For one night, Garcia puts it together

by 95 Comments

Game 131: We do not support teams that use child labor
Not the best day at the office for A-Rod, Pettitte

Austin Jackson and Kevin Russo are headed to the Arizona Fall League. The Yanks still have five more spots left to fill – four pitchers and an infielder.

Triple-A Scranton (9-1 win over Buffalo)
Justin Christian: 1 for 5
Melky: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 K
Matt Carson: 2 for 5, 3 R, 1 K – threw a runner out at first from RF
Shelley: 1 for 3, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Ben Broussard: 1 for 3, 1 R, 3 RBI – 7 for his last 16 (.438) with 8 RBI
Nick Green: 2 for 4, 2 RBI – 6 for his last 8 (.750)
Eric Duncan & Chris Basak: both 0 for 4, 2 K
Chad Moeller: 1 for 4
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 6-9 GB/FB – 63 of 96 pitches were strikes (65.6%)
Zack Kroenke: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 4-0 GB/FB
Scott Strickland: 1 IP, zeroes, 1-2 GB/FB – all 5 pitches were strikes

Double-A Trenton (10-0 loss to Bowie)
Reegie Corona: 3 for 5, 1 R, 2 2B
Ramiro Pena: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 E (fielding, throwing)
Kevin Russo: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB – 5 for 10 since taking over the 3-hole when Ajax went on the DL
Frankie Cervelli: 1 for 5, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 0 for 5, 1 K
PJ Pilittere & Chris Malec: both 1 for 4, 1 R – PJ K’ed thrice … Malec doubled
Edwar Gonzalez: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
James Cooper: 0 for 4, 3 K
Jason Jones: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 7-8 GB/FB
Mike Gardner: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GB/FB – and there goes the game …
Jose Valdez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 4-0 GB/FB

High-A Tampa (5-1 win over Dunedin)
The Nunezes: both 1 for 4 – Luis drove in a pair … Eduardo swiped a bag
Kevin Smith & Josh Kreuzer: both 0 for 4 – Smith K’ed twice
Seth Fortenberry: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Andres Perez & Jose Gil: both 1 for 4, 1 R – Perez doubled … Gil drove in a run & K’ed
Tim Battle: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 K
Chris Kunda: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 CS
Chris Garcia: 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 9-1 GB/FB – that’s what I’m talking about
Mike Dunn: 2 IP, zeroes, 3 K, 3-0 GB/FB

Low-A Charleston (4-2 loss to Savannah)
Austin Krum: 0 for 5
Justin Snyder: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 SB, 1 E (fielding)
Jesus Montero: 2 for 4, 1 RBI – can he get his SLG over .500 before the end of the season?
Bradley Suttle, Brandon Laird & Abe Almonte: all 1 for 4 – Suttle & Almonte each K’ed twice … Laird hit a solo jack … Almonte also swiped a bag
Carmen Angelini: 0 for 3, 1 HBP – 1 for his last 14 (.071)
Ryan Zink: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 9-3 GB/FB
Craig Heyer: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 4-1 GB/FB
Jon Ortiz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HB – allowed both inherited runners to score for the blown save

Short Season Staten Island (9-1 win over Lowell)
Ray Kruml (11) & Jack Rye (13): both 2 for 4, 2 R – Kruml drew a walk & committed a fielding error … Rye doubled
David Adams (3): 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Dan Brewer (8): 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K – 8 doubles in his last 10 games
Mike Lyon (24): 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (throwing)
Jahdiel Santamaria & Taylor Grote: both 0 for 3, 1 RBI – Santamaria was hit by a pitch & scored a run … Grote K’ed three times
Mitch Abeita (19): 1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 PB
Roy Gomez: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB
Casey Erickson: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 6-3 GB/FB – 47 K in his last 38.1 IP
Mike Obradovich: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-4 GB/FB
Jason Kiley: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 4-2 GB/FB

Rookie GCL Yanks (5-4 win over GCL Braves) season ends tomorrow
Emerson Landoni: 2 for 4, 2 K
Kyle Higashioka (7), Jimmy Paredes, Garrison Lassiter (17) & Mitch Delaney (21): all 0 for 4 –Higashioka K’ed … Paredes scored a run & K’ed … Lassiter K’ed twice & is obviously a bust … Delaney scored a run & K’ed twice
Zoilo Almonte: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Chad Gross (28): 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Alvaro Ramirez: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B
Chris Smith (5): 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K – 2 for his last 18 (.111) … rockin’ a .392 OPS
Mikey O’Brien (9): 4.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4-4 GB/FB
Clint Preisendorfer (42): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1-3 GB/FB
Rich Martinez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 4-0 GB/FB
Shawn Joy: 1 IP, zeroes, 3-0 GB/FB

Game 131: We do not support teams that use child labor
Not the best day at the office for A-Rod, Pettitte
  • A.D.

