Rookies 2005

                                                                                                                           Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

12 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-4, R, RBI ... James Jurries LF ATL 2-4, R, RBI, HBP ... Billy McCarthy RF ATL 2-4, R, BB ... Zach Minor ATL 6 4 0 0 1 6, 3.94 ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-4, 2B, R, HBP ... Carlos Ruiz C PHI 2-5, 2 R ... Eude Brito PHI 5 4 3 3 2 5, 7.53 ... Francisco Rosario TOR 6-2/3 8 3 2 1 2, 3.81 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-4, RBI, SB, 2 errors (26) ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, R ... Abe Alvarez BOS 6 4 1 1 2 6, 3.72 ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 3-5, 2nd HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 1-5, 10th HR, R, 3 RBI ... Jason Bartlett SS MIN 2-4, 2nd HR, R, RBI, BB ... Dave Gassner MIN 4-2/3 9 8 8 1 3, 4.47 ... Walter Young 1B BAL 3-5, 8th HR, 2 R, 4 RBI ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 2-5, 2B, R

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  John Gall STL 4-6, double, homer, 2 RBI, 4 runs ... Chris Duncan STL 0-5, run - My team scored 20 times and all I got was this 1 lousy run Award! ...  Adam Wainwright STL 6 8 4 4 1 4, W, 3.36 ... Brendan Harris WAS 2-3, 2 runs ... probably his best AAA showing yet, Richard Hill CHN 5 3 1 1 3 8, 4.34 ... Jermaine Van Buren CHN 2 0 0 0 0 4, (S, 6), 1.75 ... Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Dioner Navarro LA 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, .304  ... Shin Soo Choo SEA 1-2, 2 runs, 2 walks ... Miguel Olivo SEA 2-4, double, homer, 5 RBI ... Conor Jackson ARI 3-3, double, run ... Josh Barfield SD 3-4, solo homer (hits in 17 of his last 19 games, .405 since sitting out a game May 24th)  ... Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 0 2, (S, 20)

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-6, .308 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-2, .274 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-5, 2B (15), .277 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 0-6, .293 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 1-6, 2B (13), .244 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-5, .236 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 3-4, RBI (9), .275 AVG … Franklin Gutierrez CLE 3-6, 2B (10), RBI (18), .246 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 0-3, .293 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-5, .262 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4, SB (12), .224 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 1-5, 2B (18), .324 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 2-6, SB (17), .262 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 3-4, 2 2B (16), .351 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 2-4, 2B (12), .256 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 2-6, 2 HR (10), 3 RBI (31), .252 AVG … Joel Zumaya DET 7-2/3 6 4 2 3 6, 3.58 ERA … Vance Perkins TOR 6 7 3 3 1 1, 3.32 ERA … Jon Papelbon BOS 8 4 0 0 1 12, 2.20 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Josh Johnson FLO 5 6 3 2 3 0, 2.42 ... Delwyn Young LA 3-5, 9th homer, .299 ... Manny Parra MIL 8 6 1 0 1 7, 3.60 ... Phil Dumatrait CIN 7 4 2 1 3 4, 1-7, 2.55 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-4, 4th triple, .307

TEXAS (AA)  --  Edison Volquez TEX 6 10 5 5 3 2 ... Jason Windsor OAK 7 4 1 1 2 6, 2.41 ... Andre Ethier OAK 3-3, double, .345 ... Justin Huber KC 2-4, 9th homer, .329 ... Bobby Livingston SEA 7 7 3 1 0 9, 2.84 ... Mark McLemore HOU 7 1 0 0 3 9, 2.23 ... Jeremy Cummings STL 6 6 3 2 2 4, 1.59

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 2-2, triple, 2 walks, .356 ... George Kottaras SD 1-3, 2 walks, 5th homer, .306 ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-4, 22nd double, .308 ... Kendry Morales ANA 2-4, 3 RBI ... Chris Lubanski KC 1-3, 12th homer ... Stephen Drew ARZ 2-4, 1st homer, .421 ...  Vincent Sinisi TEX 3-5, 1st homer, .338 ... Danny Putnam OF OAK 3-5, 2 homers, grand slam & 3-run blasts, 7 RBI, .294 ... Richie Robnett OF OAK 2-5, double, 6th homer, .236

CAROLINA (A+) --  Brady Endl ATL 6.0 6 2 2 2 8, 2.04 ... Leo Daigle CHA 2-5, 19th homer, .346 ... Adam Loewen BAL, big step forward,  6-1/3 6 0 0 0 8, 2.69 ... Armando Galarraga WAS 6 3 3 2 1 8, 2.57 ... Pat Magness PIT 3-3, 2 doubles (19), .302

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Can AA be far away?  Justin Verlander DET 7 6 2 1 1 10 W(8-2, 1.71) – Complete 7 inning game … Errol Simonitsch MIN 6 4 3 3 2 5 L(6-3, 2.90) – two of four hits were HRs … Denard Span CF MIN 2-3 R & 1-3 - .356 … Matt Moses 3B MIN 2-3 RBI & 0-4 - .323 … Glen Perkins MIN 7 3 1 1 1 14 ND, 2.54 … Jay Sawatski MIN 1/3 1 1 0 1 1 L(1-2, 1.75) … Preston Larrison DET 5 5 1 0 0 3 ND, 3.77 … Finally a win, Phil Humber NYN 7 4 1 0 0 5 W(1-5, 5.61) … Finding his stroke, Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 2-4 2HR(9) 3RBI - .208 … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 1-4 HR(14) - .298 … Jamar Hill RF NYN 2-4 2B R RBI - .229 …  Jason Vargas FLO 6 6 4 3 1 11 L(6-3, 2.04) … Bobby Basham CIN 6 5 0 0 0 7 W(4-2, 3.57) … Joey Votto 1B CIN 2-4 2B 2R 2RBI - .251 … Javon Moran CF CIN 4-5 2B 4R RBI - .356 … Christopher Dickerson RF CIN 3-6 3B 2R 4RBI - .284 … Adam Lind LF TOR 3-6 R RBI - .289 … Chip Cannon 1B TOR 2-4 HR(16) 4RBI - .291 … Jeremy King NYA 4 9 6 5 2 1 ND, 3.32 … Dustin McGowan TOR 5 3 2 2 1 2 ND, 8.10

MIDWEST (A) --  back in the saddle B.J. Szymanski CIN 2-5, 3rd HR in just 32 AB's (.281) ... Jair Jurrjens DET 6 5 3 3 4 2 (2.75) ... Reid Brignac TB 0-5, 2 K's (.241) ... merely mortal, but winning Sean Gallagher CHN 5 6 3 3 3 3 (W, 7-1, 1.46) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 8th HR ... will he remain in full-season ball? Trevor Plouffe MIN 4th HR, but 20th error (.179) ... Matt Bush SD 1-4, 17th error (.239) ... Eric Hurley TEX 6 3 0 0 3 3 (3.86) ... Raul Padron OAK 0-3 (.306) ... Juan Lucena STL 3-4 (12 hits last 4 games, after a Plouffesque start to the season) ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 3-5 ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 2-5 (.268) ... Matt Tuiasosopo (at DH) SEA 1-4 (.307)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Tony Sipp CLE 7 7 1 1 0 7, 2.14 ... Argenis Reyes CLE 3-5, .331 ... Brian Barton CLE 2-4, double, .422 ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-4, 3rd triple, 23rd homer, .346 ... Juan Gutierrez HOU 7 3 0 0 1 10, 2.38 ... Gio Gonzalez CHA 5 6 3 3 2 6, 1.87 ... Christopher Malone LA 6 2 0 0 3 8, 2.98 ... four SF kids,  fronted by Caleb Salankey, 6 1 1 1 1 5, combine on a one-hitter ... Neil Walker PIT 3-4, .273 ... Chris Nelson SS COL 1-4, double ... Joseph Koshansky 1B COL 2-5, 2 homers (13), 3 RBI (50), .307 ... Salvador Paniagua C BOS 3-5, 2 homers, 5 RBI, .235

  Troop Movements ... SF - Al Levine designated for assignment,  Jack Taschner up ... KC - Steve Stemle & Matt Diaz to DL, JP Howell up ...

    Tops in the KC system ... from the KC Star :

" ... 1. 3B Billy Butler, High Desert: Likely to miss another week or so because of deep bruise on right hand.  2. 1B Justin Huber, Wichita: Slumping with just seven hits in 39 at-bats in last 10 games.  3. OF Mitch Maier, Wichita: Just seven hits in 32 at-bats since promotion from High Desert."

" ... 1. LHP J.P. Howell, Class AAA Omaha: Likely to be promoted for Saturday start at Arizona.  2. RHP Luis Cota, Class A Burlington: No victories in last four starts but still has 2.04 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings.  3. RHP Billy Buckner, Class A High Desert: Won first start since promotion from Burlington despite giving up four runs, including two homers, in six innings."

    Jays' AA fans looking forward to a trio of lefties :

" ... Toronto selected Cal State Fullerton's Ricky Romero with the sixth overall pick in the draft last week, adding to a stockpile of southpaws within the organization. Romero could be pitching for New Hampshire as early as this summer, assuming he signs after finishing his college season for the defending national champs. The Jays took left-hander David Purcey with their first pick last season. The University of Oklahoma product has been one of Single-A Dunedin's top starters this season, going 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA. Chances are good we could see him this year. Zach Jackson, another talented lefty drafted last season, has already joined the Fisher Cats. Promoted from Dunedin after posting a 7-1 record, Jackson won his first two Double-A starts. The 6-foot-5 Jackson is scheduled to pitch today at Erie ... has allowed only four earned runs over 55 innings, dating back to Single-A this season. No wonder Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi is so excited about his southpaws."  (Manchester Union Leader)

    No questioning his talent ... just his health :

" ... Not only is it news when Chris Snelling doesn’t get a hit, it’s also rare. The Tacoma Rainiers outfielder came into Friday’s game against Las Vegas with a .385 batting average – the highest batting average in all of professional baseball. Snelling, a 23-year-old Australian, did nothing to lower that average during a 5-3 victory ...  In a game delayed nearly two hours by rain, Snelling didn’t appeared bothered by the wet conditions, as he collected two hits, including a two-run home run... Snelling – who has had only six games this season in which he didn’t get a hit – three of those in April – had a double in the third inning and home run in the fifth inning ...  now hitting .390."  (Tacoma News Tribune)

   Mets taking it easy with Yusmeiro Petit :

" ... While the Binghamton Mets took batting practice Friday, Yusmeiro Petit stood along the first-base line and hit grounders to second baseman Aarom Baldiris. It was another sign that the soreness in Petit's right shoulder has subsided. Petit, the New York Mets' top pitching prospect, is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. It'll be his first start since May 20, a 9-2 victory over Altoona, but manager Jack Lind said he isn't certain how many pitches Petit will be allowed to throw ...  In 37 1/3 innings over nine starts, he is 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA, 40 strikeouts and only five walks. Petit, 20, was placed on the inactive list May 27."  (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin)

   Josh Willingham FLO the Marlins' Minor League Player of the Month :

" ...  after leading all players in the organization with 12 homers and 29 RBIs in 27 games ...  led Albuquerque throughout May with a .344 batting average, 31 runs scored, and an .833 slugging percentage. He also belted six doubles in the month and one triple. His torrid month helped vault Willingham into the Pacific Coast League leaders in seven different categories. The slugger's 18 home runs are tied for the Pacific Coast League lead, while his .343 average ranks fourth. He also leads the league in on-base percentage with a mark of .474, is tops in slugging percentage at .759, is tied for second in runs with 48, fourth in extra-base hits with 31, and tied for fifth in RBIs with 47."  (Albuquerque Isotopes)


