10/17 Arizona Fall League Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 19, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Saturday saw Brandon Snyder, Corey Brown, Mike Moustakas and C.J. Retherford put another multi-hit game under their belts while bright catching prospects Wilin Rosario (Rockies) and Wellington Castillo (Cubs) joined Mike Stanton in hitting their first HR’s of the young season.  Today’s top prospect award was a toss up between Oakland A’s pitching prospect James Simmons (3 IP 2H 2 BB 2K W) and Seattle Mariners OF/1B prospect Joe Dunigan (3-5 HR 2 RBI 2B 2R).  On the strength of my heavy M’s bias, we’ll give the award to Dunigan.

The former Oklahoma Sooner had a monsterous breakout season with the High Desert Mavericks of the California League, hitting .294 with 30 HR 104 RBI 20 SB and 84 runs scored.  At 6-1 and 215 lb., Dunigan is extremely strong and has a good amount of athleticism to boot.  His arm is ideal for right field and his left handed uppercut swing is a good fit at Safeco Field.  The California League, especially the thin air of High Desert, has a well earned reputation of inflating hitters’ numbers only to have them fall flat on their faces at AA.  Dunigan’s plate discipline (43 BB/129 K) makes him a prime candidate to fall culprit to this same attrition.  Keep an eye on his AFL numbers as well as the first couple of months of his AA debut to see if he can prove me wrong.  Dunigan doesn’t have any cards to speak of yet, and once they do appear (2009 Bowman Draft?), they should be “buyer beware” investments until he proves he can handle AA.

AFL Player of the Day—JOE DUNIGAN

Other AFL Performances:

  Phoenix Desert Dogs  11

• Brandon Snyder—2-4 2R 2 RBI BB
• Chris Marrero—2-4 R BB
• Corey Brown—3-5 R 2 RBI
• A.J. Jimenez—1-4 HR(1) 2 RBI BB
• Matt Angle—2-5 2B 2R
• James Simmons—3 IP 2H 2 BB 2K W(1-0)

  Surprise Rafters 2

• Mike Moustakas—2-4 R SB(1)
• Jeff Bianchi—3-4 RBI
• Mitch Moreland—2-4 R

  Peoria Javelinas 9

• Jordan Danks—2-5 2 RBI
• C.J. Retherford—3-5 2 RBI 3B R
• Joe Dunigan—3-5 HR(1) 2 RBI 2B 2R
• Taylor Green—2-3 R BB

  Scottsdale Scorpions 5

• Pedro Ciraco Jr.—3-5 2 RBI 2B 2R BB
• Domonic Brown—2-4 RBI 2 BB
• Wilin Rosario—1-5 HR(1) RBI
• Daniel Moskos—2 IP H 3K

  Mesa Solar Sox  6

• Mike Stanton—2-4 HR(1) RBI
• Steve Singleton—2-5 HR(1) 3 RBI
• Wellington Castillo—1-3 HR(1) 2 RBI
• Casey Kelly—1-2 R 2 BB

  Peoria Saguaros 4

• Chris Heisey—2-3 HR(1) RBI 2B 2R SB(1)
• Matt McBride—2-5 RBI R SB(1)

7/27 AA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on July 28, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Cleveland Indians 1B prospect Beau Mills rapped two more homeruns last night, raising his season total to 10.  Yesterday’s pair of HR’s marks the first time this season that Mills has went yard in back to back games.  He’s been, in my opinion, a mild disappointment during his first full year at AA, hitting .261 with 10 HR 54 RBI and 22 doubles.  His contact numbers are solid with just 64 K’s in 101 games, but he’s walked just 24 times and has a .305 OBP. June and July has shown an uptick in his numbers and could be an indicator of a strong finish to his season.  The Indians just traded Ryan Garko last night to the San Francisco Giants which should open up a litany of future options for the Tribe at 1B.  Will they move LaPorta there or, perhaps, Nick Weglarz or Wes Hodges?  My gut says that Mills is still the long term guy and a strong finish to his ‘09 season will go a long way towards confirming that thought.

Kyle Drabek had a solid outing last night in what may be his last as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization.  Drabek tossed seven innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs while striking out five en route to his 11th win on the season.  Drabek has been at the center of trade rumors as a primary piece in the deal that could potentially send Roy Halladay to the Phillies.  Philadelphia’s hesitance to trade him is a primary indicator on just how far he has come this season.  Last year, the 21 year old battled injuries and concerns about his make up but his future really seemed to turn towards the positive after a strong showing in the Hawaiian Winter League.  The value of Drabek’s 2006 and 2007 autos will be strongest if he remains a member of the Phillies.  Philadelphia remains a major market team primed to sustain a long run of success in the NL East.  However if Drabek is dealt, the opportunity for him to make a 2009 MLB debut rises significantly and with that the short term value of his cards. 

