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MINOR   LEAGUE   NOTES   12-30-07    BigGuy

WINTER  LEAGUE  NOTES:     Robbinson  Cano was stopped from playing in the Dominican League playoffs by the Yankees this week.  He was only scheduled to play in 6 games to test a late season leg injury,  but played in 10 games.   He hit  .350  ( 14-40),    3 rbi,     2 doubles,    1 stolen base,  OBP  .357........Alberto Gonzalez continues to hit well in the Venezulean league.  In his last 10 games he's hitting .410 with  5 rbi and 4 doubles.   Overall he's at  .336  (41-122),  14 rbi,  4 HR,  6 doubles,   2 triples,  OBP  .391.......Jose Veras  finished with at  .000 ERA and 2 saves  in  8.2 IP,  allowing only 4 hits  with 13 K's---4 BB,   BAA  .138.......Wilson Betemit  finihes with  .286 ave in 12 games,  OBP  .405,   7 rbi,   2 HR,   but  13 K's..........Jonathan Albaladejo finished with 4 saves in 27 games.  26  IP,    23 hits,    7 runs,   20 KI's---8 BB,   BAA .240.

J. Brent Cox Update:   The righty  reliever who had TJ surgery earlier this year is throwing from the mound.  He's expected to start pitching competively at Tampa at the start of the season.  According to Mark Newmann,  per PinstripePlus.   In 2006 he went 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA at AA Trenton.  He's already thrown 7 bullpen session.  4 from a rehab mound, and 3 from a regular mound.  He's only throwing fastballs right now, and will eventually work in his slider and changeup when he returns to Tampa in mid Jan.    He hopes to throw a few live batting practice sessions before spring training.

SCOUNTING REPORT:   Daniel McCutchen:    25 year old RHSP,  13th round 2006.  Started at Tampa and ended at AA Trenton this year.  At Tampa was 11-2 in 16 games before being promoted to AA Trenton.  He went 3-2 in 7 games at Trenton.     Overall 2007 stats:  14-4,  2.47 ERA,  142 IP,  116 hits,  103 K---33 BB,   BAA  .227.    Great command of his 3 pitches.   4 seam fastball tops out in the mid 90's.  Hard sinking 2-seamer and sinking splitter he uses as a a changeup.   Great command of a hard sinking cruve that's his out pitch.    His name has been mentioned for a possible switch to the bullpen and could be a good setup guy.  As a starter hes rated mid to back of the rotation.   Depending on rotation spots available  at SWB,  he could start the season at AA Trenton if he remains a starter.  If switched to the bullpen,  he should start at SWB.

NOTES:   Yanks  released 33 lower level minor leaguers last week including Gerardo Rodriquez who just turned 20 in Oct.  career BA  .274.  He had nagging minor injury problems.  RHP  Jonny Cordoba,  Jon Axford former Notre Dame pitcher.   Jeff Livek 2007, 28th round draft pick who went 1-2 at Staten Island.

Baseball America recently rated the Yankee Prospects:   1.  Joba    2.  Jackson    3.  Tabata.   4.  Kennedy    5.   Horne      6.   Montero     7.   Marquez    8.   Gardner.    9.  Ohlendorf   10. Brackman

Blogs to check out:   Slidingintohome.blogspot.com    and    PinstripePa.blogspot.com

Jesus Montero is the teenage catcher from Venezuela.  Last week I called him Jose and got killed for it. lol   Juan Miranda is the player who escaped from Cuba.  He's a 1st baseman we could see in NY at some point next season.  He'll start the year at SWB.  I'm excited to see him.  He's got good power to all fields,  but he so far has had a lot of trouble hitting lefties.   Perfect for a platoon at 1st with Duncan.  I figure Giambi will  do his annual breakdown at some point and he'll step in.  First base should give pretty good power potential next season.  Thanks, and I hope you and your family have a great New Year.

Our bullpen right now is a problem.  But next year at this time it shouldn't be at all.  Guys like Ohlendorf and Veras I think will have very good years and if Edwar and Britton can come thru they're just gravy.   Melancon and Cox should be up by mid season and they're both setup-closer types and would be perfect for the 8th innings.  Nardi Contreras thinks Melancon could be next years version of Joba. I sure hope so. 

My pleasure.  I agree.  Most of these guys like White, Horne, Marquez and McCuthen all have the stuff to be good relievers or starters.  With Joba, Hughes and Kennedy all ahead of them,  there chances of making the rotation are slim in the future.  Although I like Horne alot and would rather see him stay a starter.  Happy New Year.

I agree.  There are only so many that can make the ML team anyway.  That's the reason why you invest in pitching heavily.  Some surely won't make it, but the one's you think won't you can trade for other needs.