Scranton (Lost to Durham, 9-4)

Corban Joseph had three hits, a run batted in, and a run scored to help snap a 5-for-35 slide. Zoilo Almonte tripled in a pair of runs and is hitting .266 with 14 XBH and 25 RBI in 45 games.

Thomas Neal had two more hits, including his 9th double. He is now at .340 (35-for-103). Neal doesn't show much of a bias vs. LHP/RHP, even when I look at last year's numbers (he was actually better vs. RHP in 2012). This actually works against him – he'd probably be better off in the eyes of the Yankees if he couldn't hit a lick vs. RHP but mashed lefties.

Melky Mesa had two hits and scored a run. He is hitting .259 in 170 AB with 16 XBH.

Ronnier Mustelier went 1-for-5 and is hitting .247.

Graham Stoneburner got the start tonight, and didn't fare all that well: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K as his ERA rose to 4.32 (33.1 IP, 31 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 11 K).

Chase Whitley tossed 1.2 innings of perfect relief, striking out three (more…)

Scranton (Lost to Durham, 8-5)

Brett Marshall started and was pretty darn bad: 4 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR as he fell to 2-3 with a 6.11 ERA (35.1 IP, 41 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 4 HR, 23 BB, 31 K). This was his first appearance since returning to Scranton from the majors. Given that appearance was on May 15th, he was definitely given an extended rest – so perhaps we can toss this start out.

Thomas Neal had two hits, including a double, and a run batted in. He also drew a walk and is hitting .333 on the season.

Melky Mesa tripled and scored a run. Ronnier Mustelier chipped in with a 1-for-3 night, including a double, and drew a walk.

Brennan Boesch had three hits, including a double, a run batted in, and a run scored. He is 5-for-24 since his demotion.

Corban Joseph went 0-for-4 with a walk and is in a 7-for-39 slide.

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Trenton (Lost to Richmond, 9-4)

Slade Heathcott had a 1-for-4 night, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs. He (more…)

Kyle Roller: 3-for-4, HR (6), 3 RBI, 2 RS – Hitting .290/.373/.481 in 162 AB. 25-year old left-handed hitting DH. Good bat – problem is, the only position he can even try to play is first base – and first base/DH types need to have SPECIAL bats.

Walter Ibarra: 3-for-5, RS – 16-for-47. First game since 4/15.

JR Murphy: 1-for-4, RS – Down to .286; 8-for-37 slide.

Tyler Austin: 0-for-5, 2 K – Down to .241/.355/.337. For most of the season, I have said he has done enough to keep me from starting to panic. Now on 7-for-39 slide.

Neil Medchill: 2-for-4, 2 2B (8), RBI

Jose Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 1 K – A bit uncharacteristic for Ramirez to be this wild. Fell to 0-2 with a 2.10 ERA (25.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 34 K)

Fred Lewis: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (21 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 23 K between Tampa/Trenton for the 26-year old LHP who was drafted in 2010 and has done a decent job as a reliever in the system.

Aaron Dott: 0.2 (more…)

Ronnier Mustelier had three of those hits, and scored the lone run. He is at .247/.275/.325 in 77 AB. He also stole his 4th base.

Zoilo Almonte (.273/.353/.391) and Melky Mesa (.253/.278/.420) each had a pair of singles. When Mesa doesn't strikeout, he is 41-for-94. Entering the game, his BABIP was .395. Almonte also stole his 4th base of the season.

Thomas Neal pitched in with a single and two walks and is hitting .323/.416/.396 in 96 AB.

Chien-Ming Wang took the hill and did a fair enough job: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (2-4, 3.07 ERA; 44 IP, 49 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 2 HR, 7 BB, 22 K, 2.48 GO/AO). Wang has another opt-out coming up (May 31st I believe).

Chase Whitley tossed 1.1 innings of relief, giving up a run on a hit with a walk and no strikeouts. There is a chance we will see Whitley at some point this season.

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Trenton: (more…)

Scranton: (Lost to Columbus, 6-5)

Thomas Neal had a 2-for-5 night, including a double, and three runs batted in. He is hitting .323 with seven doubles and 17 runs batted in over 93 at-bats. The doubles are the only power the 25-year old right-handed hitting outfielder has displayed, but again – shouldn't the Yankees at least consider trying to catch lightning in a bottle over using Francisco?

Zoilo Almonte had a pair of hits and runs scored. He also drew a walk, and is hitting .269 with 21 walks in 41 games. He is 11 for his last 44 (.250), and the walk rate has started to dip a bit – still much more impressive than his norm.

