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DotF: Scranton forces Game Five in IL Championship Series

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Baseball America released their Minor League All-Star Teams today. LHP Justus Sheffield was a First Team All-Star while RHP Mike King made the Second Team. “The 2014 first-round pick keeps getting better every year and now is on the brink of the majors … Sheffield allowed just four home runs all season, and his .195 opponent average ranked eighth in the minors overall,” says the write-up.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (5-2 win over Durham) the best-of-five International League Championship Series is now tied at two games apiece, so tomorrow night is for all the marbles … RHP Domingo German will start Game Five on three days rest (he threw only 43 pitches in Game One)

1. LF Mark Payton: 1-5, 1 R, 1K
2. CF Shane Robinson: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B
3. SS Gio Urshela: 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K — 11-for-31 (.355) in eight postseason games
4. DH Mike Ford: 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI — two homers in the last three games, so he’s coming around at the right time
5. 1B Ryan McBroom: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
6. RF Zack Zehner: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K — Quintin Berry replaced him for defense in the ninth inning
7. 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 1-4, 2 K, 1 SB
8. 3B Bruce Caldwell: 1-3, 2 K, 1 HBP
9. C Francisco Diaz: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Ryan Bollinger: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HB, 8/2 GB/FB — 57 of 93 pitches were strikes (61%) … with the season on the line, that’s a baller outing from the 27-year-old journeyman who spent last season pitching in Germany
RHP Raynel Espinal: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1/1 GB/FB — 25 of 37 pitches were strikes (68%) … their ace setup man had to grind a bit and is surely out of action for Game Five tomorrow
RHP Joe Harvey: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/1 GB/FB — 13 of 16 pitches were strikes (81%) … five-out save, but only 16 pitches, so maybe he’ll be available tomorrow? … if yes, I imagine the ideal pitching plan is German to Sheffield to Harvey

The season is over for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. Trenton was swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series. None of the other teams affiliates qualified for the postseason.

DotF: Scranton drops Game Three of IL Championship Series

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Earlier today, Keith Law (sub. req’d) named Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. his Prospect of the Year. RHP Mike King and RHP Deivi Garcia were among the runners-up. “(King) pitches with average velocity and doesn’t have even an average breaking ball, but his cross-body delivery makes it tough for right-handed hitters to pick the ball up out of his hands. He’s not a top prospect, probably not a starter in the long run, but his year was one of the best among any minor league pitchers,” says the write-up.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (3-0 loss to Durham) they trail the best-of-five International League Championship Series two games to one, so it’s win or go home time

1. LF Mark Payton: 2-4, 1 K — 9-for-25 (.360) in seven postseason games
2. 2B Bruce Caldwell: 1-3, 1 K
PH-2B L.J. Mazzilli: 0-1
3. 3B Gio Urshela: 0-4 — only his second hitless game in seven postseason games
4. 1B Ryan McBroom: 0-4, 3 K, 1 E (missed catch) — 6-for-28 (.214) in the postseason, and three of the six hits came in one game
5. DH Mike Ford: 1-4, 1 K
6. RF Zack Zehner: 1-3, 1 2B — has a hit in six of the seven postseason games
7. CF Shane Robinson: 1-3, 1 2B
8. SS Rey Navarro: 0-3
9. C Francisco Diaz: 1-3, 2 K, 1 PB — 4-for-11 (.364) in his three postseason games
RHP Mike King: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 12/1 GB/FB — 62 of 98 pitches were strikes (63%) … first time he allowed more than two runs in eight Triple-A starts … only the seventh time he allowed more than two runs in 27 games this year
LHP Phil Diehl: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K — ten pitches, five strikes … Triple-A debut for the 2017 sixth rounder … he had a 2.51 ERA with 108/23 K/BB in 75.1 innings between Tampa and Trenton this year
RHP David Sosebee: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1/0 GB/FB — nine of 13 pitches were strikes

The season is over for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. Trenton was swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series. None of the other teams affiliates qualified for the postseason.

