This is the first in a series of reviews of the farm affiliates' 2004 seasons. In the series, the focus will be mainly on the teams, as Jordan will be preparing his top 30 prospect summary shortly with details on most of the guys you want to know about.
Pulaski, Virginia is the home of the Blue Jays rookie level affiliate in the Appalachian League. The players consist mostly of 2004 draftees (with a few 2003 and 2002 draftees), and Latin American prospects. That, plus Chi-Hung Cheng, the very young Taiwanese pitching prospect. Pulaski plays in beautiful Calfee Park and drew 755 fans per game (most teams in the Appy league draw between 700 and 1100 fans per game).
Pulaski finished the season 40-27 in second place, 1 and 1/2 games behind division winner Danville. With 435 runs scored in 64 games, the P-Jays led the league in scoring by almost a run per game over Danville. Centerfielder Yuber Rodriguez, and first basemen/DH Nick Thomas and Charlie Anderson, swung the big bats. The team led the league in walks, one walk per game more than any other team, and had the dubious distinction of also leading the league in strikeouts (by 1). The team's BABIP (batting average on balls in play) was .333 compared to the league's .315; as a result, the club finished 3rd in the league in batting average at .269 despite a sad 61/615 HR/K ratio. The pitching, led by Cheng, Jordan Timm and Adrian Martin, was fine, as well, posting a league-leading 3.79 ERA. The Jays did make 88 errors in 67 games, leading to 54 unearned runs. Young players will make errors.
Pulaski prospects
Before we begin the players, I should explain a few things about the statistics cited. I have cited player, team and league BABIP data. This data is capable of a number of interpretations. Hitters may have higher or lower BABIPs than expected due to non-average speed, line drive ratio or luck. Pitchers may have higher or lower BABIPs due to line-drive ratio, ground-ball/fly-ball tendencies, defence or luck. We do not have the statistical data for the minor leagues, as we do for the majors, to say any more than this.
Yuber Rodriguez-CF
Yuber Rodriguez, who will turn 21 on November 17, is a fine defensive centerfielder, with a good power/speed mix. He took a solid step forward this year hitting .306/.394/.506, and was an Appy League All-Star. He ranked 4th in league in runs above replacement player, with a league EQA of .313 and a Major League EQA of .190. He struck out 70 times in 285 plate appearances, and homered 8 times. He will have to reduce his K rate or increase his HR rate to be a successful hitter at higher levels. This year, he relied on his extra-base sock and his speed (perhaps with some luck) to produce a .382 BABIP, but this will be very difficult to sustain as he moves up in the system.
Nick Thomas-1B/DH/OF
Nick Thomas will turn 22 on Groundhog Day, 2005. He's hit well in Pulaski for 2 straight seasons, this year going .280/.411/.466 with a pleasant 42/50 W/K ratio in 241 plate appearances. He was ninth in the league in RARP, and also had a league EQA of .313. As a big-bopping 1b/dh, he's going to have bop a little more to succeed. He's in a squeeze, however, with Chip Cannon and Joey Metropoulos from Auburn in line for jobs. He probably will get a shot in Lansing (the Jays new low A affiliate in the Midwest League) in 2005.
Charlie Anderson-1B/DH
Charlie Anderson will turn 23 on February 10, 2005. He hit .311/.429/.523 with a solid 29/39 W/K ratio in 185 plate appearances. He's very much a longshot to make it because of his age and developmental level, but for now, he's earned a shot at a higher level.
David Hicks-1B/DH
Can you say positional glut? David Hicks, who will turn 23 on November 22, 2004, started the season in Auburn. Playing time was difficult to find for him because of Cannon and Metropolous, so he was sent to Pulaski, where he found himself in the same situation with Thomas and Anderson. He hit .306/.409/.433 with a 20/27 W/K ratio in 159 plate trips.
Chi-Hung Cheng-LHP
Chi-Hung Cheng will turn 20 on June 20, 2005. His repertoire features a sharp curve that had Appy League hitters chasing, and a fastball in the mid-high 80s. He led the league with 74 strikeouts in 60 innings. He walked 37 batters, plunked 4 and threw 5 wild pitches, so his control is an early issue. He allowed 4 homers. His first step will be to work on his strength, so that his fastball has a little more zip. Still, with his age and all those strikeouts, he's the most likely to succeed from this class, and his promotion to Auburn for the playoffs is an indication that the organization is pleased with his debut season. Incidentally, he went 3-1 with a 2.82 ERA. His opponents' BABIP was .307.
Adrian Martin-RHP
Adrian Martin turned 20 on September 2, 2004. This swingman walked 12 and struck out 51 in 56 innings, and allowed 2 home runs. He's young and he has succeeded in rookie ball. We'll see how he does at a higher level next year. Martin went 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA, with an opponents' BABIP was .364.
Jordan Timm-LHP
Timm is a 6"6", 230 lb. lefty, who will turn 24 on January 15, 2005. He's got fine off-speed stuff and good control, but not much of a fastball. He led the Appy League in ERA at 2.67, and struck out 53 and walked 12 and gave up 8 longballs in 60.2 innings. His opponents' BABIP was an even .300. Succeeding at age 23 in the Appy League will not push you to the top of the prospect charts, but it would not surprise me if Timm makes it to the Show or close to it as a lefty reliever.
It was a solid year for Pulaski. The team performed well, and a few individual players took their first baby steps towards a possible big-league job.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040923093844999