Jun
07

Romine picks up right where Montero left off

By Mike Axisa

Catcher Ryan Baker was added to the Double-A Trenton roster, so I guess that means Jesus Montero will be out a little longer after the collision at the plate the other night. The good news is that he hasn’t been placed on the DL, so it can’t be too serious. I’m certain we’ll see him DH a game or three before he resuming catching.

Make sure you vote for your favorite Yanks’ farmhands for this year’s Triple-A All-Star Game.

Triple-A Scranton (5-0 win over Charlotte)
Kevin Russo: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB - on base 32 times in 13 games this season
Austin Jackson: 2 for 5, 1 RBI, 2 K – third in the league with a .342 AVG
Cody Ransom: 0 for 2, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 HBP
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 3, 2 BB, 2 K
Todd Linden: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 K
John Rodriguez: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 K - .302-.387-.538
Justin Leone: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 0 for 4, 2 K – 4 for his last 28 (.143)
Chris Stewart: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 HBP
Casey Fossum: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 7-6 GB/FB – 51 of 78 pitches were strikes (65.4%) … he’s been really good for them since signing
Edwar Ramirez: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 4-3 GB/FB – 21 of 26 pitches were strikes (80.8%) … good to see him pound the zone like that

Double-A Trenton (10-3 loss to Portland)
Reegie Corona: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB – on base 11 times in the 4 games since being demoted
Colin Curtis & Edwar Gonzalez: both 0 for 3, 1 BB – Edwar K’ed
Chris Malec & Noah Hall: both 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR – Malec drove in two & K’ed twice … Hall did the same, but just once each
Kyle Anson: 0 for 4, 1 R, 1 E (fielding) – picked a runner off at first with a snap throw
Justin Snyder: 0 for 4, 1 E (throwing)
James Cooper: 1 for 3, 1 K
Ryan Pope: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 4-7 GB/FB – another solid start
Alan Horne: 1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2-1 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) - eek … opponents are hitting .352 off him this year
Mike Dunn: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1-0 GB/FB

High-A Tampa (10-5 win over Sarasota)
Austin Krum & Jose Gil: both 1 for 3 – Krum drew two walks, swiped a bag & scored 3 runs … Gil drew a walk, scored a run & K’ed
Eric Fryer: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Austin Romine: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 E (catcher interference) – 6 for 13 (.462) with a double, 2 homers & 8 RBI in his last 3 games
Damon Sublett & Mitch Hilligoss: both 1 for 4, 1 K – Sublett drew a free pass … Hilligoss doubled, drove in a run & committed a fielding error
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5, 1 RBI, 1 K
Wady Rufino: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 K – threw a runner out at home from RF
Walt Ibarra: 2 for 2, 1 R – left the game after a collision at the plate in the third
Jeremy Bleich: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 7-4 GB/FB
Noel Castillo: 1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-2 GB/FB
Tim Norton: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-5 GB/FB - opponents are hitting just .213 off him … not bad for a guy who missed two years with a major shoulder injury
Craig Heyer: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB

Low-A Charleston (4-1 win over Rome)
Jose Pirela: 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB – 9 for his last 18
Dan Brewer & Melky Mesa: both 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 K – Brewer drove in & scored one run
David Adams: 2 for 3, 2 RBI, 1 CS
Corban Joseph: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
Ray Kruml: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 2 K
Taylor Grote: 1 for 4, 1 K - rockin’ a little six game hit streak
Chase Weems: 0 for 1, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Manny Banuelos: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 4-7 GB/FB – 50-14 K/BB ratio in 47 IP
Casey Erickson: 2.1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 5-1 GB/FB
Pat Venditte: 1 IP, zeroes, 2-1 GB/FB – no strikeouts? BOOOOO!!!

Posted on Sunday, June 7th, 2009 at 7:56 pm in Down on the Farm.

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103 Comments »

Dorian says:

Who is Austin Romine’s MLB comp?

Dorian says:
whozat says:

The one that had the career that Varitek has had. There aren’t two…there’s the one that’s old now so he isn’t the player he was ten years ago.

