9-News: 39.066 – All’s Quiet on the Ohio Front

[RonCo]

Will September Call-ups Be Team’s Push?


After a sizzling, rumor-filled day of conversation and innuendo ahead of the league’s most intriguing trade deadline in some time, Yellow Springs Nine fans seem to be left to ponder whether it was all just a big show.

At one point there was some serious conversation focused on a starting pitcher, or was it two? The club was apparently interested in a veteran hitter, but no one could say who it was. The word from assistant GM Fred Morrison doesn’t match with that from full GM Ron Collins, and even when it seemed to jibe, the possible deal fodder wasn’t the same. In other words, listening to the YS9 front office was like a Washington press briefing in the days before the Trump administration put an end to them—hard to put it together, and even harder to believe once you’ve done so. Bottom line is that the deadline is slipping away, and the Nine have nothing to show for it.

“We’re still sitting by the phones,” Collins said. “But right now we’re mostly talking about internals.”

Buy “internals,” the GM means players in the organization that might be brought up this week (in order to make them eligible for the playoff roster), or at least sometime in September. Top candidates include outfielder Ricardo Mendoza, and shortstop Luis Pena. Center fielder Michel Noel had been sent down due to the need to call up pitcher Callum Mayberry. One assumes he’ll be back up. 23-year-old pitcher In-sung Yi might see time, though he’s still considered to be a season away from being able to really contribute. There is some thought that the club was interested in some right-handed power—which means Miguel Angel Perales could see a few plate appearances with the big club.

Of these, Mendoza is the most intriguing. The 18-year-old outfielder, a second-round pick in last year’s draft, has scattered 6.7 WAR in three stops through the organization in 2039. “We think he has a very long future,” Collins said. “Bringing him up now could be like trading for an All-Star without having to pay anything.


FAN REQUEST: CARLOS PINEDA TO SKIP AAA?

In that same vein, one of the more intriguing ideas floated by fan sites, however, is that of bringing top pitching prospect Carlos Pineda up for September. Pineda (20) is having a fine year, splitting time in Fort Worth A-ball and Santa Clara AA ball, posting a combined 15-6 record with a 3.27 ERA. He came through the team’s International Complex, and has pushed scouts to upgrade their views with every step of the way.

He’s one of those guys everyone is paying attention to, and though interest is high and the Nine could use another starter right now, Pineda has already seen 140 innings. It would be unusual for the team to stretch his young (and so-far healthy) arm much farther. In addition, the team’s pitching scouts still think he’s got development to finish. To back this idea, it’s understood Pineda will make his last AA start this week on a 30-pitch count. “We’ll want to keep him fresh, assuming he’ll get some innings in the AA playoffs,” said Morrison in an earlier briefing.

So, the bottom line here at Nine Central is that the time is ticking down, and no one seems particularly driven to make a last-minute deal.

That said: the chimes haven’t rung midnight yet, and you should never rule anything out.

[7teen]

YS should have gone after Elroy Hinson and gave the future HOF a shot at a Landis before he eventually retires.

[RonCo]

We were looking very hard at him, and as you might guess actually had an offer to present late in the cycle. Pulled it back at the last minute, mostly because we were pursuing another target that fell through in the final moments of the deadline.

[jleddy]

We were looking very hard at him, and as you might guess actually had an offer to present late in the cycle. Pulled it back at the last minute, mostly because we were pursuing another target that fell through in the final moments of the deadline.

For the umpteenth time, I wasn't going to trade French for a plain bagel. Lightly-toasted pumpernickel everything bagel from Frankel's with dill cream cheese or GTFO.

[RonCo]

Crappy time for the team's basket to go on vacay.