Minor League Report. SWB slugs way to DH Sweep. Trenton & Tampa pitch shutouts.

The Yanks signed soon-to-be 39 year old C Erik Kratz for catching depth. He is now with SWB. The journeyman catcher was with the Yanks in 2017 and got into four games that year with them.

AAA: SWB (36-25) swept a DH.

Regular game: Won 7-5. 1B Mike Ford grand slam. CF Mike Tauchman 3 for 3. DH Logan Morrison 2 hits, RBI. RF Ryan McBroom 2 RBI.

Makeup of 4/28 postponement: Won 14-3. 2B Breyvic Valera (.407) 2 hits. 1B Ford (.350) 2 hits. LF Tauchman 3 hits, RBI. C Kyle Higashioka 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR. 3B Brad Miller 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR. McBroom 2 hits (.323). DH Morrison 3-run HR.

AA: Trenton (34-24) only got three hits but won 1-0. RF Rashad Crawford solo HR. C Kellin Deglan 2 hits.

Stephan (W, 1-3, 5.40) 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Lail (H, 1) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.  0.00
Carter (S, 1) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.56

High A: Tampa (27-35) won 5-0. 1B Dermis Garcia 3 for 3, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. SS Diego Castillo 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Frank German (W, 3-3, 3.83) 5 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 3 W, 8 K.
Bristo (H,1) 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.  2.40
Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  5.40

Low A: Charleston (34-29) lost 3-2. LF Canaan Smith 2 for 2, 2 walks (.318). DH Omar Carrizales 2 hits.

Advertisements

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (18-16) lost 6-5. CF Tyler Wade 2 hits, RBI. C Ryan Lavarnway 2 RBI. 2B Breyvic Valera solo HR. DH Brad Miller solo HR. Starter David Hale 5 R in 3 IP. David Sosebee two scoreless innings of relief.

AA: Trenton (21-14) lost 5-0, getting just four hits, two by DH Chris Gittens. Starter Deivi Garcia (L, 1-2, 4.50) 5 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 9 K. Matt Wivinis 2 scoreless relief innings.

High A: Tampa (17-21) lost 1-0, getting just three hits.

Miguel Yajure (L, 1-5, 3.52) 6 IP 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Braden Bristo 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.  1.65

Low A: Charleston (22-17) won 7-6 in 11 innings. CF Josh Stowers (.306) GW hit. DH Canaan Smith (.318) 2 hits.  Starter Daniel Bies 1 R in 6 IP.

Minor League Report. Espinal closes strong for Charleston.

AAA: SWB (8-6) lost both games of a DH to Lehigh Valley, and both by 5-3 scores.

Game 1: SS Thairo Estrada 2 hits. 3B Mandy Alvarez 2 hits, 2 RBI. C Ryan Lavarnway 3 for 3. RF Zach Zehner 2 hits, RBI.

Loaisiga (L, 0-1, 3.60) 5 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 W, 7 K.

Game 2: 2B Gosuke Katoh 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR. Chance Adams gave up 5 runs in the fourth, inc. 2 HR. ERA 10.32.

AA: Trenton (8-4) also lost 5-3.  Brody Koerner 7 IP, 5 R, 3 ER.

High A: Tampa (5-9) threw a 2-hitter and scored six in the eighth to win 6-1. CF Pablo Olivares 2 RBI. DH Dermis Garcia 2 RBI. LF Isiah Gilliam 2 hits, RBI. C Donny Sands 2 hits.

Deivi Garcia 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 W, 8 K. 3.75
Bristo 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.  2.45
Kriske (W, 1-1, 0.00) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.

Low A: Charleston (7-7) won 7-1. CF Josh Stowers 2 hits, RBI. 1B Max Burt 2 hits, 2 RBI.
SS Eduardo Torrealba 2 hits, RBI. 3B Nelson Gomez and C Mickey Gasper each with a solo HR.

Orozco (W, 1-1, 1.88) 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 4 W, 3 K.
C. Espinal (S, 1) 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 7 K. 0.00  

S.T. Game 29. Yanks lose, Gio rusty. Roster set? Trade made.

You may be working out on the side, but until you get that game experience ….

Newly signed Gio Gonzalez showed his rust as the Yanks lost to Toronto Saturday afternoon, 7-3.

The loss puts the Yanks S.T. record at 16-9-4.

