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29 February, 2004
 Here
he goes again, launching the annual appeal with the slightly battered, but
trusty tin cup (staking out the choice street locations). (Although not nearly
as crafty as the guy with the leather jacket, Rolex & cell phone outside
Shopper's Drug Mart on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto.) Many thanks to
those who've already sent in contributions for the new season. If you can
help out, click the cup image (at right or below). Wishes for a great
season ! jdm
 Spring
... always such optimism. Nick Neugebauer taking the first steps on
a long road to recovery :
" ... Neugebauer, whose blazing
fastball once made him Milwaukee's top pitching prospect, is thrilled about his
progress in early throwing sessions ... Coming off his second shoulder surgery
in three years, Neugebauer pitched live batting practice during two of the
team's first three formal workouts, a sign that coaches and trainers have
confidence in his surgically repaired right shoulder. "I'm not throwing
near close to full strength, but the ball is still coming out live," said
Neugebauer, 23. "I'll still be a typical power pitcher, it's just a matter of
getting my arm strength all the way back and getting my mechanics right."
... For now, Neugebauer says he's focused on mechanics. The team will
worry about velocity later, and it remains to be seen if Neugebauer will regain
the 98 mph fastball that made him such an exciting prospect ... "Generally, I
think we have to be careful with him," Melvin said. "His workload will be
guarded for the first two, three months. More than likely he won't be a guy who
throws 80 or 100 pitches [in a game] this year." ...Melvin and his staff
will also determine whether Neugebauer's future is as a starter or a
hard-throwing reliever." (MLB.com)
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Xavier Paul LA :
" ... Pioneer League and hit well,
knocking for a .307 average, with 15 doubles, six triples, seven homers, and 11
steals. He also posted a .384 OBP and a .489 SLG, solid marks for a player
jumping from high school to pro competition. He should move to full season ball
this year, and I think he'll emerge as one of the top hitting prospects in the
Dodger system very quickly ... left-handed hitter with a live drive swing. I
don't think he's going to be a huge power guy ... I'm optimistic about
him. I gave him a C+ in my book this year, with the notation that his grade
should rise substantially in the future. I like him better than more-heralded
toolsy Dodger outfielders like Reggie Abercrombie."
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, sees some significant mound help on the way in BAL beyond
highly ranked lefthander Adam Loewen:
" ... The Orioles will give many of their young
pitchers a long look in 2004. The two pitchers who should get first crack at
showing their stuff are LHP Matt Riley and LHP Erik Bedard. Both
are "Tommy John" surgery survivors who are ready to get their pro careers back
on track ... Each has big league stuff and confidence.
The O's have a trio of right-handers who will get the call after Riley and
Bedard. RHP Denny Bautista, RHP John Maine, and RHP Dave
Crouthers all have big league arms and all are on the verge of tasting the
bigs. Bautista has the biggest ceiling of the three. His fastball hits the
mid-90s and his curve and change are improving. The one thing holding Bautista
back is his command. He still lacks a feel for pitching. Maine and Crouthers are
less explosive than Bautista but each could be #3 starters in the bigs."
Aaron
Gleeman, on his baseball blog, has been reviewing his 2003 Top 50 picks and
finding a majority of his picks in "neutral" or having dipped in value over the
past year. Gleeman concludes 10 have improved their status, 16 have gone
down, and 24 are about the same.
He rates his biggest gainers as Prince Fielder, Andy
Marte, Miguel Cabrera, Rafael Soriano and Scott Kazmir. The major losers
-- Jesse Foppert, Josh Hamilton, Brandon Phillips, Joe Borchard and Jason
Stokes.
Among those in neutral, Kevin Youkilis BOS,
his No. 35 in 2003 :
" ... came into this season with an utterly
amazing career minor league on-base percentage of .451 in 325 games. He started
the year at Double-A Portland and actually topped that with a monstrous .487 OBP
in 97 games. Then he got promoted to Triple-A and everything fell apart. In 32
games there, Youkilis hit just .165/.295/.248. He managed to maintain a good
strikeout/walk ratio of 21/18, but he simply couldn't get any hits to fall.
Youkilis is the player for whom the views of scouts and stat-heads differ the
most. Stat-heads see the extraordinary OBPs and immediately fall in love. Scouts
see the lack of traditional tools and project him as nothing special.
Personally, I think he's going to be an excellent offensive player."
Mets'
Scott Kazmir not impressive, but not about to to trade NY for Arlington :
" ... "Kid K" flashed his brilliant left arm
but struggled with his location. He fired 40 pitches, but fewer than half
appeared to be strikes ... "He's got a nice arm," Art Howe said of Kazmir.
"So far he's lived up to everything I've heard." ... If the Mets
trade for Alfonso Soriano, as has been rumored, it will likely require a package
of young pitchers. But owner Fred Wilpon indicated to the Mets' website
yesterday Kazmir won't be shipped. Wilpon watched Kazmir throw live
batting practice yesterday and said, "He's not going anywhere." (New York
Post)
Not
difficult to see why clubs become fascinated with high school hurlers.
Among the picks for a pre-season high school All-American team, Baseball America
has righthander Jay Rainville of Bishop Hendricken in Pawtucket, RI.
6-3, 220, who was 10-0 in 77 innings. Allowed 25 hits, fanned 165, 9
walks. ERA, 0.18. Justin Upton, BJ's younger brother is touted as
the early favourite as the No. 1 pick in 2005.
28 February, 2004
Ah,
gotta be Spring ... the long anticipated Top 100 from
Baseball America ... Joe
Mauer MIN atop. BJ Upton the runnerup ... then Delmon
Young, Edwin Jackson, Rickie Weeks 3-4-5.
The highly productive & informative Jim Callis,
Baseball America, outdid himself by fronting two chat rooms Friday, one on ESPN
and the other at BA. A few of the comments :
Adam Wainwright STL : “
… I think he'll be a solid No. 3 starter in the majors, and you'll probably see
him in St. Louis at some point this year. Wainwright has good stuff across the
board, if not a dazzling out pitch, and his command improved last year.”
