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05 March, 2006
World Baseball Classic ... Japan and Korea advance (China, Taiwan try another
day) ... first games for Canada and USA, Tuesday March 7th ...
Troop
Movements ... NYA - optioned Jorge DePaula to AAA,
reassigned Steven White, Kris Wilson and
Jose Gil to minor league camp ...
ST ... Chad Billingsley LAD 2 2 0 0 1 2 ... Greg Miller LAD
1 1 0 0 0 0 ... Joel Guzman LAD DH 1-4, double ... Blake
Dewitt LAD 2B 1-2 ... Sean Burnett PIT 1 1 0 0 0 0 ... Tom
Gorzelanny PIT 1 2-3 3 1 1 3 1 ... Abe Alvarez BOS 2 1-3 1
0 0 1 2 ... Joel Zumaya DET 1 2-3 2 4 4 2 3 ... Jeremy
Sowers CLE 2 0 0 0 3 1 ... Ryan Garko CLE 2-4, double, 2 RBI
... Boof Bonser MIN 2 1 0 0 1 2 ... Andy Marte CLE
0-3 ... Brandon Phillips CLE SS 2-3, homer, 2 RBI ... Jason
Kubel MIN DH 1-1 ... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 2-4, double, homer
... Anderson Hernandez NYN SS 3-4, SB ... Scott Olsen
FLO 2 0 0 0 1 0 ... Anthony Reyes STL 2 1-3 5 5 5 2 0 ...
Jason Stokes FLO 3-3, 2 doubles ... Hanley Ramirez FLO
0-3 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN 3B, already with 3 homers, 2-3,
double, homer, 3 RBI ... BJ Upton TB 0-2 ... Delmon
Young TB 0-1, error ... Ricky Romero TOR 1 4 4 2 0 1 ...
Alberto Callaspo ARZ SS 0-4 ... Justin Upton ARZ 1-3, 2
walks ... Kendry Morales LAA 1-3 double ... Daric Barton
OAK 2-3 ... Javier Herrera OAK 2-4, 2 RBI ... Jason Botts TEX 1-1,
homer, walk, 3 RBI ... Josh Barfield SF 2-4, triple, SB, 2 RBI ...
Jan Ramirez and the gang at Inside
The Dugout kick off their Top 100 with the elite 10, headed by Delmon
Young, Jeremy Hermida and Brandon Wood.
Also, a pair of ARZ shortstops among the best of the best :
" ... Justin Upton ... true
5-tool talent with the ability to be a an impact player ... amazing bat
speed , making him a bigger version of his brother BJ . He shows the same type
of quiet hitting approach with plus power to all fields with advanced plate
discipline for a player his age. However like his brother their has been
questions whether he can stay at his natural position at shortstop , as he has
showed inconsistency all throughout his high school career ... No matter
what position he plays however, Upton is a future big league star ...
ETA : 2008"
" ... Stephen Drew ... has all the skills
to be an above average shortstop both on the offensive and defensive side of the
ball. However like his brother there are questions about his work ethic and
intensity as some scouts feel that he doesn’t go hard all the time and loses
interest during the game, still Drew is a great talent and could be the D’Backs
starting shortstop as soon as 06’ ... ETA: Midseason 2006"
The Tigers begin to get it right ... some interesting names atop the DET
prospect chart in John Sickels'
latest rating. Justin Verlander (Grade A), Joel Zumaya
(B+) and Cameron Maybin (B) running 1-2-3 :
" ... I love Verlander. Zumaya also has an excellent arm, and
if he can maintain a modicum of command he could also be an excellent pitcher.
Maybin is a tools hound that we have to see against pro pitching. Clevlen took a
major step forward last year after a poor '04 campaign. This is another club
with a mass of C+/C type prospects, who could turn into something interesting
but have question marks of some sort."
The Sickels' rankings on the Top 10 page have been updated
again (seems there's been some mysterious disappearances, re-appearances over
the last few weeks).
04 March, 2006
World Baseball Classic ... Japan 18 China 2 ... Korea over Taiwan, either 2-0 or
10-2 depending on source ... Blue Jays over Canada 9-4 in an exhibition
game ...
Troop
Movements ... MIN - announced the retirement of Gabe White ... TEX
- Taylor Teagarden assigned to minor league camp ...
Spring Training ... Matt Bush SD 0-2, K, error ... Kendry
Morales LAA 1-2, 2 RBI ... Brandon Wood LAA 0-1, walk, run ...
Jeff Mathis LAA 0-2, 2 Ks ... Mike Napoli LAA 1-3,
double, 3 RBI ... Howie Kendrick LAA 2-3, 2 runs ... Houston sent
a parade of kids to the mound -- Taylor Buchholz 2 1 0 0 0 0,
Fernando Nieve 2 4 4 4 1 3, Jason Hirsh 2 3 1 1 1 0,
Jimmy Barthmaier 2 1 0 0 2 2 ... JR House HOU, 1B, 1-3 ...
Glen Perkins MIN 2 0 0 0 1 3 ... Homer Bailey CIN 2 1 0
0 2 2 ... Edwin Encarnacion CIN, 3-4, double, homer, 3 RBI ...
Ian Kinsler TEX 1-2, homer ... Prince Fielder
MIL 0-2, walk, K ... Brandon Sing CHN 2-3, homer ... Matt
Cain SF 2 2 0 0 0 0 ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL, 1-3,
walk-off, 3-run homer ... James Loney LAD 2-4 ... Justin
Verlander DET 2 4 2 2 0 2 ... Melky Cabrera NYA 4-5, double
... Ryan Zimmerman WAS 2-3, RBI ... Josh Willingham
FLO 1-2, double ... Stephen Drew ARZ 2-2, double, homer ...
Conor Jackson ARZ 2-2, double ... Lastings Milledge NYN
1-2, double
Talk about a prospect list. Scott
Rex at On Deck does 500 deep - from Delmon Young to BOS lefty Felix Doubront.
The leading lights :
1 Young Delmon 11 Hamels Cole
2 Liriano Francisco 12 Maybin Cameron
3 Hermida Jeremy 13 Verlander Justin
4 Cain Matt 14 McGowan Dustin
5 Billingsley Chad 15 Miller Adam
6 Wood Brandon 16 Fielder Prince
7 Gordon Alex 17 Butler Billy
8 Drew Stephen 18 Stewart Ian
9 Upton Justin 19 Marte Andy
10 Zimmerman Ryan 20 Zumaya Joel
Scott also has updated his position-by-position
prospect chart.
