Kennedy strong in his final start of 2009
ByAzFL Surprise (9-2 win over Mesa) the season ends on Tuesday … Phoenix and the Peoria Javelinas will play in the AzFL Title Game on Saturday .. chances are it’ll be on MLB Network, but I’m not 100% sure
Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB – 4 HR in 19 games
Ian Kennedy: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 5-5 GB/FB – 50 of 66 pitches were strike (75.8% (!!!)) … he finishes his AzFL stint with a 4.25 ERA but a 2.26 FIP in 29.2 IP … considering how ridiculously offensive this league is, giving up just one homer is a minor miracle … IPK also said he feels great
Meanwhile, the list of minor league free agents was released today. Here’s who the Yanks are losing:
RHP: Paul Bush (AA), Michael Gardner (AA), Justin Pope (AA), Humberto Sanchez (AAA), Jay Stephens (AA), Jose Valdez (AAA)
C: Brian Peterson (AAA), Chris Stewart (AAA)
3B: Eric Duncan (AAA), Carlos Mendoza (AA), Cody Ransom (AAA), Marcos Vechionacci (AA)
SS: Doug Bernier (AAA)
OF: Edwar Gonzalez (AA), Freddy Guzman (AAA), Richie Robnett (AA), John Rodriguez (AAA)
I guess I was wrong that Jason Hirsh was eligible for free agency, so that’s good. They’ll probably re-sign a few of these guys, but most of them can walk. Old buddies Chase Wright and Justin Christian are free agents now. I’d love to see the Yanks bring in Ryan Speier, Andrew Brown, and/or Chad Cordero to add to that cache of dirt cheap, interchangeable relievers.
Oh, and the guys at Project Prospect rated Slade Heathcott the 14th best centerfield prospect in the game.
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The Tyler Austin Watch
To anybody: Chances Kennedy makes a significant contribution in 10′?
I’d say very likely.
In what capacity?
I think he could do something comparable to what Aceves did in ’09. He probably won’t be able to do it as quickly, but I think he could end up being a good mutli-inning bullpen/spot starter option.
As a starter – when (inevitably) we need a 6th, 7th or 8th starter at some point during the season b/c of injuries
Assuming Andy’s back, it’s
CC, AJ, Andy, Joba, Phil
at the moment. (I expect a low-cost high-upside vet to be signed – Wang, Harden, Duchsherer) Then it’s Aceves, Gaudin, IPK, Nova, and ZMac vying for long man and 6th starter.
Mitre could be in the mix too
I’d like to see J-Dukes brought in to do the swingman thing Aceves did this season, with Gaudin and Ace taking more traditional one-inning reliever roles (but obviously able to pitch a few innings here and there). I like the idea of having more than one of those types of guys in the ‘pen.
Of course Jason Hirsch isn’t available for free agency, he’s that guy sitting next to you, tryin’a pull a fast one!
Still makes me crack up. You picked the wrong guy!
I hope IPK proves the ‘haters’ wrong.
Hey, remember all the people who said Kennedy would never throw another inning in pinstripes? Oops.
Money Mike wrote: Um, where Austin Jackson? Most places have him as a top overall prospect, so he is at least a top 15 CF prospect…
Jackson regressed severely this year. He showed hardly any power, below average discipline, and below average contact ability. He’s very fast and a good line drive hitter, but that .388 BABIP will not be sustainable in the majors.
Ugh, 23 years old with no scouting experience and a bachelors degree in Business and Sports management. He’s no more qualified to talk about prospects than you or me or anybody else on the internet. I’ll stick with BA, BP, KLaw, Sickels etc.
Who is this Money Mike? We need to find him, and destroy him.
Heh, actually “Money Mike” questioned where AJAX was, the kid who made the list was who I was talking about.
I think K-Law is a bit sour on AJAX right now too.
With good reason, no? I mean, the power/walks are way too low for all those strikeouts. If he can’t keep up the line drive rate, his numbers could take a downturn.
Exactly. And the utter lack of power as well. Power, though, generally develops last.
Yeah, I’m not ultra-concerned about the lack of power because he’s a CF not an RF/LF, but it is a red-flag. I’d like to see his walk rate hit double digits, too. If he’s not gonna hit for much power, I’d at least like to see some improved on base skill.
That’s fine as most people are. He certainly would not say there are 15 better CF prospects in the minors right now. That would be insane. They have freaking Josh Reddick who went .245/.317/.446 in their Top 15.
To be fair, Reddick’s career MiL line is: .291/.343/.512
It just seems a little inconsistent. They penalize 22 y/o Ajax for putting up a .300/.354/.405 line in AAA. Shouldn’t 22 y/o Reddick get penalized for going .245/.317/.446 between AA and AAA?
Wow I am an asshole. Reddick isnt even on the list. I saw Kalish and thought Reddick. I fail again as usual.
Yes, he is. He’s on the OF list, not the CF list.
