Minor League Action from 5/31/2023.

AAA: SWB (27-26) beat Lehigh Valley 7-5.

CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, RBI.
SS Oswald Peraza 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 HR (9), Both solo HR. #3 prospect is hot lately.
LF Elijah Dunham 2 hits. #18 prospect.
RF Kole Calhoun 2 hits, 2 RBI

Spence 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 WP 4.26
Deivi Garcia (BS, 1) 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. 4.78
Bowman (W, 2-0) 2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.65

AA: Somerset (26-20) won 4-2.

LF Jeisson Rosario 2-run HR (6)
DH Mickey Gasper solo HR (1).

Clayton Beeter (W, 3-2) 5 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 W, 3 K. 2.66 #15 prospect.
Barclay 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 WP 0.00
Watson (H, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 0.00
Houston 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 10.13
Mauricio (S, 2) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.86

High A: Hudson Valley (27-20) lost 7-4.

CF Spencer Jones 2 hits. #5 prospect.
C Josh Breaux 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (1).
DH Spencer Henson 2 hits.
1B Rafael Flores 2 hits, RBI.
LF Grant Richardson solo HR (5).

Yulie (L, 1-3) 4 1/3 IP, 5 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 W, 5 K. 1 Balk, Gave up 1 HR. 5.30
Vinyard 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 13.50 up from Low A.
C. Gomez 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K 6.08
Maciejewski 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00

Low A: Tampa (20-27) won 2-1 in 10 innings.

C Augustin Ramirez 2 hits, GW RBI single.

Bow 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 6 K. 16.50
Y. Calderon 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 2.38
Gilbert 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.14
Keating 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.11
Ayers (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 4 K. 1 WP 3.26

Minor League Report. Bauers’ 2 HR lead SWB to 2-1 Opening Day win.

The Yanks’ AAA affiliate (SWB, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) opened their season last night with a 2-1 win. Other classifications will open their season next week.

DH Jake Bauers hit two solo HR to lead the Railriders to victory. There were only 7 hits in the game, 4 by SWB. SWB relievers threw 5 2/3 no-hit innings.

RF Willie Calhoun 1 for 2 (double) with a walk.
#2 prospect (since Volpe is on Yanks, I moved everyone up 1 notch) Oswald Peraza 1 for 4, struck out 3x. SB.
Bauers 2 solo HR, walk.

Randy Vasquez 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 W, 6 K. 0.00 #13 prospect. 1 WP
Bowman 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Krook (H) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1 WP
Ramirez (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Weissert (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Bando, A’s 3B of 1970s champs, dies at 78; Shelley Duncan named Yanks’ AAA mgr.

Catching up on some minor and major things. Minnesota traded Luis Arraez to the Marlins for Pablo Lopez. Lopez was rumored to be a Yankees’ target but the asking price was too steep. When I heard Arraez was on the block, I hoped the Yanks could get him, but a) they didn’t have the pitching prospects the Twins wanted, and b) Arraez, although versatile and who could play LF, isn’t that great defensively.

The Yankees named Shelley Duncan as their AAA manager at SWB. Duncan was a Yankee for 68 games from 2007-2009 before going to Cleveland and Tampa Bay from 2010-2013. Shelley is the brother of Chris and son of Dave Duncan. His dad was a long-time coach after his playing career ended so Shelley can draw on his father for some coaching advice.

Prospects are suspects. No matter how highly regarded prospects are, not all pan out (Remember Jesus Montero? Clint (now Jackson) Frazier? Jose Tabata)? Didn’t make the impact in the majors you though they would. Well, Miguel Andujar was just DFA’d by Pittsburgh. Andujar was 2nd in ROY voting in 2018 (.297-27-92 with 47 doubles) but never was the same after a 2019 shoulder injury, hitting just .230 with 8 HR since then in 114 MLB games. And Justus Sheffield was DFA’d by Seattle after going just 12-12, 5.47 in 48 games (33 starts) for them. The Yanks have top prospects in Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones, Everson Pereira and Austin Wells, but how many of them will make it? You hope for another “Core 4” but you never know.

