09-09 Luis Pujols
has decided that the one thing Detroit needs is it’s own little piece of
Toledo. Pujols has shaken up his rotation, removing Steve Sparks and
Brian Powell and replacing them with 40% of the Mud Hens rotation in the
bodies of Shane Loux and Nate Cornejo. Loux was 11-10 in Toledo with a
4.72 ERA in 25 starts, and Cornejo was 9-8 with a 4.42 ERA. Loux was
once a bright prospect but he was overmatched at AAA in 2001 and
although he was better this year he still wasn’t very impressive
allowing 196 hits in 158.1 IP, striking out 87 with a 38 walks.
Opponents hit .307 off him (I had to run that through my calculator
about 6 times before I’d believe it)… Cornejo is a brighter prospect but
he didn’t wow the Toledians (Toledites?) either. Nate was 9-8 in 21
games allowing 163 hits in 132.1 IP with 119 strikeouts and 45 walks.
Opponents hit .307 off him too (I had to check to see if my calculator
was stuck on .306 for some reason …nope, that’s right…Jose Lima has a
7.77 ERA and opponents are hitting .314 off him…my calculator is
alright). Nate was 1-4 with the Tigers this year in 7 starts with a 5.92
ERA and MLB hitters are hitting .329 off him…Beginning to get the
picture here? Pujols summed their chances up with this comment "It's not
like Sparks and Powell won't pitch again. I told them with four young
starters in our rotation, there's a good chance they'll get into games
in long relief." …Way to inspire the troops there Skip! The Tigers will
also work in Jason Beverlin in as a sixth starter, beginning with his
start Sunday against the Royals. Steve was claimed on waivers from the
Indians and was 3-0, 1.93 for the Mud Hens. Maybe Pujols can give us a
little scouting report "I don't know a lot about him, but all the
reports I got were good," Pujols said. Thanks Skip! … All you need to
know is that the Indians waived him. Cornejo may pay some dividends down
the road but his development has been excruciatingly slow, Shane Loux is
probably packing asbestos underwear, and Jason Beverlin is less highly
regarded than the previously mentioned guys …Stay away. - Louis Blasi
09-08 After waiting for
much too long, Marlon Byrd will finally make his major league
debut today with the Phillies. The Phillies called him up along with
three other players from AAA Scranton/Wiles-Barre, after the Barons lost
in the first round of the International League playoffs. Byrd joins the
Phillies with fine minor league stats, and the label of a blue chip
prospect. This year for Scranton he hit .297 with 15 homers and 67 RBI.
The year before in AA Reading he was spectacular, hitting .316 with 28
homers, and 89 RBI. He was also named the Eastern League MVP for that
performance. Some have been a little concerned in Byrd’s dropoff in
homers and stolen bases from this year to last. Assistant GM Mike
Arbuckle provides this explanation: "He's hitting fewer homers because
he's in a bigger park, and we're focusing him on making contact. We want
him to hit for average. His stolen bases are down because that ballclub
is so good that he doesn't wanna run and take the bat out of people's
hands. We keep telling him, 'We appreciate the fact that you're doing
what's best for the club, but we want you to keep stealing bases.' We're
pushing him to run more." In spring training next year, center field
will be Byrd’s to lose. However, It’s still not clear how much playing
he will receive the rest of this year. Byrd’s a top notch prospect and
should have already been picked up by in keeper leagues. If he’s still
available, stop reading this and get him immediately. - Andrew Marti
09-04 The Tigers recalled
Andy Van Hekken from AAA Toledo to start last night’s game. All
he did was throw a complete game shutout at the Indians holding them to
8 hits and two walks in 114 pitches. Her struck out 1. Andy finished up
5-0 in Toledo in seven starts for Toledo with a 1.82 ERA, allowing 41
hits in 49.2 IP with 19 strikeouts and 11 walks. He opened the year in
AA Erie going 4-7 in 21 starts with a 3.83 ERA. Andy allowed 138 hits in
134 IP with 97 strikeouts against 34 walks. Except for some pretty good
zone command indicators there was no real indication of what Andy would
show in Toledo. The 23 year old hit AAA a little earlier than expected
and ran with the ball. Andy doesn’t wow you when he pitches. He has a
fastball that hovers around 89-90, a curve that’s progressing and a
really, really good change up. He’s a winner too. Andy won 5 games
without a loss for Luis Pujols in AA Erie last year. “I’ve never seen
him lose” said Pujols. Despite what you saw last night, Andy probably
isn’t ready to stick in the majors, and I don’t think this indicative of
what you can expect the rest of this month, but you don’t trick your way
to a CG shutout in the majors. Last night’s outing shows legitimate
physical and mental capability, and you can up Andy’s stock a bit. -
Louis Blasi
The Tigers called up 23
year-old lefthander Andy Van Hekken, and will give him his first
major league start today. He has spent this season between AA Erie and
AAA Toledo. At Erie, Van Hekken was 4-7 with a 3.83 ERA. He was then
promoted, and posted a 5-0 record and 1.82 ERA at Toledo (19 K, 11 BB in
49 1/3 IP). "He's not overpowering but locates his fastball effectively
and likes to pitch inside," pitching coach Steve McCatty said. "The best
way to describe him is that he finds a way to get it done. He's very
composed, almost unflappable." Wait and see how he does before picking
him up, but worth a look, especially pitching half his games at
Comerica. - Jeffrey Ackerman
09-03 23 year-old
outfielder Joe Borchard, arguably the most highly touted prospect
in the White Sox system, homered for his first major league hit
yesterday. He was called up from AAA Charlotte (where he had an .847 OPS
in 117 games) before the game. He isn’t likely to get enough playing to
make an impact this year, so don’t spend a pickup on him yet. He also
will need to improve his discipline at the plate to have success in the
majors (he struck out 139 times in 438 at-bats this year in the minors,
with only 49 walks). - Jeffrey Ackerman
09-01 Lance Carter
was called up by the Devil Rays yesterday. The 27 year old was out of
baseball last year following surgery on his elbow, when he called
manager Hal McRae (Carter had been a classmate of Hal’s son Brian McRae)
for a possible tryout. Since then, he has been pitching for AAA Durham,
where he went 12-2 with a 2.80 ERA, and 12 walks and 90 strikeouts in
132 innings. Although he has made 18 of his 33 appearances this season
as a starter, Tampa Bay plans to use him out of the bullpen. His only
previous major league experience was 5 1/3 innings with KC in 1999. Nice
story, but not worth a pickup. Just like the baseball team at my high
school, it’s who you know..... - Jeffrey Ackerman
08-24 Catcher Josh
Bard was called up to the Tribe late Thursday night, after catching
13 innings in AAA Buffalo. Bard replaces Einar Diaz, who was placed on
the DL with a strained right elbow and bruised triceps. Josh started the
game last night, and finished it with a two-run walk-off homer in the
bottom of the ninth. Bard was drafted in 1999 by the Rockies in the
third round and was sent to the Indians in the Jacob Cruz trade last
season. Josh, a switch hitter, had an impressive spring training, and
nearly made the club. Since then he cooled, until just recently, batting
.400 in August and raising his AAA season average to .297 with 6 homers
and 10 RBI. He is noted for his catching skills, including his ability
to call a game. Bard’s ability to hit over the long term is still
question mark, but his skills behind the plate are major-league caliber.
