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Monday, April 23, 2007

Good Nights All Around

Injuries/News:

The big news of the day is that Phil Hughes will be making his major league debut on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. This is roughly 2 years after Wang made his debut against The Blue Jays and one can only hope that Hughes has the type of success Wang has had, ERA wise, but with more believable peripherals. Here’s to Phil of the Future. Most of you know about him, but I most likely will do a more extensive preview prior to that start...George Kontos was placed on the disabled list for Tampa, so he did not start last night, as I expected him to in placing the spotlight on him. I doubt Kontos is actually injured and assume it’s punishment for his run-in with the law.

AAA:

No game scheduled.

AA:

Scott Patterson and a rag tag group of Thunder relievers made a spot start and pitched very well, but more importantly the Thunder offense finally got the job done. They put 7 runs and 10 hits on the board with Brett Gardner and Cody Ehlers both having solid nights. Gardner continued to be a consistent power source as he was 1 for 4 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout. Gardner has now equaled his extra base hit total from his AA stint last year. Ehlers was 2 for 4 with a single and a double in what was his first multi-hit game in 9 days. It sucks that Ehlers’ OPS is in the low .600s, but overall I’m not too worried by his start. His BB:K ratio is excellent and he’s shown good doubles power. He just needs to get some more singles and perhaps poke a couple balls over the fence.

A+:

The Tampa offensive prospects also had an overall positive night. Colin Curtis had the best night of anyone as he went 2 for 3 with a single, a homer, a walk, and a strikeout. Curtis’ start at Tampa has been very solid with an OPS .754 to go along with an excellent 9:10 BB:K ratio. When I first found out the Yankees drafted Curtis, I was upset, but reading up on him I learned to like him and hopeful of his ability to develop into something useful. Jose Tabata broke out of his slump and pushed his OPS over .800 by going 2 for 4 with 2 singles, a stolen base, an OF assist, an error, and a caught stealing. It was a busy night for the guy who now holds the distinction of Best Yankee Prospect...in the Minors. Francisco Cervelli was 2 for 3 with 2 singles, a walk, and a stolen base. Cervelli is doing a good job of easing organizational worries about catching depth with his nice start. He is now 7 for his last 18 and has stolen bases in consecutive games.

With all those guys having positive nights, a few had to have poor ones. Reegie Corona and Tim Battle were each 1 for 5 with a single. Corona threw in 3 strikeouts while Battle tossed in 2 of his own. Battle is now hitting .149 with 28 strikeouts in 67 at bats and I’m ready to say the book is closed on him as a prospect. I’m sure Tom Weber will be glad to see that. Lastly, Juan Miranda managed a single in 4 at bats with 2 strikeouts.

A-:

Yesterday I mentioned that Seth Fortenberry might be headed on one of his streaks and last night’s results seemed to agree with that suspicion. The toolsy OF was 1 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He has collected extra base hits on consecutive nights, A-Rod, eat your heart out. Jose Gil, another guy that is heating up, was 1 for 3 with a single. Finally, as far as guys on the up and up, Mitch Hilligoss continued to drive the ball to the gaps, he picked up a double in 4 at bats, as well as a strikeout. Mitch has now doubled in 3 of his last 4 games. The DP combination of Nunez and Pino had quiet nights. Nunez was the louder of the two, 1 for 4 with a single and a steal, while Pino was 0 for 4.

Spotlight On:

Scranton. Ross Ohlendorf will, most likely, step into Phil Hughes’ rotation slot and take the mound tonight. Hughes is supposedly only going to be up for as long as Mussina is out, but with Igawa pitching horrendously, there may be yet another opening in the Yankee rotation. It would also be nice if Eric Duncan could come back, pretty please, and hit, pretty please. I’m getting tired of Eyechart™.