Over 20 years ago, the Yankees began developing the greatest failed starting pitcher in history, . With Hughes and Chamberlain in constant rotation/bullpen limbo over the last few years, you could make a case that not much has changed in two decades. Banuelos and Betances should see regular starts in the later part of 2012 or sometime during the 2013 season, but if they don’t immediately pitch into the middle of the rotation, we’ll hear the same discussion about how poorly the Yankees have developed starting pitchers. Regardless, the team remains the best organization at scouting and developing relief pitchers.
Of the top 15 relief pitchers in 2011, according to ERA, five were graduates of the Yankees’ minor league system. ( 1.08, 1.83, Mariano Rivera 1.91, 1.95, and 2.03) Three of the top six saves leaders in 2011 were drafted or signed by the team. (John Axford 46, Mariano Rivera 44, and 43) Three of the top five holds leaders were also drafted or signed by the Yankees. (Tyler Clippard 38, David Robertson 34, and 34) I decided to take a look at what the Yankees saw when they scouted each player, and what their statistics looked like when developing.
Daniel Bard back in his UNC days.
We’ll start with the two that weren’t developed by the Yankees. Despite a horrendous end to his season, Daniel Bard ranked 9th in all relief pitchers with a 1.9 WAR for 2011. Bard threw to a 3.33 ERA, 2.96 FIP, with a 9.12 K/9. He was first drafted by the Yanks out of high school in 2003. The Yankees saw a young kid throwing low to mid 90’s, a very projectable fastball, and potential plus curveball and changeups. He was closely scouted when he pitched for the US Junior National Team, and eventually drafted in the 20th round. Unfortunately, Bard was set on attending UNC and demanded an exuberant $2 million signing bonus. The Yankees never made an offer. In 2007, Bard ended up as the first round, 28th overall pick by the Red Sox, receiving a $1.55 million signing bonus. He is projected in the rotation in 2012, but only time will tell where his talent is best suited.
Drew Storen was one of the biggest surprises in 2011. In only his second MLB year he posted a 2.75 ERA and collected 43 saves for the Nationals. It came as no surprise to the Nats though, who selected him as a relief pitcher 10th overall in 2009. Two years earlier the Yankees selected him in the 34th round as a starting pitcher out of high school. In his senior year, Storen topped out at 92-93 mph, with an excellent power slurve and power slider. Amongst a flurry of awards, he was a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American selection, where he pitched to a 0.89 ERA, 86 K’s, 8 BB’s, 55.0 IP and he batted .400, 8 HR’s, 33 RBI’s. Baseball America ranked him 49th in their Top 100 High School prospects of 2007. He was one of the many over slot reaches the Yankees often pick in late rounds, and Storen ultimately chose to attend Stanford. 2012 will be Storen’s second full season as the Nat’s closer, and I can’t imagine he’ll do anything but improve. They might not have developed them, but the hipster Yankee front office liked Bard and Storen before it was cool.
Robertson and Melancon talking about how stupid the Red Sox are.
Although he spent the beginning of the season in a setup man role, Melancon was promoted to closer by late May. 2011 was his first full year in the majors, and it was a breakout year, posting a 2.78 ERA and a 3.25 FIP. Melancon was another one of the Yankee risky overslot signings. He projected to be a first round pick up until an injury and fear that he’d face inevitable Tommy John surgery; he fell to the 9th round in 2006. Scouts were correct and later that year he underwent surgery. Melancon returned in 2008 posting a 2.27 ERA through 95.0 IP in Tampa, Trenton, and Scranton. By the end of the season he was topping out at 96 mph, and had regained his 12-6 curveball. The Yankees broke him into the majors in 2009 for 16.1 IP, but he posted a questionable 3.86 ERA behind a 5.41 xFIP. Unfortunately, the team never gave him a big enough opportunity in the majors and he was traded in 2010 to the Astros for .
Another kid drafted in 2006 was 17th rounder David Robertson. Out of the University of Alabama, Robertson threw his 2 and 4 seam mid 90’s fastballs, an average cutter, and power slider. The Yankees saw something special in Robertson when they scouted a curveball he added in the Cape Cod League the summer of 2006. He went on to dominate the minors with that combination of curveball and moving fastballs; he posted a 1.30 ERA throughout his three seasons. In 2011, Robertson posted the lowest FIP, ERA, and highest K/9 rate for relievers in the American League. He also ranked 2nd for WAR in the American League, behind only Jonathon Papelbon.
