Another step forward for Kennedy
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- October
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Ian Kennedy struck out four and walked none through four strong innings this afternoon in Arizona. He allowed a double to the first batter he faced but allowed just one other base runner. He struck out four of the last six batters he faced.
He wasn’t the only Yankee getting off to a strong start in the Arizona Fall League opener.
Brandon Laird was 4-for-6 with three RBI, Colin Curtis was 3-for-6 with two RBI and Austin Romine was 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Big right-handed reliever Grant Duff pitched a scoreless ninth while Zach Kroenke pitched one inning of relief and allowed a run on a two-out RBI single.
To answer a few questions from the comments of the previous post…
– Duff came to Triple-A at the very end of the year. I remember him in the upper-90s, but I checked with Mike Ashmore just to be sure he saw the same thing in Trenton: “He’d start at 93-94,” Ashmore said. “And start hitting around 96-97 towards the end of the inning or second inning.”
– When I talked to Austin Jackson at the end of the playoffs, he was planning to take the winter off (he had 500 at-bats in the regular season). I was impressed with him. Much better than I expected.
– Jesus Montero is expected to play in Venezuela this winter. He’s listed on the roster and Mark Newman, the top guy in the Yankees minor league office, has said Montero will play barring any sort of setback with his finger injury.
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Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Good stuff
Thanks, Chad. We looove hearing about the prospects. Anything and everything is greatly appreciated. It’s nice to know that you have a vested interested in these guys.
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Reposting, just cuz it caused such a stir the first time:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/…..id=4538320
Look at all the projected world series winners. Only 3 teams represented. Well, were represented.
I don’t care that Buck picked the Angels (at least the Yanks are getting respect), but to say that they are more driven? That’s complete BS…….
Great news on Ian, thanks Chad! I really don’t know how good he’s going to end up being- probably at best a #4 starter. Hopefully he’ll have a good year in AAA because he’s our #6 starter – we could have used him this year.
Montero spend another year in AA? It would be great if this kid could be the everyday catcher in a couple of years. Hope his defense progresses as much as everyone expects his offense to.
This is perfect, Chad, being that you’re coming from covering SWB. Hope to see more insight on the prospects you’ve witnessed and their potential impact to the major league club.
Nice to see a MAshmore name-drop, too.
Can’t see Montero’s bat being held back too much longer. I believe we’ll see him up permanently towards end of 2010.
Ian Kennedy?
We all pretty much foresee Hughes and Joba as the 4-5 next season but I still think Cash and the organization are a bit skeptical.
I think they sign Wang and see if he can show them something next August-September, most likely retain Andy maybe keep Serge and Gaudin as insurance.
But what if Ian Kennedy becomes what everyone projected?
Where does he fit? Will he even see the bigs as a Yankee? Can either Hughes-Joba become Mariano’s heir apparent?
All irrelevant at this point but interesting if you want to look at next season.
Showalter disrespected the team. As far as I am concerned, he disrespected me and my family. He basically said the Yankees cannot match the fire that the Angels play with. I am not saying they are a bad team, it will be a tough series, but Showalter revealed his true colors with that statement.
OMG, that Nick Adenhart commercial is airing now on MLB – I can not believe how disgusting that was. How can they use this poor kid’s death to hype a baseball series? That’s sick.
Chad-could u give us some more info on austin jackson? Great job with the blog. Thx
Such a load of Malarkey that Showalter is trying to sell.
I watched all the teams celebrate and listened to the resident broadcaster talk about the wonders of each team.
To a team, all were described as “never quitting,” “playing all 27 outs,” “being there for each other,” “having each other’s back,” as well as countless other accolades. Both by interviewed team-members as well as the guy with the microphone.
They all celebrated with fire and passion. All 4 teams looked full of fire and passion. Seems to me all 4 teams want to be in the position to win the World Series. If not, they wouldn’t be where they are now.
It’s all so much ado about nothing.
Either Montero or Romine will be in AAA early in 2010, because they need more instruction and game time. Splitting the season as they have for most of two years isn’t going to get them enough game experience in calling games and the chance to work on fundamentals. Neither has caught 100 games in a season, yet, and, now is the time. Romine has only caught about 130 games in two years and Montero is just over 150 games caught. This was the first year (and only half a season at that) that they haven’t been on the same team.
