Arizona Fall League plans
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- August
- 28
The Yankees have started to assign players to the Arizona Fall League. Their prospects will play for the Peoria Javelinas.
Outfielder Austin Jackson and infielder Kevin Russo are headed there. The Yankees have slots for another infielder and four pitchers.
The league starts play on Oct. 7 and runs through Nov. 22.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Yankees use the AFL to build up innings for Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Joba Chamberlain. The more innings they can build up now, the more they could be used next season.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
I’d like to Callgert, Hughes, Kennedy and Horne/Marquez there.
i like the idea of them building their innings up there
i’m more interested in the Arizona Fall League then the MLB at this point
Austin Jackson should get the call early next year if he does well in AAA
Unlike Hughes, Jackson will have no pressure on him hitting 9th in the lineup behind the likes of Damon, Jeter, Arod, Matsui, Posada, Cano etc. so he can take time to get used to his surroundings.
Following the minors is much better than following the current major league team.
I’m not so sure they should assign Chamberlain to the AFL, but I definitely agree with the idea that Kennedy and, more importantly, Hughes be assigned to it. Not only do they need to push the workload for these two pitchers, but they also need to improve their confidence. It would be great for the psyche of these two pitchers to go play in the AFL and dominate.
bottom line – cashman needs to win next year. youth movement was a disaster other than joba. 80+ million off the books with the likes of cc, sheets, manny, burnett, texieria etc. available, there should be no excuses. even if you miss out on cc, there are other alternatives.
youth movement = fail. time to win!!! 27 in 09!!!!!
The AFL is a complete bandbox… if Kennedy dominates there, his trade value might finally be restored.
Is Chamberlain still eligible?
This is the kind of thing the Yankees should have been doing 5 years ago, i.e., developing their scouting and farm system, and getting their prospects the kind of work that can net them value in the long run.
This offseason is going to be crucial. The Steinbrenner’s can go one of two ways; they can revert back to the failed policies of the past and sign Manny, Texeria, Burnett, Sheets, C.C., etc., or they can stop the mad spending and use that money wisely to strengthen the baseball operations, scouting, and farm system. I choose the latter, but I’m not making the decisions. It will be an interesting offseason no matter what they do.
Hughes even if he goes to AFL still can’t start the season in the rotation.He still needs more minor league innings until he can stay healthy.
And of course lets Kennedy go to the AFL he’s trade bait.
Hands-off Joba. You don’t waste a talent like that in the Arizona Fall League. Save those bullets for next year.
I’m OK with Kennedy and Hughes pitching there. They need the work, the innings, the confidence.
But a few more bullets this fall = even more major league bullets in 09
I’d trade Igawa before Kennedy. I grew up in California , I’ve followed IPK since late he was in high school through college. I always thought he was a good pitcher. I think he will be in the future. But the Yankees have to have patience with him & if they’re not willing to do that then, trade him to a team that will.
Pete, this is at least the second time you’ve brought up innings limits this way. When Will Carroll from Baseball Prospectus gave you a guest post this year, you were all excited and even put up a second post telling people to check it out… but it doesn’t sound like you ever read it.
It was about a statistical oddity – the rule of 30 only applies to major league innings. Regardless of how many minor league innings a pitcher has, their innings limits are only based on MLB appearances. Nobody knows why, he said, but that’s what the math shows.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/01/21/pinch-hitting-will-carroll-of-bp/
CMW too?
beagle, why would CMW pitch there? He is an established MLB pitcher, he can handle the innings you throw at him.
Kennedy is a difficult read. In one way you want to send him to the AFL to increase his trade value and on the other hand sending him there wastes a spot for somebody with a Yankee future.
I thought only rookies were allowed to play in the AFL…?
I’d like to see Francisco Cervelli join the group.
It’s a good idea to be familiar with the eligibility requirements for the AzFL before blindly speculating on who the Yankees should send there.
“No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.”
But the kind was, Hughes couldn’t draw. Cc , sheets , manny , burnett , texieria etc. He’s what they call these two pitchers painter.