Rookies 2005

                                                                                                                           Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

23 October,  2005

    AFL - Alex Gordon KC 1-2, double, 3 walks ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-5, .333 ... Kurt Suzuki OAK 2-3, double ... Daric Barton OAK 0-4, .275 ... James Loney LAD 4-4, .471 ... Stephen Drew ARZ 1-4, triple, .370 ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-5, double, triple, .372 ... Glen Perkins MIN 5 5 2 2 2 5, 2.12 ... Drew Meyer TEX 3-4, .381 ... Chris Iannetta COL 2-3, 2 doubles ... Jered Weaver LAA 2-2/3 3 3 1 0 5, 7.20 ... Adam Lind TOR 3-4 ... Josh Fields CHA 2-3, 3rd & 4th homers, .304

    It's the Yankees on tap at SportsBlurb as John Franco rates the New York farm.

" ... 1. Eric Duncan ... has been the Yankees’ most publicized piece of trade bait for at least a year now, and as a result, the Yankees have rushed him up the minor league ladder in order to enhance his trade value. Duncan spent the season at Double-A Trenton at the age of 20, hitting just .235 but swatting 19 home runs and drawing a respectable 56 walks in 537 at-bats. His lack of experience was evidenced by the fact that he was overmatched at times, but he displayed a mature approach to hitting and plus power potential ... defense at third base is passable; he has a strong arm, but his fielding is erratic and his range is limited."

" ... 6. Jose Tabata ...  played very well in his American debut, hitting .314/.382/.417 as a 16-year old in the Gulf Coast League. He led the league in stolen bases with 22 and walked more than he struck out (15 walks and 14 strikeouts in 156 at-bats). He is projected to develop above-average home run power and has the speed, range, and arm to play centerfield regularly. 156 at-bats in the lowest possible minor league is a very small sample size, but Tabata has the potential to be something special."

    Jim Street, MLB.com, on Jeff Clement SEA :

" ... I am extremely pleased with his throwing, receiving and blocking," said Mariners Minor League catching instructor Roger Hansen said, "and the more we can do it, the better he'll get." ... Clement said he doesn't have a timetable for reaching the Major Leagues -- instead, he prefers to leave that up to club officials. But he could wind up catching Felix Hernandez on a regular basis sooner rather than later. "There is no doubt in my mind that in a couple of years, three at the most, he'll be a big-league catcher," Hansen said. "I guarantee it. His bat is ready now, and it's just a matter of going through the process of learning how to catch, handling the pitchers, throwing to bases and controlling the running game."


22 October,  2005

    AFL - Adam Miller CLE, tough time regaining form, 4-2/3 7 6 6 1 3 ... Reggie Abercrombie FLO 3-4, double, homer, 3 RBI, .372 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-4, homer, .306 ... Eric Patterson 2B CHN 3-6, double, .243 ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-3, 3 RBI, .341 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-3, double, 3rd error, walk, .316 ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 5-5, .417 ... Matt Murton CHN 1-4, homer, 3 RBI, .405 ... Chris Lambert STL 3-2/3 2 1 1 2 5, 2.08 ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-5, .435 ... Kendry Morales LAA 3-4, .400 ... Brandon Wood LAA 1-4, .327 ... Daric Barton OAK 2-3, double, .306

    Troop movements ... the one signing which might have more impact than most player moves ... Leo Mazzone to BAL as pitching coach ... guys with Cabrera, Maine, Penn, Loewen, Bedard ought to be a little happier with Leo aboard.

    Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, reviews the HOU system, including :

" ... Jimmy Barthmaier ...  Astros may have found a steal in the 13th round of the 2003 draft. Barthmaier spent two years in the short-season Appy League before the Astros took the kid gloves off in 2005. Barthmaier, 21, responded by finishing second in the South Atlantic League with a 2.27 ERA and fifth with 142 strikeouts in 134 2/3 IP."

" ... Troy Patton ...  2004 ninth-rounder emerged as one of the top southpaws in the Minor Leagues in his first full season, posting a combined 2.18 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 119 2/3 IP with Lexington and Salem."

" ... Hunter Pence ...  Astros said they liked Pence's power potential when they made him their first selection in 2004 (in the second round). He's already starting to fulfill it, tying for the organization lead with 31 homers. Twenty-five of those came in 80 games in the South Atlantic League and he kept on hitting in 151 at-bats up a level in Salem. For the year, Pence hit .327, drove in 90 runs and slugged .598."

