Rookies 2005
                                                                                                                           Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

14 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Chris Denorfia CF CIN 3-5, R, RBI ... Justin Germano CIN 6 7 3 3 1 3, 3.63 ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 3-3, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 3-4, 2B, R, RBI, HBP ... Zach Jackson TOR 6-1/3 7 6 3 5 2, 5.40 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-5, 2B, 2 errors ... Delmon Young RF TB 1-4, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... Jason Hammel TB 6 6 4 0 2 6, 3.77 ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-3 ... Marcus Thames LF DET 2-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB ... Kenny Baugh DET 5 3 0 0 0 5, 3.45 ... Ryan Garko 1B CLE 3-4, 17th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Jason Dubois RF CLE 1-3, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI, HBP ... Francisco Cruceta CLE 6 6 0 0 2 1, 5.19 ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 1-4, 24th HR, R, RBI ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn 2B BOS 0-5 ... Abe Alvarez BOS 5 7 5 5 3 0, 4.47 ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 7 3 0 0 0 7, 4.18

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Bobby Brownlie CHN 6 7 1 1 2 5, 4.26 ... Justin Huber KC 1-2, 2 walks ... Josh Barfield SD 2-3, 20th double, 10th homer & 0-3,  .301 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX, white hot, 3-4, 17th double, 18th homer, 4 RBI, .343 (8-game hit streak since being sent down by the Rangers, .576 with 3 doubles, 5 homers) ... Matt Cain SF, getting back on track, Cain 6 4 2 1 2 8, 4.50 ... Juan Cruz OAK 6 4 3 2 1 7, 2.48 ... Jesse Foppert debut in SEA system 1 1 0 0 0 0 ... Clint Nageotte SEA, weird line,  2/3 0 5 0 3 0 ... Delwyn Young 2B LA 3-5, double

EASTERN (AA)  --  David Purcey TOR 5-1/3 7 4 4 2 7, 4.24 ... Chip Cannon TOR 2-4, homer (30th overall) ... Lastings Milledge NYN 2-4, 2 doubles, .320 ... Craig Hansen BOS 1 1 0 0 0 2 ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-3, walk ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 2-4, double, .314

SOUTHERN (AA) --  looks as if he's figured it out, Edwin Jackson LA 7 4 1 0 2 4 ... Greg Miller LA 2 1 0 0 2 2 ... Jeff Niemann TB 2-1/3 1 0 0 0 5 ... Elijah Dukes TB 0-3 & 2-2, 2 homers (16), .294 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 17th homer, .302 ... Charles Haeger CHA, first career CG, 9 5 0 0 2 3 ... Chris Young CHA, at leadoff, 0-0, 4 walks, 3 runs, 22nd SB

TEXAS (AA)  --  Tyler Minges 2-3, R, 2RBI(57), .323 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4, 2B, RBI(22), .349 ... Ruddy Yan TX 3-4, 2B, RBI(36), SB(34), .307 ... Steven Shell ANA 7 8 2 2 2 8 (4.35) ... Adam Jones SEA 2-5, .316 ... Ramon Ramirez COL (W,8-5) 5 6 2 2 3 6 (4.06)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Ian Stewart COL 2-5, 27th double, 3 Ks, .270 ... 3B Brian Buscher SF 3-3, double, 3 RBI, .292 ... Nate Schierholtz SF 3-6, 33rd double, .314 ... Jeff Cook ARZ OF, major power outbreak after two mediocre seasons, 5-6, 2 doubles (33), 16th homer, .324

CAROLINA (A+) --  Robert Valido CHA 1-4, R, double, RBI & 2-4, R, RBI, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 2-3, R, HR (15), 4 RBI ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 1-3 & 3-3, 3 R, double, 2 HR (17), 3 RBI, BB ... Thomas Collaro CHA 0-4, K & 1-3, R, HR (28), RBI (87), K ... Kory Casto WAS 1-4, BB, K ... Mike Hinckley WAS (W, 3-6, 4.78) 7 5 3 2 4 5 ... Stephen Head CLE 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR (4), 4 RBI, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 3-5, 2 R, double, HR (13), 3 RBI ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 2-4, 2 K ... Hunter Pence HOU 0-2, R, RBI, BB ... Matt Albers HOU (W, 6-11, 5.05) 7 7 2 2 2 8

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Paul Mildren FLO 7 2/3 2 0 0 1 1 (W, 8-3) 3.23 … Ben Himes RF CIN 2-3 HR(8) 2RBI, .303 … Reid Gorecki CF STL 2-5 2B 3R RBI SB(17), .277 … 30th pick in the 2005 draft promoted to the FSL, Tyler Greene SS STL 2-5 HR(1) 2R, .333 … Matt Kemp CF LA 4-4 HR(14) 3R, .305 … Travis Denker 2B LA 3-5 RBI, .296 … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-4 2RBI, .323

MIDWEST (A) --  Reid Brignac TB 1-5, 2 K's, 29th E (.251) ... Ian Gac TEX 3-5, 11th HR ... solid, as usual Jair Jurrjens DET 5 5 2 2 2 4 (W, 10-5, 3.01) ... Jeff Clement SEA 1-3 (.229 so far for the #3 overall pick) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 1-4 (.288) ... it's about time Kyle Waldrop MIN 8 3 2 1 2 5 (5.26) ... David Winfree MIN 2-4 ... Fernando Rodriguez ANA 7 2/3 4 2 2 1 7 (4.23) ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 10th HR (.253) ... Cliff Pennington OAK 2-3, 2 BB, 18th SB

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  JC Holt ATL 4-4, double, RBI … Matt Harrison ATL 8 4 0 0 3 4, (W, 11-6), 3.26 … Sergio Pedroza LA 3-4, 3 doubles, 2 RBI … David Cook CHA 3-5, homer, 2 RBI, 2 runs, .285 … Jason Jaramillo PHI 3-4, RBI, run … Mark Rogers MIL 4-2/3 3 2 2 4 7, 4.65 ... Ryan Braun MIL 3-4, 2 doubles (14) and walkoff homer (8th), .361

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Michael Holliman SS DET 4-5, 3R, 2B, HR, 3RBI ... Jacoby Ellsbury CF BOS 1-3, R, 2BB, K, SB ... Jed Lowrie 2B BOS 2-3, 2R, 2BB ... Luis Soto RF BOS (believe the hype) 2-4, 2HR, 5RBI, BB, K ... Wladimir Sutil 2B HOU 1-3, R, BB ... Clint Everts WAS (on the comeback trail) 2 3 2 0 0 0 ... Cory Patton RF TOR 2-5, R, 2B, K ... Ryan Patterson CF TOR 2-3, 2R, 2B, 2RBI, 2BB, K, SB ... Jeremy Slayden LF PHI 2-4, HR, K ... Mike Costanzo 3B PHI 0-4, 2K ... Kris Bell TOR 6 4 0 0 3 6 ... Mark Jecmen CLE 3 3 1 0 1 3 ... Nolan Reimold CF BAL 1-3, R, BB, K ... Brett Gardner CF NYY 1-3, 2R, BB ... Jon Poterson RF NYY 2-4 ... Lance Patterson NYY 3-2/3 3 2 2 1 6 ... Wade Townsend TB (ouch) 4 9 6 4 1 6

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  3B Pablo Sandoval SF 3-4, .345 ... Shane Lindsay COL 6 1 0 0 4 7, 2.06 ... Rafael Soriano SEA, rehab, 2 3 2 1 0 1 ...

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Rene Aqueron (DH BAL) 4-5, 3 R, 2B, K, .436 BA… Cory Hahn (RP TOR) W (1-0), 3 1 1 0 0 5, 1.48 ERA… Danville hitters topping the Appy League in a variety of categories: continuing to rack up the steals, Ovandy Suero (LF ATL) 2-6, 2 R, K, 2 SB (30), .312 BA, also leads the league in three-baggers (8)… adding to his league leading RBI total and taking over the HR lead, Eric Campbell (3B ATL) 2-4, 3 R, HR (12), 3 RBI (45), BB, .309 BA, also leads the league in 2B’s (18)… despite the 0’fer, still well ahead of the crowd in BA and hits, Maxi Ramirez (C ATL) 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K, .376 BA… Campbell, Ramirez and Suero also are 1-2-3 in the Appy in runs scored… Kris Welker (C CWS, 41st rd.) 2-4, 2 R, HR (3), 3 RBI (24), K, .345 BA… Greg Gonzalez (CF NYM, 28th rd.) 4-5, R, 3B, RBI (5), SB (15), .350 BA… Ryan Bethel (DH TBY, 32nd rd.) 2-2, 2 R, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, .384 BA… he may be human after all, Robert Findlay (RP TBY) BS (3), W (2-1), 1 1 1 1 1 1, 0.95 ERA.

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  CHA catcher Francisco Hernandez 4-5, double, .346

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  3B Eduardo Perez LA 3-4, .370 ... Matthew Perks WAS 8 2 0 0 2 6, 4-1, 2.98 ... Sean West FLO 7 5 1 1 0 7, 1.95 ... Elvis Andrus SS ATL 2-4, 8th SB, .324

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  Fri ... Lorenzo Cain OF MIL 3-5, 11th double, .364 ... Josh Davies OF ANA 4-5, 2 doubles, homer, .261 ... Edison Volquez TEX, rehab, 2 2 0 0 0 2

  Troop Movements ...  ATL - John Thomson activated from DL, Kyle Davies to AAA ... ARZ - activated Russ Ortiz & Brandon Lyon from DL, Mike Koplove & Koyie Hill to AAA ... TEX - Juan Dominguez up, Erasmo Ramirez to AAA ... MIL - Corey Hart up, Trent Durrington to AAA ... MIN - Juan Castro DL, Brent Abernathy up ... FLO - activated Carlos Delgado from DL, Valerio De Los Santos designated for assignment ... CLE - Jeremy Guthrie up, Arthur Rhodes DL ... 

    Zach Chalifour, RotoTimes, on some success stories from the 2005 draft :

" ... Ryan Braun ... sizzled ever since being selected by Milwaukee with the fifth-overall pick in this year's draft. In two weeks with Helena of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, Braun hit .341 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and a .383 on-base percentage in just 10 games. That prompted a quick move to Low-A West Virginia ... has produced at nearly the same pace he did at Helena, batting .347 with an identical .383 on-base percentage, seven home runs, and 26 RBI ... has drawn just six walks while striking out 35 times. Those numbers are somewhat irrelevant at this point since Braun is hitting everything hard and doesn't need to walk, but as he progresses through the Brewers' system and faces more advanced pitching, his plate discipline will play a critical role in his development."

" ... Travis Wood ... one of the hottest pitchers in the minor leagues. His lack of recognition stems from the fact that he is yet to reach the Single-A level, but that will soon change as his numbers have been other-worldly. In eight outings for the Gulf Coast League Reds, the 18-year-old posted a 0.75 ERA in 24 innings. Wood gave up only 13 hits and averaged just under two strikeouts per inning by tallying 45 punchouts. He's moved up to Rookie-level Billings and allowed just one hit in three innings while recording two strikeouts in his first and only outing this far. Wood's small frame (6-0, 165) makes his strikeout totals even more impressive."