Today’s top AA prospect is another elite pitching prospect, Brian Matusz.  Seven innings of four hit, six strikeout ball raises his perfect AA record to 7-0 and gives him 11 total wins this season.  Chris Tillman was just called up by the Orioles to make his MLB debut and to further rub salt into the wounds of the Seattle Mariners who just recently put much maligned starter Erik Bedard on the DL….again.  The move by the O’s may soon open up a spot for Matusz to move up another notch to AAA Norfolk.  I expect that this will happen within his next couple of starts.  Matusz’s 2008 Razor cards range from about $12-15 for his Exclusive autos and $15-18 for his serial #’ed cards.  If he gets the call in September, these cards could jump significantly.

AA Player of the Day—BRIAN MATUSZ

 


Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Jordan Danks—2-5 R RBI
• C.J. Retherford—2-4 2B RBI BB
• Michael Stanton—1-4 HR(22) 3 RBI
• Logan Morrison—1-3 HR(6) RBI
• Josh Thole—4-5 2B 3R BB SB(5)
• Ike Davis—2-6 2B R
• Lucas Duda—1-5 2B 2 RBI 2R BB
• D.J. Wabick—3-6 HR(2) 6 RBI 2R
• Nick Weglarz—2-4 HR(14) 2 RBI
• Carlos Santana—1-4 HR(19) RBI
• Beau Mills—2-4 2 HR(10) 2 RBI
• Michael Daniel—3-4 HR(4) 3 RBI 2R BB
• Josh Reddick—2-4 2B R BB
• Ryan Kalish—1-4 HR(10) RBI
• Mitch Moreland—2-5 R RBI
• Taylor Green—2-5 2B HR(6) 2 RBI
• Lorenzo Cain—1-3 HR(2) 2 RBI BB
• Corey Wimberley—3-4 3 RBI BB R 2 SB(14)
• Matt Sulentic—2-3 2B 2R 2 RBI BB SB(19)
• Chris Carter—1-4 2B 2R 2 RBI 2 BB
• Tony Thomas—2-4 HR(9) 2 RBI 2R
• Mark Reed—2-4 2R 2B 2 RBI

Pitching:

• Tommy Mendoza—7 IP 4H ER 3K
• Tyson Ross—6 IP 4H Er BB 3K W (6-6)
• Steven Johnson—6 IP 3H BB 7K W (9-5)
• Luis Atilano—7 IP 6H 2 BB 3K W (5-7)
• Dylan Owen—5 IP 6H 3 BB 3K
• Brian Matusz—7 IP 4H 3 BB 6K W (11-2)
• Kyle Drabek—7 IP 7H 2 ER 5K W (9-5)

6/18 AA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on June 19, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

When evaluating prospects, I find that there is a blend of statistics and physical attributes that each possesses that tell a great deal about what to expect from them at higher levels.  A hitter that struggles with plate discipline often finds his batting average and on base percentages suffers against more refined pitchers.  Batters that hit for a good number of doubles and triples as youngsters(18 to 21 yrs old) tend to build strength as they mature and hit for more power.  These along with several other characteristics often hold true, but every once and awhile a player pops up that defies my parameters of conventional wisdom, leaving me scratching my head.

Meet Johnny Whittleman.

The Texas Rangers’ young 3B prospect has an athletic build (6-2 195 lb.) and, at age 22, has the frame to build more strength as he matures.  Whittleman was a personal favorite sleeper of mine after his successful 2007 season that saw him hit .262 with 17 HR 72 RBI and 34 doubles at two full season Class A stops.  Formerly a 2nd round pick in the ‘05 draft, Whittleman shows a disciplined approach at the plate uncharacteristic of most prep to pro players.  Last season at High-A Bakersfield, Whittleman drew 82 walks while striking out 113 times in 118 games.  Despite a mediocre HR total of just seven and a batting average well below California League standards (.257), Whittleman smacked 38 doubles, leaving promise of power to come.

Fast forward to 2009 and you would find Mr. Whittleman’s numbers diminishing even further.  His batting average sits at just .224 (boosted about 20 points after his 4-5 performance yesterday), though his on base percentage is more than 100 points higher, due to his fine 31 BB/42 K ratio.  16 two baggers puts him on pace for his third consecutive season of 30+ doubles but he hasn’t been able to log in with his first HR yet.

What do we make of this going forward?  Prior to Michael Young’s five year extension with the Rangers, I would have been more enthusiastic about Whittleman.  The Rangers, for all their organizational depth, are quite thin at 3B.  The talent is still there for Whittleman to carve out a major league career, but there’s a great deal left for him to prove.