Lastly, a notable passing. Sal Bando, 3B for the A’s dynasty that won 3 straight WES from 1972-1974 has passed away at the age of 78. That team is the only team other than the Yankees (1936-1939, 1949-1953 and 1998-2000) to win 3 WS in a row. Bando played for the A’s (Kansas City and Oakland) from 1966-1976 and then for the Milwaukee Brewers 1977-1981. He was a 4x All-Star who got MVP consideration 7x. Three of those times he finished in the top 10 for MVP voting.

1971 RUNNERUP in MVP voting to teammate Vida Blue. .271-24-94, OPS+ 137.
1973 4th in MVP. .287-29-98, Led AL in doubles and total bases. OPS+ 150.
1974 3rd in MVP. .243-22-103. Led MLB in SF. OPS+ 130.

Bando averaged 154 games a year from 1968-1979, averaging .257-20-83, OPS+ 122. His 162-game average for his career was .254-19-83, OPS+ 119.

In 44 postseason games, he hit .245-5-13.

Baseball-Reference has Bando listed as the 16th best 3B of all-time. He only spent 1 year on the HOF ballot, getting just 3 out of 413 votes. I am not saying he is a Hall of Famer, and think he just misses out, but he should have received more consideration that that.

Minor League action from 7-29-22.

AAA: SWB (49-48) finally got over .500 after a terrible start to the season.
Completion of suspended game from 7-28. Won 8-6.
CF Estevan Florial 2 hits. #27 prospect. .289-12-34, 29 SB
SS Oswald Peraza 3 hits, 2 RBI #2 prospect .264-13-38, 25 SB

Hayden Wesneski 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.51 #7 prospect
Bristo 2 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR. 5.26
Espinal 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.46
Ramirez (W, 1-0) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 10.80 (AAA ERA)
Cordero (H, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00
Weissert (S, 12) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.06

Reg. scheduled game. Won 10-9.
SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (5) #13 prospect .234-6-21 at 3 levels
DH Ben Rortvedt 3 hits, RBI. ON REHAB
LF Miguel Andujar 3 hits, 4 RBI 2 doubles, 2-run HR (11) On trade market?
RF Phillip Evans 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (7)
1B Ron Guzman 2 hits, RBI

Krook (W, 6-7) 5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 3 HR. 4.37
Shane Greene 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.98 Re-signed to minor league deal after being DFA’d.
Mujica (S, 1) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR. 4.40

AA: Somerset (59-35; won 1st half division title) lost 8-1.

Will Warren (L, 6-3) 4 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 4 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. 3.00 #25 prospect
Myatt 2 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 8.18 (AA ERA)
Loseke 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.29

High A: Hudson Valley (50-43) lost 5-1.
C Anthony Seigler 2 hits.
LF Grant Richardson solo HR (2nd at High A)

Panacual (L, 2-3) 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 3 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 4.35
Alvarez 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 2.60
Edgar Barclay 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.11 #28 prospect
Ruegger 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. 5.82

Low A: Tampa ppd.

What now? Starting pitching.

As the 2021 season started, it was expected that the Yanks had a strong lineup, with questions as far as the pitching goes. As the season progressed, however, the hitting was inconsistent, posting an average OPS+ of 100, with a poor .237 batting average. It was the pitching, with a 115 ERA+ and 3rd in the league ERA that carried them.

A key to 2022 will be the return of Luis Severino, who looked good in his brief appearance at the end of 2021. What can he give in 2022 after missing almost 3 full seasons? He has pitched in only 7 games since 2018. If he is back to the Severino of old, and can stay healthy for the full season, a top 3 of Cole, Severino and Montgomery is strong.

It will be interesting to see who the #4 starter will be. Corey Kluber slots in well here if the Yanks re-sign the free agent. Kluber did well, even pitching a no-hitter, but missed 1/2 the season with injury. Health is the key. A front four of Cole, Severino, Montgomery and Kluber is formidable.