Betsy: I don’t think it’s disgusting at all. I find it quite normal that his team would be thinking of him in the postseason.
Showalter!!!!!!
“Where does he fit? Will he even see the bigs as a Yankee? Can either Hughes-Joba become Mariano’s heir apparent? ”
There’s always a need for starting pitching. Here’s my not-so-bold prediction for next year:
The Yankees will not have 4 guys make 30+ starts like they did this year.
The last time NYY had 4 guys make 28+ starts
2003
2000 (Cone and El Duque each made 29 starts)
1999
1998 (Irabu made 28 starts that year)
1996
Notice a trend here? Every one of those teams won the WS. I know the ‘03 squad didn’t win it, technically… but the ALCS was REALLY the WS, let’s not kid ourselves.
We can all hope and pray that Montero totally clicks with AJ. I wouldn’t mind that personal catcher situation.
Just thought of this:
How much will Mussina be kicking himself if(when) the Yanks win the WS.
2000 – WS winner
2001-2008 Mussina is a Yankee, no WS winning teams
2009 – WS winner
Rebecca, the commercial is disgusting. You actually think I would be upset that the Angels are thinking of Adenhart? Of course they are…and that’s natural. I’m sorry, though, FOX is trying to attract viewers by using this poor kid’s death – it’s got a tremendous ick factor.
vin
October 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Just thought of this:
How much will Mussina be kicking himself if(when) the Yanks win the WS.
2000 – WS winner
2001-2008 Mussina is a Yankee, no WS winning teams
2009 – WS winner
******
I am not sure Mussina would feel that way. If you have seen his Yankeeography, he seems to take pride in being the “almost” guy. He “almost” won 300 games. He “almost” pitched a perfect game (twice). He “almost” won a world series (twice).
I am not sure he would be kicking mimself at all
I agree with you, Betsy. Fox’s intentions are completely different than the Angel’s. It is kind of a shame. I blame Buck Showalter.
Betsy
October 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Rebecca, the commercial is disgusting. You actually think I would be upset that the Angels are thinking of Adenhart? Of course they are…and that’s natural. I’m sorry, though, FOX is trying to attract viewers by using this poor kid’s death – it’s got a tremendous ick factor.
*****
I don’t think they are exploting Adenhart at all. I think Fox is trying to tell the story of a team. Its the drama behind baseball that gets fans watching. Its dramatic that the Angels lost one of their own. Its part of their story this season.
Betsy
October 13th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
OMG, that Nick Adenhart commercial is airing now on MLB – I can not believe how disgusting that was. How can they use this poor kid’s death to hype a baseball series? That’s sick.
=====
I too was turned off. It’s one thing to do a feature on the Angels with the Adenhart tragedy considered or even front and center, but using this to promote the games is exploitative and marginalizing.
Reminds me of walking around at Ground Zero, and watching vendors selling 911 mementos and photos while everyone was still wandering around in a state of shock.
Just another thing we disagree on, Erica, but that’s ok, lol
I don’t know if this point has been raised on an earlier thread, but I’d like to see Gardner start. Melky, Damon and Swisher aren’t hitting much. If we’re not going to get much offense from the outfield, let’s at least get our best defender out there.
Bodh, I think it’s something you have to see – it was like a promo for a tv movie or something. It’s completely exploitative. The Angels are a very good team – they have enough fine qualities that FOX can talk about to hype them up. The Yankees don’t have any such tragedy to motivate them (which is what the commercial made it sound like, that the Angels are motivated purely by Adenhart’s death), but they are motivated nonetheless by the less sentimental desire to win.
This guy on MLB is annoying as heck – he makes it sound like the Angels have this incredible depth in the rotation, much better than the Yankees do……
Betsy, They do have great depth in their rotation……My biggest concern going into the Postseason & I mentioned this at the trade deadline, was how the loss of Wang was going to be a concern once the Yanks moved into the ALCS & The World Series…..To me it’s the singular issue that the Bombers are going to have too overcome, especially against a club like Anahiem
Gardner may be the fastest of the Yankee outfielders, but, that doesn’t make him the best outfielder.
“The Yankees will not have 4 guys make 30+ starts like they did this year.”
It’s not like that was something they enjoyed this year either.
I mean yes they did but can you really count Joba in the group?
