Phelps dominant in return to Double-A
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jul 09, 2012 
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Five days after a strong start at Tropicana Field, David Phelps had no trouble at Waterfront Park.
Returning to Double-A to stay stretched out as a starter, Phelps allowed one hit, one walk and struck out 11 through 6.2 innings this afternoon. It was his first Double-A start since the first half of 2010, and my friend Mike Ashmore texted me while I was on my way home from Boston to say it was one of the most dominant performances he’d ever seen.
Mike’s posted a ton of video from the outing over on his blog.
Question is, what happens next? The Yankees want to keep Phelps stretched out — I’m sure they’d like to have him available for another spot start if necessary — but they’re down to one long man in the bullpen, which means Phelps could back to New York to reclaim his Opening Day role at the big league level. The only reason they sent him down in the first place was that he and Freddy Garcia gave them more long relievers than they needed.
That said, there’s no telling how much work a long man will get from day to day, and D.J. Mitchell isn’t a throw-away pitcher. He’s given the Yankees plenty of reasons to think he can do the job, and the Yankees seem to like him. But Joe Girardi and the big league staff have seen more of Phelps, and he’s given them every reason to trust him.
What’s the move? When the Yankees come back from the All-Star break, would you rather see Phelps as a big league reliever or a minor league starter? In other words, is he more valuable as an immediate asset out of the bullpen, or as a ready-and-waiting backup plan for the rotation?
Minor league starter hands-down.
Let me Mitchell handle the long role.
This guy has already been “Noesi’ed” enough.
Stop screwin’ with him and just let him start.
Keep him stretched out.
Hi Chad, good post….I think he should be starting in the MLB club, with Garcia doing the long relief job…Garcia has no future with the club, Phelps on the other hand should be a good back of the rotation starter for years to come… JMHO
Luis-
You cheated.
That wasn’t an option.
I think that we haven’t had a lot of success changing guys back and forth from the pen and the rotation. I’d even say most of baseball doesn’t have success doing that.
Keep him in the minors as a starter and he’ll help the Yanks out in an important role soon. The pen is a strength and doesn’t need him.
blake July 9th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
G LOve,
I forgot to put a sarcasm note on my post…..I think their offense is good enough this year if they pitch really well and Cano mashes…..but next year Swisher will be gone…..Arod will be 38, Jeter will be 39, Jones and Ibanez may be gone…Tex and Grandy wilk be a year older erc…..I hope they are considering that…
——————————-
Exactly they have to consider all of those things. Yrs ago they decided to build the rotation and pen (excluding Soriano). in similar ways young arms and guys on one yr deals that can give you good production. If they are going to take that tact with the pitching then they have to go the same with the line-up IMO.
Hey MTU!!
Just my opinion
I think is absurd to keep Garcia in the rotation at the expense of a probable main stay.
Later got to go home
Luis-
If and when Freddy falters Phelps will be right there.
In fact if anyone other than CC get injured or falter Phelps will be the next Man into the breech.
Now go home and write, “I will not change the options” 100 x’s.
Harper and Trout being interviewed on MLB Network
er…
The Yankees have had internal discussions about a long-term contract for Robinson Cano, Jack Curry of the YES Network writes. GM Brian Cashman acknowledges that the team has considered trying to lock the second baseman up to an extension. “Oh, yeah. But we haven’t done it yet,” Cashman said.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com
Thank you….
Blake-
W Boras as his agent ?
Good luck with that one.
I hope the internal discussions are actually about an extension and not discussions about signing him as a free agent
See, Cashman and Co. aren’t totally clueless.
(duck)
How bout an extension for Hughes ?
Good luck with that one.
——————-
Weaver and Cargo extended
AAO-
Is Boras their agent ?
“I hope the internal discussions are actually about an extension and not discussions about signing him as a free agent”
It says extsnsion….but good point.
CarGo and Weaver are both Boras clients.
Yanks will do Nothing with Cano during This season. Swisher is watching closely, and the Yanks need Swish inna good state of mind in order to make a Championship Run.
Do it now before Cano wins another derby and the price goes up even more.
Thanks blake.
Then I retract my previous statement.
Maybe their is hope.
