Rookies 2005

          Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

26-27 November,  2005

    Troop movements ... confirmed, PHI -- trades Jim Thome to CHA for Aaron Rowand, Daniel Haigwood and a PTBNL (believed to be Gio Gonzalez) ... TOR - signs BJ Ryan ...

    Good reviews of Justin Verlander, Curtis Granderson in John Sickels' look back at his DET Top 20 :

" ... 1) Justin Verlander ...  command still needs some work and he was rushed to the majors, but he was overpowering in the minors, going 11-2, 1.29 (1.29!) in 20 starts, with a 136/26 K/BB in 119 innings. If he stays healthy, he should be ready by July, perhaps sooner. Outstanding Grade A bluechip prospect."

" ... 2) Curtis Granderson ... Hit .272/.314/.494 in 47 games for the Tigers. This is a fair approximation of what he can do, although I think his OBP will end up 20-30 points higher than that. His speed production should increase as well. A solid player."

" ... 5) Joel Zumaya ... Excellent season in Double-A and Triple-A, 9-5, 2.72 ERA, 199 strikeouts in 151 innings. His control still needs considerable work, but in terms of physical ceiling he is right there with Verlander."

    Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports, on Hanley Ramirez FLO :

" ... While most baseball executives believe that the Marlins acquired a star-in-waiting by landing shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the Josh Beckett trade, not everyone is convinced that Ramirez will hit for power. One GM expresses concern that Ramirez's lack of plate discipline, compounded with his lack of power, might limit him offensively. Then again, Ramirez is not yet 22, and the Marlins clearly view his five-tool ability as more meaningful than lingering questions about his makeup or the belief among some that he will end up in center field. "He hasn't hit, and he still hit .271 last season," says one rival executive, who also has no issues with Ramirez at shortstop. The executive, using the scouts' 20-to-80 scale, says Ramirez has 60 to 70 range, a 70 arm and 65 to 70 fielding ability."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Anibal Sanchez FLO :

" ...  Sanchez, 21, established himself as one of Boston's best pitching prospects after recovering from surgery to move a nerve in his elbow in 2003. He went 9-6, 2.85 in 25 starts between high Class A Wilmington and Porltand in 2005. He had a 158-40 K-BB ratio in 136 innings, and held opponents to a .212 average and 12 homers. Sanchez has a 93-95 mph fastball, yet his changeup might be his best pitch. He's still refining his curveball, though he flashes a solid-average breaker at times."

    Matt Jacovina, WarmOctoberNights, has his take on the new-look RedSox system :

" ... 1. Jon Lester ...  There’s little to question about Lester’s potential. Lefthanders with low-to-mid 90’s heat, including a moving 2-seamer, a plus change and a curveball usually find a lot of success ...  proven himself against tough competition for his age, dominating AA at 21. He’s a quality #2 type that’s not very far from major league ready."

" ... 3. Dustin Pedroia ...There’s a lot to like about Dustin, and he’ll soon be the Sox starting second baseman, giving everyone the chance to appreciate him ... bat control is incredible, consistently walking more than he strikes out; add in a bit of pop and some grit, and you’ve got the makings of a fan favorite."

    Two young guns make the "B" list of outfielders in Aaron Gleeman's Top 20 for the long term at RotoWorld.  Earlier, Grady Sizemore ranked No. 5 in the OF Top 10, now Jeff Francouer and Delmon Young claim spots in the latter 10 :

" ... 13) ... Francoeur ... made the jump to the majors in July when Brian Jordan went on the disabled list. He took hold of the everyday job in right field and never looked back, hitting .413 in July and .312 in August. His final line of .300-14-45-41 in just 70 games earned Francoeur a third-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. At just 21 years old Francoeur is a tremendous talent, but he showed very little plate discipline in the minors and posted a horrendous 58-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio with the Braves."

" ... 19) ...  Young is arguably the best prospect in baseball. He hit .315 with 26 homers, 99 RBIs, 92 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases in 136 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season, despite not turning 20 years old until September ... compared quite a bit to Albert Belle (as a hitter, not a person) ... should be in line to make a midseason splash similar to the one Francoeur made this season, and has a chance to establish himself as the Devil Rays’ cleanup hitter before he’s old enough to drink legally."


25 November,  2005

    Venezuela -- Jerry Owens, all of a sudden a candidate for a spot in the WSox OF, 1-2, walk, .373 ... Yurendell Decaster PIT, the surprise of the fall so far, 1-2, 14th homer, 3 RBI, 2 walks, .364 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-3, walk, .342 ... Yusmeiro Petit FLO 3 2/3 6 4 2 0 2, 1.93 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 1-3, double, .315

Dominican -- Michael Napoli LAA 3-4, walk, .360 ... Ryan Mulhern CLE 2-5, triple, 7th homer, .258 ... Nelson Cruz MIL continues his 2005 progress 3-4, 6th homer, walk, .344 ... Joel Guzman LAD 2-5, double, .2 RBI, .337 ... Hanley Ramirez FLO 3-4, walk, 2 RBI, .278 ... Joaquin Arias TEX 2-5, .276

    Troop movements ... FLO -- trades Carlos Delgado and cash to NYN for Yusmeiro Petit, Mike Jacobs and Grant Psomas ... also confirmed, BOS - trades Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia to FLO for Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and  Guillermo Mota.

    Kenji Johjima (Jojima) ... the forecast you want is likely here -- Aaron Gleeman's take at HardballTimes.

    John Franco, SportsBlurb, has the pre-Petit Marlins' farm system up for review.  Jeremy Hermida ranks No. 1, ahead of Scott Olsen :

" ... 2. ... Olsen got his chance to shine at the major league level ... finished with a 3.98 ERA in five starts for the Marlins. Olsen was shut down in early August due to elbow inflammation, but he was throwing off a mound again by the end of the season and is expected to be healthy for spring training. Before his callup, Olsen was pitching very well for AA Carolina, striking out 94 batters in 80.1 innings while walking just 27. He is still working on improving his consistency from start to start, but he has a power arm and his aggressive approach allows him to attack hitters effectively when he is pitching well. Olsen has a plus fastball with late motion that sits in the 92-94 range and touches 96, and an above average slider that should be a good second pitch. He also has a developing changeup that has the potential to be average once he throws it more consistently, and the ability to throw all three pitches for strikes."

" ... 4. Chris Volstad ...  he has all the potential you would expect from a 6’7” pitcher who has good mechanics and a good feel for pitching at age 18. His fastball was in the 91-93 range in the GCL and at Jamestown (NYP), but he did throw 93-95 in high school and could regain that velocity as he fills out his frame. Volstad has plus command of his fastball and his average changeup and also a curveball that should be serviceable as he matures."

    Over at Baseball America, Jim Callis takes a shot at an updated FLO Top 10 and, outside of Jeremy Hermida at No. 1, it's a much different list :

" ...  2. Hanley Ramirez, ss (from Red Sox)
Impressive tools but has yet to have a breakout season to match
3. Anibal Sanchez, rhp (from Red Sox)
Gets the nod over Olsen because he's closer to having three big league pitches
4. Scott Olsen, lhp
One of the better lefty pitching prospects in the entire minors
5. Yusmeiro Petit, rhp (from Mets)
Stats are more spectacular than his stuff, but has proven himself through Double-A
6. Josh Johnson, rhp
Though relatively unheralded, could crack Florida's rotation in spring training
7. Chris Volstad, rhp
The first and best of five pitchers the Marlins drafted before the second round in 2005
8. Aaron Thompson, lhp
Three-pitch lefty is extremely polished for a pitcher just out of high school
9. Josh Willingham, c/1b
Can't catch regularly in majors but should get more playing time with Carlos Delgado gone
10. Mike Jacobs, 1b
Ranked No. 4 on Mets list after hitting 11 homers in 100 big league at-bats."

