Trading News (31/7/2008)

洋基與國民隊的交易案

送走Alberto Gonzalez(SS)換來Jhonny Nunez(RHP)

Jhonny Nunez

Born: 26/11/1986
Height: 6′3″ Weight: 185 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: R
Transactions: 09/12/2003, Signed as nondrafted international free agent from Dominican Republic by LAD. 31/8/2006, Traded from LAD to WSH for Marlon Anderson. 31/7/2008, Traded from WSH for Alberto Gonzalez.

Carreer Statistics:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jhonny%20Nunez&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=471919
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/Jhonny-Nunez.shtml
http://firstinning.com/players/Jhonny-Nunez-a/

Núñez is a fastball/slider pitcher with a 94-mph sinker. He has a three-quarters arm slot and can throw a changeup, but it's apparently a secondary pitch.

Matt Cusick

Born: 05/05/1986
Height: 5′10″ Weight: 190 lbs
Position: 2B
Bats: L Throws: R
Transactions: Selected by Houston Astros in 10th round (321th overall) of 2007 draft out of University of Southern California. Traded from Houston Astros for Latroy Hawkins.

Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w=/2007/open/draft/prospects/cusick_matt_400.wmv&pid=gen_video&vid=9383&cid=mlb&v=2

Photo


Carreer Statistics
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Matt-Cusick.shtml
http://firstinning.com/players/Matthew-Cusick-a/

MLB Scouting Report
Hitting Ability: A solid offensive player, with the ability to hit for average and get on base.
Power: Cusick doesn't hit for much power now and doesn't profile to have much pop as a pro.
Running Speed: He's an average runner, at best.
Base Running: Cusick, while not blessed with blazing speed, does have good instincts on the basepaths.
Fielding: He needs work on his defense ast second base, his likely home as a pro, but has the makeup necessary to work to become average.
Range: Right now, his range is limited, but the work he puts in could help.
Baseball Instinct: He's got strong instincts, particularly with the bat, showing excellent bat control to all fields.
Physical Description: Cusick is an under-six foot middle infielder without one specific tool that jumps out.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Hitting approach. Cusick came into the 2007 season with a .340 average in two years with USC. He drew 76 walks against 31 strikeouts in those seasons. He hit .304 and had a .425 OBP in the Cape Cod League last summer.
Weaknesses: Defense. Cusick is a tireless worker, which should help him become an average defender in the future.
Summary: With his bat control and outstanding makeup, Cusick should get plenty of attention and could be a nice No. 2 hitter in the future. His ability to hit for average and get on base should appeal to the stats-hungry crowd.

30/7/2008 Minor Score

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (68W-45L)
(W) Scranton/WB : Syracuse = 6 : 0

AA Trenton Thunder (65W-43L, #1)
(W) Altoona : Trenton = 3 : 6

A+ Tampa Yankees (17W-19L) (1st half-season 37W- 33L)
(L) Tampa : Lakeland = 5 : 6 (10 innings)

A Charleston RiverDogs (18W-19L) (1st half-season 45W- 25L)
(W) Asheville : Charleston = 5 : 6

A- Staten Island Yankees (25W-17L, #1)
(L) Staten Island : Lowell = 2 : 5

R Gulf Coast Yankees (16W-19L)
(L) GCL Yankees : GCL Phillies = 0 : 10

Trading News (30/7/2008)

洋基與太空人的交易案

送走 Latroy Hawkins(RHR)
換來 Matt Cusick(2B)

Matt Cusick的介紹晚點再整理

29/7/2008 Minor Score

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (67W-45L)
(W) Scranton/WB : Syracuse = 8 : 1

AA Trenton Thunder (64W-43L, #1)
(L) Altoona : Trenton = 4 : 2

A+ Tampa Yankees (17W-18L) (1st half-season 37W- 33L)
(L) Tampa : Lakeland = 1 : 7

A Charleston RiverDogs (17W-19L) (1st half-season 45W- 25L)
(W) Asheville : Charleston = 2 : 4

A- Staten Island Yankees (25W-16L, #1)
(W) Staten Island : Lowell = 8 : 6

R Gulf Coast Yankees (16W-18L)
(L) GCL Phillies : GCL Yankees = 8 : 4

2008 Draft, Rd13, #410, Jack Rye

Born: 08/03/1986
Height: 6′1″ Weight: 200 lbs
Position: RF
Bats: L Throws: L
Transactions: Selected in 13th round (410th overall) of 2008 draft out of Florida St University.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=702518&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_rye_john_400.wmv&mid=200805302799953&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=117487&Title=Jack%20Rye

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/of-jack-rye-florida-state-university.html
Having selected college OF Raymond Kruml two picks earlier, the New York Yankees went back to well in the 13th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. With the 410th selection, the Yankees took Florida State right fielder Jack Rye – the fourth Seminole selected in the draft.

After missing the first five games of his senior season with a broken right thumb, Jack Rye returned to hit .371 with seven homers, 15 doubles, and 52 RBI for the year. His production yielded First Team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive year. Rye, a team captain, hit cleanup behind masher Buster Posey (selected fifth overall by the Giants).

Rye has shown good plate discipline, drawing more walks than strikeouts in each of his four seasons at FSU. He hit better than .325 each year as well. While has some speed (12 stolen bases in 2008), it’s unlikely to be a major part of his game at the next level.

Jack Rye grew up in Irvine, California and played for the only high school team to ever beat Phil Hughes. During the final two seasons of his prep career, Rye struck out only 10 times in 188 plate appearances.

His power numbers will have to improve to be anything more than a reserve outfielder but the Yankees like his polished approach at the plate. He will start the season at short-season Staten Island.

NYCurve.com
http://www.nycurve.com/2008-draft-picks-john-rye-kyle-higashioka-william-mitchell
John Rye, is a 6’1, 200lbs. Senior out of Florida State University. Rye, who turned 22 in March can play any outfield position, but specializes in right field. Otherwise known as Jack, he played his high school baseball in Irvine, CA, at Woodbridge High School. He bats and throws left.
As a Junior, John was named the team captain at FSU, and started all 62 games for the Seminoles. He also hit 10 homeruns, and drove in 61 runs, which ranked second on his team in both categories. In his senior season (2008), John hit .371, which ranked fourth on his team, starting 61 of 62 games. He hit 7 homeruns, and drove in 52, ranking 6th in both categories for the ‘Noles.
John’s father was a collegiate baseball pitcher at UCLA.

Perfect Game (by David Rawnsley)
SCOUTING REPORT: Rye, who went to high school in California, has been a starter in right field for Florida State since the beginning of his freshman year. A lefthanded hitter, he hit .372-10-61 as a junior in 2007 and hit a career-high 12 home runs as a sophomore. He missed the early part of this season recovering from a broken right thumb and his power was affected, although it began to return more consistently in May. Through the middle of the month, he was hitting .420-6-41 in 46 games. Equally impressive was his 39-23 walk-to-strikeout ratio and .529 on-base percentage. Still, Rye’s smooth lefthanded swing and proven power track record paint him as a solid senior sign type of draft. He’s limited on defense and will likely play left field at the pro level.

28/7/2008 Minor Score

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (66W-45L)
(L) Scranton/WB : Rochester = 4 : 7

AA Trenton Thunder (64W-42L, #1)
(L) Altoona : Trenton = 3 : 1

A+ Tampa Yankees (17W-17L) (1st half-season 37W- 33L)
(W) Tampa : Lakeland = 6 : 5

A Charleston RiverDogs (16W-19L) (1st half-season 45W- 25L)
(L) Hickory : Charleston = 6: 0

A- Staten Island Yankees (24W-16L, #1)
(L) Brooklyn : Staten Island = 5 : 2

R Gulf Coast Yankees (16W-17L)

2008 Draft, Rd12, #380, Luke Greinke

Born: 04/06/1986
Height: 6′10″ Weight: 195 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 12th round (380th overall) of 2008 draft out of Auburn University.

