Pat Venditte does the unthinkable

June 16, 2009 by Mike Axisa 66 Comments

One year ago today on DotF, CJ Henry doubled in his first game of the year. He made it into only 19 more games the rest of the season.

Andrew Brackman hasn’t pitched in ten days now, no idea what’s up though. He wasn’t placed on the DL as far as I know, so that’s a plus. Oh, forgot to mention this yesterday, but Wady Rufino was released. He can hit a little bit and a solid org. guy, so he’ll find another job before long.

Robert Pimpsner has (most of) your Short Season Staten Island roster.

Triple-A Scranton (7-3 win over Toledo)
Kevin Russo: 1 for 5, 2 K – avg down to .348
Austin Jackson & John Rodriguez: both 2 for 4, 1 R – Ajax K’ed twice … J-Rod homered, drove in four & K’ed
Cody Ransom: 1 for 4, 2 K
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Juan Miranda: 3 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI – still OPS’ing over .900 vs LHP
Eric Duncan & Kevin Cash: both 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 4-7 GB/FB – 67 of 97 pitches were strikes (69.1%)
Mark Melancon: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 4-2 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 24 of 31 pitches were strikes (77.4%)

Double-A Trenton (4-0 loss to Connecticut)
Chris Malec & Justin Snyder: both 1 for 3 – Malec drew a walk
Everyone else: combined 0 for 22, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 E – that’s what happens when you face one of the best pitching prospects in the game, who walked a season high two batters
Zach McAllister: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 8-5 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – tired a bit in the 8th, when he allowed three hits and two runs
Kevin Whelan: 1.2 IP, zeroes, 3 K, 1-1 GB/FB

High-A Tampa (9-6 loss to Palm Beach)
Jack Rye, Damon Sublett & Brandon Laird: all 2 for 4, 1 BB – Rye doubled & K’ed twice … Sublett drove in a run & K’ed twice … Laird homered, drove in 3, scored twice & K’ed
Eric Fryer: 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Austin Romine: 0 for 5, 1 R, 2 K
Seth Fortenberry & Matt Cusick: both 2 for 5, 1 R – Fortenberry doubled & K’ed twice
Brian Baisley: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K
Jason Stephens: 5.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 Balk, 8-6 GB/FB – eek
Grant Duff: 1.2 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 0-4 GB/FB
Craig Heyer: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Low-A Charleston (3-2 loss to Augusta, walk-off style)
Jose Pirela, Dan Brewer & Ray Kruml: all 1 for 3 – Pirela & Kruml each K’ed … Pirela swiped a bag … Brewer drew a walk, scored a run & threw a runner out at the plate from LF … Kruml got caught stealing
Abe Almonte & Chase Weems: both 0 for 4, 2 K
David Adams & Corban Joseph: both 1 for 4 – CoJo scored a run
Melky Mesa: 0 for 3, 1 BB
Casey Erickson: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 9-1 GB/FB – he’s been working out of the pen all year, he’s not stretched out
Dan Kapala: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 Balk, 1 HB, 2-3 GB/FB
Jon Ortiz: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GB/FB
Pat Venditte: 0.2 Ip, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GB/FB – Pat Venditte is servin’ up walk-off hits? what has the world come too

Adam Warren: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K in 11-4 win over Southern Miss. – fourth rounder is only draftee in the College World Series this year … he won’t pitch again until at least Friday assuming UNC makes it that far, they’re one loss away from elimination … just 68 of 126 pitches were strikes (54%)

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Five walks by Warren? Bust.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

It’s probably because Ben was so mean to him the other day. He destroyed Pat’s confidence.

http://riveraveblues.com/2009/06/profiling-pat-venditte-2-13229/
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

Mike, what do you make of Krum’s promotion to AA?

He didn’t seem to be having that great a year, is this a move to make space for someone?
- http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
  
  Here’s the story if you missed it
  
  http://community.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/yankees/archive/2009/06/16/krum-promoted-to-trenton.aspx
  
  “Krum promoted to Trenton
  Just got this release from the Trenton Thunder…
  
  OF AUSTIN KRUM PROMOTED FROM TAMPA (HIGH-A) TO TRENTON
  He has played in 53 games so far this season with Tampa
  
  (Trenton, NJ)- The Trenton Thunder, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced that OF Austin Krum has been promoted from Tampa (High-A) to Trenton.
  
