YEEP 8/18/11: Betances pretty sharp in AAA debut, but could be better.

Evil Em VP: Mariel Checo of the GCL Yankees for pitching a perfect 3 K inning. Image thanks to fivebrosports.com

AAA SWB: L 1-5 to Durham. L: Betances
Montero: 0/3, BB, 2 K (.281). He misses A-rod.
JoVa: 2/4, RBI, K (.251). He doesn't.
Laird: 0/4 (.257). He's indifferent.
Russo: 0/3, K (.273). Him too.
Betances: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 8 K, HR (4.5 ERA). Not a bad debut. The K's and lack of BB's are encouraging.
Brack Attack: 2 IP, H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K, HR (6.83 ERA). My prediction after his last performance was accurate.

AA Trenton: W 5-2 vs Erie. W: Heyer. S: Texeira
Krum: 2/5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K. 2nd HR of the year (.259)
Kruml: 0/4, R, RBI, 2 K (.290)
Austin BRomine: 1/3, BB, K (.288)
R-Ly Lyerly: 2/4, RBI, K (.248). Positive steps lead to ends in slumps.
Melkman Mesa: 0/4, K (.237). Take R-Ly's advice
Craig Heyer: 8 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 5 K (3.64 ERA)

High A Tampa: W 7-2 vs Lakeland. W: Gil
Honest Abe Almonte: 2/3, 2 R, 3B, RBI, BB (.255). 13 for his last 36 (.361). Good for him.
Walt Ibarra: 3/4, 3B, 4 RBI, K (.298). Looking forward to seeing the first decent SS since Ed Nunez to grace Trenton's infield next season.
K-Roll Roller: 0/3 (.277).
Mustelier Musketeer: 2/4, R, 2B (.319)
Dee Mack: 0/2 (.308)
Seggy Segedin: 0/3, 2 K (.226)
Luke Murton: 0/1, 2 BB (.282)
Castrol GTX Castro: 1/3, R, RBI (.298). I'll be taking bets on whether he finishes the season above or below .300.
Cozmo Kramer Sneed: 1 IP, H, 2 K (3.19). Thumbs up.

Charleston River Dogs: L 6-9 to Augusta
Shane Brown: 2/4, R, 2B, RBI, K, SB (1) (.286)
Eddy Sosa: 1/1, SB (14) (.255)
Ray-Flo Flores: 0/3, K (.263)
Recchia: 4 IP, 6 H, ER, 4 K (2.62 ERA)

Short Season Staten Island: L 0-1 to Connecticut. L: Pinder
Mad Mase Williams: 0/4, K (.358).
Cheeto Culver: 0/3 (.270)
Ben Gamel the Camel: 0/4, 2 K (.309)
Grice: 0/3, K (.262)
Gumbs: 1/3, 2B, E (8). Heyy, a hit! (.284)
Ty Austin: 1/3, 2B (.244) Heyy, another hit!
Reymond Nunez: 0/3 (.279)
Brebbia: 1 IP, H, 0 ER (0.00)
Pinder: 1 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, K (1.23 ERA). Got the loss.

GCL Yankees: Double Header
Game 1: W 4-3 vs GCL Braves. W: Vinas. S: Checo
Daniel Lopez: 1/3, 2 R, HR, RBI, K (.291). That's 3 HR on the year.
Janitor Custodio: 1/2, R, HR, RBI, K (.326). Congrats on your first career HR in America.
Bichette Happens: 1/2, 2 RBI (.341)
Bubba Jones: 1/3, 2B (.265)
Rutzkrieg Rutckyj: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K, HR (5.36 ERA).
Hayden Sharp: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 0 ER (21.6 ERA) That's more like it. We'll just forget that first performance ever happend.
Checo: 1 IP, 3 K, 0 ER. Perfect inning. (2.53 ERA). 3rd save of the season.

Game 2 was a continuation of yesterday's game. See YEEP 8/17/11 for the box score.

YEEP 7/31/11. Please, pleeaase don't sweep me.

Evil Em VP of the day. It was slim pickens today, but it goes to Rey Nunez and his 3 doubles at Staten Island.

