Posted by Jeremy on July 6, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | 
I hope that you all had a wonderful July 4th weekend and took a moment to internally savor and give thanks for the liberties that we as Americans are blessed with. To all our armed forces, you are in our prayers and our gratitude to you for what you do abounds. Thank you.
On to baseball. Seattle Mariners catching prospect Adam Moore raked his 6th HR of the year yesterday, driving in two and collecting two more hits. Moore is having another solid season at the plate hitting .288 with 7 HR 35 RBI and 16 doubles at two levels this season. The Seattle Mariners catching position is an intriguing one for sure. It was widely believed that Jeff Clement would secure the reins this season as the predominant catcher for the M’s, but offseason knee surgery, a terrible offensive showing in spring training, and continued defensive struggles has rendered him as a future DH. Kenji Johjima has spent most of the ‘09 season on the DL with varioius injuries and rookie Rob Johnson has handled a bulk of the catching duties. Johnson is a solid receiver and M’s pitchers like pitching to him, but his offensive potential pales in comparison to Clement or Moore. I think Moore will get a brief look when the rosters are expanded and then think that he would be an ideal candidate to get more work in the Arizona Fall League before getting a longer look next year in spring training.
New York Mets LHP prospect Jon Niese tossed a complete game gem yesterday, allowing five hits and striking out 10 for his 4th win at Buffalo. Despite his 4-6 record and 4.32 ERA, Niese hasn’t had a bad season in AAA. He has a respectible 23 BB/75 K ratio in 81.1 IP and is forcing 1.80 GO/FO. Niese’s quartet of wins have come in his last five starts where he has surrendered just three earned runs in 37.1 IP. Niese has been quite durable over his professional career and has the frame (6-4 215 lb.) to be an inning-eating middle of the rotation starter. Niese has been at the center of numerous trade rumors this season and could find himself packaged soon in a deal to help the scuffling Mets secure another piece to their playoff run. A change of scenery could be exactly what this southpaw needs to get his major league career rolling.
AAA Player of the Day—JON NIESE
Other Notable Performances
Hitting:
- Brian Bixler—2-3 GS(1) 4 RBI
- Danny Valencia—2-4 2 2B R RBI
- Justin Turner—4-5 HR(2) RBI 2R 2B
- Mike Baxter—3-5 HR(7) RBI 2R
- Mario Lisson—3-4 2B RBI
- Cameron Maybin—2-4 HR(2) 3 RBI 2B 2R BB
- John Raynor—3-4 2 RBI R
- Eric Patterson—4-6 2B 3R RBI SB(29)
- Cliff Pennington—1-5 2B R 2 RBI SB(25)
- Jacob Hester—3-5 2B 3R
- Kyle Greene—3-4 HR(9) 3 RBI
- Adam Moore—3-4 HR(7) 2 RBI
- Jesus Guzman—2-4 2B 2 RBI
Pitching:
- Matt Maloney—5 IP 3H Er BB 4K L (5-5)
- Clay Mortensen—7 IP 6H 2 ER BB 8K
- Wade LeBlanc—7 IP 2H Er BB 6K W (2-5)
- Jon Niese—9 IP 5H 2 BB 10K W (4-6)
- Wade Davis—5 IP 6H Er 2 BB 5K W (8-4)
Tags: adam moore, Bowman Chrome, bowman chrome draft, bowman sterling, brian bixler, cameron maybin, clay mortensen, cliff pennington, danny valencia, jacob hester, john raynor, matt maloney, mike baxter, rookie cards, wade davis
Posted by Jeremy on May 23, 2009 under Minor League Ball today |
Several of the usual prospects make this list and, as players from the AAA ranks keep getting recalled to their major league clubs, the list of true prospects to report about gets smaller and smaller. Andrew McCutchen hit his 2nd HR of the season and Brandon Wood hit #10. Today’s top performances, however, were on the mound. Red Sox pitcher Charlie Zink tossed eight quality innings allowing a run on three hits for his 3rd win. Padres righty, Will Inman struck out nine over 5.2 innings but today’s competition boils down to two American League pitching prospects.
