REMEMBER MARK MONTGOMERY? THIS ISN'T HIM

I was intrigued when I read about a Montgomery down on the farm doing great things for the New York Yankees.  You see, I'm a Mark Montgomery guy, and I was hoping what I was about to read was about him, but I was wrong.

This story is about a kid named Jordan Montgomery. Pinstriped Prospects and Thunder Media Relations has this story but in a nutshell, he's having great success with the Thunder this season:

(Photo Credit: Martin Griff)
"Montgomery tossed seven scoreless inningsfor the Thunder to pick up his eitgth win of the season. His ERA lowers to 2.47 on the season as his record improves to 8-3." 

It's always great to see success from the kids, especially when you are not familiar with them. I haven't been playing close, close attention to the youth movement recently down there. It's a nice nugget this morning.

Oh, and if you're wondering about Mark Montgomery, he's still with the Yankees.  In fact he was with Trenton too for bit, now with Scranton.  In 9 games with Thunder he has 5 saves, a 1.80 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.  He's doing even better in Scranton. I'm hoping to see that Montgomery up real soon too!  We wrote about Mark a while back on BYB.  Check out that archived piece called MARK MONTGOMERY: THE NEXT BIG THING.

Good luck to both of these kids!

IT'S NOT A DEMOTION. IT'S JUST 'MORE TIME TO WORK'

Look, if you know anything about the Yankees, you know they don't just force their youth up to the Bigs right away.  They try and mold them. They try to make sure they're extra ready.

And when it comes to the cuts, or the new assignments of the youth after their time in Spring Training, they're not out of work or anything. They just need to keep working. They know it and understand it.

James Kaprielian was "disappointed" with his move back to the minors but he is about setting goals just like so many of these kids.  Brendan Kuty of NJ.com has some quotes from him:

"...he was grateful for the experience.

'It was an unbelievable time over there,' he told reporters at the organization's minor league complex Monday, while those in major league camp were off. 'I was really fortunate and thankful for the chance to get to go over there in the first place.'"

Kap was sent to the minors a week ago.  Read YANKEE CUTS ARE HERE!

(In Photo: Ben Gamel)
The Yankees made a second round of cuts too.  The seven that went down this time are Ben Gamel,  Mark Montgomery, Vinnie Pestano, Tyler Cloyd, Richard Bleier, Donavan Solano and Jonathan Diaz.

But look, there is no question the Yankees are liking what they see from guys like Kaprielian and Gamel.  So, don't consider these demotions... they're more like "more time to work".

I predict we see a few of these guys this season at some point.  It's the Yankee youth movement... and it's exciting.


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YANKEES ADD 4 TO THE 40-MAN ROSTER

The Yankees have spoken.

(In Photo: Mason Williams)
They released this statement:

"The New York Yankees today announced that they have added OF Tyler Austin, RHP Danny Burawa, RHP Branden Pinder and OF Mason Williams to the Major League roster. The Yankees also have sold the rights of INF Zelous Wheeler to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Pacific League."

(In Photo: Tyler Austin)
We just reported the Wheeler info in THE YANKEES ARE KILLING OFF THEIR YOUNG.

(In Photo: Danny Burawa)
As Chad Jenning of LoHud wrote just a few moments ago: "They’ve obviously chosen to bank on Mason Williams’ upside, and they’ve made it clear that Danny Burawa and Branden Pinder rank ahead of Mark Montgomery on the bullpen depth chart."

And there you have it.Interesting.

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WELL, RING MY BELL

You know, when Heath Bell opted out of his minor league contract with the Orioles last week, he crossed my mind as someone the Yankees would possibly go after to bolster their pen a bit.  Then I realized that I was being ridiculous because the Yankees needed hitting and run scoring, not a pen guy. Our pen has been solid.   Then I read that the Yankees just signed Heath Bell to a minor league deal and I thought, "I have no freaking idea why they did that... but bring it on! Why not? The more the merrier!"

According to Chad Jennings of LoHud, it's a minor league deal and he is to report to Scranton Wilkes-Barre:

Yankees have signed RHP Heath Bell and sent him to Triple-A. To make roster room, Mark Montgomery sent from Triple-A to Double-A.
— Lohud Yankees Blog (@LoHudYankees) June 13, 2014

But did you catch that Tweet? In a corresponding move, they moved Mark Montgomery to Double A.

I don't like that move one bit.  In fact, this is what Yankeeland and BYB have been talking about for a long time, and it's incredibly frustrating. We prepare these Yankee kids to make it to the Bigs, but the moment a veteran becomes available, they do something drastic like dump a kid, move them or demote them. Why? 

