Wednesday, February 24, 2016

TGP Prospects Night Open Thread featuring Aroldis Chapman


Are you salivating at the opportunity to see Aroldis Chapman throw 100+ MPH pitches in the 9th inning this season in the Bronx? Well that is how the Cincinnati Reds and their fans felt back during Spring Training 2010 watching their new toy pitch to Triple-A hitting. That is what we will watch tonight in our open thread, an old video of Chapman facing minor league hitting way back in 2010 as a member of the Reds. Enjoy!

Nick Cafardo Ranks All 30 MLB Managers


For the write-ups and explanations click HERE to read the original article:

1. Joe Maddon - Cubs
2. Bruce Bochy - Giants
3. Buck Showalter - Orioles
4. Terry Francona - Indians

5. Joe Girardi - Yankees

There’s nothing like managing in New York, and Girardi doesn’t get enough credit for what he does with the egos, the aging roster, and the market. He puts team first, and egos are checked at the door. His handling of Alex Rodriguez last season, in what could have been a trying situation, was masterful. Managing through many pitching injuries and still getting the Yankees to the playoffs is also worthy of mention.

6. Clint Hurdle - Pirates
7. Terry Collins - Mets
8. Ned Yost - Royals
9. Mike Matheny - Cardinals
10. John Gibbons - Blue Jays
11. Mike Scioscia - Angels
12. Bob Melvin - Athletics
13. Dusty Baker - Nationals
14. John Farrell - Red Sox
15. Don Mattingly - Marlins
16. Jeff Banister - Rangers
17. AJ Hinch - Astros
18. Paul Molitor - Twins
19. Kevin Cash - Rays
20. Brad Ausmus - Tigers
21. Pete Mackanin - Phillies
22. Fredi Gonzalez - Braves
23. Robin Ventura - White Sox
24. Chip Hale - Diamondbacks
25. Craig Counsell - Brewers
26. Bryan Price - Reds
27. Walt Weiss - Rockies
28. Dave Roberts - Dodgers
29. Scott Servais - Mariners
30. Andy Green - Padres

Comparing the 2015 Top Prospects List to 2016


The annual TGP Prospects Month Top Prospect list is almost over for another year after we announced our 6th best prospect this season, Domingo Acevedo. Before we enter the big boys and the Top 5 of the rankings I wanted to take the opportunity to take a look at the Top 28 list from 2015 up to this point while recapping the 2016 season up until this point as well.



You would think that losing Greg Bird and Luis Severino to prospect graduation and the major injuries to Luis Torrens, Ty Hensley and others would severely affect the list but in retrospect it really hasn't. If anything the list has gotten deeper and stronger which goes to show you just how far the Yankees system has come over the years.

The future is bright and it's a sight for sore eyes, no pun intended.

TGP Prospects Month Top 29 Prospects List - #6 Domingo Acevedo


What can be said about a prospect that can throw 100 MPH and has already drawn conclusions to a Dellin Betances at worst and even better at best? Not much that I can think of but that is what I'm hearing out of the Domingo Acevedo camp. Acevedo can throw 100 MPH already in his young career and had his flame throwing on full display this year against advanced talent in the Arizona Fall League. All this at age 22-years old, well 22-years old in March anyway.

Acevedo stands 6'7" and weighs in at 190 lbs. so the comparisons to Betances make sense but it's the stuff that he possesses that truly makes the comparisons an accurate one. Betances was thought to be the next big thing in the Yankees starting rotation but struggled with his command like most big men due at some point in their career's. Betances was moved to the bullpen out of necessity, he was out of minor league options, and he took off with a shortened delivery and repertoire. There is plenty of time for Acevedo to put it all together as a starter but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he paired with Betances at the back end of the Yankees bullpen, would it?

In three seasons Acevedo has averaged a 10.0 K/9 and 2.46 ERA with 118 strikeouts in just 106.0 IP.

