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07 March, 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
 Game
action, Saturday ... Gavin Floyd PHI 2 2 0 0 0 0
... Ryan
Howard PHI 1-1, double ... Taylor Buchholz 1 2 3 3 1 3 ...
Cody Ross DET 1-2, RBI ... Grady Sizemore CLE 0-2, 2
walks, 2 runs ... Michael Aubrey CLE 1-2, double, 2 RBI ...
Francisco Cruceta CLE 2 2 3 3 0 2 ... Michael Restovich
MIN 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI ... Joe Mauer MIN 2-3, RBI ...
Matt Riley BAL 2 2 2 2 2 3 ... John Stephens BAL 2 1 0
0 0 0 ... Adam Loewen BAL 1 3 2 2 1 0 ... Larry Broadway
MON 1-2, homer ... Edwin Jackson LA 3 0 0 0 0 3
... Royce
Ring NYN 2 0 0 0 0 1 ... Franklin Gutierrez LA 2-3, 3 RBI
... James Loney LA 1-2, double, 2 runs, RBI ... Dustin
McGowan TOR 1 2-3 1 0 0 0 2 ... Alexis Rios TOR 0-2 ...
Jason Grilli CHA 3 3 1 1 2 2 ... Jon Rauch CHA 3 0 0 0 0 2 ...
Scott Hairston ARZ 0-2 ... Juan Cruz CHN 2 3 0 0 0 1 ...
Joe Blanton OAK 2 3 0 0 1 2 ... Nick Swisher OAK 1-2,
homer, 3 runs ... Casey Kotchamn ANA 1-1 ... Dallas McPherson ANA
0-4 ... Chris George KC 2 3 3 3 2 1 ... Ramon Nivar TEX (in
CF) 3-4, double, SB ... Aaron Miles COL 0-4 ... JJ
Davis PIT 3-4, double, triple, 2 RBI ... BJ Upton TB 0-1 ...
Delmon Young TB 1-1 ...
OK, call off the dogs -- ANA kids a little less than
stellar (Angels lost 26-3) :
IP H R ER BB SO
Tim Bittner 2 3 3 3 2 1
Eric Cyr 1 2-3 5 5 5 3 0
Derrick Turnbow 1 6 4 4 0 1
Pete Zamora 2-3 4 5 5 1 0
Rich Fischer 1 2-3 7 7 7 2 0
A-Ball
to the majors? ATL may do it again. Or, maybe it's ST hype to build
up the kid for a trade :
" ... It sounds as if the Braves will seriously
consider bringing hard-throwing rookie Jose Capellan to the majors
without a stop above Class A Rome. "Capellan opened everybody's eyes," Cox said
after the right-hander registered 100 mph with his fastball in his spring debut
Thursday. To say the Braves liked what they saw would be an understatement.
"You'd have to be a fool not to," Mazzone said. Never mind that Capellan allowed
three hits and two earned runs in the second inning of his two-inning stint. He
looked dominant in the first. After Capellan threw his first fastball, catcher
Eddie Perez turned toward Mazzone and silently mouthed, "Wow." That he throws so
hard isn't what impresses Mazzone most. "He gets it up there quick, but he
doesn't have to grunt and groan," Mazzone said. "His delivery is compact, no
wasted motion. His fastball gets on top of you really quick." . Capellon has a
good curveball as well, and the Braves will have him focus on developing a
changeup. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Jeff
Niemann, Rice, picked up his first win Saturday after two defeats 6.0
3 1 1 2 1, now at 4.43 .. obviously, something amiss (1 K?).
6 March, 2004
Game
notes, Fridays games ... Andy Dominique 1B BOS 2-2, homer, 3 RBI ...
Chris Burke HOU 1-2, homer ... Jason Lane HOU 2-4, 2 doubles ...
John Buck HOU 1-1 ... Grady Sizemore CLE 0-2 ... Fernando Cabrera
CLE 2-3 4 2 2 0 0 ... Mike Gallo HOU 1 3 4 4 1 1 ... Michael Aubrey
CLE 0-2 ... Ryan Vogelsong PIT 2 4 1 1 0 1 ... Bobby
Hill PIT 0-3 ... Jose Castillo PIT (back at 2B) 0-3 ... Jesse
Crain MIN 1 0 0 0 0 2 ... Justin Morneau MIN 2-3, homer ...
Michael Cuddyer MIN (at 3B) 1-2 ... Andy Pratt ATL 2 1 1 1 0 3 ...
Andy LaRoche ATL 2-3, double ... James Loney LA, no ABs
... Jason Arnold TOR Arnold 2 0 0 0 0 1 ... Dustin
Moseley CIN 2 3 2 2 0 1 ... Alexis Rios TOR 1-3 ... Adam
Wainwright ATL 2 3 3 3 3 0 ... Cole Hamels PHI 2 1 0 0 0 3
... Neal Cotts CHA 2 0 0 0 1 2 ... Dan Wright
CHA 2 0 0 0 0 3 ... Jeremy Reed CHA 1-4, SB ... Chin-Hui
Tsao COL 2 2 1 1 0 2 ... Jeff Mathis ANA 2-2, homer ...
Adrian Hernandez MIL 2 0 0 0 0 1 ... Jorge De La Rosa MIL 2 2 0 0 0 1
... Prince Fielder MIL 0-1, RBI ... Bobby Crosby OAK 1-2, double
... Edgar Gonzalez ARZ 2 1 0 0 0 1 ... Shingo Takatsu CHA 1
3 1 1 1 1 ... Ross Gload CHA 2-4, double ... Clint Nageotte SEA 2
1 0 0 0 1 ... John Patterson ARZ 2 4 3 3 3 1 ... Scott Hairston
ARZ (at 2B) 0-2 ... Joaquin Benoit TEX 2 2 1 1 0 2 ... Mitch Maier KC (at 3B)
0-2 ...