Melky Mesa went 1-for-5 with a double and a run batted in. He is hitting .248 with 15 XBH in 157 AB. His K/BB ratio currently sits at 67/4. He is going to make a run at the Estee Harris Award. For those who don't know about Harris, well – you can look him up on baseballreference.com. He was a Yankees 2nd round pick in 2003 who made a career (more…)

Ronnier Mustelier singled, scored a run, drew a walk, stole a base, and committed his 4th error (he played third today). He is hitting .222 (16-for-72)

Dan Johnson homered, drove in two, scored a run, and drew a walk. The home run was his fifth and he is hitting .218 with 34 walks in 38 games. He is 14-for-49 in May with six XHB. Pretty much, he is hitting like the major league version of Dan Johnson: No average, some walks, decent power.

Thomas Neal walked twice, scored a run, and stole a base. Addison Maruszak singled twice and drove home a run.

Corban Joseph chipped in with a single and walk.

Caleb Cotham started and was ineffective, to put it mildly. He lasted 4.1 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with a walk, six strikeouts, and four home runs allowed. (38 IP, 44 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 7 HR, 5 BB, 34 K between Trenton/Scranton). Cotham didn't allow a home run in 25 innings for Trenton, but has now allowed seven in 13 innings for (more…)

Scranton (Lost to Columbus, 4-3. They scored two in the top of the 9th to tie it, only to lose it in the bottom half of the inning)

Speaking of the 2-run 9th, Corban Joseph provided the dramatics with a 2-run home run to tie it with one out. He also doubled earlier in the game and is hitting .257/.348/.424 in 144 AB.

Addison Maruszak and Josh Bell each doubled and walked.

Ronnier Mustelier couldn't keep his hot streak going, as he went 0-for-5.

Chase Whitley made his first appearance of the season, lasting 2.1 innings while giving up one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts. The 23-year old right-handed reliever was actually generally regarded as a better prospect than Preston Claiborne entering the season, but the injury derailed his chances to make the squad. Like Claiborne, the Yankees have used him in many multi-inning scenarios (171.1 IP in 83 games the past two seasons – three of those games were spot starts). He throws a low-90s fastball that he can spot (more…)

Scranton: (Defeated Toledo, 4-3, in 10 innings)

Ronnier Mustelier is starting to make his big league push. Tonight, he went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in to lead the Scranton attack. He is now 15-for-62 and is 7 for his last 16 with six runs batted in. I like to strike when the iron is hot – dumping Francisco for Mustelier immediately seems prudent, no?

The only other two hits for Scranton came from the veteran bats of Brennan Boesch and Dan Johnson.

Addison Maruszak drew a pair of walks and scored a run. He is only hitting .194 in a year where he can really put his name on the map with all of the major league injuries. Just hasn't happened.

The Yankees apparently have signed Josh Bell, who has a nearly-impossible to fathom .488 career major league OPS, to a minor league deal. He is a third baseman and obviously isn't very good – but they need bodies.

Graham Stoneburner started, lasting six innings while giving up two runs on five hits with three walks and (more…)

Scranton (Lost to Toledo, 4-1)

Melky Mesa provided the only firepower in the game with a solo home run, his 5th of the season. He is 12 for his last 38…with no walks and 17 strikeouts. He is having a most fascinating type of season.

Ronnier Mustelier collected a pair of singles, while Corban Joseph collected one. It was Mustelier's second consecutive two-hit game.

Zoilo Almonte went 0-for-4 with a walk.

Chien-Ming Wang started and wasn't sharp. He lasted 6.2 innings, giving up four runs on 12 hits with one walk and three strikeouts (2-3, 3.29 ERA; 38.1 IP, 42 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 18 K).

Mark Montgomery finished off the game with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit with no walks and one strikeout (1.35 ERA; 20 IP, 14 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 27 K)

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The Thunder managed to get only two hits today – both solo home runs.

One was by Slade Heathcott, his second of the season. His stat line now reads .218/.286/.319, (more…)

Zoilo Almonte had a 2-for-5 night with a double, three runs batted in, and two runs scored. He improved his slash to .290/.371/.428.

Ronnier Mustelier had two hits, including a double, drove in three and scored once to improve his line to .192/.236/.288 in 52 AB. Mustelier obviously needed a game like this.

Corban Joseph singled, walked three times, and scored twice (.262/.356/.415) while Thomas Neal had three hits, a walk, and a pair of runs scored (.329/.385/.402 in 82 AB)

Dan Johnson had two hits, including his 4th home run,, while driving in a pair of runs.

Melky Mesa doubled and struck out four times. Luke Murton walked but also struck out four times.

Thankfully, the starting pitcher was a non-prospect: Chris Bootcheck gave up eight runs over three innings as his ERA spiked to 3.00.