True, but I was making a stink about the CF list. Reddick aside, AJAX exclusion from the list is ridiculous. Che-Hsuan Lin and his .265/.355/.365 made it but not Ajax, makes sense.
It’s also the same site that had Junichi Tazawa as the 15th best pitching prospect in the minors.
I agree – that is way too low.
I put Tazawa 3rd or 4th. Do you realize that last year Tazawa was eating sushi in Japan? I mean, come on! He was eating freaking SUSHI in JAPAN. This guy is amazing.
Severely regressed? He hit 300 this year in his first year in Triple A, after hitting 285 in Double A last year. Power is the last thing to develop. His high strikeout total was alarming, but only 10 more than the previuos year. He needs to work on making more consistent contact. Powere will come later, though I never thought of him as a 25 HR per year guy.
Poor E-Dunk.
It’s also too bad J-Rod’s going. I always hoped he could be a good bench OF.
..Hopefully Duncan managed his money wisely.
What will we do without Eric Duncan to kick around anymore?
The only player I hope they bring back is Humberto Sanchez. If only to keep TSJC’s dream alive, “A ring on every level and a Fat Sanchez on every staff”.
considering how ridiculously offensive this league is
Freakin AzFL is always getting drunk at dinner parties, making racist jokes and making a pass at your little sister.
IETC
TCWA
This Comment Was Awesome ??
yes.
Bravo.
it really is a shame that rushing Duncan for half a season in 2006 caused him to suck for the next 3 years.
Don’t think that’s it. If he didn’t suck, he would have overcome being rushed at some point. Unfortunately he sucks.
Psst. Over here:
I think steve (different one) might have been a tad bit sarcastic with that first post.
ME=FAIL
/tucks tail between legs and runs away
Look a little further up, I certainly bested you in that category.
wow love the way you just slid that in at the end of the post there
Jason Hirsh? You think you’re gonna catch me in some silly game or something? I never heard of Jason Hirsh. Jason Hirsh plays where? Yea. See ya. Okay. You picked the wrong guy to think I’m going to give you some nonsense about, ya know, got the buddy sitting next to ya or something like that. The Yankees…. I never heard of Jason Hirsh. So if he’s on a team, tell me where they are hiding him…………….So the guy wasn’t making up a name. Jason Hirsh is a guy. Jason Michael Hirsh but he’s 6’8, 250……….I don’t remember the Yankees ever announcing the trade for him but he was picked up for the Yankees….by the Yankees for a PTBNL and he is in their minor league system. Jason Hirsh. So it wasn’t a bogus name that somebody was making up.
Adios, Cody
Anyone else a little concerned that the Yankees only have 1 player on that top Prospect list (2 when Catchers are updated) and no pitchers? While the list isn’t science, not exactly a good sign.
Most of the Yankees good pitching arms are high-upside guys who are still in the low minors. I’d expect their names start showing up in the next year or two.
plus joba, hughes, and ipk can’t really be considered prospects, but they’re all pretty young and pretty good
Hope so. Hurts not signing Cole but i guess it allowed them to get Slade. Maybe you just offer Damon arbitration so worst case you get 2 high picks for the future.
Well, they do have two in the 2B category.
And both Montero and Romine should rank in the top 15 catchers.
These lists rarely mean all that much in the long run. They’re just fun to talk about.
Its ashame that E-Dunc and Hungry Humberto never amounted to anything… I was really rooting for those guys to succeed.
Humberto was still coming back from injury and his numbers toward the end of last season looked pretty good. I wouldn’t be surprised if they resigned him, he could see the Bronx this year in some capacity.
Joesph and Adams were listed as 12 and 13 in the 2b rankings.
No one dominates minor league comp quite like IPK. This is why you trade some prospects when their value is at their peak.
Justin Pope! How could the Yanks give up on the marketing dream of the Pope pitching to Jesus?
No way dude, that’s what Ryan Pope is for.
Aside from Montero, last year was a big disappointment for the minor league system. Lots of injuries to pitchers; Brackman crapped out completely, Austin Jackson disappointed, Melancon took a step backwards. The Mets farm has a lot more high-upside guys only one year after emptying their system for Santana and Putz – I never thought that would be possible.
There is little from Class A and above, so we need to hope that some of the younger guys step up next year. I am hoping that the Yankees sign Chapman to give us someone to look forward to.
It’s hard to take Project Prospect seriously given their ample track record of fanboy-ism and Yankee Hating. Here’s a great example of their not being able to keep their comments and rankings consistent– on one hand they list Montero as the #3 overall position prospect in baseball… before in another piece they term him as “possibly [maxing out] as an average MLB player”.
Stick to Sickels, Jason Collette & “RHD” at RotoJunkie, KLaw, Derick at HQ, etc. The “Project” just shows that anyone with a bit of time and $11.95 on a credit card to give to GoDaddy can be an “expert”…