Vin Mazzaro had another dominant performance tossing eight innings of one-hit ball, striking out six in a no-decision. Mazzaro has now allowed just one run over his last 23 innings of work and has held opponents to a .207 BAA–quite a feat considering the tough pitching atmosphere in the PCL. In the International League, Baltimore Orioles righty David Hernandez surrendered three unearned runs, all in the 8th inning, in 7.1 IP on just three hits, no walks and 14 strikeouts. Hernandez has followed up last year’s breakout season by continuing his dominance at Norfolk, going 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA and 60 K’s in just 43.1 IP. Last year, Hernandez paced the Orioles organization with 166 K’s. His fastball sits between 90-92 MPH, hitting 94 on occasion. Hernandez has a deceptive delivery and hides the ball well from hitters. In addition to his fastball, he has a decent slider and changeup that he has improved the command of this season. Ultimately, Hernandez profiles as a mid-rotation starter within an organization that has a considerable amount of near major league ready pitching depth. Don’t be surprised if the O’s bring him along at some point this season, though it may be in the bullpen.
AAA Player of the Day—DAVID HERNANDEZ
Other Notable Performances
Hitting:
- Michael Brantley—2-5 2R RBI
- Fernando Martinez—2-5 2 RBI
- Drew Stubbs—1-2 2 BB SB(15)
- Andrew McCutchen—1-5 HR(2) RBI
- Matt Wieters—2-4 2B R RBI
- Carlos Gonzalez—2-4 2 RBI
- Aaron Cunningham—2-6 2B R
- Cliff Pennington—3-3 2B BB SB(16)
- Freddy Sandoval—2-5 R SB(11)
- Brandon Wood—2-4 HR(10) RBI
- Allen Craig—2-4 2B R RBI
- Bryan Anderson—2-4 2B R RBI
- Michael Saunders—2-3 R BB
- Joe Koshansky—1-4 HR8) RBI 2R BB SB(2)
Pitching:
- Will Inman—5.2 IP 6H 2 ER 2 BB 9K
- Vin Mazzaro—8 IP H BB 6K
- David Hernandez—7.1 IP 3H 3 UER 14K
- Matt Maloney—7 IP 6H UER BB 3K
- Charlie Zink—8 IP 3H ER 2 BB 3K W (3-4)
Tags: AAA baseball, aaron cunningham, allen craig, andrew mccutchen, autographed cards, baseball cards, bomwan draft, Bowman Chrome, bowman sterling, brandon wood, bryan anderson, carlos gonzalez, david hernandez, drew stubbs, fernando martinez, freddy sandoval, matt maloney, matt wieters, michael brantley, michael saunders, Minor League Baseball, minor league prospects, sports memorabilia, vin mazzaro, will inman
Posted by Jeremy on May 17, 2009 under Minor League Ball today |
I have a little window of time to give you the reports for Saturday’s games as I have been super busy with family festivities. Saturday’s games saw Tommy Hanson continue his dominance of the International league as he threw seven two-hit innings of shutout ball striking out seven and earning his second win of the season. Teammate and best friend Kris Medlen may be beating him to the Braves rotation, but rest assured that they will both be pitching there for the bulk of the 2009 season. Brett Wallace looked exceptional in his AAA debut going 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. His presence in Memphis’ lineup should help to improve the bats of both Jon Jay and Allen Craig. As good as Wallace was, he was outshone by the sterling pitching performance of P.J. Walters who tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out 9. Jake Fox continues to put forth an MVP performance this season with a 3-4 day scoring two runs and raising his season average to .429. On Friday night, Fox clubbed his 16th HR and, with his 46 RBI, he has continually pushed the envelope for another Cubbie callup.
Today’s top L.A. Angels prospect is 2B/SS Sean Rodriguez. Sean-Rod went 5-5 with two HR, boosting his total to 14, and driving in 5 RBI. He also scored three times. The Angels are a team that is impending transition with several of their stars aging, therefore ushering in the need for a new era of talent. Rodriguez, along with Brandon Wood seem to be in line to inherit roles with the big league club, but they have struggled to show that capability during their brief stints with the big club. Both Wood and Rodriguez are still just 23 years old and have immense offensive potential that should be realized within the next season or two, either with the Angels or another big league club.