Now, this move to put down Montgomery may only be temporary, but it bothers the hell out of me. I mean, how much can Heath Bell possibly have in the tank? I liked Bell 4 years ago... not so much now, I don't think at least. Well, I guess this is how we find out what he's got.

Anyway, welcome Heath, sorry Mark and Let's go Yanks!

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THE YANKEES' FUTURE ISN'T SO BAD AFTER ALL

(In Photo: Aaron Judge, Michael O'Neill) (Courtesy: Charleston River Dogs)
Over the past few seasons we’ve listened as experts have told us how the Yankees’ farm system is slowly digressing.  The philosophy of using the minor league talent to land other teams’ established veterans had depleted our future and left the organization nothing more than a top-heavy behemoth vulnerable to the slightest of setbacks.

Last year seemed to bear that out as we had no real answers when Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, and their replacements, fell to injury.

I’ve had the opportunity over the years (thanks to a minor league club – the Syracuse Chiefs – being nearby) to watch some of the Triple A Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders’ games, and what I’ve witnessed hasn’t exactly validated the experts’ assessments.

I’ve seen players with genuine talent and passion for the game make solid cases (in my mind) for the stability of our favorite team’s future.

To that end, I decided to take a look at how many of our “Baby Bombers” are currently doing at their various levels of baseball.  I discovered that the Yankees have a number of players distinguishing themselves in their quest to reach “The Show”.

(Courtesy: Charleston River Dogs)
At Single A level Charleston (RiverDogs), we have first baseman Mike Ford hitting .333 with a .464 slugging percentage through 15 games.

In the outfield for the RiverDogs is Aaron Judge.  The 22-year-old was drafted in the first round (32^nd pick overall) last year, and like Ford, is hitting .321 through 16 games.

(Courtesy: Charleston River Dogs) 
Starting pitcher Caleb Smith carries a 1.26 ERA and 1.12 WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched) with 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched.

Out of the bullpen, Charleston brings 23-year-old Nick Rumbelow who has three saves, a 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and nine strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Moving up to A (Advanced) level Tampa, there’s Dante Bichette Jr., a third baseman, who is hitting .358 with a 1.028 OPS (stat that represents a combination of slugging and on-base percentages) with 16 walks in 17 games.

Teammate Peter O’Brien, also a third baseman, is batting .333 and has a 1.086 OPS.  He leads Tampa with six home runs and has 12 RBI in 16 games.

On the mound in Florida, we have Eric Wooten, a starter that currently carries a 2.11 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP.  Wooten has struck out 16 and walked just 4 in 21.1 innings.

Fellow starter Rafael DePaula has a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and six walks in 14.1 innings.

So, what about the guys within reach of a call-up?

Well, at Trenton (Double A) the Thunder have top prospect Gary Sanchez.  The catcher isn’t disappointing by hitting .302 with a .453 slugging percentage and .846 OPS with 13 RBI in 14 games.  If he continues at this rate, chances are you’ll see him at Scranton for the second half of the season. Teammate Kyle Roller, a first baseman, is batting .308 with three home runs and a 1.110 OPS.

24-year-old starter Zach Nuding touts a 2.89 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while striking out 18 in 18.2 innings.

Closing out games for the Thunder is 26-year-old Diego Moreno.  He is among the league leaders with four saves and holds a 1.29 ERA with a microscopic 0.43 WHIP. 

The Yankees have some guys at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes Barre (the RailRiders) who are making strong cases for themselves as well.

We’ve all become familiar with Scott Sizemore whose demotion back to Scranton was nothing more than a result of the roster shell game that teams have to play.  He’s batting .344 with a .936 on-base percentage.  I really would be surprised if we didn’t seem him return sometime soon.

Our Triple A club has a strong bullpen and most representative of that are relievers Mark Montgomery and Danny Burawa.

The 23-year-old Montgomery seems to be on the fast track to the majors.  He has been promoted every year and with a 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and nine strikeouts in eight innings, his meteoric rise through the organization doesn’t appear to be slowing.

Burawa is the 25-year-old complement to Montgomery and his statistics are just as impressive.  Like his teammate, Burawa has a 0.00 ERA.  His WHIP is slightly higher at 1.05, but he has struck out 12 in a little over six innings.

After reviewing how our minor leaguers have begun 2014, I can’t help but think that the Yankees’ future is in good hands.  It is clear that on the horizon there are stars just waiting to explode onto the scene in New York. 

