Montero continues to rake, but Tampa falls

May 29, 2009 by Mike Axisa 46 Comments

Two years ago today on DotF, Eric Duncan went 3 for 3 with a pair of homers, and I foolishly started to believe that he might be putting it together.

Jesus Montero was the hottest prospect in the minors this week, and I’ve heard some rumblings that the Yanks are ready to move either Montero or Austin Romine up to Double-A so both guys can catch on a full-time basis. Montero’s the clear favorite for the promotion.

Ray Kruml was placed on the DL with a lower body injury, and JB Cox was disabled with an unknown injury. Also, the college baseball postseason started tonight, and The College Baseball Blog has got you covered.

Triple-A Scranton (4-1 win over Louisville)
Reegie Corona: 1 for 4, 2 K – hitting .127 in 14 AAA games
Austin Jackson: 0 for 4, 1 K
Todd Linden: 1 for 4, 1 R
Shelley Duncan & John Rodriguez: both 2 for 4 – Shelley scored a run
Juan Miranda: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K – jacked a 3-run homer off a southpaw … he’s actually hitting LHB better than RHB this year (.953 OPS vs .798)
Justin Leone: 0 for 2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 2 for 3, 1 E (fielding)
Chris Stewart: 1 for 3, 1 RBI
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 7-8 GB/FB – 67 of 103 pitches were strikes (65%)
Mark Melancon: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2-2 GB/FB – 19 of 30 pitches were strikes (63.3%)

Double-A Trenton (10-5 win over Altoona)
Eduardo Nunez: 1 for 3 – left the game in the bottom of the fifth after being taken out at second while turning a double play
Marcos Vechionacci: 1 for 2, 1 HBP
Colin Curtis & Justin Snyder: both 2 for 5, 1 K – Curtis drove in two & walked … Snyder doubled, drove in a run & scored another
Chris Malec: 1 for 5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Jorge Vazquez: 2 for 3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 E (throwing) – 33 RBI in 31 games
Edwar Gonzalez: 0 for 4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 HBP
Kevin Smith: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Kyle Anson: 3 for 3, 3 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 E (fielding) – that’s a helluva game right there, minus the error of course
James Cooper: 2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HBP
Wilkins DeLaRosa: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 10-3 GB/FB – allowed 3 homers, meaning he’s allowed 6 jacks in his 27 IP with Trenton (2.00 HRper9)
Mike Dunn: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1-1 GB/FB
Amaury Sanit: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-2 GB/FB

High-A Tampa (3-0 loss to Fort Myers)
Austin Krum & Wady Rufino: both 0 for 3 – Krum was hit by a pitch & doubled a runner off first from CF
Matt Cusick & Brandon Laird: both 0 for 4 – Laird K’ed
Jesus Montero: 2 for 4, 1 2B – 10 for his last 20 with 4 doubles & 2 homers … allowed a stolen base to one of the best basestealers in the minors
Austin Romine: 1 for 4, 1 2B
Damon Sublett, Jack Rye & Walt Ibarra: all 1 for 3 – Sublett K’ed
Ryan Zink: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 9-7 GB/FG
Charles Nolte: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 4-2 GB/FB – just 13 K in 25.2 IP (4.56 Kper9)

Low-A Charleston – they’re going to get a crack at a future HOFer tomorrow
Game 1 (2-0 win over Greenville) completion of yesterday’s game, which was suspended due to rain
Abe Almonte & Dan Brewer: both 0 for 4 – Brewer K’ed thrice
David Adams, Melky Mesa & Corban Joseph: all 1 for 4 – Mesa hit a solo jack, his league leading 12th homer … CoJo stole a base, scored a run & K’ed
Jose Pirela: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Taylor Grote: 0 for 2, 1 HBP
Mike Lyon & Chase Weems: both 0 for 3 – Lyon K’ed once, Weems twice
Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 6-3 GB/FB – came out after the rain … he’s starting to hit his stride, good to see
Brandon Braboy: 3 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 6-1 GB/FB
Game 2 (5-4 win over Greenville)
Abe Almonte & Mitch Abeita: both 0 for 4, 1 BB – Almonte scored a run & K’ed … Abeita allowed a passed ball & K’ed thrice
Dan Brewer: 1 for 2, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 , 3 SB – sleeper’s having himself a nice little season
David Adams: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K
Melky Mesa: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Corban Joseph & Jose Pirela: both 1 for 3, 2 BB – Joseph swiped a bag, scored a run & K’ed twice … Pirela, doubled, K’ed & was picked off first
Neall French: 0 for 3, 2 BB
Hector Noesi: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 4-9 GB/FB – 10 ER allowed in his last 18.2 IP after 0 ER allowed in his first 27.1 IP
Casey Erickson: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Pat Venditte: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB

alan

What will it take to get Venditte promoted?
Do we have to start a campaign or something?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak
  
  A third arm.
  - Chip
    
    Is that to neutralize the switch hitters?
  - Bryan
    
    Maybe he can throw with his feet.
  - Benny Blanco
    
    I have a third leg.
- Rich I.
  
  He is currently working with two former watermelon seed-spitting world champions, who are teaching him the art of the “spitball.” From what I’ve heard, the ball is gripped between the teeth in a manner similar to how a knuckleball is held in the hand. He then takes a deep breath and spits as far as he can. Word is he can already spit 70+ mph over a distance of 90+ feet; he expects to reach 90 mph with practice.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak

Kei Igawa is seriously the best AAA ever.
- alan
  
  Sad, really.
- ARX
  
  Think we can spin his numbers there and sucker persuade someone into a decent trade? ;)
  - Accent Shallow
    
    His 2007 numbers, absolutely. Unfortunately, his K-rate went from excellent in AAA (9.0 K/9) to 6.7 (2008) to 5.5 (this year).
    
