Thursday, July 12, 2007
Action Again
-I don’t want to jinx it, but Austin Jackson’s numbers are getting better just about every day. Jackson hit a homer and a double today to up his season line at Tampa to .425/.469/.699. Jackson still strikes out more than you’d like, but it’s dramatically reduced from last year. Jackson has struck out in 23.3% of at bats this year, which is improved from 28.2% last year. In 227 less at bats he’s hit 4 less doubles, 2 less triples, and 3 more home runs so his power is also up. Austin still has to come back to Earth a bit because there’s no way he’s this good, but the hot start at Tampa is going a long way to placing him in the discussion for the Top 10 of one of the best systems in baseball.
-As if the Yankees needed another elite right handed pitching prospect…Zach McAllister had the best start of his pro career. In 6 innings, he gave up 3 hits, no walks, and struck out 10. McAllister is now sporting a 10.4 K/9, a 4.5:1 K:BB ratio, and a 5:1 Ground Out:Fly Out ratio. In other words, ignore the 3.86 ERA, he has been terrific. With Jeff Marquez having just a solid season, perhaps McAllister is the best hope for a groundball/strikeout monster.
Comments
what’s the outlook for Dave Robertson who never seems to give up a hit in low or high A ball, striking out a bunch, but hardly gets a mention as a prospect.
Roberston is legit. He was blowing away the Cape Cod league last year, though his BBs were a little high. But his overall performance convinced the Yanks to sign him for well above slot. He walked a tad too many in Charleston in his debut, but as you noted, struck out a ton of guys. The sample size in Tampa is too small to say the same…for either the BB or Ks. Supposedly his velocity is down a little this year from his Cape Cod appearances, where I think he sat at 93-94mph. I could be off. Anyone know anything about this?
Anyways, in other news, Brett Gardner got promoted to AAA Scranton. Sardihna was optioned to Trenton. So much for the hot spring training.
Austin Jackson’s improvement, along with Francisco Cervelli’s emergence are both very promising for the Yanks - especially given their lack of top position players on the farm aside from Jose Tabata. If all goes well (which, to be fair, is unlikely) the Yanks could have an entirely homegrown outfield by 2009 or 2010 and one which covers lots of ground to boot.
As for Robertson, I wouldn’t consider him legit until he makes the jump to AA.
Anyways, in other news, Brett Gardner got promoted to AAA Scranton.
Awesome. I’m not planning on going to another game until the end of August, but I really want to see Gardner so I may look into a game earlier.
Fabian must be on vacation 
Nah, he wants to be a lawyer. Maybe he wants to charge $$$$ to write any more stuff. 
Jackson hit his 7th HR in Tampa. What a first 120 AB’s in high A.
Hmm, Scott Williamson.
Back tomorrow.
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