John Sickels adds two more prospect
lists - the Yankees and Padres. Pitchers top the charts. Phil
Hughes (B+) topped outfielder Jose Tabata (B+) and reliever
J-Brent Cox (B) for the Yankees.
" ... Hughes has Grade A natural ability,
needing only durability to move into that range of prospect in my view. I
personally love J. Brent Cox and think he will advance rapidly. Duncan is young
enough to overcome his shaky Double-A performance last year. Clippard has
terrific ratios but some scouts are still skeptical about him."
Right hander Cesar Carrillo (A-) ranks
No. 1 on the San Diego farm. Catcher George Kottaras (B+)
was the runner-up over second baseman Josh Barfield (B).
" ... Kottaras has been a favorite since
before everyone knew about him. Barfield is an outside candidate for Rookie of
the Year. I also think that Ben Johnson is a rookie sleeper who could end up
being a very effective power hitter. Some of the Grade C guys could move up very
quickly. Jared Wells has a good arm and is highly-rated by Baseball America, but
I'm not sold on him just yet. His track record is erratic and I'm not wild about
his component ratios."
Bryan Smith, Baseball Analysts,
views Chad Billingsley as a possibility this season :
" ... As for Billingsley, I think the time could
very well be now according to reports of his stuff this spring. Vegas is a
horrendous place for pitchers, and Chad really seemed to turn a corner in AA
after July last year. While I have bashed the roles created for players like
Brandon McCarthy and Anthony Reyes, Billingsley would be fantastic starting the
year in a long relief role to become acclimated to the Majors. Once consistency
sets in, the team would move him back to the rotation, where it would appear
replacing Jeff Weaver was an extremely easy task."
Top BOS infielder prospect on the shelf :
" ... Dustin Pedroia was expected
to get a lot of playing time in his first Spring Training with the Red Sox, but
that plan has been derailed, at least for the time being. Pedroia has what the
team believes is a left shoulder strain. He is expected to miss at least a week.
" (MLB.com)
Kevin T. Czerwinski, MLB.com, summarizes the bounty on the TOR farm :
" ... Dustin McGowan ... After a remarkable
recovery from Tommy John surgery, McGowan found himself in Toronto last season
where he started seven of the 13 games in which he appeared. He wasn't nearly as
effective (1-3, 6.36) as he had hoped to be, but he is healthy now and figures
to be part of Toronto's rotation at some point this year. Whether that chance
comes in April or later remains to be seen.
" ... David Purcey ... had an
exceptional first full season in pro ball. He combined to go 9-7 in 29 starts
for Dunedin and New Hampshire, posting a 3.42 ERA in the process. His repertoire
is highlighted by a low- to mid-90s fastball and a big, looping curve. He is
powerful and projects as a front-of-the-rotation starter. He'll probably spend
some time in New Hampshire this season but the bulk of his work will be done in
Syracuse and perhaps in Toronto."
Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on some of the guys who just missed the cut as BA
selected the Top 30 prospects on each team.
" ... Jayson Nix ... The younger
brother of Laynce Nix is proving to be a puzzle for the Rockies. Jayson has
teased them with the makings of an impact middle infielder, but he has struggled
mightily since reaching Double-A in 2004 ... has the strength to provide
plus power at second base and understands the value of using the entire field,
but his long swing undermines him. ... Though he hasn't proven himself at
Double-A, he'll probably move up a level to Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2006."
" ... K.C. Herren ... A surprise
second-round pick in 2004, ... rewarded the Rangers with an all-star debut
in the Rookie-level Arizona League and seemed to be carrying that success over
to the short-season Northwest League in 2005, when he hit .371 in June before
tailing off. Herren has a mature, athletic build with solid all-around tools,
but he lacks projection. He has quick hands and a good, short lefthanded swing
with some strength to it ... He has enough athletic ability to be an
everyday big league left fielder, but he's a long way off."
03 March, 2006
Adam Loewen BAL 2 1 0 0 2 0 ... Josh Willingham FLO
1-1, homer ... Hanley Ramirez FLO (at leadoff) 1-3 ... Jeremy
Hermida FLO 1-3, RBI ... Nick Markakis BAL 1-2 ...
Justin Upton ARZ DH 1-2, triple, 2 RBI ... Ryan Sweeney
CHA 2-4 ... Josh Fields 3B CHA 2-3, double, homer ... Todd
Linden SF 4-4, double, SB ... Corey Hart MIL 1-3, double, 2
RBI ... Josh Rupe TEX 2 2 0 0 1 1 ... Thomas Diamond
TEX 1 2-3 1 0 0 2 0 ... Edison Volquez TEX 2 1 1 1 1 1... Alex
Gordon KC 1-3, 2 RBI ... Felix Pie CHN 1-2, triple ...
Daric Barton OAK 0-2, K ... Ian Stewart COL 2-2, double
... Jason Hammel TB 2 0 0 0 1 1 ... Delmon Young TB
0-2, K ... BJ Upton TB, at SS, 1-3, 2 RBI ... Andy Marte
CLE 1-3, double ... Joey Devine ATL 1 0 0 0 0 2 ... Gavin
Floyd PHI 2 3 1 1 1 1 ... Felix Hernandez SEA 13 pitches, fanned
the side ... Craig Hansen BOS 1 0 0 0 0 1 ... Jason Kubel
MIN 0-2 (as DH) ...
Hard to believe ... looking for box scores ... MLB.com, no boxes on the
Scoreboard page (although there is something called Press Pass for which you
must register) boxes on the home page don't load ... USAToday, the box
score link doesn't work ... FOXSports, boxes, but some games missing (eg SEA-SD)
... ESPN, pretty good although several missing boxes ... you'd think this
Spring Training thing is so new it came as a surprise ...
Troop
Movements ... oh my, cuts already ... Pablo Sandoval, John
Bowker among those assigned to minor league camp by SF ... and, one
for the SS vets, Can-Am League, Nashua Pride - signed LHP Terrell Wade
... COL - purchased the contract of Eli Marrero, placed Chin-hui Tsao
on the 60-day DL ... NYN - sold the contract of Dae Sung Koo to the
Hanwha Eagles of the Korean League ...