    COL, shortstops going and coming :

" ... This year's top draft pick, Troy Tulowitzki, likely is finished for the season after pulling a quadriceps muscle in Class A Modesto. Agent Paul Cohen said the Rockies are taking extra precautions and Tulowitzki may not play again until instructional league in the fall. ... Shortstop Clint Barmes, out with a broken left clavicle, remains on schedule to begin a rehab assignment in September, ideally leaving him available for the final 15 to 20 games."  (Denver Post)

    Dustin Nippert ARZ, nice comeback from surgery :

" ... Nippert's 100-pitch masterpiece was arguably the best of the season by a Smoky. "That was probably my best game so far this year," Nipper said ...  walked two and struck out five en route to this third complete game and second shutout. He carved his earned-run average to 2.47. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has a bright future with Arizona. "I don't see why not," Tennessee manager Tony Perezchica said. "He's got the arm and the poise. Each time out he's had a quality start and that's what we look for." Nippert got a belated start with the Smokies (21-26) this season. He didn't join the team from extended spring training until May 29. "I had Tommy John surgery in July (2004), so I missed the first two months," he said. "I want to finish up strong."  (Knoxville News-Sentinel)

    John Danks TEX, Double-A a learning experience :

" ...  Danks is so focused on keeping his fastball down in the strike zone that in a five-minute conversation, he'll tell you so a dozen times ... "I know I don't have Edison Volquez's fastball," said Danks, speaking of his Frisco teammate's 95 mph fastball. "So I'm not able to miss in the strike zone. I have to throw down on a more consistent basis at 90 miles per hour. I've learned to live down in the zone." A rough stretch in July taught Danks a lesson ... Since then, Danks has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts. Strikeouts have been less frequent – he has 17 in 24 innings – but his control has improved ... willing to pitch to contact when he doesn't have his best stuff. "The thing that impresses you is toughness," said Dom Chiti said, Rangers' director of player personnel. "This kid has guts."  (Dallas Morning News)

13 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-3, R, RBI, SF, 2 SB ... Jason Alfaro 2B TOR 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI ... Shawn Marcum TOR 6 8 2 2 1 3, 5.59 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-5, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, 2 errors ... Fernando Cortez 2B TB 2-5, R, RBI, SB ... Chris Seddon TB 6 5 5 4 2 4, 6.04 ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 1-3, 16th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 1-4, 2B ... Marcus Thames LF DET 0-4 ... Zach Miner DET 5-1/3 7 3 3 3 1, 4.06 ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 2-3, 2B, 15th HR, 2 R, RBI, HBP ... Jason Dubois RF CLE 1-4, 3rd HR, R, 2 RBI ... Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-4, 2B, 2 R, HBP ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn DH BOS 0-3, R, 2 BB ... rehab, Steve Trachsel NYN 7 5 2 2 1 6, 2.57 ... Felix Diaz CHA 9 6 1 1 2 10, 4.84 ... Kevin Thompson CF NYA 2-4, 2B, BB ... Sean Henn NYA 3 3 2 2 1 5, 3.01 ... Scott Baker MIN 6 6 4 4 1 4, 2.98

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Prince Fielder MIL, revitalization continues, 2-4, 26th homer, .288 ... Nelson Cruz MIL 2-4, double, .326 ... Ben Hendrickson MIL 7 3 0 0 1 8, 4.56 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 4-5, 2 homers (17), 5 RBI, .338 ...  Joe Saunders ANA 8 4 0 0 1 6, 3.46  ... Dallas McPherson ANA homer, 2 RBI ... Rick Short WAS 3B 4-7, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, .399 ... Marlon Byrd WAS 4-5, 2 doubles, 2 walks, .444

EASTERN (AA)  --  Brett Harper NYN 1B 1-4, 32nd homer (A+ and AA) ... Lastings Milledge NYN 3-5, double, homer, .315 ... Yusmeiro Petit NYN 8 3 1 1 1 11, 3.12 ... Matt Moses MIN 3-5, 2 homers, 6 RBI, ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 2-4, .310 ... Anibal Sanchez  BOS 6 5 4 4 1 4, 2.01 ... Ryan Mulhern CLE 1B 3-5, .343 ... Thomas Gorzelanny PIT 6 7 5 5 1 5, 3.56

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Brandon Sing 1B CHN 1-3, .289 ... Luis Montanez OF CHN 3-4, .302 ... Ricky Nolasco CHN 6.0 4 3 2 1 7, 3.15 (L) ... James Loney 1B LA 0-4, .286 ... Russell Martin C LA 1-2, 3 runs, RBI, BB, .12th SB, .307 ... Joel Hanrahan LA 6.0 5 1 1 4 5, 4.93 (W) ... Hong Chih Kuo LA 2.0 2 0 0 0 3, 1.31, 2nd save ... Jeremy Hermida OF FLA 1-4, .302 ... Dan Uggla 2B AZ 0-4, .317 ... Miguel Montero C AZ 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, .239 ... Jon Zeringue OF AZ 0-3, .251 ... Dustin Nippert AZ 9.0 2 0 0 2 5, 2.47 (W) ... Josh Burrus OF ATL 1-4, run, RBI, .223 ... Javon Moran OF CIN 1-5, SB, .316 ... D’Angelo Jimenez SS CIN 1-5, run, .281 ... Travis Chick CIN 4.0 8 5 5 3 2, 5.24 ... Anthony Gwynn OF MIL 2-4, 2B, run, .281 ... Ty Taubenheim MIL 6.1 8 5 5 4 3, 4.02 (L) ... Chris Young OF CHA 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, .278 ... Casey Rogowski 1B CHA 0-3, .311 ... Josh Fields 3B CHA 2-4, 2B, .254 ... Ryan Sweeney OF CHA 1-3, .285 ... Elliot Johnson 2B TAM 2-4, 2B, 2 BB, .SB, .294 ... Elijah Dukes OF TAM 2-2, 2 RBI, 4 BB, .292 ... Wes Bankston DH TAM 0-5, run, .296 ... Kennard Jones OF SD 1-4, .267 ... George Kottaras C SD 0-4, 2 K’s, .244 ... Jose Oyervidez SD 6 6 3 3 5 6, 4.08 (L)

TEXAS (AA)  --  Erick Aybar ANA 2-4, 2R, RBI(47), SB(39), .296 ... Mike Napoli ANA 2-5, 2R, 2HR(25), 3RBI(82), .232 ... Joaquin Arias TX 3-5, RBI(49), .316 ... Jared Weaver ANA, below-par again, 4 7 5 5 3 6 (5.68) ... Daric Barton OAK 3-4, 2R, 2B, RBI(26), .325 ... Andre Ethier OAK 1-6, R, HR(18), 4RBI(75), .323 ... One heck of a night, a career day - Jeremy Brown OAK 4-6, 3R, 3HR(16), 4RBI(56), .264

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Chris Lubanski KC 2-5, 2 doubles (28), .285 ...  Juan Morillo COL, results miles from the hype, 3-1/3 6 6 6 3 6 ... Andrew Sonnanstine TB 7 7 2 0 1 6. 2.68 ... Jeff Cook OF ARZ 4-5, 3 doubles, .317 ... Bryan Lahair 1B SEA 4-5, .303

CAROLINA (A+) --  Thomas Collaro CHA 2-4, R, double, HR (27), 2 RBI (86) ... Gio Gonzalez CHA (W, 10-5, 3.06) 7 3 0 0 1 5 ... Stephen Head CLE 1-5 ... Adam Miller CLE (L, 1-3, 5.08) 4 11 7 6 1 4 ... Kory Casto WAS 2-5, R, double (33), K ... Ian Bladergroen BOS 1-4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-3, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 2-4 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-4, K

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Anthony Swarzak MIN 4 2/3 6 3 3 3 5 L(8-9, 4.26) … Chuck Tiffany LA 5 3 0 0 0 7 W(10-6, 3.71) … Anthony Ragliani RF LA 2-4 2B HR(14), .293 … Steve Moss CF MIL 3-4 2 doubles 2R 2RBI, .276 … Carlos Villanueva MIL 6 6 4 4 2 6 W(8-1, 2.32) … Gabriel Hernandez NYN 3 1/3 8 6 6 2 3 L(8-4, 3.11) … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-4 2R, .322 … Vito Chiaravalloti DH TOR 2-4 3RBI, .162 … Ricky Romero TOR 4 5 1 1 1 1 ND, 4.05

MIDWEST (A) --  big teen still rolling David Winfree MIN 14th HR (.281) ... Kevin Slowey MIN 6 6 2 2 1 5 (3-0, 2.27) ... Javier Herrera OAK 0-4, 2 K's ... Michael Collins ANA 25th double ... Matt Weber CHN 6 6 2 2 2 2 (3.86) ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-4, 12th HR, 35th SB (.331) ... Matt Bush SD 1-3 (.226) ... touch of a slump Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-4 (.308) ... Luis Cota KC 6 7 2 2 1 9 (3.96) .. Reid Brignac TB 14th HR ... Ian Gac TEX 2-4, 10th HR (.241) ... Dallas Trahern DET 6 7 2 2 3 2 (3.41) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 2-3, BB

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Jeff Corsaletti BOS 3-5, run, .377  ...  Joseph Koshansky COL 2-5, 35th homer (to tie for the minor league lead), 2 RBI  ...  Chris Nelson COL 2-5, RBI, run, SB  ...  Jesus Flores NYN 3-4, double, homer, 5 RBI  ...  Taylor Tankersley FLA 6 8 6 6 1 7, (L, 2-7), 5.18  ...  Blake Dewitt LA 2-4, double, run  ...  Scott Elbert LA 4 1 0 0 4 1, 3.00  ...  Neil Walker PIT 3-6, 2 RBI, 2 runs  ...  Trevor Crowe CLE 3-6, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs  ...  Fernando Pacheco SS CLE 2-5, 2 triples, 4 RBI  ...  Greg Golson 2-5, RBI, SB (20)  ...  Hernan Iribarren MIL 2-4, triple, RBI, .306  ...  Derek Miller MIL 5 4 1 1 2 6, (W, 1-0), 0.73

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Scott Mitchinson PHI, some optimism, 6 5 1 1 1 8 ... Michael Costanzo 3B PHI 2-4, 2 doubles

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  big breakout by John Mayberry TEX 5-5, 3 doubles, walk, .240 ... Steve Murphy TEX 2-4, double, 2 walks, .333 ... Taylor Teagarden TEX 2-5, triple ... Brandon Burgess OF ARZ 4-5, 3 doubles, .341

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Anthony Hatch (1B TOR, 13th rd.) 2-4, R, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI (14), K, .229 BA… Hector Delgadillo (SP TOR, 36th rd.) W (4-3), 6 3 0 0 0 5, 2.41 ERA… Maxi Ramirez (C ATL) 3-5, 2 R, 2B (16), HR (8), 4 RBI (38), 2 K, .382 BA… Ovandy Suero (LF ATL) 2-4, 2 R, 3B (8), SB (28), K, .312 BA… still perfect: Jairo Cuevas (SP ATL) W (6-0), 5 1 0 0 1 7, 1.50 ERA, for the season now 48 IP, 28 hits allowed, 57/13 K/BB ratio… how about the effort from Paul Lubrano (RP CLE) 3 0 0 0 0 3, 0.72 ERA, Appy League totals of 25 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 24 K, 3 BB… Matt Hirsch (SP HOU, 30th rd.) W (1-0), 7 4 0 0 1 2, 3.92 ERA… Chuck Carter (RF STL, 27th rd.) 2-2, R, 2B, 2 BB, .299 BA… gotta wonder about those sentimental draft picks, Toby Gardenhire (SS MIN, 41st rd.) 0-3, BB, .213 BA through 75 AB’s… Tim Lahey (RP MIN) SV (14), 1 0 0 0 0 1, 2.53 ERA… the pride of SUNY Stony Brook, Matt Devins (SS TBY, 34th rd.) 3-3, R, 2 2B, RBI (26), .283 BA… Boston College’s Mike Wlodarczyk (SP TBY, 7th rd.) W (3-2), 5 4 2 2 1 4, 2.90 ERA… 14th save in just 17 appearances for Robert Findlay (RP TBY) 1 2 0 0 0 1, 0.50 ERA

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  Shane Justis 3B LA 3-4, double, triple, .328 ... Brent Leach LA 6th rounder 7 2 0 0 3 10, 2.65 (61 Ks in 54 1/3) ... Jason Neighborgall ARZ, major progress, "only" 6 walks, (having come into the game having allowed 8 hits, 17 walks, 10 earned runs in 9 innings), 6-2/3 7 2 2 6 3, 6.89

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  Michael Megrew LA, back from injury, 1 0 0 0 1 1 ... Eduardo Perez 1B LA 3-5, homer, 3 RBI, .359 ... Francisco Guzman OF WAS 3-5, 2 doubles, .347 ... Jay Bruce CF CIN 2-2, double, 2 walks, 2 SB, .282 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-4, 1st pro homer, .287

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  Thursday's games ... Nick Adenhart ANA, big step forward (5.87 ERA,19 walks in 23 innings coming into the game) 5 2 0 0 0 7 ...  another from ANA's SS factory, Patrick Phillips (2005 2nd rounder) 2-5, triple, .301 ... Christopher Nieto SF 4 4 2 0 2 4, 2-2, 1.26 ... Tim Auty CF SEA 3-5, .431

  Troop Movements ...  SF - Moises Alou, Scott Munter DL, Jeremy Accardo up, Todd Linden up ... ANA - activated Jarrod Washburn from DL, Chris Bootcheck to AAA, Josh Paul to DL, Jeff Mathis up ... SEA - Chris Snelling DL ... SD - Rudy Seanez activated from DL, Craig Breslow to AAA ... BAL - John Maine up, Aaron Rakers to AAA ...

    Big changes being considered for the minor leagues ... Baseball America reports the Gulf Coast and Arizona Summer Leagues are likely to be casualties of the reorganization.

