Skoodog Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I love rooting through the dumpster to find true late round studs, and I have high hopes for this one. Yunesky Maya won the Cuban version of the Cy Young and finished second behind other Cuban flamethrower Aroldis Chapman in strikeouts, and that's probably due to his arsenal of eight different pitches - yes, eight different pitches. A blogger posted that while watching his MLB debut "you could clearly see him throwing a 2-seamer, 4-seamer, a sidearm fastball, a straight-change, a split-fingered change/forkball, an overhand slow curve, an overhand slider and a side-armed slider. " It is posed that the main reason for his epic failure last year was that the Nats rushed him up through the minors and gave him no real adjustment period. The downside of Maya is that he will probably start in AAA with the Gorzelanny acquisition, but with the current starting rotation neither looking commanding nor the picture of health (Lannan, Marquis, Gorzelanny, Ching-Ming Wang, Zimmermann), I'd say it's just a matter of time before Maya gets a second shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanter112186 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I like him a lot this year, but due to the fact that he won't start with the team, there's a good chance he won't be on yours. You'll have to jump early to stash him because coverage of up and coming prospects these days are so in depth that it will be tough to just steal him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleBandit Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It's tough to think they rushed him when he is 29. Either he pitches in the majors or he's out of the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoodog Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 It's tough to think they rushed him when he is 29. Either he pitches in the majors or he's out of the league. Other articles state that there were other issues involved as well, like some sort of family defection visa issue, his own ability to get out of the country, etc. It's not like you can just take some player from some other league (Japan, Cuba, etc.) and plug them in and expect the same results right out of the gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogfella Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 He didn't pitch competitively for almost 2 years and the rust was very evident if you watched him late last season. However, it was also very evident that there was a lot there (and he displayed some of that in the Dom Winter Lge). He is still adjusting and getting the edge back. Crossing him off could be a very big mistake imho for what its worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winning Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Agree with everything said here, but the fact remains he is going to have to be near flawless in his next 2 starts(8IP-10IP / 0 ER) to even have a shot to win the 5th spot. He is one of the few in that battle that have options left, and while I have no idea why they would send an international signing down at 29 years old and 4 million dollars per year, it does seem likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWrightStuff Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 IF I were the GM, Lannan the scrub would be gone ASAP and Maya would be in! From RW today; Nats' Maya records win in relief Yunesky Maya was credited with a victory after yielding just an unearned run over four innings Saturday against the Yankees. There's been little so far to suggest that John Lannan's spot is in any jeopardy, but Mays is making a case to sneak into the rotation in place of one of the two left-handers -- either Lannan or Tom Gorzelanny. He has a 1.04 ERA so far. Mar 12, 4:13 and Nats' Lannan gives up four runs John Lannan was tagged for four runs in 4 1/3 innings by the Yankees on Saturday. Lannan walked three and gave up a two-run homer to minor league veteran Jorge Vazquez. The shaky performance took Lannan's ERA up to 7.36. He finished strong enough last year to secure his rotation spot headed into spring training, but the Nationals may not show as much patience with him as they did last year. Mar 12, 4:15 PM What are the chances Maya actually overtakes Lannan and earns himself a spot at the end of the rotation? I am chomping at the bit to add this guy after seeing what he's done so far this spring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollobobo Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 IF I were the GM, Lannan the scrub would be gone ASAP and Maya would be in!From RW today; Nats' Maya records win in relief Yunesky Maya was credited with a victory after yielding just an unearned run over four innings Saturday against the Yankees. There's been little so far to suggest that John Lannan's spot is in any jeopardy, but Mays is making a case to sneak into the rotation in place of one of the two left-handers -- either Lannan or Tom Gorzelanny. He has a 1.04 ERA so far. Mar 12, 4:13 and Nats' Lannan gives up four runs John Lannan was tagged for four runs in 4 1/3 innings by the Yankees on Saturday. Lannan walked three and gave up a two-run homer to minor league veteran Jorge Vazquez. The shaky performance took Lannan's ERA up to 7.36. He finished strong enough last year to