Kevin
Goldstein begins his tenure at Baseball Prospectus with reports on the AL
Central kids in his nearly-daily column Future Shock (not sure if all are to be
freebies) :
Jeremy Sowers CLE " ...
Don’t Believe The Hype: Sowers was the sixth pick in 2004, and has gone 14-4,
2.37 in 27 minor league starts, with a fantastic 149/29 K/BB ratio in 159
innings. There's nothing wrong with Sowers, but I don't see stardom for him, as
he's more of a command/finese specialist who doesn't overpower opposing hitters.
I think he may have a better chance than any prospect in baseball to be a
consistent 10-14 game winner, but I can think of many more prospects that have a
better chance of being a star."
" ... 2003 No. 5 overall pick Chris Lubanski
led the California League in RBIs last year, but nobody will trust it until they
see him perform outside the friendly confines of High Desert. Lubanski is
incredibly difficult to scout--while he was productive in 2005, he’s morphed
into an entirely different player than the one who was drafted. Coming out of
high school, Lubanski was a speed-demon with a little pop who profiled as a
classic leadoff man/center fielder. Not yet 21, he’s already lost a step or two,
but added significant power, and now looks like a corner outfielder who bats in
the middle of the lineup. It's a strange transformation, and we don't have a
whole lot of meaningful historical precedent."
John Sickels likes catcher Neil
Walker (Grade B+) as the best of the Pirates' prospects. Outfielder
Andrew McCutchen (B+) and lefty Tom
Gorzelanny
(B) ranked 2-3. In TB, it's Delmon Young (A), Wes
Bankston (B+) and Jason Hammel (B) 1-2-3.
" ... The problem for the Pirates is that
the only two guys with real star potential on the offensive side are Walker and
McCutchen, and neither is a sure thing just yet. Among the pitchers, Gorzelanny
has the highest upside but is also not a sure thing just yet. He does deserve
more attention than he's received on a national level, however, and in many
fantasy leagues he could be a bargain pickup. Take a look at him. He has
better-than-average stuff, with improving command."
" ... Delmon is obviously the class of the system
(and the minors in general). After that things are unclear. I like Wes Bankston
more than a lot of people. Hammel is a wild card; could be good, could be bad.
Elijah Dukes has outstanding tools and is developing the skills to go with them,
but has a volatile personality. Niemann and Houser have injury/durability
concerns. Wade Davis is my candidate for a major breakout this year."
Jim Callis,
Baseball America on the SEA catching corps and an update on the D'Backs
system :
" ... Johjima is an
established Japanese major leaguer who should be a solid to good player in the
United States. I don't see him as a definite all-star, but he should hit .275
with 15 homers and play solid defense. Clement, the No. 3 overall pick in
the 2005 draft, has tremendous power and showed significant improvement as both
a hitter and a defender as a junior at Southern California. He'll provide more
offense than Johjima, who will stand out more behind the plate ... Clement
probably won't be ready before mid-2007, so the Mariners will have at least a
year and a half before they have to figure out how to get both players into the
lineup. Assuming that Johjima performs as expected, his salary would be
reasonable enough to make him attractive on the trade market. If the Mariners
hold onto both for the length of Johjima's contract, Clement could get more of
his at-bats at first base or DH while backing up Johjima at catcher."
" ... I'd line up their revised Top 10 in this
order: Upton, shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman Conor Jackson, outfielder
Carlos Quentin, Young, outfielder Carlos Gonzales, righthander Dustin Nippert,
catcher Miguel Montero, righthander Garrett Mock and Callaspo ...
Callaspo is a career .315 hitter in the minors and he's an exceptional
contact hitter ... But he doesn't stand out in any other area offensively ...
figures to make Arizona's big legue club as a reserve middle infielder."
Mike Scarr, MLB.com, on Howie Kendrick LAA :
" ... The Angels remain intrigued by Kendrick's
offensive skills, and the 22-year-old has done nothing this spring to douse that
enthusiasm. "Howie is a guy that can hit right now in the big leagues and hit in
a big way in the big leagues," said manager Mike Scioscia, adding that appearing
as the designated hitter is not out of the realm of possibility this season ...
The only issue that remains for Kendrick is an ability to match his glove to his
bat, but observers say that he has the key ingredient to lick that problem, too.
"He has the one thing that a coach could ask for; he wants to learn," said Minor
League roving infield instructor Rob Picciolo. "The battle is halfway won
because he wants to play defense as well as he plays offensively. His interest
is there and he wants it." (MLB.com)
Jonathan Mayo, MiLB.com, has kicked off his team-by-team reports with entries on
the
Yankees and
Red Sox :
" ... Philip Hughes ... plus stuff and
exceptional command at age 19. His fastball sits in the 90-95 mph range and he
can touch 97 at times. With it, he throws a curve, slider and developing
changeup. A good index for a pitcher is his ability to command the fastball to
the opposite of his arm side -- away to right-handed hitters for the
right-handed Hughes. And he can already do that, signs of a special
understanding of pitching nuance. To find the last Yankee farmhand to exhibit
that kind of early command, you'd have to go back to Mariano Rivera."
" ... Sean Henn ... performed
well in Double- and Triple-A in 2005, and there are those within the
organization who think the southpaw is really close to being ready to contribute
positively. He lost command while up in New York. If he can regain faith in his
stuff, he'll become a very good commodity -- a lefty with a good arm -- in a
pretty thin market."
" ... Abe Alvarez ... He's been
a young pitcher at every level, including spending most of the year in Pawtucket
in 2005 at age 22. While his overall numbers weren't stellar -- a 4.85 ERA --
and he gave up 17 homers over 26 starts, some of his peripherals suggest it
wasn't that bad of a season. The lefty struck out 109 and walked just 31 in his
144 2/3 innings of work, and he allowed just under a hit per inning. He's got
perhaps the best command in the system, but his stuff isn't such that he has a
large margin of error. The main thing keeping him from being big-league ready is
experience and conditioning."
" ... Jacoby Ellsbury ... a
perfect combination of tools and an advanced college approach. His speed plays
well both at the plate and in the field. He has the chance to be an
above-average center fielder defensively, though he does need to work on
improving his jumps and routes to balls. He's not just a speed guy on the bases;
he's got good instincts to maximize his speed. He's got an excellent idea of the
strike zone and makes contact with consistency."
