tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202951682024-03-13T11:27:53.356-07:00Think BlueObsessing over the Dodgers' minor league system so you don't have to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger678125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-68202696241728436922010-04-27T19:52:00.000-07:002010-04-27T19:54:18.418-07:00In case you were wonderingI haven't been posting here because I've joined a new website: LADodgerTalk.com. I post game recaps everyday and have started doing a weekly article on Dodger prospects. Come check it out!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-18951741572651927722010-04-04T17:07:00.000-07:002010-04-04T21:30:47.567-07:00Chattanooga, Great Lakes rosters outHappy holidays, folks! Great Lakes and Chattanooga have released their rosters and there are some surprises.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chattanooga Lookouts</span><br /><br />-The big surprise for me here is <span style="font-weight: bold;">SS Dee Gordon</span> jumping past High A Inland Empire and heading straight to Double A. Given how raw he still is, this is a controversial move that could pay big dividends or have LA officials kicking themselves. I really hope Flash Jr succeeds.<br /><br />-The rotation is headlined by <span style="font-weight: bold;">RHPs Chris Withrow </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tim Sexton</span>. Withrow, who resurrected his career in 2009, made 6 starts with the Lookouts after a late season promotion. After getting pounded in his debut, Chris allowed just 6 earned runs in his last 5 appearances. Sexton's season went the other way. He dominated the Cal league most of the year but suffered down the stretch. While Sexton attempts to regain last season's early dominance, Withrow hopes to continue striding toward the major leagues.<br /><br />-A few familiar faces return to the bullpen in <span style="font-weight: bold;">RHPs Javy Guerra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew Sartor</span>. After moving to the pen, Guerra was extremely successful in High A last year, posting a 1.54 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 41 innings. After a promotion to Chattanooga, Javy struggled a bit but continued striking out batters at an impressive clip. Sartor's season wasn't as successful, though he posted solid peripherals and was named a mid-season All Star. They give the Lookouts two solid options to close out games this season.<br /><br />-While Gordon spearheads the offense, the outfield is chock full of prospects. <span style="font-weight: bold;">LF Andrew Lambo</span> is joined by <span style="font-weight: bold;">CF Trayvon Robinson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">RF Scott Van Slyke</span>. This will be the third year in which Lambo appears in Double A. He came up briefly in 2008 and had some success, though 2009 wasn't as beneficial. Still just 21, Andrew looks to improve on last season and make a case for a spot on the big club in 2011. Robinson and Van Slyke both broke out in the Inland Empire last year. With only 12 home runs in his pro career that began in 2005, Tray clubbed 17 longballs in 2009 and added 47 stolen bases to establish himself as one of the minors' most exciting prospects. Van Slyke, son of Andy, crushed 23 home runs and added 42 doubles with the 66ers. The trio will give Lookouts and Dodgers fans alike much to cheer about this season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes</span><br /><br />-While the Loons don't have the same star power as they had in 2009, there's plenty of prospects to watch. My two favorite players on the squad are <span style="font-weight: bold;">OF/1B Jerry Sands</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">RHP Allen Webster</span>. Both were late round picks in 2008 who had big 2009 campaigns. Sands, a 25th round pick out of Catawba College, started the year with the Loons but went 2 for 17 with 7 K's and was demoted to rookie ball. When in Ogden, Sands exploded, hitting .350 with 14 HR in 41 games. After being recalled to Great Lakes, Jerry hit 5 HR and raised his Low A OPS to an impressive .870. If he keeps showing that type of patience and power, he'll fly thru the minors. Webster, a converted shortstop, was understandably raw in his debut, walking 17 batters in 18.1 innings. In 2009, after working on his mechanics, Allen dominated in two of the most hitter friendly leagues in the minors. Overall, he posted a 2.36 ERA with 77 strikeouts against just 18 walks in 68.2 innings. Webster has the potential for 3 plus pitches, but he still has some developing to do. He's another guy who, despite his rawness, could move pretty quickly.<br /><br />-A number of 2009 draft picks will make their full season debuts with Great Lakes. <span style="font-weight: bold;">OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez</span> is coming off of an MVP performance in Ogden, while <span style="font-weight: bold;">OF Blake Smith </span>struggled in his debut. <span style="font-weight: bold;">RHP Brett Wallach</span>, son of former player and current Albuquerque manager Tim, struggled with command but struck out more than a batter an inning with the Raptors. <span style="font-weight: bold;">C JT Wise</span> hit .338 with 8 HR in 39 games with Ogden.<br /><br />More notes coming once the other two rosters are posted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-20502690258760128032010-03-03T23:24:00.001-08:002010-03-04T21:48:14.545-08:00Season Preview - Russell MartinSince Spring Training is about to begin, I thought I might look ahead to what Dodger fans can expect out of the 2010 season. I figured I'd start with the backstop, since his career hasn't shaped up to what fans have expected.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpikrTk_DfoWcRcpLXECc0P23Mqlc7Zj_BoVrvwIGQ10NiP0ekPLenHMeoTGf57-DUTGAD1lFCkFnxw5FTTLBUj5fmbhPJ-L4SK3Nbxu9OXv-EiWUoxO2X-ViPfYyfeiMFKrCKiQ/s320/Russell+Martin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpikrTk_DfoWcRcpLXECc0P23Mqlc7Zj_BoVrvwIGQ10NiP0ekPLenHMeoTGf57-DUTGAD1lFCkFnxw5FTTLBUj5fmbhPJ-L4SK3Nbxu9OXv-EiWUoxO2X-ViPfYyfeiMFKrCKiQ/s320/Russell+Martin.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Russell Martin has seen his production at the plate dwindle over the past 3 seasons. In 2007, Martin was an all star, a gold glover and a silver slugger. He collected 19 home runs, stole 21 base</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s (a single season record for a Dodger catcher), and posted an .843 OPS. It seemed like Russ had a very bright career ahead of him, having achieved such accolades at the ripe old age of 24.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Unfortunately, it hasn't been all beer and skittles for number 55. His HR totals have dropped each of the past 2 years, and his OPS has plummeted, dipping below .700 in 2009.<br /><br />Looking at his batted ball data, Russell has continually posted heavy groundball ratios. Nearly half his balls in play are on the ground. And his HR/FB (home runs per flyball) have dropped from 12.2% in 2007 to just 5.4% in 2009. Now, luck has something to do with his decline, as his BABIP has dropped each of the past 3 years, but I think the main area of concern is his decline in production on fastballs. Bear with me, as the following delves into the sabermetric study of converting batted balls into runs.<br /><br />In 2007, per every 100 fastballs Martin saw, he produced 1.69 runs above average, placing him 27th in the league (of qualified batters). In 2009, his number was -0.07, which was 135th. More simply, Russell has gone from a very good fastball hitter to a very bad fastball hitter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What to Expect</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/lee_jenkins/10/09/jenkins.torre/russell-martin-ap2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 163px;" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/lee_jenkins/10/09/jenkins.torre/russell-martin-ap2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It's not all doom and gloom for Martin, who did suffer from some bad luck in 2009. His BABIP was just .284, in spite of a 20.5% line drive rate and heavy groundball tendencies. According to Hit F/X, he was one of the unluckiest batters in the month of April. So his performance should pick up simply by regressing, or in his case progressing, to the mean.<br /><br />Still, I think his approach to these offensive downfalls is backwards. Instead of relying on his strengths (getting on base and spraying line drives), he's gained 20 pounds since last season and, presumably, believes he'll be a better power hitter this year. The sooner he realizes he's a natural #2 hitter and not a #4 hitter, the better.<br /></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-31819093621172252912010-02-12T22:57:00.000-08:002010-02-12T22:59:15.742-08:00Check out this sports discussion forumLots of topics, active users, loaded with information.<br /><br />http://www.cappingthegame.com/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-78704067360335093352010-01-26T14:46:00.001-08:002010-01-26T15:01:20.911-08:00Compounding the Carroll mistakeIt's been a while but I'm back. Sad to say that I've become somewhat disillusioned by the whole divorce drama and payroll debate. However, the Dodgers made a move today that proves my thesis on Colletti's inability to properly evaluate talent.<br /><h3>Belliard back for a second stint</h3>No, you're not reading that wrong. The Dodgers have re-signed Ronnie Belliard to a 1 year, $825,000 (plus incentives) contract. This, coming weeks after the Dodgers spent half the money the saved sending Juan Pierre to Chicago on soon-to-be 36 year old Jamey Carroll. So the question is: why was Belliard re-signed? Was it the hair? His relationship with other players? Or does Colletti think that having a backup shortstop on the roster isn't really that important?<br /><br />Belliard has played a grand total of 10 games at short in his major league career. The aforementioned Carroll has played 89, though he hasn't spent an inning there since 2007. The rest of the bench seems to be set with Ausmus and Mientktewicz also returning and either Jason Repko or Xavier Paul replacing Pierre as the 4th outfielder. Unless the Dodgers send Blake DeWitt back to the minors, there's no room for a backup shortstop.<br /><br />And what's the difference between Belliard and Carroll? Well, their style of play is different. Carroll is defense-oriented and Belliard is a better hitter, but overall their production has been very similar over the past few years. They've each provided their teams with 3.0 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) since 2008. They're about the same age. They play the same positions. But, while Ronnie is signed for one year and around a million dollars, Jamey is signed for twice as long and twice as much per season.<br /><br />I guess the real question is: will Carroll be twice as good?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-24549724527819620002009-12-16T17:02:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:09:35.428-08:00Dodgers sign Jamey CarrollThe Dodgers have signed utilityman Jamey Carroll to a 2 year deal worth $4 million, according to ESPN. Carroll, who will be 36 in February, batted .276 in 93 games for the Indians last season.<br /><br />I don't really understand this signing from a financial standpoint. If Carroll is replacing Mark Loretta, then why pay him twice as much to do the same thing? Why not give an NRI a shot or let a minor leaguer like Chin Lung Hu take the utility infielder role for a fraction of the cost?<br /><br />Only a day after the Dodgers save millions by shipping Pierre's contract to the White Sox, they throw $4 million away on a bench player.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-88727984967125738262009-12-01T13:43:00.000-08:002009-12-01T13:53:05.065-08:00Arbitration deadline passes, Dodgers offer to noneTeam Spokeman Josh Rawitch tells Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that the team will offer none of its departing free agents salary arbitration.<br /><br />The Dodgers have 7 free agents who were ranked by Elias as either Type A or Type B. They would have received compensation for any of them who were offered arbitration, declined and signed with another team. Randy Wolf and Orlando Hudson would have yielded a 1st/2nd rounder and a Supplemental 1st rounder under that scenario.<br /><br />This is just unbelievable. I don't recall a team ever having so many free agents and offering none arbitration. An act of this nature indicates a complete unwillingness by management to even consider adding payroll, regardless of how unlikely it would be that any would actually come back. Wolf is primed to get a multi-year deal, something the Dodgers seem disinterested in pursuing. Hudson, who was benched last year for Ronnie Belliard, looked like he didn't even want to return. But it seems that saving money at any cost trumps pragmatism and actually improving the organization.<br /><br />I can understand not offering the Type B free agents arbitration, since they likely would have accepted and commanded at least 80% of their previous year's salary. However, not taking a chance on either Wolf or Hudson signing with another team demonstrates a lack of interest in improving the organization without complete assurance that payroll obligations will not be incurred. This is no way to run a professional sports franchise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-418321282458679812009-11-24T01:53:00.000-08:002009-11-29T23:53:41.408-08:00Offseason Plans - Part 3We've covered the hitters. Let's take a look at the pitching staff.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Starter - Clayton <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kershaw</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb65/thinkblue116/2008rookiehazing_5.jpg?t=1259567488"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 132px;" src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb65/thinkblue116/2008rookiehazing_5.jpg?t=1259567488" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been a member of the Clayton <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kershaw</span> Marching and Chowder Society since the spring of 2006. I squealed like a little girl when the Dodgers drafted him. I got chills when he made his first major league start. And in 2009, he justified all of my giddy optimism.<br /><br />Not only was Clay the Dodgers' best starter, he was one of the best pitchers in the major leagues. He finished 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MLB</span> in both ERA and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FIP</span> (Fielding Independent Pitching). He was 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> in K/9, 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> in HR/9 and first in opponents batting average. And to accomplish all of this at the ripe old age of 21 makes a spectacular season even more impressive. The Dodgers did a good job of limiting his innings and holding him to strict pitch counts. In 2010, they should be able to give him a little more leeway. He'll need to make sure his tempo doesn't get out of whack, causing him to accelerate his lower body which leads to him struggling to catch up with his arm and results in erratic command. It'll be fun to watch Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kershaw</span> mature even further next year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/delcotimes/ryanl/uploaded_images/billingsley-726138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 241px;" src="http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/delcotimes/ryanl/uploaded_images/billingsley-726138.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Starter - Chad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Billingsley</span></span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Billingsley's</span> name has come up a number of times as a potential trade candidate, which I'll address later. His 2009 campaign is widely viewed as a catastrophic failure, though I'm not so ready to give up on him.<br /><br />Over the first 3 months of the season, Chad was one of the best starters in the National League. However, during that time, he made over 110 pitches in 10 of his 17 starts. In 5 July starts, he allowed a 7.52 ERA and had one of his shortest outings of the year, a 1.2 inning disaster in which he allowed 6 earned runs on 9 hits against the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Astros</span>. Then in early August, he came up with what Dodgers' trainers called a hamstring cramp that caused him to miss a start. He actually pitched better in August than July, but struggled more in September with another 1.2 inning appearance. His ERA ballooned from 3.13 through June to 4.03 to end the season.<br /><br />To me, this says he was overworked in the first half and flattened out in the second. It could have had something to do with the fact that he broke his leg in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">offseason</span> and didn't get in his usual conditioning work before Spring Training. His problem could have been mechanical, since his stuff was consistent throughout the year. His command was inconsistent, which is the norm for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Billingsley</span>. Regardless of the cause of his second half swoon, he's still just 25 years old and entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. I'm not willing to write him off as a bust.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/images/uploads/0070810040152_NLDS_Cubs_v_Dodgers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 221px;" src="http://www.hardballtimes.com/images/uploads/0070810040152_NLDS_Cubs_v_Dodgers.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Starter - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Hiroki</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kuroda</span></span><br /><br />The former <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">NPB</span> standout is entering the final year of his contract with the Dodgers, and while his season ended on a forgettable note, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kuroda</span> is likely to be a major ingredient to the Dodgers' success (or failure) in 2010.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Hiroki</span> couldn't catch a break in 2009. After his first start of the season, he strained an oblique and missed the entire month of May. He struggled through the next 2 months, posting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">ERA's</span> of 4.10 and 5.46 in June and July. Just as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kuroda</span> was starting to turn things around, he was drilled in the cranium by a comeback line drive which landed him back on the disabled list with a concussion. After missing another 3 weeks, he was back on the mound and pitched well in September outside of a hard luck loss in his last game of the regular season. Then came the playoffs. He was left off the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">NLDS</span> roster, but given a start in the eventual deciding game of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">NLCS</span>. Having not pitched in a game in 3 weeks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Hiroki</span> was understandably rusty and lasted only 1.1 innings before leaving the game with a 6 run deficit.