11 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  James Jurries LF ATL 1-3, 9th HR, R, 2 RBI ... T.J. Pena SS ATL 2-3, 2B, 3B, R, SB ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 3-5, 2B, 11th HR, 3 R, RBI ... Gavin Floyd PHI 1-2/3 2 7 7 6 0, 7.09 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 errors ... Ryan Raburn DH DET 2-3, 9th HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-5, R ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 2-4, 9th & 10th HRs, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB ... Ryan Garko C CLE 1-3, 11th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... Jason Cooper LF CLE 1-3, 1st HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 6 8 4 4 1 3, 5.71 ... Chris Narveson BOS 6 4 4 4 3 3, 4.25 ... Ian Snell PIT 3-2/3 7 7 7 2 2, 3.59 ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 4-6, 2B, R, SB ... Sean Henn NYA 6-2/3 8 5 5 0 5, 3.20 ... Jason Bartlett SS MIN 3-4, 2B ... Scott Baker MIN 7-1/3 6 3 3 1 6 2.92 ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 2-4, 2B, R ... John Maine BAL 6 3 1 1 2 4, 3.57 ... catch-up Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-5, 5th & 6th HRs, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 3-5, 2 RBI, HBP

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Conor Jackson ARI 2-4, RBI, run ... Jon Knott SD 2-5, homer, 2 RBI ... Brad Baker SD 1 4 3 3 1 1, (BS, 5) ... Prince Fielder MIL 1-5, solo homer (13) ... Looks like he's turned this season around, Jerome Williams SF 6-1/3 7 2 1 0 6 ... Brendan Harris WAS 2-4, double, 3 RBI ... Jeff Mathis ANA 2-3, 2 runs ... Kevin Gregg ANA 6 3 0 0 1 10, 1.06, rehab ... Ryan Shealy COL 3-5, run, .319 ... Back from Japan, Dan Miceli COL 1 0 0 0 1 3 ... Josh Willingham FLO 2-4, double, 2 RBI ... Chris Snelling SEA 2-3, double, homer, .390

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 0-5, RBI (33).312 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 1-5, .277 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 0-4, .280 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 0-4, .306 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 1-2, RBI (36), .246 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-3, SB (5), .241 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 0-3, .275 AVG … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 0-2, RBI (20), .283 AVG ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, 2B (9), .238 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-4, .297 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-3, ..269 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-3, .220 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 0-2, SB (10), .324 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 3-5, 2B (9), HR (2), RBI (19), .260 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 2-4, 2B (14), RBI (42), .342 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 0-3, .251 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 0-3, .248 AVG … Richard Rundles WAS 7 9 3 3 1 3, 3.19 ERA … Francisco Liriano MIN 6 5 1 1 3 9, W (3), 3.64 ERA … Paul Stewart PIT 6 4 4 3 2 1, 4.45 ERA … Jake Dittler CLE 7 5 3 2 4 7, W (4), 2.14 ERA … Ismael Ramirez TOR 7 7 2 2 2 6, W (4), 4.39 ERA … Matt Lindstrom NYN 5 2 1 1 1 4, 5.79 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Joel Guzman LA (at 3B) 1-5, double (17), .289 ... James Loney LA 1-1, 3 walks, .258 ... Nelson Cruz MIL 2-3, 2 doubles, .311 ... finally, a sign of talent, Tony Pena ARZ 7 3 0 0 1 5, 1-6, 6.11 ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, .339 ... Elijah Dukes TB 0-4, .282 ... Wes Bankston TB 0-3, .222 ... oh my, Jim Bullard CHA 2-1/3 13 13 13 4 3 ... Josh Fields CHA, on the rebound, 4-5, .232 ... Chuck James ATL 2 6 5 4 1 1, 3.52 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-5, 17th double, .304 ... Casey McGehee 2B CHN 2-4, double, .320 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-5, 3 RBI, .270

TEXAS (AA)  --  Jason Hirsh HOU 5 3 2 1 2 6, 3.50 ... Drew Meyer TEX 3-3, double, triple, .315 ... TJ Bohn SEA 4-4, .304 ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-3, double, 3 runs, .267 ... Ryan Spilborghs COL 2-4, 19th double, 6th homer, 3 RBI (49), .345 ... Mitch Maier KC 2-5, double, triple, .265 ... Justin Huber KC 2-5, .326 ... Josh Pressley KC 4-5, 2 doubles, .305

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Carlos Arroyo OF SEA 3-4, .393 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 3-6, 2 doubles (20), homer (16), 3 RBI (60), .363 ... Chris Carter ARZ 4-6, 2 doubles, 15th homer, .304 ... Stephen Drew SS ARZ 3-5, double, triple, 4 RBI, .400 ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-4, 2 doubles (21), .305 ... OF Alan Moye KC, hot streak since his promotion to A+, 3-6, 2 doubles, homer, 5 RBI ... George Kottaras C SD 3-6, 2 doubles, .306 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-5, walk, .247 ... Seth Smith COL 3-7, .293

CAROLINA (A+) --  Michael Hinckley WAS 4-2/3 6 5 4 3 2 ... Jeremy Sowers CLE 4-2/3 5 6 3 1 8, 2.85 ... Brad Snyder CF CLE 3-5, 10th double, 6th homer, 4 RBI, .278 ... Anibal Sanchez BOS 6 5 5 5 2 6, 2.47 ... Leo Daigle 1B CHA (11th round pick in 1997) 2-4, 17th & 18th homers, .345

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Chuck Tiffany LA 6 2 0 0 2 8 W(5-4, 3.28) … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-4 R - .335 … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 2-4 R 3RBI - .264 … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 3-5 HR(8) 2R - .247 … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 2-4 R RBI SB(15) - .302 … Scott Moore 3B CHN 3-3 2B 3R SB(13) - .311 … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-4 2B RBI - .248 … FSL Debut, Lee Gwaltney CHN 7 9 3 3 0 5 W … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 2-4 R SB(12) - .297 … Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 2-3 HR(7) 2RBI - .202 … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 2-4 HR(13) 2RBI - .299 … Jamar Hill RF NYN 2-4 2B R - .223 … Tim Dillard MIL 7 8 3 3 1 4 L(2-6, 2.92)

MIDWEST (A) --  Homer Bailey CIN 5 3 4 3 3 6 (3.92) ... Reid Brignac TB 1-3, 2 BB's ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 2-5 ... underrated Matt Weber CHN 7 4 2 2 3 2 (3.08) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 1-5, 2 K's, (.250) ... Matt Bush SD 1-3, 8th double ... Mario Lisson KC 1-2, 11th double, 17th SB, BB ... A.J. Shappi ARZ 7 2/3 7 1 1 0 8 (W, 10-1, 2.61) ... Carlos Gonzalez (CF) ARZ 3-5 (.301) ... showing something lately Juan Lucena STL 3-4, double (.289) ... pair of KC kids combined to pitch a no-hitter into the 10th, settling for a 1-hit, victory - Greg Atencio 7 0 0 0 3 6,  Chad Blackwell 3 1 0 0 1 3

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Hunter Pence HOU 2-4, double, .344 ... David Cook CHA 2-4, 14th homer, 3 RBI, .315 ... Michael Carlin 1B PIT 3-4, 2 homers, 3 RBI, .338

  Troop Movements ... BAL - Napoleon Calzado optioned to AAA ... CHA - Kris Honel outright to AA ... ANA - activated Vladimir Guerrero from DL, Kelvim Escobar to DL ... HOU - Todd Self to AAA, Mike Burns up ... COL - Matt Holliday to DL, Jorge Piedra up ... TEX - Juan Dominguez up, CJ Wilson up, Nick Regilio DL, Michael Tejera to AAA ... WAS - traded Tomo Ohka to MIL for Junior Spivey, claimed Ryan Drese & Jacobo Sequea off waivers ... MIL - Dave Krynzel to AAA, Rickie Weeks up ...

" ... Move coming The Royals aren't likely to make a roster move to add left-hander J.P. Howell to their roster until just before his anticipated big-league debut Saturday night against the Diamondbacks." (KC Star)

" ... Tigers righthander Kyle Sleeth will miss the rest of the season after having Tommy John surgery today in Detroit. Sleeth, a first-rounder in 2003 out of Wake Forest, has not pitched this season. He reached Double-A Erie last season in his first year as a pro, going 4-4, 6.30 with 57 strikeouts in 80 innings. " (Baseball America)

    Zach Chalifour, RotoTimes, on Jeremy Hermida, Kendry Morales :

" ... Hermida, 21 ... has put up solid stats across the board through his first 58 games, starting with his .312 batting average. He has already surpassed his season-high home run total by going deep 12 times. Hermida has also driven in 36 runs and swiped 11 bases in just 12 attempts, and his plate discipline has reached a level where he currently has walked more times than he has struck out (52 walks, 48 Ks). With Juan Encarnacion a free agent at the end of the season, the chances are very good that Hermida will emerge as the Marlins' starting right fielder next April. He could very well become a perennial 20/20 man."

" ...  Morales ...   who will turn 22 next week, has absolutely excelled in his first 19 games for the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Morales has batted .359 thus far with five home runs and 14 RBI, suggesting that a promotion to Double-A Arkansas is in the offing. The Angels signed him under the assumption that he was close to being major-league ready. The only real uncertainty surrounding Morales is his position, as he has played both the corner infield spots and may see some time in the outfield. What remains certain, however, is that Morales is almost ready to contribute at the big-league level and will likely do so by the end of the summer, regardless of what position he plays."

    Among the South Atlantic All-Stars -  Phil Hughes SP NYA, CF Tim Battle NYA, SP Troy Patton HOU, SP Jimmy Barthmaier HOU, SS Ben Zobrist HOU, CF Hunter Pence HOU, SP Gaby Hernandez NYN, 1B Mike Carp NYN, OF Dante Brinkley NYN,  SP Kyle Bloom PIT, SP Tony Sipp CLE, C Jason Jaramillo PHI, C Neil Walker PIT, SP Gio Gonzalez CHA, SP Ray Liotta CHA, C John Otness BOS.

    Teams announced for the Carolina vs California All-Star game (June 28th).   Carolina squad includes - SP Anibal Sanchez BOS, SP Jeremy Sowers CLE, SP Charles Haeger CHA, C  Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE, OF Nick Markakis BAL.  Among those on the California stars - SP Thomas Diamond TEX, 2B Howie Kendrick ANA, SS Brandon Wood ANA, INF Billy Butler KC, OF Wladimir Balentien SEA, DH Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF, C Miguel Montero  ARZ.

