Friday, September 1, 2017

The Drum Beating for Chance Adams Begins NOW


You guys knew this was coming, didn’t you? I mean you had to. The calendar changes to September 1st today which means a lot of things. We are one day closer to the end of the regular season, one day closer to Christmas, one day closer to Bryce Harper donning pinstripes and most importantly it is September call up day! The Yankees have many September call up decisions to make this season as many of their affiliates including the Major League team fight for a postseason spot and championship but no decision should be bigger than the decision to call up or not to call up arguably their top pitching prospect Chance Adams. I think you all have an idea on what side of that argument I am on if you have been reading my work for a while now.  

Chance Adams should absolutely be on the Major League roster and in the Bronx this weekend for the Boston Red Sox series and he should stay up until the Yankees take their ball and go home for the long winter ahead. Not only has he earned it, which should trump anything, but he also makes the team far better than they were with Jaime Garcia taking the ball every fifth day. You know, because Jaime Garcia sucks. 

Adams was a fifth-round pick by the Yankees back in 2015 and is a right-handed pitcher that broke out in a big way as a starting pitcher in 2016. Adams was drafted as a relief pitcher but was immediately converted to a starter by the Yankees which produced a combined 13-1 record, 2.33 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 127.1 innings in 2016 between High-A  with the Tampa Yankees and Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. Adams also struck out 144 batters which opened a lot of eyes and put him on the map as far as Yankees prospects go. Adams has been equally as impressive in 2017 leading the Scranton RailRiders to their third straight division title and postseason berth and is currently knocking on the door to Yankee Stadium begging the little pig to let him in. Will Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman respond “not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin?” Lord I hope not. 

Adams is a four-pitch pitcher whose repertoire consists of a mid-90 MPH fastball, a hard slider and a developing change-up and curveball that keeps batters off his hard stuff. Adams does struggle with control and command of his pitches, especially the change and the curve, which is his only knock in not calling him up but at this point in the season what does New York really have to lose? The team doesn’t have to give him a 40 man roster spot this season which is also a huge part of the decision making process here but let’s be honest, the Yankees need Adams in 2017 if they want to go far in the postseason. They do. Garcia isn’t going to cut it and as well as CC Sabathia has pitched at times he may not be able to cut it either. Who knows if and when that knee pain will flare up again? Adams provides the Yankees youth, aggression, talent and the ultimate depth and insurance piece all for the low, low price of a 40 man roster spot that he will probably win outright next season in Spring Training camp anyway if we’re being honest. 


Adams is ready. Make the move. Call him up. Make Daniel Burch happy. Get Greedy. I love you all!

7 comments:

  1. As much as I like Chance Adams, I think it would be foolish to burn a spot on the 40-man roster for him this year when there are talented other prospects that will be Rule-5 eligible for winter. I think his ETA is 2018.

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    1. It may be foolish but sometimes a kid just flat out earns it, and he has. I know the Yankees likely won't bring him up but me, the fan, thinks that they should. Even if he gets the Derek Jeter treatment from 1995 and never gets into a game. It would go a long way with him if he is in the 2018 plans in my opinion.

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    2. You think he is ready now, Daniel? His numbers are enough to bring him up but, I wonder if he is mentally ready to face the trials and tribulations of big time baseball....mostly the losing part of it.

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    3. I'm not saying make him the ace, just bring him up. Let him sit on the bench. Soak it all in. No mental stability needed for that. I personally think he could pitch and pitch well down the stretch, although his last couple of starts in Triple-A have left much to be desired and I am left wondering if he is tired or not, but that's just me.

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    4. Isn't this his first year pitching that many innings for "AAA"? AAA is much different than pitching in lesser games and he only had 69+ innings last year...I think! This year he had 150 innings in both "AA" and "AAA" combined, this year. So you may be right on his being tired...I'll second that!
      Being up here and just sitting can be a lot of help, for next year, I just didn't want to see him pitch after so many innings.

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    5. It is but he has basically had the entire season at Triple-A and has been as dominant as ever with the exception of his last two or three starts. I know there's basic unwritten rules and guidelines when it comes to handling prospects, full year here and full year there type crap, but that's all they are... guidelines. Glorified suggestions. See Luis Severino as a recent example of ditching those guidelines and being just fine.

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    6. Next Year is a good year for the Yankees if they can keep the team (mostly) the same.
      With Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka (?), Chance Adams, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery and about 3 others to contend for "Tanks" job if he goes elsewhere.
      with all the money coming off the ledgers they can go out and get one, maybe two players even though I would go after a big Time Pitcher only. Trade Brett and Ells, someway or another and use what we have.
      Just a thought anyhow! More packing to do!!!!
      Have a good day!

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)