John Axford was originally drafted in 2001 by the Mariners in the seventh round, he opted to attend the University of Notre Dame. Two years later he fell victim to Tommy John surgery, which made him fall to a 42nd round selection in 2005, but he was never offered a contract. In 2006, yet again, the Yankees were impressed by a 19 strikeout seven-inning game, and signed Axord. He spent 2007 both starting and relieving through Charleston, Staten Island, Tampa, and even had an outing in Scranton. He posted a 3.29 ERA with a 9.6 K/9, but consistently faced command problems finishing with a 6.4 BB/9. He was released by the Yankees that winter and signed by the Brewers. Axford always found a way to miss bats, but 2011 was the first year for him to control his walk rate, finishing at a 3.05 BB/9. In 2011 he ended with a 1.95 ERA, 2.41 FIP, 10.51 K/9, and 46 saves, tying for first in the National League.
If only the Yankees could afford a pair of glasses for Tyler Clippard.
The Yankees don’t commonly draft pitchers out of highschool, but Tyler Clippard was an exception. Unlike the others mentioned, Clippard spent the majority of his minor league career starting. He was drafted in the 9th round of 2003, a kid with a fastball in the high 80’s and a deceptive change up. He posted solid number in his minor league career, his biggest tool being command. Clippard learned early how to pitch with deception rather than overpowering hitters. In 2007, he started 6 games for the Yankees and put up a 6.33 ERA. It didn’t take long for the team to trade the 22 year old that offseason to the Nationals for 24 year old . The Nationals gave Clippard a shot at starting in 2008 before converting him to a reliever in 2009. From 2009-2010 he began to see his fastball gain velocity, and posted a 2.91 ERA in 151.1 IP despite an un-Clippard 4.3 BB/9. In 2011 he sat 93mph with his fastball and regained his control, finishing with a 1.83 ERA, 10.60 K/9, 2.65 BB/9.
Alfredo Aceves is another pitcher that makes fans think “what if?”. He was first signed by the Blue Jays in 2001, but declined to leave Mexico and had his contract purchased by the Yucatán Leones. In 2007, the Yankees scouts signed Aceves and 3 other prospects, one named Manny Banuelos. With his low 90’s fastball, he specialized as a control pitcher. That same year he began in the minors, then pitched 30.0 innings with the major league team as a starter and reliever, to the tune of a 2.40 ERA. There was of course the 4.80 FIP, which may have resulted in the Yankees starting him in Scranton in 2009. He made his way back to the majors in 2009, posting a 3.54 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and 1.71 BB/9. After succumbing to a strained lower back and broken collarbone in 2010 the Yankees non-tendered Ace. The Red Sox signed him for the 2011 season where he found plenty of opportunities to pitch with their unstable back-end of the rotation. He posted a 2.61 ERA in 114.0 IP, which was the American League’s 3rd lowest ERA after Cy Young/MVP superman and Cy Young runnerup for pitchers with more than 100 IP.
There isn’t much to say about the last guy that hasn’t been said before. He was a shortstop that was forced to pitch in a game, couldn’t throw a ball straight, and then became the greatest closer in the game. I’m sure you’ve heard the story about his big-time prospect cousin, trying to straighten his cutter into a regular fastball, and it all culminating with a 41 year old breaking the save record last year. Mariano Rivera may not be a recent product of the Yankees’ farm system, but he’s certainly a staple of the organization, a symbol of their scouting ability, perhaps the reason the Yankees go the extra mile to see David Robertson playing with a curveball, John Axford’s 19 strikeout game in Saskatchewan, or Aceves refusing to deal a walk for the Leones de Yucatán. They haven’t been perfect when dealing with pitchers, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that scouts and develops relief pitchers as well as the Yankees.
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Because they have such little patience in letting them develop into starters? Sorry I had to. Maybe the answer is because when the Yankees called on these pitchers, it was because they needed them. Hughes, Joba, and Kennedy were supposed to give us a “big 3″ and anchor the rotation for years. At the time it was kind of important they did so, because back then who else was starting for the Yankees?
