|
18 January, 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 to all for a
great holiday season with friends and family and good health and much success in
the coming year. jdm
 Winter
ball playoffs ... Francisco Campos 7.2 9 1 1 2 7 ... vet Vinny Castilla
COL warming up for the season, 3-4, double, 2 homers ... Miguel Negron
TOR 3-4 ... Alexis Rios TOR 0-4 ... Bobby Abreu PHI
4-6, double, triple, 4 RBI ... Miguel Cabrera FLO 2-4 ... Alberto
Callaspo ANA 3-4 ...
Hmmm
... didn't think much about the SD signing of SS Rey Ordoñez. But, he
could end up as the starting shortstop, sending Khalil Greene back to the
minors : "
... If rookie Khalil Greene fails to win the Padres' starting shortstop job this
spring, he won't sit on the bench at Petco Park. "He'll go back to (Class
AAA) Portland to play every day," general manager Kevin Towers said of
Greene, 24, the 13th player taken in the 2002 draft ... Ordoñez figures
to be the middle-infield backup if Vazquez beats out Greene for the starting
job. Of course, there's also the possibility Ordoñez, 33, could win the
starting shortstop job. "I wouldn't hesitate playing him if he won the
job," Towers said. "He's as good a defensive shortstop as there is in
the game right now." ... "We don't want to force Greene into the
majors," Towers said. "We have depth and options now at shortstop. Let
them fight it out during the spring and we'll keep two of the three."
Although not Greene, unless he is the starter. (San Diego Union Tribune) More
from Kevin Wheeler, The Sporting News, on top prospect picks for the coming
season. Kevin notes two catchers of distrinction, led by Joe Mauer
MIN with Guillermo Quiroz TOR nipping on his heels. Justin
Morneau MIN is the top dog at first base and Wheeler notes three
possibilities at second -- Rickie Weeks MIL, Chase Utley
PHI and Scott Hairston ARZ. Beyond 2004, he cites Josh
Barfield SD as the main man. Not
much at the hot corner for 2004, a mention of COL's Garrett Atkins,
but over the long haul it's an Angel : "
... Angels slugger Dallas McPherson is the top third-base prospect
in baseball, though he might have to move to right field because of Troy Glaus.
McPherson has Glaus-like power and is a good enough athlete to handle right
field if that move comes." At
shortstop, Bobby Crosby OAK and Khalil Green SD get
the nod for 2004, with BJ Upton TB and Jose Lopez
SEA getting the mentions. "
... Lopez handled high Class A at the age of 18 and did more than hold his own
as a 19 year-old at Class AA. He has some pop in his bat, and with a little more
seasoning, could produce Roberto Alomar-like numbers." Jeremy
Reed CHA is a top outfield pick for now with Delmon Young
TB and Alexis Rios TOR noted as a couple of long-range top guns. "
... Rios is a 6-6 outfielder with tremendous power potential who already hits
for average. Once he fills out, Rios could be a 40 homer hitter." Ryan
Anderson? Yep, you've hung in for six seasons, but time to let go : "
... "I thought some club might have taken a chance on him, but no one
did," said Benny Looper, Mariners head of scouting and player development.
"I don't know why. "I just got off the phone with Ryan and I told him
that 29 other clubs had passed on him and we've taken him off the 40-man roster.
It's time for him to step up and show what he can do." Right now, he can't
do much. He can work out, but he can't throw. Sometime in the next week or so,
Anderson will fly from Phoenix to Seattle to be checked by Mariners medical
director Dr. Larry Pedegana. Anderson won't be able to throw until Pedegana
gives the clearance. "In talking to Ryan, he doesn't think he'll be ready
to throw in a game until June or July," Looper said. "I'm hoping that
we will get a chance to see him throwing (on the sidelines) during spring
training." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) SEA
among the most interested of the MLB clubs in Cuban Maels (pronounced
"Miles") Rodriguez who is scheduled to show his stuff Thursday at
a workout in El Salvador : "
... General manager Bill Bavasi has assigned the club's chief Latin American
honcho, Bob Engle, to the task of seeing just how ready Rodriguez is. Given that
the 24-year-old right-hander was one of Cuba's best pitchers, if his arm proves
sound, this could be a re-enactment of last year's Jose Contreras sweepstakes
... has a fastball that has been clocked at 100 mph. He defected in October
after he'd been taken off the Cuban squad for international competition. Cuban
baseball authorities said Rodriguez had lost 15 mph off his fastball ...
