Q&A with Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse
by Brandon C. on Jan 31, 2010 12:23 PM EST
in Minors
24 comments
Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse was kind enough to answer 10 questions for us. He will be stopping in periodically to answer any questions you have about his answers, so be kind and comment! Thanks once again to Frankie, who is a great guy.
1. Who are the most overrated and underrated Yankees prospects?
Underrated, to me, is Hector Noesi. The term underrated is different for everyone. Here's a guy, though, sitting in the low-90s and cranking it up to 94. He spots a quality curveball and knows how to think through a game. He can get through a lineup multiple times and has the mentality of a starter. This guy should be talked about far more than he is. I hate saying overrated, but I'll say that some guys are disappointing when I scout them. I am not quitting on him, and I still think he has a future but Brackman had some huge holes when I saw him in June. He was far better out of the bullpen in instructs though so I still think he has a future there.
2. It seems the Yanks have drafted far better in the last 5 years than in the ten years prior? what to improve the drafting?
I don't think there's a magic solution to drafting better. But, the next closest thing to a magic solution is spending and throwing top talent against the wall to see what sticks. They've used their financial advantages more in recent years and I think it's paid off in terms of depth.
3. Cash clearly seems focused on pitchers and catchers. why so much emphasis on those two? are those positions more valuable, both in terms of value to the ML team, and as trade chips? are other positions getting short-changed, and is it to the detriment of the organization?
Premium positions. You can usually go out and buy corner infielders and outfielders. Try going and finding a catcher, and good pitching. It's not easy. You have to pay heavily if you do have to go and buy a top flight pitcher. They have the right idea, and no one right now can match their catching depth in particular. They've done a fantastic job stacking up talent at a key position. They're trying to fill other positions too, but it's difficult to get that sort of depth at many positions.
4. Who'll win the 5th starter spot, Joba or Hughes?
Not sure who wins, but I like Hughes in that spot. He's a guy who thinks through a lineup better and can change his patterns. I was firmly in the Joba should start camp, but mainly on the belief that you take your most talented arms and see if they can start. Can Joba start? I think he can, and I can't say off that sample size that he can't. But if I'm making the call right now, Hughes is my 5th guy and Joba is in the pen.
I get this one a lot and my answer is the same. Jesus Montero has the ability to stick at catcher. There are worse catchers in the majors right now, like Victor Martinez. Now, will he be allowed to stick? I'm not sure if his marginal defense is enough to convince the Yankees to risk his long term durability behind the plate. But, I really don't agree with those that say he cannot catch. He is capable, and he wouldn't be looked at as a good defender but he can do it. But, moving him is very realistic given the depth behind him and how valuable his bat is.
Playing the odds here. No, I don't think he does. But, at the same time, he's a popular guy in the organization and someone I can see getting at least a cup of coffee. He's well liked and a great guy, so if he shows something as he moves up I think he gets a shot. But, to be a real big leaguer with more than a cup of coffee, he needs the perfect storm I think. He's more than a gimmick like I expected though. I will say that.
Golson and Winfree are at least legitimate prospects. The other two are basically filler. Good filler but filler I think. Golson has some unbelievable tools, but he's a really in between at the plate. If he could figure out anything offensively they'd really have something. Winfree does some things I really like at the plate too so he intrigues me as well.
What's said about McAllister is mostly true. He's safe, doesn't have a real high ceiling, and is probably a back end type starter. Nova has a very big arm with good movement. What he ends up being I think is still a little up in the air but you have to love the arm and life on the fastball.
10. Well, Noesi would have been my answer, but I'll pick someone else. People should be talking about Jose Ramirez more, and Jeremy Bleich will bounce back in 2010. Corban Joseph is really undersold I think. Keep an eye out for him as well.
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Nothing new here, but good job though. Some good questions. I’ve run into Venditte a few times and he really is a nice guy. His slider from the left side is as fun to watch as any pitch I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure it’s major league caliber, but against minor leaguers it sure gets the job done.
http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com
http://www.bronxbaseballdaily.com
#3 really just reiterrated what I thought
about our SP and C, which we really have a plethora of. If that’s the way Cashman thinks, then it’s really going to pay of 5-10 years down the line.
- I disagree with though. Even though Hughes is better primed to be a starter in the future, there’s a reason he has an inning limit this year. Joba’s training wheels are off, so he’ll definitely be our number 5 guy. Hughes will be a backup starter, filling in when somebody takes a trip to the DL and pitching out of the bullpen when we have all 5 guys. It’ll come out to 160 innings or whatever Cashman wants him to throw this year.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
I mean that I disagree with #4
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
I think the Yankees learned their lesson from
the failed Joba Chamberlain season of 2 years ago when they tried to start Joba in the bullpen and then transition him to the starting rotation later in the year. Its very difficult to manage innings because its so hard to project how effective the starter will be, how deep into the games they will pitch, and if they will stay healthy.
I think if the priority is for Hughes to be a top of the line starter then its only responsible to send him to AAA to start the season and call him up when another starter is necessary.
If the priority is for Hughes to contribute to the Yankees as much as he can in 2010 then he should be sent to the bullpen with the understanding that they are sacrificing his development for this year.
Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.
by Edwantsacracker on Jan 31, 2010 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
I think they’re only sacrificing his development if they’re married to him as the “8th inning guy.” You can get some innings out of the bullpen – Rivera threw 130 innings as the set-up man in 1996. Is there any reason Hughes can’t pitch two-plus innings a couple of times a week and get to 130 or 140? Then he can be on track to pitch 170+ in 2011, if they decide to move him into the rotation. (I realize that one difference between 2010 and 1996 is the quality of the starting rotation. The 1996 Yankees had a couple of 6-inning guys – e.g., Key, Gooden, post-surgery Cone – that necessitated the use of a lot of bullpen innings. Only Pettitte is likely to be a 6-inning guy consistently this year (knock on wood), so maybe it’ll be harder to get anyone in the bullpen up to 130 innings.)
by long time listener on Jan 31, 2010 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
What I am interested in for development
as a starter is dealing with the lineup for a 2nd or 3rd time. Right now at the bottom of the page Jscape asked a couple questions about what it means for a starter to “think through a game.”
This is part of Piliere’s answer, “Guys who think through a game not only have the stuff to succeed, but they know how to change patterns. They seem to spot things in hitter and learn to exploit weaknesses on the fly. Some guys are fine without doing that, but it’s good skill to have. I think Hughes in particular, can see things like that in hitters, and his pitching aptitude goes beyond just a simple game plan. I’ve seen him in an ability to think on the fly and use his pitches in different ways.”
Your suggestion certainly would get Hughes more innings, and make him see more major league hitters, but what I think is the real culture shock is having to see the same hitter 2-3 times. So I don’t think that giving him more innings in a relief capacity necessarily is equivalent to having him starting games even if they end up with the same innings total in the end.
Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.
by Edwantsacracker on Jan 31, 2010 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
But not to be dismissive of your idea
I looked up the use of Mariano in 1996. (I had to I was only 9 at the time.)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=riverma01&t=p&year=1996
What I was surprised by was the number of 3 inning appearances, which relievers rarely do anymore. But looking at those 3 inning appearances, particularly those in June, August, and September and Rivera got 2-3 days of rest after those appearances.
For all the flack (mostly deserved) Joe Torre got about bullpen management if you look at Rivera, he spaced out his usage. Even after 2 innings of work Rivera got time off. I don’t know if bullpen roles are much more carefully defined now as compared to then, but Rivera wasn’t in every tight game. He couldn’t be.
Only 7 times did Rivera pitch back to back days in 1996. Including in those numbers but worth noting is that there was 1 occasion where Rivera pitched 3 days in a row.
So I think that seeing Hughes be used in the same way as Rivera was in 1996 would actually be very frustrating. Knowing that you had someone sitting in your bullpen who you know could help the team win right now but you shouldn’t use him because he pitched multiple innings for you the day before.
Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.
by Edwantsacracker on Jan 31, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
It’s true that you’d have to give Hughes a day or two of rest if he pitched 2 or more innings. A couple of points though. First, using Rivera that way in 1996 worked out pretty well. And we have at least as much depth in bullpen this year (in my opinion), so if he we can’t use him in a close game, hopefully Aceves, Robertson or Marte can get some big outs late in games. Plus, as I noted about, we have more starting pitchers who are going to give us innings. Sabathia, Burnett, and Vazques will (hopefully) get us into the seventh and eighth on a somewhat regular basis.
Regarding your point above, assuming that both Joba and Hughes are considered starters of the future, whoever is put in the bullpen is going to miss out on the chance to work through a lineup the second and third time. It’s just something we’re going to have to live with.
by long time listener on Jan 31, 2010 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
I have high hopes for Robertson and Aceves
but they are not on the same level as Hughes or Joba (and I don’t think that you were really implying they were, I am just stating the obvious.)
There will come a point in the season when there is a game Hughes could have probably come in and done a great job in the 8th inning, but can’t because of he pitched 2 innings or has worked too hard. We will lose a game here or there that all of us here on PA think we ought to have one.
Over a 162 game season it would only happen a few times, but they would sting everytime. If you take projections seriously then the Yankees and the Red Sox are tied talent wise going into the season. We can’t really afford to lose games we have a chance of winning, especially late.
If you were going to deploy Hughes or Joba from the bullpen I would prefer to see them in the 8th inning and not earlier and here’s why. If Hughes or Joba comes in during the 6th or 7th inning as the “bridge to Mo” there are more outs for our offense to use to score runs. Middle relief are the worst pitchers in the major leagues. I think that it is more likely that the potent Yankee offense puts 2-3 runs on the board in the 6th or 7th inning than almost any other time during the game.
If you are going to put that premium arm in the bullpen I think that it should be reserved for times that the Yankees have slight leads with not alot of opportunities to score more runs or for tie games.
Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.
by Edwantsacracker on Jan 31, 2010 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
I have to agree
with Hughes as the 5th starter due to everything stated in the answer. I also just think NOBODY compares to Joba as setup in MLB and believe he will be the closer of the future.
what David said
Joba has he mentality of a closer
Hughes has the pitches and the mentality of a starter
This is such crap
Hughes has a 4-seam FB, a cutter, a 12-6 curve, and a change up. The fastball is pin-straight, and will play down in velocity if he’s starting, probably 90-92 MPH. The cutter is decent, and the change up has been pretty much abandoned. His true plus pitch is the curveball.
Joba has a 4-seam FB, a 2-seam FB, a curveball, a slider, and a change. He has a better, liver, fastball (92-94 in rotation, 95-97 in bullpen). The slider is plus, the curveball is average, and you rarely see the 2-seam FB or the change.
So both guys have some plus pitches, some pitches to work on, and are plenty young enough to develop their considerable talent.
How are Hughes pitches better for the rotation? Because someone throws faster and gets more strikeouts does not mean that they are more suited to the pen.
Also, the whole “mentality” is even worse. Who says that closers have to yell and scream every time they strike someone out? I can think of a calm guy (Rivera) that I’d rather have close out a game over a few screaming assholes (K-Rod, Papelbon).
Guys who pitch with emotion can thrive in the rotation (Clemens, Beckett, Lackey, Randy Johnson).
Joba and Hughes both should end up in the rotation because they have great talent and that’s where you put your best talent. Look for this to happen as soon as Pettitte tapers off/retires.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
+1
also…didn’t Hughes pitch in the bullpen in 2009 and do just as good as Joba?
Did 2009 happen?
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
by FreeBradshaw on Jan 31, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
"Joba has a better liver"
Does Hughes have a drinking problem
Dude 'liver' the adjective not 'liver' the body part
as in Joba’s fastball has “life” or late, deceptive, movement whereas Hughes fastball is very straight.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
Agreed.
Without an innings limit, I think Joba slots nicely into the 5th spot. No team goes through the entire season with 5 starters, so even with starting the year in the pen, Hughes should get his innings so that the training wheels come off in ’11.
Nice stuff Frankie
You used the phrase “think through a game” and “think through a lineup” in describing Hughes and Noesi.
Could you go into a little more detail about what you mean?
Relatedly, when you scout a pitcher, do you track every pitch and then go through the data for patterns?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Good question
It’s a hard thing to spot in a pitcher, but it’s one of the things I keep the closest watch on. Is a guy getting through a lineup on his raw stuff? If he is, it shows he has good stuff but there will be adjustments to made at the next level. Guys who think through a game not only have the stuff to succeed, but they know how to change patterns. They seem to spot things in hitter and learn to exploit weaknesses on the fly. Some guys are fine without doing that, but it’s good skill to have. I think Hughes in particular, can see things like that in hitters, and his pitching aptitude goes beyond just a simple game plan. I’ve seen him in an ability to think on the fly and use his pitches in different ways.
As for the second question, it depends on the assignment. If I’m focused on that single pitcher then yes I can do things like track pitches and see how often he used the pitch, when he used it, etc. But, more often than not I have too many other guys to focus on at the same time to do it. So, I try to just keep tabs on my head how frequently he used the pitch and what situations he used it in.
Your thoughts on Aroldis Chapman
and why didn’t the Yankees throw a huge pile of cash at him?
by Scooby Snacks on Feb 1, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Well...
I’ll be at Chapman’s debut in ST so stay tuned for that, and I’ll have a full scouting report. From what I’ve been told the talent is more than legit but he’s not a slam dunk. I think that’s similar to what most everyone has heard so I’m more curious than anything else.
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