If he can continue to hit, he could have a long career in the major
league. If you’re looking for a keeper prospect, you could do a lot
worse. - Andrew Marti
8-21 Ricardo Rodriguez
gets the start tonight, replacing the recently deposed Ryan Drese.
Rodriguez, 24, came over from the Dodgers organization in the Paul Shuey
trade. He had a good season in Vero Beach (A) last year, where he led
the league in strikeouts and was among league leaders in wins, ERA and
innings. This season, he split time at two AA teams in the Dodgers
organization (Jacksonville and Las Vegas) where he posted combined
numbers of 6-4 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. In 4 starts at AAA
Buffalo, Rodriguez was 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA. Rodriguez has three pitches
(fastball, slider, and curve) that he is willing to throw at any time in
the count. He has good command and is willing to pitch inside, while
displaying impressive maturity. Rodriguez has the potential to be a
solid #2 or #3 starter and should be a solid pick-up if you’re on the
lookout for solid keepers for next season. - Andrew Marti
08-16 The Mets got two
minor leaguers in exchange for Shawn Estes and neither is anything to
get terribly excited about. Outfielder Elvin Andujar is a 21
year-old Dominican outfielder in his second pro season. Her has some raw
skills including a little speed, but he’s a work in progress. He needs
to downsize his strike zone a bit as his 49 whiffs and 12 walks in 140
ABs for Rookie-A Billings will attest. He’s hitting .286 there with 5
HRs, 20 Rbi and a .798 OPS. He’s got along way to go and short time to
get there… Dark Horse at best … LHP Pedro Feliciano is headed for
his third organization this year. The 25 year-old is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA
in 20 appearances since getting promoted to AAA Louisville this year
with a19 strikeouts and 4 walks in 26.2 IP. His command is obviously
developed and he’s slippery to hit, Pedro can’t throw anything straight,
everything he throws is live. But AAA opponents are hitting .327 off him
so he’s far from unsolvable. I don’t see much of a pro future for him
but he is left handed so he’ll probably make his way to an MLB bullpen
at some point. - Louis Blasi
08-16 The Padres recalled
left-hander Mike Bynum from AAA Portland to replace Bobby Jones
in the rotation. He’s scheduled to start Saturday against Montreal. Mike
was 3-2 in seven starts in Portland with a 3.51 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He
struck out 35 hitters in 41 IP while allowing 35 hits and 7 walks. In AA
Mobile earlier in the year he went 4-0 in 5 starts with a 0.32 ERA and a
.72 WHIP and an ungodly .150 OBA. This year represents a strong rebound
from a miserable 2001 for the 24 year-old, in which he was 2-7 with a
5.02 ERA in 16 appearances for Mobile. Mike doesn’t over power you. He
leads with a sharp slider but doesn’t bring a lot of heat and even
though he shows a change he’s basically a two-pitch pitcher. His numbers
might indicate a decent starter prospect but I’d feel a lot better about
him after he racked up 25 or 30 AAA starts at his current level of
performance. Based on what I know so far, I don’t think he sticks in the
majors as a starter in the long-term. Take a pass on this one. - Louis
Blasi
08-14 The Royals
purchased the contract of third/first baseman Kit Pellow from AAA
Omaha on Tuesday. The 28 year-old is a slugger. He’s averaged 27 homers
and 82 Rbi over the 5 minor league seasons previous to this, and has
never been promoted to the majors before. On Monday he went 3- for –6
for Omaha with 2 HRs, a triple, and 7 Rbi. That gives him 27 HRs on the
year with 76 Rbi, a .289 batting average and .912 OPS. He’s struck out
82 times in 402 ABs while taking only 21 walks. I don’t see where he’ll
find a lot of playing time, but it’s nice they are giving him a ride
with the big club after his meritorious minor league service. There
isn’t a lot of long-term fantasy value here, but these types are funny
sometimes. Once in a while one of these guys will seize the day and bust
out big time in his first taste in the majors. And sometimes you can get
on board for a nice (if short) ride. We’ll keep an eye on him for you. -
Louis Blasi
08-09 The Rockies are
reportedly planning to recall RHP Aaron Cook from AAA Colorado
Springs. Cook is one of the Rockies better pitching prospects. He was
their second round pick out of high school in 1997. The 23-year-old is
on the thin side at 6’3” and 175 pounds. Aaron features his fastball,
which is inconsistent but flashes in the mid-90’s occasionally. He has a
change and a curve, but they only keep hitters honest at this point, and
they need some work. Cook began the year in the AA Southern League with
the Mud Cats, going 7-2 with a 1.42 ERA in 14 starts. He allowed 73 hits
and walked 19 in 95 IP while striking out 58. He arrived in Colorado
Springs in mid-June and is 4-4 in 10 starts with a 3.78 ERA. In 64 IP
he’s allowed 67 hits and 18 walks while striking our 32. As you can see
his hit rates and strikeout rates at both levels this year, and in
previous seasons, don’t really jive with the profile of a power pitcher,
despite his velocity. He hasn’t shown an ability to dominate at any
level so far. Opponents are hitting .263 off him in AAA and that’s less
than compelling. I wish I had his GBO/FBO out ratios because I’m willing
to bet those aren’t particularly good either. Given his limited arsenal,
if he can’t simply blow away people with his fastball, his ceiling is
very limited. So far he hasn’t shown that he can blow away anyone. Add
in the Coors factor and the considerable jump to major league hitting,
and you can see that Cook isn’t someone you want to get involved with at
this point. He may work out of the pen for the Rockies anyway. Stay
away. - Louis Blasi
08-05 Steve Smyth
will be given the opportunity to make his major league debut tomorrow.