"We've seen him in international competition before," Engle said.
"This is just another opportunity. He's no secret -- all 30 clubs know
about him. He throws close to triple figures, so naturally there is interest all
around." ... Last year, before the demotion and defection, Rodriguez was
8-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 113 innings." (Seattle
Post-Intelligencer) A
little good news for the Rangers : "
... Ricardo Rodriguez, who underwent surgery on the cartilage in his
right hip joint in August, began throwing from a mound this week. A candidate
for the Rangers' starting rotation, Rodriguez said, "I don't feel pain at
all when I throw." (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
17 January, 2004
Troop
movements ... BAL with ST invites to a pair of top prospects -- John Maine,
Mike Fontenot ... a bit of a surprise, a MLB contract for Nick
Bierbrodt in BOS ... in the SEA MLB camp for ST -- Jose Lopez,
Travis Blackley, Shin-Soo Choo ... John
Sickels, ESPN.com, high on SF's top prospect, Merkin Valdez : "
... With the graduation of guys like Jerome Williams and Jesse Foppert to the
Show, Valdez is now San Francisco's best prospect ... Tall and lanky,
Valdez generates good heat, getting his fastball to 93-94 mph, occasionally a
bit higher ....locates it well in the strike zone. Valdez' second pitch is a
slider, which is overpowering when thrown correctly ... changeup is mediocre at
this point, and will have to be improved for him to thrive at higher levels.
Valdez has the physicality to be a durable pitcher, but he needs to keep his
mechanics consistent ... He's reasonably efficient for a young power pitcher,
which will help him stay healthy ... There are rumors that Valdez will be given
a chance to make the major league roster in spring training, as a reliever. He
certainly has the ability to thrive in that role ... is at least a year away as
a starter, but if he does move to relief, he could contribute very
quickly." Kevin
Wheeler, The Sporting News, with some of his favourite young guns. As the
best of the starting pitchers for this season, a pair of righthanders :
"
... Royals stud Zack Greinke is the best pitching prospect in the
game and could advance to the majors in 2004. He dominated high Class A and
Class AA in 2003 and earned the title of Sporting News Minor League Player of
the Year. Think Greg Maddux with a better fastball. Dodgers wunderkind Edwin
Jackson showed a lot in 2003, handling Class AA as a teenager and shining
in his short stint with the big-league club at the end of the season. Stay tuned
to the Dodgers' offseason moves. If they trade pitching to improve their
offense, Jackson is next in line for a rotation spot." Beyond
2004, Wheeler likes the looks of a couple of NL prospects : "
... There might not be a more talented pitching prospect than Mets lefthander Scott
Kazmir. His high-90s fastball draws comparisons to Billy Wagner's, though
Kazmir is expected to remain a starter. Phillies righthander Gavin Floyd
has a chance to be as good as Brett Myers has been so far. Floyd throws in the
low-to-mid 90s and has a knee-buckling curve." PHI's
Cole Hamels & LA's Greg Miller also receive
mentions. Jim
Callis, Baseball America, on the hotseat. The higher ceiling, Joe Mauer
or Justin Morneau ? "
... Mauer may have just nine homers in 277 pro games, but he's a magician with
the bat. He always has been quite young for his league, yet he has a career .330
average with significantly more walks (129) than strikeouts (101) ... and as
Mauer learns to loft more pitches and pull more pitches, he'll hit more homers.
The Twins believe he has the pop to hit 35-40 homers annually if he wanted to
focus on power, though he'll probably be a guy who hits for a very high average
and hits 20 homers. Mauer was 20 last season, when he hit .338/.398/.434 ...
When Morneau was 20 in 2001, he tore up low Class A and then batted
.272/.359/.396 in high Class A (53 games) and Double-A (10 games). I think both
will be stars for the Twins, so I'm not knocking Morneau. If I have to slap
numbers on them, I see Mauer hitting .310/.400/.500 and Morneau hitting
.280/.360/.540 in their primes. That would make Mauer a slightly more valuable
offensive player, and when you factor in their positions and how good Mauer is
defensively, he's clearly the better prospect." Scott
Rex, OnDeck, picks starter Clint Nageotte as the best of the SEA
prospects, with phenom Felix Hernandez as the runnerup. Chris
Snelling rated #3, ahead of shortstop Jose Lopez.