<br /><br />Health will be a huge factor for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Kuroda</span> in 2010. He's not getting any younger, as he'll turn 35 in February, so even the greatest optimists will have to pray extra hard for him to amass 30 starts. The Dodgers are already thin at starting pitcher, so if he goes down, they'll be hard-pressed to find a suitable replacement. Guys like Josh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Lindblom</span> and Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Withrow</span>, while considered top prospects, likely wouldn't be able to step right in and contribute just yet. Don't be surprised to see an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">NRI</span> either make the OD roster and wait in the wings in Albuquerque for an eventual, inevitable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">callup</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/069GdzcgYqeML/220x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 255px;" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/069GdzcgYqeML/220x.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - Jonathan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Broxton</span></span><br /><br />Ah, the pariah. And I'll admit, I was cursing his name after Game 4. Nevertheless, he's just a 25 year old kid who made a bad pitch. And had he thrown more than 2 sliders in that appearance, I have the feeling Dodger fans would be singing a very different tune right about now.<br /><br />It all starts with the fastball for Jon, which was the 3rd fastest pitch in the majors. But his slider made him nearly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">unhittable</span>. He turned it into a devastating pitch down and in on lefties (which would have been a great place to throw it to Rollins, dammit). That led to his amazing 13.5 K/9 rate, his 2.61 ERA and 36 saves. He was absolutely the best reliever in the majors last year and that shouldn't be forgotten by the Dodger faithful.<br /><br />The Bull is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility and is due a fairly significant raise. He made $1.825 million last season and I wouldn't be surprised to see his 2010 salary approach $5 million. Regardless of how you may feel about Game 4, he's the Dodgers' closer for now.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - George <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Sherrill</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sportstsar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sherrill.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 134px;" src="http://sportstsar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sherrill.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Acquired for third base prospect Josh Bell and pitching prospect Steven Johnson, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Sherrill</span> was originally seen as an emergency replacement at closer if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Broxton</span> faltered. However, The Bull finished the season strong and George did a great job of setting him up.<br /><br />After being dealt to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Oreos</span> in the Erik <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Bedard</span> deal, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Sherrill</span> settled in as Baltimore's closer to begin the 2008 season. He compiled 31 saves, posted a 4.73 ERA and struck out 58 batters in 53.1 innings. In 2009, he was even better, lowering his ERA by more than 2 runs while lowering his walks and home runs allowed totals. Seeking some depth in the pen, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Colletti</span> pulled the trigger, bringing the 32 year old southpaw to the west coast. His time with the Dodgers during the regular season was remarkable. In 27.2 innings, he allowed just 2 earned runs, yielding a 0.65 ERA. After pitching in the AL East, he made the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">NL</span> West look like A ball. He struggled a bit in the playoffs, but should be a part of yet another impressive relief corps in 2010.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/4d1f_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 198px;" src="http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/4d1f_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Hong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Chih</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Kuo</span></span><br /><br />No, I couldn't find a picture of the bat flip. The bionic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Taiwaniac</span> (that's a word, right?) established himself as a dominant bullpen arm in 2008, throwing a career high 80 innings and posting a career low 2.14 ERA. Coming into the season, big things were expected of the 27 year old.<br /><br />But his season nearly ended before it really began. He made 7 appearances in April, struggling through the last 4, before being shutdown with elbow problems. After undergoing his 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">th</span> left elbow operation (no, that's not a typo), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Kuo</span> seriously considered retirement if faced with another serious injury that required going under the knife. But he was lucky enough to rehab back to full strength and rejoin the club in late July. He pitched well, posting an ERA of 3 and gave the Dodgers yet another valuable arm in the pen.<br /><br />The future is uncertain for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">Hong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Chih</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Kuofax</span> (TM). He has all the talent in the world, a rare lefty who can get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">righties</span> out, but that oft-repaired elbow could blow at any moment. We'll just hope for the best and not think about the worst.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - Ramon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">Troncoso</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqbtGR8XasfnMdC07LYcGCnaKpo37QZRkuapXtkCs_zmob2miRIzU2Cn5oddrJdja62PD5_TZR0eiPQqPobztgrmsVvVd_VSWoDZEZnwFuKGHMVB7FeVmoCPhxdhPsiaODsqV/s400/2008+rookie+hazing_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqbtGR8XasfnMdC07LYcGCnaKpo37QZRkuapXtkCs_zmob2miRIzU2Cn5oddrJdja62PD5_TZR0eiPQqPobztgrmsVvVd_VSWoDZEZnwFuKGHMVB7FeVmoCPhxdhPsiaODsqV/s400/2008+rookie+hazing_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The flamboyant Dominican was better than his 4.26 ERA would suggest in 2008. He struck out a batter an inning, walked only 12 in 38 innings and allowed just 2 home runs. So it was not a huge surprise that he played a very important role in last season's clean-up crew.<br /><br />Armed with a nasty 92mph sinker, the 26 year old induced 1.31 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">groundballs</span> per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">flyball</span> in 2009. His ERA was 2.72 and he surrendered just 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">longballs</span> while leading Dodger relievers with 82.2 innings pitched. He doesn't have the gaudy strikeout numbers that you'd expect, but he's a very solid middle reliever who will continue to develop into a potential setup man.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - Ronald <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">Belisario</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hahSilAuL9cLXILJEx3YztVrhvsWIXAsXhLE0FY28KQmZg_eHyPqyJGDtTGWbVmr9kwhL6EjNuRXXzFmOmM9Aym0OSR3Gns6BXcrwd2tuYEjZnCarBbHE8H1Q0K0WflY3d6m/s400/006a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hahSilAuL9cLXILJEx3YztVrhvsWIXAsXhLE0FY28KQmZg_eHyPqyJGDtTGWbVmr9kwhL6EjNuRXXzFmOmM9Aym0OSR3Gns6BXcrwd2tuYEjZnCarBbHE8H1Q0K0WflY3d6m/s400/006a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Big ups to the Dodgers' scouting department. A 4.74 ERA from a 25 year old in Double A wouldn't create much buzz among fans and organization personnel alike, but LA saw something the liked and invited Ronnie to spring training. He showed some wicked stuff, including a a 95mph fastball with movement and that earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster.<br /><br />It wasn't all beer and skittles for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Belisario</span>, who missed most of July with a strained elbow and plead guilty to a drunk driving charge. But he came back with a bang, posting a 1.21 ERA after the All Star Break. A few bad outings in the playoffs can't tarnish a fantastic rookie season, and he'll be Dodger property for another 5 years unless they trade or non-tender him.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reliever - James McDonald</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rk6GBqQuP1E/SjvK5q24rsI/AAAAAAAADsc/jM0sEh_JlBk/s400/KobeBryantJamesMcDonald.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 192px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Rk6GBqQuP1E/SjvK5q24rsI/AAAAAAAADsc/jM0sEh_JlBk/s400/KobeBryantJamesMcDonald.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Big things were expected of McDonald this year, as he entered the season as the Dodgers' best pitching prospect. And after a successful spring, he opened 2009 in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">LA's</span> rotation. Though, while he didn't stick there, he found his niche in relief, pitching better than many expected in the role.<br /><br />Displaying pinpoint command in the minors was supposed to translate to the majors, in theory. Then again, in theory, communism works. In theory. But it took 13.1 innings and 14 walks to convince Joe Torre and the rest of the Dodgers' brass that J Mac wasn't quite ready for a starting gig in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">bigs</span>. Some soul-searching in Albuquerque ended his second stint as a major <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">leaguer</span> in mid May, but not for long. He returned to the Dodgers in late June and did very well, posting an ERA of 2.72 coming out of the pen. He's still just 25, so there's a chance that he could get another shot at starting, especially given the Dodgers' need for arms.