Gleyber Torres had a 3-run HR for the Yanks in the first inning.

Masahiro Tanaka only worked two innings in preparing for his Opening Day start this coming Thursday and looked sharp. We can only hope he’s like this on Thursday. Two scoreless innings.

Besides Gonzalez’ rust, Aroldis Chapman had a rough outing. His velo is down and I am a bit concerned about him.

Tanaka 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Chapman (H) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.
Green (H) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holder (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Gonzalez (BS, L) 2 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kriske 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K
Bristo 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

I had to look up who Kriske was. Never heard of him. Brooks Kriske, 25, RHP, 2-2, 1.09 at short season Staten Island last year. 33 K in 24 2/3 IP. 2 games for Low A Charleston. 0-0, 4.50 in four innings. Far down on the “totem pole”. But had to see who was this guy? Was with Staten Island a bit in 2016, missed all of 2017. My guess is Charleston (low A) bound.

The Yanks basically set the 25 man opening roster today, but there could be a minor move yet.

C Sanchez and Romine
IF Bird (could still make a move here to put him on DL if elbow (HBP recently) problem lingers. If he is on DL, Wade AND Tauchman could make team? See below), Voit, Torres, LeMahieu, Andujar, Tulowitzki
UT Wade? See below.
OF Gardner, Judge, Stanton (Tauchman? See below).

The ? is Wade. I mentioned in my this blog earlier today that the Yanks could pick up an OF via someone getting cut by another team or by trade. I nailed that one. Just a few hours after I wrote that, the Yankees made a deal today for an OF.

The Yanks sent LHP Phillip Diehl to Colorado for OF Mike Tauchman. I was concerned about Wade’s lack of OF experience and the Yanks apparently are too.

So that final spot could come down to Wade or Tauchman.

UPDATE: Bird makes team, is OK. Wade sent down. Tauchman is backup OF.

First off, Diehl. 24. LHP. Goes to Colorado. Last year 2-3, 2.51 between High A Tampa and AA Trenton. Probably going back to AA. Boone was impressed with him in S.T.

Wade, mostly an IF (2B/SS/3B) has been used in the OF to increase his versatility, but is not a true OF. In 124 MLB at bats for the Yanks in 2017 and 2018, has hit only .161-1-7, 42 strikeouts, OPS+ 25. In 176 AAA games, .282-11-58 with 37 SB. He hasn’t taken that to the majors yet, and the 24 year old lefty hitter, although possessing great speed, hasn’t had a lot of OF experience.

Hence the trade for Tauchman. That last spot on the team for now (position player) is between Wade and Tauchman (unless Bird has to go on the DL, then both may make the team). Tauchman, a lefty bat, is 28, and is only 9 for 59 in his MLB career (.153-0-2, OPS+ 20). Like Wade, he needs his skills to translate from AAA to a major league level. While Wade has the speed, Tauchman could show the power, and is a true OF, which Wade isn’t. In 112 games at AA in 2018, Tauchman hit .323-20-81 with 12 SB. In 2017 at AAA, Tauchman hit .331-16-80 in 110 games with 16 SB.

Unlike Wade, Tauchman has a lot of experience in all three OF positions.

Whether it is Wade or Tauchman, expect neither to be there long. He’ll be gone once Hicks is ready.

As for what happens if or when Ellsbury is ready? We won’t go there.

The 13 ptichers are:

Tanaka
Paxton
Happ
Cessa (starter? Middle relief?)
CC (to start year w/suspension, then go on DL)
Chapman
Tarpley (I told you not to overlook him…. made team)
Britton
Green
Ottavino
Holder
German (starter? relief?)
Kahnle

When CC goes on the DL, Loaisiga, who was sent down, will replace him temporarily.

As for room for Gio (rusty today, see above) or Severino when ready, who knows. Same with Betances, and same with Montgomery this summer.

But you can never have enough pitching.

As I said in my prior post, sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and sometimes due to poor performance and/or injury, they are made for you.

Some decisions you just have to wait on. Cross that bridge when we get to it.

But also, don’t be surprised if, until Seve and CC are ready, Boone goes with an “opener” in a couple of games.

Minor League Report. SWB clinches wild card.