6. Domingo Acevedo
7. Dustin Fowler
8. Wilkerman Garcia
9. Ian Clarkin
10. Brady Lail
11. Jacob Lindgren
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Drew Finley
14. Mason Williams
15. Slade Heathcott
16. Abi Avelino
17. Hoy-Jun Park
18. Luis Torrens
19. Cale Coshow
20. Chance Adams
21. Miguel Andujar
22. Jonathan Holder
23. Tyler Wade
24. Nick Rumbelow
25.Jordan Montgomery
26.Trey Amburgey
27. Ben Gamel
28. Austin DeCarr
29. Thairo Estrada
30. James Pazos

Meet a Prospect: Chris Parmelee


The New York Yankees seemed adamant about signing a first baseman that would take a minor league deal this winter as insurance for Mark Teixeira now that Greg Bird will miss the season with shoulder surgery and it seems like New York got their man recently in Chris Parmelee. Many overlooked this but out friend Matt Kardos, who covers Double-Trenton and who works for with our friend Robert Pimpsner at Pinstriped Prospects, reported it first that Parmelee had accepted a minor league deal from the Yankees. We plan to introduce the Yankees fans to the newest member of the organization the only way that we know how. This is Meet a Prospect: The Chris Parmelee Edition.

Christopher Matthew Parmelee was born on February 24, 1988 (Happy Birthday goes out to Chris Parmelee!!) and he attended Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California. As a first baseman there Parmelee caught the eye of the Minnesota Twins who came calling in the 1st round of the 2006 MLB First Year Players Draft making the lefty-swinging first baseman the 20th overall pick. Parmelee made an immediate impact in the Twins organization and was quickly donned one of the best power hitting prospects in their entire system with a potential to be an impact player in the middle of their lineup for years to come. In Parmelee’s first professional season he tore up Gulf Coast League pitching to the tune of a .279 average with eight home runs in just 45 games earning him a promotion to A-Ball.

Parmelee repeated A-Ball in 2007 and he hit 15 more home runs before beginning the 2008 season right back with the Beloit Snappers for a third consecutive season. This was not so much an insult to Parmelee as it showed just how much talent the Twins had in their outfield and in their organization at the time. Unfortunately for Parmelee he may have overstayed his welcome in A-Ball and he broke his wrist causing him to miss most of the 2008 season. Even in a smaller sample size Parmelee still enarly matched his 2007 totals posting a .239 batting average and a whopping 14 home runs.

Parmelee finally got his promotion he had been waiting for in 2009 when he was called up to Advanced A-Ball where he earned a trip to the Florida State League's All Star Game alongside eight teammates. Parmelee also won the Home Run Derby that was held before the game which earned him a promotion to Double-A shortly after the beginning of the 2010 season. Parmelee's power dipped a bit and even got him demoted at one point during the 2011 season but the Twins had seen enough and made Parmelee a September call up for the 2011 season. 

Parmelee made his MLB debut on September 6th of that season and he hit a single in his first MLB at bat in a loss to the Chicago White Sox and Jake Peavy. Parmelee finished the month of September with a .355 average, four home runs and 14 RBI in 21 games and had finally successfully put his name on the map for the Twinkies. Parmelee began the 2012 season as the Twins starting first baseman after Justin Morneau was moved from the position to designated hitter and Parmelee presumably let the big stage get to him. Parmelee struggled out of the gate and was optioned back to Triple-A on May 16th after hitting just .179.

The Twins had no room for Parmelee at first base in 2013 with Justin Morneau at first base so the team moved their top prospect to right field for an Opening Day start. Parmelee once again struggled though and by the All-Star Game he found himself back in Triple-A after hitting just .223 with eight home runs and 20 RBI in 45 MLB games. Parmelee toiled in the minor leagues during the 2014 season after being outrighted off the Twins roster and was eventually designated for assignment on December 13 to clear a roster spot for Ervin Santana. Parmelee was a free agent for the first time in his career but he was not long for the free agent market. Parmelee signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2015 season looking to continue his career.