PIT rotation prospects : “ … Pirates have nice depth in
their farm system, but they don't have a true impact player. Guys like RHP
John VanBenschoten and LHP Sean Burnett will bolster the rotation
soon, but they're No. 3 starters to me, not aces.”
Andy Marte ATL : “ … Marte is compared to Miguel
Cabrera a lot, and he's a better player than Cabrera was at the same stages of
their career. I think he'll be a star and it wouldn't surprise me if he's
starting for the Braves by the end of the year.”
Zack Greinke KC : “ … I think you'll see Greinke up
by midseason. Kansas City wants to get him some minor league time, but he'll
soon make it apparent that he's one of the Royals' five best options if they're
contending as anticipated. If they fall out of the race quickly, they may wait
longer to bring Greinke up.”
Justin Huber NYN : “ … Huber isn't on the list
because it's very uncertain that he can handle the defensive responsibilities of
the position. Factoring in the possibility that he very well may be a 1B kept
him off the Top 100.”
Bobby Jenks ANA : “ … He does have nice K/IP and
H/IP, but he also:
averaged 5.5 BB/9 in Double-A last year
averaged 5.2 IP/GS
never has shown consistent mechanics
had elbow problems
doesn't have a reliable changeup
All that spells future reliever to me. I'd continue to give him IP to see if he
can become a starter, but I wouldn't bet on it happening. “
Edgar Gonzalez ARZ : “ … I like Gonzalez, but he's
an enigma. His velocity ranges from the high 80s to the mid-90s, and on some
nights he looks like a stud and on others he's very hittable. If he could sit in
the low 90s and focus on sink, he'd probably be best off.”
Greg Miller over Scott Kazmir and Cole Hamels
: “ … We think Miller's shoulder will be fine. He gets the edge because he
has the best combination of stuff and command, better command than Kazmir and
better stuff than Hamels. I'd take any of the three, though.”
Charlie Zink BOS ? “ … He threw 86-87 mph as a
conventional pitcher in 2002. He has to use the knuckleball motion on all his
pitches now, so he won't tip off what he's doing, and that motion has his
fastball sitting in the high 70s now. He's interesting, definitely a guy to
watch, but it's hard to evaluate knuckleballers based on tools and stats because
there just aren't enough of them for comparison's sake. “
Jeremy Reed CHA : “ … I like Jeremy Reed. He had a
great year, but on the other hand, he might not be a CF down the road, he might
not hit more than 15-20 HRs (and even that would be below average for a corner
guy) and he doesn't have the blazing speed his SB totals might indicate.”
Ryan Madson PHI : “ … Madson has a very good
changeup, but his fastball is average and his breaking ball is slightly below
average. He gave up a hit per inning last year in Triple-A. I like him, but he's
more of an end-of-rotation starter for me and not a Top 100 guy.”
Felix Hernandez SEA : “ … His fastball and curveball
are both potential plus-plus pitches, and he just needs a little more
consistency and command as he moves up the ladder. I tend to shy away from
comparisons, as they're rarely fair to either player. But if you're looking for
a guy with a power fastball and curve in the minors, I think of guys like Kerry
Wood.”
Wladimir Balentien SEA : “... He has big-time power,
but his grip-it-and-rip-it approach may be exposed at higher levels. Too early
to put him on the Top 100, even after he decimated the Arizona League.”
Dustin McGowan TOR : “ …
His fastball, curveball and slider are all power pitches, and his changeup and
command keep improving. If it all comes together, he can be a No. 1 starter.”
Delmon Young TB : “ … Albert Belle ceiling, with a
better personality and a strong right hip.”
David Wright NYN : “ … He can hit .300 with 20-25
homers, a good number of walks and solid defense at the hot corner. He may be
the least hyped of the guys in our Top 25.”
JJ Hardy MIL : “ … I think he's a .270-15-75 hitter
with Gold Glove potential, which would make him an all-star.”
Franklin Gutierrez LA ? “ … He's a legitmate center
fielder with five-tool potential. He needs to tighten his strike zone to reach
his ceiling, but it's hard to argue with his physical package.”
Adam Loewen or John Maine ? “ … Loewen throws
harder, has a better breaking ball and may have the better changeup. He's also
three years younger and a lefty. I like both guys a lot, but if I can only have
one, give me Loewen.”
Great! BA has added a
roundtable discussion on the prospect picks to its superb coverage.
Not
again ... Chris Snelling SEA ... on the shelf again after just a couple
of swings in the batting cage :
" ... Snelling came into spring
training healthy for the first time in four years and is hoping for the first
full season of his career. "I don't know if it's just me being unlucky or if
it's a matter of me not having my body in shape," he said. "So I'm going to rule
out my body not being in shape." Trouble found Snelling again just hours after
making those remarks, as he was pulled from his first live batting practice
session after two swings, feeling a tweak in his wrist. Turns out Snelling
suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand and had surgery to remove it
Friday morning in Phoenix. He's expected to miss the rest of spring training and
possibly another month after that." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Lineups
already getting set ... TEX :
" ... Laynce Nix will get
first shot in center field, but Showalter hopes to protect Nix against
left-handers, much as he did with third baseman Hank Blalock last season. So,
Eric Young will often play center and hit leadoff against lefties." (Fort Worth
Star-Telegram)
" ... I think we all have pretty confident feelings
about him offensively at some point in his career," Rangers manager Buck
Showalter said. "Whether he is going to be a center fielder or corner, we'll
see. That won't be figured out here in Spring Training, but this is a nice step
for him." (MLB.com)
Brian
Tallett CLE maybe a chance to return this season :
" ... Tallet doesn't know if he's ahead of schedule
in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's got no complaints. ``I'm happy
the way things are going,'' the left-hander said Thursday after the Indians'
indoor workout at Chain O' Lakes Park. ``It's nice that for the first time in
four or five years, I can throw without it hurting.'' ... began a light throwing
program in December. At first, he was only allowed to throw 30 feet; now he's up
to 120. If there are no setbacks -- and there haven't been so far -- he'll start
pitching off a mound in early March. It's possible that Tallet will go on a
rehab assignment in June and be available to pitch in the majors in August, but
that depends not only on his recovery but the needs of the Tribe." (Akron
Beacon Journal)
KC's
Mitch Maier, no regrets about switch from catcher to third :
" ... Royals selected Maier, 21, with
the second of two first-round picks in last June's amateur draft. But they liked
his bat much more than his glove. “It had to do with his arm action,”
Royals general manager Allard Baird said. “That's something our scouts pointed
out to me on film early on. We owed it to the kid to give him a shot (to remain
at catcher), but I don't think there was a whole lot of optimism ... “I
think his bat is going to come quickly,” Baird said. “And if his defense is
always catching up, that's going to prevent him from coming to the big leagues
when his bat is ready. His bat is pretty advanced.” ... “They made the
switch,” Maier said, “because they saw something that would work. And I like
third. I do. I'm not upset about it." (Kansas City Star)
New
O's boss likes what he sees so far from a couple of Canadian lefties :
" ... Mazzilli stood behind one of the batting cages
yesterday and marveled at Adam Loewen, 19, who has no chance of making
the team in 2004 but continues to make an impression. Erik Bedard,
coming off ligament-transplant surgery in his left elbow, also got noticed."
(Baltimore Sun)
Joe
Nathan, first in line for closer spot in MIN ?
" ... Nathan, a tall, lean
right-hander (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) who broke out last year by going 12-4 with a
2.96 ERA in 78 games as one of San Francisco's top setup men ... "Boy,
he's got electric stuff," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. Nathan made
29 starts between 1999 and 2000, but shoulder surgery threw his career
temporarily off track and a deep Giants staff kept him from reappearing in the
majors until a September call-up in 2002. Last year, he completed a valuable
apprenticeship under closer Tim Worrell, who like Robb Nen before him, owned the
ninth inning for the Giants without much fire or fanfare. The trade to
Minnesota surprised him, but it brought hope, too -- that he could help
stabilize the suddenly thin bullpen for a contending team and get his first
crack at being a closer." (Associated Press)
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, on possible callups in 2004 :
" ... RHP Bobby Jenks and RHP Ervin
Santana are the two prospects who could receive the first call from the
Angels. Both Jenks and Santana have power stuff and each could pitch as a
starter or reliever. Santana may get the call over Jenks because he has far
better command of his stuff. If Jenks shows any kind of command in the minors
this season, that may change the pecking order. But right now, Santana would
probably get the first call."
27 February, 2004
A
new Top 50 on the block ... Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, has compiled his compiled
his list with the assistance of polling results from scouting executives.
Same story at the top -- Joe Mauer MIN. BJ Upton TB was the
runnerup.
Greg Miller LA ranked highest among the young
lefities, at No. 3. Cole Hamels PHI was 6th, Scott Kazmir
NYN 8th. Mayo selected Jeff Mathis ANA as the second best catching
prospect, at No. 19, just ahead of Guillermo Quiroz (21). Dioner
Navarro NYA was No. 40.
The
long awaited Baseball America Top 100 due this Friday. Jim Callis has a
sneak preview online today, at least a look at how the top lefties were ranked.
Again, Greg Miller LA is selected as the top dog :
8. Greg Miller, Dodgers
12. Scott Kazmir, Mets
13. Adam Loewen, Orioles
17. Cole Hamels, Phillies
56. Justin Jones, Cubs
60. Mike Hinckley, Expos
63. Travis Blackley, Mariners
64. Sean Burnett, Pirates
67. Scott Olsen, Marlins
69. Manny Parra, Brewers
77. Andy Sisco, Cubs
80. John Danks, Rangers
82. Dan Meyer, Braves
93. Jeff Francis, Rockies
Callis made special mention of the Cubs' lefthanders
:
" ... Jones, who will pitch in high Class A
this year at age 19, is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball ... . has an
89-94 mph fastball and a plus curveball. He pitched just 71 innings last year
because he came down with a tired arm, and that knocked him down the Top 100. If
he makes it through all of 2004 and pitches like he did a year ago, when he had
a 2.28 ERA, 87-32 strikeout-walk ratio and .215 opponent average, he'll move up
the Top 100. At this point, he has to improve his command and his changeup"
" ... Sisco, another youngster at 20, is very
intriguing but needs more polish before we zoom him up the Top 100 ...
6-foot-9 and throws 92-94 mph. His curveball, changeup and command are
inconsistent, but if he improves in those areas, look out. Last year, he had a
3.54 ERA, 99-31 K-BB ratio and .220 opponent average in 94 low Class A innings."
Cubs'
Jae Kuk Ryu a free man :
" ... pitcher who fatally beaned a protected bird
last year soon will have the warrant for his arrest lifted because he has
fulfilled the terms of his probation, justice officials said Thursday ... Judge
Freddie Worthen issued the warrant last week when probation officials said they
didn't believe Jae Kuk Ryu had completed his 100 hours of community service and
issued a formal apology for killing Ozzy the osprey ... Ryu performed his
community service by working with wildlife experts for 13 days. He raked waste
from bird cages and helped feed newborn seabirds at Wildlife Rescue of the
Florida Keys." (Associated Press)
Spring
Training tradition ... say some nice things about the kids :
" ... The organization is also high on minor league
catchers Craig Ansman (6 feet 3, 222 pounds) and Chris Snyder
(6-3, 220), of whom Brenly fondly refers to as "Mountain Men." "These guys look
like they just crawled down out of the hills somewhere after wrestling a bear,"
Brenly said. "They're big and strong, and both of them are extremely agile
behind the plate. . . . Both those guys have huge upside." (Arizona Republic)
26 February, 2004
Always
fascinating ... the Baseball Prospectus Top 50 (or 40 as it happens on
occasion). With the advent of the mainly pay structure of the site, we're
missing the roundtable discussion on the Top 50, but the list itself would
appear to suggest some considerable internal debate. Joe Mauer took
the top spot with Jeremy Reed and Andy Marte 2-3.