02 March, 2006
World Baseball Classic kicks off Thursday ... Korea vs. Chinese
Taipei
Troop
Movements ... NYN - announced the retirement of 2B Bret Boone ...
Jordan Tata DET 2 1 0 0 0 3 ... Curtis Granderson DET cf,
1-2 ... Brian Anderson CHA cf 0-3 ... Ian
Stewart COL 0-1, walk ... Jarrod
Saltalamacchia
ATL, a big hit on opening day, 2-2, double, triple
Dayn Perry, FOXSports,
posts his next to last installment in his Top 100, 11-20. A pair of
hotshot catchers, and a top Yankee farmhand included on the list.
" ... 15. Jeff Clement ... has a
devastating left-handed power stroke, and he's made good progress with his
defense in recent seasons. Clement doesn't have great plate discipline, and his
low contact rates means he may not hit for average in the majors. However, the
power certainly translates. Behind the plate, his throwing arm is below average,
but he frames pitches well and is sure-handed. He'll stick at the position, and
be good for 25 homers annually."
" ... 17. Jarrod Saltalamacchia ...
Despite playing half his games at High-A Myrtle Beach, the toughest hitter's
park in professional baseball ... authored a batting line of .314 AVG/.394 OBP/.519
SLG, all while manning a key defensive position. He's a switch-hitter, but some
in the organization feel he should bat only from the left side. Salty commands
the strike zone and hits for power, but his future behind the plate is
uncertain."
" ... 19. Philip Hughes ... Keep your
eye on this one. Hughes boasts a plus-plus fastball/slider combo, and his
changeup also has potential. He's got a classic power pitcher's build, and he
shows poise on the mound that belies his young age. Hughes thrived across two
levels last season, and in 86.1 innings he fanned 93, walked only 20 and coughed
up only a single home run. On the downside, Hughes has yet to face advanced
competition, and he's battled shoulder tendonitis in each of the last two
seasons. Still, if he stays healthy, he's a future first-order ace at the
highest level."
David
Regan, RotoAmerica, goes with a power hitter atop the HOU prospect chart :
" ... #1 Hunter Pence ... stands a solid 6’5”, 210 and
he showed off his tremendous raw power this year at both Class A levels. Pence
has very quick hands and has managed to hit at all levels despite what scouts
describe as a “hitch” in his swing. Hitch or not, Pence can rake ... has decent speed and has showed a willingness to take a walk when
necessary ... so far so good. "
" ... #2 Troy Patton ... had many highlights this year, including a
32 inning scoreless streak and a selection to the Futures Game. Has good
movement on his low 90s fastball and can dial it up to 95 on occasion when
needed. Has a lot of success getting hitters to chase his curve out of the zone,
although some wonder if more advanced hitters will chase as many bad pitches.
Change has potential but still needs development ... I like Jason Hirsh, but Patton is 3 ½ years
younger, left-handed, and could start 2006 in AA as a 20 year-old."
" ... #5 Eli Iorg ... had a solid 2005 debut for
Houston. He was a bit old for the Appy League, but still impressed managers and
scouts and profiles as a big power-hitting RF at 6’3”, 205. He’s strong,
generating plus power to all parts of the ballpark. Surprising speed for a guy
his size and could wind up as a .300/30/100 type with 15 sb’s if he reaches his
ceiling. Showed good defensive skills in RF, including a strong arm."
John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall,
offers up his ranking of the Marlin's young guns. No surprise at the top -
Jeremy Hermida (Grade A). Anibal Sanchez (B+) is the
runnerup, over Scott Olsen (B+).
" ... Lots of depth in pitching. Note that
there are lots of promising prospects not in the Top 20. Guys like Jeff Allison,
Robert Andino, Matt Goyen, Brett Hayes, Jacob Marceaux, Randy Messenger, Grant
Psomas, Jason Stokes, Taylor Tankersley, Scott Tyler, and Dan Uggla would all
make the Top 20 list for many organizations ... I don't know what to make
of Hanley Ramirez any more. His tools are excellent, and he flashes skills, but
his track record just doesn't support a higher rating than Grade B right now, at
least in my mind."
A pair of young guys - Hanley Ramirez, Robert Andino --
challenging for the starting SS stop in FLO :
" ... With Spring Training games
beginning Wednesday, Ramirez and Andino are neck-and-neck for the starting job.
"They are two really gifted athletes," manager Joe Girardi said. "They are
fundamentally sound defensively. They are little bit different types of hitters.
Hanley has a little more pop. Robert is probably more of a hit-and-run type of
guy. They are two very gifted shortstops who should create some excitement over
the next four weeks. They'll go at it, and let's find out." (MLB.com)
David Luciani, Baseball Notebook, on Troy Tulowitzki COL :
" ... I'm not projecting him to make it to the
majors this year if that's what you're asking. I also haven't seen him play ...
Based on the statistical analysis, he looks like a future medium level power
hitter - think 15-20 home runs in a neutral environment, inflated if he plays
half of his games in Colorado. His contact level of 80% in 2005 was a bit low
for a Single-A player who's already twenty-one and the only thing I know about
him that works in his favor is that he was taken in the first round of the
draft. I wish I knew more about him but based on the limited data I have for him
which is just 94 at bats at Single-A Modesto in 2005, so far he hasn't done
anything to light up the statistical bulbs just yet and unfortunately, I can't
rate his tools impartially without having seen him play yet."
Javier Herrera moving up the chart in OAK.
" ... Herrera is a center fielder and a five-tool
player. His powerful right arm is the tool that wows everyone, but Herrera, now
at his first big-league camp, has the whole package. When Andre Ethier was
traded to the Dodgers in the offseason, Herrera essentially inherited Ethier's
unofficial status as Oakland's top Minor League outfielder. "He has an absolute
cannon," said A's outfield coach Brad Fischer. "I've only seen him in drills,
but he's pretty polished for a guy his age." " ... 2005 season got off to an
ugly start when he was suspended for 15 games for testing positive for steroids
(he blames a tainted medication), but he still made quite an impression ... .