John
Manuel, Baseball America, on a pair top tier 2B prospects, Josh Barfield
SD and Scott Hairston ARZ :
" ... Barfield, unranked in last year's Top 100,
made the bigger leap forward in 2003 ... .had a remarkable season for high Class
A Lake Elsinore in the California League ... "The kid understands
hitting," says Padres scouting director Bill Gayton, who selected Barfield in
the fourth round of his first draft as the organization's top scout, in 2001."He
has the ability to drive the ball the other way, which comes from his bat speed,
his approach and his pitch recognition. He trusts his hands and can turn on the
inside pitch as well. "It's just rare to see a young hitter who understands how
to stay inside the ball so well."
" ... While they're both offensive second basemen,
Hairston has a different approach at the plate. While Barfield sprays line
drives to all fields, Hairston attacks the ball. Observers use phrases like, "He
overpowers the ball," as one scout put it, or, "He doesn't get cheated," as
Diamondbacks farm director Tommy Jones says. It's a controlled swing, but one
that produces vicious force ...Hairston will have to prove he belongs in a story
about second basemen, or he will hit his way out of it. Here's where Hairston
and Barfield diverge a bit; Barfield's soft hands help him make all the routine
plays, and he's considered average defensively. Hairston has questions to answer
with the glove. Consequently, Hairston now uses more than one. In his offseason
workouts Hairston took ground balls at third base as well as second ...
also spent some time shagging outfield flies ... Hairston's bat might be
ready to help a retooling Diamondbacks team now. With Alomar on board with a
one-year deal at second base, Hairston could help in a corner outfield spot ...
Jones won't rule out a position change. He also says Hairston has the tools to
stay at second base, and something else. "He's shown me the passion to prove
people wrong," Jones says. "The athleticism is there. He knows a lot of people
see him as a left fielder, and I think he knows that he brings more to the table
at second."
John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Ryan Ketchner SEA :
" ... Ketchner ... isn't physically imposing at 6-1,
190, and his fastball is mediocre at 86 mph. But he has a good curveball and
changeup, and has shown excellent command and control at the A-ball level. He
posted a 3.45 ERA in the California League last year, with a 159/33 K/BB ratio
in 157 innings. His career marks are a 3.18 ERA in 351 innings, with a 368/93
K/BB ratio. He should get a shot in Double-A in 2004, and that will go a long
way towards determining his exact status as a prospect. Scouts like his command
and composure, but worry that his fastball won't be good enough for him to
thrive at higher levels ... My guess is that he'll pitch well in Double-A, but
that Triple-A will be a sterner test."
PCL's
Pitcher of the Year in 2003 trying to hang on as a reliever in OAK :
" ... Justin Duchscherer ... If the A's don't
place him on their 25-man Opening Day roster, they will place him on waivers,
and any other team can grab him. The A's also could trade Duchscherer before the
opener ... would pitch as a reliever to stay with the A's, and there is but one
bullpen spot up for grabs. Manager Ken Macha said Duchscherer will work in
relief throughout spring training, except for one or two starts ... "(Duchscherer)
is going to get every opportunity to pitch," A's pitching coach Curt Young said.
"Time will tell. I know he's in a position where he feels like he's ready to
compete at this level. I do, after seeing his aggressive style. That's how you
pitch in the big leagues." Young, who was Duchscherer's pitching coach in 2003
with the River Cats, praised the right-hander's command. So did one of his
Sacramento catchers, Mike Rose, who said Duchscherer often welcomed hitters with
first-pitch breaking balls for strikes." (Sacramento Bee)
05 March, 2004
Game
notes ... Wednesday ... James Loney LA ,3-3, double, homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI
... Nic Jackson
CHN, 3-run homer ... speedster Joey Gathright TB, 2-3, 2 runs, 2
SBs ... Delmon Young TB, 0-5 ... Sean Burnett PIT,
got a win with two scoreless innings in relief ... Bobby Hill & JR
House PIT, homers ... Justin Wayne FLO, 2 0 0 0 0 2 ...
Kenny Baugh DET Baugh 1 0 0 0 1 0 ... Jeremy Griffiths NYN, ouch,
1-3 3 6 6 2 0 ... Aaron Heilman NYN, two scoreless innings :
" ... There was the Aaron Heilman at Mets mini-camp
in early January and there was the Aaron Heilman who started the Mets'
exhibition opener yesterday. Don't confuse the two. "This," pitching coach Rick
Peterson said, "is two different guys." ... there was Heilman, the 25-year-old
former first-rounder who started and fired two scoreless innings, allowing two
hits and a walk while striking out a pair. "That was big-league pitching,"
Peterson said. "That wasn't a fluke. He made pitches." "I feel better," Heilman
said of the difference between last year (2-7, 6.75 ERA) and this year. "I feel
like I have better command of my pitches and throwing where I want to more
often." ... It's early, but he's now right up front in the fifth-starter's
race. "The biggest thing last year is he had flat stuff up in the zone," catcher
Vance Wilson said. "This year, we're looking to pound the bottom of the zone."