    And ... speaking of the Gulf Coast ... Scott Rex, OnDeck, has his take on the best of the GCL prospects :

 1. Elvis Andrus, SS, ATL        6. Beau Jones, LHP, ATL
 2. Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT    7. Sean West, LHP, FLO
 3. Jose Tabata, OF, NYA         8. Austin Jackson, OF, NYA
 4. Jay Bruce, OF, CIN           9. Aaron Thompson, LHP, FLO
 5. C.J. Henry, SS, NYA         10. Michael Bowden, RHP, BOS

    Jayson Stark, ESPN.com, reports Justin Upton, the No. 1 pick in last June's draft, is threatening to head for college rather than sign with ARZ :

" ... the buzz around baseball over the last few days is that Upton has made plans to enroll in Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College in two weeks if he and the Diamondbacks can't negotiate a deal ...  Because he's attending junior college, the Diamondbacks would retain his rights until just before next June's draft. But Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo said the team still regards the start of classes on Aug. 30 as "a deadline to be taken seriously -- because once he goes to school, we'll only have a one-week window [after the 2006 junior-college season] before the '06 draft to get something done. "He's already wasted a half-year of development time. So at least if he signs [this month], he'd be looking at getting some time this fall in the Instructional League or the Arizona Fall League. But if it gets prolonged out, then we've lost that window, too. So from a developmental timetable, this definitely concerns us."

    TB waiting for some defensive consistency from BJ Upton :

" ... If his defense comes anywhere close to catching up with his offense, Upton won't be long for the minor leagues. Power? Upton cranked a pair of homers, including a rocket off the scoreboard in left-center field ...  Speed? The Chesapeake native flashed around the bases so fast on a grounder into the right-field corner that he breezed into third without a throw. Numbers? .304 average, 16 homers, 61 RBI, 29 doubles, 5 triples, 37 stolen bases as a leadoff hitter. Upton turns 21 in 10 days. "Offensively, he can play in any league he wants," R-Braves manager Pat Kelly said. The holdup? Defense. Upton has committed 41 errors in 115 games this season. That followed a year in which he committed 44 errors at three levels, including the big leagues with Tampa Bay. That's why he's back in Triple-A. "Normally kids his age signing out of high school would be in Class A right now," said Kelly, who managed Upton in the Arizona Fall League. "That's where his defense is. It just hasn't had a chance to catch up. His bat's so far ahead, that's why he's at this level. I don't know anybody with enough patience to wait for the defense to catch up."  (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

    And, over at RaysBaseball, an examination of what to do with Upton - including the possibility of a shift to the outfield and a trade :

" ...  would cause major ripple effects in the organization, and would probably mean having to trade guys like Rocco Baldelli, Joey Gathright (who's probably going to be moved anyway), and Elijah Dukes at discounted rates ...The Rays have their 3 starting OF's for next season in CC, Gomes, and Rocco. He will also be competing with Gathright and Delmon Young for playing time. So if he wants to move there, fine. But he needs to not only show us that Upton is major-league ready, but unlike at SS and 3B, he'll actually need to beat out guys who are also considered linchpins in the organization's future ... if the organization is committed to Rocco Baldelli in centerfield (which it very easily could be) and if the coaches and scouts are telling LaMar that Upton will need several more years before being ready for the majors (meaning he needs to switch to the OF), well then maybe the best thing is to move him to a team that needs a CF (or any outfielder). But mind you, the return would have to be significant to even consider it ...  I'd love to forge all of this and simply say he's our starting shortstop next year. But if he wasn't ready this year, there is no reason to believe that he'll be ready next year."

   Nate Stephens, RotoWorld, checking out some Al prospects for 2006 :

" ... Curtis Granderson ...  .293 with 15 homers, 13 triples, 29 doubles, and 18 stolen bases for Triple-A Toledo this year ... biggest obstacle right now seems to be the high number of strikeouts he’s collecting in Triple-A. Granderson struck out just 95 times last year and 91 times the year before, but he’s already reached 122 this season. That may hurt his batting average when he moves up to the majors, but he’s shown better plate discipline in the past and that should eventually translate at the major league level as well."

" ... Dustin McGowan ... back and pitching for the Blue Jays just a little over a year after the surgery. His numbers aren’t there yet, but he’s shown enough flash and the simple fact that he’s pitching so soon after the surgery give reasons for optimism. McGowan is still just 23 years old and he should be able to get back a sinking fastball that sat between 94-95 MPH and a hard curve in time, hopefully by the start of next spring ... should have an opportunity to claim a rotation spot early next season."

" ... Dustin Pedroia ...  hit .324/.409/.508 in 256 at-bats at Double-A this season, but he injured his wrist right around when he was promoted to Triple-A. He tried to play through the injury and eventually had to shut it down for a weeks, so he has an unimpressive .267/.361/.400 line in 105 at-bats for Pawtucket. The injury shouldn’t be a long-term problem ... should generate a high batting average and a large number of runs in the powerful Red Sox lineup, meaning he’ll be an undervalued asset heading into next season."

12 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-3, 2B, BB ... James Jurries DH ATL 1-4, 19th HR, R, RBI ... T.J. Pena SS ATL 3-4, 2B, R ... Anthony Lerew ATL 4-1/3 8 6 4 3 3, 3.83 ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 1-3, 18th HR, R, RBI ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 1-3, 6th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-3, 2B, R, BB, 0 errors ... Fernando Cortez 2B TB 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 1-2, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB ... Marcus Thames DH DET 1-3, BB ... Ryan Garko 1B CLE 2-4, 2B, R ... Jason Davis CLE 6 4 1 0 1 10, 4.79 ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 2-3, RBI, SF ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn 2B BOS 0-4 ... Lenny DiNardo BOS 6 3 1 1 0 7, 3.23 ... Paul Maholm PIT 6 4 1 0 2 4, 3.00 ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 5-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB ... Chris Heintz DH MIN 2-5, 2 2B, RBI

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Justin Huber KC 3-4, double, homer ... Kip Bouknight HOU 5 5 1 1 3 4 ... Bobby Livingston SEA, this hurts, 1 9 10 9 1 1 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 3-5, double, .330 ... Ian Kinsler TEX 3-5, double, .274 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 1-4, homer ... Prince Fielder MIL 4-4, walk, 3 runs, CS (5th), .286 ... Fernando Nieve HOU 6 6 3 3 3 8

EASTERN (AA)  --  Casey Janssen TOR 6 8 4 2 0 9, 1.44 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-4, .303 ... Ryan Zimmerman WA, moving ever closer to a trial with the Nats, 3-4, 2 homers, 3 RBI, .305 ... Jon Lester BOS 6 3 2 1 2 8, 2.47 ... Jeremy Sowers CLE 6 6 2 2 1 3, 2.49 ... Eric Duncan NYA 0-4, 3 Ks, .238 ... Ryan Mulhern CLE 4-5, double, homer (30th overall), .335

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Jeremy Hermida OF FLA 2-2, 2B, 3B, 3 BB (101), 22nd SB, .303 (and to top it off, Hermida gunned down a runner at the plate) ... Reggie Abercrombie OF FLA 0-5, 2 K’s (113), .269 ... Adam Bostick II FLA 5 1 1 1 5 4, 2.73 (W) ... Dan Uggla 2B AZ 1-3, 2B, RBI, .320 ... Jamie D’Antona 3B AZ 1-3, .252 ... Miguel Montero C AZ 2-2, .238 ... Enrique Gonzalez AZ 5.2 11 3 3 2 3, 3.91 (L) ... Josh Burrus OF ATL 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, .222 ... Gregor Blanco OF ATL 3-4, .253 ... Luis Hernandez SS ATL 3-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .239 ... Ryan Basner ATL u-g-l-y 1.0 11 11 11 1 0, 5.49 (L) ... Javon Moran OF CIN 3-6, 2B, 2 runs, SB, .324 ... D’Angelo Jimenez SS CIN 0-4, 2 BB, .282 ... Bobby Basham CIN 6.0 8 3 3 2 8, 3.38 (W) ... Stephen Smitherman CIN 3-4, 2 homers, 6 RBI ... Chris Young CHA 4-6, 2 doubles (37), 6 RBI, .273

TEXAS (AA)  --  Erick Aybar ANA 2-4, 2R, HR(7), RBI(46), .294 ... Reggie Willits ANA 2-4, .299 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-3, 2RBI(21), SB(7), .350 ... Joaquin Arias TX 2-4, SB(18), .313 ... John Danks TX (L,3-7) 6 8 3 3 1 2 (4.90) ... Shane Costa KC 3-4, RBI(38), .267 ... JR Phillips (1B) HOU 3-3, R, HR(6), 2RBI(13), SB(2), .324 ... Jason Hirsh (W,11-8) 8-1/3 6 2 2 0 9 (3.32) ... Daric Barton OAK 3-4, R, 2 2B, 2RBI(25), .314 ... Aaron Herr STL 4-4, 2 2B, 4RBI(66), .287

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Travis Ishikawa 1B SF 3-5, 23rd double, 19th homer, 5 RBI, .285 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-5, 25th double, .267 ... Colt Morton catcher SD 1-4, 16th homer ... Jeff Cook OF ARZ 2-4, 28th double, .311 ... Bucky Jacobsen SEA 2-4, 2 walks, homer ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-4, .313

CAROLINA (A+) --  Stephen Head CLE 1-5, R, K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 2-3, R, HR (17), 3 RBI (77), BB ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 0-3, R ... Lance Broadway CHA 6 5 0 0 1 7 ... Hunter Pence HOU 3-5, R, RBI, K, .331

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Matt Kemp RF LA 3-4 SB(15), .297 … Randy Wells CHN 5 8 0 0 2 6 W(7-2, 3.36) … Adam Lind LF TOR 3-3 2B R RBI, .320 … Chris Dickerson CF CIN 2-4 3B R 2RBI, .240 … Joey Votto 1B CIN 1-5 HR(14) 2RBI, .266 … Ben Himes RF CIN 3-5 2B 3R, .299 … Calvin Medlock CIN 6 5 2 2 0 5 W(6-3, 3.06) … Justin Christian 2B NYA 2-5 2B R RBI SB(47), .303 … James Russ FLO 7 3 0 0 2 4 W(9-7, 3.44) … Brent Clevlen RF DET 3-4 HR(16) 2 doubles 3R 3RBI, .306 … Vincent Blue CF DET 2-5 2R SB(31), .306 … Josh Kauten DET 5 3 3 3 6 1 W(5-4, 3.36) … Reid Gorecki CF STL 2-5 2B RBI, .267 … Grant Psomas 3B NYN 2-5 2 doubles R RBI, .305

MIDWEST (A) --  that's a wow Homer Bailey CIN 5 2 0 0 1 11 (4.34) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 0-2, BB (.286) ... a lost season Yuber Rodriguez TOR 0-3, 2 K's (.201) ... Eric Hurley TEX 5 7 4 4 3 2 (L, 11-5, 3.74) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-2 (.231) ... Michael Collins ANA 1-2, 7th HR, 2 BB's ... Cliff Pennington OAK 0-4 ... Mike Billek CHN 6 1 0 0 0 0 (W, 2-0, 3.44) ... silver sombrero Ryan Harvey CHN 0-4, 3 K's (.270) ... Michael Ekstrom SD 8 6 1 1 2 1 (3.14) ... Sean Kazmar SD 2-4, 9th HR (7 for 11, with 2 longballs, last 3 games) ... Reid Brignac TB 0-5, 2 K's (.251)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Joseph Koshansky COL 2-2, 30th double, 2 RBI  ...  Neil Walker PIT 2-5, RBI, run  ...  Dan Cevette CLE 5 6 1 1 0 7, 3.43  ...  Adam Russell CHA 7 1 0 0 0 7, W, 3.28  ...  Mitch Einertson HOU 3-4, double, 3 RBI, 2 runs  ...  Jeff Corsaletti BOS 2-3, walk  ...  Ricardo Morales WAS 6 2 0 0 2 8, 3.92  ...  Jonathan Sanchez COL 4 4 1 1 4 7, 4.11

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Jon Poterson RF NYY 1-5, R, 2B, K ... Wladimir Sutil 2B HOU 2-5, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Ryan Patterson LF TOR 4-5, 2R, 2 2B, 2RBI ... Mike Costanzo 3B PHI (the resurgence continues) 4-4, HR, 4RBI, BB ... Jed Lowrie SS BOS 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, K ... Luis Soto RF BOS 1-4, HR, 2RBI ... Clay Buchholz BOS 3 1 0 0 1 3 ... Tyler Greene SS STL 1-4, K ... Jensen Lewis CLE 6 4 1 1 1 2

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  James Shull OAK 7 4 1 1 0 5, 2.91 ... Travis Becktel  OF COL 2-4, 2 doubles, .343 ... Trevor Heid CF SEA, missed the cycle by a single, 3-5, 11th double, 2nd triple, 4th homer, .330 .