    Aaron Gleeman, at RotoWorld, adds the 2B component to his position-by-position series as he picks the top fantasy players for the long-term.  The Angels' Howie Kendrick is the lone true rookie on the 2B chart and one of few young stars selected thus far (catching, first base, second base now completed, Aaron's top 10s at the bottom) :

2B, No. 7  " ... Howie Kendrick ...   It’s hard to find a hitter who has had more success as a pro ...  second-round pick back in 2002, he’s hit .318, .368, .367, .384, and .342 in five stops along the organizational ladder. This year Kendrick smacked 19 homers and a total of 70 extra-base hits in 109 games between Single-A and Double-A, to go along with a ridiculous .367 batting average. Kendrick even tossed in 25 steals, making him a potential all-around fantasy threat starting in 2007 or so."

2B, No. 9  " ... Jose Lopez ...  Originally a shortstop ...shifted to second base as he added strength and put on weight. He still figures to be a solid defender there, but his offense in two stints with the Mariners has been awful ... but he’s only 22 years old and put up very good numbers in parts of two seasons at Triple-A ... should eventually develop into a consistent .280-15-70 player with 5-10 stolen bases."

Catcher, No. 4  " ...  Brian McCann ...  just about any catcher who can hit a little bit has a ton of value. Any catcher who can hit a little bit and is as young as Brian McCann shoots up the rankings. ... stepped right into the lineup for Estrada and didn’t miss a beat, hitting .278/.345/.400 in 59 games for the Braves. His ascent up the organizational ladder this season has made Estrada expendable, and Atlanta may turn the everyday job over to McCann in 2006."

Catcher, No. 7  " ... Jeff Mathis ...  bounced back from a rough season at Double-A in 2004 to hit .276/.340/.499 with 21 homers and 73 RBIs at Triple-A this season. He is basically big-league ready both offensively and defensively despite not turning 23 until next March, but his role with the Angels will depend on what they decide to do with Molina, who is a free agent this offseason."

Catcher, No. 10  " ... Guillermo Quiroz ... healthy now and expected to take over as Toronto’s everyday catcher in 2006. He’s been disappointing offensively in each of the past two seasons, but he doesn’t turn 24 until next month, the Blue Jays clearly still think a lot of him, and he hit .282/.372/.518 with 20 homers and 79 RBIs at Double-A back in 2003."

1B, No. 6  " ...  Ryan Howard ...  Finally given a long-deserved and overdue chance at a regular gig ... took full advantage and staked his claim to the starting job in Philadelphia ... batted .288/.356/.567 in 88 games with the Phillies, blasting 22 homers while driving in 63 runs. The bad news? He turns 26 next month after wasting some time in the minors behind Thome, may struggle to post good batting averages due to striking out as often as any hitter in baseball, and has been helpless against left-handed pitching."

1B, No. 7  " ... Prince Fielder ... remains stuck behind Lyle Overbay in Milwaukee. If the Brewers were still in the AL the 21-year-old Fielder would have been the team’s everyday designated hitter six months ago, but instead he spent the year shuttling back and forth between Triple-A and a major-league bench. He hit .293 with 30 homers and 96 RBIs in 437 total at-bats, and will step right into the middle of the lineup and start launching bombs in Miller Park the minute the Brewers decide to part with Overbay."

   Catcher           First Base       Second Base
 1 Victor Martinez   Albert Pujols    Alfonso Soriano
 2 Joe Mauer	     Mark Teixeira    Chase Utley
 3 Jason Varitek     David Ortiz      Rickie Weeks
 4 Brian McCann	     Derrek Lee	      Marcus Giles
 5 Ramon Hernandez   Travis Hafner    Jorge Cantu
 6 Michael Barrett   Ryan Howard      Robinson Cano
 7 Jeff Mathis	     Prince Fielder   Howie Kendrick
 8 Jorge Posada	     Todd Helton      Brian Roberts
 9 Ivan Rodriguez    Richie Sexson    Jose Lopez
10 Guillermo Quiroz  Justin Morneau   Placido Polanco

    Neil Walker, Pirates' catcher of the future, takes a turn at the hot corner :

" ... Walker, 20, the Pirates' first-round pick in the 2004 draft, is taking ground balls at third base before games in the Arizona Fall League. "Right now, it's preliminary," said Brian Graham, the Pirates' player development director. "But it gives him an option and us an option." Walker began fielding ground balls at third base in the Instructional League in Bradenton, Fla. "We started him on a program with footwork and with his hands to get used to it," Graham said. "It's early, but it looks like he has the agility, the balance, the coordination and the athleticism to do it." "They asked me if I felt comfortable doing it," Walker said. "I told them, 'It's not in my hands. It's in your hands.' " "Nothing's set in stone," Graham said. "I think he's going to be a big-league catcher, but his bat may be ready for the big leagues before his catching."  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