Today’s top prospect is Cincinnati Reds SS Zack Cozart.  The former 2nd rounder smacked two homeruns and three RBI in the first game of a double header and then followed it up with a two hit, RBI showing in the nightcap.  Cozart has been blistering hot during the month of June, batting .339 with 6 HR 10 RBI and 4 SB.  A blue collar player through and through, Cozart skipped over High-A ball and has attacked AA pitching with aplomb, hitting .290 with 8 HR 35 RBI and 17 doubles.  Ahead of Cozart is the sweet swinging Chris Valaika who just returned to Louisville’s lineup after missing a month with a broken hand.  Valaika’s bat is more polished at this point than Cozart’s, but Zack is a better defensive shortstop.  Given that he has already skipped a level this season, it would not be surprising to see the Reds keep him in AA for the duration of the regular season.  Watch to see if Cincy places him in the Arizona Fall League this offseason.  If so, there may be a good opportunity for Cozart to get a decent look by the Reds in spring training 2010. 

AA Player of the Day—ZACK COZART

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Rene Tosoni—1-3 2B R 2 RBI BB
• Gorkys Hernandez—2-3 2B R
• Jose Tabata—1-3 RBI SB(4)
• Cale Iorg—2-4 R 2 RBI
• Josh Thole—3-5 2B 3R 2 RBI BB SB(4)
• Ryan Kalish—2-3 R BB
• Nick Evans—2-4 2R HR(3) 2 RBI
• Matt Whitney—4-5 2B R
• Yonder Alonso—3-6 RBI SB(1)
• Zack Cozart—2-4 2 HR(8) 3 RBI BB (Game 1)…..2-4 RBI (Game 2)
• Tyler Colvin—2-5 2 HR(5) 2 RBI 2R
• Darwin Barney—1-4 HR(2) RBI
• Juan Francisco—1-5 2B R RBI BB (Game 1)…..3-4 HR(13) 4 RBI 2R (Game 2)
• Chris Heisey—1-2 3R
• James Adduci—2-3 2B 2R BB SB(16)
• Josh Bell—3-4 2 2B R RBI SB(2)
• Eduardo Perez—2-5 HR(6) 2 RBI 2B
• Taylor Green—1-3 HR(4) 3 RBI BB
• John Shelby Jr.—2-4 2B
• Tyler Flowers—1-2 HR(10) RBI 2 BB
• Christian Marrero—1-4 HR(8) 2 RBI
• C.J. Retherford—2-5 2B R RBI
• Matt Mangini—2-3 R RBI BB
• Drew Locke—4-6 2B R  5 RBI
• Wladimir Sutil—3-6 4R RBI
• Mitch Moreland—3-6 2B R
• Marcus Lemon—3-5 2B 2R 4 RBI
• Johnny Whittleman—4-5 2 2B 3R 2 RBI
• Timmy Smith—4-5 R 2 RBI
• Luis Durango—2-4 2B 2R BB
• Lance Zawadzki—2-3 HR(11) RBI 2 BB 2R
• Brian Joynt—3-5 2B HR(1) 2 RBI
• Chris Carter—2-4 HR(10) RBI 2B BB
• Matt Spencer—1-4 2B RBI BB
• Daryl Jones—3-5 R
• Cole Garner—2-4 2B 3 RBI
• Daniel Mayora—4-5 2B 2R 3 RBI
• Mark Trumbo—3-4 2 2B 3B 4 RBI

Pitching:

• Mark Rzepczynski—7 IP 5H ER BB 8K
• Tim Bascom—7 IP 3H 2 BB 7K
• Ryan Pope—5.2 IP 5H 4K
• Tyson Brummett—7 IP 4H 2 ER 5K
• Travis Wood—5 IP 8H 3 ER BB 6K W (7-3)

Top 20 Third Base Prospects (Part 2)

Posted by Jeremy on February 21, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Here is the list for the second half of the top 20 third base prospects.  This is a difficult list to rank simply for the fact that many of these guys are still very young and quite raw.

11.) Dayan Viciedo—Chicago White Sox

2008 Stats: N/A

Strengths: The 19 year old Cuban is built like a tank and he produces jaw dropping power with his smooth lefty swing.  Dayan is a complete hitter who has shown the ability to hit for average as well as a member of Cuba’s national team. 

Weaknesses: His weight has been an issue.  Viciedo is reported to the White Sox at a robust 5-11 245 lb.  That is more than 20 lbs. less than when he signed with the Sox.  He has yet to have a professional AB which makes much of his projectible skills just conjecture at this point. 

2009 Outlook: There have been rumors that Viciedo will be given a shot to make the White Sox roster this spring.  It is not outside the realm of possibility as Ozzie Guillen handed last year’s Cuban wonderkind Alexei Ramirez the starting job out of spring training and he went on to finish second in the A.L. ROY voting.  Viciedo is 8 years Ramirez’s junior, though, so a stint in the minor leagues seems to be more realistic.  It won’t be too long, however, as Viciedo’s four-year MLB contract starts ticking come April.

12.) Juan Francisco—Cincinnati Reds

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Francisco has prolific power potential that could hit upwards of 30 HR per season at the major league level.  He has all of the makings of a superb defensive 3B with good quickness and an arm that may just be the strongest in the Reds system.

