SB Nation User Blog: Stephcaflowne

The Development of Melky Cabrera

Stephcaflowne — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:12:44 -0000

Of course, it's still early and small sample sizes apply but what is going on with Melky Cabrera? He just hit his 6th home-run off Carlos Silva and he's currently batting .297 on the year with an .880 OPS. Last year, he had 8 homers for the whole season. So, he'll obviously eclipse that by quite a bit. He's also taking more pitches per at-bat this year than compared to his career norms, while playing what looks to be a pretty good CF.

He's on a pace to hit 30 or so homers, but I don't think anyone is predicting for that to happen. However, 20 HR/20 SB with a .285 batting average and .360 OBP does not seem so far-fetched any more. It seems like no one ever believed Melky would turn into anything more than a useful 4th OF/borderline starter but keep in mind, he's still only 23 years old. Is this a real break-out and if so, how good can he reasonably become?

Certainly a long way since John said he couldn't hit... just poking some fun at you, John. ;-)

Choose your Santana bounty

Stephcaflowne — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:55:57 -0000

The Yankees have set a deadline of Monday for the Twins to accept or decline their offer of Hughes, Cabrera, and a mid-level prospect. They have made it clear that the third prospect cannot be Ian Kennedy, Alan Horne, Dellin Betances, Austin Jackson, or Jose Tabata.

The Red Sox have given a choice between Ellsbury and Lester but not both. It's either Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson/Bowden or Lester, Crisp, Lowrie, Masterson/Bowden.

Hughes is the best prospect of the bunch but the Twins could really use a CF and middle IF of the quality of Ellsbury and Lowrie. If you're the Twins, which deal do you take, if any?

Poll

Which package do you accept, if you're the Twins GM?

Yankees: Hughes, Cabrera, mid-level prospect (Jeff Marquez/Kevin Whelan/Alberto Gonzalez)

88 votes

Red Sox: Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson/Bowden

69 votes

Red Sox: Lester, Crisp, Lowrie, Masterson/Bowden

49 votes

Other: Hold onto Santana/look for deals elsewhere

59 votes

265 votes | Poll has closed

Alan Horne's Breakout?

Stephcaflowne — Sun, 13 May 2007 19:20:49 -0000

Most of you probably know this guy's story. He was drafted in the first round out of high school by the Cleveland Indians but opted for college. In his sophomore year, he had to have TJ surgery and he didn't really look the same after it. He had a good, but not great junior year at Florida (4.05 ERA, 108/55 K/BB in 113.1 IP) and was drafted again, this time by the Yankees, in the 11th round.

Last season, he posted a very mediocre 4.84 ERA in High-A Tampa, mostly because of shaky control. He struck out 122 in 122.2 IP but also walked 61.

The Yankees' plan was to have him repeat the Florida State League but he impressed them enough in spring training to earn the promotion to AA-Trenton. After his start today (6-IP, 4-H, 0-ER, 8/2-K/BB, 9/1-GO/FO), he now has a 2.66 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 40.1 IP and only 9 walks. He's also getting a lot more groundouts lately (1.85 GO/FO). He's still got good stuff with a lively fastball. Control was the main thing holding him back and so far, it looks like he might have straightened it out.

He's got a pretty high ceiling if he can keep it together. What do you think: legitimate breakout or early-season fluke? I was a disbeliever for a long time but he's starting to win me over.

Dellin Betances

Stephcaflowne — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:40:52 -0000

Remember the 6'8" kid from Brooklyn that everyone knew the Yankees would draft? After falling to the 8th round, the Yankees drafted him and set a new high for slot money in giving him $1,000,000.

It looked like a dangerous deal for a kid whose mechanics have been off at times, his velocity all over the board according to different publications and various reports on his secondary stuff.

But so far, it looks like it's paying off. Last night, Dellin dominated the GCL again, posting this line:

6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 8 K

With that, his season statistics jump to:

1.16 ERA, 23.1 IP, 14 H, 27/7 K/BB.

Pretty good for a guy just out of high school with concerns about his control. Not only that, but reports have him sitting at 93-94 mph and having touched 98 (!) on the fastball. Scout.com (http://yankees.scout.com/2/559290.html registration required) also notes that his offspeed pitches are working well, a knucklecurve and changeup.

He's still only 18 and though at 6'8, still only 185 pounds so he's got even more room to fill out and grow. From what he's shown so far, maybe the rumors and whispers of a first round talent are not so far off as originally estimated.

I always liked him but I didn't expect him to start off this well. What do you guys think? Did every organization miss the boat on this kid (though, mostly because of signability)? Or has he proven nothing yet?

Yuliesky Gourriel defected?

Stephcaflowne — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:09:14 -0000

For those of you that don't know, this is the guy that was Cuba's star second baseman in the World Baseball Classic. He also plays third base.

It seems Eduardo Paret has also defected. They are reportedly both in Colombia.

http://www.elnacional.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=59855
CARTAGENA, Colombia.- Los peloteros cubanos Yulieski Gurriel y Eduardo Paret habrían desertado en el puerto colombiano de Cartagena, sede los XX Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, aseguró este viernes la prensa local.

"Uno de los miembros de la novena cubana que desertó sería el estelar segunda base Yulieski Gurriel considerado como uno de los mejores del mundo en su posición. Al parecer, su próximo destino sería el equipo de los Yankees, de Nueva York", informó el diario El Tiempo de Bogotá.

Según el periódico, "el otro desertor del equipo cubano sería el paracorto Eduardo Paret".

El martes, los deportistas cubanos Damaris Nay, Julio Acosta y Carlos Castillo desertaron en República Dominicana, subsede para las competencias de balonmano en los XX Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe

Through a Babelfish translation, it says:
CARTAGENA, Colombia. - The Cuban peloteros Yulieski Gurriel and Eduardo Paret would have deserted in the Colombian port of Cartagena, seat XX the Central American Games and the Caribbean, it assured east Friday the local press. "One of the members of the Cuban novena that deserted would be stellar the second base Yulieski Gurriel considered like one of the best ones of the world in its position. Apparently, its next destiny would be the equipment of the Yankees, New York ", informed the newspaper the Time into Bogota. According to the newspaper, "the other deserter of the Cuban equipment would be paracorto Eduardo Paret". Tuesday, the Cuban sportsmen Damaris Nay, Julio Acosta and Carlos Castle deserted in Dominican, subhost Republic for the competitions of handball in XX the Central American Games and of the Caribbean

Don't know if this is true or not since it hasn't been reported by US press yet but if it is, it's huge. This guy could immediatly be a top prospect in baseball.