    From Baseball America, a scouts' view of KC third sacker Alex Gordon :

" ... He’s clean. Clean in his footwork, in his throws across the diamond, and in his ability to get to the bag quickly. The bat is plus-plus. (1995 No. 1 overall pick, also from Nebraska Darin) Erstad is the guy you compare him to, but they just went to the same classrooms and played on the same field. Gordon has big power with a good-looking swing from the left side that has nice leverage. “Before his first game here, I watched him take BP and there was power to all fields. Solid-average runner—he won’t clog them up."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Jed Lowrie BOS 2B-SS :

" ... A second baseman at Stanford, Lowrie played 40 games at shortstop and 11 at second base at short-season Lowell, where he hit .328/.429/.448 and led the New York-Penn League in on-base percentage. The consensus before the draft was that he was an offensive second baseman, but the Red Sox planned all along to see what he could do at the more challenging position. Lowrie's hands, which give him a quick bat, also are an asset on defense. He has the arm to play shortstop and surprised Boston with how well he took to the position. The biggest issue was his footwork, as he needed to improve his first step to both sides. The Red Sox will keep him at shortstop if possible as he moves up the ladder, though the system has a number of prospects at the position ... . I think you'll see him open 2006 at high Class A Wilmington."


21 October,  2005

    AFL - Howie Kendrick LAA 3-5, 2nd homer, .439 ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-4, double, .333 ... Billy Butler KC 3-4, 4th douuble, 3rd homer, .341 ... Lastings Milledge NYN, in LF,  1-4, .312 ... Chris Young CF CHA 2-3, double, .263 ... Wes Bankston TB 1-4, double, .357 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 2-4, double, .295 ... Clint Nageotte SEA 5 3 1 1 1 9 ... Ian Stewart COL 3-4, homer, walk, .314 ... Ryan Garko CLE 2-4, .342  ... Kevin Howard CIN, back at 3B, 3-4, double, homer, .345

    John Franco, SportsBlurb, looks at the best of the BOS farm and views lefty John Lester as the best of the lot :

" ...  his outstanding performance during the 2005 season allows him to edge out Hanley Ramirez for the No.1 spot. He led the Eastern League in strikeouts and ERA, fanning 163 batters in 148.1 innings while posting a 2.61 ERA. Lester throws his fastball in the low 90s, and combines that velocity with everything else you like to see from a fastball: late movement, a strong downhill angle, and the ability to tail the fastball away from left-handed batters ... changeup and curveball are inconsistent, but both have the ability to be plus pitches as he matures. 21-year old left-handers with similar stuff rarely have comparable control, and Lester should be at least a good No.2 starter in the majors."

" ... 4. Anibal Sanchez ...  might have the highest ceiling of all of the Red Sox pitchers, but given the dominant performance of their other pitchers at higher levels, he rates below Lester and Papelbon. Sanchez has the stuff to lead the rotation of a championship team, if he can develop consistency and improve his command. His fastball is consistently in the low 90s with late life, and he has three good secondary pitches highlighted by a changeup with arm movement that makes it indistinguishable from his fastball."

   Third sackers-  Ian Stewart or Andy LaRoche?

" ... “To me, he’s [Stewart] the class of this league,” a scout with an American League club said. “He just works so hard and you have to love that makeup. No knock on Andy, who’s also a hard worker, but Stewart has better bat speed, a better game plan against pitchers, better actions around the bag, quicker reactions and a plus arm. His footwork needs more work and he doesn’t move to his right very well. Bottom line is Stewart is just more polished than LaRoche right now.”  (Baseball America)

    Kevin Czerwinski, MinorLeagueBaseball, on Ryan Garko CLE :

" ... Garko, a third-round pick out of Stanford in 2003, has always been able to hit. He had 19 homers and 77 RBIs while hitting .303 this season at Triple-A Buffalo, but at the end of July, the organization decided it was time for Garko to head out to first base ... With Victor Martinez blossoming behind the plate in Cleveland, there isn't much need for Garko to stay back there. And, since it's clear his bat is just about Major League-ready, the Tribe decided a change was in order ...  "I'm not JT Snow out there but I'm making all the routine plays. Picking the balls out of the dirt isn't a problem. The biggest thing is reading the ball off the bat. And that's just a matter of getting reps." Cleveland's director of player development John Farrell is as impressed with Garko's willingness to learn and improve as he is with the youngster's booming bat. Garko's team-first, improve at-all-costs attitude is a big reason he figures to play a prominent role for the Tribe at some point next season, whether it's off the bench or at first."


