Rookies 2005

                                                                                                                           Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

29 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Pedro Liriano PHI 5.0 3 0 0 2 5, 2.52 ... Ryan Howard PHI, on a roll, 2-3, 2 walks, grand slam (7th homer), .320 ... Jonny Gomes TB, red hot,  1-3, 12th homer, 2 walks, .361 (.423 / .559 / 1.000 over his last eight games, 4 homers, 3 doubles) ... John-Ford Griffin TOR, breakout season, 1-2, 2 walks, homer, 3 RBI, .292 ... Rich Aurilia CIN, rehab, 1-3, double ... looks like time for a demotion, Brandon League 1 6 5 5 2 3, 0-3, 7.15 ... Kenny Baugh DET, just might be a prospect after all, 6 4 0 0 2 8, 3.07 ... Joey Gathright TB 4-5, double, .313 ... BJ Upton TB 2-4, walk, .283 ... Boof, goes poof, Bonser 6 8 5 5 3 6, 4.02 ... Ryan Garko CLE, getting back on track, 3-5, 5th homer ... Zach Duke PIT 6 6 3 3 3 5, 3.06 ... Frank Thomas CHA 1-4, homer ... Juan Gonzalez CLE 0-5

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Brant Colamarino 1B OAK, making a quick impression in AAA, 4-4, walk, triple, 2 homers, 4 runs, 5 RBI ... Brandon Watson WAS 2-5, RBI, run … Rickie Weeks MIL 2-3, 2 doubles, 3 runs … Prince Fielder MIL 2-4, double, homer, 6 RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks … Dave Krynzel MIL 2-5, homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs, SB (5) … Ian Kinsler TEX 2-4, double, run … Jason Botts TEX 1-2, double, 2 RBI, 2 walks … Skip Schumaker STL 2-4, double, 2 runs … Mike Fontenot CHN 2-4, solo homer, 2 RBI … Ronny Cedeno CHN 2-5, run … Chris Burke HOU 1-2, walk … Humberto Quintero HOU 2-2 … Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, walk … Josh Barfield SD 1-4 … JJ Furmaniak SD 3-5, double … Jorge Piedra COL 2-3, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-3, RBI … Jeff Mathis ANA 1-3, run, walk … Todd Linden SF 2-3, double, homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs, .310 … Jesse Foppert SF 6 6 2 2 2 5, W

EASTERN (AA)  --  Ryan Houston TOR 5 2 1 1 0 5, 1.90 (31 Ks in 23 2/3s) ... Chris Begg SF 7 6 3 3 1 3, 2.39 ... Hanley Ramirez BOS 1-3, 2nd homer, .305 ... Richard Stahl BAL, forgettable AA debut, 5 9 6 6 2 4 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-5, double, .239 ... Randy Ruiz PHI 1-4, 12th homer, 3 RBI, .361

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Adam Bostick FLO, successful AA debut, 6 4 1 1 1 2 ... Richie Gardner CIN, a bright spot in a dismal season, 6 7 2 2 0 5, 7.06 ...  same for Eduardo Villacis CHA, 6 3 0 0 0 8, 7.49 ... and, Matt Wright ATL 8 5 0 0 0 4, 5.96 ...  more outstanding work from Carmen Pignatiello CHN 7-2/3 6 2 1 2 8, 2.85 ... not the stuff of such a top rated prospect, Chad Billingsley LA  5 5 5 3 1 8, 4.86 ... Joel Guzman LA 2-4, 13th double, 11th homer, walk, 4 RBI, .287 ... Russell Martin LA 3-4, 2 doubles, .296 ... Enrique Gonzalez ARZ 7 6 3 3 2 4, 3.08

TEXAS (AA)  --  Mike Napoli ANA 1-2, 2 walks, 6th homer, .295 ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-3, double, walk, .259 ... Andre Ethier OAK 3-4, 9th homer, .377 ... Tim McClaskey HOU 7 2 0 0 1 6, 2.92 ... Josh Anderson CF HOU 3-4, .297 ... Kyle Middleton KC 7 5 1 0 1 6, 2.59

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Miguel Montero C  ARZ 3-4, 10th homer, .356 ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-4, 16th double, 17th homer, .311 ... Kendry Morales ANA 1-4 ... Nate Schierholtz SF 2-5, homer, .291 ... Daric Barton OAK 1-2, 3 walks, .275  ... Ian Stewart COL 2-4 ... Seth Smith COL 3-5, 2 doubles, .279 .

CAROLINA (A+) --  Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4, R, K … Thomas Collaro CHA 1-4, 2 K, SB (3) … Brad Snyder CLE 0-4 … Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 2-4, 2 R, triple, HR (9), 3 RBI (43), K, .349 … Ryan Goleski CLE 0-3, RBI, 2 K … Jeremy Sowers CLE (W, 6-3, 2.59) 6 10 4 4 0 3 … Chad Spann BOS 1-3, R, BB … Martin Prado ATL 1-4, RBI … Josh Burrus ATL 0-3, R, BB, SB (12) … Matt Esquivel ATL 0-2, RBI, BB … Nate Spears BAL 4-5 … Javier Guzman PIT 0-3, BB, K … James Johnson BAL 5 5 3 1 3 5 … Kory Casto WAS 3-5, 2 R, 17th double, 2 RBI (30) … Mitch Talbot HOU (L, 3-3, 2.60) 4-2/3 7 7 4 2 2 

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Jordan Tata DET 6 7 6 3 3 8 L(4-1, 2.158) … Vincent Blue CF DET 2-4 … Juan Francia 2B DET 2-5 2R SB(19) … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 2-3 HR(6) 2B 2RBI … Paul Mildren FLO 6 7 3 2 1 5 W(5-0, 2.62) … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 3-5 R 2RBI … Abel Gomez NYA 5 2/3 2 1 0 5 9 ND, 2.28 … Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 1-3 HR(4) 2R 3RBI - .165 … Keith Bucktrot PHI 4 4 4 2 2 … Kurt Isenberg TOR 7 5 3 3 3 4 W(5-3, 2.65) … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-4 R … Matt Moses DH MIN 2-4 2B R RBI - .344/.400/.533 … Scott Tyler MIN 7 3 1 1 1 7 W(3-3, 5.14) … Javon Moran CF CIN 2-4 SB(2)

MIDWEST (A) --  Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 2-5 ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 2-5, 3rd triple ... Reid Brignac TB 5th HR (.261) ... Javier Herrera OAK 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K ... Ryan Harvey CHN 2-5, 1st triple (.268) ... still slipping Matt Tuiasosopo (at DH) SEA 1-4, 2 K (.293) ... Asdrubal Cabrera SEA 1-3, double ... Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 0-4 (.329) ... Matt Bush SD 2-4 ... first outing in a while, and it's a dandy Josh Rainwater DET 5 3 0 0 1 7 (W, 1-1, 1.00)  ... three TB kids, fronted by Jino Gonzalez III, combined on a no-hitter

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Jose Sanchez NYN, ought to start attracting some attention, 9-0, 2.45, 6 4 2 2 1 4 ... Blake Dewitt LA, after a dry spell, 3-4, 10th double, 4th homer, 5 RBI ... Scott Elbert LA 6 6 3 2 2 3, 2.87 ... Neil Walker PIT 3-5, double, .266 ... Matt Miller OF COL 2-5, 9th homer, .366 ... Justin Nelson OF COL 4-4, double, .268 ... Ben Zobrist HOU 3-4, 1st homer, .272 ... Luis Atilano ATL 7-2/3 4 0 0 1 6, 3.12 ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL 2-4, .299 ... Alcides Escobar SS MIL 3-5, .304 ... John Otness C BOS 3-5, double, .392

  Troop Movements ... CHN - Mark Prior DL, Roberto Novoa up ... LA - Derek Thompson up from AA, Buddy Carlyle to AAA ...  MIL - Ben Sheets activated from DL ... ANA - Kelvim Escobar activated from DL, Ervin Santana to AAA ... SF - traded Jerome Williams and David Aardsma to CHN for LaTroy Hawkins ... BAL - Larry Bigbie DL, Napoleon Calzado up ... NYN - Victor Diaz up, Eric Valent designated ... ARZ - Koyie Hill to AAA, Kelly Stinnett up ...

    In his latest prospect update, Zach Chalifour, RotoTimes, includes notes on Felix Pie and Anibal Sanchez :

" ...  Any time a pitcher is averaging better than 10 strikeouts per walk in more than just two or three starts, it's more than just a good sign ...  Sanchez has established himself as Boston's best pitching prospect. His is 64 strikeouts compared to only six walks this season at High-A Wilmington has played a large role in that success. In addition to his impeccable command through his first eight starts, Sanchez has posted a 4-1 record with a 2.09 ERA, and he's given up just 31 hits in 43 innings pitched. Just 21, Sanchez could reach Boston as soon as late 2006 and will likely be a hot topic in trade talks this summer."

" ...    As someone who just turned 20 this past February and is already playing for Double-A West Tenn, Pie has much time to refine his game and become an All-Star at the major league level. Pie has begun that process already for the Diamond Jaxx, putting up outstanding numbers in his 43 games in the Southern League. Pie is batting .333 in 171 at-bats, and nearly half of his hits (15 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs) have gone for extra bases to boost his slugging percentage to a healthy .632 ...  plate discipline remains suspect with 14 walks and 37 strikeouts ... all that significantly remains for Pie is to improve upon his base-stealing efficiency and to refine his plate discipline. If he can do both, there's no reason that Pie can't become a star."

    Scott Rex, OnDeck, updates his prospect chart for the Eastern League.  Hayden Penn maintains the No. 1 slot:

1. Hayden Penn, RHP, BAL        6. Francisco Liriano, LHP, MIN
2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, BOS      7. Franklin Gutierrez, OF, CLE
3. Eric Duncan, 3B, NYA         8. Michael Aubrey, 1B, CLE
4. Yusmeiro Petit, RHP, NYN     9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS
5. Jon Papelbon, RHP, BOS      10. Joel Zumaya, RHP, DET


28 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  worst outing this year, Steve Kelly CIN 6-2/3 11 5 5 1 6, 2.37 ... Billy McCarthy LF ATL 2-5, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI ... T.J. Pena SS ATL 2-4, 3B, 2 R ... Zach Minor ATL 6 8 3 2 2 1, 4.30 ... the power returns, Ryan Howard 1B PHI 3-4, 2B, 5th & 6th HRs, 3 R, 3 RBI ... John-Ford Griffin LF TOR 2-3, 9th HR, R, RBI, BB ... Francisco Rosario TOR 7 10 5 5 0 4, 3.02 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 errors ... Jonny Gomes RF TB 3-5, 2B, 11th HR, 2 R, 5 RBI ... Joey Gathright CF TB 3-5, 2 R ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, BB ... Chris Shelton 1B DET 3-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI ... Ryan Raburn DH DET 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 1-4, 7th HR, R, RBI ... Ryan Garko C CLE 2-4, R ... rehab, Juan Gonzalez RF CLE 2-4 ... Francisco Cruceta CLE 6-1/3 9 5 5 1 6, 5.04 ... Abe Alvarez BOS 5 7 7 6 2 6, 4.47 ... Ryan Doumit C PIT 2-5, 2B, RBI ... rehab, Frank Thomas DH CHA 1-5 ... Dave Gassner MIN 7 9 5 5 0 5, 4.54 ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 1-4, 3rd HR, R, RBI

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Brandon Watson WAS 3-5, double, RBI … Rickie Weeks MIL 2-4, double, homer, 2 RBI, 3 runs, .310 … Prince Fielder MIL 1-4, 3 RBI … Brad Nelson MIL 1-5, homer, 3 RBI … Dave Krynzel MIL 2-5, double, triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs … Chris Burke LF HOU 0-3 … Adrian Gonzalez TEX 3-4, RBI … Jason Botts TEX 2-5, double … John Gall STL 2-5, double … Adam Wainwright STL 7 9 3 3 1 5, 2.43 …Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, solo homer (15) … Josh Barfield SD 4-5, 3 runs … Jon Knott SD 2-5, double … Chris Oxspring SD 7 5 1 1 0 6, W … Willy Aybar LA 2-4 … Jason Repko LA 1-5, solo homer … Conor Jackson ARI 1-3, double … Carlos Quentin ARI 0-4, K … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-4, double … Jeff Mathis ANA 0-4, 2K … Dustin Moseley ANA 7 4 0 0 2 5, 4.65 … Shin Soo Choo SEA 0-4, 2K … Michael Morse SEA 2-4, run … Todd Linden SF 1-4, double … Cha-Seung Baek SEA 7 7 0 0 0 4, (W, 4-1), 3.31