    Michael Laureano, Diamond Futures, offers rankings on both the STL and SD systems. Anthony Reyes, Tim Stauffer rated as the top young guns.


24 November,  2005

    Dominican -- Edwin Encarnacion CIN 3-3, double, .280 ... Nelson Cruz MIL 2-5, triple, 5th homer, 3 RBI, .317 ... some of the top dogs ... noting impressive BB/K by Guzman, Marte, Betemit ...

                         G   AB 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO  AVG  OBP
Bernie Castro WAS        26 112  5  2  1  11  9  9 .339 .395
Joel Guzman LAD          23  81  7  1  4  20 10 16 .333 .409
Anderson Hernandez NYN   22  85  0  1  0  11  5 11 .329 .363
Wilson Betemit ATL       25  92  7  0  5  18 17 23 .326 .427
Casey Rogowski CHA       26 104 12  0  1  24 10 11 .317 .381
Joey Gathright TB        22  95  4  0  0   7  8 13 .305 .365
Luis Terrero ARZ         26  89  6  0  2  17 12 14 .292 .385
Mike Napoli LAA           7  21  2  0  2   9  3  7 .286 .375
Edwin Encarnacion CIN    13  50  4  1  2   5  6 12 .280 .368
Melky Cabrera NYA        22  68  4  1  0   8  9  7 .279 .359
Ronny Paulino PIT        23  89  4  0  0   7  4 19 .270 .301
Ryan Doumit PIT           9  26  0  0  0   3  4  6 .269 .367
Nick Gorneault LAA       26 108  9  1  3  18 10 41 .269 .347
Joaquin Arias TEX        16  53  3  0  0   4  3  8 .264 .298
Hanley Ramirez BOS       26  93  5  1  0   5 10 16 .258 .343
Erick Aybar LAA          24  94  4  0  0   4  7 10 .255 .304
Antonio Perez LAD        15  47  1  0  1   4 10  9 .255 .417
Felix Pie CHN            19  67  2  1  1   5  4 14 .239 .293
Clint Barmes COL         25 103  1  1  1   8  3 18 .233 .269
Tony Peña Jr ATL         21  74  2  0  1  10  4 13 .230 .266
Andy Marte ATL           24  86  4  1  2   7 12 15 .221 .330
Willy Aybar LAD          17  63  3  0  1   8  3 12 .143 .182

    A few of the guys to track in Venezuela ... again noting some impressive plate discipline ... Owens, Gutierrez, Montero ...

                         JJ  VB H2  H3 HR  BB  SO  AVE  OBP  SLG
Pete Orr ATL             25  96  6   1  0   9  16 .375 .434 .458
Jerry Owens CHA          30 124  5   2  0  15  16 .371 .444 .444
Yurendell Decaster PIT   33 119  4   0 13  16  35 .361 .437 .723
Alberto Callaspo LAA     33 117  6   1  3  11   4 .350 .406 .496
Michael Restovich PIT    31 111  9   2  5  15  23 .342 .439 .595
Franklin Gutierrez CLE   22  76  4   0  3  14  13 .329 .446 .500
Miguel Montero ARZ       26  86  7   0  4  13  15 .314 .404 .535
Ronny Cedeno CHN         17  68  4   0  0   4  13 .309 .351 .368
Walter Young BAL         26 102  4   0  3   8  16 .304 .377 .431
William Bergolla CIN     27 116  4   1  1   4  12 .293 .317 .371
TJ Bohn SEA              34 127  9   0  1  18  35 .291 .384 .386
Yorvit Torrealba SEA      7  22  0   0  0   3   4 .273 .385 .273
Mike Jacobs NYN          27  91  6   0  1  16  22 .231 .369 .330
Delwyn Young LAD          6  24  0   0  0   1   6 .208 .231 .208
Asdrubal Cabrera SEA      6  11  0   0  0   1   3 .182 .250 .182
Guillermo Quiroz TOR      2   7  0   0  0   1   5 .143 .400 .143

    Troop movements ... not yet official ... Carlos Delgado to the Mets for Yusmeiro Petit & Mike Jacobs ... Josh Beckett & Mike Lowell to the Red Sox for Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, PTBNL ... Jim Thome to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand, Gio Gonzalez, Daniel Haigwood ... Bob Howry to the Cubs ...

    A review of the COL pre-season Top 20 by John Sickels :

" ... 1) Ian Stewart ...  .274/.353/.497 with 17 homers in 112 games for Modesto in the California League. Got off to a slow start, but eventually adjusted to Cal League competition, and is still only 20 years old. His stock may drop a hair but I'm not really worried about him."

" ... 3) Chris Nelson ... A disappointing, injury-plagued campaign, marred by poor plate discipline. I think I overrated him entering the season, but I didn't expect him to play this badly."

" ... 7) Seth Smith ... Toolsy outfielder hit .300/.353/.458 for Modesto. 45 doubles are a possible sign of more power to come. Double-A next year will tell us a lot."

    Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on Hanley Ramirez BOS/FLO :

" ... he's got a world of talent. I think he has the potential to be a very good everyday player in the big leagues. Whether he reaches that potential remains to be seen. Assuming this deal goes through, you'll probably get to see that soon ... Who else do they have to play shortstop? I don't think Ramirez would've been ready to play for the Red Sox in 2006 anyway. I don't think he's ready for the big leagues. They still have Edgar Renteria for three more years, so there's no rush. Luis Soto was a shortstop, but he played the outfield this year with Lowell. He could move back, if needed. He'll turn just 20 in December. Dustin Pedroia's future probably is at second base, but he was a shortstop in college and could slide back. Jed Lowrie, the Stanford product taken in the most recent draft, played short for Lowell, and he could move quickly. The Red Sox now have some depth, and that's something you couldn't say a few years ago."

    Catcher Neil Walker takes the top spot as Baseball America rates the PIT system.  Andrew McCutchen was named runner-up while lefty Tom Gorzelanny shaded Paul Maholm for No. 3.

    Over at RotoAmerica, David Regan puts the OAK system up for review and it's Daric Barton atop the chart :

" ... moved to first base this past season as he didn’t project as an adequate defensive catcher in the majors. It’s too bad, as his bat makes him an All-Star there but his relative lack of power takes away some of his luster. Still, he projects as a solid regular due primarily to his incredible plate discipline. Some scouts say that his power could develop into the 25-30 HR range if he learns to turn on pitches occasionally instead of just poking balls in the gaps ... Likely opens in AAA this year where he could be the youngest player in the PCL."

" ... #2, Javier Herrera ... Has the highest ceiling of any player in the A’s system ... Got off to a slow start before recovering and flashing his considerable five-tool ability. He’s got tremendous raw power, can run, hit, and he has a great arm. Weakness wise, he could stand to improve his routes in the OF on fly balls, and at the plate he can be over-aggressive, although his walk totals are certainly more than acceptable. The A’s would love to see him stay in CF and eventually take over for Mark Kotsay. He’ll need a couple years in the minors to refine his skills, but once it all comes together, he could be a Carlos Beltran type."

    Matt Jacovina, Warm October Nights, has kicked off his Top 10s reporting on the BAL and ARZ systems. 

" ... 1. Carlos Quentin ...  A Moneyball-esque wunderkind, Quentin has a great eye, good power and even a good ability to hit for average. He’s even willing to take one for the team, normally leading his leagues in hit by pitches. Nothing not to like here; expect Quentin making an impact next season."

