Minor League Year in Review: Triple-A
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 29, 2012 
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Playing without a home field, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees — nicknamed the Empire State Yankees for the season — still managed to win the IL North and advance to the postseason.
Dave Miley was an easy choice as the league’s Manager of the Year. The pitching staff was middle of the pack in team ERA, despite a rotation that wasn’t nearly as prospect heavy as expected. The lineup scored the league’s second-most runs, despite a constant rotation of middle of the order hitters as veterans Dewayne Wise, Steve Pearce, Jack Cust and Russell Branyan came and went.
Player of the Year
2B Corban Joseph
Brandon Laird and Kevin Russo were the only Scranton/Wilkes-Barre players with more than 360 at-bats this season, so it’s a strange group from which to choose an MVP. Russo was probably their most consistent bat — he was there all year and was a steady on-base guy — and Laird led the team in RBI, but neither had the kind of all-around numbers that make you think of a team MVP. Steve Pearce was Scranton’s best player early, and Chris Dickerson was incredible in the second half, and Ronnier Mustelier was a significant boost after his promotion from Double-A.
Ultimately, I was left trying to choose between Jack Cust and Corban Joseph. Truth be told, Cust might be the best choice for his all-around stats — on-base percentage, run production, with the team through the end of July — but to me Scranton’s season was defined by it’s 22-win month of August, when the players had to be drained but they kept winning to take the division. Cust was gone then, and Joseph was providing much of the run production lost when Cust, Pearce and Russell Branyan were cut loose. Overall, Joseph delivered a .266/.366/.474 slash line through 327 Triple-A at-bats. He’s always had a nice bat, but the emergence of such power has made him a different sort of prospect, in my eyes.
Pitcher of the Year
RHP Ramon Ortiz
It would be much more exciting to pick one of the young guys for this spot, but really, it was Ortiz who emerged as the staff ace after David Phelps landed in New York, Dellin Betances struggled, Manny Banuelos got hurt and D.J. Mitchell was traded. Prospect Adam Warren had a terrific second half — 2.98 ERA after the all-star break — but the rotation wasn’t constantly evolving like the lineup, and the overall advantage belongs to Ortiz, who had a 3.45 ERA while leading team with 169.1 innings at 39 years old. Also worth mentioning: Long reliever Chase Whitley, who led the team with a 1.07 WHIP.
Breakout season
OF Chris Dickerson
The prospect breakout was Joseph, but I’m already picking him as the team MVP, so I’ll give this spot to Dickerson. How does a 30-year-old break out? By being designated for assignment in the spring, then putting up such good numbers in the second half that he was given a September call-up and suddenly deserves consideration for a big league bench job next season. Dickerson has always been able to hit right-handers, even at the big league level, but a slight mechanical adjustment helped him hit lefties to the tune of .328/.439/.418 and he remained productive in limited big league at-bats down the stretch. Might have been on the postseason roster if not for Brett Gardner’s speedy recovery from elbow surgery.
Disappointment
RHP Dellin Betances
Injuries were the most disappointing thing about fellow top prospect Manny Banuelos and Austin Romine. With Betances, the disappointment was in the results. Sure, he wasn’t perfectly healthy either, but this was supposed to be the year Betances began to push for a spot in the big leagues. Instead, his command was so erratic he was actually demoted to Double-A. Betances walked nearly as many as he struck out with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, then he was knocked around through 10 starts with Trenton. He’s trying to get some things straightened out in the Arizona Fall League, but for now, this wasn’t a lost year for Betances. It was just a bad year.
Prospect watch
OF Ronnier Mustelier
Granted, he’s 28-year-old old, but at this point it’s hard to leave Mustelier out of the prospect discussion. He might not be a future everyday player at the big league level, but he continues to show enough bat — and enough versatility — to suggest he could at least play a bench role as early as next season. Building off a strong debut in 2011, the Cuban outfielder and third baseman jumped quickly from Double-A to Triple-A this season, hitting a combined .314/.371/.488. His numbers dipped a little bit when he joined Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he was still a good all-around hitter. His platoon splits are not especially extreme, and he could fit the profile of a four-corners bench player that the Yankees often talk about.
