SB Nation - Edwar Ramirez

September call-ups begin

Ed Valentine — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:35:34 -0000

From a pair of entries on New York Daily News Yankee writer Mark Feinsand's 'Twitter' page.

Yankees have called up INF Ramiro Pena, C Francisco Cervelli, RHP Edwar Ramirez, LHP Mike Dunn and RHP Mark Melancon... Shelley Duncan and Austin Jackson will likely be called up when Scranton's season is over. The Yankees have no real need for them right now.

'Kudos & Wet Willies,' All-Star break review

Ed Valentine — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:16 -0000

I promised you guys a 'Kudos & Wet Willies' review of our New York Yankees during the break. Here it is.

Before I start, a primer. 'Kudos' go to the best performers. 'Wet Willies' go to the worst. There are some guys who fall in the middle. When I discuss these types of guys over at my football site -- Big Blue View -- I usually talk about guys who do some good and some bad things. They don't fit in either category, so they get a 'kwillie.' We will give out a few of those today, too.

I guess the best way to do this is by going through most of the roster. I may not mention everyone who has donned the pinstripes thus far in 2009, but I will try to get to most of them.

So, let's get started.

Pitching Staff

CC Sabathia -- At 8-6, 3.86 the big fella has been OK. He has also pitched a ton of innings (128.1). The Yankees didn't pay him $161 million just to be OK and eat innings, though. They paid him to win big games like Sunday's, and to be dominant. He hasn't been those things, yet. For now, he gets a 'kwillie.'

A.J. Burnett -- Another guy who has been good, but not great at 8-4, 3.77. He's done a little Mitch Williams' 'Wild Thing' impersonation at times, but he has been pretty much what the Yankees expected. Gotta give him 'kudos.'

Andy Pettitte -- He is 8-5 with a high 4.85 ERA. Probably about what he can be expected to do at this point in his career. He's somewhere in the middle, so he has to get a 'kwillie.'

Joba Chamberlain -- I believe he should start. And I know you have to be patient with a 23-year-old in his first full season as a starter. But, Joba (4-2, 4.25) has a higher WHIP (1.56) than Pettitte and is getting knocked around more than we have ever seen. No question about this one. A 'Wet Willie' for Joba.

Chien-Ming Wang -- Any doubt? 'Wet Willie.' The Yankees need him to pitch better in the second half, but as as Charles Barkley would say, he's been mostly 'turr-a-bull.'

Mariano Rivera -- He's still Mariano in save situations, which means darn close to automatic. So, 'kudos' to Mo. Unless it' a tie game, in which case it's close your eyes, turn off the TV and reach for another beer.

Phil Hughes -- Utterly dominant since going to the bullpen. 'Kudos,' without question.

Phil Coke -- Struggled early, but he has become one of the reliable members of the Yankee bullpen.'Kudos.'

Brian Bruney -- Umm ... 'Wet Willie.' Bruney is riding the Jose Veras train, which we know leads from trusted set-up guy and winds its way into banishment to some other organization.

David Robertson -- Great curveball, decent fastball, terrible control. No way he should ever come into a game with runners on base. For now, a 'kwillie,' which could rapidly turn into the dreaded WW.

Alfredo Aceves -- Looking past his not so successful start last week, 'Ace' (5-1, 2.49) has been brilliant for the Yankees in just about every role. He has started, gone long, pitched in the middle, done the eighth-inning thing, and even picked up a save. 'Kudos.'

Brett Tomko -- Tough one to grade, since the expectation here is really that he just manage not to embarrass himself pitching a few mop-up innings. He's managed to do that, I guess, but I can't do any better than give him a 'kwillie.'

Mark Melancon -- Not enough to judge yet, though a 6.35 ERA in five appearances does not make you think this guy can one day close for the Yankees. I guess I will give him a 'kwillie' until I see more.

Edwar Ramirez/Jose Veras/Jonathan Albaledejo/Damaso Marte -- 'Wet Willies' all, though that might be slightly unfair to Albaladejo who has been decent at times.

Position Players

Jorge Posada -- I love Jorge, and he is a lot more important to the Yankees than many fans give him credit for. He has made a nice comeback from shoulder surgery with the bat this season (.285, 11, 40), but he is adequate at best defensively and at 37 won't get any better. 'Kudos,' but barely. And only because his offense outweighs his defense.