    HOU 9th rounder in 2004 pitching like a HOFer :

" ... Troy Patton of the Lexington Legends extended his scoreless streak to 31 innings Thursday night in a 6-0 South Atlantic League victory ...  A 19-year-old left-hander, Patton allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out eight. He lowered his league-leading ERA to 0.98 and has not allowed a run since May 11 at Greensboro ... Since giving up two earned runs in back-to-back starts on April 20 and 25, the Texas native has yielded just two runs on 21 hits over 45 1/3 innings. He has surrendered just one home run in 64 1/3 innings this season." (MLB.com)


10 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Kenny Kelly CF CIN 2-4, 2B, 2 R, Sac ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Pedro Liriano PHI 1-2/3 6 8 8 1 2, 4.02 ... John-Ford Griffin DH TOR 1-3, 12th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Shawn Marcum TOR 5-2/3 8 4 4 0 6, 3.79 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 0 errors ... Chris Seddon TB 4 8 7 7 2 3, 7.90 ... Ryan Garko 1B CLE 2-4, 10th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Kyle Denney CLE 5-1/3 6 4 4 2 4, 5.97 ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 3-5, R ... Cory Stewart PIT 5-1/3 7 4 4 5 1, 4.43 ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 2-4, 2B, R, BB ... Jason Bartlett SS MIN 3-5, RBI ... J.D. Durbin MIN 5-2/3 5 1 1 5 2, 4.26 ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 1-3, 4th HR, R, RBI

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Finally playing really well, Chris Duncan STL 2-4, homer, 2 RBI, 2 walks ... Brendan Harris WAS 2-4, homer, 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Todd Linden SF 1-3, 18th  homer, 2 RBI ... Jeff Mathis ANA 2-5, double, homer, 4 RBI ... My oh my! Matt Cain 1 3 4 4 1 3, 4.04, Cain got ejected in the second inning after giving up a 2 run homer ... Ervin Santana ANA 7 7 5 4 0 8, (W, 1-0), 4.19 ... Josh Willingham FLO 2-4, solo homer (18), .343! ... Rickie Weeks MIL 2-3, 3 walks, 2 runs 2 SB (10) ...  high WHIP, but a well pitched game, Felix Hernandez SEA 5-1/3 5 0 0 5 8, (W, 7-4), 2.53 ...  Carlos Quentin ARI 2-3, double ... Josh Barfield SD 3-4, double, 2 runs ... Ben Johnson SD 3-5, double, homer, 2 runs

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 3-4, 2 RBI (32), .320 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 1-4, .279 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-4, 3B, .287 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 1-5, RBI (29), .314 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 0-3, .243 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 2-4, 2 2B (6), 2 RBI (32), .244 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 1-4, .278 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 0-4, .298 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 2-4, 2 HR (12), 4 RBI (39), .273 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-3, .233 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 3-4, 2B (17), RBI (27), .327 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 2-4, .252 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 1-4, .339 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 2-3, SB (6),.250 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 0-3, .248 AVG … Paul Maholm PIT 7 4 2 2 1 5, 3.28 ERA …Cameron Reimers TOR 4-1/3 10 9 4 0 2, 4.46 ERA … JD Martin CLE 4-2/3 8 6 5 1 6, 3.03 ERA … Jonathan Lester BOS 6 5 1 1 1 3, W (4), 2.84 ERA 

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Scott  Olsen FLO  6 4 0 0 5 6, 3.36 ... Joel Guzman LA 1-4, walk ... Dana Eveland MIL 7 7 3 3 2 2, 3.03 ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, double, .336 ... Felix Pie CHN 1-5, .301 ... Casey McGehee 2B CHN 4-4, 15th double, 3rd homer, .316 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-4, .267

TEXAS (AA)  --  Josh Anderson HOU 2-5, 2R, .303 ... Bored? - Andre Ethier OAK 0-4, .341 ... Fernando Nieve HOU (W,4-3) 5 2 0 0 6 5 (2.77) ... On Fire - Alberto Callaspo ANA 3-4, .320 ... Doing well - Greg Porter (3B) ANA 3-4, 2B, 2RBI(28), .320 . Jonathan Asahina COL (l,7-3) 6 8 2 2 0 2 (2.62) ... After a demotion from AAA - Clayton Andrews ANA (W,1-0) 7 2 0 0 5 6 (0.00) ... Justin Huber KC 2-5 R, SB(6), .324 ... Mike Aviles (SS) KC 2-4, R, HR(7), 2RBI(36), .278 ... Tyler Minges STL 1-3, R, HR(10), RBI(31), .305 ... Randy Leek STL (L,6-3) 7 9 4 4 1 5 (3.09) ... Heating up - Drew Meyer TX 2-4, 2R, 2B, 2RBI(25), .303 . Juan Senreiso TX 4-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI(21), .290 ... Joaquin Arias 2-5, R, 2RBI(19), .275

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Ian Stewart COL 0-2, 2 walks ...  Jesse Foppert SF, on a rehab start,  7 4 0 0 2 8 ... Thomas Diamond TEX  7 3 0 0 0 14, 6-0, 2.30 (in 66 2/3s, 27 walks, 83 Ks)  ... Stephen Drew CAL 0-4, 2 Ks ... Dustin Majewski CF OAK 3-4, 17th double, 10th homer, .271 ... Daric Barton OAK 2-3, 12th double, 2 walks, .284 ... Adam Jones SEA 3-5, 2 doubles (19), .306 ... Chris Lubanski KC, trying to pick up the slack (Mitch Maier in AA, Billy Butler Dl) 2-5, 2 homers (11),  5 RBI, .232 

CAROLINA (A+) --  No games scheduled.

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  David Purcey TOR 5 2 0 0 4 8 W(4-3, 3.47) … Chip Cannon 1B TOR 2-3 HR(15) 5RBI & 1-3 - .288 … Casey Janssen TOR 5 1/3 6 0 0 0 4 ND, 1.29 … Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 3-4 2B RBI - .195 … Carlos Villanueva MIL 5 4 0 0 1 6 ND, 1.89 … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 3-4 2R 2SB(14) … James Russ FLO 6 4 1 1 4 9 W(7-1, 3.69) … Sean Marshall CHN 5 9 5 5 4 4 L(4-4, 2.39) … Jordan Tata DET 7 5 5 4 1 1 W(6-1, 2.23) … Juan Francia 2B DET 2-4 R RBI … Eric Haberer STL 7 6 0 0 3 2 W(7-2, 1.65)  ... Dodger kids (fronted by Jonathan Figueroa) combined for a one-hitter, but lost. 

MIDWEST (A) --  Reid Brignac TB 2-3, 2nd SB, 13th error (.245) ... Javier Herrera OAK 3-4 (.264) ... Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 2-4 (.320) ... Wilkin Castillo (at 3B) ARZ 2-4 (295) ... bit of a stumble Luis Cota KC 5 8 4 4 5 3 (2.43) ... ack Brian McFall KC 0-5 (.209) ... Matt Bush SD 0-4 (.237) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 3rd HR (.171) ... Kyle Waldrop MIN 4 7 4 4 2 5 (4.70) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 6th double, 3 K's ... Asdrubal Cabrera SEA 2-3, double (.325)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Chris Nelson COL 0-3, walk, .159 ... James Happ PHI 5 4 0 0 2 1, 1.96 ... Luis Ramirez BAL 6 1 0 0 1 5, 2.53 ...  Troy Patton HOU 6-2/3 1 0 0 1 8, 0.98 (in 64 1/3 innings, the 19-year-old has allowed just 42 hits, 17 walks, 78 Ks, 9th rounder in 2004) ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-4, 22nd homer, .341 ... Gaby Hernandez NYN  6 4 1 1 1 6, 2.60 ... Mark Jurich OF ATL 2-5, 5th homer, 3 RBI, .311 ... Scott Elbert LA, just one frame (rain?), 1 0 0 0 1 0, 2.58 ... Kyle Bloom PIT 4 6 5 3 3 3, 1.87 ...  Brett Campbell WAS 1 5 3 3 0 0, 0.91 (first runs given up after a 28 2/3s inning scoreless streak to start the season)

  Troop Movements ... CIN - activated Luke Hudson, optioned Elizardo Ramirez to AAA ... DET - activated Fernando Rodney from DL ... OAK - Charles Thomas to AAA, Matt Watson up ... ARZ - Edgar Gonzalez up, Mike Koplove to AAA ...

    At FoxSports, Dayn Perry has a look at some top level prospects who've increased their status with 2005 performances.  Delmon Young, Billy Butler are featured, of course, along with some less publicized stars :

" ... Dustin Pedroia, 2B ... Despite learning a new position (he moved from short to second to start the season) and facing high-minors competition for the first time, Pedroia is thriving. In 50 games for AA-Portland, he's hitting .314 AVG/..395 OBP/.500 SLG and could have a shot at 40 doubles. There's a strong shot he'll be the starting second baseman in Boston next season."

" ... Brandon Wood, SS ...  has emerged as one of the best prospects in the low minors. Of course, he may not be in the low minors for long. The Cal League is an accommodating circuit for hitters, but even so Wood's batting line of .296 AVG/.341 OBP/.630 SLG is impressive, particularly for a 20-year-old shortstop. He needs to improve his plate discipline, but there's time for that. Recent reports suggest the Angels are close to promoting him to Double-A."

    I just liked the headline - M's draft a Trojan horse, Seattle Post Intelligencer  :

" ... Jeff Clement ... Right now, his power potential is off the chart," said Chad Kreuter, the former Mariners catcher (1995) and 16-year big-league veteran who works as USC's director of baseball operations. "He has once-every-couple-years bat speed -- Griffey type. "They built Safeco for Griffey, then he up and left. So, they have to go back within the organization and get some left-handed power guys." ... As the season began, Clement was considered a late first-round or second-round pick. Most teams interested in him saw his defense as substandard, and that he would ultimately be a first baseman or designated hitter. "I was brought in to help him not be that guy," Kreuter said. Now, he isn't. Clement has improved "dramatically" in blocking balls, to the point that Kreuter believes no more than 15 big-league catchers are better defensively. Among Kreuter's other predictions: Clement compares favorably to former Seattle prospect Jason Varitek, might hit between 25 to 30 home runs per year, and could reach the majors in two years."

   Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, features Felix Pie, among others, in his weekly prospect report :

" ...  It was only a matter of time until Pie’s numbers matched his talent ...  can now be considered one of the top 20 prospects in the game. Pie, a left-handed-hitting center fielder, has drawn comparisons to Johnny Damon. He has outstanding speed, and he’s blossomed as a power hitter this year. He won’t hit 25-30 homers per year in the majors, but he might deliver enough extra-base hits to become a No. 3 hitter. That he has struck out three times for every walk the last two years is a concern. Whether he improves in that area will determine if he’s another Corey Patterson or a star capable of being an asset at one of the top three spots of the order."

" ... J.P. Howell ... Royals are being extremely aggressive with the 31st overall selection in the 2004 draft. Howell ... has four pitches, including an 88-mph fastball and a plus curve. The Royals haven’t had a lot of luck with lefties of late, but Howell looks like a good bet to settle in as a third or fourth starter."

" ... Chris Snelling  ... seems ready to help a Seattle team that’s had major problems scoring runs, but the club probably won’t make room for him unless a particularly good offer for Randy Winn comes in next month ... .  oft-injured Australian played in a total of 106 games from 2002-04. If he can stay healthy the rest of the season, the Mariners should plan for him to be a starter in 2006, either in left field or at DH. He’s a potential .300/.380/.480 hitter."

   Notes from the International League :

" ... Fernando Cabrera is in the midst of an impressive streak. The reliever has not been scored on in 22.1 innings over his last 12 outings. During which, Cabrera has held opponents to a .145 (11-76) average with five walks and 28 strikeouts. Overall on the season, Cabrera is a perfect 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 43 strikeouts in just 32 innings pitched"

" ... Kenny Kelly and RHP Steve Kelly have been the rock of the Bats. Kenny Kelly is batting a team high .332, good for 7th best in the International League. He is also 2nd in hits (70), tied for 4th in stolen bases (17) and tied for 3rd in triples (4) in the league. Steve Kelly pitched a career-high eight innings in Wednesday night's 6-1 victory over the Charlotte Knights; he allowed one run on six hits while walking two and striking out four. His 2.85 ERA is 5th best in the IL and Kelly's 72.2 innings ranks him 4th in the IL. Opponents are hitting .243 against him. Both Kellys are Louisville's Hitter and Pitcher of the Month for May."

