Rookies 2007

                                                          Pitching Line = IP H R ER BB SO

18 March, 2007 

    Hayden Penn BAL 3.0 2 0 0 1 2 ...  Hideki Okajima BOS 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Josh Hamilton CIN 0-3, walk, .500 ... Andy Marte CLE 0-3, .226 ... BJ Upton TB 2B-CF 0-4, .206 ... Cameron Maybin DET 2-4, triple, homer, .450 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 2-4, double, .375 ... Jerome Williams WAS 4.0 2 0 0 2 2 ... Chris Snelling WAS 3-5, double, 2 homers, .308 ... Casey Kotchman LAA 2-4, homer, .306 ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-4, .306 ... Jeff Mathis LAA 0-3, .156 ... Josh Fields CHA 1-1, homer ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3, .500 ... Chris Snyder ARZ 3-4, double, .350 ... Alex Gordon KC 0-1, 2 walks, .414 ... Ryan Braun MIL 0-4, walk, .344 ... Tim Stauffer SD 1.0 3 3 3 1 0 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff SD 2-3, homer, .385 ... Troy Tulowitzki COL 2-4, .357 ...

    Troop movements ... BOS - optioned LHP Craig Breslow, C George Kottaras and OF Brandon Moss to Triple-A, RHP Runelvys Hernandez assigned to Minor League camp ... COL - . Reassigned C Edwin Bellorin to Minor League camp ... TOR -  Optioned INF Russ Adams, RHP Ty Taubenheim , OF Adam Lind to Triple-A ... PHI - returned Rule 5 pick Alfredo Simon to TEX ...

    MinorLeagueBaseball checks in on LAD sleeper - Tony Abreu :

" ... Abreu's continued to play like he belongs. He has climbed steadily through the farm system and, as the good ones tend to do, elevated his game each time he moved up a rung. He was a Southern League All-Star last year and led Double-A Jacksonville with a .287 average, one year after winning the Florida State League batting title and two years after winning the Gulf Coast League batting title. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 5 prospect in the organization. Abreu, 21, is ticketed for Triple-A this year ...  arrived in the organization as a skinny kid and has quickly grown into a powerful man -- adding 40 pounds and the long-ball power ...  The switch-hitting power, the average, the glove and a shortstop's arm has become an eye-catching package at Dodgertown this spring. "To me, he's the second baseman of the future for our organization," Duncan [coach Mariano Duncan] said of a position currently occupied by Jeff Kent, who recently turned 39 and is coming off a season of injuries. "He's a very smart kid and he listens."

    Kevin Kouzmanoff making a good impression at the plate and in the field :

" ... “He's got all-fields power,” Black said. “He makes solid contact. The pitcher is going to have to make some pitches against him. He's not going to give away at-bats. Every at-bat with Kouz is going to be tough on opposing pitchers.” Red Sox analyst Bill James would agree. In his handbook, James projects Kouzmanoff to hit .321 this year with 27 home runs, 30 doubles and 101 RBI. Kouzmanoff also is playing better defensively than what some scouts saw in the past few years. Although he doesn't have the fastest feet, he has made difficult plays to his left and right and after charging nubbers. He also has shown touch on throws, making quick-release, accurate tosses without winding up, something some major league third basemen struggle to do. “Defensively, he's been fine,” Black said. “All of our infield guys have been OK with his defense. It might not look textbook, but the end result is that the batter is out. I have been impressed with his willingness to work and listen. From what I have seen, I am not worried at all.”   (San Diego Union Tribune)

17 March, 2007 

    Matt Garza MIN 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 ... Chris Sampson HOU 2.0 0 0 0 0 5 ... Edward Campusano DET 1.0 4 3 3 0 2 ... Michael Bourn PHI 2-4, triple, .371 ... Neil Walker PIT 1-4, double, .391 ... Delmon Young TB 2-3, .242 ... Angel Guzman CHN 3.1 7 5 5 1 0 ... Felix Pie CHN 1-3, .361 ... Tim Lincecum SF 2.0 2 2 2 1 1 ... Jeff Baker COL 3-4, Joakim Soria KC 3.0 5 1 1 0 2 ... Billy Butler KC 2-2, 2 doubles, 2 walks, .520 ... Yovani Gallardo MIL 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 ... Ryan Braun MIL 0-4, .393 ... Dustin Moseley LAA 4.2 7 0 0 0 2 ... Matt Lindstrom FLO 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 ... Yusemiro Petit FLO 4.0 3 3 2 1 3 ... Enrique Gonzalez ARZ 4.0 1 0 0 0 3  ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 1-2, 3rd homer, .357 ... Cla Meredith SD, 1.0 3 2 2 1 0, 7.20 ...

" ... Jon Lester pitched two innings of a Minor League game Friday afternoon for Triple-A Pawtucket against the Twins' Rochester affiliate, going two innings, allowing one hit, striking out two. He threw 20 pitches, 15 for strikes."  (MLB.com)

    Troop movements ... SEA - reassigned C Jeff Clement and 2B Michael Garciaparra to minor league camp; optioned 1B Bryan LaHair, SS Oswaldo Navarro, OF Wladimir Balentien, OF Michael Wilson and C Rob Johnson to Triple-A ... CIN - released RHP Brian Meadows, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg, reassigned RHP Homer Bailey to minor league camp; optioned 1B Joey Votto to Triple-A ... WAS - optioned RHP Emiliano Fruto to Triple-A  ... FLO - Optioned RHP Scott Tyler to Double-A, Outrighted 1B Jason Stokes to Triple-A ... DET - optioned RHP Yorman Bazardo to Triple-A, 3B Kody Kirkland to Double-A ... COL - optioned RHP Denny Bautista, RHP Ryan Speier to Triple-A ...

    John Danks CHA is featured in the latest installment of Dayn Perry's FOXSports Top 100 :

" ... 29. John Danks ... knock on Danks right now is that he's failed to succeed in the high minors, which, of course, raises questions about his ability to handle hitters in the Major Leagues. On the other hand, he's been consistently younger than his peer group at every stop. Three plus pitches, fronted by a tremendous curve, plus good velocity for a lefty. He could use a full season at Triple-A, though."

" ... 28. Sean Rodriguez ...  Career .384 OBP in the minors and excellent gap-power skills. His approach at the plate isn't all that aesthetically pleasing, but he gets results. There's some question as to whether he'll remain at shot (particularly with Erick Aybar ahead of him), but he'll hit no matter where he winds up."

" ... 24. Adam Miller ...  top-flight pitching prospect. He has command of three plus pitches, he keeps the ball on the ground, he has a strong record of performance, and he's poised on the hill. The only point against him is that he endured serious elbow problems in 2005. If not for the injury concerns, he'd be a top-10 prospect. If he stays healthy this year, he'll resume "future Cy Young contender" status."

    David Luciani, in his Baseball Notebook Newsletter (I can't find a link as yet for a posting on his web site) has "A Different Type of Prospect List".  It's a top 50 with short-term value the key.

" ...  concept came about because of the obvious need to be able to draft prospects only with the relative short-term in mind, not necessarily a single year but no more than three or four years out at most ... this is not a true top prospect list. Because this list focuses only on short-term value, as we said last year, older players can make the list. In fact, we singled out Kevin Kouzmanoff last year as being able to crack this list despite his age because of its emphasis on short-term value. Kevin Thompson this year is another example of such a player as he turned twenty-seven in September ...  The order is, admittedly, somewhat arbitrary but we hope readers find some names here that they hadn't previously considered. In many cases, players listed may not have value until 2008 or 2009 but rarely do we extend beyond that as otherwise the list wouldn't be serving its purpose."

1. Delmon Young, OF (TB)       6. Philip Hughes, P (NYY)
2. Andy LaRoche, 3B (LAD)      7. Brandon Wood, SS (LAA)
3. Sean Rodriguez, SS (LAA)    8. Dustin Pedroia, SS/2B (BOS)
4. Alexi Casilla, SS/2B (MIN)  9. Yovani Gallardo, P (MIL)
5. Reid Brignac, SS (TB)      10. Erick Aybar, SS (LAA)

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, looking ahead to the 2008 pre-season draft ... Kosuke Fukudome :

" ... Fukudome, who plays for the Chunichi Dragons, was the 2006 Central League MVP and batting champion, hitting .351-31-104. He's a career .306/.393/.545 hitter with 179 homers, 599 RBIs and 66 steals in 993 Japanese games ...  he's an outfielder who fits best in right field but can handle center. He won't be the same kind of power hitter in the United States, but he does have some pop and is a legitimate five-tool player. He's the best U.S. prospect among Japanese position players, a more athletic version of Hideki Matsui (a career .304/.413/.582 hitter in Japan) with a little less power. Matsui was nearly 29 when he signed with the Yankees in 2003, and he ranked eighth on our Top 100 that year. Fukudome will be two years older if he comes over next season. There are several exciting outfield prospects in the minors right now, and given his age, my guess is that Fukudome would rank toward the middle of next year's Top 100 if he does sign with a U.S. club."

    The Dodgers' farm report at MinorLeagueBaseball features a pair of high-flying lefties :

" ... Scott Elbert ... It's a toss-up among most folks as to who has the better upside among the club's two stellar southpaws, Elbert and young Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' top pick last June. Tough dilemma to have -- two outstanding left-handers on their way up. Elbert's proximity to the big leagues probably gets him the nod. He split last season between Class A Advanced Vero Beach, where he posted a 2.37 ERA, and Jacksonville, where that number rose to a still respectable 3.61, combining to lead the organization with 173 strikeouts and 85 walks over 146 innings. Just 21, the 2004 first-rounder returns to anchor the Jacksonville rotation and try to tweak his command ...  has an outstanding curveball and limited opponents to a .190 average (lefties to a .156)."

" ... Clayton Kershaw ...   the seventh player taken in the 2006 draft and showed why when he posted a 1.95 ERA over 37 innings in the Gulf Coast League, scattering 28 hits and five walks to go with 54 strikeouts as opponents hit .201 against him. He has great command of a mid-90s fastball, plus curveball and circle change and could be a quick mover."

    Maybe BJ Upton can try this too :

" ... OF Sergio Pedroza, a third-round pick in 2005 out of Cal Fullerton who was picked up ...   from the Dodgers ...   is in the midst of a conversion to catcher. With the logjam among outfielders in the system, the Devil Rays were anxious to find a place for Pedroza's bat after he hit 28 homers and drove in 93 runs between three stops in '06 and so the switch began this spring. "I just talked to Jamie Nelson, our catching coordinator, and we're still on course," said Lukevics. "He's not there yet, he has a lot of work ahead of him, but we're optimistic that he's going to be able to do this."  (minorleaguebaseball)

16 March, 2007 

    Adam Loewen BAL 4.0 2 1 1 1 4 ... Glen Perkins MIN 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 ... Paul Maholm PIT 4.2 2 0 0 0 3 ... Jay Bruce CIN 1-2 & 0-3 ... Troy Patton HOU 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 ... Fernando Nieve HOU 3.0 6 3 3 0 3 ... Greg Miller LAD 2.0 1 0 0 2 2 ... Jonathan Meloan LAD 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 ... Andy LaRoche :AD 0-4, .212 ... James Loney LAD 2-3, .485 ... Matt Chico WAS 4.0 4 0 0 1 3 ... Brian Stokes TB 1.0 1 0 0 1 2  ... Jason Hirsh COL 5.0 3 1 1 3 3  ... Brandon Morrow SEA 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 ... Alex Gordon KC 3-4, .429 ... Josh Rupe TEX 2.1 5 8 8 4 0 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 1-2, double, walk, .474 ... Chris Young ARZ 1-3, double, .267 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 2-4, .500 ... Delmon Young TB 0-2, .200 ... BJ Upton 2B 0-3, walk, .207 ... Andy Marte CLE 1-4, homer, .250 ... Ryan Garko CLE 3-4, .270 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 2-5, .367 ... Neil Walker PIT 0-2, .421 ... Chad Billingsley LAD 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 ... Kory Casto WAS 1-3, double, .412 ... Craig Hansen BOS 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 ... Kei Igawa NYA 3.0 1 0 0 4 5 ... Brandon Wood LAA 0-3, .300 ... Kendry Morales LAA 0-2, .281 ... Erick Aybar LAA 1-3, .364 ... Ryan Braun MIL 2-2, rbi, .458 ... Jeff Clement SEA 0-3, 2 Ks, .125 ...

    Troop movements ...  CLE - Optioned INF Michael Aubrey and RHP J.D. Martin to Double-A, RHP Edward Mujica and LHP Rafael Perez to Triple-A, Re-assigned INF Asdrubal Cabrera, C Max Ramirez and LHP Jason Stanford to Minor League camp ... MIL - Returned RHP Tim Dillard, RHP Chris Oxspring, RHP Alec Zumwalt and C Lou Palmisano to Minor League camp; Optioned LHP Manny Parra to Double-A ...  MIN - Optioned RHP Julio DePaula to Triple-A ... SD - Optioned LHP Ryan Ketchner to Triple-A, Gave RHP Mike Adams his unconditional release ... KC - optioned LHP Neal Musser to Triple-A ...  NYN - optioned RHP Philip Humber and LHP Jason Vargas to Triple-A, reassigned outfielder Ruben Sierra to minor league camp; optioned outfielder Carlos Gomez to Triple-A ...  TOR - optioned RHP Dustin McGowan to Triple-A ...

    Tim Grassey, Fantasy Baseball Cafe, has another installment of his Top 100 :

" ... 26. Luke Hochevar ...  has a low-90s fastball, but it is his curveball that many believe to be his best pitch. A change-up and slider round out his arsenal, but both pitches need improvement. He can get erratic with his control at times, but in his limited playing time in Low-A last season, he only walked two batters in fifteen innings. It is unlikely that Hochevar makes the major league club out of Spring Training, but many believe he will be there by season’s end."

" ... 25. Fernando Martinez ...  will play the entire 2007 season at only 18 years of age. He is incredibly well polished for a hitter of his age, already showing signs of plate discipline not usually seen amongst young Dominican players. He should develop more power as he matures, and has above average speed but probably will not be much of a base stealer. It is unlikely that he remains a centerfielder, but his bat should carry him to the major leagues regardless of his position."

" ... 22. Reid Brignac ...  Although Brignac is not a top flight defensive shortstop, he is more sure handed than Upton. Brignac really emerged in 2006, showing plate discipline and power that have the Devil Rays expecting big things from him. He may crack the starting lineup at some point in 2007, and may take it over for good in 2008."

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, looks at a pair of CF prospects - Jacoby Ellsbury vs Felix Pie:

" ...   Ellsbury's career mark is .306/.391/.427 with 64 steals in 146 games, including .308/.387/.434 last year in half a season of Double-A. His BB/K/AB ratio is excellent at 73/73/581, showing strong plate discipline ...  Pie hit .283/.341/.451 last year in Triple-A, his career mark now standing at .294/.353/.459. His BB/K/AB ratio not very good: 46/126/559 last year, and 164/438/.1945 in his career. His MLE OPS last year was about .810 with about 17 steals ...  Although some people compare him to Johnny Damon, I don't think Ellsbury will have that kind of home run power. I expect he'll develop into a .280-.300 hitter with a high on base percentage, plenty of speed, lots of doubles and triples, 10-15 homers, and strong glovework ...  Some people are starting to compare Pie to Carlos Beltran. I don't think he'll be quite that good, but Pie (like Ellsbury) could develop into a .280-.300 hitter. He'll have more home run power, but his OBP and strike zone judgment could be more erratic, and I think he'll lose his speed more quickly ...  PECOTA obviously likes Pie's upside more than Ellsbury's, and this is understandable given Pie's younger age and greater power potential. PECOTA is just one system, however. I think Pie has more projection than Ellsbury and could be a more complete player, but he also has a higher risk of flaming out on us, if his strike zone judgment doesn't improve ...  Overall Pie comes out a bit ahead, which is not how I rated them in the book this year: I had Ellsbury at 21 and Pie at 22. So is the book right, or is this analysis right? Going over it in this kind of detail has led me to change my mind, and if I was doing the list again I'd swap them out, Pie moving up a notch ahead of Ellsbury."

    Nate Silver, Baseball Prospectus, ranks Chris Young ARZ as the 2nd best (behind Grady Sizemore) 25 & under CF in the game :

" ... If you don’t like Chris Young, you don’t like prospects. The running complaint – really the only complaint – against Young last year was that he struck out too frequently. But as if on cue, he cut his strikeout rate down from 23% in Birmingham in 2005, to 15% on in Tucson last year, a perfectly acceptable rate for a late-count hitter. Young hits for power, he swipes bags, he plays a good center field, he draws walks, and he plays for a team that knows how to develop young talent; this is a low-risk skill set that still carries huge rewards. His swing can get a little long at times, and the Mike Cameron comparisons still work – but increasingly, they’re looking like a worst-case scenario." 

    Neil Walker ... some smiles in PIT over his transition to 3B :

" ...  player development director Brian Graham could not be more ecstatic with the early returns. "So far, the transition has been outstanding," Graham said. "Neil has agility, balance, quickness, first step, athleticism and has so many physical qualities that allow him to be able to play third base, in addition to the arm strength and the aptitude." Tony Beasley, the Pirates' Minor League infield coordinator, has been the main man at the helm of the on-the-job training, with ample help from Triple-A Indianapolis hitting coach Hensley Meulens (a former third baseman) and Pittsburgh third base coach Jeff Cox. The Pirates are especially heartened by the hope this will accelerate Walker's arrival in the Majors ...  The experiment has gone so well that Walker has stuck around in big-league camp much longer than initially expected, hitting his second spring home run on Wednesday in a victory over Boston. "We did anticipate him back in Minor League camp earlier to get his work in," Graham said, "But because he's performing so well, the decision was made to keep him up there a little while longer."  (minorleaguebaseball)

15 March, 2007

    Troop movements ... TB - optioned RHP Jason Hammel, 1B Wes Bankston, 2B Elliot Johnson and LHP Chris Seddon to Triple-A ... CHA - optioned LHP Heath Phillips, INF Andy Gonzalez, INF Pedro Lopez to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Lance Broadway, LHP Corwin Malone to minor league camp ... HOU - optioned OF Josh Anderson, LHP Mark McLemore to Triple-A ... FLO - optioned OF Reggie Abercrombie to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Gaby Hernandez to Minor League camp ... KC - optioned RHP Luke Hochevar to Double-A, optioned OF Mitch Maier to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Dewon Brazelton, RHP Billy Buckner, LHP Wayne Franklin, LHP Tyler Lumsden to minor league camp ... SF - optioned OF Nate Schierholtz, LHP Erick Threets, OF Daniel Ortmeier and INF Eugenio Velez to Triple-A ... LAD - released infielder Fernando Tatis ... NYA - reassigned RHP Phil Hughes to minor league camp ...

    Dustin McGowan TOR, not looking good, 3.1 3 2 2 1 0, 8.10 ... Adam Lind TOR 1-3, .308 ... Adam Miller DET 4.0 3 0 0 2 2 ... Mike Pelfrey NYN 4.0 6 1 1 1 2 ... Hideki Okajima BOS 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 ... Neil Walker PIT 2-2, .471 ... Kory Casto WAS 2-2, .429 ... Zack Greinke KC 4.0 4 0 0 0 6 ... Chris Iannetta COL 3-4, double, .353 ... Troy Tulowitzki COL 1-3, .350 ... Jeff Baker COL 1-4, homer, .286 ... Alex Gordon KC 2-3, triple, .375 ... Gio Gonzalez CHA 1.2 5 4 4 2 1 ... Ryan Braun MIl 2-2, double, .409 ... Erick Aybar LAA 1-2, rbi, .367 ... Homer Bailey CIN 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 ... Delmon Young TB 0-4, 2 Ks, .214 ... Akinori Iwamura TB 0-3, 0.50 ... Josh Hamilton CIN 1-3, .548 ... Kevin Slowey MIN 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 ...

    Lisa Winston reports on the SEA farm at minorleaguebaseball :

" ... Brandon Morrow ...  Mariners' top pick in 2006 ... could begin the year in the Wisconsin rotation, but the Mariners may be willing to challenge him with a Class A Advanced spot, even though High Desert is a nightmare park for pitchers ...  pitched a lot of innings as a junior at Cal and so the Mariners used him sparingly as a result. Rested and ready, he has a fastball that has touched 99 to go with a fine slider as well. The conditions at High Desert would probably not faze Morrow, who is used to adversity as he's grown up dealing with diabetes. "He has a very gifted arm but wasn't used to throwing in as much of a regimen when we got him last summer," explained Mattox [Frank Mattox, the Mariners' director of player development]. "He spent the whole offseason in Peoria to get himself geared up for this spring. Once he gets to the hill and you hear that glove pop, you'll know why he was taken where he was taken."