Jose Molina -- 'Wet Willie.' For holding Francisco Cervelli's roster spot hostage.

Francisco Cervelli -- 'Kudos,' of course. He is Francisco the Great, and we know he will return.

Mark Teixeira -- He has been everything the Yankees hoped for, and more. Offensively and defensively he is a force, and he is a class act who was a great addition to the clubhouse. 'Kudos.'

Robinson Cano -- Much better than last season, both offensively and defensively. Cano, though, is still not as good as he should be. He may never be a guy who can be relied on in the middle of the lineup. He gets a 'kwilie.'

Derek Jeter -- 'Kudos.' Both offensively and defensively, Jeter is playing better than he has in quite a while. At 35, he is playing better than we could have anticipated. The Captain is still a big-time player.

Alex Rodriguez -- Forgetting all the drama around A-Rod all the time, I admire what he has done this season with 17 home runs and 50 RBI in just 58 games. 'Kudos.'

Cody Ransom -- Tell me again why Brian Cashman thought Ransom should be the utility infielder for this team? He's hitting .176 and you have to hold your breath every time the ball is hit to him. 'Wet Willie.' If I had a worse honor, I'd give him that. And I can't wait until the Yankees give him the boot.

Ramiro Pena -- At some point, Pena has to return to be the Yankees' utility infielder. He has a terrific glove, and even now is a better big-league hitter than Ransom. He is in AAA learning to play the outfield, and could be a terrific all-around utility guy for years to come. 'Kudos.'

Johnny Damon -- Old man Johnny looks like he is tip-toeing on hot coals every time he goes after a fly ball, ut he sure can hit. When do they paint 'Damon's Deck' on the front of the Yankee Stadium second deck in right field? 'Kudos.'

Brett Gardner -- He is playing better than most thought he could, (.282, 18 stolen bases). He also covers a ton of ground in center field. 'Kudos.'

Melky Cabrera -- As a jack-of-all trades sometimes center fielder, sometimes corner guy, sometimes regular, sometimes bench guy Melky has been terrific. 'Kudos.'

Nick Swisher -- 'Turd' or not, Swisher has been a plus for the Yankees. 'Kudos.'

Hideki Matsui -- His knees won't let him play the outfield any more, and he is streaky with the bat. But, when he gets it going he is a middle-of-the-lineup guy who can really hit. Enjoy him for now because he won't be a Yankee next season. 'Kwillie.'

Eric Hinske -- 'Kudos' so far, but the sample size is too small for a real assessment.

Manager

I am giving Joe Girardi a 'kwillie' for now. There has been good and bad, but the Yankees would make the playoffs if the season ended today so it's hard to give him a 'Wet Willie' Ultimately, Girardi can't be judged until the season is over.

Q&A with SWB beat writer Chad Jennings

Ed Valentine — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

Mark Melancon during one of the four appearances he made earlier this season with the Yankees.

Browse more photos »

I posted a chat with Trenton Thunder beat reporter Mike Ashmore on Friday. Today, I give you another look at the Yankee farm system, thanks to Chad Jennings, who covers AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre for the Times-Tribune.

Jennings does a terrific job covering SWB, and writes the informative Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees Blog. Here is the result of our e-mail exchange.

Pinstripe Alley: Mark Melancon. We heard so much about him, then he came to New York and disappointed in a brief stay. How is he throwing? Will he see him again this year? Do the Yanks still see him as a future star?

Jennings: I think Melancon disappointed only because the expectation was so incredibly high. His first two big laegue outings were plenty impressive, it was really that last appearance -- the three walks -- that made him look sloppy. When Melancon is at his best, he's aggressive in the zone, pounding the lower half with his fastball and throwing his curveball and changeup for strikes. That's generally the guy we've see down here. It's been two weeks since he walked a batter and he's been especially good in big situations, when he's brought into the game with runners on base. I don't think those first four or five big league games changed the organization's long-term opinion of him.

Pinstripe Alley: Austin Jackson. He is having a great year. Any chance he makes an impact in New York this year, and what kind of player do you think he will be long-term? Is his lack of power a source of concern?