Weaknesses: Awful plate discipline.  His 19 BB/123 K ratio indicates that he struggles mightly with pitch recognition and falls victim to getting into pitchers’ counts.  He has a frame that could put on more bulk in the future that could work to diminish some of his above average athleticism.

2009 Outlook: AA tends to be a make or break level for raw power hitters.  Francisco has the ability to be a big time power hitter in the major leagues, but his ability to control the strike zone will be the ultimate determinant in his overall success.  He will never draw many walks, but if he can cut his K’s to around 100, he should continue to have success.

13.) Allen Craig—St. Louis Cardinals

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Craig has been a consistently productive hitter at each level he has played.  He is a polished hitter with good power that should translate to 18-22 HR per season at the major league level.  He has a sound feel for the strike zone and works hard to get the most out of his limited athleticism.

Weaknesses: He has average defensive abilities and his ceiling is not as high as some of the other prospects on this list.  While he should evolve into a solid major league player, he doesn’t have the “wow” factor that other more projectible players on this list have.

2009 Outlook: The offseason shoulder surgery of Troy Glaus may make Craig’s situation a little more interesting.  Glaus is expected to be ready by mid-April, but he has a history of spending large chunks of time of the DL.  St. Louis has an assortment of backups to Glaus (David Freese, Brian Barden, Joe Mather) but none have the offensive potential that Craig has.  AAA Memphis seems the best destination for Craig at this time, but a late season call up should be in the cards (rimshot).  Glaus will not be with the Cardinals next season which should open up an opportunity for Craig in 2010.

14.) Jason Taylor—Kansas City Royals

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Taylor is a stupendous athlete with top flight speed and intriguing power potential.  Unlike most young power hitters, Jason grinds out at bats and earns a high amount of walks which, when blended with his baserunning skills, makes him an ideal leadoff hitter.

Weaknesses: His defense at 3B is below average.  The Royals have shifted him to 1B and DH as well, but those haven’t taken either.  Perhaps the best opportunity is to shift to the OF, his speed and arm strength would play well there.  Also, he has yet to hit for a high average in his career, an interesting struggle given his outstanding discpline.

2009 Outlook: Taylor will play at High-A Wilmington this season along with Mike Moustakas.  Keep an eye on where the Royals decide to play him defensively.  There is an abundance of infield talent in the Royals’ system, but the outfield is quite a bit thinner.  Don’t be surprised to see Taylor end up there.  If so, his road to K.C. could move at a quicker pace.  His peripheral numbers indicate that he should be able to hit for a higher average down the road.  That, blended with his power and speed potential, could turn him into a bigger blip on prospectors’ screens.

15.) Jharmidy DeJesus—Seattle Mariners

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Power and batting average wrapped up in a highly projectible and athletic 6-3 185 lb. frame.  DeJesus has a good grasp of the strike zone and profiles to be an excellent defensive 3B.

Weaknesses: At this point, experience.  DeJesus put up some good numbers but they were at lower levels.  How his early successes will translate at more advanced levels remains to be seen.  He should lose some of his average speed as he ages.

2009 Outlook: The M’s should give Jharmidy his first exposure to full season baseball at Low-A Clinton.  It will be interesting to see which version of DeJesus comes out in the early going.  My guess is that his numbers will fall somewhere in between what he did in the Arizona League and at Everett.

16.) Billy Rowell—Baltimore Orioles

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Rowell has the potential to be a league leading HR hitter.  His tall, strong frame promises to add more bulk as he matures.  His left handed swing is fluid and provides good leverage to all drive balls to all fields.  He is a hard worker and intense competitor who is driven to improve his game.

Weaknesses: He has made improvements, but Rowell is still a below average 3B.  Plus, his size (some report him to be as tall as 6-7) should force him to move to 1B in the not too distant future.  He is a below average runner who should become even more so with age.  Also, there have been some rumblings that his intense demeanor tends to have a polarizing effect in the clubhouse.

2009 Outlook: Rowell will likely be handed another opportunity to improve upon his numbers at High-A Frederick before possibly earning a promotion to AA Bowie later in the year.  This should be the season where things start to click offensively for Rowell.  Once they do, he has the capability to put up some mammoth numbers and rise up this list.

17.) Jefry Marte—New York Mets

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Tons of projectibility in this kid.  Marte has a lightning quick bat that provides good pop to the alleys and seems to hit everything hard.  He has an athletic frame that should also become stronger in the coming years.  He possesses above average speed that gives him good range in the field and his above average arm strengths suits him well at the hot corner.

Weaknesses: Marte is just 17 and is still extremely raw.  His defensive skills are rudimentary at this point and his fielding percentage of just .821 indicates his proclivity to struggle with routine plays.  He has good speed, but he doesn’t use it much on the basepaths. 

