Nov 06
Via an ESPN.com Chat with Baseball America’s Jim Callis (with a hat tip to WasWatching.com reader “MJ” for the lead on this one) -
JB from CT: Where did Mark Melancon rank on the Yankees list? Who is a good MLB comparision for him? Thanks!
Jim Callis: Melancon checked in at No. 9. I hate to force comps and I can’t think of an obvious one for Melancon, but I will say that he’s got the best chance of any Yankees farmhand to eventually take over from Rivera as closer. That is, if Rivera ever stops being money.
This mirrors what’s been said in the past about Melancon.
Is it just me, or, does Melancon’s delivery remind you of Roger Clemens?
8 Responses to “Callis: Melancon Next Yankees Closer?”
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November 6th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The leg kick and drive isn’t nearly as strong, and he doesn’t stay on his back leg as long.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
He does have the 40 year old Clemens gut, what is up with that? And you missed the much more interesting question answered in that chat:
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Garrett (CT): Joba/Hughes/Kennedy or Lester/Buckholz/Bowden?
SportsNation Jim Callis: Lester/Buchholz/Bowden.
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He also ranked Lester ahead of Joba based on Joba’s lack of performance through a full season.
November 6th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Um, Lester is completely carrying that group, as well he should. The 24 year old had an excellent season.
However, we’ll see what Callis says when Lester struggles with his control in April and develops arm trouble in the middle of the year due to him going 60+ innings over his highest previous total.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Don’t be so certain. Bill James projects another 200 inning season for the big lefty.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Bill James doesn’t project injuries for massive innings increases. What did he project for Fausto Carmona, despite his own irresponsible innings jump? Oh, 219 innings. Woops!
November 7th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Fausto Carmona was all arms and elbows. Lester has a simple, clean, repeatable delivery. There is no reason why he should be presumed to inevitably break down next year.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Melancon checked in at No. 9.
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What I want to know is how a guy who pitched great at three different levels last year and who appears to be the Yanks’ most ML-ready arm would only rank 9th on the team’s top-10 prospects list, according to Baseball America.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
[...] Mark Melancon is still looking like a younger, skinnier, and blonder, Roger Clemens to me. Am I the only one seeing that? Posted in [...]