If you can keep those four healthy, then a competition for #5 between Jameson Taillon, Domingo German, Clarke Schmidt, Michael King (who is better in relief), Nestor Cortes and Luis Gil will be a healthy competition (barring any of those being traded).

Deivi Garcia needs to work out his problems at AAA after a terrible 2021 season.

Pitchers who may make the majors in 2022 could be Garcia (#11 prospect) if he rebounds, Luis Medina who is the #8 prospect, J.P. Sears, #9 prospect Ken Waldichuk, #15 prospect Hayden Wesneski, and #20 prospect Randy Vazquez.

Andrew Heaney is a free agent. It’s safe to say the Yanks will not be going after him. (I sure as heck hope not). Heaney’s time in NY was a complete failure.

In the end, I don’t know if the Yanks will trade for a starter or pursue one on the free agent market, other than maybe re-signing Kluber. The key is having Kluber and Severino healthy all year. Having that enables a nice healthy competition for the #5 and the long man/spot starter roles.

Re-sign Kluber? Or break the bank for Robbie Ray, who is a free agent and possibly the AL CYA winner this year? I wouldn’t break the bank for Ray, who had a great 2021, but who was 49-51, 4.26 before his breakout year. One year wonder? I also don’t see other free agents like Verlander, Greinke, Wacha, Happ (been there), Pineda (been there too), Lester, Kershaw, Scherzer, Bauer (yuk, what a scumbag—toxic), Cueto, Gausman, Wood, Arrietta, Chacin being options. Some big names would be nice, but I don’t think the Yanks are going there nor do I think someone like Scherzer would come to NY.

In the end, I think the key is re-signing Kluber to a decent contract, maybe similar to what he got last year, and hoping he and Severino stay healthy for all of 2022 will be the way the Yanks go.

Update of C/Infield: Apparently the Yanks were after Twins SS Andrelton Simmons at the trade deadline this past season. He could be a short-term free agent option until Peraza or Volpe are ready. He wouldn’t provide much with the bat (88 OPS+) but is a 4x Gold Glove winner.

Minor league action, 9-3-21.

AAA: SWB (59-43) lost 1-0. INF Max Burt 2 hits. Starting P Luis Gil (#4 prospect) 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 9 K.
Michael King 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Adam Warren has spent the whole season at AAA. 1 scoreless IP, 2 K. ERA 2.94

AA: Somerset (61-44) lost 6-3. C Josh Breaux (#18 prospect) 2 hits, solo HR. 2B Chad Bell 2-run HR. On the road.
Looks like Somerset’s ballpark is drying out after having been flooded.

High A: Hudson Valley (63-42) lost 3-2. Starting pitcher Beck Way (#22 prospect) 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 2 HR. Took the loss. C Austin Wells (#6 prospect) 2 hits. 3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR.

Low A: Tampa (68-36) split a doubleheader.

Game 1: Lost 3-1. LF Evan Alexander 2 hits. Starting P Nicio Rodriguez 5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 9 K. Gave up 1 HR. Took the loss.

Game 2: Won 4-1. #2 prospect CF Jasson Dominguez 2 hits. INF Benjamin Cowles 3-run HR. RF Juan De Leon solo HR.
Starting pitcher Blane Abeyta 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 9 K.

Minor League games played 8-29-21. Gleyber homers on rehab.

AAA: SWB (59-39) lost 10-5 in a game featuring a bench-clearing brawl. The Yanks had Luis Gil pitch in relief, probably to see if he can fill in that role in the postseason. He gave up 3 runs in 4 2/3 IP.
1B/C Rob Brantly 2 hits, RBI.

AA: Somerset (59-42) won 7-4. SS Gleyber Torres, on rehab assignment, 1 for 2, 2 walks, solo HR. 2B/SS Oswaldo Cabrera (#16 prospect) 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. C Josh Breaux (#18 prospect ) solo HR. RF Isiah Gilliam solo HR.
1B Chad Bell 2 hits, solo HR. 3B Oliver Dunn 3 hits, solo HR. All Somerset runs via 6 HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (63-38) won 9-6. Starting P Anderson Munoz 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
DH Austin Wells (#6 prospect) 3-run HR. CF Elijah Dunham (#24 prospect) 2 hits, RBI. RF Eric Wagaman 2 hits, RBI.
1B Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI.