   CLE 3B prospect on the shelf :

" ... Kevin Kouzmanoff was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a lower back strain ...  .346 batting average leads the Carolina League ... , second in the league with 45 RBIs and tied for fifth with nine home runs. He has not played since a May 31 doubleheader."  (Kinston Free Press)

   Rangers' notes from Jamey Newberg :

" ... The Rangers have named Oklahoma outfielder Jason Botts and Bakersfield righthander Thomas Diamond the organization's minor league player and pitcher of the month for May. Botts hit .362 with 10 doubles, five homers, and 21 RBI in 105 May at-bats. Diamond went 1-0, 1.86 in five starts, allowing 22 hits and 15 walks in 29 innings while fanning 36."


09 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-4, R ... Kenny Kelly CF CIN 2-5, 2 2B, R ... Steve Kelly CIN 8 6 1 1 2 4, 2.85 ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 3-5, 2B, 10th HR, 2 R, RBI ... John-Ford Griffin LF TOR 1-3, 11th HR, R, RBI ... strong outing, David Bush TOR 8 7 1 1 1 4, 3.86 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 3-4, BB, 0 errors ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, R, SB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-4, R ... Kazuhito Tadano CLE 6 3 2 2 0 3, 4.21 ... Lenny DiNardo BOS 4 4 4 1 1 5, 4.01 ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SF ... Zach Duke PIT 6-2/3 10 2 0 4 3, 10-3, 2.86 ... Angel Pagan DH NYN 4-6, R ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 2-5, RBI, Sac ... Jae Seo NYN 7 7 2 1 3 7, 3.34 ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 4 9 6 6 2 5, 5.59

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  No games scheduled.

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-5, 2B (14), .312 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-3, .279 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-4, .293 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 2-4, 2B (10), HR (6), RBI (28), .319 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 0-3, .247 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-5, .240 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 0-4, .279 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-4, RBI (31), .303 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-4, .269 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-3, RBI (9), .222 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 0-4, .319 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 0-5, .248 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 2-4, 2B (13), 2 RBI (41), .341 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 2-3, SB (6),.250 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 2-4, 2B (7), .254 AVG … Matt Peterson PIT 6 3 1 1 3 6, W (5), 6.35 ERA … Jeffrey Karstens NYA 5-1/3 14 9 9 2 3, 3.76 ERA … Josh Banks TOR 2 10 10 9 3 2, 4.83 ERA … Fausto Carmona CLE 5 12 8 5 1 2, W (5), 4.23 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Ben Kozlowski CIN 6 5 2 2 2 3, 3.84 ... Nelson Cruz OF MIL 2-3, walk, .306

TEXAS (AA)  --  Andre Ethier (LF) OAK 0-3, .346 ... Tim McClaskey HOU (W,3-4) 7 4 1 1 1 4 (2.97) ... Jailen Peguero HOU (S,5) 2 1 0 0 1 3 (1.32) ... Seth Taylor (3B) TX 2-5, 2R, HR(7), 3RBI(32), .268 ... Joaquin Arias TX 2-5, .272 ... Tony Miller COL 2-3, 3R, 3B, HR(9), 3RBI(30), .267 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-5, R, .312 ... Michael Napoli ANA 2-5, R, 2RBI(40), .298 ... Robinson Cancel STL 2-4, R, HR(6), 2RBI(19), SB(3), .331 ... Justin Huber KC 2-5, 2R, HR(8), 3RBI(45), .323

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Daric Barton OAK 2-4, walk, .278 ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-5, 19th homer, .302 ... Kendry Morales ANA 3-4, 5th homer, 2 RBI, .356 ...  Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 2-5, triple, 2 RBI, .355 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-2, double, 2 walks, .250 ...  John-Paul Davis TB 3-4, double, .298 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 3-5, 2 doubles (18), .365 ... Stephen Drew ARZ 1-3 (correction on Tuesday's line, 2-3, not 1-2 as noted earlier)

CAROLINA (A+) --  Javier Guzman PIT 2-4, R, HR (4), 3 RBI ... Martin Prado ATL 1-5, RBI, 2 K ... Josh Burrus ATL 0-4, R, BB, K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-3, BB, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 1-4, RBI, 2 K ... Jake Stevens ATL (L, 3-5, 3.80) 3-1/3 4 5 5 3 0 ... Chad Spann BOS 1-2, R, RBI, BB ... Robert Valido CHA 1-5, RBI, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-3, 2 R, BB, K ... Thomas Collaro CHA 0-5, 2 K ... Kory Casto WAS 1-4, 2 RBI, K ... Nate Spears BAL 2-5, 2 R, 2 doubles (16, 17), RBI ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-5, 2 R, 2 doubles (15, 16), 2 RBI (37) ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 2-5, 3 R, double, HR (8), 2 RBI, K ... better days ahead ... Mitch Talbot HOU (L, 3-4, 3.43) 1-1/3 7 8 6 0 2

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-4 2B R RBI - .336 … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN  3-6 HR(7) 2B 2R 2RBI - .243 … Scott Moore 3B CHN 4-4HR(14) 2B 2R 5RBI - .299 … Kevin Collins LF CHN 2-5 HR(8) 2B 2R 2RBI - .257 …  Adam Harben MIN 5 1/3 2 1 1 3 7 W(5-4, 3.17) … Brett Smith NYA 7 3 3 3 3 4 L(4-3, 4.91) … Nate Bumstead DET 7 2 3 3 3 9 W(8-1, 2.92) … Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-5 R - .310 … Juan Francia 2B DET 2-4 2B 2R 2SB(23) - .314 …Kody Kirkland 3B DET 2-4 HR(7) 2R 3RBI - .298 … Scott Mathieson PHI 5 6 4 4 2 4 L(0-2, 4.11) … Drew Anderson RF/LF MIL 2-4 HR(3) 2RBI - .293 … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 2-4 2 doubles 2R 3RBI - .297 … Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 2-4 HR(6) 4RBI E(14) - .184 … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 2-4 2 doubles R - .290 … Jose Garcia STL 7 7 1 1 1 6 ND, 2.60

MIDWEST (A) --  Eric Patterson CHN 1-5, but 2 steals and 2 DP's turned (.372) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 1-6 (.253) ... big night for Quad Cities middle infield Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 3-4 and Juan Lucena (SS) STL 4-4, 2nd HR

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Chris Nelson COL 1-4, error (2) ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-5, .338 ... David Cook OF CHA 1-1, 4 walks, .312 ... Argenis Reyes SS CLE 2-3, double, 2 walks, .322 ... Matt Harrison ATL 6-2/3 2 0 0 0 5, 2.47

  Troop Movements ... TEX - a bit of a shocker, Ryan Drese designated for assignment, Ron Mahay DL, Gary Matthews activated from DL, Nick Regilio recalled from AAA ... ATL - Eddie Perez DL, Brian McCann up ... PHI - traded Placido Polanco to DET for Ugueth Urbina and Ramon Martinez ... BAL - acquired  Eli Marrero and cash from KC for Pete Maestrales, designated Jacobo Sequea for assignment ... ARZ - Scott Hairston up, Luis Terrero DL ... WAS - C.J. Nitkowski to AAA, Rick Short up ...

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, reporting & in the chat room on Tuesday's draft :

" ... "I'm ecstatic about it," said Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo, who ranked Drew atop his draft board in 2004. "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to do it. I'm glad we decided to take both of them, and I'm glad we had the ability to sign Stephen and to sign Justin in the future."  ... Few high school players in recent memory can compare to Upton. He's considered slightly better than B.J. was at the same stage of their careers, as the 6-foot-2, 187-pound Justin is stronger, faster and more advanced as a hitter. The only real knock on Justin, as with B.J., is that he's erratic making throws from shortstop. While some scouts have said they would move Upton to center field and envisioned him becoming the next Ken Griffey Jr., Rizzo said the Diamondbacks believe he can play shortstop and have no plans to change his position. Once he signs, Upton will begin his professional career at Missoula in the Rookie-level Pioneer League."

SS in COL?   " ... I think they sort that out later, as [Chris] Nelson has been sidelined by hamstring problems and [Troy] Tulowitzki probably will move ahead of him on the minor league ladder. They won't probably be teammates for a while ... they're both good defenders, Nelson has more of a typical shortstop build so maybe Tulowitzki moves to second when they're both in Colorado. Should be a nice DP combo."

Mike Pelfry to the Mets   " ... Pelfrey was the best pitching prospect in this year's draft. He wasn't Prior, but I think you could argue that he has better stuff (if not the same command) as Weaver. I'd put him ahead of the top pitching prospect from 2002 (Bryan Bullington) and 2003 (Kyle Sleeth) ... They got the best pitching prospect in the draft with the ninth pick, and that's a steal."

Wade Townsend TB  " ... Townsend at his best (and not after a year with a lot of inactivity) would be behind Pelfrey and Hochevar and ahead of Romero ...  A lot of teams project Townsend as a reliever because of his aggressive mentality, but he definitely has the stuff to start."

Luke Hochevar slipping to No. 40  " ... I think mainly because of Scott Boras. Hochevar wasn't at his best down the stretch, but he wasn't terrible either and he also has a long track record. Hochevar apparently is seeking as much as anyone we've heard to this point, a big league deal in the $5 million range. There are a lot of teams that won't deal with Boras, and the others decided they didn't want to mess with him on Hochevar. I think it's a great pick for where the Dodgers got him."

    David Regan, RotoAmerica, likes Anibal Sanchez BOS as the cream of the prospects in the Carolina League:

" ... After missing all of 2003 with a nerve injury, Sanchez has come back strong, including this year. He's posted a 4-1, 2.25 record with a very good K/9 ratio of 12.6. He's got very good stuff, including a mid 90s fastball and just needs to stay healthy to reach his ceiling. Recently turned 21."

" ... 2. Jeremy Sowers ... Proving me wrong so far this year (I thought he could be a Jeremy Guthrie-type bust), Sowers is off to a 7-3, 2.63 start and is striking out about a hitter an inning (65 in just over 61 IP). I get wary of guys with average velocity (Sowers' fastball sits in the upper 80s range), but he's certainly polished. Still, he just turned 22 and hasn't yet reached AA, so I need to see more from this southpaw."

    David Luciani, Baseball Notebook, with somewhat surprising conclusions on Jonny Gomes and Rickie Weeks :

" ...   I actually don't project Gomes to be a future star even though I believe he has the ability to hit 20 home runs in the majors right now. The problem is that his projected batting average is going to be a problem, not just now but for the long term. While he has exploded to a .351 clip now in 134 Triple-A at bats this season, he hit just .256 in 390 at bats there last year and .249 in 442 at bats at Double-A Orlando in 2003. I hate to say it but at least based on my research, twenty-three year old hitters who hit .249 at Double-A often do not develop into good big league hitters because they're behind schedule and the development doesn't instantly come at twenty-four or twenty-five. So, in that respect, I'm not projecting Gomes to have a tremendous big league career even though I do expect you'll see him back in the majors within the next two months."

" ... Most readers know that I'm just now completing my first ever long-term analysis on prospects and in it, Weeks isn't projected to be as big a star as some other highly-respectable publications (such as the excellent Baseball America) expect. Though it's not the final version I will be publishing, the early version projects Weeks' long-term future now to be about a .250 hitter with maybe 15 home run power when he's in his prime and 10 steals. Yes, he is hitting .328 at Triple-A Nashville this year with 12 home runs but he hit just .259 last year at Double-A and his contact rate ... is just 76% at Triple-A ...  I'm suggesting to you that Weeks' contact rate is not ready for prime time and I'm not sure it ever will be. I actually have projected Weeks to get called up this year and hit .241 with 2 HR and 1 steal in 84 at bats."