Odds and ends
Drafted in 2010, Chase Whitley has moved quickly through the Yankees farm system, and he jumped to Triple-A after just two games with Double-A Trenton this year. Routinely pitching up to four innings at a time, Whitley held opponents to a .213 average while showing the flexibility of a late-inning setup man or multi-inning long reliever. Could be in the big league mix from the moment spring training opens. … Coming off a bad 2011, Kevin Russo rebounded with a .284/.358/.351 slash line that made him the regular leadoff hitter through much of the season. He spent significant time at second, third and all three outfield positions. … Adam Warren‘s second-half improvements suggest he’s still next in line among the Yankees young starters. … In just a month on the Triple-A roster, Melky Mesa struck out 43 times but also hit nine homers. … Although he had some good months mixed in, Francisco Cervelli hit just .246/.341/.316 in his unexpected return to the minors. … A lot of moving parts in the Triple-A bullpen, but left Juan Cedeno was one of the points of stability. So was veteran left-hander Michael O’Connor who bounced from the bullpen to the rotation with a 3.73 ERA while helping in a variety of roles.
Big picture
There’s certainly something to be said for a team winning under these conditions. Says a lot about the coaching staff, says a lot about the veterans willing to play through it, and says a lot about the young guys who weren’t flustered by it.
There was no standout on the roster, but Joseph, Mustelier, Dickerson and Mesa did enough to suggest they could be — at least – big league role players in the immediate future. Even guys like Russo, Cust and Branyan did enough to suggest they could have helped this year given the right circumstances and the right needs (kind of like Pearce and Wise, who did play a limited roles).
The pitching staff was supposed to be all about the rotation, but Warren was really the only young starter who didn’t lose significant prospect status because of injury, trade or performance. Instead, it was a series of relievers who emerged. Cody Eppley wound up sticking in New York, while Ryota Igarashi and Justin Thomas pitched well enough to earn limited big league time. For next year, keep Whitley, Cedeno and Preston Claiborne on your radar (as well as some Double-A relievers who we’ll dig into later in the week).
Associated Press photo of Betances
I’ve always liked Corban’s bat; too bad he isn’t a better and more versatile fielder.
When in doubt blame ARod!
Interesting talk on acquiring an impact bat to compliment Cano. If it is someone like righty Ryan Braun could this hit chart [from Miller Park] of his play well in YS?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/p…..ryan-braun
Again wish anyone being hit by this Hurricane to say safe and dry. I know what you’re going thru. Been in a flood and also a Category 5 Hurricane.
Everyone in the city should be listening to this voice of authority:
https://twitter.com/ElBloombito
Let’s see if you can open this hit chart:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/p.....ryan-braun
YF,
I hope you are holding up just fine. It’s not a pretty picture I am seeing on the TV. Stay safe, if you happen to talk to Pruf, please tell him to stay dry and safe too.
Nick,
One thing is to hate him, and another completely different is wanting the guy on a different role in the organization. I am in the former group. Hating is a very strong word to use without some humor. I can’t honestly say that I hate anyone. That’s a word reserved for extreme cases. Fortunately, I haven’t been drawn to feel that way toward anyone in my life. I guess I am lucky.
luis October 29th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
My pleasure Odds, glad to be of help. The more I learn, the more I will be sharing. Just stay safe guys.
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*clap..clap..clap,clap,clap* Thank you luis *clap..clap..clap,clap,clap* Thank you luis
Some good news… It appears the storm is moving faster than anticipated…
and the resident clown from SF continues to make jokes about a deadly storm which poses no damage to himself. Classy
Ugh! I meant the latter group. Sorry.
Luis-
That is good news. The less it stagnates, hopefully the less flooding there will be.
Earwig, does this mean you won’t be joining me for a pretentious Asian dinner?
If it is someone like righty Ryan Braun could this hit chart [from Miller Park] of his play well in YS?
–
He has power to all fields so he’d definitely play in NYS. I could see him grabbing some extra HRs out to the short porch. He doesn’t really hit wall grabbers, so I think his power is safe in NYS.
Half my friends are in shelters right now but keep on joking away
More like, these are my chips any 5 of them are yours.. choose please.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/b.....eyear-deal
——
This would work out great. Another one year deal is perfect.
“Half my friends are in shelters right now but keep on joking away”
I’m surprised they haven’t renamed the LoHud Yankee Blog the LoHud Storm Tracker 2012 Blog For Yankee Fans. This is truly our last line of defense.
Qual offer for Kuroda stat!
Hi Luis, thanks for the updates and concern. So far, we just some lights flickering on and off, and very very windy (sounds like ocean waves at high tide). The trees are madly swaying, but they’re still all standing, as is the house. Otherwise, I have no idea what is going on outside. Just praying that the power lines don’t go down. But so far, so good. And will do re: Pruf. Also trying to get in touch with some other people, but haven’t heard back yet.
Sign Melky, Cash.
JF-
As much as I’d like to see a young power right handed bat wearing pinstripes next year, I just don’t see what young major league proven or ready chips they have to acquire such a bat.
Do you have any ideas on what players other teams would really want from the Yankees that could play in the majors next season?
It has to be more than Nova, Phelps, Nunez, etc.
You might get calls on Robertson.
please dont go near Melky.. what’s wrong with you people ?
The AAA team was stunningly bereft of usable or tradable talent. At best any of them can be hoped is utility, extra player.
Other teams bring up young, productive players. Either we don’t produce them or trade them. The question of player drafting, signing or developing as the culprit, or all of the above, must be answered. Surely, they are taking steps to fix these things.
Montgomery, Robertson, Nova, Phelps, Nunez, Gardner, Chamberalin, Hughes, Warren, Betances, Joeseph, Mesa, Mustelier, Adams are all guys that could fill in ‘major league ready’ pieces. Now how much value each has is another thing…
Would be incredibly hard to pull in Braun. Likely impossible. I don’t even know where a package for him would begin.
Definitely a qualifying offer for Kuroda. Once he hits FA I suspect not only the Dodgers but the Angels, who he owned the last 2 seasons, to be major players.
I just hope that Kuroda comes on board quickly, that Pettitte doesn’t wait too long as well as Rivera, so the Yankees can see if they can afford to give up pitching for a bat.
To get anything of quality, we’d have to include some of our elite A level kids. Sanchez, Mason, Austin, etc. I’d rather sign Melky.
Think we are about to lose power. Just like the Yankees did in the PS.
YT,
I just don’t see the high end, young talent to get anyone remotely as good as Braun. Talent in Class A doesn’t have that much value which, of course, should tell us they always have great uncertainty.
I’m surprised they haven’t renamed the LoHud Yankee Blog the LoHud Storm Tracker 2012 Blog For Yankee Fans. This is truly our last line of defense.
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You should move to Brooklyn. You’d fit in well with the rest of the narcissistic trust fund hipsters.
and guess what plenty of food trucks there as well
YF,
Glad to hear that you are fine…I hope it stays the same… I think the worst part is going to go to NYC, since the counter clockwise spin of the storm is going to take the worst parts of the tide surge toward that part of the NE… The good part is that it is moving faster.
About Melky….I am on board on that one…He won’t cost a king’s ransom and he is right handed.
Earwig, dear chap,don’t you realize that by using one screen name to cry about Cashman and another screen name to cry about me, you’re wasting precious resources? Why not consolidate all your tears into one screen name and help the community?
JF-
I highly doubt the Yankees would be in the “ballpark” for a right bat like Braun or Kemp.
I’m not sold that they could trade a package of any of those to Kevin Towers for Justin Upton.
Towers wants a SS, 3B, starter, major league ready. Now has Putz and Bell for the bullpen and Parra to take over CF along with Adam Eaton.
I hope Cashman is on the phone being very nice to Kuroda. His presence is a critical piece of the off season. Without him, pitching will take precedence, again.
