Results tagged ‘ Ismael Ramirez ’
AROUND THE FARM: YATES
In this week’s look “Around the Farm” we take a look at Kyle Yates, pitcher for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Much like teammate Chip Cannon, Yates for the most part has failed to build upon an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League. Entering action today the 5’10″ right-hander has a record of 6-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 18 starts for New Hampshire.
Yates has showed signs of putting a slow start behind him. Over his last two starts he has not allowed a run in 12.1 innings pitched and has struck out 14 opponents while walking just four. With Ismael Ramirez and David Purcey currently on the New Hampshire DL Yates would seem to be the likely candidate should a spot in the Syracuse rotation open.
The Blue Jays 13th round pick out of Texas at Austin in the 2004 draft, Yates began last season in the Florida State League before being quickly promoted to Double-A New Hampshire. Combined during the regular season he was 8-9 with a 3.44 ERA in 32 appearances including 20 starts and struck-out 115 batters in 141.1 innings pitched.
The Jays sent the Kerrville, Texas native to the Arizona Fall League after the ’06 season where he made a name for himself going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in six appearances including 4 starts and struck out 25 opponents while walking just six in 24 innings. For his efforts he was named to the Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team.
Yates played two seasons at Midland College (2002-2003) before moving on to the University of Texas. In his junior season at Texas he was 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA over 28 appearances during which he struck out 45 opponents in 41 innings. The Longhorns behind current Major Leaguer’s Huston Street, JP Howell and Curtis Thigpen made it to College World Series Championship before being defeated by Cal-State Fullerton and Yates current Fisher Cat teammate Ricky Romero.
CHIEFS AND LYNX TIE
The Syracuse Chiefs and Ottawa Lynx played to a 4-4 tie on Sunday in Dunedin, Florida. The Chiefs lineup included many players just sent down by the parent Toronto Blue Jays. They included: Russ Adams 2B, Sergio Santos SS, Adam Lind LF, John Hattig 3B, David Smith RF, Rob Cosby 1B, Chip Cannon DH, John Schneider C, Justin Singleton CF.
The Chiefs scored three runs in the first inning and one more in the sixth. Rob Cosby went 2 for 4 with an RBI and David Smith went 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the first inning. Manny Mayorson replaced Sergio Santos in the 6th inning and picked up two singles in his only two at bats.
Ismael Ramirez went three innings allowing only 1-run, while Josh Banks gave up three runs in 3-innings of work. Jason Scobie pitched two scoreless innings and struckout 3. Ryan Houston finished in the ninth with one scoreless inning.
Chiefs are off to Tampa today to take on Scranton at 1:00 PM.
Don’t forget to listen to “Inside Pitch” in drive time on 1260 AM ESPN Radio today and all week from Dunedin, FL. Bob McElligott will be at Knology Field today covering the Yankees vs Jays game and will have his report.
MORE PLAYERS SENT TO CHIEFS
In just two weeks the major league baseball season begins and clubs are now beginning to set their rosters. After three weeks of playing minor league prospects and invitees to their camps, big league teams need to get serious and start playing their starters at least 7-innings.
Yesterday the Blue Jays sent the Chiefs four more players who will begin the season in Syracuse. One of them, Adam Lind will be welcomed BIG TIME. Lind has captured MVP honors in two different leagues on his way up and will likely continue his early career success in Syracuse this season. Hopefully, he’s here for more than just a month. Two of the Blue Jays other top prospects Alex Rios and Aaron Hill never saw June.
Also sent to the Chiefs was Russ Adams who will play everyday at Second base and corner infielders John Hattig and Rob Cosby. Hattig who can play 3rd base and 1st base batted .277 for the Chiefs last season – his first in AAA with 32 doubles. The line driver hitter with gap power needs ro improve on his power numbers (only 4 HR’s last season) to make the next jump.
Cosby not only played 3rd base and 1st base but also right and left field for the Chiefs last season and after hitting 18 home runs in his rookie season at AAA.
Also sent to the Chiefs was righthanded pitcher Ty Taubenheim who came over from the Brewers last season and was impressive early as a starter and earned a promotion to Toronto in June.
Taubenheim now joins Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, Dustin McGowan and youngsters Michael MacDonald, Kyle Yates, David Purcey and Ricky Romero in a crowded fight for five or six spots in the Chiefs rotation.
Still with Toronto are righties Casey Janssen, Shaun Marcum and Josh Towers who are all battling Tomo Ohka and John Thomson for the final two spots in the Jays rotation.
Sounds like no matter what happens the Chiefs will be stacked with starting pitching.
Don’t forget that on Monday 5-6 PM The Voice of the Chiefs Bob McElligott will be broadcasting live from Dunedin, FL on 1260 AM ESPN Radio.
All week look for up-to-the minunte reports from Spring Training.
CHIEFS STARTING PITCHING TAKING SHAPE
The Syracuse Chiefs starting pitching is beginning to take shape as righthanders Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez and Dustin McGowan all returned to the Chiefs minor league complex this week.
Banks spent all of the 2006 season in Syracuse and finished with 10-wins in his rookie season in AAA. On the positive side Banks made 29-starts, pitched 171-innings and walked only 28-batters and struck out 126. He was also 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA in his final 12-starts and allowed only 14-home runs during that period. On the negitive side he did give up 35 home runs and recorded a 5.17 ERA. In his second season at AAA Banks should improve on those numbers.
Ramirez begin the season at AA-New Hamphsire and was 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA before an injury forced him to miss a month of the season and a trip to AAA-Syracuse, most likely in July.
He did join the Chiefs in late August and was 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 3-starts. Ramirez now 26 should be ready for the International League after three really good years at A-Dunedin and AA-New Hamshire.
Three years ago Dustin McGowan was the Phillip Hughes of the Blue Jays organization. With AA-New Haven in 2003, McGowan was 7-0 with a 3.17 ERA in his first 14-starts. During his last appearance with New Haven he injured his arm and needed Tommy John surgery. Missing almost all of 2004, and still not sharp in 2005, Dustin returned last season and split time between Syracuse and Toronto.
Bounced around from the bullpen to starting and back to the bullpen in 2006, McGowan should return to the Chiefs starting rotation this season.
Still in major league camp that could bolster the Chiefs rotation are righties Ty Taubenheim, Shaun Marcum and Casey Janssen. Those three would provide the Chiefs with six solid starters to begin the season.
Tomorrow the bullpen.
JAYS BEGIN TO DELETE ROSTER
The Toronto Blue Jays minor league camp opened last week and games for their four affiliates will begin on Wednesday vs the Philadelphia Phillies organization. At the major league level, the parent club has begun sending down players including seven pitchers. Lefty Jo Matumoto joins righthanders Beau Kemp, Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, and yesterday Ryan Houston, Jean Machi and Tracy Thorpe found their way back to the Englebert Complex.
Only shortstop Sergio Santos and catcher Erik Kratz have been assigned from the group of non-pitchers.
First glance at the Jays pitching staff only Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, and Brian Tallet seem to be locks. That leaves probably five spots available and righthanders Jeremy Accardo and Brandon League if healthy will take up two of those. The other three spots, two are starting pitchers and one long reliever.
The candidates, Tomo Ohka, John Thomson, Josh Towers and Shaun Marcum are leading contenders with Victor Zambrano, Pete Walker and Geremi Gonzalez also in the mix. Francisco Rosario is out of options and can’t return to Syracuse.
Pitchers most likely left out and headed back to Syracuse include Dustin McGowan, Davis Romero, who was injured early in camp, Matt Roney, Ty Taubenheim, Lee Gronkiewicz, Blaine Neal, and Brian Wolfe.