  Krum has appeared in 53 games for the Tampa Yankees and produced a .272 batting average, 14 RBI and a team-high 35 walks. Krum has played all but one game in center field. In 2008, the 6-foot left-hander appeared in 131 games for Charleston (Low-A), and batted .272 with eight home runs and 67 RBI. Krum was drafted by the Yankees in the 9th round of the 2007 draft out of Dallas Baptist University.”
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  They just need a body. Curtis is on the DL, as is one of the other OFers.
http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Also, on Russo: what’s his future with the organization? Just a possible UTI later on?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Yes.
  - http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD
    
    Thought so. Next year’s Pena?
  - whozat
    
    This response is a lot funnier if you think “UTI = Urinary Tract Infection” at first.
    - http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD
      
      Hehe, good call.
    - schuyler
      
      thats what I thought.
      its hard to predict when someone will get one of those.
- http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
  
  Say something funny, Mikey.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    something funny, Mikey.
    
    Hiyooo.
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

I don;t know how reliable this source is, but the DBB is reporting Gary Sanchez signed with the Yanks already, for less than was reported

http://dominicanbaseballuniverse.blogspot.com/2009/06/real-july-2.html#comments

“Gary Sanchez signed for a lot less money than expected great deal for the Yanks, their fans should be very happy.”
- Rick in Boston
  
  I’m not 100% certain, but isn’t the signing date 7/2? So this is still just speculation, right?
  - http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
    
    Exactly, that’s why I doubt the source.
    
    But guys are rumored to have deals in place in advance all the time. The Yanks had a deal hammered out with Inoa last year before the deadline, and the A’s swooped in and trumped it.
  - Reggie C.
    
    I’m sure the Yanks are the front-runners but this isn’t official till July 2nd. Right? If Sanchez did sign for less money than expected, which was something near $3 million, then maybe the budget has gotten completely blown for pursuing Sano.
  - Jake H
    
    They can’t officially sign the guy but teams have agreements with players ahead of time all the time.
dygg

Are Ajax’s strikeouts more often swinging strikeouts or looking? Does anyone know?
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

I’m lovin’ me some Taylor Jungmann. 93mph heat and he’s rail thin. The Longhorns are going to pumping out some serious arms soon; Jungmann, Ruffin, Workman, Green, Dicharry, those guys can all pitch.
- Jamal G.
  
  Heh, that’s like the 5th time I’ve seen that sentence in the past three days.
CB

Nice to see McCallister work extend himself again working into the 8th inning. Impressive that he’s efficient enough to do so on his pitch count.

Tim Alderson – what a stud. Hard to believe the guy is only the second best pitching prospect on his own team. The giants are stacked with arms. Henry Sosa is almost an after thought on that team alone.
Dorian

MILB has Brackman scheduled to pitch tomorrow.
- Whozat
  
  He did have a sequence of poor outings. Maybe they wanted him to take some time hammering on his mechanics in side sessions, or maybe he was resting some soreness.
Reggie C.

I really like McAllister’s line tonight. He was hittable for sure, but the ZERO walks shows that the game never got away from him. Way to keep it close Z-Mac!
Charlie

what should we make of Ajax’s strikeout problem? He’s hitting for a great average, but how much will the K’s hurt him when he makes the team next year?
- boobie
  
  I would be concerned with situational hitting, runner on 2nd 0 outs or runner on 3rd 1 out. Strikeouts in those areas obviously hurt the most. Players make outs, but productive outs are very important and anyone that strikes out alot usually wont make too many productive outs. This is nitpicking though really. Hitting .350 at any professional level is impressive obviously.
- ArodMVP217 FTW!
  
  people are saying that his babip is Bad. Don’t get me wrong, it is, but that is why he is in the minors. We have been expecting it to go down, but it really hasn’t yet.
  
  The problem is: You can logically expect teh babip to go down, but you can’t expect teh Krate to. but with the right coaching and more seasoning, familiarization to his swing (power), plate discipline, pitch recognition, etc, i am confident this kid will put up monster numbers; he is so hungry. we have to be patient, though.
Stryker

i’m excited to see brooks and hall have apparently signed with the team. i’m holding out hope for greene to sign as well – his stuff/story intrigues the hell out of me.
- Stryker
  
  can’t forget heathcott and murphy of course! but slade being at the game tonight and taking BP is a good sign, no?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
  
  I can’t wait for 2013, when our two lefties in the pen will be Brooks and Dunn.
  - Greg G.
    
    Very nice!
    - Jeffrey
      
      Haha agreed.
  - ArodMVP217 FTW!
    
    isn’t Crousett left handed? although I think he doesn’t like to be confined to just throwing with arms.
    - http://www.retire21.org Mike R. – Retire 21
      
      Melvin has two thumbs on his right hand making him the only pitcher to be ambidextrous with one hand.
      - http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
        
        IETC
  - UWS
    
    How long have you waited to break this one out?
Charlie

can juan miranda play an (acceptable) corner outfield? Or is he just a 1B/DH guy?
- whozat
  
  I think if he could, he would be. I mean…they’d LIKE to have some kind of LF option in the system to give them a bit of leverage in negotiations this offseason.
  
