One day at a time: Pendleton makes it to Texas
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on May 07, 2011 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Lance Pendleton doesn’t have the most secure spot on the Yankees roster. He knows that. He’s pitched pretty well, but he’s still a long reliever up from Triple-A. At this point, he’s still an interchangeable part that could be replaced at any moment. But he made it to Texas, and that’s something.
Pendleton’s family lives in Houston. His parents made the four-hour drive to see their son in a big league uniform. He has friends in town for this series. His wife’s family is here. “I don’t know about satisfaction,” he said, but this weekend is one of those nice moments in the course of a young career.
“Every day, every week that I’m still here,” Pendleton said, “I’m still at the point that I’m taking things day by day. You know as much as anybody just how quickly things change, and being a bullpen guy in my position, how quickly you can go up and down. Day by day still, but real excited that we get to experience this. This is real cool.”
Pendleton grew up in Houston, went to college at Rice — where he was an outfielder his two years — and was taken by the Astros, of all teams, in the Rule 5 draft. He made it through most of big league camp with Houston before being offered back to the Yankees. They added him to the 40-man within a month of Opening Day.
Pendleton recognizes his role. He said that when he does his job, it’s “so we get to rest everybody else,” and that’s a pretty good way to describe it. This isn’t the dream job, but it’s a foot in the door. Playing in Texas doesn’t make his career a success, but it’s a nice stop along the way.
“I’ve only been out there three times,” Pendleton said. “But each time it dawns on me more and more that, hey, the ball’s over the plate and they still get fouled off and I still get outs with balls over the plate. They’re strikes. You’ve got to throw strikes.
“Just try to throw it over the plate and keep everything down. That’s kind of my theory.”
I wonder what changed in Pendleton from ST until now? He’s not the same pitcher at all. I’m somewhat surprised that Houston didn’t give him a few games before returning him to the Yanks.
Chad, have you heard anything on Jeremy Bleich’s recovery or return to pitching?
I think Pendleton’s philosophy is the one all pitcher’s should follow. Don’t walk anyone and let the talented people with the gloves do what they do. It is darn hard to string hits together and darn hard for most to hit a knee high pitch out of the park.
gb,
is there a prospect that has really surprised you this season? cb talked about an outfielder in single a, but i forgot his name.
thanks
GB, hopefully, Warren settles down.
kd, Ramon Flores was perhaps who CB was referring to. Flores had a whale of a year in GCL. I wouldn’t call him a surprise though, and he should be a top 20 player if not higher in the next rankings. He is a lefty, mostly plays LF but is versatile, and is a very advanced hitter for his age. I saw him play two games when Charleston was at Lakewood. He is definitely a player to watch.
Catch you all later.
The two players that have surprised me with their turn arounds from last year are Slade Heathcott and JR Murphy.
thanks gb. heathcott’s five tools would be awesome in the bronx.
any chance he get’s promoted this season?
thanks yankeefem, you’re right about ramon flores
YankeeFem, have you noticed the similarites between Gardner and the two Trenton outfielders, Ray Kruml and Austin Krum? The biggest differences might be that the two Trenton players can bunt and they have no hesitation in running on the first two pitches. They run at will. They also play a very good left and center field, each.
Heathcott will probably move on to Tampa (High A), by mid season
GB
I never saw Austin Krum but I always liked Ray Kruml. Really fast both on the bases and in the outfield.
GB
how about the opposite. Who so far have you expected to see more out of? I know its still early in the season so numbers might not match ability yet.
“I think Pendleton’s philosophy is the one all pitcher’s should follow”
A pitcher with the high end stuff to K people shouldn’t predominantly pitch to contact given how much luck is involved with balls in play.
GB, I haven’t heard anything about Bleich. I talked to him a little bit in spring training and he was pretty optimistic that he would be back sooner than later, but I haven’t heard anything about him since then.
“The two players that have surprised me with their turn arounds from last year are Slade Heathcott and JR Murphy.”
GB7,
Why those two surprise you with their improvements? I’m not surprised considering what I’ve read about their bat potential and what round they were drafted.
Bleich is throwing bullpen sessions now.
Thanks for the info on bleich, Chad. If he can rebound, he’s got a chance to make a deep group of young pitchers absolutely insane. all that’s left is deciding on who to keep, who goes to the pen and who to trade.. They could be 19 deep in the system…..and that’s before the draft.
I mentioned both heathcott and Murphy, because they both looked so bad last year. They aren’t even remotely the same players. I’m guessing both will be in tampa this summer.
I wonder where Gerritt Cole would have been in the system had he signed…
My guess would be Trenton
Cole…Banuelos…Betances….not bad
TY, all three are left handed hitters, great gloves and speed, very little power. Krum and Kruml are really aggressive on the bases, much more than gardner. They run at the first chance. Not room for all three, though. All are leadoff types, too. The difference being that they can sac bunt and drag bunt.
Corbin Joseph is on a 17 game hitting streak for trenton. Still a bit shakey at 2nd on defense, but, getting better.
“I wonder where Gerritt Cole would have been in the system had he signed…”
An 8th inning reliever for the NYY…
Rich in NJ May 7th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
“I wonder where Gerritt Cole would have been in the system had he signed…”
An 8th inning reliever for the NYY…
______
Not sure about that…Cash seems to want to give the kids a chance as starter first
“I mentioned both heathcott and Murphy, because they both looked so bad last year. They aren’t even remotely the same players.”
Last year playing their first full year in professional ball, I was not surprised they struggled nor with their ability to make the necessary adjustments in order to improve so far this year.
Andrew miller is starting against Scranton. Rumor has it that he had the best warmup before the game that anyone has ever seen. he’s given up 2 runs on 1 hit and 3 walks, along with his own error.
Buster must be watching today’s Scranton game then.
Rich,
Was taking a not so subtle slap at how they’ve handled Joba I think
It’s (an apparently a weak) attempt at sarcasm, BoJo.
blake got it!
# Rich in NJ May 7th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
“I wonder where Gerritt Cole would have been in the system had he signed…”
An 8th inning reliever for the NYY…
————————————————
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Some videos of Dellin Betances’ last start.
http://minormatterstrenton.blogspot.com/
How was Heathcott so bad last year?
At just 19 his offensive numbers were league average and he had one of the best walk rates in the league.
Both him and Murphy showed the offensive tools last year to be very good players and take big steps forward this season.
GB,
What you reckon an ETA for heathcott would be…..best case scenario? 2013?
Rich in NJ May 7th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
It’s (an apparently a weak) attempt at sarcasm, BoJo.
________
I blame myself…I gave bad allergies today and feel like I have the flu.
Heathcott and Murphy struggled last year with consistency. I attribute most of that to the adjustment period for being a professional ballplayer and then working on the necessary improvements to match up better with their reputed skill levels.
“A pitcher with the high end stuff to K people shouldn’t predominantly pitch to contact given how much luck is involved with balls in play.”
Rich, tell that to Roy Halladay.
You have to pitch to contact, especially early in the game, if you want to still be out there in the 8th and get CG’s.
Chad gets a sort of a silent shoutout for his Lance Pendleton article from Jay Burham on the Trenton broadcast. He mentioned the article, but, not Chad’s name. Makes me think that there is a feud going on between Chad and Jay. Chad either dtole his Twinkies or his girlfriend.
Chad, when you next talk to Jay, tell him to junk that home run call. That’s bad.
Chase May 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm.
You have to pitch to contact, especially early in the game, if you want to still be out there in the 8th and get CG’s.
_______
That is the old thinking…now Cash believes in having power arms to lower the chances of contact in play-off games. He’ll take 6 strong innings and go to power pen to close
“The conventional wisdom about Roy Halladay is that “pounding the strike zone” and “pitching to contact” (at least situationally) are his secrets to success, the reason why he consistently maintains low pitch counts (per inning), pitches deep into games, and leads the league in wins, innings, and complete games. I’ve been watching Halladay religiously for years and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard announcer decree, “he’s not afraid to throw strikes” or “you better go up there hacking.”
But according to the data, Doc spends less time in the zone than any of his Philadelphia teammates. The fact is, over the course of his career, Halladay has been “attacking the zone” less and less. Since his first full season in the Jays rotation, 2002, the percentage of balls he’s thrown in the strike zone has been progressively descending, to the point where he threw to the zone only 48.6% of the time in 2010, compared to 55% of the time during his first Cy Young season (2003). You see, Halladay’s secret isn’t throwing strikes, it’s getting hitters to create their own strikes. As you can see, he has an extremely high O-Swing%, and it’s been even higher in the last three seasons. Hitters “hack away,” and, as a result, he turns a third of the pitches he throws outside the zone into strikes.”
http://itsaboutthemoney.net/ar.....-halladay/
BTW–Cash fired his pitch to contact PC and hired a power pitcher PC–tells you where his thinking is at.
