Rookies 2005
 

 
Thanks for your support !   Thanks guys!  Your contributions (and the many, many kind notes of support) are greatly appreciated.   If you can help out in our annual "spare change" campaign please click the cup for details.  If you'd like to send along the deed to your Belize estate, condo in Maui or ship those gold bricks you've been storing in the basement, I supposed we'd find a way to make use of the generous contribution ! But our sights are simply on a bit of spare change to keep our little enterprise chugging along.   Last call !
 

                                                                                                                           Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO
 

24 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  Kyle Davies ATL 6 6 1 1 2 4 ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-3, 2nd HR, R, 3 RBI, BB ... Robinson Tejada PHI 5-1/3 3 1 1 0 7 ... Eric Crozier 1B TOR 1-3, 2B, R ... B.J. Upton SS TB 3-3, 2B, R, BB, 0 errors ... ouch, Jeremy Guthrie CLE 1-2/3 5 8 8 3 3 ... good power display, Kelly Shoppach C BOS 2-4, 5th & 6th HRs, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB ... Kevin Youkilis 1B BOS 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 3-4, 3B, R, RBI, SB ... not a lot left to prove, Scott Baker MIN 7 5 0 0 1 5 ... John Maine BAL 5-1/3 3 2 0 1 6

PACIFIC COAST --  Ken Harvey KC 2-5, 2 homers (3), 2K … Chris Duncan STL 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI … Brad Thompson STL 1-2/3 0 0 0 1 2, 3.97 … Carmen Cali STL 2/3 0 0 0 1 1, 0.00 ERA over 4-2/3 in 4 games … Brendan Harris & Larry Broadway WAS 0-4, 2K …Wandy Rodriguez HOU 5-1/3 6 1 1 2 6, (W, 3-0, 2.42) with 18K in 17 innings … rehabbin’ Dustan Mohr COL 1-2, homer, 3 RBI … Choo Freeman COL 1-2, 2 walks, 2 runs, SB (3) … Conor Jackson ARZ 4-5, 2 runs … Sergio Santos ARZ 2-4, double … Carlos Quentin ARZ 0-4, 2K … Josh Kroeger ARZ 0-3, 2 walks, 2K … Edwin Jackson LA 6 3 0 0 3 6, (W, 1-1, 5.87)

EASTERN --  Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-3, .180 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 1-3, 2B (3), .210 AVG … Tony Giarratano SS DET 3-6, 2B (2), 3B, HR, RBI (2), .206 AVG … Hayden Penn BAL 6 5 2 2 0 4, 1.64 ERA … Francisco Liriano MIN 7 4 2 2 1 6, 3.00 ERA … Joel Zumaya DET 6 5 5 5 3 7, 4.58 ERA 

SOUTHERN --  Chad Billingsley LA 5 4 3 3 2 5, 3.86 ... Dennis Anderson, catcher FLO 4-4, 3 RBI ... Yorman Bazardo FLO 8 2 2 2 1 4, 2.84 ... Dana Eveland MIL 6 7 3 3 0 6, 2.08 ... Matt Murton CHN, still on a tear, 2-4, 3rd homer, .492 ... Kris Honel CHA, not pretty, 5 9 9 9 2 2 ... Delmon Young TB 1-3, 2nd homer, .306  ... Elijah Dukes TB 3-4, 4th homer, 3 RBI, .359 ... Josh Fields CHA 4-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, .347 ... Anthony Lerew ATL 5 2 0 0 4 7 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-5, 3rd homer, .308 ... Brian McCann ATL 2-4, double, .306

TEXAS --  Tommy Murphy ANA 2-5, 2R, 3B, RBI, SB ... Steven Shell ANA (W,1-1) 7 6 3 3 0 6 ... Cory Aldridge (RF) KC 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI ... Josh Anderson HOU 3-4, R ... Jason Hirsh HOU (W,3-0) 7 3 1 1 1 7 ... Andre Ethier OAK 1-3, R, 2RBI ... Jeremy Brown OAK 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI ... TJ Bohn SEA 2-5, R .. Jesse Hoorelbeke (1B) SEA 2-4, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Jon Nelson (LF) SEA 2-4, 2R, 2HR, 4RBI ... as of the 14th inning - Shaun Boyd (LF) STL 2-5, SB ... Tony Miller (CF) COL 2-5, 2B, SB ... Ryan Spilborghs (RF) COL 3-6, 2B, SB ... Zach Parker COL 5-2/3 4 1 0 2 7

CALIFORNIA --  Brandon Wood ANA 1-4, 7th homer (just one behind the minor league leader), .292 ... Kurt Suzuki, catcher, OAK 4-4, double, .333 ... Daric Barton OAK 1-4, .268  ... Richie Robnett OAK 0-4, 3 Ks, .242 ... George Kottaras, catcher, SD 2-4, double, .356

CAROLINA --  Michael Hall BOS 2-4, R, 2B, K & 1-3, 2 R, BB, K...  Chad Spann BOS 0-3, BB, K & 2-3, R, HR (3), 2 RBI, BB, K... Ian Bladergroen BOS 1-3, R, BB & 1-4, BB, K...  Nate Spears BAL 1-3, 2 R, BB & 0-5, 2 K, SB ... Nick Markakis BAL 2-4, R, 2B, RBI & 0-3, BB... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 2-3, R, HR (2), RBI, K & 1-5, K... Josh Burrus ATL 2-4, 2 R, K ... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-4, R, HR (4), 3 RBI, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 0-3, R, BB, 2 K ... Diory Hernandez ATL 1-4, R, K ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-4 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-4, K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-4, R, 2 K ... Chuck James ATL (W, 1-2) 6 3 0 0 0 11 (1.59) ... Kory Casto WAS 0-4 ... Robert Valido CHA 2-4, R, 2B, RBI, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K ... Thomas Collaro CHA 3-4, R, 2B, HR (6), 3 RBI, K ... Ervin Alcantara HOU 2-4 ... Javier Guzman PIT 3-3, 2 R, RBI ... Craig Stansberry PIT 1-3, 2B, BB, K

FLORIDA STATE --  Chuck Tiffany LA 6 5 2 2 0 6 W (4-0, 1.23) … Andy LaRoche 3-5 HR(5) … Brendan Ryan  SS STL 2-5 2B R RBI … Cody Haerther DH STL 2-5 2B R 2RBI SB(1) … Carlos Villanueva MIL 6 5 1 1 2 7 … Walter Olmstead DH CIN 3-4 2HR(2) … Brock Till CIN 5 3 0 0 3 2 W … Brett Harper 1B NYN 2-4 2RBI

MIDWEST --  Rusty Brown KC 4-5, 2 doubles, 4 RBI, .326 ... AJ Shappi ARZ 7 5 1 0 1 7, 2-0, 2.52 ...  Reid Brignac SS TB 1-4, double, walk ... Anthony Swarzak MIN 3 4 3 3 4 3 ... Trevor Plouffe SS MIN 0-4, .078

SOUTH ATLANTIC --   Marcus Sanders SS SF, 3-4, HR (2), 2B, 2 RBI gm1, 1-4, 2B, RBI, R gm2 ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 0-4, 4 SO ... Matt Durkin NYN, 4-2/3 3 4 4 3 6 (L, 1-1, 3.09) ... Luis Ramirez BAL, 5 6 3 3 2 6 (W, 1-0, 2.08) ... Matt Van Der Bosch CF BOS, 2-4, 2 2B, 2 SO & 1-3, walk  ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4, 2B, BB ... Jesus Castillo LA, 5 3 2 2 4 9 ... Van Pope 3B ATL, 3-5, 2B, RBI ... Johan Silva CF ATL, 2-5, 2 RBI ... Jason Vargas FLA, 7 5 0 0 1 11 (W, 3-1, 1.05) ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 0-3, BB gm1, 1-4, 2B, R gm2 ...  Gabby Hernandez NYN 5 4 1 0 0 6, 1.96

  Troop Movements ... PHI - Geoff Geary up (Gavin Floyd to AAA)    Ambiorix Burgos KC up (Nate Field to AAA) :

" ... Right-handed reliever Ambiorix Burgos ...  could even immediately inherit the closer's role. Burgos, 21, converted to bullpen duty this spring and has been serving as the closer at Class AA Wichita. He is generally regarded as the organization's best minor-league pitching prospect. General manager Allard Baird spent two days this week at Wichita in part to make a personal evaluation on Burgos. “He's got electric stuff,” Baird said, “and his field awareness is much improved ... “Burgos' fastball command is still developing, but I don't think he's far away at all. When he comes to the big leagues, he will have a specific role.” ...  Burgos has posted six scoreless outings in seven appearances. He is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA with 17 strikeouts and six walks in eight innings."  (Kansas City Star)

   Zach Chalifour, TheRotoTimes, on Gio Gonzalez CHA :

" ... When he was taken in the sandwich round of the 2004 draft, Gonzalez was widely considered to be more refined than most high school pitchers, and he has since proven that he was. After pitching well in 15 starts between Rookie and Low-A ball last summer, Gonzalez has been unhittable after returning to Low-A Kannapolis to begin 2005. Through three starts, he has a 2-1 record with a 1.13 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 16 innings. Gonzalez should be promoted to High-A Winston-Salem soon, and though he should move through the White Sox system very quickly, he likely won't reach the majors until 2007."

   Jeff Clement, catcher, USC.  After 35 games, .345 in 119 ABs, .490 OBA, 9 homers, .655 SLG, 30 walks, 23 strikeouts.

   Jamey Newberg, TheNewbergReport, on some highs and lows in the TEX system :

" ... Catcher Gerald Laird is putting on a show for the RedHawks, shouting with his production for another opportunity to play in the big leagues. With [Friday's] triple and two singles, he has raised his numbers to a stupid .413/.460/.761 with four homers and 10 RBI in 46 at-bats. He's also stolen five bases in five tries, and has been throwing runners out regularly (he erased one of two would-be basestealers last night). Laird is third in the Pacific Coast League in hitting, fifth in slugging, third in home runs, seventh in total bases, and sixth in stolen bases."

" ... It's almost impossible to believe after the springs they had, but Ian Kinsler (.250/.308/.450 at Oklahoma) and Joaquin Arias (.204/.259/.259 at Frisco) are struggling statistically."

   Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on Omar Quintanilla OAK :

" ... As for Quintanilla, he's the kind of guy who just doesn't jump out at scouts. He doesn't have blazing speed, he doesn't have a ton of power, he doesn't have a really slick glove. He just makes the plays and flat out hits. He's the kind of guy who will continue to sneak up on people and end up being a very valuable Major Leaguer, but there's a reason he lasted until when the A's drafted him (33rd overall in 2003). He's their kind of player. He doesn't have a tool that pops out at scouts.

23 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 1-1, 2B, RBI, 2 BB ... Kelly Johnson RF & LF ATL 1-3, 3rd HR, R, RBI & 1-4 ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-3, R, RBI, BB ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 2-5, R ... regressing again, B.J. Upton SS TB 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SF, 2 errors ... Joey Gathright CF TB 2-5, 2B, R, RBI, SB ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-5, R, RBI ... Chris Shelton 1B DET 2-4, 2B, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... Zach Duke PIT 5-2/3 4 1 1 3 4 ... Chien-Ming Wang NYA 6 12 4 4 0 3

PACIFIC COAST --   Josh Willingham FLO 2-3, SB (1) … Randy Messinger FLO 1 2 1 1 0 1 … Skip Schumaker STL 3-6, double, 3 runs … John Nelson STL 5-5, 2 doubles … Larry Broadway WAS 2-4 … Anthony Reyes STL 7 5 2 2 2 9, (W, 1-1), 3.93 … Josh Karp WAS 2 2 0 0 0 0 … Rickie Weeks MIL 2-4, double, 2 runs … Brad Nelson MIL 2-3, 2 walks, 2 runs … Prince Fielder MIL 0-3, 2 walks … Dave Krynzel MIL 1-4, walk … Ian Kinsler TEX 1-4, double, 2K … Jose Capellan MIL 6 9 2 2 0 4, (W, 1-0), 3.77 … Justin Lehr MIL 3 1 0 0 0 1, (S,1) … Todd Self HOU 2-4, double … Brooks Conrad HOU 2-4 … Richard Lewis CHN 1-2, RBI, .148 … Ezequiel Astacio HOU 6 7 3 3 0 6, (L, 0-3), 4.63 … Bobby Brownlie CHN 6 5 2 2 1 3, (W, 1-0) … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 0 0 0 0 3, 1.12, bring this kid up!! … Garrett Atkins COL 1-4, homer … Josh Kroeger ARI 3-3, homer, 3 runs … Conor Jackson ARI 2-4, 2 doubles … Carlos Quentin ARI 1-3, double, 2 RBI … Todd Linden SF 2-5, homer … Josh Barfield SD 0-3 … Matt Cain SF 5-1/3 2 3 3 4 6, 2.45 … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-3, 2 walks … Franquelis Osoria LA 1-2/3 1 0 0 0 1 … Dustin Moseley ANA 4-1/3 9 6 6 2 0, 3.31

EASTERN --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-6, .358 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-5, .312 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 2-6, 2B (3), .212 AVG … Jared Sandberg 3B BOS 1-5, HR (5), 2 RBI (13), .190 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 2-3, 2 RBI (5), .298 AVG Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-3, RBI (7), .203 AVG … Brian Bannister NYN 5 4 1 1 1 3, W (4), 0.42 ERA  … Ismael Ramirez TOR 5-2/3 8 3 3 0 4, 4.03 ERA … Charlie Zink DET 5 4 3 3 3 6, 3.94 ERA …

SOUTHERN --  Russell Martin LA 3-4, 1st homer, 3 runs, .326 ... James Loney LA 2-5, 3rd homer, 3 RBI, .250 ... Joel Guzman LA 1-5, 3 Ks, .327 ... Logan Kensing FLO 7 5 1 0 1 8 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 0-4, 2 Ks, .229 ... Matt Murton CHN 2-3, double, 2 walks, .491 ... Jeff Francoeur RF 3-4, .317 ...  Josh Fields CHA 3-5 ... Chad Orvella TB 1 1 0 0 0 2, 0.00 in 8 innings ...

TEXAS --  Justin Huber KC 3-4, .347 ... Fernando Nieve HOU 7 2 2 2 3 5, 1.50 ... Wilfredo Rodriguez TEX 6.0 6 1 1 1 6, 0.82 ... Andre Ethier LF OAK, finally a little slowdown, 0-4, .453 ... Randy Leek STL Leek 7 7 2 2 1 3, 1.96 ... Corey Slavik COL 2-5, 2 doubles

CALIFORNIA --   Howie Kendrick ANA 1-4, 2 walks, 3 runs ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-5, double, 6th homer, 5 RBI ... Wladimir Balentien CF SEA 2-4, double, 7th homer ... Ubaldo Jimenez COL 4 2 0 0 2 7

CAROLINA --  Brad Snyder CLE 1-4, R, HR (3), RBI, K ... Jake Stevens ATL (L, 1-2) 4-2/3 7 3 3 1 3 ... Rafael Perez CLE (W, 2-0) 7 2 0 0 2 6 ... Kory Casto WAS 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR (3), 3 RBI ... Robert Valido CHA 2-3, 3 R, HR (2), RBI, BB, SB (7) ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 2-4, 2 R, HR (2), 3 RBI ... Thomas Collaro CHA 2-4, K ...

FLORIDA STATE --  Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-4 HR(3) 2R 3RBI … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-5 2B R RBI … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 2-5 R … Kevin Collins LF CHN 1-2 HR(3) 4RBI … Jeffery Eure DH MIL 3-4 HR(4) 2RBI … Ty Taubenheim MIL 7 6 2 2 3 3 W … Frank Moore 2B FLO 2-5 … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 4-4 2 doubles HR(3) 4RBI … Brendan Ryan SS STL 4-6 4 doubles R 2RBI … Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-4 2B SB(2) … Juan Francia 2B DET 4-4 RBI 2SB(4) … Timothy Moss 2B PHI 1-2 3B RBI SB(6)

MIDWEST --   Justin Justice CF DET 2-4, triple, .341 ...  Jair Jurrjens DET 6 3 1 1 1 3, 0.50 ... Casey Janssen TOR 7 5 2 2 1 9, 1.04 ... Trevor Plouffe SS MIN 1-3, up tp .085 ... Matt Bush SD 1-4, .213 ... Ryan Harvey CHN 2-5, walk, .296 ... Matt Tuiasosopo DH SEA 2-5, walk,  3Ks, .438

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Matt Miller LF COL, 4-5, 2 R ... Neil Walker C PIT, 0-5, SO ... Blair Johnson PIT, 6 4 1 1 1 3 (W, 1-0) ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 0-3 ... Jason Jaramillo C PHI, 3-3 ... Mitch Einertson CF HOU, 2-2, 2 R ... Alcides Escobar SS MIL, 1-4, BB, SO ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 1-3, BB, CS (3) ... Aaron Laffey CLE, 6 3 1 1 3 4 (0.60 ERA) ... Mike Butia LF CLE, 1-3, 2B, BB, SO ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4, BB ... finally J.C. Holt 2B ATL, 4-5, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R ... Johan Silva CF ATL, 2-4, 3B, 3 RBI, R

  Troop Movements ... KC - Matt Diaz up (Calvin Pickering to AAA) ...  More suspensions for drug use, all 15-days, from tests in Florida during Spring Training :

Jurries, James ATL, Rodriguez, Ricardo ATL, Cates, Gary Jr. BAL, Diaz, Rafael BAL, Salazar, Richard BAL, Torres, Eider CLE, Myers, Damien DET (since released),  Roberts, Grant NYN (released),  Seuss, Adam NYN (released)

   David Regan, RotoAmerica.com, with his league-by-league picks as the early MVP leaders :

International (AAA) - Ryan Doumit, C, PIT (.410/.510/.897) - gets the nod over Walter Young due to his 6 HR
PCL (AAA) - Carlos Quentin, OF, ARI (.375/.543/.813) - not much more you can say.
Southern (AA) - Delmon Young, OF, TB (.346/.417/.462) - plus 6 SB
Eastern (AA) - Brad Eldred, 1B, PIT (.315/.345/.722) - leads league in HR with six.
Texas (AA) - Andre Ethier, OF, OAK (.467/.500/.822) - this year's Jason Kubel.
FSL (A+) - Matt Moses, 3B, MIN (.390/.458/.683) - nice start.
California (A+) - Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAA (.419/.429/.710) - just one walk though.
Carolina (A+) - Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, CLE (.425/.465/.750)
Midwest (A-) - Eric Patterson, 2B, CHC (.465/.589/.674) - plus 10 steals. Unreal.
SAL (A-) - Marcus Sanders, SS, SF (.351/.373/.474) - no real standouts in the SAL yet.

   Prospect notes from Bryan Smith, The Baseball Analysts :

" ... It's getting to the point where hitting .400 is impressive, and there are some good middle infield prospects still doing that feat. Howie Kendrick's 2/5 performance yesterday actually worsened his average to .418, as he also tacked on his ninth extra-base hit of the season. Meanwhile in the Midwest League, bonus babies Eric Patterson and Matt Tuiasasopo are both hitting fantastically. While Tui might not have the defense to stay at short, he's proving that he might just have enough in his bat for third."

   Jay Bradley, RaysBaseball.com, on Reid Brignac TB :

" ... I simply couldn't have imagined a better start for Brignac. He has answered my biggest two questions ...  could he hit for power and was his low walk/strikeout rate a byproduct of him taking the Toby Hall approach at the plate by swinging at everything. Yes on the first one, and thankfully a huge NO on the second question. He hit his first homerun of the season on Tuesday, and those 6 doubles are beautiful. It should be noted that while he has already matched his walk rate from last season at Princeton in almost half the plate appearances, he also has more strikeouts than he did with the P-Rays. But no matter, he's been very good so far."

   John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, on Matt Murton CHN :

" ... A supplemental first-round pick ...  in '03, Murton is hitting .490/.554/.735 to start the season for Double-A West Tennessee, drawing 7 walks with 6 strikeouts in 12 games. He's also stolen 4 bases. He has decent physical tools, and is an aggressive and reasonably polished player. His plate discipline is sound, and he's had no problems at all adjusting to Double-A pitching. He could end up being a more complete player than the more-heralded Brian Dopirak, who has more power but fewer other skills. I like Murton and I think he's a definite sleeper you need to pay attention to."

   D'backs make one more appeal to Stephen Drew :

" ... The Diamondbacks are awaiting word from first-round draft pick  and his agent, Scott Boras, after offering the shortstop a five-year, $7.5 million contract last week ... Drew on Wednesday signed with the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League to get back into day-to-day baseball shape. The Diamondbacks still control his rights, at least until May 31. If he hasn't signed with Arizona by then, he will be eligible to re-enter the draft and can file paperwork preventing Arizona from drafting him again ... As for Drew's chances of accepting Arizona's latest and likely final offer, Diamondbacks General Partner Jeff Moorad said he won't rule out anything. "I wouldn't say we're optimistic, but we're hopeful that upon reflection, Stephen and Scott will see the advantage of being part of the Diamondbacks."  (Arizona Republic)

   John Manuel, Baseball America, on Hayden Penn BAL :

" ... The 6-food-3, 195-pound righthander ...  made three stellar starts so far in 2005. His 26 strikeouts (in just 16 innings) rank second in the EL ... and he’s posted a 1.13 ERA while walking just five so far. "He's had three very, very impressive starts," Orioles farm director Dave Stockstill said. "He's throwing his fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes at any time in the count." Penn's fastball has average velocity, as it usually sits in the 89-92 mph range, but it's an above-average pitch because of its exceptional life and his ability to command it. Penn's change has been solid this season, but his curveball has shown great improvement over last year's model, Stockstill said."

