A few off day minor league notes
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Apr 21, 2011 
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Off days seem to work pretty well for minor league updates. There’s not much going on with the big league team on these days, so we might as well look into the minor league system.
Today let’s start in Double-A. Austin Romine is always the other catcher in the Yankees system. He’s not considered one of baseball’s elite like Jesus Montero, and he’s not a raw mega-talent like Gary Sanchez, but Romine is a legitimate prospect his bat is heating up.
He hit a walkoff single on Tuesday, then he homered twice on Wednesday. Romine got off to a slow start in the season’s first week, but in the past five games he’s collected nine hits including a double and two home runs. He has nine RBI in the his past five games after not driving in a run in any of his first six games. His slash line is up to .310/.420/.500.
Of course, in this system, Romine isn’t the only minor league catcher who’s been hitting lately.
Jesus Montero continues to rake for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had another three-hit game last night, and although he hasn’t homered since April 9 and has yet to draw a walk, Montero is batting .423/.423/.558 through 11 games. Down in Charleston, Gary Sanchez is back from a brief stint on the disabled list and had a hit last night. While Sanchez was out — Josh Norris says it was a sore oblique, of course — J.R. Murphy got some regular time behind the plate and his bat is still going strong with three homers, 13 RBI and a .326 average.
For the immediate future, the catching situation that has the most impact on the Yankees is happening in Tampa, where Francisco Cervelli is supposed to be begin a rehab assignment tonight.
• Kei Igawa is up from Double-A to start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight. Kevin Millwood is coming up from the Double-A roster to start for Scranton tomorrow. As Donnie Collins pointed out, Millwood should have time to make one start after tomorrow before his out kicks in.
• Speaking of Triple-A starters, David Phelps and Adam Warren have turned in back-to-back gems this week. Phelps allowed three hits and struck out six through 6.1 innings on Tuesday night, then Warren followed with eight scoreless innings on Wednesday. Minor league pitchers — and big league pitchers for that matter — occasionally talk about creating a friendly rivalry in which one player’s success helps to spark another’s success. Those two outings could start something like that.
• Jorge Vazquez is up to seven home runs in Scranton, meanwhile Chris Dickerson has started hitting in Triple-A. Eight hits in his past four games has Dickerson’s slash line up to .292/.393/.375. He’s had two doubles and a triple in the past three days, his first extra-base hits of the year.
• Manny Banuelos is back from his blister and made his second start on Tuesday night. He allowed two hits and one unearned run through four innings for Double-A Trenton. Dellin Betances is still on the disabled list in Trenton, but he seems close to a return.
• Good numbers from a name you might not know: Mikey O’Brien, a ninth-round pick in 2008, has a 2.16 ERA with 19 strikeouts through his first three starts with Charleston. He’s walked only three and his production has been pretty steady (his numbers aren’t the product of just one good start), but he has yet to get a win. O’Brien could be building on last season when he had a 2.08 ERA in Staten Island.
Nice update Chad.
If Yanks trade for Liriano, it is likley Romine (or Cervelli) will be part of he deal given the issues with Mauer.
Shouldn’t the Yankees and Red Sox put away their rivalry for one day and work out a trade so Mikey O’Brien can play for the one organization he so clearly belongs..?
Hey, this story about the new metal bats in the NCAA (and hopefully trickles down to high school and Little League completely escaped my attention.
Sounds like a very solid step in the right direction.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa.....id=6403213
Adding another wild card will just add merit to the complaints about Girardi taking his foot off the pedal or playing for the WC.
Lohudders should love this!
Cervelli is listed in the lineup. I’m almost to the field but have been stuck at every light thanks to the slow poke in front of me.
Why does O’Brien clearly belongs to the Red Sox?
Cervelli in the line-up for Tampa, and after a long, long absence, so it David Adams… and he’s batting 1.000!
Crawdaddy,
Because his name is Mikey O’Brien.
He’d be a cult hero in South Boston on that basis alone.
David Adams is back??
Awesome. I thought he died.
Back and playing 2B.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_tbyafa_1
Adding another playoff team is not just about money. It is good for fans and the overall health of the sport.