" ... 1. Nick Markakis ...  After hitting .339/.420/.573 during his stint in AA this year, Nick has cemented himself amongst the best outfield prospect in baseball. Future regular, with the tools to be a star."

    Michael Laureano, Diamond Futures, zips along with his Top 10s adding OAK and PIT -- Daric Barton and Zach Duke the top guns. 


23 November,  2005

    Venezuela -- Jerry Owens CHA 3-5, .370 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-3, walk, .315 ... Guillermo Quiroz TOR 1-3, walk, double ...

    Troop movements ... SEA - signed catcher Kenji Johjima ...

    Quick ascent.  Salty zooms to the top of the Braves' farm in John Franco's ATL report at SportsBlurb :

" ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ...  showed tremendous improvement during the 2005 season, improving his questionable defense behind the plate and posting the highest slugging percentage in Myrtle Beach history. Initial concerns about his size (6’4, 220) were dispelled by the athleticism he showed behind the plate, and his catch-and-throw skills are currently rated between fringe-average and average ...  an outstanding leader behind the plate. Offensively, he is a switch hitter with a smooth swing and tremendous raw power, and he hit 19 home runs and an impressive 35 doubles in 459 at-bats at High-A Myrtle Beach. The 20-year old Saltalamacchia had a solid AFL campaign ...   while continuing to play solid defense behind the plate."

" ... 3. Anthony Lerew ...  the latest in a long line of promising Braves pitchers, and he pitched well at both AA Mississippi and AAA Richmond during the 2005 season ... His plus command and plus changeup give him the upside to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the major leagues, but he will need to refine his slider in order to reach his potential. Lerew is just 22, and he could use another season in the minor leagues in order to learn how to put hitters away more efficiently."

    David Regan, RotoAmerica, likes Carlos Quentin as the best of the D'Backs prospects.

" ... Quentin ...  Quentin’s raw power, OBP skills, and solid OF defense gets him the nod over Drew and Jackson right now. He’s a very good athlete with a strong arm ...  Scouts note no major weaknesses but speculate that his propensity to crowd the plate (29 HBP’s) could leave him open to big league pitchers busting him inside, but his place in the box hasn’t seemed to hurt him so far. It would seem that Quentin’s path to the majors is a bit cloudy ... the Dbacks would be wise to open up a spot for this guy. He’s a future .285/.380/.530 type guy, maybe more."

Miguel Montero, No. 6  " ... The Diamondbacks have been searching for years for a long-term solution at catcher ...  Is Montero? I can’t quite say yet. You can’t deny that he put up incredible numbers in the CAL league and matched Brandon Wood for awhile as a true breakout prospect. However, he did come out of virtually nowhere this year and I have to wonder if his performance is a direct result of playing in an extreme hitter’s park in Lancaster. Of course not every hitter puts up a 1.028 OPS in the CAL league, but when promoted to AA, Montero regressed, which raises questions about his long-term ceiling. We’ll see again this year. Defensively, Montero is described as average pretty much across the board. It’s likely he’ll return to AA to start the year. Should be interesting."

    Jason Ratliff, MLB.com, offers a roundup of the Giants' farm system, including notes on the following prospects:

" ...  Eddy Martinez-Esteve ...   the 22-year-old did an uncanny Edgar Martinez impression, hitting .319 with 17 homers, 94 RBIs and 89 walks vs. 82 strikeouts while spending most of his time as San Jose's designated hitter."

" ... Matt Cain ...  proved to be the real deal in 2005, leading the Pacific Coast League in strikeouts (176 in 145 2/3 innings) before going 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in six starts for the Giants ... was one of the least-hittable pitchers in the bigs. He went at least five innings in each of six starts and allowed only one or two runs until his final start, in which he yielded three over 6 1/3 IP. And his .148 average against in September was the lowest in the Major Leagues ...  All that should be enough for him to be considered one of the front-runners for the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year award."

" ... Merkin Valdez ...   spent the entire year in Norwich, and he looked very good there until July. The 24-year-old ...  was 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 14 starts through the end of June before struggling. He went 1-3 with a 7.43 ERA in five July starts, with opponents hitting at a .312 clip. A move to the bullpen -- where many see his future -- seemed to solve the problem as he allowed just one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings (1.42 ERA). But while the numbers improved, the young Dominican's health did not and he was shut down in mid-August, when an MRI revealed a strain in his pitching elbow."

    Good words for Edwin Encarnacion, Jeremy Sowers as John Sickels reviews his pre-season Top 20 for the Reds & Indians :

" ...  Encarnacion ...  Hit .232/.308/.436 in 69 games after being promoted to Cincinnati. I like him and he will do better than that in the long run. Just 22 years old after all."

" ... 5) Homer Bailey ...  Went 8-4, 4.43 in 21 starts for Class A Dayton, 125/62 K/BB in 104 innings, just 89 hits allowed. ERA was over 4.00 due to control problems, but strong K/IP and H/IP ratios are a positive marker. Excellent long-term potential if his command improves, which I think it will."

" ... 6) B.J. Szymanski ...  Tools outfielder limited to 50 games for Dayton by injury. Hit .262/.332/.471 with 10 homers, but struck out 57 times. High ceiling but contact against better pitching is an issue."

" ... 1) Adam Miller ...  Recovering from elbow problems, went 2-4, 4.83 in 12 starts for Class A Kinston, 45/17 K/BB in 60 innings. Overall control was OK but command within the strike zone was weaker than last year, and his stuff wasn't quite as good. Obviously the injury had an impact."

" ... 4) Franklin Gutierrez ...  Excellent tools, but still trying to use them on the field consistently. Still just 22 years old, but needs at least a year of Triple-A in my opinion."

" ... 8) Jeremy Sowers ... Pitched very well for Kinston, Akron, and one good start at Buffalo. In 13 starts for Akron, went 5-1, 2.08 with 70/9 K/BB in 82 innings. A finesse pitcher but a very effective one."

    Good news for the Rockies :

" ... A follow-up exam with the Rockies' hand specialist revealed no fracture or damage to third-base prospect Ian Stewart's left wrist."  (Denver Post)


22 November,  2005

    Congrats to Alex (a Scoresheet colleague a few years back).  Just noticed in Brian Walton's piece at SportsBlurb:

" ... Assistant general manager Tim McCleary was informed by Jays’ president Paul Godfrey that his contract, which expires in December, would not be renewed. Alex Anthopoulos and Bart Given are expected to assume McCleary’s duties. Anthopoulos has been one of the team's scouting directors while Given is an assistant in the baseball operations department."

    Venezuela --   Armando Galarraga WAS 6 6 1 1 2 1, 3.55 ... Alberto Callaspo LAA 3-5 & 0-3, .348  ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 walks & 1-4, , .305 (13 walks, 14 Ks, .407 OBA)

    Dominican -- Wilson Betemit ATL 2-5, double & 0-2,  .322 ... Bernie Castro WAS 4-5 & 1-4, double, .352 ... Rafael Soriano SEA 2 3 2 2 1 1, 4.91 ... Nelson Cruz MIL 3-5, 3rd & 4th homers, 5 RBI & 1-3, walk, .309 ... Joel Guzman LAD 2-4, 6th double, .342 ... Jose Capellan MIL 4 2 0 0 0 2 ...  Curtis Granderson DET 0-4, .194 ...