Low A: Tampa (67-33) lost 6-2. They got just 3 hits.

Minor League scores, 8-1-21.

AAA: SWB’s game was cancelled. Rain. It won’t be made up.

AA: Somerset (48-29) won 4-3. Starter Jhony Brito 6 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. Brito first game at AA after promotion from High A. For the season, (A+/AA) 5-4, 2.61, 15 starts.
Somerset only got 4 hits, but drew 12 walks, had one batter HBP and stole seven bases.

High A: Hudson Valley (50-28) won 5-0 in a shortened, six-inning game. SS Anthony Volpe 2-run HR. DH Josh Breaux solo HR. RF Pat DeMarco solo HR.

Volpe, the Yanks 1st round pick in 2019, is hitting .310-17-62 with 23 SB in 71 total games this season between Low and High A. The righty hitter is 20 years old.

Low A: Tampa (54-23) swept a DH.

Game 1: Won 4-0 in 9 innings, scoring 4 in the top of the 9th. 3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 2 RBI. LF Ryder Green 2 hits, RBI. DH Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits.

Game 2: Even though it was just a seven-inning game, Tampa won 17-6.

Sanchez CF in this game. 2 hits, 3 RBI.
Chaparro was the DH. 2 hits, 3 RBI
SS Roberto Chirinos 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR.
RF Juan De Leon 2 hits, RBI.
LF Evan Alexander 2 hits.
3B Eduardo Torrealba 2 hits, 2 RBI.
1B Pedro Diaz 2 RBI

Minor league action from 7-30.

AAA: SWB (47-25) lost 6-0. Asher Maciejewski is back here and took the loss.

AA: Somerset (46-29) won 7-0. Another great outing for LHP Ken Waldichuk. Glad the Yanks didn’t trade him. 4-1, 3.35 at AA. Combined A+/AA record this year: 6-1, 1.95. 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 W, 7 K. 1B Dermis Garcia solo HR. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. 2 hits, 2 RBI 3B Max Burt.

High A: Hudson Valley (48-28) lost 6-5. Starter Mitch Spence 5 shutout IP. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, RBI. C Josh Breaux 3-run HR.


Low A: Tampa (51-23) won both games of a DH.

Game 1: Won 7-3. 3B Andres Chaparro 3 for 3 with a walk. LF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits. SS Roberto Chirinos 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2B Eduardo Torrealba 2 for 2, 3 RBI.

Game 2: Won 6-2. Top prospect CF Jasson Dominguez 2 RBI. DH Everson Pereira solo HR. 2B Luis Santos 2 hits. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 for 2, walk, RBI.

Minor League Report. SWB throws a combined no-hitter.

AAA: SWB (43-21) won 8-0 on a combined no-hitter.

Luis Gil (W, 3-0) 6 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 9 K. 4.03
Reggie McClain 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.55
Stephen Ridings 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.50

CF Socrates Brito solo HR. SS Andrew Velazquez 2 hits, RBI. C Donny Sands 2 RBI. 1B Brandon Wagner 2 hits.

AA: Somerset (40-27) lost 9-6. CF Brandon Lockridge 2-run HR. LF Isiah Gilliam 3 for 3, solo HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (45-23) won 8-0. Starter Jhony Brito 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 10 K (4-4, 2.76)
SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. RF Jake Sanford 2-run HR. 3B James Nelson 3 hits.
1B Kyle MacDonald 3 hits. C Saul Torres 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Low A: Tampa (46-21) won 6-5 in 10 innings. RF Everson Pereira 2 RBI. LF Ryder Green 2 hits, RBI. 1B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2B Luis Santos 2 hits. Tampa won despite walking 13 batters.