DotF: Tampa wins two to stay in the playoff hunt

August 24, 2011 by Benjamin Kabak 37 Comments

Some quick notes: Raul Valdes was sent to the Thunder, and Tampa two wins today brought them within one game of Dunedin. Thanks again to mbonzo for the assist.

Triple-A Scranton (Chris Dickerson, LF: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
Kevin Russo, DH, Jordan Parraz, RF: 1 for 3 – Both with two walks and a run scored.
Mike Lamb, 1B, Raymond Kruml, CF, Doug Bernier, C: 1 for 4 – Lamb doubled and walked, while Kruml only walked once. Bernier K’d twice.
Brandon Laird, 3B: 1 for 5, 1K
Luis Nunez, 2B: 0 for 4 – The only player to go hitless.
Gustavo Molina, C: 3 for 4 – Doubled and homered in his first game since August 13th.
David Phelps, RHP: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K’s, 1 HR, 7-7 GO/FO – 57 of his 83 pitches were strikes. Nice rebound from two terrible starts since coming back from his shoulder injury.
George Kontos, RHP: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K’s – 21 of his 27 pitches were strikes. He’s given up 8 ER in his last 27.2 IP. (2.60 ERA)

Double-A Trenton (4-3 win over Daytona)
Abraham Almonte, CF, Walter Ibarra, SS: 1 for 4 – Almonte doubled and scored a run. Ibarra is 12 for his last 35. (.343)
Ronnier Mustelier, LF: 3 for 3 – Doubled, drove in two RBIs, and stole a base. He’s 8 for his last 19. (.421)
Deangelo Mack, RF, Kelvin Castro, 2B: 0 for 3 – Mack K’d twice, Castro once but also had an error.
Luke Murton, 1B: 1 for 3, 1 R
Rob Segedin, 3B: 1 for 2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R
Cody Johnson, DH: 2 for 3, 1 RBI – 10 for his last 29 (.345) with 2 doubles and 2 homeruns.
Tyson Blaser, C: 0 for 2, 1 RBI
Francisco Gil, RHP: 6.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s, 2 HR’s, 6-6 GO/FO – He only gave up 1 hit through his first 6 IP, but fell apart in the 7th.
Ryan Flannery, RHP: 0.1 IP, zeroes

High-A Tampa Game Two (5-4 win over Greenville, walk-off style)
Jose Toussen, SS: 0 for 5, 1 K
Shane Brown, DH: 0 for 4
Ramon Flores, CF, Taylor Grote, LF, Jeffrey Farnham, C: 1 for 5 – Flores and Grote both had the hat-trick.
Kevin Mahoney, 1B: 0 for 3, 2 BB’s, 1 K
Kelvin De Leon, RF, Jose Mojica, 2B, Garrison Lassiter, 3B: 2 for 5 – De Leon and Lassiter K’d twice, Mojica once.
Manuel Barreda, RHP: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB’s, 4 K’s, 2-1 GO/FO – Hadn’t given up an ER since July 30th.
Brett Gerritse, RHP: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB’s, 3 K’s, 3-2 GO/FO – He’s only given up 1 ER in 3 games (7.0 IP) since being promoted from Staten Island.
Francisco Rondon, LHP: 2.0 IP, 1 K, zeroes
Aaron Dott, LHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0R, 0 BB’s, 3 K’s
Yobanny Reyes, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Short Season Staten Island (3-2 win over the Tigers)
Jose Roasrio, SS, Isaias Tejeda, C, Taylor Anderson, 2B: 1 for 4 – Anderson hit a double but also had the hat-trick. Rosario was caught stealing and picked off. Tejeda was caught stealing, picked off, had a throwing error, and a passed ball. Eek!
Greg Bird, DH, Justin James, LF: 0 for 4 -James K’d once, Bird twice. Bird is still looking for that first professional hit.
Austin Jones, 1B: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 R
Fu-Lin Kou, 3B, Henry Pena, RF: 2 for 4 – Both doubled once.
Evan Rutckyj, LHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K’s, 9-2 GO/FO – He hasn’t been striking out many this season (7.23 SO/9), but the groundballs are encouraging.
Edwin Rodriguez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 K’s, zeroes
George Isabel, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB’s, 3 K’s
Cory Cowsert, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K – He’s only given up 1 ER in his last 10 appearances.

