Injuries and Transactions, Pt. II June 18, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Juan Miranda, Sidney Ponson.add a comment
Continuing from the last post:
06/16/08, AAA: 1B Juan Miranda (shoulder) activated from the 7-day DL
06/18/08, MLB: Yankees claim RHP Oneli Rodriguez from the Cleveland Indians and assign him to AA TRE; transfer RHP Jon Albaladejo to the 60-day DL
AAA: Yankees sign RHP Sidney Ponson, formerly of the Texas Rangers, to a minor league contract
Miranda isn’t much of a top-30 range prospect anymore at 25, not necessarily because his 25 but because he could be older, about 27. He is a platoon 1B/DH, hitting an abysmal .162/.225/.189 against them. Overall he’s hitting a pedestrian .261/.388/.400. A recurring injury has sapped his power, and I’d like to see him finish out the season to pass judgment.
Before I get to Ponson, let me say that Rodriguez, a pitcher who’s been waived twice and knocked around in AAA. He features a low-90s fastball with an average slider, and really doesn’t have much of a future. Let’s see what organizational guru Nardi Contreras can do with him; otherwise he’s a waste of a good 40-man spot and is an ever-present DFA candidate when the need so arises.
Now to Ponson. Besides the fact that Ponson is panzón (link posted for you non-Spanish-speakers out there), he’s a terrible pitcher. He’s a shell of his former self, which was never great to begin with but was pretty good in 2003. His “success” in Texas before being released for character issues was largely luck-related, with a 4.04 K/9 and a 1.56 WHIP. He posted a respectable 10.47 ERA (sarcasm intended) for the Yanks in 2006, and he’s journeyed around since. Besides the character issues, his stuff has diminished, and there are likely better internal options. Another 40-man wasted spot, but he’ll get consideration for the June 27 double-header against the circus team.
Mark Newman Reveals Plans for Top Prospects December 21, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alan Horne, Bronson Sardhina, Humberto Sanchez, J. Brent Cox, Jeff Marquez, Juan Miranda, Mark Melancon, Nick Green.1 comment so far
In an interview with Yankees Senior VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, Chad Jennings found out where some of the Yankees top prospects will start next year. My take is in italics.
Juan Miranda: Miranda will start the season at AAA, according to Newman. He and Eric Duncan will play every day, alternating between 1B and DH. Miranda has more upside than a Shelley Duncan/Wilson Betemit/Jason Giambi tandem, and should be the starter at 1B by mid-season.
Mark Melancon and J. Brent Cox: Both relievers will be ready on Opening Day after missing 2007 with elbow surgery. Both will also start in Tampa to avoid the cold weather at AA Trenton and AAA Scranton, but will advance throughout the year. Melancon, a closer drafted in the 9th round out of U of Arizona in 2006, is a high-ceiling player who projects to be a closer. This will be a setback for Cox, as he has gone as far as AA in 2006. Hopefully, he still has the stuff and control that made people say he had the potential to be better than Huston Street.
Humberto Sanchez: Sanchez will not be ready opening day after Tommy John surgery. He has been oft-injured throughout his minor league career, and it has derailed him from realizing his potential. With Anthony Claggett a non-prospect, and Sanchez and Kevin Whelan not sure things, the Gary Sheffield trade isn’t looking so good right now.
Alan Horne and Jeff Marquez: Newman notes that both Alan Horne and Jeff Marquez could make the Yankees out of Spring Training as relievers. He says that the club could do another starter-to-late-season reliever conversion, like that of Joba Chamberlain. Horne’s stuff is good for the bullpen, but last year had a 5.04 BB/9 rate in the 1st inning of starts, so his control might not be good as it takes him time to settle in. Marquez would be the groundball machine, but the Yankees’ bullpen doesn’t strike anyone out, and they already have LaTroy Hawkins to get a lot of groundballs.