   JD Martin CLE, back strong as a prospect :

" ... Utilizing a mix of his curveball and fastball, Martin struck out 11 Curve in just six innings, leaving the game with a one-run lead and two strikeouts shy of tying the Aeros' record ... ``When we drafted J.D., he was the classic top-prospect high school pitcher,'' said Neal Huntington, a special assistant to Indians general manager Mark Shapiro. ``He had the frame, a good feel for pitching and a great pitch to build on.'' What has really helped the Tribe's 2001 first-round ``sandwich pick'' progress rapidly over the past two seasons is the Indians' insistence that he work on developing a fastball to set up the curve, instead of relying so heavily on his favorite pitch. ``In working on it, he's gradually seen his fastball go from 84-86 mph to 88-90,'' Aeros pitching coach Greg Hibbard said. ``It's given him more arsenal to work with.''... Through three starts, Martin has struck out 28."  (Akron Beacon-Journal)

22 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  Dane Sardinha C CIN 3-5, 2 R, RBI ... Eric Crozier 1B TOR 1-2, 2B, BB, HBP ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-5, 2B, 1 error ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, 2B ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 2-3 & 0-3, R, 2 BB ... nice start, Kazuhito Tadano CLE 5 4 0 0 0 7 ... J.D. Durbin MIN 5 4 2 2 2 3 ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 3-5, R, 2 RBI   

PACIFIC COAST --  Josh Willingham FLO 1-3, RBI, walk … Brendan Harris WAS 0-3 & 3-4, 2 RBI … Larry Broadway WAS 1-3, double & 0-2, 2 walks … Jon Rauch WAS 5 4 1 0 1 7, (W, 1-1, 2.51) … Brad Thompson STL 1 0 0 0 2 0, 4.66 … flips the switch back to the ‘on’ position Rickie Weeks MIL 3-5, triple, homer (3), 5 RBI … Prince Fielder MIL 1-5, double … Dave Krynzel MIL 2-4, double … Ian Kinsler TEX 3-4, double, 4 RBI … Jason Botts TEX 3-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 runs … Marshall McDougall TEX 3-4, double, 2 RBI, 3 runs … Todd Self HOU 2-4, run … Taylor Buchholz HOU 4 3 1 1 5 0, 8.10 … Michael Morse SEA 2-4, walk, 2K … Garrett Atkins COL 2-5, double, run … Carlos Quentin ARI 1-3, 2 runs … Conor Jackson ARI 3-4, RBI, run … Sergio Santos ARI 2-4, homer, 3 RBI … Josh Kroeger ARI 1-5, double, 2 RBI … Chris Oxspring SD 6 5 2 1 1 3, (W, 1-1) … Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 2 1, (S, 4, 3.86) … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-5, K … Willy Aybar LA 1-2, 2 walks … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3, K  

EASTERN --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-3, 2B (5), 3 RBI (12), .362 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-5, 2B (2), RBI (10) .310 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-3, SB (2), .196 AVG … Brad Eldred 1B PIT 0-3, .298 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-4, RBI (3), .164 AVG … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 0-4, .259 AVG ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4, 2B (3), RBI (6), .262 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 2-4, .214 AVG … Kason Gabbard BOS 5 4 2 2 4 4, W (2), 1.42 ERA … Sean Henn NYA 7-1/3 2 0 0 4 4. W (1), 0.98 ERA … JD Martin CLE 6 3 1 1 1 11, 0.45 ERA … David Aardsma SF 6 1 0 0 1 1, W (3), 0.60 ERA 

SOUTHERN --  Jon Switzer TB 6 6 0 0 0 4, 2-0, 1.84 ... Chairon Isenia C TB 4-6, double, 3 RBI ... Delmon Young TB 0-3, 3 walks ... Joel Guzman LA 5-5, 2 doubles, homer, walk, .340 (has reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances) ... James Loney LA 4-5, 2 doubles, homer ...  Casey Rogowski 1B CHA 4-5, double, 3 RBI, .367 

TEXAS --  Tyler Minges STL 1-5, R, RBI, .435 ... Travis Hanson STL (3B) 2-5, R, HR, 3RBI ... Josh Pressley KC (DH) 3-4, 3R, HR, 4RBI ... Justin Huber KC 2-5, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Mike Aviles KC (SS) 2-5, 2R, HR, 3RBI ... Steve Stanley OAK (CF) 2-6, 2R, 2B, 3B, 2RBI ... WOW - Andre Ethier OAK (LF) 3-4, 2R, 2 2B, RBI, .490 ... Brian Stavisky OAK (DH) 2-4, R, 3B, 3RBI ... Stephen Bondurant OAK (W,2-0) 6 5 3 3 1 5 ... Josh Anderson HOU 3-5 ... Ray Navarrete HOU (2B) 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI ... a VERY Rough Start - Joaquin Arias TX 0-4, .204 ... TJ Bohn SEA 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB ... Juan Dominguez TX 6 8 4 3 0 5 ... Mike Napoli ANA 2-4, R ... Demanding Attention - Corey Slavik COL 3-5, 2R, 3B, HR, 3RBI ... Sean Barker COL 3-5, RBI ... Gustavo Escobar COL (3B) 2-5, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Jonathan Asahina COL (W,2-0) 7 6 2 2 1 6 ... Ryan Spilborghs COL (RF) 3-3, 3R, 2B ... Doug Bernier COL (SS) 2-3, 2B, 3B, 3RBI  

CALIFORNIA --  Jeff Niemann TB 3 4 5 4 2 4, WP, HB ... Daric Barton OAK 1-4, double  ...  Fernando Valenzuela Jr. DH 4-5, .390 ... Billy Butler KC 2-3, double, .426 ... George Kottaras C SD 2-5, .341 ...  Wladimir Balentien CF SEA 2-4, 6th homer ... Aneudi Cuevas 3B TB 4-4, 3 doubles, 3 runs, .400 

CAROLINA --  Martin Prado ATL 1-3, R ... Josh Burrus ATL 1-3, R, 2B, K, SB (2) ... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-2, R, HR (3), 2 RBI, BB ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 0-3 ... Diory Hernandez ATL 0-3 ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-3, 2B ... Chad Spann BOS 2-4, R, 2B, HR (2), 3 RBI ... Nate Spears BAL 2-4, R, 3B, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 1-3, 2 R, BB, K, SB ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 2-4, 2 K ... Anibal Sanchez BOS (L, 1-1) 4 7 5 5 1 6 ... Richard Stahl BAL (W, 2-1) 5-1/3 5 4 4 3 2 

FLORIDA STATE --  Ryan Roberts 2B TOR  2-3 2HR(3) 5RBI … Kurt Isenberg TOR  5 5 1 1 2 5 W … Jordan Tata DET 7 6 1 1 0 4 W … Lou Palmisano C MIL 2-4 … Adam Heether 3B MIL 3-4 2B RBI … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 1-4 HR(4) … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-4 RBI … JR Mathes CHN 7 4 0 0 1 9 … Timothy Moss DH PHI 2-4 HR(2) SB(5)

MIDWEST --   Reid Brignac SS TB 1-5, .314 ... Alexander Smit MIN 5 2 1 1 2 5 ... lefty Eric Haberer STL 7.0 8 4 1 0 2, 2-1, 0.92 ... Matt Bush SD 2-3, 1st homer, walk ...  Rafael Rodriguez ANA 7 5 1 1 0 7 

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Travis Denker 2B LA, 3-3, 2 HR (3,4), 4 RBI ... Jon Fulton 3B FLA, 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI ... Neil Walker DH PIT, 0-4, R ... Brian Bixler SS PIT, 0-3, R, BB ... Matt Guillory PIT, 7 4 2 1 1 7 ... Hunter Pence CF HOU, 2-3, HR (4), RBI, 3 R ... Jimmy Barthmaier HOU, 6 3 1 0 0 8 ... Colin Balester WAS 6 4 2 0 1 6, 1.17  

  Troop Movements ... CHN - Ronny Cedeno up (Nomar on DL) ... MIN - David Gassner, Terry Tiffee to AAA (Morneau, Silva activated from DL) ... TB - Jonny Gomes up (John Webb to AAA) ...

  Dayn Perry, FoxSports, moves on to the top young guns at first base and it's Daric Barton OAK at the head of the pack, ahead of Prince Fielder and Casey Kotchman :

" ... Barton spent his first two minor league seasons as a catcher, but the A's have moved him to first base. He's tremendously patient at the plate, and he can hit for average. His raw power indicators haven't be there just yet, but they'll be there eventually. Last season, he paced the Midwest League in OBP and finished fourth in slugging percentage, so he's already putting up the numbers. Expect his patient approach to be further cultivated now that he's in the A's organization. His bat will have All-Star potential at the highest level."

" ... 9. Joey Votto ... second-rounder in 2002, Votto has outstanding plate discipline (201 walks in 1,305 plate appearances as a pro) and excellent bat speed. He hasn't put up great power numbers just yet, but the natural loft to his swing suggests that'll happen in short order. This season, he's off to a slow start in the Florida State League, but he'll hit. If the power develops as it should, he'll emerge as one of the best hitting prospects in the game. Keep your eye on this one."

   Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, offers a prospect update ... including second baseman Dustin Pedroia and righthander Brian Bannister :

" ... Pedroia ...  making a lot of teams look bad for passing on him due to his size. The Red Sox snatched him up last year with the 65th pick -- their first -- following his outstanding career at Arizona State ... In no small part because he stands 5-foot-8, Pedroia was viewed as a potential utilityman by most coming out of college. The Red Sox, on the other hand, saw him as the new -- and perhaps improved -- David Eckstein. Switched to second base this year because of Edgar Renteria and Hanley Ramirez, Pedroia is currently batting .375/.490/.550 with a 3/9 K/BB ratio in 11 games for Double-A Portland. His defense should play very well at second since only his arm held him back at shortstop. He has good range and sure hands. Offensively, the hope is that Pedroia will be Eckstein with an extra 30-40 walks. He hits for average, shows a great deal of patience at that plate and possesses some gap power ... he could probably hold his own in the majors right now -- but like Kevin Youkilis, he may have to wait the extra year before getting his shot."

" ... Brian Bannister ... Floyd’s son pitched alongside Mark Prior and Anthony Reyes at USC before being drafted in the seventh round by the Mets two years ago. Command and a five-pitch arsenal make him a potential major leaguer despite a fastball that’s a little below average. He might be more of a middle reliever than a fourth or fifth starter."

   John M. Barten, 'Til You're Blue in the Face, on Robinson Cano NYA :

" ... Cano is a fairly promising young second baseman, with some flashes of power, and pretty good defense. He's just starting to learn how to control the strike zone and he has been reported as a strict platoon hitter ...  isn't a great player in the waiting, but he looks like he could be a competent major leaguer sometime soon and I'll be shocked if they even notice. The upside is something on the order of Todd Walker, if he doesn't continue to develop, he's Marco Scutaro without the defensive versatility."

   Scott Rex, On Deck, is first off the mark with 2005 league-by-league prospect charts.  The Midwest is first up and look out for the Twins, placing three pitchers on the Top 10 :

 1. Homer Bailey, RHP CIN       6. Kyle Waldrop, RHP MIN
 2. Matt Tuiasosopo, SS SEA     7. Sean Gallagher, RHP CHN
 3. Ryan Harvey, OF CHN         8. Jay Rainville, RHP MIN
 4. Eric Hurley, RHP TEX        9. Anthony Swarzak, RHP MIN
 5. Reid Brignac, SS TB        10. Fabian Jimenez, LHP SD

   At Baseball America, Chris Kline has a piece on two of the top catching prospects, Brian McCann ATL and Russell Martin LA :

" ... The main difference ... is the thunder in McCann's bat ... The lefthanded-hitting catcher tied for the organization lead in doubles and set a career-high for homers (16) while playing in a dreadful hitter's park at high Class A Myrtle Beach. McCann has as much raw power as anyone in Atlanta's system and makes consistent contact, as evidenced by his 54-31 strikeout-walk ratio in 2004. Martin's calling card, on the other hand, is his defense ...  the 22-year-old Canadian has advanced game-calling ability and has shown great leadership skills in handling a pitching staff. He has a plus arm and solid transfer, unloading the ball to second base in as little as 1.83 seconds. He is also an excellent blocker, squaring up and deadening pitches back to the center of the diamond."

    A couple of notes from Thursday's International League report :

" ... 20-year-old shortstop B.J. Upton [TB} is starting to reach his form as one of the game's top prospects. After a tough early stretch in which he committed eight errors in nine games, Upton has played errorless ball over his last four contests. In addition, he's hit in eight straight contests, going 13-34 over that stretch to raise his average to .276. Upton has an extra base hit in four consecutive games."

" ... Brian Anderson [CHA} is off to an impressive start in Triple-A. He is currently batting .326 (14-43) with 2 home runs, 6 RBI and 5 doubles. Anderson currently is on a five game hitting streak batting an impressive .400 (8-20), which includes 3 consecutive games where he has doubled. He has hit safely in 11 out of his first 12 games at the Triple-A level, and Anderson is also the team leader in SLG % (.581) and OBP (.408)."

21 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  Steve Kelly CIN 6 5 5 5 0 5 ... powering up, James Jurries 1B ATL 3-4, 4th & 5th HRs, 2 R, 4 RBI ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 2-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI ... Eric Crozier 1B TOR 3-4, 2 2B, 3rd HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB ... John-Ford Griffin DH TOR 3-4, 2 R, BB ... Gabe Gross LF TOR 2-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB ... looking good, Francisco Rosario TOR 6 1 0 0 4 6 ... defense improving, B.J. Upton SS TB 2-4, 2 2B, 3 R, BB, 0 errors ... Jonny Gomes LF TB 2-4, 2B, R, 5 RBI, SF ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 1-3, 4th HR, R, RBI, BB ... burning up the basepaths, Nate McLouth CF PIT 3-4, 2B, 4 R, BB, 3 SB ... Ryan Doumit C PIT 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SF ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 2-4, 1st HR, R, 2 RBI, SB ... Bob Keppel NYN 7 7 1 1 1 5 ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 2-4, 2B

PACIFIC COAST --  Prince Fielder MIL 3-5, 2 runs … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-4, homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI … Brad Nelson MIL 3-5, double, 2 runs … Corey Hart MIL 2-5, double … Ian Kinsler TEX 0-4, 2K … Jason Botts TEX 2-3, grand slam (4), 2 walks … Chris Duncan STL 3-4, homer, 2 RBI, CS … John Nelson SS STL 2-4, double, homer .293 … Brendan Harris 3B WAS 3-4 … Larry Broadway WAS 0-4 … Adam Wainwright STL 6-2/3 7 1 1 0 4, (W, 2-0) … Carmen Cali STL 1-1/3 2 0 0 0 0, (H, 3) … Todd Self HOU 3-3, 2 walks … Richard Lewis CHN 0-4, .125, called a “4A” guy by John Sickles … starting, Todd Wellemeyer CHN 4 5 1 1 2 4 … Ken Harvey KC 2-4, RBI … Justin Huisman KC 2-1/3 2 0 0 2 1 … Dan Johnson OAK 2-5, double … Cha-Seung Baek SEA 1 3 3 3 1 2, 2 homers … Garrett Atkins COL 1-4, 2K … Ryan Shealy COL 2-5, double … Choo Freeman COL 1-4, homer, 2 RBI … Josh Kroeger ARI 2-4 … Conor Jackson ARI 1-3, double … Sergio Santos ARI 1-4, double, 2K … Carlos Quentin PH ARI 0-1, K … Todd Linden SF 1-3, double, .260 … Josh Barfield SD 0-4, K … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-3, 2 walks … Jeff Mathis ANA 1-3, RBI … Dioner Navarro LA 4-4, homer

EASTERN --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 0-4, .341 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-3, .302 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 1-3, .186 AVG … Brad Eldred 1B PIT 1-4, RBI (13), .315 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 2-5, 1 RBI (2), .178 AVG … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 0-4, .280 AVG ... Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 0-4, RBI (6), .192 AVG … Cameron Reimers TOR 4 7 7 4 2 3, .306 ERA … Dan Denham CLE 5-2/3 7 5 4 3 4, 2.00 ERA … Paul Stewart PIT 6 7 2 2 0 9. W (2), 1.12 ERA 

SOUTHERN --  Joel Guzman LA 2-4, 2nd homer, 3 RBI ... Bobby Jenks CHA, 6th Save, 1 0 0 0 1 0 (since a pounding in his debut, Jenks is 0.00 in his last six games) ...  Jeremy Hermida FLO 1-3, 4th homer ... Roberto Andino SS FLO 3-5, double, .412 ... a disappointing pitching matchup, Scott Olsen FLO 4-2/3 10 6 5 3 6, Richie Gardner CIN 5 8 5 5 2 9 ... Travis Chick SD 3-2/3 8 8 8 1 5 ... Nelson Cruz RF MIL 3-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, .362 ... Brian McCann C ATL 3-4, 3rd double, 3rd homer, 3 RBI, .357 ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, error ...  Macay McBride ATL 5-2/3 5 1 1 0 4 ...  Casey McGehee 3B CHN 3-4, triple, homer .

TEXAS --  Ervin Santana ANA 6-1/3 3 1 0 2 6, 3-0, 0.47 ... Jeff Salazar CF COL 1-3, homer ...  Reggie Willits ANA 2-4, double, 3 runs, .434 ...  Colt Griffin KC 4-1/3 2 1 1 1, 0.93 ... Tyler Minges RF STL 2-5, double, .463

CALIFORNIA --  John Danks TEX  5-2/3 6 2 1 1 4, 1.15 ...  Seth Smith COL 2-3, double, .295 ...  Daric Barton OAK 2-4, walk ... Fernando Valenzuela Jr. SD 2-3, homer, .352 ...  Howie Kendrick ANA 2-5, double, .418 ... Adam Jones SS SEA 2-4, double, triple ...  Matt Rogelstad 2B SEA 3-4, .521

CAROLINA --  Brad Snyder CLE 2-3, 3B ... Michael Hall BOS 1-4, R, 3B, 2 RBI, K ...  Ian Bladergroen BOS 1-4, R, 3B, 2 K ... Chad Spann BOS 1-4, R, K ... Jeremy Sowers CLE (L, 2-1, 3.78) 4-2/3 7 4 4 1 4 ... Tom Hottovy BOS (W, 1-1, 3.00) 5 3 0 0 1 7 ... Javier Guzman PIT 3-4, 3 R, 2 HR (1st & 2nd), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (6) ... Craig Stansberry PIT 1-6, 2 R, RBI, 2 K, SB (5) ... Kory Casto WAS 3-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI ... Nate Spears BAL 2-4, R ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-4 ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 1-4, 2B, K ... Ervin Alcantara HOU 1-3, RBI, K, SB (4) ... Mitch Talbot HOU 6 3 1 1 3 2 ... Robert Valido CHA 0-5 ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 0-3, R, BB ... Thomas Collaro CHA (RF) 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (5), 4 RBI ... Martin Prado ATL 1-3, R, RBI ... Josh Burrus ATL 2-4, R, HR (3), 5 RBI ... Matt Esquivel ATL 0-4, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 1-4, R, HR (2), RBI, K ... Diory Hernandez ATL 2-3, 2 R, 2B, 3B

FLORIDA STATE --  Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-5 2B 2R RBI … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 3-5 3 doubles 2R 4RBI … Andy LaRoche DH LA 2-3 HR(3) 3RBI … Casey Hoorelbeke LA 5 4 0 0 4 7 W … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 1-5 2R RBI SB(4) … Brett Harper 1B NYN 1-4 HR(8) 2R 3RBI … Joey Votto 1B CIN 2-4 2B R RBI … Bobby Basham CIN 6 5 2 1 1 3 W … Matt Moses 3B MIN  3-3 2B 3B R 2RBI … Adam Harben 6 3 0 0 2 7 W

MIDWEST --  Shaun Cumberland TB 2-3, 3rd HR, BB (.295) ... Luis Cota KC 6 8 1 1 1 6 (0-2, but 1.84) ... Brian McFall KC 0-2, BB ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 2nd HR (.450) ... Chi-Hung Cheng TOR 6 4 1 1 3 7 ... bit of a skid Justin Justice DET 0-4 ... Michael Schlact TEX 6 7 1 1 0 3 ... Tarrance Patterson MIN 1-4, double (.324) ... no good news yet Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-4, 3rd E ... started a strange ten-inning combined no-hitter Sean Gallagher CHN 6 0 2 1 2 8 (ERA goes up, to 0.54) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 0-4, BB, K, 1st CS (.289) ... Sean Kazmar SD 4th double, 2nd SB (.311)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Jose De Los Santos 3B CHA, 3-3, 2B, R gm1 & 0-2 gm2 ... Ray Liotta CHA, 6 8 4 3 1 1 (W, 2-0) ... Jon Fulton 3B FLA, 3-3, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI ... Mike Butia LF CLE, 3-5, 3 R ... Chris Smith 1B BAL, 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI ... Carlos Perez BAL, 5 2 2 0 2 5 ... David Haehnel BAL, 1 1 0 0 0 1 (S, 7 - 0.00 ERA) ... Hunter Pence CF, 2-5, 2B ... Mitch Einertson RF HOU, 2-5 ... Troy Patton HOU, 6 5 2 2 0 10 (W, 1-0) ... Alcides Escobar SS MIL, 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 1-4, SB (8) ... Ambiorix Concepcion DH NYN, 0-3, 2 R, 2 SB (5) ... Aaron Hathaway C NYN, 4-4, RBI, R ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 1-5, 2 SO ... Kyle Kendrick PHI, 4 10 7 7 1 2 (L, 0-2, 7.07 ERA) ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4, 3B, RBI ... Jeff Marquez NYA, 3 6 6 4 3 1 (L, 0-3, 9.28 ERA) ... Brian Bixler SS PIT, 4-5, 2B, RBI, SB (2) ... Neil Walker DH PIT, 2-3, 2B, R, BB ... Kyle Bloom PIT, 5 1 1 1 2 4 ... Ching-Lung Lo COL, 5 3 0 0 1 7 ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-5, RBI, 3 SB (6), 2 R ... Edgardo Baez RF WAS, 3-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R ... Christian Lara SS BOS, 2-4, 2B, RBI, R ... Luis Soto RF BOS, 2-5, RBI ... Adam Blackley BOS, 2 6 8 8 2 (L, 1-1, 6.55 ERA ... Steve Doetsch RF ATL, 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI ... Luis Atilano ATL, 6 6 0 0 0 3

   Troop Movements ...  TOR - Brandon League to AAA ... WAS - TJ Tucker to DL ... TEX - Laynce Nix up (Adrian Gonzalez to AAA) ... SEA - Shin-Soo Choo up (Scott Spiezio DL)

" ... right-hander Agustin Montero became the third player suspended under Major League Baseball’s new steroid policy on Wednesday. Montero, 27, was removed from the Rangers' 40-man roster at the end of spring training, but was on it when he tested positive. Because of that, he receives a 10-day suspension, rather than the 15-day suspension typically handed out to minor leaguers. Montero ... off to a rough start this season, blowing three of four save opportunities." (Dallas Morning News)

   John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall.com, on an emerging and a fading prospect :

" ...  Howie Kendrick is a favorite of mine, similar in some ways to a young Marcus Giles: booming bat, questions about his glove at second. He's at .419/.429/.710 so far in 13 games for Rancho Cucamonga in the Cal League. Despite this hot start, I would be careful about promoting him right now if I were the Angels: he's drawn just 1 walk against 10 strikeouts thus far. He has an extremely quick bat, and it is possible he will continue to dominate Class A even with weak plate discipline. If I were running the Angels farm system, I'd leave him at Rancho until late June, then reassess."

" ... Bobby Brownlie ... Former first-round pick has faded from his college glory ... got it up to 89 a few times but it was an obvious maximum effort on his part; his working velocity was 85-87. Threw a slider at 75-78, a curveball at 70-72. None of his pitches had any sort of impressive bite or movement. The slider and curve were OK, but not as good as the reports from when he was in college. I saw nothing in the "plus" category from him the entire game. It was just one start, but he wasn't fooling anyone, and seemed reluctant to use his fastball at times, relying too much on the slider."