Playing the bulk of his 99 games at Class A Kane County, Herrera batted .280
with 14 homers and 65 RBIs, leading the A's organization with 27 stolen bases in
32 tries ... . more than held his own in winter ball, batting .265 with
three homers and 12 RBIs in 53 games, and he helped Venezuela to the Caribbean
World Series crown. (MLB.com)
01 March, 2006
Troop
Movements ... ARZ - acquired infielder Alberto Callaspo (who had
just begun to take grounders ar third in the LAA camp) from LAA
for pitcher Jason Bulger ...
John Sickels ranks a revamped White
Sox farm and picks a lefty starter to top the list. Ray Liotta
(B+), Bobby Jenks (B) and Brian Anderson (B) 1-2-3.
Not a deep farm system by any means. Winter trades of
Chris Young, Gio Gonzalez, and Dan Haigwood
reduce system depth considerably ... Just about everyone else on the list has questions
... Brian Anderson is a decent prospect but I'd rather have Chris
Young. Lance Broadway's average fastball will have to hold
up at higher levels. Ryan Sweeney is very young but could be an
outfield version of Sean Burroughs as a hitter. Francisco
Hernandez didn't hit his first shot at full-season ball. Jerry
Owens lacks power."
Lefty Jon Lester BOS attracting lots of attention:
" ... the 22-year-old Lester isn't ready for the
Major Leagues yet. But he doesn't look too far off, either. It has been a fast
first few days of Spring Training for Lester, who is considered one of the most
highly regarded pitching prospects in the game ... After
dominating for Double-A Portland last year (11-6, league-leading 2.61 ERA, .215
opponents' batting average, 163 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings), Lester will make
the jump to Triple-A Pawtucket to start the 2006 season. But that next jump in
the progression can occur before you know it ... From his
mid- to upper-90s fastball to his complementary pitches (cutter, curve and
changeup), Lester has the arsenal to make it at the highest level. But as
Schilling can point out from experience, there are some other things that must
occur before his progression is complete. "Obviously, he's beyond his years as
far as polish goes. Numbers-wise, there are numbers that he's put up that are
eye-openers," said Schilling. "But, like (Papelbon) and all the other guys, he
needs to pitch. He needs innings. He needs experience. Unfortunately, you got to
get your head kicked in a couple times and start making adjustments and changing
things." (MLB.com)
Looking ahead to June ... North Carolina right hander Andrew Miller ...
two starts so far :
IP H R ER BB SO NP
Andrew Miller 6.0 4 0 0 1 9 84
Andrew Miller 7.0 2 0 0 1 11 93
For
those looking for an early line on the
Royals 25-man contingent, check out the rundown at the KC Star.
Bryan Smith, Baseball Analysts,
in what looks to be an annual presentation, offers his picks as the best of the sophomores
(PECOTA is the forecasting system developed by Baseball Prospectus) :
" ... 2. Rickie Weeks ... The problems
are fairly obvious with Weeks. First of all, it's likely that Weeks will never
be a good second baseman, perhaps always providing negative value in the field.
At the plate, Weeks also has serious contact problems, and PECOTA sees an
average that, by 2010, will never top .280. His strikeout numbers should usually
be over 100. But PECOTA also sees a 30-40% chance that, in each of the next five
years, Weeks is a superstar. Rickie has great power for a player up the middle,
and his speed on the basepaths should make fantasy owners consistently happy.
When accepting his faults, we should look at Weeks as the NL second base starter
in the All-Star Game for years to come."
" ... 4. Brian McCann ... he
may remind some (old) Braves fans of Joe Torre, who at the age of 21, hit a very
similar .282/.355/.395. In the next four years, Torre built towards his peak,
culminating in an age 25 season with a .943 OPS ... has better power than he
showed last year."
" ... 12. Curtis Granderson ... might not be the next great Tiger, or even a consistent All-Star. But
for a team like Detroit, that has been "rebuilding" for so long, he's the
long-term answer at one position. PECOTA loves him, but I don't see enough power
developing for a superstar to shine through."
Just a day or so after announcing Joel Guzman would try out several
positions this spring as a transition from shortstop, LAD say Joel will settle
down in left field :
" ... Guzman, who marked his last game as a
shortstop Tuesday with a long home run, becomes a left fielder Wednesday.
Dodgers manager Grady Little made official the switch, a long-anticipated move
done now to give the 6-foot-6 right-handed slugger a fast-track shot into the
Dodgers' Opening Day lineup at age 21. "Right now, there's nothing that's been
said or done that he couldn't leave with us this spring," Little said before the
club's intrasquad game. "He's a talented young man with rooftop power. If we see
he's comfortable in left field, who knows what can happen? A transition like
that shouldn't be tough." In other words, if he can hit enough, whatever
defensive deficiencies Guzman has would be easily overlooked in left field."
(MLB.com)
Tiger sleeper. Jordan Tata :
" ... Tata earned the Tigers farm system's top honor
for pitchers. He doesn't boast a 99 mph fastball. He didn't challenge for the
Minor League strikeout title. All he did was win. He might be the only guy to
fly under the radar with a 13-2 record. "He grinds it out," said third baseman
Kody Kirkland, Tata's teammate for the last three seasons. "That's the biggest
thing. He just competes." Most of the time, he competes well enough to come out
on top ... Add Tata's second-half performance in 2004 at Class A West
Michigan and the 24-year-old right-hander owns a 19-3 record over his last 38
outings ... Though he's an imposing figure on the mound at 6-foot-6 and
220 pounds, Tata's stuff is deceptive. He can hit 95 mph, but he usually works
in the lower 90s -- not bad, but not overpowering. The equalizing factor that
has made him as hard to beat as Zumaya and Verlander is the movement he puts on
his pitches. His fastball has a natural sinking motion and his cutter bites in
on hitters." (MLB.com)
Andrew McCutchen makes a quick impression in the PIT camp :
" ... McCutchen needed only one at-bat to make
a glowing first impression in his first game ... first intrasquad
scrimmage ... McCutchen, the team's first-round draft pick last summer,
exhibited trademark patience by taking the first three pitches he saw ...