People are being way too dramatic with the watering down the competition stuff.
NYC has more Irishmen than Boston.
NYC has more Irishmen than Boston.
—–
By number or %?
GB, the entire fam is doing well thanks. Simon Jr. is working on expanding his range at short.
Nice update Chad.
Good to see the kids doing well thus far, and I hope as many of them as possible make it difficult for Yankee brass. Hope to see Cervelli return soon, though he may – or may not – just be a stopgap until Montero comes up. But something keeps telling me that Montero may never be part of this club, particularly if Martin can continue his torrid hitting and pretty decent defense over the course of the year.
Time will tell.
Cervelli just totally threw a runner out trying to steal 3rd, perfect throw right to the glove and beat the runner by quite a bit.
So much for my dreams of Ryan Braun in Yankee pinstripes.
Montero has a sac fly in his 1st bat. Romine is 1-2 with a 3 run double
That’s great, simon. Hope he has fast hands and grabs everything in reach. Cano’s gonna be getting rather old by that time.
Craw/LGY-
Boston by percentage, NY by total number.
Yanks have caught a break with Martin with the off days and rain outs, because Molina didn’t cost anything with his anti-offense offense.i
Wait till the Yanks draft a guy named Narjul Choudhury.
The Pride of Jackson Heights!
Molina probably gets to play one game before Cervelli comes to Yanks.
So, only two games for Molina, not bad at all – Cervelli is not missed.
It appears all the breaks are going Yanks way, with Colon, Garcia, Chavez playing so well.
Nice story Chad!
“Boston by percentage, NY by total number.”
Probably true, but my point is that NYC has an extensive Irish tradition too just like Boston and Chicago. We’re not talking about Cincinnati or St. Louis here.
Absolutely, Craw.
NY’s Irish tradition is strong and historical. It’s just a larger and more diverse city.
Great job, Chad. Many of us love reading these minor league updates. Keep it up.
BBFan – logically, you’re correct about the Twins needing a catcher. However, given the poor start that Liriano’s had, I’d be concerned about possible injury issues.
His name being “Mikey” makes him a Girardi favorite already.
“Probably true, but my point is that NYC has an extensive Irish tradition too just like Boston and Chicago. We’re not talking about Cincinnati or St. Louis here.”
Crawdady gets tonight’s “sucking the life out of a passing comment” award.
It’s inevitable that Cashman will use some farm products to get what he feels is a needed piece to have on the roster taking into account that the August – September will be the toughest part of the schedule.
Too soon to speculate who Cashman will use as trading chips.
Chavez has been a great signing thus far. So smooth @ 3B! One of the best backup position signings by Cashman. Jose Molina was a good one too, BTW. Good to see him in Toronto – still has that rocket arm.
I have the TB/White Sox game on in the background. Brignac just got hit in the foot by a pitch to load the bases, which lead to runs scored. The W Sox announcers are whining that Brignac allowed himself to be hit. Is there any reason he shouldn’t have taken the hit? He didn’t move into the ball, just stood there and didn’t try to get out of the way.
Cincinnati’s heritage is German.
Adams 2-2.
So far IMO:
The Good: Mariano, Joba, Robertson, CC, Colon, AJ (it’s relative), Martin, Chavez, ARod, Cano, Granderson, Swisher, Tex
The Bad: Jeter, AJ, Soriano
The Ugly: Gardner, Nova, Hughes
But it’s still very early. All have a chance to balance out. Anyway folks, got to run – Simon Jr awaits! Catch up later!
“BBFan – logically, you’re correct about the Twins needing a catcher. However, given the poor start that Liriano’s had, I’d be concerned about possible injury issues.”
Joe,
I agree with you.
If he is not injured, my expectationi s that Liriano will overcome his torubles and regain his touch by the trading deadline. If not, he is not an opiton.
Cervelli just shot a solid single up the middle. When he comes up to bat they show the clip of him on MLB The Show.
“Cincinnati’s heritage is German.”
That is correct, far from having a Irish heritage like Boston, Chicago and NYC.
I hope Adams will recover fully from his injury.
He would be a very valuable trading chip.
He has no place on Yanks because of Cano.
