Mark Melancon Update

by jscape2000 on Apr 17, 2008 10:31 PM EDT in Minors Comment 5 comments

Saber-Scouting stopped by the Tampa Yankees game yesterday, and brought us a report on Mark Melancon:

[Melancon] proceeded to pitch at 90-93 with some solid movement and deception from his funky delivery. His spike curve was a 78-80 and flashed above-average with some late snap while his change was a 80-81 with late sink and deception and also flashed above-average.
The pre-injury crispness to his command and stuff isn’t back all the way, but that’s just more upside for the kind of talent should move quickly.

Melancon is, of course, one of several pitchers coming back form TJ surgery. Serendipitously, I'm in the middle of Will Carroll's excellent book Saving the Pitcher (it came out back in 2004, but I've always been a little behind the times). Remember a couple weeks ago, when we discussed why Melancon is starting the season in Tampa? Carroll writes that the Yankees possess a secret weapon in the TJ recovery process: head minor league trainer Mark Littlefield. Many other teams have tried to interview Littlefield over the years, and every time the Yanks pay him more money to keep working his magic in Tampa.

When I read that, not only did starting Melancon in Tampa make perfect sense, but I also felt infinitely better about the trade for Humberto Sanchez and the drafting of Andrew Brackman (the Yanks knew they were TJ candidates).

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Here's a question....

What makes Mark Littlefield a secret weapon? What does Carroll imply?

by anaconda on Apr 18, 2008 2:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's Littlefield

has developed a rehab program that has been especially successful. Trainers don’t share the specifics, but the gist of it is a 20ish week program, focused on range of motion exercises before strengthening.

I left the book at work, I’ll post the relevant passage when I bring it home.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 18, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bring him up ...

With a fastball in the low 90s, and good movement down in the zone, what are we waiting for. Jettison Mussina and embrace Melancon. I’m only half serious, but why not?

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2008 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Command

It’s the last thing to come back for a TJ patient, and we have to see a lot more of Melancon firsrt- remember last year would have been his first pro season, so he hasn’t seen AA or AAA yet.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 18, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Half serious ...

I understand. I’m still alittle tweaked about Mussina. Was there anyone in the universe who would have pitched to Manny in either of those situations?

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Apr 18, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs