Almonte returns

May 29, 2008 by Mike Axisa 39 Comments

Some housecleaning:

Zach McAllister has been promoted to High-A Tampa. Just 12 days ago Brian Cashman said the plan was to keep Z-Mac in Charleston all year long. A 19-yr old in High-A is pretty insane, he’ll be facing better competition than he would have if he followed through on his commitment to Nebraska. It’ll be a nice test for him. (h/t Pending Pinstripes)
Dellin Betances has a tired shoulder, just like Dice-K. I’m not surprised, he’s just gotta rest up and get healthy. I’m pretty sure I wrote this after he was drafted, but he’s a long term project, and this is just part of the process. Not everyone flies through the system like Hughes.

Triple-A Scranton (5-2 loss to Pawtucket)
Brett Gardner & Bernie Castro: both 1 for 3 – Gardner K’ed & was caught stealing
Alberto Gonzalez: 0 for 4, 2 K
Jason Lane & Chris Stewart: both 0 for 3, 1 K – Lane was hit by a pitch, stole a base & scored a run
Ben Broussard & Justin Christian: both 1 for 4, 1 K – Christian scored a run
Greg Porter: 2 for 4, 1 2B
Danny McCutchen: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 5-5 GB/FB – AAA hasn’t been so kind
Steven White: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HB, 1-5 GB/FB – 27 of 50 pitches were strikes (54%)
David Robertson: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Double-A Trenton (7-4 win over New Hampshire)
Ramiro Pena, Austin Jackson & Pj Pilittere: all 1 for 4, 1 R – Pena committed a fielding error … Ajax drew a walk, stole a base & K’ed
Colin Curtis: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K
Edwar Gonzalez: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 BB – all he does is hit doubles
Cody Ehlers: 1 for 2, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Jose Tabata & Carlos Mendoza: both 0 for 2 – Mendoza K’ed
Kevin Russo: 3 for 4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI
Reegie Corona: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB
George Kontos: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4-10 GB/FB – 55-20 K/BB ratio in his last 58.2 IP
Zack Kroenke: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 E (missed catch)
Mike Gardner: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

High-A Tampa (5-4 win over Lakeland) the opposing starter threw 383 pitches in a span of 8 days during the 2006 College World Series, and it took about 18 months before he finally regained his stuff, but I digress
Damon Sublett: 0 for 0, 1 BB – left the game right after the very first plate appearance of the game with a foot injury, which stemmed from a take-out slide in yesterday’s game as he stood in on a double play
Chris Kunda, Mitch Hilligoss & James Cooper: all 0 for 4 – Kunda was caught stealing & K’ed … Hilligoss committed a throwing error … Cooper scored a run & K’ed
Andres Perez: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Kyle Anson & Luis Nunez: both 0 for 3, 1 K – Anson drew a walk & committed a throwing error
Ben Blumenthal: 2 for 4, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 K
Kevin Smith: 3 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K
Timmy Battle: 2 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS – picked off first
Grant Duff: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 8-1 GB/FB – keeping a spot warm for McAllister
Phil Bartlewski: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Jose Valdez: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Josh Schmidt: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Low-A Charleston (2-1 win over Hickory)
Abe Almonte: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI – the offense just wasn’t the same without him
Justin Snyder: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB
Brandon Laird, Braedyn Pruitt & Carmen Angelini: all 1 for 3 – Laird drew a walk … Angelini swiped a bag
Jesus Montero: 1 for 4, 1 2B – 16 doubles in 51 games
Austin Romine & Taylor Holiday: both 0 for 3, 1 K
Jairo Heredia: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HB, 3-0 GB/FB – slowly working his way back
Noel Castillo: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 10-3 GB/FB
Jon Ortiz: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K

Brandon

oh WELCOME BACK ABE :D
27’Yanks

Schmidt and Wordekemper are great examples of the jump from A to AA. Schmidt went down and has been dominate, not so much in AA earlier in the year.
Miles Roche

Mike,
Can you please enlighten me as to why Mike Gardner got the win and not George Kontos?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Uh, because Gardner was on the mound when Trenton took the lead?
  - Miles Roche
    
    Oh, yeah. Hadn’t realized that Kroenke blew the lead. My bad. . .
http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Pablo Zevallos

I’m pretty sure Abe ends up in the Top 30 prospects by year’s end.
- Old Ranger
  
  I like this 18 yer. old., wasn’t he just converted from pitcher to CF this year? He has some pop and good speed and arm. Like to see him move up next year (to young to be fed to the sharks) and see how well he progresses. Top 30 prospect next year? Be nice, he has all the tools and if he can stay healthy/consistent…why not. 27/08?
  - http://mvn.com/milb-yankees Eric
    
    he was a 2nd baseman, not a pitcher. I had him on my top 30 before this season started, and so far, he is doing nothing to disappoint me.
    - Old Ranger
      
      Thanks, I misremember, may I say old age made me do it? 27/08?
huuz

why did tabata only get two ABs?
Mike R.

