Charleston’s offense unloads on Boston’s Low-A squad

August 4, 2008 by Mike Axisa 33 Comments

George Kontos was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, so congrats to him. Jim Callis at Baseball America answered a question about two-sport eligiblity in this week’s Ask BA, which applies to the Yanks’ 29th round pick Mike Jones, who’s also a senior wideout for Arizona State.

Triple-A Scranton (3-2 win over Pawtucket, walk-off style)
Brett Gardner & Chris Stewart: 1 for 3 – Gardner drew a pair of walks … Stewart walked & K’ed
Bernie Castro: 1 for 4, 1 RBI – walk-off single
Matt Carson & Ben Broussard: both 0 for 3, 1 BB
Juan Miranda: 2 for 4, 1 R
Shelley Duncan: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – well I guess the shoulder’s fine
Cody Ransom: 0 for 2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 1 for 4, 1 2B
Chase Wright: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HB, 10-5 GB/FB – 63 of 89 pitches were strikes (70.8%)
Phil Coke: 1.2 IP, zeroes, 3 K – 15 of 22 pitches strikes (68.2%)
Steven Jackson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Double-A Trenton (9-6 win over Connecticut)
Reegie Corona: 0 for 5, 1 E (throwing)
Ramiro Pena & Walt Ibarra: both 0 for 2 – Pena drew a walk, scored a run & was taken out of the game with an 8 run lead in the top of the 6th … Ibarra K’ed & committed a fielding error
Austin Jackson: 4 for 5, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K – 8 for his last 12 after a 4 for 28 stretch
Chris Malec: 2 for 4, 3 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Cody Ehlers: 2 for 5, 1 RBI, 1 K – raised his avg to .203 … having just a brutal season
Joe Muich: 0 for 4, 4 K, 1 PB – not the best game of his career
James Cooper: 3 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Eric Hacker: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 10-5 GB/FB – 93-31 K/BB ratio
Zack Kroenke: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Jose Valdez: 2.1 IP, zeroes, 1 K

High-A Tampa (10-5 win over Lakeland)
Luis Nunez: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 E (fielding, throwing)
Eduardo Nunez & Josh Kreuzer: both 2 for 4 – Nunez scored 2 runs, drove in 3 & swiped a bag … Kreuzer drove in 2 runs & K’ed twice
Kevin Smith & Kyle Anson: both 1 for 3 – Smith drew two walks … Anson drew a walk & scored a pair of runs
Seth Fortenberry: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Andres Perez: 3 for 4, 1 R, 2 SB, 1 CS
Mitch Hilligoss: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K – 8 for his last 39 (.205)
Tim Battle: 2 for 3, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB
Chris Garcia: 3 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1-2 GB/FB
Ronny Marte: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – you’re not in the GCL anymore
Rob Semerano: 3 P, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Grant Duff: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Low-A Charleston (15-0 pounding of Greenville)
Justin Snyder: 3 for 6, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K – had been 0 for his last 13
Bradley Suttle: 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI – missed the cycle by a two-bagger … 8 of his last 13 hits have gone for extra bases (5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR)
Jesus Montero: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Austin Romine: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B
Austin Krum: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 K – 15 for his last 35 (.429)
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K – that’s 4 homers in the past 3 days
Carmen Angelini: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 K
Abe Almonte: 1 for 1, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB
Prilys Cuello: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB – 6 for his last 11 (.545)
Wilkins DeLaRosa: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 9-7 GB/FB – awesome
Gabe Medina: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 6-0 GB/FB

Short Season Staten Island (9-4 win over Brooklyn)
Addison Maruszack (17) & Jack Rye (13): both 2 for 4, 1 RBI – Maruszack drew 2 walks, scored 2 runs & swiped a bag
David Adams (3): 0 for 6, 3 K – ouch
Brian Baisley: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Marcos Vechionacci & Dan Brewer (8): both 1 for 4, 1 RBI – Vech K’ed … Brewer K’ed twice, was hit by a pitch, stole a base & threw a runner out at home from CF
Mike Lyon (24): 1 for 1, 2 R, 1 2B – took over at the hot corner from Vech in the 7th
Mitch Abeita (19): 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
Steve Strausbaugh: 1 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Jahdiel Santamaria: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS
Andy Shive (35): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 3-2 GB/FB – solid job filling in for Luke Greinke, who’s out with what the Yanks are calling a sore shoulder
Andy Shetrone: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Jacinto Gonell: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Josue Selenes: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Nick Asselin: 1 IP, zeroes, 3-0 GB/FB