http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Will any of the farm teams make the playoffs this year?
- mbonzo
  
  GCL and Staten Island. Tampa is a game out of first.
Joe

Got a list of my september call up predictions and want to know what you all think. a 40 after name is if he is on the 40 man roster.
Greg Golson-40
Chris Dickerson-40
Brandon Laird-40
Kevin Russo
Jesus Montero
Lance Pendleton-40
Raul Valdes-40
George Kontos
Kevin Whelan-40
So I would have 3 guys not on the 40 coming up. Maxwell gets ” Called Up” and 60 day DLed, and according to the yankees.com roster Marquez and Pena are only on the 15 day dl so either DFA Marquez or 60 day him and 60 day pena.
I didn’t put Betances because rumor is he won’t be called up but I think he also should be and no Brackman because he hasn’t earned it.
- mbonzo
  
  I think Brackman WILL get the call up. In his last 24 IP, he’s given up 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER. Ever since his Jul 29th game where he gave up 9 walks, he’s only given up 2 in 11.2 IP. Changing his delivery back has worked wonders, its really shown. Since Jul 6th he has a 3.24 ERA. He’s on a roll, I think its time to give him the confidence for next year.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    It’s 12 innings…
    - mbonzo
      
      No its 25.
      - Levi
        
        It’s 25 innings…
- Gonzo
  
  More importantly, what’s going to be the wackiest 9 men they will field at one time?
  - Joe
    
    C-Cervelli/Montero (Not whacky if he catches)
    1B-Laird
    2B-Russo
    SS-Nunez
    3B-Chavez
    LF-Dickerson
    CF-Gardner?
    RF-Golson
    Not a bad september bench would be a starting 9 all season with a LOT of teams
    - Ghost
      
      The way you term a lot in the sentence is pretty vague. What’s a lot since the only team I can see these group of guys starting for is the Padres for one….
      - Joe
        
        Baltimore, Kansas City, Houston,the Twins with their awful offense, Seattle. Not saying each guy would start on every team, but I think you can make a case for 4-5 on each of these teams.
        
        Ghost
        
        I can see it on some of the other teams, KC actually has a pretty good offense, with young studs. It will be really interesting to see if they can duplicate the Rays model of becoming an elite team with homegrown talent over the next two years or so.
    - A.D.
      
      Not a bad september bench would be a starting 9 all season with a LOT of teams
      
      Maybe a lot of minor league teams (and the skeleton of the Astros), but otherwise, no it wouldn’t.
- tommy t
  
  That’s an awful lot of guys. Probably at least 3 more than they will call up.
  - Joe
    
    Thats only 9 guys which would put them at 34 by the end of september they usually have 40. Not saying they will all be called up sept.1 but I would deff. think by end of September.
  - matt
    
    thats only 5 extra hitters and 4 pitchers
    - Joe
      
      Exactly which is not a lot but with Garcia coming off the DL soon it will help. Maybe Pope and Garrison get a call too just to have extra relievers. Very weird 40 man this year to predict with so many being in AA. Most years the 40 man is mainly AAA guys.
- MikeD
  
  The odds are very high Brackman will be called up. He’s on the 40-man roster already and only has one year remaining before the Yankees will be forced to put him on the 25-man roster or to part ways with him. He’s pitching better of late and they will want him to get additional innings while also getting a look at him against MLB hitters.
  
  There are a variety of reasons a player is called up, including potential. “Earning it” is not necessarily one of them. A player who is not considered MLB material but has a good year will not be called up. Meanwhile, a player like Brackman who is regarded as having great potential will be called up if they think it’s beneficial. In this case it probably is, as long as Brackman continues to pitch as he has recently.
- A.D.
  