    Garcia going to start in Trenton next year? He and Z-Mac could be a hell of a 1-2 punch in the AA rotation

  • TurnTwo

    maybe Chris Malec gets a go in the AzFL?

  • A.D.

    Could be a real cluster of arms in the minors next year, figure:

    Wright
    Aceves
    Igawa
    Marquez
    Horne (if hes healthy)
    Hacker
    Jones
    Coke
    Kontos
    Z-Mac
    Garcia

    should all be in the AA & AAA rotations, now Coke could go to pen, and this doesn’t even count Hughes and IPK, which aren’t a lock to start in the bigs, nor Nova or Pope if they pitch well enough to move it.

    Don’t want to potentially stunt players, somethings got to give

    • Ed D

      brackman too

    • Steve H

      Out of all of these guys, some are bound to develop into major leaguers. Clearly they won’t all pan out, but this is certainly the most potential arms we’ve had in years.

    • Hitman

      You completely left out De La Rosa. Jones will be released to make room. Coke will probably head to the bullpen as will Marquez. That frees up 3 spots in AAA but they’ll still have Kontos, Hacker, Aceves, Kennedy and Igawa. Wright might be the odd man out. It’s going to be between him and Hacker I suppose.
      The real problem will be what happens if MaCallister and De La Rosa pitch like they have this season in Trenton. The yankees would have no choice but to move them to AAA and demote a couple of guys to AA who may not deserve to be demoted.

      • A.D.

        why would Jones necessarily get released? Igawa is the real name that sticks out, he’s taking up a rotation spot when he’s been demoted to uselessness.

        Forgot about De La Rosa

    • Emac2

      Who was it that said the other day we didn’t have enough pitchers to make a trade?????

  • A.D.

    Brackman, Garcia or Marquez to AFL?

    • TurnTwo

      Brackman is going to Hawaii, i think.

      Marquez isnt the prospect to get to go to Arizona.

      • A.D.

        he needs innings

        • TurnTwo

          send him to the dominican winter league. he’ll get crushed in Arizona.

          • tremont

            I figure Garcia and Cervelli have to go to either Arizona or Hawaii. Obviously Brackman. Probably JB Cox. DJ Mitchell makes some sense. Bleich if he is healthy enough. Maybe Juan Miranda if they wanna see if he can contribute next season.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Brackman’s going to Hawaii. Garcia and Marquez would be good picks for the AzFL.

  • TurnTwo

    i would guess you have to see Matt Carson get some ABs in Sept, being as though he’s either gotta be put on the 40 man roster or be made available and perhaps taken in the Rule V draft, right?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      He can become a 6-year MiL free agent after the year if he’s not added to the 40-man. He’s just a really good org guy, not worth the 40-man spot in my opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    So Mike, is Reegie Corona a real prospect? Meaning, can we reasonably expect him to be an heir to Derek Jeter or are our (trying saying that three times fast) best in-house options Carmen Angelini and Garrison Lassiter (you were just waiting to make a crack about his hot start, weren’t you?)?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Corona’s career line is .261-.334-.332. Non-prospect, no matter how good the glove is.

      • TurnTwo

        but i heard he’s a hustler, runs out EVERY ground ball. gotta count for something.

        • Emac2

          It does mean something. It means he should have the drive to succeed in a new career at some point.

  • E-ROC

    Mike, do you think the Yanks would rush Chris Garcia through the system, given his fragility?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      No, but he’s got to start doing something. Start him in Tampa so he can stay in the warm weather, then move him up to Trenton in May. Let’s see what happens then.

      • E-ROC

        Thanx.

  • D.B.

    hey Mike,
    what ever happened to Carlos Urena and Prilys Cuello?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Cuello is the utility man in Charleston, no idea on Urena. He never even made it to the States.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        He was doing his thing in the DSL, got injured and hasn’t played since.

        Kelvin De Leon has been raking…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Mets bullpen, you just gave up a game-tying 2B to Eric Bruntlett. FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • A.D.

    Is Garcia a rule V after this year?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Yeah, but he’s not worth protecting. If someone wants to try to keep him on their 25-man roster all year, more power to them. I’m certain he’ll get offered back at some point.

      • Emac2

        I totally disagree – Too high a ceiling to leave unprotected and pitchers like that can help a MLB team out of the pen.

  • Ivan

    I like A-Rod and I think he gets under appreciated and inrationally killed by fans/media.

    For the first time this season to say the least, I was absolutely ticked at him. I was mad like crazy.

    And I knock people who inrationally knock A-Rod, but I gotta knock guys (like Jamal) who inrantionally defend him. Sometimes you gotta see with ya eyes, A-Rod not doing great in spots like that. He needs to step up period.

