Murphy hits first Triple-A homer in SWB loss

by 45 Comments

Yankees acquire Fernando Martinez
Mailbag: The ones that got away

Some player movement and notes, courtesy of Josh Norris:

  • Double-A Trenton: LHP Francisco Rondon promoted to Triple-A Scranton. He’s walked way too many guys this year (6.34 BB/9 and 14.4 BB%), even after moving back to the bullpen. C Tyson Blaser was demoted to High-A Tampa.
  • High-A Tampa: C Francisco Arcia has been promoted to Double-A Trenton. He and Blaser swapped spots, essentially. Have to think Arcia is just keeping the spot warm for C Gary Sanchez.
  • LSU was eliminated from the College World Series today, meaning seventh rounder RHP Nick Rumbelow is now free to sign. He threw one scoreless inning in the event, walking one and striking out three.

Triple-A Scranton (4-3 loss to Rochester) they started Single-A emergency call-up OF Cody Grice and two utility infielders in the outfield tonight, hence the Fernando Martinez pick-up

  • C J.R. Murphy: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K — first Triple-A homer
  • 1B Dan Johnson: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B
  • DH Randy Ruiz: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • RHP Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 7/3 GB/FB — 61 of 102 pitches were strikes (60%) … this start lowered his season ERA (6.94 ERA) and BB/9 (6.49), believe it or not
  • LHP Francisco Rondon: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 5/2 GB/FB — 31 of 51 pitches were strikes (61%) … he was up to 95 mph with the fastball

Double-A Trenton (5-1 win over Akron)

  • LF Ramon Flores: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K — homered off rehabbing big leaguer Chris Perez … threw a runner out at the plate
  • CF Slade Heathcott: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — doubled off Perez … seven-game hit streak, but this is the first of those seven games with multiple hits
  • RF Tyler Austin: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K — 15 hits in his last 38 at-bats (.395)
  • 3B Reegie Corona & C Francisco Arcia: both 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K — both homered off Perez … they really hit him hard
  • RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GB/FB — seven of 12 pitches were strikes (58%)

High-A Tampa (6-3 loss to Dunedin in 11 innings) no CF Mason Williams after he exited last night’s game after running out a ground ball … not sure if he’s hurt or being benched for not hustling or something else entirely

  • CF Ben Gamel: 3-6, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3 K, 1 SB — a double and a triple, but no runs? geez guys
  • 2B Rob Refsnyder: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K
  • C Gary Sanchez & DH Angelo Gumbs: both 1-5, 1 K — Sanchez allowed a passed ball
  • RHP Diego Moreno: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HB, 2/0 GB/FB
  • RHP Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GB/FB — still hasn’t allowed a run since being demoted three weeks ago
  • RHP Charley Short: 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 5/3 GB/FB — had allowed four runs in 26.1 innings coming into this game

Low-A Charleston is off until Thursday for the All-Star break. The actually All-Star Game didn’t start until 9:45pm ET tonight because of a lengthy rain delay. The box score is right here, but I’m not sticking around to update the stats. C Peter O’Brien, RHP Alex Smith, and RHP Ben Paullus are the only Yankees farmhands at the game following the recent promotions.

Short Season Staten Island was rained out. Not sure when they’ll make this one up, but there’s plenty of time. Season just started yesterday.

Yankees acquire Fernando Martinez
Mailbag: The ones that got away
  • Robinson Tilapia

    Yeah, that Austin looks like a real disappointment now, doesn’t he?

    • Bill

      Still striking out way too much for lack of homerun power

    • Jacob the OG

      I legit think he could out produce Wells at this point…

      • Robinson Tilapia

        I don’t think we should expect him to, but he’s definitely sustained success for a good amount of the season.

        Some adversity does a player good. Probably should cut down on the strikeouts a bit more, but there’s still time for that.

        • Pseudoyanks

          Failure early on builds character and a lot of other things.

      • Bill

        Idk about that, but im sure almonte, Musteiller boesch (I know they’re hurt) all could

        • forensic

          Mustelier and Boesch could still out-produce Wells when they’re hurt.

  • forensic

    a double and a triple, but no runs? geez guys

    Not to mention a single and steal of 2nd, too.

    Looks like some of Brett Gardner’s line of late.

  • Will

    When does Kahnle get moved up to Scranton? Very underrated relief prospect.

    • JonS

      Not underrated at all. Many think he’s even better than Montgomery.

  • King George

    Mason Williams…I expected a lot of production out of him this year. I really hope this wasn’t an attitude related issue. DUI, a few attitude reports, and then this benching. This is the rare occasion where you hope he’s benched due to injury. Attitude issues seem to be a plague for him.

    • King George

      And I’m not closing the door on him this year. Just as of this point, we expected more in High-A.

    • vicki

      he’s too young to be plagued by anything. he’s twenty-one. i hope to hell it’s an attitude benching.