LGY,
Its the oldest pitching stategy of all…..get ahead and make hitters swing at balls. Halladay is one of the best at it.
Blake, Heathcott’s defense last year was really bad, as far as tracking. He still has issues with base stealing (reading pitchers) but, his defense has been outstanding this year. Not much is getting over his head, but, with his speed, he should be stealing 20-25 a year and not getting caught as much as he is. This year, he’s hitting line drives everywhere. The biggest part is cutting down on the strikeouts.
Murphy is hammering everything, too. All he needs is a position, but, I’d still let him catch some, just to make him more versatile. I would guess a corner spot in the outfield, though, they have stuck him at third a couple of times this year.
“Rich, tell that to Roy Halladay”
His K/9 is > 8 over the last three seasons, > 7.5 in the three prior seasons.
Blake, forgot this part on Heathcott. 2013 late is possible, but, if he fast tracks and continues to grow, he just might surprise coming out of camp in 2013. Swisher will be near the end of his contract by then.
blake,
Yep.
On average pitchers tend to throw first pitch strikes 58-59% of the time.
Halladay last year was at 67% which was 3rd best in MLB.
I used to believe Hughes could be similar to Halladay. Maybe he still can be.
Crawdaddy May 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Heathcott and Murphy struggled last year with consistency. I attribute most of that to the adjustment period for being a professional ballplayer and then working on the necessary improvements to match up better with their reputed skill levels.
///
never saw Murphy before seeing him for 3 games at Lakewood a couple of weeks ago. Really, really precocious hitter.
Heathcott I saw last yr & thought he had no clue at the plate or in the field. Bad jumps, bad routes, over swinging, just lost. Granted, I chalked it up to maybe a SSS & that he was coming back from injury, but I came away thinking he wasn’t very advanced.
This yr at Lakewood, he blew me away. Really excellent plate discipline, drove pitches, unleashed an accurate rocket from cf, made some nice plays in center,etc. only false move he made was getting hung up between third & home on a ball hit shallow to right that the rf had all the way. he was playing a little cat & mouse but it was wildly inappropriate. but that’s it. otherwise I was feeling faith restored in a guy I wasn’t so pumped about, with the noted caveats above. A yr can make a big difference though with players so young & undergoing growth spurts both physical & mental. But he has grown in stature in my book by leaps & bounds.
Roy Halladay didn’t become Doc Halladay until he was 25 years old.
“His K/9 is > 8 over the last three seasons, > 7.5 in the three prior seasons.”
But he gets so many strikeouts because A) he throws strikes, and B) the fact that he’s known to throw strikes leads hitters to be more aggressive in 2-strike counts, which means they’re more likely to swing at a ball
Rich in NJ….NL vs. AL maybe ????
GB,
Thanks. Hopefully he’ll pan out.
“But he gets so many strikeouts because A) he throws strikes, and B) the fact that he’s known to throw strikes leads hitters to be more aggressive in 2-strike counts, which means they’re more likely to swing at a ball”
A) Unhittable strikes
B) Are you suggesting that he isn’t trying to get Ks?
Pat M
Maybe, or alternatively, it could a consequence of the trend discussed at LGY’s link.
Tampa Yankees today have their Pink Jerseys they are auctioning off for Moffit Cancer center. I am thinking I need one. Hopefully the prices stay reasonable.
Over the years I have foillowed the Yankees, so many prospects have let me down (Drew Henson, Jackson Melian, ueben Rivera, Eric Duncan, etc) that it is very hard for me to get excited by someone below AAA level. At that point, I’ll start paying attention.
So when talk turns to who replaces Swisher in a few years, the best option I would see for that is Eduardo Nunez. He amopngst all others has proven he has the bat for AAA, and seems to have the tools for MLB. I would love to see him converted to OFer.
Good pitchers want to merely put the ball where it can’t be hit hard…..whether its missed or put in play weakly is up to the hitter…..either is a desirable outcome.
Question for the doctors here. If a player like Josh Beckett theoretically could get a steroid epi to treat his back, could Phil Hughes be put on HGH under doctor’s care to help IF NEEDED? (I recall Andy saying he used it to recover from injury.)
Bojo……As long as the club notifies the League’s Office and the player’s union…..Of course an MD has to administer the injection with a medical cause…..SJ knows more about this issue……
Bojo – I have no idea. I don’t know if the data supports hgh in this circumstance; and I dont know thebothervend of it, that is, would it be permissible under the rules of engagement.
This might something Chad or SJ might have some knowledge of, or a team doc.
bojo,
there are fda approved uses for some medicines that can be considered performance enhancing durgs, the best example would be EPO, which was developed for cancer patients who have recently undergone chemo.