(New York Post)
Thursday ... Brandon Claussen CIN 2 1 0 0 0 1
... Chase Utley PHI 2-2 ... Bubba Nelson ATL 2 3 2 1 1 0, plus two
errors ... James Loney LA 2-2, double, 2 RBI ... Wilson Betemit
ATL 0-3 ... Terrmel Sledge MON 2-2, double ... John Maine BAL 2 2
1 1 0 1 ... Ramon Castro FLO 2-3, 2 homers, 3 RBI ... Mike Fontenot
BAL 1-2, homer ... Josh Barfield SD 0-2 ... Khalil Greene SD 0-2
... Chris Capuano MIL 2-3 3 3 3 2 1 ... Billy Hall MIL 2-2,
2 SBs ... Adrian Gonzalez TEX 2-2 ... Eric DuBose BAL 2 1-3 1 0 0
1 3 ... Jose Capellan ATL 2 3 3 2 1 1
MIN
staff with openings and lots of candidates :
" ... Starting rotation: There's room for two, with
Carlos Silva and Rick Helling mentioned as favorites. Brad Thomas,
Carlos Pulido, J.D. Durbin and others enter the picture if Silva
or Helling falters. Grant Balfour? He must prove he's healthy. Bullpen:
If Joe Nathan is the closer and J.C. Romero and Juan Rincon are the setup men,
that would leave room for three more pitchers on an 11-man staff -- and too many
candidates to list here. Just keep in mind that Balfour and Brad Thomas are out
of options." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
And
... from the farm :
" ... The dark horse closer candidate is Jesse
Crain, Minnesota’s second round pick in the 2002 draft. Crain is one of the
best relief pitching prospects in all of baseball and blitzed through the minors
in his first two pro seasons. Overall, he has a 1.70 ERA in 111 pro innings,
with an amazing 143/36 strikeout/walk ratio. If Crain impresses during the next
couple weeks, he could force himself into the closer equation. He could also
start the year as Nathan’s setup-man and eventually work his way into some save
situations. Even if Crain starts the year in the minors (which is what Minnesota
seems to be leaning towards, at least publicly), he is still Minnesota’s
long-term closer and will make an impact in the majors very soon." (RotoWorld)
Ross
Gload, early impression for the WSox :
" ... For the third straight day, Sox manager Ozzie
Guillen said he "loved that Gload kid." Gload, 27, was acquired last March from
the Colorado Rockies and spent all last season in Triple-A Charlotte, where he
hit .315 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. A left-handed hitter, Gload can play
first base and the outfield. "I love the way Gload works," Guillen reiterated
Wednesday. "I think he's going to, if he has a good spring training, have a good
shot to make the team because of what he can do for us." (Chicago Tribune)
SD's
Freddy Guzman on the shelf :
" ... Padres shut down center fielder Freddy Guzman,
one of their top prospects, after an MRI on his sore right elbow. "We couldn't
pinpoint the problem, because he had soreness all over the arm," trainer Todd
Hutcheson said. "He said he didn't feel anything pop, but that he had some pain
while he was throwing. He didn't say anything and kept on throwing." (San
Diego Union-Tribune)
Craig
Anderson SEA, where he goes, success seems to follow :
" ... "We keep moving him up and wondering if he'll
succeed at a higher level, and he keeps succeeding," minor-league pitching coach
Pat Rice said. "If he threw 91 mph he'd be the No. 1 pitching prospect in
baseball." Anderson is a Jamie Moyer clone, a changeup artist. "He may even be
slower than Moyer," Melvin said. "He's a real intriguing guy." (Seattle
Times)
Too
much, too soon? CREATiVE's writers pick the "biggest bust" among the
rookie crop for 2004 :
" ... Stan Andruszkiewicz: Bobby Crosby
... another year away from being fantasy worthy ... Brian Walton: Joe Mauer.
There’s too much pressure in jumping from Double-A, playing in his hometown,
learning a pitching staff, and learning how to be a major leaguer. And, oh yeah,
and #5 on the priority list is that hitting thing ... Don Visco: ... not
confident that Laynce Nix will be a big contributor this year ...
Bob Lung: Edwin Jackson. Yes, he put up some great numbers for the
Dodgers late last year, but he only pitched four games, folks! He’s a little too
wild and too inexperienced to be pitching in the Majors ... Kenny Salzman: I am
going with Joe Mauer. I don’t think he will be a complete bust but the
expectations are so great for him that it will be hard for him to meet them ...
Seth Trachtman: ... a guy like B.J. Upton really worries me ... committed
more than 50 errors last season, was caught stealing during more than 30% of his
attempts and really has not shown all that much with the bat yet. Hey, I think
he will eventually be a solid major leaguer, but if owners think he will be
their savior this season, they are sadly mistaken."
Still
hope for Hanley Ramirez BOS .
" ... gifted 20-year-old who until recently had been
pasted with the can't-miss label. He was to be in Class A again at the start of
the 2004 season, but Red Sox minor-league director Ben Cherington opened the
door to Ramirez possibly starting the year in Portland. And if he has a hot year
in Portland, it opens the possibility he could jump to the major leagues in
2005, when there might be a shortstop vacancy unless Nomar Garciaparra re-signs
with the Red Sox. It may be a stretch to think the Red Sox would replace
Garciaparra with a rookie, but if Ramirez returns to his dazzling, five-tool
ways, it's not impossible ... Ramirez started last season with Boston's lower
Class A team in Augusta, Ga. There was speculation he might tear through Class A
and reach Double-A Portland last season. It didn't happen ... He dropped
to .275 in Augusta and made 36 errors. It didn't help his cause that he was
demoted for 10 days in May after making an obscene gesture to fans. Ramirez
apparently improved his game and behavior as the season progressed, which may be
why the Red Sox are thinking about Ramirez skipping the higher Class A team in
Sarasota, Fla., and jumping to Portland. Cherington told the Boston Globe that
Ramirez wants to start in Portland, but "we just don't know yet." (Portland
Press Herald)
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, on Edgar Gonzalez ARZ :
" ... will battle for a rotation spot this spring. I
compare Gonzalez to Livan Hernandez because he's a crafty righty who can dial it
up when he needs to. Gonzalez is not a soft-tosser, but he's most effective when
he's changing speeds and planes. He's a solid sleeper."