AAA Player of the Day—SEAN RODRIGUEZ
Other Notable Peformances
Hitting:
- Alcides Escobar—2-4 2 2B 2R RBI
- Angel Salome—2-4 2 RBI
- Cole Gillespie—1-4 HR(2) RBI
- Chad Huffman—2-2 HR(7) RBI 2BB
- Brett Wallace—3-4 2B 2R RBI
- Jon Jay—2-5 2B R
- Allen Craig—2-5 2B R
- Jake Fox—3-4 2B R
- Freddy Sandoval—2-6 2 RBI 2R SB(9)
- Matt Brown—2-4 2 HR(5) 5 RBI 3R
- Sean Rodriguez—5-5 2 HR(14) 5 RBI 3R
- Brandon Wood—1-3 3R 2 BB
- Jeff Clement—2-5 2B 2 RBI
- Mike Carp—2-4 2B 2R BB
- Adam Moore—2-4 R RBI BB
- Cliff Pennington—2-4 3 RBI R SB(10)
- Adrian Cardenas—1-2 2B 2R 2 BB SB(3)
- Fernando Martinez—1-2 R 2 BB SB(2)
- Brandon Jones—2-4 2B R RBI
- Wilkin Ramirez—4-5 2 HR(4) 2 RBI 2R
Pitching:
- David Hernandez—5.1 IP 2H 4 BB 6K W (3-1)
- Matt Maloney—7 IP 6H ER BB 5K L (3-2)
- Tommy Hanson—7 IP 2H BB 7K W (2-3)
- Gaby Hernandez—6 IP 4H ER 4 BB 4K W (3-2)
- Sean O’Sullivan—7 IP 4H 3 ER BB 9K W (3-1)
- P.J. Walters—9 IP 3H BB 8K W (2-1)
Tags: AAA baseball, adam moore, alcides escobar, allen craig, angel salome, autographed cards, Bowman Chrome, bowman chrome draft, bowman sterling, brandon wood, brett wallace, cole gillespie, ebay, fernando martinez, freddy sandoval, jake fox, jeff clement, jon jay, major league prospects, matt maloney, mike carp, minor league prospects, p.j. wallace, rookie cards, sean rodriguez, tommy hanson, wilkin ramirez
Posted by Jeremy on May 12, 2009 under Minor League Ball today |
Pirates 3B prospect Neil Walker, Astros OF Yordany Ramirez, Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia, and Cubs OF prospect Brad Snyder each homered for the second consecutive game. Braves righty Kris Medlen continues to look like the system’s best pitcher, tossing a two hit shutout over 6.2 innings en route to his fifth win, but even that performance was not good enough to win top prospect honors.
Today’s award goes to Cincinnati Reds southpaw Matt Maloney. The former Phillies prospect tossed seven shutout innings allowing just four hits and striking out 10 hitters for his third win. Maloney is a “crafty” left hander with a sneaky fastball that has good late movement and a big breaking curveball that is a viable swing and miss pitch. Add in an improving changeup and Maloney has been able to command the strike zone well and increase his GO/FO ratio to over 1.0 this season. He is a good competitor who has a feel for pitching even when he doesn’t have his best stuff. Given that he doesn’t have excellent velocity on his fastball (88-91 MPH) Maloney is culpable to being hit around in outings where he doesn’t have his good offspeed stuff. Ultimately, he profiles as a #4 or 5 pitcher in a rotation who can eat up innings and keep his team in enough games to average 10-12 wins every season.
AAA Player of the Day—MATT MALONEY
Other Notable Performances
Hitting:
- Neil Walker—1-4 HR(5) RBI
- Danny Worth—3-4 2R
- Alcides Escobar—0-1 3 BB 2R SB(16)
- Kila Ka’aihue—1-3 2B 2 RBI 2 BB R
- Brad Snyder—2-4 HR(8) 3 RBI 2B 2R
- Jose Vallejo—3-4 2 RBI BB
- Yordany Ramirez—2-4 HR(6) RBI 2R
- Aaron Cunningham—2-5 2B 3R RBI
- Adrian Cardenas—2-5 2B 2 RBI
- J.P. Arencibia—1-5 HR(4) 3 RBI
- Evan Frey—2-4 HR(2) 2 RBI
- Kyle Blanks—1-4 HR(8) 2 RBI 2R
- Chad Huffman—3-5 HR (5) 4 RBI 2R
- Trevor Plouffe—1-3 3 RBI
- Austin Jackson—2-4 2B
- Drew Stubbs—1-3 2B BB SB(11)
- Nolan Reimold—2-4 2B
Pitching:
- Kris Medlen—6.2 IP 2H 3 BB 6K W (5-0)…(0.96 ERA 10 BB/44 K in 37.1 IP)
- Michael Bowden—7.1 IP 4H ER BB 2K W (2-1)
- Matt Maloney—7 IP 4H BB 10K W (3-1)
- Anthony Swarzak—6 IP 6H 3 BB 5K W (2-2)
Tags: AAA baseball, aaron cunningham, Adrian Cardenas, alcides escobar, anthony swarzak, Austin Jackson, autographed cards, baseball cards, baseball prospects, bomwan chrome draft, chad huffman, drew stubbs, ebay, j.p. arencibia, jose vallejo, kris medlen, kyle blanks, matt maloney, Michael Bowden, minor league prospects, neil walker, nolan reimold, sportscards, yordany ramirez