<br /><br /><br />Now, onto the fun part. In the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">th</span> and last installment of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Offseason</span> series, I'll look at what moves I think the Dodgers should (and will) make.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-10076597322930966062009-11-20T00:16:00.000-08:002009-11-20T23:37:37.977-08:00Offseason Plans - Part 2, First BloodNow it's time to look at the left side of the infield and the outfield. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot in question here so I'll look more to the future.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://moundvisit.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/furcal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 159px;" src="http://moundvisit.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/furcal.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shortstop - Rafael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Furcal</span></span><br /><br />The former Brave is entering his 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> season as the Dodgers' starting shortstop. It's been a tumultuous tenure for the diminutive Dominican, as he started his Dodger career with a bang but has disappointed since with ailments and sub-par performance.<br /><br />Coming off an injury-plagued 2008, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Furcal</span> appeared in 150 contests this past season. And while his defense was among the best in the National League (in spite of his 20 errors), Rafael again struggled to hit. His platoon-splits were favorable against lefties, as he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">OPS'd</span> .815 against southpaws, but he struggled to hit versus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">righties</span>, compiling a .261/.326/.352 line while batting left-handed. Once a base-stealing threat, he averaged only a pair of swipes per month, the cost of doing business with a player on the wrong side of 30.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Raffy's</span> job is safe for the next 2 years, as his salary dictates his role. Waiting in the wings, however, is an exciting young player by the name of Dee Gordon. If you're a regular reader of this blog, and who is, you'll recognize him as the son of Tom "Flash" Gordon and MVP of the Midwest League. Flash Jr offers an exciting blend of blazing speed and pure athleticism, allowing him to make all the plays at short and stretch doubles into triples on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">basepaths</span>. However, he's still raw and will require a few more years in the minors to develop. His path to the majors coincides nicely with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Furcal's</span> contract status, so expect Dee to take over in 2012.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/zz-top-american-idol-season-5-grand-finale-arrivals-14t5cg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 195px;" src="http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/zz-top-american-idol-season-5-grand-finale-arrivals-14t5cg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third Base - Casey Blake</span><span><br /><br />Now, I have nothing against the guy personally. I don't know him, never met him, haven't read anything about about him. So while my constant bashing of the trade that brought him here may seem like I have a vendetta against the guy, it's purely analytical and has nothing to do with the player lovingly referred to as "the beard." And with all my criticism, I'm man enough to acknowledge that Casey had a solid season, exceeding my relatively bleak expectations.<br /><br />The biggest surprise for me was Blake's defense. Over his last 2 seasons, he was about 5 runs below league average. In 2009, he was 8 runs above league average. That's a difference of about 1 win, which is a huge turnaround especially given his age. Offensively, Casey also improved over his previous season, thanks in large part to a couple great months. Another oddity was his walk rate, which jumped to 11.5%, his highest mark in a full season's work. Maybe he's found the fountain of youth.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>After Josh Bell was traded to Baltimore, the Dodgers lack of corner infield depth in the farm system was exposed. </span><span>Blake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DeWitt</span> is likely to win the starting second base job in spring training. That leaves Pedro Baez with the mantle of "Top Third Base Prospect." The 2009 Futures Game participant has a power arm/power bat combination that entices scouts, but he's still raw offensively as evidenced by his 84 strikeouts compared to just 16 walks in 79 games. He probably didn't belong in High A last season, so I don't see the Dodgers having a problem repeating him at the level in 2010.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Outfield - Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ethier</span></span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://nimg.sulekha.com/Sports/original700/manny-ramirez-andre-ethier-matt-kemp-2009-10-8-2-42-25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 372px;" src="http://nimg.sulekha.com/Sports/original700/manny-ramirez-andre-ethier-matt-kemp-2009-10-8-2-42-25.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Dodgers have the best outfield in the majors. Last season, Ramirez had the fewest HR of the trio (19) mainly because he missed 50 games due to his hormone treatment. Given a full, erectile dysfunction free season in 2010, it would be easy to imagine all 3 hitting 25+ HR. Unfortunately, while Kemp made strides in center, Ramirez and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ethier</span> have the defensive aptitude of beached whales. Still, the unit is the envy of the major leagues and the younger two are under Dodger control through (at least) 2011.<br /><br />Given the fact that the Dodgers' outfield situation for 2010 is set, it may be fun to look at the future of the club.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lambo</span> -</span> Had a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">subpar</span> showing in his return to Double A, putting up a line of .256/.311/.407. Adjusting for luck, his numbers take a jump in the right direction, increasing his OPS to nearly .800. He also has had a solid showing in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">AFL</span>, batting .330 with with 6 doubles and a pair of home runs. He'll participate in the league's championship game tomorrow. This performance may have earned Andrew a promotion to Triple A next season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Trayvon</span> Robinson -</span> A 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">th</span> round pick in 2005, Tray has always had the tools but they haven't translated into production...until this year. Now, granted, he was playing in the hitter's haven known as the California League, but his peripherals and power numbers took a huge step forward. Coming into the year with 12 career home runs, Robinson smacked 15 long balls in High A and added 2 more after a brief promotion to Double A. He also stole 47 bases and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">OPS'd</span> .866 overall. Joining <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Lambo</span> in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">AFL</span>, Tray didn't have as much success nor as consistent playing time. However, while he batted just .244, he drew 7 walks in 12 games and stole 7 bases. He'll likely head to Double A next year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scott Van <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Slyke</span> - </span>The son of former Pirates slugger Andy was taken 4 selections after Robinson. He's followed a similar career path and, like Tray, broke out this year with High A Inland Empire. Whereas Robinson is a shorter, more compact athlete, Van <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Slyke</span> is a big, hulking power hitter. At 6'5 and over 200 lbs, he finally tapped into his raw power potential in 2009. Coming into the season, Scott only had 40 doubles and 11 HR. He more than doubled each of those categories as he ended the season with 42 doubles and 23 HR. He also improved his walk rate, drawing a free pass in more than 10% of his plate appearances. He'll surely join Tray in Chattanooga in 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Russell <span style="font-weight: bold;">-</span></span> Russell, to me, is the most interesting of the four prospects. He enjoyed a good amount of success this year, leading the Midwest League in home runs (26) and tied for 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">nd</span> in doubles (39). He was also the only Dodger farmhand to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases. The downside is that he also led the league with 180 strikeouts. There are serious questions as to whether Russell will make enough contact in the majors. One major part of Russell's game that tends to be overlooked is his defense. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Minorleaguesplits</span>.com estimates that he saved the team 17 runs in the first half of the season. His defensive value alone may warrant a major league role, but he'll have to prove he can hit advanced pitching in order to earn the spot. I think, given his age (he'll be 24 in June), he'll need to start next season at Double A. He, Tray and Scott should provide a very talented and entertaining unit for the Lookouts.