Earwig, dear chap,don’t you realize that by using one screen name to cry about Cashman and another screen name to cry about me, you’re wasting precious resources?
————————————–
One of my fav things on this blog is to listen to people accuse others of having multiple names.
Its quite comical.
My main goal is to strive to be accused of being WCYF
Austinmac and JF-
Perhaps the Yankees can get the right handed bat of Giancarlo Stanton by taking on another high priced contract-Mark Buehrle? LOL
Towers wants a SS, 3B, starter, major league ready.
–
Well he isn’t going to get 3 good quality major league ready players for Upton.
and feel free to ask Chad about my “multiple” names
We can wager one of your pretentious candy bars
Could we stay away of getting personal? Just a thought.
I like the Hamilton and Melky route…It costs only money…So you take care of the present needs without squandering the future ones…Remember, we still need to replace the core of the team….We need to keep all the young talent we can and get all that we can while staying competitive…Hard to do, but not impossible…Also, time to give the chance to Adams and Nunez.
“My main goal is to strive to be accused of being WCYF”
I can’t help you with that, but the premise that there exists a lurker on this board who is only inspired to post faux outrage about me is too ridiculous to believe.
YT,
Where do I sign for that deal? Of course, that presumes willingness to take on money. That doesn’t sound like our new policy.
Please, need clarification on when a player must accept or decline the qualifying offer.
I thought this was correct:
A team has until 5 p.m. Eastern time on the fifth day following the World Series to make a qualifying offer and a player has until 5 p.m. EST on the seventh day after the World Series to accept it. So this Friday [2nd] and Sunday [4th].
But then from RAB’s:
This Friday (November 2nd): Deadline for teams to make free agents a one-year, $13.3M qualifying offer.
November 9th: Deadline for players to accept or reject qualifying offers. This is the date that I think is wrong.
What’s correct?
Trader,
The team has five days to make a qualifying offer… And the player then has seven days to reject or accept the offer.
I agree, Luis. We just lost power. Last time this happened, the power didn’t come back on for 8 days.
The process would take 12 days at the most
What’s correct?
–
Pretty sure ESPN confused their dates. 5 days after the WS is the ‘quiet period’ which is when qual offers have to be submitted. 7 days from the end of the quiet period is the acceptance period.
Can’t expect a billion dollar sports reporting company to know things that are written in the CBA.
braun would be a huge prospect package, plus probably phelps and hughes. lot of give up.
why not bring back ichiro, hope for gardner’s health, sign stephen drew as insurance, and see if napoli could be convinced to sign a short term deal?
Luis and Austinmac-
If it’s not team Greedy and instead Team Cheap, then we might very well see an infield bench of Nunez and Adams or a FA like Jeff Keppinger, a 4th and 5th OF of Nix and Dickerson, or maybe FA Reed Johnson and a catching tandem of Austin Romine and Anyone’s Guess!
YF!
Not happy to hear that…Do you have people around to help you in case you need to move?… save some tel battery, just in case.
Yes, thanks, Luis. I’m going off to conserve. Be safe!
YF-
Where are you? Hopfully power companies will be out as soon as possible to remove the downed lines. Stay safe. Do you have an older land line phone that doesn’t run off electricity?
Hopfully power companies will be out as soon as possible to remove the downed lines
———————————–
Or Maybe Nick’s jokes can remove them
Trader,
To be honest, as long as they don’t squander the talent they have in the farm, I am fine with it. I just want them to be honest about it and lower tix prices. The thing is that there is a way to fill the current offensive needs, without compromising the future. The wild card IMO is that they need to trade either Tex or Arod in order to afford Cano’s extension. Or negotiate an early retirement for Arod. Will they do that or Tex or Arod be willing to accept such a move? That remains to be seen, not likely though. Also, Granderson has to go.
I’m 800 miles from this thing. Winds 30 mph WNW, gusts to 47. It’s a monster.
