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NYBD MILB Roundup 5/18/09


By Mike Silva ~ May 18th, 2009. Filed under: Mets Minors, Yanks Minors.

- Eric Hacker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Romulo Sanchez. The Pirates just love Yankees prospects. Sanchez has some major league experience with Pittsburgh in 07′ and 08′ (4.60 ERA). In five minor league seasons he has a very pedestrian ERA of 4.11 and a WHIP of 1.3. Jorge Posada raved about Hacker in spring training. I wonder if down the road this deal will look as bad as the Mets dumping Matt Lindstrom to Florida.

- Kevin Russo, who hit over .300 in Trenton last year, is tearing it up in Scranton hitting .449. The Long Island kid is projected as a utility infielder in the big leagues.

- Casey Fossum has started 3 games in Scranton and has an ERA of 2.59 in those starts. Perhaps he has more value in the rotation. Remember that is how he became a prospect in Boston.

- I recommended that the Mets sign Javier Valentin during the offseason. Valentin, now at AAA Buffalo, has some pop and isn’t terrible behind the plate. The Mets now, if they are healthy, have four catching options (Santos, Castro, Schneider, and Valentin). I would definitely be calling the Yanks to see if you could swap a catcher for a pitcher.

- Journeyman Elmer Dessens has quietly been pitching well in Buffalo. In 21 innings he has an ERA of 0.86. If the Mets ever need another right handed reliever they may have an inexpensive option.

- Mike Antonini got lit up in his first AAA start to the tune of five runs and eight hits in 3 plus innings.

- Alan Horne continues to struggle in Trenton. He is back on the disabled list as well. Meanwhile, Zack McAllister beat the B-Mets with seven innings of one run ball on Friday.

- Did I say four catching options for the Mets? Soon you might have to put Josh Thole’s name in the mix at the pro level. Tim Bontemps of the NY Post caught up with Thole last week. He is leading the B-Mets with an OPS of .906.

- Tobi Stoner is back pitching for the B-Mets.

- Jeremy Bleich had his longest outing of the season for Tampa pitching 7 innings loss to Brevard County. Despite the L, Bleich only gave up 1 run.

- Catching depth is on the way via Tampa Yankees fans. Jesus Montero (5 HR’s, 25 RBI, .910 OPS) and Austin Romine (16 RBI) are giving you reason to believe Trenton is in their near future.

-Jenrry Mejia has not given up a run in his last 3 starts which spans 19 innings. His ERA on the season is 1.93

-Right Fielder Daniel Brewer is leading Charleston with an OPS of .988. First basemen Brian Baisley is right behind him at .906

- Andrew Brackman went eight strong innings last Monday.

To read more about your favorite prospects go to MILB.com

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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3 Responses to NYBD MILB Roundup 5/18/09

  1. Brain Cashman
    May 18th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    You need to do some research before you talk about these kids.

    First, Kevin Russo (likely no relation to Frank or we would have heard about it), has only played 11 games, and according to Chad Jennings’ blog, is currently on the AAA disabled list, his second trip to the DL this season. Russo hasn’t played since May 8th, so “tearing it up” is a stretch, unless you are referring to his hamstring injury.

    Second, Casey Fossum sucks.

    Third, you have talked several times about how good Cervelli is, and he is doing well (hitting .318, calling a good game and not making mistakes), and Molina is expected back soon – so why would the Yankees trade for a catcher? As the Yankees have experienced, you can never have enough catchers.

    Maybe the Yankees should offer your newly anointed Casey Fossum for Ramon Castro? Since journeyman Elmer Dessens is pitching so well in Buffalo, maybe Omar will bring him up. However, Dessens couldn’t do any worse than his fellow Mexico WBC teammate, Oliver Perez.

    Fourth, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine tore it up in Charleston last season and were never promoted to Tampa. When Molina and Posada return from the DL, Kevin Cash and maybe Cervelli will again be demoted to the minors. There will be no room for Montero and Romine to catch in Trenton. Yankees are going to keep those two kids together and move them up a level season by season.

    Maybe next year they get to move from AA to AA (for Romine) and AA to the majors (for Montero) because of his bat – not his catching duties. That is because next year the Yankees will be without at least Nady and Matsui and could use Montero’s bat at DH.

    Fifth, who does Jenrry Mejia play for? Oh, wait, I found it – he is with St. Lucie. By the way, Hector Noesi of the Yankees Low A Charleston team has pitched 27.1 innings and hasn’t allowed a run all year. He also has struck out 35 and walked only 3.

    Sixth, Daniel Brewer is indeed leading the Charleston team in hitting and OPS, but Brian Baisley already 26 and not really a Yankee prospect) was promoted to Tampa two weeks ago.

    I think that is all. Oh, wait – one more.

