Call-ups beyond September
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 09, 2011 
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The Yankees clubhouse is overflowing. The team is already carrying 11 extra players, and reports are that Dellin Betances may become a 12th September call-up some time during this series in Anaheim.
Short term, these moves are mostly about depth down the stretch. Long term, they’re about getting a look at players who could play some sort of role in the future.
Andrew Brackman
Elbow surgery slowed Brackman’s progress in the minor leagues, but the former first-round draft pick is older than Phil Hughes, so it’s not unreasonable to think he should be ready to contribute at this level. He seemed on the verge after a big 2010 season, but this year has been a significant step in the wrong direction. There’s talent there — when pitchers and catchers reported this spring, most of the early buzz seemed to be on Brackman — but the Yankees need to see consistent results before they can realistically project him in some sort of big league role next season.
George Kontos
Kind of a forgotten prospect after Tommy John surgery and a Rule 5 selection, but Kontos thrived in a full-time relief role this season. He was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s long man, and the Yankees ultimately decided they’d rather have him than Lance Pendleton on the 40-man. Kontos turned 26 this summer, and could certainly play a long relief role next year. Oddly enough, he’s one of three players on the Yankees pitching staff this season after having previously been lost in the Rule 5 draft (Pendleton and Ivan Nova were also Rule 5 picks).
Aaron Laffey
An interesting late-season addition, if only because he’s left-handed and still just 26 years old. Laffey has quite a bit of big league experience, but this is his first full season as a reliever. The Yankees seem to be trying to get a look at him this month — he’s pitched three times in the past week — and it’s conceivable that Laffey could pitch his way into at least some level of consideration beyond this season. Aside from Manny Banuelos, who’s going to remain a starter, there isn’t a lefty in the system who’s seems ready to push for a big league spot.
Hector Noesi
Technically a September call-up even though he’s spent most of the season pitching in New York. Noesi wasn’t really a discovery this season — he was fairly highly touted in the system — but he certainly emerged as a guy who could fill an immediate need and possibly play a larger role in the future. In most cases, I think it’s a waste to have a young potential starter work in the bullpen, but the Yankees system is so overpopulated with starters that it’s inevitable some will have to be converted to the pen. Noesi made that conversion successfully, and now the Yankees have to decide whether they like him in this role or want to move him back into the rotation mix for next year.
Scott Proctor
One of the few September call-ups that’s clearly not in a position to fight for any sort of long-term role. Really, Proctor seems to be in New York to give Joe Girardi another veteran arm down the stretch. If Proctor is going to play a role beyond this month, it might take a strong stretch performance and an invitation to big league camp next spring.
Raul Valdes
Along with Proctor, Valdes is the September call-up who most obviouslly seems to be short-term addition. He turns 34 this offseason, his big league experience is limited and the Yankees don’t seem to be in any hurry to use him. For now he’s giving the team a third lefty, but the Yankees went through almost the entire season with only one lefty, and right now both Boone Logan and Aaron Laffey are clearly ahead of Valdes on the depth chart. Seems like Valdes had a spot on the 40-man, so the Yankees decided, why not?
Jesus Montero
You might have heard about this kid. Of all the September call-ups, 21-years-old Montero is the only one who seems to be playing for a significant role in the postseason. Sure, someone else might win a spot as a reserve role player or a back-of-the-bullpen arm, but Montero is getting a look at designated hitter and could takeover that role by the end of the season. If the Yankees decide his development program is finished, then Montero could certainly play an everyday role beginning on Opening Day of next year.
Brandon Laird
Back in 2007, Laird was a 27th-round pick. Not only was he drafted that low, the Yankees drafted two third basemen — Brad Suttle and Braedyn Pruitt — ahead of him. Laird, though, hit his way into prospect status and he has value as a four-corners utility man who has some power from the right side. It’s silly to peg Laird as Alex Rodriguez’s future replacement at third base, but he could hit enough to play some sort of role, either as a reserve or as a guy who bounces back and forth from Triple-A to fill holes as needed.
Ramiro Pena
By my count, Pena should have one option remaining after this season. That means it’s entirely possible that he could play the same role he’s been playing this season: The backup to the backup. Clearly Eduardo Nunez has replaced Pena as the Yankees primary utility man, but there’s still some comfort and value in having Pena as a proven defensive option up the middle. The other advanced utility types in the system — Laird, Joseph, Russo — have limited shortstop experience, if any.
Chris Dickerson
As a left-handed hitter, Dickerson isn’t a great fit in this Yankees outfield, but he’s hit pretty well when given at-bats this season, and he’s a career .273/.360/.417 against right-handed pitchers. That’s pretty good, and it suggests a strong platoon fit for a team that’s not so full of left-handed-hitting outfielders. It hurts Dickerson’s long-term case that Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson are also left-handers. It helps his cause that the Yankees don’t have many upper-level outfielders knocking down the door.