    David Regan, RotoAmerica, has his picks as the top young guns from the Arizona Fall League - Brandon Wood, Stephen Drew, Howie Kendrick 1-2-3 and lots more talent down the list :

" ... 7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia ...  there is not better catching prospect in all of baseball. Braves C Brian McCann is looking to dislodge Johnny Estrada ...  at the big league level, and soon enough McCann will be himself looking over his shoulder. “Salty” is a switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate. He’s polished, and shows a solid walk rate already of .108. Will begin the year at AA and should be knocking on the door sometime in 2007. A future All-Star."

" ... 8. Chris Young ...  Compares favorably to Mike Cameron for his defense, 30/30 ability, strikeout totals, and relatively low batting average. Young is a very good athlete and a very good defensive CF. At the plate, you really have to like his selectivity and raw power. Put up a .922 OPS in the hitter-friendly Southern League, a .233 K rate, and a solid walk rate of .127. Also had 41 doubles, 3 triples, and 26 HR’s."

" ... 14. Ian Stewart ...  got off to a slow start after missing about a month with a nagging hamstring injury. Got off to a very slow start after returning, but recovered in time to post respectable numbers. He possesses a very good combination of plate discipline and great raw power and should post monster numbers (40+ homeruns) once he gets to Coors Field. Defensively Stewart is much improved since he was drafted, and now profiles as at least an average 3B, which is a testament to his work ethic."

    More AFL reviews from Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, in the first of two segments :

" ... Jeff Salazar ...  a legitimate defensive center fielder with more offensive potential than Cory Sullivan. The 29 homers he hit for Single-A Asheville two years ago led to too much excitement about his power potential -- he may never hit 20 in a year in the majors even with Coors Field helping him -- but he has the on-base skills to be a leadoff man. It’s possible that he’ll overtake Sullivan in the second half of next season."

" ... Brad Snyder ... is probably going to be a future regular, but I’m still not sure he’ll excel offensively in a corner. The Indians have often used him in center, but there’s not going to be any reason to keep him there, not when Grady Sizemore and Franklin Gutierrez are better suited for the position. Snyder might move into the team’s starting lineup before the end of next season, depending on how Casey Blake performs in right field and whether he can outproduce Gutierrez in the minors."

" ... Angel Guzman ...  pitched well enough in the AFL, but there still have to be serious doubts about his arm going forward. In a best-case scenario, Guzman will come out firing hard sinkers and curveballs next spring and reach the majors after about two months in Triple-A. He has the potential to make quite an impact right away. However, because of his injuries, I don’t think he’ll crack the top 100 when the 2006 Top 150 Prospects comes out."

" ... Eric Duncan ...  Perhaps no team other than the Yankees would have pushed Duncan up to Double-A to start last season. The 2003 first-round pick only held his own at the plate and continued to look like a first baseman playing third base. It was in the AFL that he showed his true offensive potential, leading the league in slugging percentage. Duncan may need two more years in the minors. He has 35-40 homer ability, and even though he’ll always likely strikeout a bunch, he should have the OBP to be an asset at first base when he starts to reach his prime."

    John Franco, SportsBlurb, likes a catching prospect as the leading light in SEA :

" ... Jeff Clement ...  a talented hitter who combines tremendous raw power with a good eye and the ability to use the whole field. In his prime, he could be a .270 hitter with a .375 on-base percentage and 30-35 home runs per year. Defensively, Clement is still a work in progress: he draws raves for his game-calling and leadership and possesses a plus arm. The rest of his tools are further behind, as his throwing accuracy is erratic and agility. With time, Clement should be an average defensive catcher, and once his defense progresses, he will advance to the major leagues in short order."

" ... Matt Tuiasosopo ...  a strong, athletic player with a good work ethic and tremendous power potential. Tuiasosopo spent the year at Low-A Wisconsin and managed just six home runs in 409 at-bats, but he is still adjusting to life as a full-time baseball player. Given his size and inexperience, he can be pitched inside, but showed signs of making adjustments late in the season. Defensively, Tuiasosopo is below average at shortstop; he has a plus arm, but lacks mobility. Given his limitations and the depth of strong defensive shortstops in the organization, he will likely move to third base before reaching the major leagues."

    Baseball America moves on to the Brewers' Top 10 -- Prince Fielder, Mark Rogers, Ryan Bruan, 1-2-3.

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, reviews his pre-season Cubbies' Top 20 :

" ... 2) Felix Pie ...  Limited to 59 games for Double-A West Tennessee by a leg injury, but hit .304/.349/.554 when he played, showing very good power development. Tool-laden player with developing skills."

" ... 4) Angel Guzman ...  Another season spent trying to stay healthy, appeared in just two games for Peoria. Status unchanged. He has a great arm but if he can't stay on the mound it doesn't matter much."

" ... 9) Ryan Harvey ...  .257/.302/.484 in 117 games for Peoria. Hit 24 homers and 30 doubles, but posted a 24/137 BB/K ratio in 467 at-bats. Has to improve his strike zone judgment to produce at higher levels."

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, offers another Top 10 - the "make or break" guys.  Some interesting names on the list :

" ... 1. Cole Hamels ...  has tremendous stuff, but thus far he's been unable to stay healthy. When he's able to take the mound, Hamels is one of the best pitching prospects in the game. However, over the last two seasons, injuries have limited him to a total of only 51 innings ...  boasts 3-plus offerings, and he profiles as a front-of-the-rotation type at the highest level. But Hamels badly, badly needs to manage a healthy season in 2006. He'll likely open next season in Double-A and, if healthy, make it to Philly by September. It's hard to overstate Hamel's potential if he can stave off injury."

" ... 7. Michael Aubrey ...  Gold Glove-caliber defense at first. However, in two stints at AA-Akron, Aubrey has failed to hit for adequate power. He also missed several months last season with a serious back injury — an injury that also caused him to miss the Arizona Fall League ...  was hailed as the next John Olerud, but unless he stays healthy and shows some power in 2006, he may wind up as the next Rico Brogna."

    Again, the cupboard is nearly barren in the Yankees' farm system.  Michael Laureano, Diamond Futures, tabs SP Philip Hughes as the best of the bunch, ahead of fellow moundsman Ty ClippardEric Duncan, he of the huge Arizona Fall season, had to settle for 4th spot, behind Tim Battle


20-21 November,  2005

    Among the updated lists ... Top 10sBy League 40-man rostersSpring Training Invitees ... obviously, still some roster cuts/additions yet to be reported ...

    Olympic qualifying tourney, Arizona ... Friday - Team USA to 4-0 with a 9-3 win over Panama, Ryan Shealy COL 4-4, 2 doubles, homer ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 3-3, 2 homers ... Canada fell to 3-1, losing to Mexico 7-2, Joey Votto CIN 2-4, homer, Scott Mathieson PHI 4 6 2 2 2 4 ... on Saturday, Team downed Canada 5-2 to finish undefeated ... Howie Kendrick LAA 1-3, homer, 2 RBI ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-4, double ... Scott Thorman 2-4, homer for Canada ... Nicaragua topped Mexico 4-2 to advance (along with USA & Canada) to the next round of the Olympic qualifying events

    Dominican --  Curtis Granderson DET 0-4, .212 ... Ryan Mulhern CLE 3-4, .double & 0-3, .263 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN 1-3, 4th homer, .289 ... Joel Guzman LAD 2-3, 5th double, .333 ... Nelson Cruz MIL 2-4, homer, 3 RBI, .277 ... Hanley Ramirez BOS 0-4, .238  Venezuela -- Yurendell DeCaster, just added to the PIT 40-man roster, 5-5, double,  2 homers (12 ), 7 RBI, .362 ... Yusmeiro Petit NYN 6 7 1 1 0 7, 1.20

    Troop movements ... lots of action as teams work out their 40-man rosters in preparation for the Rule 5 draft.  Among the notable casualties -- Josh Hamilton & Pete Laforest TB ... Brandon Sing & Mike Fontenot CHN ... Bronson Sardinha NYA ... John Hudgins, Drew Meyer & Vince Sinisi TEX ... Jamie Vermilyea TOR ... Kevin Kouzmanoff & Nick Pesco CLE ... Chris Gruler & Ben Kozlowski CIN ... Mitch Maier & Colt Griffin KC ... Bobby Hill PIT ...