Video

MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=702114&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_greinke_luke_400.wmv&mid=200805302799550&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=81692&Title=Luke%20Greinke

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): At .417, Greinke posted the highest average among all players in the nation’s recognized summer college leagues in 2007. He also topped the Valley League with a .517 on-base average and a .642 slugging average while playing for the Winchester Royals (Luke’s brother Zach pitches for the Kansas City Royals). He battled at the plate, showed good plate discipline, hit the ball hard consistently and drove the ball with surprising power to all fields. A good student of the game, he made positive adjustments at the plate through the course of the summer. Ironically, Greinke went to the Valley League last summer to concentrate more on pitching than hitting after going 0-0, 2.61 and working in just six games on the mound in an injury-plagued season at Auburn in 2007. He still worked in 51 innings at Winchester, going 3-1, 2.66 with 48 strikeouts with a fastball at 88-92 mph, topping at 93, but Greinke’s performance on the mound overall paled compared to his performance as an everyday player. Though his pro future appears to be on the mound, he showed four solid tools. He’s considered just a marginal defender, yet proved versatile enough to move interchangably between the outfield and first base, showing enough speed and arm strength to play comfortably on an outfield corner. He would generally DH on days after he pitched. A true dual performer, he was scheduled to serve in a DH role this season for Auburn while taking a regular turn in the rotation. In 25 innings last fall, he may have given an indication of things to come as he allowed only one earned run in 25 innings.

UPDATE (3/1): Greinke did not capitalize on his big summer of 2007, falling far short of expectations this spring as both a pitcher and hitter. Predictably, his draft stock has dropped significantly. With a pro future on the mound, he focused primarily on pitching but went just 4-4, 4.47 with 38 strikeouts in 50 innings. Though his fastball was 88-90 mph, topping occasionally at 91, and his slider was effective against righthanded hitters and his changeup a plus pitch against lefthanders, he suffered from shoulder tendonitis, causing him to miss several starts. In the final analysis, he proved to be just another college righthander though his superior athletic ability may enable him to blossom in pro ball eventually. He was mainly an afterthought as a position player this spring, getting just 35 at-bats.

2008 Draft, Rd11, #350, Raymond Kruml

Born: 05/08/1985
Height: 6′0″ Weight: 185 lbs
Position: CF
Bats: L Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 11th round (350th overall) of 2008 draft out of University of South Alabama.

Video

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=117818&Title=Ray%20Kruml

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/cf-raymond-kruml-university-of-south.html
With their 11th round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft (350th overall), the Yankees selected speedy South Alabama centerfielder Ray Kruml.

According to Jaguars Coach Steve Kittrell, Kruml’s best tool is his speed. A sernior, he led the Sun Belt Conference with 31 stolen bases and played an above-average centerfield where his legs, coupled with a strong arm, makes him a plus-defender.

“He has outstanding speed,” Kittrell said by email. “He can steal bases and he reads pitchers well.”

Kruml posted a .350 batting average this season, reaching base at a .421 clip. He’s shown the ability to hit when down in the count but will need to refine his two-strike approach to succeed at the next level. Batting leadoff, Kruml considerably improved his power numbers, raking eight home runs, 21 doubles, and 46 RBIs.

South Alabama has a history of developing solid outfielders (Luis Gonzalez, Juan Pierre, and Adam Lind). Kruml will start off in the New York-Penn League with Staten Island.

NYCurve.com
http://www.nycurve.com/mlb-draftees-luke-anders-michael-jones-raymond-kruml
Raymond Kruml, a speedy centerfielder out of the University of South Alabama, was chosen by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Ray stands at 6’0 and weighs just 185lbs. He bats left and throws right. Kruml grew up in a Chicago suburb of Wheaton, IL.
Kruml hit .350 for the Jaguars of USA in 2008, and had an on base percentage of .421. He also added 8 homeruns, 21 doubles, and knocked in 46 runs. He has great speed, and looks to be a good lead-off hitter in the future.
His coach at USA had this to say about Richard: “He has outstanding speed, he can steal bases and he reads pitchers well.” Sounds like a good catch for the Yankees in the 11th round!

