My Pinstripes Alpha

We continue our look at the Yankees' farm system with their two rookie/short season teams. The Staten Island Yankees, also known as the Baby Bombers, are 32-21, 3 games ahead of the Mets' short season team, the Brooklyn Cyclones. They won for the seventh time in ten tries last night, 1-0 over the Williamsport Crosscutters. Andy Shive improved to 7-2 with four scoreless innings and Pat Venditte recorded his 14th save.

Addison Maruszak, who leads the ball club with a .333 average and .903 OPS, is second in home runs with 5, and is third in RBI with 22. First baseman Brian Beasley has a team-high 6 home runs and 32 RBI to go along with a .324 average. Dan Brewer is second on the club in RBI with 24. Mike Lyon (.283-3-18) has been one of the team's most consistent performers.

The starting pitching has been the biggest key to the team's success. Casey Erickson (2-0, 3.16), Dave Phelps (5-2, 2.98), Brandon Braboy (2-1, 3.21), and Nick Montgomery (1-1, 2.28) have helped to form a solid staff. Luke Greinke, one of the better known names on the team, has pitched in some bad luck (he's 0-6, 4.01). His numbers don't tell the true story of how well he has pitched.

The most well known name on the team is, of course, closer Pat Venditte, he of the ambidextrous throwing ability. Venditte has saved 14 wins and posted a 1.19 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched. Andy Shive and Drew Shetrone have helped form a solid nucleus in the pen.

The Gulf Coast Yankees got off to a rough start, but have won five straight to move a game over .500 at 22-21. Catcher Neall French is off to a torrid start, hitting .385-3-11 with a 1.050 OPS. Shortstop Corban Joseph (.292-2-16), third baseman Jimmy Paredes (.302-1-11), and outfielder Tommy Baldridge (.288-2-10), have been regular contributors to the offense. Second baseman Emerson Landoni is second on the squad with a .353 average.

The team has seen a number of pitchers from higher levels rehab injuries this season. Humberto Sanchez, Jeff Marquez, Dellin Bettances, Christian Garcia, Ryan Pope, Brian Bruney, Ian Kennedy, and Chase Wright have all worn the GCL uniform. And major league veteran Victor Zambrano is also on the squad looking to make a come back.

Manny Banuelos (3-0, 2.73) and Arodys Vizcaino (2-1, 3.71) lead a pitching staff which is improving with the season. Most of the rehabbing pitchers start the game, so the team's true starters tend to come out of the bullpen for games.

Closer Mike O'Bradovich saved six games before being promoted to Staten Island. Ryan Flannery has stepped up with five saves in nine games and has posted a 0.92 ERA.

Labels: Down on the Farm - 8/12, GCL Yankees, Luke Greinke, Mike Lyons, Neall French, Pat Venditte, Staten Island Yankees

Games of 6/28, 6/29

It was a tough weekend for the Scranton Yankees as they were swept by the Buffalo Bisons in a 3-game series. Jason Jones made a great Triple-A debut on Saturday, allowing just 1 hit over 5 innings while striking out 7. But the Yankees bats were silenced by veteran Matt Ginter and Brian Slocum who allowed just 1-hit in the Bisons 3-0 win.

J.B. Cox was roughed up for 2 runs in just two-thirds of an inning and took the loss. J.D. Closser had the lone Scranton hit.

June 28, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Scranton/WB	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	X	3	6	1

Recap | Box |
W: M. Ginter (6-6, 4.13); L: J. Cox (2-2, 1.80); SV: B. Slocum (1)
HR: BUF: J. Cooper (9).

Sunday was no better, primarily because starter Alan Horne had to leave the after just two-thirds of inning. Chad Jennings reports that Horne complained of feeling no strength in his pitching arm.

“It was almost like I couldn’t get the ball there," he said. "It didn’t matter what I tried to do. I’d try to add something to it and it seemed like the harder I tried to throw it, the less effective it would be. My breaking stuff was just as slow and loopy as I think I’ve ever thrown it, and I can’t tell you why. Physically I’m fine. They came out there and checked me out and I said, ‘Nothing hurts. I just feel dead. My arm especially. It’s like I have no life, no drive through anything.’ ”

“I was really excited going in,” he said. “Just warming up, it didn’t feel that great -- no pain or anything like that -- I just figured once we got into the game everything would step up and be fine. It’s almost like I took a step backward. I was really excited and this is about as frustrating as it could have gone.”

“I was really excited going in,” he said. “Just warming up, it didn’t feel that great -- no pain or anything like that -- I just figured once we got into the game everything would step up and be fine. It’s almost like I took a step backward. I was really excited and this is about as frustrating as it could have gone.”

Horne said he's hoping his arm is simply going through a slight dead period after the extensive rehab work he did in Tampa. He's planning to throw on the side tomorrow and prepare for his next regularly scheduled start. As for shaking his arm throughout the start, Horne said it had nothing to do with aches and pains.

“It wasn’t hurt, I was just trying to get it going,” Horne said. “No pain or anything, it’s just like there’s nothing there. I’m just trying to get it to wake up, or whatever you do.”
Horne said that he did strength tests after the game and was told his shoulder was strong and healthy. You hear people talk about a "dead arm," and maybe that's what Horne's going through right now. It's weird to say the least. As Horne said after the game, he's using the word "frustrated" way too often lately.