" ... Ryan Feierabend ...  third-rounder from 2003 was the youngest starting pitcher in the Majors when he made his big-league debut in September and his circle change is the best changeup in the system ...  will be 21 during the 2007 season, also throws a fastball around 90 and does all the little things well. He begins the season back in the Tacoma rotation but could be in Seattle again soon. "He's been consistently durable and goes with his pitching plan," said Mattox."

    Over at OnDeck, Scott Rex offers his take on the 25-man rosters and some updates on his Top 40s.

    RaysBaseball has its picks as the Top 25 in the TB system.

Jacob McGee, No. 5  " ... McGee was another one of the 2006 success stories for this organization. He pitched in a full-season league for the first time and almost led the entire minor-leagues in strikeouts before missing a few starts in August. His strikeout rose in '06, but his walk rate also almost doubled. For a LHP, the hit and homerun rates are very encouraging. He will move into 2007 as one of the best LHP prospects in baseball."

Elijah Dukes, No. 6  " ... Maybe the biggest offensive upside of any Rays hitter currently in the organization, Dukes continues to impress with the bat. Not only the biggest upside, Dukes maybe currently the most well-rounded hitter with the recent struggles of BJ Upton. The anger issues are well-known .... If he wants it and matures, he could be a terrific ballplayer and a building block for the Rays if a position is opened up for him."

14 March, 2007 

    Josh Hamilton CIN 2-2, walk, 2 rbi, .571 ... Alex Gordon KC 1-2, 3rd error ... Jason Wood LAA 1-2, homer, .375 ... Ryan Braun MIL 1-4, .350 ... Troy Tulowitzki COL 1-3, .353 ... Micah Owings ARZ 3.0 1 0 0 1 4 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-4, walk, .344 ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 1-2, homer, walk, .346 ... John Danks CHA 3.0 2 2 1 1 3 ... Craig Breslow BOS 1.0 0 0 0 2 2  ... Edward Campusano DET 2.0 3 1 1 0 3 ... Cameron Maybin DET 1-3, CS, .400 ... Phil Humber NYN 2.0 3 1 1 0 0 ... Lastings Milledge NYn 1-2, walk, .355 ... Trevor Crowe CLE 2-3, double, walk, .278 ... BJ Upton TB 1-2, double, walk, .231 ... Delmon Young TB 2-3, .250 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-1, walk, 2 runs, 2 rbi, .652 ...

    Troop movements ... ARZ - Justin Upton was among nine players sent to minor league camp, along with pitcher Evan MacLane, infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Danny Richar, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez ... NYA - reassigned OF Jose Tabata, 1B Eric Duncan, OF Brett Gardner to minor league camp ... ATL - optioned RHP Joey Devine to Triple-A, reassigned LHP Matt Harrison to minor league camp ... TEX - optioned RHP Edinson Volquez, RHP Armando Galarraga and LHP Daniel Haigwood to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Thomas Diamond, RHP Eric Hurley, RHP Jose Vargas and LHP Scott Rice to minor league camp ... TB - optioned RHP Jeff Niemann and RHP Mitch Talbot to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Andy Sonnanstine, SS Reid Brignac, 3B Evan Longoria to minor league camp ... SEA - released LHP Matt Perisho, reassigned LHP Jim Parque, RHP Jesse Foppert, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo to minor league camp; optioned LHP Travis Blackley and LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith to Triple-A  ... MIN - optioned LHP Errol Simonitsch to Triple-A ...  NYN - released RHP Alay Soler ... LAA - optioned RHP Steven Shell to Triple-A, RHP Jose Arredondo to Double-A, reassigned INF Sean Rodriguez  to minor league camp ... CHN - optioned 3B Scott Moore to Triple-A, optioned RHP Jeff Samardzija to Single-A; reassigned RHP Sean Gallagher, INF Eric Patterson, OF Tyler Colvin to minor league camp ... OAK - optioned RHP Shane Komine and OF Javier Herrera to Triple-A ...

    A possible surprise in the fifth spot in the Arizona rotation :

" ... Arizona manager Bob Melvin still has to pick a fifth starter, and his decision is getting more difficult every day. "I'm not going to handicap it right now," Melvin said Tuesday. "I'm just not going to do it. We've got to get deeper into it." Micah Owings, one of several candidates looking to earn a slot in the Diamondbacks' rotation, tossed three scoreless innings ...  allowed one hit and struck out four. The 25-year-old right-hander, who went 16-2 in the minors last season, is competing with Dana Eveland, Enrique Gonzalez, Edgar Gonzalez and Dustin Nippert for a chance to stay with the Diamondbacks when the regular season starts. All five have been impressive in spurts through the first two weeks of spring training."  (Associated Press) 

    Carlos Gonzalez ARZ, an eye-opening spring :

" ...  Diamondbacks ...  already have in place what some believe is the best group of young position players in baseball. Gonzalez is a step behind those players in development but could turn out to be every bit as good. "His skill set is very impressive," said A.J. Hinch, the Diamondbacks' director of player development. So much that since capturing Most Valuable Player honors in the Class A Midwest League two years ago, Gonzalez has drawn comparisons to multitool, All-Star outfielders such as Carlos Beltran and Bobby Abreu. The scary part is he is still improving ...  His play in Venezuela earned him Winter Player of the Year honors from Baseball America. But in the same story on the publication's Web site, Gonzalez received criticism as some scouts deemed him cocky and lazy. Hinch doesn't see it. "He has a smoothness to him and an ability to make things look easy," Hinch said. "But I know he's hungry. That's one of best traits you can have as a young player."  (Arizona Republic)

    Aaron Gleeman, with the next to last installment of his Top 50 :

" ...  11. Billy Butler ...  Based on hitting alone Billy Butler is one of the elite prospects in baseball, but his complete lack of defensive value drops him in these rankings ...  will likely end up at designated hitter. A .344 hitter in 314 pro games who turns 21 years old next month, Butler combines huge power potential with good strike-zone control and has a chance to become an all-around offensive monster."

" ... 14. Reid Brignac ...  second-round pick in 2004, Reid Brignac hit .361 in rookie-ball, struggled at low Single-A in 2005, and broke out with a huge season between Single-A and Double-A last year. He won the California League MVP before hitting .300 after a late-season promotion, combining to bat .321/.376/.539 with 24 homers in 128 games as a 20-year-old. There's some question about whether he can remain at shortstop long term, but Brignac's glove has reportedly improved and his bat fits anywhere."

" ... 18. Luke Hochevar ... re-entered the draft last June after playing in an independent league, going No. 1 overall to the Royals. The whole thing cost Hochevar some development time, but he gained about $2 million, blew away Single-A hitters after signing, and should be in the majors by midseason anyway."

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, approaches the really interesting part of his Top 100 :

" ... 31. Erick Aybar ...  career .311 hitter in the minors with gap-power skills, speed on the bases and excellent defensive skills at short, Aybar is one of the most underrated prospects in the game. His main shortcoming right now is an overly aggressive approach at the plate. Otherwise, however, he's a complete player. He'll take over as the Angels' every-day shortstop as soon as Orlando Cabrera is shipped off or his contract expires."

" ... 36. Philip Humber ...  pitched across four levels and looked quite strong in doing so, proving he's fully recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery. Boasts command of three plus offerings. Provided he stays healthy, Humber could be a future All-Star. Considering the uncertain Mets' rotation this season, Humber could be in Queens sooner than you might think."

" ... 40. Eric Hurley ...  Strong command numbers coming up through the system, but there's some concern that his fly-ball tendencies won't play well in Arlington. Plus fastball and slider, but his off-speed stuff needs cultivation. Clean mechanics bode well for his health going forward."

    The folks at Baseball Prospectus have used their ranking system, PECOTA, to project numbers for Josh Hamilton CIN.  Not the kind of numbers you might expect after such a sterling spring - .254 .306 .409 

    Hmmm ... shouldn't have traded my first pick in a May supplemental draft :

" ... The acclaimed teenager from the Dominican Republic assumed his stance in the batter’s box yesterday at the aged Municipal Stadium in Pompano Beach, Fla ...  Nearby stood Ismael Cruz, the Mets’ director of international scouting. The player, José José, a 16-year-old outfielder, has drawn the interest of a number of baseball’s big-money teams. The Mets were among the first teams to have a private workout with José. On Monday he drove one ball over the wall in right-center field and hit an assortment of line drives. But he also had his share of foul balls and routine grounders. José was meeting some of his fellow prospects for the first time at the Playball Baseball Academy, where Fred Ferreira, a baseball scout, operates his Win International agency. “He’s a very interesting kid,” Cruz said after watching José field, throw, run and hit over an hour and half period. “He’s got a good bat.” Ferreira is making plans to have other teams see José. Seattle and Anaheim are on the list, as are the Yankees. The Red Sox may be ready to sign him now. They are the only team that visited José’s native San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic to see him work out."  (New York Times)

    The managers speak.  Hunter Pence most likely to the minors, Chad Billingsley to the pen :

" ... Despite all the hype ...  Phil Garner made it clear that the slugging outfielder isn't a contender at this point for the Astros' open spot in right field. Considering the Astros are adamant that Chris Burke has earned the starting spot in center field and the need for Pence to get regular playing time at this stage in his career, the 23-year-old slugger appears destined to start the season at Class AAA Round Rock. Luke Scott, Jason Lane and Richard Hidalgo are the three contenders for the job in right field. "I am not putting him in the mix for that now," Garner said after the Astros beat the Atlanta Braves."  (Houston Chronicle)

" ... Billingsley, considered one of the Dodgers' best starting prospects, has made only six professional relief appearances ... His elimination leaves the club with three primary candidates for the final starting spot -- Hong-Chih Kuo, Brett Tomko and Mark Hendrickson -- along with non-roster pitcher Joe Mays and Eric Stults. All have pitched relatively well this spring ...  Manager Grady Little said the decision on Billingsley was the result of the Dodgers' depth of starters and timing. It was made now, in part, to free up innings for the numerous starting pitchers preparing for the season, in part so Billingsley can focus on his new role."  (MLB.com)

13 March, 2007 

    Rick Ankiel STL 2-2, double, homer, .300  ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-4, homer, .241 ... Neil Walker PIT 1-1, homer, .400 ... Jeff Niemann TB 1.2 0 0 0 1 2 ... BJ Upton 2B TB 0-3, .208 ... Matt Lindstrom FLO 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 ... Matt Garza MIN, nice rebound, 2.0 1 0 0 2 0 ... Matt Albers HOU 3.0 4 4 4 3 3 ... JA Happ PHI 2.0 6 6 6 3 0 ...  Jonathan Meloan LAD 1.0 1 1 1 0 2 ... Hayden Penn BAL 2.0 4 2 2 0 1 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 2-4, double, .250 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 3-4, .345 ... Chris Snelling WAS 1-4, 3-run homer, .294 ... Dustin Pedroia BOS 2-3, .208 ... Jeff Mathis LAA 3-3, 2 homers, walk, .182 ... just isn't working out, Dewon Brazelton KC 1.0 5 6 6 1 0 ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-4, .357 ... Erick Aybar LAA CF 2-4, .357 ... Dustin Nippert ARZ 3.0 2 1 1 3 2 ... Jeff Samardzija CHN 2.0 4 0 0 1 2 ... Felix Hernandez SEA 4.0 3 0 0 0 1 ... Travis Buck OAK 1-4, .333 ... Tim Stauffer SD 3.0 2 0 0 3 2 ... Yovani Gallardo MIL 1.2 3 4 4 3 0 ...

    Troop movements ... CHN -  RHP Lincoln Holdzkom, who was claimed by the Astros in the Rule 5 Draft, has cleared outright waivers and been returned to the Cubs ...  lots of cuts, including ...  COL - Released C Javier Lopez, OF Jeff Salazar, 2B Jayson Nix to Triple-A, 1B Joe Koshansky, 3B Ian Stewart, OF Sean Barker, OF Matt Miller and OF Seth Smith to minor league camp ... ATL - optioned RHP Anthony Lerew, OF Gregor Blanco and RHP Jose Ascanio to Triple-A; reassigned C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C Carlos Mendez and SS Brent Lillibridge to minor league camp ... STL - optioned LHP Troy Cate, INF Brendan Ryan, INF Travis Hanson and OF Coey Haerther to Triple-A, reassigned OF Colby Rasmus and RHP Mike Smith to minor league camp ...  PHI - Reassigned OF Greg Golson to Minor League camp; Optioned OF Chris Roberson and RHP Anderson Garcia to Minor League camp ... PIT - Optioned LHP Dave Davidson, INF Javier Guzman, OF Nyjer Morgan to Double-A,  Optioned OF Rajai Davis to Triple-A, Reassigned RHP Franquelis Osoria, RHP Allan Simpson to Minor League camp ... SD - Optioned RHP Jared Wells to Triple-A, Reassigned LHP Frank Brooks and LHP Adrian Burnside to Minor League camp ...  WAS - Optioned RHP Jermaine Van Buren toTriple-A,  Reassigned OF Darnell McDonald and LHP Chris Michalak to Minor League camp ... ARZ - reassigned LHP Greg Smith, INF Mark Reynolds to minor league camp ...

BAL - Reassigned LHP Chris Waters, INF Brandon Sing and OF Luis Montanez to Minor League camp; Optioned OF Val Majewski to Triple-A Norfolk; Released RHP Jose Acevedo ... BOS - Returned Rule 5 Draft pick Nick Debarr to TB ... ... DET - Optioned RHP Jordan Tata to Triple-A, RHP Eulogio De La Cruz and Kyle Sleeth to Double-A,   LHP Andrew Miller to Single-A, Assigned RHP Jair Jurrjens and C Gabe Johnson and C Dusty Ryan to Minor League camp ... HOU - Optioned RHP Jimmy Barthmaier and RHP Felipe Paulino to Triple A ...  MIN -  Optioned LHP Ricky Barrett to Triple-A, LHP Alexander Smit to Single-A,  RHP Oswaldo Sosa to Double-A ... 

    From MinorLeagueBaseball, an update on the OAK farm, including a comeback candidate and a possible 2007 breakthrough :

" ... Javier Herrera ...  Athletics have been waiting for Herrera to be able to return to the field after he suffered an injury that required Tommy John surgery right before the 2006 campaign began. The 2004 Northwest League MVP hit .331 at Vancouver, then moved up to Kane County in 2005 and batted .275 with 14 homers and 27 steals in 99 games, showing his across-the-board tools. Perhaps the best pure athlete in the system with an outstanding arm, he will start the year at Stockton as soon as he is officially cleared to play. "He's a multifaceted five-tool player, for sure, who evokes comparisons to Magglio Ordonez," Owens [Billy Owens, the Athletics' director of player personnel] noted."

" ... Jermaine Mitchell ...  drafted in the fifth round out of North Carolina-Greensboro last year, something of a steal, and he responded by hitting .362 with three homers, 23 RBIs and 14 steals in 37 games. He was scouted by Neil Avent, his assistant coach at UNCG, so the A's knew a little more than the average scout about this young man's intangibles, athleticism and tools and makeup. An explosive athlete with a good stroke, Oakland felt thrilled to get him when it did. "He has first- or second-round tools," Owens said. "A center fielder with power potential and a five-tool candidate? The sky is the limit for this kid." 

    Project Prospect reviews some Spring Training hitters :

" ... Joey Votto – Although he’s been overshadowed by the incredible performance by the resurgent Josh Hamilton, Votto’s been very good in his own right. The 22-year-old first-baseman has an 1.170 OPS (.545/.625) and leads all Reds with six walks in his 22 plate appearances."

" ...  Carlos Quentin – The Diamondbacks’ right-fielder has had a nice opening to spring, posting an .884 OPS (.360/.524) in eight games. True to form, Quentin’s shown good plate discipline as he’s struck out just once in 23 plate appearances."

" ... Billy Butler – The precocious 20-year-old has been a star this spring, telling reporters how he likes the babes in the outfield grass while posting a mammoth 1.675 OPS (.619/1.056) in his 20 plate appearances. Although it’s still unclear whether he’ll ever be even a decent outfielder, Butler’s looking more and more like Travis Hafner clone."

    BJ Upton?  May not know until the day before opening day : 

" ... A battle is brewing between B.J. Upton and Brendan Harris for the team's utility infielder slot. "Oh, it's a great battle, my God, it's awesome," Maddon said. "B.J. is starting to settle in. His performance is really coming up. ... And Brendan, he just goes about his business. He's a bulldog. And I love the way he goes about it." Maddon said he has been pleasantly surprised at the polish Harris has shown. "I had talked to different people in the offseason about him when we acquired him, and I heard different things," Maddon said. "And then I got to see him on the field. He's more accomplished than I've been told, I'll say that. They spoke about his character and work ethic, but I didn't even realize how good they were. ... He's actually more than what I'd been told." And for the tough question: Can Harris and Upton both make the team? "I don't know," Maddon said. "I think anything is possible; it is possible. And that would be something we'd have to determine toward the end, obviously. It's not impossible." (MLB.com)

12 March, 2007 

    Tim Lincecum SF 3.0 2 0 0 0 4  ... Jesse Foppert SEA, so sad to see, 0.0 3 6 6 3 0 ... Travis Buck OAK 1-4, double, .357 ... Joakim Soria KC (Rule 5)  4.0 1 0 0 0 3 ... Fausto Carmona CLE 3.0 1 0 0 0 0 ... Phil Hughes NYA, well, not going directly to Cooperstown after all, 1.1 4 3 3 3 0, 7.71 ... Daisuke Matsuzaka BOS 4.0 6 4 3 0 3 ... Glen Perkins MIN 3.0 2 1 0 0 2 ... Fernando Martinez NYN 3-3, double, .600 ... SS Brent Lillibridge ATL 2-3, .250 ... Andrew Miller DET 2.0 3 2 2 2 2  ... Jair Jurrjens DET 2.0 3 0 0 0 2 ... Hunter Pence HOU 0-2, .667 ... Joel Guzman TB 1-1, double, .176 ... Delmon Young TB 0-3, .190 ... Elijah Dukes TB 1-3, .263 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-5, .280 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-4 (CF & leadoff), .391 ... Josh Hamilton CIN, the feel good story continues, 3-3, .538 ... James Loney LAD 1-2, walk, .500 ... Yusmeiro Petit FLO 2.2 5 3 3 0 2 ... Trevor Crowe CLE 0-4, .200 ... Andy Marte CLE 1-3, .263 ... Jose Tabata NYA 1-1, homer, .455 ... Eric Hurley TEX 1.0 0 0 0 2 2 ... Brandon Wood 3B LAA 1-3, .300 ... Erick Aybar LAA 1-2, homer, walk, . 333 ... Josh Fields CHA 1-5, double, .316 ... Billy Butler KC 1-1, 2nd homer, .556 ... Justin Huber KC 2-3, .389 ...  Hernan Iribarren MIL 1-1, homer, walk, .400 ... Daric Barton OAK 3-5, double, homer, .500 ... Casey Kotchman LAA 2-3, homer, .348 ...

    Troop movements ... LAD - released Damian Jackson, reassigned 3B Fernando Tatis, LHP Scott Elbert, SS Chin Lung Hu, to minor league camp; optioned RHP Eric Hull, RHP Zach Hammes and LHP Mike Megrew to Triple-A ... TOR - optioned RHP Josh Banks, RHP Ismael Ramirez and SS Sergio Santos to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Beau Kemp to Triple-A ... COL - optioned RHP Juan Morillo to Triple-A, reassigned RHP Greg Reynolds, LHP Eric DuBose, LHP Franklin Morales and LHP Josh Newman to minor league camp ... FLO - reassigned RHP Chris Volstad, C Brad Davis and OF Brett Carroll to Minor League camp ... OAK - optioned RHP Santiago Casilla, LHP Dan Meyer and RHP David Shafer to Triple-A ... 

" ... Left-hander Chuck Lofgren, a 17-game winner at Class A Kinston in 2006, was among five players the Cleveland Indians sent back to the minors on Sunday. Outfielder Brad Snyder, left-handers Aaron Laffey and Scott Lewis and catcher Javier Herrera also were sent to the minor-league camp in Cleveland's first roster cuts of spring training ...  Lofgren, 21, went 17-5 with a 2.32 ERA to help Kinston win the Carolina League championship in 2006, but didn't fare well in two short exhibition appearances this spring. He gave up five runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Lewis, a third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2004 who led all minor-league pitchers with a 1.48 ERA at Kinston in 2006, also was hit hard in two exhibition games. He gave up three runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings."  (Associated Press)

    Project Prospect is checking out the best of the young guns - their rating of the top pitchers (under age 25).  No. 1 - Felix Hernandez ought not to be a surprise, but No. 2 might well be :

" ...  2. Jeremy Bonderman ...   WHIP has hovered around 1.30 over the last three seasons, but he has turned in ERAs of 4.89, 4.57, and 4.08 from 2004 to 2006, respectively. So why the drop in ERA? Shrinking home run rates. The 24-year-old allowed 0.75 HR/start in 2004, 0.72 in 2005, and 0.53 in 2006. This will be Bonderman’s breakout year…brace yourself, it’s going to be big!"

