Possible Minor League players to watch in September with their respective big clubs:
David Price, LHP, Tampa. David is 12 -1 on the season with a 2.30 ERA and 109 strike outs. He as moved 3 levels this season starting in the Florida State League, moving to the Southern League, and recently making the jump to AAA. It is very rare for someone to make this many jumps in one year and to cap it off with a call to the show so it may be a long shot. However, if the Rays need an arm down the stretch, he may get the call when the rosters expand.
Micah Hoffpauir, 1B, Cubs. Micah has had a stellar year with the Iowa Cubs batting hitting .365 with 25 HR and 99 RBI. He spent a short time with big club early in the season were he hit .378 in 19 games. The Cubs are definitely set down the stretch at 1B, but when the roster expand, Micah may get the call to give Lou Piniella an extra bat off the bench and it will allow him the ability rest Lee if need be.
Mtchell Boggs, RHP, Cardinals. Boggs has spent some time with the big club this year as the Cardinals pitching staff has concentrated on the ER more than ERA with all the injuries. He has gone 8-3 in the Pacific Coast League with a 3.57 ERA. If the Cardinals are going to make a last ditch effort at the Wild Card, they are going to need all the help they can get.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Teixeira Trail
Now that Mark Teixeira has had 3 different addresses in a year, let’s examine the wake.
Trade #1
The Braves traded their 3 top prospects to the Rangers. #1 prospect, Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, no longer a prospect as he is has spent the majority of the season with the Rangers. This made sense because the catching position is somewhat solidified for the foreseeable future because of Brian McCann. #2 prospect, Shortstop Elvis Andrus, who started this season as the #1 overall prospect with the Rangers. On the season, Elvis is hitting .290 with 4 HR and 56 RBI in 105 games and has played the whole season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League. #3 prospect, LHP Matt Harrison, suffered a season ending turf toe injury and did not pitch much after the trade in 2007. He entered this season the #12 overall prospect with the Rangers starting the year at Frisco, where he went 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 9 games. He then was promoted to Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League going 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 6 games. Since July 8th, he has been pitching with the “big club” to date going 5-2 with a 5.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 8 games. Another prospect the Rangers pick up was RHP Neftali Feliz who entered this year as the #5 overall prospect. Feliz started the year in low A with the Midwest League Clinton Lumber Kings but pitching in 17 games going 6-3 with a 2.52 ERA with 106 strike outs. He then skipped high A and has joined Frisco. In addition to Teixeira, the Braves received Ron Mahay who is pitching for Kansas City this season.
Trade #2
Teixeira goes to the Angels for Kasey Kotchman and A A pitcher Steve Marek. Kotchman is an excellent Major League player, probably many would not disagree. Steve Marek was the Angels’ #6 ranked prospect and has struggled a little this year both in the Texas League (2-6, 3.66 ERA, 57 SO in 34 games) and the Southern League (1-2, 3.86 ERA, 7 SO in 8 games). He had some success 2006 posting the lowest ERA (1.96) in the Midwest League but struggled in high A in 2007. He has the stuff to be a pro but will need to refine his mechanics and change his approach mentally if he wants a shot.
So, who was the big winner, and who was the big, big, big, big looser?
Trade #1
The Braves traded their 3 top prospects to the Rangers. #1 prospect, Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, no longer a prospect as he is has spent the majority of the season with the Rangers. This made sense because the catching position is somewhat solidified for the foreseeable future because of Brian McCann. #2 prospect, Shortstop Elvis Andrus, who started this season as the #1 overall prospect with the Rangers. On the season, Elvis is hitting .290 with 4 HR and 56 RBI in 105 games and has played the whole season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League. #3 prospect, LHP Matt Harrison, suffered a season ending turf toe injury and did not pitch much after the trade in 2007. He entered this season the #12 overall prospect with the Rangers starting the year at Frisco, where he went 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 9 games. He then was promoted to Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League going 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 6 games. Since July 8th, he has been pitching with the “big club” to date going 5-2 with a 5.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 8 games. Another prospect the Rangers pick up was RHP Neftali Feliz who entered this year as the #5 overall prospect. Feliz started the year in low A with the Midwest League Clinton Lumber Kings but pitching in 17 games going 6-3 with a 2.52 ERA with 106 strike outs. He then skipped high A and has joined Frisco. In addition to Teixeira, the Braves received Ron Mahay who is pitching for Kansas City this season.