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT: A 2006 junior college All-American who hit .461 with 35 stolen bases at Indian Hills (Iowa) JC, Kruml struggled adapting to Division I pitching last year and hit only .276-3-15 with 18 stolen bases. He developed a much better comfort level at the plate this season, hitting a team-best .350 while stealing 36 bases. He did a much better job of bunting and incorporating small ball into his offensive approach to take advantage of his speed (6.5 seconds in the 60). With a more compact swing, he cut down on his high number of strikeouts, though still fanned 32 times in 226 at-bats. Kruml has the physical look of ex-big league center fielder Steve Finley and excels defensively. He should be a quality senior sign.

2008 Draft, Rd10, #320, D.J. Mitchell

Born: 13/05/1987
Height: 6′2″ Weight: 165 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 10th round (320th overall) of 2008 draft out of Clemson University.

Video

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=117244&Title=D.J.%20Mitchell

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/rhp-william-mitchell-clemson-university.html
Clemson junior right-hander D.J. Mitchell was drafted in the 10th round, No. 320 overall, by the New York Yankees on Friday in the second day of the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Mitchell converted from the outfield to the mound in the fall of 2006. The results have been impressive, though his velocity is just average. He throws a heavy, low-90s fastball. Because of his small build, it’s unlikely that Mitchell will see a jump in velocity. His changeup is an average offering. His overall command is average, though command of his changeup is below-average. He is very competitive and goes right after hitters.

After a strong showing in the Cape Cod League, Mitchell went 6-5 in his junior season at Clemson. He posted a 3.47 ERA, held opponents to a .258 batting average and walked 40 in 98 2/3 innings. He struck out 106, the highest total by a Tiger since 1996 when Kris Benson struck out 204. He earned First-Team All-ACC honors.

Mitchell appears willing to return to Clemson for his senior season. The Yankees may need to sway him with their offer.

NYCurve.com
http://www.nycurve.com/2008-draft-picks-john-rye-kyle-higashioka-william-mitchell
William Mitchell, a 6’2, 165lbs. righthanded pitcher was selected in the 12th round of the 2008 MLB draft. Mitchell, otherwise named D.J., turned 21 in May, and became the first Clemson Tiger to be drafted by the Yankees since 1990.
During the 2008 season, Mitchell went 6-5 with an ERA of 3.47, in 20 starts. He allowed 97 hits, while walking 40 batters, and striking out 106 in 98 innings. The strikeout total for Mitchell was the most since Kris Benson struck out 204 during the 1996 season.
Mitchell throws in the mid 90’s with great movement. He appears to be very versatile, and was used quite often in the outfield for Clemson. Projections show that Mitchell will be a mid to late inning reliever, with a shot at starting if everything shakes out well for him.

MLB Scouting Report
Fastball: Mitchell threw his fastball in the 88-92 mph range.
Fastball movement: He has average life on his fastball.
Curve: He occasionally flashes an average curve that he throws 74-75 mph.
Changeup: His changeup is slightly below average.
Control: His overall command is average, though command of his changeup is below-average.
Poise: He competed well. He's very aggressive with the stuff he has. He kept his team in the ballgame and gave them a chance to win.
Physical Description: Mitchell is wiry, strong and athletic. He has limited strength projections and probably won't put on much weight.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: He's very competitive and goes right after hitters, using the stuff he does have to help his team win games.
Weaknesses: None of his pitches grade out as better than average. His stuff is what it is and there's not much projection.
Summary: Building off a strong Cape League season, Mitchell has had a solid junior season as Clemson's Friday starter. He's wiry and athletic and while he doesn't possess the greatest pure stuff in the world, he gets the most out of it by going right after hitters and keeping his team in games. There may not be a ton of upside or projection, but there's always a market for a college hurler who battles.