He had 31 starts but how many of them were quality? I bet you he had at least 12 starts where he went 4 innings or less.
Really it’s who’s making those starts that puts the W’s on the board.
The weird thing is that there’s absolutely no guarentee that Adenhart would have even made the Angels’ postseason roster. He probably would have, but likely would have been nothing more than a long reliever, ala Chad Gaudin.
“I am not sure Mussina would feel that way. If you have seen his Yankeeography, he seems to take pride in being the “almost” guy. He “almost” won 300 games. He “almost” pitched a perfect game (twice). He “almost” won a world series (twice). ”
Very interesting point. Prior to your post, if I had to guess why Mussina might not be kicking himself, it would be because he felt he had had enough of the game, and was going out on his own terms. But I really like your POV. I saw the Yankeeography and the “almost” factor was really big in his career.
“I mean yes they did but can you really count Joba in the group?
He had 31 starts but how many of them were quality? I bet you he had at least 12 starts where he went 4 innings or less.
”
Yes you can count Joba, because talent-wise, he is among the top 5 starting pitching options.
Joba going 4 innings this year means a heck of lot more to the franchise (both this year and long term) than getting 5 innings out of Rasner/Karstens/Ponson/Chacon/Pavano and the other dreck they’ve sent out there the past few years.
Erica, good point about Mussina. Those of us who lived through the 80’s saw that first hand with Mattingly, WS appearance the year before he got there and the year after.
Re the rotation, barring rain, 3 starters is the way to go, Joe knows that. I have tickets to game 6, but I am rooting for the Yankees to have wrapped it by then.
Carlos Pena is a very handsome and well-spoken man (he’s been guesting on MLB lately)- didn’t realize that.
Pat M, I know Lackey is very good and Kazmir certainly can be. How good are Saunders and Weaver? Weaver seems to be up and down, but he did pitch very well against the Sox. Wang was gone, so I admit I didn’t think much about it – there’s no sense in playing the “what if” game. I like our top 3…..though it’s hardly ideal to have to have CC go on 3 days rest in game 4 (and that’s if there is no rain). The Yankee starters don’t pitch particularly well against the Angels that’s my concern – sure, if you keep them off the bases they can’t steal, but it seems like in all the games we play vs. them, they’ve got runners on in every inning. That said, we’ve beaten the Angels the last couple of series and that last one out West was huge.
“Yankees don’t have any such tragedy to motivate them (which is what the commercial made it sound like, that the Angels are motivated purely by Adenhart’s death), but they are motivated nonetheless by the less sentimental desire to win.
”
I say “LET’S WIN THIS ONE FOR COREY LIDLE!” Oh that’s right, he was a scab, and not a young, promising talent.
I am 100% certain that Fox will hype up the Adenhart angle. We all feel really bad about what happened to the poor guy (and the others in the accident), but Fox will beat it into the ground.
I get the feeling that they will treat it like Schilling bloody sock. That network is completely unscrupulous – and worse, has awful baseball broadcasts.
Betsy , Joe Saunders is a very effective starter, in fact he beat The Yanks last month out here in Anahiem……This series is going to be determined by the pens…Yanks need to get into the Angels bullpen early and often…..Lackey is their Ace and he’s good and playing for a big time contract this winter…..Speaking of which, the Yanks will be looking at him in earnest, as Pettite has maybe one more year to be squezzed out of his shoulder…….
Betsy,
The rest of it – what these media people say about the series, etc… I just turn a deaf ear to.
Even the ones who are “positive” about the Yankees – I don’t really need them to school me on how good we are, or give out gold stars, since I could have told them months ago we’d run away with the division. Who needs them?
They have no crystal ball, and think in cliches.
Damon is a considerable liability in the field. Every ball hit to left is “a hold your breath” moment, as it has been for the better part of this year. If he isn’t doing it offensively early on, I look for Girardi to make a move to Gardner. The games project to be close, and one critical misplay (just ask LaRussa) can turn the series. Girardi will not chance it.
“My biggest concern going into the Postseason & I mentioned this at the trade deadline, was how the loss of Wang was going to be a concern once the Yanks moved into the ALCS & The World Series…..To me it’s the singular issue that the Bombers are going to have too overcome, especially against a club like Anahiem”
So true because here they are going for the pennant and they really don’t have a reliable game 4 starter.