Boras just wants market value…and to extend Cano theyll have ro give it…..my hope would that they save years though not AAv.
More delays of quality minor league talent, what a shame……………..Dump Qualls.
Will the Yankees reconfigure their OF in the OS with an eye towards the future ?
A simple yes or no answer will suffice.
I say yes.
MTU,
While I am hopeful on Hughes, I wouldn’t yet be ready to give him a multi-year contract. If he finishes the season strong, then I would feel differently.
Hi MTU-
Yes-they should.
“Will the Yankees reconfigure their OF in the OS with an eye towards the future ?”
Probably not….a RF stop gap is more likely.
I agree with Austinmac about Hughes. He doesn’t have enough quality secondary pitches to handle teams that can hit the fastball. That was quit noticeable this past weekend.
Blake-
Spoilin’ the fun.
Mac/YT-
Is Hughes trade bait IYO ?
MTU-
Were you referring to reconfigure the entire outfield?
YT-
Not necessarily all but a signifcant portion.
All could be a posibility too though.
Now-No
Offseason-Possibly. Depends on 2nd half, return of Pineda, maybe Andy
YT-
I was referring to the OS.
YT-
Pineda’s 5 yr. outlook is not good.
MTU-
Will the Yankees add a significant “piece” before the trading deadline, if Gardner and Joba aren’t ready to contribute until August?
YT-
If GGBG is going to out that long I’d say they’ll add someone.
In the case of Chamberlain I think they fill that from within.
I don’t see Darnell McDonald as a viable replacement for GGBG.
MTU-
Pineda’s 5 year outlook? How about next year? Where are you getting the outlook at 5 years?
YT-
He might be fine next year but is that as far you wish to see ?
Check the info. out there on the likelihood of health over a 5 year span for post-labrum surgery.
It’s not a good one.
I do not think any stay healthy that whole time.
Usually requires repeated surgery and numerous trips to the DL.
I would move Hughes in the right deal because I believe Phelps could be effective as his replacement.
mac-
Would you do so even after a successful season ?
I asked this earlier today. Based on what you’ve seen from the bullpen te last few weeks, do you feel supremely confident with any of them either coming in with runners on base, or with the bases empty in a very close game, to do the job and have a clean inning, without walks or hits, or allowing inherited runners to score?
I’m concerned about the bullpen
YT-
Once CC returns the stress on the pen should be reduced.
If it is I think the pen will be fine.
Especially if Chamberlain is back to form, and/or Wade finds himself again.
There are others they can reach down for if they really want to.
MTU,
If Hughes has a successful full season his value goes up. I would trade most anyone for the right deal. Hughes is no exception. I hope that happens, but like Chad, I am from Missouri(figuratively).:)
Definitely a minor league starter. Keep him stretched out just in case we need the spot start, or Freddy Garcia becomes ineffective.
Mac-
Thanks. I was just wondering what your thinking was.
For me it could go either way with Hughes.
YT,
If either Joba or Aardsma returns healthy, then I think the pen is okay. If neither returns, they will need a boost. Fortunately, they should know the answer to their success by then.
It seems worrisome we haven’t seen a tweet or other report with some good news about Aardsma.
My two cents on the Reggie Jackson news.
No surprise that Donnybrook is outraged by the Yanks’ disciplinary actions when any fan with an ounce of common sense understands the obvious distraction he caused by running his mouth and criticizing active members of the Yankee organization.
Not to mention Jackson’s peers in the HoF who probably don’t want a blowhard like Jackson to be their unofficial spokesman. I’m sure more than a few of them thought the comments regarding other members’ HoF credentials as tacky and a bit disrespectful to the organization and the most elite baseball fraternity of them all.
Jackson, even at the age of 65, quite simply will never learn to keep his mouth shut and understand that the world doesn’t evolve around him.
Somewhat lost in this kerfuffle is the wishy-washy comments he also made about Pettitte. The A-Rod comments are defended by some with an ax to grind because they simply don’t like A-Rod personally for one reason or another. Let’s call a spade a spade.
I also think there would have been a little more outrage by the fans if Pettitte had been the focus of this story instead of A-Rod. Perhaps this angle would’ve had more legs if Pettitte was on the active roster and answering questions instead of recuperating with the broken ankle.