    Maybe his stuff has looked better, but who knows.
  - The Scout
    
    The Yankees reportedly turned down a chance to deal him to the Padres after his first year, still determined to redeem the original signing decision. Now he is the solid anchor for the Scranton staff as the real prospects move through….
- anonymous
  
  Igawa + salary for a decent reliever or prospect. We’re paying him anyway so its no loss. Someone has to be interested.
  - Bryan G
    
    the Pirates have had luck with our people before. maybe the D-backs? Iggy needs a BIG pitchers park to play in. San Diego was mentioned last year, but their farm system is one of the worst right now.
    - http://teamnerdrage.com leokitty
      
      Chase Field is a pretty big hitter’s park, Arizona would not be a good fit.
    - Rich
      
      Who cares about his farm system. We’ll take draft picks.
      - The Scout
        
        Baseball rules prohibit trading draft picks.
Jake H

Montero is a beast.
- Bryan G
  
  if he gets the call to AA, anyone know if the Easter League is known for it’s base stealing?
  - Stephen
    
    Easter is known for its colorful eggs, I believe.
    
    sorry, had to do it
- emac2
  
  ESPN called him the best teenage hitter in the world today.
  
  Jim Gray?
Drew

lol love the K man. Too bad he can’t pitch in the bigs…
John

Montero!!!
Accent Shallow

You guys had a Joba tag in May 2007?!

Really interesting that WDLR allowed 3 jacks with a 10-3 GB/FB ratio.
Bryan G

right now, is anyone in our system pitching better than DJ Mitchell and Wilkins DeLaRosa? If these 2 guys don’t crack the top 10 in our Baseball America ranking next year then someone must be on crack!
daneptizl

I’m starting to think that Igawa may be able to be traded…
Chip

Montero/McAllister/Venditte to be promoted soon? All three are just killing their respective leagues
daneptizl

Does the Revere pick still stand as a questionable call? I mean you gotta take SOME upside in the first…
- Stephen
  
  Also, Revere is 21 for 31 on steal attempts, which not as good a percentage as you would like, but I’m sure he’s fast as hell.
Chip

Brett Myers out for the season looks like. Would it just make too much sense for them to trade for Igawa?
- steve (different one)
  
  i think they want someone good…
- http://teamnerdrage.com leokitty
  
  It would make no sense to trade for Igawa when they already have a different version of him in Chan-Ho Park.
  - http://deleted RollingWave
    
    hey, Park could at least hit homeruns and have that awesome kickboxing move.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak
  
  The Phillies are aiming for Peavy/Bedard. I think it’s safe to say they are not interested in Kei Igawa.
- Rich
  
  I bet they start calling for Wang.
Farva

If Montero gets promoted to AA, what does that do the AA/AAA catching situation.

Yanks have said they won’t carry three catchers. So when Molina comes back, Cervelli gets sent down.

Cash is at AAA. Cervelli (I’m assuming here) would probably go to AAA as opposed to AA. If you put Cervelli at AA then Montero would be part of a time share, similar to the situation with Romine in Tampa.

I guess you could cut Cash. Have Cervelli start in AAA and Montero start in AA. Pliterre could back up either at AA or AAA. But I’m not sure the Yanks want to cut Cash.

Thoughts?
- Doug
  
  Yeah, like you said, I think Cash is the odd man out. Cervelli starts at AAA and the man-child at AA.
- rbizzler
  
  They also have Chris Stewart at AAA, who is cannon fodder. If they like Cash better than Stewart, he stays on as the back-up/time share with Cervelli at SWB.
  - Buddy
    
    “cannon fodder”… LOL
- http://statspeak.net dan
  
  AAA: Cervelli starting and Cash
  AA: Montero starting and either Stewart or Piliterre backing up
  
  Piliterre gets screwed over again, backing up in AA after being an all-star there last year. But what are you gonna do?
Jeffrey

Igawa is one of the most confusing pitchers ever. He has had no success with the Yankees, but sometimes he can dominate at AAA. It would be nice to be able to trade him. I’d rather he have success in the NL with a team than be stuck in Scranton. Any chance the Yankees can make him a reliever with the big club?

The Yankees have a good situation going on with catchers now. Posada seems to be healthy, Molina will be back eventually, and Cash is a decent back up. The point is they have 3 young catchers on their way up in the system with Cervelli, Montero, and Romine. Cervelli has surprised lots of people. Catcher seems to be one of the hardest positions to produce good players at. If one of these guys eventually takes over for Posada as he transitions to a DH role in the future they have internal options.
- Chip
  
  Send him to the Pirates! I wish I were kidding here but they seem to do wonders with out AAAA pitchers
  - Chip
    
    *With OUR AAAA pitchers
yankeewanabe

pete abrams thinks the yanks will move montero to aa so both him and romaine will catch full timr.
Mason

Montero in the bigs by late 2010 possibly?
Also, whats happening with Ajax? I havent heard much on how he’s doing, but the way melky and Gardner are playing we might not need him right away next season.
Andy in Sunny Daytona

they’re going to get a crack at a future HOFer tomorrow

I thought you meant Stolmy Pimentel.
Warren Wright

I would like to see the field positions on the players in the minor league recaps.