<br /><br /><br />Stay tuned for Part 3, when I look at the pitching staff and some possible additions to the rotation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-63722160904386827522009-11-14T00:44:00.000-08:002009-11-15T01:09:14.398-08:00Offseason Plans - Part 1I know I'm getting into this a little late, but I thought it would be fun to take a look at the Dodgers, position by position, and try to figure out what they have and where, or how, they could improve. I thought about doing one big, long post but I figured it would be less time consuming and easier to read if I only did a few positions at a time. So, without further ado, I bring you my plans for the Dodgers' 2009-2010 offseason.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Catcher</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">- Russell Martin</span><br /><br />Russell is coming off of a rough year, in which he batted just .250 with a mere 26 extra basehits. And while the power did start to come around after the all star break (5 of his 7 home runs were hit after the mid-summer classic), his OPS actually dropped from .687 to .670 due to a significant drop in walks.<br /><br />A deeper look at his numbers implies some bad luck may have had an effect on his production. Martin's BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) was .285, .017 points lower than league average. Add to that the fact that he hit line drives 20.5% of the time and you have a player who's making good contact but not reaching base. His walk rate was strong at 12% and he still has good speed, so Russell's numbers should improve as his luck regresses to the mean. His power numbers have decreased over the past 3 seasons, but even if he doesn't hit .300 with 20 home runs, the Dodgers' lineup is deep enough to compensate for his offensive shortcomings. Martin did post a career high in Fielding Percentage and a career low in passed balls, while throwing out more than 30% of attempted basestealers, so he's shown he still has plenty of defensive value.<br /><br />Now, it appears as though Brad Ausmus is ready to hang up his chest protector and call it a career. I'd personally like to see the Dodgers offer him a coaching job in the minor leagues, possibly grooming him for a future managerial stint in LA. To fill his vacancy on the roster, I'd like to see AJ Ellis get the nod (although there are rumors of him being dealt to Kansas City for infielder Alberto Callaspo). If Ellis is gone, the Dodgers could find a cheap alternative on the market such as Mike Redmond or Brian Schneider.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First Base - James Loney</span><br /><br />Loney's season was similar to Martin's, in that he was saved from utter disaster by a strong walk rate. In fact, James accomplished the impressive feat of drawing more walks than strikeouts. And he did manage to show up in the playoffs, batting .310 with a pair of home runs in the Dodgers 8 post-season appearances. But it wasn't enough to hide his glaring lack of power during the regular season, as J Lo accounted for a measly 40 extra basehits in 652 plate appearances.<br /><br />Again, as was the case with Martin, Loney appears to have been the victim of some bad luck. His line drive percentage was 22.3, which is above league average, but his BABIP was a pedestrian .301. So assuming that his numbers will improve simply by the cosmos re-aligning in his favor isn't completely out of the question. Defensively, James showed his usual proclivity for digging bad throws and a little range to boot. All in all, the Dodgers can afford to continue letting him progress at first.<br /><br />It looks like backups Mark Loretta, Doug Mientkiewicz and Jim Thome will be either finding a new homestead or riding off into the sunset, so a backup will be needed. Minor league journeyman Mitch Jones seemed to be a fan favorite, but his Pedro Cerrano-esque aversion to breaking balls would limit him to blowouts and beer league softball games. The free agent market doesn't offer a whole lot, though Eric Hinske would be a fantastic addition to the bench if he doesn't re-sign with the world champs.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second Base - Player To Be Named Later</span><br /><br />Orlando Hudson looks like he'll head out of LA after losing his starting gig late in the season to post trade deadline acquisition and buffet enthusiast Ronnie Belliard. And you can't really blame the guy for wanting to move on, given the fact that he was a gold-glove winning all star this year.<br /><br />Hudson's season wasn't overwhelmingly successful, as he managed a .774 OPS, which was his lowest mark for him in 4 years. Still, getting benched for the playoffs (and reportedly not hearing from Torre about the decision) is a slap in the face to a player of Orlando's experience and reputation. His defense was below average, though it should surprise no one that Gold Glove awards have far more to do with offense and reputation than actual defensive contributions.<br /><br />Rumors have been floating in for about a week now regarding the Dodgers' trade interests in middle infielders, from Alberto Callaspo and Luis Castillo to Dan Uggla and Brandon Phillips. Were Callaspo acquired for 4A catcher AJ Ellis, I'd support the deal. But the other 3 would require too much in trade or salary to justify blocking Blake DeWitt. Give the job to the kid and let him keep it warm for Ivan DeJesus.<br /><br />Stay tuned for Part 2, looking at the left side of the infield and the outfield.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-46148835296294964672009-10-26T23:19:00.000-07:002009-10-26T23:27:54.246-07:00AFL Recap - 10/26/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 2-1<br /><br />Russell Mitchell </span>- 2 for 3, BB (.412 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 1 for 4, RBI (.400 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aaron Miller </span>- 1 IP, Hit, 0 R, BB, 3 K's (2.08 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/yzlhrc4<br /><br /><br />Games Notes</b><br /><br />Laborious outing for Miller, who made 30 pitches. He struck out Mike Moustakas after an 11 pitch duel to begin the inning and ended it with a 4 pitch punch out. In between were a walk, another strikeout and a single to shortstop on a well-placed changeup. Aaron was up to 92 in the first AB but settled in at 88-90 as the inning wore on. It's a little disappointing to see the velocity down but he's still getting great results.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-70144754214770694432009-10-23T21:48:00.000-07:002009-10-23T21:51:09.856-07:00AFL Recap - 10/23/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas lost 8-7<br /><br />Russell Mitchell </span>- 0 for 2, R, 2 BB, K, HBP (.407 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 4, RBI, R (.280 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/yj49fbt</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-86204636602234149312009-10-22T01:27:00.000-07:002009-10-22T01:34:28.516-07:00AFL Recap - 10/21/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas lost 17-4<br /><br />Trayvon Robinson </span>- 1 for 5, 2 K's (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 4, 2B, R, 3 K's (.286 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Mitchell </span>- 3 for 3, 2B, RBI, 2 R (.476 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 1 for 4 (.444 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Javy Guerra </span>- 0.2 IP, 2 Hits, R (0 ER), BB, 2 K's (0.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/ykmgdb5<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />Wasn't a good day for the Javelinas, save for Mitchell. He's hit safely in all 6 of his AFL games and was awarded Player of the Week honors on Monday. The 24 year old isn't much of a prospect, but it's nice to see him doing well. Lambo has hit safely in his last 5 and has only struck out twice in nearly 30 plate appearances. Robinson has only played in 3 games in the past week so I'm not thinking much about his numbers. May has exactly 1 hit in each of his 6 games and all but 1 have been of the extra base variety. Guerra had his worst outing thus far, though he's still maintaining a perfect ERA.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-39310830525519428762009-10-20T23:09:00.001-07:002009-10-20T23:14:47.208-07:00AFL Recap - 10/20/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 14-10<br /><br />Andrew Lambo </span>- 3 for 6, GS (2), 4 RBI, 3 R, K (.478 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Mitchell </span>- 1 for 2, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, BB (.389 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 2, 2B, 2 RBI (.294 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/yj4dtmx<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />This was Lambo's second grand slam. Mitchell's 3rd HR ties him for the league lead. May collected his 3rd double after replacing Mitchell in the 5th.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-88460740930647329202009-10-19T22:15:00.000-07:002009-10-19T22:21:17.960-07:00AFL Recap - 10/19/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 8-1<br /><br />Russell Mitchell </span>- 1 for 4, 2B, R, BB, K (.375 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 3, 2B, RBI (.267 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/ykc3mwu<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />Mitchell's double allows him to maintain his 1.000 SLG. May collects his 2nd double. Would be nice to see some more of Trayvon Robinson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-75562297229321331032009-10-17T23:21:00.000-07:002009-10-17T23:28:38.992-07:00AFL Recap - 10/17/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 9-5<br /><br />Trayvon Robinson</span> - 1 for 4, RBI, R, BB, K, SB (.286 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 4, 2B, RBI, R, BB, K (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 1 for 4, R, K, HBP (.471 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Travis Schlicthing </span>- 2.2 IP, 0 Hits, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K's (0.00 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Javy Guerra </span>- 1.1 IP, Hit, 0 R, BB, K (0.