Alexis Rios, usually neck-and-neck with Reed as the top outfield
prospect, ranked No. 15. The full list is on the
Top 100 page.
BJ Upton doesn't show up until No. 8, behind
Prince Fielder (4), David Wright (5), Edwin
Jackson (6) and Zack Greinike (7). Also an
interesting take on the catchers with Guillermo Quiroz at No. 17 a
spot ahead of Jeff Mathis. Dioner Navarro also
made the list at No. 30. Just one "outta left field" selection, No. 50
Charlie Zink, the BOS knuckleballer.
Zink,
24, began to attract attention after his stint in the Arizona Fall League.
FoxSports ranked him No. 96 on its Top 100 :
" ... Novelty act or legit prospect? A little
of both, but mostly the latter. Zink, perhaps the only knuckleballer presently
toiling in the minors, hasn't posted impressive numbers, but when compared to
other knuckleball artists throughout history, he stacks up nicely. He does have
a career 3.26 ERA and has succeeded as high as the Eastern League. But what's
perhaps most in his favor is that he's in an organization that's open-minded
enough to give him a shot when he's ready. He'll never win any Cy Youngs, but
don't be surprised if he cobbles together a very lengthy major league career."
RotoWorld had Zink at No. 4 in the BOS farm system :
" ... Zink, who went undrafted as a
conventional pitcher, became a full-time knuckleballer last season and showed a
remarkable talent for the pitch, even if his minor league numbers weren’t
exactly overwhelming. By emulating Tim Wakefield as much as he can, he gets
consistent movement on the knuckler. He doesn’t have Wakefield’s control, but if
he keeps making progress, he could be able to help the Red Sox in the second
half of 2004 or in 2005."
No.
33 on the BP list, Greg Miller LA checks in at No. 35 on the Top
100 at FOXSports. Dayn Perry has the latest installment, picks 31-40, with
Josh Barfield SD, Chris Snelling SEA and Ervin
Santana 31-32-33. Among the not so familiar in this group, the
future at second in BAL and yet another TB prospect, a pitcher for a change :
" ... 37. Mike Fontenot ... This
past season ... drastically improved his batting average and on-base percentage,
showed much more power and modestly improved his plate discipline. Fontenot
began using contact lenses prior to the 2003 season and worked at using the
whole field. It's impossible to know whether that's the root of his improvement,
but improve he did. Some skepticism is warranted since he only has a single
strong season under his belt, but he's trending upward for sure. If he cobbles
together another strong season, he's the real deal."
" ... 38. Chad Gaudin ... He's worked
as a starter in the minors, but his future at the highest level may be as a
reliever. Even so, his starter credentials are fairly strong: 218.2 minor league
innings, 199 strikeouts, 63 walks, seven homers allowed. As you can see, Gaudin
has command, good control and an ability to keep the ball in the park. As much
trouble as the Rays have had with developing starters, you'd think they'd give
him a shot at the rotation once he's ready"
Drew
Meyer not close to challenging for the shortstop spot in TEX :
" ... Drew Meyer, the Rangers’ first-round pick in
2002 (10th overall), hit .281 in 94 games last year for Class A Stockton before
batting .316 in a 26-game stint with Frisco late in the year. Meyer will get a
few Cactus League at-bats this spring but is most likely to open the season at
Double-A with hopes of advancing to Oklahoma City before the season is through.
He’s probably two years away from any real chance of reaching Arlington but
would have to show a lot of offensive progress for that to happen." (Inside the
Rangers, Evan Grant & Ken Daley)
MIL's
Corey Hart now fine with the move to the outfield :
" ... "They said this might be a quicker way for me
to get to the big leagues," Hart said. "It's nice to know they think that way."
Hart, 22, the most valuable player of the Class AA Southern League last season,
was moved to third base two years ago to try to ease a first-base glut in the
system that included Brad Nelson and Prince Fielder. Nelson moved to the
outfield, paving the way for Fielder to advance as the organization's "first
baseman of the future." At 6 feet 6 inches and accustomed to playing on
the other side of the diamond, Hart struggled at third base, committing 32
errors in each of the last two seasons. But he continued to progress at the
plate, batting .302 with 40 doubles, 13 home runs and 94 runs batted in last
year at Huntsville. "I think this is going to be easier for me," said Hart, who
has good speed for a big man (25 steals in 2003). "I can concentrate more on
hitting and not have to worry about making an error at third base." (Milwaukee
Sentinel-Journal)
Young
arms, arm troubles. Reds DJ Mattox :
"He's had a little bit of elbow soreness, so we've
held him back a little bit," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "He's probably going
to get throwing again in four or five days." "It's early, so there's no reason
to push anything. Once he and the medical staff say he's OK, we'll get him out
there." Mattox will be waiting for that go-ahead with bated breath.
"I got an MRI done yesterday, and hopefully, I'll be ready in a couple of
weeks," he said. "It's not too severe, just a little pain, so I thought I should
get it checked out." "I really don't know what's going to happen. I just have to
try to get back as fast as I can." (MLB.com)
Travis
Blackley as Jamie Moyer ?
" ...The process of developing "the next
Jamie Moyer" continues this spring ... Blackley hopes to open some eyes
during the Cactus League season ... "We're going to put him into a couple of
games against big-league hitters," manager Bob Melvin said. ... After doing the job to the tune of a
17-3 record and 2.61 ERA in 27 starts at Double-A San Antonio (Texas League)
last season, the lefty from Melbourne, Australia solidified his stature as one
of the premier pitching prospects in an organization loaded with good, young
arms. Unless one of the projected Mariners starters ... is injured or
traded this spring, Blackley will start the regular season at Triple-A Tacoma
... The scouting report on Blackley resembles one that would describe Moyer ...
"Experience is all he needs to get to the next (Major League) level," San
Antonio manager Dave Brundage said. "He is naive in many ways and has a lot to
learn, but he has all the tools in the world. He knows how to pitch." ...