" ... 8. Homer Bailey ...  the Reds’ phenom has the swagger and potential of a young Roger Clemens. Bailey stuck out 37.7% of the batters he faced in Double-A. At the same level but a year older, Clemens stuck out 37.8%. That’s just spooky similar."

" ... 16. Clayton Kershaw ...  has the potential to crack the top five on this list within two years. Granted the lefty has thrown just 37.0 professional innings, but he struck out 46.6% of the Rookie League batters he faced during that span and maintained a maintained a 0.89 WHIP. Drafted as high as any high school pitcher in the last four years (7th overall, tied with Homer Bailey), Kershaw is starting to look like a once-in-a-decade lefty."

" ... 29. Jacob McGee ...  has solidified himself as a big time Major League prospect. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty has muscled up by adding more than 40 pounds since the Devil Rays selected him out high school in 2004. McGee mows down opponents with ease on the hill. In 26 Single-A starts last season, the flamethrower sent 36.6% of opposing hitters down via the strike. Expect Jacob McGee’s star to continue rising in 2007."

    MinorLeagueBaseball moves on to analyze the BAL and TB farm systems :

" ... Brandon Erbe ...  fanned 10.4 batters per nine innings last year in the South Atlantic League, but was clearly a better pitcher in the first half. He was 5-5 with a 2.54 ERA through his first 16 starts. He was 0-4 over his final 12 starts, posting a 4.33 ERA during that stretch. Still, he survived the Sally League as a teenager and will get a good look at some tough competition this year in the Carolina League."

" ... Billy Rowell ...   There are more than a few people who are convinced that the O's found themselves the next David Wright or Ryan Zimmerman when they grabbed Rowell in the first round. He still needs to work on his plate discipline some (59 Ks, 29 BB in 195 ABs) but that will come with time and experience."

" ... Evan Longoria ...  cruised through three levels to Montgomery, where he will start in 2007. He spent his first week at Class A Short-Season Hudson Valley to get his feet wet only because the California League was on the verge of its All-Star hiatus. By season's end, he was combining with fellow prospect, shortstop Reid Brignac, as the left side of the championship infield. He could be combining with Brignac in the future up the middle though, as some believe his future is at second base. He would provide some pop at that position, and his 18 homers in a half-season gave an idea of that power."

" ... Sergio Pedroza ... Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers with Joel Guzman in the deal for Julio Lugo, the Rays spent some time offseason tweaking the package. As a result, the outfielder may be seeing some time behind the plate this year. He'll be at Vero Beach, his last stop last summer, as he combined for a .277 average, 28 homers and 93 RBIs across three spots. He has a plus arm and minimal speed, so this could be an interesting move for the third-rounder from 2005."

    A sigh of relief in COL :

" ... Troy Tulowitzki's big scare turned out to be a false alarm. The Rockies' rookie shortstop found out this [Sunday] morning that he did not suffer any fractures or major damage Saturday after getting hit just above the right wrist by a fastball thrown by the Padres' Doug Brocail. X-rays showed that Tulowitzki suffered only a bad bruise. "I'm pretty much day-to-day, and tomorrow I'll takes some throws and see where I am," Tulowitzki said."  (Denver Post)

    Ah, the 'ol Yankee hype (you'd think the trade deadline was fast approaching) :

" ... Yankees outfield prospect Jose Tabata is only 18 years old. Yet his talent and potential have led scouts to liken him to a young Manny Ramirez. Even general manager Brian Cashman had to stop himself from drawing that comparison when he was asked which major-leaguer Tabata has the potential to be like. "In fairness to the kid, he's just got to continue to make his own name," Cashman said. "He's got high-end ability. I won't say [Ramirez] pops into my mind. That's what I keep hearing other people say about him. There's only one Manny. A guy like Manny comes along, it seems, like once every 40 years. It'd be nice to say that you've got another one on the way, but it would be disrespectful to someone of Manny's abilities." Tabata himself has heard the "Baby Manny" talk. He appreciates the compliment but would rather do what Cashman advised and make his own name. "It's nice for them to say you have talent like a superstar," Tabata said in Spanish, "but I feel like I have my own identity. I want to be myself."  (Newsday)

    Hunter Pence HOU, the spring sensation, still with a ticket for Round Rock :

" ... the reality is that no matter how well Pence does this spring, he remains a long shot to make the club on opening day. Pence is not on the 40-man roster and has yet to play at Class AAA Round Rock, where he'll likely begin the season. And making the big league club as a reserve outfielder isn't an option because the Astros want him to play every day. That means Pence would have to win the starting right field job because Carlos Lee will start in left and Chris Burke seems entrenched in center. Jason Lane and Luke Scott are the leading candidates right. "I'm not worried about that," Pence said. "I'm going to go out there and play baseball every day the way I've always played. They told me coming here, 'Don't expect to make the team.' I'm expecting to play well and be ready for the season, wherever I'm at."   (Houston Chronicle)

    Could that be ... Michael Aubrey?  Didn't he retire or something? 

" ...   For a guy who's played just 42 games over the last two Minor League seasons because of various back and knee problems, Michael Aubrey hasn't looked like he carries much rust. Aubrey, the Tribe's first selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, is getting something the back injury denied him a year ago -- a chance to show what he can do in big-league camp. In addition to looking fundamentally sound at first base, he's notched three hits, including a double, in nine at-bats. "I'm just trying to stay positive," Aubrey said. "It makes it easier when you've got a clubhouse full of good guys with positive attitudes. You have to act like you've been there before and make sure you don't make [returning to play] a bigger deal than it is. Otherwise, the game will catch up with you."  (MLB.com)

11 March, 2007

    Edward Campusano DET 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 ... Dustin Pedroia BOS 0-3, .143 ... Cameron Maybin DET 0-2, . 364 ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-4, double, .240 ... Chris Volstad FLO 3.0 5 3 3 1 0 ... Greg Miller LAD 2.0 3 4 4 1 2 ... Matt Kemp LAD 1-3, double, walk, .167 ... James Loney LAD 2-4, walk, .500 ... Kei Igawa NYA 3.0 5 2 2 0 4 ...  Alay Soler  NYN 1.0 2 4 4 4 0 ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-1, homer, .300 ...  Fernando Nieve HOU 3.0 2 1 1 2 3 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-1, walk, .737 ... Akinori Iwamura TB 1-3, .083 ... Adam Wainwright STL 4.2 5 0 0 1 0 ... Troy Cate STL 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Adam Loewen BAL 2.0 2 1 1 1 4 ...  Andy Sonnanstine TB 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 ... BJ Upton TB 2B-CF 2-5, .250 ... Elijah Dukes TB 2-3, walk, .250 ... Delmon Young TB 1-4, .222 ... Dustin McGowan TOR 2.0 4 3 3 1 2 ... Dana Eveland MIL 3.0 4 1 1 0 1 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-1, .474 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 3-4, homer, .556 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 1-3, .471 ... Jason Hirsh COL 3.2 7 7 7 4 1 ... Felix Pie CHN 0-3, walk, .346 ... Lance Broadway CHA 3.0 4 3 3 3 2 ...  Brandon Morrow SEA 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 ... Casey Kotchman LAA 2-3, .300 ...

    Potentially bad news for Troy Tulowitzki ... Jeff Niemann, so far so good :

" ... Tulowitzki ... hit by a pitch on his right wrist in Saturday's split-squad game against the Padres in Peoria, Ariz. Tulowitzki left the game with a contusion on his right wrist and will get X-rays taken Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. An initial exam showed no obvious break ... Tulowitzki had a double in his previous at-bat, driving in the Rockies' only run of the game up to that point. Tulowitzki left the game hitting .385 (5-for-13) with two doubles and four RBIs."

" ... Niemann is the Rays' top prospect, and the right-hander is closer than ever to realizing the potential that enticed the club to draft him with the fourth pick of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Once Niemann arrives, it could be in a big way. He is the total package when it comes to having the pitching gifts necessary to dominate a game. "Two good breaking balls, good fastball -- big downward plane on his fastball -- also seems to be very composed and very professional," Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said."  (minorleaguebaseball)

    RotoWorld with some helpful stuff  ... projected lineups :

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, with some thoughts on who might make big leaps on the 2008 Top 100 :

" ... Looking at this year's Top 100, I see two guys in the upper half that I think can vault into the top 10-15 prospects next year, Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus (No. 29) and Devil Rays lefthander Jacob McGee (No. 37). From the bottom half of the list, these are my top candidates to make major moves: Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider (No. 53), Pirates righthander Brad Lincoln (No. 69) if he's healthy, Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia (No. 70), Marlins righty Brett Sinkbeil (No. 75), Rockies righty Ubaldo Jimenez (No. 84), Indians outfielder Brian Barton (No. 86), [Wade] Davis again and Orioles righty Pedro Beato (No. 99). My favorites who didn't make the list include Reds righty Johnny Cueto, Angels catcher Hank Conger, Indians lefty Tony Sipp and Red Sox first baseman Lars Anderson. Two of my deeper sleepers are third-round picks from the 2006 draft, Athletics outfielder Matt Sulentic and Mariners lefthander Tony Butler."

10 March, 2007 

    Kevin Kouzmanoff  SD 2-3, double, homer, .417 ... Brandon McCarthy CHA 2.0 7 5 5 1 1, 11.25 ... Zack Greinke KC 3.0 5 3 1 0 4, 7.20 ... Adam Miller CLE 3.0 2 0 0 0 0 ... Chuck Lofgren CLE 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 ... Homer Bailey CIN 0.2 3 5 5 2 1 ... Nick Adenhart LAA 3.0 0 0 0 2 0, 1.59  ... Kelly Johnson ATL 2-4, homer, 2 rbi, .333 ... Wily Aybar 3B ATL 3-5, homer, .400 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 3-5, double, rbi, .421 ...  Craig Hansen  BOS 1.0 3 2 2 1 0 ... Chad Billingsley LAD 2.1 1 0 0 1 0 ... Scott Elbert LAD 0.1 4 4 4 0 1 ... James Loney LAD 3-3, 3rd double, .500 ... Kyle Sleeth DET 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 ... Phil Humber NYN 2.0 2 3 3 2 2 ... John Danks CHA 3.0 2 0 0 0 0 ... Gio Gonzalez CHA 2.0 1 0 0 2 0 ... Micah Owings ARZ 2.0 1 1 1 2 1 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 3-3, double, .444 ... Chris Young ARZ (still at leadoff) 1-3, homer, .312 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 2-3, homer, walk, .500 ... Ian Stewart COL 1-4, homer, .333 ... Matt Harrison ATL 2.0 4 2 2 1 0 ... Ryan Garko CLE 0-4, .238 ... Josh Hamilton CIN 1-2, .478 ... Matt Lindstrom FLO 1.1 0 0 0 1 1 ... Hunter Pence HOU, 3-5 (and lowered his average) 4th double, .722 ... Andy Marte CLE 2-4, homer, .250 ... Neil Walker 3B PITG 2-3, double, 3 rbi, walk, .357 ... Delmon Young TB 0-3, .214 ... Alex Gordon KC 0-1, 3 walks, .333 ... Akinori Iwamura TB 0-2 (now 0-9) ... Erick Aybar LAA 5-6, double, .333 ...

" ...  Homer Bailey ... Against the Indians, Bailey gave up five earned runs and three hits, including two home runs, in just two-thirds of an inning. The right-hander also issued two walks and hit a batter ... Entering with a 2-1 lead, Bailey clearly struggled with his command while working in relief during the fifth inning. He hit his first batter with a two-strike pitch, and then allowed a four-pitch walk. Mike Rouse followed that up with a three-run homer. Following a strikeout, Bailey walked another batter. Then, Grady Sizemore launched a two-run homer. After a flyout, David Delluci's single brought Reds manager Jerry Narron out of the dugout to remove the pitcher."  (minorleaguebaseball.com)

    Troop movements ... SEA - Cesar Jimenez will have surgery after being diagnosed with a stress fracture at the tip of his elbow ... BOS - optioned RHP David Pauley and RHP Edgar Martinez to Triple-A, OF Jacoby Ellsbury to minor league camp ... ATL - signed LHP Mark Redman to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training ... FLO - reassigned RHP Travis Bowyer,  LHP Sean West  to minor league camp ...

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, another installment of his Top 100 :

" ... 45. Bill Rowell ...  Playing across two levels last season, the lefty-swinging Rowell hit a combined .328 AVG/.415 OBP/.503 SLG. Extremely polished approach at the plate for a hitter less than a year out of high school. He figures to put up tremendous power numbers as he matures, and he's already got a solid idea of the strike zone. The problem is that his huge frame (6-foot-5, 215) means he's probably not going to stick at third base."

" ... 47. Chris Marrero ...   didn't put up strong numbers last season across two rookie levels, but his quick wrists through the zone and the way the ball jumps off his bat leads many to think he'll be a potent power hitter in years to come. In the outfield, he's got a good arm but will never have more than average range. Still, the power is for real, and that's what will carry him."

" ... 50. Chuck Lofgren  ...  Great velocity for a lefty, three polished pitches in his repertoire. He works too high in the zone, but last season at High-A Kinston, Lofgren gave up only five homers in 139.2 innings. Still, those excellent home run numbers won't hold up at the higher levels if he doesn't keep the ball down. He'll face a big test in Double-A this season."

    Snippets from the camps, from FOXSports :

" ... The Diamondbacks' prospects are the talk of the Cactus League; one scout calls Class Double-A outfielder Carlos Gonzalez "a bigger, stronger, left-handed hitting version of Carlos Beltran," projecting him as a potential 30 to 35-homer man ...  Meanwhile, the team has two other outfielders — Scott Hairston, 26, and David Krynzel, 25 — who are out of minor-league options and likely to attract trade interest from rival clubs. The Diamondbacks will either keep Hairston as a reserve or trade him; general manager Josh Byrnes says his chances of appearing on the waiver wire are "zero percent."

" ... Padres G.M. Kevin Towers calls Terrmel Sledge "by far our best offensive player in spring training," further reducing the likelihood of the team trading reliever Scott Linebrink to the Phillies for outfielder Aaron Rowand. The Padres would prefer to keep their bullpen depth intact and acquire a right-handed hitting reserve with speed, versatility and defensive skill."

    The Toronto farm system reviewed at minorleaguebaseball :

" ... Travis Snider ...   left-handed outfielder can flat-out hit, and hit for power. Not only did he have 24 extra-base hits in 54 games in his debut, he also drew 30 walks, resulting in his league-leading .979 OPS. A better athlete than you'd think as long as Snider continues to work hard on his conditioning, he should develop into a prototypical right fielder, both offensively and defensively. It's probably safe to say there hasn't been this much excitement about the offensive potential of a Jays prospect since Alex Rios graduated to the big leagues."

" ... Balbino Fuenmayor ...   Jays have had some interesting international signings over the last couple of years ... Fuenmayor signed a 2007 contract. He'll play this year at age 17, but he doesn't look like it. He's a legitimate third baseman, albeit raw, and he has shown the ability to hit for power and has an advanced approach at the plate. He's still exceptionally young, but he was showing all the tools during instructs last fall. He won't be under the radar for long."

09 March, 2007   

    Dustin Nippert ARZ 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3, RBI, .500 ... Gavin Floyd CHA 3.0 5 6 2 1 1 ... Felix Pie CHN 2-5, .421 ... Jeff Clement SEA 0-2 ... Alex Gordon KC, that's better,  2-4, double, triple, 4 RBI, .353 ... Mike Pelfrey NYN 3.0 3 2 0 0 0  ... Lastings Milledge NYN 1-2, double, walk ... Jason Smith 2B TOR (Rule 5 pick)  4-4, double, homer ... Dustin Pedroia BOS 0-3, .176 ... Cameron Maybin DET 1-2 ... Josh Hamilton CIN 1-2, .476 ... no stopping him, Hunter Pence HOU 1-1, 2-run homer, .769 ... Kevin Slowey MIN 2.0 2 0 0 1 3 ... Jason Kubel MIN 2-4 ... Jose Tabata NYA 2-2 ... Jeff Niemann  TB 2.0 5 2 2 1 0 ... Delmon Young TB 1-3, .273 ... BJ Upton TB RF 1-2, double, .214 ... Anibal Sanchez FLO, looks in form, 3.0 1 1 1 0 2 ... Jason Stokes FLO 0-3, 2 Ks ...

    Troop movements ... PIT - released OF Jody Gerut ... WAS - released INF Tony Womack; Reassigned INF Tony Blanco, Mike Hinckley to Double-A, OF George Lombard, RHP Felix Diaz  to Minor League camp ... NYN - signed INF Wil Cordero to a Minor League contract ... MIL - reassigned RHP Vince Perkins, optioned RHP Marino Salas to Triple-A, RHP Mike Jones to Double-A ... NYN - reassigned 1B Michel Abreu, RHP Clint Nageotte, C Mike Nickeas, OF Chip Ambres, OF Fernando Martinez to minor league camp; optioned LHP Adam Bostick to Triple-A ...   And, while they're cutting 'em, they're also adding them ... David Farr continues to update the NRI list ...

    Aaron Gleeman checks in with 21-30 of his Top 50 :

" ... 22. Nick Adenhart  ...  an elite talent who dropped to the 14th round in 2004 following Tommy John surgery ...  has quickly regained that status with a 2.72 ERA and 204-to-66 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 208.1 pro innings. He overpowered hitters at low Single-A and continued to pitch well after a promotion to high Single-A last season, all before his 20th birthday. An overlooked aspect of Adenhart's prospect stock is that he's an extreme ground-ball pitcher who's served up a grand total of three career homers."

" ...  24. Cameron Maybin  ... pro debut last season and hit .304/.387/.457 in 101 games at low Single-A. Maybin's 116 strikeouts are a concern, but he showed a strong bat and good plate discipline for a teenager while swiping 27 bases and drawing rave reviews defensively in center field. Curtis Granderson's presence in Detroit means the Tigers don't have to rush Maybin, but he could move quickly through the minors anyway."

" ...  27. Justin Upton  ...  pro debut was viewed by many as disappointing. However, while his numbers weren't eye-popping, Upton showed a broad base of skills for an 18-year-old with 41 extra-base hits, 52 walks, and 15 steals in 113 games at low Single-A. Considered raw but promising in center field after playing shortstop in high school, Upton looks capable of thriving in every phase of the game.

    Be sure to check in to RotoJunkie this weekend for Jason Collette's updates.  Lots to devour.  Should have his team-by-team Top 15s to follow his Top 100 posted earlier. 

    James Loney now Andy LaRoche ... LA tries to find spots for a talented duo :

" ...   LaRoche, in his left-field debut Thursday night, fielded the two bouncing balls his way without incident ...  He said he enjoyed his first taste of a position other than third base, but would have liked a little more to do. "I was hoping I'd have to make a throw home," he said. "I wanted some action out there." LaRoche's brief fling in left in a night game was in sharp contrast with James Loney's spring debut in right field the previous day game, when Loney lost sight of three catchable balls off the bat. "When you put a player in a new position they seem to hit balls at them right away," said manager Grady Little. "I don't know if it's coincidence or the baseball gods. Sure enough, they hit a couple but he [LaRoche] handled them well."  (minorleaguebaseball.com)

08 March, 2007

    Luke Hochevar KC 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 ... Alex Gordon KC 1-3, double ... Josh Fields CHA 1-2, homer, walk ...  Yovani Gallardo MIL 3.0 0 0 0 0 3 ...  Jeff Samardzija CHN 2.0 2 1 1 0 1 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff SD 1-1, 2 walks ... Tim Lincecum SF 2.0 4 3 3 0 2 ... Felix Hernandez SEA 3.0 3 1 1 0 2 ... James Loney  LAD 3-3, walk ... JA Happ PHI 3.2 1 1 1 0 3 ... Matt Albers HOU 2.0 3 0 0 0 1 ... Troy Patton HOU 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3 ... B.J. Upton TB 1-3, CS, picked off ... Joel Guzman 3B TB 1-3, homer ... Lastings Milledge NYN 0-4, 2 Ks ... Andy LaRoche LAD 0-3, 3rd error ... Edward Campusano DET (Rule 5 pick) 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 ... Hayden Penn BAL 1.0 1 0 0 2 0 ... Andy Marte CKE 2-5 ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-3, 2 RBI ... Joey Votto CIN 1-1, homer .... Josh Hamilton CIN 0-3 ... Matt Kemp LAD 1-3, walk ...

    Troop movements ... TOR - reassigned LHP Jo Matumoto to minor league camp ...

    Tim Grassey, Fantasy Baseball Cafe,  moves up to the 30s in his inaugural Top 100 :

" ... 33. Hunter Pence  ...  An .890 OPS last season in Double-A saw Pence and the Astros salivating at the Major League opportunities he will see in 2007. Pence has decent plate discipline and excellent power, but he does struggle with breaking pitches and could probably use a few months in Triple-A. Expect him to be a big league regular by 2008."

" ... 35. Jeff Niemann ...  When he is healthy, the 6’9” right-hander is an imposing figure on the mound. He can paint the corners with a mid-90s fastball that is complemented by a hard slider, curveball, and change-up. He should start the season in Triple-A Durham, and is the closest to the majors among legitimate Devil Rays pitching prospects. They will need him to stay healthy so that he and Scott Kazmir can form a potent 1-2 punch."

" ... 39. Carlos Carrasco ...  signed out of Venezuela in 2003 and his youth will allow the Phillies to be patient with him; however, his dominance at such a young age may force the Phillies to push him up the minor league ranks. He complements his low-90s fastball with a decent curveball, and an excellent change-up, though he can struggle overall with his control at times. Probably at least two years away."

    Aaron Gleeman, with a Top 50 at his own site, posts the second installment of the series :

" ... 33. Jacoby Ellsbury ...   hasn't shown much power, but boasts an outstanding 73-to-73 strikeout-to-walk and .391 on-base percentage, which sets him up to do damage with his exceptional speed. Along with 60 steals in 146 minor-league games, Ellsbury is considered a very good defensive center fielder and profiles as a similar player to Johnny Damon."

" ... 39. Scott Elbert ...  Few pitching prospects have been more overpowering than Scott Elbert over the past two years, as he struck out 301 batters in 261 innings and held opponents to a sub-.200 batting average. What could keep him from becoming an ace-caliber starter is throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the ballpark, because over those same 261 frames he walked 141 batters and served up 23 homers. The control is likely to improve with experience, but Elbert's fly-ball tendencies mean the long-ball problems may not."

" ... 40. James Loney ...  a big season, leading the minors by hitting .380 at Triple-A before slugging .559 in 48 games with the Dodgers. Despite Loney's power showing in Los Angeles, he projects more as a slick-fielding, high-average doubles hitter, although he may have to break into the lineup as an outfielder."

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, with another of his matchups ... this one lefty Andrew Miller DET vs righty Adam Miller CLE :

" ...   Both pitchers throw with similar velocity; both have excellent sliders; both need to improve their changeups ...  In general, Adam has better control and polish than Andrew right now, but he also has been learning his craft in a pro environment rather than in college, and Andrew is hardly raw given his experience level. Perhaps a slight edge for Adam ... Assuming the expected command refinements, Andrew Miller projects as a number one starter at the major league level. At worst he would be a power closer from the left side if the changeup is a problem ...  Assuming continued good health, Adam Miller projects as a number one starter at the major league level. At worst he'd be a number three type if his stuff levels out or slips a bit ...  Maybe a SLIGHT edge on intangibles for Adam Miller, Andrew gets a slight edge on tools, Adam gets a slight edge on current polish and performance, even on projection. I rated Adam at Number Six on my pitching prospect list, and Andrew at Number Seven. It's really, really close but overall I think Adam is just a HAIR better."

    Jayson Stark, ESPN.com, with a feature piece on Phil Hughes NYA :

" ... He's 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. He launches baseballs with a smooth, compact delivery that has drawn comparisons to Clemens and Curt Schilling and Mike Mussina. And his four-pitch repertoire is so dominating that he turned the entire Eastern League into a collection of .179 hitters last year. So Hughes is shaping up as the centerpiece of Cashman's new, welcome-to-the-21st-century blueprint for the Yankees. Why buy an ace down at the old Mercenary Mart for 100 million bucks when you can grow your own? But before we hand him his first Cy Young trophy, let's remember something: He's only 20.."

    Even beyond Hughes, the Yankees with some pitching talent on the farm :

" ... Dellin Betances ...  was surprising enough in his debut when he posted a 1.17 ERA and 27 K's in 23 1/3 IP in the Gulf Coast League. Then he was touching 98 mph last fall ...  If that weren't enough, Betances showed up early to camp looking like a different person. The 6-foot-8 right-hander was around 205 pounds last fall. He showed up this spring at close to 230 pounds. What that can do for his fastball and his stamina is a little mind-boggling. He's also shown an above-average curveball and a changeup that's usable now but will get better. ...  Of all the pitching the Yankees have in their system currently, there may be no one with a higher ceiling than Betances."

" ... Joba Chamberlain ...  in the Hawaiian Winter League and was named the league's top prospect. He touched 97 mph there and his fastball sat in the 93-95 range. He complements that plus-fastball with a slider, curve and changeup, all of which are usable pitches. Part of what scared some teams off were his conditioning and past knee surgery and Chamberlain will have to continue to focus on conditioning to stay healthy and maintain his power-command combination. Already making some adjustments to the pro game in terms of his delivery and his pitch selection, he could move up extremely quickly and join the upper-level pitching logjam in the near future."  (minorleaguebaseball.com)

07 March, 2007   

    Daisuke Matsuaka BOS 3.0 2 0 0 1 3 ... Jason Hirsh COL 3.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-2, triple, .750 ... Phil Hughes NYA 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 ... Tom Gorzelanny PIT 1.1 2 6 5 5 0 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 0-2, walk ... Neil Walker PIT (3B) 0-4, 2nd error ... Blake Hawksworth STL 3.0 3 1 0 0 2 ... Macay McBride ATL 2.0 4 4 4 2 1 ... Joey Devine ATL 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 ... Yusmeiro Petit FLO 3.0 1 0 0 0 5 ... Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 2-3, triple ... Dustin Pedroia BOS 1-3 ... Delmon Young TB 1-3 ... Greg Miller LAD 2.0 3 1 1 0 1 ... Glen Perkins MIN 2.0 5 1 1 0 2 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 1-5 ...  Casey Kotchman LAA 0-3 ... Kendry Morales LAA 1-2 ... Chris Iannetta COL 1-2 ... Troy Tulowitzki COL 1-3, double ... Billy Butler KC 1-2 ... Edinson Volquez TEX 2.0 0 0 0 2 0 ... Thomas Diamond TEX 1.0 3 2 2 2 1 ... Justin Upton ARZ 1-2 , CS ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 2-2 ...

" ...  Brewers 3B Ryan Braun  ...  with Corey Koskie's health up in the air, it's unclear what Braun's chances are. As of right now, however, Braun is being given every opportunity to win the third base job in Milwaukee. He certainly hasn't hurt his chances early on, going 6-for-10 with three homers, eight RBIs and a stolen base. A few more days like that and they won't be able to send him down. ... The flip side is Alex Gordon. It sounded like the Royals were prepared to have him open the season as the third baseman with a decent spring, moving Mark Teahen to the outfield. Starting out the Cactus League schedule 1-for-9 is not a way to cement that position. It's still too early to write him off, but watch him carefully. If he starts pressing, the Royals could have him begin the year in Omaha." (minorleaguebaseball.com)

    Troop movements ... among the cuts ... CHA - reassigned OF Kenny Kelly, RHP Eduardo Sierra, INF Kenny Perez and to minor league camp ... PIT - Optioned RHP Bryan Bullington and RHP John Van Benschoten to Triple-A,  RHP Yoslan Herrera to Double-A, reassigned RHP Brad Lincoln, LHP Michael Tejera to Minor League camp ... SF - Optioned 1B Travis Ishikawa to Triple-A,  reassigned OF Eddy Martinez-Esteve to Minor League camp ... TB - reassigned RHP Shinji Mori and RHP Doug Waechter to minor league camp ...

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, marks the halfway point in his Top 100 :

" ... 60. Travis Snider ...  the first prep first-rounder the Jays have drafted since J.P. Ricciardi took over, had a highly impressive debut last season in the rookie-level Appalachian League. He's got lots of raw power and a command of the strike zone. On the downside, he's going to be relegated to left field, and he's already battling weight problems."

" ... 56. Elvis Andrus ...  numbers don't look very impressive at first blush, but last season he was in the full-season Sally League despite being only 17 for most of the year. In that context, his batting line of .265 AVG/.324 OBP/.362 SLG at Low-A Rome looks much more promising. He's raw, but Andrus' speed on the bases, hand-eye coordination and quick bat through the zone all portend skills growth."

" ... 51. Jeremy Jeffress ... struggled with his command last season in the rookie-level Arizona League, but a fastball that occasionally reaches triple digits hints at his promise. He gets groundballs (always a useful skill), but his secondary pitches need much work. He's raw and needs careful instruction coming up through the system. However, Jeffress' promise is undeniable."

    Jim Callis, Baseball America, on Delmon Young TB :

" ... From a tools and performance standpoint, Young still looks like the same future superstar that he did a year ago. His 11 homers were a career low, but his power potential remains undeniable. He improved his performance in Triple-A compared to 2005, and put up combined .316/.339/.474 numbers between that level and the majors—at age 20. The one area where Young took a hit last year, obviously, was his makeup. He threw his bat after a called third strike and hit an umpire, drawing a 50-game suspension. He later criticized the Devil Rays for delaying his arrival to the majors, and generally came off as petulant. However, the Rays believe he'll mature as he gets older, and they don't believe his behavior is a long-term concern."

    David Luciani, Baseball Notebook, with some thoughts on Alex Gordon for 2007 and Josh Hamilton :

" ... I've forecasted 434 at bats, a .264 average, 13 home runs, 66 runs scored, 53 RBI and 12 steals ... Gordon is a case where you have a prospect who's deservingly ranked very high but as always, readers need to be reminded that it's rare (but not impossible) for prospects to instantly achieve their potential upon arriving in the majors. Remember too that while Gordon appears to have a lock on the Opening Day third base job, he's one extended slump away from a return to the minors as the Royals don't want to ruin him and are being smart about how they handle him."

" ...   based on all the info I can collect about him (which is limited), I will be forecasting a terrible batting average - think sub-.200 - with some decent power and occasional speed. Remember this about him: Yes, he was once considered a top prospect but he's now twenty-five years old, has missed about four years of action that should have been used as development time ...  last time we did see him, he was hitting .303 at Single-A (save for the .260 average he picked up in just 50 at bats with the low Single-A Hudson-Valley short season team last year). Hitting .303 at Single-A is actually not something that translates to major league skill ...  I am aware that he started by hitting .500 in his first 12 spring at bats but I just can't use that alone as evidence that he's a significantly improved player than the one we last saw in real action in 2002 ...  I'll be very surprised if Hamilton is ready for the majors right now after such a long layoff."

    The CIN system is featured at MinorLeagueBaseball :

" ... Drew Stubbs ...  has huge power and surprising speed. The first college position player taken by Cincinnati with its first pick in the last 10 drafts, he hit .252 with six homers, 24 RBIs and 19 steals in his debut at Billings and will man center field in Dayton. For all that lumber, though, his best tool may be his defense. "He's as good a defensive outfielder as there is in the game, and I wouldn't limit that to the Minors," Reynolds said. "If that bat comes around just a little, we'll have a real star kind of guy."

" ... Joey Votto ...   converted catcher from Canada has transformed himself into the top power-hitting corner prospect in the system, enjoying a breakout season in 2006 at Double-A Chattanooga. There, he earned Southern League MVP honors after hitting .319 with 22 homers and 77 RBIs, winning the batting crown and leading the Reds' system in home runs. He added 24 steals, impressive for a first baseman or catcher, along with 46 doubles and a .408 on-base percentage to show across-the-board tools. His defense is still something of a work-in-progress though not a liability."

    Oh oh ...

" ...   Twins have grown increasingly concerned with Matt Garza's neck pain and have scheduled an appointment for the pitcher to see a neurologist. The right-hander was taken out of his outing against the Devil Rays on Monday after throwing to just two hitters due to the pain hindering his pitching motion. Garza underwent a CT scan last week to try and find out the cause of the problem, but nothing was discovered. The right-hander has been waking up every morning with slight headaches and said that he feels the stiffness constantly. Garza likely will undergo an MRI in the coming days, and Gardenhire said the club will wait to find a cause before allowing him to get back on the mound."  (minorleaguebaseball.com) 

06 March, 2007   

    Adam Loewen BAL 2.0 1 0 0 1 5 ... Adam Wainwright  STL 4.0 0 0 0 2 1 ... Hunter Pence HOU 2-2, double, .700 ... Chad Billingsley LAD 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 ... Dustin Pedroia BOS 1-2, double, walk ... Matt Garza MIN (stiff neck) 0.0 1 1 1 1 0 ... BJ Upton TB (at SS) 0-3 ... Carlos Ruiz PHI 2-3, homer ... Joey Votto CIN 1-1, RBI ... Josh Hamilton CIN 1-1, walk ...  Matt Harrison ATL 1.0 3 4 4 1 1 ... Alay Soler NYN 3.0 4 1 1 0 0 ... Andy Marte CLE 0-3 ... Trevor Crowe CLE (CF, leadoff) 1-3, walk, error  ...  Andrew Miller DET 2.0 2 1 1 1 1 ... Kei Igawa NYA 1.0 2 2 2 3 3 ... Lance Broadway 2.0 2 2 2 1 0 ... Mark Prior CHN 1.1 4 3 3 2 0 ...  Felix Pie CHN (leadoff, CF) 3-5 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff SD 1-3, walk ... Alex Gordon KC 1-2 ... Justin Upton ARZ 1-1, homer ... Chris Young ARZ 1-3 ... Ian Stewart 3B COL 0-3, 2 Ks ... Kendry Morales LAA 2-3, double ...

    Troop movements ...  among the cuts, STL - reassigned RHP Chris Lambert,  C Bryan Anderson, C Michel Hernandez to minor league camp ... SF - optioned RHP Kelyn Acosta to Double-A, RHP Merkin Valdez to Triple-A ... a bit of a surprise in the initial BAL cuts :

" ...   Orioles have reassigned pitchers Garrett Olson, Radhames Liz and Freddy Deza, and outfielder Cory Keylor, to their minor league camp in Sarasota, Fla. Olson allowed one run in two innings in Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Mets, and he was credited with the win. Liz permitted two runs in two innings. Manager Sam Perlozzo instructed Olson to concentrate on keeping the ball down. Olson and Liz are two of the organization's top pitching prospects, and sending them to Sarasota allows them to get more innings."  (Baltimore Sun)

    Aaron Gleeman has the first installment of his Top 50.

" ... 42. Jeff Niemann  ... | As a pro Niemann has shown that he's indeed an elite talent, striking out 10.5 batters per nine innings while holding opponents to a .194 batting average, but has also thrown just 108 career innings because of an assortment of maladies. A 6-foot-9 flamethrower, Niemann has legitimate No. 1 starter potential if he can simply stay healthy."

" ... 46. Miguel Montero ... ready to take over as Arizona's catcher ...  track record is inconsistent, but Montero has shown the ability to post big batting averages while making good contact, has plenty of power, and is considered a solid defender behind the plate. Given a chance to a platoon with Chris Snyder, he could be a darkhorse Rookie of the Year candidate."

" ... 49. Alberto Callaspo  ...  hit .337 in 114 games at Triple-A and moved up to Arizona in August. A versatile defender who'll likely end up at second base, Callaspo has more power potential than a typical slap hitter and controls the strike zone as well as anyone in baseball. He struck out just 33 times in 601 total plate appearances last year and has made contact in over 95 percent of his career trips to the plate while hitting .314."

    Jonathan Mayo, MinorLeagueBaseball, on Jeff Clement SEA :

" ... More than likely, Clement will be back at Triple-A Tacoma to start the season ...  still has much to work on, both offensively and behind the plate. Because of injuries, he really didn't get to develop his game-calling and other defensive skills as everyone would have hoped in 2006. That will be a focus this spring and on into the season. Unfortunately, a bruised finger has held him back from playing in camp. Assuming he can stay healthy, it sounds like the clock will be ticking and he just needs some playing time to show he's ready. "We won't hold him back," Mattox said. "When he's ready, we'll make sure he has the opportunity to play." But where? Mattox says there is no plan to have him work at another position. Besides, even if the Mariners had him play first base, Richie Sexson is there. So for now, he'll work on becoming a better all-around catcher, though some feel he's destined to become a very young DH. "The plan is to develop him as a catcher, and that's it," Mattox said. "If it changes, we'll let him know. My goal is to get him ready for when he does get the call."

05 March, 2007

    Yunel Escobar ATL 2-5, SB ... Matt Kemp LAD 0-3, walk ... Andy LaRoche LAD 0-2 ...Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 0-2 ... Jason Kubel MIN 0-3 ... Homer Bailey CIN, debut, 2.0 3 3 3 1 1 ...  Josh Hamilton CIN 2-3, RBI ... Neil Walker PIT 1B 2-2, RBI ... Kyle Sleeth DET 2.0 2 0 0 0 3 ...  Andy Marte CLE 0-2, 2nd error ... Scott Elbert LAD 2.0 1 2 1 4 3 ... James Loney LAD 2-3, double ... Jose Tabata NYA 1-4, walk, 2 Ks ... Lastings Milledge NYN 2-4, triple ...  Jeff Niemann TB 1.0 0 1 0 0 1 ... Adam Lind TOR 1-3, 2nd triple ... Elijah Dukes TB 0-2 ... Matt Albers HOU 2.0 2 0 0 2 1 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-2, 2nd double ... John Danks CHA 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Gio Gonzalez CHA 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 ... Josh Fields CHA 1-4, double ... Nick Adenhart LAA 2.2 1 1 1 0 0 ... Casey Kotchman LAA 2-3, homer ... Micah Owings ARZ 2.0 2 0 0 0 3 ... Justin Upton ARZ 0-2 ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 0-3 ... Brandon McCarthy TEX 2.0 1 0 0 1 4 ... Zack Greinke KC 2.0 4 3 3 0 1 ... Alex Gordon KC 1-3 ... ooops ... Phil Humber NYN 1.0 3 5 5 2 0 ... Radhames Liz BAL 2.0 4 2 2 2 1 ...  Chris Volstad FLO 2.2 6 4 2 1 2 ... BJ Upton TB (3B) 0-2, 2 errors ...  Scott Baker MIN 2.0 6 5 5 2 1 ... Yoslan Herrera PIT 1.0 4 5 4 2 0 ... Chuck Lofgren CLE  0.1 5 6 5 2 0 ...Taylor Buchholz COL 3.0 1 0 0 1 2 ... Dustin Nippert ARZ 2.0 2 2 0 1 2 ... AJ Shappi ARZ 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 ... Scott Hairston ARZ 1-3, homer ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 1-3, double, 2 RBI ... Chris Young ARZ 2-4 ... Miguel Montero ARZ 2-3, RBI ... Justin Upon ARZ 0-2 ... Chris Iannetta COL 0-4 ... Troy Tulowitzki COL 3-4, double, 3 RBI ... Ian Stewart COL 3B 2-3, double, error ...

" ... Third baseman Ryan Braun, the Cactus League leader in a number of categories, did not play for a second straight day. Braun is complaining of a sore right elbow, but assistant general manager Gord Ash said the injury is not considered significant "  (minorleaguebaseall.com)

    Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, highlights his prospect coverage to date with his annual Top 150 !  As usual, an interesting and thought-provoking list (now up to 21 Top 100s) :

" ... 1. Delmon Young ...  did little to enhance his stock after entering 2006 as the game's best prospect, but the drop in power and the pathetic walk rate weren't enough to cost him his placement. Neither was the ugly incident in April in which he threw a bat at an umpire and drew a 50-game suspension. There's no doubt Young is going to hit for power. He'll have 30- or maybe even 40-homer ability in his prime. Also, he makes contact often enough that he's not going to need to walk to be a very good player. He'll probably be a 50-walk guy someday anyway. It'd be quite a disappointment if he didn't go to at least a few All-Star Games in his career."

" ... 7. Justin Upton ...  after missing time in April with a shoulder injury, Upton turned in a decent pro debut. Nine of his 12 homers came after the break, though his average slipped from .274 to .254. With his outstanding speed, Upton is likely to become a fine center fielder in time, though he could end up in a corner on the Diamondbacks. He's already filled out a bit, and he's on his way to becoming a 25-homer guy. His makeup is somewhat in question, but he's undeniably one of the elite talents in the minors."

" ... 9. Mike Pelfrey ... didn't sign until last January after the Mets made him the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft, but he was in the majors just six months later, making four starts for the team before being sent down in early August  ...  mid-90s fastball is a big-time weapon, but he's still working on the rest of his craft .. .  He's a terrific prospect anyway, mostly because his fastball is so tough to hit, but a couple of more months in the minors would do him some good."