20 October,  2005

    AFL ... James Loney LAD pinch-hit homer (2) ... Adam Loewen BAL, up to 12 scoreless innings, fronted a no-hitter into the 9th, 5 0 0 0 2 6 ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-3, double, .333 ... Daric Barton OAK 0-3, .286 ... Angel Guzman CHN, taking his lumps, 3 2 2 2 4 1, 6.75 ... Brad Snyder CLE 4-4, .366 ... Travis Hanson STL 2-5, homer, .368 ... Larry Broadway WAS 1-3, double, .375 ... Brendan Harris WAS 3-5, SB, .562

    Ah, not another one. 

" ... Greg Miller, who was considered the organization's top left-handed pitching prospect before he missed all of last season and a good chunk of this one following shoulder surgery, will miss the rest of the Arizona Fall League season after experiencing discomfort in the same shoulder. Dodgers player development director Terry Collins ... said the move is precautionary. But Miller is in Los Angeles this week to meet with team physician Dr. Frank Jobe. "We don't think (it's serious)," Collins said."  (Los Angeles Daily News)

    Prince Fielder ... AFL break might just be temporary :

" ... His wife (Chanel) is pregnant," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "She had some issues and was going to see a doctor, so he went home for a while. We're expecting him to go back." Fielder, 21, who has a 1-year-old son, Jaden, will be replaced on the roster by utility man Vinny Rottino, a Racine native who was playing for the Brewers' instructional league team. At the time of his departure, Fielder had played in six games for the Peoria Javelinas and was hitting .143 (3 for 21) with two homers, three RBI, three walks, eight strikeouts and two errors." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

    John M. Barten, 'Til You're Blue in the Face, on John Danks TEX :

" ...  Danks gets into the low 90's. He could even add a couple MPH onto that in the next couple of years. However his breaking stuff is probably what gives him his upside potential. He has a killer curveball and the makings of a quality changeup ...  whenever I think about Danks, I think about Barry Zito. He has that same kind of profile where his fastball is better than people will give him credit for. And he has alright command, but nothing to write home about ...  struggled in his first exposure to AA, but that's not completely unexpected for somebody his age. He dominated batters his own age with his stuff and now he's running into more advanced guys that will force him to make adjustments and work on these weaknesses. One thing that does give me pause is the number of home runs he gave up, especially in Frisco ...  ceiling is as a solid #2/average #1 starter." 


19 October,  2005

    Getting into 2006 gear ... check the home page for the updated pages, including the Scoresheet Records pages (thanks to all for the names to go along with the team names), Top 100s (Bob Reed the first up for 2006), and the Top 10s ...

    AFL Oct 12th - Angel Guzman CHN 3-2/3 6 4 4 2 4 ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-4, double ... Howie Kendrick LAA 3-5, double ... Adam Loewen BAL, now 7 scoreless innings, 4 2 0 0 4 2 ... Oct 13th -  Greg Miller LAD 1 2 2 1 1 0 ... Nick Markakis BAL 3-3, double ... Stephen Drew ARZ 4-5, 3 doubles ... Matt Kemp LAD 3-5 ... Brandon Wood LAA 1-4, 9th homer ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-5 ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-4, double ... Oct 14th - Adam Miller CLE 3 5 3 3 0 2 ... Brad Snyder CLE 4-5, 2 homers ... Ryan Garko CLE 2-4, 2 doubles, 4 RBI ... Howie Kendrick LAA 3-4 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-4 ... Matt Moses MIN 2-4, homer ... Oct 15th - Prince Fielder MIL 1-3, homer ... Ryan Garko CLE 3-3, 2 doubles, homer, 2 walks ... James Loney LAD 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-4, homer ... Oct 16th - no games ... Oct 17th - Glen Perkins MIN 5 3 1 1 1 8 ... Ian Stewart COL 3-4 ... Jeff Clement SEA 1-2, homer ... Prince Fielder MIL 1-5, homer ... Eric Duncan NYA 2-4, 2 doubles ... Adam Jones CF SEA 1-2, homer ... Jered Weaver LAA 2-1/3 5 5 5 2 2, 8.59 ... Oct 18th - Denard Span MIN 3-4 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-3 .. Eric Duncan NYA 2-4, double

    Brandon Wood, Scott Mathieson the top dogs of the AFL :