   Stephen Drew follows in his brother's footsteps ... indy ball - Atlantic League :

" ... The Camden Riversharks have come to an agreement with shortstop Stephen Drew. The 22-year-old never came to terms with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team that chose him with the 15th overall pick in the 2004 amateur draft. At 6’1, 195 pounds, Drew was an All-American at Florida State University. Last season, he hit .344 for the Seminoles, hitting 17 homeruns, while knocking in 56 RBI. He also led the team in runs scored (68) and triples (7). “We’re very excited about giving Stephen a chance to play for our team,” said Riversharks general manager, John Brandt. Drew will report to camp today and is expected to see game action this Saturday, as the Riversharks host the Atlantic City Surf." (Camden Riversharks)

   The Dodger mound phenoms (including Billingsley) the subject of Brad Dowdy's latest piece at RotoJunkie :

" ... Chad Billingsley  ... first round pick by the Dodgers in 2003 ...  High-A Vero Beach for the 2004 season, where he dominated right out of the gate. In 92 innings for Vero, Billingsley allowed just 68 hits, 49 walks, and struck out 111, good enough to earn him a promotion to Double-A Jacksonville as a 20 year-old. No Double-A adjustment period was required, as he kept on rolling with 47 strikeouts, 22 walks, and 32 hits in 42-1/3 innings. Hopefully learning from Jackson's struggles with fast advancement through the system, the Dodgers assigned Billingsley back to Double-A to start the 2005 season, and that was the right move. He has logged just seven innings in two starts for the Suns this season, but the nine strikeouts, four walks, and opponents batting average of .167 show things are status quo so far Billingsley. If he can improve his command just a tick, he will be one of the top pitching prospects in the game."

   June draft ... Baseball America sticks with Justin Upton as the top high school player :

" ... Upton ... has done little to change the minds of scouting directors, even as more are coming to the conclusion that Upton’s future may be in center field, and not at shortstop. One scouting director even said Upton’s upside as a center fielder is so high that he would compare favorably to the Braves’ Andruw Jones, arguably the best defensive outfielder in the game. “He’s a natural center fielder, a potential 80 (on the 20-80 scouting scale),” a National League crosschecker said. “It’s a waste of his time staying at shortstop. He’s going to fight just to be an average player at that position.”

   Bryan Smith, Baseball Analysts, thinks a college third sacker is the best choice for No. 1 :

" ... on the college front, no one is impressing more than Alex Gordon, who would be my top choice this June. A .411 average, 41 walks, and 25 extra-base hits in 38 games. Throw in seventeen steals, good play at third, and beating out every mark Darin Erstad set, and I say Justin who?"

   Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Walter Young BAL :

" ... Young's ticket always has been his bat, so it's no real surprise that he's off to a hot start at .465/.531/.651 with one homer through 11 games. He has kept his strikeouts in check (just five in 43 at-bats), something he hasn't been able to do in the past."

   Nice piece on John Rocker's indy comeback (along with a description of Homestead, Florida) by Jon Heyman in Newsday :

" ... Down here, not far from the end of the Earth, miles of nothingness past a mind-numbingly long procession of tattoo parlors, bail bonds places and low-end strip clubs that dot this depressing burg - really depressing, not like the No. 7 train, which Rocker called "depressing" in the famous Sports Illustrated article from which he's still recovering - he's starting his improbable comeback in independent minor-league baseball."

20 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  William Bergolla 2B CIN 3-5, 2B, 1st HR, 2 R, 3 RBI ... Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 1-4, 3rd HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... better days ahead, Elizardo Ramirez CIN 5-1/3 10 8 8 2 5 ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-4, BB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 2B, 0 errors ... nothing left to prove, Jonny Gomes RF TB 1-2, 5th HR, R, RBI, 2 BB ... Chris Shelton DH DET 2-3, R, BB ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 2-3, 3B, 2 R ... Kenny Baugh DET 6 4 2 2 1 4 ... Kyle Denney CLE 7 7 1 1 0 2 ... Ryan Doumit C PIT 2-3, 2B, BB ... good outing for Ian Snell PIT 7 5 2 2 0 8 ... Jeff Keppinger 2B NYN 3-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 2-4, 2B, R ... Pedro Lopez SS CHA 2-3, 1st HR, R, RBI ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 5-1/3 7 5 5 2 6 ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Ramon Ramirez NYA 5 4 1 1 3 5 ... getting hot, Walter Young DH BAL 4-5, 2B, 2nd HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

PACIFIC COAST --  Another great matchup!  Felix Hernandez SEA 6 4 3 3 4 8, (L, 1-2,1.59) vs. Dan Meyer OAK 5 5 1 1 5 4, (W, 1-2, 7.62) … Dan Johnson OAK 1-3, double, 2 RBI … Shin Soo Choo SEA 1-3, 2 walks … Michael Morse SEA 2-4, double … Josh Willingham FLO 1-2, walk … Ken Harvey KC 2-3, homer, 2 RBI … file this in the “why don’t I bat 6 times when I’m playing well” file: Rickie Weeks MIL 0-6, 4K, SB; Prince Fielder MIL 1-6, 2K … Ian Kinsler TEX 1-4, homer, 2 RBI … Marshall McDougal TEX 3-5, homer, 2 RBI, SB … Justin Lehr MIL 1 0 0 0 0 0, slowly bringing that 11.37 ERA down … Sergio Mitre CHN 7 2 0 0 2 5, (W, 1-2, 4.24) … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 0 0 0 0 0, 1.29 … Choo Freeman COL 1-5, homer, 2K … Ryan Shealy COL 3-5, double, homer, 2 RBI … Josh Kroeger ARI 0-4 … Conor Jackson ARI 1-5 … Sergio Santos ARI 1-4, double … Josh Barfield SD 1-4, 2K … Brad Hennessey SF 6 3 2 1 3 8, balk, 2.41, great start … Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 0 3 … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-2, 2 walks, 2 runs … Jeff Mathis ANA 1-5, 2 RBI … Willy Aybar LA 1-4 … Rehab working, Kelvim Escobar ANA 4 5 2 2 1 6 … Franquelis Osoria LA 1/3 3 3 3 1 1, (BS, 1), (L, 0-1)  ... PCL Catchup -- Jesse Foppert SF 4-1/3 3 2 2 5 3 ... Jorge Campillo SEA 7 7 2 2 2 5

EASTERN --   Brad Eldred 1B PIT 2-5, 2B (3), HR (6), RBI (12), .320 AVG … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-5, .152 AVG … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-5, 2 RBI (6), .304 AVG ... Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 1-3, .208 AVG … Vance Perkins TOR 4 5 3 4 4 5, 2,40 ERA … Matthew DeSalvo NYA 3-1/3 9 5 4 4 1, 5.40 ERA … Jake Dittler CLE 6 4 1 1 2 1, 2.60 ERA … Merkin Valdez SF 5-2/3 3 2 1 2 3, 1.23 ERA … Jon Lester 5 2 1 1 3 6 ... Yusmeiro Petit NYN 3-2/3 4 5 5 2 3

SOUTHERN --  Dennis Sarfate MIL 6 2 0 0 2 8 ...  Jeremy Hermida FLO 4-5, double, homer, 3 RBI ...  Robert Andino SS FLO 3-6, double, .391 ... Matt Chico ARZ 7 7 3 3 2 4 ...  Jon Zeringue RF ARZ 2-4, homer ... Matt Murton RF CHN 3-4, double,  3rd SB, . 478 ...  Josh Fields CHA 1-2, 1st homer, walk ... Joel Guzman LA 0-2, 2 walks ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, 3 RBI ...  Elijah Dukes TB 3-5, double ...  Fernando Cortez SS TB 5-5, walk, .485

TEXAS --  Justin Huber KC 2-4, double, 2 RBI ... Tyler Minges STL (a .242 hitter in 7 minor league seasons) 3-4, walk, .472 ... Joe Saunders ANA Saunders 5 7 5 4 1 2 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-5, .360 ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-4, 2 doubles, .255 ... Josh Rupe TEX 8 3 1 1 3 4 ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-4, triple, .463

CALIFORNIA --  Kurt Suzuki C OAK 1-4, homer ...  Richie Robnett OAK 2-3, double, 2 walks, 3 RBI ... Daric Barton OAK 0-5, .262  ... Jud Thigpen COL 2-4, double, walk, .500 ... Billy Butler KC 2-4, 5th homer, .412 ...  SS Matt Maniscalco TB 5-5, homer, 3 RBI ... JP Howell KC 6.0 4 3 0 2 7, 2.20 ...  Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF 2-4, double, homer ... Howie Kendrick ANA 3-4, triple, 2 RBI ... Pokey Reese SEA, rehab, 1-3, 2 walks

CAROLINA --  Nick Pesco CLE 7 1 0 0 1 7, 3-0, 1.00 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B CLE 2-4, .472 ...  Adam Loewen BAL, not much progress, 4 4 4 3 4 3, WP, HB ...  Diory Hernandez SS ATL 3-5, homer, .326 ... Carolina Catchup :

" ... Firing a fastball that touched 93 mph and working the slider and changeup that have won him 58 big-league games, Wade Miller ... rehabbing from a frayed rotator cuff, is on his way back, having already established a top-of-the-rotation big-league reputation. Monday, he gave up a leadoff home run, five other hits and struck out six in five innings as the Blue Rocks beat the Kinston Indians 4-2. In another two weeks, Miller could be knocking someone out of Boston Red Sox rotation. "I've obviously thought about that," Miller said. "But my job is to pitch. They make the decisions." Miller doesn't consider himself a prospect for the Boston bullpen, though, and minor league director Ben Cherington, who monitored Miller's outing from behind home plate, made it sound like the Red Sox signed Miller this offseason to start. "Our starting pitching has been pretty good at the big-league level," Cherington said, "but we know what Miller can do when he's ready."  (Delaware News Journal)

FLORIDA STATE --  Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 1-5 HR(2) … Christopher Walker CF CHN 2-3 R 2RBI SB(8) … Angel Molina RF FLO 3-4 2B R 3RBI … Carlos Marmol CHN 5-2/3 4 3 3 3 10 … Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-4 HR(3) 2R 2RBI … Ryan Roberts 2B TOR 2-3 HR(1) … Christopher Dickerson CF CIN 2-4 3B HR(3) … Joey Votto 1B CIN 2-4 R … Matt Moses 3B MIN 3-3 3R … Greg Ramirez NYN 6 2 1 1 1 5 W

MIDWEST --  waking from a slumber Brandon Yarbrough (C) STL hits for the cycle (but still just .192) ... Raul Padron OAK 2-4 ... Gregorio Petit OAK 3-6 ... Wilkin Castillo (C) ARZ 2-4 (.357) ... he'll sleep badly Matt Bush SD 1-5, 2 K's, 3 E's (5 miscues so far) ... Ryan Harvey CHN 2-3, 3rd double, 3rd SB, 2 BB ... Matt Weber CHN 5 7 4 4 0 2 ... slumping of late Sean Rodriguez ANA 1-5, 2 K (.244) ... Reid Brignac TB 3-5, 1st HR ... Kyle Waldrop MIN 5 8 5 5 0 3 (2.65) ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-4 (.083) ... terrific teen Eric Hurley TEX 6 1 0 0 2 6 (W, 3-0, 1.06)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Marcos Vechionacci SS NYA, 3-5, RBI, 2 R ... Blake Dewitt LA DH, 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI ... Neil Walker C PIT, 1-4, HR (2), RBI ... Sam Deduno COL, 7 1 1 1 1 3 (W, 3-0) ... Mike Butia LF CLE, 0-1, 3 BB ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 0-4, SO ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 1-4, BB, 3 SO, SB (5) ...  Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL 1-3, 6th & 7th SBs ... Mitch Einertson RF HOU 2-4, double ... Andrew Pinckney 3B BOS 3-4, triple ...  Steve Doetsch RF ATL 4-5, .360

    Troop Movements ... NYN - Heath Bell up (Felix Heredia DL) ... STL - Carmen Cali back to AAA (Matt Morris activated from DL)

    It's back !  Kevin Goldstein's Prospect Hot Sheet at Baseball America.  In the inaugural edition for 2005, Carlos Quentin ARZ claims the top slot :

" ... After finishing fifth in the minors last year in on-base percentage (.435), Quentin currently stands third at .568, batting .400 in 10 games with 12 walks. Half of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases, including four home runs. Now why did the Diamondbacks acquire Shawn Green again?"

Hayden Penn BAL captured the runner-up spot, ahead of KC 3B Billy Butler.

    Joel or Hanley?  Bryan Smith, Baseball Analysts, takes a look :

" ...  remains to be seen whether these two players will move from their shortstop positions. Guzman's height, 78 inches tall, has led many scouts to question whether he will be able to stay up the middle. His defense has not suffered right now, but a move from Cesar Izturis to Guzman would likely be a serious reduction in range. A move to the hot corner or the outfield could be in order. Hanley might move to the outfield as well, possibly replacing Johnny Damon in center ... The Red Sox have moved Dustin Pedroia to second and left Ramirez at short for the time being, leaving many to wonder if Hanley is simply the best trade bait available on the market. Currently, Ramirez is continuing to get the best of AA, leading the Eastern League with five triples. Ramirez has yet to hit a home run, but the triples, stolen bases, discipline and small number of errors has made Hanley's start a good one. Guzman has not started the season so well, striking out thirteen times in his first 39 at-bats. Right now, it looks like Hanley might be in the lead for the top spot, though the two remain neck and neck."

    Sean Burnett PIT, targeting a mid-season return :

" ... Starter Sean Burnett, out since having major elbow surgery Sept. 22, 2004, could not contain his enthusiasm upon learning he will throw off a mound Monday. "It's going to be a really big day for me," he said, smiling wide. "I can't wait." Burnett was slowed last week by minor shoulder irritation, but not enough to alter his throwing program significantly. Yesterday, he threw a long-tossing session from 155 feet, his longest yet. On Monday, he will engage in more long-tossing, then make 20 pitches off a mound. He remains optimistic that he can resume competitive pitching by mid-season, but management is looking more at August."  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

    Juan Dominquez TEX, a step forward, a step back :

" ... demoted from Triple-A Oklahoma to Double-A Frisco because he showed up late to Sunday's game in Oklahoma City. "I'm aware of what happened but I've got my hands full up here," manager Buck Showalter said. Over the last two years, Dominguez, 25, has hurt his standing within the organization with several lapses in maturity. He is still a tremendous talent with a dynamic fastball and change-up but the Rangers have made it clear that Dominguez must behave like a professional if he has any shot of returning to the majors."  (Dallas Morning News)

    John M. Barten, 'Til You're Blue in the Face, on Kelly Johnson ATL :

" ... Everything looks like what we expect from a a steady player rising through the minors rung by rung. Good power, but nothing eye-catching. Good plate discipline, but he's no OBP machine. Decent average, but no threat for a batting title. He also has a good left fielder's glove with range and a good arm, but he's not a real candidate to move to center ... looks like a Paul O'Neil clone for the next generation ...  I wouldn't be surprised to see him up late this season when the inevitable injuries befall Jordan and Mondesi."

19 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-5 ... Stephen Smitherman LF CIN 2-5, RBI ... Kelly Johnson LF ATL 2-5, 2B, 2nd HR, R, RBI ... strong outing, Kyle Davies ATL 7-2/3 6 1 1 1 5 ... John-Ford Griffin LF TOR 2-4 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-5, 2B, 0 errors ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-5, R, RBI ... Chris Shelton DH DET 2-4, RBI ... Brian Tallet CLE 5 4 3 3 2 3 ... Abe Alvarez BOS 5-2/3 5 3 3 0 6 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 3-5, 2 2B, RBI ... Craig Brazell LF NYN 2-4, 2B, 2nd HR, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 2-5, R, 2 RBI ... Boof Bonser MIN 5 6 2 1 2 6

PACIFIC COAST --  Dan Johnson OAK 0-3, 2 walks … Josh Barfield SD 2-5 … Jon Knott LF SD 2-3, 2 homers, 3 RBI, 2 walks … Tim Stauffer SD 7 4 0 0 1 7, 2.37 ERA, looking for a call up by the all-star break … Ian Kinsler TEX 0-3, still finding ways to produce, with a walk, a run, & an RBI … Laynce Nix TEX 1-2, triple, 2 walks … Brad Thompson STL 1.2 2 0 0 2 0 … Prince Fielder MIL 2-4, K … Rickie Weeks MIL 0-4, K … Dave Krynzel MIL 0-4, 2K … Brendan Harris WAS 1-3, homer, 2 walks, 2K … Ben Hendrickson MIL 4.2 7 3 3 5 3, still pretty underwhelming in the loss (L, 0-1) … Sunny Kim WAS 5 2 0 0 2 6, (W, 2-1) … Shin Soo Choo SEA 2-2, 2 walks, 2 SB (2), all this for the 22 year old, sense a trend? … Michael Morse SEA 1-3, solo homer … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-4 … Jeff Mathis ANA 3-5, double homer, 3 RBI, 2 runs … Josh Kroeger ARI 1-4, homer, SF, 4 RBI … Brad Penny LA 6 5 2 2 2 9, (W, 1-0) nice rehab work, see him movin’ on up real soon … Renyel Pinto 5 2 3 3 5 10, 11.32 ERA, follows this with a nice article by John Sickles at minorleagueball.com

EASTERN --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-2, 2 BB, .417 AVG ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-4 ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 2-4, 2B (2), 3 RBI (6) … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 1-2, 2B (4), HR (2), RBI (8), .359 AVG … Brad Eldred 1B PIT 2-4, 2 RBI (11) … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-5 … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-3, .171 AVG … Daniel Ortmeier OF SF 1-3, RBI (5) … Jon Papelbon BOS 5-2/3 5 3 3 0 9, 3.78 ERA … Fausto Carmona CLE 5 7 6 5 3 3, 4.50 ERA … Josh Banks TOR 6-2/3 3 1 1 2 6, 1.45 ERA … Matt Peterson PIT 5 2 2 3 2, 9.00 ERA

SOUTHERN -- Jeremy Hermida FLO 1-3, double ... Jon Zeringue RF ARZ 2-3, double, triple ... Matt Murton CHN 3-4, 2 homers, 3 RBI, .452 ... Kris Honel CHA 5 5 1 1 6 3 ... Chad Billingsley LA 6-2/3 4 3 3 2 6 ... Dana Eveland MIL 6-2/3 7 1 1 1 7 ... Chad Orvella TB 2 1 0 0 0 2 ... Delmon Young TB 3-5, triple, .341 ... Elijah Dukes TB 3-5, triple, .318

TEXAS --  Reid Gorecki (CF) STL 2-4, R, 2RBI ... On a Tear - Tyler Minges (RF) STL 3-5, 2R, 2HR, 5RBI, .438 ... Mike Jaramillo (SS) STL 3-4, R, RBI, .448 ... Josh Kinney STL (S,4) (1-2/3 2 0 0 0 1 ... Josh Pressley (1B) KC 3-4, R, HR, RBI ... Shane Costa (LF) KC 2-4, 2R ... Brian Bass KC (6-1/3 4 2 2 2 4 ... oops - Ambiorix Burgos KC (BS,1) (0 2 4 4,2 0 ... ouch again - Reggie Willits ANA 0-4, .432 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-4, SB, .356 ... David Gates (DH) ANA 3-4, 2R, 2B, HR, 4RBI ... Steven Shell ANA 5 5 3 1 3 4 ... Jeff Salazar COL 2-3, RBI ... Corey Slavik COL 3-4, R, RBI ... Jayson Nix (2B) COL 2-4, R, 2B ... Ruddy Yan TX 2-5 ... Andre Ethier OAK 1-3, R, HR, 2RBI, .459 ... Ismael Castro (2B) SEA 2-4, 2R, 2B ... Jesse Hoorelbeke (1B) SEA 3-4, 3R, 2B, HR, 3RBI ... Jon Nelson (LF) SEA 2-3, 2R, 2B, 3RBI ... Jaime Bubela (CF) 3-5, R, HR, 5RBI ... Ray Navarrete (2B) HOU 3-5, 3R, 2B, HR, 2RBI ... Hector Gimenez (DH) HOU 3-5, 2R, HR, 3RBI ... Junior Zamora (3B) HOU 3-4, 2B, 2RBI ... Jason Hirsh HOU (W,2-0)  6 4 2 2 1 5

CALIFORNIA --  Adam Jones SEA 3-4, double, walk ...  Eddy Martinez-Esteve SF, a day after a 5-6 effort, 1-4, 2 walks, while teammate, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo provided the fireworks ... Alfonzo, a 9-year minor league vet, 5-5, 3 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBI ... Thomas Diamond TEX Diamond 5-2/3 6 4 4 1 9 ... Seth Smith COL 1-3, 1st homer, 2 RBI ... Howard Kendrick ANA 4-6, 4th homer, 2 RBI, .397 ... Brandon Wood ANA 2-5 ... Fernando Valenzuela Jr. 3-5, double ... catcher George Kottaras SD 2-5

CAROLINA --  Craig Stansberry 2B PIT 2-4, .372 ... Chuck James ATL 7.0 7 2 2 0 9, 0-2, but 2.16 ... Robert Valido SS CHA 3-5, double, .367 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B CLE 2-4, .469

FLORIDA STATE -- Justin Verlander DET 7 6 1 1 1 9 W (2-1, 1.69) … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 2-5 R … Joey Votto (1B) CIN 3-5 2R SB(2) … Junior Ruiz RF CIN 2-5 R … Phil Dumatrait CIN 4 1 0 0 2 6 … Rodolfo Guillen CF NYA 3-4 R 2RBI SB(1) … Tyler Clippard NYA 4 4 2 2 3 6 … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-4 2 doubles RBI … David Purcey TOR 4 3 1 1 5 3 … Chuck Tiffany LA 6 1 0 0 3 7 W (3-0, 0.56) … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 4-4 HR(2) 3R 2RBI … Brett Harper 1B NYN 1-3 HR(7) 2R 2RBI … Carlos Villanueva MIL 5 3 3 2 2 7 … Denard Span CF MIN 2-4 R SB(4) … Errol Simonitsch MIN 6 3 1 1 1 6 W … Scott Moore 3B CHN 2-4 2B … Christopher Walker CF CHN 2-5 3B SB(7) … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 3-4 3R

MIDWEST --  some kind of duel, but just a pair of no-decisions for youngsters Fernando Rodriguez ANA 6-2/3 1 0 0 0 10 (1.65) and Dallas Trahern DET 7-2/3 7 1 0 1 0 (1.08) ... Matt Bush SD 1-4, 3rd double, 1st SB ... Anthony Swarzak MIN 4 8 5 5 0 6 ... Tarrance Patterson (CF) MIN 3-5, double ... A.J. Wideman TOR 6 5 3 3 1 4 ... Reid Brignac TB 1-4 (.293) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 2-4 ... still smokin' Eric Patterson CHN 3-4, BB (.462) ... Performance of the Day (and the season thus far) Ryan Harvey CHN 4-5, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd homers (up to a solid .289)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI ... Philip Hughes NYA, 4 4 2 2 1 2 (L, 0-1) ... SS Brian Bixler PIT, 2-3, 3B & 1-2, walk ... Neil Walker C PIT, 1-4, RBI & 1-3, double, RBI ... Mitch Einertson RF HOU, 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, 2 R ... Gio Gonzalez CHA, 5 3 3 2 1 9 (L, 2-1) ... Jason Vargas FLA, 6-2/3 3 0 0 3 5 ... Rogearvin Bernadina CF WAS, 1-3, BB, 2 SB (2) ... Van Pope 3B ATL, 3-3, 3 RBI ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 2-5, 2B, RBI, SB (8) ... Jonathan Sanchez SF, 6 7 3 3 0 11 ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 0-3, 2 BB, 2 SB (3), R ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 R, CS (1) ... Sean Gamble LF PHI, 2-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB

    MinorLeagueBaseball.com has the players/pitchers of the week for the opening days of the minor league season.  Among them :

Midwest Eric Patterson CHN " ... the younger brother of Cubs star Corey Patterson, began the season on a 2-for-17 slide, but has come back with hits in 13 of his last 18 at-bats (.722) ... He celebrated his 22nd birthday on April 8 ... currently ranks among the league leaders in average (5th), hits (T-1st), on-base percentage (3rd) and slugging percentage (2nd). He also leads all Minor Leaguers with 10 stolen bases in the first 10 games of the season."

International Mitch Jones NYA " ...  led Columbus to a 6-2 victory on April 15 by going 4-4, becoming the first Clipper in eight years to hit for the cycle. Then on Sunday afternoon, Jones crushed a 12th inning, game-winning blast over the center field fence to give Columbus the win and cap an amazing day: 4-6, 3 HR, 2B, 4 RBI. Jones ranks among the IL leaders in nearly every offensive category, including extra-base hits (1st), runs scored (T-1st), home runs (2nd), hits (2nd), batting average (3rd), on-base percentage (3rd), and RBI (T-4th)."

Eastern J.D. Martin CLE  " ...  22-year-old right-hander, has made two starts so far this season and is 0-0 with 17 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA. In his first start of the season, his Double-A debut, the 6-foot-4-inch, 170-pounder struck out 10 batters and surrendered just one hit without walking a batter in eight shutout innings of work in a no-decision against the Bowie Baysox at Canal Park. In his second start of the season Martin, a native of Ridgecrest, Calif., pitched six shutout innings and gave up three hits and three walks while striking out seven batters in a no-decision at Bowie."

Southern Scott Olsen FLO  " ...  Left-hander Scott Olsen picked up two wins in two starts against the Huntsville Stars to open the season. On April 8 in Carolina, Olsen blanked the Stars for five innings, striking out eight, including five in a row at one point, before the game was called due to rain. A week later in Huntsville, Olsen held the Stars offense in check again, pitching five innings and picking up the win in Carolina's 4-3 victory."

    Prospects ... A-Ball hitters ... stats through Sunday :

                              AVG  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
*Rogelstad, Matt, DH    SEA  .571  35 20  2  0  0 10   2  2  0
Thigpen, Jud, OF        COL  .543  35 19  2  2  1 12   3  6  0
Tuiasosopo, Matthew, SS SEA  .469  32 15  3  0  1  9   3  2  1
Kouzmanoff, Kevin, 3B   CLE  .464  28 13  3  2  2  6   3  8  0
Butler, Billy, 3B       KC   .442  43 19  2  0  4 14   7  8  0
*Patterson, Eric, 2B    CHN  .429  35 15  1  1  2  5  10  7 10
*Leandro, Francisco, OF TB   .412  34 14  4  1  0  6   3  3  0
Pence, Hunter, OF       HOU  .391  23  9  1  0  2  5   7  2  6
Martinez-Esteve, Eddy,  SF   .382  34 13  6  0  1 10   6  8  0
*Schierholtz, Nate, OF  SF   .382  34 13  3  0  0  3   3  9  0
Clevlen, Brent, OF      DET  .368  38 14  0  1  2 11   1  8  0
#Saltalamacchia, Jarrod ATL  .367  30 11  5  0  1  5   2  7  0
*Justice, Justin, OF    DET  .367  30 11  2  0  0  2   2 10  0
Kendrick, Howie, 2B     ANA  .365  52 19  2  1  3 10   1 10  1
Stansberry, Craig, 2B   PIT  .359  39 14  2  1  3 13   5  6  3
*Maier, Mitch, OF       KC   .357  42 15  4  0  2 10   5  6  2
Amador, Chris, 2B       CHA  .355  31 11  2  1  3 10   0  8  6
*Kottaras, George, C    SD   .348  23  8  3  0  0  6   4  5  0
Kirkland, Kody, 3B      DET  .344  32 11  0  2  2  5   2  5  0
Valido, Rob, SS         CHA  .341  44 15  3  1  1  4   0  3  3
Esquivel, Matt, OF      ATL  .333  42 14  4  0  2  6   1 15  0
Thigpen, Curtis, C      TOR  .333  36 12  1  0  1  5   6  5  2
Blalock, Jake, OF       PHI  .324  34 11  2  0  1  6   5  3  0
*Bonvechio, Brett, 3B   SD   .324  37 12  2  0  0  7  10 14  0
*Snyder, Brad, OF       CLE  .314  35 11  0  0  2  5   2  9  1
Suzuki, Kurt, C         OAK  .300  30  9  4  1  0  2   4  6  0
*Barton, Daric, DH      OAK  .297  37 11  1  0  1  6   5  5  0
*Brignac, Reid, SS      TB   .297  37 11  6  0  0  3   9 10  0
*Casto, Kory, 3B        WAS  .297  37 11  2  0  0  4   6 11  1
Golson, Gregory, OF     PHI  .293  41 12  2  1  0  1   2  6  2
*Moses, Matt, 3B        MIN  .290  31  9  2  0  2 11   4  5  1
*Smith, Seth, OF        COL  .286  35 10  4  0  0  5   5  8  0
Wood, Brandon, SS       ANA  .283  46 13  0  0  5  8   6 11  1
*Robnett, Richard, OF   OAK  .275  40 11  2  0  0  4   4 12  1
Balentien, Wladimir, OF SEA  .275  40 11  0  0  5  6   3 12  1
LaRoche, Andy, 3B       LA   .273  44 12  3  1  1  6   1  8  0
Palmisano, Lou, C       MIL  .259  27  7  0  0  1  3   3  3  0
Hu, Chin-Lung, SS       LA   .257  35  9  2  0  0  3   4  8  1
Milledge, Lastings, OF  NYN  .257  35  9  2  0  1  2   2  9  2
Dopirak, Brian, 1B      CHN  .250  36  9  2  0  1  2   2  6  0
#Szymanski, Brandon, OF CIN  .250  16  4  1  0  0  0   2  3  0
*Dunlap, Cory, 1B       LA   .250  36  9  3  0  0  8   2  5  0
*Iribarren, Hernan, 2B  MIL  .244  41 10  2  1  0  3   6 14  5
#Walker, Neil, C        PIT  .237  38  9  3  0  1  5   5  7  1
*Lubanski, Chris, OF    KC   .234  47 11  6  0  2  3   1 15  0
*Markakis, Nick, OF     BAL  .226  31  7  1  0  0  4   5  9  0
Jones, Adam, SS         SEA  .222  36  8  0  1  3  6   3 11  1
Harvey, Ryan, OF        CHN  .212  33  7  2  0  0  1   0 11  2
Bush, Matthew, SS       SD   .200  40  8  2  0  0  1   1  6  0
*Votto, Joey, 1B        CIN  .171  35  6  0  1  1  6   4 13  1
*Reed, Mark, C          CHN  .120  25  3  0  0  0  0   0  5  0
Einertson, Mitch, OF    HOU  .094  32  3  0  0  0  0   8  6  2
Plouffe, Trevor, SS     MIN  .094  32  3  1  0  1  3   2  2  0

18 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL --  Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-3, 2nd HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB ... Stephen Smitherman LF CIN 2-5, 2 R, RBI ... Kelly Johnson LF ATL 2-4 ... Andy Marte 3B ATL 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-4, 2B, 1st HR, R, RBI ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 3-6 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 0 errors ... Joey Gathright CF TB 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 2-4, R, BB, SB ... Francisco Cruceta CLE 3 5 4 4 3 3 ... Chris Narveson BOS 3-1/3 3 2 2 2 3 ... mashing Ryan Doumit C PIT 2-4, 5th & 6th HRs, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB ... Zach Duke PIT 7 6 3 3 2 0 ... Angel Pagan CF NYN 2-4, R, SB ... Chien-Ming Wang NYA 7 7 4 4 3 2 ... Scott Baker MIN 5 4 1 1 3 2 ... Walter Young DH BAL 3-5, 2B, R, RBI

PACIFIC COAST --  Josh Willingham FLO 0-3, K, PB (1), CS (1), very tough day in every way … Josh Wilson FLO 2-4, double … Ronny Cedeno CHN 1-4, RBI, run … Bobby Brownlie CHN 4 6 5 5 3 1 … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 1 0 0 2 0, (W, 1-0) … Brooks Conrad HOU 2-3, double, RBI … Ezequiel Astacio HOU 4-2/3 6 4 4 0 3 … Choo Freeman COL 1-5, K … Edwin Jackson LA 5-1/3 6 4 4 2 3, 10 earned runs in his first 2 games (9-1/3 inn) … Chris Duncan STL 0-4, 2K, .300 … Skip Schumaker STL 2-4, double, .341 … Ian Kinsler TEX 3-4, 2 doubles … Laynce Nix TEX 3-4, double … Rickie Weeks MIL 2-3, double, triple … Prince Fielder MIL 0-5, K … Dave Krynzel MIL 1-4, 2 walks, 2 runs … Larry Broadway WAS 2-5, 3 RBI … Jose Capellan MIL 4 4 2 2 1 4 … Dallas McPherson ANA 1-5, homer, 2K, .308 … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-3, 2 runs, .132 … Jeff Mathis ANA 2-3, 2 doubles … Dustin Mosely ANA 6 4 0 0 4 2, (W, 2-0), in 2 starts he’s gone 12 innings giving up 5 hits and no runs … Carlos Quentin ARZ 1-4, .400 … Josh Kroeger ARZ 2-5 … Conor Jackson ARZ 1-5 … Sergio Santos ARZ 1-4, double … Matt Cain SF 7 4 2 2 5 6, CG (W, 2-0 1.38), 13K in 13 innings … Shin Soo Choo SEA 0-4 & 2-3, double, CS … Todd Linden SF 2-3 … Josh Barfield SD 1-2, walk

EASTERN --  Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 4-5, 3 2B (4), RBI (9) ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 3-5, 3B (5), 2 RBI (9), .381 AVG ... Brandon Moss OF BOS 2-4, 2B (2), 3 RBI (6) … Christopher Durbin OF BOS 3-6, 2B (3), HR (2), 2 RBI (7), .351 AVG … Brad Eldred 1B PIT 2-4, 2B (2), HR (5), RBI (9) … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-5 … Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-5 … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-4, BB, K ... Charlie Zink DET 5 6 4 4 0 1, W (2) … Brian Bannister NYN 5-1/3 3 1 0 2 8, W (3) …  Hayden Penn BAL  6 0 0 0 2 9, 1.12 ERA …

SOUTHERN --  Jeremy Hermida FLO 0-4, .167 ... Joel Guzman LA 0-3, .257 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-4, double ...  Casey Rogowski 1B CHA 3-4, double, .394 ... Delmon Young TB 1-3, double

TEXAS -- Reid Gorecki (CF) STL 3-5, R, HR, 3RBI ... Randy Leek STL (W,2-0) 8 6 1 1 0 1 ...  Justin Huber (DH) KC 0-4 ... Mike Aviles KC 0-4 ...  what a AA lineup for the Angels - Reggie Willits (CF) ANA 0-4, R and still batting .475 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-5, R ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-5, 2R, 2 2B, 2RBI ... Mike Napoli ANA 3-4, R, 2 2B, 2RBI ... Tommy Murphy (RF) ANA 1-4, R, HR, 2RBI, SB ... Mike Eylward (1B) ANA 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 2RBI ... Adam Pavkovich (3B) ANA 3-4, R, 2 2B, HR, RBI ... Corey Slavik (1B) COL 2-4, RBI ...  cold start - Joaquin Arias TX 0-3, .216 ... Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 1-5, R ... On a Tear - Brant Colamarino (1B) 2-4, R, 3B, RBI, .450 ... On FIRE - Andre Ethier (CF) OAK 3-4, 2R, HR, 2RBI, .471 ... Josh Anderson (CF) HOU 2-5, R ... Fernando Nieve HOU 5 3 1 1 1 6

CALIFORNIA --  Eddy Martinez-Esteve DH SF 5-6, 4 doubles, homer, 6 RBI, .382 ... Fernando Valenzuela Jr. SD 2-5, homer ... Ubaldo Jimenez COL 4 5 2 2 1 7 ...  Wladimir Balentien CF SEA 2-4, 5th homer ... Jud Thigpen CF COL 4-4, walk, .543 ... Brandon Wood ANA 3-4, 5th homer, walk ... Billy Butler KC 3-5, 2 RBI, .432 ...

CAROLINA --  Ervin Alcantara HOU 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB (3) ... Michael Hall BOS 0-3, BB ...  Chad Spann BOS 2-4, 2 K ... Javier Guzman PIT 1-5, RBI, 2 SB (4) ... Craig Stansberry PIT 3-6, 3R, 3B, 2 HR (3), 5 RBI (12), .359 ... Robert Valido CHA 2-5, R, 2B, HR (1), RBI, .341 ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 0-0, BB ... Nathan Panther CLE 0-4 ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-3, R, BB, SB ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-4, R, HR (3), 2 RBI ... Nate Spears BAL 1-4, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-3, BB, K ... Rafael Perez CLE (W, 1-0) 6 1 0 0 1 4 ... Fredy Deza BAL (L, 0-2) 6-1/3 5 3 2 2 1 ... Kory Casto WAS 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI ... Matt Esquivel ATL 0-4, 2 K ... Diory Hernandez ATL 0-2, R, K ... Jake Stevens (L, 1-1) 3-2/3 2 3 3 4 1

FLORIDA STATE --  Billy Petrick CHN 2 5 6 6 1 1 ... Brian Dopirak CHN, slow start, 0-4, .250

MIDWEST --  Can't be long 'til you see the headlines -- the Killer J's ...Jair Jurrjens DET 6 2 0 0 1 7 (2-0, unscored upon) ... Justin Justice DET 1-3 (.367) ... Angulo Jimenez SD 5-1/3  2 0 0 1 1 (2-0, also 0.00) ... Sean Kazmar SD 2-5, double ... Kyle McClellan STL 7 6 2 2 2 3 ... Mario Lisson (3B) KC 2-4, triple ... Orlando Mercado (C) ARZ 1-3, double (.300) ... Reid Brignac TB 0-4, 2 K ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-4, 1st double ... ouch Ryan Harvey CHN 0-5, 3 K ... Oswaldo Navarro (2B) SEA 2-6, 4th SB ... now THIS is how to begin a season Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 4-5 (.469)

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  Luis Ramirez BAL, 6 2 0 0 2 1 ... Ryan McKeller HOU, 5 3 0 0 0 3 ... Brad McCann 1B FLA, 2-4, 2B ... Brian Bixler SS PIT, 1-5, RBI ... Neil Walker C PIT, 1-3, RBI, BB ... Johan Silva ATL, 2-6, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R ... Van Pope 3B ATL, 2-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB ... Kelvin Villa ATL, 4 3 1 1 1 8 1 ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4 ... Marcos Vechionacci SS NYA, 1-5, RBI ... Jon Poterson RF NYA, 0-4 (.108) ... Brett Smith NYA, 5-2/3 8 3 3 1 8 ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 0-2, 2 BB, SB (2) ... Mark Rogers MIL, 4 2 2 2 3 6 ... Gaby Hernandez NYN. 5 0 0 0 2 7 ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 SB (4) ... Justin Hoyman CLE, 5-1/3 4 5 3 3 6 ... Rogearvin Bernadina CF WAS, 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 SB (4) ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 1-4, RBI, R, SB (7)

    Troop movements ... NYA - Andy Phillips back to AAA (Kevin Brown activated from DL) ... TEX - Nick Regilio back up (Ryan Bukvich DL)

    John Fay, Cincinnati Enquirer, on Elizardo Ramirez & Ty Howington :

" ... Ramirez, a right-hander, is only 22. The Reds got him in the trade for Cory Lidle last year. He was rated the Phillies' eighth-best prospect by Baseball America. He went 22-4 with a 1.36 ERA in his first three years as a professional. He made it to the big leagues briefly last year - going 0-0 with a 4.80 ERA in seven games with the Phillies. He has pitched seven shutout innings in both his starts at Louisville. He has allowed 11 hits and hasn't walked a batter. "He's been in command of both games," O'Brien said. "He's made it look easy. He's always had good stuff, but he's added a two-seam fastball. That almost gives him another pitch." Ramirez isn't likely to be up with the big club any time soon, perhaps not at all this season."

" ...   Howington, the oft-injured No. 1 pick, had surgery last week to loosen a shoulder capsule. Howington was having recurring tightness in his left shoulder as he tried to come back from May shoulder surgery. "We're hoping this is the last little tweak to get him back on his rehab," O'Brien said."

    Rickie Weeks MIL, defense is the focus :

" ...  before Weeks can advance to the big leagues, he needs to work on his defense, Brewers officials say. He's refining his fielding, they say, and it's only a matter of time before his glove catches up with his bat. "The first thing that jumps out at you when you watch Rickie play is his bat, that tremendous bat speed that he has," said Scott Martens, Brewers' assistant director of player development. "He has made strides defensively. We think he'll continue to get better. He'll make some outstanding plays in the field. He just needs to do it on a consistent basis." Weeks said: "I'm feeling good right now at second base. I made some big strides the last couple of years." ...  Brewers probably will keep Weeks in Triple-A all season, Kremblas said. Weeks said he's in no hurry to go to Milwaukee. He's learning from the players in Triple-A. "It's a lot of experienced guys now," he said. "They know the ropes. A lot of these guys, they've been to the big leagues. They've been there a while. It gives you a guide to see where you want to be."  (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

    A little more on Anibal Sanchez BOS :

" ... By the time he got through his seven innings of work, Anibal Sanchez had struck out 14 of the 20 batters he faced and given up just one hit to the other six ... "You can't ask for a whole lot better than what we got [Saturday],'' Blue Rocks manager Dann Bilardello said. "He did everything you're supposed to do to be successful, at any level - get ahead with your first pitch.'' Sanchez threw a first-pitch strike to 17 of the 21 batters he faced and he didn't walk anyone. The 14 strikeouts are a career high for the 21-year-old native of Venezuela who missed all of 2003 to have Tommy John surgery."

" ... Boston pitcher Wade Miller will start for the Rocks on Monday night ... on a rehab assignment from shoulder problems ... Miller has made one rehab start for Greenville, S.C., a lower Class A team, and he threw 73 pitches and gave up four hits in 4 1/2 innings on Wednesday."  (Wilmington News Journal)

    LA's Joel Guzman ... slow start ... but, no panic :

" ... after a productive season of winter ball and a strong showing with the Dodgers in spring training, Guzman has struggled in the Suns' first nine games. He's hit safely in six games, posting a .281 average (9 of 32), but those aren't quite the numbers Dodgers or Suns fans expect over the long haul. Only three of his nine hits have been for extra bases: a double, triple and home run. He and teammate Delwyn Young share the team lead for strikeouts with 12. "This happens in baseball," Guzman said about his slow start. "I started slow in [Class A] Vero Beach last year when I was hitting only .190 after the first month. I didn't feel pressure then, and I don't feel pressure now." Suns hitting coach Steve Yeager is taking Guzman's slow start in stride. "Guzzie got off to a slow start last year, so maybe that's his personality, that it just takes him a while to get comfortable and get going," Yeager said. "He's not going to get down on himself, and we're going to keep patting him on the back and keep boosting him. ''Sooner or later, he'll hit the ball the way we know he can. We're nine games into the season. It's not time to panic."  (Florida Times-Union)

    DET centrefield prospect ... another slow starter :

" ... top prospect Curtis Granderson ...  has stumbled out of the gate in AAA after much speculation that he might make the ML roster in spring training.  Granderson has just nine hits in 40 at-bats, though three of those hits came bunched together in Friday’s 8-1 win. Perhaps most troubling are his 10 strikeouts against just one free pass, indicating he needs more time at this level than most had hoped."  (TigersCentral.com)

17 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL -- William Bergolla 2B CIN 2-4, R ... Kelly Johnson LF ATL 2-4, 1st HR, 2 R, RBI ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-3, RBI, BB ... Robinson Tejada PHI 6 4 0 0 4 3 ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 2-4, R ... break from shortstop, B.J. Upton DH TB 2-5, R ... lighting it up, Jonny Gomes LF TB 2-5, 2B, 4th HR, 2 R, 3 RBI ... Brandon Phillips SS CLE 3-5, 1st HR, 2 R, RBI ... Ryan Garko C CLE 2-5, 2B, 2 R ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 5 2 3 2 5 5 ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 1-2, 3rd HR, R, RBI, BB ... Brian Anderson CF CHA 2-4, 2B, RBI ... on fire, Robinson Cano 2B NYA 2-4, 4th HR, R, 2 RBI ... J.D. Durbin MIN 4-1/3 7 2 2 2 1 ... Walter Young 1B & DH BAL 0-3, BB & 3-4, R, 2 RBI ... John Maine BAL 5 5 4 4 2 1

PACIFIC COAST --  Dave Krynzel MIL 0-5, 2K … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-4, SB, 2K … Prince Fielder MIL 1-3 … Brad Nelson MIL 0-4, 3K … Corey Hart MIL 0-3 … Brendan Harris WAS 2-3, 2 runs … Larry Broadway WAS 0-3, 2K … Humberto Quintero C HOU 4-6, homer, 3 RBI … Todd Self 1B HOU 2-3, double, 2 RBI … Chad Santos 1B KC 3-5, double, 4 RBI … Josh Willingham C FLO 1-4, homer, 3 RBI …Randy Messinger FLO 2 1 0 0 1 2 … Ronny Cedeno CHN 2-4, double … Richard Lewis CHN 1-2, triple, 2 walks … Chris Duncan STL 1-4, 1K … John Nelson STL 2-4, double … Skip Schumaker STL 2-4, homer … Laynce Nix TEX 1-3, homer … Ian Kinsler 1-3, K … Anthony Reyes STL 5-1/3 7 5 4 2 5, (L, 0-1) … I think he might be ready, Dallas McPherson ANA 3-5, double, homer, 5 RBI … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-6, 2K … Carlos Quentin ARI 2-3, homer, 2 walks … Conor Jackson ARI 1-4, double, 3 R BI … Sergio Santos ARI 1-4, double … Josh Kroeger ARI 2-4 … Todd Linden SF 3-5, double … Shin Soo Choo SEA 4-6, 2 runs … Dan Johnson OAK 2-4, double … Josh Barfield SD 2-4, homer … Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 1 2, (S, 2) … Ben Johnson RF SD 2-3, homer … Ryan Shealy COL 1-4 … Choo Freeman COL 0-4, walk, run … Willy Aybar LA 3-5, homer … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3, 2 walks, 2 runs … Franquelis Osoria LA 2 2 1 1 0 0, (S, 1)

EASTERN -- Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-5, 2B, 3B (4), .351 AVG ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 1-4, RBI (8) … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 0-4... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-4... Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-4, 2 K … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-2, RBI  ...  Sean Henn NYA 5 7 2 2 2 4 … JD Martin CLE 6 3 0 0 3 7 ... Kason Gabbard BOS 7 2 1 1 1 4, W (2) :

" ... Gabbard and Manny Delcarmen combined on a two-hitter as the Portland Sea Dogs won their ninth straight game to open the season with a 5-1 win over the Trenton Thunder on Saturday afternoon at Waterfront Park. The Sea Dogs remain the only unbeaten team in professional baseball. Gabbard fired seven innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and a walk while fanning four. The southpaw has allowed only a run and five hits in 14 innings this season. Delcarmen followed with two no-hit innings to finish the game."  (portlandseadogs.com)

SOUTHERN --  James Loney LA 1-4, 1st homer, 3 RBI, .212 ... Joel Guzman LA 1-4, .281 ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 1-3, double, .343 ... Felix Pie CHN 1-5, double ... Matt Murton LF CHN 4-5, .441 ... Brandon Sing CHN 2-3, double, 3 RBI ... Delmon Young TB 2-4, 2 Ks

TEXAS -- Jeff Salazar CF COL 3-5, 1st homer ... Steven Bondurant OAK 7 5 0 0 1 2 ... Andre Ethier LF OAK 3-4, homer, .433 ...  Reggie Willits CF ANA 4-6, double, 2 triples, .528 ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 2-5 ... Erick Aybar ANA 3-3, triple, 3 runs, 2 RBI ... Donnie Murphy 2B KC 2-5, homer, 3 RBI ...  Mike Aviles SS KC 3-4, 2 doubles, .412

CALIFORNIA -- Daric Barton DH OAK 3-5 ... Richie Robnett CF OAK 4-6, double ...  Sean Thompson SD 6.0 4 0 0 1 6, 2-0, 0.71 ... Jeff Niemann TB, a loser in his pro debut, 3-1/3 1 1 1 2 3 ... CJ Wilson TEX 3.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Jud Thigpen COL 3-4, triple, .484 ... Billy Butler 3B KC 2-4, along with Uptonesque defense, 6th error ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-5, .383 ... Brandon Wood ANA 1-5, 4th homer .

CAROLINA -- Javier Guzman PIT 2-4, 2 R, 2B ... Craig Stansberry PIT 1-4, RBI, BB, 2 K ... Robert Valido CHA 2-5, 2 R, 2B, 3B ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 0-2, R, 2 BB ... Ryan Rodriguez CHA (W, 2-0) 6 6 2 2 2 5 ... Nathan Panther CLE 1-4, R, K ... Brad Snyder CLE 0-4, RBI, 2 K ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 1-3, BB, K ... Ryan Goleski CLE 0-4, 2 K ... Nate Spears BAL 1-3, 2B, BB, K ... Nick Markakis BAL 1-4, K ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 0-3, K ... Richard Stahl BAL (L) 5 6 2 2 1 8 ... Ervin Alcantara HOU 0-3, BB, 3 K ... Michael Hall BOS 0-1, 2 BB ...  Ian Bladergroen BOS 1-3, RBI ... Anibal Sanchez BOS 6 1 0 0 0 14 (in 10 innings to date, 4 hits, 1 run, no walks, 22 Ks)

SoxProspects.com ranks Sanchez at No. 7 in the BOS system :

" ... Sanchez throws a mid-90s fastball with excellent control and great movement. Also throws a fantastic curveball and a plus changeup. Very high ceiling, but lack of experience may currently deter any high projections."

Baseball America selected Sanchez as the second best prospect from last season's New York-Penn League and placed him at No. 5 on the RedSox farm.  RotoWorld ranked the righthander at No. 7 :

" ... Sanchez possesses the best arm in Boston’s farm system, throwing 95 mph with movement. His curveball and change could give him three plus pitches by the time he’s ready for the majors in 2007 or 2008. After holding his own in the Venezuelan Winter League (1-3, 5.14 ERA, 35 H, 29/10 K/BB in 35 IP), he’ll make the jump to full-season ball this year."

FLORIDA STATE --  Lastings Milledge CF NYN 3-5 HR(1) 2RBI CS … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 3-4 2B … Jonathan Figueroa LA 5 5 1 1 3 2 W … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 2-4 R … Ty Taubenheim MIL 6 6 2 2 0 5 W … Brent Clevlen RF DET 2-5 R RBI … Vincent Blue CF DET 1-2 2R 3BB … Nick Blackburn MIN 6 4 1 1 0 3 W

MIDWEST --  David Winfree MIN 1st HR (.353) ... ack Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-4 (.071) ... Matt Bush SD 0-4, K (.200) ... Ryan Webb OAK 5 8 3 3 2 4 ... Gregorio Petit (SS) OAK 3rd HR, but just .235 ... James Houser, Jr. TB 6 2 2 2 2 7 (2.89) ... Shaun Cumberland (RF) TB 2-3, BB, 2nd SB ... Wilkin Castillo ARZ 1st HR ... inching back Ryan Harvey CHN 2-5, double (.250) ... Eric Patterson CHN 3-4, double (.406) ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 1-3, 3rd double, 2 BB ... Justin Justice DET 3-4, double ... ERA killer Kyle Rogers TEX 3-1/3 6 7 7 3 1 ... Ian Gac TEX 4-6, HR, double (up to .231) ... Matt Shepherd (SS) STL 3-4, double, BB

SOUTH ATLANTIC --  J.C. Holt 2B ATL, 2-6, 3 RBI, 2 SO ... Mike Butia LF CLE, 1-3, 2B, RBI, 2 SO ... Tony Sipp CLE, 5 3 0 0 0 5 (W, 2-0) ... Aaron Laffey CLE, 4 1 0 0 1 1 (S, 1) ... Brad McCann 1B FLA, 1-4, HR (2), RBI & 0-4 ... Ben Zobrist SS HOU, 2-5 ... Francisco Hernandez C CHA. 1-4, 2B ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 2-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 1-4, RBI, SB (5) ... Robbie Wooley MIL, 4-2/3 6 0 0 0 4 ... Matt Durkin NYN, 4 4 0 0 0 3 (W, 1-0) ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-5, R ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 1-4, R, SB (6) ... Neil Walker PIT 0-3 & 0-3, .229

    Troop movements ... TB - Doug Waechter recalled (Jesus Colome DL) ... KC - Kyle Snyder up (Jeremy Affeldt DL) ... ARZ - Scott Hairston up (Jose Cruz DL) ...

    Gavin Floyd might not be heading back to the minors after all :

" ... For now, Floyd, who started last night's game against Atlanta, appears ticketed to a long-relief role, manager Charlie Manuel said before the game. Manuel said Floyd "can definitely work his way into a better role" - whether it be in the bullpen or back in the rotation. Padilla, who has been on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right triceps, threw on the side yesterday without any problems. Sending Floyd to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre would keep him in a rotation, "but he wouldn't get big-league experience ... I think we can find him enough work here," Manuel said. When Padilla is activated, reliever Pedro Liriano is the leading candidate to be demoted to Scranton." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Andy Sisco, nice pick by the Royals :

" ... It's easy to understand why the Royals want to ease rookie pitcher Andrew Sisco into the majors. Sisco joined the Royals in December as a Rule 5 selection from the Chicago Cubs organization ... Sisco, a 6-foot-10, hard-throwing left-hander, is already causing the Royals to alter their thinking in a positive way. “I will not be afraid to throw Sisco in any kind of situation,” Peρa said. In three appearances, Sisco has allowed just two runs and two hits in 7 2/3 innings. He has struck out eight. Sisco was outstanding Thursday ... He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out four.”  (Kansas City Star)

    Mike Tonis ... moving to the other end of the battery :

" ... The Royals once regarded Mike Tonis as their catcher of the future. Now, he's trying to pitch his way to the majors. Tonis, 26, made the conversion in spring training and is currently listed as a pitcher on the roster of short-season Idaho Falls. “It's a recognition that some catchers have moved ahead of him,” general manager Allard Baird said ...  was the Royals' second-round pick in 2000."  (Kansas City Star)

16 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL -- William Bergolla 2B CIN 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI ... Steve Kelly CIN 6 2 0 0 0 6 ... Kelly Johnson LF ATL 2-3, BB ... Shane Victorino CF PHI 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 2-4, 2nd HR, R, RBI ... Eric Crozier 1B TOR 1-4, 2nd HR, R, RBI ... continuing to pound the ball, John-Ford Griffin DH TOR 2-4, 4th HR, 2 R, 5 RBI ... hot Spring continues, Gabe Gross LF TOR 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R ... get ready for third base or the outfield, B.J. Upton SS TB 1-3, 2B, R, 2 BB, 3 errors (8 in 9 games) ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI ... Chris Shelton DH DET 2-5 ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 1-4, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... better days ahead, Bobby Bradley PIT 2-2/3 4 8 3 7 0 ... Pedro Lopez SS CHA 2-3, R ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI

PACIFIC COAST -- Chris Duncan STL 2-4, double … Skip Schumaker CF STL 3-6, SB … Ian Kinsler TEX 0-4, walk, run … Jason Botts LF TEX 2-5, triple, homer … Juan Dominguez TEX 7 4 2 1 1 6 … Brad Thompson STL 2 3 0 0 1 3, no runs allowed but still gets a blown save (BS, 1) … 2nd day in a row with no Jason Stokes, FLO … Josh Wilson SS FLO 1-4, triple, 3 RBI … Richard Lewis CHN 0-3, K … Todd Wellemeyer CHN 3 0 4 3 4 4, (L, 0-1), gets the start after being sent down earlier in the week … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 2 0 0 0 1 3 … Prince Fielder MIL 1-5, double … Rickie Weeks MIL 0-2, 2 walks, 2 runs … Brad Nelson MIL 1-3 … Corey Hart MIL 3-5, double … Dave Krynzel MIL 0-4 … Brendan Harris WAS 1-4 … Larry Broadway WAS 1-4 … Justin Lehr MIL 2 1 0 0 1 2, (W, 1-1) … Dallas McPherson ANA 1-4, triple 2K … Casey Kotchman ANA 2-4 … Carlos Quentin ARI 0-2, 2 walks … Conor Jackson ARI 0- 4 … Josh Kroeger ARI 1-4 … Sergio Santos ARI 0-4 … Ryan Shealy COL 1-3, homer … Choo Freeman COL 2-3, homer … Willy Aybar LA 2-3, double … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3, K … Dan Johnson OAK 0-3 … Josh Barfield SD 0-3, 3K … JJ Furmaniak SD 1-4, double, 3K

EASTERN -- Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-5, double, rbi ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-4, 2 rbi ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 0-3, walk, strikeout … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-4, double, rbi ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-2, 2 walks, strikeout ... Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-3, walk, 2 strikeouts ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-3, rbi … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-3, walk, strikeout … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4, strikeout ... Dan Denham CLE 6-2/3 2 0 0 3 4 … Cameron Reimers TOR 5-2/3 8 4 2 1 3 … Paul Stewart PIT 5 5 2 0 2 1 … catchup Yusmeiro Petit NYN 4 5 0 0 0 5 ... Vince Perkins TOR 6 4 1 1 1 7

SOUTHERN --  Scott Olsen FLO 5 4 1 0 1 6 (no earned runs, 14 Ks in 10 innings) ... Manny Parra MIL 6-2/3 8 4 4 1 ... Jeremy Hermida FLO 2-4, 2nd homer, 3 RBI ... Bobby Jenks CHA, 3rd Save, 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 ... Josh Fields 3B CHA 2-4, .368 ... Delmon Young TB 0-3, walk, .281 ... Richie Gardner CIN 5 6 3 3 1 5 ... Travis Chick SD 5-2/3 4 2 2 3 4 ... Paul McAnulty SD 3-5, double, .438 ... Derek Thompson LA 6 6 3 3 0 11 ... Brian McCann ATL 2-4, triple, 4 RBI

TEXAS -- Ervin Santana ANA 6 4 1 1 3 2, 0.69 ... Tommy Murphy RF ANA 3-5, 2 homers ... Drew Meyer SS TEX, a new lease on life, 2-4, .409

CALIFORNIA --  Daric Barton DH OAK 1-5, 1st homer ... George Kottaras C SD 3-4, double ... John Danks TEX 6 2 0 0 0 5 ... Adam Jones SEA 1-4, triple ... Howie Kendrick ANA 2-4 ... Billy Butler KC, back at 3B, 2-4, .400, no errors ...

CAROLINA -- big day for some Indian farmhands ... Nathan Panther CLE 2-5, R, 2B, HR (2), 4 RBI, BB ... Brad Snyder CLE 4-4, 2 R, BB ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE 5-6, R, 3B, 3 RBI ... Ryan Goleski CLE 1-5, R, RBI, BB, 2 K ... Jeremy Sowers CLE (W, 2-0) 6 5 1 1 0 6 ... Nate Spears BAL 2-4 ... Nick Markakis BAL 0-2, RBI, BB, K ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL 0-4, R, BB, 2 K ... Jarod Rine BAL 0-3, BB, K ... Martin Prado ATL 1-4, R, RBI, K ... Josh Burrus ATL 1-4, R, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 BB... Matt Esquivel ATL 1-2, RBI, K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL 0-2, 2 BB, K ... Diory Hernandez ATL 2-4, R, K ... Ervin Alcantara HOU 2-4, RBI ... Michael Hall BOS 0-3, BB, 3 K ...  Chad Spann BOS 0-2, R, BB, 2 K ... Ian Bladergroen BOS 1-2, R, 2 BB ... Mitch Talbot HOU L 4 3 1 1 3 6 ... Tom Hottovy BOS 4 0 0 0 0 4 ... Javier Guzman PIT 0-3 ... Craig Stansberry PIT 2-4, K ... Robert Valido CHA 4-4, 2B, RBI ... Micah Schnurstein CHA 1-4

FLORIDA STATE --  Angel Molina RF FLO 2-4 HR(2) 2R 3RBI … Lee Mitchell 3B FLO 2-4 HR(2) 2R 2RBI … Drew Anderson LF MIL 3-4 R RBI … Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-5 … Kevin Collins DH CHN 3-4 2B R 2RBI … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-5 2B R … Kody Kirkland 3B DET 1-3 HR(2) … Kurt Isenberg TOR 6 1 0 0 0 7 W … Brett Harper 1B NYN 2-5 HR(6) 2RBI … Cody Haerther DH STL 2-4 2B R

MIDWEST --  Rafael Rodgriguez ANA 4 4 1 1 3 7 (2.00) ... Justin Justice DET 2-4 ... in relief Jay Sborz DET 3 2 1 1 2 6 ... Ian Gac TEX 1-3, double ... inauspicious Homer Bailey CIN 2 4 5 3 2 4 ... David Winfree MIN 1-4, 5th double, 2 K ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 1-4, 2nd E ... Chi-Hung Cheng TOR 5 6 2 1 0 5 ... Carlos Gonzalez (CF) ARZ 2-3, 2 BB ... Angel Rocha ARZ 6 5 2 2 1 7 ... Reid Brignac TB 2-4, double ... Eric Patterson CHN 3-4, BB ... Raul Padron (C) OAK 3-5, double, 2nd PB ... Brian McFall KC 1st HR, but 3 K's (.310)

SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Ben Zobrist SS HOU, 1-3, BB, SB (4) ... Hunter Pence CF HOU, 2-3, BB, 2 SB (4) ... Mitch Einertson LF HOU, 1-3, BB, 2 SO ... Troy Patton HOU, 4 5 1 1 2 5 ... C.J. Smith 1B BAL, 3-3, 3 RBI ... Carlos Perez BAL, 5 2 0 0 2 10 ... Neil Walker DH PIT, 1-5, HR (1), 2 RBI ... Kyle Bloom PIT, 4-1/3 2 0 0 5 7 ... Ray Liotta CHA, 7 4 0 0 2 9 (W, 1-0) ... Ching-lung Lo COL, 7 3 1 1 2 7 (L, 0-1) ... Van Pope 3B ATL, 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R ... Luis Atilano ATL, 7-2/3 5 2 2 3 7 ... Marcus Vechionacci SS NYA, 2-4, BB ... Jeff Marquez NYA, 3-2/3 4 5 4 5 7 (L, 0-2) ... Christian Lara SS BOS, 2-5, 3B, RBI, 3 SO ... Luis Soto LF BOS, 1-3, 2 R ... Adam Blackley BOS, 4 2 2 0 2 6 ... Ambiorix Concepcion DH NYN, 2-4, CS ... Jose Sanchez NYN, 6 2 1 1 1 5 (W, 2-0) ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 2-4, 3B, RBI, R ... Mike Butia LF CLE, 2-4, 2B, 2 R ... Chris Niesel CLE, 6 5 3 3 1 8

    Baseball America headlined it as the college matchup of the year :

" ... Visiting Miami sends junior righthander Cesar Carrillo (8-0, 0.86) against North Carolina sophomore lefthander Andrew Miller (7-0, 1.10) in a matchup of starters who rank first and third nationally in ERA among pitchers who have made at least five starts this season ...  Neither pitcher has lost a decision this year, though Carrillo's success has developed into a larger story. He went 12-0, 2.69 as a sophomore and hasn't lost a decision since his days at Mt. Carmel High in Chicago. His 20-0 career record puts him six wins shy of the NCAA Division I record for consecutive victories. Additionally, Miami has compiled a 29-0 record in games in which he has pitched."

Well, pitching duel it wasn't (although Carrillo moved to 9-0) :  Carrillo 6 7 5 4 3 1 ... Miller 2-1/3 3 9 7 8 0

    Troop movements ... STL - Jimmy Journell up (Cal Eldred DL) ... ATL - John Foster up (Tom Martin released) ... SEA - Chris Snelling activated from DL, assigned to AAA Tacoma ... TEX - Nick Regilio to AAA (Carlos Almanzer activated from DL)

    A snapshot of hitting prospects (AAA & AA) (and a few others) so far (through Thursday's games).  * = lefty hitter, # = switch hitter. 

                                  AVG AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO  SB
Colangelo, Mike, OF   FLO   AAA  .588 17 10  3  1  2  5   1  1   0
*Howard, Ryan, 1B     PHI   AAA  .500 22 11  5  0  0  4  10  6   0
*Colamarino, Brant,1B OAK   AA   .483 29 14  3  1  1  6   2  4   0
*Young, Walter, 1B    BAL   AAA  .464 28 13  4  0  1  5   4  4   0
*Grieve, Ben, OF      CHN   AAA  .462 13  6  0  0  1  3   0  3   0
Freeman, Choo, OF     COL   AAA  .458 24 11  1  1  0  4   2  7   1
Quentin, Carlos, OF   ARZ   AAA  .429 21  9  2  0  3  8   7  2   1
#Aybar, Willy, 3B     LA    AAA  .417 24 10  2  1  1  5   1  5   0
*McAnulty, Paul, OF   SD    AA   .407 27 11  1  0  1  5   5  9   0
Marte, Andy, 3B       ATL   AAA  .406 32 13  2  0  4  9   3  4   0
*Pie, Felix, OF       CHN   AA   .400 25 10  4  0  2  2   3  8   5
Shelton, Chris, 1B    DET   AAA  .400 25 10  1  0  3 10   4  2   0
*Aubrey, Michael, 1B  CLE   AA   .393 28 11  1  0  1  3   4  7   0
Sing, Brandon, 1B     CHN   AA   .381 21  8  1  0  4  7   4  5   0
Pedroia, Dustin, 2B   BOS   AA   .375 24  9  0  0  1  7   5  0   1
*Krynzel, Dave, OF    MIL   AAA  .375 32 12  4  1  1  9   4  6   0
#Doumit, Ryan, C      PIT   AAA  .370 27 10  0  0  4  7   4  6   1
Jackson, Conor, 1B    ARZ   AAA  .360 25  9  3  0  1  6   4  1   0
#Callaspo, Alberto,2B ANA   AA   .357 28 10  1  0  0  4   3  1   0
Francoeur, Jeff, OF   ATL   AA   .357 28 10  3  0  2  8   1  6   2
*Cano, Robinson, 2B   NYA   AAA  .353 34 12  3  1  3  8   2  6   0
Fields, Joshua, 3B    CHA   AA   .333 15  5  0  0  0  2   5  4   1
Brown, Jeremy, C      OAK   AA   .333 15  5  2  0  0  3   5  7   0
Betancourt-Perez, Yun SEA   AA   .323 31 10  1  1  1  6   1  5   1
#Ramirez, Hanley, SS  BOS   AA   .321 28  9  0  3  0  5   2  3   2
#Dukes, Elijah, OF    TB    AA   .321 28  9  4  0  2  8   1  7   0
Hairston, Scott, OF   ARZ   AAA  .318 22  7  2  0  1  4   3  7   0
Mathis, Jeff, C       ANA   AAA  .316 19  6  3  1  1  2   3  5   0
Pena, Tony, SS        ATL   AAA  .313 32 10  1  1  0  3   1 11   0
Young, Delmon, OF     TB    AA   .310 29  9  0  0  1  5   3  7   4
Morse, Michael, SS    SEA   AAA  .296 27  8  1  0  1  6   4  2   0
Hill, Aaron, SS       TOR   AAA  .294 34 10  2  0  1  7   3  4   2
*Johnson, Dan, 1B     OAK   AAA  .290 31  9  3  0  3 10   3  6   0
Anderson, Brian, OF   CHA   AAA  .286 21  6  1  0  2  5   2  8   0
Stokes, Jason, 1B     FLO   AAA  .286 28  8  1  1  3 11   2 11   1
Gutierrez, Franklin,  CLE   AA   .281 32  9  2  0  2  5   4  7   3
*McPherson, Dallas,3B ANA   AAA  .280 25  7  0  1  1  6   4  8   1
Arias, Joaquin, SS    TEX   AA   .276 29  8  1  1  0  3   3  3   3
Martin, Russell, C    LA    AA   .263 19  5  2  0  0  5   6  1   2
*Quintanilla, Omar,SS OAK   AA   .258 31  8  0  0  0  1   1  4   0
Barfield, Josh, 2B    SD    AAA  .258 31  8  0  0  1  4   3 11   3
*McCann, Brian, C     ATL   AA   .250 20  5  2  0  2  3   2  4   0
Huber, Justin, 1B     KC    AA   .250 20  5  2  0  0  2  10  6   1
Guzman, Joel, SS      LA    AA   .250 24  6  1  1  1  5   4  9   2
Weeks, Rickie, 2B     MIL   AAA  .242 33  8  1  2  1  7   2  6   1
*Bourn, Michael, OF   PHI   AA   .222 27  6  0  0  0  3   3  5   2
*LaForest, Pete, C    TB    AAA  .211 19  4  2  0  2  4   2  9   1
Kinsler, Ian, 2B      TEX   AAA  .207 29  6  2  0  1  5   1  7   1
Zeringue, Jonathan,OF ARZ   AA   .200 25  5  0  0  0  1   0  2   0
#Borchard, Joe, OF    CHA   AAA  .200 25  5  2  0  1  4   1  9   0
*Granderson, Curtis,  DET   AAA  .194 31  6  4  0  0  4   1  9   1
*Loney, James, 1B     LA    AA   .192 26  5  1  0  0  2   2  8   0
#Young, Delwyn, 2B    LA    AA   .192 26  5  0  0  2  2   1  9   1
*Moss, Brandon, OF    BOS   AA   .190 21  4  1  0  1  2   1 10   0
*Sweeney, Ryan, OF    CHA   AA   .190 21  4  0  0  0  0   3  4   0
#Navarro, Dioner, C   LA    AAA  .188 16  3  0  0  1  2   2  1   0
#Giarratano, Tony, SS DET   AA   .185 27  5  1  0  0  1   6 10   0
*Fielder, Prince, 1B  MIL   AAA  .185 27  5  0  0  2  5   6  6   0
Upton, B.J., SS       TB    AAA  .182 33  6  0  0  0  2   3 10   1
Garko, Ryan, C        CLE   AAA  .179 28  5  0  0  1  4   2  9   0
*Choo, Shin-soo, OF   SEA   AAA  .179 28  5  1  0  1  4   3  9   0
Encarnacion, Edwin,3B CIN   AAA  .174 23  4  2  0  1  1   2  5   0
*Duncan, Eric, 3B     NYA   AA   .152 33  5  0  0  0  0   8  8   0
#Aybar, Erick, SS     ANA   AA   .148 27  4  1  0  0  2   0  3   2
Phillips, Brandon, SS CLE   AAA  .125 32  4  2  0  0  1   3  8   0
Willingham, Josh, C   FLO   AAA  .118 17  2  0  0  1  4   3  4   0
Santos, Sergio, SS    ARZ   AAA  .111 27  3  0  0  2  4   4 10   0
*Hermida, Jeremy, OF  FLO   AA   .111 18  2  0  0  1  3   5  4   0
*Kotchman, Casey, 1B  ANA   AAA  .040 25  1  0  0  0  2   6  5   0

    Zach Chalifour, TheRotoTimes, wraps his division-by-division prospect analysis with the NL West where Joel Guzman LA is king of the hill (over Ian Stewart COL) :

" ...  In just one season, Guzman went from an unknown player who had never hit above .252 in the minors to being the best prospect in the Dodgers organization. Guzman, 19, put himself into the upper echelon of hitting prospects by hitting .307 with 14 homers and 51 RBI in 87 games at High-A Vero Beach last season before finishing up at Double-A Jacksonville. The Dominican Republic native hit .280 with nine home runs and 35 RBI with the Suns - outstanding production for someone so young in such an advanced league. Guzman's only significant weakness has been his poor plate discipline."

" ... 5. Chris Nelson ...  the ninth-overall pick of last year's draft. The high-school draftee signed quickly and posted excellent numbers in his 39 games for Casper of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, batting .347 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and six swipes. Those numbers demonstrated early signs of the five-category potential that he possesses. The only long-term concerns regarding Nelson surround his small 5-foot-11 and 175-pound frame, but he has outstanding bat speed and power for his size."

    The Daily Dish at Baseball America (Kevin Goldstein & Cris Kline) has a nice bit on Neil Walker PIT, along with a note on one of CIN's best :

" ...  righthander Elizardo Ramirez owns Triple-A hitters through his first two starts. In 14 innings, Ramirez has yet to allow a run or a walk, given up 11 hits, and struck out nine. Though he pitched out of the bullpen in seven appearances for Philadelphia last season, Ramirez has never pitched in Triple-A before. The 22-year-old Dominican pounds the zone with three average pitches--86-92 mph fastball, average curveball and changeup. He came over to the Reds from the Phillies last season with outfielder Javon Moran and lefthander Joe Wilson to complete the Corey Lidle deal."

    John Sickels in the chat room at JD Arney's Red Reporter :

Brandon Claussen  " ... he's another injury guy. His command hasn't recovered yet to pre-injury status, and perhaps it never will. I'm skeptical at this point that he'll be more than an average pitcher."

" ... Frankly I will be surprised if Howington and Basham ever make it. Gruler still has a fair chance, but even that is iffy. Shoulder stuff is still the kiss of career death far too often."

Joey Votto  " ... Let's see....Votto is a strong guy, has good plate discipline, but a somewhat levelish swing....sounds like Sean Casey, doesn't it? Take Sean Casey, add a few homers and reduce a bit of batting average due to higher strikeout rate. Remember Votto is only 21 and still has a lot of development time ahead of him."

    CIN prospect BJ Szymanski on the shelf :

" ...  Szymanski, he's scheduled for a right knee operation Monday and will be on the disabled list for two to four weeks ...  "It was pretty good news," said Szymanski, who saw the Reds' Dr. Tim Kremchek earlier in the day. He hurt the knee doing calisthenics Tuesday. "It's just a bone chip that has to come out. My right knee has never been as good as my left knee, but I never missed a single game in any sport because of it. I took batting practice on Tuesday and then did some jogging. Nothing bothered me. Then I did some high knees (an exercise lifting the knees to about waist level) and it got stiff." ... was the Reds No. 2 pick in last summer's free agent draft." (Dayton Daily news)

    Bubba moves to the pen :

" ... Bubba Nelson, a 23-year-old right-hander, is being used as the closer at Double-A Chattanooga. He has taken to the role ... He is 3-for-3 in save opportunities and has pitched four shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. Coming into this season, 97 of Nelson's 119 appearances were as a starter, and he had no saves." (The Cincinnati Enquirer)

Now, through four games (he's still "Kenny" Nelson in the stat lines), 4 for 4 in save opportunities, with a line of  5 3 0 0 0 2 6

    LA's Edwin Jackson still searching for a solution ... in Vegas :

" ... Jackson, starting his second Triple-A season in Las Vegas, is under the microscope as much as any prospect in the Dodgers organization. The 21-year-old right-hander is coming off the worst season of his young career, and the growing pains continued in spring training ... Jackson said. "It's not to the point where I'm going to go deeper into a hole or fall down and collapse. I'm going to get stronger from it." ... Jackson is scheduled to pitch Sunday ... manager Jerry Royster said. "He's only three consistent starts from being in the (Dodgers') rotation. We can't get impatient with a kid who's 21 and has only been pitching a few years. We can't lose sight of that." ...  Jackson's first start this season for the 51s was a bad one. He lasted four innings and allowed six earned runs on five hits and five walks in a 7-1 loss at Salt Lake on Tuesday. "He had bad command, which also caused him to get hit. There is no excuse for him to be walking guys, absolutely none," Royster said. "But that's why he's here. I think his problems could be corrected quite easily." Royster said he and pitching coach Roger McDowell want an opportunity to work with Jackson, whose progress could get interrupted if he is called up to the majors too soon. Jackson insists he is strong mentally and physically, but needs to make "very minor" changes to find a consistent delivery." (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

15 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL -- Bob Keppel NYN 6 3 1 1 1 3 ... Walter Young 1B BAL 2-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI ... Nate McLouth LF PIT 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB ... Ryan Doumit C PIT 2-4, 3 R, BB ... bad day for Ian Snell PIT 4 9 8 8 2 2 ... Kyle Denney CLE 5 6 2 2 0 1 ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 1-3, 1st HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SF ... Francisco Rosario TOR 5-2/3 5 3 3 3 9 ... Ramon Ramirez NYA 4-2/3 8 5 5 2 6 ... oops, B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, RBI, 1 error ... Jonny Gomes LF TB 3-4, 2B, 3rd HR, R, 3 RBI ... Kelly Johnson LF ATL 3-4, 3B, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB ... two starts and no runs allowed, Elizardo Ramirez CIN 7 4 0 0 0 5 ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 2-3, 2nd HR, 2 R, RBI & 0-3 ... Kenny Baugh DET 5 4 1 1 2 4 ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 4-2/3 5 3 3 2 5

PACIFIC COAST -- Conor Jackson ARI 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI … Scott Hairston LF ARI 0-4, 2 runs … Sergio Santos ARI 0-2, 3 walks … Josh Kroeger ARI 2-5, double, homer, 3 RBI … Choo Freeman CF COL 2-4 … Ken Harvey KC 4-5, triple, 2 RBI … Shin Soo Choo SEA 0-4 … Michael Morse SEA 2-5, homer, 3 RBI … Dan Johnson OAK 0-4 … Dan Meyer OAK 5 8 7 7 1 1 … Cha-Seung Baek SEA 5 4 2 2 2 2 … Ian Kinsler TEX 1-4, homer, 2 RBI … Laynce Nix TEX 1-2, homer, 2 walks … Dave Krynzel MIL 1-4 … Rickie Weeks MIL 0-4, 2K … Prince Fielder MIL 0-4 … Richard Lewis CHN 1-4 … Brooks Conrad 2B HOU 1-4, homer, 2 runs … Sergio Mitre CHN 4 5 2 2 5 5 … Larry Broadway WAS 1-4, double, 2K … Brendan Harris WAS 1-4 … Chris Duncan STL 3-4, homer … Adam Wainwright STL 7-1/3 8 0 0 1 6 … Willy Aybar LA 2-4 … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3 … Dallas McPherson ANA 2-4, triple … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-4 … Josh Barfield SD 0-4 … Todd Linden SF 0-4, 3K … Brad Hennessey SF 7.2 4 1 1 1 7

EASTERN -- Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-4, walk, rbi ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 1-4, triple, 3 rbi ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 0-3, walk, 2 strikeouts … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 0-1 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 3-4, homerun, 3 SB ...  Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-3, walk, 2 strikeouts ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-5 … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 1-3, double, rbi … Fred Lewis OF SF 0-4, walk ... Jake Dittler CLE 5-2/3 2 2 0 2 5 … Merkin Valdez SF 5 7 0 0 1 4 … Jonathan Lester BOS 4 7 3 3 0 6 … Matthew DeSalvo NYA 4 3 3 3 3 8 …

SOUTHERN -- No games scheduled.

TEXAS -- Josh Rupe TEX 6 6 1 1 1 4 ... Jason Hart TEX 1-4, homer, 3 RBI ... Mike Stodolka KC 6-1/3 8 1 1 1 2 ... Joe Saunders ANA 6 1 1 0 3 6 ... Alberto Callaspo 2B ANA 1-5, double, .323 ... Erick Aybar SS ANA 0-5, .133

CALIFORNIA --  Jesse Floyd SF 6 3 0 0 3 1 ... Billy Butler KC (at DH a day after making 4 errors at 3B) 1-4, 2 RBI, .387 ... Seth Smith COL 2-4, double, 2 RBI, .320 ... Brandon Wood ANA 4-5, homer, .273 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 3-5, triple, .368 ... Dallas Braden OAK 6-1/3 6 3 2 0 8 ... Daric Barton OAK 2-5

CAROLINA -- Adam Loewen BAL, control again a major problem, 4-2/3 5 4 3 6 2 ... lefty Brady Endl ATL 5 0 0 0 1 5 ... Matt Esquivel RF ATL 3-4, 2 doubles, homer, .375 ... Brad Snyder CF CLE 2-4, homer ... Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B CLE 2-4, double, homer

FLORIDA STATE -- Scott Moore 3B CHN 2-4 2HR(3) 3R 4RBI … Andy LaRoche 3B LA 2-5 HR(1) 2R 3RBI … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 3-5 2 doubles R RBI … Tim Dillard MIL 6 1 0 0 0 10 … Joey Votto (1B) CIN 2-4 R RBI … Christopher Dickson CF CIN 1-2 R 2SB(2) … Michael McDonald TOR 7 1 0 0 2 6 W … Brendan Ryan SS STL 2-4 2B R … Brian Martin LF STL 3-4 2B R 2RBI … Jake Blalock LF PHI 2-3 Double R RBI

MIDWEST --  Sean Rodriguez ANA 2-7, double ... Orlando Mercado ARZ 2-4, 1st HR ... Matt Bush SD 1-6, double, 2 K, 1st E ... Sean Kazmar SD 2-4, HR #1 ... back down to earth a bit Reid Brignac TB 0-5 (still .360) ... Christian Lopez (C) TB 3-4, 1st HR ... David Winfree MIN 0-5, 2 K (.400) ... Sean Gallagher CHN 5 4 3 0 1 3 (L, 1-1, ERA remains 0.00) ... what we've been waiting for Ryan Harvey CHN 3-4 (up to .200) ... Aaron Jensen SEA 6 5 0 0 3 4 (0.90) ... Matt Tuiasosopo (at DH) SEA 2-3, BB

SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Van Pope 3B ATL, 3-6, RBI, 2 SO ... Matt Harrison ATL, 5 3 0 0 1 5 ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-6, RBI, 3 SO ... Brandon Weeden LA, 4-2/3 4 1 1 2 5 ... Sean Gamble LF PHI, 2-3, 2B, 2 R ... Jason Jaramillo C PHI, 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI ... Derek Griffith PHI, 6 3 1 1 2 9 (W, 1-0) ... Francisco Hernandez C CHA, 2-4, 2B, HR (1), RBI ... Sam Deduno COL, 5 2 2 2 5 8 (W, 2-0) ... Marcos Vechionacci SS NYA, 2-4, 2B ... Andrew Dobies BOS, 5 8 2 2 0 2 (W, 1-0) ... Ambiorix Concepcion NYM, 0-4, 4 SO ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 3-5, 3B, 2 R, 3 SB (4) ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-4 ... Craig Whitaker SF, 5 3 1 1 2 6 (W, 1-0) ... Chris Nelson SS COL, day to day with a strained hamstring

    Troop movements ... MLB - Alex Sanchez reinstated ... TB - Joey Gathright to AAA

    A little more on Phenom Felix Hernandez ... Tuesday's effort :

" ... Hernandez responded by striking out five and scattering five hits and three walks on 88 pitches, pitching out of situations with a runner on third base in the fourth and fifth innings. Hernandez continued to pitch hard late into his outing, reaching 95 mph with his fastball on his 85th pitch. Rohn said he would be careful with his young arm at this point in the season, hoping to limit Hernandez’s pitch count to 80 to 85 pitches. “We’re protecting him,” Rohn said. “I expect him to get better and better each time out.” ... Hernandez was removed after walking two consecutive batters in the sixth, but reliever Chris Buglovsky quickly got three consecutive outs to end the inning." (Tacoma News Tribune)

And ... Thomas Diamond TEX :

" ... Wednesday was supposed to be the debut of top Oaks prospect Jeff Niemann, but the right-hander's first start was moved back to Saturday because of a strained right leg muscle. Instead, the announced crowd of 682 saw top Texas Rangers prospect Thomas Diamond for the Blaze. The Rangers' 2004 first-round pick tossed four shutout innings, striking out six, but was unable to make it to the fifth inning because he had already thrown a rather high 86 pitches. Not helping Diamond's cause for a possible win was his laboring through a 34-pitch first inning — in which he got out of a bases-loaded jam — followed by a 21-pitch tally in the second inning." (Visalia Times Delta)

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, on Ryan Doumit PIT :

" ... Doumit picked a good time to go on the tear of his life, hitting five homers in 25 spring at-bats and then going deep four more times in his first six games for Triple-A Indianapolis. Now he just needs to show he can stay healthy. Doumit, a 24-year-old switch-hitter, has played in more than 70 games just once since being picked in the second round in 1999 ...  Defensively, Doumit is above average in all areas except for throwing out baserunners. His arm is fine, so he’ll be able to stay behind the plate ...  On offense, Doumit’s best years could resemble Jason Varitek’s career line of .271/.347/.451 ... Expect Doumit to take over as the Pirates’ starting catcher by Aug. 1."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Jeremy Sowers CLE and Glavine comparisons :

" ... For at least a decade, it has seemed that every decent lefthanded pitching prospect who lacks an overwhelming fastball has been compared to Glavine ... Being likened to Glavine isn't fair to prospects, most of whom won't come anywhere close to that kind of success ... Sowers does have a similar style to Glavine, and I do like him. While in his prime, Glavine consistently threw harder than Sowers does now. Sowers, who has an 85-91 mph fastball, succeeds by moving four pitches around the strike zone and keeping hitters off balance. Like Glavine, he's 6-foot-1, and he'll probably fill out to around Glavine's 190 pounds ... Taken sixth out of Vanderbilt, he signed for a straight $2.475 million bonus. He won his pro debut, turning in a line of 6-6-2-2-0-3 for high Class A Kinston on Saturday."

    BrewerFan.net on college right-hander Luke Hochevar :

" ...  6-5 / 205 ...  Pre-season first team All-American according to Baseball America ... Works comfortably in the low-90s and has touched the mid-90s on occasion. He has a solid overall repertoire with a hard-breaking curveball, a sharp slider, a solid changeup and a developing sinker. His best asset is his ability to change speeds and hit his spots, as he commands the strike zone really well ...  If he can maintain his velocity and the consistency on the bite of his curveball, he could be a solid top of the rotation starter as a pro. His advisor is Scott Boras, so don't be surprised to see Hochevar fall farther than he should come June. He's good enough for teams to overlook that association."

14 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL -- Kelly Shoppach DH BOS 2-3, 2B, R, BB ... Abe Alvarez CIN 6 4 0 0 0 2 ... James Jurries 1B ATL 2-4, 2B, R, BB ... looking good, Andy Marte 3B ATL 2-5, 4th HR, R, RBI ... Billy McCarthy LF ATL 2-3, RBI ... Kyle Davies ATL 4-1/3 6 3 3 3 4 ... Carlos Ruiz C PHI 2-4, R ... Jeff Keppinger SS NYN 2-4, 3B, R, RBI ... Craig Brazell LF NYN 2-4, 2B, R, RBI ... Boof Bonser MIN 5 2 0 0 1 4 ... Brian Tallet CLE 5 3 1 1 0 5 ... John-Ford Griffin DH TOR 2-4, 2B, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... Cory Stewart PIT 6-1/3 7 2 2 1 5 ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 2-5, 2 RBI ... defense improving, B.J. Upton SS TB 2-4, R, BB, 0 errors

PACIFIC COAST --  Felix Hernandez SEA 5 5 0 0 3 5, (W, 1-1) … Shin Soo Choo SEA 2-4, homer, 2 RBI … Dan Johnson OAK 0-3, K … Josh Barfield SD 2-4, 3 SB… Tim Stauffer SD 6 7 3 3 2 5, (W, 1-0) … Brad Baker SD 1 0 0 0 1 1, (S, 1) … Carlos Quentin ARI 0-3 & 0-2, walk … Conor Jackson ARI 1-3, double … Sergio Santos ARI 0-3 … Scott Hairston CF ARI 2-3, double & 0-1 … Josh Kroeger CF ARI 0-3, K … Ryan Shealy COL 1-4, double … Laynce Nix and Ian Kinsler TEX combined 0-7 … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-5 … Prince Fielder MIL 1-4 … Dave Krynzel MIL 1-5, double … Brad Nelson MIL 2-4, double, CS (3) … Ben Hendrickson MIL 6 6 4 4 1 4 … Brendan Harris WAS 1-3, 2 RBI … Chris Duncan STL 1-4 … Skip Schumaker STL 2-4 … Brad Thompson STL 2 1 0 0 0 0 … Willy Aybar LA 1-3, 2 runs … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3, run … Jeff Mathis ANA 3-4, 2 doubles … Casey Kotchman ANA 1-4, 3K … Dallas McPherson ANA 1-4, K … Franquelis Osoria LA 1 1 0 0 0 0 … Richard Lewis CHN 1-5 … Renyel Pinto CHN 1-2/3 3 7 7 7 2, (L, 0-2) … Ken Harvey KC 0-3, walk … Jason Stokes FLO 0-3, 2K … Josh Willingham FLO 0-4, 2K ... Jesse Foppert SF 3-2/3 6 3 3 3 1

EASTERN -- Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 2-4, 2 rbi ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 0-3 ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 0-3, walk, 2 strikeouts … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-3, double, 2 rbi  ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-3, rbi ...  Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-3, walk, 2 strikeouts ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-2, 2 walks, strikeout … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-3, strikeout … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4, double ... Jon Papelbon BOS 5 6 2 2 0 2, 2nd win … Francisco Liriano MIN 5 8 6 4 2 3 … Joel Zumaya DET  3-1/3 3 1 1 4 6 … Fausto Carmona CLE 7 6 1 1 1 1 4 … Josh Banks TOR 7 3 0 0 0 5

SOUTHERN --  Ben Kozlowski CIN 5 3 1 0 3 6 ... Dennis Sarfate MIL 6 5 2 2 0 10 ... Joel Guzman LA 2-4, homer, error ...  Russell Martin LA 0-2, 2 errors ... Delwyn Young LA 1-4, homer ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 2-5, double, SB, .357 ...  Felix Pie CHN 2-4, 2nd homer, 3 runs, 5th SB, .400  ... Matt Chico ARZ 6 10 5 5 2 7 ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, .310 ... Elijah Dukes TB 2-4, double

TEXAS -- Bobby Livingston SEA 7 4 1 1 1 4 ... Steven Shell ANA 2-2-3 6 6 5 3 0 ... Justin Huber KC 0-1, 3 walks, 2 runs ... Michael Napoli ANA 0-1, 4 walks ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-5, double, 2 RBI

CALIFORNIA -- George Kottaras C SD 2-3, double, walk ...  Fernando Valenzuela Jr. SD 2-6, double, 3 RBI ...  Daric Barton DH OAK 0-4, 2 Ks, .263  ...  Thomas Diamond TEX 4 2 0 0 2 6 ... Howie Kendrick ANA 3-6  ... Adam Jones SS SEA 2-6, 3rd homer ... Jud Thigpen COL 3-4, 2 RBI  ... Michael Nesbit LF SEA 3-5, double, homer, walk, .500 ... Matt Rogelstad DH SEA 5-7, double, 4 RBI ... Billy Butler KC 3-5, double, 3rd & 4th homers, 3 RBI, .407

CAROLINA -- Martin Prado ATL (2B) 0-3, RBI, BB ... Josh Burrus ATL (OF) 1-3, RBI, BB ... Matt Esquivel ATL (OF) 0-4, 2 K... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL ( C) 1-4, 2B, K ... Robert Valido CHA (SS) 1-5, R, K ... Micah Schnurstein CHA (3B) 2-5, R, 2B, K ... Chuck James ATL (P) L 3-2/3 5 2 2 1 4 ... Kory Casto WAS (3B) 1-3, 2B, RBI, K ... Javier Guzman PIT (SS) 1-3, R, K ... Craig Stansberry PIT (2B) 1-2, 2B, RBI ... Wardell Starling PIT (P) L 2-2/3 6 5 3 0 2 ... Ervin Alcantara HOU (OF) 0-2, 2 BB, K ... Nate Spears BAL (2B) 1-4, 2 K ... Nick Markakis BAL (OF) 1-3, BB, K ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL (OF) 0-2, RBI, 2 BB, K ... Jarod Rine BAL (OF) 0-3, R, BB, K ... Matthew Albers HOU (P) 6-1/3 2 1 1 5 10

FLORIDA STATE --  In a major league pitching match-up, Brad Penny LA rehab 5 2 1 1 1 3 W out-duels Matt Morris STL rehab 5-2/3 8 5 5 1 6 L …  Brian Dopirak 1B CHN 2-4 2B … Scott Moore DH CHN 2-4 HR(1) 2RBI … Reggie Abercrombie CF FLO 1-4 HR(2) … Brendan Ryan SS STL 2-4 2B RBI … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 0-2 BB HBP SB(1) … Vincent Cordova NYN 6 2 0 0 2 3 W … Denard Span CF MIN 3-4 3B R … Chris Tolbert SS MIN 2-5 3B R 2RBI … Erold Andrus LF NYA 3-4 2 doubles 2R … Christopher Dickson CF CIN  3-4 2B RBI … Phil Dumatrait CIN 3 6 4 3 1 2 … Adam Lind LF TOR 2-5 HR(1) R 5RBI … Brent Clevlen RF DET 3-4 2HR(2) 3R 4RBI … Jake Blalock LF PHI 3-4 HR(1) 2B …

MIDWEST --  white-hot start continues Reid Brignac TB 3-5, double ... Matt Bush SD 1-5 ... Raul Padron OAK 0-3 ... David Winfree MIN 2-5 ... Trevor Plouffe MIN 0-2 ... Jarrett Hoffpauir STL 2-4, BB ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 2-5, 1st HR ... Wilkin Ramirez (DH) DET 2-4, BB ... Eric Hurley TEX 6 4 0 0 1 8 (2-0, 1.64) ... what a night Eric Patterson CHN 3-3, BB, 3 of 4 stealing ... ugh Ryan Harvey CHN 0-4, 2 K (.062) ... Sean Rodriguez ANA 1-3, BB ... Michael Collins (1B) ANA 2-3, double

SOUTH ATLANTIC -- Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 1-5, RBI ... Jesus Castillo LA, 5 3 0 0 1 2 ... Christopher Malone LA, 3 0 0 0 0 6 ... Philip Hughes NYA, 5-2/3 3 2 0 2 3 ... Marcos Vechinacci SS NYA, 0-3, 2 R ... Jonathan Poterson RF NYA, 2-4 ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-5, 2 SO ... Rogearvin Bernadina CF WAS, 1-3, 2B, RBI, SB (1) ... Christian Lara SS BOS, 1-4, 2B, RBI ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 1-5, R, SB (5) ... Jonathan Sanchez SF, 6-1/3 3 0 0 0 4 (W, 1-0) ... Brandon Jones DH ATL, 2-4, 2 2B (4) ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 1-4, 2 R ... Dante Brinkley LF NYN, 2-3, HR (2), 4 RBI, 3 R ... Brian Bixler SS PIT, 1-4, 2B ... Neil Walker C PIT, 2-3, 2 R, BB ... look out now Gio Gonzalez CHA, 6 1 0 0 0 10 (W, 2-0, 2 walks, 19 Ks in 11 innings) ... Jason Vargas FLA, 5-1/3 2 4 3 3 5 (L, 1-1) ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 0-5, 2 SO ... Mitch Einertson CF HOU, 1-4, 2 R, SB (2) ... Hunter Pence LF HOU, 1-3, R, SB (2)

    Troop movements ... BOS - Kevin Youkilis back to AAA (Curt Schilling activated) ... KC - Mark Teahen to DL ... TEX - Nick Regilio up (RA Dickey to DL)

    Dayn Perry, FoxSports, kicks off his latest prospect series, a position-by-position preview, with his Top 10 catchers -- Brian McCann, Jeff Mathis, Guillermo Quiroz 1-2-3. 

" ...  McCann, a second-rounder in 2002, combines tremendous raw power with strong defensive skills. Last season, McCann slugged .494 and posted an Isolated Slugging Percentage (which is slugging percentage minus batting average and is a good indicator of raw, projectable power) of .216 (more than .200 is good benchmark), all while playing at High-A Myrtle Beach, which is probably the toughest hitter's park in all of professional baseball. He needs to improve his plate discipline, but he looks like a good one."

" ... 4. Neil Walker ...  a tremendous natural athlete and comes from a baseball family. Walker switch hits and shows excellent raw power from the left side. He hasn't played above short-season ball, so it's a bit early to draw too many firm stats-based conclusions, although he did bat .313 in the NY-Penn League last season. He's opened the '05 season in the Sally League, where he should thrive despite being younger than his peer group. His offensive upside is substantial, but, like all young catchers, there's some question as to whether he'll remain at the position."

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, on HOU's Ezequiel Astacio :

" ...   Astacio put his best foot forward by allowing one run and one hit in seven innings for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. He was also pretty impressive in limited action this spring, allowing five runs -- two earned -- and nine hits while striking out 13 in 13 1/3 innings. While he was hardly a throw-in, Astacio was viewed as the lesser property traded from Philadelphia to Houston in the Billy Wagner deal. That changed when he started striking out batters last season. He went 13-1 with a 3.89 ERA, 155 H and 185/56 K/BB in 176 IP for Double-A Round Rock ...  If he continues to refine his splitter, he could be an above average No. 3 starter."

    Kendry Morales ... Angels might have to wait until next year :

" ... Morales ... stuck in the Dominican Republic since defecting last August, needs a Dominican passport to travel to the U.S., and he can't obtain a passport without gaining Dominican citizenship, a process Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman acknowledged "can take up to a year." ...  If Alay Soler's ordeal is any indication, Morales might not make it to the U.S. any time soon. Soler, a pitcher, defected from Cuba in November 2003, signed a three-year, $2.8-million deal with the New York Mets last August and is still awaiting Dominican passport. The Mets put Soler, who is essentially going through the same process as Morales, on their inactive list and are not expecting him any time soon." (Los Angeles Times)

    Sergio Santos ARZ ... could stick a shortstop :

" ... Santos is very big for a shortstop, but he looks like a good infielder. His actions and his footwork are OK for an infielder; I don't think he has to go to the outfield. There's some talk he might move to second base, but I think he's more likely to go to third. He's strong and well put-together, and he's got a strong arm. But there's nothing harder to do than scout a player who's playing out of position, and that's what you have to do with Santos." (Baseball America)

13 April, 2005

    INTERNATIONAL -- Francisco Cruceta CLE 5 5 3 3 2 7 ... Blake McGinley NYN 3-2/3 6 4 4 1 3 ... Scott Baker MIN 4 5 0 0 1 3 ... Robinson Cano 2B NYA 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI ... Chien-Ming Wang NYA 7 2 0 0 1 6 ... B.J. Upton SS TB 0-4, 0 errors ... Jonny Gomes RF TB 2-4, SB ... Zach Duke PIT 6-2/3 11 2 2 0 2 ... Kelly Johnson RF ATL 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB ... Andy Marte 3B ATL 3-4, 4 RBI, BB ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 3-3, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 BB ... rehab, Vicente Padilla PHI 5 6 2 2 2 4

PACIFIC COAST --  Shin Soo Choo SEA 1-4, K … Michael Morse SS SEA 2-4, RBI … Dan Johnson OAK 2-4, homer, 2 RBI … Josh Barfield SD 2-4 … Ben Johnson RF SD 2-4, double … Todd Linden RF SF 3-4, double, homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI … Justin Germano SD 4 8 6 6 3 4, (L, 0-2) … Ronny Cedeno SS CHN 1-4, homer (3) … Robert (Bobby) Brownlie CHN 6 3 1 1 3 3 … Ezequiel Astacio HOU 7 1 1 1 1 5, allowed 1 hit, a homerun to Cedeno … Jermaine Van Buren CHN 1 2 0 0 0 3, (S, 1) … Marshall McDougall 3B TEX 2-5, double, 4 RBI … Laynce Nix TEX 1-4 … Rickie Weeks MIL 2-4, triple, 2 RBI … Prince Fielder 0-3, 2 walks … Brendan Harris WAS 1-4 … Chris Duncan STL 1-4, K … John Gall LF STL 2-3, double … John Nelson STL 2-4 … Edwin Jackson LA 4 5 6 6 5 2, (L, 0-1) … Dustin Moseley ANA 6 1 0 0 2 2, (W, 1-0) … Dioner Navarro LA 0-3 … Willy Aybar LA 1-3 … Dallas McPherson ANA 2-4, 2K … Jeff Mathis ANA 0-4 … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-4, run, RBI … Jason Stokes FLO 2-5, grand slam (3), 2K … Josh Willingham C FLO 1-4, homer, 3 RBI … Josh Wilson SS FLO 2-4, 2 doubles … Carlos Quentin ARI 2-2, homer (3), 2 walks… Josh Kroeger ARI 2-5, triple, 3K … Sergio Santos ARI 0-4 … Conor Jackson ARI 0-3 … Scott Hairston LF ARI 0-5, 4K … Ryan Shealy COL 4-5, 2 doubles, walk off 3 run homer

SOUTHERN -- Jae-Kuk Ryu CHN, trying to get back on the prospect charts, 5 4 0 0 0 4 ... Brian McCann C ATL 1-3, homer ... Brandon Sing CHN 1-2, 2 walks, 4th homer & 0-1, 2 walks  ... Jeff Francoeur ATL 0-3 & 0-3 ... Felix Pie CHN 3-4, homer ... Dana Eveland MIL 5 3 0 0 2 6 ... Chad Billingsley LA 5 3 2 2 1 5 ... Elijah Dukes TB 2-5, double, homer, 3 RBI ... Delmon Young TB 0-5 ... Bobby Jenks CHA, 2nd Save, 1 2 0 0 0 1

TEXAS -- Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 3-5, 2R, 3B, HR, 3RBI, SB ... TJ Bohn SEA 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI ...  Rene Rivera SEA (C) 4-4, 2R, 2B ... Andrew Beattie OAK (3B) 2-3, 2R, HR, 2RBI ... Brant Colamarino OAK 2-5, R, 2B, RBI ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-3, R, 2B, RBI ... Omar Quintanilla OAK 3-5, 2R, RBI ... Jeremy Brown OAK 2-3, R, 2B, 2RBI ... Josh Anderson HOU 2-4, R, SB ... Fernando Nieve HOU 6 1 0 0 2 8 ... Mike Nickeas TEX (C) 1-4, R, HR, RBI ... Frank Francisco TEX 1 2 0 0 0 1 ... Shane Costa KC 2-3 ... Kyle Middleton KC 6 5 3 1 0 3 ... Cory Aldridge KC Pinch Hitting 1-1, R, HR, 3RBI ... Reggie Willits ANA 2-5, R ... Alberto Callaspo ANA 3-5, RBI ... Adam Pavkovich ANA (3B) 2-4 ...  Jeff Salazar COL 1-4 ... Travis Hanson STL (3B) 1-4, 3B, RBI ... Mike Jaramillo STL (SS) 2-3 ... Randy Leek STL 7 3 0 0 1 4

EASTERN -- Brad Eldred 1B PIT 1-5, double … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 3-5, double  ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-4 ...  Tony Giarratano SS DET 3-4, double ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-3, walk … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-3 … Fred Lewis OF SF 1-4 … Hayden Penn BAL 5 5 2 1 0 8 … Brian Bannister NYN 6 3 0 0 2 6 ... Ismael Ramirez TOR 6 2 0 0 1 1 ...  CC Sabathia CLE 5 2 0 0 1 4 :

" ... Facing the Bowie Baysox, Sabathia, who was recovering from a strained abdominal muscle, threw 77 pitches, and 52 of them were strikes. He gave up two hits and no runs ...  bigger than his pitch total and those other statistics was this: He felt no pain in his side. "I did everything I needed to do," said Sabathia, who's missed two starts this season. "I fielded the bunt; I threw some pitches as hard as I could." Afterward, he hadn't seen the radar reading on his pitches, but he said he felt comfortable with everything he threw ...  threw his fastball comfortably in the mid-90s range, and he popped a couple of fastballs at 96 mph." (MLB.com)

FLORIDA STATE -- Justin Verlander DET 6 3 1 1 1 4  … Chuck Tiffany LA 5 4 1 1 3 8 … Justin Ruggiano CF LA 3-5 2HR(2) 3R 3RBI … Anthony Raglani RF LA 3-5 2 doubles 2R … Getting his first hits of the season, Brendan Ryan SS STL 2-2 … Carlos Villanueva MIL 5 2 0 0 2 5  … Phillip Humber 5 1 0 0 1 2 … Lastings Milledge CF NYN 1-4 2B R … Brett Harper DH NYN 2-4 HR(4) 2RBI … David Purcey TOR 6 4 1 1 1 7 … Brian Patrick 2B TOR 4-5 2R RBI … Trouble keeping the ball in the park, (3HRs) Tyler Clippard NYA 6 5 4 4 2 3 L … Ryan Bear 1B FLO 3-5 … Brian Dopirak 0-3 BB R – hitting just .111 early on … James Russ FLO 6 4 2 2 3 11  … Danilo Sanchez C DET 2-3 HR(3) double 2R 2RBI

CAROLINA -- Martin Prado ATL (2B) 2-5, R, 2B ... Josh Burrus ATL (OF) 2-3, R, RBI, BB ... Matt Esquivel ATL (OF) 2-4, 2 R, 1st HR, RBI, BB ... Diory Hernandez ATL (SS) 2-4 ... Robert Valido CHA (SS) 1-4, RBI ... Micah Schnurstein CHA (3B) 1-4, 2 K ... Jake Stevens ATL 5 6 3 3 1 3 ... Ervin Alcantara HOU (OF) 0--4, 2 K ... Nick Markakis BAL (OF) 1-2, 2B, 2 BB ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL (OF) 0-3, R, BB, 2 K ... Fredy Deza BAL 7 6 3 3 1 7 ... Michael Hall BOS (OF) 2-4, R, BB ...  Chad Spann BOS (3B) 1-4, R, 1st HR, 2 RBI, 2 K ... Ian Bladergroen BOS (1B) 1-4, BB ... Brad Snyder CLE (OF) 1-4, R, K ... Kevin Kouzmanoff CLE (3B) 2-3, R, 2 2B, BB ... Ryan Goleski CLE (OF) 0-3, RBI, K

CALIFORNIA -- Matt Rico TB 3-4, homer, 2 RBI ... Mitch Maier KC 2-4, homer ... Michael Garciaparra SEA, a long last some signs of offense,  3-5 ... Ubaldo Jimenez COL 3-1/3 3 4 4 5 5 ... Howie Kendrick 2B ANA 2-5, double, 3rd homer, 4 RBI

MIDWEST -- Talk about a full evening's work Orlando Mercado (C) ARZ 4-5, 2 runners picked off ... Matt Bush SD 2-5 ... Sean Kazmar (2B) SD 2-4, double ... Reid Brignac TB 2-2, both doubles, 2 BB ... Dusty Ryan (C) DET 1-2, double, BB ... Jair Jerrjens DET 6 2 0 0 0 1 ... tough start for the teen Mark Reed CHN 0-4 (1-17), 2nd passed ball ... Ryan Harvey (at DH) CHN 0-4 ... Matt Tuiasosopo SEA 2-4, double ...  Casey Janssen TOR, not a bad follow to his seven no-hit innings last week, 6 5 1 0 0 3

South Atlantic -- Christian Lara SS BOS 1-4, R ... Mike Rozier BOS, 3-1/3 3 2 2 2 1 ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-4, RBI ... Edgardo Baez RF WAS, 2-3, 3B, R, BB ... Argenis Reyes 3B CLE, 1-4, SB (2), BB, 2 SO ... Justin Hoyman CLE, 5-2/3 3 0 0 2 2 ... David Haehnel BAL, 1 0 0 0 2 2 (S, 3) ...Jason Jaramillo C PHI, 2-4, RBI ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 1-5 ... Gaby Hernandez NYN, 4-1/3 4 5 4 3 3 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 2-5, SB (4), 2 R ... 2B Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 0-4, 3 SO ... Mark Rogers MIL 2-1/3 1 0 0 2 3 ... Hunter Pence CF HOU, 3-3, 2 HR (1,2), 3 R, 5 RBI ... Ben Zobrist SS HOU, 1-4, SB (3), 2 R ... Marcos Vechinacci SS NYA, 3-4, 2 2B, 4 R, BB ... Brett Smith NYA, 7-2/3 4 0 0 1 5 ...  Ronnie Martinez  HOU 7.0 1 0 0 2 9

    Troop movements ... MIN - Terry Tiffee, David Gassner up (Justin Morneau, Carlos Silva DL) ... STL - Carmen Cali up (Bill Pulsipher DL) ... CHN - Mark Prior back (Todd Wellemeyer to AAA)

    John M. Barten, 'Til You're Blue in the Face, on Matt Moses MIN :

" ...  was seen as a potential impact bat when the Twins drafted him in the first round 2 years ago. He is off to a fast start this year in the Florida State League, after a lost 2004, where he missed a lot of time because of a back injury and didn't hit at all when he did play ...  the idea of a 20 year old with re-occurring back problems makes me pretty nervous ...  For now, I'll keep my enthusiasm in check. He's a very high risk/high reward player. He could grow up to be Eric Chavez, or he could stagnate and fade out of sight. Defensively, Moses reminds me of Michael Cuddyer, who likewise was drafted as a shortstop and moved to third base, where he struggled with the conversion."

    Baseball America noting another special pair in the MIL system :

" ... West Virginia may have the Sally League’s most dynamic double-play combination in second baseman Hernan Iribarren and shortstop Alcides Escobar. The tandem paired for five hits in an 8-5 loss at Lexington last night, but their early play has Power hitting coach Tony Diggs excited about their potential. “(Iribarren) is a good hitter right now because of his bat quickness,” Diggs said. “He’s so relaxed at the plate, and even for a free swinger, he makes good contact and has good plate coverage. For his age and maturity, he can really do a lot of things—take it the other way very well, show pull power. Escobar’s offense could be similar, though. He’s got great hands and good wrists. He’s got solid instincts and the tools to match.”

12 April, 2005

    International -- Chris Shelton DH DET 1-4, 3rd HR, R, RBI ... Ryan Raburn 2B DET 2-3, 1st HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB ... William Bergolla SS CIN 2-4, SB ... Stephen Smitherman LF CIN 2-4, 2 R, RBI ... Edwin Encarnacion 3B CIN 2-3, 2B, 1st HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... James Jurries 1B ATL 1-4, 3rd HR, R, 3 RBI ... T.J. Pena SS ATL 3-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB ... Ryan Howard 1B PHI 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB ... Walter Young DH BAL 4-4, 1st HR, 2 R, RBI, BB ... B.J. Upton SS TB 1-4, 0 errors ... Jonny Gomes LF TB 1-3, 2nd HR, R, 3 RBI, SF ... Angel Pagan CF NYM 2-3, BB ... Aaron Hill SS TOR 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB ... Jeremy Guthrie CLE 6 6 5 5 2 3

Pacific Coast -- Ian Kinsler TEX 1-5, double, 2 RBI … Laynce Nix TEX 2-5 … Dave Krynzel CF MIL 3-5, double, homer, 4 RBI, now hitting .471 (8-for-17) with nine RBIs in five games … Rickie Weeks MIL 1-5 … Prince Fielder MIL 0-2, 3 walks … Brad Nelson RF MIL 2-3, 2 runs, 2 walks … Corey Hart DH MIL 0-3, walk … Richard Lewis CHN 0-4, K … Ronny Cedeno SS CHN 1-3, walk … Taylor Buchholz HOU 2-2/3 4 5 5 5 0 … Ken Harvey KC 2-5, 2 doubles … Andres Blanco KC 1-2, run, RBI, SB … Jason Stokes FLO 1-5, K … Josh Willingham FLO 0-3, walk … Matt Cain SF 6 3 0 0 1 7, (W, 1-0) started out a little shaky with a walk, then a wild pitch, then settled in nicely going 1-2-3 in 4 of 6 innings … Josh Barfield SD 1-4, K … Shin Soo Choo SEA 0-3, 3K … Dan Johnson OAK 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI

Southern -- Russell Martin C LA 2-5, double ... Nelson Cruz RF MIL 3-4, 2 doubles ... Kris Honel CHA 4 8 5 5 2 1 ... Josh Fields 3B CHA 2-4 ... Delwyn Young 2B LA 1-4, homer ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, 2 Ks ...  Elijah Dukes CF TB 2-4, double, homer, 3 RBI

Texas -- no games scheduled.

Eastern -- Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-3, walk ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-4, triple ...  Brad Eldred 1B PIT 1-4, homerun (4) … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 2-4, homerun (1)  ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 0-4 ...  Tony Giarratano SS DET 0-4, RBI ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 0-3, walk … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 0-3 … Charlie Zink DET 6 4 0 0 0 2 ... Sean Henn NYA 6 5 0 0 1 6 ... JD Martin CLE 8 1 0 0 0 10

California -- Matt Rico RF TB 3-4, 2 doubles, homer ... Howie Kendrick 2B ANA 3-5, 2 homers, 4 RBI ... Chris Lubanski KC 3-5, double, homer ... Billy Butler KC 1-3, 2 walks ... Adam Keim 2B KC 2-4, 2 homers ... Adam Jones SS SEA 2-4, homer

Florida State -- Jeffery Eure 3B MIL 3-4 HR(1) 2 doubles 2R 2RBI … Ty Taubenheim MIL 6 2 0 0 1 4 W 2HBP … Mathew Moses 3B MIN 2-5 2B 2RBI … Denard Span CF MIN 2-4 R SB(1) … Kyle Phillips C MIN 2-4 2B R … Erik Verbryke DH NYA 2-4 HR(1) CS … Nick Blackburn MIN 7 3 1 1 0 3 W … Chris Dickson CF CIN 2-5 HR(2) 2B 2RBI … Brent Clevlen RF DET 1-4 3B R 3RBI … Chin-lung Hu SS LA 3-5 2R RBI … Jonathan Figeroa LA 4 1/3 5 3 3 1 5 … Tyler Parker CF STL 2-4 HR(1) 2 RBI

Carolina -- Martin Prado ATL (2B) 0-3, BB, K ... Josh Burrus ATL (OF) 0-3, BB, K ... Robert Valido CHA (SS) 1-4, RBI ... Ryan Rodriguez CHA 5 3 1 1 1 3 ... Michael Hall BOS (OF) 0-6, 4 K ...  Chad Spann BOS (3B) 2-5, R, BB, K ... Ian Bladergroen BOS (1B) 2-6, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K ... Brad Snyder CLE (OF) 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K ... Ryan Goleski CLE (OF) 1-5, R, HR (2), RBI, K ... Ervin Alcantara HOU (OF) 1-3, K ... Nate Spears BAL (2B) 0-4, K ... Nick Markakis BAL (OF) 0-4, 2 K ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL (OF) 2-4, R, 3B, 2 K, SB ... Jarod Rine BAL (OF) 0-3 ... Richard Stahl BAL 7 1 0 0 1 10

Midwest -- no games scheduled.

South Atlantic -- Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-5, R ... Edgardo Baez RF WAS, 1-3, 2B, SB (1) ... Greg Golson CF PHI, 2-5 ... Ambiorix Concepcion CF NYN, 1-4, 3B, RBI ... Carlos Gomez RF NYN, 1-4, RBI, SB (4) ... Matt Durkin NYN, 3-1/3 1 1 0 4 5 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 3-4, HR (1), 2 RBI ... Brandon Jones ATL, 2-4, 2B, RBI ... Chris Vines ATL, 5 4 0 0 0 4  ... Neil Walker DH PIT, 0-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB (1) ... Argenis Reyes DH CLE, 2-5, 3B, R ... Tony Sipp CLE, 3-2/3 1 0 0 1 1 ... Brad McCann 1B FLA, 2-4, 2 R ... Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL, 2-4, 2B, RBI, R ... Ben Zobrist SS HOU, 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI ... Hunter Pence CF HOU, 2-4, SB (2) ... Up to .056 on the season Mitch Einertson RF HOU, 1-3, R, BB ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 1-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB ... Marcos Vechinacci SS NYA, 2-4, 3 RBI

    Troop movements ... ARZ -- Lance Cormier up (Oscar Villarreal DL) ... thanks guys (too many to mention) for noting the piece in the RMN on Ian Stewart :

" ... [Modesto] offense will receive a boost when third baseman Ian Stewart and first baseman Christian Colonel join the team, although that isn't imminent. Stewart (strained left hamstring) and Colonel (strained right quadriceps) are recovering in extended spring training and will get about 40 at-bats there once they are cleared to play. Stewart is ahead of Colonel in his recovery, but it will be about two weeks before Stewart is ready to begin the season." (Rocky Mountain News)

Jorge Piedra COL the latest to be suspended for violating the drug policy.

    The Top 100 (Baseball America) and where they've landed :

 BA  PLAYER            LG   TEAM            BA  PLAYER             LG   TEAM
 1   Mauer Joe         MLB  MIN            51  Choo ShinSoo       PCL  Tacoma
 2   Hernandez Felix   PCL  Tacoma         52  Diamond Thomas     CAL  Bakersfield
 3   Young Delmon      SOU  Montgomery     53  Davies Kyle        INT  Richmond
 4   Stewart Ian       CAL  Modesto        54  Gutierrez Franklin EAST Akron
 5   Guzman Joel       SOU  Jacksonville   55  Rogers Mark        SAL  West Virginia
 6   Kotchman Casey    PCL  Salt Lake      56  Encarnacion Edwin  INT  Louisville
 7   Kazmir Scott      MLB  TB             57  Granderson Curtis  INT  Toledo
 8   Weeks Rickie      PCL  Nashville      58  Valdez Merkin      EAST Norwich
 9   Marte Andy        INT  Richmond       59  Danks John         CAL  Bakersfield
 10  Ramirez Hanley    EAST Portland       60  Burke Chris        MLB  HOU
 11  Milledge Lastings FSL  St.Lucie       61  Santos Sergio      PCL  Tucson
 12  McPherson Dallas  PCL  Salt Lake      62  Loney James        SOU  Jacksonville
 13  Cain Matt         PCL  Fresno         63  Crain Jesse        MLB  MIN
 14  Francoeur Jeff    SOU  Mississippi    64  Hill Aaron         INT  Syracuse
 15  Fielder Prince    PCL  Nashville      65  Markakis Nick      CAR  Frederick
 16  Miller Adam       CAR  Kinston        66  Harvey Ryan        MW   Peoria
 17  Kubel Jason       DL                  67  Mathis Jeff        PCL  Salt Lake
 18  Hermida Jeremy    SOU  Carolina       68  Herrera Javier     SUSP
 19  Billingsley Chad  SOU  Jacksonville   69  League Brandon     MLB  TOR
 20  Niemann Jeff      CAL  Visalia        70  Durbin JD          INT  Rochester
 21  Dopirak Brian     FSL  Daytona        71  Hamels Cole        FSL  Clearwater
 22  Quentin Carlos    PCL  Tucson         72  Moss Brandon       EAST Portland
 23  Francis Jeff      MLB  COL            73  Nageotte Clint     PCL  Tacoma
 24  Swisher Nick      MLB  OAK            74  Laroche Andy       FSL  Vero Beach
 25  Capellan Jose     PCL  Nashville      75  Butler Billy       CAL  High Desert
 26  Nelson Chris      SAL  Asheville      76  Morales Kendry     RL
 27  Howard Ryan       INT  Scranton/WB    77  Arias Joaquin      TEX  Frisco
 28  Hardy JJ          MLB  MIL            78  Lewis Fred         EAST Norwich
 29  Hinckley Michael  DL                  79  Quiroz Guillermo   INT  Syracuse
 30  Jackson Edwin     PCL  Las Vegas      80  Astacio Ezequiel   PCL  Round Rock
 31  Pie Felix         SOU  West Tennessee 81  Walker Neil        SAL  Hickory
 32  Barton Daric      CAL  Stockton       82  Jimenez Ubaldo     CAL  Modesto
 33  Reed Jeremy       MLB  SEA            83  Wood Brandon       CAL  RanchoCugamonga
 34  Duke Zach         INT  Indianapolis   84  Snyder Brad        CAR  Kinston
 35  Floyd Gavin       MLB  PHI            85  Teahen Mark        MLB  KC
 36  Duncan Eric       EAST Trenton        86  Sleeth Kyle        EAST Erie
 37  Anderson Brian    INT  Charlotte      87  Gathright Joey     MLB  TB
 38  Olsen Scott       SOU  Carolina       88  Guzman Angel       DL
 39  Aybar Erick       TEX  Arkansas       89  Martin Russell     SOU  Jacksonville
 40  Jackson Conor     PCL  Tucson         90  Sowers Jeremy      CAR  Kinston
 41  Aubrey Michael    EAST Akron          91  Papelbon Jon       EAST Portland
 42  Sweeney Ryan      SOU  Birmingham     92  Stevens Jake       CAR  Myrtle Beach
 43  Meyer Dan         PCL  Sacramento     93  Gardner Richie     SOU  Chattanooga
 44  McCann Brian      SOU  Mississippi    94  Penn Hayden        EAST Bowie
 45  Barfield Josh     PCL  Portland       95  Fields Josh        SOU  Birmingham
 46  Petit Yusmeiro    EAST Binghamton     96  Iguchi Tadahito    MLB  CHA
 47  Reyes Anthony     PCL  Memphis        97  Street Huston      MLB  OAK
 48  Bailey Homer      MW   Dayton         98  Kinsler Ian        PCL  Oklahoma City
 49  McCarthy Brandon  INT  Charlotte      99  Lerew Anthony      SOU  Mississippi
 50  Humber Philip     FSL  St.Lucie      100  Miller Greg        DL

    TB's A+ affiliate loses CF Jason Pridie, but likely to see Jeff Niemann (pulled from a schedule started last week) this week :

" ...The Oaks announced that Pridie, counted on to supply some power hitting, has been put on the disabled list after hurting his knee while going after the ball in Visalia opener. Pridie is back in St. Petersburg, Fla. to see the Devil Rays' team doctor, according to Livesey. Tampa Bay's 2004 first-round draft pick Jeff Niemann is now scheduled to make his professional debut Wednesday against the Bakersfield Blaze."  (Visalia Times Delta)

    Trying to play his way out of the system ... that's the Yankee way :

" ... The better Yankees prospect Eric Duncan plays, the less the chance that he will ever actually don the pinstripes for the Yankees. Such is the paradox experienced by the top minor-leaguers in the Yankees' system. With current or former All-Stars at every position on the big-league club, prospects in the Yankees' farm system have mainly become potential bargaining chips to acquire that next established superstar ... Duncan has started slowly with Trenton, going 2-for-12 in three games. His performance with the Thunder and the closer he gets to the big leagues will determine his attractiveness to other teams around the big-league trading deadline on July 31. With Yankees starter Kevin Brown and his balky back, it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which Duncan is packaged to the Houston Astros at mid-season in a trade to bring back former Yankee Roger Clemens if Houston is out of the playoff chase. "We think he's about two or three years away," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. "It depends on what teams want. If they want a guy they can present to their fan base right away, it's probably not (Duncan). If they want a guy who can be a productive player with their club down the road, then he's your guy."  (Asbury Park Press)

    Aaron Gleeman, The Hardball Times, on the rising crop of third sackers, including :

Andy Marte ... Ranked as my #4 prospect in baseball this year, there is some question about whether or not Marte will stick at third base in the majors ... has a chance to do this year for Atlanta what Cabrera did for the Marlins in 2003.

Ian Stewart ...  My #5 prospect in baseball, just behind Marte, Stewart has a chance to put up some amazing numbers once he gets to the majors and starts playing half his games at Coors Field ... 

Edwin Encarnacion ...  my #18 prospect in baseball this year, Encarnacion will likely take over for Randa at third base for the Reds in 2006. He hasn't put up huge numbers in the minors yet, but projects as a very good all-around player ...

Joel Guzman ...  (my #9 prospect), who is actually a shortstop at the moment. His strength and size, along with the fact that the Dodgers' long-term need is much stronger at third base, makes it likely that Guzman will move over to third once he gets to the majors. His amazing potential may have played a part in Los Angeles letting Beltre leave via free agency."

11 April, 2005

    Trying to chase down your fav prospects?  The complete minor league rosters now posted. 

International -- John Maine BAL 4 5 2 2 3 7 ... Stephen Smitherman LF CIN 2-5, BB ... Steve Kelly CIN 5 3 2 1 3 2 ... John-Ford Griffin LF TOR 1-3, 2nd HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB ... J.D. Durbin MIN 3 6 4 3 2 3 ... Robinson Tejada PHI 6 4 1 1 2 8 ... Kelly Shoppach C BOS 2-3, 2nd HR, R, 2 RBI, BB ... hitting machine Ryan Doumit DH PIT 2-3, 4th HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB ... Bobby Bradley PIT 4 3 3 3 6 4 ... Kelly Johnson CF ATL 2-5, 2 2B, R, RBI ... Ryan Garko C CLE 2-4, 1st HR, 2 R, 4 RBI ... Curtis Granderson CF DET 3-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI ... Chris Shelton 1B DET 2-5, 2nd HR, R, 2 RBI ... butterfingers B.J. Upton SS TB 0-5, RBI, 1 error (4 games, 4 miscues, 2 fielding, 2 throwing)

Pacific Coast -- Scott Hairston LF ARZ 4-5, double, 3 runs … Carlos Quentin ARZ 2-3, double, grand slam, 3 runs, 5 RBI … Conor Jackson ARZ 2-4 … Sergio Santos ARZ 1-5, homer, 3 RBI, 3K … Dallas McPherson ANA 1-2, 2 walks … Casey Kotchman ANA 0-3, walk … Dave Krynzel CF MIL 2-4, triple, 2 RBI … Prince Fielder MIL 1-4, run … Rickie Weeks MIL 0-3 … Corey Hart RF MIL 1-4, run … Brad Nelson LF MIL 1-4, double, 2 RBI … Brendan Harris WAS 2-4, 2K …Ken Harvey KC 2-5 … Andres Blanco KC 1-3, double, walk … Matt Diaz LF KC 3-5, triple, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBI … Ian Kinsler TEX 2-5, double, 2 runs … Chris Duncan STL 3-5 … Anthony Reyes STL 6 5 2 2 0 5, #1 prospect in the Cardinals system (BA) … Skip Schumaker CF STL 2-5, 2 solo homers … Carmen Cali RP STL 1-1/3 0 0 0 0 1 … Brad Thompson STL 1 4 5 5 1 1, faced 10 batters and got shelled for 5 runs in the 12th inning for the loss (L, 1-1) … Laynce Nix CF TEX 2-6, homer, 3 RBI, hit a 3 run shot in the top of the 12th to finish off the Redbirds … Juan Dominguez SP TEX 6 6 3 3 0 1 … Jason Stokes FLO 1-4, homer, 2K … Josh Barfield SD 0-3, 2K … Dan Johnson OAK 1-4, 2 RBI … Shin Soo Choo LF SEA 0-4 … Joel Piniero SEA 7 5 1 1 0 6, Rehabbing a stiff shoulder

Eastern -- Dustin Pedroia 2B BOS 1-4, homerun, 2 RBI ... Hanley Ramirez SS BOS 2-4 ... Brad Eldred 1B PIT 4-5, 2 homeruns, 4 RBI, SB … Michael Aubery 1B CLE 1-4 ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-5, homerun, 2 RBI ... Tony Giarratano SS DET 1-6, 3 K ... Eric Duncan 3B NYA 1-5, walk … Tyler Von Schell 1B SF 1-3 … Kason Gabbard BOS 7 3 0 0 2 0 ... Cameron Reimers TOR  8 5 0 0 2 5 ... Dan Denham CLE and two relievers combined on a one-hitter,  5-2/3 1 0 0 1 3

Texas --  Yuniesky Betancourt-Perez SEA 2-5, RBI ... TJ Bohn SEA 2-3, R, 2B ... Ismael Castro SEA (2b) 2-4, R, RBI ...  Mel Stocker KC (LF) 2-4, SB ... Josh Pressley KC (1B) 2-5, R, 2B ... Mike Aviles KC (SS) 2-4, R, 2B, RBI ... Jared Price KC (C) 1-2, R, HR, 2 RBI ... Jonah Bayliss KC 1-1/3 0 0 0 3 4 ... Tony Miller COL (CF) 2-4, 3R, 2B, 2 RBI ... Jeff Salazar COL 2-4, 2R, 2 2B, 2 RBI ... Jayson Nix COL (2B) 1-4, R, 2 RBI ... Sean Barker COL (RF) 2-4, R, 2 RBI ... Corey Slavik COL (1B) 2-3, 2 RBI ... Tyler Minges STL (DH) 2-4, 2B ... Gabe Johnson STL (C) 2-3, 2B ... Jordan Pals STL 6 4 2 1 2 3  ... Erick Aybar ANA 2-4, 2R ... Michael Napoli ANA 1-3, 2B, RBI ... Daniel Davidson ANA 5 2-3 6 1 0 0 3  ... Von David Stertzbach ANA, already 3 saves, 1 1 0 0 1 1  ... Andrew Beattie OAK (3B) 2-4, 2B ... Brant Colamarino OAK 3-4, 2R, 2B, RBI ... Andre Ethier OAK 2-5, 2R, HR, 2 RBI ... Jeremy Brown OAK 2-4, R, 2B, RBI ... Brian Stavisky OAK (LF) 2-5, 2 RBI ... Steven Bondurant OAK 5 7 4 4 3 6 ... Ruddy Yan TX (CF) 3-4, RBI, 3R, SB ... Joaquin Arias TEX 2-5, 2R, 2B, SB ... William Smith TEX (RF) 1-4, R, HR, 3RBI ... Jason Hart TX (1B) 3-5, R, HR, 2RBI ... Jace Brewer TEX (2B) 2-3 ... Matt Lorenzo TEX 5 6 0 0 1 6

Southern --  Jeremy Hermida FLO 0-2, 2 walks ... Brandon Sing CHN 3-4, 2 homers, 3 RBI ... Felix Pie CHN 2-5, 2 doubles ... Joel Guzman LA 0-3, 2 walks ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, walk, .467 ... Jeff Francoeur ATl 2-3, homer, .471 ...  Paul McAnulty SD 3-5, double, homer, 4 RBI ... Jesus Cota ARZ 4-5, double .

California -- Daric Barton DH OAK 1-3 & 2-3 ... Kurt Suzuki C OAK 2-3, double, triple, RBI ... Ian Stewart COL, appears he's on the DL (but, no mention in the local papers or the Modesto web site) ... Billy Butler 3B KC 2-3, homer, walk, RBI, 3 runs ... Mitch Maier RF KC 3-4, double, homer, 3 RBI

CAROLINA -- Robert Valido CHA (SS) 2-5, R ... Micah Schnurstein CHA (3B) 0-4 ... Brad Snyder CLE (OF) 2-4, 2 R, 2 K ... Ryan Goleski CLE (OF) 1-3, 2 R, BB ... Nate Spears BAL (2B) 1-5, 2B, 3 RBI, K ... Nick Markakis BAL (OF) 2-4, R, RBI ... Jeff Fiorentino BAL (OF) 3-5, 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI ... Jarod Rine BAL (OF) 2-4, R, 2 K ... Javier Guzman PIT (SS) 2-5, R, 2 RBI, SB ... Craig Stansberry PIT (2B) 2-5, 2B, RBI ... Brian Finch BAL (P) 5 6 3 1 1 0 ... Kory Casto WAS (3B) 3-4, 2 R, BB ... Ervin Alcantara HOU (OF) 0-2, 2 BB, K ... Mitch Talbot HOU (P) L 5 7 3 3 3 2 ... Michael Hall BOS (OF) 1-4, R, HR, RBI, 3 K ... Chad Spann BOS (3B) 1-4, R, K ... Ian Bladergroen BOS (1B) 0-3, RBI ... Martin Prado ATL (2B) 1-5, K ... Josh Burrus ATL (OF) 0-5, 3 K ... Matt Esquivel ATL (OF) 0-4, 2 K ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL ( C) 2-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI ... Diory Hernandez ATL (SS) 1-4, SB ... Anibal Sanchez 4 3 1 1 0 8

Florida State -- Brett Harper 1B NYN 2-4 2HR(3) 3RBI … Evan McLane NYN 6 2 0 0 0 8 W … Eric Arnold 3B TOR 3-5 HR(1) 5RBI … Clint Johnston 1B TOR 2-4 2R RBI … Jake Blalock LF PHI 2-3 2BB R … Andrew Larson LF CHN 2-3 2B 3B RBI

Midwest -- Rander Bierd DET 5 3 1 1 2 6 ... Reid Brignac TB 0-3, BB ... Mark Reed (C) CHN 0-4 ... Robert Johnson (C) SEA 4-5 ... B.J. Szymanski CIN 1-4 .. Brian McFall KC 2-5, CS ... the near-sombrero Warner Madrigal ANA 0-4, 3 K ... Yuber Rodriguez TOR 2-5 ... Matt Bush SD 1-5 ... Sean Kazmar SD 0-4 ... Trevor Plouffe MIN first hit a homer ... David Winfree (3B) MIN 2-4, double, HR, average drops to .533 ... 2nd game in a row, no Ryan Harvey

South Atlantic -- Greg Golson CF PHI, 1-4 ... Jason Jaramillo C PHI, 1-4 ... Hernan Iribarren DH MIL, 1-3, BB ... Ambiorix Concerpcion CF NYN, 1-4, 2B ... Luis Soto DH BOS, 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI ... J.C. Holt 2B ATL, 2-4 ... Luis Atilano ATL, 6 6 4 2 1 4 (L, 0-1) ... Blake Dewitt 3B LA, 2-4, RBI ... Ian Desmond SS WAS, 1-5, HR (1) ... Edgardo Baez RF WAS, 1-3, HR (1), 2 RBI ... Mitch Einertson CF HOU, 0-6, SO ... Hunter Pence LF HOU, 1-4, SB (1) ... Jimmy Barthmaier HOU, 4-2/3 1 0 0 2 2 ... Marcus Sanders SS SF, 3-5, 3 R, 2 SB (3) ... Marcos Vechionacci SS NYA, 1-4, 2B ... Jeff Marquez NYA, 4 8 3 3 2 4 (L, 0-1) ... Chris Nelson SS COL, 0-4, R

    Troop movements ... TOR -- Ted Lilly actived from DL, Gabe Gross to AAA ... LA -- Norihiro Nakamura UP (Antonio Perez DL)

    John M. Barten, 'Till You're Blue in the Face on LA 2B Willy Aybar :

" ...  the brother of Angels infielder Erick Aybar. He's a very different player though. Erick is a defensive force at short, while Aybar is average at second base. Erick is a free swinger who rarely walks, while Willy has a fairly nice walk rate for his age and level. Willy doesn't have his brother's speed, and scouts don't like him nearly as much. Statheads on the other hand like him a lot, and it is easy to see why. 2004 Jacksonville: .276/.346/.425, 27 2B, 15 HR, 50 BB, 77 K ... The Southern League is a tough place to hit a baseball, and a 21 year old second baseman who hits that well there has something going for him ... his upside is something on the order or the guy that he's looking to succeed, Jeff Kent. A more modest comparison would be maybe something on the order of a better version of Keith Ginter or in other words, Chase Utley."

    FutureSox.com is working through its WSox Top 25 ... with just the top five left to go.  in a system deep in outfielders, centre fielder Chris Young ranks No. 6 :

" ... Young would be the top outfield prospects in many systems, but in the Sox system, he’ll have to settle for third, falling behind Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney. Young has as good of tools as the other two, but he lacks the polish of Sweeney and Anderson. Young is still considerably raw, but scouts rave about his ability. Young could be considered the steal of the 2001 draft, considering he was one of the better high school prospects, but slipped in the draft due to an injury as well as a lack of strength. That strength doesn’t seem to be much of an issue now, considering Young belted 24 HR’s in his first full season league with the Intimidators while hitting .262 with 31 2B, 5 3B and 31 stolen bases ...  Defensively Young is as good as it gets in centerfield, although he may get pushed to left field due to a weak arm. Young has tremendous range in center and gets great jumps. In fact, Young reminds FutureSox of Mike Cameron."

Our league correspondents :  INTERNATIONAL Herb Walters, PACIFIC COAST Dave Scott,  EASTERN Ralph Marston,  SOUTHERN Jake Larsen,  TEXAS Aman Reaka,  FLORIDA STATE Wayne Stevens,  CAROLINA Troy Salvior,  CALIFORNIA JDM,  MIDWEST Bob Reed,  SOUTH ATLANTIC Brad Dowdy
 
 

    
Rookie Reports Archive :

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2005 -- Jan 01-16  Jan 17-30  Jan 31-Feb 13  Feb 14-27  Feb 28-Mar 13  Mar 14-27  Mar 28-Apr 10  Apr 11-17

2003 Minor League Stats 1 (Hitters, by OPS, by AAA, AA, A, Short Season, OBA, SLG, Walks, Ks, SBs, Errors)
2003 Minor League Stats 2 (Pitchers, by ERA, AAA, AA, A, Short Season, Ks & Hitters by position)

2005 Draft Prep Material :

2004 Minor League Stats 1  (Hitters, by OPS, by Classification, OBA, SLG, SBs, Errors)
2004 Minor League Stats 2 (Pitchers, by ERA, by Classification, Ks & Hitters by position)

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