Trade #2
Teixeira goes to the Angels for Kasey Kotchman and A A pitcher Steve Marek. Kotchman is an excellent Major League player, probably many would not disagree. Steve Marek was the Angels’ #6 ranked prospect and has struggled a little this year both in the Texas League (2-6, 3.66 ERA, 57 SO in 34 games) and the Southern League (1-2, 3.86 ERA, 7 SO in 8 games). He had some success 2006 posting the lowest ERA (1.96) in the Midwest League but struggled in high A in 2007. He has the stuff to be a pro but will need to refine his mechanics and change his approach mentally if he wants a shot.
So, who was the big winner, and who was the big, big, big, big looser?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Baltimore’s Future Catcher, Matt Wieters
The Orioles may have found themselves a catcher and his name in Matt Wieters. Matt was the Orioles first round draft pick, number 5 overall, in the 2007 draft. A highly honored prospect out of Georgia Tech University, Wieters was invited to Orioles spring training this year after not even playing a full professional year. He was designated to the Fredrick Keys, High A affiliate of Baltimore, to start the season but after putting up big numbers their (.345, 15 HR, 40 RBI) in 60 games, Matt was promoted to Bowie Baysox (AA). Since joining Bowie in late June, Wieters has continued to excel. In only 40 games, he is hitting .362 with 9 HR and 40 RBI. The current catcher situation with Baltimore and Wieters outstanding numbers as him primed for a September call up or possibly a starting position next season.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Drew Stubbs and Chris Valaika, Cincinnati Reds Prospects
I had a chance to talk to Drew Stubbs and Chris Valaika in late April when both where members of the Sarasota Reds, High A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, of the Florida State League. Baseball America Prospect Handbook (BAPH) has Stubbs ranked as the #5 overall prospect in the organization and Valaika ranked #13. I watched both play for 2 nights and believe the BAPH may have reversed these rankings. On those two nights, Valakia really stood out to me as the better prospect. He seemed to have better at bats both nights. Stubbs came into his pro career with big game experience playing in the College World Series in 2006 with Texas. Valaika had his share of big games as well playing for UC Santa Barbara. Difference being, Valaika was drafted in the 3rd round with Stubbs drafted in the 1st round. Valaika hit .284 with 12 HR and 97 RBI splitting the season between Dayton and Sarasota while Stubbs hit .270 with 12 HR and only 43 RBI playing only at Dayton. Both started this season at Sarasota with Valakia promoted to Chattanooga soon after I saw him and Stubbs being added just recently to the Lookouts. On the season so far, Valakia is hitting .315 with 15 HR and 70 RBI and Stubbs hitting .274 with 5 HR and 47 RBI. The season’s numbers seem to favor my opinion back from back in late April and Baseball America may have changed their mind as well as they selected Valaika for the 2008 Futures game. Now, I am not saying Mr. Stubbs does not have the potential to be a great player, it just looks, to this point, Mr. Valakia is ahead.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Chris Davis, Texas Rangers (by Todd Newville)
Why should all devoted baseball fans listen every week to Minor League Baseball Radio at http://www.milbradio.com/? It’s because you might miss hearing the first words to the media from the next coming of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, or any other renowned baseball great that may come to mind.
Do you want proof? Well, then consider the case of Chris Davis, a slugging rookie who made his MLB debut in the summer of 2008 with the Texas Rangers!
Davis (listed as a 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed hitter) is a bundle of talent, muscle, youth, and energy. Born on March 17, 1986, from Longview, Texas, Davis has quickly risen through the ranks of the Rangers’ minor league system in the last three years and has finally found a place in the Texas lineup.
In the 2008 Baseball America prospect handbook, Davis was listed No. 2 among all Texas Ranger prospects - behind only shortstop Elvis Andrus. Davis is a very friendly and humble guy and likes to talk about his success in the pro ranks. After all, wouldn’t you if you were of his stature?
Consider the fact that Davis (who was picked in the 5th round of the June 2006 draft from Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas) tied a California League record with a 35-game hitting streak in just his second pro season in 2007. “It was kind of a surreal feeling,” Davis told http://www.milbradio.com/ contributor Todd Newville at the start of the 2008 season when he was with the Double A Frisco Rough Riders. “It was a lot of fun and people want to talk about the pressures. But, with my teammates, it was a fun thing to see how long we could keep it going.
