The weekend did not go well for the Yankees, but it's Monday and that means talk of conjuctivitis and hamstrings can wait. Today we look to the future:
Hitter of the Week - Jesus Montero, C/DH, Charleston Riverdogs (Single A):
Montero showed why he's one of the Yankees' best prospects this week, getting a hit in all seven games last week, including four doubles and two home runs, resulting in a robust .375/.394/.688 (AVG/OBP/SLG) line. That performance becomes even more impressive when you put it in context, as he's the second youngest player in a league and park that's not so friendly to hitters.
Of course the big question about Montero is whether he has the defensive ability to remain a catcher, where his fantastic bat has the most value. Most scouts don't think he has the agility to compensate for his already large size (6'4", 225lbs), but the Yankees are giving him the opportunity to prove them wrong by alternating him with Austin Romine between the catcher and DH spots. It's a great move on the team's part, as it gives two catching prospects who are raw defensively the chance to hone their game while limiting the injury problems that come with moving to a full-time professional workload for the first time. For Montero, the results have been mixed so far, as he's thrown out a healthy three of nine basestealers, but allowed an unhealthy three passed balls in just seven games behind the plate.
Of course, without being able to see him in person, it's impossible for me to get a real read on what his future is like defensively, but even as a first baseman or DH, his offensive future seems bright.
Pitcher of the Week: Eric Hacker, RHP, Tampa Yankees (Single A Advanced):
For the second time in as many weeks, a Yankee pitcher came close to perfection only to be denied thanks to his pitch count. Hacker, who missed the 2006 season with shoulder injuries, pitched seven perfect innings against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Tuesday before being pulled. He then proceeded to retire the first seven batters he faced on Sunday, giving him a total of 9.1 perfect innings. All told, he threw a total of fourteen scoreless innings this week, striking out ten, walking one and allowing only two hits. It's extremely hard for a 25 year-old righthander in Single A who doesn't have electric stuff to stand out in a farm system that's packed with young pitching, but Hacker certainly did so this week.
As always, here's a few more items of interest:
- Last week I mentioned that Double A infielder Kevin Russo had left the team after doctors found some abnormalities in his blood work. I'm glad to report that further testing revealed no problems, and he celebrated his return to the Thunder by hitting a home run in his first game back.
- Shelley Duncan has been taking whatever frustration he might have about his demotion out on the pitchers of the International League. He hit a home run in each of his first three games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and in five games has posted a ridiculous .500/.560/1.136 line. While still at the mercy of injuries and roster mechanics, Duncan is making a strong case to be called back up as soon as possible.
1 comment:
Having spoken with Duncan in the Scranton locker room, I can say he's very realistic on everything that comes with this type of career.
As opposed to taking a demotion as a negative, he took it as an opportunity to get to play every day essentially. As the results show, no worries, he knows he'll be back.
The aura in the locker room is definitely more fun with him around, that's for sure. There's certainly an energy he brings anywhere he goes whether it be New York or Scranton, Pa.
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