      • trr

        Yeah, at this point immaturity would be preferably to any physical issue

      • pat

        Agreed. Gary Sanchez went through the same thing. Bit of a reality check.

  • Bob Michaels

    Chamberlin will be traded and Montgomery will move to the big club.

    • Nuke Guy (Knoxvillain)

      Chamberlain has no value and Montgomery hasn’t been impressive this year.

      • nycsportzfan

        I still got alot of faith in Montgomery as our future 8th inning or closer. Hes just adjusting after bursting on the scene is all. Once hes used to being thought of as “the guy”, he’ll be all right.

      • trr

        The only way I see Chamberlain being traded would be as a throw-in to a larger deal. Possible, but unlikely

        • viridiana

          I wouldn’t be surprised if Joba starts putting it together very soon. Put him in low-leverage situation once or twice, let him build up confidence. Heater still there. He could have pretty nice value by TD.

          • Robinson Tilapia

            If he’s doing that nicely by then, you want him around for the stretch run.

            He’s only going to have so much value. He’s a middle relief rental. Whatever fringe prospect they’d receive in return would be less likely to have the potential impact in the long term than what a hypothetical effective Joba would have to the team in a playoff run, at least to me.

            • I’m One (Because typing all the letters in “The Real Me” is becoming tiresome and might get me confused with “The Real Greg” which is why I dropped the handle originally)

              Same argument/points we made about Hughes yesterday. Except Hughes has more value than Joba since he’s a starter. So Joba might only bring a fringyer (obviously not a real word, but you know what I mean) prospect.

            • viridiana

              Kind of simplistic. All it takes is one key pen injury to a contender to raise the value of relief help. And I’m not sure Yanks are in hunt come TD, either. Even if they are, pen is area of strength. Not saying Joba should be given away but he could have more value than seems likely now.

  • nycsportzfan

    I hope this is the start of JR Murphy raising his prospect stock back up to the point hes a decent trade commodity or a future bronx bomber.

    • Bob Michaels

      He`s on the radar, has improved defensely, he can hit no doubt it.

      • nycsportzfan

        Ya, he can hit, but hes gotta get that AVG up alittle at one of these higher levels and hit a few more dingers. I’d like to see him in the 275 15 70 type range as a player.

        • OhioYanks

          Come on. In terms of the stats you are (for some reason) choosing to look at he was literally right there in AA this season and has only played 4 games in AAA. Difference between hitting .268 in 211 AA PAs and .275 is probably not statistically significant. He had 6 HRs in 211 PAs, which is literally a 14 HR pace in 500 PAs. RBIs are just not an individual stat. Complaining that a guy who hits .268 with 14 HRs in a pitcers’ park isn’t hitting .275 with 15 HRs is weird.

          Those stats are not the ones to be looking at, though. Guy was 15% above league average in wRC+ as a C.

          • viridiana

            Good points, Ohio. And HRs are not the measure of minor leaguers. Numbers almost always suppressed. As you say, hitting at a 14 HR pace as a 21 year old is actually very promising.

  • nycsportzfan

    Ben Gamel can flat out rake. He dosen’t have a ton of power, but hits alot of ex base hits, as hes got 20doubles and 4triples all ready to go along with his 1HR. Another Brett Gardner type, and I bet teams would be interested in this kid with Gardners success. He reminds me a ton of him.

    • http://deleted Richard Leo

      his speed and denfense require him to hit with more power

    • pat

      He doesn’t run nearly as well as Gardner. Prob not even enough to play CF in the show. He needs his power to start showing up.

  • nycsportzfan

    I can’t wait to see Jordan Cote this yr! I remember people comparing him to Chris Carpenter when we got em, and saying he had the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the northeast that season. Kids gonna be beastly as he adds strength.

  • Vincent

    Any chance Williams was pulled due to trade talk?

    • Danny

      Interesting point there, doubt it as his trade value is at an all time low. His attitude problems are very serious and I suspect that is what is keeping him away.

    • King George

      Interesting theory…

  • johnnyb93

    Due to injuries the Yankees have acquired a player whose career has been stunted due to injuries.

    • pat

      Not to mention ridiculously agrressive promotions. Mets had him at A+ as a 17 year old then put him at AA after 30 very bad games at A+.

      • pat

        *Aggressive.

  • Wayne

    Kahnle is our future closer montgomery is injury prone unusual delivery!

  • Robinson Tilapia

    What would people be saying on here if Zach Wheeler had up the AAA performance he did before his call-up, but with Scranton instead?

  • gbyanks

    almonte should just be put in right field everyday and let him sink or swim until granderson comes back. hes not gonna be of use to anyone if he has to adjust to only playing twice a week.

  • Bryan

    Any word on when Jagielo will return?

  • Bryan

    The Yankees acquired Fernando Martinez from the Astros in exchange for minor league right-hander Charles Basford, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle