10/16 HWL Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 17, 2008 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

 It was nice to see both teams in action last night.  Here’s a closer look at our four HWL teams.

 North Shore Honu  7

• Kyle Martin—2-5 2B R
• Matt McBride—2-5 2 RBI
• Kurt Mertins—2-5 3B R
• Yamaico Navarro—1-5 HR(1) RBI
• Jason Castro—1-3 R RBI 2 BB
• Sun Woo Jang—2-4 2B RBI R (M’s 18 yr old catcher)
• Ben Swaggerty—2 IP BB 5K (15 K’s in 10 IP)

 Waikiki Beach Boys  4

• Yonder Alonso—2-4 2 2B RBI R
• Alberto Silverio—2-5 2B R
• Tony Thomas—2-5 2R 2 3B
• Austin Romine—1-3 BB

 Honolulu Sharks  4

• Dominic Brown—2-4 2B 3B 2 RBI R (I love this kid!)
• Michael Taylor—1-4 2B 2 RBI
• Satoshi Nagai—5 IP 4H ER BB 3K (0.95 ERA)
• Shintaro Masuda—2-4 2R 2B

  West Oahu Cane Fires  2

• Greg Burns—1-3 R SB(3)
• Mitch Durham—1-3 RBI
• Kyle Peter—1-3 SB(3)

Now that we are a couple of weeks into the season, I will start trying to add some notable season stats to some of these guys for a little more flavor.  Later tonight, I will post the final results from today’s AFL games.  Stay tuned as the bats were hot today in the desert!

Josh Bell—Looking to Rebound in ‘09

Posted by Jeremy on under Market Watch | Be the First to Comment

I happened across an interesting article written by Jonathan Mayo from Minor League Baseball.com about L.A. Dodgers 3B prospect Josh Bell.  I, like the Dodgers, was high on Bell entering this season after his solid ‘07 campaign where he hit .289 with 15 HR 62 RBI and 65 runs scored at Low-A Great Lakes.  This year he began at High-A Inland Empire and hit fairly well (.273 6 HR 21 RBI 34 runs score in 187 AB).  However, an MRI revealed a small divot in the cartilage in his knee.  While he encountered no pain or discomfort, the Dodgers opted to shut him down for the remainder of the season to surgically repair it.

Bell is currently at the Dodgers’ winter instructional complex lifting weights and throwing but he has yet to be cleared for running or batting practice.  He is fully expected to be able to participate in full workouts when the Dodgers meet for their mini-camps in January.  From all accounts and purposes Bell seems to be ready to roll saying,

“I’ve never been looking forward to something this much in my life.” 

Bell has 1st year cards in the 2005 Bowman Draft and Chrome though there currently doesn’t seem to be much movement on these cards.  Contrarily, his 2008 Bowman Chrome autographs have been trading much more frequently on Ebay between $4-6 each. 

Non-1st year autos of prospects has been a pet peeve of mine as they have difinitively mitigated the value of a player’s non-autographed 1st year card, but that is that is the current trend that this industry has implemented and we prospectors must adjust accordingly.  However, in Josh Bell’s case, I believe the current market values for any of his cards are exponentially lower than what his considerable talent projects.   

Long term, Bell has intriguing power potential and his 30 lb. weight loss in the ‘07 offseason shows that he is dedicated to building his athleticism and durability.  I am worried about his high strikeout totals, as he has averaged about one per game in his brief career.  Customarily, I tend to not be overly concerned with high K rates so long that a high walk rate accompanies it.  This has not been the case for Bell before 2008.  Before his injury, though, Bell was able to grind out 31 BB in 54 games showing a drastic improvement in plate discipline.  If he is able to continue this progress, it only bodes well for his future ability to consistently hit MLB pitching. 

My 2009 prognosis for Bell is bullish.  His power from both sides of the plate is real, his leaner frame will enhance his range and his strong arm will keep him at 3B.  I am not concerned much about his surgery, as it was preventative and not due to an injury.  Bell is only 22 and should enjoy a fine season at High-A Inland Empire and, perhaps, AA-Jacksonville in 2009.  A break out 2009 line of .285 25 HR 90 RBI 85 runs is not out of the question.

10/16 AFL Report

Posted by Jeremy on under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Wow, what a comeback by the Red Sox last night!  Tonight’s AFL player of the day is a Boston prospect that we all thought would be a part of this pennant run—Clay Buchholz.

Player of the Day: CLAY BUCHHOLZ

Allowed just 1 Hit in 8 IP this fall (.045 BAA)

 Scottsdale Scorpions  13

• Shelby Ford—3-5 HR(1) 3 RBI
• Emmannuel Burriss—4-6 3R 2 SB(6)
• Chris Petit—3-4 HR(1) 2 RBI 2R BB
• Chris Johnson—2-5 2B 3 RBI
• Mark Trumbo—2-5 2R 2 RBI
• Kevin Frandsen—2-5 2R
• Clay Buchholz—5 IP H BB 4K (W)

 Surprise Rafters  1

• Joe Dickerson 2-3 3B R
• Wes Hodges—1-4
• Rowdy Hardy—2 IP 3H 2K

 Peoria Saguaros  9

• Taylor Green—1-4 HR(1) 2 RBI 2R BB
• Juan Miranda—2-4 2B R
• Greg Halman—2-4 2B 3B 2R RBI SB(2)
• Rhyne Hughes—2-4 2 RBI 2B R
• Drew Stubbs—1-5 2R SB(1)

 Mesa Solar Sox  8

• Tyler Flowers—2-4 HR(1) 2 RBI 3R BB
• Jason Donald—3-5 3R 2B SB(1)
• Jeremy Slayden—3-5 3 RBI 2B R
• Eric Young Jr.—3-5 RBI
• Van Pope—2-3 RBI BB
• Casper Wells—2-5

 Peoria Saguaros

• Shawn Bowman—2-5 R
• Stefan Gartrell—2-4 2R RBI BB SB(1)
• Sean Kazmar—1-3 2R BB SB(1)
• Ian Desmond—2-3 R RBI BB
• Kyle Blanks—1-4 2B 2 RBI BB
• Brett Wallace—1-4 2B R BB
• Mike Eckstrom—2 IP 5K

 Phoenix Desert Dogs

• Mike McKenry—2-4 2B 2 RBI
• Adrian Cardenas—1-3 2B
• Evan Frey—1-3 BB SB(1)
• Andrew Bailey—2 IP 4H 4K