    Morning, I clean the slate. Yankees have two games. Win em and we in good shape. A-Rod, I love ya man, and Im cleaning the slate.

    I have confidence in A-Rod but not great confidence and he’s gonna earn some of it and I know he can do it. Just focus man.

    As for the yanks, he we get em next time and the main point is to take 2 out of 3. Just stay calm yankee fans.

    PS: The mets suck ass.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      I wasn’t defending him. I never once said he didn’t deserved to be booed for his performance tonight. My gripes were booing him while he was making defensive plays and the fans being so light on everyone else in the lineup.

      How can I defend someone who’s Out:AB ratio was 1.4?

      • Ivan

        I don’t like when fans boo people just to boo and what they did to A-Rod when he was on defense was pretty weak.

        At the same time, and I think you understand what Im trying to say, is that he fustrate me with shit like that when he could do much better.

        I mean Pujols wouldn’t do that and A-Rod is just as talented as pujols as a hitter.

        I still believe A-Rod is the guy for this team but he can’t do what he did tonight. Lets Go A-Rod, ya better than that.

        Again as for the yanks, people were crazy to say they need to sweep. Just take two out of three and the yankees can certainly do it with the last two games. A-Rod, we need you.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.

      Can we try to keep the A-Rod comments in either the game thread or the soon-to-come game post please? DotF is for the day’s minor league results. There are plenty of places to talk about tonight’s game.

      • Ivan

        my bad Ben.

      • Emac2

        We can talk the Mets but not Arod???

        I know the Mets resemble a minor league team but isn’t that really pushing it?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Gary Cohen: “The Mets don’t score tack-on runs”

    Gary, the Mets scored two runs in the first inning and ultimately led 7-0. What more could you possibly want? Just blame the woeful bullpen, it’s OK.

    • Ivan

      Well if the mets lose, at least it will make my night feel a little bit better.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        I wonder what will be the bigger back-page story tomorrow if the Mets lose?

        • Ivan

          I have a feeling it’s A-Rod. A-Rod sells papers and they will have a field day on him.

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          A-Rod probably.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

            Normally I would not even question it. But we are talking a 7-0 lead against the Phillies, the Mets’ bullpen blowing up again, the Mets choking against the Phillies again, and the Mets in falling to second place because of the loss with Pedro Martinez blowing a 7-0 lead.

            I could see the NY Post doing a split choke job cover.

    • JohnnyC

      As much as people deride the Yankees broadcasting teams through the years, is there more of a homer working the TV booth than Cohen. When he was on radio a couple of years ago, during a Subway Series game at Shea that the Yankees lost pretty convincingly he leaned out of the booth and waved bye-bye to Yankees fans as they left the game early. On the air! Creep.

  • NYFan50

    Hm, maybe I’m mistaken but I haven’t seen CoJo’s name anywhere recently. Any idea where he has been?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Didn’t play today, yesterday the box wasn’t updated until late, and Sunday they were off. Maybe that’s why you haven’t seen his name lately. I hadn’t noticed.

  • Ivan

    Lets say if Montero gets 20HR’s and 55-60XBH, does he have a chance to be ranked in the top 20?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Nah. The Top 20 is rarified air, that’s reserved for the best of the best. Too many question marks about Montero’s D for him to get up their.

      • Ivan

        yeah maybe that’s a stretch. Nevertheless his bat is rarified air though.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    David Wright, hustle fail.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Kenny Rogers, please shut your dumb, hick mouth:

    “I don’t like it,” Rogers said after MLB announced Tuesday that instant replay will start being used this week. “I think that it overshot the mark by far just because, what, in a Yankee game someone didn’t get a homer? Please. It’s happened thousands of times. That’s part of the game. It’s the beauty of the game. Mistakes are made.”

    http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5htf0iligmAGbXlPgNjVW2edVPv0Q

    • Ivan

      Fuck Rogers.

      That dude try to ruin that 96 team with his suckiness.

  • TurnTwo

    if there is a god, and i know there isnt, but please let Cole Hamels get a hit here.

  • Ivan

    Boy how sweet it would it be if Heilman gives up the GW hit to Cole Hamels.

  • Ivan

    Walk Off Homer here.

  • TurnTwo

    wow, bases loaded, 2 outs, bottom of the 11th.

  • Reggie C.

    Mike A.,

    A Tampa rotation of Chris Garcia, McAllister, & Betances is a a hitter’s nightmare. I doubt Garcia or McAllister is gonna spend much time in Tampa. Assuming both stay healthy, I can see both in Double-A before mid-season 2009. Easily.

    I’m just really dying to see Betances turn the corner. He’s the closest thing to unanimous top prospect we got, so i’d love to see this kid just turn into the beast of High-A.