The Cubs called up the left-hander from AAA-Iowa yesterday, and he will
replace Francis Beltran on the Cubs' roster. The kids' pitch repertoire
consists of a fastball (91-93 mph), and three other serviceable pitches
including a slider, curve, and a decent changeup. His minor league
career has been solid so far, last year he won the AA-Southern League
ERA title (2.54ERA). This season he had a 4-4 record with a 3.58ERA in
73 innings for AA-West Tennessee, and a 3-2. 6.15 ERA with AAA-Iowa. Of
importance is his K/BB ratio. Last year in AA he put together 93Ks and
only 40BBs (2.33), this year he had a 4.11 ratio (74/18), and a 2.2
ratio in AAA (22/10). This would indicate that while he is definitely
improving his control, he may need a little while longer in AAA. He will
eventually be a big league pitcher, but now is probably not his time.
There is no need to make a move for him yet. - Stephan Bell
07-30 The Orioles
recalled John Stephens from AAA Rochester to make tonight’s
start. Stephens is near the top of the food chain among Orioles
prospects. He was 11-5 for the Red Wings with a 3.03 ERA in 21 starts.
He’s allowed 125 hits in 142.2 IP, striking out 118 and walking only 23.
The 22 year-old dreams about a 90-mph fastball when he goes to sleep,
but while he’s awake it settles in the mid 80’s. He has a very good
curve and a decent change but lives off location and change of speed. So
far he’s making a pretty good living. This may not be a long stay for
John but it may be effective. These are the type of guys that have a
huge advantage when facing hitters for the first time. I think he has a
shot to be effective before a “book” is assembled on him. He may be
effective beyond that as well, but it’s unlikely he’s here for long this
time around, and he won’t be immune to growing pains in the long term.
He’s not my type of prospect, he’s more of a Bud Smith-type of pitcher,
but his indicators have been very good to dominant in his last two
levels so who am I to doubt him at this point? Go ahead and make the
claim, especially in keeper leagues, or if you need some kind of spark
in your rotation, but keep a close eye on him. Don't be patient in terms
of playing him. Reserve him at the first sign of trouble or better yet
until we see how he's going to react to his first sip of MLB coffee. -
Louis Blasi
The Joe Crede era
at 3B for the White Sox begins tomorrow for real.He has blossomed into a
prototypical powerful corner infielder, batting .312 with 24 homers at
AAA Charlotte this season. A very positive aspect of his numbers shows
him to be the anti-Russell Branyan at the plate, striking out only 48
times in 396 plate appearances, a very good number for a power hitter.
He will be the everyday 3B for Chicago and, if you need some help at 3B,
he will probably give it to you, although you can expect some rough
times, at least at first. - Paul Sauberer
07-27 30 year old Joe
Roa has been pitching on a professional level since 1989. He made
his MLB debut in Cleveland in 1995, but he’s stays where very
brief….only logging in 7.2 innings for a combined 1995 and 1996 season.