2009 Overview: Marte performed well enought to earn a trip to Savannah for his first look at full season baseball.  The Mets have the luxury of having two top flight, high-ceiling prospects at 3B, but with David Wright as the face of the franchise, it should mean that Marte (and perhaps Wilmer Flores as well) may need to find other places to play.  Both Marte and Flores are at least two to three seasons away from threatening to crack the Mets’ lineup, though, which gives them plenty of time to sharpen their offensive and defensive tools.

18.) Neil Walker—Pittsburgh Pirates

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Walker has lots of good tools to work with.  He is a rare switch hitter at the 3B position that has good power from both sides of the plate.   He has above average speed that he uses well on the basepaths and has exhibited leadership and a sound work ethic as well. 

Weaknesses: Walker has good defensive tools that are still being refined after making the shift from catcher to 3B just two seasons ago.  He still has terrible discipline at the plate which will always detract from his ability to hit for a high average.

2009 Outlook:  He will be given a shot to bump Andy LaRoche off the top spot on the depth chart in spring training.  Walker has loads of upside in his game, but the struggle to put it all together still plagues him.  With Pedro Alvarez the hands down 3B of the future, Walker will either have to learn yet another new position or, more likely, anticipate a trade to a new organization.  That scenerio may provide be the boost that Neil needs to move his career to the next level.

19.) Jon Gilmore—Chicago White Sox

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Quick hands that hit for average and power to the gaps.  Gilmore is an agile athlete with soft hands and strong arm that should allow him to be a solid defensive third baseman.  His work ethic is impressive and his competitive drive is evident in his all out style of play.

Weaknesses: Gilmore needs to keep working on his footwork at 3B and his discipline at the plate.  He is an aggressive hitter who can be exploited by advanced pitching.  He also has a tendency to push himself too hard at times, becoming frustrated when his performance doesn’t meet his expectations.  This leaves him to be slump prone and may have contributed to his early season struggles at Rome last season.

2009 Outlook: Gilmore moves to a new organization that has a good deal of talent at 3B.  Keep an eye out for how the White Sox decide to use Gilmore in the upcoming seasons.  He has enough speed to shift to a corner OF spot if need be and his arm could play well in RF.  He’ll start the season at Low-A Kannapolis and look to continue his torrid hitting that he displayed at Danville last season.

 20.) Eric Campbell—Atlanta Braves

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Campell is a compact power hitting ball of energy who also mixes in a discerning eye at the plate that works counts effectively and draws walks.  He is a fiery competitor that exudes confidence when he plays.  Defensively, he has a good glove and strong arm suitable for the position.

Weaknesses: Campbell displays a poor attitude at times and is prone to insubordination.  This has led to a couple of team-induced suspensions along the way.  Campbell has also struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons, cutting into his production and slowing his development.

2009 Outlook: Campbell ended the season on a hot streak and should be ready to take on the challenges that AA Mississippi should offer.  I think that Eric Campbell is on a road to redemption.  He was a one time hot prospect that let his own immaturity hamper his promising future.  Let’s see if he can move beyond that and rise back to prospecting prominence once more.

Others to Consider: Mario Martinez, Josh Bell, Conor Gillespie, Brad Suttle,  Austin Gallagher, Travis Mattair, Johnny Whittleman, James Darnell, Tyler Henson, Tyler Kolodny, Darin Holcomb, Michael Almanzar, Taylor Green, Pedro Baez, Chris Johnson, Steve Souza

There’s the list.  As you can see, the list of players just off of the list are pretty darn talented as well.  The next Top 20 list will take us to the outfield for the best list yet.  Stay tuned and, as always, feel free to make your contributions in the comments secton!

10/16 AFL Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 17, 2008 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

C.C. Sabathia Trade Finally Completed

Posted by Jeremy on October 7, 2008 under MLB Trade Analysis, Market Watch | Be the First to Comment

Batting lead-off for Cleveland in '09?

Three months after the trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers, the Cleveland Indians received the final compensatory piece to the deal in AA outfielder Michael Brantley.  This details to this acquisition are nothing short of fascinating…at least to a geek like me.

As per the details of the contract, the Cleveland Indians were given the option of choosing between Brantley and High-A 3B Taylor Green.  The Indians were granted the deciding option because Milwaukee made it to the playoffs.  If Milwaukee would not have made the playoffs, the choice would have been theirs as to who would be sent to Cleveland.

I am wondering who Milwaukee would have opted to send.  Green is a very promising young 3B who hit .289 with 15 HR and 73 RBI in 419 AB.  His 61 BB/59 K ratio demonstrated highly advanced plate discipline from a 21 year old prospect.  Green’s season ended on August 12th when he was drilled on the hand by a pitch, but he is slated to play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

As for Brantley, he has great bloodlines as his dad Mickey was a former MLB OF (most notably with my Seattle Mariners) and has been an MLB hitting coach.  Brantley hasn’t produced the power potential that his dad has, though his 6-2 180 lb. frame could provide more strength and power as it matures.  Brantley, like Green, is extremely disciplined at the plate with a remarkable 50 BB/27 K ratio.  Brantley has great speed on the basepaths stealing 28 bags in 36 attempts.  His defensive prowess will probably limit him to LF, but with Grady Sizemore patrolling CF, this is acceptible. 