Nick Green Signed: Green agreed on a minor league contract with the Yankees. On that note, Bronson Sardhina is being pursued as well on a minor-league deal. Newman notes that many of these fringe players don’t like to sign with the Yankees because the Yankees are very set with their lineups and pitching, so they won’t get much of an opportunity. Well, Nick Green isn’t a top prospect–he’s a fringe player, really–but he’s back with the Yankees, and could make the club out of Spring Training in the utility role as opposed to Alberto Gonzales.
Top 30 Prospects: #13 Juan Miranda November 22, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Juan Miranda, Top 30 Prospects.add a comment
Age: 24
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs
Drafted: International Signing, 2006, out of Dominican Republic (Cuban defector)
Bats: L
Position: 1B
Tools: Miranda is a two-tool player, owning nice contact rates and monster power. His power is fairly polished, but it isn’t done developing yet. Miranda’s defense is serviceable and improving. His speed is not useful and not a part of his game.
Performance: In his first year in the United States, Miranda had a nice year albeit being 24 (or 26, as some Cuban sources say). He hit .265 in 122 G, with 16 HRs and 96 RBIs in 446 ABs. He owned a .350 OBP and .471 SLG.
Outlook: Miranda’s age is a large factor in his ranking. If he would be younger, he would be higher. If he would be older, he might be towards the bottom if he was even on the list. But where he stands, he is just right. The Yankees have no clear long-term answer at 1B that is close to the majors, since Doug Minky and Jason Giambi are at the end of the line and Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit are platoon players at best. Miranda should be in New York by July 2008, but he himself is also a platoon player due to his inability to hit left-handed pitching. If he does eventually hit lefties, the starting job is likely his.
Ceiling: B, Health: Incomplete, Comparison: Scott Hatteberg
Hawaiia and Arizona Winter Leagues October 23, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Anthony Claggett, Austin Jackson, Brad Suttle, Brett Gardner, George Kontos, Juan Miranda, Reggie Corona.add a comment
Peoria Javelinas (Arizona)
Brett Gardner .349 AVG 0 HR 2 RBI .400 OBP.395 SLG–still hasn’t shown power…
Juan Miranda .286 AVG 2 HR 8 RBI .375 OBP .486 SLG–could he start in New York next year?
Reegie Corona .208 AVG 1 HR 5 RBI .296 OBP .417 SLG–his struggles have lowered his stock
Honolulu Sharks (Hawaii)
Austin Jackson .246 AVG 1 HR 13 RBI .373 OBP .426 SLG–has been red hot since very slow start
Brad Suttle .116 AVG 0 HR 1 RBI .240 OBP .186 SLG–bad decision to send him here to face top-flight competition
George Kontos 2-2 4 G 4 GS 15 IP 11 H 22 K 7 BB 3.00 ERA–has taken opportunity of chance to shine
Anthony Claggett–1-1 7 G 0 GS 11 IP 13 H 9 K 5 BB 4.09 ERA–numbers overshadow struggles
Progress–some guys have gone up (Miranda, Jackson, Kontos) some have gone down (Suttle, Corona, Claggett) and one has stayed the same (Gardner). C+, as the guys who have progressed are more relevant to the overall scheme of things.
stats from http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l405&t=t_ibp&cid=1297
Top Yankees’ Hitting Prospects July 26, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Brett Gardner, Eduardo Nunez, Eric Duncan, Jesus Montero, Jose Tabata, Juan Miranda, Justin Snyder, Mitch Hilligoss, Tim Battle.2 comments
I am just listing the Yankees’ hitting prospects, without scouting reports. (Name, position, level)
1. Jose Tabata, OF, A+
2. Jesus Montero, C, GCL
3. Juan Miranda, 1B, AA
4. Mitch Hilligoss, 3B, A
5. Eduardo Nunez, SS, A
6. Brett Gardner, CF, AAA
7. Justin Snyder, 2B, Short-season A
8.. Gerardo Rodriguez, C/1B, RK
9. Tim Battle, OF, A+
10. Josue Calzado, RF, A
11. Marcos Vechionnaci, SS/3B, A+
12. Francisco Cervelli, C, A+
13. Eric Duncan, 1B, AAA
14. Bronson Sardhina, OF, AAA
