« A-Rod: Donnie Can Fix Me | Main | June 17th @ The Nationals »
June 17, 2006
T.J. Beam
I've heard whispers that the Yankees are going to call up Beam now that The Farns has a bad back. Here's what I know about Beam:
+ He's tall, six-foot-seven, and right-handed.
+ He does not throw very hard - more like 90 MPH than 95 MPH.
+ He's got great control of his pitches.
+ His fastball has some sink to it - and he also throws a slider.
He could be the next Jeff Nelson. Or, he could be the next Colter Bean.
Which way he goes will be up to Joe Torre (first) and Beam himself (second).
Posted by Steve Lombardi at June 17, 2006 10:32 AM
Comments
Personally, I'd like to see them keep Beam at Triple-A for a little longer, another month or 2 wouldn't hurt.
Dotel's throwing some gas I hear, and he'll be ready sometime this week, which will make keeping Beam in the minors a whole lot easier.
Posted by: Mike A. ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 17, 2006 11:05 AM
This was noted in the game thread, but I'll repeat it for other Beam fanatics that are chewing their fingernails off.
It's not a whisper -- it is a fact. Beam is up today.
Beam does not throw 90 miles an hour. His bread and butter is a 93-96-mile-an-hour fastball that he attacks hitters with. He was striking out a ton of batters in AAA.
When I saw him pitch, his fastball didn't seem to be sinking. In fact, he threw it high and hard and everyone was swinging right through it; he absolutely overpowers people with it.
His secondary pitches are a change and a slider. He has NOTHING to do with Jeff Nelson (where'd THAT come from?) and even less to do with Bean -- unless people with similar names in the same organization should be compared.
They had Beam throwing multiple innings in AA to continue building up his arm strength. And it worked -- as I noted, his strikeouts were incredible in AAA.
As for keeping Beam in AAA: what's the point? Dotel isn't ready NOW, and Beam in on the 40-man roster, so there's no reason not to take a look at him. He's protected for a reason.
Posted by: baileywalk at June 17, 2006 11:28 AM
It's up to Beam, really. If he pitches well, he'll keep pitching. If he doesn't, he won't. It's not that unreasonable.
Posted by: pokeefe at June 17, 2006 11:40 AM
I adore Beam. He pitched exceedingly well in AA, but in limited time in AAA he has struggled (although, I think that the damage probably all came from one 2 IP 3 ER appearance).
However, I have a problem with 13 pitchers on the team when we are in the NL.
Posted by: Jeteupthemiddle at June 17, 2006 01:27 PM
Ok, I take back my comment, Aaron Small was DFAd to make room for Beam.
Thompson is still on the bench.
Posted by: Jeteupthemiddle at June 17, 2006 01:30 PM
Wow, Aaron Small DFAd. Miracles happen.
Pokeefe, if only it were that simple. SEE ALSO: Matt Smith.
Posted by: brockdc at June 17, 2006 01:56 PM
Not sure what you mean. Matt Smith has pitched well and he's still on the roster because of it. He pitched the night before last.
Posted by: pokeefe at June 17, 2006 02:56 PM