Minor League Recap, 4/9

Written by Greg Fertel | 09 April 2007

• Matt DeSalvo got the start. After an easy first two innings, he allowed a single, double, single, walk, and single in the third. Two runs scored, and DeSalvo found himself at 76 pitches. He ended up not coming back out for the fourth. His final line was 3 innings, 2 runs, five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Not the worst outing in the world (DeSalvo may have gotten a little unlucky. His GO/FO ratio was 5-1, and 2 of his 3 singles were ground balls that found holes. An error by Angel Chavez didn't help)
• Eric Duncan went 1 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. He can't hit a home run every at game.
• Andy Phillips went 1 for 4 with a home run. Maybe he can recapture his swing at AAA. It would still probably take a major injury for him to earn a call up, no matter how well he hits.
• Bronson Sardinha went 0-4, and still has yet to record a hit at Scranton. The Yankees should move him down in the order to take some pressure off him. He's been hitting 3rd, despite the struggles.
• Chris Britton got the save with a scoreless 9th. He struck one out and allowed a single on a ground ball. He's done nothing but strike out a ton of batters in the minors, and hopefully he can throw off a poor spring and find that success again. At the rate that Brian Bruney is being used, we might just need Britton soon. I have a hunch that the Yankees are using him as the closer in Scranton not only to get his shoulders used to a little pressure, but so that he will definately see some more lefty batters than would in a matched-up role.

• Brett Smith got the start. I've never been a big Brett Smith fan. I don't think that he'll be any good in the high minors. He throws a weak fastball with a solid changeup and curveball, but doesn't strike out nearly enough batters. I've compared him to Jon Garland pre-2005. He tossed 5 innings, struck out six, and allowed three runs, five hits, and two walks. His 7-1 GO/FO ratio was pretty impressive with those strikeouts. Smith led the FSL in innings last year. In the words of Charles Barkley, "I may be wrong, but I doubt it".
• Jeff Kennard pitched a hitless with two strikeouts and a walk. I really don't know why the Yankees bothered to add Kennard to the 40-man and protect him from the Rule V draft if they plan on keeping him at Trenton. He's going to dominate again and probably end up on waivers when the Yankees need Hughes or Clippard or Ohlendorf to start. With the injuries to Cox and Veras, I would think that the Yanks would have even more incentive to move him up.
• Cody Ehlers was 2 for 5 with an RBI double and walk. His single in the 12th started the action for the Thunder. I'm a bigger Ehlers fan than most, so let's hope he builds momentum after tonight. If Duncan doesn't stay hot, Ehlers would be the next solid option at 1st come August or September.
• P.J. Pilittere was 1 for 5. He and Matt Carson kept the 12th inning going to give Trenton the win.
• Scott Patterson pitched a perfect two innings with three strikeouts to finish the game. He has five strikeouts in three innings so far this year with only one hit allowed. Patterson may be a darkhorse to pitch for the Yankees this year. They signed him out of an independent league a year ago, and he was sent directly to Trenton. 38.2 innings and a 44 to 8 K/BB ratio later he won his spot in the organization. He's 27 years old, but the results so far are great.
• Justin Christian was 2 for 6 with two stolen bases and three RBIs. He's been on first base five times, and stolen second three times.
• Ramiro Pena finally had a hit! And it was a double.
• Brett Gardner, the OBP monster, was 1 for 4 with two walks. The hit was a double. His performance is looking a lot like the .323/.433/.418 line Gardner put up in Tampa last year.

• Fringe lefty Phil Coke made the start, pitching 3 innings and allowed two earned runs, 4 walks, and two hits. He struck out two. Coke was decent last year, but nothing special. With Swindle gone, his future is in the bullpen.
• Jose Tabata was 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI sac fly. And it was an off night for him. Wow.
• Juan Miranda was 2 for 4 with a walk. He's got a 2 million dollar major league contract and a spot on the 40-man roster, but don't count on the Yankees rushing him unless he rakes in Tampa.
• Marcos Vechionacci and Reegie Corona both had two hits. One of Corona's hits was a double, and he stole a base. The two of them needed the hits. Vechionacci especially cannot afford a meltdown this season.
• Colin Curtis went 3 for 5 with a double. Sometimes you forget that this guy was a 4th round draft pick last year. He feels like a 7th or 8th round guy, but he's better than that.
• Anthony Claggert came out of the bullpen and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings. That makes 5 Ks in 3 2/3 innings.
• Joba Chamberlain is still M.I.A. I've heard rumors of a hamstring injury.

• Angel Reyes, whom I rated pretty high last fall, pitched 3.1 innings and struck 9 batters. He's got electric stuff, but at times doesn't know where he is throwing the ball. He allowed two runs on three walks and a hit. Reyes isn't going anywhere above Charleston anytime soon, which is fine for a 19 year old lefty who throws 94.
• 2006 11th rounder Seth Fortenberry went 4-4 with a triple and a home run. He's a super-toolsy guy who wasn't very good last year in Staten Island. Maybe he'll find his stroke, but don't count on it. He was caught steaing at 2nd twice.
• Austin Jackson (whom I almost confused with Asheville's CF Anthony Jackson on the box score) was 0-3 with an RBI Sac Fly.
• Young catcher Jose Gil hit a home run for his only hit. He's nothing special.
• Mitch Hilligoss went 1 for 5 with a triple.
• Wilmer Pino continued his hot play by going 1-3 with a double and a walk. Pino was a dangerously-free swinger last year, but is drawing walks all of the sudden. Don't count on it lasting, but if it does I may just have to repeal my skepticism about him.
• Eduardo Nunez got a much needed 2 hits.