16 January, 2004
Winter
ball playoffs ... yes, I think I'll put him on my keeper list, Edgar Gonzalez
ARZ 6.0 3 0 0 4 3 ... Franklin Gutierrez LA 2-4, homer ... Geremi
Gonzalez TB 7.0 6 2 0 2 4 ... Victor Zambrano TB 6.0 5 3 3 2 9
... Alfredo Amegaza ANA 3-5, Troop
movements ... Josh Paul, once a highly-rated catching prospect, a minor
league deal with ANA ... and the Angels' have invited most of their
top young guns to join the regulars for ST -- Erick Aybar, Alberto
Callapso, Nick Gornealt, Casey Kotchman, Jeff
Mathis, Ervin Santana ... Phil
Rogers, ESPN.com, noting a couple of COL sleepers : "
... Scott Elarton has finally recovered from shoulder surgery and is
ready to assume the potential he showed in 2000, when he won 17 games for
Houston. He's been working with pitching guru Bus Campbell, a treaure in the
state of Colorado, who helped Roy Halladay turn his career around. Campbell says
that Elarton is ahead of where Halladay was at this time last year. That's scary
... Aaron Miles was an astute acquisition who could put up Rookie
of the Year numbers as the second baseman. He'll have to play well in spring
training to win a battle with veteran Damian Jackson, but don't be surprised if
he scores 100-plus runs ... Miles is an intriguing offensive player who seems to
fit Coors Field perfectly. He hits for a high average (.313 the last two years
between Double-A and Triple-A) and is hard to strike out. He's only 5-foot-8,
but is extremely strong. The ball jumps off his bat."
Winter
ball success might pave the way for a in-season trial for Rene Reyes in
COL. But, defensive troubles might stall the climb. Thomas Harding, MLB.com : "
... Rockies switch-hitting outfield prospect Rene Reyes went to the
Venezuelan Winter League with plenty of homework. In 53 regular-season games for
Caracas, Reyes batted .297 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs, plus 13 doubles and
six triples ... Reyes also committed 10 errors in
the outfield ... not comforting numbers, considering how he struggled with his jumps and reads
during his Major League stint. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is not looking at
the stat sheet as Reyes' final report card." "
... Hurdle said.
"It's a pretty good level of competition, even if it's not Major League
competition. We just wanted him to build up to playing more games. If he makes
our roster, it's a 162-game season, not the 120-130 he's been accustomed to in
the minors." Reyes is no kid -- he turns 26 on Feb. 21 ... Reyes earned Rockies MVP honors at the Rookie and Single-A
levels, and batted .343 in 98 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs last season to
earn MVP honors there ... Now he faces his biggest challenge, to stick on the
2004 Opening Day roster. Colorado could use him. He'd be the only full-time
outfielder behind starters Jeromy Burnitz in left, Preston Wilson in center and
Larry Walker in righ ... Hurdle said he doesn't have the complete story on what is afflicting Reyes
defensively. He is trying to find out whether the errors are for fielding and
throwing, and if some difficult balls have simply found him. But there is
concern." Checking
back with Mike Gullo's Top 100, at Minors First, to look in on a few on the
bottom part of the list. Some with pretty fair pedigrees. "
... 61. John Van Benschoten ... been calling his move to the
mound a mistake ever since he was drafted. Even last year, I was skeptical of
his early success as a full time pitcher. Now, I think he's somewhat won me
over. I'm in the minority in not viewing him as a future 1-2 starter." "
... 68. Sean Burnett ... still having a lot of success in the
win/loss category and has always been young for his league. The big question is:
now that's he's reaching the upper levels of the Minors, what happened to his
strikeouts? Only 86 in 159+ IP. He's looking more like a #4 starter than he did
a year ago." "
... 84. Michael Aubrey ... has a great approach, a nice swing and
should generate at least average power for his position. No news there. What
isn't always talked about is his defense. I think he's an outstanding defender
and he began showing it in his first pro game. I'm talking about gold glove
caliber. He'll be a fast mover up the ladder." "
... 87. Curtis Granderson ... a great college hitter and
he's showing the same ability as a pro. He's also in the second tier range in
regards to power/speed prospects and he seems capable in center. At this point
he's still only one of my sleeper picks, but I really like his future. I'm
looking for a breakout season this summer."
15 January, 2004
Hmmmm
... some bigish names near the bottom of Dayn Perry's Top 100 (the bottom 10 the
1st installment) at Fox Sports. Big BAL lefty Adam Loewen checked in at
No. 91 : "
... his signing was a serious boon to the Orioles, who may have the best crop of
lefty prospects in the game today. He has a solid fastball and an incredible
curve that draws comparisons to Barry Zito. He saw only limited action this past
season in the NY-Penn League, but he was impressive over that span. Until he
pitches more at the professional level, it's hard to justify ranking him much
higher, but he's a good bet to zoom up the rankings next season." Hanley
Ramirez BOS, (more below) barrely made the list, ranking No. 98 : "
... In 2001, he began destroying the rookie and short-season circuits, and he
kept it up through 2002. This past season, however, his numbers took a dive in
the Sally League, so that's dropped his stock a bit. Still, it's far too soon to
write him off. His defense is reasonably strong, and it's hard to ignore the
numbers he put up in his first two seasons. It's troubling that he struggled in
Low-A, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt for now." And,
one of OAK's "Moneyball" picks fared just a little better, gaining the
No. 92 slot : "
... Jeremy Brown ... had an impressive season in the Cal League in 2002,
but that was a fairly accommodating environment for hitters. This past season at
AA-Midland, he showed excellent plate discipline and posted a .388 on-base
percentage; however, his power disappeared. He plays a key position and has a
great concept of the strike zone, but his lack of power and age reduce his
stock. At this point, he projects as a quality back-up catcher at the highest
level." At
Baseball America, John Manuel added a bit more on the TOR farm during a chat
session . John-Ford Griffin attracted a bit of attention : "
... has major league hitter written all over him. Unfortunately, he also has DH
mixed in with all these initials. He's not particularly athletic, and his arm
has never bounced back from shoulder surgery he had in college. So if the Jays
can squeeze J-FG into the left field or DH spot, then he'll have a place, but it
looks like those positions are taken by players who have established themselves
as big leaguers or who have higher ceilings than him, like Rios or Gross."
Who's
No. Three behind the dish, behind Joe Mauer & Jeff Mathis ?
"
... but it's probably between Navarro and Quiroz, and my familiarity with
Quiroz would have me in his corner. I think he's an offense-defense balance guy;
he's got a chance to hit 20-30 home runs in the major leagues, his raw power
rivals that of Josh Phelps. His defense is better than his offense, but calling
him a guy with an 'acceptable' bat doesn't do him justice, I don't think." And,
does Alexis Rios have a shot at the top spot in the Top 100 ?
"
... I still think Joe Mauer and B.J. Upton are better prospects than Rios, but
no third guy jumps out to me off the top of my head. I'd say Rios is in the
discussion for three, but he did hit "only" 11 homers last season
(before winter ball). His top-end potential, though, is so high . . . he makes
such consistent, hard contact, it's hard to avoid putting a Winfield tag on
him." Spencer
Fordin, MLB.com, noting the winter success of Rios & Quiroz : "
... Rios has been red-hot over the last year, earning MVP honors in the
Eastern League to go with his Winter League trophy. Toronto has said on several
occasions that it plans to take things slowly with Rios -- but he may be forcing
the team's hand. He hit .348 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in Puerto Rico, and he's
driven in 11 more runs during the playoffs. If the outfielder responds with a
similar performance in Spring Training, the Jays will have some serious
decisions to make. Meanwhile, Quiroz played for Zulia, his hometown team, and he
also lived up to his pedigree. Coming off an All-Star season at Double-A New
Haven, the catcher batted .299 with 11 homers and 24 RBIs in 44 Winter League
games."
Reports
out of BOS suggest those counting on Hanley Ramirez ought to be fairly
optimistic. Ian Browne,
MLB.com reviews Ramirez' stinit in winter ball :
"
... this winter has served as an invaluable experience. "This is a
good experience for him to be with that team and get exposure to a higher level
and a better brand of baseball," said Ben Cherington, director of player
development for the Red Sox. "Good young players, at some point, need to be
exposed to the highest level of baseball. For him, the closest point to the big
leagues right now is winter ball." Because of the quality of players on his
team and the competitive nature of the league, Ramirez ...has been used
sparingly ... "He's more than held his own," Cherington said. "He
didn't get to string enough at-bats together to make the stats mean anything
either way. But just the opportunity to get his feet wet and be around big
league players was good for his development and good from a maturity
standpoint."
"
... Cherington thinks that Ramirez's reputation might be a bit
exaggerated. "I'm not at all covering up fact he's made some
mistakes," Cherington said. "But this is a good kid. He got tremendous
attention at a young age and that can be tough. He's learning how to deal with
that. Right now he's in a real good frame of mind and he's in great shape. We
feel he's really making good strides in terms of maturity and work ethic."