    One last thing. Does Brackman have to pitch well in Hawaii in order to start in High-A? Or are we all assuming he’s gonna skip Charleston.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Nah, they’re just trying to get Brackman some innings. I bet he starts in Tampa to keep him close by and to have him pitch in warm weather.

      Oh, and no need for the A., just Mike is fine.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

        Oh, and no need for the A., just Mike is fine.

        Heh, so is that right next to the Tim Battle K’ed keystroke?

        • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

          I dunno, don’t like the A. for some reason. Looks weird.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

            So couldn’t you just as easily take the A. off yourself?

            Oh, I don’t know if you saw it in the game thread, but thanks for dropping that Smash album here. Became an instant fan of The Offspring because of that album.

            “I’m not a trendy asshole…” Mariano, I love that song.

            • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

              I suppose I could, but that would be a pain in the ass.

              Your welcome, classic album.

              • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

                You could have some fun with it though, like on some The Artist Formerly Known As Prince type shit.

            • TurnTwo

              you know, The Offspring “Smash” and Green Day “Dookie” were the first ever CDs i bought for myself back in 6th grade. great stuff.

    • D.B.

      mcallister is probably going to start in trenton. but heredia will be in tampa with brackman, and de la rosa, with bliech in charleston waiting for a call up

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Since Joe Torre can’t gamer his Dodgers to a win over the Nationals, doesn’t that render him utterly useless?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

    Is anybody else suffering some slow connection issues with their Optimum internet connection? For the past few days I could barely play Madden online because of the immense lag.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

      If so, are you in Brooklyn?

    • TurnTwo

      i havent had any trouble, but i’m in northern NJ.

  • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

    I love it, another inning for Heilman.

    • yankeemonkey

      Phillies ineptitude to score tonight rivals the Yankees’….

      • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

        Well, they did put 7 runs on the board.

        • yankeemonkey

          That’s true, but it seems like they’ve squandered a ton of chances in the extra innings, especially considering how shitty the Mets’ pen has been.

  • TurnTwo

    and thats why, if you are trading for a 1B this offseason, you target Prince Fielder, no matter how fat he is, over Ryan Howard.

  • http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com steve

    Could somebody try to answer a few questions for me?

    1) What has Brett Smith missed the season with?
    2) What happened to Josue Calzado – is he being made a pitcher?
    3) I heard Tim Battle has a good arm – you think he’ll be converted next year?
    4) What types of prospects go to the Arizona Fall League and Hawaii?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      1. Shoulder issues, as in multiple.
      2. Calzado’s being transitioned to the mound.
      3. Probably not, he’ll probably get released this summer.
      4. AzFL is more advanced guys, guys that are closer to the majors. Mostly AA and AAA, very few A guys mixed in. Hawaii is for the lower level guys, A ball and recent draftees.

      • http://yankeesmtom.blogspot.com steve

        Awesome. Thanks.

  • yankeemonkey

    Brett Myers up with the bases loaded and no outs. I don’t know if I can root for a positive outcome in this particular situation.

    • yankeemonkey

      Alright, now that Myers has made an out, Phils can go ahead and win. Thank you, Chris Coste!

  • stuart

    yeah where are the Arod groupies tonight..

    just hit the ball hard to the outfield with the bases loaded…

    he is a piece of work, yes let me hear all the excuses.

    BTW the ump was terrible terrible tonght and Lawrie was out at 3rd that cost them 2 addtl. runs….

    • Eric

      This guy is a clown.

      Stay on thread message.

  • Hitman

    If Garcia does well in AFL I could easily see him heading straight to trenton along with MaCallister and De La Rosa. That’s going one exciting pitching staff in 2009. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the SWB rotation.

    • Reggie C.

      Its a good bet that IPK will start ’09 in Scranton. He should be there at least to mid season. I want to see domination, and he’ll probably deliver. At that point he’s a good midseason fill-in in case of injury. The arm will be loose and his confience high.

      We can’t forget that Horne will again be stuck in Scranton, alongside Igawa. Chase Wright should also be up there. All in all, the Scranton rotation is built to win.

      No prospects i agree (horne is 26 yrs old + injury prone = not a prospect). But Scranton should win a bunch of games.

  • Ed

    What about Humberto Sanchez?

  • Northrop

    Mike,

    If Humberto Sanchez is selected, does he go to Hawaii or AzFL?

  • Old Ranger

    To-night and tomorrow I go see SWB @ Buffalo, then Friday/Saturday @Rochester. Haven’t had time to see them for a while, they have some AA players I have wanted to see play against better players. I think Phil pitchers to-night, stats be dammed…I still go with what I see. I like to see the body language, attitude, motion, pitching time, pitch selection, movement, control and command. The hitters are a bit easier to gauge, just look for the keys. I hope they play good games, they have rapped up the title…well almost, but who is going to beat them? 27/08??