" ... 33. Jarrod Saltalamacchia ...  performance took a huge downturn last season. He batted just .197 in 239 at-bats before going down with a hand injury at the beginning of July. Better results came following his return, as he hit .338 with five homers in 74 at-bats. He then got off to a torrid start in the AFL, only to succumb to a hamstring injury. The Saltalamacchia of the second half was much closer to the real thing. Brian McCann has improved enough defensively that Salty might be tried at first base this year, even though he may have more upside with the glove than McCann does. A trade is a possibility. If Saltalamacchia can stay behind the plate, he could be a star in the majors. Even as a first baseman, he'd be a top-100 prospect."

" ... 37. Adam Jones ...  A shortstop in his first 2 ½ pro seasons, he only made the move to the outfield in the AFL in 2005. He's made fine progress in center and should be above average in time. Also, he shows 25-homer potential on offense. The package will likely make him a fine regular by 2009. Right now, he still swings and misses at too many pitches to be effective. The Mariners can afford to give him another full year in Triple-A after moving Ichiro Suzuki to center field."

" ... 47. Troy Patton ...  wasn't stellar after moving up to Double-A last year, but another healthy season has left his stock as a prospect essentially unchanged, even if his ceiling isn't as high as it once appeared ...  throws in the low-90s and features an above average curve. He's also making progress with his changeup, though it isn't quite a major league pitch yet. Disappointing is that he's yet to build the stamina or become efficient enough to work deep into games, and as a flyball pitcher, he may have difficulty amassing quality ERAs in Houston. Still, he could be at least a No. 3 starter if he remains healthy."

" ... 57. Billy Rowell ... The early results say the Orioles did very well with the ninth selection in the 2006 draft. Rowell, a shortstop in high school, was moved to third base right away after signing and then hit .328/.415/.503 at two stops. His left-handed swing promises 30-homer power, and he's already making ample contact, against righties anyway ... Whether he'll be able to stay at third is the biggest question Rowell faces as he climbs the ladder. His chances of becoming an All-Star will be much improved if he can avoid a move to first base or an outfield corner."

    MinorLeagueBaseball checks in with reports on the PIT and MIL :

" ... John Van Benschoten ...  JVB has missed enough time due to injuries that he may have slipped out of the spotlight. Most organizations saw Van Benschoten as a hitter, not a pitcher, coming out of college in 2001. The former NCAA home run champion appeared as if he was going to make the Pirates look smart by moving relatively quickly through the system and making his big-league debut in 2004. But that's when the bottom fell out. He missed all of the 2005 season and virtually all of last year with shoulder trouble. He's had surgery twice on that right shoulder, but he did throw the ball pretty well when he made it back at the end of 2006. If he's able to stay healthy, Van Benschoten can throw a fastball in the low-90s to go with a curve and slider, both of which can be plus pitches. He just needs to stay on the mound. If he can avoid the injury bug, there's still time for him to be an effective big-league starter."

" ... Brad Lincoln ...  People in Pirates camp got very nervous when Lincoln, the No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft, was shut down with a strained muscle in his forearm ...  Pirates are hoping he'll only end up being about two weeks behind, though his timetable in joining the Lynchburg rotation is dependent on when he's able to begin throwing this spring. When healthy, Lincoln shows a Clemens-like competitiveness and mentality. He's got incredible arm strength and has a four-pitch mix: fastball, curve, slider and changeup."

" ... Lorenzo Cain ...  blossomed last year at West Virginia. He batted .317 with six homers, 60 RBIs and 34 stolen bases while leading the Sally League with 162 hits. Cain strikes out a tad too much, but plate discipline will come with experience. Though he tied for the league lead among outfielders with 12 errors, his 303 total chances also were tops. "He's done everything. He can do it all," Nichols said. "The power will come with him, but he's already a good defender and a hard worker. He's got the heart of a warrior. I like him. I think he's an All-Star in that league."

" ... RHP Will Inman ... turned 20 last month, was 10-2 in 23 games (20 starts) while posting one of the lowest ERAs (1.71) in the Minors. He's 16-2 with a 1.77 ERA in 32 Minor League games and successfully dealt with a sore shoulder last summer."

04 March, 2007   

    Troop movements ... Yanks the first team to make cuts ... reassigned RHP Steven White, INF Marcos Vechionacci, INF Ramiro Pena, C Francisco Cervelli, C Omir Santos and C P.J. Pilittere to their minor league camp ...

    John Van Benschoten  PIT 0.1 2 3 3 2 0 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 1-3 ... Jose Tabata NYA 0-2 ... Kory Casto WAS 1-2 ... Ryan Garko CLE 1-4, double ... Troy Cate STL 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 ... Hunter Pence HOU 1-1, double ...  Dustin Pedroia BOS 0-4, error ... Evan Longoria TB 0-0, walk, caught stealing ... BJ Upton TB 1-3, 2B-CF ... Elijah Dukes TB 0-3 ... Andy LaRoche LAD 2-3, walk, 2 errors ... Brandon Wood LAA 2-2, double, 2 SBs ... Ian Stewart COL 1-2 ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 0-3 ... Justin Upton ARZ 1-1, double ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-2, outfield assist ... Jeff Samardzija CHN 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 ... Felix Pie CHN 1-3, walk ... Daric Barton OAK 1-3 ... Billy Butler KC 2-3, double ... Jesse Foppert SEA 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 ...

    Project Prospect ranks the best of the young outfielders (Delmon Young, Grady Sizemore, Nick Markakis 1-2-3) ...

" ...  9. Jay Bruce ...  as big as they come when talking impact prospects. He posted a solid .291/.355/.516 vital line while playing though a shoulder injury last season at Single-A Dayton. Prior to injuring his shoulder, the 19-year-old put up a 1.060 July OPS. Bruce has what it takes to quickly move up this list and could become baseball’s No. 1 prospect as soon as 2008."

" ... 10. Cameron Maybin ...  After being the consensus second-best high schooler in the 2005 draft, Maybin leaped ahead over Justin Upton with a superior 2006. Toolsy to the extreme, Maybin projects to be a graceful centerfielder who can hit for power and average. Standing 6-foot-4 with plenty of room to fill out, Maybin could become an impact player capable of 30-30 seasons and gold glove defense."

" ... 18. Colby Rasmus ... The first premier Cardinals position prospect in years, Rasmus possesses superb athleticism and is the heir apparent to the aging Jim Edmonds in center field. Having shown gap power and relatively strong plate discipline in his first full professional season, the 6-foot-1 Rasmus projects to have 25-25 ability with his power and speed, as well as the capability to be an effective top-of-the order hitter."

03 March, 2007 

    Off to prep for my drafts ... an email one still chugging along ... online one tomorrow ... two online next week ... another email one starts up again next week ...

    Ryan Braun MIL, must be eating his Wheaties, 2-5, 3rd homer, walk ...  Hernan Iribarren 2B MIL 3-6, homer, walk, 7 RBI ... JD Closser MIL 4-5, triple, homer, 7 RBI ... Matt Cain SF 2.0 4 5 5 1 2 ... Yovani Gallardo MIL 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 ... Tim Stauffer SD 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 ... Dewon Brazelton KC 2.0 4 3 3 2 0 ... Billy Butler KC 1-2 ... Alex Gordon KC 0-4 ... Dustin McGowan TOR 1.1 2 1 1 1 2 ...  Adam Lind TOR 1-3, double, 2 RBI ...  JA Happ PHI  2.0 1 0 0 0 1 ... Andy Marte CLE 0-2 ... Cameron Maybin DET 2-2, homer, 2 RBI ... Hunter Pence HOU 3-3, homer, 3 RBI ... Elijah Dukes TB 1-2 ... Delmon Young TB 0-2 ... Joel Guzman TB (at 3B) 0-2 ... James Loney LAD 1-2, double, walk, 2 RBI ... Glen Perkins MIN 2.0 2 1 1 1 1 ... Josh Hamilton CIN 1-3 ... Daisuke Matsuzaka BOS (vs a college team) 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 ... Jacoby Ellsbury BOS, CF & leadoff, 1-3, triple, 2 RBI ... George Kottaras BOS 1-2 ... Kendry Morales LAA 0-2 ... Erick Aybar LAA 0-2 ... Josh Fields CHA 1-2 ... Alberto Callaspo ARZ 2-3 ...  Mark Reynolds ARZ 2-3, double ... Stephen Drew ARZ 2-2 ... Carlos Gonzalez ARZ 1-4, triple ... Miguel Montero ARZ 1-2, walk ... Justin Upton 0-3 ... Daric Barton OAK 1-2 ...

" ...  Luke Hochevar, the No.1 overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, worked two scoreless innings against the Rangers in a "B" game on Friday morning. He gave up two hits, walked none and struck out two, including Sammy Sosa. It was Hochevar's first outing since being shut down in the Arizona Fall League with soreness in his right shoulder. "Knock on wood, I felt great," Hochevar said. "I haven't had a problem since I started back throwing. Hopefully, that will continue. To me, it is something of the past. It wasn't anything major, just a little tightness. I got through that. Hopefully, it stays out of my way the rest of my career." 

" ... With the exception of one pitch -- the first one he threw -- the grand opening of Daisuke Matsuzaka was an enticing preview of what the Red Sox hope to see throughout 2007. Matsuzaka, as advertised, displayed a wide arsenal of pitches in mowing down six of the seven Boston College hitters he faced ... In a prelude to his official exhibition season debut, which will take place on Tuesday ... Matsuzaka threw 25 pitches -- 19 of them for strikes. He allowed one hit over two innings and struck out three ...  The first pitch Matsuzaka threw was laced down the left-field line for a double...  But after that, Matsuzaka got comfortable and the Boston College hitters looked helpless."  (MLB.com)

    Dayn Perrry, FOXSports, moves up to No. 61 in his Top 100 :

" ... 68. Will Inman ... , RHP, Brewers Age: 20 Acquired: 3rd round, 2005, Tunstall HS (Dry Fork, VA) Last season, Inman dominated the Sally League: 110.2 innings, 1.71 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 24 walks, 3 homers allowed. On the downside, he's small for a right-hander, and his stuff doesn't wow the scouts. He'll face a big test in the high minors, but so far so good."

" ... 65. Dexter Fowler ... , CF, Rockies Age: 20 Acquired: 14th round, 2004, Milton HS (Alpharetta, Ga.) At Low-A Asheville last season, Fowler batted .296 and tallied 31 doubles. He makes good contact and is speedy on the bases, but his walk totals and raw-power indicators are somewhat lacking. On the other hand, his large frame suggests he'll develop power, and he's an exceptional defender in center. Definitely keep your eye on this one."

" ... 64. Donald Veal ...  LHP, Cubs Age: 22 Acquired: 2nd round, 2005, Pima Community College Veal thus far has shown an uncanny knack for preventing hits, keeping the ball in the park and stranding base runners. He also has excellent velocity for a lefty, and he already boasts a promising changeup. Veal needs to work on his breaking stuff, improve his control and prove himself at the higher levels. The 2007 season will be a critical one for him."

    MinorLeagueBaseball has begun a team-by-team look at each farm system.  If the first couple of reports are an indication, these will be valuable research tools.  Lisa Winston penned the Cubs' report, Jonathan Mayo handled the Cards.

" ...  Jaime Garcia ...  The southpaw tossed 155 innings across two full-season levels, finishing with a 3.37 ERA and leading the organization with 131 strikeouts ...  best pitch is a knee-buckling, 12-to-6 curve that he can command and throw for strikes. His fastball was at least average and there were reports he was up to the mid-90s in winter ball, which would elevate his draft status to another level. He's also been working on a changeup and has shown a good feel for it thus far. Like any pitcher, the key for him to continue to move quickly will be health. He's had some issues with conditioning in the past, but it seems he has developed a good work ethic as he matures ...  H don't be surprised if he pitches his way to Double-A this spring."

" ... Colby Rasmus ...  He's got at least 20-20 potential, which he just started to realize when he stole 28 bases and hit 16 homers across two levels in his first full season. At each level, Rasmus got off to a terrible start ... To his credit, he made adjustments, finishing his time in the Midwest League with a .310 average and hitting .305 in August. Rasmus is a prototypical five-tool player who someday soon should be able to take the reins from Jim Edmonds in St. Louis' center field and could develop into a .300 hitter with 20-25 homers per season while playing excellent defense. "

" ... Jeff Samardzija ...  throws a sinking fastball consistently in the low 90s, but he can bump it up when needed and projects as a frontline starter (though some think he'd make an outstanding closer as well). He wasted no time getting his pro career started last summer, posting a 2.37 ERA in five games at Boise and a 3.27 ERA in two starts at Peoria before leaving to rejoin the football team. "Everyone talks about what a great athlete he is, but he's a class young man whose work ethic is off the charts," enthused Fleita. "You hate to put a time frame on things, but this is a guy who is so athletic and whose aptitude is so tremendous. I foresee him spending the year where he's at, but I could see a September callup, and the next thing you know he's probably in the big leagues."

" ... Mark Pawelek ...  Cubs have taken it easy with their young pitchers, moving them up one step at a time, and Pawelek has been no exception. In his debut in 2005 in the Arizona League, he dominated opposing hitters to the tune of a .170 average against. He then posted a 2.51 ERA at Boise in 2006, ranking among the tops in the organization. This year he is ready to step out of the shadows ...  throws three solid pitches with his low-90s fastball, a curve and a change-up. As long as he can stay in shape, an issue when he came to camp in 2006, he should be one to watch."

    Carlos Gonzalez ARZ is Baseball America's pick as the "Winter Player of the Year" :

" ...  At 21 years old, Carlos Gonzalez was doing things in his home country of Venezuela that players his age and experience level only dream about ...  went to play for Zulia and was immediately a star for the Aguilas, hitting .319 in hitting and tying for the second in the league with nine home runs. "He's a guy you just didn't want to pitch to--runners on base or not," Aragua manager Buddy Bailey said. "He has this quiet approach; probably a lot of people could take him the wrong way and say he was cocky. But being cocky is part of this game, and it's even more so in winter ball. "It's not show-you-up cocky, but it's confidence. He was a hell of an out." He was even more so in Zulia's postseason run, when Gonzalez batted .348 and drove in 10 in 11 games and lowered his strikeout rate along the way." (Chris Kline, Baseball America)

    Again, from the Top 100s ... this time the picks as the best of the southpaws (the three
"Xs" are well-known and well-respected prospectors :

   Project Prospect   Diamond Futures    Bryan Smith        Johathan Mayo
                                          Sports Illustrated Minor League
                                                             Baseball
 1  Miller Andrew      Quinowski David    Miller Andrew      Elbert Scott
 2  Elbert Scott       Hill Rich          Kershaw Clayton    Miller Andrew
 3  Kershaw Clayton    Lewis Scott        Elbert Scott       Danks John
 4  Veal Donald        Garcia Jaime       Danks John         Lofgren Chuck
 5  Lofgren Chuck      Eveland Dana       Morales Franklin   Kershaw Clayton
 6  Morales Franklin   Gorzelanny Tom     Lofgren Chuck
 7  McGee Jacob        Patton Troy        Veal Donald
 8  Danks John         Lofgren Charles    Patton Troy
 9  Patton Troy        Sowers Jeremy      McGee Jacob
 10 Gonzalez Gio       Elbert Scott       West Sean

    Baseball Digest    J.P. Schwartz      David Luciani      Eric Mack
    Daily              Top Prospect       Baseball           CBS Sportsline
                       Alert              Notebook
 1  Miller Andrew      Elbert Scott       Garcia Jaime       Igawa Kei
 2  Elbert Scott       Miller Andrew      Patton Troy        Danks John
 3  Kershaw Clayton    Lofgren Chuck      Maloney Matthew    Miller Andrew
 4  Danks John         Patton Troy        Laffey Aaron       Elbert Scott
 5  Morales Franklin   Kershaw Clayton    Pinto Renyel       Perkins Glen
 6  Patton Troy        Gomez Carlos                          Lumsden Tyler
 7  Lofgren Chuck      Morales Franklin                      Gonzalez Gio
 8  McGee Jacob        Veal Donald                           Chico Matt
 9  West Sean          McGee Jacob
 10 Veal Donald        Danks John

    Sickels            Koby Schellenger   Sports Weekly      RotoJunkie
    Community          Mound Talk                            Jason Collette
 1  Miller Andrew      Elbert Scott       Sowers Jeremy      Miller Andrew
 2  Elbert Scott       Miller Andrew      Sanchez Jonathan   Kershaw Clayton
 3  Kershaw Clayton    Lofgren Chuck      Igawa Kei          Elbert Scott
 4  Danks John         Kershaw Clayton    Gorzelanny Tom     Veal Donald
 5  Morales Franklin   Danks John         Saunders Joe       Lofgren Chuck
 6  Lofgren Chuck      Veal Donald        Perkins Glen       Danks John
 7  McGee Jacob        Patton Troy        Burnett Sean       McGee Jacob
 8  Patton Troy        Morales Franklin   Danks John         Patton Troy
 9  Veal Donald        West Sean          Eveland Dana       Garcia Jaime
 10 Gonzalez Giovany   McGee Jacob        Logan Boone        West Sean

    MLB.COM            X-1                X-2                X-3
 1  Sanchez Jonathan   Miller Andrew      Miller Andrew      Perkins Glen
 2  Elbert Scott       Elbert Scott       Kershaw Clayton    Danks John
 3  Miller Andrew      Perkins Glen       Elbert Scott
 4  Danks John SP      Patton Troy        Lofgren Chuck
 5  Gonzalez Giovany   Gonzalez Giovany   Danks John
 6  Patton Troy        Danks John SP      Morales Franklin
 7  Lofgren Chuck      Tankersley Taylor  McGee Jacob
 8  Veal Donald        Sanchez Jonathan   West Sean
 9                                        Veal Donald
 10                                       Patton Troy

    Baseball America   Kevin Goldsatein
                       BBall Prospectus
 1  Miller Andrew      Kershaw Clayton
 2  Kershaw Clayton    Miller Andrew
 3  Morales Franklin   Elbert Scott
 4  Elbert Scott       Morales Franklin
 5  Mcgee Jacob        Lofgren Chuck
 6  Veal Donald        Veal Donald
 7  Lofgren Chuck      McGee Jacob
 8  Danks John         Patton Troy
 9  Patton Troy        Danks John
 10 Sanchez Jonathan   Sanchez Jonathan

02 March, 2007   

    Oh my ... Ryan Braun 3B MIL looks like he belongs, 4-5, double, 2 homers, 7 RBI, SB, error... Yusmeiro Petit FLO 2.0 6 3 3 0 1 ... Joe Borchard FLO 2-3, double ... Dustin Pedroia BOS, at leadoff, 0-3... Adam Lind TOR 1-2, triple ... Josh Hamilton CIN 2-4, 2-run homer ... Andrew McCutchen PIT, leadoff,  2-4 homer, double ...  Hunter Pence HOU, in CF, 0-2 ... Ryan Garko CLE 2-3, RBI ... Chad Billingsley LAD, in relief, 2.0 3 2 0 0 ... Matt Kemp LAD 1-3 ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia ATL PH 1-1, 2 RBI ... Yunel Escoabar SS ATL 3-3 ... Blake Hawksworth STL 2.0 1 0 0 1 0 ... Kevin Slowey MIN 2.0 2 0 0 2 1 ... Phil Hughes NYA pulled after 33 pitches, 1.1 1 1 1 2 1  ... Alexi Casilla MIN 1-2, BB ... Jose Tabata NYA 1-2 ... Kevin Kouzmanoff SD 1-3, RBI ... Lance Broadway CHA 2.2 1 1 1 3 0 ... Justin Upton ARZ 0-1, BB ... Carlos Quentin ARZ 1-2, homer ... Chris Young ARZ 1-2 ... Josh Fields CHA 2-4, RBI ... Charlie Haeger CHA 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 ... Ian Stewart COL 0-2, BB ... Chris Iannetta COL 1-2, double ... Alex Gordon KC 0-2, BB, K ... Brandon Wood LAA, 3B, 0-2, K ...

    Troop movements ... FLO - released RHP Travis Bowyer ... CIN - signed RHP Dustin Hermanson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training ...

    The long awaited ... Baseball America Top 100 ...

" ... 1. DAISUKE MATSUZAKA ... Who needs a gyroball? He has six pitches that grade out as plus or plus-plus at their best, and he'll be the best Japanese import ever. And no, we're not forgetting about Ichiro."

" ... 35 JEFF NIEMANN ...  Put two years of health problems behind him and started pitching to his potential in the second half of 2006."

" ... 48 DEXTER FOWLER ...  Five-tool center fielder has added switch-hitting, strength and polish since signing Opening Day Age: 21. ETA: 2009."

" ... 70 JAIME GARCIA ...  Not a bad pro debut for a 22nd-round pick: reached high Class A at age 19 and pitched in the Futures Game Opening Day Age: 20. ETA: 2008."