In other news, Banuelos has been called up to AAA. Exciting, although I'm not sure he's ready. I guess it doesn't matter now because we aren't worried about trading him.Also, according to Josh Norris on twitter, Vidal Nuno has been promoted and will start tomorrow for Charleston.


AAA SWB: L 3-6 vs Rochester. L: DJ Mitchell
Russo: 2/4, R, 2B (.289)
JoVa: 1/4, 2 RBI, 2 K (.248)
Laird: 1/4, 2 K (.274). An uncharacteristic 6 game minor league hit streak dating back to before the call-up. I hope this motivation doesn't wear off.
Krum: 0/3, BB.
DJ Mitchell: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 HR. It's just one bad outing.
JC Romero: 1 IP, Zeros across the board.
Wordekemper: 1 IP, H, 0 ER.

AA Trenton: L 0-5 to Richmond. L: Mr. Garrison (back to his old tricks, I guess he left Mr. Hat in the bronx after his demotion.
Kruml: 0/4, K (.291)
CoJo: 0/4 (.275)
Boilin Zoilo Almonte: 1/4 (.288)
R-Ly Lyerly: 0/3, 3 K. No good.
Melkman Mesa: 0/3, K.
Dee Mack: 1/3, 2 K (.246)
Craig Heyer: 5 IP in relief, 5 H, ER, BB, 2 K (3.94 ERA)
Pope: 1 IP, H, ER, BB (.96 ERA at this level)

High A Tampa: L 0-7 to Charlotte. L: Marshall
Honest Abe Almonte: 2/4, 2 2B. I know I'll regret this tomorrow when I jinx his solid performance and he throws another 0/4 at us, but he's been damn good lately.
Castrol GTX Castro: 0/4, K.
K-Roll Roller: 1/3, 2B, BB (.242)
Luke Murton: 1/3 (.281)
Alcantara: 0/3, 2 K. Give it time, there's a huge difference between GCL and Tampa.
Marshall: 5.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. Managed to keep his ERA just under 4 after a horrific outing, but he's been much better than that lately, hiccup.

Low A Charleston: L 3-5 to Greenville. L: Ramirez
Eddy Sosa: 1/5, 2 K (.264)
Ray-Flo Flores: 0/4 (.269).  His season has been pretty good for a 19 year old.
Shane Brown: 2/3, R, K (.300).
Sanchize: 04, R, K (.236)
J-Ram Ramirez: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (4.24 ERA). Had an error also.

Short Season Staten Island: W 11-5. W: Rodriguez. Way to save the system from the sweep.
Mad Mase Williams: 1/4, R, RBI, BB, SB (14), (.335). Seems like he's always doing something productive.
Cheeto Culver: 2/5, RBI (.291)
Ben Gamel the Camel: 1/4, R, 2B, BB, K (.275). Nice to see him at a point where a 1/4 day decreases his average.
Grice: 1/4, R, 3B, RBI, BB (.282). same.
Angelo Bubba Gumbs: 2/4, 2 R, RBI (.273)
Rey Nunez: 4/5, 2 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI (.293). Nice to see this Dominican kid starting to thrive.
Wilton Rodriguez: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 K (3.93 ERA on the season). Who am I to judge, if you're young (20), and putting up good stats, I should be following you.
Caleb Cotham: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 3 K (1.26 ERA)
Paullus: 2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 4 K (2.7 ERA)

YEEP 7/7/11: Return of the Vacationer

Evil Em Vee P of the Day: Dellin Betances. 9 K tonight in 6 IP (finally got past 5 IP). Photo courtesy of nypost.com

Hey all, sorry about my 5 day hiatus. I was on vacation for 4th of July weekend, and boy what a good time I had. Anyway, let's get started with this week's YEEP updates. Later on I'll go through the movers and shakers through the Yankees system recently since there's been a lot. I'll mention some promotions and those that I feel have been snubbed for a promotion. Now for the updates.

