$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 23, 2007 12:57:26 GMT -5
From a Baseball America blog... High Class A Tampa had the day’s biggest feat with a nine-inning no-hitter thrown by three righthanders, including one of the Yankees’ top prospect and a top sleeper. Kevin Whelan, getting in some innings as a starter at Tampa, threw five innings against Jupiter, striking out four and walking one to begin the 3-0 victory. David Robertson, a 17th-round pick out of Alabama last year, continued his breakout debut season with two shutout innings before sidewinding closer Josh Schmidt finished with two more scoreless innings.
A scout with an American League club reports Whelan’s fastball sat in the 91-93 mph range, and while he didn’t have great command of the pitch, he threw his plus slider for strikes and made pitches when he had to. Schmidt worked off an 85-87 mph fastball with good sink, fanning three and walking two, and has 64 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings for Tampa this year.
Robertson, signed after a stellar summer on Cape Cod last year, used primarily a 90-91 mph fastball that he throws downhill despite his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Robertson’s out pitch remains his tight curveball, and he’s thrown two scoreless innings in six of his seven outings with Tampa. For the season, the younger brother of Athletics righthander Connor Robertson is 5-3, 0.92 in 59 innings between Tampa and low Class A Charleston. He has a 77-19 strikeout-walk ratio and has allowed just 31 hits on the year, including no home runs.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 23, 2007 13:03:29 GMT -5
Do they think Robertson has a future? I was surprised to see Whelan starting.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 23, 2007 13:24:42 GMT -5
Balls, key in that story was the words "getting in some innings as a starter in Tampa" regarding Whelan. I already explained to you that many times projected relievers are used as starters on the lower levels in order to pad their inning totals. You cant have a guy opening up his pro career by throwing an inning at a time. The wording "getting in some innings as a starter" is codespeak for "they are using him as a starter to get him some experience but dont worry, he is a relief pitcher."
I honestly do not know much about Robertson, but I can tell you he does not show up on any real Yankee prospect sheets. Another guy to keep an eye on, who is not yet on the radar.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 23, 2007 13:32:19 GMT -5
I would think he'd enter the radar soon. Duncan's going to be interesting to watch. I expect nothing but possibly another Kevin Maas type ride. Could make for a fun second half until reality crashes down.
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Post by bernie51williams on Jul 24, 2007 0:47:28 GMT -5
Yankees have promoted Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain to AAA and have demoted Chase Wright and Tyler Clippard back down to Trenton, I like this a lot, Joba has been dominating AA since hes been there except for his last start, and Ian has pitched well there the entire season, and it's a possibility you could see Joba in the Yankees bullpen this year.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 24, 2007 7:54:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I had mentioned that about Joba and the pen - its gaining even more steam, with a couple of more mentions in the press about it just today. Kennedy to AAA is very big too...out of all the guys we have bought in for the old "spot start" its good to see him in a perch where he is in line for that. I would hazard to say he would be a lot more consistent than Clippard and Wright. He has a heap of moxie, and I have become a believer in him. Joba, on the other hand, is quite simply my favorite Yankee prospect.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 24, 2007 8:06:10 GMT -5
If he goes to the pen, I just hope it isn't permanent. I don't want the Yanks to Righetti him. It's not terrible for this season if he can help the big club, but they need starters more.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 24, 2007 8:10:40 GMT -5
Yeah, but there is a method behind that madness. There are injury concerns with him. But even beyond that, his stuff profiles as closer stuff. Rivera is not going to be around forever, and no one else downstairs has shaken out as a potential replacement. Of course, the Yankees could simply remedy that by throwing 60 million at someone, and probably will, but they are considering Joba to be a fixture out of the pen, and not just a short-term solution.