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Brandon Wood LAA :

" ... Can anyone stop Brandon Wood? He's now at 58 homers and counting, with 43 during the regular season, a record 14 in the Arizona Fall League and another in the opening round of the Olympic prequalifying tournament. If he stepped right into the Angels' lineup next year, probably at third base rather than shortstop, it really wouldn't surprise me at all."

    Baseball America names its Top 20 from the Arizona Fall League with a familiar name (see above) atop the standings - Brandon WoodChris Kline handled the questions in the BA chat room :

Alex Gordon KC " ... Big time power, solid defender at third. Early on, he wasn't--just all pull power, and he's still got some weaknesses at the plate. But he's the total package. He's THAT good."

Ian Stewart COL, MLB by August?  " ... Wrist injuries scare me, and Stewart's was a tweak of an injury that occurred earlier this year, which makes me even more cautious when looking at how soon he'll be up there. If he's healthy, he's a September callup, but there are questions. Be cautiously optimistic."

Matt Kemp LAD or Adam Jones SEA?  " ... I think you'll see big power numbers from Kemp, while Jones should hit for some power, but for a higher average with some steals. Kemp is a middle-of-the-order run producer, Jones is a top-of-the-order threat with gap power--perfect for Seattle."

Billy Butler KC, missing from the Top 20?  " ... Lack of position and some makeup issues . . . a lot of scouts had questions about the maturity."

Scott Mathieson PHI at No. ?" ... He was the biggest buzz among scouts in the league. It's a bold move, but I like taking chances . . . makes doing this more fun ...  Mathieson has a chance to be something really special. I'll take that gamble on 96, power slider and a good feel for a changeup at his age."

Andre Ethier OAK?  " ... I figured there'd be some Ethier outrage, and rightly so. He was definitely in the mix, and that emerging power is hard to ignore. So is the plate discipline. But the league was so much deeper this year compared to last year. To give you some insight, I struggled to rank 20 players in 2004. This year, I started off with 46."

    Mark Allen Haverty & John Franco, SportsBlurb,  with some AFL prospect notes :

" ... Brandon Wood ...  is in every way the real deal. Defensively, Wood is an adequate shortstop, but he does not have great range and probably is too big for the position. Offensively, he appears to be the second coming of Nomar. However, he did struggle in the middle portion of the AFL season ...  which is not that great for a hitter of his caliber ... Could Wood follow Albert Pujols' career path -- high-A to the AFL to the majors? Well, he probably could use a little more time in the minors. However, the Angels might have other plans; they might be willing to push Wood, who could open the year starting for them at either third base or shortstop ...  Wood is one of the best prospects in the game and should be one of the top two or three rookies taken if he is headed to the bigs." (MAH)

" ... Andre Ethier ...  had the smoothest swing I saw in the AFL, and his plate discipline was tremendous. Scouts have argued that he will not develop the necessary power skills to hold down a job as a corner outfielder, but I saw him hit some mammoth home runs in batting practice, and he always hit the ball hard during games. He also has a great eye and should hit .300 or better in the majors. From what I saw, he also should be able to hit 20-30 homers a year, making him a major asset for the Athletics." (JF)

    Some Red Sox notes as John Sickels reviews his pre-season BOS Top 20 :

" ... 1) Hanley Ramirez ...  .271/.335/.385 with 26 steals (but 13 caught stealing) for Double-A Portland. Not a very impressive season overall. Best news is that he is still just 21 years old, but at some point the performance needs to match the hype."

" ... 4) Anibal Sanchez ... , Confirmed status as top prospect, pitching well in the Carolina League and in Double-A. Portland numbers: 3-5, but 3.45 in 11 starts, 63/16 K/BB in 57 innings. I'd be leery of pushing him too quickly and wouldn't want to see him in the majors before August."

" ... 5) Jon Lester ... Took a huge step forward this year, refining his control while maintaining his velocity and movement. A top prospect no question."

    Michael Laureano, Diamond Futures, wraps up the Twins & Mets systems with, as usual, some interesting choices.  Gaby Hernandez tops the Mets' farm ahead of Yusmerio Petit. Lastings Milledge ranks No. 5.  No surprise atop the MIN chart - Francisco Liriano - with starters Justin Jones and Anthony Swarzak ahead of third baseman Matt Moses.

    Jason Ratliff, MLB.com, with some notes from his San Diego system report :

" ... Josh Barfield ...  found his groove in June and stayed in it through the end of the season, hitting .333 in June, .388 in July and .333 in August to finish with a .310 mark. The 22-year-old saw only a slight decline in his power numbers in his first season at Triple-A and drove in 72 runs compared to his average of 109 over the past two seasons, but his OBP (.370) and SLG (.450) were impressive. He also regained his base-stealing form after a lingering hamstring injury limited him to just four swipes in 2004, taking 20 bags in 25 attempts in the Pacific Coast League."

" ... Jared Wells ...  hard-throwing right-hander went a combined 13-8 with a 3.69 ERA in 26 starts between High-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A Mobile. After a stellar performance in the hitter-friendly Cal League, where he went 11-3 with a 3.44 ERA and .257 average against, the 2002 31st-round draft-and-follow struggled a bit in the Southern League. His ERA ballooned to 4.40 while opponents hit .304 against him."

" ... Cesar Carrillo ... lanky (6-foot-3, 175-pound) right-hander was 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in his first four starts at Lake Elsinore before being promoted to Double-A Mobile, where he was just as good, if not better, going 4-0 with a 3.23 ERA and 35 strikeouts against seven walks in 30 2/3 innings. He was returned to the Cal League late in August for the Storm's postseason. He went 0-2 with a 19.90 ERA in his final three regular season starts and 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two playoff appearances."

    Dan Szymborski, BaseballThinkFactory, doesn't forecast a major MLB  breakthrough for any of the Angels' hotshot rooks in his latest team projection -- Brandon Wood - .244 .288 .418, Howie Kendrick -  .265 .304 .423, Kendry Morales - .270 .307 .429, Jeff Mathis - .223 .281 .378.  Dallas McPherson draws a forecast of .249 .316 .493


18-19 November,  2005

    Dominican -- Joel Guzman LAD 2-5, 3rd homer ... Wilson Betemit ATL 2-4, double, 3 RBI ... Denny Bautista KC 3 8 7 6 2 1 ... Andy Marte ATL 2-4, double.  Venezuela -- Ronnie Cedeno CHN 3-5 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 2-4

    Olympic tournament ... Canada goes to 3-0 with a 15-5 win over Panama ... Chris Begg SF 5 8 3 2 0 2 ... OF Sebastien Boucher SEA 3-5, double, walk, 4 RBI ... Stubby Clapp 5-5 double, 2 triples, 3 RBI ... Team USA also 3-0, 7-4 over Nicaragua ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-3, homer ... Brendan Harris WAS 1-3, homer

    MiLB.com hands out its post-season awards ... Brandon Wood LAA and Justin Verlander DET saluted as the top hitter/pitcher ... in Triple-A, Rick Short WAS and Francisco Liriano MIN the top dogs ... Double-A, Delmon Young TB and Joel Zumaya DET ... A-Ball, Wood and Verlander ... Short-Season, Eric Campbell ATL and Shane Lindsay COL.