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dee Haynes WAS 2-4, homer, .403 ... Don Kelly SS DET 3-5, double, .356 ... Merkin Valdez SF 6 5 1 1 3 5 1, 2.79 ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 3-3, .304 ... Brian Bannister NYN 5-2/3 7 3 3 2 4, 2.22 ... Jeff Karstens NYA 6-2/3 7 3 3 1 5, 2.77 ... Josh Banks TOR 2 1 0 0 0 2 (rain), 3.25

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Josh Johnson FLO 6 5 1 1 1 5, 2.91 ... Sean Tracey CHA 6 3 1 1 3 7, 6-1, 2.95 ... Rich Hill CHN  6 6 4 4 1 13, 3.28 ... Brandon Sing CHN 2-4, 11th homer, .319 ... Ryan Sweeney CHA 3-5, .303 ... Jonathon Broxton LA 6 4 1 1 0 6, 3.72 ... Delmon Young TB 3-4, double, 10th homer, .343 ... Delwyn Young LA 3-5, 8th homer, .282 ... Manny Parra MIL  6 6 4 4 1 4, 4.02

TEXAS (AA)  --  Dallas Braden OAK  8 8 4 4 1 4, 2.61 ... Jeremy Brown OAK, 1B, 2-4, double ... Michael Napoli ANA 2-4, double, homer, .293 ... Jeff Salazar COL 2-4, homer, .293 ... J.P. Howell KC 6-2/3 3 0 0 1 7, 2.25 ... Justin Huber KC 2-5, double, .354

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Brandon Wood ANA 2-6, 15th double, 16th homer, .302 ...  John Danks TEX 7 4 1 1 2 6, 2.50 ...  Kendry Morales ANA 1-5 ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 3-5, 11th & 12th homers, 6 RBI, .296 ...  Miguel Montero C ARZ, didn't make any top prospect lists, but his breakout season might change things, 3-5, 8th & 9th homers, 4 RBI, .348 ... Adam Jones SEA 3-4, 2 doubles, triple, .294 ...  minor league vet Eliezer Alfonzo C SF 3-4, 9th & 10th homers, 4 RBI, .346 ... Wes Bankston TB 3-4, triple, .426 ... Christian Colonel OF COL 3-6, 2 doubles, .457 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-4, 2 walks, triple, .214 ... Chris  Iannetta C COL 4-5, double, homer, 3 RBI, .291

CAROLINA (A+) -- Thomas Collaro CHA 1-4, double, 2 K ... Brad Snyder CLE 1-3, double, BB ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 2-4, K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 2-4, R, K ... Nick Pesco CLE (W, 6-3, 2.83) 5-2/3 7 0 0 0 4 ... Chad Spann BOS 1-2, BB, K ... Martin Prado ATL 0-3, BB ... Josh Burrus ATL 0-4 ... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-4, RBI, K ... Brady Endl ATL (W, 3-3, 1.92) 7 4 0 0 1 6 ... Nate Spears BAL 1-3, R, double, BB, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-4, 2 K ... Javier Guzman PIT 3-4, R, 5th triple, RBI (27), K ... Kory Casto WAS 1-4, R, 16th double, RBI

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Brett Harper 1B NYN 2-5 HR(17) 3RBI … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 3-4 2 doubles R RBI … Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 2-3 … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 2-4 2B RBI … Reggie Abercrombie 2-5 SB(11) … Jason Vargas FLO 6 7 3 2 0 5 ND, 1.82 … Nate Bumstead DET 7 1/3 6 1 1 3 8 ND, 2.73 … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 0-4 … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 4-5 2B 2R 2RBI … Ty Taubenheim MIL 7 5 2 1 3 2 L(7-1, 2.13) … Errol Simonitsch MIN 8 4 1 1 0 7 W(5-2, 3.03) … Jay Sawatski MIN 1 0 0 0 0 2 S(6, 1.88) … Justin Christian 2B NYA 3-5 R RBI … Chris Lambert STL 7 4 2 0 0 4 ND, 3.63 ... Thursday - Ryan Anderson MIL (the former SEA phenom) 1 0 0 0 0 2

MIDWEST (A) --  Dallas Trahern DET 9 6 1 1 3 2 (3.45) ... Matt Bush SD 1-3 ... A.J. Wideman TOR 6 4 1 1 2 5 (4.20) .. Javier Herrera OAK 2-4 (.277) ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 10th double (.250) ... Rafael Rodriguez ANA 6 6 4 4 2 4 (W, 4-2, 2.94) ... Oswaldo Navarro SEA 2 doubles (.291) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-4, 2 BB (.174) ... Tarrance Patterson MIN 3-5 ... good night to be a Patterson Eric Patterson CHN 3-5, double ... every night is a good night if you're this kid Sean Gallagher CHN 6 3 0 0 2 8 (0.75)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  David Haehnel BAL, 1 run in 19 games, 1 0 0 0 0 1, 0.40 (22-2/3s innings, 13 hits, 7 walks, 23 Ks) ... Hunter Pence CF HOU 2-5, 15th & 16th homers, .341 ... Brad McCann FLO 2-4, 2 homers (9), 4 RBI ... Tim Battle CF NYA 3-5, 5th triple, 8th homer, 4 RBI, .260 ... Ray Liotta CHA 7 2 0 0 2 7, 4-0, 2.45 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF 3-4, 3 doubles, 3 runs, .310

  Troop Movements ... FLO - activated Guillermo Mota, Yorman Bazardo back to AA ... OAK - Dan Johnson up, Erubiel Durazo DL ... LA - Dioner Navarro up, Paul Bako DL ...

    Amazing ... after 45 games, the two D'backs kids still near .500 OBA ... top hitters, by OBA, Triple-A and Double-A.  Stats including games of May 26th.

                           G  AB  2B  3B  HR  BB SO SB CS   OBP   SLG   AVG
Carlos Quentin      ARZ   45 137  10   2   6  33 17  6  0  .503  .584  .350
Conor Jackson       ARZ   45 158  19   1   4  34  9  1  1  .497  .608  .399
Chris Snelling      SEA   31 116   9   1   5  18 22  0  1  .475  .621  .397
Matthew Murton      CHN   44 173  11   2   5  22 16 10  2  .472  .572  .399
Jeremy Hermida      FLO   46 156  11   0  10  43 39  9  1  .465  .577  .314
Justin Huber        KC    47 176  13   2   7  30 36  5  1  .450  .568  .352
Brandon Sing        CHN   41 140  15   0  10  33 41  0  1  .448  .636  .314
Ryan Spilborghs     COL   46 168  15   3   4  28 33  8  1  .444  .554  .357
Josh Willingham     FLO   39 130   7   2  14  27 29  4  1  .443  .715  .308
Kelly Johnson       ATL   42 151  12   2   8  32 22  6  1  .435  .576  .311
Andre Ethier        OAK   46 184  14   1   8  17 30  0  0  .432  .592  .375
Dan Johnson         OAK   47 182  17   0   8  32 24  0  1  .424  .549  .324
Shin-Soo Choo       SEA   34 117   5   1   4  24 28  8  6  .423  .462  .299
Daniel Uggla        ARZ   45 166  15   2   8  17 38  5  4  .423  .602  .343
Michael Napoli      ANA   43 143  12   0   4  31 47  5  2  .421  .455  .287
Rickie Weeks        MIL   42 154  11   8   8  18 41  8  1  .413  .636  .305
Chris Shelton       DET   44 167  17   0   8  24 33  0  2  .410  .569  .323
Dustin Pedroia      BOS   37 144  10   1   5  18 14  4  2  .410  .521  .333
David Espinosa      DET   47 179   9   4   5  37 41  5  3  .410  .469  .291
Reggie Willits      ANA   43 169  10   4   0  23 23 14  4  .408  .438  .331
Delmon Young        TB    44 177   7   2   9  18 42 19  4  .404  .548  .333
Ryan Doumit         PIT   43 142  10   0  11  16 32  1  2  .402  .627  .324
Russell Martin      LA    45 145   4   0   2  27 15  5  3  .397  .345  .276
Andy Marte          ATL   44 156  11   0   8  26 30  0  1  .396  .519  .295
Jeremy Brown        OAK   39 126   7   1   5  20 25  0  0  .396  .460  .270
Kelly Shoppach      BOS   40 140   8   0  11  21 43  0  0  .392  .571  .279
Brian Stavisky      OAK   45 170  11   3   3  18 19  0  1  .392  .482  .329
Tyler Minges        STL   46 169  14   2   9  17 23  1  1  .387  .586  .320
Felix Pie           CHN   43 171  15   3  10  14 37 13  7  .386  .632  .333
Joey Gathright      TB    37 137   7   3   1  21 32 22  4  .384  .401  .285
Gerald Laird        TEX   33 126   5   1   7  15 27  7  1  .382  .524  .302
Brant Colamarino    OAK   46 187  13   4  10  18 34  0  0  .377  .594  .321
Jeff Salazar        COL   45 177   6   2   3  25 31  8  7  .377  .395  .288
John-Ford Griffin   TOR   44 163   4   1   8  25 43  0  1  .376  .466  .282
Brian Anderson      CHA   46 171  12   1   8  20 48  2  1  .374  .526  .304
Edwin Encarnacion   CIN   45 160  11   0   8  20 36  4  2  .372  .513  .294
Willy Aybar         LA    44 167  16   1   2  16 25  1  2  .371  .461  .317
Joel Guzman         LA    44 159  12   2  10  22 53  3  1  .371  .579  .289
Elijah Dukes        TB    44 168   9   2   6  17 39  8  5  .369  .494  .310
Brian McCann        ATL   38 133  12   2   6  20 20  1  2  .369  .541  .286
Alberto Callaspo    ANA   45 180   5   0   5  19 10  6  4  .368  .417  .306
Dioner Navarro      LA    36 111   4   0   2  20 11  0  1  .366  .333  .243
Ryan Sweeney        CHA   30 117   7   0   0  13 12  0  1  .366  .350  .291
Casey Kotchman      ANA   45 173   8   0   1  22 19  0  2  .364  .341  .277
Prince Fielder      MIL   48 167   8   0   6  28 39  3  2  .362  .401  .246
Walter Young        BAL   40 147  10   0   3  14 24  0  0  .359  .422  .293
Michael Bourn       PHI   42 165   7   1   1  24 34 11  3  .354  .333  .261
Jeff Mathis         ANA   32 118   8   1   7  13 25  2  1  .351  .542  .280
B.J. Upton          TB    48 191  12   1   4  23 43 13  3  .350  .408  .272
Dave Krynzel        MIL   44 174  13   1   4  22 40  4  3  .350  .408  .253
Curtis Granderson   DET   43 174  13   2   2  17 46  7  5  .349  .414  .282
Brad Nelson         MIL   45 164  13   1   4  25 43  2  5  .349  .415  .250
Hanley Ramirez      BOS   36 145   5   7   1  11 23 12  3  .348  .441  .290
Adrian Gonzalez     TEX   33 123   5   0   7  10 16  0  0  .341  .488  .276
Tony Giarratano     DET   40 156  12   2   2  21 40  3  2  .341  .397  .256
Aaron Hill          TOR   38 156  11   0   5   4 17  2  0  .339  .468  .301
Delwyn Young        LA    45 169   7   0   7  14 45  1  2  .333  .438  .272
Ryan Garko          CLE   42 152  10   2   4  15 29  0  1  .327  .414  .243
Josh Kroeger        ARZ   40 143   5   2   5  14 35  4  1  .325  .420  .252
Jeff Francoeur      ATL   47 191  18   1   6  10 42  8  3  .324  .476  .277
Franklin Gutierrez  CLE   40 151   7   2   3  18 30  8  3  .322  .364  .232
Pete Laforest       TB    36 136  12   1   9   8 48  1  0  .320  .574  .272
James Loney         LA    47 171   8   0   5  18 35  0  1  .318  .380  .246
Mike Morse          SEA   46 170  12   2   4  16 34  1  0  .316  .412  .247
Erick Aybar         ANA   43 168   9   1   3   9 19 10  7  .314  .369  .250
Josh Fields         CHA   44 162   6   0   3  19 53  4  1  .306  .315  .222
Ian Kinsler         TEX   44 172  11   0   8  13 34  2  2  .305  .448  .244
Gabe Gross          TOR   37 144  11   1   1  14 26  6  0  .304  .347  .236
Brandon Phillips    CLE   41 173  11   0   6  10 37  2  2  .297  .416  .249
Omar Quintanilla    OAK   37 158   8   0   4   6 18  0  2  .297  .399  .272
Joaquin Arias       TEX   37 148   3   3   3   9 17  5  3  .291  .365  .243
Josh Barfield       SD    43 165   4   0   4  14 44  6  1  .287  .327  .230
Joe Borchard        CHA   43 153   8   0   5  14 61  2  1  .274  .353  .203