04 March, 2004
Looking
for a future ace for your staff ? Jim Callis, Baseball America :
" ... In the 2004 Prospect Handbook, we break down
the stuff attributed to the different slots in a rotation: No. 1: two plus
pitches, one average pitch, plus-plus command No. 2: two plus pitches, one
average pitch, average command No. 3: one plus pitch, two average pitches,
average command Nos. 4-5: average velocity, consistent breaking ball, decent
changeup, command of two pitches I'd leave a little wiggle room with those
classifications ... The top half of our Top 100 Prospects list is peppered with
pitchers who have ceilings as No. 1 starters. The first 13 pitchers we mention
have that potential: in order, Edwin Jackson, Greg Miller, Scott Kazmir, Adam
Loewen, Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels, Dustin McGowan, Gavin Floyd, Chin-Hui Tsao,
Angel Guzman, Ervin Santana, Felix Hernandez and Kyle Sleeth. All of
these guys have the pure stuff, but most need more consistency and better
command. If they don't develop it, they're not going to be more than No. 2s. Of
course, they'll require continued good health as well. And realistically, if
four of them become No. 1 starters, that will be a lot. If a guy doesn't have a
dominant pitch, I have a hard time seeing him as a No. 1 or No. 2 starter. The
next pitcher on the Top 100, John VanBenschoten, falls into that
category for me. Behind him, Merkin Valdez, Joe Blanton
and Jeff Allison have No. 1 starter potential; Clint
Nageotte would if he projected to have better than average command; and
Blake Hawksworth can be a No. 1. Again, I'm talking about potential
rather than certainty."
A
very interesting installment in Dayn Perry's Top 100 at FoxSports. It's
the 21-30 group, headed by TOR righty Dustin McGowan. The list has
Grady Sizemore at No. 24, but outranked by Jason Bay PIT
and Franklin Gutierrez LA :
" ... The Dodgers signed Gutierrez in 2000 as
a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela ... had an unremarkable debut in the
rookie-level Gulf Coast League, but since then he's shown developed an
impressive power stroke. In 2003, he slugged .513 in the pitcher-friendly
Florida State League, despite being generally younger than his peer group. After
a late-season promotion to AA-Jacksonville, he slugged .597 in limited action
... .needs to improve his walk rate, but otherwise he has everything you want in
a hitter. You'll find few young hitters with better raw power."
Along with McGowan, the Jays placed David
Bush on the chart :
" ... Jays are quietly building a highly impressive
corps of minor league arms, and Bush is a big part of that. You don't hear his
name as often as some other pitching prospects, but he's certainly put up the
numbers thus far. In 193.2 minor league innings, he's struck out 196, walked
only 37 and posted a 2.74 ERA. This past season at AA-New Haven, he was
impressive once again. Bush also does a solid job of preventing homers. He's a
bit old for a prospect, but his record of performance is unassailable. He'll
probably be in the Jays' rotation in 2005."
Bush placed ahead of Ryan Wagner CIN
and Joe Blanton OAK.
Hard
to figure out the Rangers. Now the rumour is a deal to the Mets --
Alfonso Soriano for Scott Kazmir.
" ... Without disrespect for Kazmir's future, Tom
Glavine told Newsday, "(Soriano) is a talented guy, a guy we'd all love to have
in our lineup. He's quick and athletic, and another guy who fits the mold of
what we targeted." But at least one NL executive thinks the Mets are seriously
misguided for ... considering this deal. "For what Soriano costs today and next
year and the year after, I wouldn't trade for him. He's not worth it, not for
Kazmir," said the executive. "Soriano strikes out too much, he doesn't walk and
he can't play defense. What else is there to think about?" (ESPN.com)
Philly
kids bring smiles and praise :
" ... For those who like to look into the future,
there was a glimpse at potential greatness. Gavin Floyd and Cole
Hamels, two of the top pitching prospects in baseball, both worked an
inning. Floyd, 21, has added 12 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-4 frame and now
weighs 225 pounds. Much of it is in the lower half of his body. He drives off
the rubber like a younger version of Chicago Cubs stud Mark Prior. Floyd is
headed for double-A Reading and could challenge for a spot in the big-league
rotation next spring if all goes well. Hamels, 20, continues to win raves with
his spectacular change-up. Mike Lieberthal has caught Hamels sparingly in the
bullpen, but he's seen enough to know the angular lefty is special. "You can
tell right away," Lieberthal said. "His fastball has juice. He can paint the
corners. And his change-up is one of the better ones I've seen. Most lefties
have good change-ups, but his is above that. He doesn't have a normal change-up
for a lefty. He has tremendous arm action and the ball just tumbles to the
plate." ... Assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said he's "99 percent
sure" that Hamels will open at single-A Clearwater. If something exceptional
happens this spring, Arbuckle could change his mind, but odds are against it."
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Jon
Rauch, Jeremy Reed not so hot in first action :
" ... Rauch, fighting for the No. 5 spot in
the rotation, had a rough start, giving up five hits in three innings. But he
didn't allow any runs, thanks to two runners, Jeremy Reed and Mike Rivera, being
thrown out at third base in the second inning. "We know these are games to get
ready for the season and the first game of spring training,'' manager Ozzie
Guillen said, "but I want them to focus a little bit better on the basepaths and
also in game situations. It's something we're going to get better at.''
