Official Minor League News Thread - 2007

[34Celtic]

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What reliever is going to put us over the top? You have any ideas?

Not really, but thats why I didn't name anyone. If someone like Scott Linebrink is available this offseason and we can trade Sanchez for him by all means do it. I just want guys in the bullpen who aren't walking people left and right. cough Farnsowrth cough

[cmaff051]

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Not really, but thats why I didn't name anyone. If someone like Scott Linebrink is available this offseason and we can trade Sanchez for him by all means do it. I just want guys in the bullpen who aren't walking people left and right. cough Farnsowrth cough

Linebrink isn't any good anymore, I'd prefer to keep Sanchez and take my chances.

Sanchez will be cheaper, also.

[nykgeneralmanager]

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Right, because pitchers with history of arm trouble always pan out to be great relievers.

So does that mean anybody who has ever had an arm injury, you just get rid of them? I'm not following your logic.

Here is a list of Yankee prospects having TJ surgery this year:
Humberto Sanchez
Christian Garcia
Mark Melancon
Andrew Brackman

The Yankees believe in the surgery 100% which they have proven over and over again. They know what they're doing. Sure Sanchez can run into arm problems in 3 years from now again, but does that mean that you don't take a shot with his electric stuff? If he can remain healthy as a reliever, he will be a dominant closer, there is no doubt in my mind.

[AGGiE]

NYKGM, is this guy any good? Can you give me some information on him. Is he MLB ready?

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... pid=456499

[nykgeneralmanager]

He's a non prospect as he is already 28 years old. His entire career has been spent in the Independent leagues. I don't want to call him a non prospect, because the Yanks also found Edwar roaming around the Indy leagues. However, Edwar at least spent time in the minor leagues before making his way to the Indy leagues.

He doesn't seem to have much of a future in the majors, although his numbers in AA are very impressive. But on the other hand, any average 28 year old pitcher should dominate AA. I wouldn't expect much if anything.

[cmaff051]

I saw Patterson live once and I really wasn't impressed.

[rappa]

No offense cmaff and nykgen but ur underestimating scott patterson. Living in monmouth county and working at trenton thunder games, i have seen him pitch a couple of times. Being a pitcher i can say that the way he pitches is VERY very hard to hit. He's 6-7 and throws over the top. The downward plane he gets on his 90-93 mph fastball is just ridiculous. His secondary pitches are ok, but his fastball alone with its plane and heavyness is a great pitch. He may be old but hes good and i think he wil help us alot next year

[Chach]

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Right, because pitchers with history of arm trouble always pan out to be great relievers.

There is a developing theory in some front offices that moving kids with TJ surgery to the bullpen can actually help prolong their careers. Call it the John Smoltz theory. Smoltzy was an ace starter who goes down with Tommy John surgery and then goes to the pen. Pitching in the pen allows him to pitch every other day but in smaller chunks, strengthening his new elbow ligaments. You can also give him the necessary rest he needs when his elbow starts hurting a bit more than normal or acceptable. With good mechanics, pitching itself does not hurt your arm it's pitching while tired, which causes you to lose your mechanics, that really hurts arms. If you don't abuse and overuse your relievers (I think we all know who I'm talking about), there can be less stress on the arm and more flexibility than starting. Relieving also helps you refine your command and control of your pitches because you are 1)pitching for a short period of time that you need to concentrate on and 2)you are only throwing your two best pitches. I personally think it makes a lot of sense and Manny Delcarmen is another example of it working successfully. He had TJ surgery in A ball a few years back and they placed him in the pen afterwards. His first year in the pen he went from AA to the big leagues in like four months. Sanchez may have a longer career if he heads to the pen (at least to begin). Besides, there were rumblings that he was a pen pitcher anyway from when he was still in Detroit's system. mahalo
~Chach~

[bigboy1234]

Anyone know why Austin Jackson got called up to AAA and got the start in left today?

[cmaff051]

Anyone know why Austin Jackson got called up to AAA and got the start in left today?

Just a cup of coffee. Tampa didn't make the playoffs. Rumor has it when Kevin Thompson of the AAA Yankees clears waivers, Action Jackson will go to Trenton for their playoff run.

[34Celtic]

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There is a developing theory in some front offices that moving kids with TJ surgery to the bullpen can actually help prolong their careers. Call it the John Smoltz theory. Smoltzy was an ace starter who goes down with Tommy John surgery and then goes to the pen. Pitching in the pen allows him to pitch every other day but in smaller chunks, strengthening his new elbow ligaments. You can also give him the necessary rest he needs when his elbow starts hurting a bit more than normal or acceptable. With good mechanics, pitching itself does not hurt your arm it's pitching while tired, which causes you to lose your mechanics, that really hurts arms. If you don't abuse and overuse your relievers (I think we all know who I'm talking about), there can be less stress on the arm and more flexibility than starting. Relieving also helps you refine your command and control of your pitches because you are 1)pitching for a short period of time that you need to concentrate on and 2)you are only throwing your two best pitches. I personally think it makes a lot of sense and Manny Delcarmen is another example of it working successfully. He had TJ surgery in A ball a few years back and they placed him in the pen afterwards. His first year in the pen he went from AA to the big leagues in like four months. Sanchez may have a longer career if he heads to the pen (at least to begin). Besides, there were rumblings that he was a pen pitcher anyway from when he was still in Detroit's system. mahalo
~Chach~

What I meant is that pitchers with a history of arm problems always become great....being sarcastic. I think your paragraph was pretty obvious, I mean everything there makes perfect sense. Its a reason why I've been saying the Cubs should bring back Prior and Wood as starters, why I said the Yankees should have made Sanchez a closer when they traded for him, and why I have always said the Sox should keep Paplebon as a starter as long as they don't abuse him.

