Comments on: Thunder Thoughts Tuesday Power Rankings http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/ Daily blog coverage of the Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees -- by Hunterdon County Democrat beat writer Mike Ashmore Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:00:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: thunderbaseball http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-618 thunderbaseball Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:37:03 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-618 Austin Jackson was hitting .059 with runners in scoring position heading into tonight's game. I think that tells you all you need to know... Austin Jackson was hitting .059 with runners in scoring position heading into tonight’s game. I think that tells you all you need to know…

]]> By: Bill Porter http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-609 Bill Porter Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:24:42 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-609 "I like him at 6 a lot better than I do anywhere 2 through 5." Is that because of his slow start or do you mean that generally. I hope he can become a solid #3 for Trenton this summer but I guess Ajax may jump on that if he's not careful. :-) How many opportunities has Ajax had with runners in scoring position and what the average in that spot? I can't seem to find the stats. Is it your sense that he's leaving a lot of guys on? Maybe sticking him in the 3 or 4 hole might give him some practice at hitting with guys on which I think may be as much of a skill as most of the other things kids have to learn. Thanks for the rankings “I like him at 6 a lot better than I do anywhere 2 through 5.” Is that because of his slow start or do you mean that generally. I hope he can become a solid #3 for Trenton this summer but I guess Ajax may jump on that if he’s not careful. :-)

How many opportunities has Ajax had with runners in scoring position and what the average in that spot? I can’t seem to find the stats. Is it your sense that he’s leaving a lot of guys on? Maybe sticking him in the 3 or 4 hole might give him some practice at hitting with guys on which I think may be as much of a skill as most of the other things kids have to learn. Thanks for the rankings

]]> By: thunderbaseball http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-593 thunderbaseball Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:01:33 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-593 McCutchen will be moved up whenever there's a need. Right now, there hasn't been the ridiculous rash of injuries that struck the Yankees at the big league level like there was last year. My guess on Tabata -- and I won't know for sure until I speak to Tony Franklin about this on Thursday -- is that they're just trying to experiment with different spots in the lineup to try to get some of the bats to come around. I like him at 6 a lot better than I do anywhere 2 through 5. McCutchen will be moved up whenever there’s a need. Right now, there hasn’t been the ridiculous rash of injuries that struck the Yankees at the big league level like there was last year.

My guess on Tabata — and I won’t know for sure until I speak to Tony Franklin about this on Thursday — is that they’re just trying to experiment with different spots in the lineup to try to get some of the bats to come around. I like him at 6 a lot better than I do anywhere 2 through 5.

]]> By: thejobarules http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-592 thejobarules Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:27:28 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-592 McCutchen's promotion to AAA would not be based just upon a quick start this season. He started in High A Tampa last season with Kennedy and Joba and pitched great, but was overshadowed. He was 14-4 last season in Tampa and Trenton and was part of that great draft class of 2006. In 2006 the Yankees drafted Joba, Kennedy, Kontos, Colin Curtis, Hilligoss, Betances, Melancon, McCutchen and David Robertson. McCutchen was drafted four times as an amateur. I have never seen a player drafted so many times before he signed. That's why he is older at 25. Robertson was the closer at Alabama and was projected to be a first round pick but he was a third year sophomore and scouts thought he was going to stay another year in school. The scouts didn't realize Yankee money talks. McCutchen’s promotion to AAA would not be based just upon a quick start this season. He started in High A Tampa last season with Kennedy and Joba and pitched great, but was overshadowed. He was 14-4 last season in Tampa and Trenton and was part of that great draft class of 2006.

In 2006 the Yankees drafted Joba, Kennedy, Kontos, Colin Curtis, Hilligoss, Betances, Melancon, McCutchen and David Robertson.

McCutchen was drafted four times as an amateur. I have never seen a player drafted so many times before he signed. That’s why he is older at 25.

Robertson was the closer at Alabama and was projected to be a first round pick but he was a third year sophomore and scouts thought he was going to stay another year in school.

The scouts didn’t realize Yankee money talks.

]]> By: Jamal G. http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-591 Jamal G. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:08:18 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-591 Any ideas on why Tabata was moved to 6th in the order? I've heard slow recovery to hamate surgery and less pressure, does that sound right or do you have another theory? Cutch has been just outstanding. I know it's bad to start promoting guys based on hot starts but at 25, does he not make an exception? Any ideas on why Tabata was moved to 6th in the order? I’ve heard slow recovery to hamate surgery and less pressure, does that sound right or do you have another theory?

Cutch has been just outstanding. I know it’s bad to start promoting guys based on hot starts but at 25, does he not make an exception?

]]> By: mlb1996 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-590 mlb1996 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:16:54 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-590 I love what Cutch is doing. As long he keeps pitching like this, he's gonna pitch in NY sometime during the summer. And wouldn't it be something if he gets a trial run to replace his good buddy Joba as Mariano's main set-up guy. I was listening to tonight's game against the B-Mets. Austin was dynamite. His last two at-bats against Kunz were outstanding. The situational-type hitting he's showing is exciting. He's fast becoming a terrific baseball player. I love what Cutch is doing. As long he keeps pitching like this, he’s gonna pitch in NY sometime during the summer. And wouldn’t it be something if he gets a trial run to replace his good buddy Joba as Mariano’s main set-up guy.

I was listening to tonight’s game against the B-Mets. Austin was dynamite. His last two at-bats against Kunz were outstanding. The situational-type hitting he’s showing is exciting. He’s fast becoming a terrific baseball player.

]]> By: matt k http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/thunder-thoughts-tuesday-power-rankings-3/#comment-588 matt k Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:46:02 +0000 http://thunderbaseball.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-588 When will Mccutchen make the move to scranton? should be soon. Robertson should go along with him. When will Mccutchen make the move to scranton? should be soon. Robertson should go along with him.

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