In 1997 he resurfaced in SF and pitched 65 innings, allowing 86 hits and
20 walks (1.63 WHIP – Horrid). Of his 11 years in the minors (hint,
hint), this season was by far his most impressive, going 14-0 W/L, while
only allowing 83 hits in 111 innings (maintaining a WHIP under 1.00-
awesome). He’s not a dominance pitcher, as evidenced by his .67 K/Inning
ratio. Outlook: Roa has been with at least 8 organizations, including
the lowly Pirates who dumped him before the 2002 season began. Although
it’s possible that he’s found something after 11 struggling minor league
seasons, it’s more than likely that his impressive 2002 numbers are
slightly more than a mirage. Although your heart has to go out to
someone like Roa, who didn’t give up on himself….I am not convinced that
he can repeat his recent success in the big leagues, I am interested in
seeing him in action. - Anthony A. Perri
The future is now for 2B
Orlando Hudson. The Blue Jays recalled him from AAA Syracuse and gave
him his major league debut last night. He was evidently a little nervous
(at one point the switch hitter walked out to the batter's box with a
hlemt with the ear flap on the wrong side) and his performance (0-for-4
and an error on his first chance) may show that he will need some time
to adjust. Still, Hudson put up the hitting numbers at AA that were
hoped for (.305 BA) and showed some pop (10 HRs) and even a little speed
(8 SB). Hudson is a legitimate middle infield prospect who should help
you long term if you are in a keeper league, even if the start is a
little rocky. - Paul Sauberer
7-22 Brett Myers
is scheduled to make his major league debut on Wednesday. He was the
12th overall pick in the 1999 draft and was drafted right out of high
school. He pitched well enough in the lower-class A-ball that he totally
skipped the adavanced A-ball league, spending most of last season at
AA-Reading. Last year he put together a solid season with a 3.87ERA,
1.28WHIP, 13-4 record, and 130Ks in 156IP. Worth noting is his solid
K/BB ratio (3.0) which was improved significantly from the previous
season. He has been mirroring those numbers in AAA this year, currently
with a 9-6 record and a 3.59ERA in 19 starts, although in his last four
starts he has gone 4-0 with a 1.66ERA. Myers' dominant pitch is a
90-95MPH fastball mixing in a nice combination of a decent curve and a
good changeup. Myers only appearance for the Phillies was during spring
training where he had four appearances (3.18ERA, 16H, 15Ks, 8BB in
17IP). If he is somehow available in your NL-only league you should be
spending some free agency dollars to get him. If you think he awful
after his first two starts, it is worth noting now that he will start
against Mark Prior in his first game, and against Bonds and the Giants'
wrecking crew in the second game. - Stephan Bell
P John Patterson
brought his A game yesterday and mowed down the Padres with his sizzling
95 MPH fastball and “hammer north to south 75 MPH curve. He allowed only
3 hits through 6 innings and two of them came off the bat of Tom Lampkin.
As we mentioned yesterday, the key to John’s success would be his
ability to stay ahead in the count and he did just that, walking only 2
batters. His fly ball to ground ball ratio was a little high for someone
playing in a homerun park: 8-2, and his 4 strike-outs in 6 innings was
less than his minor league average. After seeing him for the first time
yesterday, I must say he looked impressive and I do feel differently
today about this once top MLB prospect. If you play in a deep league you
may want to take a chance on Patterson, who does have a chance to stay
in this Diamondback rotation after Helling is ready to return. If your
league is tight on free agents, you may want to sit back for another
one. I do expect the league to have better success against him once they
start to recognize his curve, but if he can maintain the strike zone as
he did yesterday, then he’s got a shot at posting decent numbers this
year and could be the star he once was touted to be in future years. -
Anthony A. Perri
07-15 The Royals are
keeping the starter of this afternoons 2nd game against the Texas
Rangers a secret until game time. As the Topeka Capital Jornal reports
“The secrecy enhances the possibility it will be Runleyvus Hernandez,
who currently is assigned to Double-A Wichita where he is 8-3 with a
2.83 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) after beginning the year at Class A
Wilmington. He was in Kansas City on Friday to throw a bullpen session,
and GM Allard Baird said recently that the 24-year-old right-hander is
ready to be tested at the major league level.” The 6’1” 205 lb Runelvys
was considered one of the Royals top 12 prospects coming into this
season and moved up within the top 3 after a strong 2002 campaign.
Runelvys is another one of those guys who aged 3 years this winter when
documents showed he’s actually 24 and not 21 as previously reported.
Runelvys scorched Texas league hitters this season with a 1.15 WHIP and
a .82 K/Innings ratio (very decent). Early scouting reports indicate
that he throws strikes and like to challenge hitters. His 91-92 fastball
will not exactly blow MLB hitters away, it’s his deceptive curve that
may challenge a few. Outlook: This Dominican import is improving, but he
may find the need for additional seasoning in the minors after a
potential start today….keep an eye on him for the future. - Anthony A.
Perri
07-05 The Reds purchased
the contract of knuckleballing right-hander Jared Fernandez from
AAA Louisville where he was 11-5 in 23 games with a 4.21 ERA. He allowed
133 hits and 30 walks in 113.1 IP (a 1.43 WHIP) with 70 strikeouts. The
30 walks (6 WP) and 4 HRs allowed are impressively low for a
knuckleballer, but the 133 hits is just plain scary. It’s unclear where
he fits into the Reds staff but he started yesterdays game in the place
of the hurting Elmer Dessens who was pushed to day’s game. Fernandez
allowed the Brewers 3 runs, 2 earned, in 6 IP on 5 hits and 4 walks
against 3 strikeouts. Not a bad start, but you probably don’t want to
get involved with a newbie knuckleball pitcher at this point in the
season. It can only end badly. - Louis Blasi
07-02 The Blue Jays get
left-hander Scot Wiggins from the Yankees in exchange for Raul
Mondesi. This trade could be on the exhibit list for Bud Selig’s
competitive balance case. The Blue Jays simply needed to get out from
under Mondesi and his salary and they found one of the few teams who
could afford to absorb it. Wiggins is basically window dressing. The
26-year old was 2-1 at AA Norwich with a 2.28 ERA. He had 26 Ks in 27.2
IP with only 9 walks. He gave up 19 hits. Good numbers, but he’s a
26-year old in AA for cryin’ out loud. He may help the Jays pen to some
degree, but he’s persona non-gratis from a fantasy standpoint. - Louis
Blasi
07-01 Right-hander
John Lackey made his first career start yesterday against the
Dodgers, and did a fine job...allowing 1 run, and 5 hits in 6 innings,
earning his 1st win. He wasn’t intimidated by the start. "He's got that
stare on his face," Angel reliever Ben Weber said after the game. "You
can just look at him and tell he's not scared." He wasn’t scared at AAA
Salt Lake this year, where he was 8-2, with a 2.57 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP in
16 starts. He also had 82 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings. Last year he
split time between AA-Arkansas and Salt Lake, where he was 12-11, with a
4.48 ERA. John is renowned for a great curveball, but also has good
velocity...getting into the mid-90s with his fastball. The Angels have
already said that the spot in the rotation is his to lose. All of this
makes John an appealing fantasy prospect. - Andrew Marti
06-25 Cards prospect
Jimmy Journell has been called up to fill the 5th rotation slot. The
Cards 4th round pick in ’99 is a Tommy John Alum. He pitched well enough
in 151 IP at A Potomac last year (14-6, 2.50, 156 Ks/ 42 Walks/121 hits)
to earn a late season call up to AA New Haven for one start. He started
in AA with the Ravens this year and was 3-3 with 2.70 ERA in 10 starts.