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Trenton (Defeated Altoona, 6-4)

Tyler Austin had two hits, including a double, and two (more…)

As per Josh Norris, Gabriel Encinas has been placed on the disabled list down in Charleston. The Yankees are sometimes cautious with their young pitching, so hopefully it is nothing serious. Encinas started off the season with a bang, going 3-0 with a 0.77 ERA in seven starts with a 31/16 K/BB ratio over 35 innings. This is his first year pitching in a full season league. Given his previous high inning total was 70.2 (last year), being shut down for a few weeks now won't kill his progression – but right now, that is nothing more than best case scenario.

Cesar Cabral made a rehab appearance for Tampa tonight, tossing a scoreless inning. This is important because Cabral was taken in the Rule 5 draft prior to 2012, but never pitched due to injury. The clock has officially started on his rehab, and the Yankees will have to make a decision in 30 days on whether or not to keep him (and placed him on the 25-man roster) or offer him back to the Red Sox.

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Scranton (more…)

Nik Turley made his Triple-A debut and pitched very well. He lasted six innings, giving up one run on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts. This is only a temporary placement for Turley, who will head back down to Double-A. Scranton needed a starter, and Turley was available. After giving up 11 runs in his first 12.2 innings of the season, Turley has now allowed nine in his last 27.2 innings.

Melky Mesa had two hits, including a home run, and drove in both runs. He is at .260/.292/.427 in 131 AB.

David Adams, who played second and third today, went 1-for-4 with a single. Zoilo Almonte chipped in with a single and a run scored.

Ronnier Mustelier had an 0-for-4 night and is only 7-for-42 since joining the team. I think Mustelier will hit – and will get a shot at the big club before the season is over – but he obviously won't get a call until the bat heats up a bit.

Graham Stoneburner blew the win for Turley (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, (more…)

Footnotes:

Former Yankees' prospects Danny Borrell and PJ Pilittere are the pitching coach and hitting coach respectively for the Charleston Riverdogs' squad. Luis Sojo manages the Tampa squad, with Marcus Thames as the hitting coach. Always nice to see a franchise take care of their own – and also "mold" younger coaches into the way you want the organization to be run. I know the Yankees aren't the only team that does it, but it is still nice to see.

Juan Cedeno was released and picked up by the Atlanta Braves. Cedeno has been in baseball for 12 years, and has yet to make his major league debut. That's dedication. He pitched to a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings for Scranton this year.

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David Adams may be arriving in New York soon. Tonight, he celebrated with a three-run home run in the first inning. He also drew a walk and scored two runs (.311/.404/.500 with 10 XBH (more…)

Scranton (Defeated Gwinnett, 4-3)

Melky Mesa went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run batted in, run scored, and a stolen base to lead the charge. He is hitting .252 with 11 extra-base hits and three steals in four attempts.

Corban Joseph singled, doubled, scored a run, and stole his second base of the season. He is htting .270 with eight doubles and four home runs.

Thomas Neal returned from injury, going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Bad timing for Neal's injury because he may have had an opportunity to come up for Ben Francisco at some point. But with Granderson close to returning, no space for Neal.

Chien-Ming Wang got the start, and threw well. He lasted 7.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. He allowed a home run and generated 18 ground-outs to only two flyouts. (2.84 ERA; 31.1 IP, 30 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 15 K) Wang recently opted to stay with the Yankees rather than exercise an "out-clause" in his deal. His contract (more…)

Scranton (Defeated Gwinnett, 5-3)

Zoilo Almonte: 3-for-5, 2B (8), 2 RBI (.291/.382/.436)

Corban Joseph: 2-for-5, 2 RS (.263/.346/.424)

Ronnier Mustelier: 2-for-5, CS (6-for-34)

Addison Maruszak: 1-for-4, 2B (7), RBI (.238/.365/.325) – Before this season, he was more of a power guy than an OBP guy; in his first 80 AB this year, the trend has reversed.

Melky Mesa: 3-for-4, RS (.244/.278/.387)

Dellin Betances: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K – Betances has been moved to the bullpen – good opening act.

Sam Demel (Save): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K (0.98 ERA; 18.1 IP, 14 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 21 K)

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Trenton: (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-2)

Tyler Austin: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB (.270/.396/.393; .294/.405/.471 in last 10 games)

Slade Heathcott: 1-for-4, SB (3) (.208/.287/.287; 3-for-5 SB)

Kevin Mahoney: 2-for-4, 2 RS

Ramon Flores: 1-for-4 (.265/.352/.346)

Mikey O'Brien: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K – First start of the year in Trenton after spending first month (more…)