    A bit of a surprise atop the Rangers' ranking at SportsBlurb.  John Franco tabs Edison Volquez as the best of the system ahead of Thomas Diamond and John Danks.

" ... Picking the best member of the DVD trio is difficult, as there is very little difference between the three pitchers. Volquez has two plus fastballs, a four- with good movement that touches 95 up in the zone and a two-seamer that sits in the low 90s with good sinking action down in the zone. He also has a plus slider and a changeup that can be a plus-plus pitch when he has command of it. Volquez’ problems at Frisco and in the majors stemmed from his aggressive approach on the mound – he attacks hitters by throwing strikes and never wastes a pitch or tries to get batters to chase a pitch out of the zone. He has a good feel for pitching and will spend 2006 working on missing more bats and improving his location within the strike zone."

" ... 7. Taylor Teagarden ...  considered by many scouts to be worthy of a first round pick in the 2005 draft, but he fell into the third round after signing Scott Boras as his agent ...  He was the best defensive catcher available in the entire draft, combining a great arm with excellent game-calling skills and good receiving and blocking skills. Offensively, he has some holes in his swing, but he has good power to all fields and good knowledge of the strike zone ...  After starting slowly, he hit .342 in his last 76 at-bats in the Northwest League; his bat will need to adapt quickly to higher levels as his defense should move him through the system quickly."

    Does this mean there's already an agreement with SEA or, staying in Japan?

" ... Japanese all-star catcher Kenji Jojima has canceled a meeting with the New York Mets and is preparing to end his current U.S. trip Thursday, according to baseball sources. The 29-year-old Jojima was scheduled to visit New York as early as Friday, but he now plans to return to Japan and consult with his family and parents about what to do, the sources said."  (The Japan Times)

    Jonathan Mayo, MiLB.com, offers his take on the Cardinals' farm system :

" ...  Tyler Greene ...  had a nice debut, hitting .261 with 13 steals (in 14 attempts) in 138 at-bats with New Jersey. He then jumped a level to Palm Beach and hit .271 in 85 ABs with six more steals thrown in for good measure (for the year, he went 19-for-20 in stolen-base attempts). He won his first ring with Palm Beach, though he hit just .162 during the playoff run."

" ... Chris Lambert ...   had an up-and-down first full year in pro ball. He was extremely sharp with Palm Beach, going 7-1 with a 2.63 ERA through May. That earned him a trip to the Texas League, where the hitters aren't quite as kind. Lambert went 3-8 with a 6.35 ERA for the rest of the season, taking his lumps to the tune of a .291 batting average against. He went on to pitch pretty poorly in the Arizona Fall League but shut out Guatemala in Team USA's opener in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament."

" ...  Anthony Reyes ...   riding the fast track, spending most of his second season of pro ball in Triple-A and helping out the big club with four appearances, including one impressive emergency start. With Memphis, the right-hander out of USC went 7-6 with a 3.64 ERA, striking out 134 and walking just 34 in 128 2/3 IP."

    Jason Kubel MIN, still not ready :

" ... Kubel, the promising Twins outfielder ... won't be ready to help the Twins in spring training ...   took part in hitting in the Twins' Instructional League but wasn't able to run much or field at all. And Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said Kubel will not be ready to go full speed in spring training because of the knee injury. The question is when he will be able to run full speed.  This is a real blow to the Twins because they were counting on Kubel's bat to be a factor next season."  (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

    Brandon Wood LAA, making adjustments like a veteran :

" ... When Watson [Team USA general manager Bob Watson]  and USA Baseball officials started assembling potential players for this 24-man team, Wood emerged as a no-brainer selection. "Well, he had a heck of a year to begin with," Watson said. "We had good reports on him and his second base partner (Kendrick). We talked to a number of people and they not only liked his ability to hit the ball, but catch the ball. "One of my things is, I want a shortstop that when you hit the ball to him in the eighth or ninth inning, it's an out." The 6-foot-3, 185 pound Wood has good range and soft hands. "He's not a big person by any means, but he's wiry," Watson said. "He's got quick hands and a quick bat through the zone. The ball jumps off his bat." Those are good marks for any young player, but what impresses Watson even more is Wood's ability to make adjustments "on the fly" during games. "I watched him in the (AFL) Championship game and he struck out on breaking balls the first two times he batted," Watson said. "He took those same pitches in his next two times up and hit 'em off the fence." (MiLB.com)

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, checks in with his Top 10 "breakout" candidates.  Daniel Cabrera BAL is Dayn's top choice:

" ...  pitchers who strike out lots of batters and exhibit strong groundball tendencies tend to fare very well. In Cabrera's case, last season he joined A.J. Burnett and Carlos Zambrano ... as the only pitchers to strike out at least eight batters per nine innings while maintaining a strikeout-to-walk ratio of at least 1.50. That means he's primed to take a major step forward in 2006. Of course, let's not forget that the inestimable Leo Mazzone is now Cabrera's pitching coach in Baltimore. Those intangibles add up to Cabrera being the top '06 breakout candidate in all of baseball."


17 November,  2005

    Dominican - Wilson Betemit ATL 0-3, walk, .324 ... Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 4-4, the cycle, 3rd double, 1st triple, 1st homer, .323 ... Mike Napoli LAA 2-5, double, 2 RBI, .357 ... Andy Marte ATL 0-4, .224

Venezuela - Alberto Callaspo LAA 2-2, walk, .348 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-3, 3rd homer, .250

    Wow.  Canada's pitching at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Arizona.  Jon Lockwood SEA fronted a non-hitter for the Canadians in their 12-0 win over hapless Guatemala, 5 0 0 0 1 5 ... Jered Weaver LAA, still somewhat less than advertised, 4 3 2 2 2 6 ...  Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL was the hero for TEAM USA driving in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th to get by Mexico 5-4.

    Troop movements ... TEX - acquired Jon Leicester from CHN for PTBNL ... SD - subject to a physical, acquired Mike Cameron from NYN for Xavier Nady, signed inf Geoff Blum ... LAA - waived infielder Zach Sorensen ... CIN - claimed Mike Burns off waivers from HOU ...

    David Regan has his Angels' prospect picks up at RotoAmerica.  Brandon Wood, of course, sitting atop the ladder in a deep farm system.  Howie Kendrick the runner-up :

" ... The kid can HIT, plain and simple. Kendrick is called the best contact hitter in the minors by multiple scouts and some think he is near big league ready now. AA is usually a big adjustment for most minor leaguers, but Kendrick didn’t seem to miss a beat after being promoted there. He’s a kid that can hit most any pitch to any part of the field, often going the other way on balls low and away and turning on inside fastballs quickly. The added power this year is nice and should allow him to be an above average 2B in the majors ... He’ll be out to take Adam Kennedy’s job sometime this year."

" ... 9. Michael Collins ...  .412 OBP and 25 HBP’s! ...  After toiling in rookie ball for and hitting .207 in the Midwest League last year, Collins put up a very good season this year in Cedar Rapids. He’s still pretty raw defensively, but with the progress he’s shown offensively this year, the Angels will develop him as a catcher. He may not have hit a lot of Hr’s this year, but some of those 32 doubles will start going over the fence, particularly as he takes his game to the CAL league in 2006."

" ... 10. Nick Adenhart ...  nearly back to 100%, flashing a mid 90s fastball, and solid secondary offerings including a plus change, curve, and slider. Control was an issue at times, but chalk that up to rust. 2006 will go a long way in determining how fast he’ll move. Not sure where he starts, but he has the talent to make the jump to the Midwest League to start 2006."

