RS, BB
Gary Sanchez:  1-for-4
Tyler Austin:  1-for-4
Mason Williams:  0-for-4

Shane Greene:  5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K - Greene was very strong this year, reducing his walk rate drastically (though not tonight) while maintaining a strong strikeout rate.  A sleeper to look for in 2014.  Heading into this season, many questions about his future as a starter - I think, for now, he has answered them.
Danny Burawa:  1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/5/13: Trenton Goes Up 2-0

Trenton (Defeated Binghamton, 2-1, to go up 2-0 in the Best of 5.  In the Eastern League, they play a 2-3 format where the wild-card starts at home for the first two, then has to go on the road for the final 3.)

Ramon Flores:  2-for-4, 3B, RS
Mason Williams:  2-for-3, RS - Taken out of the leadoff spot.  He needed a bit of a confidence boost, and a 2-hit night can do that.
Zoilo Almonte:  0-for-2, SF, RBI 
Jose Pirela:  1-for-4
Gary Sanchez:  0-for-4
Tyler Austin:  0-for-3 - Breaks a string of three games where he had at least one double.
Ali Castillo: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI

Mikey O'Brien:  6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4 K - This is what they call "effectively wild".
Zach Nuding:  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K 
Tommy Kahnle:  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/4/13: Thriller in Trenton as the Thunder Take Game 1

3-run bottom of the 10th after Binghamton scored two in the top of the inning.

Ben Gamel was the hero, with a 2-out, 2-run single to win the game.  Trenton had nobody on and two outs before the rally began.

Tyler Austin also had a nice game, doubling twice, driving in a pair, and scoring a pair.  Austin had both of his doubles off of Noah Syndergaard, a solid pitching prospect in the Mets' system.

Gary Sanchez had a 1-for-5 night, but the one was an RBI single in the 10th inning.

Jose Pirela chipped in three hits (including a double).  Mason Williams went 0-for-5.

Bryan Mitchell lasted five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.  Francisco Rondon worked two scoreless frames, striking out five.
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Staten Island won a 5-inning game by the score of 5-2. 

Aviatal Avelino had three hits, including a double, while driving home three.  He is an 18-year old SS.


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/3/13: Eric Jagielo Collects 3 Hits

Staten Island (Split DH with Vermont, winning 6-2 before losing 2-0)

Eric Jagielo: 3-for-6, 2 RS
Yeicok Calderon: 4-for-7, HR (10), 4 RBI, RS
Kale Sumner:  1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Tyler Wade: 1-for-4, RBI - First hit for Staten Island (1-for-13) after hitting .309/.429/.370 in 162 GCL AB.  18-year old SS.
Brandon Thomas:  2-for-7, 2B (8), BB
Michael O'Neill: 0-for-8, 5 K  - Not good.
Abiatal Avelino:  1-for-3

Conner Kendrick:  3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (4.15 ERA; 43.1 IP, 39 H, 22 R, 20 ER, 3 HR, 18 BB, 27 K)
Chad Taylor (W, 1-0):  3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K - Staten Island debut for the 23-year old RHP   Undrafted free agent out of South Florida.  Pitched to a 1.32 ERA for the GCL squad with a 23/8 K/BB ratio over 27.1 innings.

Giovanny Gallegos:  4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR (4.27 ERA; 65.1 IP, 71 H, 32 R, 31 ER, 9 HR, 14 BB, 43 K) - Obviously, an eye-popping number here is the home run total.  Gallegos started strong, then faded.    I think he is a solid, but far from spectacular, type of prospect.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/2/13: Rookie Davis Throws Well as Charleston Closes Season with Win

Scranton (Destroyed by Rochester, 13-3, to end their season 68-76)

Ronnier Mustelier:  1-for-4, 2 RBI - .272/.319/.398 in 334 AB.  It looks pedestrian, and it certainly is - but he came on strong late.   Mustelier will be in an interesting position entering 2014 - the futures of Alex Rodriguez, Mark Reynolds, Vernon Wells, and even Curtis Granderson will likely play a role in just how much of a chance he will get to make the team.
Addison Maruszak: 2-for-3, RS - .254/.329/.371 in 299 AB.  Maruszak can play anywhere and might have enough of a bat to carry as a backup next year at some point, if needed.
Corey Patterson:  2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 RS
Adonis Garcia: 0-for-3, BB - .256/.312/.357 in 199 AB.  