" ... 75 JOBA CHAMBERLAIN ... Highest-drafted Native American ever could be a steal with the 41st overall pick last June Opening Day Age: 21. ETA: 2008."

" ... 90 MATT HARRISON ...The closest thing Atlanta has had to Tom Glavine since Glavine left as a free agent Opening Day Age: 21. ETA: 2008."

And ... Jim Callis in the chatroom :

Drew Stubbs  " ...   I think people miss the point on Drew Stubbs. Stubbs may never hit for a high average. But if he hits .250, he still probably will be a 20-20 guy playing Gold Glove defense in center field. That's a very valuable player."

Elijah Dukes " ...  Dukes' makeup is terrible, and you can't ignore that when you're trying to determine how bright his future will be. And though his package of tools is impressive, he never has had a truly dominant season in the minors. There aren't many good prospects with as much difference between how good he can become and how much he'll have to do to get to that point."

Giants' prospects    " ...  Angel Villalona was very close. Ultimately, the fact that he's 16 and has yet to have a pro at-bat made us decide to wait." I think Sanchez can become a No. 3 starter, and the key (like with most young pitchers) is showing more consistent command in the majors. I can't believe we ranked Lincecum No. 11 and we're getting a question about not ranking him higher! Seriously, I can't imagine many people love him as a prospect more than we do."

Niemann & Humber " ... Niemann's stuff is that much better. And I say that thinking that there's not as huge a difference between 38 spots as you might believe. As with Pelfrey, I see Niemann as a frontline starter and Humber as a No. 3."

Matsuzaka  " ... , Matsuzaka is a prospect on technicality alone. But I do think he's one of the top 10 pitchers in the world, and the only one who qualifies for this list. He's going to be very, very good."

    Tom Singer, MLB.com, highlights ten rooks to watch in 2007 :

" ... 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff ...  a high-average guy who can still develop acceptable corner power, and may be a revelation who has only been awaiting a chance."

" ... C Miguel Montero ...  this 23-year-old's talent persuaded Arizona to deal Johnny Estrada to Milwaukee. With his ability to quarterback a game from behind the mask, Bob Melvin was impressed by Montero during a brief stint in September. Said the manager: "He's low to the ground, he's great blocking balls and moving around back there." Montero is a good contact hitter who lost much of his power once he got out of Class A, but he will be an effective offensive tool at the bottom of the order."

" ... OF Felix Pie ... A 21-year-old outfielder wouldn't seem to have a role on a big-ticket team rigged out for a World Series title run, but Pie will still glow like neon in the Cactus League. Pie has to learn to harness both his speed and his bat, but this is already his fourth big-league camp, and, as long as Jacque Jones seems to dangle one foot out of Chicago, he'll be in the picture."

    Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus, begins to look ahead to the 2007 draft :

" ... Like last year, the college hitting pool is shallow, but one elite talent stands out in Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters, who has rebounded from a slow start to firmly establish himself as the top hitter in the draft. "Look, he's a switch-hitter, he can really hit, and he has huge power as well," said one scouting director. "What's not to like?" One concern in the past has been Wieters' ability to stay behind the plate, but most think those concerns revolve around his 6'5" frame as opposed to his talent. "I really think he can catch," said another evaluator ...  Another scouting director was even more gushing, saying that if he has the first overall pick in the draft, Wieters would be a possibility. "[Vanderbilt lefthander David] Price wouldn't be a slam dunk for me if I was picking 1-1," said the executive. "The offense is a no-brainer and he's a 6 or 7 (on the scouting scale) arm with good footwork, balance and flexibility behind the plate."

    Angels ... good news, not so good news :

" ... Nick Adenhart reported to camp bigger and stronger, having put on what's generally called "good weight," and the Angels are pleased. "He's starting to get some mature weight," Hines said. "He was pretty light when we got him. When you see him [as a scout], you hope that he'll fill out. He's right on pace." ... Right-handed pitcher Tommy Mendoza, a fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft who spent last year with Cedar Rapids and finished fourth in the organization in strikeouts, has been shut down due to some shoulder issues. He will be rehabbing for at least the next month."  (minorleaguebaseball.com)

    The best of the right-handers ... from the Top 100s :

    Project Prospect   Diamond Futures    Bryan Smith        Johathan Mayo
                                          Sports Illustrated Minor League
                                                             Baseball
 1  Matsuzaka Daisuke  Slowey Kevin       Bailey Homer       Bailey Homer
 2  Hughes Phil        Hughes Phil        Hughes Philip      Hughes Phil
 3  Bailey Homer       Inman William      Miller Adam        Gallardo Yovani
 4  Pelfrey Mike       Weaver Jered       Lincecum Tim       Pelfrey Mike
 5  Gallardo Yovani    Gallardo Yovani    Gallardo Yovani    Miller Adam
 6  Garza Matt         Erbe Brandon       Garza Matt         Adenhart Nick
 7  Lincecum Tim       Litsch Jesse       Pelfrey Mike       Garza Matt
 8  Miller Adam        Jurrjens Jair      Adenhart Nick      Lincecum Tim
 9  Adenhart Nick      Andenhart Nicholas Hurley Eric        Hochevar Luke
 10 Hochevar Luke      Guerra Deolis      Hochevar Luke      Rogers Mark

    Baseball Digest    J.P. Schwartz      David Luciani      Eric Mack
    Daily              Top Prospect       Baseball           CBS Sportsline
                       Alert              Notebook
 1  Hughes Philip      Hughes Philip      Hughes Philip      Matsuzaka Daisuke
 2  Bailey Homer       Garza Matt         Adenhart Nicholas  Garza Matt
 3  Garza Matt         Bailey Homer       Gallardo Yovani    Pelfrey Mike
 4  Miller Adam        Pelfrey Mike       Haeger Charles     Bailey Homer
 5  Gallardo Yovani    Gallardo Yovani    Egbert John        Hughes Phil
 6  Pelfrey Michael    Hochevar Luke      Sosa Oswaldo       Hirsh Jason
 7  Lincecum Tim       Lincecum Tim       Hirsh Jason        Niemann Jeff
 8  Adenhart Nick      Hirsh Jason        Erbe Brandon       Volquez Edinson
 9  Hochevar Luke      Niemann Jeff       Mosebach Robert    Humber Philip
 10 Niemann Jeff       Miller Adam        Jurrjens Jair      Miller Adam

    Sickels            Koby Schellenger   Sports Weekly      RotoJunkie
    Community          Mound Talk                            Jason Collette
 1  Hughes Philip      Hughes Phil        Matsuzaka Daisuke  Hughes Philip
 2  Bailey Homer       Bailey Homer       Garza Matt         Bailey Homer
 3  Garza Matt         Gallardo Yovanni   Hughes Phil        Garza Matt
 4  Miller Adam        Pelfrey Mike       Gonzalez Edgar     Gallardo Yovanni
 5  Lincecum Tim       Garza Matt         Sanchez Humberto   Lincecum Tim
 6  Pelfrey Mike       Miller Adan        Albers Matt        Adenhart Nick
 7  Gallardo Yovani    Adenhart Nick      Villanueva Carlos  Pelfrey Mike
 8  Hochevar Luke      Lincecum Tim       Floyd Gavin        Miller Adam
 9  Hirsh Jason        Hochevar Luke      Windsor Jason      Hurley Erik
 10 Adenhart Nick      Humber Phil        Hansen Craig       Humber Phillip

    MLB.COM            X-1                X-2                X-3
 1  Bailey Homer       Hughes Philip      Hughes Philip      Pelfrey Mike
 2  Garza Matt         Bailey Homer       Garza Matt         Bailey Homer
 3  Hughes Philip      Garza Matt         Gallardo Yovani    Linecum Tim
 4  Pelfrey Mike       Miller Adam        Bailey Homer       Hirsh Jason
 5  Hirsh Jason        Pelfrey Mike       Linecum Tim        Hughes Phil
 6  Miller Adam        Hochevar Luke      Miller Adam        Nieman Jeff
 7  Gallardo Yovani    Gallardo Yovani    Pelfrey Mike       Windsor Jason
 8  Lincecum Tim       Niemann Jeff       Hochevar Luke      Nippert Dustin
 9  Niemann Jeff       Adenhart Nick      Hurley Eric        Bannister Brian
 10 Volquez Edinson    Humber Phil        Hirsh Jason        Mastny Tom

    Baseball America   Kevin Goldsatein
                       BBall Prospectus
 1  Matsuzaka Daisuke  Hughes Philip
 2  Hughes Philip      Bailey Homer
 3  Bailey Homer       Lincecum Tim
 4  Lincecum Tim       Garza Matt
 5  Gallardo Yovani    Gallardo Yovani
 6  Pelfrey Mike       Miller Adam
 7  Garza Matt         Hochevar Luke
 8  Miller Adam        Niemann Jeff
 9  Hochevar Luke      Humber Philip
 10 Adenhart Nick      Erbe Brandon

01 March, 2007

    Ah ... real games ... box scores ...

    Some early signs ... rooks and other young guys ... Adam Wainwright STL 3.0 0 0 0 1 1 ...  Jason Stokes FLO 1-1, double ... Rick Ankiel STL 2-2, 2 RBI ...  Andrew Miller DET, in relief, 2.0 2 0 0 1 4 ... Alay Soler NYN 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 ...  Cameron Maybin DET 0-1, K ... Taylor Buchholz  COL 2.0 6 4 4 1 3 ... John Danks CHA 2.0 2 1 1 0 2  ... Ian Stewart COL 1-2, walk ... Joe Koshansky COL 0-3, 2 Ks ... Yoslan Herrera PIT 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 ... Andrew McCutchen PIT 0-2, BB ... Neil Walker PIT 3B 1-3, double ...  Jarrod Saltalamacchia Jarrod ATL 0-2, BB ... Matt Wieters C, Georgia Tech 0-3 ...  Matt Harrison ATL 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 ...  Kyle Drabek PHI 2.0 2 2 2 1 1 ...  Matt Garza MIN 2.0 0 0 0 0 1  ...  Scott Baker MIN 1.1 7 4 4 1 4  ...  Dustin Pedroia BOS 1-2, BB, 2 runs ... Jacoby Ellsbury BOS 1-3, SB ...

    Andrew McCutchen PIT on the road to a possible 2007 callup :

" ... Pirates player development director Brian Graham said the sky's the limit. "We do anticipate [McCutchen] playing in Altoona, and it's just a matter of performing," said Graham. "We're not sending him there to work on jumps in the outfield or hitting breaking balls, we're sending him there to get experience and perform. His performance is going to dictate how fast he moves." If the past is any indication of what's to come, there's already a buzz that McCutchen could receive a September callup to Pittsburgh."  (MiLB.com)

    Ian Stewart COL, third base only for now :

" ...  Stewart, will focus during spring training on hitting and playing third base. The Rockies tabled plans to look at him in the outfield. "After the work he did during the winter with (Single-A Asheville manager) Joe Mikulik, we are confident that he has the instincts and abilities to make a change if we decide that is the course later," general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "Right now, though, we just want him to concentrate on the offensive part of the game and not worry about changing positions."  (Rocky Mountain News)

    Oh oh ... Josh Johnson FLO hurtin' :

" ... there is growing concern that starter Josh Johnson could be out an extended period of time. A league source told MLB.com Wednesday night that Johnson has an unspecified elbow problem. Already expected to be on the disabled list by Opening Day, the source added that Johnson could miss a significant portion of the season ...  has been plagued by arm troubles since last Sept. 12, when he was lifted after five shutout innings against the Mets at Dolphin Stadium ... He had an MRI on Jan. 31, which revealed no structural damage."  (MLB.com)

28 February, 2007      

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, checks in with ten more top young guns of his Top 100 :

" ... 71. Glen Perkins ...  Excellent velocity for a southpaw and strong K rates coming up through the system. On the other hand, his fly-ball tendencies will hurt him in the majors, as will the fact that he lacks command of his breaking stuff. He'll probably wind up as a reliever in Minnesota, unless a needs-based decision keeps him in the rotation."

" ... 77. Trevor Crowe ...  Struggled badly last season in 39 games at Double-A Akron, but his OBP skills are noteworthy. He probably won't stick in center (suspect range, the presence of Grady Sizemore in Cleveland), so he's probably bound for left field. Crowe doesn't profile as much of a power threat at the highest level, so he'll need to continue getting on base if he's to be an asset."

" ... 80. Shane Lindsay ...  control is lacking at times, but he's also got 229 whiffs in 150.2 career minor league innings. Mid-90s heater, hammer curve, still needs a reliable third pitch. Because of Lindsay's control problems, thin repertoire and injury history (rotator cuff issues last season), he's probably going to wind up in a Major League bullpen. But he'll be effective in that role."

    Tim Grassey, Fantasy Baseball Cafe, tacks on another installment in his 2007 Top 100 :

" ... 44. Jacoby Ellsbury  ...  Many Red Sox fans cringed when they watched Johnny Damon sign with the Yankees before the 2006 season. The Red Sox brass knew what they had with Ellsbury, who could be outperforming Damon as early as 2008. With that said, Ellsbury projects to be a Johnny Damon-type leadoff hitter and centerfielder. Coco Crisp is the starting centerfielder this season for the Red Sox, but constant trade rumors around Crisp have resulted in speculation that Ellsbury could have the job by year end."

" ... 48. Brandon Erbe ...  pitched all of 2006 at only 18 years old. He excelled in the Sally League ...  does have some control issues, but his command is still advanced for pitchers his age. The Orioles will proceed cautiously with Erbe. Consequently, he will likely begin the season with their high Class A team."

" ... 49. Chuck Lofgren  ...  throws in the low 90s, but his change-up is his best pitch. He compliments his fastball and change-up with a curve and a slider. He will be 21 next season, and like most pitchers his age, he needs to work on his control. The Indians will likely start him out in Double-A next season with an eye towards late 2008 for a major league debut."

    Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com, adds to the hype surrounding a pair of Mets prospects :

" ... Imagine a 6-foot-4 outfielder who is faster than Jose Reyes. The Mets have him. Now imagine an 18-year-old outfielder whose pure hitting ability is reminiscent of a young Manny Ramirez. The Mets have him, too. Mets officials like to debate which Dominican native will become a better player — Carlos Gomez, 21, or Fernando Martinez, 18. Gomez is taller and faster, Martinez the more advanced hitter. Both could be with the Mets by the time they open their new ballpark in 2009, flanking center fielder Carlos Beltran."

    Marc Hulet, TheBaseball Analysts, looks at some of the one-time prospects now out of options and at a crossroads :

" ...  Scott Hairston ...  27 in May, has Travis Hafner disease. He is an aging prospect with tons of potential but lacks A) a position to play and B) an opportunity despite solid minor league numbers. Now, I'll readily admit his ceiling is nowhere near Hafner's but he could still win my most-underrated minor leaguer of the year award. The biggest problem for Hairston is that Arizona has a pretty darn amazing outfield without him."

" ... Dan Johnson ...  Despite posting excellent minor league numbers, it looked like Johnson would never get his shot. But he finally did in 2005 and generated encouraging numbers. He secured himself another gig in 2006 but struggled mightily by hitting .234/.323/.381, which were terrible numbers for someone being counted on to drive in runs. This spring, Johnson revealed that he had been dealing with double vision. He said that it has been corrected. If so, he should have a good chance to make the A's, although Shannon Stewart will give him a run for his money."

" ... Edwin Jackson ...  has fallen a long way since being declared a phenom in 2003 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After three disappointing seasons, Jackson was shipped to Tampa Bay ... In parts of four major league seasons, Jackson has pitched 111.2 innings and allowed 121 hits (9.75 BB/9). As well, he has walked 5.16 per nine innings and struck out 6.04 batters per nine innings. He may have lost his shot at starting, but you never know with the Rays. His best chance to make the club in 2007 is probably the pen where there really aren't any locks to make the team."

    Jered Weaver LAA, a cause for concern :

" ... Though the chances of Jered Weaver being ready for the regular season narrow with each week he is unable to throw off a mound, the Angels have advised the right-hander not to rush his recovery from biceps tendinitis and not to feel pressured to be ready by opening day. "A lot of guys have a biological clock — they see opening day come around and think they have to be ready," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "You have to take that out of a player's mentality, because you want a guy to be on a mound when he's ready. You can't rush it."  Weaver ...  remains on a long-toss regimen and is not expected to throw off a mound until next week, at the earliest ... a good chance Weaver will have to remain in Arizona for extended spring training and then make a minor league rehabilitation start or two before joining the Angels."  (LA Times)

    Padres excited about a young centre fielder :

" ... Cedric Hunter ...  created much euphoria with his 52-game performance in the entry-level Arizona Summer League last season. A disciplined hitter who had 40 walks against just 22 strikeouts, Hunter further added to the club's giddiness when he lit up the fall instructional league. “Hunter, officially, is a god in the organization now,” said vice president of scouting and development Grady Fuson last November. The 18-year-old batted .371 in 213-at-bats and reached base in 46.7 percent of his chances ...  Hunter, who arrived at spring training two weeks early, said he will tune out all of the happy talk. “I'm just trying to get better,” he said yesterday. “I want to have a better year each year.”  ...  isn't especially fast, raising questions whether he will remain in center field ... “I think I'll be able to hang in center field,” said Hunter, whose favorite player is Braves center fielder Andruw Jones.”   (San Diego Union Tribune)

    From the top 100s, the best of the outfield prospects :

    Project Prospect    Diamond Futures     Bryan Smith         Johathan Mayo
                                            Sports Illustrated  Minor League
                                                                Baseball
 1  Young Delmon OF     Bruce Jay OF        Young Delmon OF     Young Delmon OF
 2  Bruce Jay OF        Dukes Elijah OF     Young Chris OF      Maybin Cameron OF
 3  Butler Billy OF     Kemp Matt OF        Upton Justin OF     Upton Justin OF
 4  Maybin Cameron OF   Milledge Lastings O Maybin Cameron OF   Bruce Jay OF
 5  Young Chris OF      Maybin Cameron OF   Butler Billy OF     Butler Billy OF
 6  McCutchen Andrew OF Pedroza Sergio OF   McCutchen Andrew OF McCutchen Andrew OF
 7  Upton Justin OF     Rasmus Colby OF     Bruce Jay OF        Young Chris OF
 8  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Young Chris OF      Gonzalez Carlos OF  Gonzalez Carlos OF
 9  Martinez Fernando O Cunnigham Aaron OF  Martinez Fernando O Tabata Jose OF
 10 Tabata Jose OF      Crowe Trevor OF     Tabata Jose OF      Martinez Fernando O

    Baseball Digest     J.P. Schwartz       David Luciani       Eric Mack
    Daily               Top Prospect        Baseball            CBS Sportsline
                        Alert               Notebook
 1  Young Delmon OF     Young Delmon OF     Bruce Jay OF        Young Delmon OF
 2  Young Chris OF      McCutchen Andrew OF Butler Billy OF     Young ChrisB OF
 3  Upton Justin OF     Bruce Jay OF        Maybin Cameron OF   Lind Adam OF
 4  Maybin Cameron OF   Maybin Cameron OF   Rasmus Colby OF     Botts Jason OF
 5  Bruce Jay OF        Upton Justin OF     Tabata Jose OF      Baker Jeff OF
 6  McCutchen Andrew OF Gonzalez Carlos OF  Upton Justin OF     Pence Hunter OF
 7  Butler Billy OF     Tabata Jose OF      Young Delmon OF     Casto Kory OF
 8  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Young ChrisB OF     Pedroza Sergio OF   Butler Billy OF
 9  Tabata Jose OF      Butler Billy OF     Lind Adam OF        McCutchen Andrew OF
 10 Jones Adam OF       Ellsbury Jacoby OF  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Sweeney Ryan OF

    Sickels             Koby Schellenger    Sports Weekly       RotoJunkie
    Community           Mound Talk                              Jason Collette
 1  Young Delmon OF     Young Delmon OF     Young Chris OF      Young Delmon OF
 2  Butler Billy OF     Upton Justin OF     Young Delmon OF     Butler Billy OF
 3  Maybin Cameron OF   Maybin Cam OF       Casto Kory OF       Young Chris OF
 4  Young Chris OF      Bruce Jay OF        Quentin Carlos OF   Maybin Cameron OF
 5  Upton Justin OF     Butler Billy OF     Choo Shin-Soo OF    Bruce Jay OF
 6  Bruce Jay OF        McCutchen Andrew OF Milledge Lastings O Upton Justin OF
 7  Dukes Elijah OF     Young Chris OF      Scott Luke OF       McCutchen Andrew OF
 8  McCutchen Andrew OF Martinez Fernando O Sweeney Ryan OF     Gonzalez Calros OF
 9  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Butler Billy OF     Tabata Jose OF
 10 Tabata Jose OF      Tabata Jose OF      Pie Felix OF        Pence Hunter OF

    X-1                 MLB.COM     
 1  Young Delmon OF     Young Delmon OF
 2  Young Chris OF      Young Chris OF
 3  Butler Billy OF     Lind Adam OF
 4  Maybin Cameron OF   Jones Adam OF
 5  Gonzalez Carlos OF  Butler Billy OF
 6  Upton Justin OF     Sweeney Ryan OF
 7  Pence Hunter OF     Pie Felix OF
 8  Jones Adam OF       Baker Jeff OF
 9  Lind Adam OF/DH     Pence Hunter OF
 10 Pie Felix OF        Dukes Elijah OF 

27 February, 2007

    At RotoWorld, Matthew Pouliot wraps up his Top 10s with prospect reports on the young guns in the National League West :

" ... 1. Chris Young ...  In his first year in Triple-A, Young cut way back on the strikeouts, which was the only real criticism against him as a prospect. He fanned 145 times in low-A ball in 2004 and then 129 times in Double-A in 2005, though he had fine seasons anyway. Young is an excellent defender in center field possessing the power to hit 30 homers a year. With all of the strikeouts taking a toll on his batting averages, he drew comparisons to Mike Cameron in the White Sox system. Now he looks like he could be an even better player than the underrated Padres center fielder. He'll be a prime Rookie of the Year candidate while playing regularly for the Diamondbacks this year."