Jimmy struck out 66 in 66.2 IP against only 18 walks. Journell has the
standard, new millennium starters toolkit. He gets his fastball into the
low-to-mid 90’s and sports a plus hard slider. His change up is MLB
caliber. Jimmy has solid command and his performance over the last two
years has shelved earlier plans by the Cardinals to raise him as a
reliever (due to his injury history). With only 256 pro innings, I
wonder if the 24 year old is ready for the majors, but I’m interested to
find out. His ceiling is fairly high but his range of possible results
is wide. I’m a bit surprised by this. I thought Travis Smith would get
the call. But lets go with the flow. Jim has the horsepower, lets see if
he can pass his MLB drivers test. I’m going to recommended him as a
pickup on his potential and skill set, with the warning that he’s still
early in his development, some learning curve outings could result, and
his stay could be brief. - Louis Blasi
Jake Peavy was
promoted from AA Mobile yesterday and will make his first start today
against the Yankees. Jake was drafted in the 15th round by the Padres in
1999. Since then he’s posted impressive minor league numbers. Including
a 13-8, 2.90 ERA performance, with 164 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings at
Single-A Fort Wayne in 2000. Last year, Jack split time between Single-A
Lake Elsinore and Mobile, where he posted a combined 9-6 record and 2.97
ERA. Again the strikeouts were most impressive: 188 Ks in 133 1/3
innings! Peavy was only 4-5 at Mobile this year, but he had a solid 2.80
ERA and a 1.19 WHIP with 89 Ks in 80 1/3 innings. Peavy has three
pitches, his fastball, which he throws in the high-90s, and an
above-average slider and changeup. Peavy comes with a lot of hype, but
with the record to earn the attention. He’s a top-notch prospect. -
Andrew Marti
06-19 The Royals recalled
24 year-old RHP Shawn Sedlacek from AAA Omaha to replace Jeremy
Affeldt on the roster and in the rotation, at least for now. I never
liked any of his indicators although they look a little better across
the board this year (67 hits in 80.1 IP with 15 walks and 66 hits, 6-5,
3.71, 102 at AAA Omaha) and I think I could still get a good hack or two
at his limited fastball. He pitched pretty well last night however
limiting the Expos to 2 runs in 5,2 IP, on 2 hits and a walk, while
striking out 4. "I was impressed," Royals manager Tony Pena said. "He
was throwing the ball really well." I don’t think Shawn is sophisticated
enough for the majors and I don’t recommend him as a pickup at this
point. He may have found something but unless that something is 2 more
feet on his fastball, he doesn’t have enough in his toolbox to succeed
on the major league level for any extended period of time. - Louis Blasi
06-17 Kirk Saarloos
is getting a call up to the big club for a start this Tuesday. If your
not familiar with the name you should spend a little time getting to
know it. Saarloos comes from the same 2001 draft as rookie phenom Mark
Prior, and interesting has posted better number than Prior in his AA
experience this season. Why no hype you ask? It's a difference of 5-7
MPH with the fastball. Take a look at these numbers: In 13 starts Kirk
has gone 10-1 with a 1.40 ERA, during his 83 innings 82 batters have
fallen via the K (excellent 1:1 K/Inning ratio). Kirk has only given up
48 hits and 21 walks for an unbelievable 0.71 WHIP (the opposition is
only hitting .168)! Additionally only 1 batter was able to push the ball
over the fence (always a concern for a Minute Maid Park pitcher). Folks
these are the best mid season minor league numbers that I've ever seen
on a prospect! His fastball is considered average speed at best 87-89
mph, but it has excellent sink, and he also has a great slider.
Additionally he has a great changeup. He's a control pitcher rather than
a "blow you away" kind of guy (a raw Maddox type). A certain
recommendation for those in deeper or keeper leagues. Fantasy Outlook:
This kid was expected to be a middle relief type of pitcher, but he's
blown the AA opposition away. Typically I don't recommend control
pitchers as rookies, since the learning curve to the majors usually
takes a couple of years, but based on what I've read and using
conversion statistics, I'm compelled to recommend a pickup even in an
uncertain rotation situation. - Anthony A. Perri
06-14 Oliver Perez
will make his major league debut on Sunday against the Mariners. The
left-hander is only 20 years old, but throws in the low 90s and has a
great slider. Perez was called up on Tuesday when Dennis Tankersley was
sent down to AA Mobile. Perez was 1-0 in 4 games at Mobile with a 1.17.