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/ykb72no<br /><br /><br />Games Notes</b><br /><br />Schlichting getting the start is a surprise, and he did well. His sinker sat at 89-91 and he threw his changeup a good amount. He showed a few breaking balls but didn't really command the pitch. Overall, a very nice debut for Travis. Guerra's stuff was about the same. 93-95 on the fastball, lots of changeups.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-16375358049944824502009-10-16T23:45:00.000-07:002009-10-16T23:53:04.770-07:00AFL Recap - 10/16/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 13-3<br /><br />Russell Mitchell </span>- 2 for 5, 2B, HR (2), 4 RBI, 2 R, K (.417 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 4 for 5, 2B, 3B, RBI (.538 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/ylc2ak6<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />After missing the cycle by a triple yesterday, Lambo collected a three-bagger in his first at bat of today's game. Then he doubled in his second AB and singled in his third. He'd have two more shots to complete the feat with a homer but grounded out and singled again to come just shy once more. Andrew now has 7 hits in his last 2 games including 2 doubles, a triple and a grand slam. Russell Mitchell went yard and doubled for the second time in as many days.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-58043148231914069862009-10-15T21:15:00.000-07:002009-10-15T22:18:21.172-07:00AFL Recap - 10/15/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas won 17-9<br /><br />Lucas May </span>- 1 for 4, RBI, 2, R, 2 BB, 2 K's, PB (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Mitchell </span>- 2 for 3, 2B, HR (1), 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB (.429 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 3 for 5, 2B, GS (1), 4 RBI, R, BB, SB (.375 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aaron Miller</span> - 2.1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 R, BB, K, HB (0.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/ygj4q6w<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />Lambo's granny in the 6th broke the game open for the Javelinas. Aaron Miller came in and was throwing 91-92 to the first handful batters he faced before settling in at 89-90 over the remainder of his appearance. He also mixed in a few sliders and a changeup. As mentioned before, it seems Miller's velocity was down from its reported low to mid 90s during the spring. Hopefully this is simply a matter of him wearing down after pitching so many innings this year. It'll be interesting to see where his velocity is in future games.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-7571925053449729302009-10-14T22:20:00.000-07:002009-10-14T22:27:19.546-07:00AFL Recap - 10/14/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas lost 6-4<br /><br />Trayvon Robinson </span>- 1 for 3, 3B, RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 K's, 2 SB (.333 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Javy Guerra </span>- 1 IP, Hit, 0 R, BB, K (0.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/yf2hdss<br /><br /><br />Game Notes</b><br /><br />Thanks to Gameday and pitch f/x, viewers can track pitchers' movement and velocity live while watching the game. Guerra was sitting at 93-95mph with his fastball and it appeared to have average/above average movement. His second pitch was his changeup, which sat 82-83mph with similar action to his fastball. He threw the pitch 8 times in his 22 total pitches. The only other pitch I saw was a slider/cutter at 89-90 which he only threw a few times. I'm very anxious to Aaron Miller's velocity once he makes his AFL debut.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-8661144365804190642009-10-14T00:17:00.000-07:002009-10-14T00:20:05.649-07:00AFL Recap - 10/13/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Peoria Javelinas lost 17-4</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Mitchell </span>- 1 for 4, 2B, R (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Lambo </span>- 0 for 3, R, BB, SB (.000 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas May </span>- 1 for 4, HR (1), RBI, R (.250 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/yhzlr3h</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-64958807357530127142009-09-28T16:50:00.000-07:002009-09-28T17:33:49.070-07:00Baseball America's Pioneer League Top 20After placing 3 prospects on the AZL Top 20, the Dodgers only saw a single player, RHP and 2009 3rd round pick Brett Wallach, make the PL Top 20. With talented hitters such as league-MVP Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Jerry Sands, Angelo Songco and Gorman Erickson putting up outstanding numbers but not getting any recognition as top prospects, it makes me wonder why Baseball America omitted these talented Dodger farmhands. Here are some possible reasons.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Ogden's home park</span><br /><br />It was mentioned during Matt Eddy's chat that Ogden led the league with 89 home runs, with Missoula placing second with 80 and Helena rounding out the top 3 with a relatively miniscule 46. Eddy suggests Ogden's "extremely favorable power-hitting conditions" was a significant contributor to the Raptors' hitters' success. However, it seems the players didn't get the memo. BCG hit 9 HR at Home and 9 away, Sands hit 7 at Home and 7 away, Songco hit 4 at Home and 3 Away, and Erickson hit 3 at Home and 2 Away. As a matter of fact, Sands, BCG and Erickson had higher OPS's on the Road than at Home. Add to that Sands' overwhelming success in his second stint with Great Lakes in a pitcher-friendly league and the argument doesn't hold much water when you look just a little closer at the numbers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Age</span><br /><br />This seems to be a more plausible explanation for me, though everyone except BCG is the age of a college junior. Looking at the top 20 list, there are only 8 players who are 20 or older and only one of those players was a hitter (Carlos Ramirez, a catcher who batted .376/.500/.638). However, the average age of the league was just under 21 (20.8 for hitters and 20.9 for pitchers). So I hardly think that holding someone's age against them when it's average for the league is fair.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Athleticism</span><br /><br />This seems to be the most likely culprit. None of BCG, Sands, Songco or Erickson are billed as great athletes. Note that the three outfielders profile in corners and Erickson is said to be just "average" behind the plate in the future. Baseball America is a very tools-oriented entity, which places a great amount of importance on projection. And that's not to say that BCG, Sands and Songco aren't athletic enough. Both Galvez and Sands spent some time in CF, and you don't put plodders who can't handle corner spots in center. Songco is the least athletic of the group and still should be able to handle LF.<br /><br />I believe these rankings represent Baseball America's modus operandi rather than the true talent level of these 4 Dodger prospects. I have no problem with BA.com or its writers and think they can rank prospects any way they like. I just hope that people realize that tools aren't everything and what happens on the field matters.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-86640272908658330872009-09-18T00:32:00.000-07:002009-09-21T00:55:23.677-07:00Dodgers' Minor League AwardsThe regular minor league season is over for the Dodgers, with just the fall and winter leagues still to come. And while no titles were conquered, it was an overwhelming success for a good amount of prospects. So without further adeiu, I present my Dodgers' Minor League Awards.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitting Prospect of the Year: Dee Gordon</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Background:</span> Son of Tom Gordon, the 4th round pick from a year ago surprised me, as I hadn't seen him on any publications' radar screens. I was initially skeptical of the selection when I found out he didn't even play in 2008 prior to signing. But any doubts were left behind when he stepped foot on the field. In his debut, Dee batted .331 for the Ogden Raptors with 13 doubles and 18 stolen bases.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance: </span>A full season assignment was somewhat precarious for the 21 year old but he handled it better than anyone could have expected. Overall, Gordon batted .301 during the regular season with a league-leading 73 stolen bases. Impressively, not only did he hit .281 against lefties, but he also walked 17 times in 146 at bats against them to post a strong .376 OBP vs southpaws. Power isn't really a part of his game, though he did club 17 doubles and legged out 12 triples. He also improved his plate discipline during the year, walking more in the second half than the first, despite playing in fewer games. Add to that his .357 batting average in the playoffs, and you have quite a season. Dee was named co-MVP (along with teammate Kyle Russell) and Prospect of the Year for the Midwest league and was also given the Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year award by the Dodgers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> The word most commonly associated with Gordon is "raw." He's still learning how to play the game, instead of relying primarily on his remarkable athleticism. His speed easily rates as an 80 on the (20-80) scouting scale. It not only helps him on the basepaths, but also in the field. He has exceptional range at shortstop with a quick first step and natural actions. His arm is strong enough to stay at the position, but he tends to lower his elbow leading to throwing errors. Dee makes a good amount of contact and is already an adept bunter; he collected 27 bunt hits during the regular season. His plate discipline is improving and should continue to get better. Dee has an rail-thin frame but doesn't project to hit for much power in the future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Gordon will continue his development at the Dodgers' High A affiliate in the Inland Empire. I wouldn't be surprised to see him reach Double A by the middle of next year. His development path coincides nicely with Rafael Furcal's contract and he should be ready to take over the Dodgers' starting shortstop job in 2012.