DotF: Scranton drops Game Two of IL Championship Series

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With RHP Chance Adams getting called up to the big leagues earlier today, LHP Phil Diehl has taken his place on Triple-A Scranton’s postseason roster, the team announced. Diehl had a 2.51 ERA (2.24 FIP) with 36.2% strikeouts and 7.7% walks in 75.1 innings between High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton during the regular season.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (5-2 loss to Durham) the best-of-five International League Championship Series is now tied at a game apiece

1. LF Mark Payton: 1-4, 1 K
2. 2B Bruce Caldwell: 0-3, 2 K
PH L.J. Mazzilli: 0-1, 1 K
3. 3B Gio Urshela: 2-4, 2 2B — 9-for-23 (.391) with four walks and four strikeouts in six postseason games
4. 1B Ryan McBroom: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
5. DH Mike Ford: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI — socked his first homer of the postseason with two outs in the ninth to spoil the shutout
6. RF Zack Zehner: 0-4, 3 K
7. SS Rey Navarro: 0-3, 1 K
8. CF Shane Robinson: 0-3 — now 3-for-28 (.107) in the postseason
9. C Wilkin Castillo: 1-3, 1 2B
LHP Nestor Cortes: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 5/4 GB/FB — 71 of 106 pitches were strikes (67%) … gave up a two-run homer to noted power threat Rob Refsnyder, who’s gone deep in each of the first two games of the series
RHP Brady Lail: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, /1 GB/FB — 23 of 38 pitches were strikes (61%)
RHP Cale Coshow: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GB/FB — 15 of 23 pitches were strikes (65%)

The season is over for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. Trenton was swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series. None of the other teams affiliates qualified for the postseason.

Even with the regular season winding down, the Yanks should call Justus Sheffield up

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(Times Leader)

For the third consecutive season Triple-A Scranton is in the International League Championship Series, and they opened the best-of-five series with a win last night. Journeyman Bruce Caldwell had the game-winning hit and George Kontos nailed down the save. Scranton is looking for their second Triple-A classification title in the last three years, which is pretty cool.

Justus Sheffield, the Yankees’ top prospect, tossed three innings and allowed a run in last night’s win. The Yankees moved him to the bullpen a few weeks ago in advance of a potential September call-up and so far his relief appearances have been a bit of a mixed bag. Some good, some okay, none really terrible. A quick recap:

  • August 21st: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
  • August 25th: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
  • August 30th: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
  • September 2nd: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
  • September 5th: 1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
  • September 11th: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

“I think just the preparation, kind of getting ready for the games, not knowing when I’m going to pitch and on what days and things like that,” said Sheffield to Conor Foley last month when asked about the biggest adjustment he’s had to make in his new role. “I think just the preparation, kind of switching up the routine are going to be the hardest part. But I feel like in all reality, same game, just a different role. Still out there playing baseball. That’s pretty much what it boils down to.”

The Yankees moved Sheffield to the bullpen in preparation for a September call-up a few weeks ago, but the RailRiders keep winning, so he remains with Triple-A Scranton. September call-ups usually don’t pitch much anyway, and, at this point, I think it’s better for Sheffield to pitch regularly in Triple-A than sparingly with the Yankees. Until the Yankees clinch, the regular relievers are going to see the majority of the work out of the bullpen. That’s just the way it is.

Scranton has at least three more games to play and as many five more games to play when you include a potential Triple-A National Championship Game trip to play the Pacific Coast League champion. That game is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 18th. If Scranton advances that far, it means Sheffield would join the Yankees for at most 12 games before the end of the season. Not much!

Twelve games and maybe three or four appearances (at most) isn’t enough for Sheffield to show the Yankees he belongs on the postseason roster. And that’s fine. September call-up pitchers are always a long shot to make the postseason roster, no matter how talented. And the Yankees, with their deep bullpen plus one starter (Lance Lynn) with bullpen experience, don’t really have room in the bullpen even with Aroldis Chapman sidelined.

That isn’t to say the Yankees should not call up Sheffield after the RailRiders finish their season, whenever that may be. There is still a benefit to getting him to the big leagues and getting his feet wet. He can pitch in a blowout or two, sit in on the scouting meetings, pick the brains of fellow lefties CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ, things like that. That way so when Sheffield is needed next year, he won’t be experiencing everything for the first time.

There’s also a “show him how great life as a big leaguer is and make him want to get back” angle here, and while it might not seem like much, it’s not nothing. Life in the big leagues is good. Very good. Minor leaguers who get a taste of the show talk all the time about how badly they want to get back. You don’t get to where Sheffield is — he’s a 21-year-old in Triple-A and that is damn impressive — without being driven. A little extra motivation wouldn’t hurt though.

Sheffield is not on the 40-man roster but that’s not much of a problem. Clint Frazier is, sadly, done for the season given his latest setback. That makes him a 60-day DL candidate. Sheffield has to be added to the 40-man roster this winter anyway. There’s no (service time) harm in sliding Frazier to the 60-day DL to clear a spot, and calling Sheffield up for the final two weeks in September. The roster part is easy.

