Prospect O'Brien has two-homer day for Trenton

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 7/30/2014 7:34 P.M. ET

Peter O'Brien, the Yankees' No. 9 prospect, homered twice Wednesday, but it wasn't enough to lead Double-A Trenton to victory. The Thunder lost, 3-2, to New Britain.

O'Brien went 3-for-4 with a double and two solo home runs. He ranks third in the Minor Leagues with 33 home runs this season, trailing only Rangers' No. 1 prospect Joey Gallo (37) and Cubs' No. 1 prospect Kris Bryant (34).

O'Brien caught in Wednesday's game, something he has done sparingly for Trenton since he was promoted from Class A Advanced Tampa in early May. He more typically has played first base or designated hitter, while Yankees' No. 2 prospect Gary Sanchez handles the catching duties. But with a day game Wednesday following a night game, O'Brien played his 19th game behind the plate for the Thunder while Sanchez served as the DH.

While O'Brien is still finding his home defensively, his bat has made plenty of noise this year and earned him a spot on the U.S. roster in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game. In 102 games between Tampa and Trenton, he is hitting .267/.312/.593. He has hit 23 of his 33 home runs in 72 games since being promoted.

-- Teddy Cahill

Girardi won't alter approach to managing bullpen

ARLINGTON -- The Yankees have been able to count on the back end of their bullpen most nights this season, which is why it was so concerning to see Adam Warren, Dellin Betances and David Robertson struggle in succession on Tuesday night against the Rangers.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has tried to give his late-inning hurlers rest whenever possible, but with the team playing so many tight games, that hasn't been an easy task.

"You hope that off-days come at the right time, you get some distance out of your starters, and you've just got to manage it," Girardi said. "I'll manage it like I have the whole year. You know that you can't overwork them, or you're not going to get the same production."

Warren took over for starter Brandon McCarthy in the seventh inning, holding a 10-4 lead, but issued two walks and permitted a hit to leave a bases-loaded situation for Betances, who served up a grand slam to Texas' J.P. Arencibia.

"Mechanically, I just felt off," Warren said. "It was really strange. I usually take pride in my mechanics. I just felt out of sync and couldn't get on top of the ball. Especially in that situation, you want to come in and pound the zone, get some quick outs, and I just couldn't do that."

Warren and Betances, converted starting pitchers who have made 48 and 47 appearances, respectively, both said that they do not believe fatigue is an issue. Betances pointed out that he rebounded after Leonys Martin's triple to record two strikeouts around a walk, escaping the inning.

"I feel good, man. I feel great," Betances said. "It was a tough one for me. It's going to happen. Even after I gave up that home run, even after the triple, I was able to hold it right there. It could have been worse."

Girardi said that he does not plan to use the trio of relievers much differently over the final two months of the regular season.

"We've been pretty good about giving them the days when we need the days, giving them two days when they need two days," Girardi said. "[I'm] looking at what they've done in the past and having an idea how many innings they've thrown, and just trying to manage it that way."

Cashman: 'More work to do' before Trade Deadline

ARLINGTON -- Brian Cashman has said that he has "more work to do" in preparing the Yankees' roster for a playoff run, and if the general manager is able to cross the finish line on anything, there could be new faces in the clubhouse on Friday at Fenway Park.

Possibilities continue to float with Thursday's non-waiver Trade Deadline approaching, and while manager Joe Girardi is keeping an eye on transactions around the league, he isn't counting on anything as an absolute lock to happen with his club.

"Not necessarily, no," Girardi said. "There's less than 24 hours if something's going to happen. You do expect that there's going to be some movement in baseball. A lot of times, there's more talked about than actually done. We'll wait to see what happens."

Cashman has expressed desires for a big bat as well as a starting pitcher; on the hitting front, the Yankees are known to have touched base about the Phillies' Marlon Byrd and the Twins' Josh Willingham. The Rangers' Alex Rios is also on the block.

There have been links between the Yankees and the White Sox about left-hander John Danks, but it appears that interest in bringing the Padres' Ian Kennedy back to New York was overstated. CBSSports.com reported Wednesday that the Yankees inquired about Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit.

The Yankees have already added starters Brandon McCarthy and Chris Capuano, plus infielder Chase Headley, in deals completed this month.

"We talk about things, but I know that he's very busy this time of year," Girardi said of Cashman. "If something gets close, we usually hear about it. I don't expect an update every hour. That would drive him crazy and he wouldn't be able to get anything done. So I just let him do his thing. When he calls me, I say, 'OK.'"

Bombers bits

• One day after Girardi said that Brian Roberts -- who has played 91 games, his highest total since 2009 -- has looked "beat up" to him and could use a couple of days off, the veteran second baseman said that he is dealing with normal bumps and bruises, nothing out of the ordinary.

"I hope it pays off, sure. I'm not 20 anymore," Roberts, 36, said. "Nobody wants days off, but you trust the people in charge to make decisions that hopefully benefit everybody. Hopefully that's what happens.

"[Girardi] said, 'I just think it's a good time to give you a couple of days.' It's not my place to argue. I just work here. I'll play when they put me in the lineup. If Friday is the day, then I'll be ready to go."

• Brian McCann was out of the Yankees' lineup on Wednesday, with Francisco Cervelli catching. McCann said that it was just a scheduled day off, and Girardi said that he planned it this way to give McCann two days off with Thursday's travel day.

Girardi said that he was giving Ichiro Suzuki a day off for the same reason, playing Zoilo Almonte in right field.

"I'm sure it will probably help all of our guys at this point in the season," Girardi said. "As I've said, we have some age on our team, and you feel that you have to manage it."

• On this date in 2011, the Yankees scored a franchise-record 12 first-inning runs in a 17-3 win over the Orioles, sending 16 men to the plate. Thirteen reached base, with seven singles, two doubles, a homer, two walks and an error.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Prospect O'Brien has two-homer day for Trenton

Dengan url

http://nokiaponselpintar.blogspot.com/2014/07/prospect-obrien-has-two-homer-day-for.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Prospect O'Brien has two-homer day for Trenton

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Prospect O'Brien has two-homer day for Trenton

sebagai sumbernya