I read that Tabata was pulled from the game because of “Defensive Indifference” for failing to back up A-Jack on a triple. Looks like we are not out of the immaturity woods yet. :(
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Well good, at least they pulled him from the game.
  - Brandon
    
    yup it sounds like our juvenile delinquent is at it again
  - Mike R.
    
    You’re right. That’s a good way to look at it.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Don’t get me wrong, he’s really starting to push the envelope. At least he’s still 19, hopefully he’ll grow out of it.
      - Mike R.
        
        I know that it isn’t good, but it is better thsn being pulled out with an “upper body injury”. Hanley Ramirez went through something similar. I’ll be happy if Tabata ends up with his numbers. :)
        
        yanks99
        
        why are only minor leaguers pulled from games when they fuck up? maybe if the same thing happened in the majors they’d get their heads in the game.
        
        Mike R.
        
        I give you Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson. When it happens at the big league level shit blows up. It’s all about the money.
        
        Brandon
        
        Hanley was a near a..hole in minor league ball, but I get the comparisons, Tabata is striking like Matt Kemp/Robi Cano/Carlos Gomez the early years.
Old Ranger

Brett Gardner is at .284 avg., .406 OBP., .444 SLG., and OPS of .850. Nice to see him proving himself, down on the farm. I would suggest Melky better start lighting it up right soon. Melky is not hitting well at all, mostly from the right side. If he can’t hit from the right, why not bring up a left handed hitter…Brett? They would get speed, good defence (not as good an arm), good plate discipline and he would get some big league experience. 27/08?
A.D.

All we need is Suttle back and A will be back to normal again.

Nice to see McCallister getting a chance to move up a little….2nd coming of Hughes?? We will see

Either White really doesn’t like the pen, or he’s coming down from a great start which just happens to be after he moven to the pen

Ortiz another save for A, what’s his story?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Ortiz is an older guy (24 or so), spent some time in the Dominican Summer League. He’s a sleeper, but not a big sleeper.
yanks99

by the way, did anyone know bill murray is a part owner of the charleston riverdogs? i read it in the yahoo article where they talk about his wife divorcing him and hitting her…good owners we got in the system, huh?
A.D.

McCutchen out-dueled by Masterson….Boston probably moved up Masterson cause he can’t handle Trenton
- http://everythingbaseball.wordpress.com Aaron
  
  So you think the two quality starts he’s had in the Majors this season had nothing to do with it?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/05/29/2008-05-29_jorge_posada_ramps_up_rehab.html

Jorge Posada caught seven innings in another XST game. That report also says that Carl Pavano will be able to throw off a mound next week, uh huh.
- A.D.
  
  Just wait, Pavano power reliever, if he comes back strong the Yanks could pick up the option & trade like Sheff
  
  Neither likely to happen, but tossing it out there
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    I’m fairly certain there’s absolutely nothing that Pavano could do that would result in the Yanks picking up his $13M option for 2009. Unless he was heavily armed and locked himself in a room with Cashman and The Brothers Stein. Even then I wouldn’t be so sure, Cash has always put the team’s best interests first.
    - Mike R.
      
      Nobody is happier about Pavano’s contract expiring than the company that insured it. After all. They are the big losers un all of this.
    - Will
      
      Disagree. He could also teach Kei to throw strikes–that’d get his option picked up for sure.
      
      Wait, we’re not being even remotely realistic here, are we?
      
      We are? Damn.
Jeb

“Not everyone flies through the system like Hughes”

Thank goodness….or everyone would be hurt
Chip

I could see McAllister coming up maybe late next year for a quick view of the show but even at a quick pace he’s two years away
Pingback: River Ave. Blues | Tabata yanked for disciplinary reasons
steve d.

not to poop on anyone’s parade, but mcallister is 20, not 19. his D.O.B. is 12/8/87
- Rick in Boston
  
  Which would mean he turns 20 on December 8, 2009. We’re still in 2008.
  - Rick in Boston
    
    And I’m a complete idiot. Nevermind.
Chris

Any word on whether Betances is really hurt, or if they just want to keep his innings down? He’s already thrown 30 innings more than either of the past 2 years.
Bo

No need to rush Betances and I’m sure they don’t want him having a high innings. A little rest doesn’t hurt
godfather

why doesn’t nyy test the “anything is better than nothing” theory by utilizing igawa in middle relief situations? it’s likely he’d be of some use that way…the guy at least isn’t a pansy ala ian, the fatass skirt