... The Red Sox aren't sure which minor league level Ramirez will play at this
season. "Either (Single-A) Sarasota or (Double-A) Portland. Some of it is
up to him, and some of it is up to circumstances, such as who's ahead of
him," Cherington said. Pirates
hoping for good health for some kids : "
... Jason Bay, Bobby Hill and Freddy Sanchez,
all acquired in trades last year, are eager to get clearance to begin full
workouts after being injured last season. Hill, an infielder diagnosed with a
stress fracture in his lower left back in September, was the only one of the
three who worked outside in sweats yesterday on the opening of a five-day
minicamp ... Sanchez, expected to compete with Hill for the starting job at
second base, is going through therapy and rehabilitation on his right ankle. He
had a bone spur removed last year and will see an ankle specialist in Pittsburgh
next week ...Bay, being counted as the everyday left fielder, also worked
indoors as his teammates did some hitting, bunting, fielding and throwing in the
Florida sunshine. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
He won't be able to throw until mid-March but hopes to be swinging the bat soon.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) And
winter ball has surely helped Ross Gload's bid to win a bench spot with
the White Sox : "
... after short stints in Colorado and with the Cubs, not to mention an
outstanding 2003 campaign at Triple-A Charlotte, Gload was added to the 40-man
roster. He more than built on that success with a near Triple Crown effort for
Hermosillo in the Mexican League. Gload finished second in hitting with a .328
average, added 12 home runs and led the league with 51 RBI. He struck out a mere
28 times in 232 at-bats. Gload firmly has placed himself in position to earn a
reserve outfield spot or fill the back-up role at first base. Not a bad
transition for a player without a team coming out of Spring
Training." (Scott Merkin, MLB.com)
14 January, 2004
Winter
ball playoffs ... Oliver Perez PIT 5.0 6 3 3 2 5 ... Erubiel Durazo
OAK 2-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI ... Justin Wayne FLO 6.0 4 4 4 2 4 ... Donzell
McDonald FA homer
Troop
movements ... Ryan Anderson SEA apears to have slipped through waivers
... sent outright to the M's AAA club at Tacoma ... Mike Bynum
dropped by SD ... Again,
the Blue Jay looking for a bumper farm harvest and the club's depth is
impressive led off by outfielder Alexis Rios. John Manuel penned
the TOR report for Baseball America : "
... His bat always has been his best tool, and his developing power has pushed
him to elite-prospect status ... Jays officials also consider him an
accomplished center fielder who takes good angles to the ball and has a strong
arm ... His offensive profile looks a lot like that of Vernon Wells, which is
good, but Rios isn’t as good a center fielder as Wells ... Rios was in danger
of not making the Jays’ 40-man roster last offseason, and now he’s their top
prospect ... If the organization keeps him, it could have another Juan Gonzalez
or Dave Winfield on its hands, a perennial all-star right fielder who could hit
.300 with 35 homers, or win batting championships with 20-homer power. However,
Rios isn’t quite a finished product and looks likely to begin 2004 at Triple-A
Syracuse unless he has an overwhelming spring." A
likely TOR battery in the next year or two -- Dustin McGowan and Guillermo
Quiroz -- finished 2-3 and at #5 there's an interesting sleeper pick, Francisco
Rosario : "
... missed the entire 2003 season. However, Toronto officials were impressed
with his recent showing in instructional league. Strengths: Before his injury,
Rosario threw his fastball from 92-97 mph with exceptional command ...
Rosario will need time to recover from his elbow reconstruction, as many
pitchers struggle to regain their touch and feel in their first season after the
surgery ... .would have been the Jays’ No. 1 prospect last year if not for the
surgery. He can put himself in position for that honor again if he has a
healthy, strong 2004. He’ll start at high Class A Dunedin and move to Double-A
once the Eastern League’s weather improves." John
Sickels, ESPN.com, on Colt Griffin KC :
"
... I think he'll improve his numbers early in '04, at least superficially (ERA,
wins, etc.). But his K/BB and K/IP will give us a true read on his actual
progress. Although the Royals haven't given up on him by any means, he has
fallen behind other guys like Zack Greinke and Jimmy Gobble on their pitching
prospect depth chart. This is good in the sense that they will be less tempted
to rush Griffin if he gets off to a hot start. I can't say I'm especially wild
about his chances, but they look better than they did a year ago at this
time."