“There was a little pressure here and there and, obviously when I tied it, I wanted to break that record. But, I never thought I would have a 35-game hitting streak. It was a lot of fun. It kind of put a spark into the season for me.”
In the history of professional baseball, very few players have ever had hitting streaks over 30 games. In the majors, Joe DiMaggio holds the record with a 56-game skein in 1941. After him, guys like Pete Rose, Paul Molitor, Ty Cobb, and others (mostly Hall of Famers) follow close behind.
“I’m not sure if I’m ready to step into that category just yet,” Davis said, “but they were sure great players. The main thing is go out every day and try to compete. Obviously, you want to get a hit every day you go out there. Some days, you are going to feel good and get lucky. Then, some days you are just not going to have it. I just tried to keep the feel of my swing going during the streak. I tried not to think about it and just help the team any way I could, whether it be a walk, hit, or whatever it may take.”
Through games of Aug. 6, 2008, Davis was hitting .295 with 11 home runs and 28 runs batted in at the major league level with the Rangers. As expected, Davis has proven to be a stout bat at the plate with Texas. With Class A Bakersfield and Class AA Frisco in 2007, he hit a combined .297 with 36 homers and 118 ribbies. His homer total was second in all of minor league baseball in ‘07. For his efforts, he was awarded the Rangers’ prestigious Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year award in ‘07.
Before being called up to Texas, Davis continued his onslaught on opposing pitchers in 2008 with Frisco and the Triple A Oklahoma Redhawks His prowess with a bat has never been in doubt. But, his defense has been getting rave reviews, too. A former third baseman, he has made the transition to first base with minimal deficiencies. Going across the diamond to the other corner stone hasn’t been that difficult at all.
“I think playing third actually helped me out a little bit with my footwork and my mobility around first,” Davis told http://www.milbradio.com/ earlier in 2008. “I played a little at first base in junior college but I was very raw at it. I had a lot of work at it in spring training this year and now I feel very comfortable over there.”
While Davis is making tremendous strides in his defensive work, his power hitting continues to be the bread-and-butter of his baseball repertoire. “I’m considered a power hitter and it’s something that’s expected to be there,” Davis said. “It’s not something that I go out and try to do everyday; it’s just something that God blessed me with. I don’t try to go out and hit home runs every day, but I just have been blessed with the ability to drive the ball. That’s obviously the strongest part of my game.”
And, it doesn’t hurt that Davis looks like a body builder up close.
“Yeah, I’m kind of a gym rat - a ‘Meat Head’ if you will,” Davis said. “I like to work out and it’s something I enjoy doing. I stay in the gym almost every day. I don’t go crazy with it, but I like to get a good workout every day. It’s important to keep your body going throughout the season.”
In 134 at-bats so far in 2008, Davis hits a homer every 12.1 times at bat. If he had started the season with the big club, his projected season total would be about 46 round-trippers. In July, he hit .303 with eight homers and 16 RBIs. That was enough to put him in the running for Rookie of the Month honors in the American League - along with second baseman Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox and pitcher Brad Ziegler of the Oakland Athletics.
When the Rangers beat the Oakland A’s 9-4 in Oakland back on July 26, 2008, manager Ron Washington told writer Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, “ He’s not afraid of any situation. He can make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. He’ll take what they give him until they give him his pitch. He’s taken balls to left, and then when somebody tries to come inside -- POP! He’s learning to hit like a champ. Just when you think you got him where you want him, he does what he does best.”
And, that’s no bull. Besides Davis, a plethora of other current minor league standouts (as well as other baseball experts in the field) have made their presence felt this year on http://www.milbradio.com/. You just never know who you might hear from or about on this program. Stay tuned every week and we’ll continue to bring you the best we have to offer in the world of minor league baseball.
After all, you might just hear for the first time about the next coming of the Babe or the Mick!
Do you want proof? Well, then consider the case of Chris Davis, a slugging rookie who made his MLB debut in the summer of 2008 with the Texas Rangers!
Davis (listed as a 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed hitter) is a bundle of talent, muscle, youth, and energy. Born on March 17, 1986, from Longview, Texas, Davis has quickly risen through the ranks of the Rangers’ minor league system in the last three years and has finally found a place in the Texas lineup.
In the 2008 Baseball America prospect handbook, Davis was listed No. 2 among all Texas Ranger prospects - behind only shortstop Elvis Andrus. Davis is a very friendly and humble guy and likes to talk about his success in the pro ranks. After all, wouldn’t you if you were of his stature?
