We haven't talked about this specifically in awhile so I figured I'd get a discussion going.
Luis Medina pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 10. He has finally started to show the results that the stuff says he should be producing.
Josh Stowers is tearing the cover off the ball in August, hitting .391.
Josh Breaux was erroneously reported to be out for the season but he's back and had a big homerun the other day.
Ezequiel Duran hit his 11th HR for SI last night, not bad for a quick twitch middle IF.
3rd rounder Jake Sanford hit his 4th HR last night to walk SI off in extras.
Abreu came back last night and had a forgettable appearance, but he's off the IL so that's positive.
Luis Gil went on the IL with what was described as a minor injury.
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now his .280 BA is 6th and his .781 OPS is 7th in the Eastern League. And he's still one of the best gloves in MILB.
Still don’t see him as anything other than a bench piece or a trade chip. I also still don’t like the pick. At least he’s turned out better than that Dante Bichette Jr. What a waste.
An elite glove and a bat that projects as probably in the ballpark of league average with the potential to be better if he finds a little more of a power stroke is a decent return for a sandwich round pick. When he was drafted it was far from obvious that either Gleyber (still a year away from drafting him) or Didi was going to be a long-term answer at SS.
The article above that you linked to several days ago made it clear that his command and control issues were NOT mechanical of delivery flaw based- but were entirely above the shoulders. The article's writer made the case that the issues identified can be solved with emotional maturity- and Medina is just 20.
It could be something as simple as he is figuring out who he is, is getting comfortable with life in the U.S. (this isn't as easy as it sounds, living in a different country with a different language), and maybe just "settling down" into a lifestyle.
IMO, Medina is the type of prospect that if the light goes on, he could be in NY in months rather than years- because if he has command, his 3 pitch mix would be hard even on major league hitters.
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5 IP (83 pitches) 5 H 2 R 1 ER 1 BB 8 K 6:1 GB:FB. Gave up a leadoff double and didn't lose his shit, and cruised for the rest of the way. Cautious optimism that he's turned a corner.
The article above that you linked to several days ago made it clear that his command and control issues were NOT mechanical of delivery flaw based- but were entirely above the shoulders. The article's writer made the case that the issues identified can be solved with emotional maturity- and Medina is just 20.
It could be something as simple as he is figuring out who he is, is getting comfortable with life in the U.S. (this isn't as easy as it sounds, living in a different country with a different language), and maybe just "settling down" into a lifestyle.
IMO, Medina is the type of prospect that if the light goes on, he could be in NY in months rather than years- because if he has command, his 3 pitch mix would be hard even on major league hitters.
Thanks rich. Good points.
But the bigger issue is the one you identify, that he has been particularly hard on himself when he has made mistakes or faced adversity (errors and such) and they've turned into huge innings. The comparison to DL Hall is an interesting one, but Hall is more consistently wild than Medina is (when Medina loses the plate he's all over the place, but when he's on his BB rate is pretty conventional). If he has actually turned the corner, Medina is EASILY a top 100 pitching prospect in baseball.
People also forget two key details.
One- Adams was a juco reliever converted to a SP- learned on the go, and the surgery did him no favors. I would wait one more year to see if he can recover his form- but IMO, he may be trade material when they need a 40 man spot in October.
Two- Schmidt was the ace of his University of South Carolina team- an SEC powerhouse and National title contender- who got hurt right before the draft and had TJ. This isn't some johnny come lately to pitching- he was widely considered a 1st round talent prior to the injury. He might not be a front of the rotation SP (though he needs to get another year away from TJ before trying to figure out what he is), but he certainly is NYY rotation level.
Ramos had a couple lackluster ABs. Grounded out off the end of the bat his first time up and grounded out softly the second. Certainly not enough to pass judgment.
Fargas for Richmond isn't much of a prospect but he had a couple highlight reel catches out in LF.
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Also Clarke Schmidt's 2nd Trenton start went much better than his first, 6.2 IP (92 pitches) 2 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 9 K 1 WP, retired 17 in a row at one point.
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Thanks. Love the stuff on Gill and Caleb
It is shaping up to be a wild November for roster shaping.
Right now, the following guys will be FA at the end of the season: Romine, Betances, CC, Maybin, Gardner, Didi and EE. Chapman has an opt-out, which he MIGHT use.
However, the following are ALL on the 60 day DL and have to be added back to the roster or dropped off: Barrett (likely to get dropped), Betances (will be a FA), Heller (probably add), Mongomery (sure to be added), Sevy (sure to be added), Andujar (sure to be added), Bird (I would think drop, but the Yanks seem to like him), Ellsbury (reports were the insurance on his contract runs out at the end of the season- is this the point where they cut bait?), Stanton (sure to be added).