liked the fourth, and he lined it into center field for an RBI single. It would
be the only at-bat for McCutchen... "To get a hit and an RBI, it just let me
know I can handle this." As if to underscore that he was the only teenager in
camp, though, McCutchen was picked off second." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
In Seattle, smiles so far :
" ... Hargrove [manager Mike Hargrove]
hadn't seen Kenji Johjima catch in anything resembling a game until
Monday. The manager was favorably impressed. "I thought Joe caught real well,"
Hargrove said. "He had a lot of life. He bounced around behind the plate real
well." Hargrove was particularly impressed by Johjima's scrambled pursuit of a
pitch in the dirt from rookie Luis Gonzalez. Fleet shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt
attempted to advance from first base to second, and Johjima threw him out. "I
thought he had no chance on that one," Hargrove said. "But he got the ball and
got rid of it in a hurry ... He's got a stronger arm than you might think, and
he always gets rid of the ball so quickly." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Notes from the Rangers' camp :
" ... Edison Volquez wasn't mentioned in
pitching coach Mark Connor's list of candidates for the fifth spot in the
starting rotation. But Connor said Volquez, 22, is throwing well and making good
progress. Manager Buck Showalter said he is confident Volquez will learn from
his rocky experience in the majors late last season. He was 0-4 with a 14.21 ERA
in 12 2/3 innings. "That happens to young pitchers," Showalter said. "The good
ones figure it out. He'll be fine." (Dallas Morning News)
" ... Right-hander Kameron Loe will start for
one side in the Rangers’ intrasquad game Wednesday morning. It’s his first
game-type action, although pitching coach Mark Connor said during the first week
of spring training that Loe was already pitching like it’s the seventh game of
the World Series." (FW Star-Telegram)
28 February, 2006
Troop
Movements ... WAS - signed Pedro Astacio ... BP - Baseball
Prospectus announces the acquisition of prospector/writer Kevin Goldstein
from Baseball America ...
John Sickels likes those southpaws
in the Philly system - Cole Hamels (B+), Gio Gonzalez (B+)
and Daniel Haigwood (B) 1-2-3.
A good first step for Hamels :
" ... Cole Hamels yesterday threw
off the mound for the first time since August. Hamels, the team's first-round
pick in 2002, has a chronic back issue that cost him most of last season and has
put him behind the other pitchers this spring. He threw 25 pitches - 23
fastballs and two of his trademark changeups. He did not hold back. He was
delighted. "It was everything I expected it to be," he said. He felt no back
pain, though there is a lingering tightness. "He threw the ball very well,"
pitching coach Rich Dubee allowed. "We'll see how he [feels today]." Hamels said
he will next throw off the mound Wednesday. Without setbacks, Hamels said, he
could start pitching in games in 2 weeks." (Philadelphia Daily News)
Good to see Joe Ptak back in the swing at his
Cleveland Indians Report. He's been forecasting the likely 25-man
roster guys along with some notes on the farm kids.
" ... RYAN GARKO: Will rake and bide his
time in Buffalo until a spot opens up in Cleveland. Glove continues to be a
question, even at first, but should hit enough to make the glove workable. Could
be a candidate to be included in a mid-season deal to bolster the big league
club." T
" ... BRAD SNYDER: The next Paul O'Neill?
Sounds good to me. Still strikes out a ton but he draw walks, steals bases, has
big power, a good glove, and a strong arm. Everything you're looking for in a
right-fielder. Likely will start the year in Akron, move up to Buffalo
mid-season, and get the Starbucks treatment in September."
" ... BRANDON PHILLIPS: How far has his stock
fallen when he's out of options and isn't considered a lock for the roster when
his main competition includes Ramon Vazquez and Lou Merloni? ... Best
guess, Phillips has a good enough spring that the Tribe can move him for
something towards the end of March. My money is on the Nationals and Braves."
" ... KELLY SHOPPACH: Probably should
have been included in the "guaranteed to head north" crowd, but the Indians did
bring in a couple of veteran backstops to give him a little push so we'll play
along and consider this an open spot. Could open an intriguing mix of
possibilities if he shows his bat can play at the major league level. Power
isn't the question, he blasted 26 bombs last year and led the IL in homeruns per
at-bat, it's whether he can maintain a high enough average (or draw enough walks
to maintain a decent OBP) to go along with the longballs. Well regarded
defensively, he has nothing left to prove in triple-A. It would be a big
surprise if he's not on the roster come opening day."
Jan Ramirez, InsideTheDugout,
has a look at the Florida system - Jeremy Hermida, Scott Olsen and Hanley
Ramirez 1-2-3. Some pretty fair talent down the list :
" ... 4 - Anibal Sanchez ... Had injury problems early
in his career, which included surgery to relieve nerve problems in his throwing
shoulder, he has since recovered and blossomed into one the best pitching
prospects in baseball. Featuring a mid 90’s fastball with good movement and
brilliant control. He also has a fantastic changeup and a curve that he is
working on. Like many young pitchers he needs to continue maintaining consistent
mechanics, to maintain control as well as avoid injury ... could be a very
special pitcher down the line, a possible ace if he avoids serious injury and
continues developing his secondary pitches."
" ... 7 - Chris Volstad ... prototypical High
school arm. With good size (6’7”), and good stuff that could easily translate to
big league success. He has a fastball that sits in the low 90’s, but could
increase as he puts weight on and develops into his body. Has two average
offspeed offerings , a curveball and changeup that could develop into above
average pitches if he finds more consistency."
" ... 10 - Mike Jacobs ... will look to put up
solid power numbers on an everyday basis in pitcher friendly Dolphins Stadium
... solid power and run production ... more of a .260-.270 hitter
with legitimate 30+ homer power. Defensively he will be nothing more then
average at 1st , as 2006 will be his 1st year playing the position full-time.
Jacobs will never be a superstar but could have an adequate and productive major
league career."
Ah, the hype of spring training.
" ... After getting a look at Jarrod
Saltalamacchia in camp, Braves manager Bobby Cox said that the 20-year-old
is the best-looking young hitter the organization has seen in many years ...
coming off a season in which he hit .314 with 19 homers for Class A Myrtle
Beach. He's also showed steady improvement defensively, and he has an extremely
strong arm. If Saltalamacchia continues his torrid play at Double-A Mississippi
this year, he'll likely be ready for the Majors by the start of the 2007 season.
The only question is where he will fit into the Atlanta lineup. With Brian
McCann, who will be 23 years old at that point, likely capable of being the
Braves' starting catcher for many more years, there's a chance that
Saltalamacchia could move to one of the corner-infield positions." (MLB.com)
Wes Bankston TB on the move again, this time to the hot corner.