"He understands what pitching is, starting out with throwing strikes, changing
speeds and changing locations," Mariners pitching coach Bryan Price said. "I
think he has a very good grasp of what he's trying to do as a pitcher." (MLB.com)
Troy
E. Renck. Denver Post, on Garrett Atkins COL :
" ... Atkins' situation is dramatically different
this spring. He's no longer the top prospect, his star tarnished by his glove
last year in the big leagues. Everyone believes this kid can and will hit in the
big leagues, me included, but concern is growing that he can't play third base.
The way Vinny Castilla's contract is structured, it's set up for him to be with
the Rockies for two years. That doesn't bode well for Atkins ... view him as a
commodity and get value for him before his stock falls. Holding on to young
players can be a huge mistake. They get exposed, leaving you to get nothing in
return - see Cust, Jack and Petrick, Ben."
25 February, 2004
Luis
Martinez, picked up on waivers by STL, released by police in the Dominican
... no charges laid as police determine Martinez shot a man in self-defense.
(Contrary to an earlier report, the shooting did not result in the man's death.)
Martinez immediately jumps into the upper echelon of the Cards' prospect list
... Pat Strange dumped by the Mets ...
A
chance this season for Kazuhito Tadano in the CLE pen :
"He is a candidate for a job," said manager Eric
Wedge, who hasn't seen enough of Tadano to say how strong his candidacy is. "But
he was a guy who was lights out in Akron. He did a good job in Buffalo when he
was up there." In Tadano's first bullpen session of the spring ... Wedge
kept an eye on the right-hander's work. But Wedge made no quick judgments about
Tadano, who is one of 10 candidates for three jobs in the bullpen. And he
might be the most intriguing of the 10, catcher Tim Laker said.
"He's got that little funky pause or twist -- that Japanese-style windup that's
a little deceiving just because you don't see it every day, you know," said
Laker, who caught Tadano's first bullpen. "It's just totally different than what
everybody else does." Deception is as much a part of Tadano's arsenal as
anything else. Not that Tadano isn't armed with other weapons as well. He is.
Ignoring his translator, he rattled off in English: "Fastball, slider, split
sometimes and changeup -- sometimes." (MLB.com)
MIL's
JJ Hardy, a change at the dish as ST begins :
" ... Hardy is probably headed for Triple-A
Indianapolis, where he will be one of the International League's youngest
players ... Hardy is working on a new batting stance and will get a good, long
look this spring. Barring injury, he is a good bet to make his Major League
debut sometime this season ... The result is a more compact swing that Hardy
says feels more powerful. "I couldn't get to the inside pitch," Hardy
said. "I felt myself getting jammed all the time, all last year. Now I'm able to
stay inside the ball. I just feel like I can be more consistent." (MLB.com)
Mike
Hindman, at Jamey Newberg's TEX Minor League Report, has been ranking the
Rangers' farm system by position. He likes 2003 draftee Vince Sinisi
as the best of the outfield crop :
" ... This is a matter of faith and fantasy
more than anything else. He's proven absolutely nothing, but if Vincent Sinisi
is anywhere near as good as we've been told, then he's a great bet to rocket
through the system and into Rusty Greer's old stomping grounds in very short
order ... Scouts dispute what sort of power he'll produce in the long run, but
everyone agrees that he will hit. After signing in mid-August, the club issued a
very loud statement that they believe Sinisi's minor league career will be
Teixeira-like (i.e. stunningly brief) when they assigned him to the fourth level
from the bottom of the system ... He'll start off in Stockton and move on the
Frisco ...when a club takes a sophomore-eligible player in the second
round and immediately send him to high A, you know that they are thinking about
not just an Autobahn sort of fast-track, but something more like Daytona
Speedway."
SEA's
Rafael Soriano out for up to a month :
" ... an MRI exam Tuesday revealed a strained
interior oblique muscle on his left side. The 24-year-old right-hander was
throwing off the mound Monday when he felt a pinch in his left abdomen ...
"Anytime you hear three weeks, it gets your attention," Melvin said. "The silver
lining is that he has pitched deep into winter ball. It's not a starter we're
going to have to stretch out." Soriano said he felt sore Tuesday but predicted
he could be ready to return within one week, if necessary. Melvin said team
officials expect Soriano to be available in mid to late March." (Associated
Press)
Joe
Ptak, Cleveland Indians' Report, with a note on Victor Martinez :
" ... enters the spring as the Indians number one
catcher after a celebrated minor league career. Last season, the switch-hitter
hit .328/.395/.474/.869 with 19 doubles and 7 homeruns in triple-A (after a slow
start that saw him in the .220s in mid-May) while also hitting
.289/.345/.378/.732 with a longball in 155 major league at-bats ...
Indians are expecting him to become a contributor in the middle of the lineup
this season and Martinez spent the winter in Cleveland working on his
conditioning and seems primed for a breakout season."
A
few more pitching notes from Bryan Smith's Top 90 at Wait Til Next Year :
" ... 24. Dustin McGowan ... amusing that the
Blue Jays, with their Moneyball regime in place, have three non-college players
in the top twenty-five. McGowan is the most unique of the bunch…a high school
pitcher. McGowan is a big right-hander that showed plus control in 150+ IP. His
K/9 is a little low, but improved upon a move to AA ... With four plus
pitches and a good pitcher’s body, McGowan is the real deal."
" ... 52. Matt Peterson ... Dominating
numbers in the FSL and very good pitcher’s body. A good bet to breakout big-time
next season."
" ... 9. Kris Honel ... knuckle-curve
draws comparisons to Mike Mussina, which seem to be fair. Rushing the ...
right-hander would be foolish considering his potential."
" ... 60. Andy Sisco ... numbers
just aren’t matching with potential. Sisco stands above 6-8, and can dial his
fastball in the mid-90s. His arm is a concern, but Sisco could breakout huge if
he stays healthy."
24 February, 2004
Troop
movements ... too bad for JJ Davis owners ... Raul Mondesi officially a
Pirate ... very interest, MIL put Luis Martinez on waivers ...
snapped up by STL. Martinez has surrendered to police in the Dominican
Republic following accusations that he shot a man in a parking lot
dispute ...
