(photo c/o Flickr user Paul Hadsall)
Via Twitter (h/t RAB) comes word that Hector Noesi, who we discussed quite a bit this winter (here’s what I had to say about Hector back at the beginning of February), has been called up to the Show to replace Luis Ayala on the roster.
Noesi is a control artist, who has posted microscopic BB/9 rates throughout his minor league career, but like many who rely on pinpoint accuracy, Noesi is susceptible to getting touched up if he isn’t locating. Noesi was one of several Yankee minor league starters who broke out last year, as he posted a 3.10 ERA/2.99 FIP with a 1.64 BB/9 over 17 games (16 starts) in AA, and a 4.82 ERA/3.20 FIP (1.93 BB/9) in 18 AAA innings.
So far in 2011 he’s made one five-inning start at AAA in which he gave up two earned runs and walked two.
Noesi seems a somewhat unexpected choice for the Major Legaue ‘pen, given that many assumed he’d continue his development path at AAA as a starter, but this certainly isn’t the first time and won’t be the last the Yankees bring a young starter up to get their feet wet in relief. Without knowing how long Ayala is expected to be out, it’s possible this could be a fairly brief stay with the big league club, but if Noesi does in fact get into a few games it’ll be exciting to see how he fares.
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8 Responses to Noesi gets called to the Bigs to replace Ayala on roster
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TIQ IQ
Just looking at that photo, I like the way he uses that red elastic band to attach it to the baseball so he can pull the ball back just as the batter swings. I think we have all been waiting for the next great new pitch since the cutter and splitter, and the “Bugs Bunny” ball could be it. Nice job kid!
Brads, that was hilarious! It’s the red V check-mark from the Verizon logo, but you’re right…it’s the rebirth of the BBB…the Bugs Bunny Ball! I expect an even greater breakout of strained obliques as hitters try to “stay back” on this one! Good catch!
Now, why does it look like he threw the ball skyward???
Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but in that Noesi post I linked to that I published on Yankeeist back in February, I wrote “Names like Adam Warren and David Phelps have been thrown around a lot this offseason, although from what I’ve read it sounds like Noesi may be next in the pecking order with regards to getting a shot to show what he has at the Major League level” and “Barring an outrageous spring, Noesi will almost certainly start the year back in AAA, but if he continues to pitch well we may see him in the Bronx in the ‘pen — or possibly even as a spot starter — sometime this summer.”
So I had the timeframe off, but other than that, not bad.
He will be the fourth “No” pitcher: MariaNO, SoriaNO, NOva, and now NOesi.
Now if we can get a no no out of a no no…not so bad…no?
Noesi may be auditioning for the No. 5 starter role to replace none other than Phil “The Ex-Franchise” Hughes. Hughes should either (a) be put on the DL to find his fastball, or (b) sent to the BP to find his fastball.
I can’t understand why the NY Braintrust doesn’t promote a lefty – any lefty – to serve as a specialist out of the BP until Feliciano can return. Logan has not been reliable since last season’s All Star break.
So we send Hughes into the pen in order to be the “5th inning guy” or longman and he only upticks a MPH or two what then?
Hughes’ velocity is likely down due to his innings increase, we saw the same thing with Cole Hamels in 2009 after his WS run the year before. Guess what, last season his fastball came back and he had probably his best year as a pro. Like it or not we have no choice but to stick with Hughes unless he has a REAL injury.
[...] Larry posted this morning, the Yankees called up Hector Noesi to fill Luis Ayala’s roster spot. He will (for now) pitch [...]