Greg Golson
The Yankees know what they’re getting in Golson. He’s a strong defensive outfielder with some speed and not much of a track record with the bat. He played a role for the team down the stretch last season, and Girardi seemed comfortable with him. In some ways he seems like a right-handed version of Dickerson, but probably with less bat and possibly more speed. Like with Dickerson, the fact the Yankees don’t have a ton of upper-level outfielders makes Golson potential fourth or fifth outfielder next season.
Associated Press photo of Montero
Would you trade Montero for IPK?
LGY-
No freakin’ way.
Besides the D’Backs already have Montero.
Eat more bacon. You’re losin’ it Dude.
LGY- I always liked IPK and am thrilled for him that he’s had such a good season. But my answer is a big fat no.
MTU
I’m not saying I would do that trade! Just curious.
I think that ship has sailed
I know LGY.
Just yankin’ your chain.
mmmmm…bacon….next thing you know JerkFace will show up
Kate-
Only one Sabremetrician allowed per thread.
I hope Kontos and Brackman get a chance to pitch over the next couple of weeks and Joe doesn’t keep trotting the corpse of Scott Proctor out to the mound…..
Now I am craving bacon…..
JM-
Go to JF’s house.
I here he stockpiles it.
Stop mentioning bacon-I’m getting hungry!!
edit: hear not here. Duh. sorry.
Is Lgy kidding? No way
Nice to see the Sox are keeping pace with our two game losing streak.
JCPD-
How are ya’ Man ?
Long time no see.
JCPD September 9th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Nice to see the Sox are keeping pace with our two game losing streak.
**********************
yeah, that was very nice of them wasn’t it?
revenge of the birds?
Betsy
I’m serious.
Stupidly pulled an all nighter. Feeling the effects right now. Ouch.
Philosophical continuation:
On the other hand, rooting for a team isn’t necessarily rational. If it were every stadium would be filled with the supposed St. Louis Cardinal fans (don’t know if the story has changed but it is said that Cards fans never boo their players).
While I personally would like that behavior, I don’t think players expect it in any sport. Maybe they’d like it but they don’t expect it. Fans tend to cheer when they’re happy and do other things when they’re not.
Disappointment over losses has to be an understandable phenomenon. I certainly know I am in a vast vast minority by not feeling any great disappointment when the Yankees lose. I also don’t feel wild exhiliration when they win. I’m an odd duck that way because I just feel happy rooting for the Yanks, win, lose, or draw. (My unabiding faith that they will always get the job done in the end may account for that evenness, who knows.)
*************
Nobody can know how Kennedy would pitch in the AL so it’s silly to say you do. Maybe he’d be great, maybe he’d be terrible. For sure nobody can say how he would pitch for the Yankees, me included. However I always exercise caution when it comes to “knowing” how a player is going to work out when he comes to the Yanks only because history has shown me that not all players who are great in other venues make it in the Bronx. That is fact. Some personalities are not cut out for the Yankees but in a gentler, less demanding environment have done some spectacular things. Certainly uinderstandable parts of human nature.
********
Betsy when you said brandy I was trying to figure out what kind of drink “ilk” was! I told you I’m tired!
Off to deal with my car issues. I don’t know if I’m entering that point where you start to throw so much money at fixing a car that you need to really evaluate whether to buy a newer one. My car is a 1997 and still has relatively low mileage (86,000+) and I love the car. But it seems it has been in for repairs quite a bit lately.
*****
Imagine if we do real damage in LA and Tampa beats the crap out of the flailing Suxers! I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for a Rays emergence into the wild card spot. I smile a lot now. If that happened I don’t know if I would ever be able to stop!
Hi MTU, just popping in hoping for a calm morning in here. I need a diversion for my mind. I’m home with family dealing with funeral arrangements for mom. Visitation is today, service tomorrow.
trisha…
be careful what you wish for, i would like the sox out to,
however, we have a tough end of season schudle, so nothing is garenteed
i like ur hatred for the sox tho!
Trisha-
I’ve got some spare Midnight oil if you want to borrow some ?
Works real good.
Sorry to hear about your Mom. Thoughts and prayers to you JCPD.
JCPD-
OMG. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. My deepest sympathy.
JCPD-so sorry about your mom.
upstate, Erin, MTU…. thank you. I am fortunate enough to have been home last month for her 91st and we were able to do our interview together. We spent 6 glorious hours taping…. answering questions I got from her, children, grand children, great grandchild, nieces and nephews about her life. The video after editing is an hour and 40 minutes of pure joy and a lasting memory for all of us. I put it on my website.
Sorry to hear about your mother, JCPD but what a wonderful thing you did with that interview.
My family tried for years to get my maternal grandparents to write their reminiscences down before they passed. My grandmother, the writer in the family, eventually did and it’s an amazing document. Unfortunately my grandfather could never turn off the Yankees (or the Giants) long enough to pen his experiences….
JCPD-
That’s wonderful. A treasure for your Family. She had a long life. I hope it was filled with much joy. I hope she did not suffer.