" ...  Wood's impressive week ... included four home runs in one game ...  added two more homers later in the week, bringing him to a league-leading nine (one more than than Conor Jackson and Jason Repko, the overall AFL home run leaders from 2004, had all last season). Wood has 20 RBIs, 14 hits and 12 runs so far in 2005 ...  Mathieson, did not record a decision but did earn a 3.18 ERA in three starts last week. Through 11 1/3 innings, Mathieson leads the AFL with 22 strikeouts. Opponents are only batting .238 against the right-hander. Mathieson was a 17th-round draft pick by the Phillies in 2002."  (MiLB.com)

    Venezuelan loop underway ... Alberto Callaspo LAA the early hitting leader, 5-8, homer.

    MIL pulls Prince Fielder off its AFL roster :

" ... Fielder left because of "personal issues," according to Milwaukee farm director Reid Nichols, who declined to comment any further on Fielder's situation ... got married during the Triple-A All-Star break and made his Major League debut in June. But he remained estranged from his father, former Major League slugger Cecil Fielder, who has been dealing with lawsuits and financial woes. Prince told the Detroit News earlier this year that his father stole $200,000 of his $2.4 million bonus." (MLB.com)

    SportsBlurb.com kicks off its annual Top 10s with a preview of the BAL system where John Franco selects Nick Markakis as the cream of the crop :

" ... Nick Markakis ...   emerged as a legitimate candidate for stardom during the 2005 season, hitting .300 with 12 home runs at High-A Frederick to earn a promotion to Double-A Bowie. Markakis hit .339 in 124 at-bats at Bowie, and though he managed just three home runs, he posted a .420 OBP and .992 OPS as a 21-year old ...  playing an adequate center field. His strong arm will eventually push him to right field, where his smooth swing and line-drive approach will draw comparisons to Paul O’Neill."

" ... Brandon Snyder ...   the Orioles’ No. 1 pick in 2005 ...  played shortstop most of the time in high school and is new to the tools of ignorance, but his pedigree and work ethic should enable him to succeed quickly. His offensive game is very advanced for a high school player, as he pairs his ability to pull the ball with authority with good patience and the ability to hit the ball to all fields. His arm strength is good, but he will need to fine-tune his release in order to be an average defender behind the plate. If he does, he will fit somewhere between Jorge Posada and Victor Martinez when he reaches his peak."

    Team-by-team reviews/previews continue at MiLB.com.  The CLE, DET and COL systems among the latest posted :

" ...  Jeremy Sowers ... one of the fastest movers in all of Minor League Baseball in 2005, making his pro debut with Kinston in April, spending the summer months in Double-A Akron and then finishing the season at Triple-A Buffalo. And his numbers just got better and better at every level ...  All told, the 22-year-old Vanderbilt product was 14-4 with a 2.37 ERA."

" ... Stephen Head ...  is doing such a good imitation of Michael Aubrey that the impersonator might just be better than the original. Both Head (Ole Miss) and Aubrey (Tulane) were two-way stars in college but gave up pitching when they reached the Minor Leagues. Aubrey hit .348 with five homers and 19 RBIs with Lake County in 2003 and .339 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs at Kinston in '04. Head matched that output in his rookie campaign, mauling New York-Penn League pitching to the tune of .432/6/14 in 10 games before it was clear he was in the wrong league and moved to Kinston, where he hit .286 with four homers and 36 RBIs in 47 games."

" ... Cameron Maybin ... the 6-foot-3, 200-pound outfielder is overflowing with athletic ability. He's drawn comparisons to Ken Griffey Jr. and is said to have hit a home run in high school that traveled approximately 500 feet. He's just the second high school position player taken in the first round by the Tigers in the past 11 years."

" ... Troy Tulowitzki ... was one of the first top picks to be on the field in 2005, joining Modesto on June 21. The seventh overall pick got off to a rocky 5-for-29 (.172) start and then pulled quadriceps muscle on July 4 while running the bases. But Tulowitzki, a known gamer, was back in the lineup two weeks later and hit an even .300 through the close of the season. Despite the slow start and lingering effects of the injury, the former Long Beach State Dirtbag hit four homers and had 14 RBIs in 22 games."

" ... Ian Stewart ...  the 20-year-old third baseman scuffled for the first time since being drafted 10th overall in 2003, missing all of April with a hamstring injury and then hitting just .211 in May. Stewart got his average up to .274 by season's end -- thanks in large part to a .345 clip in July -- and he did hit 17 home runs while posting 86 RBIs and 83 runs, but those numbers paled in comparison to the success he experienced in his first two seasons. Still, the 6-foot-3 left-handed swinger is young and has all the tools to be a middle-of-the-order hitter at the Major League level."