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Kris Welker (DH CWS, 41st rd.) 3-5, R, 2B, HR (2), 4 RBI (21), .348 BA… Colby Rasmus (CF STL, 1st rd. – 28th overall) 2-4, R, 2B, HR (3), RBI (16), .287 BA… that’s more like it, John Drennen (CF CLE, 1st rd. supp – 33rd overall) 2-2, 3 R, 2B, HR (6), 4 RBI (20), 3 BB, SB (4), .228 BA… Boodle Clark (1B CLE) 2-5, R, HR (1), 5 RBI (8), 2 K, .241 BA… 4th rounder Josh Flores (CF HOU) 3-5, R, HR (4), 4 RBI (18), K, SB (13), .314 BA… U. of Nebraska’s Brian Duensing (SP MIN, 4th rd.) sparkles for the E-Twins, W (3-2), 7 2 0 0 0 9, 2.83 ERA… Ryan Royster (LF TBY) 2-3, 3 R, HR (9), 2 RBI (26), BB, SB (3), .243 BA… USC’s Zach Kalter (RF TOR, 20th rd.) 1-2, 3 R, 3 BB, SB (17), CS (7), .257 BA… it can’t be any fun to be a catcher named Piazza in the Mets’ farm system: how ‘bout Thomas Piazza (no relation amazingly enough) of Kingsport, 0-4 with a K, 2 throwing errors, a PB, and two SB’s against; now .062 for the season (2 of 32) with 18 K’s.

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  Ivan De Jesus SS LA 2-4, double ... Chaz Roe COL 1st rounder 5 3 1 1 2 6, 4-1, 2.64 ... Christopher Cook 1B COL 4-4, 8th double, 7th homer, walk, .308 ... Stephen Marek ANA 6 1 0 0 0 12, 3.92

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  CF Francisco Guzman WAS 2-4, 5th homer, .336 ... Angel Fermin 1B NYA 2-3, 4th homer, .288 ... CJ Henry NYA 0-3, .239 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 3-5, double, .288

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  a few ASL boxes now available from the past few days ...  Mark Pawelek 4 2 2 1 2 5, 2.40 ... Eddy Hernandez OF SEA 2-4, 4th homer, .381 ... Josh Howard SD CF 4-5 ... Lorenzo Cain OF MIL, leadoff, 2-5, 10th double, .368 ... Angel Guzman CHN 2 1 0 0 0 4

  Troop Movements ...  PIT - Jody Gerut DL, Nate McLouth up ... CHN - John Koronka up, Rich Hill to AAA ...  ATL - Johnny Estrada DL, Brayan Pena up ... LA - Jayson Werth activated, Wilson Alvarez to DL ... BAL - Midre Cummings designated for assignment ... NYN - Mike Cameron DL, Victor Diaz up ... CLE - Franklin Gutierrez promoted to AAA ...

" ...  Gutierrez has been called up to the Bisons today. The Indians' #3 prospect by Baseball America has spent the entire season with Double-A Akron, hitting .261 (100-383) with 25 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 42 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 95 games. Gutierrez ... was on fire for the Aeros before his call up. He has hit in 13 of his last 14 games, averaging .422 (27-64) with eight doubles, one home run, five RBI and 22 runs scored."

    Is this a surprise?  Nah.  Cole Hamels PHI probably out until Spring Training :

" ... Hamels, 21, the organization's top pitching prospect and its first-round pick in 2002, will be shut down for at least a month and could be out 6 weeks or more. He hasn't pitched since July 19 with what has been diagnosed as a back strain, though a CT scan last week apparently showed more than that; it showed an old problem resurfacing. Hamels, Ciccotti revealed, suffered a stress reaction in his lower back last year, one bad enough that he visited a back specialist, Dr. Robert Watkins, here. His current injury is a mild recurrence of last year's problem; in fact, it is a symptom of the old injury that never fully healed. "It's a fraction of what it was last year," Ciccotti said. Hamels had been cleared to pitch as soon as he felt no discomfort when long-tossing from 120 feet. His pain never fully receded - a continuation of his injury issues. He missed most of 2004 with left-elbow tendinitis, and he missed the first 2 ˝ months of this season recovering from a broken left hand suffered in an offseason bar fight. Still, before his back acted up again, he showed enough promise at Class A and Double A that he was considered a solution if one of the starters were to falter."  (Philadelphia Daily News)

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, includes  notes on Ryan Zimmerman WAS and James Loney LA in his latest prospect report :

" ... currently appears that Zimmerman will be the first 2005 draft pick to reach the majors ...  20-year-old was drafted fourth overall ... Zimmerman is already a major league-quality defender at third base. He has plenty of range and is sure-handed. There will likely be Gold Gloves in his future. Offensively, he’s probably not there yet. Zimmerman is still adjusting to wood bats and his swing is a little long. He’s not going to hit for average if he’s recalled now and he probably won’t show more than average power ... Given time, Zimmerman figures to become a quality regular. He should develop 25-homer power and get on base at a decent rate."

" ...  Loney has been a disappointment three straight seasons, but he is showing signs of life lately and there’s still a lot to like here. A 21-year-old with a sweet swing and great defense at first base, he still projects as a major league regular, and with the Dodgers not liking any of their options at the position, he may not need more than a couple of good months next year to get an opportunity in the majors. Even if he doesn’t break through in 2006, it will be some time before anyone gives up on him."

    MIN with the luxury to let its top pitching prospect gain more experience in AAA :

" ... Twins still were preaching patience Wednesday with their own pitching phenom, Francisco Liriano. But with each performance at Class AAA Rochester, Liriano is making it tougher and tougher to keep him in the minors ... 7-1 with a 1.46 ERA for Rochester and has given up only one run in his past 43 2/3 innings. "Those numbers are fantastic," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "He's done a great job, but there's no harm in leaving the kid at Triple-A. Pitching's not the issue [with the big-league club]." ... Until there's a trade or an injury, it might be tough for Liriano to get a big-league start. And even then, the Twins could just as easily promote Scott Baker, who is 5-6 with a 2.83 ERA for Rochester. "I know [Liriano's] numbers don't indicate it, but there's still some things he can work on," Ryan said. "One thing is his fastball command, but he's doing a fantastic job, and we're thrilled with the job he's doing."

    Cha Seung Baek SEA, a puzzle :

" ... For the second consecutive start, Baek appeared to be in prime form. He held the Pacific Coast League’s best offense to two runs over the first five innings, and the Rainiers were right in the game. But Baek allowed five straight hard hits to open the bottom of the sixth ... It was the sixth consecutive loss for Baek (7-8), who has allowed 48 runs in 33 2/3 innings over his last eight starts. “I don’t know how to explain it,” Rainiers manager Dan Rohn said. “He looked as good tonight as I’ve seen him all year – in the first five innings.”... “It almost looks like he’s at a point right now where if something goes wrong and he gives up a couple hits, he doesn’t know where to go. It almost looks like he’s lost.”  (Tacoma News Tribune)

    Not so serious, after all :

" ... Stephen Drew was listed as day-to-day after suffering a strained right quad muscle in Tuesday's game." (Knoxville News-Sentinel)

11 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-4, RBI ... Elizardo Ramirez CIN 6 8 3 3 0 6, 3.33 ... T.J. Pena SS ATL 2-4, 2B, 2 R ... Scott Thorman 1B ATL 3-5, RBI ... Chuck James ATL 4-2/3 4 1 1 2 4, 1.93 ... Carlos Ruiz DH PHI 3-5, 2 2B, R ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Gavin Floyd PHI 7 4 2 1 3 5, 5.87 ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 2-4, 2B, R ... B.J. Upton SS TB 3-5, 3B, 15th & 16th HRs, 3 R, 2 RBI, 0 errors ... Delmon Young RF TB 3-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB ... Nate McLouth CF PIT 2-5, R ... Cory Stewart PIT 5-1/3 8 5 5 4 2, 5.52 ... Boof Bonser MIN 5 10 6 4 3 4, 4.12 ... Walter Young 1B BAL 4-5, 2B, 13th HR, R, 5 RBI ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 3-5, 2 2B

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Dan Meyer OAK, making some progress, 6 1 3 2 3 6 ... Tim Stauffer SD 5 11 6 6 1 3 ... Ian Kinsler TEX 3-4, 23rd double, .270 ... this could win him a start in TEX, RA Dickey 7 6 1 1 1 4 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 1-3, homer, walk ... Corey Hart MIL CF 3-4, double, .312 ... Prince Fielder MIL 2-3, double, .278

EASTERN (AA)  --  Josh Banks TOR 8-1/3 8 4 4 0 6, 4.02 (8 walks, 123 Ks in 134 1/3) ... Rob Cosby TOR 2-4, 15th homer, .317 ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 1-4, double, .294 ... Mike Jacobs catcher NYN 2-3, 2 homers (25), 4 RBI, .315 ... Hayden Penn BAL, back in a good groove, 6 5 2 2 2 10 ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-5, double ... Ben Francisco SF 4-5, 13th double, 2 homers (5), 5 RBI, .287 ... Calvin Maduro, trying a comeback in the Yankee system, 6 1 0 0 2 4 ... Eric Duncan NYA 3-3, double, 19th homer, .240

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Chad Billingsley LA 7 3 0 0 2 6  ... Greg Miller LA 1 2 0 0 0 0 ... Joel Guzman LA 2-4, 16th homer, .282 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 1-2, double, 2 walks, .299 ... Kris Honel CHA, trying to regain a roster spot,  5 6 3 1 2 8 ... Chris Young CHA 3-5, 35th double, 20th homer, .267 ... Joey Devine ATL 1 3 3 0 1 3 ... Cesar Carrillo SD 5 7 2 2 2 7, 3.57 ... Stephen Drew ARZ out of the lineup, no word on the severity of a leg injury

TEXAS (AA)  --  Erick Aybar ANA 2-3, 2R, HR(6), RBI(45), 2SB(38), .292 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4, 2B, RBI(19), .340 ... Daric Barton OAK 1-3, 2B, RBI(23), .299 ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-3, R, 2B, .326 ... Brian Stavisky OAK 2-4, R, RBI(68), .304 ... Mike Nannini OAK (W,5-0) 8 4 1 1 0 1 (4.30) ... Alex Santos OAK (S,16) 1 0 1 1 1 1 (2.91) ... Ruben Gotay KC 3-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI, .333 ... Mike Aviles KC 2-5, R, HR(12), 2RBI(71), .289 ... Adam Jones SEA 2-3, .311 ... Yorman Bazardo SEA 6 6 3 3 2 1 (3.78) ... Shaun Boyd (CF) STL 4-5, 4R, 2B, HR(5), 5RBI(48), .287 ... Rick Ankiel (RF) STL 3-4, 2R, 2B, HR(2), 3RBI(8), .220 ... Aaron Herr STL 2-6, R, HR(20), 2RBI(62), .278 ... Ubaldo Jiminez COL 6 3 3 3 3 5 (4.98)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Ian Stewart COL 1-4, 12th homer ...  Taylor Teagarden TEX, breakout, 3-4, double, 2 homers, 5 RBI ... Adam Eaton SD, rehab, 3 1 0 0 2 2 ... AJ Shappi ARZ 6 5 1 1 4 4, 14-5, 3.30 ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 22nd homer, .282 ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-5, 41st double, .312 ... Kevin Mahar TEX 3-4, 22nd double, triple, 2 walks, .327

CAROLINA (A+) --  Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 1-3, 16th homer, 2 walks, .322 ... Stephen Head 1B CLE 3-7, 2 doubles, .313

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-4, .245 … Scott Moore 3B CHN 2-4 HR(19) 2R, .276 … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 2-4 2B R RBI, .298 … Matt Kemp RF LA 1-4 HR(23) 2R 2RBI, .292 … Travis Denker 2B LA 1-2 HR(23) 2R, .295 … Jay Rainville MIN 8 1/3 6 1 0 1 4 ND, 3.31 … Tyler Clippard NYA 7 4 1 1 0 13 ND, 3.21 … Tim Dillard MIL 8 7 3 3 1 4 L(11-8, 2.49) … Adam Heether 3B MIL 2-3 2B R, .305 … Joey Votto 1B CIN 3-5 HR(13) 2R 3RBI, .266 … Adam Lind 2B TOR 2-5 HR(12) 2B 2RBI, .315 … Jim Thome DH PHI (rehab) 0-3, .333 … Jordan Tata DET 7 2 0 0 4 9 W(12-2, 2.24) – 132 2/3IP, 110H, 113K, 38BB … Jamar Hill RF NYN 2-4 2R SB(11), .244 … Grant Psomas 3B 2-4 2B R 2RBI, .304 … Ouch, Eric Harberer STL 2 2/3 8 5 5 1 1 ND, .276

MIDWEST (A) --  All's quiet ...

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Jeff Corsaletti BOS 2-6, double, RBI, run  ...  Yuniel Escobar ATL 3-6  ...  Christian Garcia NYA 6 1 0 0 2 5, 3.86  ...  Luis Atilano ATL 8 8 0 0 1 1  ...  Chris Nelson COL 2-5, homer, 3 RBI  ...  Matthew Miller COL 3-5, run  ...  Ambiorix Concepcion NYN 2-4, double, run  ...  Jeff Allison FLA 7 3 3 2 1 8, 4.31  ...  Blake Dewitt LA 1-2, 2 RBI, walk

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Jon Poterson RF NYY 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB, K ... Wladimir Sutil SS HOU 3-5, R, RBI ... Pete Sellers DH HOU 2-5, R, 2K ... Bobby Parnell NYM 4.1 8 4 1 0 4 ... Nolan Reimold CF BAL 2-5, 2B, RBI, K ... Ryan Patterson LF TOR 1-4, R, K ... Garret Olson BAL 5 3 3 3 1 5 ... Josh Sowers TOR 4 1 0 0 1 5 ... Jacob Marceaux FLA 7 7 2 1 0 5 ... Todd Redmond PIT 6 2 1 0 1 4 ... Mike Costanzo 3B PHI (signs of life) 3-5, R, 2RBI, K ... Jacoby Ellsbury DH BOS 0-3, R, RBI, BB, 2K ... Jed Lowrie SS BOS 1-3, R, 2BB ... Luis Soto RF BOS 3-4, 3RBI ... Tyler Greene SS STL 0-4, 2K ... Joe Ness CLE 5 6 2 1 1 6

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Michael Madsen OAK 5 6 3 2 1 2 ... Brenton Carter SD 6 1 1 1 0 2, 2.13 ...Nicholas Hundley, catcher SD 4-5, double, .279 ...  it figures, Seth Johnston SS SD, into the game as one of the league's worst hitters (.200, 3 doubles, 6 RBI in his first 23 games), 3-5, double, 2 homers, 8 RBI

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Aaron Cunningham (LF CWS, 6th rd.) 3-3, 3 R, 2B, .328 BA... Christian Acosta (3B CWS) 3-5, R, 2B, HR (4), 5 RBI (34), BB, E (16), .327 BA… a small glimmer of hope for Wilfrido Pujols (PH/LF STL, 6th rd.) 1-1, now 5-54 in 22 GP… Eli Iorg (RF HOU, 1st rd. supp., 38th overall) 1-5, R, RBI (13), .306 BA… tough ND for Jacob Hurry (SP HOU) 6 2 1 1 0 2, 5.36 ERA… 4th rounder Caleb Moore (C MIN) 3-4, 2B, SB (1), .281 BA… Adam Hawes (SP MIN) 6 3 1 1 3 6, 1.76 ERA… continued success for Alexander Smit (RP MIN) W (6-1), 3 1 0 0 1 6, 2.37 ERA with 20 hits yielded in 38 IP, to go along with an eye-popping 73/9 K/BB ratio… Ovandy Suero (LF ATL) 1-3, BB, K, SB (league leading 27th), CS (11), .315 BA… Matt Anderson (3B NYM) 3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR (5), 3 RBI (30), .331 BA… Greg Gonzalez (CF NYM, 28th rd.) 1-4, R, K, SB (13), .336 BA.

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  Ivan De Jesus SS LA 2-5 in promotion to the Pioneer

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  ouch, Beau Jones ATL 4 10 8 8 1 4  ... 3B Greg Creek ATL 3-4, 2 doubles, .330 ... Luis Gil DET 6 5 3 1 0 3, 2.48

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) -- 

  Troop Movements ...  LA - Mike Edwards to AAA ... COL - Todd Helton activated, Ryan Shealy to AAA ... STL - Anthony Reyes to AAA, Skip Schumaker up ... SF - released Marquis Grissom ...

    Pitchers take the top five spots in David Regan's Who's Hot at RotoAmerica.  MIN lefty Francisco Liriano tops the pack :

" ... With Felix Hernandez now dominating AL hitters instead of PCL hitters, Liriano might be the top pitcher still in the minors ...  expect a call at some point this year. When a 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K outing is an off night, you know you're going good. Chad Billingsley ... On a roll now and looking towards a September call up. He's be pitching in the majors if he were on other teams, but the Dodgers prefer to let him develop a bit slower. Chuck James ...  It's too bad for James that the Braves are loaded with pitchers. Has breezed all the way to AAA now with his deceptive stuff and great command. Daniel Haigwood ... ,The best pitcher you've never heard of. Needs to cut down on the walks, but it's hard to not like a lefty that has a 0.89 ERA in six AA starts. An up and comer! Bryan Bullington ...  Overall numbers still aren't that impressive (3.46 ERA, a hit per inning, low K rate), but he seems to have regained some of his fastball all of a sudden (suspicious?) and is blowing away AAA hitters. Will get a trial run in September."

Hanley Ramirez BOS is the among those on the Who's Not list :

" ... Tools or no tools, hitting .269 in AA doesn't make you ready for Fenway in 2006."

    Over at Baseball Analysts, Rich Lederer & Bryan Smith note four contenders for the minor league pitching crown, now available with Felix Hernandez now in the majors :

" ... Matt Cain ...  has not had the success of Felix at the AAA level. He allows too many walks and home runs, but both his hit and strikeout rates scream for future success. Francisco Liriano ...  flavor of the week, currently dominating AAA like no other pitcher alive ... Everything is hard for Liriano, and he is going to have quite a bit of success. Justin Verlander ...  A recent injury to his often-sore pitching arm makes him fall down a few slots. Verlander's fastball might be the best on this list, and like Felix, he has many days ahead of him in a pitching park. Chad Billingsley ... You have to dig a bit deeper to find the good stats with Billingsley that you do with the aforementioned three, but they are there."

    SEA beginning to clear some space for the club's backlog of shortstops :

" ... Mike Morse – who has never played the outfield in his professional career – likely will begin taking fly balls with the team soon. “We’ve started tentatively working with him in the outfield,” Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said ... This is not to say Morse doesn’t factor in the team’s long-term plans at shortstop, although he has struggled at times, committing 11 errors in 49 games since his promotion ... “I’ll do whatever,” Morse said when asked about playing the outfield. “It’s not up to me.” With a good supply of middle-infield types already on the roster – and with Jose Lopez expected back from Class AAA Tacoma at some point – the team will eventually need to make decisions before spring training on who will play where. As it stands, the Mariners have three players on the roster who can play shortstop: Morse, fellow rookie Yuniesky Betancourt and Willie Bloomquist. Betancourt, who is regarded as a defensive whiz, is thought to be the team’s shortstop of the future ... Moving Morse might not be a bad idea considering the organization already has several talented shortstops in the farm system, including Adam Jones (Class AA San Antonio), Asdrubal Cabrera (Class A Inland Empire) and Matt Tuiasosopo (Class A Wisconsin)."  (Tacoma News Tribune)

    Jonathan Mayo, MiLB.com, with his thoughts on where Daric Barton fits among the best of the minor league first basemen :

" ...   I don't see him as the top first-base prospect in the Minors, and yes he will be in my Top 50 prospect list, although he hasn't hit for much power since he moved up to Double-A. Obviously he's still ridiculously young, I mean he turns 20 next week -- so I'm not rushing the kid, and he's hitting .300 with Midland in 31 games. According to my new Top 50, it'd go like this at first: Prince Fielder, Casey Kotchman, Conor Jackson, Ryan Howard (who's been getting a lot of playing time with Jim Thome hurt), Barton, Ryan Garko, Brian Dopirak, James Loney -- and then a couple of other guys not in the Top 50 but you have to throw into the equation: Justin Huber with the Royals, and Adrian Gonzalez ...  Stephen Head is a guy who the Indians just drafted and already is putting up ridiculous numbers ...  Some people think he's already ahead of Michael Aubrey on the organizational depth chart at first-base."

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, offers his picks as the best of the AL Central prospects - Billy Butler atop the chart, Justin Verlander, Jeremy Sowers 2-3, Francisco Liriano No. 4.

" ... 1. Billy Butler ... only knock on Butler is where he'll play. His days as a third baseman appear to be over, and now the Royals are transitioning him to a corner outfield spot. What's not left to question is his potential as a hitter. Butler has quick hands through the zone, a fast bat and good natural loft to his swing. The result is an excellent level of production. Last season, he destroyed the rookie-level Pioneer League, and this year he hit .348 AVG/.419 OBP/.636 SLG at High Desert of the Cal League. Recently, Butler earned a promotion to AA-Wichita, where's he raking once again. If, as a 19-year-old, he proves himself in the Texas League, then watch out. He's arguably the best pure hitter in the minors not named Delmon Young."

" ... 3. Jeremy Sowers ...  one of those rare talents to be drafted twice in the first round—initially out of high school (by the Reds in 2001) and then coming out of college. So you can imagine what scouts think of his potential. Sowers boasts a four-pitch repertoire with excellent command of all his offerings. He's not a particularly hard thrower, but he keeps hitters guessing. For the early weeks of the 2005 season, Sowers dominated the competition at High-A Kinston, and in June he earned a promotion to AA-Akron, where he boasts a 2.44 ERA (and only seven walks) in 55.1 innings. Don't be surprised if he opens 2006 in the Cleveland rotation."

10 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Andy Marte 3B ATL 2-3, BB ... Carlos Ruiz DH PHI 3-4, 2 R, BB ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 4-6, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 2-4 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 0 errors ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, 3B, RBI, BB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 1-3, R, 2 BB, SB ... Marcus Thames DH DET 1-5 ... Joel Zumaya DET 6 3 1 1 4 7, 3.29 ... Jason Cooper LF CLE 2-4, 10th HR, R, 3 RBI ... Fausto Carmona CLE 6 4 3 3 1 3, 2.62 ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn 2B BOS 1-3, 1st HR, R, RBI, HBP ... Bryan Bullington PIT 7-2/3 5 2 2 1 9, 3.46 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 3-5, 7th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Anderson Hernandez 2B NYN 3-4, 2 R, Sac ... Victor Diaz 1B NYN 2-5, 2B, 10th HR, R, 4 RBI ... Brian Bannister NYN 5 7 3 3 2 5, 3.58 ... Tim Redding NYA 5-2/3 9 6 6 3 7, 3.59 ... Francisco Liriano MIN 7 4 0 0 3 4, 1.46 ... Eli Whiteside C BAL 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI ... John Maine BAL 4-1/3 3 2 2 3 3, 4.56

" ... Right-hander Bryan Bullington tied a career high with nine strikeouts...   Bullington (7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO) earned the win, improving to 7-4. The Indiana native and former Ball State University star has registered a 5-1 record and 1.99 ERA (11 ER in 49.2 IP) over his last eight outings. Bullington has also collected 37 strikeouts while allowing just four walks over his last five contests."  (Indianapolis Indians)

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Jeff Burroughs 3B SD, leadoff, 4-5, 2 doubles ... Josh Barfield SD 3-5, 2 doubles (19), .306 ... Jose Lopez SEA 2B 3-4, 2 doubles, .284 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 2-5, 2 homers (15), 4 RBI, .325 ... Clint Nageotte SEA 1-2/3 3 5 5 3 2 ... Dennis Tankersley KC 6 5 2 1 2 4, 4.60 ... Justin Huber KC 1-3, double ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 3-4, 22nd double, 21st homer, .302 ... Corey Hart CF MIL 2-5, 17th homer, .308 ... Prince Fielder MIL 2-5, 25th homer, .274 ... Randy Leek STL, Triple-A debut, 6 6 1 1 0 2 ... Todd Linden SF 30th homer, .321

EASTERN (AA)  --  Denard Span CF MIN 3-4, triple, 3 RBI & 0-3, walk, .287 ... Hanley Ramirez BOS 0-3, & 2-4, double, .269 ... Matt Moses 3B MIN 2-3, homer & 1-3, .230 ... Vince Perkins TOR 7-1/3 8 1 1 1 6, 3.84 ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 1-4, double, .296 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-4, .309 ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-4, double, .343 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 3-6, .261 ... Brad Snyder CLE 2-4, 17th double, 11th homer, 5 RBI, .296 ... 1B Ryan Mulhern CLE 4-4, 4 doubles, walk, 3 RBI, .321 ... DET 2B Juan Francia, into the game with a .347 SLG mark, the cycle, 4-5 .

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Elliot Johnson 2B TAM 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, .287…Jason Pridie OF TAM 0-4, 2 K’s, .182 ... Elijah Dukes OF TAM 3-4, 2B, run, .292 ... Wes Bankston DH TAM 0-3, .299 ... Stephen Drew SS AZ 1-1, double .250 (taken out for a pinch runner after his double) ... Dan Uggla 2B AZ 2-4, HR (18) 2 RBI (78), .323 ... Jamie D’Antona 3B AZ 1-4, .251 ... Miguel Montero C AZ 1-4, run, .218 ... Jon Zeringue OF AZ 1-4, RBI, .256 ... Brandon Sing 1B CHN 1-4, .289 ... Luis Montanez OF CHN 0-3, .295 ... Jae Kuk Ryu CHN 7-2/3 4 2 2 1 5, 3.38 ... Robert Andino SS FLA 1-3, 2B, run, RBI, .278 ... Jeremy Hermida OF FLA 1-4, .298 ... Reggie Abercrombie OF FLA 0-4, .266 ... Nick Ungs FLA 5.0 10 3 3 0 5, 3.48 ... Chris Resop FLA 1 1 1 1 2, 2.23 (W) ... Casey Rogowski 1B CHA 1-3, BB, .313 ... Ryan Sweeney OF CHA 0-3, .281 ... Chris Young OF CHA 1-4, solo HR (19), .262 ... Daniel Haigwood CHA 7 2 0 0 1 7, 0.89 (W) now 12-3 ... Josh Burrus OF ATL 0-3, 3 K’s, .230... Justin Orenduff LA 6 2 0 0 1 4, 3.95

TEXAS (AA)  --  Reggie Willits ANA 2-4, .299 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4, RBI(18), .333 ... Alex Serrano ANA (S,12) 1 0 0 0 0 1 (1.23) ... Shane Komine OAK 6-2/3 8 1 1 0 9 (1.35) ... Travis Hanson STL 2-4, 2R, HR(19), 3RBI(81), .277 ... Joaquin Arias TX 2-4, R, RBI(48), SB(17), .312 ... The kids are truly struggling in AA - Chris Lambert STL 4-1/3 9 6 6 3 3 (5.13) ... And -Thomas Diamond TX 4/2/3 7 6 6 3 4 (4.87) ... Mike Aviles KC (3B) 3-5, R, 2RBI(69), .287 ... This kid flat out pounds the ball - Billy Butler KC 2-4, 2R, .500 ... Ryan Baerlocher KC 6 7 2 1 0 5 (2.33)

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Ian Stewart COL 3-5, double, .268 ... TEX CF Kevin Mahar, leadoff, 3-5, 21st double, 17th homer, .322 ... Jeff Cook OF ARZ 4-5, 2 doubles (27), .310 ... catcher Colt Morton SD 2-3, 2 homers (15), .273 ... Bryan Lahair 1B SEA 2-5, 22nd double, 21st homer, 5 RBI, .294 ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 21st homer, .282 ... Brandon Wood ANA in a little slide, 0-4, 3 Ks, .308.

CAROLINA (A+) --  Ray Liotta CHA, 11-3, 2.10 overall, 5 6 1 1 2 7 ... Leo Daigle CHA 27th homer, .350 ... Tom Callaro CHA 2-4, 26th homer, .267 ... Kory Casto 3B WAS 2-3, 2 walks, 2 runs, 2 RBI, .300 ... Troy Patton HOU 4 5 3 3 1 5, 2.03 overall

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Andy Wilson 1B NYN 23rd homer, .295 ... Kurt Isenberg TOR 6 3 0 0 1 4, 3.76 ... Jaret Wright NYA, rehab, 6 7 2 2 3 4 ... Yosvany Almario-Cabrera NYA 4-4, homer, .322 ... Jake Blalock PHI 2-2, double, walk, .292

MIDWEST (A) --  Sean Kazmar SD 3-4, 8th HR, 7th SB ... Reid Brignac TB 0-3 (.254) ... tough game for the top pick Cliff Pennington OAK 1-5, 6th CS (.284) ... Chi-Hung Cheng TOR 6 2/3 4 3 3 2 3 (2.88) ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-4 ... Sean Gallagher CHN 5 5 2 2 4 5 (W, 13-4, 2.29) ... full night Eric Patterson CHN 2-5, 11th HR, 34th SB, 2 errors (.332, still just 9 E's for the year) .. Michael Schlact TEX 7 9 6 6 1 3 (4.66) ... David Winfree MIN 28th double (.282)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Charlie Fermaint MIL 3-4, homer, 2 RBI, .354  ...  Ryan Braun MIL 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, .358  ...  Marcos Vechionacci NYA 2-5, triple, 2 RBI, run  ...  Neil Walker PIT 3-4, 3 doubles, run, .289  ...  Greg Golson PHI 3-5, double, triple, RBI  ...  Samuel Deduno COL 7 8 1 1 1 8, (W, 7-6)  ...  Ambiorix Concepcion NYN 2-4, 2 runs  ...  Jeff Corsaletti BOS 2-5, 2 doubles, RBI, run, .364

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Chris Volstad FLA (also see below) 5 3 1 0 1 4 ... Jose Fragoso DET 6.1 4 0 0 1 5 ... Ryan Patterson LF TOR 2-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI ... Wade Davis TB 7 5 1 1 2 4 ... Jed Lowrie SS BOS 0-4, R, BB, K ... Luis Soto RF BOS 2-4, 3R, BB ... Nolan Reimold CF BAL 2-5, 2R, HR, BB, K ... Wladimir Sutil SS HOU 1-5, 2B ... Mike Costanzo 3B PHI 2-5, 2R, K ... Tyler Greene SS STL 1-3, R, BB ... Kyle Kendrick PHI 9 7 2 2 2 6

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Steve Murphy OF TEX 2-3, double, .337 ... John Mayberry TEX 1-2, HBP, .219 ... Zachary Simons COL 7 3 1 0 0 1, 2.43 (24 Ks in 55 2/3s)

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  Ryan Mullins MIN, sleeper no more, 3 3 0 0 0 3, 2.16 (53 Ks in 41 2/3s)

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  3B Dallas Morris ANA 2-4, 7th homer, .332 ... SS Hainley Statia ANA 2-3, double, 3 RBI, .287

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  Jason Herman PIT 5 3 0 0 0 6, 2-2, 0.99 ... Mike Hampton ATL, rehab, 5 6 0 0 0 4

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) -- 

  Troop Movements ...  BOS - acquired Mike Remlinger from CHN for Olivo Astacio, Wade Miller DL, traded Jose Cruz Jr. to LA for PTBNL  ... CHN - recalled Corey Patterson, Ronny Cedeno to AAA ... BAL - Sidney Ponson & BJ Surhoff DL, Chris Ray to AA, Eric DuBose, Aaron Rakers,  Alejandro Freire up ... TB - Dewon Brazelton to AAA, Tim Corcoran up ... NYN - Doug Mientkiewicz DL, activated Kaz Matsui ... SD - Adam Eaton DL, activated  Chris Hammond ... STL - Anthony Reyes up, John Gall to AAA ... TEX - Ricardo Rodriguez DL, Erasmo Ramirez up ... ARZ - activated Kelly Stinnett, Michael Gosling to AAA ...

    Scott Rex, OnDeck, takes a crack at the top prospect list for the New York-Penn League :

    Joe Kaiser, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, on the new-look SEA Top 10 (with Felix, Snelling up) :

" ... 1. Adam Jones ... The 20-year-old takes over on top of this list after hammering home runs in back-to-back games over the week. He's batting .307 with four homers in Double-A. 2. Yorman Bazardo ... Hurled seven scoreless innings in his debut with the Mariners organization on Friday, striking out five. Of his 95 pitches, 63 were strikes. ... 4. Asdrubal Cabrera ... The defensive-minded infielder is more than three months away from his 20th birthday, but he's batting .282 with 11 doubles and five triples with the 66ers."

    Over at the Seattle Times, a note on catcher Jeff Clement :

" ...  Plus: An absolute masher with a good batting eye, Clement may have fans salivating over his left-handed power potential at Safeco Field. Minus: "I'm starting back at Square 1," Clement said of his defense. He has put in extra work on receiving and blocking with catching coordinator Roger Hansen. Future: Clement's ceiling is high, but his current goal is just to get comfortable with pro ball."  (Seattle Times)

09 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  Chris Denorfia CF CIN 1-4, 10th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... Justin Germano CIN 6-2/3 10 1 1 0 8, 3.60 ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, 3B, 2 R, BB, SB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-3, R, 2 BB ... Marcus Thames DH DET 4-4, 2B, 17th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 5 7 3 3 0 5, 5.20 ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn 2B BOS 1-4 ... Nate McLouth CF PIT 2-4, R, HBP

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Corey Patterson CHN 3-3, 2 homers, 3 runs, 4 RBI ... Jason Botts TEX 23rd homer, .296 ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 3-4, double, .323 ... Miguel Ojeda SEA, awakening from a deep slumber, 4-5, double, 2 homers, 4 RBI, .243 ... Justin Huber KC 2-4, double, triple ... Dallas McPherson ANA 0-4 ... Prince Fielder MIL 2-4, double, walk, .272 ... Todd Helton COL, rehab, 2-2, double, walk ... Matt Cain SF, significant improvement, 7 7 4 4 1 7, 4.64 ... Todd Linden SF 29th homer, .320 ... Juan Cruz OAK 6 4 3 3 3 8

EASTERN (AA)  --  David Purcey TOR 7 3 1 1 1 3, 3.50, GC ... Chip Cannon TOR 2-3, double, homer & 1-2, double ... Lasting Milledge NYN 3-5, 1st AA homer, .311 ... Kevin Frandsen 2B SF 3-5, double, homer, 3 RBI, .302 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 11th homer, .257 ... Hanley Ramirez BOS, still at leadoff, 0-5, 20th error, .268 ... Eric Duncan NYA 0-3, 3 Ks, .237

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Javon Moran OF CIN 1-4, .344 ... D’Angelo Jimenez SS CIN 1-4, 2 K’s, 13th SB, .288 ... Josh Hall CIN 7.0 4 1 1 2 5, 3.03 (L) ... Russell Martin C LA 0-2, BB, run, .303 ... Joel Guzman SS LA 1-3, .279 ... James Loney 1B LA 2-3, RBI, .292 ... Edwin Jackson LA now that’s more like it 8 3 0 0 1 8, 3.83 (W) ... a Greg Miller LA sighting 1 0 0 0 1 2, 0.00 1st save ... Elliot Johnson 2B TAM 2-5, HR, 2 RBI, .287 ... Jason Pridie OF TAM 1-5, 3 K’s, .207 ... Elijah Dukes OF TAM 0-3, run, BB, .287 ... Wes Bankston 1B TAM 3-4, .303 ... Shawn Riggans DH TAM 2-4, .295 ... Jeff Niemann TAM eek 2/3 3 4 3 1 1 ... Noochie Varner OF AZ 1-5, run, RBI, .283 ... Stephen Drew SS AZ 1-4, .222 ... Dan Uggla 2B AZ 1-4, solo HR (17), .322 ... Miguel Montero C AZ 0-3, run, BB, .216 ... Ramon Pena AZ 7 10 5 4 1 5 2, 4.43 (W) ... Brandon Sing 1B CHN 0-5, .2 K’s, .289 ... Luis Montanez OF CHN 1-4, .306 ... Carlos Marmol CHN 6 3 1 1 3 6, 2.81 ... David Aardsma CHN 2 2 0 0 1 1, 2.74 ... Robert Andino SS FLA 1-5, .278 ... Jeremy Hermida OF FLA what’s this? 0-5, 4 K’s ... Reggie Abercrombie OF FLA 2-5, .276 ... 