Dorian says:

Lol I was joking but I gotcha

 
 
 

So, he’s gonna suck horribly and be a huge douchetard?

Spaceman.Spiff says:

BUT TEH NO-HITTAHHSS!

 

No, he’s going be “irreplaceable” and “the heart and soul” of his team in every way that is vague and ambiguous.

In every way that is measurable however, he will suck horribly.

Yeah, but, suck as horribly as Varitek? Those are some big shoes to fill. I don’t know if you really get suckitude of that capacity more than once a generation.

I think you’re setting the bar unfairly low with Romine. “He’s the next Varitek”… that’s a tough handle to lay on a kid that young. Pressure like that can crush a man.

JohnnyC says:

So, where does Romine go to score some HGH like Vagitek?

 
 
 
 

without the 4 no-hittas (TM)(R)(C)LTD.

Yes, his CERA will be through the roof and will have nothing to do with the guys actually throwing the pitches.

 
 

He’s going to give Peter Gammons nocturnal emissions?

See my last post.

 
 
I Remember Celerino Sanchez says:

If Romine starts wearing a C on his jersey, he’s dead to me.

How about a big ‘C’ as in ‘See you next Tuesday’?

I Remember Celerino Sanchez says:

Uh, well … no.

If you wear a C on your jersey, here are the circumstances when it’s acceptable:

1) You play for a hockey team, or
2) You play for the Cincinnati Reds, or
3) See #1 and #2.

Zack says:

2b.) chicago cubs

 
 
 

SELIG: Yes, Jeannine?
SELIG’S SECRETARY: Bud, I’ve got Jason Varitek on line one.
SELIG: Ugh. This assnozzle.
SELIG’S SECRETARY: Shall I tell him you’re out again?
SELIG: No, no, I’m gonna put a stop to this once and for all. Put him through.
VARITEK: Mr. Selig?
SELIG: Yeah, Jason, what is it?
VARITEK: I know you kinda said before it would be out of the ordinary, but I was wondering–
SELIG: No, Jason. No. You cannot replace the “C” on your jersey with an “S”. We do not allow “S”s to be stitched on the front of players uniforms. It’s in the damn CBA, and I’m not making an exception for you. I don’t care if Scott specifically had the Red Sox put it in your contract, the commissioner’s office does not recognize the position of “Supercaptain”. Do you have any idea the hoops we’d have to jump through just to renegotiate the apparel agreements with Majestic? The inventory chain management to get all those jerseys on the shelves at FootAction? THEY DON’T EVEN MAKE TACKLE TWILL “S”s IN THAT FONTSIZE, YOU DOLT! WE’D HAVE TO REOPEN THE FACTORY IN TAIWAN. WE’VE BEEN OVER THIS. IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Jesus, take off the mask before you try and listen to people and maybe you’ll start comprehending. Tool.
VARITEK: [pause] … Look, I still have some old Manny Ramirez jerseys, can I cut the “Z” off and turn it around and sew it on myself? I’m really good at sewing… Hello, Mr. Selig, are you there? Hello? Jeannine? I think I got disconnected… I’ll call back later.

… aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, SCENE!

Rich I. says:

Comment of the year nominee? Or is voting unnecessary?

 
Steve H says:
 
 
 
 
 
Jake H says:

Romine wants to get up to AA this year also.

 
Dave says:

Mike how did you manage to blog over at MLBTR, Gamethread here and DOtF? Did you eat dinner? Is it not as time consuming as I’m imagining?

And I did my laundry.

 

You try popping out a Dot-F one day. It’s 4 boxscores (5 soon) to pore over with commentary and highlights. Sounds like a good 1/2 hour to an hour to me.

It goes by in a flash. You’ll be clicking around player pages to find the bits for commentary, and you’ll look up and 45 minutes have gone by and you’re still on Scranton.

It’ll be 6 soon, too. Staten Island and the GCL Yanks fire up.

This is my fourth year doing DotF, so I’ve got a pretty good system. I banged today’s out in 25 minutes. Once the SI and GCL seasons start, yeah it blows. But it’s exciting seeing the new draftees and stuff.