    Lefty Derek Thompson gets the call from the Dodgers :

" ...  he’ll make his Major League debut Saturday, starting against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Though currently on the Suns’ disabled list with a mild calf injury, Thompson, a Southern League All-Star in 2004, gets the call because he's already on the 40-man roster and he's left-handed facing a left-handed lineup ... Thompson is 0-2 with a 3.89 ERA, 43 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings with the Suns ...  should have made his first spring game appearance two years ago, when he came to camp as an acquired Rule v Draft selection. But in his third bullpen session, he suffered a partially torn elbow ligament that required surgery and shelved him the entire 2003 season ... in 2004, went 5-7 with a 3.72 ERA with the Suns ...  A supplemental first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians (37th overall), it is not the elbow but Thompson's left knee that makes him unique. In 2001, it received transplanted cadaver cartilage that has kept alive his career and dreams." (Jacksonville Suns)

    Ian Snell PIT back in the running for a starting role :

" ...  Some in the organization have thought ... Snell ...  was bound to be a reliever upon reaching Pittsburgh. That is because of his slight build -- 5 feet 11, 180 pounds -- and a concern he might not have the stamina to start in the majors. That mind-set apparently is shifting. Snell, 23, is 7-0 with a 3.06 earned run average this season, including a 0.82 ERA and a no-hitter in his past three starts. Perhaps most relevant as to his ability to start, he has been clocked at 95 mph in late innings. "Look at his numbers. They're second to none," McClendon said. "We're going to give him the opportunity to start. We'd be crazy not to. I don't think you should put limitations on him."  (Pittsburgh-Post Gazette)

    Chris Seddon TB wins a promotion to AAA :

" ...  Seddon, who started Opening Day and was the Montgomery Biscuits' best starting pitcher, isn't with the Biscuits anymore. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays promoted Seddon to Class AAA Durham after Thursday's game. "That's awesome," Seddon said. "It will be nice to go and see what I can do." Seddon was 6-1 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 starts. The Biscuits were 9-1 in Seddon's games. The 21-year-old was added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster in the offseason and made a favorable impression on the Devil Rays' major-league staff in spring training.' (Montgomery Advertiser)

   Ryan Garko CLE breaks out of a big-time slump :

" ...  During the Herd's last homestand, he was flatter than day-old soda, going 0 for 28 with a run and two walks. "Obviously, everyone goes through (slumps), it's just the way you handle them," said Garko, who was 1 for 3 on Thursday. "Being around these older guys, they've seen everything, and they've been giving me a lot of advice. I still have a long way to go to get myself back to where I need to be." Prior to Thursday's game, Garko and Bisons manager Marty Brown watched video of Garko from last season. Garko noticed he wasn't prepared to hit soon enough and made adjustments ...  The 24-year-old has always been a hitter. He combined to hit .330 with 22 homers and 99 RBIs at three levels last season and was named the Cleveland Indians Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today. There was no need to change his swing or adjust his mechanics. So Brown stayed busy patting him on the back for his superb catching while trying to build his confidence at the plate."  (Buffalo News)

   Unheralded OAK kid blasts his way to Triple-A :

" ... If Brant Colamarino could select the most gratifying night of his young professional career, Thursday would merit serious consideration. After hitting a home run, a triple and driving in six runs to lead Midland to a 12-7 victory against Arkansas at Citibank Ballpark, the RockHounds first baseman was informed of his promotion to Triple-A Sacramento ...  Colamarino, who joined the RockHounds (30-17) midway through the 2004 campaign, entered Thursday's contest with a .317 average and a Texas League-high 39 runs batted in this season. He added to that league-leading total in thrilling fashion, crushing a bases-loaded triple off the center field wall in the first inning and hammering a three-run home run inside the right-field foul pole in the second."  (Midland Reporter Telegram)

   Kevin T. Czerwinski, MLB.com, on Adam Loewen BAL :

" ...  this game, lousy weather and all, could mark the start of something special for the lanky left-hander ... went the distance in a rain-shortened affair, making his way through seven innings -- his longest outing of the year. He struck out eight -- one short of his season high -- and allowed only three hits and three walks. The three bases on balls are significant considering Loewen entered the game leading the Minor Leagues with 39 walks. He is still out in front with 42, but his effort amidst the raindrops Wednesday morning was impressive and controlled. He threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of the 26 batters he faced, ultimately throwing 107 pitches. For someone who has struggled with pitch counts and finding the plate for much of this season, the performance was just short of brilliant, despite the wind-aided, two-run homer he served up ... "When he gets out there in a groove, he's very impressive," Frederick pitching coach and former Orioles great Scott McGregor said prior to the start. "He's a good competitor. He's just frustrated with himself. He's not as consistent as he wants to be, and right now you see all the potential. Once he figures things out, he's going to move through the system quickly. " ...  Still, McGregor thinks that Loewen is trying to be too perfect on the mound, trying to pick at the corners rather than just throw the ball over the plate and let his natural ability take over."


27 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Kelly Johnson LF ATL 3-4, 3B, 2 R ... James Jurries 1B ATL 4-4, 2B, R, RBI ... Andy Marte 3B ATL 2-3, 8th HR, R, 3 RBI, BB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-3, 4th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB, 0 errors ... Jonny Gomes LF TB 1-1, 2 R, 3 BB ... Nelson Cruz DET 6 5 3 3 1 6 3.96 ... rehab, Juan Gonzalez RF CLE 2-5, R ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 2-3, 2B, R, RBI ... Chris Narveson BOS 5 3 3 2 5 5 4.25 ... Bryan Bullington PIT 5 6 3 3 1 5 7.40 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 1-3, 4th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... rehab, Frank Thomas DH CHA 0-4, BB ... Felix Diaz CHA 6 6 3 3 1 3, 2.49 ... Sean Henn NYA 7 3 0 0 2 6, 1.85 ... Jason Bartlett SS MIN 2-3, 2 BB ... Scott Baker MIN 5-1/3 6 4 4 2 4 2.34 ... John Maine BAL 7 3 2 2 1 4, 3.65

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Todd Linden SF 2-4, 2 RBI … Dan Johnson OAK 1-4, double, RBI, run … Javier Herrera OAK 2-4, double, 3 runs … Ronny Cedeno CHN 4-5, double, 2 solo homers … Jairo Garcia OAK 2/3 0 0 0 1 2, (S, 4) … Bobby Brownlie CHN 5-2/3 8 8 8 5 5, L … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-5, RBI, run … Jeff Mathis ANA 2-4, run … John Nelson STL 2-3, double … Skip Schumaker STL 4-5, 2 doubles … Chris Snelling SEA 1-4, .397 … Josh Willingham FLO 1-2, 14th homer, 2 RBI, 3 runs, 2 walks … Josh Wilson FLO 1-2, double, 2 walks … Carlos Quentin ARI 2-4, double, RBI, run … Conor Jackson ARI 2-4, solo homer … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-4, homer, 2 RBI … Josh Barfield SD 1-4, run, 2K … Ben Johnson SD 3-4, double, 2 solo homers … Jon Knott SD 2-5, double … Norihiro Nakamura LA 3-5, 2 doubles, RBI … Jason Repko LA 3-5, homer, 2 runs … Carlos Hernandez HOU 4 8 4 3 4 2, L

EASTERN (AA)  --  Eric Duncan NYA 2-3, 5th homer, .246 ... Vince Perkins TOR 6 4 0 0 2 5, 3.33 ... Edgar Gonzalez  WAS 4-5, 2 doubles, .297 ... Dee Haynes, now with WAS, 3-5, 2 homers, 5 RBI, .397 ... Joel Zumaya DET, on the front end of a near no-hitter, 7-2/3 0 0 0 4 14.

" ...  Jason Cooper singled to center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to ruin the no-no after Erie starter Joel Zumaya had gone 7 2/3 hitless innings before turning the ball over to [Edwin] Almonte. The 20-year-old Zumaya (3-3) was masterful throughout the Eastern League first-place showdown, striking out 14 Aeros and walking four on the afternoon. "It was a big thrill for me," said Zumaya, who threw a majority of fastballs along with some change-ups and breaking balls. "I was really pumped out there." ...  Zumaya had thrown 123 pitches, well past the team limit of 100 for starters. So he was not surprised that Dyer took him out. "He wanted to save my arm," said Zumaya, whose fastball topped out at 99 mph on the day. "I wanted to at least finish the inning." (minorleaguebaseball.com)

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Bobby Jenks CHA 12th Save, 1-2/3 1 0 0 0 5, 2.31 ... Dan Uggla ARZ 3-4, 8th homer, .343 ... James Shanks OF FLO 4-4, 2 doubles, triple, .307 ... Michael Thompson SD 7 6 3 3 1 3, 1.90 ... Ricky Nolasco CHN 5-2/3 9 2 2 2 8, 2.08 ... Matt Murton CHN 3-5, double, .399 ... Elijah Dukes TB 3-4, double, 2 SBs (8), .310 ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, 9th homer, .333 ... Joel Guzman LA 2-5, 12th double, 2 RBI, .289 ... James Loney LA 3-5, .246

TEXAS (AA)  --  Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-4, R, .306 ... Michael Napoli ANA 2-5, 3K, .287 ... Brian Stavisky OAK 2-4, 2R, RBI(28), .329 ... Andre Ethier OAK 3-5, 3R, 2RBI(37), .375 ... Boy can he drive in the runs - Brant Colamarino OAK 2-4, 2R, 3B, HR(10), 6RBI(45), .321 ... Yikes on his year so far - Steven Shell ANA 2 9 7 7 1 2 (5.71) ... Robinson Cancel (C) STL 1-4, R, HR(4), RBI(13), 333 ... Ruddy Yan TX 2-4, 2B, .319 ... Joaquin Arias TX 1-3, HR(3), RBI(15), 243 ... Josh Rupe TX 7 3 2 2 1 9 (3.30) ...  Juan Dominguez TX (W,1-0) 3 0 0 0 0 4 (2.86) ... Carlos Rodriguez (LF) HOU 2-4, R, HR(6), RBI(21), .273 ... On fire as of late - Doug Bernier (SS) COL 2-5, 2B, RBI(20), .291 ... Ryan Spilborghs COL 2-4, RBI(37), .357 ... Injured or on a pitch count? - Mark McLemore HOU (L 4-4) 1 2/3 6 4 0 1 2 (2.66) ... Zach Parker COL (W,6-2) 8 8 2 1 0 5 (3.81) . A rare 0-fer - Justin Huber KC 0-4, .352 ... Cory Aldridge KC 1-4, R, HR(12), RBI(37), .296 ... Rene Rivera SEA 2-3, 2B, 2RBI(11), .292 ... Bobby Livingston SEA (W,5-2) 8 3 1 1 0 5 (3.08) ... Sean Green SEA (S,14) 1 1 0 0 0 2 (3.09)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Chris Carter ARZ 3-4, 9th homer, .309 ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI ... Kendry Morales ANA 0-4, walk ... Bobby Crosby OAK, rehab, 1-3 ... Daric Barton OAK 0-2, 2 walks, .280 ... Mitch Maier KC minor-league leading 23rd double, .343 ... Billy Butler KC 1-4, 13th homer, 3 Ks, .354 ... Kila Kaaihue 1B KC 2-3, 8th homer, .371 ... Edison Volquez TEX 6 6 5 4 0 8, 4.45 ... Jay Garthwaite ARZ 3-4, 2 homers (3), 4 RBI, .295

CAROLINA (A+) --  Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4, R, 2 K ... Thomas Collaro CHA 0-3, BB, 2 K ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-4, double, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-4, 2 K ... Nate Spears BAL 2-5, double, RBI, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-3, BB ... Javier Guzman PIT 2-3, R, triple ... Kory Casto WAS 3-5, 2 R, double, K ... Mike Hinckley WAS (L, 0-2, 7.90) 3-1/3 8 7 3 3 3 ... Matt Albers HOU (W, 2-6, 4.47) 6 7 4 2 2 6

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  The streak ends, and starts again, Andy LaRoche 3B LA 0-4 & 1-3 HR(19) … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 2-4 RBI … Justin Orenduff LA 5 3 3 0 3 5 L(3-2, 2.13) … Nate Blackburn MIN 6 2/3 8 3 2 1 4 W(5-2, 3.20) … Jay Sawatski MIN 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 S(5) … Matt Moses 3B MIN 2-3 … Glen Perkins MIN 6 5 1 1 1 7 L(1-2, 2.65) … Preston Larrison DET 4 2/3 7 2 1 3 0 L … Zach Jackson TOR 8 4 0 0 0 8 W(8-1, 2.88) … Cody Haerther LF STL 1-4 HR(8) 2RBI … Chris Dickson CF CIN 2-5 RBI

MIDWEST (A) --  a lot more success than publicity for the youngster Matt Weber CHN 6 6 3 1 1 2 (2.66) .. Ryan Harvey CHN 1-4, 3 K's ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-4, 5th double (.390) ... James Houser, Jr. TB 5 7 4 4 1 4 (3.75) ... trying to bounce back Justin Justice DET 2-3, triple (.226) ... Eric Hurley TEX 5 8 5 4 2 4 (3.83) ... Matt Bush SD 1-4 (.236) ... Kyle Waldrop MIN 6 6 5 5 0 6 (4.92) .. Asdrubal Cabrera SEA 2-4 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 2-4, triple (.272) .. and for the morbidly curious Rick Ankiel (at DH) STL 2nd double, 1st HR

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Tony Sipp CLE  6 6 3 2 0 4, 1.58 ... Brian Barton CLE 2-7, homer, & 0-3, .420  ... Michael Dzurilla 2B PHI 3-5, double, .381 ... J.C. Holt ATL 3-5, double, homer, 3 RBI, .231 ... Jack Egbert CHA 7 3 0 0 0 5, 2.84 ... Brian Horwitz SF 2-3, double, .368

  Troop Movements ... CLE - Kevin Millwood to DL, Brian Tallet up ... COL - Aaron Miles DL, Eddy Garabito up ... WAS - Jon Rauch Dl (torn labrum), Claudio Vargas designated, Zach Day to AAA, activated TJ Tucker, purchased the contracts of Tyrell Godwin, SunWoo Kim, signed CJ Nitkowski ... BAL- Hayden Penn up, Erik Bedard DL (knee) ... KC - Steve Stemle up, Jaime Cerda to AAA ... BOS - John Olerud, Kelly Shoppach up, Jeremi Gonzalez to AAA, Shawn Wooten designated for assignment ...

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, rates the best of the RHP prospects. Still some top talent after No. 1 - Felix Hernandez :

" ... 2. Yusmeiro Petit ...  blew away the Sally and Florida State Leagues last season and across three levels struck out 200 batters in 139 innings and walked 41. By the time he reaches the majors, his fastball, slider and change will all be plus offerings. There's some concern about his conditioning habits, but otherwise he's a legit future ace. This season, he's completely dominating the competition at AA-Norfolk, and he's still only 20 years of age."

" ... 9. Homer Bailey ...  prep-trained first-rounder in 2004, Bailey is another in an endless of line of hard-throwing right-handers from the state of Texas. His fastball touches the high 90s with good movement, and he also sports a plus curve. He'll need to stay healthy and cultivate his off-speed stuff, but there's lots to like already. This season, he's off to a strong start at Low-A Dayton, and he'll likely be promoted before long."

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, has notes on Justin Huber and BJ Upton in his latest update.

" ...  Huber’s stock as a prospect dropped a bit when the Royals made the decision to move him out from behind the plate this spring ... probably will end up at first or in the DH spot in the majors, depending on what the Royals want to do with 2004 first-round pick Billy Butler. Huber has the bat to be an asset anywhere. He hit .271/.414/.487 in his half year in Double-A last season, and he’s currently at .363/.463/.583 for Wichita. He’ll probably show 20- rather than 30-homer power in the majors, but he could hit .280/.370/.460 with regularity and peak higher ...  more than ready for the Pacific Coast League, and at this rate, he might soon be Kansas City’s best option to play alongside Mike Sweeney at first base and DH."

" ...  Upton recently went 14 games without an error at Durham, but he’s slumped offensively throughout May and he doesn’t seem to be any closer to a callup now than he was at the start of the season. Fortunately, the Rays have resisted the temptation to move him off shortstop as a result of his errors (he’s at 17 right now). It’s still likely that he’ll have a job somewhere in the Tampa Bay infield by July or August."


26 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Nate McLouth LF PIT 1-4 ... Ryan Doumit RF PIT 0-3, BB ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 1-4 ... Ian Snell PIT 7 3 1 1 1 4, 3.06 ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 1-4, R ... Pedro Lopez 2B CHA 0-4 ... rehab, Frank Thomas DH CHA 0-4

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Prince Fielder MIL 0-3 ... Rickie Weeks sat out two in a row, no news ... Josh Barfield SD 1-4 ... Jon Knott SD 1-4, solo homer ... Ben Hendrickson MIL 6 6 2 2 1 2, 4.01 ... Brad Baker SD 1 4 4 4 0 2, BS, L ... Ryan Shealy COL 0-2 & 0-3 ... Choo Freeman COL 0-3 & 0-2 ... Ian Kinsler TEX 2-3, double & 1-4 ... Marshall McDougall TEX 1-1, 2 walks & 3-4, triple, 2 runs ... John Hudgins TEX 7 3 1 0 1 6, W, CG ... Todd Linden SF 1-3, 2 walks ... Casey Kotchman ANA 1-5 ... Jeff Mathis ANA 0-3, 2 walks ... Chris Duncan STL 2-3 ... John Gall STL 2-4 ... Chris Snelling SEA 2-5 ... Josh Willingham FLO 1-3, homer, 2 RBI ... Josh Kroeger ARI 2-5, double, homer, 3 RBI ... Carlos Quentin ARI 1-2, walk, run ... Chris Burke HOU 2-4, double, solo homer ... Dan Johnson OAK 1-4, double, 2 walks ... Javier Herrera OAK 2-4, homer, 2 RBI ... Ronny Cedeno CHN 2-4, double, 2 RBI ... Mike Fontenot CHN 2-6, double

EASTERN (AA)  --  Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-4, .238 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 1-4, .263 AVG … Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-4, .261 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-4, .299 AVG … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-3, 3B (2), .238 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-3, SB (13), .253 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-4, .216 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 3-5, SB (8), HR, RBI (15), .327 AVG …Michael Bourn OF PHI 2-4, 4 RBI (13), .267 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 1-4, RBI (33), .380 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 1-4, .223 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 0-3, .267 AVG … Paul Stewart PIT 7 3 2 2 2 6, 4.07 ERA … David Aardsma SF 5 6 2 1 3 4, 2.93 ERA … Shaun Marcum TOR 5 3 2 2 4 4, W (7), 2.53 ERA …

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Chuck James ATL 6 5 1 1 3 6, 1.62 ... Matt Murton CHN 2-3, .393 ... Chris Young OF CHA 2-4, 18th double, 9th homer, .3 RBI, .250 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 2-4, .320 ... Chad Orvella TB 1-2/3 0 0 0 1 3, 0.36 ... Delmon Young TB 2-3, .335 ... Joel Guzman LA 1-3, 11th double, .286

TEXAS (AA)  --  Justin Huber 1-4, R, SB(5), .360 ... Jason Hirsh HOU (L,4-5) 6 1/3 5 6 4 2 2 (3.62) ... Brian Bass KC (W,5-2) 7 6 2 1 2 3 (4.92) ... Tyler Minges STL 3-4, 2R, HR(9), 2RBI(29), .321 ... Brian Stavisky OAK 2-4, R, 3RBI(27), .325 .. Andre Ethier OAK 1-4, RBI(35), .369 ... Brant Colamarino OAK 1-4, R, 2B 3RBI(39), .317 ... Omar Quintanilla OAK 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI(18, .279 ... Francis Gomez (3B-SS) OAK 2-5, 2R, RBI(4), .381 ... HOLY OUCH! - Jeremy Cook STL (L,2-2) 2 2/3 13 10 10 0 1 (4.64) ... Ryan Spilborghs COL 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI, .354 ... Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 3-4, R, .278 ... Joaquin Arias TX 2-4, RBI(14), .241 ... Warming up - Erick Aybar ANA 3-5, 3R, 2HR(3), 2RBI(20), .258 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-4, R, .301 ... Tommy Murphy ANA 2-4, 2R, HR(7), 2RBI(26), .315

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Kendry Morales ANA 1-3, double ... Daric Barton OAK 1-4, .283 ...  Ubaldo Jimenez COL 6 4 1 1 6 5, 3-0, 2.91 ... Ian Stewart COL, tough spell, 0-4, 3 Ks, .211 ... Christian Colonel OF COL 3-4, double, .500 (just 7 games) ... Vincent Sinisi TEX 3-4, 2 doubles, .333

CAROLINA (A+) --  Micah Schnurstein CHA 2-4 ... Thomas Collaro CHA 1-5, 2 K ... Josh Burrus ATL 0-3, 2 BB, SB (11) ... Matt Esquivel ATL 2-4, RBI, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 0-1, 3 BB, K ... Dan Haigwood CHA (W, 6-1, 2.70) 5-1/3 5 1 1 4 5 ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-3, 2 K ... Michael Hall BOS 0-1, K ...  Adam Loewen BAL (L, 0-2, 3.08) 7 3 2 2 3 8 CG ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-4, R, BB, 3 K ...

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Only a rain-out can keep Andy LaRoche from going deep … Perhaps wishing it had rained, Phillip Humber NYN 3 8 7 7 2 3 L(0-4, 5.35) – Gives up 2 home runs … Justin Christian 2B NYA 3-4 R SB(21) … Benefiting from Humber’s night, Tyler Clippard NYA 5 6 5 5 2 6 W(6-3, 4.09) … David Purcey TOR 4 2/3 6 7 5 2 6 ND, 4.20 … Juan Mateo CHN 4 3 1 1 1 5 ND, 1.98 … Lou Palmisano C MIL 2-4 2B 2R … Tim Dillard MIL 6 1/ 3 6 3 2 1 5 ND, 3.34 … Juan Francia 2B DET 2-5 2R 2RBI … Cody Haerther LF STL 3-3 R 2SB(7) … Bobby Basham CIN 6 9 2 2 0 4 W(2-2, 4.19)

MIDWEST (A) --  A.J. Shappi ARZ 9 6 1 1 1 1 (W, 7-1, 2.51) ... Wilkin Castillo ARZ 2-4, double ... Ryan Webb OAK 5 10 4 4 3 3 (3.56) ... Sean Kazmar SD 3-5, 11th double ... very cautious, very encouraging Homer Bailey CIN 4 1 0 0 2 5 (1.91) ... Tarrance Patterson MIN 2-4, 9th double, 9th SB (.273) ... wow Anthony Swarzak MIN 8 2 1 0 0 13 (W, 5-2, 2.17) ... Reid Brignac TB 2-4, 6th E (.260) ... Jair Jurrjens DET 6 2/3 5 2 2 1 4 (2.49) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 1-4 (.264) ... Chi-Hung Cheng TOR 3 1/3 4 5 5 3 3 (3.15)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Gio Gonzalez CHA 7 6 3 3 2 9, 3-2, 2.15 ... DH David Cook CHA 2-4, 9th & 10th homers, .306 ...  Phil Hughes NYA  5 8 2 2 1 7, 5-1, 1.66 ...  Juan Gutierrez HOU 6 1 0 0 1 4, 2-2, 2.21 ... still no sign of COL SS Chris Nelson ... Hunter Pence 2-5, triple, .341 ... Mitch Einertson HOU 2-3, homer, 3 RBI, .229

  Troop Movements ... LA - Jayson Werth activated from DL, Jason Repko to AAA ... TEX - activated RA Dickey from DL, optioned to AAA ... OAK - activated Nick Swisher, Matt Watson to AAA, purchased the contract of Britt Reames, Jermaine Clark released  ... BAL - Javy Lopez DL, Sal Fasano back  up ... CHN - Todd Walker activated, Mike Remlinger DL ... CIN - PauL Wilson DL, Jason Romano up ... WAS - John Patterson DL ... FLO - Yorman Bazardo up, Frank Castillo up, Chris Aguila, Logan Kensing to AAA ...

" ... Howie Kendrick ...  the league's leading hitter, aggravated an oblique muscle injury in Saturday's loss to Visalia and was placed on the seven-day disabled list on Sunday."

    Jonathon Mayo, MinorLeagueBaseball, on Delmon Young or Felix Pie ?