" ... Bankston, who missed the first month of last
season while recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee, has never played
third base before. He was an outfielder in each of his first two seasons in the
organization before switching to first base during 2004. But growing up in Texas
he was a big fan of Rangers infielder Steve Buechele and says he always thought
about playing third base. Now he has the chance. "I have to start learning the
position and getting comfortable over there," said Bankston, who combined to hit
.309 with 15 homers and 70 RBIs at both stops last year. "This should be fun,
though. We'll wait and see what happens. I'll work on my throws, work on moving
my feet more. We'll give it a few weeks and see how it goes. "I'm excited,
though, because this is going to be a new challenge. It's one more position to
play. Whether it's first base or third base, wherever they need me to play,
that's where I'll play. I think it will be a new challenge." (MLB.com)
27 February, 2006
Troop
Movements ... CHA - signed Bucky Jacobsen to a minor league
contract ... BAL - signed Richard Hidalgo to a minor league contract ...
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, wraps his Top 10s with reviews on the
NL West squads. A few of the players highlighted :
" ... 1. Justin Upton ... Many view
Justin as an even greater talent than his sibling. He’s incredibly fast, and he
should hit for both average and 25-homer power. If he comes along defensively,
he might be ready to play in the majors as soon as 2008. Where he’ll end up on
the field remains a mystery. The Diamondbacks plan to develop him as a
shortstop, but the popular opinion is that center field is where he’d best fit.
He’ll open his pro career in the Midwest League."
" ... 9. Miguel Montero ... Even more
surprising than the sudden development of Carlos Gonzalez last season was the
big offensive performance submitted by Montero, another player the Diamondbacks
signed out of Venezuela. The team believes he has the defensive tools to start
behind the plate in the majors, though he lacks a big-time arm. His bat will
remain something of a question mark until he does it again, but as a left-handed
hitter with the ability to reach 15 or 20 homers, there’s a good chance that
he’ll be a regular for at least a few years."
" ... 2. Troy Tulowitzki ...
Rockies think he’ll be able to stay at shortstop even though he’s not
exceptionally quick, and they also believe he’ll develop 20-homer power. In
Coors Field, he might be good for 25 or 28 homers per year. He still probably
won’t be a particularly remarkable hitter, mainly due to average on-base skills,
but he should have the bat to be a starter at second base if a switch becomes
necessary. Like Stewart, he could be ready in the second half of 2007, though he
probably won’t be rushed. The Rockies are content with Clint Barmes."
" ... 5. Chris Nelson ... missed the
first two months with a strained hamstring and then played terribly for several
weeks after returning. While things did get better as the year went on, his
stock is well down now. A priority this year will be cutting down on the
strikeouts. Nelson has the tools to hit for average and power. He might not have
the range to stay at shortstop, but he could be an above average defender at
second base if that’s the direction in which the Rockies opt to go. It’d
probably be for the best if he returned to the South Atlantic League to start
this year."
" ... 3. Andy LaRoche ...
breakthrough season for sure, but LaRoche is a year older than Joel Guzman and
wasn’t any better than Guzman offensively after moving up to Double-A ...
does appear nearly certain to become a regular. He could hit 35 to 40 homers per
year at his peak, and he’s on his way to becoming a pretty good defensive third
baseman. On-base percentage could be a problem."
" ... 8. Scott Elbert ... Beyond
Billingsley, Elbert is the Dodgers’ next best hope to become an impact starter.
The 17th overall pick in the 2004 draft used a low-90s fastball and a quality
curve to limit hitters to a .200 average and a .289 slugging percentage in the
South Atlantic League last season. If he makes gains with his command, he could
end up splitting this year between Vero Beach and Jacksonville, putting him
right where Billingsley was a year ago."
" ... 1. Cesar Carrillo ... could
be a part of the Padres’ rotation by the middle of the summer. Carrillo has
outstanding command of an above average arsenal. He can throw 95 mph, but he’s
better when he takes something off his fastball and gets sinking action on the
pitch. Both his curveball and his changeup are major league offerings, though
neither is a true strikeout pitch. Petco Park will be ideal for him, given that
he will allow quite a few balls in play. He’s one of the NL’s top pitching
prospects for both real and fantasy baseball."
" ... 3. George Kottaras ...
has a nice arm and the rest of the tools to be a successful catcher. With added
experience, it’s unlikely that he’ll be a liability. Still, he’ll be known for
his offense. Kottaras has a .392 OBP as a minor leaguer. Unfortunately, he’s too
slow to be a quality top-of-the-order hitter, but he will settle in as a
15-homer guy, suggesting that he could handle batting fifth. He’ll probably
split this year between Double- and Triple-A. It is possible that he won’t be
ready until 2008."
" ... 2. Marcus Sanders ...
probable leadoff hitter of the future. Sanders spent most of 2005 at shortstop,
but second base, his position the previous season, figures to be his long-term
home. An injury to his throwing shoulder that required offseason surgery likely
caused the drop-off in power at Augusta. It’s possible that he’ll be good for 10
or 12 homers per year after he reaches the majors. Even if he isn’t, his
basestealing ability could make him a top fantasy second baseman."
" ... 3. Eddy Martinez-Esteve ...
is going to be a major leaguer, but since he’s a natural designated hitter, he
might not be a fit in San Francisco. Once he recovered from the shoulder surgery
that limited him to DH duties for the first couple of months of last season, the
Giants put him in left field and tried to groom him as the eventual replacement
for Barry Bonds. They might also take a look at him at first base. Martinez-Esteve
is only at home in the batter’s box. In addition to his 17 homers at San Jose
last year, he had 44 doubles. He also walked more than he struck out. The
Florida State product’s on-base skills may make him a No. 3 hitter in the
majors. He probably won’t slug .500 with regularity, but the doubles will make
up for modest home run titles. He might be just a year away from being ready to
hit in the majors."
John Sickels finds a couple of
potential gems in his research into the SEA farm system. Catcher Jeff
Clement (Grade A-), OF-SS Adam Jones (B+) and SS
Asdrubal Cabrera (B) rank 1-2-3.
" ... Clement and
Jones are the obvious top guys, but after that things become unclear. Chris
Snelling is a very good hitter, but he's also good at getting hurt. I gave him a
Grade C in the book, but will increase that to C+ ... As for Kenji
Johjima, your guess is as good as mine.