V says:

But, you don’t even do the DSL, slacker! ;-)

DSL 1 and 2.

Otherwise, I’m taking back the Dorothy Mantooth compliment.

 
 
 

ahhhh . . .forgot about the GCL Yanks.

Mike is a saint for doing those every day.

Michael Axisa = Dorothy Mantooth

Ooooh, a Dorothy Dandridge name (and picture) drop.

My respect for you just doubled, Artist. You are a man of impeccable taste.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
YFan says:

What is the status on Montero?

YFan says:

Sorry did not read the beginning of the post.

 
 

Eric Duncan: 0 for 4, 2 K – 4 for his last 28 (.143)

I hope Eric Duncan is taking some of his salary to buy some Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Immersion DVD’s, because I’ve got a feeling he’ll be playing for Los Tigres de Quintana Roo in 2010.

If it helps ease the pain at all, Eric, they’ve got cheerleaders.

http://homerderby.com/wp-conte.....na-roo.jpg

AndrewYF says:

Jeez, 403 Permission Denied, Eric just can’t catch a break.

That sucks.

Here, try this non-hotlinked original source page. It requires some scrolling, but I won’t stand idly by while a man is denied permission to ogle scantily clad cheerleaders.

http://homerderby.com/archives/366

AndrewYF says:

You are a true gentleman.

 
whozat says:

Truly, they are lightyears ahead of us.

You want to hear something (completely true) about Mexico? If you are a prisoner in Mexico and attempt to escape, if they catch you they do not add any penalties to your sentence. Nothing. It is assumed that people naturally want to be free, and shouldn’t be punished for attempting to do so.

One caveat though, the prison guards can shoot you as you attempt to escape, even if you’re unarmed.

 
 
handtius says:
handtius says:
 
 
 
 

Alan Horne should join him.

True, but I bet Horne’s tantalizing potential leads at least two or three more organizations to become enraptured by his siren song and give him a few more ultimately futile shots to remain healthy for longer than a fruitfly’s lifespan. He’ll kick around in the Rangers, Marlins, and Padres organizations before ultimately joining the Campeche Pirates.

whozat says:

There’s no reason for the Yanks to punt on him yet. Someone might rule-5 him next spring, I guess, but if he still hasn’t managed to get healthy by then…I doubt it.

IIRC, the Yanks Rule 5′d him this year, and nobody bit.

Well, technically, they didn’t “Rule 5″ him as they didn’t choose to put him in the Rule 5 draft pool, they simply didn’t protect him from the Rule 5 draft because they chose to protect others and had no room left for him.

It’s not an active offering of his services to other teams for free, it’s a passive allowal of other teams to have his services for free due to him not being good enough to be protection-worthy.

/pedantic nitpick

 
whozat says:

True. He was “actively injured” coming into this spring, though. Like, he still had some rehabbing to do. If going into this offseason he’s still just kind of nursing tenderness in the shoulder or elbow on and off…I figure it’s still the case that no one will bite. Though you never know.

 
 
 
 
Jeffrey says:

How did they let him give up 8 R in an inning. Should have pulled him after 2 or 3 R. That doesn’t do much for his confidence.

 
 
 

Tim Norton: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-5 GB/FB – opponents are hitting just .213 off him … not bad for a guy who missed two years with a major shoulder injury

Tim Norton is a Lazarus Taxon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_taxon

Zack says:

The citation of Lazarus Taxon was far cooler and more esoteric.

 
 
 
Accent Shallow says:

Yes.

The Coelacanth is a prime example of a Lazarus taxon.

Accent Shallow says:

I may/may not own a “Coelecanth Rescue Mission” t-shirt.

 
 
 
 
Drew says:

Man-Ban is looking good.

Man-Ban is looking good.

Nope, not gonna touch that one.

 

Yes. He’s a bit smallish (make that extremely small) to stay as a starter. But his stuff plays up huge, plus he’s a lefty.

james says:

a bit smallish to stay as a starter? Ever heard of a guy named Pedro Martinez? You can’t write someone off as a starter just because of their size.

