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Minor League Update Friday Minor League Summary #9
It is time for the pitchers this week. The farm affiliates went 3-4 on the evening.


Thursday Boxscores and Highlights

Charlotte 4 @ Syracuse 3 Litsch 8IP, 5H, 1ER, 1W, 5K, Fasano 3-4, Olmedo 2-3, 1W, Adams 2-4
New Britain 7 @ New Hampshire 3, 1st Yates 4.2IP, 11H, 7ER, 1W, 4K, 2HR, Mathews 3-3, Diaz 2 2B
New Britain 2 @ New Hampshire 3, 2nd Matumoto 6IP, 5H, 0ER, 1W, 4K, Thorpe 2IP, 0H, 1W, 2K, Klosterman
game-tying 2 out HR in 7th, Smith HR, Mathews 2-4, Diaz 3B, W
Daytona 5 @ Dunedin 7 Trias 6.1IP, 6H, 3ER, 1W, 6K, Butler 2-4 HR, J. Gonzalez HR, Reed Johnson 2B, HR
Lansing 2 @ West Michigan 4 RGonzalez 5IP, 6H, 4ER, 1W, 2K, 1HR, Lane 1-2, HR, W, HBP, Snider 0-4, 2K
Auburn 7 @ Williamsport 2 LPerez 8IP, 6H, 1ER, 1W, 6K, 0HR, Arencibia 1-4, Calderone 3-4, 2 2B
GCL Tigers 8 @ GCL Blue Jays 1 Leffler 1IP, 3H, 1ER, 1W, 0K, Tolisano 1-4, Ahrens 1-4, Fuenmayor 0-3, 3K, Eiland 0-2, W


The Pitching Prospect Statistical Summary


All statistics are through Wednesday's games. We have added A.J. Wideman (by request) and Brett Cecil (by whim) to our list. Next time 'round we'll welcome back Jesse Litsch.. SSA stands for "Short-season A", aka Auburn.

Pitcher Age Level BB
IP H HR W K GO/AO ERA Comments
R. Romero 22 AA #4 26.2 33 2 12 23
 1.42 5.06
 Just back from arm injury
D. Purcey 25 AA #7 62 67
 4
 16
 55 0.97 5.33
 On DL;seasonal FIP good
C. Cheng 21 HiA #8






Torn labrum, surgery, out indef.
T. Taubenheim 24 AAA #11 64 69
 7
 20
 54
 1.11 5.63
K. Yates 24 AA #12 71 74
 8 25
 47
 1.10 3.80
I. Ramirez 26 AAA #13 52.1 80
 6
 20 29
 0.86
 5.68
J. Banks 24 AAA #14 84.2 94
 14
 12
 53
 1.12
 5.10 Josh Towers v.2?
E. Fowler 24 AA #18 25.1
 30
 2
 7
 15
 1.21
 4.97
 Just returned and promoted.
P. Keng 22 LoA #23 25.1
 32
 3
 11
 24
 1.68
 6.04
T. Thorpe 26 AA #24 38.2 29
 2
 18 37
 0.57 4.19 Lots of pop-ups.
P. Phillips 23 LoA #26 33.1 34 2
 7
 37 0.81 2.70
 Classic ace reliever!
B. Carnline 23 HiA
 #28 7.1
 8
 0
 2
 4
 0.89
 1.23
 Just returned.
K. Ginley 20 LoA #29 65.1 79
 7
 22
 69
 1.49
 5.79 FIP still good. Nice K rate.
S. Benson 20 SSA
 #30 6.2
 12
 1
 2
 7
 0.5
 8.1
Z. Dials
 21 LoA
55 57
 3
 14
 28
 1.89
 4.58
M. MacDonald 25 AAA
90 101
 1
 26 44
 2.39 3.80
 Classic sinkerballer- AA/AAA nos.
B. Magee 23 HiA
79 85
 7
 36
 34
 1.60
 4.56
 Ugly W/K.
C. Lirette 22 LoA
59
 59
 6
 19
 41
 1.52
 4.42
 On DL.
N. Starner 23 LoA
73.1
 96
 7
 18
 75
 1.16 5.28 FIP still good
G. Godfrey 22 LoA
46.1
 57
 4
 13
 34
 1.76 4.47
S Overbey
 23
 AA
45.2
 30
 0
 12
 37
 4.11
 0.79
 Not dominating in AA (yet).
AJ Wideman
 22
 HiA
81.1
 87
 7
 20
 53
 1.04
 3.87
B. Cecil
 21
 SSA
7
 2
 0
 0
 9
 2.00
 0.00
 Great start!

None of the pitching prospects has truly blossomed so far, although Jesse Litsch has done very well in double A and triple A. Brett Cecil is also giving hope to the faithful.

Posted by Mike Green on Friday, June 29 2007 @ 12:01 AM EDT.
Friday Minor League Summary #9 | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
danjulien - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 02:21 AM EDT (#170838) #
Is Litsch missing from the table or is it just me?
[ Reply to This ]
mendocino - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 02:26 AM EDT (#170839) #

Robinzon Diaz article

John Tolisano article

[ Reply to This ]
Lugnut Fan - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 07:56 AM EDT (#170841) #
There was a bench clearing brawl between West Michigan and Lansing last night.  Edward Rodriguez hit someone and the guy charged the mound.  There were some pretty big punches thrown.  I haven't heard anything as of yet regarding injuries or suspensions.
[ Reply to This ]
Pistol - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 08:48 AM EDT (#170842) #
Is Litsch missing from the table or is it just me?

I think Mike may have taken him out when he was called up.