Thank
goodness my attempt last season to acquire Travis Hafner was
unsuccessful. And, it looks like 2004 might be iffy. Joe Ptak,
Cleveland Indians Report :
"
... It doesn't look like there's any way that both Ben Broussard and Travis
Hafner can make the opening day roster. Broussard has an option remaining,
Hafner doesn't (I think) and that gives Hafner the advantage if the spring
numbers are close. I would also not be surprised to see the loser traded during
the spring."
Might
want to look around for a early season backup for Jody Gerut. Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter :
"
... Gerut, who led the Indians in home runs and runs batted in last year, has
been rehabbing a sore left shoulder this off-season and probably won't be 100
percent in time for spring training. He's on a limited throwing program right
now. Gerut injured his shoulder diving for a ball near the end of the season ...
Surgery was considered, but the Indians' medical staff decided against it. If
Gerut's arm isn't sound by the season opener, he may have to open as the
designated hitter." A
possible second base sleeper in COL. Tracy Ringolsby Rocky Mountain News :
"
... Aaron Miles ... A veteran of nine years in the minor leagues,
this is the first year he will come to spring training with a chance to claim a
big-league job ... "It doesn't bother me," Rockies manager Clint
Hurdle said of Miles' lengthy minor league résumé. "There are guys who
just never quite received the opportunity for whatever reason. They are guys
who, when they get the opportunity, appreciate it. "I feel he's one of
them. I have talked to people who have been with him in the past. He's always
been behind a high-profile guy, but he has never cheated himself or his team on
the field. We've decided we are going to be the team that is going to give him
his chance." ... He was the Class AA Southern League most valuable player
in 2002, when he hit .322 for Birmingham, stealing 25 bases and driving in 68
runs. In his Class AAA debut in 2003, he hit .304 and had 11 home runs in a
leadoff role, where he projects with the Rockies." MIN
kids in line for at least some part-time work : "
... with Jones almost certainly in his last season with the Twins, they plan to
keep Michael Cuddyer in the majors as a "super utility" player
who can man the outfield, first, second and third ... Michael Restovich,
whom Ryan said played well in Puerto Rico this winter, likely will be the fourth
outfielder. And Michael Ryan will probably be the lefthanded pinch
hitter. Lew Ford would have to pass Restovich or Ryan to make the
team, or the Twins could trade one of their outfield prospects. LeCroy will be
the DH, meaning top hitting prospect Justin Morneau will be given
plenty of time to develop in Class AAA. And the Twins are committed to Mauer
being the Opening Day catcher." (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) "They
also serve who only stand and wait." John Milton. A note on Jeff
Nelson in Jamey Newberg's column at the Texas Rangers Minor League Report
prompted me to look up Nelson's minor league numbers.
Team
Lvl G GS IP H BB SO ERA
1984 Great Falls R 1 0
0.2 3 3 1 54.00
1984 Dodgers R 9
0 13.1 5 6 7 1.35
1985 Dodgers R 14 7
47.1 72 32 31 5.51
1986 Great Falls R 3 0
2.0 5 3 1 13.50
1986 Bakersfield A 24 11 71.1 79 84
37 6.69
1987 Salinas A 17 16
80.0 80 71 43 5.74
1988 San Bernardino A 27 27 149.1 163 91 94 5.54
1989 Williamsport AA 15 15 92.1 72 53 61
3.31
1990 Williamsport AA 10 10 43.1 65 18 14
6.44
1990 Peninsula A 18 7 60.0
47 25 49 3.15
1991 Jacksonville AA 21 0 28.1 23 9
34 1.27
1991 Calgary AAA 28 0 32.1
39 15 26 3.90
1992 Calgary AAA 2 0
3.2 0 1 0 0.00
13 January, 2004
Ah,
can spring be far behind? Baseball America with a Prospect Hot Sheet ...
Kevin Goldstein handles this one checking in on the kids in winter ball.
No surprise at the top -- Alexis Rios TOR. Victor Diaz
NYN was the runnerup (and would appear to be Mets' trade bait). Bobby
Jenks ANA ranked #3 : "
... Another winter tease from the enigmatic one? Went 5-1 during the regular
season while finishing fourth in the ERA race, then delivered the most dominant
start of the playoffs Friday night, striking out 11 in a complete game four-hit
shutout." A
relative unknown in the 4th slot : "
... Adriano Rosario, rhp,... (Diamondbacks) Nineteen-year-old
flamethrower allowed less than a baserunner per inning during the regular season
and has delivered two solid playoff outings while facing much more advanced
competition." Troop
movements ... the news isn't good for Freddy Sanchez or Bobby
Hill PIT ... considered to be in the running for the 2B job ... they likely
face some minor league bus rides if Jeff Cirillo moves to the Pirates and 3B,
with Chris Stynes shifting to second ...