So that means at least 7 FA open roster spots- with an 8th if Chapman opts out. However, at the same time, at least 4 guys must be added from the 60 day DL, with a couple more ?- Heller, Bird, Ellsbury- so it could be 7- which would negate all roster spots opened for FA.
At the same time, the Yanks have a number of guys on the 40 who could be DFAd or traded to open spots. Some possible drops/trade material: Chance Adams, Dull, Hale, Cessa (will be out of options after this season), Cortes, Ford, Valera, Wade.
So that is up to 8 guys who could be possibly be DFAd or traded currently on the 40 (though they could always surprise and deal some others).
Furthermore, several key prospects must be added to the roster or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft: Florial, Mike King, Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil, Luis Medina, Nick Nelson, and possibly Miguel Yajure. That is at least 7 guys who are very likely or necessary to be added or taken.
Others meriting consideration to be added to the roster or exposed are: Kyle Holder, Hoy Jun Park, Trey Amburgey, J.P. Feyereisen. That is another 4 possibilities.
Doing the math, and it will be extraordinarily difficult to protect everyone or find enough spaces without making some hard decisions.
Looking big picture, I think that the Yanks have no choice but to let Ellsbury and Bird go simply to find roster spots for players who need protection or will be playable in 2020.
IMO, guys like Heller, Feyereisen, and Cessa are really on the bubble because guys with better stuff are close enough to be ready in 2020.
Even then, it is hard to come up with a combination of 40 that protects everyone they likely want to keep- while still leaving room to sign FA like Didi and maybe Betances- or guys in the FA market.
Ironically, Gil was a guy they got in a roster clearing move- they traded Jake Cave(!) for Gil.
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postseason rich - guys close being traded for guys further down the line.
Ironically, Gil was a guy they got in a roster clearing move- they traded Jake Cave(!) for Gil.
As long as he can put off losing people while get something back in return.
Would have been nice to have Pearson, no? Just saying.
Looking at our pitching now, you have to wonder how come Cash didn't package these middling prospects who are probably not long for the organization and get some serviceable help for the post-season run. I guess you have to have takers first.
However, I can't imagine grouping Adams, Acevedo, Abreu and Frazier together couldn't have gotten someone good in return. Take Estrada, we all like him, but where is he going to play? Shuffling him between AAA and the majors next year won't do him or his trade value any good.
Great news.
A) I assume they will be anxious to deal because for decades they have been and this is the closest they have been in years. Hence as the deadline approaches I assume that maybe Torres or some other real prize relative to what I trade is available
b) I am cautious because their ability to identify bargains I don't even know I have is legendary
c) More than half the teams fans were in a go for it mode as of 7/31 especially with the wildcards
d) I don't know and Cashman does how close his own minor leaguers are and I don't know if Severino/Bentances/Hicks/Voit/Stanton are coming back this year. So I assume more desperation than Cashman may feel.
By this time Cashman knows his odds of re signing Betances. Chapman opting out.
Come winter, the Yankees have a ton they can trade and some pieces they can buy...for us holding for the five year window ahead makes sense.
I think some GM'S simply misjudged our sense of market urgency. And I think some of the pitchers the media mentioned were not high on Yankee lists given their analysis.
just imo
Tom Kosensky
@mryclept
·
11h
Final line on Mike King (
@swbrailriders
): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 11 K. 99 pitches/59 strikes. Gave up 2-run HR in 6th and two of those BB in 7th. He did a solid job of generating ground balls....HR not withstanding. #Yankees #milb #PinstripePride
Tom Kosensky
@mryclept
19-year old Yoendrys Gomez (
@ChasRiverDogs
) will be fun to watch in 2020. Tonight: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Run scored on annoying WP with two outs in the 6th.... #Yankees #milb #PinstripePride
Josh Breaux (
@Big_Boshy
) hits his 10th HR of the season in his 41st game. Hopefully he will get to play a full season next year, big offensive talent
Virginia Yankee
@VirginiaYankee1
·
14h
Chris Gittens with his 22nd HR; his OPS stands at .904. Yes he is older and he Ks a lot, but his OBP is close to .400
NYY 3rd rounder Jake Sanford having himself a night, 3-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, his 13th 2B, and an OF assist for SI (note: finished 3-4)
Tom Kosensky
@mryclept
·
12h
Luis Medina (
@TampaTarpons
): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K. 92 pitches/51 strikes. 6th inning was rather annoying. Anyway, whatever or whoever flipped the switch, here is hoping it stays in the “ON” position. #Yankees #milb #PinstripePride
Tom Kosensky
@mryclept
·
12h
Roansy Contreras (
@ChasRiverDogs
): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Teenager keeps getting stronger and stronger and stronger.... #Yankees #milb #PinstripePride
Ben Badler: He's one of the more difficult prospects to pin down, because the gap between his pure stuff and his performance (until recently) might be the biggest in baseball.