My thought is that the Indians want Brantley to be the leadoff hitter that will allow for Grady Sizemore to bounce down to the #3 spot in the order.  With Travis Hafner’s offensive demise and questions about Victor Martinez’s health, it will be imperative for Sizemore to shore up the middle part of Cleveland’s lineup.  This could mean that the Tribe will try to advance Brantley quickly, perhaps as soon as April.  The bat is ready, though it would be nice to see him provide more pop.

8/12 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on August 13, 2008 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Lots of super performances from Tuesday night!

Michael Taylor

• 2-4 HR(14) RBI—.415 3 RBI 17 H 7 R 8 2B last 10 games

Collin DeLome (in double header)

• 3-6 3 HR(21) 7 RBI BB SB(14)—.249 22 HR 67 RBI 14 SB over two levels

Rick Porcello

• 5 IP 6H ER 2BB 2K (W)—4-0 2.61 ERA 27K/51IP last 10 games

John Drennen

• 1-3 2B 2R RBI BB—Showing signs of breaking season slump (6-15 2 HR 8 RBI last 6 games)

Zach McAllister

• 5 IP 4H BB 5K (W)—7-6 2.03 ERA 55K/80 IP in 13 games @ Tampa

Taylor Green

• 2-4 2B R BB—.308 3 HR 8 RBI last 10 games

Brent Brewer

• 2-6 HR(1) 3 RBI—Heating up .300 12H 7R last 10 games

Derrick Robinson

• 2-4 2R RBI SB(56)—.308 8R 8BB 6SB last 10 games

Paulo Orlando

• 2-5 HR(10) RBI 3R SB(29)—Traded from White Sox (intriguing sub-radar prospect)

Brandon Snyder

• 2-5 HR(12) 2 rbI 2R—.303 12 HR 73 RBI 29 2B

Billy Rowell

• 1-4 HR(6) RBI—.230 6 HR 31 RBI 22 2B 90K/99 games

Michael Burgess

• 2-4 2B 2R 3 RBI—Hitting well in two games at Harrisburg

David Cooper

• 2-5 2B RBI—Hitting machine .343 22 2B 5 HR 44 RBI in 209 AB’s over 3 levels

Kevin Pucetas

• 6 IP 2H ER BB 7K (W)—10-0 2.47 ERA 87K/109IP

Cedric Hunter

• 2-5 HR(7) RBI 2B—.317 6 Hr 64 RBI 82 R 37BB/39K

Ryan Mount

• 2-5 HR(12) 3 RBI—HR’s in 4 straight games (undervalued prospect)

Hank Conger

• 1-3 R 2 RBI—.295 8 HR 53 RBI in 54 games

Johnny Whittleman

• 4-5 HR(7) 2 RbI 2R—Red hot .408 18 H 6 RBI last 10 games

Ian Gac

• 1-5 HR(27) 2 RBI 2R—.295 27 HR 91 RBI 140 K’s over 2 levels

BUY/SELL Analysis

Homeruns Mount-ing

Ryan Mount was lauded as a toolsy middle infielder when drafted in in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft by the L.A. Angels.  Mount since being drafted has had season after season of injuries that have severely hampered his progress as a prospect.  This season was no exception as Mount missed the first two months of the season with a strained quad, but has become increasingly potent at the plate hitting .241 in June, .309 in July, and .370 so far in August.  Homers in four straight games gives an illustration of Mount’s ability to get leverage and power from his left-handed swing.  Mount has RC’s in the ‘05 Bowman Draft and Chrome, Bowman Sterling and Bowman Heritage sets.  HIs chrome and Sterling cards are most popular and can be had at 40 cents to 75 cents each.

Market Advice: The injuries are really the biggest detractor from Mount’s game.  Chronic problems never seem to go away and they may keep Mount from being the power-hitting middle infielder he has the potential to be.  When healthy, he reminds me of a left hand hitting version of another Angels 2B prospect Sean Rodriguez.  Mount’s cards get very little attention so far as his injury issues have caused many prospectors to turn away.  He is a low cost prospect to collect who has very limited 1st year card exposure.  He does have autographs in the ‘07 Bowman Sterling set that sell for $2.50-4.00 each.  These may be nice BUY options as Mount’s only autographed cards.  If you purchase Mount’s cards, cross your fingers and hope for a full season of good health at AA Arkansas.  If so, he could be a solid .280 20 HR 80 RBI hitter and will open more eyes.

8/7 High A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on August 8, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | 2 Comments to Read

Lots of nice performances tonight from exciting prospects!

