Melancon impressive
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 22, 2009 
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Just watched Mark Melancon face Derek Jeter, Robbie Cano, Austin Jackson and Austin Romine.
Wow. 30 pitches and there were four swing and misses. He also broke Cano’s bat. There were two balls put in play, singles by Jeter and Romine.
Melancon’s fastball was as advertised. He also threw five curveballs and all but one were strikes. It’s a big curve, too.
After his TJ surgery, the Yankees used him carefully last season. But he’s ready to be unleashed now.
I’m very excited about this. I love prospects.
Looking forward to this kid being unleashed on MLB this season. Cannot wait to see him in the Bronx. Gotta feeling he is the real deal
Are the Yankees still planning on Melancon being a reliever, or is he one of their starting prospects again?
I got him making the team.. as our setup man.. I said it!
Great to here… he is going to be a BIG part of our team. Unleash the Beast!
Wow, thats amazing. We have alot of pitching depth, Bullpen looks nice and solid, adding Melancon would just improve it further.
Bruney
Ramirez
Veras
Coke ( ? )
Melancon ( ? )
Not bad at all, I can only imagine a guy like Coke, Giese or Robertson as long relievers.
Keep his pitch count down for another year.Send him to Scranton for a season till Sept. callup.Don’ rush him like Hughes and Kennedy.
*hear
LI Yank – from the other thread:
I didn’t realize Alabadejo had pitched so few innings – I know he got hurt, but I guess it was earlier in the season than I thought. I still like him a lot – I like all of the pen options. I’m sure that the guys who don’t make the team out of ST will still have a chance to help the team during the season…..
Breaking bats is good. Mo breaks bats.
He doesn’t need any more time at Scranton.
Melancon has nothing to prove in the minors. He pitched 20 innings at AAA with a 2.70 ERA, 22 Ks in 20 innings, 4 walks, .162 BAA.
Relievers need a lot less seasoning than starters. As long as he has the command, the outpitch, and the FB… he is good to go.
Even if he doesn’t make the team out of ST, he isin’t too far behind at all.
I’m starting to drool about Melancon, but I’m not going to go overboard. I’m sure at some point he will be a help to us, whether he makes the team out of ST or no. Thanks, Pete!
is phil coke in a starting rotation plans in the further future
Betsy -
Albaladejo is a nice arm to have around. I agree with you that he has value. Problem is, we have so many high-end arms that he may not get his chance here. As the guy on the other thread said… it is a testament to how many great arms we have, rather than a slight on Alba.
mark is fantastic! i loved watching him in trenton. he is a genuinely nice guy too! always saying something positive.
It looks like we got ourselves a set-up man and possibly an heir to Mo’s throne!!!
I can’t wait to see him in the Bronx. I hope he has a Joba like impact on the bullpen and shortening the game. You have coke 6-7, bruney 7, melancon 8, mo 9…you shorten the game and save our starters. Our pitching staff can be dynamite!
Great report! The kind I like to read coming out of ST. They say this guy can really “fire” the ball! Great prospect for us!
Agree with Jeterboy, definitely see him making the team as our setup guy.
A bullpen of Coke and Marte from the left side, Ramirez/Veras, Bruney from the right side, with Melancon to Rivera will be nasty.
I’m excited
This is the man who will end the ridiculous Joba argument. Mo bless you, Melancon. Mo bless you.
Aren’t they trying to see if Coke can start?
Mo/Marte/Bruney/Veras/Coke/Melancon with 3 catchers
when Posada is ready for “full time,” bring up Alba/Edwar/Aceves/Giese/Robertson in exchange for DFA Cash?
People are not paying attention. Phil Coke is going into the year as a starter. That can definitely change but as of right now and the beginning of the season he is a starter.
I agree with Phil’s comment above. Melancon just needs to face some big-league competition. Otherwise, I don’t believe he has anything left to prove in the minors. He buzzed through the system last year, going 8-1, logging 95 innings between Tampa, Trenton, and SWB, fanning 89, walking only 22, only allowing 6 homers, 69 hits, and a .202 BAA. Importantly, he was excellent as he faced better competition. His BAA dropped as he moved up, and his K/IP ratio improved. He’s been groomed for top-flight relief work, and now just needs to show he can do it against the big guys.
The Yankees need to keep replenishing the ranks with talented youngsters. If Melancon performs as we hope he will, as Matt rightly says, there goes the Joba “debate”–not too soon for my tastes.
I was there in the first row. Melancon looked good, but I wouldn’t make too much of this. It was pretty clear the batters were more concerned with just tracking the ball. No one took any big cuts, especially the first few times they faced him.
It’s close to time that Mark Melancon gets the football No. 78 off his uniform and be given No. 29.
Kei Igawa is not going to be a part of the major league staff.
Amen, Glenn. Igawa has never had it, and never will. I’d take some new equipment and food coupons to be rid of that stiff.
I don’t know that somebody with seventy innings above A-ball has “nothing” left to prove in the minors. His BABiPs last year in Trenton and SWB were unsustainably low. Still, he’s probably ready for the bigs. Let’s just not pretend he’s the second coming, or anything.
I don’t think we’re pretending he’s the second coming, Kevin. It’s just that he’s buzzed through three levels of minor-league ball, has been very impressive in doing so, and just needs to show he can take the next step of facing major-league competition. Your caveat is well taken, however.
I’ve jumped onto the Melancon bandwagon. It would just be amazing if he replaced Joba as set-up guy and ended that debate. And who knows? Skys the limit, and Mo only has a yr. or two left…
The sound of this guy makes me giddy all over.