Honestly, I want him to stay a starter too. But keep in mind, the Yankees have depth down there in terms of SPs that they have not had in eons. It may not be the worst thing to put Joba in the pen, and continue to groom the Kennedys, Ohlendorfs, Hughes, and the other cabal of arms they have downstairs.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 24, 2007 8:25:11 GMT -5
They have depth, but they don't have ACE depth. Hughes and Chamberlain are the upper echelon. They did the same thing to Righetti. I get the injury concerns, but they haven't surfaced since he's been with the organization. It was a tricep injury which obviously heals and is not an elbow/shoulder. Plus, what you can't really know at the draft, is that Chamberlain has an incredible work ethic.
We have several solid starters down there that do not have top of the rotation stuff. Hell, even Mariano came up as a starter.
Mr. Wonderful Ross Ohlendorf has not been good this year. Many of the AAA guys have been disappointments. There are several people coming back next year from TJ surgery, but do any of them have the same potential as Chamberlain?
The Righetti flashback is hitting me. Righetti was worse though, since he already was in the majors and a damn good LEFTY.
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Post by bernie51williams on Jul 29, 2007 4:40:59 GMT -5
Ian Kennedy went 6 innings 2 hits no runs 2 walks and 6 strike outs in his AAA debut.
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Post by 9 on Jul 29, 2007 11:13:58 GMT -5
Solid start. That's good news.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 29, 2007 12:30:36 GMT -5
It is, but the big worry for me is still Joba to the bullpen. Terrible idea, and it seems almost inevitable now.
They could potentially ruin a gem for the sake of possibly getting the wildcard. Terrible.
In other news, there's a rumor of Gagne to the Yanks for Clippard and Brett Gardner.
Not thrilled about losing Gardner for a 3 month rental.
Clippard is expendable given the stocked farm in RHPs.
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Post by 9 on Jul 29, 2007 16:07:04 GMT -5
"Not thrilled about losing Gardner for a 3 month rental."
Agreed. especially a three-month rental whose shoulder could end up in the field boxes after any pitch.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 29, 2007 16:25:06 GMT -5
It's not like Gardner would ever be a future great, and trading a 25th man isn't terrible, but given the lack of position players in the system, and Gardner's superspeed, it's not great.
The best part of such a deal is that with Gagne in the pen, it leaves Joba in the AAA rotation where he belongs. I really don't want that kid moved to the pen.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 30, 2007 19:00:38 GMT -5
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 31, 2007 8:10:02 GMT -5
So Joba the big Indian struck out the side in his relief appearance last night, hitting 100 on the gun at one point or another. His arrival is imminent, and thought to be by Friday, along with his comrade in arms, Phil Hughes. I am fine with moving him into the pen for the here and now, especially with his electric stuff and the need for a shutdown guy bridging into Mo Rivera. Joba can be that guy. There is talk that this may not be a permenant move, but if he slides right in and dominates, we could be looking at our future closer, folks.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 31, 2007 8:17:12 GMT -5
The key to your statement is "the here and now."
I wouldn't be so upset about it if he is going back to starting next season. It's just if he's going to STAY in the pen, it would be such a horrific waste. Not that a setup guy isn't important, even with future closer potential, but not THIS guy.
Right now, I'm seeing a potential ACE getting banished a la Righetti. If he's starting in 2008, then let him get the experience now. Just hope the change in routine doesn't cause an injury.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jul 31, 2007 11:08:02 GMT -5
Unlike Balls (what else is new) I have no problem with Chamberlain playing the Mariano role to Wettland for a couple years and being groomed to replace him.....
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 31, 2007 11:11:18 GMT -5
That's because you're old enough to remember when the Yankees last developed a hard throwing strikeout ace.
Moving someone to the pen and developing a new closer is not a problem. But not HIM. I think a top of the rotation guy is more valuable than a setup guy.
But you are also old enough to remember the last time the Yankees ruined a promising career by moving him into the pen in Righetti.
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Post by jwmcc on Jul 31, 2007 11:17:00 GMT -5
I like the idea of letting this kid get the chance to be the 7th-8th inning guy instead of trading other prospects for Gagne.
And if the Yankees don't try to develop Joba as a potential future closer, then who? Mo isn't pitching forever.