Jennings: I don't think Jackson will be in New York this year, unless it's in September. He's still very young for this level, and his strikeout total is still awfully high. That said, he's been better than I expected. He only has the one home run, but he's still hitting with power and driving the ball the other way. He's been terrific on the bases and in the outfield, and he's been consistent at the plate, rather than building numbers through hot streaks here and there. I admit that I was kind of skeptical -- I kind of bought into the idea that he was simply a gifted athlete trying to play baseball -- but he's changed my opinion entirely. The guy can play, I just don't think there's any need to rush him to New York.

Pinstripe Alley: Give me a guy we might not know much about who could end up being a useful big-league player?

Jennings: Does Kevin Russo count? He started to build some buzz with that strong showing in the Arizona Fall League last year, and he's continued to impress here in Triple-A. He's a nice defensive player and seems to always have a good approach at the plate. He needs to stay healthy, obviously, but at the very least he could be a utility player at the big league level. I still think Chris Stewart could be a valuable catcher at the major league level, and I think Anthony Claggett could do well if he's given another shot. Oh, and there's this guy named Shelley Duncan.

Pinstripe Alley: The Yankee draft philosophy, which they followed again this year, seems to be to take high-risk, high-reward guys other teams shy away from for whatever reason. Do you like this philosophy, and how would you assess the state of the farm system?

Jennings: These are the Yankees we're talking about. They aren't exactly an organization of role players, and their draft philosophy fits that mold. They tend to go for the home run rather than take the safe pick who seems to be, at the very least, a future utility man or middle reliever. It's hard to blame them for such an approach, especially considering they're picking late in the first round every year.

As for the current state of the system, I think it's solid. Considering the team has never had one of those mid-season fire sales that bring in top-flight talent, the system is fairly deep. It's true that there aren't many obvious impact bats, but how many organizations have more than two or three huge hitting prospects?

Shelley Duncan

Pinstripe Alley: Shelly Duncan is crushing AAA pitching. He turns 30 this fall, will he ever be more than a AAA slugger?

Jennings: I think Shelley is more than a AAA slugger right now. I honestly believe that he could have an impact with any organization in major league baseball. I don't want to suggest he's a big league all-star, but I would love to see what he could do with semi-regular at-bats. The one time New York let him play regularly -- when he first went up in 2007 -- he was a beast. Since then, when he's had a stretch of more than an at-bat or two a week, he's done well. It's a matter of giving him a legitimate chance.

Pinstripe Alley: Do you hear anything about Ian Kennedy and whether or not he will pitch again this season?

Jennings: Still too early to say. I believe Kennedy is only five weeks removed from surgery, and he wasn't expected to start throwing until six weeks at the earliest.

Pinstripe Alley: How have Edwar Ramirez and Jonathan Albaladejo handled their demotions?

Jennings: Both seem to have handled it really well. I know Edwar a little better than Albaladejo -- Ramirez has spent a lot more time here the past three years -- and Edwar seems to be terrific spirits. He gets that he has to work on some things while he's here, and he knows that he's not a forgotten man. If he continues to pitch well, odds are he'll get another shot in New York. Same with Albaladejo. That guy languished in the Pirates organization for years, never getting above Double-A. Now he's with an organization that clearly likes him and wants to give him a shot in the big leagues.

-- Thanks to Chad for spending the time to answer our questions. If you want to know about the Yankee farm system, be sure to follow his work. Ashmore's, too.

Around the Yankee Universe, 05.20.09

Ed Valentine — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:02 -0000

Let's take a look around the Inter-Google at what is being written and said about our New York Yankees as they continue to roll along.

You have to love the attitude reliever Edwar Ramirez displayed when the Yankees optioned him to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre to make room for Brian Bruney.

"I have to go down, because I'm not pitching like I'm supposed to," Ramirez said. "I have to work. I have too many walks this year. They're right, and I have to pitch a little bit more and work on my location."

I have been an Edwar fan since the Yankees first brought him up a couple of seasons ago. Sending him out instead of releasing Jose Veras (6.61 ERA) is probably the right move since the Yankees would have lost Veras, who has no options. Still, I hope Edwar pitches well and earns his way back.

Pie-throwing. A mock WWE belt given to the star of each victory. Players laughing and enjoying each other on the bench and in the locker room. Filip Bondy of the Daily News points out that there are some very un-Yankee like things going around the Yankees these days. Personally, I love to see the fun, the camaraderie. It can only help during a long season.
The Yankees liked what they saw from Chien-Ming Wang during his bullpen session at the Stadium Tuesday.
Joe Torre might be persona non-grata at Yankee Stadium, but he appears headed for an appearance there next season, anyway. It seems the Dodgers might be in New York for inter-league play in 2010. It would be very interesting to see the reception Torre is afforded.
Alex Rodriguez hit a home run in his fourth straight game last night. Even before that, though, Sweeney Murti had pointed out the obvious -- the Yankees missed him tremendously the first month of the season.