Rookie GCL Yanks (4-3 win over GCL Braves)
Jose Pirela, Wady Rufino & Mitch Delaney (21): all 1 for 5 – Pirela committed a fielding error … Rufino K’ed … Delaney scored a run & K’ed four freakin’ times
Corban Joseph (4): 2 for 5, 1 2B – 17 of 33 hits have gone for extra bases (51.5%)
Jimmy Paredes: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Chase Weems: 0 for 0, 1 HBP – left the game after getting plunked in the top of the 2nd
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 2, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HBP
Chris Smith (5) & Roy Gomez: both 0 for 4 – Smith drove in a run … Gomez K’ed twice
Zoilo Almonte: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Matt Richardson (15): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 4-4 GB/FB
Mikey O’Brien (9): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2 HB – the Richardson-O’Brien tandem is reminiscent of Betances-McAllister back in ’06
Clint Preisendorfer (42): 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-1 GB/FB
Ryan Flannery (47): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 Balk, 1 HB

Alan

What’s the story on De La Rosa? He’s got some pretty strong numbers, but its low-A Charleston and he’s already 23. Is he a prospect worth watching or just another organizational arm?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  He’s legit. I was skeptical at first, but it sounds like he’s got really firm stuff and has an idea of how to pitch. This is only his 2nd year on the mound, he was an OF originally.
  - Alan
    
    Interesting that its only his 2nd year pitching, sounds like he’s got plenty of room to improve then. Where do you think he’ll go next year, Tampa?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
      
      Absolutely, he should start in Tampa. He’s older, but he can’t skip a level to Trenton.
      - Chip
        
        Problem is, with him originally being an outfielder, he’s inching close to Rule V eligibility
        
        Fuzzy
        
        He needs to be protected THIS year if NYY don’t want to expose him to the Rule 5 draft. He would be the perfect Rule 5 pick as it’s easy to hide him as the 12th man on a pitching staff.
        
        Chip
        
        I highly doubt he’d get picked this year but he’s eligible every year from now on
Reggie C.

Is Brandon Laird becoming a legit hitting prospect? I think he’s got 16 homers. Does anybody else think that the org. should promote him to Tampa right now to see how he handles it?
DaveM

I was at the Trenton game tonight. A-Jax and J-Coop both had monster games!! I was very impressed with Cooper. I don’t know a whole lot about it. Just that he hit pretty well in Tampa this year before moving up to AA. Looks like a gap to gap type hitter.
Hacker looked pretty good too.

My son got A-Jax’s autograph after the game. He signed for every kid there. Not all the players did that.
Reggie C.

A-Jax is gonna break the 50 extra-base hit mark soon! In a year pretty much devoid of offensive fireworks from our farm, i think that’s a noteworthy achievement.
A.D.

Hacker, keeps crusing, i really think he should be nicknamed the Phoeinx after loosing almost 3 years to arm injuries, rising from the ashes.
A.D.

Chase Wright seems to like AAA just fine
A.D.

what do ppl think of Miranda coming up to take Sexsons spot?
- Jake K.
  
  Why the hell not? Sexson’s a stiff.
- dan
  
  Miranda can’t hit lefties and is a terrible fielder. He doesn’t really have a role on the team. If he hit lefties as well as he hits righties, then I’d love to see him come up.
  - A.D.
    
    realistically sexson isn’t a good fielder, and isnt hitting anyone, at least Miranda can hit someone
- A.D.
  
  according to MLE calc, he’d hit .295/381/442 vs righties, play him at 1st/DH and sit him vs lefties, move Malec to AAA
  - Jake K.
    
