Dave Cokin’s Hardcore Baseball: Call ups in the cards

You know it’s going well when you’re winning games you should have lost. I had the Marlins on the runline both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, they rallied to tie the game against the Nationals in the ninth inning and then tossed up a three-spot in the 11th inning to cover. On Sunday, they trailed by a run heading to the ninth and scored four runs to again get the money.

That’s two wrong side winners, and I’ll be happy to take them. Make no mistake, I know that at some point I’ll lose a couple in similar fashion and I’ll swear to anyone within earshot that I’m cursed and can never catch a break.

But right now, Lady Luck seems to be looking my way and I’m sure not about to argue with her. I’m up a ton to start the season and enjoying the ride! It’s not all luck, as I have a pretty good idea of what I’m doing. But getting a little help is always welcome.

The new Yankee Stadium may well be an absolute launching pad, based on the early results. There is some speculation that once the old stadium is demolished, the winds off the Harlem River might not play the same in the new facility as they are right now, but there’s no question that there have been some real cheapies in the new park already, especially to right field.

But the conditions at the stadium had little to do with the latest Chien-Ming Wang meltdown on Saturday. Wang has been annihilated in his first three starts. His mechanics are completely screwed up and he can’t get the ball to sink. With no sink, Wang is throwing batting practice and big league hitters are going to eat that stuff up.

I’m not sure what the Yankees intend to do with Wang at this point. I suppose they have to hope he gets things straightened out and will give him at least a couple more starts. But in the rugged AL East, the Yanks can’t afford to give away games, and I would think they’re strongly considering calling up someone to step into Wang’s spot in the rotation.

Both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are off to good starts at Scranton. Hughes is 2-0, 2.31 so far and owns a nifty 2/12 BB/K ratio. Kennedy has been even better. He’s just 1-0, but has allowed only two runs in 12 IP with 16 Ks. Hughes has the higher ceiling, but Kennedy could be the better short-term option. Either way, I would not be surprised to see one of them get the call very soon.

The Yankees could also be on the verge of calling up Mark Melancon to help out in the bullpen. Melancon has been spectacular thus far. He’s yet to give up a run in nine innings, permitting just two hits with an eye-popping 3/15 BB/K ratio. Melancon has moved through the system in a hurry and sure appears to be ready to contribute at the big league level.

Another team likely to be plucking some minor league arms to help out upstairs is the Texas Rangers. Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland are the two mega-prospects toiling in AAA right now, but neither is quite ready just yet.

But Beau Vaughan, Brian Gordon and Luis Mendoza could be in line for recalls soon, particularly given the shaky status of some of the current Rangers. Mendoza has been up before. He enjoyed a successful trial in ‘07, but got lit up in a more extensive test last season.

Vaughan is an ex-Red Sox prospect who came over in an off season deal and is off to a terrific start this season. He could provide help in the bullpen.

Gordon is the most interesting of the trio. He’s been around since 1997, but only started pitching in 2007. He got a cup of coffee late last season with Texas. I would tab Vaughan as the most likely of the group to stick with the big club if the call comes.

Here are a few other names to keep tabs on, as they may be up sooner than later. Anthony Swarzak may force his way into the back end of the Minnesota rotation. Nick Blackburn hasn’t been sharp, and Swarzak has been lights out on the farm, despite a misleading 0-2 record.

Ken Takahashi signed with the Mets in the off season and he’s looked good thus far at AAA. Takahashi’s main roadblock right now is that there isn’t room for him in the Mets bullpen, but he’s first in line should an arm be needed.

Highly regarded Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco has been absolutely great thus far, and the Phils might need to move him up soon, as Chan Ho Park in the No. 5 rotation spot isn’t an asset.

Felipe Paulino and Jordan Zimmerman have already gotten the call they were hoping for. Paulino pitched a gem for Houston on Sunday before the bullpen screwed things up. He’s been clocked in the past at triple digits, but that was before injury issues.

But Paulino looked great Sunday, armed with a 96 MPH four-seamer and two quality secondary pitches. Given the state of the Astros rotation, Paulino could really change the look of their staff.

As for Zimmerman, he makes his big league debut Monday. Zimmerman is an outstanding prospect, but I would not be surprised if he takes some early lumps.

And finally, there’s Atlanta sensation Tommy Hanson, who almost has to get recalled shortly. The Saturday Jo Jo Reyes disaster figures to accelerate the timetable. Hanson has been ridiculous so far at Gwinnett. He’s already racked up a whopping 23 Ks in just 14.2 IP.

Hanson may well be the best righty prospect in the game right now and I can’t see Atlanta not making use of him very soon.