(Chicago Sun Times)
Lefty
Sean Burnett getting a long look in the PIT camp, but the odds are
against him, for now :
" ... I know it's real slim for me. I'm just going
to go out there and pitch to the best of my ability," he said. Burnett, a
left-hander, doesn't have overpowering stuff ... "Burnett has what we call
pitchability," said minor-league director Brian Graham, who became director of
player development in late 2001. That means Burnett confounds hitters with his
stuff. He has posted a 40-19 record with a 2.64 ERA in four minor-league
seasons. "I just have to hit my spots," said Burnett, at 21 the youngest of the
63 players in camp. "I throw a lot of sinkers, keep ball down, change speeds,
keep hitters off balance. If I can do that, I'm going to get a lot of ground
balls." Burnett is competing with Rick Reed, Ryan Vogelsong and Dave Williams,
all of whom have some major-league experience, for the fifth spot in the
rotation ... Manager Lloyd McClendon equates success in the minor leagues to
making it in the big leagues as the difference between Jeopardy and Double
Jeopardy -- the stakes are higher and it's a little tougher. "He has that look
in his eye as a winner. He'll get his opportunity," McClendon said. Pitching
coach Spin Williams said Burnett is more polished than other young pitchers in
the system. "He's going to have to throw all his pitches for strikes, especially
for a guy who's not a power pitcher," Williams said. If he doesn't make the
club, Burnett will be part of what should be a good rotation in Nashville."
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Taylor
Buchholz, HOU happy with the return for Billy Wagner :
" ... "He goes to the head of the class as far as
our pitchers go, and he's by far the most talented (of the prospects)," Astros
general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "He's got two above-average major-league
pitches right now -- an above-average fastball and an above-average breaking
ball. He's got a great, athletic pitcher's body and appears to have the
intangibles to be a successful pitcher." That's why the Astros were so thrilled
to acquire him, along with pitchers Brandon Duckworth and Ezequiel Astacio, in
November for Wagner, the most successful closer in franchise history. "He was
definitely one of the centerpieces of the trade," Hunsicker said. "He's what we
call a high-ceiling kid. He could be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. I hate to
label any young prospect as a future No. 1 but certainly he could be a very
solid top-of-the-rotation pitcher." (Houston Chronicle)
Something
seems amiss with Rice righthander Jeff Niemann ... 3 1/3 innings in
relief on Tuesday ... 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 2 Ks, now at 5.51.
Some
infield help on the way for CIN and COL :
" ... 3B Edwin Encarnacion is the position
prospect to watch out for. Encarnacion is an athletic infielder with a quick,
line-drive bat. If his power develops, he could end up being a top-notch third
baseman in the majors. If Brandon Larson and Hummel are scuffling in the majors
and Encarnacion handles Double-A pitching, there's a chance you could see him in
the majors this summer."
" ... 2B Jayson Nix and 3B Jeff
Baker should both start the season at Double-A, but they may end the
season in Colorado. Nix is an offensive-minded second baseman who is improving
defensively. He could develop into a Marcus Giles-type. Baker is an athletic
third baseman with good defensive skills and power potential. Both Nix and Baker
could force their way to Colorado with big results at Double-A." (Scott Rex,
OnDeck)
03 March, 2004
Scott
Rex, OnDeck, with some views on kids in the MIn pen :
" ... Hard-throwing RHPs Grant Balfour,
Jesse Crain, and J.D. Durbin could all get the call this season.
Balfour is a versatile pitcher who could actually win a spot in the Twins'
rotation this spring or win a job at the back end of the pen ... I see Balfour
becoming a Brad Lidge-type. Crain looks to be the Twins' future closer and that
future could be sooner more so than later. Crain's fastball hits the high-90s
and he also throws a plus slider and curve. He could be a right-handed Billy
Wagner. Durbin is a longshot to win the final spot in the Twins' rotation. The
22-year-old righty is a bulldog who attacks hitters with mid-90s gas and a nasty
slider."
ANA
manager Mike Scioscia, with little room for rooks, sees a pair of farmhands
nearly ready to make the jump to MLB :
" ... Scioscia mentioned first base prospect
Casey Kotchman, 21, and hard-throwing right-hander Bobby Jenks,
23, as two prospects who are close to being ready to play in the majors. In the
same breath, he raved about the power of third base prospect Dallas
McPherson and the abilities of catching prospect Jeff Mathis.
"I think the guy that's closest probably out of all of them is Kotchman,"
Scioscia said. "I think he's going to come quick. This guy has made incredible
progress in the amount of time he's played. He's already efficient in the field.
"Part of the challenge is getting out there and being able to play enough and
put up the numbers that we need. I think Casey is so far ahead of the game than
other young hitters are, as far as walk-strikeout ratio. Kotchman had 30 walks
and 16 strikeouts in 206 at-bats at Class A Rancho Cucamonga last year. He hit
.350, with eight homers. Scioscia also believers Jenks is making good progress.
"Jenks is probably in the same boat (as Kotchman), but needs a little more
polishing," the manager said, calling Jenks the most improved pitcher in camp."
(Associated Press)
Overlooked
Rockies' prospect on the comeback trail. Ian Stewart might not be
so valuable after all :
" ... Third baseman Jeff Baker has
quietly shone at camp ... a trumpeted fourth-round pick in 2002, seems to have
overcome lingering left wrist problems. He has undergone two surgeries,
including one this winter. Talking about Baker's combination of power and soft
hands, one Rockies coach compared him to Buddy Bell. If Baker ascends through
the system, a trade of Triple-A third baseman Garrett Atkins would become more
likely." (Denver Post)
Not
good news for owners counting on Joaquin Benoit TEX :
" ... Benoit has faced hitters twice this spring,
once in batting practice and for one-plus innings in Monday's intrasquad game.