What I'm saying is that I would rather have my team draft the guy who has always been healthy instead of going ahead and drafting a guy then giving him TJ surgery right away. I know high risk high reward but still...

[nykgeneralmanager]

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What I meant is that pitchers with a history of arm problems always become great....being sarcastic. I think your paragraph was pretty obvious, I mean everything there makes perfect sense. Its a reason why I've been saying the Cubs should bring back Prior and Wood as starters, why I said the Yankees should have made Sanchez a closer when they traded for him, and why I have always said the Sox should keep Paplebon as a starter as long as they don't abuse him.

What I'm saying is that I would rather have my team draft the guy who has always been healthy instead of going ahead and drafting a guy then giving him TJ surgery right away. I know high risk high reward but still...

And if Brackman didn't need the surgery he would've been a top 5 pick (2nd pitcher taken after Price 1st overall) and you'd wish we had another guy with a ceiling as high as his. It comes with the territory. Like you said yourself, it's about risk and reward. They didn't take a guy with an average ceiling who needs surgery, obviously THAT would not be worth it. But when you land a top 5 pick at #30, you do it.

[34Celtic]

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And if Brackman didn't need the surgery he would've been a top 5 pick (2nd pitcher taken after Price 1st overall) and you'd wish we had another guy with a ceiling as high as his. It comes with the territory. Like you said yourself, it's about risk and reward. They didn't take a guy with an average ceiling who needs surgery, obviously THAT would not be worth it. But when you land a top 5 pick at #30, you do it.

Matt Harvey says hello....and he also screams this....

Medical Update: Healthy.

Summary: With a good arm, nice and easy delivery, projectable frame and the possibility to have a three-pitch mix (right now, the changeup lags behind the other two), Harvey sits near the top of the high school arm list. Assuming the consistency of his performance improves from his first start, he should stay there. He'll need some refinement with his delivery, but has a very high ceiling.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Don't you think that if Harvey was worth it, somebody would've taken him A LOT earlier and gave him the money he wanted? It should raise some eyebrows when a "sure fire" 1st rd pick with such a high ceiling fall that far. The Angels took him expecting not to sign him (and probably preventing somebody else from taking him and signing him) so who knows how much further he would've fallen if that's the case.

[Pharmcat]

i like the brackman signing.....high risk, high reward, i can live with that

[34Celtic]

Well I do know that it was going to take a whole lot of money to get Harvey out of that scholarship to UNC, that is why he slipped. His parents both retired and planned on moving down to NC. He also had Scott Boras as an agent, so thanks for the sarcasm....

The way I look at it is Brackman will be 23 by the time he recovers from this surgery. He has never thrown more than 78 innings in a season. (Even though with summer ball etc that number is higher but whatever...i'm making a point). By the time he reaches his "innings limit his first couple years it will be mid season. He won't make any sort of impact as a starter until he is 26. Who knows, the kid threw 99 this year? My guess is he comes back from this surgery and the Yankees make him a reliever.

[Pharmcat]

Well I do know that it was going to take a whole lot of money to get Harvey out of that scholarship to UNC, that is why he slipped. His parents both retired and planned on moving down to NC. He also had Scott Boras as an agent, so thanks for the sarcasm....

The way I look at it is Brackman will be 23 by the time he recovers from this surgery. He has never thrown more than 78 innings in a season. (Even though with summer ball etc that number is higher but whatever...i'm making a point). By the time he reaches his "innings limit his first couple years it will be mid season. He won't make any sort of impact as a starter until he is 26. Who knows, the kid threw 99 this year? My guess is he comes back from this surgery and the Yankees make him a reliever.

i dont know what inning limit he will have post surgery (im assuming he'lll have higher limit)....but this is the type of move you have to make....ace starters dont grow on trees, you have to take risks to find one....and i think with brackman we will...so lets say he pans out when he is 26, if he can give us afterwards 6-9 years of quality starts, then its a investment tat would have been well worth it

[34Celtic]

Ok but what I'm getting at is that Harvey slipped because he was commanding a boatload of money to stop him from going to UNC. If you want to know first hand info on Harvey NYK GM you can PM me, I'm not going to post it on here because I don't want to get anyone in trouble. But no eyebrows should be risen as to why he slipped. The kid is an absolute stud.

[cmaff051]

Ok but what I'm getting at is that Harvey slipped because he was commanding a boatload of money to stop him from going to UNC. If you want to know first hand info on Harvey NYK GM you can PM me, I'm not going to post it on here because I don't want to get anyone in trouble. But no eyebrows should be risen as to why he slipped. The kid is an absolute stud.

He slipped because he was asking for high first round money (first 10 pick money) and he wasn't going to budge from that request. He had all the leverage in the world so if he didn't get his money he would just go to UNC. The Yankees didn't think he was worth the money he was requesting.

[cmaff051]

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i dont know what inning limit he will have post surgery (im assuming he'lll have higher limit)....but this is the type of move you have to make....ace starters dont grow on trees, you have to take risks to find one....and i think with brackman we will...so lets say he pans out when he is 26, if he can give us afterwards 6-9 years of quality starts, then its a investment tat would have been well worth it

I agree. Of course there is a very large chance that he won't ever reach his ceiling or won't ever become a starter for the New York Yankees, but if he does we are set.

I presume the kid will start throwing late next year. Maybe he'll go to a winter league and get a few innings in. You would think that he would throw around 100 innings in 2009. 2010 he could throw a fairly good amount... around 140-160. The kid will be 25, he doesn't come with the same risks as a high school arm in regards to innings.