My best to you and yours. If you ever want to come you’ll always have a friend here in Utah.
Take care. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
JCPD-that’s wonderful you were able to spend that time with her.
Thanks MTU, many great memories. She was sharp as a pistol till the end talking about current events anytime we spoke on the phone. Only the last year or so was it physically difficult for her. I know she’s in a better place.
Sure thing JCPD. Just let me know.
My Mother is 86. Don’t know how much longer she will be with us. I hope a while.
I will try to treasure every moment as I am sure you did.
Idk if any of you have read this but it is one of the most emotional articles i have read in a long time.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nf.....ved-sports
The ability to write something that is so personal and yet have it read by millions takes great courage as well as ability and it was pulled off perfectly.
I’ll see you all later. Heavy news.
Reality intrudes sometimes.
bisonthrow
good article
Let Betances pitch!
Sorry for your loss JCPD.
Joba time:
Joba_62 Morning! Be thankful for what u and not want what someone else has! Work hard and good things will happen!
what about let Montero catch? altho I don’t see that happening in the Angels series.
They are facing a bunch of righties in a row here…..I hope they let Montero play some.
Montero should have been given the chance to catch yesterday.
The Yankees now face a number of RHSPs in a row. I hope Montero gets some shots to hit. Weaver would be tough tonight for him, I expect, but we will never know unless he plays.
Anti-LOOGY Boone Logan allowed just 1 extra base hit to LHBs last year.
He has given up 11 so far this season.
JCPD,
We don’t know each other here, but I wanted to chime in and offer my condolences on the death of your mother. Regardless of our ages and our mothers’ ages, I don’t think we’re ever prepared for that loss. I think the interview was a wonderful idea! We interviewed my grandmother and had her tell all of the old stories—how she met my grandfather, how she loved his wavy red hair and thought he had a cute butt, etc. Nine months later, she died suddenly. Watching that video at her house after the funeral while we laughed and cried was the most therapeutic and cathartic thing we could have ever done.
Please know that you’re in my thoughts.
Let’s not forget about Golson’s laser arm!
blake…. thanks Tarheel, showing the video is exactly what we have in mind. We will celebrate her life in her favorite restaurant after the service. Because everyone won’t make it there, we are thinking of running it on a continuous loop at the visitation.
JCPD
At my FIL’s calling hours they had a slide show running continually. It was really nice.
JCPD-very sorry to hear about your mom.
kate, we’ll probably run the slideshow I did for her 90th for a while and then switch it over to the interview that I did with her.
thanks wcyf
JoeandEvan Mike Mussina joins us next
One thing is for sure. Soriano is not in line to take away innings from Logan. LHB are tagging him to a .333/.491/.452
That’s not a typo. LHB have close to a .500 OBP vs the $12 million dollar man.
JCPD,
Sorry to hear about your Mom. I lost mine last year. What a nice tribute you have? May you and your family remember the best of times with her. I’m sure their are very many.
Sorry for your loss JCPD.
thanks austin, thanks LGY
JCPD,
Let me join in tendering my sympathies for your loss.
JCPD – my condolences… I lost my father this summer, and I can only suggest to celebrate the good memories. mourning never did anyone any good.
I saw Kontos pitch in the Arizona Fall League last year. He relieved manny banuelos, also an AFL pitcher. Kontos had a live arm but command issues , probably stemming from TJ surgery. Looks like his command improved this year. He reminded me of John Wetteland. Hope he gets at least a couple of appearances this month.
Thanks tomingeorgia….. ID, that’s how I plan on doing it……. remembering and celebrating her life.
JCPD- Prayers and good wishes to you and your family.
Props to David Price.
We may not like him when he faces the Yanks but I follow him on Twitter and he’s a funny guy.
He frequents Starbucks and this morning a random follower of his on Twitter in Tampa said grab me a coffee too and bring it over. He asked where she was and what she wanted and then tweeted her he was outside and she should come out and get the coffee.
Thanks pat
pat-that’s awesome. Where was he when I made my Starbucks run this AM?
Lgy, why…you would trade montero for Kennedy? IpK is good, but Montero might be a real star.
Scott Proctor’s appearance yesterday reminded me of something. What in the world are Proctor and Valdes doing here instead of Warren, Phelps, Mitchell or Whelan?
New Post: Pitching matchups in Anaheim
JCPD, I am so sorry for your loss. Is your website a private one? I don’t mean to sound intrusive but I would love to hear the interview if your website is a public one. What a beautiful thing to have done. And I am so happy for you that you had those years to spend with her and especially to have been there for her 91st birthday. I lost both of my parents, neither expectedly, and for a while I thought I would never breathe again. Paradoxically though, when people talk about someone having had “a good long life” all it says to me is that there was that much more time to be with the person, and to miss them.
God bless you all and the wonderful memories you have to share with each other.
Why didn’t they photoshop the beard off Proctor when they photoshopped the Yankee uniform on.