It's too bad Jacob Butler isn't able to play CF.  He'd be a lot more interesting.  I think I'd send him to NH given that he's hitting pretty well and already 24.
[ Reply to This ]
Maldoff - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 09:02 AM EDT (#170843) #
Butler and Matthews both should be promoted ASAP.  Their numbers, and ages (24 and 25, respectively) show that their time should be now.
[ Reply to This ]
ayjackson - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 09:40 AM EDT (#170847) #
Josh Kreuzer probably deserves the 1B job in AA too.  Not sure what to do with Cannon.  Hey!  This is supposed to be a thread about pitchers!
[ Reply to This ]
Mike Green - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 09:54 AM EDT (#170850) #
Thanks as always for the links, Mendocino.  Yesterday, Diaz had 3 extra-base hits, and a walk.  That's good.  The three numbers to watch with Diaz are W/PA, IsoP and GB%.  He typically has ground ball rates around 60%, and that is not good for a catcher.  Even if he hits .280, it will be an empty .280 without power or walks and with double plays aplenty. 

As I said, Litsch wasn't in the chart for this week on purpose.  He was sent down, and removed from last week's chart.  I am using statistics from Wednesday, so we would miss Thursday's start.  We'll get him next time. 







[ Reply to This ]
Thomas - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 10:00 AM EDT (#170853) #

Thanks for the links on the articles. Both are worth reading.

I agree with both of Pistol's comments re: Butler (and I'd promote Mathews soon, too). Conversely, the ability to play CF is what keeps Majewski in prospect discussions. He's old for AA and he's not hitting that well, but if he can play an average CF than he has the chance of becoming a decent fourth outfielder for a few years.

[ Reply to This ]
Mike Green - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 10:49 AM EDT (#170857) #
Here's a link to the Lansing State Journal article on the brawl last night.  The Lugnuts get a test tonight as they face hot prospect Clayton Kershaw.
[ Reply to This ]
Mylegacy - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 01:24 PM EDT (#170868) #

Everyone in the know (seems to) agree:

Robinson Diaz's pitchers hate pitching to him, he can't call a game, he hits for a "high" but "empty" average.

My two questions are: "Is catching weak on every team?"  "Why is this guy is always beeing chosen as an all-star in every league he's played?"

Ya I know this is supposed to be about pitchers...

[ Reply to This ]
Mike Green - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 01:33 PM EDT (#170870) #
Diaz' receiving abilities seem to be a matter of some dispute.  Marc reports that several pitchers don't like throwing to him, but the organization seems to feel that he will be all right. 
[ Reply to This ]
Gerry - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#170873) #
I do know that Diaz's catching was an issue two years ago.  The article notes the big improvement he has made, and how Mike Basso is working with him, and it could be that now his receiving skills are acceptable. 
[ Reply to This ]
ayjackson - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 03:00 PM EDT (#170876) #
Somehow, it seems the small print has almost gone unnoticed - Reed Johnson had a double and a HR in his first action for Dunedin.
[ Reply to This ]
Mike Green - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 05:31 PM EDT (#170881) #
I wanted to draw attention to a convenient resource- firstinning.com's park factors by batter/pitcher handedness.  So, for instance, if you want to find out how right-handed hitting Jacob Butler's statistics might be affected by playing in Dunedin in the FSL compared with other high A ball, you'd look here. It'd be nice to have 3 or 5 year park factors.
[ Reply to This ]
Ducey - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 05:33 PM EDT (#170882) #

"Somehow, it seems the small print has almost gone unnoticed - Reed Johnson had a double and a HR in his first action for Dunedin."

Well he has only played 1 game - too early to get excited about him as a prospect :-)

[ Reply to This ]
mendocino - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 07:22 PM EDT (#170885) #

With the international signing period starting on monday, BA has a list of prospects(subscriber) and teams linked to him.

The only player on the list linked to the Blue Jays is LHP Trent Baker from Australia.

"...Australian lefthander Trent Baker (Braves, Blue Jays, Reds, Phillies, Twins and Padres) are all likely to sign significant bonus amounts."

Toronto Blue Jays

MO: Mid-level spenders.  The Blue Jays have spent big on two guys in recent years that I’m aware of.  3B Balbino Fuenmayor, signed in 2006 for $750,000, and RHP Francisco Rosario, signed in 1999 for the same price.

Scouting Niche: Venezuela/Oceania.  One of the few teams with a New Zealander in their system, the Blue Jays have definitely expanded their operation outside of the island.  They operated a split-squad in the Venezuelan Summer team in 2006, but have abandoned it in favor of opening the second DSL squad.  Currently, the Blue Jays have about as many Venezuelans as Dominicans playing for the system’s stateside affiliates, and while that might change with the extra Dominican affiliate, expect the Blue Jays to continue spending a significant amount of money casting a wide net for international talent.

finally an interesting question from BA's Chris Kline chat

Q: Will Smeltzer from Tucson,Az asks:
are the orioles looking at signing any international players? A: 

Chris Kline: I've heard them connected to guys who'll sign in the 75-200K range, just like the Royals and a lot of other small-to-mid market teams; and that's OK. How many big money guys out of the international scene really make a major impact in the big leagues? You're better off signing a guy who's hungry with tools in that range that has to continue to work . . . history shows those guys are the real success stories. If you have good evaluators in Latin America and on the Pacific Rim, chances are you will have more success than giving a buscone a 30K bonus for signing a guy for seven figures in the long run.

[ Reply to This ]
Mike Green - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 08:17 PM EDT (#170886) #
A shortstop named Jackson led off for the GCL Jays today.  It's a good bet that this might be Justin.
[ Reply to This ]
mendocino - Friday, June 29 2007 @ 09:12 PM EDT (#170888) #
According to the Lansing radio crew Joey Metropoulos has been released.
[ Reply to This ]
Friday Minor League Summary #9 | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.