  I do know that Chad Jennings says that Miranda’s a better first baseman than he gets credit for sometimes, and he sees that team play more than most other people.
Reggie C.

I just checked out the SS-Staten Island squad. Angelini returns! Whoopee. Now he can set an error mark on 2 different minor league teams in the same season. …. I wish the best, and i may actually get out there to watch a game.

I’m most intrigued to see the catcher, Kyle Higashioka, in action. ‘Shio looks to be the best “prospect” name of the lot.
Jamal G.

Even with Carmen Angelini’s demotion, he still is the 5th youngest player on SI’s listed, active roster.
- Rick in Boston
  
  Which puts some of his problems in full season Low-A in perspective, at least a bit. He’s young and he’s going to need time to put everything together. Success at SI will hopefully allow him to go back to Low-A next year and progress up the ladder.
http://www.teamnerdrage.com leokitty

SI’s got some interesting people on it.

Higashioka, Arodys Vizcaino. Maybe Carmen Angelini will figure out how to field balls somewhat competently. If not, at least I’ll get some amusement when I go.
- Accent Shallow
  
  Meh, let’s see if he can figure out how to hit, as well.
DSFC

Warren walked 5 and threw 54% strikes? Sounds like a Yankee to me!
Jeffrey

How long is it until Ransom takes over for Berroa in the majors? Though both aren’t really necessary with Pena’s defense and decent bat.

I’m sure this has been said a bunch of times on here but the way Pena and Cervelli jumped from AA to MLB and have hit while playing great defense has been really impressive.
- http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD
  
  Berroa will not be on the team when Nady is activated and Ransom won’t either.
Blackdragon905

What does Warren top out at? He was mostly in the mid 80s from what 2 batters I watched today. Does he throw any harder than that?
Manimal

Mark Melancon at his finest, 77% strikes.
Chip

I can’t wait to see what Nik Turley has. Could be a really interesting team they have down in SI
- ArodMVP217 FTW!
  
  “¿¿iiDonde estan mis italianos Dominicanos!!??”
  from Kicking and Screaming
  - ArodMVP217 FTW!
    
    wth.. , to cross out words?
Jeffrey

Melancon should get a chance in the bullpen instead of Tomko. Now that the Yankees came to their senses regarding Veras maybe Melancon will get his chance.

The formula for an optimal reliever is one who has the following: ERA under 3, WHIP under 1.20, more than a K/IP, less than .6H/IP, less than .5BB/IP, and less than .1HR/IP. Few guys meet all of these criteria, so it’s best to have guys that meet most of these. Melancon happens to meet all of these except his H/IP is .690.

Bruney is the only Yankee reliever who currently matches each of my stat requirements. Robertson is only missing the BB rate.
- Accent Shallow
  
  Where did you source this?
  
  Or did you just make it up, based on how you think a reliever should perform?
  - Jeffrey
    
    I’m not sure if anyone else has actually stated this before. There must be a sabermetric measure that backs this up, maybe ERA+ will correlate.
    
    It’s not simply how I think a reliever should perform. After examining the numbers of many relievers in the majors it’s apparent to me these are difficult numbers to achieve. Pitchers that exhibit these stats can be considered complete pitchers with power, control, and that intangible that allows success under pressure. Each team is lucky if they have 1 or 2 guys that come within this range, but there are exceptions.
SamVa

Does Slade remind anyone of Ian Kinsler?
I know it’s a huge jump and a different position, but by watching the video of him I see the small quick speedy Kinsler type… could be just me.
- Reggie C.
  
  6’1 / 190 is small?
Conan the Barack O’Brian

and just after Ben’s Farns’ rant…
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4265038
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Benjamin Kabak
  
  That was Joe’s Farnsworth rant.
  - Conan the Barack O’Brian
    
    Oy. Well I signed off on it, and Kyle’s little dog, too.
  - http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
    
    All you bloggers look the same to him.
- Accent Shallow
  
  Hey, it worked for David Cone . . .
  - http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist
    
    These were real dogs, unlike what happened to David.
Accent Shallow

What’s the deal with McAllister’s spiking K-rate? I thought he didn’t have an out pitch, and was a white pre-2009 CMW?
J

Warrens pretty good, 90-92 with the 2-seam, 92-94 with the four-seam.
AndrewYF

So I guess Lyerly signed.