" ...   I'm going to say Delmon Young because of the upside power potential. Not that Pie doesn't have power potential -- he's already showing it -- and he does play center field. Personally, I would take either one of these guys. But I think that Delmon Young, if everything falls into place for him, will be a very, very special player. Not that Pie can't be an All-Star caliber player, but when you look at Young and consider his ceiling, it's endless. So I'll say Delmon Young, but only by a hair. If you told me I couldn't build my team around Young and had to build it around Pie, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it."

    Finalists announced for the Golden Spikes Award -- 3B Ryan Braun,  C Jeff Clement, OF Trevor Crowe, 3B Alex Gordon and SP Luke Hochevar :

" ... Braun is currently leading the Hurricanes in most offensive categories including hits (79), runs scored (68), home runs (16) and RBI (70) while posting a .418 batting average."

" ... Clement is considered one of the top catchers in the nation and is currently leading the Trojans in most offensive categories, including hits (67), doubles (17), home runs (11) and RBI (44) while posting a team-high .358 batting average."

" ... Crowe is the Pac-10 leader in no less then eight offensive categories, including a .429 batting average with 76 runs scored, 24 doubles, 13 triples, nine home runs, 53 RBI and 23 stolen bases."

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, on Troy Tulowitzki :

" ... [the] Long Beach State shortstop ... getting a lot of attention as one of the best prospects in the draft this year. He has excellent physical tools across the board, including on defense ... Statistically, he's at .356/.435/.607 this year. That looks good, but it's even better than you might expect. Long Beach plays in a pitcher's park ...  Accounting for context, he's been one of the most dominant players in the college game this year."

    Bryan Smith, TheBaseball Analysts, on Justin Upton :

" ... Upton has been heralded as a good player since his brother was making headlines, and scouts whispered that Justin might be better than B.J. While throwing issues at shortstop will likely force Upton to move down the road, his jaw-dropping speed will be more than enough for the centerfield spot. Upton has the combination of arm strength, speed and sweet stroke to be a future superstar.

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Billy Butler KC & Matt Kemp LA :

" ... Butler ...  tearing up the high Class A California League this year by hitting .366/.455/.657 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 45 games... While Butler is a masher, he's not a third baseman. He has some arm strength, but he lacks the range, agility and footwork to play adequately at the hot corner. He has 15 errors in 35 games this year, and Kansas City knew when it drafted him that he'd probably wind up at first base. The Royals simply are trying to maximize his value by seeing if he can handle third base during the early stages of his career, but scouts say it won't work."

" ...  Kemp is a real prospect. He was more of a basketball prospect in high school, but he lacked the grades to get an NCAA Division I scholarship and signed for $130,000 as a sixth-round pick in 2003. The best athlete in a Dodgers system loaded with athletes, Kemp hit 18 homers in his first full season last year and has kicked his power up another notch in 2005 ...  To make the jump to elite prospect, he needs to show more consistency. Kemp has played baseball full-time for less than two years, and it shows. He's still raw when it comes to controlling the strike zone (30 whiffs, six walks in 2005), which inhibits his ability to hit for average (.258), and his defense could stand some improvement as well."

    Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, on Thomas Diamond, John Danks :

" ... It’s conceivable that Diamond or Danks, the Rangers’ top picks in the last two June drafts, could pitch in the majors before the end of this year. For that to happen, though, there would have to be a rash of injuries to the major league staff or the Rangers would have to fall out of contention, or both. I expect Diamond and Danks to be pitching at Double-A Frisco before July 4, and they may be joined by Class A Bakersfield teammate Edison Volquez. "

    Kevin Czerwinski, MLB.com, on Anibal Sanchez BOS :

" ... Sanchez has been the ace this season for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Boston's Class A affiliate in the Carolina League. He's 4-1 through eight starts with a 2.09 ERA ... He says he's still learning and that Wilmington is a good spot for him. For now. "I'd like to reach the big leagues this September when they expand the rosters," Sanchez said ...  Sanchez's early dominance would suggest he might outgrow the Carolina League quickly, if he already hasn't. He's coming off a 2004 season in which he went 3-4 with a 1.77 ERA in 15 starts for Class A Lowell after Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2003 season. While his fastball hops and his changeup dances, Sanchez knows he needs to work more on his curveball if he is to have any chance of realizing his dream of being in Boston by year's end. "I just don't have control over it," Sanchez said."  (MLB.com)


25 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-4, R ... Stephen Smitherman LF CIN 2-5 ... Eude Brito PHI 4 4 2 2 4 0 9.11 ... John-Ford Griffin LF TOR 2-4, BB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 0-4, 0 errors ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB ... rehab, Juan Gonzalez RF CLE 0-4 ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 6 6 5 5 3 4, 5.96 ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 1-4, 11th HR, R, RBI, BB ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 2-4, R, RBI, SB ... Cory Stewart PIT 7 4 2 2 4 4, 4.30 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 2-5, 2B, R, SB ... rehab, Frank Thomas DH CHA 0-2, RBI, 2 BB

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Casey Kotchman ANA 1-5 … Jeff Mathis ANA 2-5, run … Nick Swisher OAK 1-3, 2K … Mike Fontenot CHN 1-3, double … Jon Leicester CHN 3 2 0 0 4 3, 3.46 … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 0 0 0 0 2, (S, 5) … Jorge Piedra COL 2-4, 2 doubles … Ian Kinsler TEX 2-4, run, SB … Marshall McDougall TEX 2-3, RBI, run … Matt Cain SF 6 6 2 2 2 9, ND, 3.44 … Josh Willingham FLO 1-4, homer, 2 RBI, 2 runs … Carlos Quentin ARI 1-4 … Sergio Santos ARI 2-3, run … John Gall STL 2-4, double … John Nelson STL 2-4, 2 RBI … Shin Soo Choo SEA 3-6, double … Chris Snelling SEA 1-3, triple, 2 runs, 2 walks … Anthony Reyes STL 5-1/3 6 4 2 2 7, 2.52 … Chris Burke HOU 2-5, 2 doubles … Humberto Quintero HOU 2-4, double, solo homer … I think his wrist is healed sufficiently, Jayson Werth LA 4-4, homer, 5 RBI, 2 runs, SB, .378 … Dioner Navarro LA 1-4 … not dominating yet, but this is better than usual, Edwin Jackson LA 5 6 3 2 2 3, (W, 3-4) … Franquelis Osoria LA 1-2/3 2 0 0 0 3, (S, 6) … Prince Fielder MIL 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI … Ben Johnson SD 2-5 … Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 0 2, (S, 13)

EASTERN (AA)  --  Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-4, .261 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-5, .300 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 1-4, .258 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-4, .222 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 2-4, 2B (13), .318 AVG …Michael Bourn OF PHI 0-3, HR, 2 RBI (10), .261 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 2-4, HR (11), RBI (32), .385 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 1-4, .276 AVG … Jake Dittler CLE 6 7 1 1 0 8, 2.30 ERA … Richard Rundles WAS 9 5 3 3 1 4, W (4), 3.26 ERA … Paul Maholm PIT 6 5 1 1 1 5, 3.81 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Jeremy Hermida FLO 2-4, walk, 3 RBI, .315 ... Delywn Young LA 1-4, 7th homer, 3 RBI ... Ben Kozlowski CIN  6-2/3 8 2 2 3 2

TEXAS (AA)  --  Back on Track? - Tyler Minges (RF) STL 3-6, 3R, 2B, 3B, HR(8), 3RBI(27), 311 ... Travis Hanson (3B) STL 3-5, 2R, 2B, 3RBI(32), .295 ... Robinson Cancel STL 2-5, R, 2B, .346 ... Brian Stavisky (DH) OAK 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2RBI(24), .321 ... Andre Ethier OAK 1-4, R, 2B, .371 ... Jason Perry (RF) OAK 2-5, 3R, 2HR(11), 3RBI(32), .266 ... Must have found himself a slumpbuster - Josh Anderson (CF) HOU 2-3, R, SB(17), .301 ... Justin Huber KC 1-4, .363 ... Fernando Nieve HOU (W,3-2) 6 3 1 1 4 6 (3.20) ... Warming up - Jeff Salazar COL 2-4, R, .295 ... Also warming up - Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 3-4, R, 2B, HR(5), RBI(20), .268

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Kendry Morales ANA 4-6, homer, .474 ... Billy Butler KC 4-5, walk,  11th & 12th homers, 4 RBI, .366 ... Mitch Maier KC 5-6, .343 ... Thomas Diamond TEX 6 6 3 3 2 6, 2.77 ... Wes Bankston TB 2-5, .396 ... Ian Stewart COL 0-5, .220 ... Nate Schierholtz SF 2-4, homer, 5 RBI, .296 ... Vincent Sinisi TEX 3-3, double, walk, .281

CAROLINA (A+) --  Nate Spears BAL 1-4, R, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-4, 13th double, RBI (30), K ... Michael Hall BOS 2-4, 2 K ...  Chad Spann BOS 1-4, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4 ... Thomas Collaro CHA 1-5, double, 2 K ... Martin Prado ATL 2-5, RBI ... Josh Burrus ATL 2-5, R, double, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 2-4, R, double, BB, 2 K ... Jake Stevens ATL 6-2/3 7 3 1 1 6 ... Brad Snyder CLE 1-2, R, double, RBI, 2 BB, SB (10) ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-3, RBI, BB ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-4, K

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Five games in a row with a bomb for, Andy LaRoche 3B LA 1-3 HR(18) - .360/397/.710 … Chuck Tiffany LA 4 3 1 1 1 6 L(4-3, 2.55) … Denard Span CF MIN 2-5 R RBI … Justin Verlander DET 6 8 2 2 1 9 W(6-2, 1.55) … Juan Francia 2B DET 3-5 2HR(2) 2B 4RBI … Steve Moss CF MIL 3-4 2B RBI SB(4) … Jake Blalock 2-4 R RBI … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 2-3 3B R … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 3-6 3B 2R 2RBI … Guillermo Mota FLO (rehab) 1 2/3 2 1 0 0 3 … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-3 2 doubles R … Casey Janssen TOR 6 4 1 1 0 9 W(6-0, 1.38) … Sean Marshall CHN 6 6 3 3 2 7 L(3-2, 2.00) … Javon Moran CF CIN 3-4 R … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 2-3 HR(12) 2R

MIDWEST (A) --  Sean Rodriguez ANA 1-2, 2 BB (.257) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-3 (.184) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 2-5, double ... promote him already Eric Patterson CHN 3-5 (.385) ... Reid Brignac TB 2-5, 2 K ... flashing some speed Wilkin Ramirez DET 2-4, triple, 11th SB (.290) ... Matt Bush SD 1-3, BB ... Kyle Rogers TEX 5 6 4 3 2 3 (6.15) ... Wilkin Castillo (in LF) ARZ 2-3, 3rd HR, BB ... hot streak ends Luis Cota KC 5 2/3 7 5 3 3 6 (still just 1.95) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 1-5, triple (.306) ... Oswaldo Navarro SEA 3-5 (.289)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Gaby Hernandez NYN 6 1 0 0 4 6, 2.76 ... Brian Barton CLE 3-5, 3 doubles, .475 ... Luis Ramirez BAL 6 3 2 1 3 11, 1.92

  Troop Movements ... ANA - recalled Chris Bootcheck, Kevin Gregg to AAA ... MIL - 2004 1st rounder Mark Rogers (South Atlantic League) to DL (hand injury) ...  SD Mark Loretta DL, Brian Falkenborg up ... SF - Jason Schmidt activated, Jeremy Accardo to AAA ... CHN - recalled Sergio Mitre, Ben Grieve to AAA ... TOR - activated Gregg Zaun, Andy Dominique to AAA, Frank Catalanotto,  bereavement leave,  Gabe Gross up  ... LA - Odalis Perez to DL, Buddy Carlyle back up ... BAL - Sammy Sosa activated, Sal Fasano designated for assignment ... PHI - Amaury Telemaco up, Terry Adams designated ...

    David Regan & crew at RotoAmerica salute the phenoms in the latest Who's Hot. 

" ... 1. Andy LaRoche, 3B...  6 HR's this week in a four game stretch. 17 HR overall and a .710 slugging %. Time for a promotion, as he's making a mockery of the Florida State League."

" ... Ian Snell, SP, PIT 2.) Some compare his stature and stuff to Pedro Martinez. Either way, all it's going to take to get him to the bigs is a couple poor outings by Josh Fogg or another of the Pirates' scrubs. He'll have to beat out Zach Duke for the first call-up though."

" ... Felix Pie, OF, CHC 3.) Not sure where the power surge came from, but he's already matched his career high with 10 HR in the Southern League. Hitting .342/.397/.658 and on a tear. May have the Cubbies wondering if he can take an OF spot in Wrigley next year. Just turned 20 in February."

    LaRoche also tops the latest Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball America.  Kevin Goldstein makes the picks :

" ... 1. Andy LaRoche ...  You want hot? How about six home runs in his last four games? How about a minor league-leading 17 home runs while playing in the Florida State League? How about a .400-12-21 mark in 21 games this month? Case closed!"

" ... 2. Chuck James ...  l Double-A has provided no significant problem to the 23-year-old lefty, who has struck out 18 of the 38 batters he's faced in his two starts for Mississippi, while allowing five hits and three walks."

" ... 3. Justin Verlander ...   He's yet to allow more than two runs in any of his eight starts, and he hasn't walked a batter in his last two. Once he gets warmed up, it's all over, as after the third inning, he has a 0.00 ERA in 28 innings."

    So far, he's looking like an MVP - Andy LaRoche LA, who leads the FSL in hits, runs, total bases, slugging, home runs while batting .361 (second in the loop) :

" ...   brother of Atlanta first baseman Adam LaRoche and son of two-time All-Star pitcher Dave LaRoche. "I'm living in (Adam's) shadow right now," Andy said. "Hopefully, in a few years I'll make a name for myself." Florida State League pitchers already know his name. LaRoche, who hit two home runs Monday night, is among the top three in the league in nine offensive categories, including leading in slugging percentage (.614), total bases (110), hits (66), runs (42), at-bats (183) and home runs (17). LaRoche plays down his quick start, but it doesn't surprise one of his closest friends — Adam. "He's going to be good. He's going to be really good," Adam said. "From what I hear, he's a lot farther along than where I was (at 21). When I was 21, I was in rookie ball in Danville, Va., in 2000. It took me a lot longer to get used to a wood bat. ... He's a lot stronger than I am now, so he's way stronger than I was at that age. "... Andy, a right-handed third baseman, is intense, packs power and has speed both in the field and on the base paths." (Vero Beach Press Journal)

    Darrin Beene, Tacoma News Tribune, on Felix Hernandez :

" ...  Rainiers manager Dan Rohn ...  “He’s pretty close, pretty close” ... Hernandez gave up four hits and two walks in his 94-pitch outing, using a diving two-seam fastball to get nine groundouts in a game that lasted just 2 hours, 7 minutes. There were no lingering problems with Hernandez’s left ankle, which was hit by a sharp grounder off the bat of Albuquerque’s Drew Niles in his previous start. Hernandez said the ankle is still sore but he was able to have a good bullpen session Friday ...  “I was looking for a quick game,” Hernandez said. “I wasn’t looking for strikeouts, just a quick game. That’s all.” ... “If anything, he probably needs to be challenged some more,” Rohn said. “We need to find ways to challenge him more when he’s out there.” Catcher Bryce Terveen, who had not caught a Hernandez start this year, said besides the sinking fastball, Hernandez’s change-up and curveball were producing some awkward swings. “Everything is a plus (pitch),” Terveen said. “I can’t say anything bad about his performance. It’s fun catching it. It’s like Nintendo, you know what I mean?”

   Richie Robnett OAK on the road back after a lengthy DL stint :

" ...   Robnett's strained left hamstring kept him out of action from April 26 to May 20 and his rustiness was interrupted by occasional glimpses of brilliance against the Bakersfield Blaze. He finished 1-for-11 with a solo home run and two walks. The outfielder struck out twice and had many impatient swings that led to popups. He said his home run against Edison Volquez on Saturday night "felt great" but he isn't fully healthy yet. "I'm still not 100 percent because I can't run on it at full speed," Robnett said. "You'll see the difference when it's right." Robnett played both center and right field against the Blaze and Stockton manager Todd Steverson said he will continue to play both spots. Robnett did make an error in right field by overrunning a ball on Saturday." (Stockton Record)

   Chris Snelling SEA, again on the prospect chart :

Snelling is definitely a player to watch...  statistics at Tacoma are irrefutable: He is in the top six in the Pacific Coast League in batting average (.404), on-base percentage (.484) and slugging percentage (.635). He is showing more power and a more focused batting eye. The check marks against Snelling are all based on his rotten luck with injuries. They have cost him playing time, and possibly cost him any semblance of speed afoot. But his newfound power, if it bears out over the season, would boost his stock as an option in left field." (Seattle Times)

   A taste of the majors for a top BOS pitching prospect :

" ... Several Blue Rocks suited up for the Boston Red Sox in their Hall of Fame exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers on Monday in Cooperstown, N.Y. Pitcher Anibal Sanchez started for Boston and gave up four runs in six innings, including two in the first on a bad-hop grounder. Sanchez was also touched for a solo homer by Carlos Pena in the third that made it 3-0.

   Zach Duke PIT, in a groove :

" ... Southpaw Zach Duke pitched 7.2 scoreless innings as Indianapolis blanked Durham, 3-0, Monday night ...  Duke (8-2), who only allowed four hits, earned his International League-leading eighth win (7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO). In Duke’s last three starts, he has gone 3-0 with an 0.76 ERA (2 ER in 23.2 innings)." (Indianapolis Indians)

   Yet another award for Justin Upton :

" ...  tabbed as the national high school baseball player of the year. The award, which recognizes athletic achievement as well as the academic performance and overall character of its recipient, distinguishes Upton as the nation's best high school baseball player ... Upton, whose brother B.J. was chosen second overall by the Devil Rays three years ago, hit .519 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs through the end of the regular season. He also scored 29 runs and stole seven bases despite having just 54 official plate appearances. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound infielder is a first-team USA Today and Baseball America All-American in addition to earning AFLAC'S Player of the Year in 2004 and being named to the USA Junior National Team."

   CINCY Double-A righty beginning to attract some attention :

" ... RHP Steven Kelly has allowed just one run in each of his last six starts, covering six innings in five of those efforts (he went seven innings at Buffalo on May 17). Kelly had three wins and three no-decisions in his streak, which lifted him to second in the IL's ERA race with a 1.83 mark." (MLB.com)

" ... Kelly is only 25 and has succeeded at every level ... .There's just one small thing. "I don't throw hard," Kelly said. "If you look at magazines that rate prospects, they usually talk about the guys who were drafted in the first couple of rounds and guys who throw hard. I'm not one of those guys." No, he's just a guy who knows how to pitch. He keeps hitters off balance with a sinking fastball, two changeups and a curve. He gets ground balls and lets his defense back him up. "He's the kind of guy whom a lot of hitters take comfortable 0-for-3s against," Bats pitching coach Mack Jenkins said. "He's not blowing you away or making you look bad. He just doesn't let you center the ball. He gets a lot of off-the-end-of-the-bats. "... Last year for Double-A Chattanooga, he tied for the Southern League lead with 12 victories and was second with a 2.96 ERA. But that didn't merit an invite to major league spring training. He's not even on the Reds' 40-man roster. Baseball America described Kelly as a poor man's Jeff Suppan and ranked him as the organization's 18th best prospect ... once the season got started, Kelly has stayed in the 89-91 mph range, occasionally hitting 92."   (Louisville Courier-Journal)

   Chris Lambert STL, on the radar for a promotion, but not just yet (RHP Stuart Pomeranz is the one for now) :

" ... Taken in the first round last June ... 22-year-old Lambert is 7-1 with 3.02 ERA at Palm Beach and, although he has 42 strikeouts against 15 walks, he also has thrown six wild pitches, hit four batters and has been called for a balk ... Baseball America rated him as the Cardinals fourth-best prospect this season. That does not mean Lambert will remain in Palm Beach all season. There's a good chance he will receive a promotion to Springfield at some point. Said Manno, "He's very close right now." (Springfield News-Leader)


24 May 2005

The funeral service for Shane Mills is to be held at 10:30 Tuesday morning in the chapel at the Donald V. Brown Funeral Home (36 Lake Avenue Drive, Stoney Creek). Shane died on Friday.  He was just 41.

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Gavin Floyd PHI 5-2/3 7 5 5 3 6, 7.71 ... Brandon League TOR 6 9 4 4 0 7, 6.00 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 2B, 0 errors ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 3-4, 2B, RBI ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 3-4, BB, 3 SB ... Ryan Doumit C PIT 1-5, 11th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Zach Duke PIT 7-2/3 4 0 0 1 3, 2.92 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 2-4, R, 2 BB ... Pedro Lopez 2B CHA 2-4, RBI, SF ... J.D. Durbin MIN 6 5 2 2 3 7, 4.30

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Ian Kinsler TEX 1-4, double, 2 RBI … Marshall McDougall TEX 3-5, double, 2 solo homers, 4 RBI … Adrian Gonzalez TEX 3-4, 3 RBI … Jorge Piedra COL 3-4, double, solo homer … Ricardo Rodriguez TEX 8 7 1 1 1 4, (W, 5-3), 3.32 … Todd Linden SF 2-4, triple, .308 … Casey Kotchman ANA 3-4, double, .285 … Jeff Mathis ANA 1-4, homer, 2 runs … Brandon Watson CF WAS 1-3, double … Nick Swisher OAK 3-5, double, 3 runs, 2K … just keeps on chugging, Dan Johnson OAK 2-4, RBI, run, .331 … Mike Fontenot CHN 1-3, triple, 2 RBI, 2 walks … Todd Walker CHN 3-5, double … Ronny Cedeno CHN 3-4, double … Jairo Garcia OAK 1 2 2 2 0 1, 3.24 … John Nelson STL 1-4, double … Shin Soo Choo SEA 1-3, run, walk … Michael Morse SEA 1-3, 2 RBI … my, oh my, Felix Hernandez SEA 7 4 0 0 2 9, (W, 6-3), 2.63 … Josh Willingham FLO 0-3 … Carlos Quentin ARI 2-4, triple, homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs … Conor Jackson ARI 2-3, 2 doubles, 3 runs … Jayson Werth LA 1-3, solo homer, walk … Dioner Navarro LA 2-4, double, .252 … Long awaited signs of life: Prince Fielder MIL 2-4, 2 solo shots (5) … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-4, triple, 2 RBI … Dave Krynzel MIL 1-5, double, RBI, Weeks, Fielder and Krynzel drove in all 5 runs for the Sounds … lightning in a bottle!  JJ Furmaniak SD 5-5, 2 RBI, 2 runs, .258 … Josh Barfield SD 0-3, run, 2 walks, SB … Jon Knott SD 3-5, double

EASTERN (AA)  --  Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-5, .238 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 2-4, 2 RBI (23), .263 AVG … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-3, .257 AVG … Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-4, RBI (20), .262 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-4, .303 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-4, .258 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4, .227 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 0-4, RBI (14), .313 AVG …Michael Bourn OF PHI 0-6, .261 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 2-3, .381 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 0-0, .277 AVG … Fausto Carmona CLE 8 3 1 1 0 6, 3.49 ERA … Cameron Reimers TOR 7 6 3 3 1 4, W (4), 4.21 ERA … Matt Peterson PIT 7 4 0 0 0 4, W (4), 7.02 ERA … Hayden Penn BAL 5 7 4 3 3 2, 3.12 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Enrique Gonzalez ARZ 7 5 2 2 2 4, 5-1, 2.98 ... Kris Honel CHA, working out of the pen,  2 2 1 1 3 3 ... Scott Olsen FLO 7 6 4 4 3 6 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-3, 17th double, 6th homer, .285 ... Carmen Pignatiello CHN 9 1 0 0 3 11, 3.10 ... Chad Billingsley LA  3 8 7 7 1 3 ... Delmon Young TB 2-5, 7th & 8th homers, 4 RBI, .331 ... Delwyn Young LA 3-4, 6th homer, .272 ... Russell Martin LA 1-4, homer, .269

TEXAS (AA)  --  Kevin Estrada (SS) STL 3-5, .292 ... Andre Ethier OAK 3-4, R, .374 ... Ethier and Huber like - Brant Colamarino OAK 2-4, R, HR(9), 2RBI(36), .328 ...  Randy Leek STL (W,4-2) 7 6 2 2 0 2 (3.15) ... Shane Costa KC 3-4, 2R, 2B, 280 ... Justin Huber KC 2-3, R, HR(7), 2RBI(36), SB(4), .366 ... Adam Keim KC 3-4, R, HR(4), 2RBI(14), .340 ... Kyle MIddleton KC (W,5-4) 9 3 1 1 3 1 (2.86) ... Jeff Salazar COL 2-3, .290 ... 9 games in AA - Alvin Colina (1B) COL 2-4, .412 ... Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 1-3, R, 2RBI(19), SB(8), 258 ... Jon Nelson (DH) SEA 2-4, R, HR(6), RBI(33), .258 ... Fresh back from his cup of coffee in the bigs - Rene Rivera (C) SEA 3-4, RBI, .283 ... Jonathan Asahina COL (L,5-2) 5 1/3 9 7 7 3 3 (3.26) ... Ruddy Yan TX 2-5, R, 2B, .322 ... Drew Meyer TX 2-4, .328 ... Joaquin Arias TX 2-5, 2B, RBI(13), 234 ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-5, RBI(18), .247 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-5, R, 2B, .297 ... David Gates (LF) ANA 2-4, R, .301 ... Michael Napoli 2-4, 2R, RBI(25), SB(5), .274

