Culver goes deep twice as SI wins big

July 27, 2011 by Mike Axisa 59 Comments

Triple-A Scranton (3-2 win over Buffalo)
Austin Krum, CF & Luis Nunez, 2B: both 1 for 4, 1 2B – Krum struck out twice … Nunez drove in a run and whiffed
Greg Golson, RF: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K – threw a runner out at second
Jesus Montero, DH: 0 for 4 – .000/.000/.000 in his last four at-bats, so he’s slumping again
Mike Lamb, 3B: 0 for 4, 1 K
Jorge Vazquez, 1B: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K – 21 K in his last 39 at-bats
Jordan Parraz, LF: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K – ten for his last 28 (.357) with two doubles, a triples, and the homer
Gus Molina, C: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K
Doug Bernier, SS: 0 for 3
Pants Lendleton, RHP: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 6-5 GB/FB – 64 of 94 pitches were strikes (68.1%) … just 31 K in 45.2 IP with SWB this year (6.1 K/9)
George Kontos, RHP: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2-1 GB/FB – threw just 19 pitches, 13 strikes (68.4%)
Kevin Whelan, RHP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, 2-0 GB/FB – ten of 15 pitches were strikes

Double-A Trenton (5-1 win over Akron)
Ray Kruml, LF: 1 for 4, 1 K
Corban Joseph, 2B: 1 for 5, 1 RBI, 2 K – starting to come around after a little rough patch
Austin Romine, C: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 PB – ten for his last 34 (.294), though there’s a lot of days off in there (All-Star break, Futures Game, etc)
Rob Lyerly, 1B: 3 for 5, 1 RBI
Melky Mesa, CF: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 CS
Zoilo Almonte, RF: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB
Jose Pirela, SS: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E (throwing)
Damon Sublett, DH: 0 for 1, 3 BB – are they paying him to walk, or are they paying him to hit?!?
Addison Maruszak, 3B: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB – 18 for his last 34 (.529) with six doubles, one homer, four walks, and three strikeouts
Manny Banuelos, LHP: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 10-3 GB/FB – yay grounders … his best start in about a month
Brad Halsey, LHP: 2.2 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 4-3 GB/FB – seriously, this might be his best outing in years

High-A Tampa (6-1 win over Fort Myers)
Abe Almonte, CF & Hector Rabago, C: both 2 for 4 – Almonte walked and scored a run … Rabago doubled and whiffed
David Adams, 2B: 1 for 5, 1 R
Ronnier Mustelier, RF: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K – he’s been hitting well, but that’s only his ninth strikeout in 80 plate appearances (11.3%)
Kyle Roller, 1B: 0 for 5, 3 K – stuck in a 7-for-38 rut (.184)
Rob Segedin, 3B, Cody Johnson, LF & Emerson Landoni, SS: all 1 for 4, 1 R – Segedin drove in a run … Johnson homered, drove in two, and struck out … Landoni scored a run
Luke Murton, 1B: 1 for 2, 1 2B, 2 BB
Mikey O’Brien, RHP: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 5-6 GB/FB – two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts with Tampa
Dan Burawa, RHP: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 4-4 GB/FB – just 49 K in 61.2 IP (7.2 K/9) … I was hoping he’d miss more bats than that
Mike Gipson, RHP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Low-A Charleston had a scheduled day off.

Short Season Staten Island (10-1 win over Batavia)
Mason Williams, CF: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K – threw a runner out at third
Bobby Rinard, PH-LF: 0 for 1, 1 K – as far as I can tell, Williams was lifted just because the score got out of control
Cito Culver, SS: 2 for 4, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB – have yourself a day Mr. Culver … first two homers of the year, first career two homer game
Angelo Gumbs, 2B: 0 for 4, 2 BB, 3 K – just two for his last 17 (.118)
Zach Wilson, DH, Nick McCoy, C & Ali Castillo, 3B: all 1 for 4 – Wilson walked twice and struck out … McCoy walked … Castillo doubled, walked, scored two runs, drove in another, and struck out twice
Cody Grice, LF-CF: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K
Reymond Nunez, 1B: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K – got a nice little six game hitting streak going … his profile pic says “I’m all business,” doesn’t it?
Ben Gamel, RF: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Will Oliver, RHP: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 3-1 GB/FB – had given up four runs or more in his last three starts
Caleb Cotham, RHP: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Matt Richardson, RHP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GB/FB
Phil Wetherell, RHP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB

Rookie GCL Yanks (12-5 win over GCL Blue Jays)
Jose Rosario, SS: 5 for 6, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 E (throwing) – .333/.373/.553 in 103 at-bats
Danny Lopez, CF: 1 for 6, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 1 SB
Dante Bichette Jr., 3B: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K – 21 for his last 32 (.656) with five doubles, a triples, and a homer
Yeicock Calderon, RF: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – Yeicockshot! … he’s got a .274 ISO
Jackson Valera, C: 2 for 3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP – he left the game an inning after being hit by the pitch
Tyson Blaser, C: 0 for 1
Damian Taveras, DH: 1 for 1, 1 R, 1 BB
Matt Duran, PH-DH: 0 for 4, 2 K – rough pro debut for the recently-signed fourth rounder
Fu-Lin Kuo, 1B: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 E (missed catch)
Henry Pena, LF: 3 for 3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Taylor Anderson, 2B: 0 for 5, 3 K
Reynaldo Polanco, RHP: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 4-1 GB/FB – 25-4 K/BB in 21 IP
Edwin Rodriguez, RHP: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 2-2 GB/FB
Danny Martinez, LF: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB
Leonel Vinas, RHP: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GB/FB

http://www.twitter.com/bgeary8 bgeary

Cito!
Andy In Sunny Daytona

Unworkable swing.
- Gonzo
  
  Yes, best part of Cito’s line is that he faced RHP’s.
Zach

Manny Banuelos (03/13/1991)
IP K/9 BB/9 HR/9 ERA FIP
2010 (A+) = 44.1 12.59 2.84 .2 2.23 1.71

Matt Moore (6/18/1989)
IP K/9 BB/9 HR/9 ERA FIP
2010 (A+) = 144.2 12.94 3.79 .44 3.36 2.38

Banuelos produced identical numbers as the premier lefty pitching prospect while being two years younger. The biggest difference is the IP, which explains why it took Manny longer to adjust to AA. Even if he repeats AA for all of 2012 he’s still a top ten pitching prospect. Even if MB is 80-90% of MM that’s an amazing 6 years of team control.
- Alfredo
  
  am sorry but who is matt Morre and what does this say about Banuelos?
  - http://www.twitter.com/bgeary8 bgeary
    
    Matt Moore is arguably the best SP prospect alive. It says that Manny can be right up there with the best of them.
    - Zach
      
      Via Twitter:
      jimcallisBA Jim Callis
      RT @johnmanuelba: Bulls mgr Charlie Montoyo says ‘fair to say’ Moore has stuff good or better than Price, Hellickson, W.Davis, Niemann #Rays
      - Mister Delaware
        
        I don’t trust anyone who groups Price and Niemann together.
  - Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook
    
    One of Tampa’s best pitching prospects.
    - CapitalT
      
      Moore for Montero would help both teams but will never happen
- Gonzo
  
  johnmanuelba tweeted:
  Bulls mgr Charlie Montoyo says ‘fair to say’ Moore has stuff good or better than Price, Hellickson, W.Davis, Niemann.
  
  So, YES. Gimme anything close to that for 6 years of control.
- K.B.D.
  
  While the stats are similar (Manny’s still suffer from SSS), the stuff is vastly different between the two. The biggest thing they have in common is their handedness.
Zapp Brannigan

if only espn had a jesus olney…
http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H

Any idea what side of the plate of the plate the HR’s came from?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Both from the left side.
- Zach
  
  vs. RHP
  - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
    
    Thank you both.
    - Billy
      
      Just missed a hr later batting righty. Flew out to deep center.
The Fallen Phoenix

Jesus Montero: too bored to refute the narrative.
- Brian in NH
  
  +1
Pat D

The Montero joke made me think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpvN8802dxw&feature=related

Don’t ask me why.
dean

that Dante jr pick isn’t looking so bad right now….they probably could have gotten him later but he certainly is tearing up the GCL right now.
- Tom Swift
  
  The last week, he’s been batting like it was high school ball! Way to go, Dante!
- Preston
  
  I don’t care what BA or Keith Law says. Let’s take the guy we want rather than the guy that the “experts” want. Culver and DBJ might not have been popular. But they both signed quickly got on the field and have played well. So no complaints here.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Agreed.
    
    People go on and on about the BA/Keith Law/etc. boards and how the Yankees should follow them… but to do this we have to first establish that the BA/Keith Law/etc. track record is stronger than the Damon Oppenheimer track record. Which is pretty tough because BA/Law can just throw names on a paper and don’t have to worry about signing the players or spreading their budget across dozens of picks.
- Ted Nelson
  
  Bichette was the #109 prospect in the draft according to BA, so it is in no way assured that he would have still been on the board when the Yankees picked 2nd at #88… the MLB draft is far more volatile than the NBA or NFL drafts. Other teams don’t tend to pick based on the media boards any more than the Yankees.
Lurker

Does the fact that Bichette is putting up ridiculous numbers mean much of anything at this point?
- Gonzo
  
  Personally, I love the fact he is taking walks more than anything else. I think judging, and projecting, plate discipline at the prep level is one of the most diffcult things to do in scouting.
  