He had recently been called up from Single-A Lake Elsinore, where he had
a 3-3 record with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 9 games. While those
number are decent enough, its Oliver’s strikeouts that attract the most
attention. He had 34 in 23 innings in Mobile, and 66 in 48 2/3 at Lake
Elsinore. Last year at two Single A teams, Oliver had a 160 strikeouts
in 153 1/3 innings. Oliver is a good prospect, who has arrived earlier
than most expected. He has the tools to succeed, but is probably too
young to make much of an impact this season. - Andrew Marti
06-12 Recent callup
Marcus Thames (OF) is the new Yankee right fielder, at least for the
time being. At 25, Marcus finally had a breakout season in 2001, after
stalling out at AA Norwich for 2+ seasons. Marcus’ monster season of a
year ago included 31 home runs, 97 RBI’s and a .321 average, earning him
rights to the leagues best in OBP and Slugging %. Prior to the 2001
season, Marcus never hit more than 15 HRs in a season nor above .285 in
a full season. This season in AAA Marcus could only muster a .216 BA
with 6 HRs and 20 RBIs, his BB/K ratio decreased from .72 to .61
indicating less selectiveness at the plate. Fantasy Outlook: Sure the HR
off of Randy Johnson in his 1st MLB AB was exciting, but….look for
Marcus to struggle in the majors this season, as he has at most levels
through the minor league system, a key to how he’s going will be his
ability to take the ball the other way, if he can’t…he’s not likely to
hold the starting position on a steady basis. - Anthony A. Perri
05-25 Pitcher Aaron
Harang was pulled from his last start for AAA Sacramento after just
2 innings. This is an indication that he will be called up to make
tomorrow's start. Harang, an imposing 6 foot-7 inches and 240 pounds,
mixes his pitches well, throwing an effective changeup to go along with
a low-90s fastball and above average slider. He has sparkled at
Sacramento so far this season, with a 1.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a most
impressive K/BB ratio of almost 5:1 (only 7 BB in 35- 2/3 IP). Over his
last two seasons Aaron has posted inconsistent results, for instance
during his 2000 A ball experience he held the opposition to a .199 BA,
while maintaining a solid 1.13 WHIP. In his 2001 AA experience the
opposition hit him at a .265 clip, while posting a very mediocre 1.40
WHIP. Fantasy Outlook: If you can, wait out his first start, but he
seems to have the poise and maturity to give the A's rotation (and your
fantasy team's) some help, however remember that he is just filling in
at this point. - Paul Sauberer
05-22 The Tigers recalled
(P) Adam Bernero on Tuesday, and have slotted him into the #5
slot in the rotation. Bernero, 25 (6?4? 205 R), breezed through the
lower minors, however his early 2001 AAA numbers were not very
impressive. He ended that season with a 6-11 W/L record, a 5.13 ERA, and
a very unappealing 1.61 WHIP. Most of the damage in 2001 came during the
early portion of the season, he settled down during the second half.
Bernero?s ?bread and butter? pitches are his sinker, split finger
fastball, and an unrecognizable changeup, while his fastball has been
inconsistent at times. This season in AAA for the Toledo Mud Hens, Adam
has been solid. His 1.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and K to Walk ratio of 3.77 are
a good indication that he?s regained control of his fastball. Fantasy
Outlook: Adam has a rotation spot which is his to lose, due to the
demotion of Nate Cornejo. If he pitches with the same ferocity that he
has, he could be an unheralded surprise. He has the right stuff, but is
a risk to fail judging by his inconsistent past?.if you can afford to
take a chance, he may be worth a shot in your rotation. (Fantasy Grade
C-) - Anthony A. Perri
05-22 Chris Magruder
(OF) was called up yesterday to replace the deposed Brady Anderson.
Chris is a right-handed outfielder who was previously with the Texas
Rangers, having been traded to Cleveland on April 5th for outfielder
Rashad Eldrige. He was acquired by Texas in the Andres Galarraga trade
with San Franscisco last year. In the Giants system in 2001, he hit .311
with 15 homers and 21 doubles. At AAA Oklahoma City last year, he hit
.362 with 14 doubles and 5 homers in 127 at-bats. This season at AAA
Buffalo, Chris was .271 with 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 16 runs in 34 games.
Although he has only one stolen base, Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel
offered this scouting report: ``I watched him take early batting
practice today. He looks like he hits the ball where it's pitched and
moves the ball around. He can play all the outfield spots, and is
supposed to be pretty good out there. I hear he's kind of an energy
guy.” Not sure what an “energy” guy is, but look for Magruder to
lead-off some for the Tribe. Not a serious fantasy option right now, but
watch him closely if you’re looking for outfield help. - Andrew Marti
05-10 The Sun Times is
reporting that we could see Mark Prior and/or Bobby Hill
with the big club inside of two weeks. We aren’t going to re-invent the
wheel this morning, you should have a pretty good handle on these two
guys at this point, but we can check in one last time before they hit
the open market. Hill has been ok in the minors, hitting .270 for AAA
Iowa (entering Thursday) with a .747 OPS and 3 HRs with 16 Rbi. He has
16 walks and only 17 Ks in 100 ABs. The all-important stat with Bobby is
his OBP, which was a healthy .397. Hill has stolen 9 bases. Hill has
solid zone skills, maybe better, and the ability to get on base, which
is his ticket to the majors. And there’s his speed, which is what we are
all interested in. I think he’s a bit of a risky claim, especially if
you have to get into a bidding situation for him. I think he’s a bit
over-hyped. He shows limited power and won’t be asked to drive in runs.
His gap power to this point is mediocre. Can he get on first in the
majors and steal second? Probably, but not with the same regularity that
he has in the minors, certainly not out of the box. In the majors the
pitchers are better (don’t bother writing that pearl down) … more
precise, and more sophisticated. First base is harder to come by. As for
stealing, that skill may be the one skill that is most challenged by the
move from the minors to the majors. The pitchers hold runners better,
the catchers are generally much better at throwing base runners out, and
SB situations simply don’t present themselves with the same regularity.