AAA SWB: W 6-2 v. Buffalo W: Nova S: Kensing
JoVa (Jorge Vazquez): 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR. This is my first post since his return. Hopefully something about his DL stint taught him how to hit a curveball or change-up. Not even both, just one of them.
Brandon Laird: 1/4, R, RBI, K, 2B.
Ivan Nova: 7.2 IP 6 H, 2 ER, 10 K, 1 HR. Besides the HR, he was brilliant. He was good last season in AAA, but not this good. Granted, it's just one game, but it seems like he's learned quite a bit in the majors.

AA Trenton, Double header today.
Game 1: L 2-3 to Richmond. L: Venditte
Kruml: 1/3, 1 SB. I'll say it again, he should have been promoted instead of Krum. Batting .287 with 29 SB.
CoJo (Corban Joseph): 0/3, 2 K
Austin BRomine: 0/3, 1 K (.294)
R-Ly (Rob Lyerly): 0/3, 2 K.
Dellin Betances: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Great outing, but I could still do without the 2 BB. Control has been the issue all season, and that's gonna have to improve next year if he wants a shot at the title (the bigs).
Pat "Sideshow" Venditte: .1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, BS. He's been good lately, just a hiccup.

Game 2: L 2-1. L: Craig Heyer
Kruml: 1/3, 1 K.
CoJo: 0/3, 2 K. Bad day for him and Lyerly, both 0/3 with 2 K in gm 2
Heyer: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 K. Typical outing from him, and it's really not half bad. 3.19 ERA on the season, but he's no more than a Lance Pendleton as far as I'm concerned, although no one would have even gave him that credit last season.
Ryan Pope: .2 IP, 2 K. Two batters faced, two strikeouts. Maybe this demotion was a good idea.

High A Tampa: Game Postponed

Low A Charleston: W 9-7 against Delmarva. W: Allen
Eddy Sosa: 1/5, 1 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K.
Gary "Sanchize" Sanchez: 1/3, HR, BB. Nice
Ramon "Ray-Flo" Flores: 3/4, 2 R. In his past 8 games, he's 11/31 (.355), although he's not walking like he was (just one). Maybe this means he wasn't being aggressive enough before that. Hopefully he has figured something out because his season is still in need of a turnaround.
Dott: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K. The only pitcher that went tonight whom I'm interested in, and even him, I honestly don't know much about. He's got a 2.57 ERA this season.

Short Season Staten Island: W 4-3 against Connecticut. W: Wetherell
Cito "Cheetoh" Culver: 2/4, 2B, R, BB, K, SB. Just his 2nd SB, but he's really gotten it going with the bat. 16/42 in last 10 games (.381)
Mason "Mad Mase" Williams: 0/5. Meh, still .325 on the season.
Angelo "Bubba Gumbs Shrimp" Gumbs: 2/5, R, 2 B, 2 K. (.271). He's getting there.
Matt Tracy: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, K. Still without an earned run this young season.
Recchia: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 K. Pitching well here.
Wetherell: 1 IP, W. Has somehow picked up 3 wins this season already as a relief pitcher. I can think of at least one that was due to a BS though.

GCL Yankees: L 9-6 to GCL Phillies. L: Johnson
Ravenous Ravel Santana: 0/5, 2 K. He's allowed an off day every so often.
Tyler Austin: 2/4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 1 K. .362 on the season so far. Guy can hit, and he also has 7 SB already on the season. Speed from a corner IF, interesting combo.
Yeicok Calderon: 2/4, 1 R, 1 SB. Good game for him, he's been struggling a bit lately (.216 on the season), so maybe this will help him turn it around.
Jorge Alcantara: 2/4, 1 R, 1 K. Keeps showing he can hit, and can play all corner positions. (.375 so far).
Taylor Morton: 4 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 K. Not a good outing, but he's been great overall so far (2.4 ERA)

YEEP Nightly Summary

Image: Nik Turley, tonights Evil EM Vee P. Picture thanks to gothambaseball.com
AAA SWB
Jesus Montero: 1/4 with 1 k. Montero's whole season has been a big 1/4 with 1 k so far. Doing just enough to get by but nothing to impress.
Brandon Laird: 1/4 with 1k. It feels like he's cooled off, but he's still 11 for his last 37 with 2 HR, good for a .297 average.
DJ Mitchell: 6 IP 2 ER 4 k, 1 BB. Another quality start, I hope he gets a September call-up. He deserves it for what he's done this year. All he has to do now is finish strong like he did last season.
George Kontos: 1 IP, 2 k, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB. Making a strong bid for that open relief spot.
R Flores: 1.2 IP 1 BB 1 k, 0 H, 0 ER. Making a strong bid for that LOOGY spot.

