Official Minor League News Thread - 2007

[nykgeneralmanager]

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Is there seriously a better hitting prospect than Jose Tabata in any minor league system? Those numbers are just sick. It's crazy how he can routinely get triples and also hit for power with the home runs. -Jitpal

There are a number of hitting prospects better than him, but they are practically all in AAA and 20-22 years old. By the end of the season, the top hitting prospect in baseball will probably come down to Fernando Martinez and Tabata. But Martinez is struggling in AA because the Mets rushed him big time, so Tabata will probably surpass him in most scouts' eyes.

[Pharmcat]

why wasnt Clip given the nod over Wright for the call up? is Clip not ready?

[Jitpal]

why wasnt Clip given the nod over Wright for the call up? is Clip not ready?

To what I understand Hughes and Clip were not on the 40 man roster where Wright is. Meaning they don't have to make personel changes to bring them up. Plus, I think Clip's schedule didn't allow him to pitch today. -Jitpal

[NYKnSTILL!]

Joba Chamberlain, out for nearly a month with a hamstring injury he sustained in Spring Training, threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday and is getting prepared to hopefully break camp with the Tampa Yankees sometime soon.

Mark Melancon had Tommy John surgery on Halloween in the offseason. While it appears highly unlikely that he'll throw a pitch in an official minor league game in 2007, the former University of Arizona closer has already resumed throwing a baseball and could find his way back into the bullpen sessions in the not-so distant future.

[nykgeneralmanager]

The only line of interest tonight:

Philip Hughes - 6 innings, 2 hits, 0 BBs, 0 runs, 10 Ks


Trenton was rained out, Tabata didn't play (after playing 20 innings last night where he went 0 for , and nothing went on in Charleston.

[Jitpal]

The only line of interest tonight:

Philip Hughes - 6 innings, 2 hits, 0 BBs, 0 runs, 10 Ks


Trenton was rained out, Tabata didn't play (after playing 20 innings last night where he went 0 for , and nothing went on in Charleston.

Looks like Phil Hughes has adjusted to AAA. The amount of hits he gave up are a little concerning but I think he will be ok. -Jitpal

[theknicks414]

Chien-Ming Wang starting for Tampa tonight.

[NYKnSTILL!]

unfortunately Humberto Sanchez has to have elbow surgery he will be shut down for the season . We'll have a spot ready for ya Humberto get healthy.

[ReggieFULLeffect]

What's the deal with Clippard? Anybody know?

[nykgeneralmanager]

There isn't any news on him. His spot was skipped in the rotation a couple of times because they wanted to keep guys like Hughes and Ohlendorf on their regular 5 day schedule, and there were a number of rainouts that were messing everything up. If he doesn't pitch for a couple of more days then questions will begin to be asked, but right now there is nothing about it.

[34Celtic]

Probably my new favorite website


http://yankeesprospects.com/default.php

[moocow007]

[Chach]

That website needs to work on its formatting a bit (the Yankees symbol is the background is annoying) but that has some interesting stats.

Meloncon seems to be ahead of the best case scenario and that would worry me a bit if I were a Yankees fans. It takes between 12 and 18 months to cover from TJ surgery so he definately shouldn't throw a professional inning this year, maybe if he's at the low end throw in Instructional League. mahalo
~Chach~

[Jitpal]

So with the possibilities that Clippard and/or Salvo is going to be starting for us, anyone care to give a nice little compact scouting report. -Jitpal

[cmaff051]

Matt Desalvo
88-91 mph Fastball
Decent 12-6 curveball
Plus Changeup
Decent slider
Cutter
Desalvo has a wide variety of pitches that he uses. He had an awful year last year, but has bounced back this year, dominating AAA to the tune of a 1.50 ERA over 5 starts. He is 26, though, and his command is bad. Best case scenario for him is a #5 starter... not much better than Rasner or Karstens.

Tyler Clippard
89-92 MPH fastball
Plus Curve
Plus Change
Very good command
Clippard is a pitcher that is worth getting excited about, and is my favorite to get called up. He will never be mistaken as an ace because he just doesn't have the fastball velocity and he gives up too many flyballs, but the hope is that he is a middle of the rotation starting pitcher in the majors. He has been extremely durable throughout his career, never hitting the disabled list. He has impressed and conquered every level he has been at. He is only 22, also, drafted out of high school by the Yankees.

[moocow007]

Tyler Clippard - 6'4" 170lb RHP

2007 stats (AAA): 1-2, 3.08 ERA, 26.1 IP, 27 H, 14 R, 9 ER, 11 BB, 26 SO, .273 AVG



Matt DeSalvo - 6'0" 180lb RHP

2007 stats (AAA): 3-0, 1.05 ERA, 25.2 IP, 15 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 13 BB, 23 SO, .167 AVG

[Jitpal]

Based on those stats I'd say DeSalvo is the one coming up considering Chase Wright came up because he was dominating. For a guy who has such amazing control Clippard's walk numbers are a little worrisome. The guy looks like a stringbean, he should maybe stay down and work out his stuff a little more before coming up. It really hurts that Humberto Sanchez is on the DL because he could have been called up at least twice this year. -Jitpal

[cmaff051]

Based on those stats I'd say DeSalvo is the one coming up considering Chase Wright came up because he was dominating. For a guy who has such amazing control Clippard's walk numbers are a little worrisome. The guy looks like a stringbean, he should maybe stay down and work out his stuff a little more before coming up. It really hurts that Humberto Sanchez is on the DL because he could have been called up at least twice this year. -Jitpal

Clippard's walk numbers will get much better. He, like many of the pitchers in our farm system, were affected by the subarctic temperatures at the start of the year He has had a career BB/9 of 2.20, which is almost Hughes-like.

Clippard is a string bean, but he's tried for the last 3 years to add more velocity to his fastball by weight training and other training exercises. He has added about 30 pounds over the last 3 years, but that has no translated into any additional velocity.

Don't let Desalvo's stats fool you... he's not as good as Clippard. He's just off to a hot start, that's about it. Clippard is the better prospect, by far.

[Jitpal]

-= original quote snipped =-



Clippard's walk numbers will get much better. He, like many of the pitchers in our farm system, were affected by the subarctic temperatures at the start of the year He has had a career BB/9 of 2.20, which is almost Hughes-like.

Clippard is a string bean, but he's tried for the last 3 years to add more velocity to his fastball by weight training and other training exercises. He has added about 30 pounds over the last 3 years, but that has no translated into any additional velocity.

Don't let Desalvo's stats fool you... he's not as good as Clippard. He's just off to a hot start, that's about it. Clippard is the better prospect, by far.

I think Clippard looks like a better starter. However, the Yankees so far this season have called up the guy that has been the hottest. Chase Wright had pitched like what 14 scoreless innings. Hughes was coming off that 6 inning, 6 strikeout, no walk night. DeSalvo looks like he is dominating right now, so if the Yankees follow their own trend he will come up. -Jitpal

[ijag23]

Well it looks like Desalvo gets the start on Monday, making the Yankees the first team in MLB history to use 10 different starters in the first 30 games.