TEXAS (AA)  --  Kendry Morales ANA 2-4, 10th homer, .253 ... Tommy Murphy OF ANA 3-5, 3 doubles, .299 ... Erick Aybar ANA 3-6, double, 3 RBI, .290 ... Billy Butler KC 3-4, double, 3 RBI

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 1-2, 2 walks, 16th homer, .328 ... 1B Edgar Varela ARZ 5-5, double, .312 ...1B Kila Kaaihue KC 4-5, walk, 3 doubles (24), 6 RBI, .319 ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 2-4, 20th homer, .282 ... Bucky Jacobsen SEA, rehab, 2-4, homer

CAROLINA (A+) --  Adam Loewen BAL 5-1/3 2 1 1 3 7 ... Leo Daigle CHA, comfy back in A-ball, 26th homer, .352 ... Hunter Pence HOU 3-5, 27th homer (overall)

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Brent Clevlen RF DET 3-5 SB(10), .308 … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 3-6 HR(14) 2B, .267 … Joey Votto 1B CIN 2-5 R, .267 … Nate Bumstead 7 1/3 8 1 1 1 4 ND, 2.45 … Ben Himes RF CIN 3-7 R, .295 … Jose Campusano SS FLO 2-4 RBI SB(13), .293 … Paul Mildren 4 8 7 5 2 3 L(7-3, 3.44) … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 0-2 & 1-4 HR(13) 3RBI, .243 … Tim Moss 2B PHI 2-4 HR(17) 2RBI & 2-4 R 2RBI, .283 … Jim Thome DH PHI (rehab) 2-2 HR 3RBI & 1-2 BB … Jake Blalock LF PHI 2-2 2B R SB(11), .292 … Chris Honsa 7 3 1 0 2 2 W(5-4, 3.34) … Jamar Hill RF NYN 2-3 HR(13) 2RBI, .240 … Adam Harban MIN 9 3 0 0 2 9 W(8-5, 2.59) … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 2-4 2B , .298

MIDWEST (A) --  Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-4 (.313) ... can't get started Kyle Rogers TEX 5 2/3 8 7 6 0 4 (6.53) ... Ian Gac TEX 2-4 ... Ryan Harvey CHN 2-4, 21st HR ... Jeff Clement SEA 1-3, 2 K's ... Michael Collins ANA 24th double ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-4 (.229) ... Sean Kazmar SD 2-3, BB (.268) ... power surging Javier Herrera OAK 3-5, HR (.288)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Joseph Koshansky COL 2-4, 33rd homer, 2 RBI & 0-3  ...  Matthew Miller COL 3-4, run & 1-3, double   ...  Jason Jaramillo 2-3, solo homer & 1-4  ...  Carlos Perez BAL 6 9 4 3 4 5, ugly W  ...  Hernan Iribarren MIL 2-4, solo homer, 2 runs  ...  Ryan Braun MIL 4-5, double, homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs  ...  Sergio Pedroza LA 2-4, double, 2 runs

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) -- Wade Townsend TB 5 8 5 4 0 7

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Steve Murphy OF TEX 3-5, .332 ... Taylor Teagarden TEX, first pro hit 1-4 ... Michael Mooney SF 1-3, double, .356 ... after a couple of less-than-stellar starts, Shane Lindsay COL back on track, 6 1 0 0 1 9,  2.36 (73 Ks in 42 innings)

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) -- 

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  C Fransico Hernandez CWS 2-3, R, 2b ... 3b Matt Gamel MIL 2-4, 3R, 2b, 2RBI ... CF Freddy Parejo MIL 3-4, 2 2b, 3RBI ... P Robert Wooley W(5-3) 5.0 5 2 1 1 9

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  Eric Wordekemper NYA, not bad for a 46th round pick,  5 5 0 0 0 3, 1.74 (19 Ks, no walks in 20 2/3s) ... Andrew McCutchen PIT in a little funk, 0-4, .274 ... Craig Hansen BOS 1st rounder 2 2 0 0 0 2

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) --  Jeff Bianchi KC has dipped to .418, into a tie for first place in the batting race with SF OF Ariel Nunez

  Troop Movements ... COL - Dan Miceli DL, Ryan Speier up, Eddie Garabito to AAA ...  KC - Billy Butler promoted to AA ... ATL - Chuck James promoted to AAA ... NYA -  Felix Escalona up, Andy Phillips to AAA ... BOS - Kevin Youkilis up, Jose Cruz Jr. designated for assignment ... SEA - released Pat Borders ... STL - Anthony Reyes to be called up ... FLO - Jim Mecir DL, Randy Messenger up ...

" ... James ... currently ranks second in all of minor league baseball with an ERA of 1.76. He also ranks fourth in all of minor league baseball with 163 strikeouts this year. He is fourth in the minors with a SO/9 IP ratio of 11.49 and leads the minors with an opponent's average of .180. The Mississippi Braves have won 14 of James' 16 starts in 2005 and his last four decisions have all been shutouts. He currently has a team-high streak of 20.1 consecutive scoreless innings pitched."

" ...  Butler ... "He's got a special bat," Mavericks manager Billy Gardner Jr. said. "He's got above average bat speed, power to all fields and he knows how to hit. I think the thing that separates him at his age from other hitters is the fact that he has such good strike zone management. "He's got very good plate discipline and pitch selection. Then when he gets a pitch to hit, he doesn't miss it." Butler struck out 80 times in 92 games in the Cal League. But he walked 42 times, pushing his on-base percentage above .400, and collected 25 homers and 91 runs batted in despite missing 19 games with a stress fracture in his right wrist."

    Updates on the Cubs' farm from the Chicago Tribune :

" ... Double-A West Tenn center fielder Felix Pie is slated to return from his ankle injury Tuesday. Pie, who would have been called up to the Cubs when Patterson was demoted July 7 if not for the injury, will need some at-bats before he's ready to get the call. He's certain to be brought up Sept. 1, when rosters expand ...  Angel Guzman, who has missed the entire season with a strained right forearm and sore elbow, is throwing again and will be sent to Mesa, Ariz., in a week or two. Guzman might pitch in the Arizona Fall League to get ready for 2006."

" ... Corey Patterson's average is up to .273 after a slow start at Triple-A Iowa, and he may be called up to the Cubs in time for the four-game series against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, which opens Thursday. "If he keeps doing it, there's a chance," manager Dusty Baker said."

    A salute to the Players/Pitchers of the Week, including :

Corey Hart MIL, PCL  " ... His week included a two-homer, six-RBI contest ... and a league-leading four stolen bases, which gave Hart a career-high 28 thefts on the season as well as a share of the PCL lead in that department ...  holds a seven-game hitting streak (11-for-26, .423) and is batting a solid .366 (90-for-246) over his last 59 contests. For the season, the Bowling Green, Ky. native is hitting .308 (125-for-406) with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs in a team-high 107 games ... On the year, Hart leads the Nashville offense in doubles, triples, stolen bases, runs scored (77), hits (125), and total bases (219), ranking second to Fielder in home runs, RBIs, and walks (45)."  (Nashville Sounds)

BJ Upton TB, INT  " ...  hit safely in five of the seven games, and scored in six of them. He also drove in at least one run in five of those games. He was in the top five in the IL last week in stolen bases, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. His six extra-base hits and four stolen bases lead the circuit. This should come as no surprise to IL fans, as Upton is among the League leaders for the season in several categories, including hits, stolen bases, doubles, and on-base percentage. At 20 years of age, Upton is considered one of the hottest young prospects in Minor League Baseball. He was the second overall draft choice in 2002 by Tampa Bay."  (International League)

Brad Snyder CLE, EASTERN  " ... The 6'3", 200 lb. slugger had an excellent week for the Aeros, hitting .419 (13-for-31) with three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored ... The 23-year old had three multiple hit games during the week, including a 4-for-5, two homer, four RBI game  ... enters the week with a 10-game hitting streak. Brad, who is batting .293 with 10 homers, 36 RBI and 33 runs scored since making his Double-A debut with the Aeros on June 12th, was selected by the Cleveland Indians as the 18th overall selection in the first round of the June 2003 draft out of Ball State University."  (Eastern League)

Casey Janssen TOR, EASTERN  " ...  In two starts last week, the 6'4", 205 lb. hurler went 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA. In his first appearance of the week the 23-year old gave up four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters in six shutout innings of work in a no-decision ... second start of the week Janssen ... earned a win ... giving up one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five batters. Casey was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round of the June 2004 draft out of UCLA."  (Eastern League)

Howie Kendrick ANA, TEXAS  " ...  four straight multi-hit games and adding a pair of home runs and stolen bases in five games. Kendrick burst onto the scene in Arkansas, going 6-for-10 with a home run in his first two games after being called up from Class A Rancho Cucamonga in mid-July, but a recent 1-for-14 spell saw his average with the Travelers drop to .273. But his average is back up to .325 -- and .370 overall for the season -- after going 9-for-20 (.450) last week. The L.A. Angels' top second base prospect started the week with a pair of doubles and three RBIs in a 9-1 win over Springfield. He then went deep in two of the next three games, giving him 15 long balls on the season, and three in 20 games with Arkansas. His two stolen bases give him 19 on the season."  (MiLB.com)

    John Sickels on Eric Duncan NYA :

" ...  a top prospect or isn't he? His numbers this year for Double-A Trenton aren't especially wonderful on the surface: .238 batting average, .330 OBP, .416 SLG. He does have 18 homers, but just 13 doubles, helping keep his total SLG rather low for a guy with 18 homers. He's drawn 56 walks, helping his OBP, but has struck out 112 times in 113 games. His defense at third base remains erratic, and there is still mixed opinion about whether or not he will remain at the hot corner in the long run ...  Compared to 2004, he's shown little actual skill growth. The flip side is his age: he is still just 20 ... Given a normal growth curve, he still has a good chance to be a fine player ...  If I were the Yankees, I would strongly consider having him repeat Double-A in '06."

08 August 2005

    INTERNATIONAL (AAA) --  James Jurries RF ATL 1-4, 18th HR, R, RBI, HBP ... Andy Marte 3B ATL 3-5, 2B, 17th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Adam Bernero ATL 4-1/3 8 8 2 4 4, 4.71 ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 2-4, SB ... Zach Jackson TOR 7 8 2 2 1 4, 5.82 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 3-4, 14th HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 0 errors ... Jason Hammel TB 5-1/3 8 3 3 3 4, 4.68 ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 1-3, BB ... Marcus Thames RF DET 1-4 ... Kenny Baugh DET 6-2/3 12 6 5 2 2, 3.58 ... Ryan Garko 1B CLE 2-4, 16th HR, R, RBI ... Jason Dubois RF CLE 1-4, 2nd HR, R, 3 RBI ... Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-2, 2nd HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB ... rehab, Mark Bellhorn DH BOS 1-4, R, 2 RBI ... Abe Alvarez BOS 5-1/3 6 4 4 0 9, 4.28 ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 7-1/3 6 4 4 1 6, 4.47 ... Scott Baker MIN 6-2/3 9 4 3 1 2, 2.83  ... Catchup (late game Saturday) - Curtis Granderson CF DET 1-5, 15th HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB ... Carlos Pena 1B DET 0-6 ... Marcus Thames LF DET 0-5, BB ... Nate McLouth CF PIT 3-7, 2B ... Paul Maholm PIT 6 5 3 3 1 7, 4.00

PACIFIC COAST (AAA)  --  Justin Huber KC 2-5 ... Prince Fielder MIL 2-4 ... Joe Saunders ANA 4 9 7 3 1 4, 4.35 ... Doug DeVore SF, career game, 4-4, 3 homers, 4 runs, walk, 5 RBI ... Bobby Brownlie CHN 5-1/3 5 2 2 1 6, 4.46 ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 1-3, .298 ... Corey Patterson CHN 1-3, .273

EASTERN (AA)  --  3B Rob Cosby TOR 3-4, 14th homer, .312 ... Kazuo Matsui NYN, rehab, 2-4, double ... nice matchup -- Yusmeiro Petit NYN 7 3 1 1 1 7 over Anibal Sanchez BOS 6-2/3 4 2 2 0 9 ... Matt DeSalvo NYA 8-2/3 4 2 2 3 9 ... Shelly Duncan NYA 28th homer, Eric Duncan NYA18th homer ... Thomas Gorzelanny PIT 5-1/3 4 1 1 3 6 ... Tony Giarratano DET 3-5, double, .268