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): When the Cape Cod League’s Bourne Braves recruited Mitchell in the fall of 2006 as a two-way player, it was expected he would have more impact as a center fielder than as a pitcher—both during the spring at Clemson and the following summer with the Braves. But Mitchell hit only .208-2-12 in 108 at-bats for Clemson in 2007 while emerging as the team’s No. 3 starter, going 5-0, 3.27 with 49 strikeouts in 52 innings. His emergence as a legitimate pitcher was even more pronounced last summer as he quickly took over as Bourne’s No. 1 starter on his way to leading the Cape Cod League with 58 strikeouts in 49 innings. Overall, he went 1-2, 1.47 while limiting opponents to a .192 average. He became just an afterthought as a position player in the process, getting only 15 at-bats. Mitchell isn’t overly physical at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds and doesn’t have overwhelming stuff with a fastball at 88-91 mph, topping at 92, but he gets the equivalent of 5-6 mph more in velocity with the exceptional movement he generates on his fastball. His two-seamer drops and darts in and out of the strike zone with such electricity that Cape Cod League umpires had a difficult time calling it for strikes early in the season—resulting in a number of his 23 walks. He also gets excellent deception on his pitches because his arm speed is so fast. Still, Mitchell is relatively new to pitching and he needs to refine his slider and changeup, develop better command and get stronger.

UPDATE (5/15): Just as Clemson was a disappointment this season, Mitchell didn’t perform like area scouts thought he would—especially after they had heard so many positive things about his breakthrough summer on the Cape. He took a while to get started, primarily because his fastball was mired in the mid- to high 80s. The pitch picked up speed later in the spring and was a more characteristic 89-92 at times with good running action, and his slider and changeup were solid. But he never really rallied from his slow start, was in and out of the Clemson rotation, and went 6-5, 3.47 with 40 walks and 106 strikeouts in 99 innings (entering the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament).

27/7/2008 Minor Score

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (66W-44L)
(L) Rochester : Scranton/WB = 10 : 5

AA Trenton Thunder (64W-41L, #1)
(L) Portland : Trenton = 6 : 3

A+ Tampa Yankees (16W-17L) (1st half-season 37W- 33L)
(O) Off

A Charleston RiverDogs (16W-18L) (1st half-season 45W- 25L)
(L) Hickory : Charleston = 6: 1

A- Staten Island Yankees (24W-15L, #1)
(W) Staten Island : Brooklyn = 15 : 2

R Gulf Coast Yankees (16W-17L)
(O) Off

26/7/2008 Minor Score

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (66W-43L)
(W) Rochester : Scranton/WB = 3 : 4

AA Trenton Thunder (64W-41L, #1)
(L) Portland : Trenton = 6 : 3

A+ Tampa Yankees (16W-17L) (1st half-season 37W- 33L)
(W) Dunedin : Tampa = 0 : 3 (The makeup of 26/7) (7 innings)
(W) Dunedin : Tampa = 7 : 8 (7 innings)

A Charleston RiverDogs (16W-17L) (1st half-season 45W- 25L)
(L) Hickory : Charleston = 12: 9

A- Staten Island Yankees (23W-15L, #1)
(W) Staten Island : Brooklyn = 4 : 1

R Gulf Coast Yankees (16W-17L)
(W) GCL Yankees : GCL Tiger = 3 : 2

Trading News (26/7/2008)

洋基與海盜的交易案

原本:
送走Jose Tabata(OF), Ross Ohlendorf(RHP), George Kontos(RHS), Phil Coke(LHS)
換來 Xavier Nady(OF), Damaso Marte(LHR)

官網證實Kontos與Coke換成Jeff Karstens與Daniel McCutchen，可惜呀，丟掉Karstens並不訝異，他已經證實是為4A級的投手，在洋基裡，頂多就是長中繼，偶而先發個幾場，離開洋基是遲早的事，另外因為Rule V選秀的關係，洋基在今年季後勢必要清出40人名單，Karstens就是可能被剔除的人選之一，被放進的可能包括Eric Hacker以及Christian Garcia。

McCutchen就真的是可惜了，之前提過他是洋基高階農場裡，小三星中不確定性最低的，08他的表現也證明了，他的耐操與穩定，升上大聯盟是遲早的事，許多人預料他會是個不錯的長中繼(洋基需要呀)，甚至是4-5號的SP。