Parmelee started out well for Baltimore after getting called up on June 16 hitting three home runs in his first two games back in the show but by the end of July he was once again designated for assignment and once again a free agent. This time the Orioles DFA'd him to make room for recently acquired Gerardo Parra. Parmelee will once again look to make the major leagues and will once again look to latch on with a new team, this time that team is the New York Yankees. Parmelee broke the news himself so he must be excited, and that excites me when players want to play here in New York. So Chris, welcome to the organization and welcome to the family. 

The Yankees Emerging Pitching Prospects


The New York Yankees seem to have a plan that can be easily deciphered if you just pay attention. Think about the weakest link in the Yankees system and then wait until the next draft or international signing period, the team will go hard on that specific position until they are stacked at the position. The organization has done that with the catcher position, the outfield position and are currently doing that with the shortstop and middle infield positions. The next wave of stockpiling though seems to be the starting rotation and we are starting to see dividends of this finally with James Kaprielian and Domingo Acevedo. Those names you know, these names you may not.




None of these guys may be Top 50 prospects right now nor are they household names in many Yankees fans homes but I believe they will be by the time we reach Prospects Month 2017. This begins with Daniel Alvarez, the Venezuelan teenager recently added to the organization. Alvarez pounds the zone with a 92 MPH fastball and a highly advanced curveball that is only going to get better as he matures both in mind and in body.

Also from Venezuela is Luis Cedeno who throws a ton of strikes in a much smaller frame. In size he reminds me of Luis Severino and he throws a 95 MPH fastball with a breaking ball that needs some work going forward. His ceiling is probably that of a #2 or #3 starter at best.

The Yankees broke the bank and went all-in on the international market in recent years and probably the best arm to come from the spending spree was RHP Luis Medina. Medina is already hitting 100 MPH as a 16-year old kid and his ceiling is absolutely sky high because of it. His command needs work and so does his secondary stuff, what 16-year old pitcher doesn't need polish and work though, and he will look to do that in the Dominican Summer League this season.

While the Yankees added a top-end arm from the international market with Medina they added another potential ace from the draft in Jose Mesa Jr. Mesa, the son of a former MLB pitcher by the same name, was a 24th round pick by the Yankees in 2012 and the team's patience is beginning to pay off. Mesa has added two-to-three MPH on his fastball since being drafted and has worked on his secondary pitches making them, at worst, average. New York experimented with Mesa out of the bullpen but are now toying with the idea of moving him into the starting rotation in 2016.

The final piece that came to the Yankees via the draft is RHP Garrett Mundell who was drafted in the 24th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Mundell signed almost immediately and was able to throw 26 combined innings between Pulaski and Charleston last season. Mundell did not allow a single earned run in his two stops while boasting a 91-93 MPH fastball, a nice breaking ball and an even better splitter when he uses it.




Finally you have the reclamation projects that miss a ton of time due to various injuries will missing out on very important development years. This list begins and ends with Ty Hensley. Hensley is said to be back on the mound throwing after being viciously attacked, after having hip surgery and Tommy John surgery all in about two calendar years. Hensley has to stay healthy to climb back to the top and I'm rooting for him to do just that.

Another reclamation project is former 11th round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft Caleb Frare. Frare, a southpaw, has missed the last two seasons with various arm injuries including Tommy John surgery and basically had his debut season in 2015. Frare blew away competition with a 96 MPH across two A-Ball levels in 2015 out of the bullpen and will be eased back into the starting rotation with his health in mind.

We finish with Dallas Martinez who was one of the best Yankees pitching prospects that many people had never heard of as recently as two seasons ago but a serious shoulder injury derailed his development. Martinez came back in 2015 with the Gulf Coast Yankees and posted solid numbers although his velocity took a bit of a dip initially. Martinez did reach 95 MPH on more than once occasion by the end of the season after starting with an 85 MPH fastball so the arm and shoulder finally look healthy and poised for a breakout in 2016.


This Day in New York Yankees History 2/24: Ed Lopat, Come on Down


On this day in 1948 the Chicago White Sox traded Ed Lopat to the New York Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wright, and Fred Bradley.