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, on Yusmeiro Petit NYN and ... Brandon Wood or Stephen Drew :

" ... Many of these "pitchability" guys turn out to be disappointing, and I can understand why some scouts retain skepticism about him. Pettit is also a fly ball pitcher, and he could face the same kind of adjustment problems that Zach Greinke faced this year ... However, given Petit's exceptional command, his young age (just 21), and his track record to date, he still has to be rated among the better prospects in the game. He still looks like a Grade B+ guy to me, but if the Mets rush him, there's a good chance he will struggle initially."

" ...  Given a normal growth curve from age 22, Drew should be an excellent player, capable of hitting .290+ with a high on-base percentage and more power than most middle infielders. Wood: Given a normal growth curve from age 20, Wood should be an excellent player, capable of hitting .290+. His OBP may not be as impressive as Drew's, but he should develop more power. Advantage: Wood has the advantage here due to age, being two years younger than Drew. OVERALL As I see it, Wood has better intangibles and better physical projection. They are even in physicality, tools, defense, and performance. Overall I rate Wood as a slightly better prospect, keeping in mind that they are both Grade A guys."

    Wade Townsend TB ... another one bites the dust :

" ...  Townsend, tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow while competing in the Arizona Fall League. While the team stopped short of saying Townsend's injury will require Tommy John surgery, a torn UCL makes it extremely likely that the 22-year-old right-hander will need the ligament-replacement procedure and will be out of action for at least a year ...  Fellow Owls alumnus Jeff Niemann was the No. 4 overall pick in 2004. He finished his first pro season with a sore shoulder, from which he continues to recover."  (Tampa Tribune)


12 October,  2005

    AFL ... Jered Weaver LAA 3 6 2 2 0 4 ... Brandon Wood LAA, pretty lame compared to Monday's 4-homer day :-)  but 2-4, double, 8th homer, .444 ... Glen Perkins MIN 4 2 0 0 0 6 ... what's with Eric Duncan NYA? 3-4, 4th & 5th homers, 4 RBI, .522 ... Matt Murton CHN 3-4, 3 doubles (6), .636 ... Eric Patterson CHN 2-6, double, .200 ... Prince Fielder MIL 0-5, 3 Ks, error ... Daric Barton OAK 3-3, walk, .353

    Troop movements ... COL - claimed catcher Miguel Ojeda on waivers ... SEA - Justin Leone outright to AAA ... 

    Jason Ratliff, MLB.com, on the WSox system :

" ... Jerry Owens ...  Sox seem to have gotten a steal in February when they received Owens from the Washington Nationals for 27-year-old journeyman Alex Escobar ...  6-foot-3 speedster spent two years on the football team at UCLA before transferring to Masters College (Calif.), where in just his second year playing baseball since his sophomore year of high school he set the school's single-season record by hitting .451 in 2003. The raw talent had his first eye-opening season this year, leading the Southern League in hitting (.331) and hits (173) while finishing second in runs (99) and third in stolen bases (38)."

" ... Lance Broadway ...   hit the wall in his final two outings for Class A Winston-Salem, making his final numbers of 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA a bit misleading. Broadway had already tossed 117 innings in compiling a nation-best 15 wins for TCU before joining the Warthogs, and he threw 47 2/3 effective frames in the Carolina League before getting hammered for 13 runs on 17 hits in his last 7 1/3 innings. Excluding those final two starts, Broadway was 1-1 with a 2.83 ERA and a .255 batting average against. Overall, he struck out 58 hitters in 55 innings."

" ...  Giovany Gonzalez ...  one of the most impressive young pitchers in the Minors in 2005. At just 19, he breezed through the South Atlantic League, where he held hitters to a .175 average while striking out 84 in just 57 2/3 innings and posting a 1.87 ERA. Then, despite being one of the youngest hurlers in the Carolina League, Gonzalez went 8-3 with a 3.56 ERA. His strikeout ratio dipped a bit, as he fanned 79 in 73 1/3 innings, but he still held hitters to a .228 average."

    Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, reviews the Reds' kids :

" ... Homer Bailey ...  despite pitching in a tandem system with Dayton, Bailey managed to lead the organization in strikeouts, whiffing 125 in 103 2/3 IP. Even though he had a 4.43 ERA, the 19-year-old held Midwest League hitters to a .232 batting average."