Even if Sheffield doesn’t pitch much after a call-up, there is still value in bringing him to the Bronx and getting him to work with the big league staff. The Yankees called up Aaron Judge (and Tyler Austin) late in 2016 to let him get his feet wet and the same idea applies to Sheffield, even though he’ll spend much less time with the team and might not even play. Just getting him there has value, and it doesn’t have a negative impact on the roster, so why not?

“Still have work to do down here though,” said Sheffield to Foley. “That’s the way I look at it. Still got to go out there and do my job, if it’s here or it’s in New York. That’s the way I look at it. You’ve got to finish strong and do my job.”

DotF: Scranton wins Game One of IL Championship Series

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Earlier today, the Triple-A International League announced the entire best-of-five Championship Series will be played at PNC Field in Scranton. The final three games of the series were moved out of Durham Bulls Athletic Park in North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence. Hope everyone is safe.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (3-2 win over Durham) they lead the best-of-five Championship Series one game to none

1. LF Mark Payton: 1-4, 1 R
2. 2B Bruce Caldwell: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K — he’s driven in six runs in the last two games
3. 3B Gio Urshela: 1-3, 1 BB
4. DH Mike Ford: 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K — 2-for-19 (.105) in the postseason so far
5. 2B Ryan McBroom: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
6. RF Zack Zehner: 2-4, 1 K — Quintin Berry replaced him for defense in the ninth
7. SS Rey Navarro: 0-4 — SS Kyle Holder was not added to the roster for Championship Series but he is with the team in case there’s an injury and someone needs to be replaced
8. CF Shane Robinson: 1-4
9. C Francisco Diaz: 1-3, 1 R
RHP Domingo German: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 3/1 GB/FB — 31 of 43 pitches were strikes (72%) … dominant, but he was on a pitch limit as he works his way back from the nerve issue, hence the short start
LHP Justus Sheffield: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GB/FB — 28 of 42 pitches were strikes (67%) … three innings and 42 pitches probably takes him out of action until Game Four or Game Five
RHP David Sosebee: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 2/1 GB/FB — eight pitches, six strikes … gave up a solo homer to noted power hitter Rob Refsnyder
RHP Cale Coshow: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/0 GB/FB — 12 pitches, six strikes
RHP Joe Harvey: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/1 GB/FB — all seven pitches were strikes … he stranded two runners to escape Coshow’s jam in the eighth, but had to leave the game after a three-hour rain delay
RHP George Kontos: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GB/FB — seven of 13 pitches were strikes

The season is over for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. Trenton was swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series. None of the other teams affiliates qualified for the postseason.

DotF: Scranton advances to IL Championship Series for third straight season

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Two quick roster notes now that Double-A Trenton has been eliminated from the postseason, leaving Triple-A Scranton as the only affiliate still playing:

  • RHP Erik Swanson was removed from the Triple-A postseason roster and placed on the disabled list with a groin injury, reports DJ Eberle. RHP Domingo German takes his place. German is still working his way back from a nerve issue and was MIA for a bit after High-A Tampa’s season ended last weekend. Now he’s with the RailRiders.
  • SS Kyle Holder has moved up from Trenton to Scranton, according to Conor Foley. I had a feeling that was coming. Said so last night. Holder has not been added to the active roster yet. He’s with the team in more of an emergency capacity right now.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (7-2 win over Lehigh Valley in ten innings) they won the best-of-three first round postseason series three games to one … they’ve advanced to the International League Championship Series for the third consecutive season … they’ll face Durham (Rays) when that series begins Tuesday night

1. LF Mark Payton: 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP
2. SS Rey Navarro: 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K — went 6-for-14 (.429) in the series … the Yankees signed him out of an independent league as a roster filler earlier this summer
3. 3B Gio Urshela: 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB — he went 5-for-13 (.385) in the series
4. 1B Ryan McBroom: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K — drove in the go-ahead run with a swinging bunt grounder in the tenth
5. DH Mike Ford: 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K — he went 2-for-13 (.154) in the series … the RailRiders will need more from their best power bat in the Championship Series to win
6. RF Zack Zehner: 1-4 — threw a runner out at first
PR-RF Quintin Berry: 0-1, 1 R, 1 K — pinch-ran for Zehner in the ninth and scored the game-tying run from second base on an infield single
7. 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 0-3, 2 K
PH-2B Bruce Caldwell: 1-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI — swatted the insurance grand slam in the tenth
8. CF Shane Robinson: 1-5, 1 RBI — he went 2-for-16 (.125) in the series
9. C Francisco Diaz: 1-4, 1 R
RHP Mike King: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 9/1 GB/FB — 64 of 98 pitches were strikes (65%) … if this was his final start of the year, he finishes with a 1.82 ERA and 160/30 K/BB in 168 total innings
RHP Raynel Espinal: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GB/FB — 14 of 22 pitches were strikes (64%)
RHP Joe Harvey: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1/1 GB/FB — eleven of 16 pitches were strikes

The season is over for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. Trenton was swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series. None of the other teams affiliates qualified for the postseason.