Both times manager Buck Showalter has used the word "erratic" to describe the
performance. That's not encouraging for somebody who is out of minor league
options. As has been his problem, Benoit fell behind hitters. He ran the count
to 3-and-1 on three of the first five hitters he faced. Benoit averaged 18.5
pitches per inning, second highest among Rangers starters behind Chan Ho Park
(18.9)." (Dallas Morning News)
Super
sub, Michael Cuddyer drops weight, adds gloves in preparation for utility
role in MIN :
" ... Cuddyer will be the first guy Gardenhire looks
to if Jones, Rivas, Koskie, Mientkiewicz or Stewart needs a break. Maybe even in
place of Guzman ... After surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow,
Cuddyer shed 15 pounds during the winter in anticipation of his new role. "I
knew that with playing and switching all these different positions, I had to be
a little lighter," said the 6-foot-2 Cuddyer, who's down to 215 pounds. "I feel
real good. Real strong. A little more agile this year." ... by picking up
time at third base, right field, left field and second base, he has created a
nice reputation for himself as a valuable, versatile player. "If he takes off
and starts hitting, then you've got to find places for him to play every day,"
Gardenhire said. (Associated Press)
ARZ's
Scott Hairston adopting a little of the Cuddyer approach :
" ... After taking a good look at the Diamondbacks
roster, second baseman Scott Hairston has begun to take fly balls in the
outfield, with an eye toward improving his chances of making the Opening Day
roster. "If it means that I get to the big leagues quicker, that's what I'd have
to do," Hairston said. "I'm just trying to make the team and expand my horizons
and work at every position I can." Hitting has never been a problem for Hairston
... chances of making the team diminished substantially when the Diamondbacks
signed second baseman Roberto Alomar in January. With most of their roster set,
the Diamondbacks do have a final position player spot open and they are a bit
thin in the outfield, which is where versatility could help Hairston. "He's
always been a really, really good hitter," Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said.
"And I think he's a smart enough kid to look at the roster this year and see the
makeup of the team and see where the possible spot would be and took it upon
himself to ask the coaching staff if he could start taking some flyballs in the
outfield. "I applaud him for his willingness to do that and we'll see how it
goes." (MLB.com)
Derrick
Turnbow, a shot to win a spot in the ANA pen :
" ... "No doubt he has closer's stuff," Scioscia
said. "His arm shows he's definitely got the ability to pitch the back end of a
game. ... He's gone from a young kid throwing 94-95 mph with spotty command to a
guy throwing 96-97 with good command. I think the guys who worked with him in
the minor leagues did a tremendous job." ... Turnbow, 26, struck out 13
batters in those 14 1/3 dominant innings toward the end of last season, but more
impressive was his command. Turnbow did not walk a batter. "That was the most
impressive thing," Angels closer Troy Percival said. "We all knew he had a great
arm. We'd seen that for the last few years. But the fact that he was throwing
consistent strikes, that was something we hadn't seen." (MLB.com)
Bill
Ballew, Baseball America, on Dan Meyer ATL :
" ... Meyer made impressive progress last
summer ... had a 2.87 ERA at both Class A stops and posted a combined record of
7-10 in 28 starts. His won-lost mark is misleading, for Meyer limited South
Atlantic League hitters to a .248 average before holding Carolina League batters
to a .236 norm. Meyer succeeds with above-average stuff and outstanding command
of all his pitches, resulting in an incredible 4.7-1 strikeout-walk ratio during
his first two seasons. His fastball resides in the low 90s and possesses good
movement. Meyer's slider has developed into a solid offering, while his changeup
is also making steady progress ... 34th overall pick in 2002 ... has shown
during his first two seasons of pro ball why Clark said the southpaw could be
the steal of the 2002 process."
02 March, 2004
David
Wright, Jose Reyes making an early impression in the Mets' camp.
Victor Diaz too, but for the wrong reasons :
" ... Mets got a glimpse of what they hope will be a
promising future Monday, when talented youngsters Jose Reyes and David Wright
each hit a two-run homer in an intrasquad game ... Batting left-handed, Reyes
hit a first-pitch fastball from reliever Jason Anderson over the right-field
wall ... Wright, a non-roster invitee to spring training, lined a two-run shot
to left field ... Wright went 3-for-3 and played a flawless third base
... Victor Diaz had a tough day at third base, committing two errors. Diaz also
failed to cover third on a throw from the outfield, allowing a second run to
score on Joe McEwing's sacrifice fly." (Associated Press)
Third
baseman Dallas McPherson ANA is singled out as a leading prospect by
John Sickels,
ESPN.com :
" ... enters 2004 as one of the best third base
prospects in the game ... He'll always strike out a lot, but he has good
patience at the plate, and will draw his share of walks. McPherson has a very
strong arm (he pitched at times in college), and sufficient range for third
base. He has worked hard to refine his defense at the hot corner ... There is
little to criticize in McPherson's statistical record. He hits for power and
average, draws walks, and steals bases at a good percentage ... need to see what
he can do against advanced pitching, but his performance in the last month of
'03 in Double-A was certainly strong. He should be ready for action against
major league pitching later this year ... will be one of the big bats in the
Pacific Coast League, and could put up spectacular numbers in the thin air.
McPherson's bat will be ready this year, but how he fits into Anaheim's plans
remains to be seen."