  That alone makes me think more highly of the kid.
  - Mister Delaware
    
    Yup. At that level I want to see a guy walking and hitting for power. Everything else is very young gravy.
    - Gonzo
      
      How about this blow your mind stat of the night.
      
      DBJ/D-Bich already (yes, like right now, today) has more walks than Josh Vitters ever had in one season.
      
      Bam.
- nick
  
  no but its nice to see rather than dreadful numbers. He’ll get instruction this fall in their camps and gear up towards 2012.
- dean
  
  not really but it’s better than him stinking right? As mentioned the walks are an indication of a kid with a good approach. You don’t want to make too much of GCL box scores…..but he’s had some good box scores for an 18 year old and he signed so early that he’s a good bit ahead of a lot of his draft classmates.
- boogie down
  
  Yes, because he’s doing this against guys who are typically 2 years older than him (he turns 19 in 30 days), all the while facing the best pitching he’s ever seen in his life.
- Rick in Boston
  
  While it doesn’t mean much in the long-run, it is nice to see how well Bichette is transitioning from metal to wood bats.
Steve (different one)

I know it’s rookie ball, but this is kindof insane, no?

21 for his last 32 (.656) with five doubles, a triples, and a homer
Avi

Last night Montero did this:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=17336537
- Gonzo
  
  I like how the LFer gave up on it way before announcer called it.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Teh Jesus!
- Zach
  
  Thanks
Jake H

Culver you go boy!
Thomas Cassidy

Bichette was only 2-5 today?

Feels pretty damn good when that’s a let down.
- bottom line
  
  Downer. I think he was incredible 15 for 18 before today, Don’t think I’ve ever seen that at any level.
  - Mister Delaware
    
    Come to one of my softball games. I’ll give you one of those cool guy points from second base.
    
    (Its just too much effort to triple, even if the ball is down the right field line.)
    - BklynJT
      
      Psh… I hit triples and hrs all the time.
      - Mister Delaware
        
        You’re going to pull something. Triples are unnatural.
  - Thomas Cassidy
    
    It was crazy. He is raking right now.
- CapitalT
  
  His new nickname: Inferno
  - http://twitter.com/#!/DiscGolfHero the tenth inning stretch
    
    Love it.
SDM

if you take out culver first 3 games (where he went 0-13) he has been hitting .324….I think Culver should be given a chance in charleston real soon (bichette is looking like he deserves a cup in Staten Island)
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Can’t wait to see Bichette, Gumbs, Williams, and Culver get to Low A where they will start to begin to face some real competition.
  - Troll Killer
    
    Bichette can play in SI next year. Let’s not rush him.
    - YankeesJunkie
      
      It all depends on how he looks before 2011, but it would be nice to see him get some action in Low A if he looks good.
http://twitter.com/buckfunts buckfunts

Jesus Montero, DH: 0 for 4 – .000/.000/.000 in his last four at-bats, so he’s slumping again

Clearly, “Down on The Farm” should be renamed “The Bust Report”.
Preston

My expectations for Staten Island have become so high that my first thought looking at the boxscore was Gumbs 0-4 that’s a sucky night (I shifted my position only slightly when I read he walked twice). The Williams, Culver and Gumbs trio has replaced Montero as the first thing I’m looking for when I scan DOTF posts.
Phil

Don’t forget shortstop Jose Rosario in the GCL who went 5-6 today & is hiting .330 & doesn’t turn 20 ’til November. I know it’s the GCL but that whole team is crazy good. It seems like both short-season teams are loaded w/guys who can play this game.
medale

I was at the SI game last night. Cito had tons of family and friends there. The place went crazy when he hit the first hr. Some 30 yr old douche that runs around the outside of the stadium with a backpack on getting foul balls got both HRs. He said he wasn’t giving the balls up either. Was pretty cool that I was sitting right next to Cito’s Mom and Uncle. Got his autograph, Williams, and Gamel.
nycsportzfan

Also, Ben Gamel is really playing well at short season SI.. A player i think we all expected to see hit, and he is… Does anyone know if Gamel has a higher/lower upside then Rob Lyerly or Cor Joseph???

Shout out to Jordan Parraz as well.. Is Parraz past ever getting the big club anything back in trade? Whats his deal anyways? Why has Parraz never been given a shot? Hes always been solid, and some yrs above solid… He seems like a real “hitter” that can hit for some power, and hit alot of Linedrives…
Arnie

Did anyone see the typo…

Pants Lendleton

or was that on purpose?
- medale
  
  I’m sure it’s intentional.. the RAB guys only refer to him as that.