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Wes Bankston TB, named Hitter of the Week, 2-5, double, 2 RBI, .395 ... Christian Colonel 1B COL 4-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBI ... Kendry Morales ANA 2-5, double, 2 Ks, .385 ... Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 3-3, walk, 8th homer, .368

CAROLINA (A+) --  Nate Spears BAL 2-4, R, double, BB, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-5, 2 R ... Michael Hall BOS 1-4, R, double ...  Chad Spann BOS 1-4, 2 K ... James Johnson BAL (W, 4-2, 3.19) 7 8 3 3 2 7 ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 0-4, K ... Thomas Collaro CHA 2-3, 2 R, double, RBI, K ... Martin Prado ATL 0-3, 3 BB, 2 K ... Josh Burrus ATL 0-3, R, RBI, 2 BB ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 2-5 ... Javier Guzman PIT 1-3, 2 R, double, BB, SB (11) ... Brad Snyder CLE 1-5, 2 K ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-3, BB ... Ryan Goleski CLE 0-4, K ... Jeremy Sowers CLE (L, 5-3, 2.17) 5-2/3 2 2 2 4 7

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Make it four games in a row for Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-4 2HR(17) 3RBI – 6 home runs in last 4 games … Denard Span CF MIN 2-3 2R SB(11) … Brett Harper 1B NYN 2-5 HR(16) 2R 2RBI … Adventures on the basepaths contiune for Lastings Milledge CF NYN 3-3 R SB(7) CS(9) Picked off first base … Abel Gomez NYA 7 6 2 2 4 6 ND, 2.59 … Jake Blalock LF PHI 2-4 2B … Scott Mathieson PHI 5 4 0 0 1 5 ND, 3.14 … Guillermo Mota FLO (rehab) 1 1 0 0 0 1 … Tim Spoonybarger FLO (rehab) 1 1 0 0 0 0 … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 3-5 2B HR(10) 2R … Cody Haerther LF STL 1-3 HR(7) 2R … Javon Moran CF CIN 2-4 2B R … Chris Dickerson DH CIN 2-4 2B R … Junior Ruiz RF CIN 2-4 R … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-5 2B … Kurt Isenberg TOR 5 6 3 2 1 5 L(4-3, 2.47) … JR Mathes CHN 6 10 2 2 1 3 W(3-1, 2.76) … Brent Clevlen RF DET 1-4 HR(9) 2RBI … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 1-4 HR(5) … Jordan Tata DET 5 2/3 5 3 2 0 7 W(4-0, 1.91) … Josh Habel MIL 6 4 4 4 3 8 L(0-2, 2.81)

MIDWEST (A) --  Matt Bush SD 1-3, 7th double (.240) ... Oswaldo Navarro SEA 2-4, 9th double ... Raul Padron (C) OAK 2-5 (.291) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 2-3, BB, 5th SB, 3rd CS ... golden sombrero alert Mario Lisson KC 0-4, all K's ... Wilkin Castillo (C) ARZ 2-4, 2nd HR (.276) ... Reid Brignac TB 1-4, 10th double (.248) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 3-5, BB ... atypically tough night Eric Patterson CHN 1-5, 3 K's, caught stealing and picked off ... Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 3-4, 4th SB, 3rd E (.348)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Kyle Bloom PIT 6 2 0 0 2 5, 3-1, 1.76 ... Neil Walker PIT 2-4, double, .269 ... Travis Denker LA 1-3, 7th homer

  Troop Movements ... CIN - LHP Randy Keisler up from AAA, Danny Graves designated for assignment ... ANA - Francisco Rodriguez DL,  Joel Peralta up ...

    TB's Jonny Gomes the week's top hitter in the International League :

" ...  Gomes has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters so far this season, splitting his time between the Bulls and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays ... hit .305 (7-23) with 2 HR and 5 RBI with Tampa Bay before being optioned back to Durham May 12 ...  Gomes is hitting .400 with 5 HR and 14 RBI since his return to Durham. The 24-year-old Gomes was Tampa Bay’s 18th round draft selection in 200." (International League)

   In the Eastern League, Dan Denham CLE, the top pitcher :

" ...  23-year old made a pair of starts last week and was 2-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA. In his first start of the week the 6’2”, 190 lb. hurler tossed a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out seven batters without issuing a walk ...  In his second start of the week, also against Norwich, the Stateline, Nevada native struck out five batters and walked one, scattering six hits in six shutout innings ...  3-1 with a 2.86 ERA for the Aeros this season." (Eastern League)

   Manny Parra, MIL's comeback kid, Pitcher of the Week in the Southern League :

" ... Left-hander ... a brilliant performance May 16 ... In the 5-2 Stars’ victory, Parra pitched seven shutout innings, striking out 10 while walking only one batter. On May 21 against Chattanooga, the left-hander pitched well but was charged with the loss as the Lookouts shutout the Stars 3-0. Parra pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs, to go along with five strikeouts in the contest." (Southern League)

   An undrafted free-agent the week's best hitter in the South Atlantic League.

" ....  catcher/outfielder John Otness earned ... Batter of the Week honors compiling a .682 batting average getting 15 hits in 22 at bats during his six games played this week. Otness had 5 doubles, scored 5 runs and knocked in 1 RBI for the week. The 24-year old posted an on-base percentage of .741 and had a .909 slugging percentage for the week. He raised his batting average by 62 points to currently lead the South Atlantic League at .395 this season ... signed as an non-drafted free agent with the Red Sox following a four-year career at the University of Washington." (South Atlantic League)

   John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, reflects upon his Yankee prospect chart :

" ... 1. Eric Duncan, 3B ... Overmatched by Double-A competition at this point, though young for the level."

" ... 2. Phil Hughes, RHP: Dominating Class A Charleston, 1.72 ERA, 41/12 K/BB in 37 innings."

" ... 3. Marcos Vechionacci, INF: .306/.383/.388 in 32 games for Class A Charleston. Effective line drive hitter, looks good so far."

   Midwest hitters finally notch a legitimate one against Cubs' Sean Gallagher :

" ... Forty and one-third innings. That’s how long it took before Peoria Chiefs right-hander Sean Gallagher allowed an earned run. The 19 year-old Ft. Lauderdale native has been nearly perfect during his first season with the Peoria Chiefs ... “He’s easily the best pitcher I’ve seen here at Peoria,” said Chiefs Media Manager Nathan Baliva. “Sean can take over a game and give you six to seven no-hit innings at any given time.” ...  Through nine starts, he is 4-1 and averages over one strikeout per inning. With a devastating one-two punch, Gallagher utilizes a low 90’s fastball and a wicked 12 to 6 curve. Chiefs pitching coaches are also working on adding a changeup and cutter to Gallagher’s repertoire ... Sunday’s game against the Dayton Dragons was Sean’s worst of the year, as he gave up three runs in five innings to raise his ERA up to a whopping 0.83 through 54 innings ... .currently among the Midwest League leaders in virtually every pitching category." (Peoria Chiefs)

   Keeping an eye on Rick Ankiel ... back to A-Ball, 1-4, 3 K's  :

" ...  Ankiel, the former National League Rookie of the Year pitcher who became a full-time outfielder during spring training, will join the Swing of the Quad Cities as they begin a four-game series with the Lansing Lugnuts ...  Ankiel started the season at the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, but has been on the disabled list since May 7." (Swing of the Quad Cities)

   Josh Hamilton ... return to baseball seems improbable :

" ...  Hamilton was arrested Saturday in North Carolina and charged with misdemeanor damage to property after tearing off a rearview mirror and using his fist to shatter the windshield of a friend's pickup truck. Hamilton, who turned 24 Saturday, is on the restricted list and is serving his second consecutive one-year suspension for violating baseball's substance abuse policy. He had hoped to gain early reinstatement at some point this season, but that seems unlikely after he told Cary, N.C., police he had been drinking alcohol at a party before his arrest. ``He's sick about it,'' said Hamilton's father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, when reached by phone at his home in Cary. ``We're all sick about it.'' ... Chadwick said Hamilton spends his days working out and trying to keep in baseball shape. He also said Hamilton had remained clean prior to this past weekend. ``He lost his cool,'' Chadwick said. ``He tripped. Life's full of potholes, and he stepped in one of them.''  (Tampa Tribune)


23 May 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-4, 8th HR, R, RBI ... Steve Kelly CIN 6 5 1 1 3 5,1.83 ... Andy Marte 3B ATL 2-4, 2B ... long wait after Spring power display, Gabe Gross LF TOR 2-6, 1st HR, R, 2 RBI ... superb, Francisco Rosario TOR 8 1 0 0 1 6, 2.56 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 0 errors ... Jonny Gomes LF-RF TB 2-4, 2B, 10th HR, 2 R, RBI ... Chris Shelton 1B DET 3-4, 2B, 3 R ... Ryan Raburn DH DET 2-4, 2B, 7th HR, 2 R, 3 RBI ... Byron Gettis RF DET 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB ... Kenny Baugh DET 6-1/3 6 2 2 2 2, 3.42 ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 2-3, R, HBP ... Francisco Cruceta CLE 9 7 4 4 0 4, 4.74 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 2-5, 2B, RBI ... rehab, Frank Thomas DH CHA 1-4

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Todd Linden SF 2-4, double, homer, 4 RBI, 3 runs … Mike Fontenot CHN 1-4, solo homer … Todd Walker CHN 1-4 … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 1 0 0 0 2, 2.29 … Dan Johnson OAK 1-3, solo homer … Josh Wilson FLO 2-3 … Willy Aybar LA 3-4, 2 RBI … Brendan Harris WAS 0-2, RBI, run … Casey Kotchman ANA 2-4, double … Adrian Gonzalez TEX 1-4, homer, 2 RBI … Jason Botts TEX 2-3, double, 2 runs … Dustin Moseley ANA 5 5 3 2 4 2, 5.40 … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-4, 2K … Prince Fielder MIL 1-4 … Shin Soo Choo SEA 2-5 … Josh Barfield SD 1-3, run & 1-3, run, scratching back from .232 … Chris Duncan STL 1-2, homer, 2 RBI & 1-2, walk … Brad Baker SD 1 1 0 0 0 0, (S, 11) & 1 0 0 0 0 1, (S, 12), awesome performance … Chris Burke HOU 3-4, 2 runs … Luke Scott HOU 1-5, homer, 3 RBI … Josh Kroeger ARI 3-5, double, triple, 2 RBI … Scott Hairston ARI 1-5, solo homer

EASTERN (AA)  --  Hanley Ramirez BOS 2-4, double & 0-3, .290 ... Jon Papelbon BOS  5-2/3 5 3 3 3 4, 2.27 ... Tony Giarratano SS DET 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 walks, .262 ... Josh Banks TOR  7 6 2 2 0 6, 5-2, 3.38 ... Dan Denham CLE 6.0 6 0 0 1 5, 2.86 ... Merkin Valdez SF 5.0 7 4 4 1 1, 2.96

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Josh Johnson FLO, bubble bursts, 2-2/3 9 7 6 1 1, 3.12 ... Rich Hill CHN, a string of superb starts comes to an end,  4 5 3 3 4 4, 2.96 (had been 0.47 in last 38-1/3 innings 64 Ks) ... Sean Tracey CHA  7-1/3 7 2 2 2 2, 5-1, 3.12 ... Josh Fields CHA, in quite a slump, 0-4, .231 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-5, double, 9th homer, .344 ... Jason Hammel TB 7 4 1 1 1 6 ... Elijah Dukes TB 0-4, .293 ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, .329 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-3, 16th double, .278 ... Brian McCann ATL 2-4, 6th homer, .298 .