Buffalo went on to a 7-5 win despite 2-run home runs from Bernie Castro and Cody Ransom.

June 29, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Scranton/WB	0	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	5	6	0
Buffalo	2	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	X	7	6	2

Recap | Box |

W: J. Halama (4-1, 4.80); L: B. Traber (2-1, 4.85); SV: J. Lewis (1)
HR: SWB: C. Ransom (13), B. Castro (1). BUF: J. Brown (3).

After losing the opener on Friday, Trenton took a pair of games from the Portland SeaDogs over the weekend to take the series. Oddly the teams play another series right away, this time at Trenton. On Saturday, the Thunder came back from a 4-1 deficit after Chase Wright was knocked around. Anthony Claggett tossed 3.2 scoreless innings to allow Trenton to get back in the ball game. Carlos Mendoza drove in 3 runs, including a pair in the game winning 8th inning rally, and Colin Curtis added a solo home run.

June 28, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Trenton	0	1	1	0	2	0	0	3	0	7	9	3
Portland	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	12	1

Recap | Box |
W: Z. Kroenke (4-0, 4.10); L: C. Rhoades (2-2, 4.89); SV: B. Hall (2)
HR: TRE: C. Curtis (5).

The Thunder romped on Sunday, breaking the game open with a 5-run 9th inning for an 8-2 win. Jose Tabata drove in 4 runs, 3 of them on this 3rd home run of the season. Edwar Gonzalez added 3 RBI, including a 2-run home run of his own. Phil Coke allowed 1 earned run over 6 innings to pick up the win.

June 29, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Trenton	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	5	8	12	2
Portland	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	1

Recap | Box |
W: P. Coke (6-3, 3.09); L: M. Bowden (7-4, 2.48); SV: S. Jackson (2)
HR: TRE: E. Gonzalez (5), J. Tabata (3).

Thunder beat writer Mike Ashmore recently spoke with hitting coach Tom Wilson about Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson.

Ian Kennedy made a rehab start at Tampa on Saturday, allowing 2 hits and a walk in 5 shutout innings. He also struck out 4. Ivan Nova followed that up with 3 solid innings, but the Palm Beach Cardinals beat the Yankees 1-0.

June 28, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tampa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Palm Beach	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	1	4	1

Recap | Box |
W: B. Dickson (6-5, 3.12); L: I. Nova (3-9, 5.10); SV: F. Samuel (15)
HR: None.

Tampa rolled on Sunday 7-1 behind 6.2 innings of 1-run ball thrown by Zach McCallister (3-3). Kevin Smith enjoyed a 3-hit, 3 RBI day, while Mitch Hilligoss set the table with a hit and 3 walks. He scored 3 of the 7 Yankees runs.

June 29, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Tampa	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	0	7	11	0
Palm Beach	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	9	1

Recap | Box |
W: Z. McAllister (3-3, 2.52); L: B. Furnish (7-4, 3.99)
HR: None.

The Charleston RiverDogs and the Savannah Sand Gnats began a 4-game series with the RiverDogs taking a weekend pair. Jesus Montero drove in a pair of runs as the Dogs held on a 4-3 win on Saturday. Noel Castillo allowed a run on 3 hits over 6 innings for the win. Jon Hovis picked up his 21st save with 3 strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.

June 28, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Charleston	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	0
Savannah	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3	8	1

Recap | Box |
W: N. Castillo (7-4, 3.43); L: N. Carr (1-2, 3.33); SV: J. Ortiz (21)
HR: None.

Charleston pulled out another 1-run ball game on Sunday, 3-2. Jesse Hoover pitcher 3.2 scoreless innings out of the pen to pick up the win, while Chase Vacek earned his 6th save. Abe Almonte was 3-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Carmen Angelini was 4-4 with an RBI.

June 29, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Charleston	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	12	1
Savannah	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	12	0

Recap | Box |
W: J. Hoover (4-3, 2.98); L: M. Cleto (2-6, 3.49); SV: C. Vacek (6)
HR: None.

Staten Island lost the rubber game of their series, with the Hudson Valley Renegades, on Saturday, 3-1. Luke Greinke didn't figure in the decision, but was outstanding in his second start, allowing 1 hit over 5 scoreless innings. Mike Lyon had 2 hits and drove in the lone Baby Bombers run.

June 28, 2008

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Staten Island	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	2
Hudson Valley	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	X	3	8	1

Recap | Box |
W: F. De Los Santos (2-1, 2.12); L: J. Kiley (0-1, 3.38); SV: J. Baird (2)
HR: None.

The RiverDogs have also added 2 pitchers, Nick Asselin and Dan Kapala, from the GCL Yankees roster as the team is need of some fresh arms. To make room, the RiverDogs have temporarily sent Craig Heyer and Ryan Zink to the GCL.

Staten Island started a series with the Aberdeen IronBirds on Sunday, but the game was suspended in the 2nd inning. It will be completed prior to tonight's regularly scheduled game. Infielder Walter Ibarra has been sent down from Charleston to the S.I. roster.

Dickson Marquez allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 4.2 innings pitched as the GCL Yankees lost 6-1 to the GCL Braves on Saturday. The Yankees had just 4 hits, one of them by Zoilo Almonte, who scored the lone Yankees run.

June 28, 2008