At
CREATiVESPORTS, an interesting Q & A. Question (to its writers) -- You're in
a league with a minor league system -- which prospect do you take first with
2005 in mind? Some of the responses (editied) :
" ... Stan Andruszkiewicz ... my first selection
would be Grady Sizemore in 2005 ... combines speed, power and a great
batting eye and each of those tools are still improving. Prince Fielder would be
my #1A choice but his lack of speed drops him from the top."
" ... Ari Nadin ... Rickie
Weeks or Prince Fielder. Fielder, in particular, could go nuts in the
pros as early as 2005. Weeks may come up sooner, but is also a solid bet to show
serious fantasy value in 2005."
" ... Brian Walton ... Rickie Weeks -
21 years old, speed, power and selectivity. He plays at a position of great
fantasy impact, as a middle infielder on team with plenty of playing time
opportunity."
" ... Don Visco ... I’ll take Alexis Rios
from Toronto. Rios beat up AA pitching last year with a 0.352 average and 54
extra-base hits. He continued that rampage in Puerto Rico this winter."
" ... Jody Madron ... I think there are
several choices where you really can’t go wrong here – such as Weeks, Upton and
Fielder – but my choice would be Delmon Young ... I think there’s a
good chance Young will be a solid contributor at the major league level in 2005
– and that’s saying an awful lot about a kid who was in high school this time
last year."
" ... Kenny Salzman I am going to be a little
different than the other guys and go with Adam Loewen of the Baltimore
Orioles ... If you had the chance to pick up Mark Mulder before he became a
star, wouldn’t you have? This is your chance. Adam Loewen will be just as good
if not better than Mark Mulder."
" ... Marc Meltzer Jason Stokes ...
Opportunity and high ceiling. The Marlins have proven that they will bring young
prospects up to the big leagues to fill a need ... I expect a strong start
in double-A Carolina in 2004 will propel Stokes back into the spotlight."
" ... Patrice Evans I like Scott Kazmir ...
Pitchers are risky, but I also feel bats can always be obtained in a draft ...
stud pitchers, maybe not ... I think if a guy is good enough he can make an
impact immediately from the mound ."
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, wraps up his picks as the class of the outfielders for
2004 and the young runs are not well represented. A few choice morsels :
" ... 49. Jason Bay ...went from being
a must-have player to just another sleeper when he was forced to have a torn
labrum repaired in December. He may not be 100 percent in April, but he’s still
safe enough to pick. Bay actually has quite a bit of Giles in him, though he
doesn’t have the same kind of upside. He’ll hit for a pretty good average and
draw quite a few walks. He’s not a 30-homer guy, but 20 is well within reach."
" ... 66. Jody Gerut ... already
seemed like a poor bet to slug .494 again. Now that it’s been revealed that
he’ll have to play through a damaged shoulder, it’s rather likely that he’ll
fall short of last year’s total of 22 homers even if he gets an extra 50-75
at-bats ... He’ll be solid if healthy, but there’s no reason to take the risk."
Opening
eyes in the Angels' camp :
" ... Class AA RHP Ervin Santana is
generating the same type of buzz among team officials that RHP Francisco
Rodriguez did two years ago. Santana, 21, has a cleaner delivery than Rodriguez
and a more varied repertoire because he's a starting pitcher. Santana has
averaged nearly a strikeout per inning in three minor league seasons. One
problem, though: He was set back two weeks this spring because of shoulder
tightness." (The Sporting News)
Comeback
kids ?
" ... Left-hander Matt Thornton had another
impressive outing throwing live batting practice, the left-hander earning praise
from coaches throughout camp. Thornton, Seattle's first-round pick in the 1998
draft, was on the fast track when he was named the organization's pitcher of the
year following the 2001 season, winning 14 games and striking out 192 batters.
In 2002, he missed most of the season with both tendinitis and an ulnar
collateral ligament tear in his left elbow. Last season he appeared in just
eight games and went on the disabled list for good on June 24 with a cervical
spine herniation .... Jeff Heaverlo threw 25 fastballs off the bullpen
mound with good results. He had been out since feeling pain in his shoulder
early in camp." (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
Ken
Warren has kicked off his weekly, Scoresheet oriented, updates. It's a pay
service which will be housed over at Ray McKelvie's super
B Ball Deluxe site. Lots of good stuff. Check with Ken to
sign up.
01 March, 2004
Hmmm
... well, the A-Rod rumours seemed crazy ... now, Gagne to TOR ?
" ... What moves will Paul DePodesta, the Dodgers'
rookie GM, make this year? National League West insiders say they wouldn't be
surprised to see DePodesta send Adrian Beltre to the Yankees, who could
move Beltre to second base, or to swing a deal with friend J.P. Ricciardi that
would put Eric Gagne in a Blue Jays uniform and bring blue-chip prospects
to L.A." (San Diego Union Tribune)
FLO
on the lookout for the next ... Dontrelle, Miguel ... Clark Spencer, Miami
Herald :
" ... five prospects worth keeping an eye on
this spring, players who could either make the opening-day roster or find their
way to the big club if, like last season, the Marlins get off to a slow start:
INF Wilson Valdez Could crack Florida's opening-day roster with a good
spring. If he does, he'll be used in a utility role. Valdez, 25, enjoyed a
breakout season in the minors in 2003 ... Excellent fielder ... Trevor
Hutchinson: Hard-throwing right-hander raised eyebrows in his first
minor-league season last year, combining to go 12-5 with a 3.05 ERA while
splitting time between Single A Jupiter and Double A Carolina ... Josh
Willingham: If Ramon Castro's impending trial on sexual assault charges
leaves the Marlins in the lurch, they could give Willingham a chance to take his
spot on the roster -- even if only for the short term ... advanced to Double A
Carolina toward the end of the 2003 season after hitting .264 with 12 home runs
for Single A Jupiter ... Franklin Gracesqui: A tall lefty with pop
on his fastball. Gracesqui flashed promise out of the bullpen last season in
Double A, going 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA and five saves ... Abraham Nuñez: The
Marlins have loved this guy since he joined the team in 1999 ... This could
finally be his year after hitting .311 at Triple A Albuquerque last season."
