Fall ballin’
ByNow that the playoffs are over, we can get back on a regular DotF schedule. Here’s a recap of everything we’ve missed.
AzFL Surprise (11-1 loss to Mesa on Friday)
Colin Curtis: 0 for 4, 2 K – he had more walks than strikeouts prior to this game
Zach Kroenke: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 3-2 GB/FB – 21 of 36 pitches were strikes (58.3%) … PitchFX had him at 89.84-91.5 with the fastball, which is a good mile or two an hour faster than we’d seen him lately
Grant Duff: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB – 9 of 13 pitches were strikes (69.2%) … PFX had him at 93.3-96.3 with the heat
AzFL Rising Stars Showcase (West beat the East 8-7 on Saturday) the east squad had a 7-0 lead with two outs in the first, and they blew it
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB – 11 of 14 pitches were strikes (78.6%) … he actually picked up the win in this game … PFX clocked him at 95.27-95.8, so he was bringing the heat
And now for your weekly winter ball updates…
Dominican Winter League
Abe Almonte: 4 G, 0 for 3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Juan Miranda: 1 G, 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K – maybe he takes Hinske’s spot next year
Wilkins Arias: 10 G, 8 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Ivan Nova: 4 G, 3 GS, 18 IP, 12 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 13 K – he’ll be among the first callups next year
Jon Ortiz: 5 IP, 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Valdez: 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Mexican Pacific League
Walt Ibarra: 15 G, 10 for 29 (.345), 7 R, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 SB
Humberto Sanchez: 3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Venezuelan Winter League
Reegie Corona: 13 G, 9 for 29 (.310), 7 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K
Edwar Gonzalez: 17 G, 14 for 52 (.269), 7 R, 2 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 10 K, 3 SB, 1 CS
Carlos Mendoza: 3 G, 0 for 3, 3 K – well, that’s not very good, now is it?
Jesus Montero: 9 G, 3 for 26 (.115), 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Luis Nunez: 10 G, 8 for 31 (.258), 1 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
Marcos Vechionacci: 9 G, 6 for 16 (.375), 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CS
Romulo Sanchez: 11 G, 12.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 8 BB, 5 K – too many walks
Josh Schmidt: 7 G, 5 GS, 23.1 IP, 22 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 8 BB, 20 K – after a great start, things went south for him in a hurry
Pat Venditte: 7 G, 9.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Eric Wordekemper: 1 GS, 3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
The Puerto Rican League season starts on Thursday, though the rosters still haven’t been posted yet.
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Does Miranda really have a shot at holding down a major league bench role?
Also, how much stock (if any) should be put in winter ball numbers? What’s the level of competition in Mexico, Venezuela, or Puerto Rico?
I think he can do what Hinske did with the bat, but he can’t play the outfield. Unfortunately, the Yankees aren’t going to have an opening at first or DH anytime soon.
I wouldn’t read too much into winter stats. The Dominican has the best competition by far, then Mexico. Venezuela and PR are meh. It’s just good for guys to get extra reps in, that’s pretty much it. Make some extra cash, too.
Well, bad stats can’t be a good thing, right? Not so much in the case of a guy like Montero, who had a long layoff and is probably still figuring it back out. But for guys like the Fat Sanchezes, these performances are probably something of a negative indicator, no?
Even then, it’s no big deal. The Fat Sanchezes have thrown 15.1 IP combined, that’s indicative of nothing. Anything can happen in that short of a time frame. Plus it was after a month-long layoff, maybe there’s rust.
Touche. Neither of them is on the 40-man, right? I assume you have a 40-man/rule 5 post slated for the next couple weeks somtime?
Neither is on the 40-man; Humberto was released and re-signed to a minor league deal earlier this season.
As for the post, I’m shooting for the end of this week, early next week.
Winter-ball is basically a no-lose situation. As long as you don’t injure yourself, if you perform well you get a very slight bump up in prestige/acclaim/public opinion; if you perform poorly, nobody cares because it’s just winter ball and nobody takes it all that seriously.
So, it’s just like the acting in porn.
If only Mike Dunn had control consistently…
Have patience. Hopefully Eiland spends some time with him this winter, maybe work on that delivery or something. The good thing(or bad?) is that a lefty who throws 96 will be granted every possible opportunity.
lefty reliever? yeah he has about 20 years before he has to retire
Hopefully it comes around. Remember, he’s been a full-time pitcher for just four years.
Yea, that’s true. My hopes are way up though so hopefully I’m not disappointed
I saw the inning Dunn threw in the Rising Stars game and he looked good. Had 2K and a ground out if I remember correctly. If he can pitch like that he might have a chance at making the bullpen sometime next year.
I love Nova so much, been rooting for him for what seems like a decade. I hope he can stick as a back-of-rotation guy; to that end, this season and DWL made me very happy.
Oof, Venditte is getting worked. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
he’s pwning lefties, geting pwned by righties.
It’ll be interesting to see where they put him next year, and at what point they tell him to stop switch-pitching. He’s going into his age 25 season, right?
Yup, next year is pretty much make or break. He’ll start in Trenton and will see much more disciplined hitters.
any idea which of the minor league relievers we have will get a shot at the MLB Roster at the beginning of the year (Serious candidates)???
Kroenke? Dunn?
I would think both of those guys would get a shot because things definitely did not go better with Coke in the post-season….
I don’t buy Kroenke at all. Doesn’t throw hard or have much of a K-rate.
but he’s a lefty!
Given the way the Yankees handled Joba and Hughes in addition to Coke, Robertson and Aceves I’d say any quality young arm who is performing has a shot if there is a need. Kennedy, Dunn, Kroenke, Nova, Mcallister could all get a call. Joba and Hughes in the pen have shown they won’t hesitate to put a starter in the pen as a reliever.
Looks like Nova and McAllister will be the two most likely to get callups next year if a need arises in the rotation.