You ever hear of a guy named Ron Guidry?

I know that, but guys that size who are power pitchers tend to get steered to bullpen duty. The Yanks will start him now to have him gain experience, even if that’s where they see him long term.

BTW-When Manny Banuelos has 4 plus pitches, one of them being a 98 MPH fastball, call me.

Some call me...Nick says:

That’s what she said!

No she didn’t :(

 
Chris says:

It’s possible for ManBan to become a legitimate #1 starter, and still not be as good as Pedro in his prime. Of course, I don’t know anyone that had as good a 5 year stretch as Pedro did from 99-03.

A couple other small pitchers that succeeded would be Roy Oswalt and Tim Lincecum.

 
 
whozat says:

You can’t generalize from special cases. Also, look at Pedro’s longevity. Little max-effort guys usually can’t hold up over the long term with a starter’s workload.

Chris says:

It’s true they’re less durable than bigger guys, but even Pedro had an 11 year stretch (95-05) where he was a great pitcher and pitched basically a full season. The other thing to consider is that there isn’t this huge surplus of small durable relievers. I would guess that if a guy is going to breakdown as a starter he’ll probably breakdown as a reliever too (this assumes that the starter isn’t managed by Dusty Baker and the reliever by Joe Torre).

The real question (from a team perspective) is whether he can handle if for the 6 years before he becomes a free agent. After that, you can re-evaluate.

 
 
 
Accent Shallow says:

For some reason, short LHP are accepted a hell of a lot more than short RHP.

I’m guessing simple rarity.

Its not so much that he’s short (5′ 10″) as it is that he weighs 155 lbs. He’s just a very small guy for a MLB pitcher.

james says:

He just turned 18 in March. He still has time to grow and hit the weight room. I just think thats its ridiculous that some people can write him off as a starting pitcher just because he’s small

 
 
 

Ever heard of a guy called Nelson de la Rosa?

Mike, what’s our take on Matt Purke?

BI did a write up on him recently and I was wondering what you think.

http://www.baseball-intellect......att-purke/

How the fuck did this get here?

 
 
 
 
 
Some call me...Nick says:

Hey…this Edward Ramirez guy, he seems to have good stuff…0dds that he helps the big club later this year?

Edward Ramirez and that other pitcher, Keith Igawa, they both have some good potential. I’d love to see how they do once they both make their first ever appearance in the bigs sometime in the near future.

whozat says:

Is there ANY way that Kei Igawa could turn out to be useful? I mean…he’s 29, he’s a lefty, his peripherals in AAA are solid…it’s too bad the Giants don’t have anything the Yanks want, I feel like Igawa/Miranda + a little cash could be a nice deal for them, once they deal a guy like Sanchez for a corner OF bat. Miranda would be a huge upgrade over Ishikawa…that guy’s bat is NOT good enough to be a starting big-league first baseman.

Hmmmmm. . . any way Kei Igawa could be useful.

Bat boy?

Clubhouse attendant?

Mexican Cheerleader?

 
Chris says:

Could you imagine Igawa starting at Yankee stadium? I don’t think the batter would even need to swing to hit a home run.

Jeffrey says:

Someone needs to figure out a way to create a valid and reliable conversion factor for HR to estimate going from Scranton to New York. My guess is it would have to take into account the ballparks and the better skilled hitters in MLB.

Here is a rough stab I took to project Igawa’s HR totals in MLB using Hughes numbers in AAA and MLB this year.
Igawa would give up 2.182HR/9IP.
Hughes HR numbers are:
AAA .931HR/9IP
MLB 1.558HR/9IP

This method obviously isn’t perfect, but if its anywhere near 2/9IP I’ll pass. Its especially bad for a reliever, one swing could mean a tied game or worse. Coke certainly hasn’t fared well with his high HR rate in MLB despite that guys hit .218 off him.

 
 
 
 
whozat says:

::passes sarcasmometer over the post::

Hmmm…inconclusive…What do people think?

 
 

Don’t count him out, you could def see him back with the big club this year.