I’ve only mentioned a few here to make the point that while there are prognosticators who will be critical of the organization that has won more championships than any other, only time will be the true evaluation of our scouts’ hard work.

Will any of these guys be the next Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera? 

Probably not, but none of them can be discounted just yet.

Talent like that comes around once in a generation if you’re lucky, and God knows we’ve been pretty damn lucky over the years.

Nonetheless, what these ballplayers (and others) represent is depth in a system that many like to call barren.  They give us a glimpse into what the future holds for the Yankees.

I like what I see.


    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1




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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS SO DAMN GOOD!

I had the fortune of being able to attend the Syracuse Chiefs Opening Day in Syracuse last Thursday.  It was special for me not because the local minor league team was beginning its season (the Washington
Nationals are the parent club), but because it was the opener for our “baby bombers” – the Scranton / Wilkes Barre RailRiders – who happened to be the Chiefs’ opponents.

It was a golden opportunity to watch the guys who didn’t make the Major League team and see what kind of potential would be on display.

I wasn’t disappointed.

As the game progressed, it became clear to me that our minor league system isn’t as barren as some would lead you to believe (perhaps our organization is scrutinized more heavily because of our success?).  Several stars emerged, and while it was only one game, it was still evident that the Yankees have a number of players with the talent to make it to “the show”.

Among those that most impressed were Scott Sizemore, one of the odd men out (with Eduardo Nunez) in the battle for the Yankees backup infielder spots.  He went three-for-three with three singles and a walk.

Russ Canzler, playing first base, showed good power in hitting two doubles during successive at bats and drove a long fly to right in his final time at the plate.

Zelous Wheeler, the shortstop, had a single and double in four trips to the plate and looked solid in the field.

Of all the players in the lineup, the one that stood out for me was Ramon Flores, the right fielder.  He had two hits during the game, one of which was a triple where tore around the bases at a speed that Secretariat would envy.  However, the play that I’ll remember isn’t one where Flores was batting.


It was the bottom of the fifth and the RailRiders led 4 – 1.  The Chiefs had runners at the corners and no one out.  Our starter, Bruce Billings, was beginning to labor and Syracuse’s Will Rhymes was at the plate.  The second baseman hit a fly ball of medium depth to right field.   Flores first started back on the ball then stepped forward towards it, and without hesitation made the catch and fired a throw on a line to home plate.  It took one bounce and settled perfectly into catcher JR Murphy’s glove a half-second before the runner arrived.

If you are an outfielder, it’s the type of play you dream about.

The hitters and fielders weren’t the only ones to leave their mark on Opening Day.  While our big league club has had a great start from its bullpen, the Triple-A relief corps wasn’t going to be outdone.

25-year-old Danny Burawa struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh, Mark Montgomery retired the Chiefs in order in the eighth, and Matt Daley struck out the side on 13 pitches to close out the game.

One couldn’t help but be impressed with the RailRiders from top to bottom.

As I left the stadium that day, I felt confidence in the future of our club.  Each of the players I have mentioned is at the cusp of their career in pinstripes, and I’m excited for their arrival in the Bronx.

Should our parent club need reinforcements during the season, I’ll have no problem with the powers-that-be reaching from within to fulfill their need.

The next time you hear someone tell you how thin the Yankees’ farm system is, just give a smile and walk away knowing that we are far better off than they think.  Take my word on it.



    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1




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THE YANKEES AREN'T LOOKING TO SIGN A BIG CLOSER

It appears that all that stuff about the Yankees looking at Grant Balfour to be the closer for the New York Yankees is pure speculation. Hey, maybe it isn’t, but according to Mark Feinsand, they aren’t looking to sign a big gun outside the organization to close.  Feinsand of the New York Daily News says, “According to a source, the Yankees aren’t looking to sign a big-money closer, preferring instead to bring in a set-up type reliever to compete with Dave Robertson for the closer’s job.”

DRob has said he’s ready to be the closer, OR set-up guy.  In a nutshell, he’s hinted that he’ll do absolutely anything to help his club win.  That’s a team player. I love that.

I have often wondered if David Robertson could hack being the closer.  I mean, he believes he can, so if I’m running the organization, I hand him the ball. I love when guys believe in themselves.  It makes me all fuzzy inside.  I reminds me of Little League this past spring when a kid that wasn’t the star pitcher on the team kept asking me to pitch because he “could do it.”  I handed him the ball in the second round of the playoffs.  You know what? He did do it.  We lost that game, but he shut them down for a bit and I was damn proud.  Enter DRob, who wants it if they call on him.  I tip my cap.