Jw
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 31, 2007 11:22:45 GMT -5
Worry about that in a couple years.
They wouldn't trade top prospects for Gagne. Starting pitching is so much harder to develop than setup guys, who are usually failed starters.
The proof of that is that the Yankees haven't developed a true ace since Guidry. Even some of their good pitchers like Pettitte were not real aces.
There are several hard throwers in the system. Let's see where they go. We don't need to replace Mo just yet (assuming he doesn't walk after 07).
Don't get me wrong, I'm not this passionate against it if it's only for this season. Hell, Johan Santana spent time in the pen. But how stupid would the Twins have been if they kept him there?
No matter how well a reliever pitches, a true ace is more valuable.
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Post by jwmcc on Jul 31, 2007 11:27:58 GMT -5
"No matter how well a reliever pitches, a true ace is more valuable."
And we don't know for sure that he will be that true ace. He has a much better chance than the Yankees have seen in years, but he's made what, two starts in AAA?
In the end, forget what happened 20 years ago. Look at the last few World Series winners. 2002, Angels called up K-Rod. 2005, the Whitesox made Bobby Jenks the closer. Last year do the Tigers make the World Series without hard throwers like Zumaya and Rodney? Do the Cardinals win it all without Wainwright stepping up and catching lightning in a bottle? That's what the Yankees are going for, a kid with lights out stuff that can help carry the team through the last two months of the season.
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Post by bigtimmy on Jul 31, 2007 11:34:04 GMT -5
Papelbon was a starter and he got moved and he's doing pretty damn good I'd say. We already are grooming that ace. His name is Phil Hughes. Also, don't forget about Ian Kennedy.................Kennedy. And even Mo was a starter before he became the greatest closer ever. I don't see a problem in having him be the closer of the future. With gas like that and his apparent great command I'll take it. I will say though, having 3 great young starters like the A's had around 99-02 would be pretty sweet. But I still think they're doin a smart thing.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 31, 2007 11:40:54 GMT -5
Actually, just one start in AAA, but he's been dominant all year, and you're right, it's all potential.
KRod had been converted to a reliever all that season in the minors. He was a starter in high A ball, but while his Ks were certainly there, his ERA was over 5.00. They made him a reliever in 2002, started him in AA, and he really shined. I can't say for sure but I doubt the Angels would have made that same move had KRod dominated the year before.
And don't get me wrong, I agree that's exactly what the Yanks are looking for. But there is no reason to think that Joba will not make it as a starter at this time. He really should get the shot next year as a starter. He'd be so much more valuable.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jul 31, 2007 19:11:02 GMT -5
Interesting to read the comments here, as readers on minorleagueball.com argue about who will win more games in the major leagues, Phil Hughes, or the big Indian Joba. Interesting that none of them seem to be buying into the possible permenance of a Chamberlain move to the pen. In regards to that, Joe Girardi was apparently on the FAN the other day implying it was not anything beyond getting him a shot to get some innings up here, and help the team in the here and now. He may be earmarked to stay in the rotation after all, especially after todays statement that his arrival is NOT at hand, and they want him to work some more downstairs. Here's the Joba/Hughes thing. minorleagueball.com/story/2007/7/15/13550/0327#commenttop
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Post by MSBNYY on Jul 31, 2007 21:51:41 GMT -5
Well, if Girardi is the next Yankee manager, then that's a good sign for Joba.
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Post by jwmcc on Jul 31, 2007 22:01:15 GMT -5
I thought Mattingly was going to be the next manager
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Post by Jason Giambi on Jul 31, 2007 22:06:54 GMT -5
hopefully neither
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Post by bernie51williams on Aug 5, 2007 17:24:17 GMT -5
I'm guessing Joba Chamberlain will be in the majors within the next few days, along with Jason Giambi, Chamberlain in 4 inning out of the bullpen has allowed 1 hit and has no walks and 10 Ks.
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Post by bernie51williams on Aug 6, 2007 21:56:58 GMT -5
Joba has been called up folks, Karstens or Brower will be sent down.
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