Caleb Cotham (L, 8-7):  0.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (5.07 ERA; 124.1 IP, 142 H, 77 R, 70 ER, 12 HR, 47 BB, 86 K, 1.55 GO/AO) - Cotham was throwing pretty well this season until this massive clunker.  The ground ball rate is solid, at least.
Jim Miller:  2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR (3.55 ERA; 63.1 IP, 55 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 8 HR, 25 BB, 92 K) - Veteran was brought in to provide minor league depth, and he performed as you would expect him to.
Ryan Baker:  3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR - The 28-year old "catcher" is one of the most....ummmm....interesting players in the organization.    Drafted in 2008, he has 156 plate appearances in his career to go along with four relief appearances.  Suffice to say, he has found a way to stick around the organization without really needing to do much.
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Trenton:

Game cancelled due to rain.  Onto the playoffs.
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Tampa:

Season over.
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Charleston (Defeated Rome, 1-0, to end the season 75-63)

Greg Bird:  1-for-4, RBI, 2 K - Finishes the season at .288/.428/.511 with 36 doubles, 3 triples, 20 home runs, 84 RBI, 84 runs, 107 walks, and 132 strikeouts.  Had 101 career AB (all in half-season leagues) prior to this season. 
Jake Cave:  1-for-4, CS (9) - Finishes the season at .282/.347/.401 with 37 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 31 RBI, 69 runs, 40 walks, 110 strikeouts, and 18 steals in 27 attempts.  Remember, he had one at-bat in his career (2 years ago) prior to 2013. (Out all of 2012 with knee injury).  
Dante Bichette:  0-for-2 - Finishes at .214/.292/.331 in 435 AB with 16 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, 61 RBI, 47 runs, 43 walks, and 119 strikeouts.

Rookie Davis:  5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K - Came up for two late season starts and put together two consecutive scoreless outings.  Overall, he had a 2.11 ERA in 12 starts with a 45/13 K/BB ratio over 47 innings.  20-year old RHP.
Derek Varnadore (W, 2-7);  4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (3.77 ERA; 59.2 IP, 59 H, 32 R, 25 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 45 K, 1.24 GO/AO)
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Staten Island:

Game suspended.   Their season is not yet over.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Yankees Minor League Report 9/1/13: Gary Sanchez, Ramon Flores, Ben Gamel, Cito Culver All Go Yard in Trenton & Tampa Victories

Scranton (Lost to Rochester, 3-2)

Ronnier Mustelier:  3-for-4 -  He has been able to raise his average all the way up to .273. He is ending his season on a high note and may get another shot at the big leagues in 2014.
Neil Medchill: 1-for-4, RBI
Adonis Garcia:  0-for-4, RBI
Jose Gil:  1-for-3

Graham Stoneburner:   5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (4.57 ERA; 67 IP, 70 H, 38 R, 34 ER, 8 HR, 21 BB, 32 K)
Sam Demel:   2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (1.72 ERA; 52.1 IP, 38 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 23 BB, 65 K)
Taylor Garrison:  1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K - Triple-A debut.   Pitched to a 1.60 ERA between Charleston/Tampa with a 51/14 K/BB ratio over 56.1 innings.
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Trenton (Defeated Portland, 9-4)

Gary Sanchez:  1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS - .253/.324/.412 in 454 AB between Tampa/Trenton with 27 doubles, 15 home runs, 71 RBI, 41 walks, and 87 strikeouts.
Ramon Flores: 2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 RS, BB - His late season charge continues, as his line has increased to .260/.353/.363 in 534 AB with 77 walks and 98 strikeouts.   6-game hitting streak; 5 of those games were multi-hit affairs.
Ben Gamel:  3-for-4, 2 2B (4), HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB - Played CF today as Mason Williams did not play after being pulled (injury?) early from the second game of yesterday's double-header.  First Double-A home run.  On the season, he has doubled his career HR output; of course, he only doubled from four to eight.    He also has 32 doubles on the season.   
Tyler Austin: 2-for-5, 2B (17) - Back to back games with a double.   The Thunder will play at least a few extra games by getting to the playoffs, and that is a good thing for Austin.
Kyle Roller:  2-for-5, 2B (24), 2 RBI - .253/.347/.427 in 443 AB with 24 doubles, 17 home runs, 69 RBI, 53 walks, and 143 strikeouts.
Jose Pirela:  0-for-4, RS, BB
Reegie Corona:  2-for-4, 2B (16), HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 RS - The 26-year old was, at one time, an intriguing SS prospect - but it just never worked out.    Hitting .239/.300/.331 in 335 AB.