   Michael Laureano takes on the Brewers' Top 10 at Diamond Futures and likes Richie Weeks a little more than Prince Fielder for the top slot.  Lefty Dana Eveland ranked No. 3. 

   Baseball America moves along with its team-by-team reports.  Ryan Zimmerman tops the WAS Top 10 followed by a pair of righty starters Collin Balester and Clint Everts.

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, looks back at his pre-season prospect list for the Nationals :

" ... 1) Mike Hinckley ... Hurt his shoulder early in the year. Pitched through it, but poorly, going 3-9, 4.93 in 21 starts for Class A Potomac, 80/51 K/BB in 128 innings. Note that he pitched very well in Double-A in 2004, so 2005 was a major disaster for him, pitching badly at a lower level. Stock has dropped, no question."

" ... 10) Clint Everts ...  Rebounded VERY quickly from Tommy John surgery, fanning 21 in 19 innings for short-season Vermont, though he also walked 12. Needs to get his command in gear but rehab has been rapid."

" ... 11) Kory Casto ..  .290/.394/.510 with 36 doubles, 22 homers at Class A Potomac. A strong season, good power from the left side, as well as a greatly improved walk rate this year. Main problem now is age, he turns 24 next month."

    Lastings Milledge NYN ... nearly there :

" ... Team USA manager Davey Johnson doesn't hesitate to say that Lastings Milledge can handle the bright lights in the big city, it's worth noting. Johnson, after all, spent seven years as a skipper in New York, watching the rise and fall of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. He speaks from experience when discussing what he believes the future can hold for Milledge, who is currently playing for Johnson in the ...  Olympic Qualifier. "Lastings is a smart, tough kid," Johnson said. "He'll be able to handle it. Talent only goes so far. I haven't had any conversations with him about Doc or Darryl, but I'd be more than happy to. He's tough, though, and he gives it as much as he takes it ...  "You just don't want to rush him and push him too fast, though. I think he had, what, a cup of coffee at Double-A this year? If he had a full year at Double-A, or whatever, I think he'd probably be able to make that jump. In an ideal world, I'd like to see him put up solid numbers over a full year. He's close, though. He's a smart player, and he knows how to make adjustments." Milledge, whom the Mets drafted with the 12th overall pick in 2003, split this season between Class A Advanced St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, and performed better at the higher level. He hit .337 in 48 games in the Eastern League with four homers and 24 RBIs after hitting .302 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 62 games in the Florida State League. He added 94 at-bats for Grand Canyon in the Arizona Fall League, batting .330 with five homers and 23 RBIs." (MLB.com)


16 November,  2005

    Yikes, no 10-run rule?  USA beats up on Guatemala 23-0 in opening day action in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Arizona ... Chris Lambert STL 5 1 0 0 0 9 ... among the big boppers, Ryan Shealy COL 4-6, double ... Brandon Wood, of course, 2-5, homer, 4 RBI ... Jeff Mathis LAA 3-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBI ... 1B Bryan LaHair SEA 3-3, homer, 2 RBI ... Brad Snyder CLE 3-6, homer, 3 RBI ... Howie Kendrick LAA ... Adam Loewen BAL tossed a gem as Canada shutout Nicaragua 3-0,  6-2/3 2 0 0 1 8 ... Joey Votto 1B CIN 3-3 ... SS Kevin Nicholson, one time top SD pick (1st round, 1997), 3-4, homer ... Panama whipped Mexico 17-4.

    Troop movements ... STL - purchased the contract of catcher Michael Hernandez ... TB - Josh Hamilton re-instated from restricted list ...

    Bryan Smith, BaseballAnalysts, offers insight into some AFL pitching performances.

" ... Jamie Shields ...  chosen in the sixteenth round of the 2000 draft out of high school. He lost his 2002 season to injury, struggling in the California League during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. However, when moving to a more pitcher-friendly environment this season, Shields thrived, lowering his ERA to 2.80 in 109.1 innings. ...  his stuff might never impress a scout, but his control and newfound durability could yield a moderately successful Major League career."

" ... Jered Weaver ...  inconsistent in his seven-start AFL stint. He gave up 30 hits -- four of which were home runs -- in 24.2 innings, leading to a 5.47 ERA. However, impressively he struck out 35 batters, while walking only five. This is a skill that Weaver has had since college, though his problem of being too hittable is a new one. I still believe Weaver has a future in the rotation, but he must find an ability to give up less fly balls, and as a result, less home runs."

    John Franco, SportsBlurb, tabs Daric Barton as the best of the OAK prospects, but with a pair of outfielders on his heels :

" ... Javier Herrera ...  has steadily developed into an elite prospect for the Athletics with a ceiling that could be higher than Barton’s. He is a true five-tool prospect whose best tools are his arm and his power. After sitting out the first 15 games of the season for a performance-enhancing drugs suspension earned during the 2004 season, Herrera started slowly but finished with a .275 average and 13 home runs in 360 at-bats. While he struck out 110 times, Herrera drew a respectable 47 walks and added 18 doubles; offensively, he profiles as an ideal No. 4 or No. 5 hitter. He is still raw defensively, but once he improves his routes, he will be an above average centerfielder."

" ... Andre Ethier ...  made a big splash at Midland, hitting .319/.385/.497 with 18 home runs and 30 doubles, winning the Texas League player of the year award. He also hit .366 in 82 at-bats in the AFL, bashing 12 extra-base hits and drawing 21 walks against just 10 strikeouts ...  not a true power hitter, but might be able to tweak his swing to produce 20-30 home runs a year at the expense of a few points of batting average, and could hit 40-plus doubles a year in his prime. He is stretched defensively in centerfield but projects to be a plus defender in one of the corner spots."

    Diamond Futures again offers up some surprises in its Dodger Top 10.  Joel Guzman doesn't show up until No. 9 and you may have to do some research on Anthony Raglani and Blake JohnsonAndy LaRoche tops the chart, ahead of 2B Travis Denker and Jonathan Broxton.

    John Sickels continues to present some very interesting analysis at MinorLeagueBall (as he works feverishly to get his 2006 prospect book ready for shipping).  Brandon McCarthy CHA or Scott Baker MIN ?

" ... PROJECTION McCarthy: Because of his size and youth, McCarthy may pick up additional velocity as he fills out his body. His command and control are already excellent given his age. He needs to use the changeup more often, but has shown the willingness to learn. Baker: Baker has less physical projection left than McCarthy, being older and shorter. He probably won't pick up additional velocity. On the other hand, he also has fewer things to learn about pitching. Advantage: Once again, it's very close, but I think McCarthy has more room to improve if only because he is younger. OVERALL McCarthy has very slight advantages in performance and projectability, although different analysts could come to different conclusions ...  I think McCarthy comes out a hair ahead, due to being younger and having a higher strikeout rate."


15 November,  2005

    The Olympic qualifying tournament kicks off today (Tuesday) with three games at Phoenix -- USA vs Guatemala,   Panama vs Mexico and Canada vs Nicaragua.

    Dominican -- Aaron Heilman NYN  6-2/3 4 0 0 0 4, 2.36 ... Bernie Castro 2B WAS 3-5, .360 ... Joel Guzman LAD 0-4, .328 ... Rafael Soriano SEA 2 2 0 0 1 1, 4.50

    Venezuela -- William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-5, .320 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-5, .361

    The oft-injured Cole Hamels retains his No. 1 ranking atop the Phllies' chart in Baseball America's PHI Top 10.  In a weak farm system, a pair of outfielders followed - Greg Golson and Michael BournAll the Top 10s to date.  

