This is something I’ll be adding to my other regular feature “Keeping up with the ex-Yanks”. Many Yankee stories get covered to death, but then there are others seem to fly under the radar. Anything that could impact the Yanks, from rumblings in the trade market to a hot prospect in the minors will be covered here, bullet point style.
-Andrew Brackman has put himself back on the prospect map. After a horrendous season last year and rough start this year, he’s finally putting things together. He’s throwing strikes (7 BB in 55 IP) and his velocity is back up after being down last year.
-Since coming back from elbow surgery, Dellin Betances has been dealin’. He’s pitched twice, allowing 1 Run and walking only 1 while striking out 13 in 12.0 IP. He’s had stretches like this before (2nd half of 2008) only to fall back again, although we later learned his elbow was hurting. If he and Brackman can keep it up, will we finally have the ‘Twin Towers’ we all drooled over? Stay tuned.
-Francisco Cervelli has continued to be good in clutch spots for the Yanks. He had a 2-run single last night and is 6-8 on the season with the Bases loaded. While his RISP numbers (.447) are bound to regress, a slap hitter like him figures to do well when infielders are holding runners on base. So you have to like his chances in those situations.
-Peter Gammons is reporting that Arizona plans to have a fire sale this trade deadline where they’ll shave about 25 mil off payroll (h/t NYBD). The Yanks don’t want anyone from that bullpen, which is the worst in Baseball, but some of their other players could be fits for the Sox or Rays. Haren is on Minnesota’s wish list as well.
-Jon Albaladejo has been destroying AAA. He’s reinvented himself, featuring a 4-seamer that he goes up the ladder with and a knee bucking curve. But the Yanks don’t seem overly impressed, opting to call up Boone Logan yesterday instead of Alby or Royce Ring.
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8 Responses to Underreported Yankee Notes
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TIQ IQ
Interesting stuff in re: Brackman. I hadn’t heard that his velocity was up. Do you have a scouting report on him or something?
RAB has a breakdown on their front page with some quotes from Jon Manuel. He’s added a power slider and is hitting 96 regularly.
In addition to what Steve just said, NoMaas had an interview with Mark Newman and Newman said both Brackman and Betances have been sitting low-mid 90s (and hitting 96 or so) I think.
If Betances makes it, it’ll be SUCH a cool story/fan favorite situation. (Brooklyn prodigy makes good.)
Here you go:
http://nomaas.org/2010/06/hello-newman-interview-with-yanks-senior-vp-of-baseball-operations/
SJK: Moving on to individual players and a lightening rod in the fanbase, let’s talk about Andrew Brackman. His control is remarkably better this year. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is almost 6. But, I also read reports earlier in the year that his velocity was down and his secondary pitches still needed significant work. Where does he stand right now with you?
MN: He was at 95 the other night. His secondary pitches have improved significantly. He’s made some great progress. There might be some Double-A in his future this year if he continues to perform well. This is the ‘second-year after elbow surgery’ case right here.
SJK: Dellin Betances, he’s returning from injury. Do you still have hopes for him?
MN: Yeah, big-time stuff. I saw him at a rehab game the other day, he was at 95 mph, topped at 97.
Wonderful. Good stuff. I’m still trying to catch up on all my reading. Being gone for 10 days really sets you back.
Betances is one of my favorites, I feel like I’ve been following him for years and years, so it’s great to see him back.
Good stuff, HCM. I remember being taken aback when that came out by how effusive Newman was about those two. He’s fairly honest in his assessments on prospects, or as much as you can expect him to be. Seeing the results match his words is very encouraging.
By the way, that picture of Betances is awesome. Jim Rice just pissed his pants.
A portrait of intimidation.