If he were not injured last year, Lee would have been a Yankee.
I wouldn’t classify AJ as bad….especially relatively speaking (to last year). He’s pitched better than his numbers would indicate mainly because he was left in a couple times too long. Overall I’ve been really happy with how he’s looked…the results will come if he keeps throwing the ball well.
“Cincinnati’s heritage is German.”
Raleigh’s heritage is Redneck.
j/k sort of
Tar,
easy….
I watched Liriano in his last start. He threw very well regularly hitting 93-94 with a good slider and change. He looked like the healthy Liriano to me.
How good is Adams?
I would take a shot on Liriano if the price was right….it’s risky but if he’s not hurt then he could be a change of scenery guy. Sabathia could be a good influence etc….
Blake
Sorry, the rude Yankee in me comes out once in awhile.
How many people of Irish heritage live in US?
Recently I was to Dublin for the first time on a business trip.
I was surprised to know the whole population of Ireland is only 4 million.
And this funny experience I had at the airport.
The immigration officer asked me why I was coming to Ireland.
I replied I have buisness meetings with Bank of Ireland.
He started laughing out loud and said “We are still open for business, aren’t we?”
It was the week before they got the bailout money from EU.
And, in the “Man Bites Mailman” news, Kei Igawa has 4 shoutout inning going, just 2 hits, no walks and 3 strikeouts. 59 pitches, 35 strikes. lots of full counts, trying to protect a 2-0 lead.
Stoneburner leads 3-1. 5 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
Just got some video of Cervelli catching, will upload it after I get home.
“Kei Igawa has 4 shoutout inning going”
new LOOGY?
Imo it’s a bad idea for expanded playoffs.
Baseball is going to be like hockey.
We already have 1 wc for both leagues,now they wan’t 2 wc for each league.
Before you know it there will be a wc for each division.
8 playoff spots is perfect,one winner in each division & 1 wc in each league.
10 is too much.
Montero having a bit of a tough time at the plate tonight. 0-2 with a strikeout, GIDp and Sac fly. Scranton leads after 4 innings, 3-0
blake, I know, AJ hasn’t been ‘bad’, which is why I listed him as ‘good’ also.
Much too early to think about Liriano, but if Mauer is moved from catcher…Yankees are stocked with catching options. And it may not even take Montero to get Liriano.
“Playoff expansion should go together with with MLB expanding to 32 teams. Four eight team leagues.”
That would not happen.
Already there are teams in trouble – like Rays.
We will not see expansion in the near future.
If the Twins are in the Central race, I have a hard time thinking they’ll trade Liriano mid-season.
If it took Montero to get Liriano then I wouldn’t even consider it….but I might Romine or some other pieces. He’s really talented and he’s left handed. If the medicals checked out then he could be a good guy to take a chance on.
The Twins might not be in the race in the central.
With the health issues they are having and bullpen problems, Twins could be out of contetion by trading deadline.
Before you know it there will be a wc for each division. 8 playoff spots is perfect,one winner in each division & 1 wc in each league
——-
Before you know it there will be SIX more playoff teams added?
Something is being lost in the math here with so many people making this comment.
10 is a lot less than 16.
Mauer is having issues, Morneu is always having issues, Nathan is nowhere close to himself, Pavano looks awful this year, 3-5 in that rotation is very mediocre.
I know they always seem to find a way every year but I just don’t like their club that much this year.
The bar is getting a tad high when 0-2 is having a tough time.
Wouldn’t even give Romine up for Liriano. He could be used in a trade with other pieces to get someone of much higher value short term and long.
blake – IF Liriano is healthy, and IF they fall out of contention – then the Yanks could well have the pieces Minnesota MIGHT want in order to make that trade work.
That’s a couple of IFs and a big MIGHT – but, hey, screwier things have happened.
Whoa wait a second guys. Montero did hit a sac fly.
That’s good baseball!!
.” He could be used in a trade with other pieces to get someone of much higher value short term and long.”
I kinda doubt it unless better prospects than him were involved such as Betances or Banuelos. Teams aren’t going to trade impact players to the Yankees unless they are getting some of their better prospects back. I like Romine but if he could be a centerpiece for Liriano I think you’d have to do that.