Rich in NJ May 7th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
I used to believe Hughes could be similar to Halladay. Maybe he still can be.
———
Maybe, but doubtful. That’s no offense to Hughes, it’s just that Halladay is Halladay. Hughes doesn’t show half of his command of the zone, or movement, and Halladay hides the ball pretty well. Perhaps Hughes will be great, but I’m not sure he’ll be great in a Halladay fashion/or level.
Cortisone shots etc are used routinely in sports medicine ….Im not sure you can say the same for HGH which medically is used more to treat systemic conditions I believe. Not sure the league would approve HGH use to rebound from an injury as its not commonplace to do so……at least to my knowledge, maybe Joe will weigh in.
If J.R. Murphy continues to progress, the good yound catching gets crowded and makes Austin Romine a candidate to be moved in a deal.
Joe already weighed in
I thought HGH was only prescribed, legaly, for both children’s growth disorders and adult growth hormone deficiency.
Tom,
To my knowledge that is correct at this point. I don’t believe its currently indicated to use for injury rehab so I doubt the league would approve something like that…..20 years from now who knows, we might all be taking it
Murphy won’t stick at catcher. The bat is too good to trade away and he’s really young. He has decent speed and could pretty easily play a corner and be somebody’s backup and emergency catcher.
Also, wouldn’t the steroid that is used in the epidural cortisone?
I know there is a well-regarded physician in NYC (Dr Braverman) who advocates HGH for older patients, and that its use under his care is legal. This to me is kind of an interesting topic. Where do modern advances get allowed as opposed to calling them PEDs?
Should modern work out technologies be allowed? Modern therapies? Modern vitamins and body building drugs? If under a doctor’s care, why or why shoudn’t they be allowed?
There are all kinds of steroids….not all make your head grow 2 sizes.
blake May 7th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
There are all kinds of steroids….not all make your head grow 2 sizes.
________
Are those promoted by the “Hat Club for Men?”
So much of what drugs are permissible and impermissible is at least partially the result of politics and selective morality.
Bojo,
Interesting question ….probably the distinction is made at what allows you to perform at your normal levels ( a cortizone shot) vs what could allow you to exceed that (a PED like anabolic steroids) I agree though the line does become blurred somewhat
I remember in winter of 1966, a young LFer from Boston went on a weight training program and gained 20-25 pounds of muscle, and proceeded to win an MVP.
His weight training was an advancement later followed by others. That would have been something that allowed him to exceed normal performance.
Personally, if supervised by doctors and if notice is given to league, I don’t think there should be any limitations put on using medical advances for performance enhancement.
Another thing I find interesting–given the trend in pitching overtaking offense, will the rules on PEDs soften so as to create more offense? Will this be a back and forth struggle to find the right degree of offensive excitement for the fan base?
Yes but weight training has never been illegal. A lot is determined as well likely by what is determined to be standard medical practice …..if any of us could go to the Dr. And have a HGH or steroid injection to make us feel better then athletes likely could as well.
“Personally, if supervised by doctors and if notice is given to league, I don’t think there should be any limitations put on using medical advances for performance enhancement.:
Of course, not.
As Dr. Ron Paul (not that I agree with him much) said at the recent Repub debate in response to a question by Chris Wallace, how many people are really going to start doing heroin if it was decriminalized?
Granted, that’s an extreme example, however, the drug laws are illogical, counterproductive, and impose very large, unnecessary societal costs.
Rich in NJ May 7th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
______
Agreed
blake May 7th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Yes but weight training has never been illegal. A lot is determined as well likely by what is determined to be standard medical practice …..if any of us could go to the Dr. And have a HGH or steroid injection to make us feel better then athletes likely could as well.
______
I think many do…just takes finding the right doctor who is willing to do it.
Red Sox are in trouble. They are going to start their game back up at 4 after a 2 hour rain delay. That is too long to bring Buttholz back out so they are going to have to go to their bullpen in just the 3rd inning.
Wakefield sucked yesterday and Aceves had to clean up his mess so both are not available today.
I guess they turn to….Rich Hill??
Nevermind I guess. According to Pete Abe they are sending Buttholz back out there.
Good way to screw up a young arm
It’s ok, they re-booted him.
Panic move by Francona?
That’s just a crazy move considering it’s only May 7th.
He still has to give them at least 23 more starts.
“…I don’t think there should be any limitations put on using medical advances for performance enhancement.”