SOUTHERN (AA) --  Robert Andino SS FLA 1-4, 2B, run, .279 ...  Jeremy Hermida OF FLA 1-4, .303 ... Reggie Abercrombie OF FLA 2-4, run, .270 ... Chris Resop FLA 1 0 0 0 1, 2.06 ... Brandon Sing 1B CHN 1-3, solo HR (24), .294 ... Luis Montanez OF CHN 0-4, .309 ... Ricky Nolasco CHN 7 8 0 0 0 6, 3.15 (W) 11-2 ... Casey Rogowski 1B CHA 1-5, RBI, 18th SB, .311 ... Chris Young OF CHA 2-4, .266 ... Josh Fields 3B CHA 1-3, .253 ... Javon Moran OF CIN 0-4, 2 K’s, .351 ... D’Angelo Jimenez SS CIN 1-4, .289 ... Travis Chick CIN 7 7 3 3 5 3, 5.03 (L) 2-10 ... Bubba Nelson CIN 2 0 0 0 3, 4.78 ... Andy LaRoche 3B LA 1-4, .258 ... James Loney 1B LA 0-4, .289 ... Joel Guzman SS LA 0-2, .279 ... Joel Hanrahan LA 5 3 2 2 4 6, 5.18 (W) 7-7 ... Hong Chih Kuo LA 1-1/3 1 0 0 0 2, 1.53 ... Jared Wells SD 7 7 5 3 2 2, 3.15 (L) ... George Kottaras C SD 1-4, 2B, RBI, .250 ... Noochie Varner OF AZ 1-4, 2B, .284  ... Dan Uggla 2B AZ 3-4, .322 ... Jon Zeringue OF AZ 0-4, 2 K”s, .256 ... Jamie D’Antona 3B AZ 0-4, .253 ... Dustin Nippert AZ 7-2/3 8 1 1 1 6, 2.73 ... Josh Burrus OF ATL 1-2, run, .247 ... Gregor Blanco OF ATL 2-4, run, RBI, .246 ... 2nd game 0-3, .243 ... Luis Hernandez SS ATL 2-4, run, RBI, .237 ... 2nd game 0-3, .235 ... Paul Bush 5 1 0 0 1 3, 1.27 (W) ... Elliot Johnson 2B TAM 1-4, .284 ...  ... Wes Bankston 1B TAM 1-4, 14th HR, 2 RBI, .295 ... Shawn Riggans C TAM 1-4, .291 ...   ... Anthony Gwynn OF MIL 1-3, 2B, run, .274 ... 2nd game 1-4, .274 ... Brad Nelson OF MIL 0-3, RBI, .256 ... Ty Taubenheim MIL 6 4 3 1 2 4, 3.44 (L)

TEXAS (AA)  --  Daric Barton OAK 4-5, 3rd homer, 3 RBI, .302 ... Vince Sinisi TEX 1-5, homer, 3 RBI, .231 ... Ramon Ramirez COL 7 3 3 2 0 4

CALIFORNIA (A+) --  Dustin Smith TEX catcher 3-5, double, triple, .366 ... Bucky Jacobsen SEA, rehab, 3-4, 2 doubles, 4 RBI ... Wladimir Balentien SEA 3-5, 31st double, .280 ... Dallas McPherson ANA 0-0, walk, removed in the 5th inning (no word if an injury involved) ... Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 2-4, 15th homer, .327 ... Juan Morillo COL (also see below) 7 4 3 3 5 6, 7-8, 3.71

CAROLINA (A+) --  Nate Spears BAL 1-4, R, triple, RBI, K ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 0-4, R ... Kory Casto WAS 0-4, BB ... Fredy Deza BAL (W, 4-7, 5.87) 5 4 1 1 2 3 ... Mike Hinckley WAS (L, 2-6, 4.94) 6-1/3 8 7 6 2 1

FLORIDA STATE (A+) --  Ricky Romero TOR 4 2 1 1 1 1 ND, 4.82 … Anthony Swarzak 6 7 1 1 0 1 ND, 4.20 … Matt Kemp RF LA 2-5 R 2RBI, .295 … Cory Dunlap DH LA 3-4 2R 2RBI, .301 … Chuck Tiffany 1 2 1 1 0 1, 3.91 … Alvis Ojeda 6 4 1 1 0 0 W(5-1, 2.78) … Reid Gorecki CF STL 2-4 2B R RBI, .269

MIDWEST (A) --  smooth sailing Jair Jurrjens DET 6 3 0 0 1 4 (2.98) ... David Winfree MIN 0-3 (.280) .. still bailing Kyle Waldrop MIN 5 10 4 4 0 2 (5.53) ... Michael Collins ANA 2-4, 23rd double ... Fernando Rodriguez ANA 6 4 4 2 1 9 (4.34) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 0-4 (.288) ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 2-3, double ... Luis Cota KC 6 1/3 7 8 8 4 5 (4.01) ... Javier Herrera OAK 2-4, 12th HR (.283) ... roller coaster ride continues Ryan Harvey CHN 0-4, 3 K's (.270)

SOUTH ATLANTIC (A) --  Marvin Lowrance WAS 2-4, run  ...  Scott Elbert LA 5 3 2 2 3 4, 3.13  ...  Yovanni Gallardo MIL 6 4 1 1 2 8, (W, 5-3), 3.17 ... Taylor Tankersley FLA 5 4 4 2 5 6, L, 4.80 ... Chris Getz CHA 2-4, RBI, 2 runs, SB ... David Cook CHA 2-3, homer, 2 RBI  ...  Neil Walker PIT 2-5, run  ...  Jesus Flores NYN 2-4, double, 2 runs  ...  Mitch Einertson HOU 2-4, homer, 2 RBI  ...  James Barthmaier HOU 5 4 1 1 3 8, (W, 9-5), 2.53

NEW YORK-PENN (SHORT-SEASON) --  Scott Mitchinson PHI having a devil of a time getting back from injury - now 1-6, 8.35, 1/3 9 8 8 0 0 (last season, 1.75 in 61 2/3 innings, 1 walk, 60 Ks)  ... Jed Lowrie BOS 2-4, 5th SB, .320

NORTHWEST (SHORT-SEASON) --  Taylor Teagarden TEX 0-2 (now 0-14 on the season) ... Michael Mooney SF 2-5, .356 ... 3B Pablo Sandoval SF 2-3, double, walk, 3 RBI, .348 ... John Mayberry TEX 1-4, 6th homer, .216

APPALACHIAN (ROOKIE) --  3B Eric Campbell ATL 2-3, 11th homer, .313 ... Jairo Cuevas ATL 5 3 0 0 3 4, 1.67 (50 Ks in 43 innings)

PIONEER (ROOKIE) --  SS Carey Wimberly COL 3-5, CS(9) ... 1b Mark Trumbo LAA 2-4, 2b, RBI ... SS Christopher McConnell KC 4-6, R ... 2b Jesus Soto LAD 2-5, 4RBI ... P Clayton Richard CWS L(1-1) 6 4 1 1 1 4 (2.40) ... P Greg Smith ARI W(4-3) 6-2/3 7 2 2 0 7 (3.20) ... P Will Inman MIL W(4-0) 7 0 0 0 1 10 (2.40) ... 3b Matt Gamel MIL 3-4, 2 2b, RBI ... RF Freddy Parejo MIL 3-4, 2RBI, SB(5), CS(1)

GULF COAST  (ROOKIE) --  No games scheduled.

ARIZONA (ROOKIE) -- 

  Troop Movements ...  FLO - Ryan Jorgensen up, Randy Messenger to AAA ... SF - Brian Cooper up, Kirk Rueter DL  ... WAS - Brandon Watson up, Matt Cepicky designated for assignment ...

    COL OF Matt Miller chasing the SAL triple crown with a teammate his main challenger :

" ...  Miller has a chance to do something no South Atlantic League player has done in nearly three decades: win a triple crown. Joe Koshansky, the Tourists' first baseman, is chasing his own special milestone. He needs only nine home runs to reach 40, which would set the single-season record for the 108-year-old minor league franchise ... While Miller's batting average of .338 (through Thursday) is just .007 off the league lead (John Otness, Greenville, .345), Koshanksy has five more homers than Miller. Through Thursday, the two shared the league RBI lead with 89 each. Like his roommate, Miller said the competition is lighthearted ... .Both players agree that their success is a combination between their abilities and McCormick's short fences. So far, 41 of their combined 57 long balls have been crushed at home ... All five of Koshansky's multi-homer games came at home, and Miller's batting average (.363) and RBI count (61) are much higher at McCormick than they are on the road (.326 and 28, respectively)."

    High praise for catcher Jeff Mathis ANA has he waits for an opportunity, with the Angels or elsewhere :

" ... Odds are Mathis will get his first sniff of the Major Leagues next month when the Angels make their September call-ups ... If Ebel (manager Dino Ebel) had his way, Mathis would be staying put in the organization. He's seen too much progress from his young protégé to see it put to use in another uniform. "I think he's developed into a real good catcher," said Ebel, who played with Piazza in the Dodgers system more than a decade ago. "His game-calling, his throwing, everything has gotten tremendously better. He's worked very hard out of Spring Training and has taken more control of the pitching staff. It's been a big plus. "There are a couple of catchers coming through the organization, and he's one of the top catch-and-throw guys. He's also got a live bat with a lot of power. And he doesn't even know it yet. He just flicks his bat and he just hits the ball well. It's impressive for a 22-year-old kid to have power to the opposite field like that. He's doing a great job and I'm really pleased with his progress."  (MiLB.com)

    Padres not likely to go to a 2005 pick for pitching help down the stretch :

" ... If the Padres need a starting pitcher, would they call up first-round draft choice Cesar Carrillo? Probably not, said Tye Waller, the club's director of player development, but Carrillo has crossed his mind. "I did think about it," Waller said yesterday. "It's because of how he's pitched." Carrillo, drafted 18th overall in June, has risen to Double-A and gone 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA. On Friday, he allowed one run in six innings to lead Mobile past Jacksonville 4-1 ... The 21-year-old threw 125 2/3 innings for the University of Miami this season and has thrown 32 innings in the minors."  (SD Union Tribune)

    Sam Geaney, Cal Leaguers, with scouting reports on a pair of COL kids -- pitcher Juan Morillo and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki :

Morillo  " ...  Righty with big FB. Sloppy build and appearance ... .Very easy deliv. produces tremendous FB. Needs to improve balance and direction in deliv. Across body. Hard head jerk. Elevates FB too much considering he keeps his fingers on top of ball very well. Finishes standing straight up. Minimal deception as arm gets up early out away from head allowing hitters gd look at ball ...  Sits @ 96-98MPH most nights. Light FB , hitters have no problem centering ball. Below avg movement ... Gets hit hard when he throws strikes w/FB. Frustrating SL. Very bad delivery and arm spd @ times which makes it very soft and slurvy ... CH is bad. Has same problems with deliv. as he does w/SL ... Doesn't intimidate hitters. Loud contact. A guy with his FB not striking out a batter an inning raises serious red flags. Walking lots of guys. Hard time seeing him throwing enuf quality strikes to remain a starter."

Tulowitzki  " ... MIF with lots of pluses. Large muscular frame ... .Doesn't move around with loads of athleticism, walks around awkwardly on toes. Balanced swing with strength and bat spd ... Toe tapper but there's not a ton of lateral movement with his feet and he manages to keep it pretty quiet. Mild uppercut produces the right amount of loft in swing. Strength to drive ball out to all parts of field ...  Too long right now as he is trying to do too much. Mistake hitter ...  Chance to hit for plus game power as he tightens up swing and approach ...Takes pride in defense. Should stay @ SS. Plus arm is full of effort but consis. online carry once it leaves hand. Arm acc. should be solid with continued play. Pure SS actions ... Only knows how to play at one speed, will need to back off a little as it's impossible to stay as wired as he does over full season. Chance to hit .280 with 25HRyr @ ML level while playing a premium position."

    And, more on the COL system from the Denver Post and a stamp on Chris Iannetta as the top backstop on the Rockies' farm :

" ... From the catchers in the organization that I've seen, Chris ranks as a very talented player and he's a very good prospect," Tulsa manager Tom Runnells said. "He has a chance to be special." Bill Geivett, the Rockies' assistant general manager and vice president of baseball operations, makes a majority vote. "I would think that if I polled the people in player development, Chris Iannetta would be right at the top, if not our best catching prospect," Geivett said. "We also have Alvin Colina, who really was making progress before he was injured." ...  "There are so few good catchers to come by that you don't want to waste the chance to get one," Geivett said. "But in Iannetta and Colina, I think we have two who can catch every day at the major-league level." Runnells added, "I don't think you can have too many good catchers in an organization ...  Chris. He's eager and he has all the tools." Iannetta is in his second year in the organization and he has impressed the player development staff with his ability to work with pitchers. The Rockies picked Iannetta in the fourth round of the 2004 June draft after his junior year at the University of North Carolina."

Our league correspondents :  INTERNATIONAL Herb Walters / PACIFIC COAST JDM  / EASTERN Ralph Marston  / SOUTHERN Jason Collette   / TEXAS Aman Reaka  / FLORIDA STATE Wayne Stevens  / CAROLINA Troy Salvior  / CALIFORNIA JDM  / MIDWEST Bob Reed  / SOUTH ATLANTIC Dave Scott  / NEW YORK-PENN Harry Almquist  / NORTHWEST JDM  / APPALACHIAN  Scott Howes  / PIONEER Joe McAnally / GULF COAST JDM  / ARIZONA JDM
 
 

    
Rookie Reports Archive :

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