Consider the fact that Davis (who was picked in the 5th round of the June 2006 draft from Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas) tied a California League record with a 35-game hitting streak in just his second pro season in 2007. “It was kind of a surreal feeling,” Davis told http://www.milbradio.com/ contributor Todd Newville at the start of the 2008 season when he was with the Double A Frisco Rough Riders. “It was a lot of fun and people want to talk about the pressures. But, with my teammates, it was a fun thing to see how long we could keep it going.
“There was a little pressure here and there and, obviously when I tied it, I wanted to break that record. But, I never thought I would have a 35-game hitting streak. It was a lot of fun. It kind of put a spark into the season for me.”
In the history of professional baseball, very few players have ever had hitting streaks over 30 games. In the majors, Joe DiMaggio holds the record with a 56-game skein in 1941. After him, guys like Pete Rose, Paul Molitor, Ty Cobb, and others (mostly Hall of Famers) follow close behind.
“I’m not sure if I’m ready to step into that category just yet,” Davis said, “but they were sure great players. The main thing is go out every day and try to compete. Obviously, you want to get a hit every day you go out there. Some days, you are going to feel good and get lucky. Then, some days you are just not going to have it. I just tried to keep the feel of my swing going during the streak. I tried not to think about it and just help the team any way I could, whether it be a walk, hit, or whatever it may take.”
Through games of Aug. 6, 2008, Davis was hitting .295 with 11 home runs and 28 runs batted in at the major league level with the Rangers. As expected, Davis has proven to be a stout bat at the plate with Texas. With Class A Bakersfield and Class AA Frisco in 2007, he hit a combined .297 with 36 homers and 118 ribbies. His homer total was second in all of minor league baseball in ‘07. For his efforts, he was awarded the Rangers’ prestigious Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year award in ‘07.
Before being called up to Texas, Davis continued his onslaught on opposing pitchers in 2008 with Frisco and the Triple A Oklahoma Redhawks His prowess with a bat has never been in doubt. But, his defense has been getting rave reviews, too. A former third baseman, he has made the transition to first base with minimal deficiencies. Going across the diamond to the other corner stone hasn’t been that difficult at all.
“I think playing third actually helped me out a little bit with my footwork and my mobility around first,” Davis told http://www.milbradio.com/ earlier in 2008. “I played a little at first base in junior college but I was very raw at it. I had a lot of work at it in spring training this year and now I feel very comfortable over there.”
While Davis is making tremendous strides in his defensive work, his power hitting continues to be the bread-and-butter of his baseball repertoire. “I’m considered a power hitter and it’s something that’s expected to be there,” Davis said. “It’s not something that I go out and try to do everyday; it’s just something that God blessed me with. I don’t try to go out and hit home runs every day, but I just have been blessed with the ability to drive the ball. That’s obviously the strongest part of my game.”
And, it doesn’t hurt that Davis looks like a body builder up close.
“Yeah, I’m kind of a gym rat - a ‘Meat Head’ if you will,” Davis said. “I like to work out and it’s something I enjoy doing. I stay in the gym almost every day. I don’t go crazy with it, but I like to get a good workout every day. It’s important to keep your body going throughout the season.”
In 134 at-bats so far in 2008, Davis hits a homer every 12.1 times at bat. If he had started the season with the big club, his projected season total would be about 46 round-trippers. In July, he hit .303 with eight homers and 16 RBIs. That was enough to put him in the running for Rookie of the Month honors in the American League - along with second baseman Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox and pitcher Brad Ziegler of the Oakland Athletics.
When the Rangers beat the Oakland A’s 9-4 in Oakland back on July 26, 2008, manager Ron Washington told writer Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, “ He’s not afraid of any situation. He can make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. He’ll take what they give him until they give him his pitch. He’s taken balls to left, and then when somebody tries to come inside -- POP! He’s learning to hit like a champ. Just when you think you got him where you want him, he does what he does best.”
And, that’s no bull. Besides Davis, a plethora of other current minor league standouts (as well as other baseball experts in the field) have made their presence felt this year on http://www.milbradio.com/. You just never know who you might hear from or about on this program. Stay tuned every week and we’ll continue to bring you the best we have to offer in the world of minor league baseball.
After all, you might just hear for the first time about the next coming of the Babe or the Mick!
MiLB Radio Blog
This is the new MiLBRadio.com blog. Check it often for great minor league baseball articles and information!
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