Allan
Simpson handled the chat room for
Baseball America on the
topic of the Rangers' prospects. Some insights on Gerald Laird,
John Danks and Drew Meyer :
" ... Laird is ready to catch in the big leagues
right now ... always had a strong arm and now it's accurate, too. He runs a game
well. The big question is his bat, though he held his own in a brief trial with
the Rangers last year. There's some question whether he can do it on a daily
basis. He should back up Einar Diaz this season. Comparisions to (Dan) Wilson
are fair."
" ... ranked the lefthanders in this order:
Kazmir (7th overall in my top 100), Miller (10th), Loewen (11th), Hamels (12th)
and Danks. Keep in mind that the first four have been in the game a year longer
than Danks, a product of the 2003 draft. Given another year's experience, Danks
could make a quantum leap forward. He's mature and very athletic, and has got
great stuff--fastball up to 93 and a knee-buckling curve."
" ... Everything depends on how Soriano works out at
shortstop in spring training. If he must move to center field, the Rangers
almost certainly will need to make a trade to fill shortstop for the next couple
of years. Meyer is presently the only real option in the system at short, but is
ticketed for Double-A this year. Frankly, I think his maximum value is at
shortstop. He has excellent middle infield instincts, range and a strong
accurate arm and those tools won't be maximized in center, if he eventually
plays there. He also doesn't hit for the power desired in an outfielder."
TEX
hoping Laird shows enough to grab the catcher spot sometime this season :
" ... Manager Buck Showalter said Einar Diaz is the
Rangers' starting catcher. Rookie catcher Gerald Laird will get a shot,
but Showalter said he doesn't foresee him unseating Diaz during spring training.
Said Showalter: "That's something that would have to evolve out in the regular
season. We're going into camp with Einar as our catcher and hoping Gerald makes
an impact." (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
Matthew
Pouliot,
RotoWorld, has his shortstop rankings online -- A-Rod, Nomar, Derek, Tejeda,
Renteria 1-5. A few rooks set to make a splash :
" ... 6. Kazuo Matsui ... should
be an Edgar Renteria-type player in the U.S. He’s going to have a difficult time
hitting for power, especially in Shea Stadium, but he should remain productive,
and since the Mets will give him the green light on the basepaths, he could
steal around 30 bases."
" ... 15. Bobby Crosby ... my pick for
American League Rookie of the Year. All-Star appearances will be few and far
between for the 2001 first-round pick, but he is about as safe as prospects get.
After just 59 games of Double-A experience, he hit .308/.395/.544 as a
23-year-old in Triple-A last season. He’s also very solid defensively and the
A’s have no real alternatives at shortstop, so there’s little chance of a bad
month costing him his job."
" ... 24. Khalil Greene ...
Following the signing of Rey Ordonez, Greene appears a little less locked into a
starting job than he did a couple of months ago. The Padres still intend to keep
him in the majors and play him regularly, but an unimpressive spring would
change that. I remain cautiously optimistic .. He’ll be a .300 hitter in the
majors someday, but it’s not likely to happen this year."
John
Sickels, ESPN. com, on Dustin Moseley C IN :
" ... the Reds have another right-hander on the way
up who could be quite a surprise this spring ... Moseley made 25 starts in the
Midwest League at age 19 in '01, holding his own. He took a big step forward in
'02, ending the year as one of the youngest players in Double-A. He consolidated
his progress in '03, showing good command in another go-around Double-A, then
pitching very well down the stretch for Triple-A Louisville ... isn't
spectacular, but he gets the job done ... Because he is not overpowering, he has
to be razor sharp in the strike zone in order to succeed ... best attributes
have been a low walk rate and solid overall K/BB ratio, factors indicating his
fine command ... draws comparisons to pitchers like Brad Radke and other control
artists who've shown they can win games without blowing people away ... needs
defensive support from his teammates in order to truly thrive. A quick start in
2004 could get Moseley to Cincinnati by mid-season. He is a wild card for the
coming campaign."
Thanks
to super sleuth Bill Fowler for digging out even more prospect information
including the latest "top" list. Bryan
Smith, Wait Til Next Year,
takes a crack at a best prospects' chart. He goes to 90, from Joe Mauer
(1) to Felix Hernandez (90). Mauer, BJ Upton, Edwin
Jackson ranked 1-2-3. A few notables :
" ... 31. Bobby Jenks ... I imagine
this pick will draw as much criticism as any other choice, because I rank Jenks
much higher than other systems. I see Bartolo Colon in Jenks, fitting as they
will soon be teammates. Jenks has a huge fastball, but had more success not
trying to register triple digits last season. His curveball, like Colon, can be
unhittable at times, and led to a fantastic K/9 rate. Jenks continued his
success in winter ball, but like always, his problem will be control. And like
Colon, his weight."
" ... 42. Adam Loewen ... I’m always hesitant
to put players on this list solely based on potential, but Loewen makes me bend
the rules ... southpaw has a great fastball and curveball, and is said to throw
his change up quite often. He did well in seven starts last year, but has to
prove he can last a full season to become a bona fide prospect."
" ... 49. Blake Hawkesworth ... very similar
to former top prospect Dan Haren in size and performance, and could have the
same type of meteoric rise to the Majors. Blake has a very good curveball, and
low to mid-90s heat. His peripherals were good in high-A, and Hawkesworth was
far too advanced for Midwest League hitters."
Jeff
Niemann, Rice U., an ordinary start to the season. Touted as a
potential first over-all pick in this year's draft, Niemann has thrown 13
innings, 11 hits, 5 walks, 11 Ks, 3.46. Teammate Wade Townsend is
1.26 in 14 1/3 innings, just 7 hits, 6 walks, 21 Ks. Maybe it's Townsend
as the ace.