Michael Taylor

• 3-4 2B 2R RBI BB—.366 15H 7R 6 2B last 10 games

Ryan Strieby

• 3-5 2BB 2 2B R—.311 27 HR 89 RBI 222 TB

Jonathan LuCroy

• 2-4 HR(17) RBI 2R BB—.311 17 HR 62 RBI 68R over 2 levels

Taylor Green

• 2-4 HR(14) 3 RBI BB—Brew Crew happy to keep Green

Dillon Gee

• 6 IP 5H 2ER BB 7K (W)—5-1 2.31 ERA 46K/66IP last 10 games

Todd Frazier

• 2-3 HR( 18 ) 2 RBI 2R BB—.298 18 HR 66RBI 76R 12 SB

David Cooper

• 2-5 2B 2 RBI-’08 1st rounder rocketing through minors (3rd level in 46 games)

Carlos Santana

• 4-5 3R—.419 2 HR 6 RBI 14R in 10 games with Kinston

Beau Mills

• 3-5 HR( 18 ) 4 RBI 2R 2B—.359 2 HR 9 RBI 8R last 10 games

Ty Wright

• 2-5 HR( 8 ) 3 RBI—Power surge lately (4 HR 12 RBI last 6 games)

Jay Jackson

• 4 IP 2H BB 9K (W)—Intriguing Cubs ‘08 9th rounder (7BB/60K in 37 IP @ 3 levels)

Brandon Snyder

• 2-4 2 2B—Young O’s 1B is quietly breaking out (.395 11 RBI 7R last 10 games)

Derrick Robinson

• 2-4 3B R SB(54)—Oozes athleticism and starting to hit (.306 11BB/6K 5 SB last 10 games)

Chris Carter

• 2-4 HR(31) 4 RBI—.293 4 HR 9 RBI 10 R last 10 games

Josh Donaldson

• 1-4 HR(13) RBI—Complete metamorphasis since trade to Oakland (.409 7 HR  26 RBI in 24 games)

Corey Brown

• 1-4 HR(22) RBI—.275 5 HR 10 RBI 16K last 10 games (141K’s in ‘08 OUCH!)

Jordan Walden

• 7 IP 2H 2BB 9K (W)—Nice rebound after two horrible outings at Rancho Cucamonga

BUY/SELL Analysis

Snagged for $5.53 on Ebay!

Few players in all of professional baseball have the speed that Derrick Robinson possesses.  A 4th Round high school draft pick, Robinson passed on a football scholarship by his hometown Florida Gators to pursue his MLB career.  For as fast as Robinson is, he is almost equally unrefined at the plate.  Last season Robinson hit .243 at Low-A Burlington with 100 K’s and only 2 HR in 102 games.  On the surface, it would look as if Robinson has not improved much on his numbers (.250 0 HR 27 RBI 54 SB) but he has hit 20 2B, 6 3B and has a 40BB/85K ratio in 109 games at High-A Wilmington.  These numbers are cause for optimism that the switch-hitting, 20 year old Robinson is progressing at the plate.  Robinson’s only first year cards are found in the 2007 Donruss Elite Extra set with his autos numbered to 500  Currently these autos are being had for less than $5.00 each.

Market Advice: Prospect trash heaps are littered with several Derrick Robinson-type super speed, no-hit prospects like Nyjer Morgan, Joey Gathright, and Quentin McCracken.  Eternal optimist that I am, I believe that Robinson has more to offer than his predecessors.  True, his power needs to develop and he needs to continue to hone his plate discipline, but Robinson is young and athletic enough to become a 10-15 HR top of the order guy who will steal 40-50 bags for the Royals (who should be good in 2-3 years).  At $5 each, Robinson is a low-risk, high reward BUY that prospectors love.  Grab a few of his only ‘07 cards and be willing to wait for 2-3 more years.

8/5 High A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on August 6, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

AA prospects are my favorite to evaluate because, to me, that is the level that tells alot about whether or not a prospect has what it takes to perform at the MLB level.  Perhaps a close second, though, is High A where the prospects are younger and have yet to have their fatal flaws exposed by more advanced pitching. 

Here’s some of the High A performers from Tuesday night…

Yamiaco Navarro

• 2-4 HR(10) 2 RBI 2B 2R–Sizzling 13H 6R 6 RBI last 4 games

Victor Garate

• 5 IP 4H BB 4K (W)—7-3 2.11 ERA 123K/94IP

Josh Donaldson

• 3-4 2B 3B—.402 6 HR 24 RBI 1.159 OPS since trade to A’s

Matt Spencer

• 1-4 HR(10) RBI—.452 4 HR 7 RBI 19 H 11 R last 10 games

Chris Carter

• 2-4 HR(30) 3 RBI—.265 30 HR 87 RBI 83 R 61BB/120K

Brandon Erbe

• 6 IP 0H 3BB 7K (W)—Turning things around last 4 starts (super arm and still young)

Brandon Snyder

• 2-4 2B RBI—.342 2 HR 12 RBI last 10 games

Ty Wright

• 1-3 HR(7) 3 RBI 2BB—.353 5 HR 13 RBI last 10 games

Taylor Green

• 2-4 HR(13) 2 RBI—.288 13 HR 68 RBI 57BB/57K

Jeremy Jeffress

• 6 IP H 5BB 2K—4-6 4.08 ERA 102K/79IP (rocket arm but he stay out of trouble?)