Ben Badler: There are still a ton of red flags there, but it's good to at least see some signs of progress with him.
Can't help myself though I love elite fielding.
Doesn’t get much better than Clarke Schmidt’s outing, 7 IP (88 pitches) 3 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 5 K 1 WP 9:5 GB:FB, 2.37 ERA in his 3 AAA outings
(note: should have been AA outings)
Can't help myself though I love elite fielding.
I think he's made himself at least a secondary trade chip. He's older at this point, but not unconscionably so. I'm an MILB nerd, I recognize that most of these kids won't make the bigs for more than a cup of coffee, if at all, and that if they do it's at least even money it'll be in another uniform.
Torres is the replacement to Didi at SS and DJ would play 2B for most of the games. Holder makes a nice middle infield back up with that wizard type glove and left handed bat.
Didi in 250+ at bats this year is a .07 WAR player, he's only been okay since his return. His On Base % is sub .300
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but I'm pretty sure they're not going to pencil in a 25 year old contact hitter without a AAA AB to replace him just because they like the glove.
Torres is the replacement to Didi at SS and DJ would play 2B for most of the games. Holder makes a nice middle infield back up with that wizard type glove and left handed bat.
Didi in 250+ at bats this year is a .07 WAR player, he's only been okay since his return. His On Base % is sub .300
I think Estrada would get first crack at the backup job, unless he is dealt this winter.
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In comment 14547448 Dunedin81 said:
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but I'm pretty sure they're not going to pencil in a 25 year old contact hitter without a AAA AB to replace him just because they like the glove.
Torres is the replacement to Didi at SS and DJ would play 2B for most of the games. Holder makes a nice middle infield back up with that wizard type glove and left handed bat.
Didi in 250+ at bats this year is a .07 WAR player, he's only been okay since his return. His On Base % is sub .300
I think Estrada would get first crack at the backup job, unless he is dealt this winter.
I like Estrada, but more as a 2nd baseman, not a SS. Wade and Holder and perhaps Park will stick at SS long term.
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In comment 14547465 JPinstripes said:
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In comment 14547448 Dunedin81 said:
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but I'm pretty sure they're not going to pencil in a 25 year old contact hitter without a AAA AB to replace him just because they like the glove.
Torres is the replacement to Didi at SS and DJ would play 2B for most of the games. Holder makes a nice middle infield back up with that wizard type glove and left handed bat.
Didi in 250+ at bats this year is a .07 WAR player, he's only been okay since his return. His On Base % is sub .300
I think Estrada would get first crack at the backup job, unless he is dealt this winter.
I like Estrada, but more as a 2nd baseman, not a SS. Wade and Holder and perhaps Park will stick at SS long term.
This may be true, but I seriously doubt Wade sticks with the team this winter (trade or DFA is a good possibility) because guys with better offensive profiles need a AAA spot.
Park and Holder likely need some significant AAA ABs. Both are still developing and sitting on the bench in NY probabl does not do them any good.
Estrada probably would have already established himself in NY except for the recovery period required after the shooting. He showed real upside in his time with the Yanks this year. He does not need further time in AAA- and with DJ's flexibility, it would be more likely than not that Estrada would start at least once a week to get others rest with DJ sits or rotates to other spots.
296/352/425 - 19 doubles, 4 triples, 51 runs, 38 RBIs, 13 SB
266/313/452 - 17 doubles, 2 triples, 39 runs, 32 RBIs, 3 SB
***Wade has 50 more at bats.
I don't think it's a forgone conclusion that Wade can't be a productive offensive player at the MLB level, he is still only 24 with plus run and defense.
The guy can rake, at least until the major league pitchers find any holes in his swing.
Thanks. Some of these 'guys' are BABIES. How accurate can these predictions be??
296/352/425 - 19 doubles, 4 triples, 51 runs, 38 RBIs, 13 SB
266/313/452 - 17 doubles, 2 triples, 39 runs, 32 RBIs, 3 SB
***Wade has 50 more at bats.
False equivalency.
Wade is a living example of the classic AAAA player- does just fine at AAA, but simply can't get it done in the majors. 196 ABs over 3 seasons with the Yanks- a dreadful .175 BA, .247 OBP and career OPS+ of 36- keeping in mind that a replacement level player would have an OPS+ of 100.
In contrast, Estrada (while having only 2019 in the majors), has an OPS+ of 93, has a BA of .246 and an OBP of .283. Not exciting, but at least he is reasonably close to a replacement level player- which is adequate for a backup.
In short, Wade has had numerous opportunities over 3 seasons to show that he is more than a AAAA player- and has flopped each and every time. Estrada has shown he belongs by at least being a replacement level player.