    Seventh, to compare the Yankees trading Eric Hacker, who throws 88-90 MPH, with Matt Lindstrom who gasses it up to the plate near 100 is just dumb. Hacker was never going to get an opportunity with the Yankees, while Lindstrom could really be used right now (and last season) by the Mets.

    Also, I wouldn’t ever trust what Jorge Posada “raves” about with any young pitchers.

  2. Brain Cashman
    May 18th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    You need to do some research before you talk about these kids.

    First, Kevin Russo (likely no relation to Frank or we would have heard about it), has only played 11 games, and according to Chad Jennings’ blog, is currently on the AAA disabled list, his second trip to the DL this season. Russo hasn’t played since May 8th, so “tearing it up” is a stretch, unless you are referring to his hamstring injury.

    Second, Casey Fossum sucks.

    Third, you have talked several times about how good Cervelli is, and he is doing well (hitting .318, calling a good game and not making mistakes), and Molina is expected back soon – so why would the Yankees trade for a catcher? As the Yankees have experienced, you can never have enough catchers.

    Maybe the Yankees should offer your newly anointed Casey Fossum for Ramon Castro? Since journeyman Elmer Dessens is pitching so well in Buffalo, maybe Omar will bring him up.

    However, Dessens couldn’t do any worse than his fellow Mexico WBC teammate, Oliver Perez.

    Fourth, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine tore it up in Charleston last season and were never promoted to Tampa. When Molina and Posada return from the DL, Kevin Cash and maybe Cervelli will again be demoted to the minors. There will be no room for Montero and Romine to catch in Trenton. Yankees are going to keep those two kids together and move them up a level season by season.

    Maybe next year they get to move from AA to AA (for Romine) and AA to the majors (for Montero) because of his bat – not his catching duties. That is because next year the Yankees will be without at least Nady and Matsui and could use Montero’s bat at DH.

    Fifth, who does Jenrry Mejia play for? By the way, Hector Noesi of the Yankees Low A Charleston team has pitched 27.1 innings and hasn’t allowed a run all year. He also has struck out 35 and walked only 3.

    Sixth, Daniel Brewer is indeed leading the Charleston team in hitting and OPS, but Brian Baisley already 26 and not really a Yankee prospect) was promoted to Tampa two weeks ago.

    I think that is all. Oh, wait – one more.

    Seventh, to compare the Yankees trading Eric Hacker, who throws 88-90 MPH, with Matt Lindstrom who gasses it up to the plate near 100 is just dumb. Hacker was never going to get an opportunity with the Yankees, while Lindstrom could really be used right now (and last season) by the Mets.

    Also, I wouldn’t ever trust what Jorge Posada “raves” about with any young pitchers.

  3. JeterFan
    May 19th, 2009 at 8:54 am

    You need to do some research before you talk about these kids. Can’t just look at the Minor League boxscores and write stuff.

    First, Kevin Russo (likely no relation to Frank or we would have heard about it), has only played 11 games, and according to Chad Jennings’ blog, is currently on the AAA disabled list, his second trip to the DL this season. Russo hasn’t played since May 8th, so “tearing it up” is a stretch, unless you are referring to his hamstring injury.

    Second, Casey Fossum sucks as a major league pitcher.

    Third, you have talked several times about how good Cervelli is, and he is doing well (hitting .375, getting the bunts down, calling a good game and not making mistakes), and Molina is expected back soon – so why would the Yankees trade for a catcher? As the Yankees have experienced, you can never have enough catchers.

    Maybe the Yankees should offer your newly anointed Casey Fossum for Ramon Castro? Since journeyman Elmer Dessens is pitching so well in Buffalo, maybe Omar will bring him up.

    However, Dessens couldn’t do any worse than his fellow Mexico WBC teammate, Oliver Perez.

    Fourth, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine “tore it up” in Charleston last season and were never promoted to Tampa. When Molina and Posada return from the DL, Kevin Cash and maybe Cervelli will again be demoted to the minors. There will be no room for Montero and Romine to catch in Trenton. Yankees are going to keep those two kids together and move them up a level season by season.

    Maybe next year they get to move from AA to AAA (for Romine) and AA to the majors (for Montero) because of his bat – not his catching abilities. That is because next year the Yankees will be without at least Nady and Matsui and could use Montero’s bat at DH.

    Fifth, Daniel Brewer is indeed leading the Charleston team in hitting and OPS, but Brian Baisley (already 26 and not really a Yankee prospect) was promoted to Tampa two weeks ago.

    I think that is all. Oh, wait – one more.

    Sixth, to compare the Yankees trading Eric Hacker, who throws 88-90 MPH, with Matt Lindstrom, who gasses it up to the plate near 100, being traded from the Mets is just dumb. Hacker was never going to get an opportunity with the Yankees, while Lindstrom could really be used right now (and last season) by the Mets.

    Also, I wouldn’t ever trust what Jorge Posada “raves” about with any young pitchers.

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