FLO
reaping riches from a productive farm :
" ... Because of the economic realities confronting
the organization, Florida general manager Larry Beinfest and staff remain
committed to grooming homegrown talent ... The benefits of having a strong minor
league system were crucial in the Marlins winning the title. They traded away
some promising prospects like first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and pitcher Denny
Bautista in separate deals to acquire closer Ugueth Urbina and outfielder Jeff
Conine."
"We traded some good players last year because we thought our big-league team
was good enough to win at the time," Beinfest said. "In part, that's what those
players are there for, to go get players when you need them and also to home
grow them so they can help you in the big leagues." ... Some excellent
talent is working its way through the system. The players are about a year or
two away from reaching the big leagues. Outfielder Jeremy Hermida,
projected to start off in either Class-A Jupiter or Double-A Carolina, is
regarded as the top prospect in the organization. Power-hitting first baseman
Jason Stokes, likely to be in Double-A, has 30-home run power. And
last year's No. 1 draft pick, pitcher Jeff Allison, could become
another Josh Beckett."
" .... Some players to keep an eye on in Spring Training are catcher Josh
Willingham, pitchers Trevor Hutchinson, Aaron
Small and Mike Flannery, and outfielder Chris Aguila."
(MLB.com)
23 February, 2004
Baseball
America has completed its Top 10s with the publication of the report on the
Rangers. Josh Boyd authored the piece and looked to first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez to lead the parade :
" ... Gonzalez’ pure hitting approach and sweet
lefthanded stroke have conjured comparisons to Rafael Palmeiro ... great
balance with a short, quick swing. He sprays line drives all over the field,
hitting fastballs and offspeed pitches alike. Though he’s geared to smoke balls
into the gaps now, he projects to develop above-average longball power in time.
Defensively, Gonzalez is a Gold Glover in the making ... Some scouts question
just how much power he’ll develop, though he should be a doubles machine—maybe
more along the lines of Mark Grace than Palmeiro ... Gonzalez spent the
offseason working on his conditioning. Texas believes it will get its first look
at a fully healthy Gonzalez this season at Triple-A Oklahoma. When he’s ready to
jump to Arlington in 2005, Mark Teixeira likely will move to the outfield."
Boyd went with lefty John Danks as the No. 2 TEX
farmhand. All the Top 10s here.
Jeremy
Deloney,
GetSportsInfo, selects Rickie Weeks over Josh Barfield as the
best of the second base prospects :
" ... Weeks is a great hitter. Though he doesn’t
have 30 HR potential, he does have the ability to hit for a high average with
exceptional on base skills ... such tremendous hands and a quick bat that he can
hit a pitch even if he’s fooled. Because of his plate coverage, there are very
few places to pitch to him. Defensively he’s not a superstar, but is adequate
... It wouldn’t surprise me to see Weeks claim the starting 2B job next
season for the Brew crew."
" ... Barfield is another offensive second baseman
with unique talents. He made major progress last year as he led the entire minor
leagues in hits, doubles, RBIs, and extra base hits. He profiles as a #3 hitter
and will eventually add more power (25 HR potential) though not as much as his
dad ... could stand to be more selective at the plate ... lacks defensive
skills, he is a good enough athlete to move to leftfield if necessary."
Big
Apple prospects gathering lots of attention. NY Daily News focused on four
young arms -- Scott Kazmir, Matt Peterson, Royce
RIng and Jeremy Hill :
" ... Every individual player or pitcher we treat
separately. A guy like Aaron Heilman, who really was rushed through the minor
leagues, he gets to the big leagues for his first taste and he struggles a
little bit," Duquette says of the Notre Dame product ... "That is the downside
of pushing guys too quickly." Duquette estimates a pitcher drafted out of high
school like Kazmir or Matt Peterson ... can use 500-600 innings of work
before being promoted - though the Mets make assessments more on the development
of pitches and whether the young hurler has battled through adversity. Duquette
prefers the Mets' prospects to be among the younger ones in their level of
minor-league ball."
" ... For Kazmir, who will start in Double-A unless the Mets keep him in
St.Lucie to avoid a few weeks of cold weather at the start of the Binghamton
season, a mid-2005 big-league debut may be realistic. Peterson, another jewel
among minor-league starters, will open in Binghamton and could be in the majors
by September. "I don't want to put a lot of undue expectations on them,"
Duquette says of Kazmir, Peterson and prospect Bob Keppel, "but we do think that
they can move quickly."
" ... Ever since the Generation K failure of
the mid-1990s, when the Mets rushed Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher and Paul
Wilson to Shea, conservatism has prevailed. Since then, only Grant Roberts and
Dicky Gonzalez, each 22, have made starts for the Mets at a similar age - and
they combined for only eight. But the caution may be lessening. "I
think there was a period of time right after those guys that we became very
conservative," Duquette says. "I think each year we've tweaked our program to
the point where we're becoming a little bit more liberal. We're still, I think,
in general more conservative. But I think we moved more to the middle."
The
NY Post featured third base prospect David Wright :
" ... by all accounts, this young man could be a
special player. So special, in fact, that the Mets found the key to success for
Wright was to stop working so hard ... Guy Conti is the Mets' field coordinator
and all-around troubleshooter. He was crunching numbers early last season and
found out that in Wright's first three years in pro ball, he hit much better on
the road than at home. Each year there was a 75-100 point difference in Wright's
average between home and away games. "He was mechanically sound, so I figured
there was something going on here," Conti explained." What Conti discovered was that the first-round
draft pick was wearing himself out by taking too much batting practice at home,
arriving to hit six hours before a game. In the summer heat of Class A St.
Lucie, that can wear anyone out. "He called me in the office and told me
to work smart," Wright remembered. "He told me about the batting average
difference at home and on the road and it was incredible so I changed my
routine." As a result, Wright's career took off. "He carried us to the
championship and during the playoffs, he was just nails," Conti said. Wright was
named to the Florida State League All-Star team. He led the league in extra-base
hits (54), was fourth in slugging percentage (.459) and topped the team in home
runs (15) and RBIs (75). He didn't stop there. After the season, he went to the
Arizona Fall League ... batted .341 for Peoria and opened everyone's eyes."