Kudos to the front office for taking action and not dismissing his behavior by concluding this was just another episode of “Reggie being Reggie.”
Mac-
Call Dr. Yocum and tell him to hurry up.
. Whereas the long celebrated Tommy John surgery has an 85% success rate of getting a pitcher back to a high level, the SLAP tear operation once only had a 3% chance of putting a pitcher back on the mound with the quality of performance he had prior to the injury (Carroll, 2004). For the other 97% of pitchers who tore their labrum, it was essentially a death sentence (or at least a major hindrance) to their career. Even today, the SLAP repair procedure only has a 33-66% success rate in putting athletes back on the field.
http://honors.usf.edu/document.....041248.pdf
MTU-5 years is a long time. I’m concened more about the first year. Will he poseess a 98-99 mph fastball? I don’t think so. He’ll probably have to evolve as a pitcher and rely on other pitches and refine his mechanics.
However since no information was released about any new techniques that might have been used during the surgery, maybe he’ll beat the odds?
austinmac July 9th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I would move Hughes in the right deal because I believe Phelps could be effective as his replacement.
————————–
So your rotation next yr would be
CC
Nova
Andy
maybe Kuroda
some combo of Pineda/Phelps/Mitchell
Which of these FA’s will be traded before the deadline? Will any be offered an extension and who do you see getting them and where will they sign in the offseason?
Victorino
Quentin
Liriano
Hamels
Dempser
Greinke
Id trade anybody in the right deal. They have some options with Hughes….probably should at least shop him this winter and see what hed bring unless you decide hes a guy you want to extend and can do so affordably.
“Which of these FA’s will be traded before the deadline? Will any be offered an extension and who do you see getting them and where will they sign in the offseason?”
All of them.
Greg Johns?@Greg
David Aardsma met with Dr. Yocum in L.A. and plan is for him to take month to rest and then begin throwing program. No surgery needed.
This tweet is all I could find
Blake-
I agree. Do any make sense for the Yankees as a rental? Would you want a window for an extension?
Disregard that tweet. It’s old.
Paging Dr. Yocum!
YT-
I doubt very much that Pineda will tossing around that kind of heat when he returns next year (assuming he does).
That doesn’t say he can’t still be bringin’ it pretty well.
With his time rehabbing in the miLb’s he should also work on refining his 3rd pitch.
I don’t know if they will refine his mechanics or not.
Trader,
I think any could make sense as rentals depending on price…..Hamels Id want a window.
Phelps may have more of an up side than Hughes. At this point Hughes seems like a 2 pitch guy and that is not enough for a starter especially in the AL E. Phelps seems to have 4 or 5 solid pitches. Justin Upton not BJ would be an interesting guy to take a look at–Hughes and 2 or 3 prospects??
YT-
Getting the window depends on what was involved in obtaining the player.
The more it took the more a window would be desirable/required.
It’s too bad young Manny did not stay healthy this season.
I was hoping he’d get a shot at breaking the back end of the rotation next year.
Regarding Chad’s analysis earlier today on the Yanks’ first half…..
I think some of the unsung heroes on this team so far are members of the last 4-5 slots on the active roster – spare parts like Nix, [Dewayne] Wade, Stewart, Eppley, and Rapada.
For the most part, these guys have almost no business being among any team’s 25 man roster, especially a perennial playoff team like our beloved Bronx Bombers, but they all have either overachieved or contributed admirably when given opportunities even if their raw numbers don’t exactly impress anyone.
And even though Girardi can give me heartburn at times with his tendencies to over-think the strategical aspect of managing, he does deserve some credit for using these aforementioned spare parts in situations to improve their chances of success (especially with Eppley and Rapada and their increased reliability).
“I was hoping he’d get a shot at breaking the back end of the rotation next year.”
Me too ….disappointing.
Justin Upton not BJ would be an interesting guy to take a look at–Hughes and 2 or 3 prospects??
———————————-
If Hughes finishes with a big yr then I guess the Yankees would be selling high. I honestly think if Pineda never got injured Hughes would have been the odd man out.