   Some comparisons ... league-by-league prospect charts ...  RotoAmerica & OnDeck :

    RotoAmerica         OnDeck             RotoAmerica         OnDeck
    CAROLINA            CAROLINA           FLORIDA STATE       FLORIDA STATE
  1 Sanchez Anibal      Sanchez Anibal     LaRoche Andy        Verlander Justin
  2 Sowers Jeremy       Sowers Jeremy      Verlander Justin    Moses Matt
  3 Guzman Javier       Hinckley Mike      Moses Matt          Milledge Lastings
  4 Stevens Jake        Markakis Nick      Milledge Lastings   Humber Phil
  5 Hinckley Mike       Loewen Adam        Dopirak Brian       Clevlen Brent
  6 Loewen Adam         Saltalamacchia J   Tiffany Chuck       LaRoche Andy
  7 Snyder Brad         Kouzmanoff Kevin   Humber Phil         Tiffany Chuck
  8 Saltalamacchia J    Talbot Mitch       Purcey David        Perkins Glen
  9 Markakis Nick       Snyder Brad        Marshall Sean       Orenduff Justin
 10 Valido Robert       Pesco Nick         Vargas Jason        Lambert Chris
    MIDWEST             MIDWEST            SAL                 SAL
  1 Tuiasosopo Matt     Bailey Homer       Nelson Chris        Hughes Phil
  2 Bailey Homer        Swarzak Anthony    Gonzalez Gio        Nelson Chris
  3 Gallagher Sean      Herrera Javier     Walker Neil         Gonzalez Gio
  4 Harvey Ryan         Tuiasosopo Matt    Hughes Philip       Walker Neil
  5 Patterson Eric      Harvey Ryan        DeWitt Blake        Elbert Scott
  6 Hurley Eric         Gallagher Sean     Sanders Marcus      Patton Troy
  7 Herrera Javier      Hurley Eric        Einerston Mitch     Rogers Mark
  8 Waldrop Kyle        Houser James       Iribarren Hernan    Hernandez Gaby
  9 Houser James        Waldrop Kyle       Lo Ching-lung       Pence Hunter
 10 Hoffpauir Jarrett   Cota Luis          Hernandez Gaby      Barthmaier Jimmy

   PIT lefty, Zach Duke, selected as the Player of the Month in the International League :

" ...  Duke, who leads all of Minor League Baseball with 10 victories on the season, registered a 4-2 record and 2.23 ERA in six starts during the month of May. The 22-year-old allowed 35 hits and just eight walks while striking out 32 in 40.1 innings ... "Zach is an extraordinary athlete and an outstanding young pitcher," Indians pitching coach Darold Knowles says. "He has a great mound presence and tremendous poise for a 22-year-old kid. During the course of a game, Zach makes adjustments that not too many pitchers are capable of. He knows that not every pitch is going to be perfect, but he’s a guy who will change things until he finds a combination he likes." ...  "You don’t see a talent like this come around everyday," Knowles adds. "Zach has jumped from High-A to Triple-A in less than a year and there’s a lot to be said for someone who can do that. He has a knack for getting people out and he stays calm, cool and collected on the mound. This kid has a very bright future ahead of him."  (Indianapolis Indians)


08 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 4-6, 2B, 10th HR, 2 R, 5 RBI ... Kenny Kelly CF CIN 3-6, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB ... James Jurries RF ATL 3-4, 2 2B, 8th HR, R, 2 RBI ... Billy McCarthy LF ATL 1-5, 4th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Gabe Gross LF & RF TOR 1-3, 3B, R & 1-3, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... Brandon League TOR 4 6 5 5 0 1, 6.95 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 0-3, BB, 0 errors ... Carlos Pena DH DET 1-5, R, RBI, SB ... Kenny Baugh DET 6 4 2 0 1 6, 3.52 ... Ryan Garko 1B & C CLE 1-3, 2B, R & 2-2, 9th HR, R, RBI, BB ... Francisco Cruceta CLE 5 9 8 7 2 6, 5.40 ... Brian Tallet CLE 4 6 2 2 1 4, 2.68 ... Bryan Bullington PIT 8 6 4 2 1 3, 5.61 ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 2-4, 2B, R, RBI ... Craig Brazell LF NYN 3-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 3-6, 9th HR, 3 R, 2 RBI ... Pedro Lopez SS CHA 3-6, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Jason Bartlett SS MIN 3-6, 2B, 1st HR, R, 3 RBI ... Boof Bonser MIN 7 6 3 3 2 4, 3.65 ... monster day, Walter Young 1B BAL 5-8, 6th & 7th HRs, 2 R, 4 RBI

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Prince Fielder MIL 1-4, homer, 3 RBI ... JJ Furmaniak SD 2-4 ... just keeps on slugging, Matt Watson RF OAK 3-4, double, 2 homers, 6 RBI & 2-3, .344 ... Dustin Moseley ANA 6 6 1 1 0 3, W, 5.46 ... Jeff Mathis ANA 1-4, double, .258 ... what does it take? Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, double, .340 ... Josh Wilson SS FLO 2-4, solo homer, 2 runs ... Ian Kinsler TEX 1-4, homer, 4 RBI ... wow! Chris Duncan STL 4-5, 2 homers, 4 RBI, 3 runs ... Good game, Ezequiel Astacio HOU 5-1/3 3 0 0 1 1, (W, 1-3), 3.35 ... Carlos Quentin ARI 2-4, homer, 2 RBI, .303 ... Todd Linden SF 2-5, 2 doubles, .319 ... Justin Knoedler SF 2-4, homer, 4 RBI ... Dioner Navarro LA 3-4, homer, 2 RBI, .299

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-2, 2B (13), .314 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-5, .284 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-3, 2B (14), .294 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 2-4, .313 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 0-3, .251 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 2-5, .245 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 2-5, 2 2B (8),  .284 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 3-4, RBI (30), .304 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-5, .274 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 2-4, 2 SB (11), 2B (10), .224 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 3-5, 2B (16), 3B (3), 2 RBI (26), .325 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 0-3, .254AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 1-3, .337 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 2-3, SB (6),.250 AVG … Merkin Valdez SF 5 3 3 3 4 3, 3.02 ERA … Brian Bannister NYN 8 8 1 1 1 3, W (7), 2.04 ERA … Jeremy Johnson DET 3-2/3 7 7 7 4 2, 3.84 ERA ,,, Eric DuBose BAL 6 9 5 5 0 5, 2.34 ERA … Dan Denham CLE 8 8 4 4 0 6, 3.15 ERA … Kason Gabbard BOS 7-1/3 6 4 4 4 6, 4.45 ERA

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Chad Billingsley LA 7 4 1 1 4 6, 4.12 ....  Richie Gardner CIN 7 6 1 1 2 4, 5.72 ... Joel Guzman LA, out of the lineup again ... Vincent Rottino 3B MIL 3-5, homer, 4 RBI, .280 ...  Kris Honel CHA 4 2 0 0 2 5 ...  Paul McAnulty 1B SD 2-4, 9th homer, 3 RBI, .290 ...

TEXAS (AA)  --  Andre Ethier OAK 1-3, .351 ... This kid is for real - Dallas Braden OAK (W 4-1) 8 4 0 0 2 7 (1.77) ... Alex Santos OAK (S,6) 1 1 0 0 0 2 (0.64) ... Ruddy Yan (DH) TX 2-6, 2R, .318 ... Drew Meyer (2B) TX 4-6, RBI(22), .306 ... 1st AA game -  Gary Matthews (CF), rehab, TX 2-5, RBI, .400 ... So-So - John Danks TX 7-2/3 8 4 4 3 8 (3.38) ... Mitch Maier (CF) KC 1-5, 2B, .278 ... Justin Huber KC 1-3, 2R, RBI(42), .321 ... Tyler Minges STL 2-4, R, 2B, RBI(30), 303 ... Robinson Cancel (C) STL 2-5, .325 ... Overlooked - Kyle Middleton KC (W,7-4) 6 7 3 2 2 4 (2.72) ... Jonah Bayliss KC (S,2) 3 0 0 0 0 3 (2.54) ... Pitch Count or Injury? - Chris Lambert STL 3 4 2 2 4 3 (6.75) ... Tony Miller (CF) COL 3-6, 3R, HR(8), RBI(27), .261 ... Quietly one of the best in the TX League - Ryan Spilborghs COL 4-5, R, HR(5), RBI(46), .348 ... Reggie Willits ANA 2-4, .337 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-4, R, HR(6), RBI(35), .312 . Michael Napoli ANA 1-3, HR(9), 2RBI(38), .295 ... Nice numbers overall - Christian Parker COL 7 4 1 1 3 1 (1.40)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Stephen Drew ARZ, at SS, hitting 5th, 1-2, 2 walks, K  ... Kendry Morales ANA 2-4, 4th homer, .333 ... Ian Stewart COL 2-3, walk, triple, .246 ...  Daric Barton OAK 0-3, .274 ... Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 0-2, but 3 walks (now more walks than Ks), .354 ... George Kottaras SD 3-5, 3 doubles (13), .309

From Monday's game  " ... The Sixers played the final seven innings without one of their top players, center fielder Wladimir Balentien. In the second inning after LaHair hit a leadoff homer to tie the score 1-1, Balentien hit a fly ball to center. He appeared to go into his home run trot and barely made it into second base in time after it was ruled his ball hit the top of the fence. He was replaced by Chris Colton in center, although Brown [manager Daren Brown] wouldn't explain why. "That's my decision," Brown said. He also said that Balentien wasn't hurt."  (San Bernardino County Sun)

CAROLINA (A+) --  dιjΰ vu ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-3, 2 K & 0-3, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 2-3, R, double, HR (9), 2 RBI & 1-3 ... Chad Spann BOS 2-3, 2 doubles, K & 2-2, 3 R, triple, BB ... Nick Pesco CLE (L, 6-5, 3.86) 5 7 6 5 3 3 ... Nate Spears BAL 1-4, RBI, BB ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-3, BB ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 0-4 ... Robert Valido CHA 2-4, 2 R, BB, SB (13) ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-3, R, triple, RBI, K, SB (5) ... Thomas Collaro CHA 1-5, R, HR (15), 4 RBI (44) ... Kory Casto WAS 0-3, BB

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Keith Bucktrot PHI 7 1 0 0 2 6 W(1-1, 4.60) … Tim Moss 2B PHI 2-5 2B 2R 2RBI SB(17) - .277 … Jorge Padilla RF PHI 2-4 2R RBI - .310 … Denard Span CF MIN 2-4 R - .362 … Kurt Isenberg TOR 6 2/3 7 4 4 1 5 L(6-4, 3.10) … Ryan Anderson MIL 2 2/3 1 0 0 0 5 …  Paul Mildren FLO 6 5 1 1 1 6 ND, 3.09 … Lou Palmisano C MIL 3-5 HR(3) - .258 … Carlos Marmol CHN 5 2 1 1 4 4 ND, 2.85 … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 3-5 3R RBI SB(11) - .298 … Andy Wilson 1B NYN 3-4 2B R 2RBI - .293 … Jamar Hill DH  NYN 4-5 HR(4) 3RBI - .213 … Scott Tyler MIN 6 2 0 0 2 8 W(4-3, 4.58)