" ... 6. Micah Owings ...  Using a low-90s fastball and a plus slider, the 6-foot-5 right-hander went a remarkable 16-2 in his first full pro season. Because his changeup remains below average, there continues to be some speculation that he'll end up as a reliever. He'd likely add some velocity working an inning or two at a time, making him a potential setup man or closer. As a starter, he might not be more than a No. 4. The Diamondbacks will give him a chance to win a rotation spot this spring."

" ... 2. Jason Hirsh  ... The 6-foot-8 Hirsh isn't as overpowering as his build suggests, but his 90-94 mph fastball, plus slider and average changeup should make him a fine No. 3, maybe by the middle of this year. After making substantial progress with the change last year, all he needs to do is to tighten up his command a bit. The Rockies would be making a mistake if he's not in the rotation on Opening Day."

" ... 3. Scott Elbert  ... limited hitters to a .190 average and struck out 10.7 hitters per nine innings on his way to establishing himself as one of the top lefties in the minors last year. Elbert regularly works in the low-90s and has a strikeout curveball. His changeup has improved to the point at which it can be considered a major league pitch. Command is in issue, and as a flyball pitcher, he'll give up his share of homers. Still, he has No. 2-starter potential and could be a No. 3 even if he walks 70-80 batters per year. He should debut before the end of the year."

" ... 5. Jonathan Meloan  ... Dodgers had him split time between the rotation and bullpen initially before using him mostly as a reliever last year. He struck out 91 and allowed just 27 hits at three levels, quickly cementing his status as a top relief prospect. Meloan's low-90s fastball has ample movement, and he has both a slider and a curveball to use when he's ahead in the count. At the rate he's climbing, he could be one of the Dodgers' top setup men by season's end."

" ... 3. Cedric Hunter  ...   the best player in the Arizona League after getting drafted in the third round out of a Georgia high school last year and appears to have the most upside of any of the Padres' position prospects. The left-handed hitter possesses outstanding on-base skills, 15-homer potential and the speed to play center field. There is the chance that he'll face a move to left at some point, and if that happens, he might be a platoon player rather than an everyday guy. Despite his youth, he's one of the few quality leadoff prospects in the minors."

" ... 3. Angel Villalona  ...  one of the very best prospects to come out of the Dominican Republic last summer, signing a $2.1 million contract with the Giants just days after his 16th birthday. The team prized his enormous power potential and believes he'll prove to be a capable defender at third base in time. Don't expect to see him in full-season ball until 2008 or 2009, and it will be years after that before he's a major leaguer."

" ... 4. Emmanuel Burriss  ...  What Burriss lacks in power, he makes up for in speed and on-base ability. The 2006 second-round pick out of Kent State is a switch-hitter capable of legging out singles from either side of the plate and then stealing second after reaching. He'll almost never hit homers and doubles to the wall will also be rare sights, but he could resemble an average regular anyway. He'd probably have to stay at shortstop to be more than that. There's some thought his mediocre arm will ultimately force a move to second."

    John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, takes on a fascinating comparison - Jay Bruce or Cameron Maybin?

" ...  Maybin hit .304/.387/.457 in the Midwest League, posting a +22 percent OPS and a +53 percent SEC. The only negative in his numbers is a high strikeout rate ... but the Tigers don't seem to think this is a long-term problem, and he did draw 50 walks in 385 at-bats ...  Bruce hit .291/.355/.516 in the Midwest League, posting a +26 percent OPS and a +58 percent SEC. His strikeout rate was not as high as Maybin's, but he didn't walk as often. Overall his production was slightly better, in the same league and at the same age. He's considered a bit more polished than Maybin overall ...  Maybin projects as a potential Gold Glove outfielder with power and speed, perhaps similar to Jermaine Dye with more speed, or Torii Hunter with a higher batting average ...  Bruce projects as an All-Star outfielder with plus power, though not as much speed as Maybin, perhaps similar to Larry Walker or Jim Edmonds ...  Maybin a very slight edge in tools, Bruce a slight edge in current performance and polish, and even (if different) in projection. Overall I rated Bruce a bit higher in the book (9th overall compared to 16th), but both got Grade A- ratings, and this smackdown shows just how close it really is."

    Rotation or Omaha :

" ... Bell said if young right-handers Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister do not make the rotation, they would not likely be kept on the Major League roster as relievers. Greinke made three relief appearances last September after he was called up. "We want Zack to be a starter and we want Bannister to be a starter," Bell said. "Something crazy would have to happen if they are in the bullpen. I just don't see that happening. We would prefer our younger guys to be in roles that we see them as in the future. Sometimes these young guys will start out in the bullpen and work their way into the rotation, so we're not that set against it, but we would prefer it not to happen."   (MLB.com)

    Kyle Sleeth DET on the road back to prospectdom :

" ... Sleeth says he's throwing his fastball, changeup, slider and curveball with an arm that feels better than it has in more than two years. He's also completely healthy. "He's not going to be on the club this spring, but he's a very interesting guy, because, from what I've seen, his stuff is very very good," Leyland said of Sleeth. "I'm not that smart, but just from what I've seen, he's without question a prospect and a very good one. [He's] definitely healthy, throwing extremely well, got a nasty breaking ball -- that's pretty much all you can take at this point."  (MLB.com)

    A wasted year of development  ... but :

" ... Jesus Flores is 22 and has not played above the Class A level. Yet there is an excellent chance that come Opening Day, he will be a Washington National ... Nationals selected him in December's Rule 5 draft. To keep him, he must be on the major league roster all season ...  The thinking, though, is that because the Nationals are a few seasons from competing for a division title, they should stockpile young talent like Flores. "Let's face it: We're talking about building this franchise from the ground up," Manager Manny Acta said .. Acta said the coaching staff was "impressed" with Flores, a fine defender with the potential to hit for power. Last year, playing at Class A St. Lucie, he hit .266 with 21 homers and 70 RBI in 120 games."  (Newsday)

    Greg Miller LAD on the rebound :

" ... Miller sends messages every time he brings his left arm back and slings another strike. He's healthy. He's a prospect again. He can help the Dodgers win. "We shouldn't be surprised if Greg is in an L.A. Dodgers uniform before the year is over," Manager Grady Little said. "He's been very impressive." After shooting to the top of the prospect list in 2003, his second minor league season, Miller missed the 2004 season recovering from shoulder surgery. He pitched sparingly but effectively the last two years but was never completely healthy ...   Little said. "This spring is totally different. He's here on a mission. He could be getting ready to light up some eyes."   (LA Times)

    From the top 100s, the best of the shortstop prospects :

    Project Prospect    Diamond Futures     Bryan Smith         Johathan Mayo
                                            Sports Illustrated  Minor League
                                                                Baseball
 1  Wood Brandon SS     Reynolds Mark SS    Wood Brandon SS     Wood Brandon SS
 2  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Upton B.J. SS       Tulowitzki Troy SS  Tulowitzki Troy SS
 3  Brignac Reid SS     Wood Brandon SS     Brignac Reid SS     Brignac Reid SS
 4  Andrus Elvis SS     Rodriguez Sean SS   Aybar Erick SS      Aybar Erick SS
 5  Aybar Erick SS      Brignac Reid SS     Andrus Elvis SS     Escobar Yunel SS
 6  Rodriguez Sean SS                                           Andrus Elvis SS

    Baseball Digest     J.P. Schwartz       David Luciani       Eric Mack
    Daily               Top Prospect        Baseball            CBS Sportsline
                        Alert               Notebook
 1  Wood Brandon SS     Wood Brandon SS     Wood Brandon SS     Tulowitzki Troy SS
 2  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Brignac Reid SS     Wood Brandon SS
 3  Brignac Reid SS     Brignac Reid SS     Rodriguez Sean SS   Brignac Reid SS
 4  Andrus Elvis SS     Andrus Elvis SS     Lillibridge Brent S Aybar Erick SS
 5  Aybar Erick SS      Rowell Billy SS     Reynolds Mark SS    Arias Joaquin SS
 6  Rodriguez Sean SS

    Sickels             Koby Schellenger    Sports Weekly       RotoJunkie
    Community           Mound Talk                              Jason Collette
 1  Wood Brandon SS     Wood Brandon SS     Drew Stephen SS     Wood Brandon SS
 2  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Tulowitzki Troy SS  Tulowitzki Troy SS
 3  Brignac Reid SS     Brignac Reid SS     Zobrist Ben SS      Brignac Reid SS
 4  Andrus Elvis SS     Andrus Elvis SS     Blanco Andres SS    Aybar Erick SS
 5  Aybar Erick SS      Aybar Erick SS      Arias Joaquin SS    Rodriguez Sean SS
 6  Lillibridge Brent S Rowell Bill SS      Andino Robert SS    Andrus Elvis SS
                        Rodriguez Sean SS   Aybar Erick SS
                        Escobar Yunel SS

    MLB.COM
 1  Tulowitzki Troy SS
 2  Wood Brandon SS
 3  Aybar Erick SS
 4  Reynolds Mark SS
 5  Escobar Yunel SS
 6  Rodriguez Sean SS
 7  Brignac Reid SS
 8  Hu Chin-Lung SS 

    Adam Lind TOR, Triple-A beckons :

" ... The way things are currently stacked up, Lind probably wouldn't make Toronto's roster. The Jays don't want a young player like him to sit on the bench when he could be getting regular at-bats and working on his defense with Triple-A Syracuse. That's why Toronto signed veteran Matt Stairs, who can serve as a fourth outfielder and a backup at designated hitter and first base. "We brought in Matt Stairs to be the extra guy," Gibbons said. "[Lind is] too young to be sitting around. He needs to face lefties and righties, because we think he's going to be an everyday player in the big leagues -- not the bench type." ...  Since being drafted in the third round by Toronto in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Lind has climbed quickly up the organizational ladder. In 321 Minor League games, he's posted a .319 average with 43 home runs and 223 RBIs."  (MiLB.com)

25 February, 2007 

    Troop movements ... COL - signed OF Steve Finley to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training ...

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, checks in with the 2nd installment of his Top 100 :

" ... 86. Brent Lillibridge ...  Nabbed from the Buccos in the Adam LaRoche deal, Lillibridge is, quite honestly, not the kind of prospect with whom Pittsburgh needs to part. Hits for average, takes his walks (hence, excellent on-base skills), mans short in impressive fashion, runs the bases well and flashes good power to the gaps. In other words, the generally bereft Pirates cut bait on an impact prospect. If Lillibridge shows more raw power in the upcoming season, then he'll vault up this list."

" ... 83. Gorkys Hernandez ...   has range in center, a strong throwing arm, raw power, speed on the bases and an ability to hit for average. On the downside, he's very unpolished (hasn't played above rookie ball) and has shown little command of the strike zone thus far. He's also squarely behind Cameron Maybin on the center-field depth chart. Still, the tools are imposing, and he's most assuredly one to watch."

" ... 81. Cesar Carrillo ... has excellent stuff — plus fastball, polished changeup, hammer curve — but he's got a slight build for a right-hander and a recent history of arm trouble. Going forward, the key is for Carrillo to stay healthy ... poised to spend an entire season at the Triple-A level. That's precisely what he needs."

    Tim Grassey, Fantasy Baseball Cafe, adds another ten to his Top 100 :

" ... 53. Wade Davis  ... does not have much wear and tear on his arm, as he first toed the slab as a sophomore in college. Even with his limited time on the mound, Davis has developed a mid-90’s fastball, complementing his curveball, slider, and change-up. He has a tendency to get wild at times, but he helps himself out by giving up few long balls. Last season in Single-A Davis struck out 165 batters in 146 innings ... I really like Davis, both he and Clay Buchholz could easily be top 25 prospects next season."

" ... 54. Miguel Montero  .... has improved his defense dramatically, to the point where the Diamondbacks no longer worry about having him switch positions. He showed decent power and discipline in Double-A, Triple-A, and the majors last season, and should enter 2007 as the Diamondbacks everyday catcher."

" ... 58. Michael Bowden  ...  had a solid 2006 campaign for the Red Sox low-A affiliate ...  doesn’t blow batters away, relying instead on the command of his excellent curveball and low-90’s fastball to get outs. He complements these two pitches with a change-up that he has been developing slowly. The Red Sox most likely won’t rush the 20-year-old Bowden, as they view him as an innings-eater in the long run."

    Project Prospect tackles the ranking of the best of the young third sackers.  Some awesome talent in this list - Cabrera, Wright, Zimmerman 1-2-3 :

" ...  4. Alex Gordon ... ,Last year’s Minor League Player of the Year, the lefty slugger hit 29 home runs and stole 22 bases (25 attempts; 88.0% success) in 486 at-bats, and finished with a line of .325/.427/.588. Gordon’s defense has improved greatly since college, and most scouts now expect him to be above-average. He should arrive in Kansas City during the 2007 campaign – perhaps on opening day – and should contend for several MVP awards in his career. "

" ... 7. Andy LaRoche ...  slammed 30 home runs in 476 at-bats in 2005, and has a minor league career slugging percentage of .513 ... .should arrive in L.A. to stay during the 2007 season. He is a passable defender, and in 2006 walked more times than he struck out. At his peak, LaRoche will likely be an above-average regular and occasional all-star with 25-30 home runs annually."

" ... 10. Andy Marte ...  has thus far failed to deliver on the promise that earned him so many accolades. After posting an .889 OPS (.364/.525) at Double-A Greenville in 2004 and a .878 OPS (.372/.506) at Triple-A Richmond in 2005, Marte slumped horribly in 2006. Out of sorts at both Cleveland and Triple-A Buffalo, Marte – already twice-traded – enters 2007 with a serious need to prove his talent."

    Garrett Olson beginning to get noticed in BAL :

" ... The southpaw is often overshadowed by names like Adam Loewen and Hayden Penn, but the hallmark of his career has been a rapid ascent through the lower levels of the Baltimore organization ... .  sandwich pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has already progressed all the way up to Double-A ...  23-year-old has yet to record an ERA over 3.50 in any of his professional stops and is currently working through his first Spring Training in a big-league camp. "The first couple of days, it seemed a little intimidating," said Olson, who is 12-10 with a 2.82 ERA as a professional ...   "We're very pleased with his progress," added David Stockstill, Baltimore's director of Minor League operations. ...  "He has a lot of movement on his fastball and the fastball is up over 90 mph. He has a very good slider, and it's a sharp breaking pitch. "And his changeup's getting better. We see him as a future starting pitcher in the Major Leagues, and we're going to get him the innings that he needs. How he does will tell the story." Stockstill said that Olson ranks among the team's "top few" prospects and said he's moved about as quickly as could be expected. He also said that the youngster is close to the big leagues and could be up before the year ends."  (MiLB.COM)

    Angels' Erick Aybar gets work all over the infield and in centre :

" ... "For Erick to make our club, his versatility is going to have to come in to play and we'll [also] work him out in center field as we did last year," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's played some center in winter ball, so there's probably something that can help us in the short term." With Chone Figgins at third base, the club needs to secure another player to provide depth in center ... "Anybody that makes our club on the bench, we need coverage in center field."  (MLB.com)

    Matt Tuiasosopo SEA tries to forget 2006 :

" ... This spring, he wants to begin erasing the memories of ’06 – his and the Mariners’ of him. “I want to show them I’m hungry, that I’ve made adjustments, that I’m focused,” Tuiasosopo said. “The one thing that saved me last year was that I was open to everything they told me. I worked hard at third base. I worked hard to finish the year strong.” The Mariners haven’t lost faith in Tuiasosopo. They still believe he’s a marvelously talented player. Last year may have surprised him far more than it did them – few players work their way quickly through the minor league system without a dose of failure. “I probably did learn more failing than I had succeeding,” Tuiasosopo said. “Maybe it seemed easy, but I knew it never was. Last year reminded me of that. It should help me deal with it (if it) comes up again.” And just to be sure it doesn’t happen again, Tuiasosopo changed his appearance – growing his hair out, sporting a beard of sorts. “I don’t even want to look like the guy I was last season,” he said."  (Tacoma News Tribune)

    John Fay, Cincinnati Enquirer, offers a feature piece on Reds' phenom Homer Bailey :

" ...  Bailey has the nonchalant way of the Texas farm boy that he is. But he also exudes a certain confidence. "I don't think (the attention) concerns him," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I think he knows he's pretty good. I think he's smart enough to know that he's not going to come to the major-league level and just dominate from the beginning. There's going to be some ups and downs. "He's very, very level-headed. He works hard. He's got great stuff. It's going to give him every chance in the world to be successful." The big question is when the Reds will bring Bailey to the big leagues. He's had only two full professional seasons. Three years ago at this time, he was pitching LaGrange High School to the Texas state championship. But his dominance at Double-A last year had the Reds' front-office executives talking about bringing Bailey to the big leagues. Bailey is theoretically competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation this spring. But there's a lot of sentiment in the front office to start him at Triple-A Louisville. "He's got a chance to be great," said Mario Soto, a Reds Hall of Famer. "If they need somebody this year, he's ready. I pitched A ball, went to Triple-A for a couple of months and then pitched in the big leagues."

23 February, 2007 

    Troop movements ... OAK - released OF Hiram Bocachica ... PHI - sent RHP Yoel Hernandez outright to Triple-A ...

    Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus, in the chat room :

Q: How is Clayton Kershaw rated so high when he hasn't pitched above the GCL?
A:  Hell, I moved him down a few times before the final rankings came out. I think he's the absolute total package, and in won't surprise me one bit if he's in the top five next year.

Q: Does the news that Brandon Wood is moving to third affect his overall prospect ranking?
A: In my mind, it doesn't effect it TOO much. That bat will play anywhere. I might drop him one or two notches, and I might not -- but I wouldn't see any sort of dramatic move.

Q:  Brandon Erbe is ranked quite high. What do you see out of him that encourages you so much to give him such a high placement?
A:  Age and stuff. He kinda graduated early, so that performance, in his full-season debut, that included 133 strikeouts in 115 innings and just 87 hits allowed, came while he was just 18, as he didn't turn 19 until the end of the calendar year. So he was dominating in a full-season league while most players his age where graduating high school and getting their feet wet in a complex league -- that's most impressive."

Q: Joba Chamberlain---is it too early to call him a steal from this past draft?
A:  It is. But it's not too early to call him "a potential steal". Things are definitely lining up that way so far."

Q: Any thoughts on the long term potential of Rockies prospect, Ian Stewart? He had a poor season. How much did that hurt his stock?
A:  It hurt it quite a bit. I talked about Clement getting a bit of a mulligan for '06, but Stewart now needs one for the last two years, and I don't do two-year mulligans."

