The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders boast a ton of great prospects but from what we saw yesterday, the New York Yankees’ savior is not there.
It’s really a bitter feeling knowing the New York Yankees dropped the opening game to the Boston Red Sox. It’s even worse to realize that with failing production, the answer is not readily available for this competing team.I had the pleasure (or displeasure, if we’re being honest) of attending the rain-soaked contest between the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders and the Rochester Red Wings last evening.
The lineup boasted names such as Clint Frazier, Tyler Austin, Gleyber Torres and Tyler Wade while superstar Chance Adams took the mound for the defending Triple-A National Champions.
While starting out promising, I noticed early and often that the Railriders hitters were flailing at pitches out of the zone and getting behind early. Their opposing pitcher, Nik Turley, entered the game 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA.
Well, the Railriders couldn’t hit him. Turley struck out 15 batters in six innings of work. Every starter struck out at least once against Turley except for Donovan Solano. Frazier struck out three times while Austin, Torres and Dustin Fowler each struck out twice.
Even while Adams started out strong, he struggled with control, walking four batters in six innings of work. He eventually surrendered a three-run home run to catcher Mitch Garver before being taken out of the game.
These Yankees prospects are good, there is no doubt. But calling any of these guys up seems far-fetched. While Masahiro Tanaka is struggling mightily, Adams is giving up home runs too.
They need more time. I’ve mentioned it before with Gleyber Torres but I’ll emphasize it again: Rushing prospects when they’re not ready will not work out. If the Yankees have to buy to fill an immediate need, then do it!
Even with Tanaka, the primary opinion is to test Adams in the major league spotlight. But to give him more time to develop, you’ve got Chad Green (a former starter) showing brilliance during long innings in the bullpen. You’ve got former, experienced starter Bryan Mitchell hanging in Triple-A. They’ve got options without rushing Adams into a position he’s not used to.
The only batter in that starting lineup yesterday that are batting at or over .300 is Wade (.300). Top prospect Torres is batting .238. Frazier is batting .245. They are not looking like they’re ready to jump into the fray of the major leagues and a playoff race.
6-6 SWB lineup at Rochester:
Wade-3B
Fowler-CF
Torres-SS
Austin-DH
Frazier-LF
Solano-2B
Williams-RF
Culver-1B
Rodriguez-CAdams-RHP
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) June 6, 2017
Errors galore were also the name of the game last night. J.P. Feyereisen threw away a pick-off attempt while Cito Culver and Wade both botched easy ground balls. Torres himself was saved by an error by a spectacular snag and tag from first baseman Culver.
The rain played a factor in the game, for sure. But the weather is the same for both teams and 26-27 Red Wings played a clean game. It certainly wasn’t their night but from the looks of it, flaws in these prospects are starting to shine through the cracks.
I’ll also emphasize this: that is OKAY. They do NOT need to be ready right now. However, when September rolls around and the Yankees are fighting for their playoff lives, they are going to need someone who has shown they are ready for the Bronx.
Will these guys be ready then? Right now, it doesn’t look like it. However, time will tell.
They have work to do. This is not just going to be a level they’ll breeze through on their way to the Bronx. From what I witnessed firsthand last night, they will not and should not be up just yet.
Some hitters may be hot but they’re inconsistent. While that seems to be the perfect formula for this Yankees team, they should not be awarding mediocrity, no matter how high their prospect ranking is.
I strongly believe that the Yankees will certainly utilize these players when they are ready. But bringing up a young, sub-.250 hitter when the Yankees need wins at the end of the season is not the answer.
Let them develop. Let them prove themselves. And if they don’t, the Yankees will have to spend a little to fill their immediate needs. But whatever this Yankees team does this season, do NOT rely on the solution being in Triple-A right this minute.