MIDWEST (A) --  Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 2-4 ... don't hear a lot about this kid Josh Rainwater DET 6 3 0 0 2 4 (2.65) .. Matt Bush SD 2-4 ... Javier Herrera OAK 1-4, 3 K's ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 3-5, double, 3rd HR, 2 BB's ... the slow climb continues Ian Gac TEX 2-4, double (.237) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 0-3 ... Eric Patterson CHN, 5th triple ... Ryan Harvey CHN 0-3

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Chris Nelson SS COL 1-5, 4Ks, .162 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF 1-4, 33rd SB, .306 ... Neil Walker PIT 2-4, .274 ... Carlos Perez BAL 6 10 5 5 0 9, 3.18 ... Michael Dzurilla 1B PHI 3-4, double, .361 ... Ray Liotta CHA 7 8 4 3 1 5, 2.61 ... Philip Hughes NYA (1st rounder, 2004) 7 4 2 2 0 5, 7-1, 1.72 ... David Cook CHA 1-4, 13th homer, .308 ... Brian Barton CLE OF 2-5, double, .433 ... ATL's James Parr 8 0 0 0 2 9 & Angelo Burrows 1 0 0 0 1 1 combined on a no-hitter ... James Barthmaier HOU (13th rounder in 2003) 7 2 0 0 0 6, 1.93 ... Mark Rogers MIL (5th overall, 2004) 2.0 0 0 0 2 3

  Troop Movements ... CIN - WilyMo Pena activated, Jason Romano designated for assignment ... FLO - Chad Bentz and Valerio De Los Santos up, Matt Perisho designated, Nate Bump to AAA ... TB - Reggie Taylor up, Josh Phelps designated ... TEX Chad Allen designated, Marshall McDougall up ... CHN - signed first round pick Mark Pawelek ... ATL - Eddie Perez activated, Seth Greisinger designated ... WAS - signed first round pick Ryan Zimmerman ... LA - Ricky Ledee DL, Jason Grabowski activated ...

    Draft day ... Justin Upton No.1, to ARZ :

" ...  I think everybody saw the same thing," Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. told The Associated Press. "They saw an extremely gifted athlete. That understandably catches your eye. And when you're around him, and around his family, you get the feeling that these people have their values together." The 17-year-old Upton was mainly a shortstop, but also played third base and the outfield. The Virginia player of the year batted .519 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in just 54 plate appearances."   (Associated Press)

   Jays', with the 6th pick, took another left turn -   Ricky Romero :

" ... Romero, who attends Cal State University at Fullerton, is 12-5 with a 2.95 earned-run average this season. In 125 innings, he has walked only 33 batters while striking out 132. Blessed with a 94 m.p.h. fastball and an above-average curveball, Romero has limited opposing batters to 99 hits this season. Some scouts believe the 20-year-old could eventually develop into an ace. "I love competing, I love getting the ball in big games and I have no pressure going into games," said Romero. "I have a lot of confidence that I can get the job done. That's just the type of competitor I've been." ...  It marks the second straight draft the Jays have targeted pitching. Last year, Toronto selected David Purcey and Zach Jackson with their first two picks. "We figured we would lean more toward the pitching," explained Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "For us to go out on the free agent market and try to get pitching, it's something that's always overpriced. The more pitching we can develop the better off we're going to be."  (CBC Sports)

    Kevin Czerwinski, MLB.com, with draft notes on Alex Gordon and Jeff Clement, 2-3 :

" ... Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon ... consensus All-America, whom some believed would be the top pick in the draft, is hitting .382 this season with 18 homers and 62 RBIs with 23 stolen bases in 67 games. He is a career .357 hitter at Nebraska with 43 homers, 185 RBIs and 43 steals in 184 games. "He's a good third baseman who can hit for power and average," one Major League scout said. "He has very few flaws ... definitely move fast through the Minors. He's a true third baseman that can make the plays."

" ... Clement fills Seattle's glaring need for a catcher. He can hit, drawing comparisons to Mike Piazza at the plate. But he's also drawn comparisons to Piazza because of his shortcomings behind the plate. Still, he figures to move fast through the system if he can adapt to tougher pitching in pro ball ...   hitting .347 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs and a .606 slugging percentage ... may also be asked to switch positions to take better advantage of his bat ...  I want to catch unless someone thinks I'm better suited at another position. If anyone asked me to move, I'd have no problem trying another position."

    Rich Lederer, TheBaseballAnalysts, with first-round draft notes :

" ... 7. Colorado Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki ... comparisons to former 49er shortstop Bobby Crosby read like a cliche at this point but they are apt. Plus arm and plus power for a shortstop. Tulowitzki has all the tools. Big, strong (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) modern-day SS ... excellent range in the field. Intense player with great leadership skills ... Aggressive hitter who may need to work on plate discipline."

" ... 9. New York Mets: Mike Pelfrey ...  Big, tall right-hander with a mid-90s fastball. Think Roy Halladay. Capable of getting strikeouts and groundballs. Wichita State pitching coach calls him the "best pitching prospect" in the school's history. However, the Shockers do not have a good reputation for developing pitchers who perform even better at the pro level."

   A few surprises ... RH starter Luke Hochevar, represented by Scott Boras, wasn't picked until No. 40 overall, a supplementary first rounder by the Dodgers ...  reliever Craig Hansen falling to BOS at No. 26 (Boras client) ...      catcher Taylor Teagarden, not long ago considered to be on the heels of Clement, fell to the third round, No. 99 overall (another Boras client) ... OAK taking a bunch of high school kids, including three RHPs in a row in the 2nd & 3rd rounds

Picks from the top three rounds here.

   Strikeout machine Joel Zumaya sits atop the latest prospect Who's Hot at RotoAmerica :

" ... 14 and 15 K's in two of his last three starts gets him the top slot on this week's Hot List. Zumaya, whose fastball has been clocked at 99 mph this year, seems to be on the fast track and could even bypass AAA this year. He now sports an impressive K/9 ratio of 13.2 and a BAA of a miniscule .196. Walks (39 in 67 2/3 IP) could stand some attention, but he's also improved there in the last couple weeks."

Brandon Moss BOS ranks No. 2 on the week with ARZ 1B Conor Jackson at No. 3 :

" ... Carlos who? Was thought to have less upside than his teammate Quentin, but Jackson is outhitting him by 74 points and is at .372/.468/.582. This is not a misprint either: 38 walks on the year and 12 strikeouts. Some of those 21 doubles in 55 games will be homeruns in the majors. I see him as a .310/25/100 type guy."

    Maybe it's time for a promotion to AAA :

" ... Montgomery Biscuits’ outfielder Delmon Young was named the Topps Southern League Player of the Month for May ...  Young, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, hit .389 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 26 games during the month of May. For the season, Young ranks among the league leaders in several statistical categories. The outfielder ranks fifth in batting average (.333), first in home runs (13), tied for first in RBI (50), fourth in stolen bases (21), tied for second in hits (72), second in slugging percentage (.579) and third in runs scored (41)."  (Southern League)

    CLE kid Topps :

" ... Kinston third baseman and cleanup hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff was voted the Carolina League’s Topps Player of the Month for May  ... For the month Kouzmanoff batted .327 (36 for 110) with four home runs and 29 RBI. Cumulatively through games of June 6, the Newport Beach, Calif., native is the league’s leading hitter at .346, with nine home runs. He also has 45 RBI and a slugging percentage of .616, both good for second in the league."  (Carolina League)

   Midwest All-Stars announced ... among the first-team picks - SS Reid Brignac TB, 2B Eric Patterson CHN, OF Ryan Harvey CHN, OF Javier Herrera OAK and pitchers Rafael Rodriguez ANA, AJ Shappi ARZ, Jair Jurrjens DET, Anthony Swarzak MIN, Luis Cota KC, Eric Hurley TEX, Sean Gallagher CHN.

   Among the TEX first-team picks ... 1B Brent Colamarino OAK and SS Yuniesky Betancourt SEA, both of whom have been promoted to AAA ... OF Josh Anderson HOU ...  pitchers Fernando Nieve HOU, Josh Rupe TEX, Randy Leek STL .... 1B Justin Huber KC, 2B Alberto Callaspo ANA, SS Erick Aybar ANA, C Mike Napoli ANA

   Florida State picks include ... SP Justin Verlander DET, Ty Taubenheim MIL, Justin Orenduff LA, David Purcey TOR ...  3B Andy LaRoche LA, 3B Matt Moses MIN,  OF Brent Clevlen DET.


07 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-4, 9th HR, 2 R, RBI ... Dane Sardinha C CIN 1-4, 4th HR, R, RBI ... rehab, Wily Mo Pena DH CIN 0-3 ... Zach Minor ATL 6-2/3 6 3 3 1 3, 4.50 ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-5, R, RBI ... Eude Brito PHI 5-2/3 6 4 4 1 2 7.82 ... Francisco Rosario TOR 6 5 4 4 3 6, 3.91 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 0-3, RBI, SF, 0 errors ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 3-5, 4th HR, 2 R, 4 RBI ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 1-4, 2B, R, BB ... superb, picked off only batter to reach base, Abe Alvarez BOS 7 1 0 0 0 9, 3.91 ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 2-4, R, HBP, SB ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 3-5, 2B, R, RBI ... Dave Gassner MIN 7 5 1 1 2 5, 3.52 ... Walter Young DH BAL 1-4, 5th HR, R, 2 RBI

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  JP Howell KC 5-1/3 7 5 3 4 2, (W, 1-0), 5.06 ...  deserves an MLB shot, but no room at the inn,  Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, double, homer, 2 runs ...  Ian Kinsler TEX (12-game hit streak) 1-3, triple, 4 RBI, 2 walks ...  Rich Hill CHN 7 5 4 4 1 7, (W, 1-1), 5.27, 21K in 13-2/3 AAA innings ...  Adam Wainwright STL 7 7 6 6 6 6, L, 3.16 ...  Josh Barfield SD 2-4, double, .274 ...  Ben Johnson SD 2-3, double, 2 runs, 2 walks ...  Chris Oxspring SD 7 4 3 2 2 7, (W, 4-2) ...  Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 0 1, (S, 19) ...  Ryan Shealy 1B COL 2-4, double, solo homer, 2 runs, .317 ...  Sergio Santos ARI 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI ...  Todd Linden SF 4-5, 18th double, 17th homer, 5 RBI, 4 runs, .317  ...  Justin Knoedler C SF 3-4, solo homer, 2 RBI, 3 runs, 2 walks ...  Norihiro Nakamura LA 2-5, RBI  ...  Dioner Navarro LA 3-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, .286  ...  Edwin Jackson LA, shelled again, 5-2/3 9 8 8 4 2, 8.08, seems about time for the Dodgers to either shut 'em down or send him down (perhaps the Halladay model).  Jackson's 11 starts (perhaps there's been one to meet expectations).

Game# IP   H  R  ER BB SO
  1  4.0   5  6  6  5  2
  2  5.1   6  4  4  2  3
  3  6.0   3  0  0  3  6
  4  5.0   4  1  1  2  5
  5  6.0   8  5  4  3  4
  6  3.0  10  8  8  2  1
  7  6.0   5  2  2  3  4
  8  2.0   5  7  4  0  1
  9  5.0   6  3  2  2  3
 10  4.1  10 11  8  4  0
 11  5.2   9  8  8  4  2
    52.1  71 55 47 30 31

EASTERN (AA)  --  No games scheduled.