 
 

OK, Top 10 Yankee Prospects, in no particular order. Not based on upside, just on performance so far this year:

1-Montero
2-A-Jax
3-Z-Mac
4-Mark Melancon
5-Austin Romine
6-Christian Garcia
7-Manny Banuelos
8-Dan Brewer
9-George Kontos
10-Pat Venditte (Hate to do it, but he’s been great)

Honorable mentions to Dave Adams and Hector Noesi.

Drew says:

JoVa? The one and only Jorge Vaquez aka Mexican Thunder should be up there.

The guy is 27 years old and in AA.

But whatever. Make up a list of your own, that was the idea. Then we can all compare the lists and debate them.

Drew says:

I guess, Venditte is old for Low A though. JoVa’s only been in the system since December, AA is pretty good IMO.

whozat says:

Venditte is old for Lo-A, no question. Vazquez is old for AA too, though, and like…Kevin Millar is his upside.

I’d put Miranda on over Venditte, myself. Though I’d also put Venditte in Hi-A yesterday.

Drew says:

Yeah I don’t fully disagree but I love what I saw from Jorge in the WBC and he’s backed it up in Trenton. I like Miranda a lot but he’s been on a cold streak for a month. Hopefully it’s just a blip on the radar and Miranda gets back to mashing.

 
 
 
 
whozat says:

…No.

If you’re not going to put Juan Miranda on there, you can’t put the righty, older-at-a-lower-level version on there.

 
 
 

Hey Mike, what’s your take on Matt Purke? Seems to be the consensus Yankee draft pick.

BI did a write up on him recently and I was wondering if you like him.

http://www.baseball-intellect......att-purke/

I approve. Super-projectable with already very good stuff and good command. Lots to like there.

Doug says:

as per KLaw today:

“LHP Matt Purke is looking for “Rick Porcello’s deal” in the upcoming draft, according to industry sources familiar with his demands. Porcello, who was drafted 27th overall by Detroit in the 2007 draft, received a deal worth $7.285 million in guaranteed money, including a $3.58 million signing bonus, both of which eclipsed the previous records for a contract signed by a high school pitcher, held by Josh Beckett.

Purke is committed to TCU and probably moves out of the first round as a result of this demand, with few if any teams willing to commit that kind of money to a high school pitcher, but he could end up receiving a deal close to Porcello’s on August 15th with a team that takes him later on day one or even day two and tries to wait him out.”

V says:

Hmm, if there’s a chance he slips WAY down, I’d love to see the Yankees take him in the 5th round or so.

That’s risky. We’re not the only team with deep pockets.

But we pick ahead of the BoSox in the second round, and with the economy in Detroit (and elsewhere) I’m not sure anyone else will be spending big this year, so it could happen.

http://riveraveblues.com/09-draft-order/

 
 
 

Does the additional upside of Purke over Gibson outweigh the potential risk of him not signing?

Doug says:

imo, they can’t not sign their #1 pick this year.

whozat says:

That kind of thinking leads to wasting the pick on a college player that projects as a UT guy at best, or to paying 8MM for a guy who shouldn’t get more than 4MM.

Doug says:

hey, i’m all for taking guys with the biggest ceiling. i’m not one to play it safe believe me. but not having a #1 pick for two straight years would really set back the farm system (again imo)

 
 
 
Reggie C. says:

But does Purke have more front-line upside than Gibson? I don’t think so. Hopefully the Yanks are poring over any available medical records. If its b/w Gibson and Purke, give me Gibson. Remember that Gibson still dominated that playoff game injured.

 
 
 
 
leokitty says:

Is Erickson not starting anymore?

 
Nickel says:

Okay…I’m going to risk appearing really out of touch, but here goes: When did we acquire Casey Fossum??

leokitty says:

Early May when they needed someone to start that day.

 
Jeffrey says:

He has been pitching well for Scranton. Anyone else wondering why Fossum has a 2.18 ERA in Scranton when his MLB ERA is 5.45? Could he be an option as a long reliever or lefty out of the bullpen for the Yankees? Interestingly enough, according to the AAA splits he pitches better against right handers.

 
 
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