Nik Turley (W, 11-8):  5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K (3.79 ERA; 145 IP, 121 H, 70 R, 61 ER, 11 HR, 76 BB, 141 K) - Watch out for Turley in 2014.  He is a stretched out starter who may be ready for some big-league action at some point, provided he isn't traded of course.
Charley Short:  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Manny Barreda:  1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K - The arms that Trenton currently has in the bullpen - notably Burawa, Kahnle, Barreda and Rondo - are very tantalizing, but each one of them has their issues with control.   Barreda is another hard thrower.   His big out pitch is a changeup, though he also mixes in a slider.    He has 70 strikeouts in 62.2 innings between Tampa/Trenton, but has also walked 27 (which is a control artist compared to the others mentioned)
Tommy Kahnle: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K - 2.85 ERA in 60 innings with 45 walks and 74 strikeouts.  
Francisco Rondon: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K - Allowed one of Kahnle's runners to score.    Has a 4.01 ERA with 79/50 K/BB ratio over 82.2 innings.
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Tampa (Defeated Lakeland, 9-6)

Cito Culver: 2-for-5, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS - I have seen guys go on mini-tears in the past upon a promotion - Austin Jackson being the most notable (though his mini-tear turned into a full-out breakout session).  Culver doesn't have enough time to do that, but he is now hitting .355 (22-for-62) since his promotion with six XBH.  Overall, he is hitting .248/.322/.362 in 472 AB with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 34 RBI, 70 runs scored, 52 walks and 138 strikeouts.   His previous high in HR for a season was two.
Reymond Nunez:  2-for-4, 2 2B (3), 4 RBI, RS, BB - It would be nice to see him finally break out, but in the end, he is a 1B/DH, so even a small surge won't be enough to save him.
Robert Refsnyder:  1-for-3, 3 RS, BB - Hitting .293/.413/.413 in 467 AB with 32 doubles, 3 triples, 6 HR, 57 RBI, 75 runs, 84 walks, and 82 strikeouts.  He is 23-for-29 stealing bases.  Nice season.
Pete O'Brien:  2-for-5 - So odd to see O'Brien put up a simple 2-hit game with nothing attached to it. No XBH.  No runs batted in.  No strikeouts.
Taylor Dugas: 2-for-5, RS -  Hitting .321/.426/.373 in 193 AB for Tampa.  In 196 AB for Charleston, he compiled a mediocre .690 OPS.    He has stolen 17 bases, but has also been caught 11 times.
Dan Fiorito:  3-for-4, 2B (10), 3 RBI, RS - Not bad for a guy they took off the street.   .272/.353/.332 in 250 AB for Tampa.

Joel De La Cruz (W, 6-3):  5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (3.28 ERA; 85 IP, 70 H, 35 R, 31 ER, 2 HR, 27 BB, 73 K)
Erick Canela:  2 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K - 22-year old RHP pitched to a 3.23 ERA in 47.1 innings for the GCL squad with a 35/13 K/BB ratio.
Zach Varce (S, 1):  2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K - 24-year old was drafted in the 11th round in 2010 out of Portland.  Underwent Tommy John in 2012.  His age is advanced, and he has missed a year of development time.
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Charleston (Lost to Rome, 5-4.  Season ends tomorrow)

Greg Bird:  0-for-3, 2 BB (107), K - 9 walks in his last four games. 
Dante Bichette:  2-for-5, 2B (16), RBI - Great season, this is not.  But at least he is ending it on a pretty good note.
Jake Cave: 1-for-4, RS - .283/.348/.402.  12-game hitting streak (15-for-53).  
Ericson Leonora:  0-for-4, 2 K

Eric Wooten (L, 2-3):  6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (1.88 ERA; 43 IP, 41 H, 14 R, 9 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 39 K) - 23-year old LHP signed as minor league free agent.
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Staten Island (Defeated Hudson Valley, 7-4)

Brandon Thomas:  1-for-4, 2 RBI
Michael O'Neill: 1-for-4, 2B (17), RBI, 2 RS, K - As I have said, the one saving grace to his rough professional start is the doubles total.    It isn't much, but at least it is something.
Abiatal Avelino:  1-for-5, RBI, 2 RS
Kale Sumner:  2-for-4 - .252/.358/.319 in 163 AB.  There has been talk that playing catcher is his future, but he hasn't been placed there since being drafted (perhaps a conversion they will start next spring?  Or has it been scrapped?)  
Mike Ford:  1-for-5, 2B (6), RBI
Bubba Jones:  0-for-4
Yeicok Calderon: 0-for-3, RS, BB

Tim Giel (W, 1-0):  2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K - 22-year old RHP compiled a 2.18 ERA in 15 games for the GCL with a 20/4 K/BB ratio over 20.2 innings.   Undrafted FA out of Columbia (the school, not the country)  
Nick Rumbelow (S, 7):  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K - 2.35 ERA with 20/5 K/BB ratio over 23 innings.  Has only allowed 12 hits.