This is why the presence of CC, and Pineda and Nova hopefully continuing to develop is so very important. If Pineda develops into a co-ace, and Nova develops into an innings eater who doesn’t walk people, then thats the three top spots locked up(Even better if they sign a Hamels/Cain/Grienke next year but thats another topic). Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances can slide in the 5th spot and have his innings monitored and get valuable experience while not being leaned heavily upon, and the rest of the guys can fill out the bullpen cheaply or be used in a trade.
Yeah, less pressure on the prospect and the front office. Also, there’s probably a leadership element, heroes that you join.
CC and mariano are good examples, especially since they seem open to mentoring. The young guy from Philly took me by surprise last year, joining Roy (an acknowledged leader), Cliff and Cole.
If Banuelos slides into the 5th starter role next season it would be nice in between starts to be able to talk to CC and hopefully Hamels.
Same idea with catcher too, there is no reason to let Martin walk if he proves he can stay healthy. Martin’s best attributes are how well he works with and communicates with pitchers, and his defense. These are two things every young catcher needs help with, and he could serve in a mentor role and caddy for Gary Sanchez, JR Murphy, and Austin Romine.
Good point on the quality of catching. Cliff Lee, when he made his decision, I’ll bet he thought about the pitchers first, and the catcher second.
It might be a joke at this point, but its entirely true. A lot of the top relievers from the organization are failed starters.
Can’t this be said about most relievers? A few guys make a career out of being relievers from college onwards, but for the most part all starts begin careers in the rotation until they prove they can’t handle it anymore.
There aren’t many pitchers who dream to be relievers. Drew Storen is probably the exception on this list since he was drafted (in the first round) to be a closer. Because of Mariano Rivera, the narrative will always be that the Yankees’ failure are developing starting pitchers leads to great relievers.
The reality of it is, most relievers are failed starters and the Yankees are probably league average at developing starters. No stats to back that one up, but considering their draft order the last decade, they’ve done decent compared to other teams. They’re not the Rays, but they’re certainly better than others.
Interesting column, Michael E., good scouting for the draft, and, since relief pitching is relatively devalued, a better choice for the Yanks, who have such a few high choices.
Rob’tson and Melancon show the coaching, at least, does no harm. Would like to know better of the quality of development, as in, do they differentiate among candidates enough to push for velocity at times, and advise toward command first, velocity later, at others?
The early dismissals of Clippard, IPK and Melancon makes me question that part of the process.
Our pen is so strong that I can see it as the third major leg in team makeup: Offense, Starting pitching, and Bullpen. Defense figures in, too, effecting both pitching categories directly, and offense via morale. -and Joe, and his coaches have pulled the right strings for years now.
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I heard Mo telling about playing long catch, and being concerned that he couldn’t throw it straight. Was this with his cousin, a prospect? Wonder what happened to him.
Was Mo drafted as a shortstop? Never heard that. Must not have been listening.
Mo’s cousin, Ruben Rivera was Baseball America’s #2 and #3 prospect in 1995 and 1996. You can check out The Yankees traded him for Homer Bush and Hideki Irabu.
From what I remember, Mo played shortstop in Panama and came in to relieve after their starting pitcher was terrible. He ended up starting for a while and while the Yankees were scouting Ruben they signed Mo as a starting pitcher.
Thanks, I never heard that “first time” story. So, Cuz Ruben showed some power, but could never hit for average, a hot prospect fizzle.
Under the new CBA, scouting and development will be more important than ever. Shouldn’t the Yanks use their financial muscle to offer more money to the best scouting and development people? It doesn’t count against the cap. Seriously, how many WAR is K Long worth?
Great thought. I was wondering if they have good coordination of coaching thru the levels. Tough job developing, dealing with various personalities, immaturity, foreign languages.
Don’t forget Phil Coke who was part of the Granderson trade!
I think it was the Nats that saw “reliever” in Clippard. So honestly, that would be the exact opposite of your entire posts claim. Instead the title should be, “here are failed Yankees starters that became good relievers by accident, usually with another team.”