One thing to note... as a fan though, DRob’s style is quite different than a 1,2,3, 9th inning guy.  I mean, that’s why he’s called Houdini.  He either enters situations and needs to work out of them, or he teases you giving up a single or walk and then strikes out the side.  It’s not automatic. If DRob has the ball, you’re subjected to Houdini Time...  it's the uneasiness of what could come next.  I mean, ultimately, you know the guy will shut them down, but it’s getting there that gives you an ulcer.

It’s unclear if the Yankees will really spend on a guy like Grant Balfour, or if they truly will have a few set-up guys compete for the closer role.  Reading Feinsand’s report, I hand the ball to DRob and we find a set-up guy.  And you know what?

Maybe that set-up guy is Mark Montgomery, and work him toward his ultimate goal of being the closer...babysteps.  Maybe bring him up, teach him the ropes in the Bigs and eventually he or DRob take the closer spot officially.  I can see that happening, I really can.

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TOP PITCHING THAT THE YANKEES MUST SIGN

It is a well-established maxim that in baseball, pitching wins. We all saw it clearly last season, as our starters and our bullpen failed us at key moments. As the Yankees front office is putting together the 2014 team, pitching has to be at the forefront of their work. Here are some key people that we should be keeping an eye on.

It goes without saying that the Yankees need to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda. Every year at this time, we debate about which players we should acquire, and whether or not they can handle the Bronx, whether or not they can continue to perform based on their current record, whether or not they can handle the AL East. Kuroda has done all of these, to the point where our ace, CC Sabathia, actually admitted that Kuroda was performing at one point in the 2013 season as the ace of the staff. Kuroda’s ERA in pinstripes over the last two seasons has been 3.32 and 3.31. With proper run support, that is enough to get you 20 wins. He has given up less than one home run per nine innings, and only two walks per nine innings during that time, which speaks to his consistency. Speaking of Sabathia, after him, the only guaranteed starter with more than one season of major league experience is Ivan Nova. That is not what you want at the top of the rotation. Kuroda’s signing has to be a top priority.

Even after signing Kuroda, the rotation is not strong enough. Most of us seriously doubt that they can run with the likes of the Red Sox, Tigers, and other American League juggernauts with that top 3. We like the possibility of Ervin Santana. In four of the last six seasons, he has put up an ERA below four and thrown 200 or more innings. Over the course of his career, he has 1.2 home runs, 2.8 walks, and 7.1 strikeouts per 9 innings. Most intriguing, he pitches extremely well against the Red Sox and Tigers, against whom we need big wins. Over the last 3 years, he is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and .175 BAA at Fenway Park and he is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA and .237 BAA at Comerica Park. Big wins in those ballparks are worth gold. At age 30, he can round out the rotation very nicely for a long time.

The sad day arrived when we said goodbye to Mariano Rivera, but now it is time to find another closer. We all love David Robertson, but I agree with the sentiment that he may not be closer material. The Yankees need to look at Joe Nathan. After missing 2010 with Tommy John surgery, and a dreadful 2011 season, he has recovered nicely with two successful seasons for the Rangers. His statistics have improved over the last two years, recording 37 and 43 saves respectively, and posting ERA’s of 2.80 and 1.39 respectively. Closers have to be clutch, and against the most competitive teams in 2013 (Boston, Tampa, Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland), he gave up only four earned runs over 16 innings (2.25 ERA) and converted eight saves in nine opportunities. Even at age 39, he will be in a position to hold down the big competitors while perhaps mentoring some rising talent like Mark Montgomery.

If you ask anyone paying attention to the Yankees’ situation, they will all tell you that there are many holes to fill in many positions and roles. Nevertheless, pitching is critical to winning on any ball club, and these are the guys that the Yankees need to chase.

 
--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?

I am not a quitter, that's just me. That being said, there is a force of some kind that is just keeping the Yankees from getting ahead in 2013, and any way you slice it, it will now be just about impossible for the Yankees to get a playoff spot at this point.

Sure, we play the Rays, and sure, we have to literally win every single game now to even have a chance… but no one wants chances… everyone wants the sure thing.  The Yankees are not a sure thing and it’s evident in Bleeding Yankee Blue’s readership. I know what a true Yankee fan IS, writing for you every day.  You are sad like us.