Early
game watch ... Cole Hamels or Gavin Floyd could be on the mound
against the Yankees on Friday ... little scare for the Mets -- Kazuo Matsui
split the middle finger (right hand) during a workout, out for about a week.
Joe
Blanton touted as the Next Big Thing in OAK :
" ... this spring, the man to watch is: Joe Blanton
... has emerged as the potential star of the "Moneyball'' bunch after a
remarkable year in which he struck out 174 and walked just 26 at stops at Class
A Kane County and Double-A Midland. He also pitched an inning of relief for
Triple-A Sacramento in the playoffs, striking out two. "He's got great
stuff,'' said Mike Rose, who caught him in that game. "He's going to be a good
one. He's got a plan, too -- he shook me off his first Triple-A game, and I got
the sense he knew what he was doing. For a young kid, I was really impressed.''
Blanton has been compared to current fifth starter Rich Harden ... because of
his lively fastball and good control (manager Ken Macha said the team's
minor-league coaches raved about Blanton's command) ... "His statistics are
tremendous and we feel he's probably next in line,'' Macha said. "Maybe at some
point, he'll be able to come up and help us." (San Francisco Chronicle)
Jeremy
Deloney, GetSportsInfo, ranks the best of the shortstop prospects and
selects BJ Upton as the class of the lot, with MIL's JJ Hardy at runnerup.
Sergio Santos rated No. 3 :
" ... A picture-perfect swing, a mature hitting
style, and power potential ... Much like Upton, he was aggressively
promoted last year and reached Double A at the age of 19. At 6’3” 200 pounds,
Santos projects to hit for more power down the road and could outgrow shortstop
and move to third base. He has been a darling among scouts since early in high
school and still intrigues them with his high ceiling potential. Santos could
stand to be more selective at the plate, but he does have solid pitch
recognition skills along with the ability to hit offspeed stuff."
Bobby
Jenks ANA showing a serious side :
" ... Jenks ... said he lost 11 pounds and
reduced his body fat by 6 percent. "I started seeing a personal trainer after
winter ball. I kicked it into gear and pushed myself harder than I have before,"
he said ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Jenks' decision to play
winter ball in Puerto Rico contributed to his weight loss. "I think that his
pitching against high-caliber players and having success gave him the confidence
to see the light at the end of the tunnel of reaching his potential," Scioscia
said. Jenks posted a 7-2 record with an ERA of 2.17 in 16 starts with
Class AA Arkansas last season ... The 6-foot-3 Jenks is listed at 240
pounds, but says he is about 20 pounds heavier. He was listed at 270 pounds at
this time last year." (Associated Press)
Wade
Townsend emerging from the shadow of Jeff Neimann at Rice :
" ... Junior right-hander Wade Townsend matched his
season-highs in innings (8) and strikeouts (10) to help lead the number two
ranked Rice baseball team past number 16 ranked Nebraska ... Townsend
scattered four hits and three walks over 8.0 innings and kept the previously
undefeated Cornhuskers in check."
Townsend now 0.81 in 22 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 31 Ks,
9 walks.
Ah,
another reason why the Rockies' top prospect is likely to start off in the
minors :
" ... Chin-Hui Tsao ... expected to
begin the season in Triple-A Colorado Springs. He would welcome a minor-league
assignment this summer when the Olympics start, a condition that would make him
eligible to compete for Taiwan in Athens. "I want to play. It's something I have
never done," Tsao said. "It's a big deal for my country." Playing in the Games
would allow the right-hander to waive his two-year military obligation." (Denver
Post)
A
pair of not-so-young guns in the running to share the left field spot for the
Expos :
" ... the feeling here is lefty-hitting Terrmel
Sledge has the inside track, probably in a platoon situation with
right-handed hitting Juan Rivera ... Sledge hit .324 with the
Trappers last year and although he weighs only 185 pounds, he has by far the
most pop among those contending for the job, with 26 doubles, 22 homers and 92
RBIs last year. He was the Expos minor-league player of the year ...
Rivera has a slight advantage in that he has had 260 major-league at-bats with
the Yankees over parts of three seasons and a .262 average with seven home runs
and 26 RBIs in the big leagues. Rivera hit .325 at Triple-A Columbus last year,
but has limited power and does not steal bases. And among all the most likely
outfield candidates, he is the only one who is a pure right-handed hitter."
(Montreal Gazette)
Now
it looks like lots of playing time for both Ben Broussard and Travis
Hafner according to the early view from manager Eric Wedge :
" ... Broussard and Hafner are expected to
play every day during the regular season at first and designated hitter. Wedge
prefers Broussard at first because of his glove, but isn't going to ignore
Hafner in spring training ... Wedge added that Broussard and Hafner, both
left-handed hitters, will get a chance to face lefties ... They struggled
against them last year, Broussard hitting .175 (18-for-103) and Hafner .190
(16-for-84) ... Last year, Wedge used Casey Blake at first against some lefties.
Last week, he said he might use switch-hitting catcher Victor Martinez at
first against a tough left-hander, but seemed to back away from that Saturday.
"Victor may be over there some, but I want to be careful of not taking the focus
off catching," said Wedge. "First base is not a day off. You're in the middle of
everything. Casey can go from third to first depending on who my utility guy
is."
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