Ivan Nova

• 6 IP 5H ER 5K—7-11 4.24 ERA 99K/134 IP (young and big framed Yankees P)

Logan Morrison

• 2-4 R BB—.595 3 HR 8 RBI 22H 10R last 10 games

Juan Francisco

• 2-5 HR(16) RBI—showing signs of breaking out of slump (15BB/105K needs to improve)

BUY/SELL Analysis

Baby stepping back to top prospect status

Brandon Erbe was one of the top young pitching prospects in all of baseball just a couple of years ago.  Last year, Erbe had a nightmarish season plagued by injuries and command issues.  Erbe struggled to a 6-8 record with a fat 6.26 ERA.  Erbe walked 62 struck out 111 in 119 IP at High A Frederick.  This season Erbe repeated High A and the results have been better but not perfect.  Signs of hope can be found in the increase of Erbe’s command (only 42 BB in 127 IP) and his BAA (.219 vs. .274 in ‘07)  Erbe has wicked stuff, a mid-90’s fastball, a sharp slider and improving changeup.  While his season has not been perfect, many seem to forget that Erbe is just 20 years old and has yet to fully develop his 6-4 180 lb. frame.  Erbe has cards in the 2005 Bowman Draft and Chrome set which have dipped under $1 in price.  Refractors can be had for $4-5 each.  Erbe also has cards in the Bowman Sterling and Bowman Heritage sets, none of which are autographed.

Market Advice:  Erbe still has time to develop into the pitcher he was projected to be in 2005.  His stuff is electric and he would make a nice addition to a staff that will soon feature Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta.  If things don’t work out for him as a starter, he has the stuff to be a solid set up guy or closer.  However, I think his future is as a starter and AA will speak volumes about that assessment.  I think his chromes are a solid BUY at $1 each, but I wouldn’t spend more than a total of $20 on his stuff.

Breaking News: Matt Laporta soon to be an Indian

Posted by Jeremy on July 6, 2008 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

As many of you know by now, C.C. Sabathia has just been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for a group of 4 minor league prospects headed by AA Hunstville slugger Matt LaPorta.  The other players going to the Indians are AAA Nashville LHP Zach Jackson, High-A Brevard County RHP Rob Bryson and a player to be named later, likely, Brevard County 3B Taylor Green.

Sabathia, one season removed from a 19-7 Cy Young Award season, struggled early this season but has rebounded nicely of late winning his last 3 decisions.  He is a huge addition for the Brewers who need a top of the rotation workhorse to couple with Ben Sheets in their pursuit of the red hot, division leading Cubs.

In exchange for their ace, the Tribe will receive the Brewers’ #1 prospect OF Matt Laporta, LHP Zach Jackson, RHP Rob Bryson, and a player to be named later (rumored to be 3B Taylor Green).

LaPorta, 23, is the gem of this group.  This former ‘07 1st round pick is hitting .288 with 20 HR and 66 RBI at AA Huntsville.  Zach Jackson, 25, has split time between AAA Nashville and Milwaukee with a lackluster 1-5 record and 7.50 plus ERA.  He profiles as nothing more than a left-handed reliever. Rob Bryson was the 11th ranked prospect for the Brewers prior to this season.  He is armed with a 95 MPH fastball and 78-82 MPH power slider.  Bryson, 20, is a closer in the making striking out 73 in 55 IP at Brevard County with 5 saves.  The final prospect Taylor Green is a 21 year old 3B prospect who is hitting .295 with 10 HR and 42 RBI.  Green has advanced plate discipline with 42BB/42K.

Obviously, the most alluring player in this deal from the baseball card standpoint is LaPorta.  I would venture to guess that he will join AAA Buffalo once the trade is consummated followed by September call up.  LaPorta can play 1B, LF or DH and will be a perennial 30+ HR guy for the Indians.  HIs 2007 cards should see a boost from this deal as his path to the major leagues have now been accelerated.

LaPorta’s 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft cards are selling for $3.50-4.50 each and his Sterling RC’s sell for $45-50 each.  I think the best value may be found in his regular draft cards which sell for about $1.00-1.25 each.  Get a bulk lot of these and wait for his major league debut.  If you have some of his cards now, hold them and wait for the debut.  LaPorta has eye opening power that collectors love.

Feel free to share your views on this deal or other potential deals in the making.  This is an exciting time of year that will help carve out the futures of several prospects!