Josh Fields - Josh Fields is going to be the White Sox starting 3B for the foreseeable future, and that after only 1400 minor league AB's to his credit. Fields has solid offensive potential in every category, with 52 HR's and 43 SB's in what amounts to just under three minor league seasons. The problem is, from my standpoint anyway, that he also has 412 strikeouts in that time. The fact that he has struck out eight times in his first 21 major league AB's this year does nothing to ease my fears that he is just not ready to play in the majors yet. Fields is a perfectly good keeper league prospect, but I have a tough time seeing him enjoy a solid rookie campaign....especially as much as the White Sox are struggling offensively at present. Rob Mackowiak may be a better bet for the 3B PT by the break.
Jose Lopez - Lopez hit another homer last night, making him 372/426/488 for the month of June. The 23 year old is already in his fourth partial major league season, and his EYE and ISO are creeping up each year (.037 and .145 so far in '07). The list of people who break into the majors at age 20 for more than just a cup of coffee is fairly illustrious, so you've got to be positive about Lopez's potential to be more than just an average bat in the middle infield (which is what he is currently).
Josh Towers - Josh Towers, in case you hadn't heard, allowed Barry Bonds' 747th homer last night. He also allowed a few other hits, and ended up leaving the Jays just short of a win once again. Towers has excellent control, but his stuff is just poor enough that he isn't quite suited for a major league starting gig. With John Thomson rehabbing well down in AAA (Thomson's velocity is back to the 89-91 mph range finally), and with Shawn Marcum and Dustin McGowan acquitting themselves well of late, I would be surprised if Towers has much more time in the Toronto rotation.
Matt Stairs - Stairs is hitting 219/265/469 thus far in June, but he is contuing to prove himself to be a platoon player: his 222/300/333 line against lefties virtually screams for a platoon partner. Curtis Thigpen could, and should, fill that role....a realization that John Gibbons will likely come to in the near future. In the meantime, those of you with daily transactions should reserve Stairs when facing a lefty.
Orlando Cabrera - Orlando Cabrera is having the best year of his long career for the Angels here in 2007, showing fantastic control of the strike zone (20 BB, 18 K so far) and an ability to hit for average that far surpasses anything else that he has managed in the past ten years. Cabrera's 335/380/452 line illustrates the fact that his power has disappeared to some extent over the past few seasons, but a shortstop that can hit over .300, walk more than he strikes out, and bang out 40+ doubles can be forgiven for having single-digit HR totals.....particularly if they're fielding as well as Cabrera is this year. He's a worthy addition to any team right now, and although the average is likely to drop as the season progresses, the lack of power shouldn't be an excuse to avoid him.