Imagine this team with a healthy Wang pitching? 110-112 wins?
Pat M, I can’t see the Yankees going after another big FA pitcher – they’ve invested so much $$$ in AJ and CC and now they have Phil and Joba. Next year is going to be interesting because those two are certainly going to have their ups and downs…..we have to hope we can get Andy back on a 1 year deal and he continues to defy father time.
The Yankees really didn’t hit the Twins pitching, so I’m not sure what to expect against Lackey and co……….
Pat M, it’s vital that Phil get back to his best if this is to be a battle of the pens….
Bodh, in the end, the players are going to determinee who wins and loses. I need to try harder not to get caught up in the respect/disrespect thing from the media…….
I think the keys to winning this series is minimize the number of walks and play error-free ball.
Fangraphs has Gardner rated at UZR at 7.6 – UZR/150 13.3. Melky is at 2.6 for both. That is for range. Swisher is basically Replacement Value at .5 and Damon is at -11. for both. Melky in LF is -2.8 for 40 games and a very bad -17.9 over 150 games rating. Melky does have a very good arm. Believe it or not replacing Damon with Melky in LF does not improve the defense according to these stats. Now defensive stats aren’t that accurate but they do give some indicators.
Pat M. brings us a very good point about Lackey pitching for a contract, not only for these games but also for next year and the years ahead.
The Yanks have to make some big decisions this off season in regards to their pitching for the future.
Joba, Phil, IPK, Wang. Plus McAllister in AAA. And what about Andy. You know there will be discussion about Lackey as well. But do they sign him, or will Hal decide that it’s time for younger and cost-controlled is the way to go?
Obviously, these decisions will impact not only 2010, but years ahead, and not only for the pitching staff, but the monetary issues will impact the rest of the roster.
If the Yankees play the field and defend the way they did against the Twins, they will be fine. I have confidence in the offense.
Pat M -
You are correct that the Angels have a good starting rotation. Their bullpen was a weakness, but they have moved Santana in there, so they have a power arm who can strike people out, so perhaps their relief pitching isn’t as weak as it was during the season.
The only thing I think is questionable is people chose the Yankees to win knowing there was no CMW. CMW has not been a factor since the beginning of the season, and he was mostly a negative factor. So it’s not as if the Yankees had him and were relying on him and now all of a sudden come playoff time do not have him. The won 103 (now 106) games without him.
I know a playoff situation is different. 4 solid starters would be ideal. But unless people changed their minds about the Angels having the edge after Santana went to the bullpen, it really doesn’t make sense to all of a sudden take the edge away from the Yankees based on a situation they knew about a long time ago.
I’m not sure if the use of Adenhart as a Rally Corpse is offensive, unsettling, disconcerting, or what.
But something seems off about it, especially the sight of the players swigging champagne and patting down his number on the outfield wall (except for Abreu, who hung back for some reason). But they’re free to motivate themselves any way they way to, and of course the media can’t resist that angle; it’s like every Olympics.
As a Yankee fan, I’m not worried about the Tragedy Motivation Gap at all. I trust in the superior talent, professionalism, and competitive drive of our players to carry us through.
I think the starting rotation next year will be Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain and Hughes.
IPK will start at scranton and be the 6th starter kind of what Hughes was at the start of the season. If Pettitte does come back it will be probably be his last year so that will open a spot for either Kennedy or McAllister in the rotation.
I doubt they will make a run at Lackey after spending so much money on Sabathia and Burnett.
“Of course they are…and that’s natural. I’m sorry, though, FOX is trying to attract viewers by using this poor kid’s death – it’s got a tremendous ick factor.”
If you root against the Angels, you are rooting against Nick Adenhart.
Anyone with a heart should be rooting for the Angels.
[/sarcasm]
Buck Showalter loves the Rally Corpse.
Look it up. Its true.
“[Torii] Hunter would also probably dedicate this playoff run to Michael Jackson if he thought it might bring more TV time. Still, as ghoulish as Hunter’s ever-eager interviews come across, they’re nothing compared to the Adenhart playoff ad put out by TBS and Fox.”
http://www.metro.us/us/article...../index.xml
TBS is boasting breaking a 33 yr record of MLB Division series coverage. Guess what team series blew the ratings reaord?