TEXAS (AA)  --  Heating up - Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-4, R, .293 ... Slowly warming up - Erick Aybar ANA 2-5, R, 2B, RBI, SB(10), .242 ... Donald Murphy (RF) ANA 3-4, 2R, 3B, 2RBI(24), .310 ... Michael Napoli ANA 3-4, 2B, 2RBI(24), .267 ... Tyler Minges STL 2-3, R, .311 ... Robinson Cancel (C) STL 2-3, R, .311 ... Brian Stavisky OAK 2-4, R, .325 ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-5, 2B, RBI(34), .365 ... Brant Colamarino OAK 1-5, R, HR(8), 2RBI(34), .324 ... On fire - Jeremy Brown (C) OAK 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI, .284 ... Recently promoted to AA - Francis Gomez (SS) OAK 2-4, 3R, HR, 2RBI, .500 ... Ruddy Yan TX 4-5, R, RBI, .320 .. Handling AA with ease - Dallas Braden OAK (W,2-0) 6 4 2 2 5 4 (1.42) ... Josh Anderson HOU 2-4, RBI, .302 ... Juan Sandoval SEA 7 6 1 1 2 6 (3.48) .. Shane Costa KC 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI(26), .268 ... Justin Huber KC 1-5, R, 360 ... Cory Aldridge KC 2-5, 2R, 2B, HR(11), RBI(35), .305 ... Mike Aviles (SS) KC 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI(27), .279 ... Adam Keim (3B) 2-4, R, 2B, 3RBI(12), 306 ... Jeff Salazar COL 2-4, .283 ... Ryan Spilborghs COL 2-3, 2R, HR(4), RBI(32), .362 ... His 1st AA start - JP Howell KC (W,1-0) 5 1/3 4 3 3 3 5 (5.06)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  John Danks TEX 7 4 1 1 2 7, 3-3, 2.66 ... Brad Knox OAK 4-2/3 5 3 3 2 3, 0-2, 6.23 ... Bobby Crosby OAK, rehab, 1-4 (DH) ... Jesse Floyd SF 7 1 0 0 3 7, 4-1, 3.04 ... Kendry Morales ANA 0-3, walk ... Billy Butler KC 0-1, 3 walks, .353 ... Adam Jones SEA 3-4, 2 doubles, walk, .287

CAROLINA (A+) --  Kory Casto WAS 3-5, R, double ... rehab Wil Cordero WAS 1-4, double ... Mitch Talbot HOU (W, 3-2, 2.09) 6 6 2 1 3 4 ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-4, RBI, K ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 0-5, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 2-5, R, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4, double ... Thomas Collaro CHA 2-4, R, HR (13), RBI (35), K ... Nick Pesco CLE (W, 5-3, 3.14) 6 5 0 0 2 2 ... Javier Guzman PIT 0-3, R, 2 BB, K ... Nate Spears BAL 1-3, R, RBI ... Nick Markakis BAL 1-4, 12th double, 2 RBI, 2 K ... Richard Stahl BAL 4-1/3 9 3 3 5 4 ...

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Andy LaRoche DH LA 2-4 HR(15) – Third straight game with a home run … Matt Kemp CF LA 2-5 2HR(9) 3RBI – Back to back two home run games … Brett Smith NYA 5 11 6 6 1 1 W(3-1, 4.41) … Vincent Blue CF DET 3-5 2B R … Cooling off after a hot start, Brent Clevlen RF DET 0-5 R - .297 … First loss of the season, Nate Bumstead DET 7 2/3 9 5 5 1 8 L(6-1, 2.91) … Chris Lambert STL 6 6 0 0 3 6 W(7-1, 3.02) … Cody Haerther DH STL 2-4 2B 3B 2R 3RBI … Brett Harper DH NYN 1-4 HR(15) 2RBI … Staying hot, Lastings Milledge 2-4 2R … Greg Ramirez NYN 4 5 6 4 3 3 L(4-3, 2.98) … Adam Lind LF 2-5 3R 2RBI … Ryan Roberts 2B TOR 3-4 HR(9) 4R 3RBI SB(6) … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 3-3 RBI … Chris Walker CF CHN 2-4 2B HR(3) 2R 3RBI … Carlos Marmol CHN 6 7 3 2 2 6 W(5-1,3.02) … Tim Moss 3B PHI 2-5 2B R … Marc Tugwell 1B PHI 2-4 HR(3) … Lee Mitchell DH FLO 2-5 2B HR(5) 2R 3RBI … Matt Moses 3B MIN 2-3 RBI SB(10) … Denard Span CF MIN 2-4 2B 2R 2SB(10) … Errol Simonitsch MIN 5 5 3 2 1 9 ND, 3.33 … Adam Bostic II FLO 6 6 3 3 2 7 W(2-3, 3.28)

MIDWEST (A) --  Eric Patterson CHN 3rd HR (.384) ... he does not in fact possess supernatural powers Sean Gallagher CHN 5 8 3 3 2 5 (0.83) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-4 (.170) ... Juan Lucena (SS) STL 4-4 ... Rafael Rodriguez ANA 6 5 3 3 3 8 (2.53) ... Michael Collins ANA 2 doubles, HR (.293) ... Wilkin Ramirez (3B) DET 3-5, 4th HR, 14th error (.292) ... ouch Dallas Trahern DET 5 8 8 7 1 3 (L, 1-5, 3.91) ... Matt Tuiasosopo 1-4, double (.315) ... Oswaldo Navarro SEA 2nd HR (.271) ... won't be under the radar much longer Michael Ekstrom SD (W, 6-0, 1.29, one HR permitted in 56 IP)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Dante Brinkley NYN 2-4, triple, 8th homer, .382 ... Jose Sanchez NYN, an eight-game winner, 6 4 0 0 0 6, 8-0, 2.39 ... James Barthmaier HOU 6 6 4 4 2 2, 1.72 ... Ray Liotta CHA 7 6 1 1 2 6, 2.77 ... David Cook CHA 4-4, double, 2 homers (7), .298 ... Mark Rogers MIL 2.1 1 2 2 2 4, 0-4, 4.97 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF 2-5, homer, 2 RBI, .292 ... Jonathan Armitage OF SF 3-4, double, 2 homers, 3 RBI .

  Troop Movements ... CHA - Brandon McCarthy up, Orlando Hernandez DL ... ATL - Kevin Gryboski activated, Frank Brooks to AAA ... CLE - Juan Gonzalez CLE expected to suit up with Buffalo Monday ... KC -- Ken Harvey to DL, Ryan Jensen up ... HOU - Wandy Rodriguez up, Mike Burns to AAA ... WAS - Jeffrey Hammonds DL, Brendan Harris recalled ... SEA - Jorge Campillo back to AAA (spot cleared for Joel Pineiro)

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on the most likely 2005 draftees to make quick ascents to MLB :

" ... The candidates to reach the majors the quickest usually include some highly polished prospects with relatively lower ceilings, but that's not the case this year. The most obvious are the two best college position players (Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon, Long Beach State shortstop Troy Tulowitzki) and the three best college pitchers (Wichita State's Mike Pelfrey, Tennessee's Luke Hochevar, St. John's Craig Hansen). Because he's a reliever with two power pitches, Hansen likely will make it to the big leagues first. Gordon would be second on my list. The third would actually be a high schooler, Virginia shortstop Justin Upton, assuming he moves to center field so his defense won't be an issue. The truly elite prep prospects tend to rocket through the minors, with Justin's older brother B.J. being a recent example."

    Baseball America has its chart of the Top 200 prospects. Hitters take the first four slots -  SS/OFJustin Upton, 3B Alex Gordon, OF Cameron Maybin ("Ceiling could range from Preston Wilson to Vladimir Guerrero.") , SS Troy Tulowitzki.  Then, three starters -- RHP  Mike Pelfrey, RHP Luke Hochevar and RHP Jered Weaver

" ... Former Rice righthander Wade Townsend, whose negotiations with the Orioles quickly broke down after they took him eighth overall last year, has been pitching again in workouts for clubs in Texas. His last two outings haven't been as impressive as the first two, as he has pitched at 85-88 mph and rarely cracked 90. Last year, his fastball usually ranged from 88-92 mph with the Owls. Townsend's best pitch is his spike curveball, and even that looked average rather than plus his last two times out. Townsend obviously wasn't going to be in full game shape, so while some teams are backing off of him others aren't too concerned. It still sounds like he'll go in the first round, and he could go as high as the No. 8 pick again, this time to the Devil Rays." (Jim Callis)

    Daric Barton upstages Bobby Crosby :

" ...  The largest crowd since Opening Night came to Stockton Ballpark on Saturday to catch a glimpse of Bobby Crosby and enjoy the fireworks show after the game. Stockton Ports' first baseman Daric Barton decided to give them a show during the game. Barton reached base in each of his four plate appearances ...  finished 3 for 3 with two ground-rule doubles and a monster home run to center field, driving in three of Stockton's four runs. Barton said he spent time in batting practice slowing down his swing, and it paid dividends against Bakersfield's Edison Volquez. "He was throwing pretty hard and I positioned myself better and just got pitches I could drive," he said ...  Crosby played four innings. The Oakland Athletics' shortstop went 1 for 2 and cleanly handled his only chance in the field ... said he felt fine physically. "I felt good," Crosby said. "My strength has to improve, but my ribs were okay." (Stockton Record)

    Zach Duke PIT ... rave reviews :

" ... To say Duke is hot might be an understatement. In his last start ... allowed three hits in 8 1/3 innings, retired 17 straight batters, walked one batter and recorded five strikeouts ...   that came after his May 13 gem, a 2-1 win ...  7 2/3 innings in that game, threw 101 pitches and struck out six batters ...  "I can't worry about the process of being moved up because it's out of my control," Duke said. "I'm much more concerned about being consistent and having good control of my pitches. The rest will take care of itself." Duke is a self-described calm kid, keeping his emotions inside ...  "Zach has great composure, like Warren Spahn," Indians pitching coach Darold Knowles said. "I probably shouldn't say that, but for a 22-year old, Zach looks like a guy who has been on the mound 10 years. He's got awesome presence. He's a tremendous athlete and he's on a mission and he'll fulfill it."  (Durham Herald-Sun)

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, reviews his Mets' prospect picks, including  :

" ... 1. Yusmeiro Petit, RHP: 1-2, but with a 3.13 ERA and 40/5 K/BB in 37 innings in Double-A. Doing well."

" ... 4. Gaby Hernandez, RHP: 2-1 with 3.18 ERA, 44/16 K/BB ratio in 40 innings for Class A Hagerstown. Pitching very well, everything expected."

" ... 10. Brian Bannister, RHP: 6-1, 1.94 ERA in Double-A, with 43/13 K/BB in 51 innings. Having a great year, pushing up the prospect lists."

    Oh no, not another one.

" ...  Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay's first-round pick in the 2004 draft, had his sore right shoulder examined Friday by Rays team orthopedist Koco Eaton in St. Petersburg. No damage was found in the shoulder. Niemann, who had been scheduled to start Friday's game for Class A Visalia, will rest for at least a week after skipping two starts for the Oaks. In five starts for the Oaks, Niemann is 0-1 with a 3.98 ERA and has struck out 28 and walked 10 in 20 1/3 innings." (Tampa Tribune)

    Chris Snelling dodges a bullet - x-rays show nothing serious :

" ... The win may have been costly. Chris Snelling, the leading hitter in the Pacific Coast League with a .404 batting average, was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning and had to leave the game. Snelling, who has been plagued by injuries since reaching the major leagues at age 20 in 2002, was hit in the right hand by a pitch from Nashville’s Andy Pratt. Snelling’s hand was wrapped in ice." (Tacoma News Tribune) ,

   Keep an eye on ... her. 

" ... Katie Brownell is in a Little League all her own. The 11-year-old — the only girl playing in the Oakfield-Alabama Little League program — pitched a perfect game Saturday for her Dodgers. She struck out all 18 batters she faced in the six-inning, 11-0 victory over the Yankees. Oakfield-Alabama officials said they can't remember anybody ever throwing a perfect game in this western New York league between Buffalo and Rochester. In two games on the mound, Katie has struck out 32 of 33 batters. And she's hitting .714 through the team's first three games. "She's been pitching for three years, but she really came on and excelled this year," said team manager Jeff Sage. Katie was almost pulled out of Saturday's game until the scorekeeper reminded her coach she had a no-hitter going. Katie then kept mowing down the opposition and when the last batter was fanned, the crowd erupted. "Everybody congratulated me," she said." (Associated Press)


Our league correspondents :  INTERNATIONAL Herb Walters PACIFIC COAST Dave Scott  EASTERN Ralph Marston  SOUTHERN Jake Larsen  TEXAS Aman Reaka  FLORIDA STATE Wayne Stevens  CAROLINA Troy Salvior  CALIFORNIA JDM  MIDWEST Bob Reed  SOUTH ATLANTIC

 
 

    
Rookie Reports Archive :

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