“The Twins might not be in the race in the central.”
I did use the word “if” before my comment about Twins in the central race.
Joe,
yea, lots of if’s and maybes but it could happen.
Crawdaddy,
I know and I agree with you that if they are in the race they wouldn’t trade him….I just think this might be the year they don’t pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Gardenhire always seems to get his guys going just when people begin to count them out.
IMO, the Twins are still the team to beat in that division.
Cervelli has 2 of the TY’s 4 hits.
GF,
could be….it’s very early and Gardenhire does always seem to get it done. They are 7 games out right now but the good news for them is the other good teams in that division are also off to bad starts. I think they will need Mauer and will need Pavano is pitch a lot better if they are going to win that division again.
And his pinch runner just scored on a walk, groundout and wild pitch!
Joel Sherman quotes Cashman as saying Hughes reported overweight and out of shape. He was sent to their fat farm. Is the loss of velocity that simple?
SJ eat it buddy:
1. M Cabrera
KC OF 17 80 13 22 6 1 1 10 33 3 12 1 0 .298 .413 .275
2. Brett Gardner
SEASON 15 47 5 6 9 1 1 0 2 4 0 14 3 3 .128 .196
Melkman is needed over Brenda Gardens. Looks like my prediction of the Melkman having a superior season is on its way. SJ loses as per usual hahaha.
I liked the comment Cashman made that he thinks Martin reminds him of Thurman Munson. I thought so too and mentioned it before. I wonder what Phil Hughes thinks about that.
Melkman
You picked melky to have a good year— good for you. I like melky as well.
But the way you went about proclaiming it–shows the maturity of 2yr old.
Just saying.
# austinmac April 21st, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Joel Sherman quotes Cashman as saying Hughes reported overweight and out of shape. He was sent to their fat farm. Is the loss of velocity that simple?
————————————————————
lol @ fat farm
wasn’t the talk that Hughes filled out not fat. I thought Joba was the fat one
Apparently, there is a lot of debate going on in Minn (according to MLBTraderumors) about whether Mauer should be permanently moved from C so they can have his bat in there at full strength for 162 games versus a weakened bat in 100 games at C and perhaps 20 at Dh and 40 on DL.
This is a basis for my comment to move Montero out asap. I think Phil Hughes agrees….but not sure.
Hughes filled out his body but wasn’t fat*
SJ deserves to get his smug face rubbed in it. Feells good lol.
If Mauer doesn’t catch then his value decreases quite a bit. He’s already overrated IMO….really good player but not close to the best player in baseball as he’s sometimes labeled…..now if 2009 Mauer had been for real then different story but it’s looking more and more like that year was the outlier.
If he is moved to LF or DH then you’ve got a high average, high on base guy that can’t run and doesn’t hit for much power….and that doesn’t play a premium position.
‘SJ deserves to get his smug face rubbed in it. Feells good lol.”
Maybe I was being too generous, 1 to 1 1/2 maybe sounds about right.
True Blake—-but what if putting him at DH brought back that power bat? And in that role, he gave you 162 games at 370 BA with 30 Homers? Is that not more valuable than a C hitting 8 homers with a 320 BA playing 100 games and being on DL 30-40 games?
When answering, please frame your words as Phil Hughes would.
It feels good to be right after 16 games? LOL.
There’s still 146 games to go.
Melkmanisinhotlanta April 21st, 2011 at 9:35 pm
SJ deserves to get his smug face rubbed in it. Feells good lol.
——————————————————————
It’s been 3 weeks. You’re ready to hang your “mission accomplished” sign?
Your bragging is a couple of months premature. Check back in June 1st or so.
“And in that role, he gave you 162 games at 370 BA with 30 Homers? Is that not more valuable than a C hitting 8 homers with a 320 BA playing 100 games and being on DL 30-40 games?”
yea but I think it’s a bit of a leap to think that DHing would cause that big a jump in offensive production……50 BA points and 22 homers?
Mauer’s decrease in power probably has a lot more to do with his new ballpark than the position he plays.