AAA:  SWB (72-65) clinched a wild card spot when they won 3-2 Sunday while Columbus and Indianapolis both lost. SWB will conclude their season today (Monday, Labor Day) and host the first two games of the playoffs Wednesday and Thursday against Lehigh Valley. The final games will be in the Lehigh Valley Friday, then Saturday and Sunday if needed.

C Wilkin Castillo triple, 2 RBI

Rosa 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 4 K.  3.92
Sheffield (W, 6-4, 2.56) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. Great job.
Kontos (H, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  1.85
Harvey (H, 6) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K.  1.66
R. Espinal (S, 2) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.   3.09

AA: Trenton will have the same playoff schedule, Wed. – Sunday, but will be away at New Hampshire for the first two, with the final three (Games 4 & 5 if nec.) at Trenton (78-61). Trenton won 3-0 on Sunday. SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI.

This was Garcia’s AA debut. He started the year at Low A Charleston. Total 3 levels: 5-4, 2.55.. RHP, 19.

Deivi Garcia (W, 1-0, 0.00) 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 7 K.  AA DEBUT
Hodson (H, 1) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.  4.60
Wivinis (S, 5) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.86

High A: Tampa (70-67) lost 3-1. 3B Daniel Barrios 2 hits.

Morris (L, 1-3, 5.92) 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K.
Bristo 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K.  2.45
Weissert 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  3.76

Low A: Charleston (63-72) won 3-2.

Semple (W, 2-0, 1.50) 6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 7 K.
Vargas (S, 4 ) 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.14

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (67-63) lost 5-3 to LV. SS Gio Urshela 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. 2 hits, CF Devyn Bolasky.

R. Espinal 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 8 K. 3.20
Tarpley (L, 1-2, 2.73) 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Adams 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR. 4.97
Lail 1 Ip, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  gave up 1 HR.  5.90

AA: Trenton (72-60) won 8-3. LF Trey Amburgey 3 hits. RF Rashad Crawford 2 hits, HR, 4 RBI. CF Jeff Hendrix 2 hits, RBI. 3B Danienger Perez solo HR.

Nelson 4 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 W, 5 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.38
Hodson (W, 1-1, 6.97) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 k.
Diehl 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.   1.50
Wivinis 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.   6.08

High A: Tampa (66-66) scored 5 in the top of the tenth and hung on to win 7-5. RF Isiah Gilliam 2 doubles, RBI. 1B Ben Ruta 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Whitlock 3 Ip, 1 R, 2 h, 5 w, 3 K.  2.44
Sanmartin (W, 1-0, 0.00) 6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 5 K.
Bristo 1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.  3.12

Low A: Charleston (59-69) lost 5-0, getting just two hits.

Martinez (L, 0-3, 5.49) 6 iP, 4 R, 6 H, 3 W, 1 K.
DeCarr 3 ip, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K   3.15

SWB may make the playoffs (they are one game back for a WC spot). Trenton will make it as a wild card. Tampa and Charleston are both not going to make the playoffs.

Minor League Report

AAA: SWB (66-61) won 7-3. RF Ryan McBroom 2 hits. 1B Mike Ford 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI for C Wilkin Castillo.

Rosa (W, 2-0, 1.59) 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 W, 2 K.
Lail 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K.  5.82
Harvey (S, 7) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.  1.63

Rosa, 23, started this year at High A Tampa. He’s jumped 2 levels. He is 14-5, 3.71 at three levels this year and someone to watch out for.

AA: Trenton (69-60) lost 8-3. 2B Bruce Caldwell 2 hits, solo HR. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits.

Nick Green (0-2, 6.10 at AA) 5 1/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Frawley 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 k.  6.75
Hodson 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.  8.64

Green started the year at High A.

High A: Tampa (64-65) won 8-2. SS Diego Castillo 2 RBI. DH Dom Thompson -Williams 3 RBI. 3B Angel Aguilar 2 hits. 1B Steven Sensley 3 hits. C Jason Lopez 2 RBI.

Abreu (W, 4-3, 4.16) 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 W, 4 K.
Morris (H, 1) 3 Ip, 0 R, 2 H, 0 w, 0 K  6.05
Bristo 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.  1.17

Low A: Charleston (58-67) lost 6-0. They got 3 hits.

Junk (L, 6-5, 3.94) 5 iP, 4 R, 8 H, 2 W, 7 K. gave up 1 hr.
Vargas 4 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.  3.95