For what seems like decades now fans have been rev’d up for three future Yankees, Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, and Dellin Betances. Now over the past few weeks three guys who already have thousands of eyes on them have had even more with the MLB Trade Deadline approaching. So what would have normally been another Thursday night AA baseball game tonight was transformed into some sort of scouting party.
The game started like any other for Betances as he was dominating early, throwing strikes, and keeping his velocity up. Then in the 6th Betances seemed to hit a brick wall. A 1-0 Trenton lead became a 2-1 Richmond lead, then a 4-1 Richmond lead, and finally Betances was removed with 2 men on, with no outs, and the score standing at 4-1. Richmond tacked on one more run that inning on an error ending Betances day with a line of: 5 IP 7 Hits 4 ER 1 BB 3 K. Although no team will base their opinion on Betances on one bad inning tonight it may be in the Yankees best interest if they did.
If the Yankees were to trade Betances they would not be losing the pitcher who pitched the 6th inning but yet a pitcher who one day will consistently pitch as he did through the first 5 innings. Betances was pure magic over the first 5 innings of tonight’s game and when analyzing a young pitcher such as himself you do not look at the final line but instead the mechanics that makeup his entire game. The promise and ceiling in which Betances portrays is astounding. Unless Betances happens to be an A.J, Burnett in the making, who will continue to have great outings ruined by one bad inning, he is on his way to doing great things.
Being a Yankee fan myself I would also like to address those fans who are making a desperate push for Ubaldo Jimenez. I have seen way to many comments regarding pitching prospects such as Hughes and Joba not working out. Unless I’m mistaken every pitcher in the MLB was a prospect at some point during their career. Take for instance Yankee prospects such as Jeff Kartens and Ian Kennedy who are leading unlikely teams, the Pirates and Diamondbacks, to unexpected places. Also enough of the arguments about our kids not being sure things. Granted it is possible all 3 bomb but last I checked Ubaldo Jimenez has an ERA over 4 this season and has never pitched in the AL. We have a MiLB site on FanSided now for a REASON everyone has to start somewhere. Personally I have the most pride in my team when my stars come through the system. This way I know my players are good because my system is doing it right and not just because my owner has a big wallet. And yes this is coming from a YANKEES fan.
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