     The Top 100 is next as Baseball America wraps up its team-by-team reports with the Giants' Top 10 :

1. Tim Lincecum, rhp        6. Kevin Frandsen, 2b  
2. Jonathan Sanchez, lhp    7. Fred Lewis, of 
3. Angel Villalona, 3b      8. Nate Schierholtz, of 
4. Emmanuel Burriss, ss     9. Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of 
5. Brian Wilson, rhp       10. Billy Sadler, rhp 

    Lou not likely to embrace Felix :

" ... the Cubs' latest center fielder of the future is all but assured of opening the season in the minors. Manager Lou Piniella stopped just short of saying it Wednesday, but he outlined a plan that left Felix Pie off the Opening Day roster. ''I've got some good veteran outfielders here that can swing the bat,'' Piniella said. ''And if we don't get him at-bats and we don't get him playing time, what's the sense of having him here?  ...   Pie, 22, hit .283 with 15 home runs and 78 runs scored at Class AAA Iowa last season, and he said he plans to make the decision tougher than that. ''I'm working hard every day, coming in early, to show everybody I want to make the team,'' said Pie."  (Chicago Sun-Times)

    One more starter getting a turn in the pen :

" ... On the theory that asking less of an arm capable of throwing at 100 mph could mean more pitches that fast, the Rockies are using right-hander Juan Morillo as a reliever this spring. Morillo, 23, struck out 132 in 27 starts at Double-A Tulsa last season ...  Throughout Morillo's career, the Rockies have considered moving him to the bullpen, but he has displayed starter's stamina and coaches wanted him to get plenty of repetitions to hone his delivery. But the bullpen would be his best opportunity to make the team this spring. If he doesn't make the team, the door is open to him pitching as a starter in the Minors. "It has no bearing after Spring Training -- this just gives him one thing to focus on," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said."  (MLB.com)

    MIL likely on the lookout for a third baseman :

" ... Yost and his staff also are eager to see whether prospect Ryan Braun is up to the task. The eighth player taken in the 2005 June draft, Braun is an advanced player with the bat but has defensive shortcomings (31 errors in 155 minor-league games last season) that must be addressed. "The big unknown in this whole equation is what Braun can do," Yost said. "Can Braun handle it defensively? His hands are good enough. We're talking about smoothing out some areas of his game, defensively. "Is it real far-fetched that he might take it? It's not that far-fetched. We'll see. It's up to him."  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

22 February, 2007     

    Along with 100s from Dayn Perry, MLB.com, Fantasy Baseball Cafe and Kevin Goldstein ... three new Top 100s (OK, two 100s and a Top 50) added to the Top 100s page ... so far identified as X-1, X-2 and X-3.  Three highly reputable sources ... up to 19 different lists now ... Baseball America still to come ...

    Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus, has his highly anticipated Top 100.  A chatroom session on the picks scheduled for Thursday (1300 hrs EST).  The top 20 :

 1 Gordon Alex 3B	11 Brignac Reid SS
 2 Hughes Philip RHP	12 Braun Ryan 3B
 3 Young Delmon OF	13 Garza Matt RHP
 4 Bailey Homer RHP	14 Gallardo Yovani RHP
 5 Wood Brandon SS	15 McCutchen Andrew OF
 6 Lincecum Tim RHP	16 Kershaw Clayton LHP
 7 Maybin Cameron OF	17 Miller Andrew LHP
 8 Young Chris OF	18 Martinez Fernando OF
 9 Bruce Jay OF	        19 Miller Adam RHP
10 Longoria Evan 3B	20 LaRoche Andy 3B

    At Baseball America, the Top 10s are almost complete with the posting of the Padres' prospect list :

1. Cedric Hunter, of      6. Chase Headley, 3b 
2. Cesar Carrillo, rhp    7. Chad Huffman, of 
3. Matt Antonelli, 3b     8. Nick Hundley, c 
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3b   9. Jared Wells, rhp 
5. Will Venable, of      10. Cesar Ramos, lhp

    Tim Grassey, Fantasy Baseball Cafe, continues to plug away at his Top 100 with the latest installment 61-70.  Some catchup :

" ... 62. Travis Buck  ...  has been slow to develop the power that scouts envisioned he’d produce with his 6′2″, 205 lb frame. At only 23 years of age, he’s still young enough to evolve into a decent power hitter. He uses the whole field, has a decent batting eye, and is an above average base runner. It’s unlikely that Buck will make the Athletics out of spring training, but he should be up at some point in 2007."

" ... 69. Donald Veal  ...  absolutely dominated both low and high Single-A ball this past season. He posted a 2.69 ERA in 14 starts in low-A, and bettered that in high-A with a 1.67 ERA. He complements his low 90s fastball with a curveball and a change-up. He has had his share of control issues, but should still rise through the Cubs system very rapidly."

" ... 73. Franklin Morales  ...  hard-throwing lefty, Morales complements his mid 90s fastball with a plus curveball. He also began developing a change-up, which should help him stay out of the bullpen. His biggest weakness is his control, but he has such high strikeout rates that he may be able to survive ...  I see his ceiling as a left-handed Carlos Zambrano."

" ... 78. Kei Igawa  ...  A control artist, Igawa’s fastball sits in the low 90s. He complements this fastball with a change-up and a slider. Igawa projects to be a number three or four starter in the majors, and should be in the Yankees rotation on opening day. "

" ... 88. Akinori Iwamura ...  has average plate discipline, and although he was a home run hitter in Japan, he projects to be more of a gap hitter in the states ...  expect Iwamura to be the opening day third baseman this season."

" ... 97. Chris Parmelee  ... Twins drafted Parmelee twentieth overall in 2006. He showed impressive plate discipline for a high school kid making his pro debut. What Parmelee lacks in speed, he makes up for in raw power and a strong throwing arm. His arm alone should be strong enough to keep him in right field."

    SEA with an early worry about one of its top prospect s:

" ... Former first round draft Jeff Clement left the Mariners' workout early Wednesday, apparently after having suffered a minor hand injury. Clement, a catcher out of USC who was taken in the 2005 draft, was escorted off the field by a trainer. It wasn't immediately known how serious the injury was or if Clement would miss an extended amount of time."  (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

    Brandon Wood LAA, the transition begins :

" ... Speculation turned to reality Wednesday when the Angels began working shortstop Brandon Wood, the organization's best position-playing and power prospect, at third base, a move that could hasten the 22-year-old's arrival in the big leagues and eventually provide a jolt to the Angels lineup. "This is really for our benefit and Brandon's benefit," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "If it works out and he can play third, to have that kind of bat coming up and having a position for him could help us. "We're not giving up on him as a shortstop, and I think that's important; we're very comfortable with his ability there. But right now, as you get up that funnel and get to the big leagues, a lot of times you have to become versatile to get to where you want to be. It's something we're going to look at."  (LA Times)

21 February, 2007

    Updates to all the charts ... Top 10s ... Top 100s ...  MLB.com added, Aaron Gleeman's Top 100 added, along with the beginning of the Day Perry 100 ...  Prospects by Position ... and David Farr is back with an update of the NRIs ... 40-man rosters ...

    Dayn Perry, FOXSports, kicks off his annual Top 100 with the first installment,  91-100 :

" ...  91. Alexi Casilla, SS/2B ...  has excellent defensive skills at short and second and an ability to reach base consistently. He'll never hit for power, but the OBPs last season were strong despite the fact that he toiled across three levels. Given the organization he's in, it's impossible not to compare him to Luis Castillo."

" ... 96. Angel Villalona, 3B ...  Yes, here we have a prospect born in the 1990s. Signed out of the D.R. to a hefty contract, Villalona was the best international prospect in the game last year. He projects as a tremendous power hitter with the defensive skills to excel at third base. Obviously, however, he's exceptionally raw at this point."

" ... 100. Michael Bowden, RHP ...  boasts command of his fastball, has good breaking stuff and put up strong numbers last season in Low-A ball. On the downside, he doesn't have a changeup at this point, and his delivery is inconsistent. Still, he's one to watch as he reaches the higher levels."

     Baseball America checks in with the Dodgers' Top 10 :

 1 LaRoche Andy 3B        6 DeJesusJr Ivan SS
 2 Kershaw Clayton LHP    7 Meloan Jonathan RHP
 3 Elbert Scott LHP       8 DeWitt Blake 2B/3B
 4 Loney James 1B/OF      9 Bell Josh 3B
 5 Abreu Etanisiao 2B    10 Mattingly Preston SS

    From the Top 100s, extraction of the 3B rankings :

    Project Prospect    Diamond Futures     Bryan Smith         Johathan Mayo
                                            Sports Illustrated  Minor League
                                                                Baseball
 1  Gordon Alex 3B      Braun Ryan 3B       Gordon Alex 3B      Gordon Alex 3B
 2  Longoria Evan 3B    Gordon Alex 3B      LaRoche Andy 3B     Longoria Evan 3B
 3  Braun Ryan 3B       Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Longoria Evan 3B    Braun Ryan 3B
 4  LaRoche Andy 3B     Duncan Eric 3B      Braun Ryan 3B       Fields Josh 3B
 5  Fields Josh 3B      LaRoche Andy 3B     Rowell Bill 3B      LaRoche Andy 3B
 6  Rowell Billy 3B     Fields Josh 3B      Stewart Ian 3B      Stewart Ian 3B
 7  Stewart Ian 3B      Moore Scott 3B      Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B DeWitt Blake 3B
 8  Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Winfree David 3B                        Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B

    Baseball Digest     J.P. Schwartz       David Luciani       Eric Mack
    Daily               Top Prospect        Baseball            CBS Sportsline
                        Alert               Notebook
 1  Gordon Alex 3B      Gordon Alex 3B      Braun Ryan 3B       Gordon Alex 3B
 2  Longoria Evan 3B    Fields Josh 3B      Campbell Eric 3B    Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B
 3  LaRoche Andy 3B     Longoria Evan 3B    Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Iwamura Akinori 3B
 4  Braun Ryan 3B       Braun Ryan 3B       LaRoche Andy 3B     Fields Josh 3B
 5  Fields Josh 3B      LaRoche Andy 3B     Gamel Matthew 3B    LaRoche Andy 3B
 6  Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Winfree David 3B    Braun RyanJ 3B
 7  Stewart Ian 3B      Stewart Ian 3B      Gordon Alex 3B      Longoria Evan 3B
 8  Rowell Billy 3B     DeWitt Blake 3B     Moore Scott 3B      Stewart Ian 3B
 9  Casto Kory 3B       Casto Kory 3B       Baisley Jeffrey 3B  Guzman Joel 3B
 10 Campbell Eric 3B    Campbell Eric 3B    Lisson Mario 3B

    Sickels             Koby Schellenger    Sports Weekly       RotoJunkie
    Community           Mound Talk                              Jason Collette
 1  Gordon Alex 3B      Gordon Alex 3B      Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Gordon Alex 3B
 2  LaRoche Andy 3B     Longoria Evan 3B    Marte Andy 3B       LaRoche Andy 3B
 3  Longoria Evan 3B    Braun Ryan 3B       Iwamura Akinori 3B  Braun Ryan 3B
 4  Braun Ryan 3B       LaRoche Andy 3B     Gordon Alex 3B      Rowell Bill 3B
 5  Fields Josh 3B      Fields Josh 3B      Fields Josh 3B      Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B
 6  Stewart Ian 3B      Stewart Ian 3B      LaRoche Andy 3B     Stewart Ian 3B
 7  Rowell Billy 3B     Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Moore Scott 3B      Fields Josh 3B
 8  Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B DeWitt Blake 3B     Upton B.J. 3B       Villanoa Angel 3B
 9  Guzman Joel 3B      Campbell Eric 3B    Braun Ryan 3B
 10 Campbell Eric 3B

    Aaron Gleeman       MLB.COM
    Beckett Draft Guide
 1  Gordon Alex 3B      Gordon Alex 3B
 2  LaRoche Andy 3B     Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B
 3  Longoria Evan 3B    LaRoche Andy 3B
 4  Stewart Ian 3B      Braun Ryan 3B
 5  Fields Josh 3B      Fields Josh 3B
 6  Kouzmanoff Kevin 3B Costo Kory 3B
 7  Braun Ryan 3B       Longoria Evan 3B
 8  Guzman Joel 3B      Stewart Ian 3B
 9  Casto Kory 3B       Guzman Joel 3B
 10 Campbell Eric 3B    Headley Chase 3B

    Matt Lindstrom FLO, in the running for a spot in the pen, maybe even the closer :

" ...  he does have one distinction among all the pitchers in camp. The right-hander is the hardest thrower among the group. Playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League this offseason, his fastball was clocked at 102 mph ...  27-year-old was acquired from the Mets in November ...  "I'm really enjoying it," said Lindstrom of now having a chance to win a spot in the back end of the bullpen. "There are a lot of young guys here, and a lot of good arms here. It should be nice to see if I can make the team. I don't care if it's as a sixth, seventh or eighth-inning guy. If it's the closer role, that's fine, too. Whatever they decide."  (MiLB.com)

    Kyle Drabek PHI, lots to learn :

" ... No one is questioning Drabek as a high-ceiling talent. The kid is believed to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, despite a poor professional debut in the Gulf Coast League, when the right-hander compiled a 7.71 ERA in 23 1/3 innings. Now, in his first big-league Spring Training, the idea is for him to use this time around Major Leaguers to benefit his development, and add to the lessons he learned while running around the clubhouse as Doug's kid. "That's one of the big things when I came here. I want to learn a lot," Drabek said ...  Already, Drabek has impressed manager Charlie Manuel with his arm, and director of Minor Leagues Steve Noworyta noticed maturity. "From last year to now, I see someone who's a little more focused," Noworyta said. "That's all part of maturity. He's going about the work the way we thought he would. It makes us excited to get the season started and see what he can do."  (MiLB.com)

    Lastings Milledge NYN, trying to fit in :

" ... Milledge showed up Monday looking great. He had packed on 13 pounds of muscle after lifting weights and giving up red meat, and he said all the right things ...  seems committed to work hard and challenge Shawn Green for the right fielder’s job. He resolved to take more responsibility for his actions. “When you’re young, you don’t know what’s out there,” Milledge said. “You don’t know how to handle certain things. I learned about being a man.” ...  Just as Pedro Martínez’s health dominated last spring’s story lines, how Milledge conducts himself will probably receive a lot of attention. He said he did not anticipate needing to explain his actions to his teammates or make any promises. They will see the polished Milledge every day during workouts, he said. “He just has to come in here and respect his teammates,” Billy Wagner said. “If he does that, his play will be good enough for him.”   (New York Times)

    Greg Miller LAD, feeling good, could be back in the rotation :

" ... "For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm one of the pitchers, not an injured pitcher," said the 22-year-old left-hander, who has an outside chance of forcing his way onto a very crowded, veteran pitching staff. "Hopefully, this is the year." Miller was the organization's Minor League pitcher of the year in 2003, but shoulder surgeries in 2004 and 2005 derailed his trip to the Major Leagues. Once a hard-throwing, over-the-top starting pitcher, he returned in 2005 a reliever in search of an arm angle that lessened the stress on his repaired shoulder ...  the shoulder has healed to the point where he's back almost over the top and the velocity has returned ...  He knows the only chance of making the staff in April would be as a reliever, but he said if that doesn't happen, he might ask to resume starting. "They told me I'm structurally sound to start, and I would absolutely love to go back to that," he said. "But I'd rather make this team as a reliever now."  (MLB.com)

20 February, 2007

    For Scoresheet players ... the players' lists updated with the latest additions  ...

    At RotoWorld, Matthew Pouliot moves on to check out the best of the prospects in the AL West.  Check it out!  Concentrating here on some of the lesser-known young guns, guys who just might be available in your continuing league drafts :

LAA  " ... 3. Hank Conger  ...  one of the top high school bats available in last year's draft and went 25th overall to the Angels. He got off to a great start in the Arizona League, only to suffer a broken hamate bone after playing in 19 games ...  probably isn't going to last as a catcher, and it might be for the best if he changes positions soon, hopefully allowing him to avoid the offensive stagnation that so often plagues catching prospects. He possesses terrific offensive potential, and if he ends up as a first baseman or a DH, he should have some 30-homer seasons in the majors."

LAA  " ... 5. Sean Rodriguez ...  beat Wood with 29 homers last year, even hitting five in 65 at-bats in Double-A. Making the power surge less encouraging was the coinciding rise in strikeouts. He went from an 85/78 K/BB ratio in 448 at-bats in the Midwest League in 2005 to a 144/58 K/BB ratio in 522 at-bats last year ...  Even if he didn't have so much talent ahead of him at short, he'd be facing a move to second or maybe the outfield. Rodriguez isn't going to be a big-time power hitter in the majors, but he's got enough of an all-around game to suggest that he will be a regular somewhere."

OAK  " ... 2. Travis Buck ... the 36th overall pick in the 2005 draft, has hit .328/.399/.511 in 497 at-bats as a pro. The home run power hasn't come yet, but he delivered 39 doubles in 338 at-bats last year before going down with a groin injury. Also, he was just as effective against lefties as he was versus righties. That he's probably going to be limited to left field on defense hurts his stock a bit, but he should be a solid regular capable of hitting .290 with 15 homers and 35 doubles per year."

OAK  " ... 4. Javier Herrera  ...  a rare tools-first prospect for the A's, missed all of 2006 after requiring Tommy John surgery at the end of March. Before that, he delivered a .275/.374/.444 line as a 20-year-old in the Midwest League in 2005 to emerge as Oakland's No. 2 prospect. With the potential for 30-homer power and the speed necessary to play center field in the majors, he's still one of the most intriguing players in the system. However, the year off does take away some of his margin for error.

SEA  " ... 3. Brandon Morrow ... One of the best arms available in the 2006 draft, Morrow throws in the mid-90s regularly and displays a plus slider. Unfortunately, he's already had some arm issues since being drafted, and since he's so inefficient on the mound, there's a good chance additional problems are on the way. Morrow's best chance of making it may be as a closer. He also has an impressive splitter to go along with his top two pitches and could be a strikeout machine while working an inning at a time. The Mariners will keep developing him as a starter and hope for the best."

SEA  " ... 7. Carlos Triunfel  ...   It's very early, but Triunfel has to be considered one of the Mariners' top prospects after getting $1.3 million to sign out of the Dominican Republic last summer. Triunfel's offensive and defensive potential resulted in spirited bidding for his services ...  Speed and defense are his strengths right now, but he's expected to develop power in time. The Mariners could let him play in the Midwest League as a 17-year-old this season."

TEX  " ... 1. Eric Hurley ...  With the DVD trio broken up, the Rangers have a new No. 1 pitching prospect in Hurley, the 30th overall pick in the 2004 draft. Even with his velocity down a bit from where it was in high school, Hurley looks like a future No. 3 starter. He's steadily in the 90-93 mph range and both his changeup and slider are potential above average major league pitches. The hope is that he'll regain some of his lost velocity, which would give him more upside. Though he's the younger pitcher by two years, Hurley, because of his command, might be more capable than either Edinson Volquez or Thomas Diamond of helping the Rangers this year."

    Among the "up and comers" cited by USA Today :

" ... Homer Bailey ...  20-year-old right-hander could be this year's Justin Verlander. He throws in the high 90s with a big curveball that could earn him a spot in the rotation ...  Gavin Floyd ...  right-hander is the leading candidate to take over the rotation spot left vacant by the trade of Freddy Garcia. The fourth overall pick in 2001, Floyd is 7-5 with a 6.96 ERA in 24 career games with the Philadelphia Phillies and has struggled with his control."

    Chris Volstad FLO, fitting in the Marlins' camp :

" ...  The 20-year-old will likely open the season at Class A Jupiter, but at the rate he's progressing, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that he could see some big-league time this season or possibly next. Selected 16th overall ...  in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, the Marlins clearly aren't going to rush a prize pitching talent such as Volstad. At 6-foot-7, 190 pounds, he was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2006 after going 11-8 with a 3.08 ERA at Class A Greensboro. Volstad's strong season earned him his first big-league non-roster invitation. "It's definitely exciting when you see guys like Dontrelle Willis and Josh Johnson sitting around the same locker room you are sitting around," Volstad said. ...  Possessing a polished delivery and a 95-mph fastball, Volstad is a prototypical right-handed starter. He adds a curveball and changeup, giving him three plus pitches to go along with the maturity beyond his 20 years."  (MiLB.com)

    Jonathan Sanchez SF, a definitive role?

" ... The Giants aren't sure if left-hander Jonathan Sanchez will be used as a starter or reliever this season, but they know they don't want to shuttle him between the two roles again. "Whether it's starting or relieving, the plan is to stick with it," said Bochy, though he added circumstances could force them to act differently. Sanchez is the only pitcher in competition with Ross Ortiz for the final spot in the rotation; club officials are pulling for Ortiz to win the job."  (Contra Costa Times)

    Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus, on Andrew Brackman, RHP (North Carolina State) :

" ...   In some ways, Brackman is this year's version of Brandon Morrow. Like Morrow last spring, Brackman entered the season as one of the favorites among scouts when it came to evaluating arms with little track record to go on. While control problems and minor injuries limited Morrow during his freshman and sophomore campaigns, for Brackman it was minor injuries and time spent on the Wolfpack basketball team. This year he's healthy, he's not playing hoops, and he's busting out ... While he's still pitching primarily off his fastball and has struggled in the cold to get a feel for his curve, Brackman sat at 92-95 mph during the outing and touched 98 on multiple occasions. His 6'10" frame makes the ball look like it's coming down from a mountaintop. Like Morrow, Brackman is fulfilling scouts' projections early, and like Morrow, he's on pace to be one of the first five players selected in June."
 

    
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