Take care YF….Stay safe my friend….Remember sometimes is better to be a living dog than a dead lion….So no brave moves tonight
Luis and JF-
Thanks. So Kuroda can get the offer betwenn now and this Friday, become an unrestricted FA the next day and negotiate with all teams for a two year contract until the 9th of November. I imagine he could negotiate with the Yankees for a better deal also.
… To be honest, as long as they don’t squander the talent they have in the farm, I am fine with it. I just want them to be honest about it and lower tix prices…..
luis
One thing Cashman and especially Hal cannot ever forget; if you expect your customers to pay a premium you better damn sure have a premium product they are willing to pay for.
As evidenced by the 8+% drop in attendence, I would imagine this has got to have Hal’s attention. If it doesn’t or if he is unwilling to do anything about it yet still charge a premium, he is in for one hell of a rude awakening next year when attendance starts to cave.
“Or Maybe Nick’s jokes can remove them”
Have you heard the one about the guy who pretended to be mad about something on the internet?
@vile_mennis: @YankeeSource Does this count? http://t.co/OqHjzu6l
Ouch !
Luis-
Tex loves NY.
ARod-Only chance would be that he’s so miserable in NY that he drops his NT and gives Cashman a list of teams he’d approve a trade to. Even that has terrible odds of coming to fruition. I suppose they could get him to retire, cancel the contract, and make him a part owner.
Granderson-Is there a team that wants his 15M contract and is willing to take him this offseason before seeing if there has been any improvement early during the 2013 season?
Time to go.
For all of you in the path and now in the storm of Sandy, please stay safe and warm and dry.
Surfing on Lake Michigan, courtesy of Sandy.
Trader,
It seems that way… Although, I don’t think Kuroda will be seeking a multiyear deal…. I think he likes his options open that a one year deal brings, it also works in our favor as well.
Yankee21,
They will and Lost’s assessment points in that direction as well…. he mentioned Braun as a potential target….I think the amount of treasure and talent needed to get him, makes it prohibitive…. I like G Love’s strategy better ( going after Hamilton ), it only involves money, so you keep all the talent for the future, but at the same time you tend to your present needs… Of course, they can go the cheap route as well, which I wouldn’t mind if they are forth front about it and they actually make the right moves to shorten the rebuilding process.
Trader,
I know….I am hoping that Arod realizes that he better retire after 2013…I am out too….stay safe guys.
I don’t think Braun is available and even if he was Cashman probably sees him as a 4th outfielder without the juice
blake, I am shocked, shocked that you would post that humorous tweet while people are in harm’s way.
How can I buy you a cajun filet biscuit?
Nick,
No one, I don’t think, is wishing for an earthquake for you. Would that e a laughing matter to you if it happened?
Hey Luis good to see you. I presume you are home and far from the storm. we wait where I am on the great lakes for Sandy.
I’m with you in the sign Melky camp. No way they get Braun. There is still the chance that Mo retires.
Someone will want Granderson and his 43 homers. What kind of deal would you give Hamilton. He’s already 32?
blake October 29th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
“Lost,
You were probably thinking about the Ms cause they are like the only team Cash trades with anymore”
~
Or, maybe because the Brewers were originally the Seattle Pilots
***********
tucker ~
Was that the complete television schedule for the AFL? Or, just those games that related to Yankee teams/players? Just wondering if any of the Peoria games (other than playoffs) will be televised…
***********
To all those in Sandy’s path or wake, stay safe!
Landing spot for Josh Hamilton, aside from BOS, I’m thinking SF.
Hamilton may not want to put up with all the BS playing for the Yankees.
NY may also have a version of the Ichiro rules it would want a guy like Hamilton to sign, so it would be much easier for Hamilton to go play for a team where the main qualifications are have fun, grow a beard, and produce in key spots.
I’m a big pro-Hamilton guy but I really doubt NYY goes after him with the budget being priority #1.
“How can I buy you a cajun filet biscuit?”
I wish you could buy Cajun filet biscuits online
“Landing spot for Josh Hamilton, aside from BOS, I’m thinking SF.”
For 5 years or less I want to see JH hitting balls in the upper deck at YS
I agree Chad.
Go Triple A Yankees!