    Agreed. Sexson is bringing nothing to the table, so why not try Miranda?
  - jeff
    
    Who do you want him to take ABs from against righties?
    - jeff
      
      Come on, can Jake K. or A.D. answer this? If you want Miranda up you must have an idea of when you’d want him used. Who are you going to sit when he plays? Giambi? Damon? Abreu? Nady? Maybe you just want him to pinch hit for Melky once a week?
      - A.D.
        
        I mean if the organization feels it would stunt his growth, then maybe its not a good idea, but he appears to be an upgrade of Sexson, in the fact he can hit off of someone.
        
        If he takes anyone’s spot it would be going offensives, and having Melk on the bench and Damon/Abreu/Nady in center the Miranda/Giambi 1B/DH. Otherwise in situations where guys are getting a day off
dan

I wonder what the Yankees see Suttle doing for them. He’s 22, so he needs to move relatively quickly– starting next year in Tampa and moving up to Trenton mid-season. If he doesn’t have a big year next year, I just don’t see it happening for him. I know that’s harsh, but he can’t afford a wasted year like Tabata had this season.

And then there’s the issue of having A-Rod at third for the next 9 seasons after this. He’ll be at third for at least the next 5, maybe moving to first later if he needs to, so that’s too long for Suttle to wait. Vech and Suttle are the only real future third base options in the minor leagues– I just wonder what the Yankees envision their futures being like. Even if only one works out (which is still not something I’d bet on), there’s nowhere to put them.
- The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
  
  weren’t both utley and howard in their mid to late 20s before they made it to MLB? suttle’s 22… does he really have to move THAT fast? is he really not going to make it if he doesn’t have a big year next year? it’s very rare for a prospect to move through the minors within a couple of seasons, it takes time.
  - dan
    
    Utley skipped AA completely and made it to the majors when he was 24, but didn’t stick for good until he was 26.
    
    Howard made his splash at age 25 and was held back by Thome for a while.
    
    Yes, Suttle is only 22, but look at the level he’s playing. Next year he starts high-A at age 23, which puts him behind a lot of his peers (college bats drafted high or given over-slot bonuses). If he goes one level at a time with everything going well, he’d be in the majors at age 26.
    - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
      
      and is there something wrong with that?
      - dan
        
        For the average guy, no. But the yankees gave him $1.4 million dollars.
        
        TurnTwo
        
        who cares?
- A.D.
  
  A. A bit harsh, he either progresses or doesn’t, I imagine they wanted to give him a full year at one stop, if he crushes A+ next year they’ll move him up, if he doesn’t maybe he’s not that good of a hitter after all. But coming up at 26 isn’t the worst, sure I’d rather he came up at 23 and mash, but we get him for 6 years once he comes up either way. Youkilis didn’t play a full season in Boston until 27, he’s a solid ball player.
  
  B. I’d say you can move Suttle to 1st or have him DH, maybe try a corner outfield slot, if he can hit, they’ll find a place for him, especially since we’re an AL club
giselle

is hughes pitching on thursday vs pawtucket?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

“He’s got a lot of innings, but they’re controlled innings,” Contreras said. “He doesn’t get dry humped. If he gets up (in the bullpen) he’s in the game.”

That’s a quote from Nardi Contreras on the amount of innings Mark Melancon has pitched this season (per Chad Jennings). Just thought I’d share that.

http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.....reras.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

Francisco Rodriguez=O-VER-RA-TED! clap clap clapclapclap, O-VER-RA-TED!
A.D.

Velocity deabte over, per Chad Jennings interview:

Pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras is here with Hughes and watched both of his rehabs in Charleston. Contreras said Hughes looked about as good in his last start as he ever has with the Yankees. His fastball command and velocity were both very good — 93 to 95 mph, not 101 like the stadium gun showed — and Contreras said the curveball was as sharp as it’s been since 2006 when Hughes was so good for Trenton.
A.D.

Looks like AJAX is going to be one of those streaky hitters, that can flat carry a team at times, and other times not so much. With any luck, with more experience he’ll decrease the not so much, and always be real good or flat raking