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Jonathan Broxton LA 6 4 0 0 0 9, 3.55 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 3-4, 14th double, 12th homer, .313  ... Russell Martin LA 0-1, 3 walks, .306 ... Felix Pie CHN 1-5, 3 Ks, .304 ... Josh Johnson FLO 7 6 2 0 2 7, 2.31 ... Anthony Lerew ATL 9 2 1 1 3 2, 5-2, 4.18 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-5, 9th homer, .274 ... Brian McCann ATL 2-3, .265 ...  Jason Hammel TB 8 5 1 1 1 7, 4-1, 3.29 ...  Ricky Nolasco CHN 6 2 1 1 6 9, 2.55

TEXAS (AA)  --  No games scheduled.

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Wladimir Balentien SEA 1-1, 16th double, .296 (left the game in the 2nd, no word on possible injury)  ... Adam Jones SEA 0-3, 2 walks, .308  ... George Kottaras SD 2-4, .301

CAROLINA (A+) --  Javier Guzman PIT 3-5, double, .325 ... Martin Prado ATL 2-5, R, 2 doubles, K ... Josh Burrus ATL 1-5, R, HR (7), RBI (35), K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 2-4, R, HR (8), RBI (36) ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 1-3, RBI, K ... Brady Endl ATL 5-2/3 5 2 2 7 3 (1.96) ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4, 2 K ... Kory Casto WAS 0-2, 2 BB

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Matt Moses 3B MIN 2-4 HR(7) 3RBI & 0-3 … Denard Span CF MIN 3-4 2R RBI & 1-3 SB(12) … Glen Perkins MIN 5 2 2 2 4 4 W(2-2, 2.77) … Nate Blackburn MIN 6 2/3 10 4 4 4 1 4 L(5-3, 3.43) … Small step forward for Dustin McGowan TOR 3 2/3 2 1 0 2 3 … Sean Moore 3B CHN 2-4 2B RBI … Matt Kemp CF LA 2-3 3B R … Justin Orenduff LA 5 5 5 5 3 5 L(4-3, 2.53) … JR Mathes CHN 6 5 0 0 2 1 W(4-2, 3.10) … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 2-5 HR(12) 2R 2RBI … Jason Vargas FLO 7 2/3 4 3 3 3 7 ND, 1.85 … Ty Taubenheim MIL 5 3 0 0 0 5 ND, 2.39 … Javon Moran CF CIN 2-5 2B 2R … Joey Votto DH CIN 3-4 2 doubles 2R 2RBI … Christopher Dickerson CF CIN 1-4 HR(8) 2R 2RBI …  Junior Ruiz RF CIN 1-1 HR(3) 2RBI 2BB … Bobby Basham CIN 5 8 2 2 1 5 W(3-2, 4.12) … Brent Clevlen RF DET 3-4 R RBI … Vincent Blue CF DET 3-4 R RBI … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 3-5 …A couple of Mets still hitting under .200 go deep, Shawn Bowman 3B NYN 2-3 HR(5) 2B 2R & Jamar Hill CF NYN 1-4 HR(3) … Still without a win, Phil Humber NYN 1 2/3 8 8 8 1 1 L(0-5, 6.50) … Hitting in A+ Reid Gorecki CF STL 2-5 2R RBI … Tim Moss 2B PHI 3-5 SB(16) … Tyler Clippard NYA 6 6 1 1 1 8 ND, 3.71

MIDWEST (A) --  James Houser Jr. TB 5 6 0 0 2 4, 3.15 ... Reid Brignac SS TB 1-5, 6th homer & 1-4, 2 walks, .240 ... John Jaso C TB 4-5, 8th homer, .333 ... Matt Tuiasosopo 3B &DH SEA 1-4 & 1-3, 2 walks, .305 ... Dallas Trahern DET 6 7 3 3 3 1, 3.61 ... Rafael Rodriguez ANA 6-1/3 5 1 1 1 4, 2.85 ... Trevor Plouffe MIN, a likely candidate to be demoted to short-season ball, 0-3, 16th error, .171 ... Sean Gallagher CHN, worst start of the season, 3-2/3 6 3 3 5 3, 1.17 ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-5, double, .368

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Tony Sipp CLE 5-1/3 2 3 3 3 5, 2.25 ... Brian Horwitz SF 3-5, double, .356 ... Argenis Reyes 3B-SS CLE, 5-6, homer, 3RBI, .316 ... Brian Barton CLE OF (undrafted free agent)  4-5, walk, 2 doubles, triple, 4 RBI, .435 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-5, 11th double, .340 ... Mike Carp NYN 2-3, 15th homer, .247 ... 2B Michael Dzurilla PHI  3-5, double, .350

  Troop Movements ... ATL - Andy Marte up, Chipper Jones DL ... COL - Clint Barmes & Todd Greene DL, Danny Ardoin & Tim Olson up ... STL - Roger Cedeno DL, Skip Schumaker up ... PIT - promoted catcher Ronny Paulino to AAA ... LA - Wilson Alvarez to DL, Franquelis Osoria up ...  MIL - Gary Glover designated for assignment, Julio Mosquera up ...

    Baseball America's latest projection for the top of Tuesday's draft :

1. Justin Upton, ss/of, High School " ... Has moved to third base late in HS season, but still the draft's top talent and looking more and more like the No. 1 pick to Arizona."

2. Alex Gordon, 3b, U. of Nebraska  " ... Polished hitter has cemented role as top college position player with .526 OBP, 18 HRs; led Cornhuskers to super-regional round."

3. Cameron Maybin, of, High School  " ... Clubs don’t doubt Maybin’s talent, but his reported asking price and the trend of drafting college players makes his draft position uncertain."

4. Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Long Beach State U.

5. Mike Pelfrey, rhp, Wichita State U.

23. Wade Townsend, rhp " ...  Worked out for the Mets in St. Lucie; GM Omar Minaya liked Townsend last year when he was running the Expos, but Townsend’s performance didn’t wow anyone."

    Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News, with an alternate theory of ARZ intentions :

" ...  With Drew under contract ...  and new ownership having a valid concern about the lack of depth in the Diamondbacks' farm system, particularly with pitching, scouting director Mike Rizzo apparently has been directed to pursue a college pitcher.  The two pitchers on the Diamondbacks' radar are right-handers Mike Pelfrey of Wichita State and Craig Hansen of St. John's. Hansen is a reliever, and with the recent success college closers have had in quickly reaching the majors (Chad Cordero with Montreal/Washington and Ryan Wagner with Cincinnati), Hansen's stock is up ... Upton figures to wind up going No. 3 to Seattle ... Kansas City has the second selection in the draft, but Upton is out of the Royals' financial reach.  The Royals have set their sights on left- handed-hitting third baseman Alex Gordon of Nebraska. The question is whether he will take the $2.2 million or so the Royals have set for the bonus."

    Finally, a little notice for hot D'Backs catching prospect :

" ... Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero entered the year as more of an organizational player, but he’s putting up some huge numbers at high Class A Lancaster. The 21-year-old Venezuelan was 4-for-6 with a pair of home runs in the Jethawks 16-6 romp over Rancho Cucamonga yesterday, and is batting .362/.422/.629 with a minor league-leading 55 RBIs and has eight home runs in his last 10 games.' (Baseball America)

    Minors' home run leader named Batter of the Week in the South Atlantic :

Hunter Pence HOU  " ... This is the second time Pence has been honored with the Batter Of The Week award ... hit for a .346 average by getting 9 hits in his 26 at bats including 5 homeruns. Pence also knocked in 9 RBI, scored 6 runs, stole 1 base and posted a .923 slugging percentage in his 7 games played this week. Hunter currently ranks 1st in the South Atlantic League in homeruns (21), 1st in slugging percentage (.721), 1st in extra-base hits (33), 2nd in RBI (46), 3rd in hits (70), 3rd in runs scored (42) and 5th in batting average (.343)." (Lexington Legends)

WSox phenom the SAL's Pitcher of the Week :

" ... Gio Gonzalez ...  posting a 2-0 record in his 2 starts with a perfect 0.00 ERA for his club in home victories over Rome and Augusta. Gonzalez allowed a mere 2 hits in his 15 innings pitched, struck out 16 and walked only 4 batters during his outstanding week. Gio currently ranks 1st in the South Atlantic League with 78 strikeouts and 3rd in the League with a 1.54 ERA." (SAL)

    Scott Hairston ARZ the top dog in the PCL :

" ... Hairston ... belted six home runs, driving in 10 runs, while batting at a .406 pace to earn the PCL Player of the Week award ...  went 13-for-32, with a pair of doubles and a triple, giving him a 1.094 slugging percentage in seven games ... Entering this week, he is batting .319, with 13 homers and 29 runs driven in on the season." (Pacific Coast League)

    WSox, Carolina League corner infielder beginning to get some notice (albeit, at age 25) :

" ... Leo Daigle ...  hit safely in all seven Warthogs games to join Kinston's Kevin Kouzmanoff as the only players to earn two Carolina League Offensive Player of the Week awards this season. The 6-foot-3 corner infielder got off to a fast start, going 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs in Winston-Salem's 10-9 win over Myrtle Beach on May 30. In a four-game series against Lynchburg to wrap up the week, Daigle could hardly be retired, going 9-for-14 with two or more hits in each game ... Daigle is positioning himself for a run at the Triple Crown, as he currently leads the league in average (.347) and RBIs (53) and is one home run off the pace with 13. In addition, he ranks first in hits (77), extra-base hits (33) and runs (39). (MinorLeagueBaseball)

    Jay's righty Shaun Marcum  takes a Pitcher of the Week award in his first week in AAA :

" ...  In his second start for Syracuse Saturday afternoon, Marcum tossed seven shutout innings ...  to earn his first Triple-A win ...  in his two starts for the SkyChiefs, the 23-year-old right-hander has 17 strikeouts with only one walk. "He's a gamer. He goes out there and competes," SkyChiefs manager Marty Pevey said ...  Marcum has provided a lift for a Syracuse team that recently lost its best starting pitcher, Chad Gaudin, to the Blue Jays. In his first Triple-A start Monday, the 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander left with a 5-2 lead in the seventh ... On Saturday, Marcum allowed five hits - all singles - in seven innings, and the Bats did not advance a runner past second base against him ...  Marcum does not throw exceptionally hard - his fastball ranges from 89 to 91 mph - but he throws four pitches for strikes (fastball, curveball, slider and changeup). He also works up-and-down and in-and-out, meaning he throws strikes in all areas of the strike zone.' (The Post-Standard, Syracuse)


06 June 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-5, 2 RBI, SB ... Dane Sardinha C CIN 2-4, 3rd HR, 2 R, RBI ... Kenny Kelly RF-CF CIN 2-5, R, RBI ... rehab, Wily Mo Pena CF CIN 1-4, 2B ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-3, R, BB ... Gavin Floyd PHI 6-2/3 6 2 2 1 5, 5.93 (also see below) ... Gabe Gross DH TOR 2-4, 2B, R, SB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 0 errors ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 2-3, 2B, RBI, BB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-3, HBP ... Nelson Cruz DET 6 5 2 2 2 2, 4.63 ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 2-5, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Chris Narveson BOS 5 3 3 3 5 4, 4.05 ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 3-4, 2B, SB ... Ian Snell PIT 7 4 3 3 3 6, 2.93 ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 3-5, R, RBI ... Sean Henn NYA 5 9 6 6 3 4, 2.58 ... Scott Baker MIN 4 7 6 6 1 4, 2.82 ... Walter Young 1B BAL 2-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI ... John Maine BAL 6-2/3 6 4 4 1 10, 3.77