GF-
Very true. It’s good you singled them out for honorable mention.
I really like Nix, and Eppley really surprised me.
I think Girardi should be getting manager of the year consideration …..hes done a darn good job so far IMO. Drives me crazy sometimes…..but hes getting it done.
Hello everyone,
MTU
After my punishment I am joining again. Done 100 times.
About your outfield question. I would.
Hughes would have the most value to a team like the Padres who pitch in a big park…..the Tigers would be a fit too but I wpuldnt want to trade him there
Doesn’t feel like off season>
Hughes for Wil Myers.
Posted this morning. Yankee minor league players of the week:
http://nomaas.org/2012/07/mino.....t-edition/
Vidal Nuno, Nik Turley, both lefties.
Luis-
I know the punishment was harsh but it was for your own good.
(Bet you heard your Father say that one a thousand times).
That probably waits till the OS but I wouldn’t mind seeing a partial reconstruction now.
Sorta depends on how GGBG does.
I hope they are not counting on McDonald for too much.
blake July 9th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
I think Girardi should be getting manager of the year consideration …
—————————
He’ll be considered but you know they will hold it against him that he coaches the Yankees. There was an ESPN NY radio host that said he could coach the team in a normal yr(this yr the team has many injuries) *facepalm*
Tom,
It is a break after all…Don’t like it very much, but what can one do?
Itll be a real bummer if Hensley doesnt sign….I still think he will
What I meant to say is, “Doesn’t it feel like like off season?”
The DBacks are not going to trade Justin Upton…..no way
Girardi does a good job managing both injuries and bullpens…..the biggest difference between the Yankees and Red Sox the last two years has been Cashman’s building of depth and Joe using it.
Blake………your post @ 7:25 sums it up so very well…….Solid, you hit that one on the sweet spot Blake
MTU,
I agree…It will probably happen in the off season…But it needs to be done, probably Swish (FA) is gone. Grandy should be traded, don’t know if it will happen though.
Pat M,
Girardi is going to be a good one I think….we forget sometimes how young he is and that hes still learning …..he annoys me.sometimes but overall hes doinf a pretty good job I think…..I dont see how we can say otherwise this year with all theyve dealt with.
Luis-
I have no idea how it will play out but it should be an interesting hot stove topic.
Greg-
Blake posted this earier today.
The Diamondbacks are willing to trade Justin Upton even if they’re in contention, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Arizona GM Kevin Towers won’t make a deal unless he’s “dazzled”, Rosenthal reports. Here are Rosenthal’s latest rumors, starting with Upton:
•The Diamondbacks could pursue Major Leaguers instead of prospects for Upton if they remain in contention for a postseason berth. Upton raises some questions with his effort level and body language, according to Rosenthal, but the outfielder appears to have drawn “huge” interest from teams such as the Pirates nonetheless.
YT-
From the Pirates I’d start with Cole.
Blake……My biggest beef with Joe was in his first couple of years it seemed to me that he stuck with his starters a little too long and conversley he yanked releivers too soon …..All in all considering the pressure that comes with being the skipper of The NY Yankees , with millions of critics ( and the lohud ) and the less than intelligent media, he’s does a great job….
Pat M,
Also that hes had to manage several former teammates….including the guy that took his job…that cant be easy either.
The Diamonbacks, if in contention need major league players, would need a replacemen in RF, could use a 3rd baseman and pitching since Hudson went down. Cole gave up a homer yesterday in the futures game BTW.
I’m reading some serious “shiny new toy” syndrome with Phelps.
“The Diamonbacks, if in contention need major league players, would need a replacemen in RF, could use a 3rd baseman and pitching since Hudson went down. Cole gave up a homer yesterday in the futures game BTW.”
Wise, Nix, etc….we have plenty of pieces
Right now, Buck Showalter, would have to be in contention also/
Who wins the HRD?
I’ll pick Prince.
Blake-
Since the fans out in RF don’t like Justin Upton, Nick Swisher would be a breath of fresh air for them.
Wise. Nix, etc for Upton and Cashman joins Girardi, with GM of the year..
New Post—–>
I’ll guess Kemp, his SLG is crazy.
Would be mistake to trade Hughes