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pitching Prospect of the Year: Chris Withrow<br /><br />Background:</span> Withrow was a late-riser in the 2007 draft, creeping into the first round of mock drafts just weeks before the June event. The Dodgers fell in love with his picture-perfect delivery and projectable frame and decided to nab him with the 20th overall pick. He showed flashes early in his career, touching 98mph in a playoff game during his time in the Gulf Coast League. 2008, on the other hand, was a disaster. After slicing his hand open on a snorkel during the offseason, Chris battled a tender elbow and ended the year with just 4 innings pitched.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance:</span> I really wasn't expecting much out of Chris this year, outside of staying healthy enough to pitch a full season. Coupled with his return to the California League, things very well could have turned out ugly. But Withrow persevered and exceeded expectations by reaching Double A at the ripe old age of 20. Beneath his unimpressive 4.51 ERA, you'll find that Withrow had a very successful year with one major problem: walking lefties. His command isn't completely flawed, as he walked less than 2.5 right-handed hitters per 9 innings. It was his 6.67 BB/9 against lefties that caused most of his struggles. Chris' 1.33 ground:fly ratio helped him allow just 3 home runs in the hitter-haven that is the Cal league and he struck out an astounding 10.9 batters per 9 innings for the 66ers. I was surprised by his late season promotion to Chattanooga, but after a disastrous first start (6 ER in 3.1 IP), he posted an ERA of 2.25 in his last 5 appearances of the season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> As mentioned earlier, Withrow has great mechanics and a very easy arm action that allows him to generate mid 90s heat with minimal effort. His curveball is still inconsistent but shows flashes of being a plus pitch. He needs to work most on his changeup, and as he gains confidence in it, he should be able to pitch more aggressively to lefties. I don't see health being a major obstacle in his future, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris taking on a relatively light offseason workload after pitching over 100 innings this season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Withrow won't turn 21 until next April, but it seems the Dodgers feel he's ready for Double A. The last 21 year old to begin the season for the Dodgers' Double A affiliate was Clayton Kershaw. Chris isn't the prospect Clayton was, but it shows that the Dodgers' are just as confident in his ability. I'd be surprised if he doesn't spend the entire season in Chattanooga next year, but if he's good enough, you could see in Chavez Ravine before long.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comeback Hitter of the Year: Jerry Sands, OF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Background:</span> The 2008 25th round pick out of Catawba College showed some tools in the GCL, clubbing 10 home runs and drawing 29 walks in 46 games. On the flip side, he batted just .205 with 43 strikeouts. Generally there's no much in the way of expectations out of players picked that late in the draft, but Sands showed there was something there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance:</span> It seems that Sands was destined for another (half) year of rookie ball, so I was surprised to see him debut in Great Lakes in late April. Unfortunately, Jerry lasted just 5 games while batting .118 with 7 strikeouts in 5 games. It seems as though he had a lot of work to do. And between early May and mid June, it appears he made the most of that work. He came out blazing hot in the Pioneer league, batting over .400 in June. He ended up posting a staggering 1.114 OPS in 41 games with the Raptors, slugging 14 home runs (which led the league for a while after he was promoted). He then returned to the Loons and was a different hitter. There was a period in late August when he fell back into some bad habits, striking out a lot, but he ended his return with a line of .287/.394/.586.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> Loons commentators said there's a special sound when the ball comes off Sands' bat. Maybe that's the reason he hit a combined 19 HR between Ogden and Great Lakes in just 73 games. He's shown the ability to draw walks since his debut, having been issued 66 in his 119 pro games. Jerry needs to concentrate on making contact, as he struck out 27 times in 25 games after his return to the Loons. He's also not much of a runner, so he profiles best in an outfield corner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Sands showed that he's ready for a full season assignment and it'll likely be back in Great Lakes. Inland Empire's outfield looks like it'll be crowded, so unless the Dodgers plan on keeping him at 1B, he should be the Loons' starting RF on opening day.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comeback Pitcher of the Year: Allen Webster<br /><br />Background: </span>Like Sands, Webster was drafted in 2008 (18th round) and had a rough go in his debut. While his ERA was low (3.44), he had nearly as many walks (17) as innings pitched (18.1). The high school righty looked like he'd need a few seasons of rookie ball just to get his command under control.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance:</span> Allen began the season with the new Arizona league affiliate and looked like a different player. He displayed excellent command of the strike zone, issuing just 14 walks in 47.2 innings compared to 56 strikeouts. A surprise callup was followed by his best outing of the year, a 7.2 inning, 4 hit shutout performance with no walks and 9 strikeouts. Allen ended the season on a sour note, getting blasted for 5 earned runs in just 2.1 innings in his last regular season appearance and then giving up another 5 spot in 3.1 innings in his sole playoff start. However, 2 bad outings can't take away how far he's come as a prospect.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> Allen has a very projectable frame, listed at 6'2 and weighing just 165 pounds. He throws from a high arm slot and gets good downhill plane on his pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touches the mid 90s, while his curveball and changeup are both above average at this stage of his development. His command, once his achilles heel, has become a strength.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Webster will turn 20 next February, so he'll still be young for the Midwest league. After pitching just over 18 innings in his debut and about 70 this year, the Dodgers will be sure to protect Allen's arm over the offseason and will likely limit his innings in 2010.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitting Rookie of the Year: Brian Cavazos-Galvez<br /><br />Background:</span> Brian says he was destined to be a Dodger. He grew up near the Dodgers' Albuquerque Dukes affiliate and his father briefly pitched for the Dodgers in the 80's. After batting .392 this spring with 15 home runs and 63 RBI, the senior out of the University of New Mexico was drafted by LA in the 12th round and quickly signed. The Dodgers actually considered signing him in 2008, but a problem with his draft paperwork led the Dodgers to believe he intended on staying in school.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance:</span> BCG began his pro career with little bang, just .233 in 6 June games. But he turned it on quickly in July, hitting .342 with 9 home runs and continued to rake through July by posting a .350/.376/.530 line in the month. That led to him leading the Pioneer league in hits, total bases, doubles and home runs. He also finished 2nd in RBI and 5th in OPS. Shortly after the season, Brian was named the Pioneer league Most Valuable Player.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> Cavazos-Galvez' main tool is his bat. He has strength and bat speed to hit for power now and down the road. He's an aggressive hitter, as evidenced by his 10 walks in his first 71 games. His swing can get long and, while he didn't strike out much in his debut, he'll need to work to make more contact as he moves up the ladder. He has a strong arm but not much range, so he fits best in an outfield corner. He has enough speed to steal a some bases, but he's not a huge threat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Brian's development will hinge on his ability to continue making contact and start drawing more walks. His performance almost certainly earned him a spot in Great Lakes' outfield, though I wouldn't rule out him skipping the Loons and heading straight for the Empire.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pitching Rookie of the Year: Aaron Miller</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Background:</span> What a long, strange trip it's been. Miller was considered a top prospect in 2006...as an outfielder, but he was dead-set on attending Baylor and ended up as their star hitter for the following few seasons. But this spring, the Bears' rotation was ravaged by injuries and, desperate for arms, Baylor's head coach asked Aaron if he'd be willing to pitch. Aaron obliged and established himself as a top pitching prospect. The Dodgers selected him with the 36th overall pick, in the supplemental first round.