For the first time in the 3 years BYB has been in existence, we have seen 7 writers with unbelievable writers block and a readership that has tanked because of the fact that no one wants to read about losing and “fixing” a team.  We are depressed… all of us.  You can blame Joe Girardi if you want. You can blame freak injury, or Joba Chamberlain, or CC Sabathia, although, I don’t know how you can.  The Yankees were dealt a bad hand since the beginning.  

There were big moments, but those moments happened months ago.  I will tell you this… a guy like Lyle Overbay was a huge pickup and I love Mark Teixeira… but I didn’t miss him.  Overbay was a good solider and he was one of the best signings for the Yankees. Alfonso Soriano was another.  He was great for us in the short time he was here.  I love having Fonzie back!

There were bad moments and the biggest one was an interview that Derek Jeter did after the Sunday game this past weekend...  Mariano Rivera Day.  It was subtle, but he told reporters that now it’s getting real.  He told them that now he’s thinking about his own future in pinstripes with Andy Pettitte leaving and Mariano Rivera tour winding down. That’s honesty and that’s not Derek Jeter… that’s why you know it’s real.  Now, I’m paraphrasing Jeter’s quotes, but the reality is, that’s the gist of it… Yankeeland is changing.

The Yankees still have fight in them, sure, but they're limping.  Is it fair? Well, we have our own feeling that strengthening and conditioning in Yankeeland needs a major overhaul.  We will have a report about that tomorrow here on Bleeding Yankee Blue...it's important.  We also think that with a new season will bring in new blood...hopefully.  Is Tyler Austin ready? How about Slade Heathcott?

How about pitching? Will Mark Montgomery be a future Yankee closer? Will David Robertson? Who will be in our rotation? Chad MacDonald has a great piece about that… read PITCHING FITS… it’s dynamic and eye opening.

No one wants to admit it… but we’re probably done this season.  There are way too many obstacles and the stars now need to align perfectly. Under the circumstances… we did good.  We won a ton of games… but clearly not enough.  Hey, I was rooting when we were terrible in the 80’s and I’m still rooting… but reality has set in.  It’s no one's fault. It really isn’t.  Sure, if blame needs to fall on anyone, it’s lying to us that the Yankees were putting the best team on the field.  Hal said that, but I don’t think Hal really had a grasp on what they had put out there.

Travis Hafner was a bust.  We had faith in Melky Mesa, and we released him.  Boone Logan is probably a nice guy, but he’s a terrible lefty specialist.  We didn’t even give Chien-Ming Wang a shot and the majority of our team… was hurt.  Talk about bad luck or a bad omen, or whatever you want to call it… but I tell you what;  Let’s watch the final week of "the Mo farewell tour", let’s applaud greatness and let’s go away from a long winters nap.  I have no problem coming back stronger next year… it would be nice to have a clean slate.

In the meantime… there’s baseball to be played.  Be it just going through the motions, or really and truly fighting for a playoff spot… let’s do this… somehow, someway.  We are the mighty Yankees you know… even if we haven’t been that mighty this season.  I will always love my team… forever, and I know you feel the same.

Let's Go Yanks!

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TIME FOR HAL & HANK TO READ BYB!

Well, here we sit... just a 1 day away from the All Star game at Citi field in Queens.  Many of us die-hard Yankee fans have been so frustrated by all the injuries the Yankees have had all season... it's a mess, but BYB gets me up to speed daily.

We look at guys like Joe Girardi and his binder and we want to blame Kevin Long too.  Many of us are outraged because of all the so-called "rejects" the Yankees have picked up off the scrap heap... I think of them as re-treads like in the tires.  Many of the DFA's end up signing and wearing Pinstripes within hours of being let go by their former teams.  You can read the BYB archives about any of these guys. Meanwhile, many of the Yankee baseball prospects are near the top of the list... so why are we wasting our time on DFAs?   I, like many, scratch my head and think about what Brian Cashman is thinking by NOT bringing MORE of these prospects and giving them a shot.

I have stated in some of my past Bleeding Yankee blogs that we pay and develop players have for years. My question is, what does that say about our farm system if they don’t bring these guys up and use them? It's time... it really is.

 

(In Photo: Mark Montgomery)

Now, some of you know that I have attended some AZ Fall League games the last 3 years (Read HANGING OUT AT THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE), and I've seen some of the best in the Yankee minor league system play. For example;  Mark Montgomery for instance. I've heard some talk about how he could be our next closer. Montgomery should be up!  How about Slade Heathcott?