He turns 30 this year and I don't really count him as a "prospect" given his
experience in Japan."
In working on the Cardinals' chart, a pitcher stands
out at No. 1. Anthony Reyes (B+) topped outfielders Colby
Rasmus (B+) and Cody Haerther (B+).
" ... I'm very intrigued with the bat of catching prospect
Bryan Anderson.
He may have to switch positions, but his hitting should carry forward ... I saw
A.J. Van Slyke play a lot of college ball, and I
think he will hit."
Mariners' crowing over catching corps :
" ... All of a sudden, the Mariners are awash in
catchers. Japanese import Kenji Johjima will be the starter and Rene
Rivera, 22,
fits in as the backup. But last year's No. 1 draft pick, Jeff Clement, and
Rob Johnson (fourth round, 2004) have caught Hargrove's eye. Clement has been
showing off his monstrous left-handed swing during batting practice, hitting
balls over the fence at a furious rate. Johnson doesn't have the same power, but
he's hit a flurry of line drives. Both have shown that they might have the stuff
defensively, too ... In a year or two, one or more of them
may have to move to another position. "That's way, way in the future, and those
things have a way of taking care of themselves," Hargrove said. "But sure, in a
couple of years I could see a lineup with Johjima and Clement in it at the same
time. " (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
LAD trying to keep Chad Billingsley down on the farm, but ...
" ... when Little [Manager Grady Little] was asked Saturday whether the former first-round draft
pick can make the rotation out of spring training, he didn't temper his
enthusiasm. "It's hard to say no at this time," he said. A day earlier the
manager expounded on Billingsley's qualities. "I don't think this guy is going
to be a good pitcher; I think he's going to be a great pitcher," Little said,
proceeding to list the reasons: "The body style. The look on his face when he's
on the mound. The way he walks around in a major league clubhouse. And his
stuff." The last starter the Dodgers rushed to the big leagues was Edwin
Jackson, who struggled the last two years, became a walking, talking cautionary
tale, and was traded in January. Little knows this too. But he can't help
himself. "I wouldn't be surprised if Billingsley was a factor on this big league
team in 2006," he said. "He's a guy we will be sure we make all the right
decisions with. I want to make sure his upward progression stays upward."
(LA Times)
" ... Little said touted prospect Joel Guzman would be moved
from shortstop after the intrasquad game and begin working out at first base,
third base and the outfield." (LA Times)
SEA still with a surplus of shortstops, but Matt Tuiasosopo staying put
for now.
" ... four of Seattle's top prospects — Mike
Morse, Adam Jones, Asdrubal Cabrera and Oswaldo Navarro — have shifted off
shortstop ... But Matt Tuiasosopo is still at shortstop and will stay there for the
foreseeable future. "You have to be careful and walk a fine line," said Benny
Looper, Seattle's vice president for player development. "There is no denying
Betancourt's ability to field the position with the premier shortstops. But he
has to hit a bit and he has to stay healthy, so you have to be careful when you
go converting the guys behind him." ... Tuiasosopo, who is 6-2, 210, also has
heard that those of smaller stature are more likely to succeed at shortstop than
those with A-Rod frames. "I'm still there," Tuiasosopo said. "Hearing that I'll
be moved from short some day, possibly because I'll get too big to play there,
has just made me work harder to prove them wrong." (Seattle Times)
If he didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all :
" ... After watching injured third-round draft pick Taylor
Teagarden shuffle around camp unable to participate in drills, manager Buck
Showalter gave him a pep talk Friday afternoon. Teagarden has a stress fracture
in his lower back and is recovering from "Tommy John" surgery. He may not play
at all this season. Showalter told him to focus on getting something out of his
time in major league camp instead of worrying about what's already happened.
"It's tough," Showalter said Saturday. "He's been a doer all his life and now
he's just a spectator." (Dallas Morning News)
A long shot for a 2006 rotation spot, but ...
" ... Starter Sean Burnett achieved a milestone of sorts by
painlessly completing a long-toss session one day after he threw 70 pitches,
including roughly 40 to live hitters. "They tell you that the most important
thing in coming back from surgery is how you feel the first day after you pitch
a lot," Burnett said. "I feel great." Burnett is recovering from two surgeries
on his left arm and has had no setbacks. Still, the Pirates consider him a long
shot to reclaim his spot in the rotation until June. "I'm very competitive, and
I know there's an opening for the fifth spot," Burnett said. "That's my goal for
right now. That's all I'm focused on. I'm not looking to get called up in June.
I want to break camp with the team. If not, I'll go to Indianapolis, bust my
butt and try to get back up here." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
A good, first impression.
" ... Daric Barton ... is in the big-league camp this spring and has
impressed the coaches with his live-drive swing and his athleticism. Barton was
a catcher in the Cardinals system, but he had some arm problems last spring, and
the A's are turning him into a first baseman. Infield coach Ron Washington says
Barton is a quick learner with good mobility and soft hands. Barton, who doesn't
turn 21 until August, is expected to start the season at Triple-A Sacramento."
(MLB.com)
" ... This Barton kid can play. We knew he could hit, but he
can play some defense, too. He's gonna be ready to take someone's job pretty
soon." -- Washington
A bad break to start the season, but a solid career forecast for Chris Young
ARZ :
" ... Young
broke a bone in his right hand in his next-to-last workout in Florida ... had surgery to help promote the healing process and could be back on the
field as early as March 15. That would put him on track for the start of the
Minor League season, with Triple-A Tucson his destination. ... Last year with
Double-A Birmingham as a 21-year-old, he hit .277 with 41 doubles, 26 homers and
32 stolen bases in 38 attempts. Those numbers are even more impressive when you
consider he was making the jump from low Class A and playing in a league that is
more friendly to pitchers than hitters. More impressive was the fact that his
plate discipline improved not just from 2004 to 2005, but also as the 2005
season progressed. "I was just more patient," he said. "I felt more comfortable,
less anxious." "He's one of the best prospects in baseball," Byrnes
[general manager Josh Byrnes] said. "He's
got tools, he's got performance. He's a guy that can impact the game on the
bases, hit a home run or save a game defensively. That's a hard package to find,
so we obviously gave up a lot, but we feel like he was a very important part of
that trade."
(MLB.com)
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