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Performance:</span> The Dodgers started out by giving Miller a modest assignment in the rookie level Arizona league. After a few outings where he figured things out, Aaron got on a roll and ended his assignment early as he started mowing down inferior hitters and was ready for A ball. Miller became the Loons' ace, posting an outstanding 2.08 ERA in 7 starts with 38 strikeouts in 30.1 innings. And as if that wasn't enough, he was phenomenal in the playoffs, allowing just a single earned run over 12 innings.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scouting Report:</span> This spring, Miller was pegged as a raw arm with spotty command but 2 plus pitches in his low 90s fastball and nasty slider. As a pro, however, he looked like a different pitcher. His fastball velocity was more in the high 80s, but his command of the pitch was far better, as he walked just 12 batters in 36 regular season innings. His slider was as good as advertised and he's throwing a changeup. He's very athletic and has a pretty good delivery, so his focus moving forward will be refining his secondary offerings and maintaining his velocity through a full season.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 and Beyond:</span> Even though he threw 99 innings between college and the pros, the Dodgers feel Miller is ready for more as he'll head to the Arizona Fall league in the next few weeks. Depending on how that pans out, Miller could find himself anymore from back in Great Lakes to down in Chattanooga to start next season. Either way, he's proving to be a great investment and looks like he could contribute to the Dodgers' staff within the next few years.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dodgers' 2009 Minor League All Star Team<br /><br />Catcher: JT Wise (Ogden)<br />First Base: Jerry Sands (Ogden/Great Lakes)<br />Second Base: Jaime Pedroza (Great Lakes)<br />Shortstop: Dee Gordon (Great Lakes)<br />Third Base: Brian Ruggiano (Ogden)<br />Left Field: Scott Van Slyke (Inland Empire/Albuquerque)<br />Center Field: Trayvon Robinson (Inland Empire/Chattanooga)<br />Right Field: Kyle Russell (Great Lakes)<br />Designated Hitter: Brian Cavazos-Galvez (Ogden)<br /><br />Starting Pitcher: Chris Withrow (Inland Empire/Chattanooga)<br />Starting Pitcher: Ethan Martin (Great Lakes)<br />Starting Pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi (Great Lakes)<br />Starting Pitcher: Aaron Miller (AZL/Great Lakes)<br />Starting Pitcher: Allen Webster (AZL/Ogden)<br />Setup Man: Steven Ames (Ogden)<br />Closer: Josh Lindblom (Chattanooga/Albuquerque)<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-19379187518326917612009-09-13T23:16:00.000-07:002009-09-13T23:30:58.289-07:00Minor League Recap - 9/13/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes lost 9-4<br /><br />Dee Gordon </span>- 1 for 5, K (.391 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jaime Pedroza </span>- 0 for 3, BB, 2 K's, 2 E's (.222 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Russell </span>- 1 for 4, R, K (.190 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Buss </span>- 1 for 3, HR (1), RBI, 2 R (.316 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfredo Silverio </span>- 0 for 3, RBI, 2 K's (.200 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Sands </span>- 0 for 4, 2 K's (.200 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/mxesym<br /><br /><br />Ogden lost 7-4<br /><br />BCG </b>- 1 for 3, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, BB, K (.143 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angelo Songco </span>- 2 for 3, 2 2B's, BB, K (.429 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JT Wise </span>- 1 for 3, R, K, HBP (.167 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Akins </span>- 0 for 2, 2 K's (.200 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blake Smith </span>- 1 for 2, K (.500 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Brett Wallach </span>- 3 IP, 5 Hits, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 4 K's (9.00 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Javier Solano </span>- 3 IP, Hit, ER, 2 BB, 2 K's (3.00 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carlos Frias </span>- 2.1 IP, 0 Hits, ER, 2 BB, 3 K's (3.86 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steven Ames </span>- 0.2 IP, Hit, ER, 0 BB, 2 K's (13.50 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/m4u3j9<br /><br /><br />Player of the day - Brian Cavazos-Galvez, OF</b><br /><br />Not only because of the home run, but because Mr Cavazos-Galvez was named the Pioneer league Prospect of the Year. The league leader in hits, total bases, home runs and doubles also finished second in SLG and RBI, as well as 5th in OPS. The numbers are impressive, but he'll need to prove himself an offensive threat in full season ball before I proclaim him a top prospect.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-59005235261592546622009-09-12T23:23:00.000-07:002009-09-12T23:35:24.620-07:00Minor League Recap - 9/12/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Lakes won 11-10<br /><br />Dee Gordon </span>- 3 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, K, HBP (.444 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jaime Pedroza </span>- 2 for 4, HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB (.267 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Russell </span>- 1 for 5, R, BB, 3 K's, SB (.176 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfredo Silverio </span>- 2 for 5, RBI, R, 2 K's (.235 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Sands </span>- 1 for 5, 2 RBI, K (.250 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Geison Aguasviva </span>- 0.1 IP, 2 Hits, ER, 0 BB, 0 K's (2.45 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/oma2hc<br /><br /><br />Ogden lost 7-2<br /><br />BCG </b>- 0 for 4, 2 K's (.000 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angelo Songco </span>- 1 for 4, R, K (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JT Wise </span>- 0 for 3, BB (.000 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay Calfee </span>- 1 for 3, RBI, R, BB, 2 K's (.333 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Akins </span>- 1 for 3, 2B, RBI, K (.333 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allen Webster </span>- 3.1 IP, 4 Hits, 5 ER, 0 BB, 0 K's (13.50 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/odykch<br /><br /><br />Player of the day - Jaime Pedroza, 2B</b><br /><br />For the second day in a row, Pedroza has hit a season-saving home run. Yesterday, it was a game-winner in the 10th inning. Today, it was a game-tier in the 9th. Add to that the fact that he scored the tying run in the 10th and you have 3 amazingly clutch performances in just a pair of playoff games. What a way to celebrate his 23rd birthday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20295168.post-59039054572026365552009-09-11T23:33:00.000-07:002009-09-12T00:01:56.767-07:00Minor League Recap - 9/11/09<span style="font-weight: bold;">Albuquerque lost 1-0<br /><br />Tony Abreu </span>- 0 for 4, 2 K's (.214 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Xavier Paul </span>- 2 for 4, K (.250 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blake DeWitt </span>- 1 for 4, K (.333 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jamie Hoffman </span>- 2 for 4 (.444 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chin Lung Hu </span>- 0 for 3 (.182 BA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/nfvpxp<br /><br /><br />Great Lakes won 3-2<br /><br />Dee Gordon </b>- 2 for 5, HR (1), RBI, R, 2 K's, CS, E (.385 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jaime Pedroza </span>- 1 for 3, HR (1), RBI, R, 2 BB, E (.182 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Russell </span>- 0 for 5, 4 K's (.167 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfredo Silverio </span>- 1 for 4, 3B (.167 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Sands </span>- 1 for 4, 2B, K (.273 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ethan Martin </span>- 4.2 IP, Hit, ER, BB, 3 K's (1.93 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Geison Aguasviva </span>- 1.1 IP, 2 Hits, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's (0.00 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nathan Eovaldi </span>- 1 IP, 0 Hits, R (0 ER), 2 BB, 3 K's (0.00 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cole St Clair </span>- 3 IP, 2 Hits, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's (0.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/l488ug<br /><br /><br />Ogden won 8-4<br /><br />BCG </b>- 0 for 3, R, SB, HBP (.322 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angelo Songo </span>- 1 for 3, 2B, RBI, K, HBP (.306 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JT Wise </span>- 2 for 4 (.338 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay Calfee </span>- 2 for 2, HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB (.354 BA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Akins </span>- 0 for 3, R, BB, 2 K's (.260 BA)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Garrett Gould </span>- 1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 R, BB, 3 K's (10.13 ERA)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ji-Mo Lee </span>- 1 IP, Hit, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K's (6.00 ERA)<br /><br /><b>http://tinyurl.com/lavrq4<br /><br /><br />Player of the day - Loons' pitching</b><br /><br />Ethan Martin had one of his best outings of the year in the most important game of the year. He kept his pitch count low, trusted his defense and threw strikes when he needed to. Aguasviva picked up for him and did well, not allowing Martin's inherited runner to score. Eovaldi struck out the side but allowed 2 walks. He was also victimized by Dee Gordon's throwing error with 2 outs. The real hero may be Cole St Clair, who pitched longer than he has at any time this year. He eluded a bases loaded jam in the 9th and the winning run on 1st base in the 10th to secure the win. The Loons are ready to face Fort Wayne in the league semifinals.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0