Un bleepin’ believable.
West Coast Yankee Fan May 6th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
When a select few with an agenda repeatedly and dishonestly seeks an argument with someone –
they are a troll.
Sam Fuld is straight ridiculous.
Just robbed Weiters of a clear HR, while making it look easy.
He’s had at least 1 other highlight catch besides that this game. He has about 40 of them already this season… just remarkable.
Bojo,
I agree. I am all for performance enhancement being legal. Players now are hardly ‘natural’ anyways with all the supplements and difference in training tools and technology from when baseball first existed. Athletes are no longer guys out of the farm fields who can swing a bat, they are children who grew up in a pipeline designed to create baseball players with little focus on much else.
It seems really hypocritical to have things like cortisone, tommy john surgery, laser eye surgery, etc be legal but not allow other players to reap the benefits of science.
I read about a research lab that was designing a pill that would naturally increase the bodies production of HGH. Imagine that? How could you make that illegal?
I’d love me some HGH. I just don’t trust buying online from some random seller right now.
jerkface,
the real issue is that steroids have some serious toxic side effects, even if you are in top physical condition. companies have not studied a variety of doses, dosing regiments. they are only required to look in a specific patient population, ie cancer for epo.
the likely scenario is that high school kids will start doping to get college scholarships, drafted etc. this will likely result in a lot of 16 year old kids with significant medical issues.
just my two cents
the real issue is that steroids have some serious toxic side effects, even if you are in top physical condition. companies have not studied a variety of doses, dosing regiments. they are only required to look in a specific patient population, ie cancer for epo.
the likely scenario is that high school kids will start doping to get college scholarships, drafted etc. this will likely result in a lot of 16 year old kids with significant medical issues.
just my two cents
–
I’m not saying legalize the purchase of steroids for everyone including kids. I’m talking about baseball players getting legal subscriptions for steroids and using them in a controlled fashion.
Anyone who wants to use steroids right now can simply use them. Allowing baseball players to use them if they want isn’t going to change that.
Kids are getting illegal drugs, including PED, now.
dunno what’s going on with our offense but almost everybody is batting around .200 or less in the last 10 games.. (other than Robbie and Brett). Even Grandy is batting .250 last 10.
Can’t expect to win games with a offensive funk like this.. Plus, watching these games have been terribly boring.. usually, I am more of a “watch’em hit” type of player.. but the hitting has been so bad, I am more interested in “watch’em pitch”.
We’ll snap out of it I am sure.. but it seems the offensively we’ve not been all that exciting the last couple years.. (the beginning of the season, showed the power we have).. yes I know last year we scored a lot of Runs, but we have this year as well.. it is giving us the most important thing.. the W.. but just don’t think we can continue like this and be a 1st place team.
Rich in NJ……HS kids have been pedding for at least 10 years if not earlier….I was made aware of this around 2000-2001
I was in HS from ’94-’98. Roids were big there. Most of the FB team used. I have a friend who has liver and kidney problems because of his PED use.
BD (Boston Dave) May 7th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I’d love me some HGH. I just don’t trust buying online from some random seller right now.
_________
I know! I’ve been using steroids these past few months to enhance my jokes and posting, but apparently there is no good quality control in place!
P May 7th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
dunno what’s going on with our offense but almost everybody is batting around .200 or less in the last 10 games.. (other than Robbie and Brett). Even Grandy is batting .250 last 10.
Can’t expect to win games with a offensive funk like this.. Plus, watching these games have been terribly boring.. usually, I am more of a “watch’em hit” type of player.. but the hitting has been so bad, I am more interested in “watch’em pitch”.
We’ll snap out of it I am sure.. but it seems the offensively we’ve not been all that exciting the last couple years.. (the beginning of the season, showed the power we have).. yes I know last year we scored a lot of Runs, but we have this year as well.. it is giving us the most important thing.. the W.. but just don’t think we can continue like this and be a 1st place team.
_______________________________________________________________________
Yes, my sentiments exactly. You are correct they cannot/will not remain in first playing like this.
BoJo May 7th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
West Coast Yankee Fan May 6th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
When a select few with an agenda repeatedly and dishonestly seeks an argument with someone –
they are a troll.
___________________________________________________________________________
Sorry BoJo, it is called having a different opinion…than yours. Perhaps you would be a more happy and tolerable person if you stopped labeling people. It will not silence them.
NW Yankees Fan May 7th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
______
Sorry C R 9–I couldn’t give a damn about your opinioin. Of course, you support trolls–being the biggest one here.