Padres
top 2003 draft pick ready to roll :
" ... Tim Stauffer ... the fourth overall
pick, is in spring training as a nonroster invitee following about six months of
rehabilitation on his sore throwing shoulder. "It feels good. It feels
strong," Stauffer said. "I've been doing a lot of band work and exercises just
to maintain and been throwing off the mound for a few weeks now. I'm ready to
go." Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said as much after administering
Stauffer's physical on Saturday. "As of now, he has no restrictions,"
Hutcheson said. Stauffer enjoyed an overpowering junior season at Richmond
last spring, going 9-5 with a 1.97 ERA, 146 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 114
innings." (North County Times)
More
pitching woes ... lefty Corwin Malone, once a highly rated WSox moundsman, heading
for the operating theatre :
" ... hard-luck left-handed hurler and one-time Top
5 prospect in the White Sox organization ... announced Saturday that Malone will
undergo reconstructive elbow surgery on March 7, performed by Dr. James Andrews
in Birmingham, and be out of action from 1 to 1 1/2 years ... best season
came in 2001, where he posted an 11-4 record with a 2.00 earned run average for
Single-A Kannapolis and pitched well for Single-A Winston-Salem and Double-A
Birmingham before the season was complete." (MLB.com)
Shingo Takatsu making an early impression :
" ... It wasn't planned, but Takatsu finished
Saturday's workout throwing a solo bullpen session, as the remainder of
pitchers, catchers and coaches stood behind. The incredible movement of
Takatsu's pitches is what had most White Sox people talking. "Right now,
the sinker he has ... I've never seen a ball move like that," said White Sox
catcher Miguel Olivo, who caught Takatsu Saturday. "His sinker moves like a
splitter. "When he throws the slider, the hitter will swing before the ball
comes to the plate. It's like a change up because the ball comes so hard."
(MLB.com)
Wilson
Betemit still in ATL's plans in spite of minor league struggles :
" ... the Braves say they still believe in Betemit,
who's competing for a backup job this spring. "We've done a lot of talking
about Wilson," manager Bobby Cox said. "They [team officials] think very highly
of him again. He struggled for a year and a half, had a back problem, but came
on strong late last year." ... tore ligaments in his right hand during
instructional league in the fall but has healed and reported to camp more than a
week before position players were due. He's been hitting every morning. "He's a
top prospect again," Cox said. "He's only 22. You forget how young he is."
Betemit is young, but Andy Marte, the Braves' No. 1 prospect, is younger. Marte,
20, is the Braves' top power-hitting prospect and has been rated the premier
third-base prospect in all the minors by some observers." (Atlanta Journal
Constitution)
ANA's
Ervin Santana on the shelf :
" ... Santana, won't be throwing for at least two or
three weeks because of tightness behind his right shoulder. Team physician Lewis
Yocum examined Santana's shoulder about a week after the tightness showed up
when Santana was playing catch in the Dominican Republic. "We'll definitely get
a chance to see him this spring, but we're not going to push him," Angels
manager Mike Scioscia said." (Orange County Register)
Denny
Bautista BAL ... more AgeGate :
" ... Orioles have discovered that minor league
pitcher Denny Bautista, their prized acquisition in the August trade that sent
Jeff Conine to the Florida Marlins, is two years older than his listed age.
Bautista, who immediately joined a select group of top pitching prospects in the
organization after the deal, was born on Aug. 23, 1980. His birth date was
listed as Oct. 23, 1982. ... "It's not a big deal," said Jim Beattie, the
Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations. "It changes the
perspective a little bit, but at the same time, it's a young arm that throws
well. This goes on all the time." ... He went 8-4 with a 3.21 ERA at
Single-A Jupiter and 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA at Double-A Carolina last season, and
also threw a scoreless inning in the Futures Game in Chicago. The Orioles
rate Bautista's overhand curveball and upper-90s fastball as above-average major
league pitches." (Baltimore Sun)
PIT
happy with initial progress of a pair of prospects :
" ... Early arrival Bobby Hill hit against
live pitching in the batting cages yesterday for the first time since September
and hopes his back problems won't hamper him in camp. "My back felt great. My
swing didn't," Hill laughed. "I hope they allow me to start on time. I've been
pain free."... Jason Bay said he might be able to start throwing in three
weeks, one week sooner than scheduled, if he checks out OK medically tomorrow.
"I want to get my hacks in and be able to play in left [before camp is over].
That's my goal," Bay said. "I'm not going to be able to throw anybody out at the
plate, but I could be at 80 percent and be able to get the ball back to the
infield." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Dustin Nippert ARZ :
" ... Nippert is one of my favorite sleeper ...
pitched well in short-season ball, and I thought he'd make a big splash in 2003.
... actually pitched brilliantly at times in '03, posting a 2.82 ERA and 96/32
K/BB in 96 innings at Class A South Bend. But he was limited to 17 games by an
unusual injury: a tumor in his left armpit. Fortunately, it turned out to be
benign, but the resultant surgery cost him the middle portion of the season. He
was throwing well at the end of the season, and will return at full strength
this year. Nippert is tall (6-7) but has unusual command for a pitcher his
size. His fastball can hit 96 mph, and he has an excellent curveball. Assuming
that no more weird injuries get in the way, I'm looking at him as a major
breakout candidate in 2004."
Sickels, in a Baseball Prospectus chat with some
notes on Rickie Weeks, Hanley Ramirez and Joe
Blanton :
" ... Weeks ... I could see him as a cross between
Durham and Sandberg....Durham with more power basically. I really like Weeks and
he has a chance to be a remarkable player. All he needs to do is settle down his
defense.
" ... His statistical performance last year was
mediocre, and the off-the-field issues are very worrisome. The good news is that
he's only 20, so he has plenty of time to turn things around. But will it
happen? I'd be more optimistic if he had a good work ethic. So basically, this
is a case where the objective measures are not great yet, and the subjective
concerns make it less likely that the objective stuff will get better. Does that
make sense?
" ... Blanton (solid major league starter or
potential ace?) ... Potential ace. "
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