More
from Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, and NL West prospects. Interesting note
on his #2 ARZ prospect, Sergio Santos :
"
... The Diamondbacks have probably been overaggressive with him, resulting in
the mediocre numbers, but the fact that he’s managed to hold his own is a
point in his favor. Santos is a terrific athlete and a possible All-Star if he
can stay at shortstop. It’s more likely that he’ll end up at third base,
where he will probably be just an average regular. He’s going to need two more
years in the minors." After
Chin-Hui Tsao, Pouliot likes third baseman Ian Stewart
as the class of the COL farm and has some nice things to say about BC lefty Jeff
Francis :
"
... The 10th overall pick in the 2003 draft, Stewart has the potential to be a
top-notch offensive third baseman. His glove isn’t so solid, but he has plenty
of time to work on his defense and the Rockies are going to do everything in
their power to keep him at third base. Even though Stewart is three or four
years away, fantasy leaguers should start getting excited now."
"
... Francis ...followed up a very rough start with a brilliant second half for
Single-A Visalia. His lack of an out pitch could hurt him, but Francis has an
88-92 mph fastball, an average curve and a useable changeup. If he improves one
of the secondary pitches, he’ll be a nice fit into the middle of Colorado’s
rotation in a couple of years." On
the Padres, Pouliot selected Khalil Greene over Josh Barfield
for the top slot : "
... Greene has been a pleasant surprise defensively since being drafted ... It
was thought that he might have to move to second base in the pros, but he’s
done so well at shortstop that the Padres have decided to hand him a starting
job this year. Greene should be a Shea Hillenbrand-type hitter in the majors,
but because of his defensive value, he’ll be a better player than the Arizona
third baseman. Just don’t expect it to happen this year. Greene likely will
have mediocre numbers as a rookie." "
... Josh Barfield ... Jesse’s son was one of the top hitters in the
minors last season, taking home California League MVP honors. Because of his
lightning-quick hands, it looks like his bat is for real. Barfield may not have
the glove to play second base in the majors, but the Padres are going to leave
him there and see if he can become Jeff Kent ... has Jose Vidro-like
offensive upside, but he has some plate coverage issues. He could use full
seasons at Double- and Triple-A." Pitchers
took the top two spots in SF : "
... Merkin Valdez ... used a mid-90s fastball and a quality
slider to limit South Atlantic League hitters to a .213 average. His changeup is
below average right now, but Valdez has No. 2 starter potential. He’s probably
just a year and a half away." "
... Matt Cain ... fractured elbow that cost Cain half
of last season also dropped him into the No. 2 spot on this list, but the 2002
first-round pick has at least as much upside as Valdez. Cain throws in the
mid-90s and has a hard curveball. The injury means that he’s fallen behind
Valdez in the race to the majors, but he should be fully recovered for the start
of this year." Bill
Ballew, Baseball America, on a couple of back burner TB prospects -- catcher Pete
LaForest and outfielder Joey Gathright :
"
... LaForest is blocked right now, but he should get a chance soon, at least as
Toby Hall's backup. If he continues to make the progress he has made of late, he
could be a better catcher than LeCroy. Offensively, LeCroy may have more pop
than LaForest."