In the majors, the stakes are too high to risk what is an offensive
maneuver of dubious value, unless it’s considered a necessity. If he
were to be up in two weeks and could keep himself in the lineup
everyday, I think 20-24 SBs would be an optimistic guess on his season
total, Along with that you’ll probably get a .270-.280 average with
below average production in other areas, although he may score some runs
for you. If you need the SBs, he may be worth chasing. If you need a
player who can contribute to more columns, Hill may end up being a
disappointment … Prior will start on Sunday for Iowa under the watchful
eye of the Cubs brass. After shredding the AA Southern League (4-1,
2.60, 1.03, with a 5.5:1 K:BB ratio in 34.2 IP), he’s made one start in
AAA allowing 1 unearned run in 7.2 IP on 3 hits and a walk while
striking out 10. If he makes another start like that this weekend, it
will be his last in minors. Prior is the real deal. Mark features a
terrific (by MLB standards) curve and mid-to-high 90’s fastball, bit
thrown with precision. He’s mature enough to make the jump to the majors
and do well. All the caveats on young pitching apply, even to Prior, but
Mark is pretty advanced, despite his limited pro experience. He has a
chance to make an impact in the majors from his first pitch. He’s a full
5-alarm claim for any league, but especially in keeper leagues. Don’t
hesitate. Claim him with confidence - Louis Blasi
05-10 Dennis
Tankersley will start in place of Kevin Jarvis against the Braves
tonight. The former Red Sox farmhand who came over in exchange for Ed
Sprague in 2000 blossomed when he hit the Padres system. Dennis leads
with a plus slider and a low-to-mid 90’s fastball and a serviceable
curve. He is unsure of his change up but it’s better than he thinks and
it’s coming along. Dennis is 2-1 for AA Mobile with a 2.64 ERA in 30.2
IP. He’s allowed 28 hits and 10 walks (1.23 WHIP), while striking out 30
in 7 starts. Right-handers hit .225 off Tankersley, left-handers hit
.267. The walks are a bit high for him. His command has always been one
of his assets. Dennis gets the call of Jake Peavy because he’s already
on the 40-man roster, saving the Pads a roster move for what is probably
a one-shot start and the start fits Dennis’ schedule. Tankersley will be
a good one, top half of the rotation good in fact. The walks and the
left-hander’s batting average have me thinking he needs some more
seasoning and I’m hoping he’ll get it. Hopefully he’ll get this start
and then head out to AA for a couple more months. He’s not a bad gamble
for tonight if you are in need of start. And if he sticks for more than
one turn I doubt he’ll get into too much trouble. You guys in keeper
leagues with deep reserves should claim him and pocket him for the
second half. - Louis Blasi
5-08 The Expos have
called up OF Endy Chavez to replace recently demoted Peter
Bergeron. The 24 year old Chavez (6’0” -165 lbs) is highly regarded for
his speed and defense. Endy stole 38 bases in 54 attempts in 2000, and
15 in 24 attempts last season while playing AA/AAA ball. The Royals
called up Endy in brief stints last year, however in 77 AB’s Endy could
only muster 16 hits in 77 AB’s with only 2 extra bases….Chavez was also
caught stealing in his only 2 attempts. Coming into this season, many
scouts had already written him off based on his poor 2001. In fact this
off season both the Tigers & Mets took signed and released him before
catching on with the Expos Minor league affiliate (Ottawa Lynx). This
season Endy is hitting .363 with 10 extra bases and 6 steals in 10
attempts. Fantasy Outlook: Chavez is going to struggle in the majors,
his raw speed has been declining over the last couple of season’s and he
has not shown any improvement on leading off the bases. None the less
the Expos will give him a decent shot at sticking, and he will gather a
few hits and stolen bases along the way. If you are in desperate need of
a couple of steals, then go ahead and place your claim, since he’ll have
a few opportunities at the top of the Expo lineup. - Anthony A. Perri
05-03 The Tigers called
up Fernando Rodney to take Matt Anderson's place on the roster.
Rodney is a hard throwing (98 mph) 21-year-old righthander who also has
a decent changeup. His breaking ball is unreliable and, as might be
expected from a power pitcher of his age, his control is inconsistent.
At AA Erie this season, he has picked up 5 saves and not allowed a run
in 8 innings of work. He has given up 3 hits and 3 walks. Rodney?s
numbers from his 2001 class single A season are decent, but not
dominating. His 1.31 WHIP, 3.66 ERA, and .84 K/Innings ratio are good
numbers, but more is expected from a 98 MPH fastball at this level. He
did hold to opposition last year to a .223 batting average, slightly
more than the 2000 campaign. Outlook: Rodney is more suited to relief
work, as he tends to break down after a lot of innings, but as of right
now, he is probably not ready for prime time. - staff
05-02 The Cincinnati Post
reports that Bob Boone is considering making Corky Miller the
Reds starting catcher. The 26 year old Miller is currently on the roster
due to backup catcher Kelly Stinnett (who is the fattest player EVER on
High Heat Baseball 2001 for PC) being on the DL. ''He really implements
our game plan well,'' said Boone, who should know a thing or two about
catching. ''But in saying that, Jason LaRue has (implemented it well)
also. Corky really has a special feel for calling a game and getting the
most out of the pitchers.'' In the past, Miller had struggled in very
limited time in the bigs, hitting just .184 in 17 at-bats last season,
but this year he is hitting .312 with a 1.138 OPS in 16 at-bats, which
is better than incumbent Jason LaRue. At the weak catching position,
almost anyone is worth taking a chance on if you need help. See what
happens before picking him up. - Jeffrey Ackerman
04-23 A subscriber asked
me recently about Jason Lane, the Astros fine young outfield
prospect. The timing is good because Lane was named AAA PCL Player of
the Week yesterday. The 25 year old went 11- for –32 (.344) with 2 HRs,
9 Rbi and 3 doubles. Those two homers were his first two of the year and
came Sunday in the midst of a 5- for –5 outing against Memphis. He’s
hitting .338 this year in New Orleans with 2 HRs, 13 Rbi and a .544 Slg%.