" ... Travis Wood, ...  high school lefty was terrific at two levels in his debut. Between the GCL and Pioneer League, Wood posted a 1.29 ERA in 48 2/3 innings, striking out 67 and walking 20. Combined, hitters managed a feeble .166 average against the southpaw."

" ... Joey Votto ... spent the year with the Reds' new FSL affiliate in Sarasota. His average took a hit in the pitching-friendly league, but he still managed to hit 18 homers and drive in 83 runs in 124 games. He seemed to lose some of his patience, drawing 52 walks and striking out 122 times, as opposed to 90 bases on balls in 2004."


11 October,  2005

    AFL ... unreal ... Brandon Wood LAA 5-6, 4 homers (7), 6 RBI, 5 runs, .435 ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-4, 2 doubles, .500 ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-5, double, homer, 4 RBI, .500 ... Billy Butler KC 1-5, 2nd homer, .333 ... Eric Duncan NYA 3B 1-4, 3rd homer, .474 ... Tony Blanco OF WAS 2-5, 2 homers ... Miguel Montero ARZ 3-6, grandslam, 6 RBI ... Stephen Drew ARZ 3-6, double, 4th homer ... Andre Ethier 2-4, 2 doubles, .400 ... Matt Murton OF CHN 2-3, 2 doubles, .571 ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-3, 2nd homer ... Greg Miller LAD 2 2 0 0 1 2 ... Michael Bourn OF PHI 4-5, triple, 4 RBI, .368

    Troop movements ... CLE - claimed Sean Douglass SP off waivers ... DET - released Gary Knotts, sent Matt Ginter, Jason Karnuth, Doug Creek, Vic Darensbourg and Kevin Hooper outright to AAA ... SEA - Jaime Bubela outright to AAA ... TEX - Justin Thompson, free agent ... CIN - D'Angelo Jimenez, Chris Booker and Ben Weber free agents ... HOU - Travis Driskill, Brandon Duckworth and Scott Strickland outright to AAA ... MIN -  purchased the contract of Willie Eyre ...

    John Sickels on Chuck James ATL :

" ...  James of the Braves is my current favorite pitching prospect. That doesn't mean I think he's the best, rather he is just my favorite. Pitching at three levels this year, James went a combined 13-7, 2.12 in 29 starts, with a 193/36 K/BB ratio in 161 innings, allowing just 103 hits. His batting-average-against was a mere .179. That's terrific performance from anyone, but keep in mind that James does NOT have a blazing fastball, working at 90 MPH on a good day. Despite the lack of plus velocity, he has the K/IP and H/IP ratios of a power pitcher, and he's maintained them against good competition. "


10 October,  2005

    Arizona Fall League ... Oct 7 - not too promising initial outings for Wade Townsend TB 2 3 2 2 0 2 or Greg Miller LA 1 1 1 1 1 2 ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-4 ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-4 ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-3, homer ... Clint Nageotte SEA 3 1 0 0 0 1 ... Neil Walker PIT 2-3, homer ... Jeff Clement SEA 2-4, homer ... Ian Stewart COL 2-5, double, homer, walk, 4 RBI ... Eric Duncan NYA 1B 4-5, double ... Lastings Milledge NYN 3-5, homer, 3 RBI

Oct 8 - Taylor Tankersley FLO 3 4 4 4 1 2 ... Eric Duncan NYA, at 3B, 2-5, 2 homers, 4 RBI, .533 ... Daric Barton OAK 0-3, .200 ... Stephen Drew ARZ 3-4, 3rd homer, .583 ... Miguel Montero ARZ catcher 2-5, homer ... Brandon Wood LAA 1-5, 3rd homer, 3 RBI ... Kendry Morales LAA 3-5, double ... Billy Butler KC 3-5, double, 3 RBI, .368 ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-5 ... Adam Miller CLE 3 3 0 0 0 1 ... Chris Denorfia OF CIN 2-2, triple, 3 walks, 3 RBI ... Dan Ortmeier OF SF 2-3, double, .471 ... no games Sunday.

    Troop movements ... lots of movement as teams clear spots on their 40-man rosters ... COL - declined a 2006 club option on C Todd Greene, Dustan Mohr a FA  ... BAL - 2B Bernie Castro, 1B Alejandro Freire, OF Ramon Nivar, OF Keith Reed and SS Eddie Rogers  outright to AAA ... CLE- RHP Kyle Denney and OF Jeff Liefer outright to AAA ... KC - claimed RHP Joel Peralta off waivers from LAA, OF Terrence Long and RHP Nate Field elected free agency ... MIN -  Outrighted the contracts of C Matthew LeCroy, OF Jason Tyner and INF Glenn Williams to AAA, declined the 2006 club option on P Joe Mays ... TEX - RHP Kevin Gryboski and LHP Michael Tejera outright to AAA ... MIL - LHP Luis Pena,  infielder Trent Durrington, outfielder Chris Magruder, RHP Victor Santos, RHP Julio Santana outright to AAA ... TB - Eric Munson outright to AAA ... CHA - Ryan Wing, David Sanders outright to AAA ...