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Ronny Cedeno CHN 2-3 & 2-4 ...  Jerome Williams CHN 6 3 2 2 3 3, W, 7.59 ...  Dioner Navarro LA 2-3, solo homer, 2 walks ... Brant Colamarino OAK 1-4, solo homer ... Luke Allen RF ANA 2-4, triple, homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs, .296 ... JJ Furmaniak SD 3-4, solo homer, 2 runs ... Josh Barfield SD 2-3, quetly up to .270  ... Brooks Conrad HOU 2B 2-5, homer, 2 RBI, 2 runs ... Ken Harvey KC 4-5 ... Josh Willingham FLO 2-5, 2 RBI ... Jason Botts TEX 2-5, 2 runs ... Scott Hairston ARI 3-5, 2 homers, 3 RBI ... Koyie Hill ARI 2-5, double, homer, 4 RBI ... Carlos Quentin ARI 1-1, pinch hit

EASTERN (AA)  --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-5, RBI (9), .307 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 1-5, .291 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-4, .293 AVG … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 2-5, 2B (9), 2 RBI (26), .307 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 2-4, HR (12), 2 RBI (30), .256 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-3, 2 RBI (30), .242 AVG … Melky Cabrera OF NYA 1-4, HR (8), 3 RBI (33), .281 AVG … David Espinosa OF DET 1-4, .296 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 2-4, 2B (10), HR (10), RBI (35), .281 AVG … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4, 2B (9), .219 AVG … Carlos Valderrama OF SF 1-3, SB (9), RBI (24), .318 AVG … Michael Bourn OF PHI 2-7, SB (16), 2B (8), 2 RBI (17), .257 AVG … Randy Ruiz 1B PHI 0-7, .337 AVG … Alexander Romero OF MIN 0-4, .227 AVG … Paul Bonifay 1B PIT 1-4, HR (8), RBI (28), .246 AVG … Francisco Liriano MIN 5 7 6 5 2 3, 3.62 ERA … Jon Papelbon BOS 5 10 7 4 2 5, 2.48 ERA …  Vance Perkins TOR 5-2/3 5 3 3 3 1, 3.20 ERA … Matt Lindstrom NYN 2 6 8 7 4 0, 6.34 ERA … Joel Zumaya DET 7 3 1 0 1 15, W (4), 3.72 :

" ... Erie fell behind in the first as Harrisburg scored an unearned run against Zumaya, but the young right-hander would settle down to strike out 15 in seven innings, and leave with a 4-1 lead. Zumaya, who has now struck out at least 10 in four different starts, struck out at least two in every inning but the sixth, and struck out the side twice, once in the fourth in again in the seventh. The 20-year old righty allowed just three hits across his seven innings while walking just one. He now has 99 punchouts in 67.2 innings this season." (seawolves.com)

SOUTHERN (AA) --  James Loney LA 2-4, 2 doubles, .258 ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, 13th homer, .3 RBI (50), .335 ... Chuck James ATL 6 7 3 3 0 7, 2.51 ... Nelson Cruz OF MIL 2-5, 12th homer, .305 ... Brandon Sing CHN 2-4, 2 doubles (18), .302 ... Tony Pena ARZ, doesn't look like a real prospect, 5 8 9 5 6 1, 7.22 ... Josh Fields CHA 2-5, 7th homer, .217

TEXAS (AA)  --  In his 1st AA start - Edison Volquez TX (L,0-1) 6 2 1 1 2 6 (1.50) ... 2nd AA start - Jeremy Cummings STL (W,1-0) 7 1 0 0 0 5 (0.82) ... Omar Quintanilla OAK 2-3, 2B, .287 ... Tommy Murphy ANA 1-3, HR(8), 2RBI(31), 299 ... Reggie Willits ANA 1-2, 2BB, 2SB(16), .333 ... Better - Steven Shell ANA (W,3-4) 6-1/3 3 1 1 4 1 (5.01) ... 2nd AA start - Jason Windsor OAK (L 0-1) 5-2/3 4 3 3 4 5 (3.09) ... Mitch Maier (CF) KC 0-5, 2RBI, .308 ... Justin Huber 0-3, RBI(41), .321 ... Ryan Spilborghs COL 2-3, RBI, .337 ... Zach Parker COL 7 5 1 0 1 6 (3.18) .. Mark McLemore HOU 5-1/3 5 2 2 2 6 (2.50)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Daric Barton OAK 2-5, double ... John-Paul Davis 1B TB 3-5, 2 homers, 5 RBI, .285 ... Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 4-4, walk, 3 doubles (25), .358 ... Brandon Wood ANA 1-4, 18th homer, .296 ... Kendry Morales ANA 2-4, 3rd homer ... SS Danny Richar ARZ (to be unseated by Stephen Drew) 3-5, double, homer, .297 ... Miguel Montero C ARZ, seems only his family knows he's playing,  4-6,  15th double, 14th & 15th homers, 4 RBI, .362 ... Ubaldo Jimenez COL 5 6 6 5 4 3, 4.30 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-4, .237 ... Seth Smith COL 1-4, 5th homer, .287

CAROLINA (A+) --  Martin Prado ATL 4-4, double ... Josh Burrus ATL 1-4, 3 K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 0-2, 2 BB, K ... Kory Casto WAS 1-3, 2 R, RBI (33), 2 BB ... Josh Whitesell WAS 1-4, 2 R, double, 2 RBI (32), BB, 3 K ... Mike Hinckley WAS (1st Win, 1-3, 5.06) 7 7 0 0 3 5 ... Chad Spann BOS 2-4, K ... Robert Valido CHA 1-5, R, 2 K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 3-4, R, double, 3 RBI ... Thomas Collaro CHA 3-5, R, RBI (40), K ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-4, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 0-3, BB, 3 K ... Nate Spears BAL 3-5, R, RBI ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-4, RBI, K ... back after a cup of coffee in the show ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 1-4, double, RBI, BB, K ... Brian Finch BAL (W, 3-5, 4.01) 5 3 1 1 3 6

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Justin Verlander 7 3 3 2 2 9 ND, 1.75 … Javon Moran CF CIN 2-4 HR(1) 2R … Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-4 2B R RBI … Reid Gorecki CF STL 2-3 HR(1) 2B 2RBI SB(1) … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 1-4 R SB(10) … Jamar Hill DH NYN 2-4 R RBI … Jeremy King NYA 6 2/3 5 2 2 2 6 W(1-2, 2.38) … Justin Christian 2B NYA 2-5 R SB(23)

MIDWEST (A) --  Jair Jurrjens DET 6 6 4 3 2 6, 2.59 ... Jay Rainville MIN 7 4 1 1 1 8, 5-2, 4.00 ... Eric Hurley TEX 6-1/3 5 6 6 2 8, 4.23 ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-2, 2 walks, .174 ... David WInfree 2-4, double, homer, .274 ... Raul Padron C OAK 5-6, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, .314 ... Matt Bush SD 1-5, .241 ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-5, homer, .367 ... Anthony Granato CHN 3-5, first homer, 5 RBI, .237

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Ryan Frith OF PHI 4-5, 2 homers, 4 RBI & 1-4,  .318 ... Timi Moni CF PHI 4-4, homer, 6 RBI & 1-3, .260 ... Blake Dewitt LA, hit for the cycle, 4-4, 13th double, 2nd triple, 6th homer, walk, 4 RBI, .267 ... Mark Jurich OF ATL 3-4, triple, homer, .339 ... Giovany Gonzalez CHA 7 1 0 0 2 7, 1.54 (78 Ks in 52-2/3s) ...  Christopher Malone LA, in his last game took a perfecto into the 9th, Sunday he gave up three hits, two walks, error in the first,  4 13 8 7 3 2  ... Hunter Pence HOU (2nd round pick last year), takes over the minor league home run lead, 2-3, 21st homer, .343 ... Jonathan Ash 2B HOU 3-4, 8th homer, .330 ... Mike Carp NYN 2-5, 14th homer

  Troop Movements ... CIN - William Bergolla AAA, DL ... ATL - Mike Hampton DL, Seth Greisinger up ... CHN - Mike Remlinger activated from DL, Roberto Novoa to AAA ... COL - Bobby Seay activated from DL ... MIN - Terry Tiffee, racking up lots of air miles, back to AAA ... OAK - Kiko Calero activated from DL, Seth Etherton to AAA ... SD - Woody Williams activated, Brian Falkenborg to AAA

    AJ Schappi ARZ, more success, still not much hype :

" ... The South Bend Silver Hawks' ace was on again Saturday ...  A.J. Schappi pitched seven strong innings and improved to 9-1 on the season  ... "He's been the horse," Hawks manager Mark Haley said of Schappi, who gave up two runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. "You can count on him to give you at least seven (innings)." ... After yielding a leadoff double in the first, Schappi cruised through the first four innings, allowing only one three-ball count. The Kernels eventually broke through in the fifth inning with Warner Madrigal's eighth homer of the season ...  "I got plenty of defense, as usual," Schappi said. "I got a double play late in the game on a heads-up play by Brito, and you can't beat that."  (South Bend Tribune)

    Scott Tex, On Deck, updates his Midwest League prospect chart - the Top 10 :

1. Homer Bailey, RHP, Dayton CIN        6. Sean Gallagher, RHP, Peoria CHN
2. Anthony Swarzak, RHP, Beloit MIN     7. Eric Hurley, RHP, Clinton TEX
3. Javier Herrera, OF, Kane County OAK  8. James Houser, LHP, SW Michigan TB
4. Matt Tuiasosopo, SS, Wisconsin SEA   9. Kyle Waldrop, RHP, Beloit MIN
5. Ryan Harvey, OF, Peoria CHN         10. Luis Cota, RHP, Burlington KC

   Randy Miller, phillyburbs.com, with notes on a couple of PHI pitching prospects (filed previous to Floyd's Sunday start) :

" ... Gavin Floyd (2-5, 6.51) had a strong outing last week in allowing one run, four hits and three walks over seven innings in a win at Richmond. “It wasn’t his best, but it was better,” minor-league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller said. “The encouraging thing was in the last half of the game Gavin was more consistent with his curve.” Floyd, however, still is struggling to keep his mechanics consistent. “His timing is a little off and you can’t pitch that way,” Heimueller said. “But his stuff is there and his arm feels good."

" ... Cole Hamels’ long-awaited season debut was pushed back a few more days due to back spasms. “He’s fine now and throwing again, and stuffwise he looks very, very good,” Heimueller said. Out all season with a broken hand, Hamels had been scheduled to start an extended spring training game last Friday. The new plan is for Hamels to start a game in extended sometime this week and then make a start or two in the Gulf Coast League, which begins play later this month.  From there, Hamels will be sent to Clearwater."

   Ken Rosenthal, The Sporting News, among those predicting it will be Justin Upton as the top pick in Tuesday's draft :

" ... Upton, rated by one scout as a hitter with the same type of potential that Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Gary Sheffield showed in high school, almost certainly will move to center field, and could rise through the system quickly. The Diamondbacks' greater immediate need is for a college pitcher who is close to the majors, but given the shortage of power prospects in today's game, their burgeoning group of hitters would give them an enviable foundation for future trades."

   Over at MinorLeagueBall, John Sickels and crew have run a mock draft.  Here's the Top 10 :

 1 ARZ Justin Upton SS Cheasapeake VA  6 TOR Ryan Zimmerman 3B Virginia
 2 KC Alex Gordon 3B Nebraska          7 COL Luke Hochevar RHP Tennessee
 3 SEA Troy Tulowitzki SS LB State     8 TB Ricky Romero LHP Cal State Fullerton
 4 WAS Jeff Clement USC                9 NYN Cameron Maybin OF Arden, NC
 5 MIL Mike Pelfrey RHP Wichita State 10 DET Craig Hansen RHP St. John's


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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