It's clear that the Yankee turnaround isn't entirely about Alex Rodriguez-the lack of production at third base would not have been as big an issue if the Yankee starters had gotten out of the gate faster, if the bullpen hadn't been a disaster, if Jorge Posada hadn't gotten hurt, and if Teixeira hadn't been batting under .200 for the first five weeks.

But it's also clear that the Yankees missed A-Rod more than anyone is willing to admit. He will undoubtedly say or do something very stupid in the near future. And I will be among the first in line to tell you how stupid what he said or did was. But when Alex Rodriguez steps into the batter's box he makes the Yankees a better team than they are without him.

Rookie catcher Francisco Cervelli is earning praise from the Yankees.

Yankees' No-Name Bullpen Set To Impress In 2009

Sky Kalkman — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:00:08 -0000

Yankee free agent commitments this off-season: $441MM

Percentage of free agent commitments to relievers: 2.7%

Yankee names my mother would recognize: 16

Bullpen names my mother would recognize: Mariano Rivera.

Next to leadership and clubhouse chemistry, talking heads harp on bullpen depth more than any other key to success. For a team willing to spend $200MM on their payroll, you might have guessed the Yankees would have gone after more big names for the bullpen, guys like Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. The good news for Yankee fans, however, is that Mo and the No-Names make for a pretty good and cost-effective group of relievers. As us saber-geeks like to point out, bullpen depth is overrated and big name relievers tend to be over-priced. The bulllpen is the one spot where New York is underrated and under-paid.

Let's take a look at this merry group, and what value they can expect to provide in 2009. FIP and IP projections from CHONE over at Fangraphs. Salary information from Cots Baseball Contracts:

Reliever	FIP	IP	LI	RAR	Sal (MM)
Mariano Rivera	2.79	63	1.8	24	$15.0
Edwar Ramirez	3.43	64	1.0	9	$.5
Damaso Marte	3.76	50	1.3	7	$3.8
Joba Chamberlain	3.14	20	1.3	5	$.5
Phil Hughes*	3.48	40	0.8	4	$.5
Jose Veras	3.95	60	0.7	4	$.5
Alfredo Aceves	3.96	55	0.7	3	$.5
Ian Kennedy*	3.76	40	0.7	3	$.5
Brian Bruney	4.29	46	0.9	2	$1.3
Phil Coke*	4.02	30	0.8	2	$.5

(* -- FIPs decreased by .75 runs to account for the advantage of pitching out of the bullpen versus starting. Reliever IP estimated by me and are not CHONE's projections. Joba's FIP reduced by .25 runs to account for split time between the pen and rotation last year.)

There's some interesting stuff in that table:

The overall bullpen FIP projects to be 3.65 over 468 innings. The actual team ERA will likely be a bit higher thanks to the poor Yankee defensive alignement. The IP total is significantly lower than in 2008 and is below the AL average, but with the amazing rotation depth, the bullpen shouldn't be stretched too much.
62 runs above replacement would have placed the Yankees third among all thirty teams in 2008. In a large number of innings last year, the Yankee relievers provided 69 RAR, first in the majors. This year's team projects to be slightly better in quality, but should provide less value because they won't pitch as much.
Only Mo projects to be more than one win above replacement level in 2009. It just goes to show how unimportant bullpen filler really is. To put things in perspective, the league-leading team of position players in 2008 was worth 332 RAR (Boston), and the league-leading rotation was worth 216 RAR (Toronto).
While it's an overrated strength, the Yankees' no-name bullpen is deep with talented arms. Replacement-level FIP for the relievers is about 4.71, and nobody -- nobody! -- projects worse than a 4.29 FIP and all but two guys are under 4.00.
The total cost of the projected bullpen is $23.5MM. Without Mo, it's $8.5MM -- about $2.2MM per marginal win.
Edwar Ramirez could very well be the Yankees' breakout player of 2009. He should be quite good, and if Joe Girardi moves him into a setup role, he'll record a ton of important outs and become a Daily News darling.