Game 1 Yankees,Twins 6.61 million viewers
Game 2 Yankees,Twins 6.48 million viewers
Game 3 Yankees,Twins 6.79 million viewers
Game 1 Cards,Dodgers 4.97 million viewers
Game 2 Cards,Dodgers 5.18 million viewers
Game 2 Sox,Angels 5.07 million viewers
Tigers,Twins,Oct 6 6.54 million viewers
Yankees ruled the ratings,media week.com
Yankees may be hated,but everybody was watching the Yankees!! Story on nesn.
Chad,
Given your first 2 weeks called up to the show…have you had a chance to reflect on everything that you have experienced?
What would experience has been the most surprising (positive or negative) for you (for example player access, travel schedule, player work ethic, relationship with other beat writers, deadlines, food spreads)?
MLB Network is breaking down the ALCS coming up right now.
LAA’s blog on why a LAD/LAA WS is inevitable. Pretty lame.
http://www.ocregister.com/phot.....pid2604095
Hi Betsy, you must be as happy as me with the Yanks advancing, playing great fundamental baseball. Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you? I’ve been busy with work and life, sometimes I get so consumed in my own little world that I forget about all the great opinions I’m missing out on. I wish I could watch you type up one your great thoughts and then hit “Submit Comment”. Do you use your right hand to control the mouse or your left?
You should really set-up your own website, I’m sure you’d get a huge following, especially me. I’d be your biggest fan. I can even be the president of the “Betsy’s Honest Opinion and I Call it like I see them” fanclub. If you were to have such a fanclub, would it be a meritocracy? I don’t think anyone has worked harder than me to be the President.
Here waiting at home till you post your next comment. Ciao!
bodhi – I’m watching it. Interesting, Harold Reynolds thinks that Hughes has been hiding his cutter during the Division Series against Minny, so that the Angels’ hitters will not have a scouting report on it. Now that would be devious.
Joe that would be so rad!
Just jumping in here….4pm start time on a few games??? What gives here??? I thought we were playing a WEST coast team? I don’t mind it being in the East…as Ill probably miss an inning or so…..and don’t feel like staying up til 2:30am. But what about people out West? I just don’t get it.
I miss Fox. Fox to me is the “playoff broadcast”, and I like it more than TBS and Chip the doof.
I think Harold is a little overzealous on that one, LOL.
Hey, wanted to say, along with Z-Mac, don’t forget about Ivan Nova as a minor-league arm that could help us next season. Nova could step into the rotation as a back-end guy.
These guys are infinitely better than ESPN, which I only occasionally watch (BBTN) just to laugh at them.
Hahaha. The only way to to hit Mariano is when he doesn’t locate. Good luck with that.
The only other way is, occasionally he’ll throw one right over the plate on first pitch to get ahead.
What does everyone think of this?
Scoiscia said that a lefty either Saunders or Kazmir would start game 2 so that Weaver could start at home where he is better.
—————————————
I would assume that would be Kazmir starting game 2. So assuming that Molina is going to catch AJ then Posada could be the DH. Numbers against Kazmir, Posada 11-25 .440 avg, Matsui 5-28 .170 avg. At least that helps the offense and isn’t a hard decision to sit Matsui. Matsui pinch hits as soon as AJ is done pitching.
NEW———>
Hey, how about winning it all for us, the fans, who follow every game day or night, or late night (even on wedding anniversary), who keep on buying their kids the caps and the t-shirts (even if the kids think you are crazy), who finally convince the husband that Yankees postseason = there will be loud tv, no dinner and lots of holding hands and saying “just trust your team honey, they can do it”. Sounds like way better commercial material to me
Boston is on a downward trend. Watch and see. If the Rays get their bullpen squared away with a proven closer, they’ll be considered as the No. 2 team in the AL East by analysts next spring.
Boston is limited with being able to make much improvement.
Has the display on this site changed for everybody? I use Firefox, but the display for the comments and the content that Sam and Co. enter looks very different than it did yesterday. My PC ran some scandisk thing this morning so I’m wondering it is just me or not?
The sad thing about Mike Dah Moose is that he spent his entire career pitching in the American League East. Just (say) for example,that he had pitched in the National League, he would probably (for sure) have had 300 wins and be on his way to Cooperstown!