Sports

IL Baseball

By Van Rose vrose@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

Maybe it’s the pinstripes. Maybe it’s being part of an organization where losing isn’t acceptable. Maybe it’s great chemistry.

Truth is, it’s probably all of the above.

Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees have overachieved during the first half of the regular season.

In doing so, the Yankees (46-41) have brought a special brand of excitement to PNC Field and find themselves in the thick of a three-team race with Buffalo and Rochester in the International League North Division.

That’s why manager Dave Miley appeared to be in a comfort zone following Sunday’s dramatic 6-5 win over Ottawa, a game that pretty much typified the Yankees season to this point. They rallied from a late 5-2 deficit to send the game into extra innings and wound up winning on a throwing error by the Lynx in the 12th.

“We’re playing well,” said Miley, who formerly managed the Cincinnati Reds for three seasons.

“Going into spring training, our goal was to be in contention at the All-Star break. We have some things that we still have to do better. But we’re definitely in the hunt.”

All season, the Yankees have responded well to adversity. That was the case again Sunday, when two starters – second baseman Juan Francia and shortstop Angel Chavez – did not play because of injuries.

They’ve accomplished success despite seeing a number of players move on to the major leagues, including pitching phenom Phil Hughes, first baseman Andy Phillips and outfielder Kevin Thompson.

Fortunately for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, outfielder Shelley Duncan has virtually carried the team on his shoulders, offensively speaking.

Duncan is batting .289 with 21 home runs and 70 RBI and will serve as the designated hitter for the IL squad in tomorrow’s Triple-A All-Star game in Albuquerque.

Here’s our midseason report card:

POSITION PLAYERS

CHRIS BASAK: The most versatile and underrated player on the team. Basak has played left field, shortstop and second base, but third base is his true calling. He makes every play look easy, thanks to his strong, accurate arm. A solid hitter with home-run power. B+

ANDY CANNIZARO: The veteran infielder spent the first two months on the DL with a back injury. Cannizaro hit .429 in his first six games since returning, and has excellent range at shortstop. Has a bad habit of arguing balls and strikes, which is a liability. B

ANGEL CHAVEZ: Former Red Baron is hitting .307 with 36 RBI and has been a major offensive force. However, the infielder has just two stolen bases and leads the Yankees with eight errors. His ability to hit in the clutch offsets his miscues. B+

RAUL CHAVEZ: He’s slow of foot and is batting only .228, but Chavez’ major league experience is invaluable to the Yankees’ young pitching staff. Chavez has a strong arm, is tough to run on and has shown occasional power. C+

JUSTIN CHRISTIAN: The fastest man on the team, Christian swiped 68 bases last year at Double-A Trenton. Excellent hitter and exceptional center fielder. An ideal leadoff hitter, Christian could serve as a catalyst the second half of the season. A

ERIC DUNCAN: Most intriguing and disappointing player on the team, Duncan has struggled mightily. Began year touted as New York’s top power hitting prospect, but has yet to show it. His .232 average and six home runs won’t earn him a trip to Yankee Stadium anytime soon, but he still possesses great potential. C

SHELLEY DUNCAN: King Kong in a baseball uniform. Specializes in tape-measure home runs and clutch hits. One of Duncan’s best assets is humility, which has rubbed off on teammates. A+

JUAN FRANCIA: Just who is this guy? The 5-foot-9, 150-pound Francia doesn’t look like Superman, but sure acts like him. Since his promotion from Trenton on June 11, Francia is batting a team-best .378, with a .427 slugging percentage. And he’s committed just one error in 23 games. A

KEVIN REESE: He hit .417 in 17 games for New York in 2006 but got off to slow start at Triple-A this season. Has raised his average to .245 and was one of SWB’s most reliable hitters the past few weeks. Thrives in the clutch. B

OMIR SANTOS: The backup catcher, Santos is hitting just .234. Like front-liner Chavez, Santos is solid defensively and occasionally comes up with a key hit. C

BRONSON SARDINHA: Former first-round draft pick of the New York Yankees, Sardinha has underachieved – hitting just .219. The right fielder appears to be adding to his woes by pressing too much. Hard-nosed player who’s still capable of being a gamebreaker. C

JAMAL STRONG: Veteran outfielder who formerly played for Seattle, Strong is batting .286 off the bench. Has a great attitude and gives the Yankees added speed when he’s in the lineup. A tough guy to strike out. B-

PITCHERS

T.J. BEAM: Just returned from a long stay on the DL, Beam needs to lower his 4.09 ERA to get back in the swing of things. C

COLTER BEAN: Most erratic pitcher on staff, he’s really good when he’s got it going and really not good when he doesn’t have his best stuff, evidenced by his 6.33 ERA. C

CHRIS BRITTON: One of the leaders of the Yankees exceptional bullpen, his 2-1 record and 2.75 ERA make you wonder what more he has to do to earn a return trip to the Bronx. A

JIM BROWER: A man on a mission since being released by Indianapolis, Brower’s Houdini act has earned him the closer’s role. His 14 saves and 2.37 ERA won him a spot on the IL All-Star team. A+

TYLER CLIPPARD: Has struggled with his control since returning from his brief stint with New York, but remains a top prospect. Clippard needs to rediscover his fastball command to live up to his tremendous potential. B

MATT DESALVO: Cool under fire, DeSalvo’s greatest asset is that he isn’t afraid to challenge hitters, even with the game on the line. His numbers, 6-1 with a 2.21 ERA, speak for themselves. Right now, he’s the one Yankees pitcher no one wants to face. A+

SEAN HENN: A 6-4 southpaw with a 94-mph fastball, Henn has a deceptive 0-2 record. He’s one of the better middle relievers in the IL, and you can bet that New York is watching closely. B+

STEVEN JACKSON: Began the season in the starting rotation, and worked his way to the back of the bullpen. C-

BEN KOZLOWSKI: The workhorse of the bullpen with 51 innings pitched, the hard-throwing lefty must improve his 2-6 mark in order to have a solid impact the rest of the way. C

CHARLIE MANNING: The Yankees best-kept secret, Manning has struck out 43 batters in 33 innings. B

STEVEN WHITE: Spent two months on the DL with nerve problem in his shoulder, White has pitched well, even though he’s rebuilding his stamina. Pitched two consecutive gems to earn IL Pitcher of Week honors. B+

CHASE WRIGHT: The kind of guy you want on your side in a street fight, Wright is fearless on the mound. A quiet Texan with a John Wayne attitude, Wright has developed a good change-up that complements his 95-mph fastball. A