secure his rotation spot headed into spring training, but the Nationals may not show as much patience with him as they did last year. Mar 12, 4:15 PM What are the chances Maya actually overtakes Lannan and earns himself a spot at the end of the rotation? I am chomping at the bit to add this guy after seeing what he's done so far this spring! I am hoping they give him a spot. He certainly deserves it. Hopefully he is rewarded for his great spring...Lannan could be moved since he is a lefty and teams would be interested since he can eat innings. I, for one, am hoping Maya gets a rotation spot out of the gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadtim2 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I watched him pitch yesterday vs the Yankees. I know one thing for certain: He is WAY better than John Lannan. That's not really saying much, but I can say that with confidence. Lannan stinks! He's a crafty kind of pitcher. He has good breaking stuff and stays around the strike zone. I don't see him overpowering anyone and I saw a few minor leagues grind out some tough ABs, which could be bad news for him against the top hitters. There wasn't a radar gun, but I don't think he was throwing over 90 yesterday. Apparently, there were reports that he was hitting 94mph in the Dominican Winter Leagues. I'm not saying those were reports were wrong, I just know that he wasn't throwing that hard yesterday. I think he could have some fantasy relevance this year. I don't see huge upside, but I think he could be a guy that is rosterable in some leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ndCitySox Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Eight pitches? Sounds like Rick Vaughn in Major League 2. Hope Maya doesn't have the "eliminator" in his arsenal. I think Maya has value in NL-Only leagues, and perhaps deep mixed-leagues. But if he's fighting to crack the mighty Nats rotation (and looks like he has), then I think we shouldn't get carried away. Still, I will be scouting him in my league, and maybe he'll prove me wrong. If he develops a gyroball, I'm all in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And Won Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I'll be watching this guy, though not rostering yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sillybombs Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 He got shipped down to AAA today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lansdowne Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 The Cuban John Burkett. I'll monitor his progress but I doubt he becomes more than an NL-only option this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
os_gamejunkie Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 The Cuban John Burkett. I'll monitor his progress but I doubt he becomes more than an NL-only option this season. Wow, John Burkett? Blast from the past there! Same thoughts on the NL-only option here. Good to know he sports 8 different pitches, but that just tells me that he hasn't mastered 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lansdowne Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 The Burkett reference doesn't reflect their pitch repertoire, rather just how... boring they appear pitching. Though Burkett had a respectable major league career to his credit. I hear Maya was a strong pitcher in Cuba and has an eight pitch arsenal and I think upside. Then I factor his advanced age (29) and actually watch him pitch... and suddenly I'm not as excited. That could change if he tears through Triple-A I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winning Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 According to a tweet from Mark Zuckerman, pitcher Yunesky Maya will most likely be called up Sunday from Syracuse. He also reports that Syracuse reliever Collin Balester is also at Nationals Park Saturday and available to pitch from the bullpen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morat Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Should I care in a 12 team league? How's this guy been doing in the minors anyway? I own Zimm and watch the Nats not score runs and kick the ball around each time he pitches so I'm not sure if this guy is worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzemens Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Should I care in a 12 team league? How's this guy been doing in the minors anyway? I own Zimm and watch the Nats not score runs and kick the ball around each time he pitches so I'm not sure if this guy is worth a look. In the minors 59.1IP 45K 12BB 3.79ERA 1.19WHIP. Pretty solid numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winning Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 In the minors 59.1IP 45K 12BB 3.79ERA 1.19WHIP. Pretty solid numbers. He has to make a difference very soon in real life or fantasy, before he gets relegated to just another arm. Highly touted when he came over from the Cuban National Team, he is very old for a defector. For what he is making, I would think he has to make an impact this year or next. Solid winterball numbers, as well as minors numbers. You are correct in saying he doesn't have much support in terms of defense or offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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