    A very interesting Angles' Top 10 over at Diamond Futures. Michael Laureano, of course, pegs Brandon Wood as the top dog, but the runner-up might come as a large surprise -- catcher Michael NapoliHowie Kendrick ranks No. 3.

    At MiLB.com, Jonathan Mayo takes stock of the Pirates' system and finds some potential gems :

" ...  Andrew McCutchen ...  11th overall pick had a very impressive debut, hitting .310 in the Gulf Coast and New-York Penn leagues. He went 17-for-19 in stolen-base attempts and posted a very impressive .419 OBP, especially for a high schooler."

" ...  Neil Walker ...  In his first full season, Walker handled full-season ball very well. The high school catcher played at age 19 in the South Atlantic League and hit .301 with 12 homers and 68 RBIs in 485 at-bats before getting bumped up to Lynchburg for the Carolina League playoffs. He then headed to the Arizona Fall League and handled himself well as one of the younger participants in the league."

    John Sickels, now taking orders for his 2006 prospect report, offers a review of his pre-season White Sox Top 20 and a peak at Mets' righthander Gaby Hernandez :

" ... 2) Gio Gonzalez ..  5-3, 1.87 in 10 starts for Kannapolis, 84/22 K/BB in 58 innings, then 8-3, 3.56 in 13 starts for Winston-Salem, 79/25 K/BB in 73 innings. An excellent prospect who deserves more attention."

" ... 5) Josh D. Fields ...  .252/.341/.409 with 16 homers for Birmingham. Good raw power, but struck out 142 times in 134 games. Contact is a major issue, and will have to be improved for him to hit for average and get on base at a decent clip."

" ... 11) Jerry Owens ...   Hit .331/.393/.406 with 38 steals for Birmingham. Good speed, not much power, has more upside than most 24 year olds in Double-A due to football background."

Gaby Hernandez " ... has a sinking fastball timed as high as 94 MPH, though he lost some zip as the season progressed and finished throwing in the upper 80s.  His curveball and changeup are solid ... curve has moments as a plus pitch, but he is still erratic with it ... understands the basics of pitching ... I like Hernandez a lot, but I have a few concerns about his durability .... payoff here is potentially very high, but injury risk is present."


14 November,  2005

    Dodgers' Matt Kemp crowned his 2005 breakout campaign with a 4-4, 2 homer game to lead Phoenix to the AFL title with a 9-3 win in the single playoff contest.  Kemp got support from Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 2-3, homer and Andy LaRoche LAD 1-4, homer ... Brandon Wood wrapped up 2005, 2-4, double ... Jamie Shields TB finished an impressive fall with another fine outing, 6-2/3 5 1 1 0 5

    Venezuela -- TJ Bohn SEA 2-3, double, 3 RBI & 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 walks & 1-2, walk, .284 ... Alberto Callaspo LAA 2-4 & 1-2, 2 walks & 1-3, .337 ... Chad Gaudin TOR 8 4 2 2 1 7, 2.36 ...  Yusmeiro Petit NYN 6 5 1 1 1 4 ... Dominican -- Antonio Perez LAD 2-4, double, walk, .233 ... Joel Guzman LAD 3-4, 2 RBI, .360 ... Felix Pie CHN 0-4, .217

    RotoAmerica is about to launch its Top 10s for the new season.  Managed to sneak a preliminary look at the Dodgers' ranking which sees Chad Billingsley take over the top slot from Joel Guzman. 

Chad Billingsley, No. 1  " ... currently projects as a future top-of-the-rotation type starter. In fact, with his combination of youth, projectibility, and stuff, he may be the best pitching prospect in baseball that has yet to experience the major leagues. Chad works comfortably in the 92-95 range (higher when needed) with his fastball, and mixes in a slider and curve that are already plus pitches ...  There have been several pitchers promoted to the majors that aren’t as advanced as Billingsley but the Dodgers kept him in AA all year to work on his command and likely now will give him a shot at a rotation spot in spring training. Some scouts compare him favorably to Ben Sheets."

Matt Kemp, No. 5  " ... Took a huge leap this year ...  now a legitimate contender for the RotoAmerica Top 100 list. Kemp possesses the most athleticism in the system and it seems that his baseball skills are just now catching up to his ability ...  in addition to his power potential, has very good speed and could eventually be a 30/30 guy perhaps. One red flag is plate discipline ...  a true five-tool talent and his plus arm would allow him to handle any OF position. I’d love to see him stay in CF as his package of skills could make him one of the game’s best CF’s."

    John Franco, SportsBlurb, checks in with a preview/review of the Angels' farm.  Brandon Wood, of course, takes the top spot :

" ... Brandon Wood ...  Any doubts about Wood’s talent that lingered after his sparkling 2005 season were answered in the Arizona Fall League, where Wood set a new record with 14 home runs in one Fall League season. He uses strong wrists, tremendous bat speed, and a developing frame (6’3” and 200 pounds) to drive pitches well over the fence and already projects as a 30 home run player in the major leagues, with room to grow from there ... needs to improve his plate discipline in order to become a complete player ... He is an average shortstop, with good fundamentals and a plus arm, but given his size and the presence of better defensive players in the system, Wood could end up at third base within a season or two of his major league debut."

" ... Jered Weaver ...  Angels consider Weaver to be almost major-league ready, but he would definitely benefit from more seasoning. His fastball sits in the 90-92 range and occasionally reaches 94, and he gets good movement on the pitch. His slider is a plus pitch at times, but he tends to flatten out his arm when he throws it and leave it up in the hitting zone. Weaver’s mechanics are also a bit inconsistent and he needs to improve the repeatability of his motion. If the Angels do start him in the rotation for the 2006 season, he will struggle at times, but once he gains experience, he will be a solid No. 3 starter for Los Angeles."

    Over at Diamond Futures, Michael Laureano, has the Houston Top 10 with Troy Patton atop the pack, ahead of power-hitting outfielder Hunter Pence ... and in KC, Billy Butler over Justin Huber for the top spot.

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, reviews his pre-season Top 20 for the Brewers :

" ... 2) Rickie Weeks ...  .239/.333/.394 with 13 homers, 15 steals in 96 games for the Brewers. Given a normal development track, he will be a star and a Seven Skill player."

" ... 9) Nelson Cruz ...  .306/.388/.577 in 68 games for Huntsville, then .269/.382/.490 in 60 games for Nashville, combining for 19 steals and 27 homers. Power/speed guy, plate discipline has improved."

" ... 11) Mark Rogers ...  Mixed results from 2004 first-round pick. 2-9, 5.11 mark at West Virginia was pretty ugly, but he also struck out 109 in 99 innings. Great stuff, but his control still needs a lot of work. High ceiling pitcher but will need more time to develop."
   

 
 

    
Rookie Reports Archive :

2004 -- Oct 04-17  Oct 18-31  Nov 01-14   Nov 15-28   Nov 29-Dec 12   Dec 13-Dec 31 

2005 -- Jan 01-16  Jan 17-30  Jan 31-Feb 13  Feb 14-27  Feb 28-Mar 13  Mar 14-27  Mar 28-Apr 10  Apr 11-24  
April 25-May 01  May 02-08  May 09-15  May 16-22  May 23-29  May 30-June 05  June 06-12  June 13-19
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2004 Minor League Stats 1  (Hitters by OPS by Classification OBA SLG SBs Errors)
2004 Minor League Stats 2 (Pitchers by ERA by Classification Ks & Hitters by position)

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