Switch Mauer to DH and he’s still not going to hit a ton of home runs in that Grand Canyon of a ballpark.
“Maybe I was being too generous, 1 to 1 1/2 maybe sounds about right.”
The Melkman is playing for his contract with a bigger club next season. Easy to see that he will outperform Gardy. SJ thinks I’m wrong. Well just watch and learn.
“It’s been 3 weeks. You’re ready to hang your “mission accomplished” sign?
Your bragging is a couple of months premature. Check back in June 1st or so.”
Will do! Too bad Melky wasn’t back here. Maybe next year he comes back and replaces Gardy?
The Melkman is playing on his third team in three years. Next season, he’ll likely be on his fourth team in four years.
Maybe that should tell you something.
Much better, I didn’t think you had it in you. Keep it up.
GF,
I would agree with you if he had hit homers in the MetroDome pre 2009. Target field probably has something to do with it but in 5 years before 2009 he only had double digit HR’s one time there….his 2nd highest season total is 13.
Actually Blake and GF, I agree with both of you.
Mauer is probably too banged up now to quickly recapture the power bat he had. My point though is that catching may have worn him down from a potent bat to a weaker bat due to back problems.
And GF, I also agree that the park is tougher to homer in for lefties. But again was just trying to say would one rather have a healthy power bat for 162 games of a bat gradually weakened for less games.
To me, if the bat truly is the level of Pujols, I want it protected and in wevery game in the middle of the line-up.
“The Melkman is playing on his third team in three years. Next season, he’ll likely be on his fourth team in four years
Maybe that should tell you something.”
Players mature, and get better.
It happens all the time. Playing on his fourth team in four years is not a great indicator of what he might produce in that fourth year, IMO.
Mauer also has a pretty significant lefty righty split. Not so much with average as he still hits .301 career against lefties but his power numbers take a big hit against LHP. His career OPS is almost .200 points lower against LHP (.761)
And Blake–you might be right that the big year was an outlier. IIRC, Mauer consciously tried to hit more homers to answer the critics who said he would be perfect if he hit for more power. He did it that one year, and one would think he tried to continue doing it, but feel victim to the new park.
I would love to look at a spray diagram that analyzes where his batted balls would have landed in old park.
“I would love to look at a spray diagram that analyzes where his batted balls would have landed in old park.”
like Adrian Gonzalez and Fenway and how he’s going to hit 85 homers this year.
Perhaps the focus on Mauer detracts from the point I was trying to make with him as an example.
blake April 21st, 2011 at 9:53 pm
“I would love to look at a spray diagram that analyzes where his batted balls would have landed in old park.”
like Adrian Gonzalez and Fenway and how he’s going to hit 85 homers this year.
____________
Obviously you are downplaying the month of July when he will hit 65.
Mauer is great and I’m not really trying to knock him….I’m just saying that he’s obviously much less valuable if he’s not a catcher
65 homers and 72 doubles in July for Gonzalez
# Tar April 21st, 2011 at 9:52 pm
It happens all the time. Playing on his fourth team in four years is not a great indicator of what he might produce in that fourth year, IMO.
———–
Players who play on four teams in four years tend to be journeymen – bench guys and relief pitchers. Not usually integral pieces to a team.
Moving off Mauer…can Montero still have great value as a full-time DH? In my opinion, yes.
blake April 21st, 2011 at 9:55 pm
65 homers and 72 doubles in July for Gonzalez
___________
Don’t forget the 76 triples.
“can Montero still have great value as a full-time DH?”
absolutely….most DH’s really aren’t that good. Montero also figures to hit for lots of power. He’d be way more valuable if he could catch 100 games but he’d still be very valuable as a great DH.
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed.
If your point is still that Montero should be a DH, I think you’re going to be waiting a long time for that to happen.
The Yanks want him to catch and that’s what Montero wants, too.
He’s going to have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can’t catch in the big leagues before they make that move.
“Not usually integral pieces to a team.”
I agree usually, but defintely not always.
I guess if we really wanted to anylyze it we could break down the why he was moved to so many teams, and where he stands now. Personally I am too tired to give a …. but I always like conversing with you anyway GF.