AA Trenton
CoJo: 0/3 2 BB 1 k. Could be worse
BRomine (because he's my bro): 2/5  2b, 1 RBI, 1 k. Really putting his hitting together this season. I love it when my predictions actually come true (rare as that may be). 14 for last 41 with 3 2B and 4 BB (.366/.422/.439/.861)
RLy (Rob Lyerly): 1/4 with 1 r. He's adjusted really nicely and quickly to AA pitching, much like DeeMack did. It's just a 1/4 night, but he's put together some good games already.
DeeMack: 2/4 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 r. Another guy who's made the necessary adjustments. After initial adjustment period, he's 7/13 with 2 HR, nice work Mack Daddy.
Craig Heyer: 7 IP 2 ER, 5 H, 2 k. Let up 2 in the first inning. All of a sudden you blink and Heyer has put together yet another good start. I've said this before, but... this year's Lance Pendleton?
Chase Whitley: 2 ER in 2 IP 2 k, 2 bb, 3 H. Jitters?

High A Tampa
Honest Abe (Almonte): 2/4 3 r. 6 for his last 17. Has Abe finally found his stroke?
Walt Ibarra: 1/5 2 r, 3B, RBI, k, SB. Nice season so far, good to see the SB, he needs more of those if he wants to advance.
Boilin Zoilo (Almonte): 1/4 2 RBI, 2 K. Cooling off a bit. One more hot streak and he might be officially on the prospect map.
K-Roll (Kyle Roller): 2/5 1 HR, 1 k. Nice day for Kyle, he's showing why I think he's a better hitter than Seggy.
Seggy (Rob Segedin): 0/4 2 k. Just .185 since the promotion, but free pass for adjustment purposes.
KeFla (or K-Flann, which is better? Kevin Flannery)- 1 IP, 1 k, zeros, 1.57 ERA. He's the only one I care to follow who pitched today. He deserves a promotion. I like this dude because all he's ever done is produce results. AA will be his big test.

Low A Charleston
Eduardo Sosa: 1/5 3B, 2 k 2 RBI. .306 average in limited action, but this is what he does. The triple reflects his speed, which seems to be his major plus attribute.
Ray-Flo (Ramon Flores): 0/3 1 k. He's ice cold. .143 in last 10 g spanning 35 at bats. 143 means I love you, maybe that means it's time for him to break out of that slump.
Sanchize (Gary Sanchez): 0/3, 1 r, 1 BB. Still .294 with 2 HR in last 10 g.
Higgy (Kyle Higashioka): 2/3, 2B, 1 r, 1 BB, 1k. Continues to hit well despite being demoted. He didn't deserve it this season, but it's tough to justify having him in high A over JR Murphy, because Murphy earned his way there as far as his bat goes, while Higgy earned his way there with defense. Unfortunately, defense can only get you a backup catching job in the majors, so Higgy needs to keep hitting to restore his prospect status. I sure hope he does.
Nik "the slick" Turley: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 k. What a performance! Has been even more dominant his last 10 starts (1.77 ERA, .213 BA against than his first 5. Unfortunately, he's already 10 IP over last years total, so a promotion may not be very likely at this point. It's okay, he's still just 21.
DaBraw (Daniel Burawa): 3.0 IP, 1 k, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER. He needed an outing like this. The last 10 outings have been rough on him.

SS low a Staten Island
Mad Mase (or Mad Willy, Mason Williams)- 2/3 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 CS. Spectacular start to his career. Keep it up Mase. I'm not following Culver until he does something deserving of being followed, same goes for Bubba Gumbs Shrimp.
Wetherell: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 k. Not bad.
Monte Python (Montgomery): 1 IP, 3 k. BEAST.