Slade should be given a shot... he has great ranger and can hit some monster shots.  The bottom line is we can't do any worse than what we have up here now.  Heck, with all the injuries this season, we then end up rushing Derek Jeter back too fast,  and he pulls his quad the first day back Come on! Now, we're all hoping it isn't too serious, but time will tell.

I, and others feel like Hal and Hank Steinbrenner don’t care about the Yankees and us fans and are laughing all the way to the bank. Cashman's hands are tied with the tightening of the wallets, it's clear aid is NOT on the way.

Sure, if the Boss were around, heads would roll, but sadly, he isn't and his sons now run the show. Man, I truly wish Hal and Hank read BYB, because if they did, they'd see what many fans feel. I wonder if it would change anything?  I don’t know, but if we got some kind of response, it would be nice.  Look, rumors are all around us lately, but will we actually do anything to better ourselves as a team? I wonder.  It's crazy, but this current 2013 Yankee team reminds me of the late 1960's teams when we had guys like Clete Boyer, Tom Tresh, Dooley Womack & Fritz Peterson... remember them?

(In Photo: Tom Tresh)

Now, you're reading this thinking, "Oh great, another Yankee fan giving up on his Yankees!" NO WAY! I am not bailing at all!  In fact, if you check the standings, this 2013 Yankees team has won 50 games before the All Star break. This is the 6th year in a row we have done that!  Check the standings, every team but the Blue Jays has won 50 or more games in the AL East. As I type this, we are currently in 4th place, only  6 games out of first in our division. So, once again we remain in the toughest division in baseball.  But, what am I hoping for? I am hoping the boys and Cashman shock us fans and make some beneficial trades before the July 31st deadline. I am hoping we start obtaining quality ball players, or at least get more of the kids up here to contribute! That's what I want. So folks, while it hasn’t been pretty the first half, we are still in the thick of this race, remember that. We just may need alittle extra to put us over.

As Sir Winston Churchill once said... "Never, never, never give up!" 

 --Dave Goode, Die-hard Yankee fan
Interviewed for his 30 plus years experience as a vendor at Yankee Stadium
THE VENDOR FROM THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT

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MAKING THE MOST OF AN OPPORTUNITY

(In Photo: Preston Claiborne)
Preston Claiborne’s experience in the Yankees minor league system wasn’t eye-popping.   In four seasons the 25 year-old had a 10 – 12 record, 3.00 ERA and a pedestrian 1.29 WHIP in a little over 200 innings pitched.  Since 2010 he has pitched at every level of the organization, including 30 innings last season at Scranton-Wilkes Barre where he held a 4.05 ERA.  Again, nothing earth-shattering jumps out at you. But then opportunity knocked.

On May 2^nd the Yankees placed reliever Joba Chamberlain on the DL with an oblique strain.  Surprisingly, rather than call up future star Mark Montgomery the team chose to bring Claiborne to the big league club to fill Chamberlain’s spot.

For over 80 years Major League Baseball has used the term “Wally Pipped” to describe players who through injury lost their starting jobs to men called in to fill their roles.   It originated with the Yankees when, in 1925, starting first baseman Wally Pipp sat out a game with a head ache.  A young backup by the name of Lou Gehrig stepped in to play the position that day.  The rest, shall we say, is history.

Has Joba been “Wally Pipped”?

In three appearances to date Claiborne has not yielded a run, has not walked a batter, and has given up just three hits (all in one game at Colorado).  Basically, he has looked dominant in featuring a low-to-mid 90’s fastball, slider and change-up. 

(In Photo: Preston Claiborne)

Manager Joe Girardi has praised what Claiborne has done saying:

“He's been in some tough situations.  It's not like we put him in when we're down six runs to just go out and get some work. He's done a really good job. And sometimes pitchers can be intimidated pitching here [at Coors Field], too. You hear a lot of things -- the breaking balls don't break the same. But I've been really impressed with what he's doing.”

When Joba Chamberlain comes back, it is anyone’s guess what the team will do if Claiborne continues to impress. 

Joba began this season in the same erratic manner that fans have become accustomed to.  In his first three appearances he walked six batters and gave up four hits and four runs – giving him a 13.50 ERA.  Since his third appearance he has gone 6 2/3 innings without allowing a run in his last seven games.

Now he’s back on the DL.

Which Chamberlain we get when he returns has yet to be determined, and if the Yankees have become tired of holding their breath when he takes the mound, perhaps Claiborne will be a more appealing seventh inning option.

Regardless of what the Yankees decide to do, Preston Claiborne was given an opportunity that he has seized and it looks like he intends to hold onto it.

   
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

 

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