05/07: Minors Notes
Posted by: James
Nate Silver over at Baseball Prospectus put up the PECOTA 100 the other day. It's a very interesting list and a good read, especially the parts about the top 50 players under 25 and the organizational reports (the Yankees came in second in true prospects).
Also, in the Prospectus Matchups, Jim Baker points out something about A-Rod that I didn't realize:
Oh, and just in case you haven't heard about it from Mighty Mike A., the Joba has returned. He did pretty well too, going 4 innings at High-A Tampa and giving up one unearned run (5 Ks, 0 BB, 4-3 GB-FB). Jose Tabata's done a nice job today so far as well, going 3-for-4 with a double and playing the field for the first time in a little while.
Update: Tyler Clippard and Alan Horne had themselves nice nights as well. Clippard went 7 innings in a win against Pawtucket (1 ER, 5 hits. 3 BB and 9 Ks, 99 pitches, 64 strikes, 5-6 GB-FB) while Horne also went 7 strong (3 runs, 2 earned, 6 hits, 0 BB and 8 Ks, 9-4 GB-FB) but took the loss against Portland. Also, Eric Duncan isn't tearing the cover off the ball in AAA but he isn't getting schooled either (.254/.363/.433/.795). Last year, he put up a .209/.269/.255/.524 in an injury plagued stint at AAA so he's either adjusting or he's just healthier this time around (or both). Now, I know that the average and the power aren't impressive but the plate discipline is. He had a .485 SLG percentage at AA Trenton last year so if he can start showing that same power stroke and combine it with the batting eye he's shown so far...that would be a decent player, no? A 22 year old in AAA hitting .265/.375/.450+ wouldn't be something to drool over but it wouldn't be a bust either. He certainly has work to do when it comes to facing lefties (.083/.200/.333) but in my mind, there's still some good potential there. Still, I'm not the prospect guru so I'll gladly defer to Mike A., Fabian or EJ for their thoughts on the kid when they get around to it.
Also, in the Prospectus Matchups, Jim Baker points out something about A-Rod that I didn't realize:
Everywhere Alex Rodriguez has played, hes racked up the best seasons in the history of those franchises. First, it was Seattle where he posted VORP figures of 111.8 in 1996 (highest mark in Mariners history) and 102.2 in 2000 (second). Then, it was on to Texas where he played three seasons and, not coincidently, posted the three highest VORPs in franchise history: 103.7 in 2001 (tops), 88.4 in 2003 (second), and 86.8 in 2002 (third).
...
Since 1960, Rodriguez has already posted the third-best Yankee VORP ever, as his 91.0 in 2005 ranks behind just Derek Jeters 108.7 in 1999 (wow - what a year that was for Jeter...and 6th in the MVP voting - what a sham) and Mickey Mantles 97.8 in 1961. ... If he plays as well as he did in 2005 from here on out (about 15 points of VORP per month) he can take down Mantle, but not Jeter. Hes going to need to play just a little bit better than that the rest of the way to do it. If he can manage to pull it off, that would make for a pretty heady legacy: the best seasons for three different franchises.
...
Since 1960, Rodriguez has already posted the third-best Yankee VORP ever, as his 91.0 in 2005 ranks behind just Derek Jeters 108.7 in 1999 (wow - what a year that was for Jeter...and 6th in the MVP voting - what a sham) and Mickey Mantles 97.8 in 1961. ... If he plays as well as he did in 2005 from here on out (about 15 points of VORP per month) he can take down Mantle, but not Jeter. Hes going to need to play just a little bit better than that the rest of the way to do it. If he can manage to pull it off, that would make for a pretty heady legacy: the best seasons for three different franchises.
Oh, and just in case you haven't heard about it from Mighty Mike A., the Joba has returned. He did pretty well too, going 4 innings at High-A Tampa and giving up one unearned run (5 Ks, 0 BB, 4-3 GB-FB). Jose Tabata's done a nice job today so far as well, going 3-for-4 with a double and playing the field for the first time in a little while.
Update: Tyler Clippard and Alan Horne had themselves nice nights as well. Clippard went 7 innings in a win against Pawtucket (1 ER, 5 hits. 3 BB and 9 Ks, 99 pitches, 64 strikes, 5-6 GB-FB) while Horne also went 7 strong (3 runs, 2 earned, 6 hits, 0 BB and 8 Ks, 9-4 GB-FB) but took the loss against Portland. Also, Eric Duncan isn't tearing the cover off the ball in AAA but he isn't getting schooled either (.254/.363/.433/.795). Last year, he put up a .209/.269/.255/.524 in an injury plagued stint at AAA so he's either adjusting or he's just healthier this time around (or both). Now, I know that the average and the power aren't impressive but the plate discipline is. He had a .485 SLG percentage at AA Trenton last year so if he can start showing that same power stroke and combine it with the batting eye he's shown so far...that would be a decent player, no? A 22 year old in AAA hitting .265/.375/.450+ wouldn't be something to drool over but it wouldn't be a bust either. He certainly has work to do when it comes to facing lefties (.083/.200/.333) but in my mind, there's still some good potential there. Still, I'm not the prospect guru so I'll gladly defer to Mike A., Fabian or EJ for their thoughts on the kid when they get around to it.