So, as you can see, last week a bit of a breakout for Jason. The 6’2”,
220-pounder seems to be on final approach in terms of his adjustment to
AAA and we should get a more useful look at him over the next 8-10
weeks. I think he’s major league-ready right now and could start on many
teams. He’s buried in Houston however, and won’t see the light of day
this year unless a couple of players go down. Lane isn’t a scouts dream,
and at 25 years old, he’s behind schedule just a bit, but he’s a
Ballplayer, on and off the field. I always think of him as Trot Nixon
2.0. He is what we thought Trot would be. Eventually he’ll hit 27-28
homers for some team hitting .280 along the way, but it’s not likely to
be the Astros and it’s not likely to be this year. - Louis Blasi
04-21 Rookie Josh
Pearce (P) got the call yesterday as the RedBirds are suddenly
grappling for bodies in the starting rotation. Pearce, 24, at 6'3" 220
has the physical makeup of a quality starter however, his minor league
experience has been spotty. Josh is a 2nd round selection in the June
1999 free agent draft, as compensation for the Mariners' signing of free
agent Tom Lampkin. A quick look at his 2001 WHIP numbers reveals a solid
1.24 ratio, however his ERA of 4.12, tells the tale of a pitcher who has
not been able to bear down in critical situations. Josh has still to
develop a quality offspeed pitch. His control is excellent as evidenced
by his low minor league walk totals (only 46 in his 184 innings of
work). Outlook: Josh is a very hittable pitcher and will struggle in the
"bigs" early on, even if he does stick with the Cards this season, he's
not a recommended fantasy pickup for the 2002 campaign. - staff
04-18 Austin Kearns
(OF) who many consider to be the best outfield prospect in the minor
league system, currently ranked within the Top 10 overall prospects,
played in his 1st major league game yesterday. The Reds called up the
talented Kearns Tuesday night, after deciding that Sean Casey will need
a few additional days to recover from a recent beaning. The void has
pushed Adam Dunn to 1st base, allowing Kearns the opportunity to join
the big club. Kearns, 21, is actually considered a better prospect than
last year’s rookie extraordinaire Adam Dunn. During Kearns’ 2000 Single
A season, Kearns hit .306 with 27 HRs, 104 RBIs, & swiped 18 bases along
the way. Most impressively Kearns only struck out 93 times in 484 AB’s
(.19 K/AB ratio is considered excellent for a power hitter) Last season
however, Kearns’ development was stunted by a thumb injury which
hampered his playing time. This early season in Double A ball, Kearns is
hitting .268 with 5 HRs and 13 RBIs in 41 ABs. OUTLOOK: The Reds have
made it clear that Kearns’ current assignment in the majors will be a
short one, at least until Casey makes it back into the lineup, although
Kearns has the ear markings of a superstar, he still needs some
seasoning in the minors, remember the name and expect to see him later
in the season. - Anthony A. Perri
04-12 The Rangers'
recently called up Kevin Mench (OF) who will see playing time due
to the injury of Juan Gonzalez. Mench, 24, is considered a top 50 major
league prospect, he was considered a top 25 prospect before the 2001
minor league season began, but an early season wrist injury hampered his
2001 AA campaign. In Kevin’s 2000 class A season he “mashed” the ball
hitting 27 homeruns with 121 RBI’s, along with a .334 BA. Kevin’s wrist
injury apparently also affecting his batting eye in 2001 as his Walk to
K rate dropped by more than 50% (1.08 to .45). Kevin may be a season
away from making a serious impact in the majors, although he needs to
re-establish his ability to be patient at the plate. His ability to make
contact (K/AB=.15) is still considered excellent from a scouting
standpoint, especially from a power hitting prospect. Outlook: Unless
Kevin explodes over the next couple of weeks, he will likely only see
part time activity against lefties and will be heading back down for
more seasoning….but do remember his name in the near future. - Anthony
A. Perri
03-15 Newly acquired
Japanese player Kazuhisa Ishii is likely to fill the number 2 or
3 slot in the Dodger rotation this season. Ishii has a very dapper 79-46
W/L record compiled during his 10 year Japanese Baseball career, thus
although he’s only 28, he is a very seasoned veteran. Ishii features a
low 90’s fastball and a very sharp slider. His last 3 seasons look like
this: Dan Latham, a devoted follower of Japanese Baseball, who writes
for Jball chronologies Ishii’s career medical history as follows:
“1996-June 1997: On disabled list, surgery on left shoulder over winter,
rehabilitation with Cleveland Indians in Spring 1997, returned to Japan
in May 1997. Pitched 2-3 games on minor league team and returned to
Swallows top team in June 1997. Kept on 100-pitch count for entire year,
except Sept. 2, when he threw a no-hitter against Yokohama BayStars. In
an interview published at the end of the season, Ishii said he had
experienced pain in his shoulder for two or three years and had
considered retiring, and that he had experienced no such pain after the
surgery. 1999: Throws 150 pitches in season opener on cold, windy April
night in Yokohama. Carries heavy workload for next three months and
pitches erratically, has trouble with control. In June, goes on 15-day
disabled list complaining of soreness in pitching arm. After returning
to roster, tells the team that he will no longer pitch after he feels
tired. August 2001: Skips a start because of soreness in arm. ”From the
looks of it, we can make the following observation: Ishii is not the
type of player who is going to finish many games for the Dodgers this
season. Not only do the above medical blurbs indicate so, but also
consider that in Japan they pitch on 6 days rest, a luxury that will
surely not be afforded in American Baseball. Last season he averaged
roughly 7 innings per outing, so although his pitching can be
dominating, he may lack endurance. Although his fastball was
overpowering in Japan, it may not be in America. He has a very high
"walks allowed" to "hits" ratio, indicating that he prefers to fool
hitters rather than blow them away, something that he may get away with
early on, but will catch up to him later in the season. Teammate Hideo
Nomo ran into the same trouble, and had to sacrifice hits instead of
walks to regain his success in 2001. Personally I think Ishii may be
successful early on, but the arm problems may resurface in 2002, as
Ishii will face a more demanding work load in American Baseball..... -
Anthony A. Perri