"
... Gathright could be called up, especially if Baldelli should go down or need
an occasional day off. I saw Pierre in 1999 when he was in low Class A and
Gathright reminds me a lot of Pierre. Pierre's work ethic is unmatched at the
major league level, which is the reason he's had success. If Gathright has a
similar approach to the game, he could be a Pierre clone at some point
soon." Dan
Wright CHA, once a pretty highly rated prospect, fallen on hard times : "
... His failure to build on an impressive second-half performance in 2002 leaves
him competing with a few other youngsters for Chicago's fifth starter's job at
best, and any new player addition by the White Sox could push Wright to the
minors or bullpen indefinitely. Of course, Wright also compiled a 25:10 K:BB in
33 IP with 25 H and 5 HR during a six-week demotion to AAA Charlotte (IL),
indicating he still owns decent skills ... while we still envision a bright
future as a starter for Wright, his nearly complete skill breakdown makes him a
bad pick during spring auctions, particularly since Jon Rauch merits another
shot at the rotation and could secure a starting spot for a long time." (RotoHelp)
12 January, 2004
Winter
ball playoffs ... Alexis Rios TOR 2-5 ... Alex Cintron ARZ
2-5, double, homer ... 3B Enrique Cruz (not sure where he's ended
up) 5-5, walk, 3 doubles, triple, 6 runs, 3 RBI ... Francisco Campos
FA 7.1 4 3 0 1 6 ... Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, zips through the teams of the NL West in his final Top 10
report of the pre-season and finds little immediate help on the way, but a few
promising long-term investments. Scott Hairston topped the ARZ
prospect chart : "
... limited by a back injury for much of the minor league season, but he’s a
terrific hitter who closely resembles Marcus Giles from three years ago. Since
he probably won’t improve his defense at second base like Giles did, Hairston
could end up in an outfield corner. However, with Junior Spivey gone, the
Diamondbacks figure to give him an opportunity to succeed at his current
position. His chances of winning the job this year are gone because of the
Roberto Alomar signing, but he should have a spot in 2005." "
... 6. Edgar Gonzalez ... a very solid prospect, but the
massive workload he’s undertaken makes him a big injury risk going forward
... The Diamondbacks tried to do a better job of protecting him last
season, but he still eclipsed 180 innings. With his low-90s fastball and
four-pitch arsenal, Gonzalez has the talent to be a No. 3 starter if he can stay
healthy. He’ll probably start off back at Tucson this year." "
... 8. Conor Jackson ... Jackson has plenty of power and
patience, but he still needs to learn how to take the ball the other way." On
the rich Dodger farm, Pouliot went Edwin Jackson - Greg Miller
1-2 with first sacker James Loney at #3 : "
... A broken wrist sustained at the end of 2002 limited his ability to hit for
power last season, but Loney, who was also viewed as a first-round talent as a
pitcher, is still one of the top first base prospects in the minors. He’s a
terrific defensive first baseman with the talent to hit 30 homers per year even
while playing half his games in Dodger Stadium." "
... 4. Franklin Gutierrez ... got off to an amazing start
last season, and although his home run pace slowed down in June, he remained a
quality hitter all year long ... may need a shorter swing -- but since Gutierrez
is a fine defender in center field, he has a great deal of potential. If he
plays as well this year as he did last season, he could replace Dave Roberts in
2005." "
... 5. Joel Guzman ... had a rough first year in full-season
ball, and an undeserved promotion to the Florida State League only set him back.
The good news is that he was just 18 years old. Guzman should develop big-time
power, and he’ll need it, because he’s probably looking at a switch to third
base at some point. He could turn into a star or never reach the majors at all,
but right now, the best bet is that he’ll be a Tony Batista-type player." Hard
not to like the young guns in the TB system, especially a pair off the top of
Baseball America's Top 10 report, shortstop BJ Upton and outfielder Delmon
Young. Bill Ballew handled the Devil Rays report :
"
... Upton is one of the few players who truly possesses five plus tools ... a
poised hitter with an excellent idea of what he wants to accomplish at the
plate, and he's capable of driving the ball to all fields. He showed the ability
to work counts, even after his jump to Double-A, drawing an organization-high 73
walks ... has enough pop to eventually hit 30 homers on an annual basis ...
range and quickness are unparalleled, and his footwork is outstanding ... .led
the minors with 56 errors. Many came when he either sat back too long on
grounders or tried to make difficult plays with his cannon arm ... By
charging more balls, Upton should improve his defense and become an all-around
star ... Unless he struggles at Double-A or Triple-A Durham, he should make his
debut at Tropicana Field at some point in 2004. It's not unrealistic to pencil
him in as the Rays' starting shortstop on Opening Day 2005." "
... Young has an impressive combination of natural baseball ability and an
old-school work ethic. He had the most raw power in the 2003 draft, and was the
best pure hitter among high school players. He’s a good defender with a plus
arm that will allow him to man right field in the majors." Antonio
Perez grabbed a spot, #9. In
his preliminary Top 50 hitters, John Sickels had Upton rated fourth overall and
Young 16th. Peter
Gammons, ESPN.com, on a Blue Jays' sleeper :
"
... One name that emerged in Puerto Rico is Jays' minor-league outfielder Simon
Pond. After being released by the Indians and Expos, Pond hit .338 at New Haven,
then hit 10 homers in Puerto Rico. "He's got one of the best power swings I
saw," said one scout who covered that island's winter league."
|