    Baseball America zooms through it's Minor League All-Stars, including its picks as the best at each level :

" ... Catcher: Jarrod Saltalamacchia ... makes it back-to-back years that a Braves catcher occupies this spot. His combination of switch-hitting power, large, powerful frame and off-the-charts work ethic has earned him comparisons to Red Sox stalwart Jason Varitek. Saltalamacchia’s power helped him post the highest slugging percentage in the history of the Myrtle Beach franchise."

" ... Third Base: Andy LaRoche ...  in the running for the minor league home run title before the Dodgers promoted him from to Double-A Jacksonville after he ripped 20 homers in the first half at high Class A Vero Beach. With his combination of athleticism and strength, LaRoche fit right in with a prospect-laden Suns team and helped it win the Southern League championship. The Dodgers have no obvious short-term answer at third base in Los Angeles, but LaRoche is developing into the long-term solution."

    Baseball America wrapped up its annual Top 20 by League feature with Chris Kline in the chat room answering questions on the picks in the International League :

Ryan Garko CLE  " ... Garko is much more athletic and has excellent leadership skills that go back to high school. The Tribe was committed to getting him as many innings as possible behind the plate early on, then suddenly wavered and put him at first base. He's a serviceable first baseman, and if it's any consolation, he projects more as an everyday player there than behind the plate. Hard not to believe in that bat, and I'm interested to see how far he's come defensively at first in the AFL."

Curtis Granderson DET  " ... There were times in Granderson's career where he was viewed as nothing more than a fourth outfielder, but I think he's an everyday player who can play all three spots. He's a gap hitter who was born to play in Comerica Park ... .Needs to make more consistent contact--projects as a .280-10-60 type player to me batting in the No. 2 hole."

Francisco Liriano or Zack Duke?  " ... Liriano has better stuff, obviously, but all Duke does is find ways to win at every level. I'll take Duke for the competitive edge, and he's more polished than Liriano at this point. For career, it'll be close--they should both be frontline starters for years--I'll still go Duke."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, in the chat room on the Pacific Coast League Top 20 :

Carlos Quentin ARZ CF?  " ... The consensus among people I talked to is that Quentin isn't cut out for center field. His jumps are OK but he just doesn't have the natural speed for the position. However, the Diamondbacks could decide they want his bat in the lineup and play him there and see how it goes. Remember, Lance Berkman logged a lot of time in center for the Astros."

Ian Kinsler 2B TEX " ... Kinsler would have made a PCL Top 30 if we went that deep. He didn't blow guys away, and they thought he was a little stiff at second base and that his swing was too long. But he gets results and makes plays. Very well could wind up at second for the Rangers if they trade Soriano, but he'll have to worry about Joaquin Arias taking a middle-infield job alongside Michael Young in the long run."

Jeff Mathis C LAA  " ... When he was in low Class A, scouts believed he'd continue to improve at the plate, but he's more leveled off. There's nothing wrong with being a .270 hitter with 15 homers, the current projection I used in the PCL Top 20, but three years ago scouts though he could be more than that. That and his defense and leadership could make him an all-star. To become better, he'll need to improve his pitch recognition and smooth out his swing a little."

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, on some 2005 draft picks :

Ricky Romero LHP TOR  " ...  just the sort of polished college-trained arm that the Jays love. Romero pounds the zone with a low-90s fastball, plus curve and developing changeup, and his attitude and commitment to pitching earns him lavish praise. The organization gave Romero some time off after signing so he could recover from a heavy junior-season workload, but by July he was pitching and pitching well in the High-A Florida State League."

CJ Henry SS NYA  " ... Henry could wind up the steal of the draft. He has blinding speed, exceptional athleticism and a tremendous natural power stroke. He's unpolished — particularly with the glove — but the rudiments of an elite performer are there. Henry accomplished little in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League after signing (.249 AVG/.318 OBP/.381 SLG), but that's to be expected considering his swing mechanics are a work in progress. He'll have a breakout season in 2006 or 2007."

 

 
 

    
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