  Doubt they find a 40 man spot for Russo, but you never know
matt

they should call up mesa. why not? hes on 40-man and his season is gonna end anyways might as well give him a taste of the bigs
- Joe
  
  I would love this idea, but with the division at stake I think they would call up guys who would contribute and know their role. Most of the 9 I predicted have already made it to the bigs and aren’t as anxious as a Mesa would be. However, If he has speed wouldn’t be a bad idea to mix him Golson,and Dickerson in as pinch runners.
  - matt
    
    i agree but its not like they really have to play him because his season would have been over anyways. and then yes they could just have him to pinch run as well
    - Joe
      
      This is true. He may be like Brackman last year and get the call up and just sit around. I feel like Banuelos,Romine,and a few other guys may get the “Call Up” where they are inactive and sit in the dugout.
      - matt
        
        agreed
        
        Joe
        
        Although I only saw him once this year, I feel like Mesa will become a very good 4th OF in the next 2 years. He is getting older for a prospect so this is probably his best chance of making the big club. I would say he could be what Golson always should have been and i like Golson a lot.
        
        matt
        
        yeah the only problem is that the yankees like to let good players waste years in the minor and get older….i.e. Austin Jackson
        
        Joe
        
        Exaclty I like a few guys who I feel compare to respectable Major Leaguers. Russo if given a chance could be a Jerry Hairston type player maybe not as good but as valuable. Golson could be a good 4th OF now IMO. Cannon arm for late defense, contact hitter and speed. There is a list of other players getting old in the minors but I won’t even start with that.
        
        matt
        
        haha
        
        http://www.secondavenuesagas.com Benjamin Kabak
        
        Austin Jackson? That’s your example? Really? He’s barely an adequate Major Leaguer right now. How did he waste away in the minors?
        
        matt
        
        he didnt waste away but it seemed like the yankees would always avoid bringing him up or letting him make the team out of ST. they were almost forced to trade him while he had value because he would have just kept getting older down in the minors
        
        MikeD
        
        Jackson spent one season in AAA and that’s it. He never repeated a level and had a steady and consistent progress through the Yankee farm system.
        
        The Yankees made a determination that he probably wouldn’t develop the power they hoped for and that he would be prone to very strikeout rates. They opted to trade him for a CFer who could hit for power in Granderson.
        
        Fans more than ever hear about young players from the time they are signed and when a prospect shows break-out promise they seem to demand the player be immediately promoted to the majors (see Montero, Jesus). It’s pretty common for a player signed as a teenager to spend four or five years in the minors.
    - YankeeGrunt
      
      If they want speed you’re probably looking at Dickerson or Kruml, who had 37 SB at Trenton and is now on the SWB roster (not on the 40 that I know of, but there is filler on there).
      - Joe
        
        With Golson,Dickerson, maybe Mesa, already having Nunez I think they have enough speed. For right now adding Russo to the 40 man would be much more valuable for this month. He can play 5 positions. Kruml can only play the OF which 3 of the above mentioned players do. The yankees are pretty thin when it comes to IF depth especially at 2B behind Cano. I’m sure they would love to get Cano rest when they get chances this month, either in blow outs or if they run away with the division and Russo can spell him. Saw Kruml play this year too and like him a lot just don’t see him adding anything we don’t have already.
        
        El Caballo
        
        Y’all need to drop it with Mesa…it’s not happening. Not only is he in AA, bu he struggles to make contact against anything resembling decent offspeed stuff, and he’ll be essentially worthless at the plate. As for his defense, unnecessary to have him as a defensive piece with Golson being called up. Waste of a roster spot.
Rick

Venditte is Rule V eligible, right? I’m assuming the Yanks don’t see him as a guy they need to protect because he’s not seen as a prospect(I think he was eligible this past offseason as well without getting added to the 40 man); is there any chance some team takes a flier on him this time around?
- pharryn
  
  Doubtful that he would be able to make a 25-man roster. He’s seen more as an organizational guy. That being said maybe a team like the Pirates would take a flier as they’ve had good luck with NYY prospects and would enjoy the extra publicity.
bottom line

Two guys who should get a chance to show they can duplicate fine AAA performance in the bigs: Kontos and Whelan. I suspect these are both guys who would already be pitching in big league pens for many other teams.