DotF: Scranton unable to advance to IL Championship Series

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One quick minor league note to pass along before we get to tonight’s action. According to Lou DiPietro, the Yankees still have one Arizona Fall League roster spot to fill. It is a “taxi squad” spot, meaning the player will only be eligible to play Wednesdays and Saturdays. SS Kyle Holder would make sense after injuries limited him to 48 regular season games this year. Here are the seven players the Yankees are sending to the AzFL. We’ll find who the eighth is soon enough.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (3-2 loss to Lehigh Valley in 13 innings, walk-off style) they still lead the best-of-five first round postseason series two games to one … one more win and they’re back in the International League Championship Series for the third straight year … in case you’re wondering, they do not use the “put a runner on second base” tiebreaker rule in extra innings in the postseason, so it’s regular old extra innings baseball

1. CF Shane Robinson: 1-7 — now 1-for-16 (.063) in the series
2. LF Mark Payton: 1-6
3. 3B Gio Urshela: 2-5, 1 BB, 2 K — 5-for-13 (.385) in the series
4. 1B Ryan McBroom: 3-6, 3 K — went 1-for-8 (.125) in the first two games of the series
5. DH Mike Ford: 1-5, 1 R, 1 BB — 2-for-12 (.167) in the series
6. RF Zack Zehner: 1-5, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
7. 2B Bruce Caldwell: 1-5, 1 BB, 1 K
8. C Wilkin Castillo: 1-6, 1 K
9. SS Rey Navarro: 4-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI — hit .242/.285/.409 in 62 games after signing out of an independent league in midseason
LHP Ryan Bollinger: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 7/4 GB/FB — 51 of 87 pitches were strikes (59%)
RHP George Kontos: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/2 GB/FB — eleven of 16 pitches were strikes (69%) … gave up the game-tying two-run home run that allowed the runner he inherited from Bollinger to score
RHP Cale Coshow: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1/0 GB/FB — 24 of 42 pitches were strikes (57%)
RHP David Sosebee: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1/2 GB/FB — 24 of 48 pitches were strikes (50%), though one of those walks was intentional
RHP Brady Lail: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2/2 GB/FB — only eleven of 25 pitches were strikes (44%), though the walk was intentional … manager Bobby Mitchell saved closer RHP Joe Harvey for a save situation and got burned … I suppose the good news is they still only need one win to advance, and they’ll go into tomorrow’s game with Harvey and LHP Justus Sheffield ready to go out of the bullpen

Double-A Trenton Thunder (5-1 loss to New Hampshire) they were swept in their best-of-five first round postseason series, so the season is over … bummer … one or two of these guys might get moved up to Scranton should the RailRiders advance to the next round

1. 1B Gosuke Katoh: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
2. 3B Angel Aguilar: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 HBP
3. DH Brandon Wagner: 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K — went 1-for-10 in the series
4. LF Trey Amburgey: 1-4 — went 1-for-11 in the series … hard to win when your 3-4 hitters go a combined 2-for-21 in the three games
5. SS Kyle Holder: 0-4, 1 K– he’s a guy I could see getting moved up to Scranton for the next round, assuming they advance … the RailRiders have been making do at short since Tyler Wade returned to the big leagues
6. RF Dom Thompson-Williams: 1-4, 1 K — threw a runner out at first base
7. C Jorge Saez: 0-4, 1 K
8. CF Rashad Crawford: 1-3, 1 R
9. 2B Wendell Rijo: 1-3
RHP Nick Nelson: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 4/2 GB/FB — 66 of 101 pitches were strikes (65%) … finishes the 2018 season with a 3.62 ERA and 150/67 K/BB in 126.2 innings
RHP Matt Wivinis: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GB/FB — 26 of 38 pitches were strikes (65%)
LHP James Reeves: 2 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1 HB, 0/2 GB/FB — 18 of 23 pitches were strikes (78%)

The season is over for the High-A Tampa Tarpons, the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, the Short Season Staten Island Yankees, the Rookie Pulaski Yankees, and the two Rookie GCL Yankees affiliates. None of those teams qualified for the postseason.