Weakly pickup samples (2006)
~~ Week ending September 3 ~~
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Josh Fields, Chicago White Sox – Fields, 23, is a solid line driver
hitter (.305-19-70 at AAA Charlotte) but we’d like to see him hit for more
power. He could get some playing time if Joe Crede’s back continues to act up
again. Grade B-
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
Class-A |
256 |
36 |
7 |
39 |
0 |
.285 |
.333 |
|
2005 |
AA |
477 |
76 |
16 |
79 |
7 |
.252 |
.341 |
Esteban German, Kansas City Royals – German, who is batting .322 in
just 205 at-bats, will play full time replacing Mark Teahen. “We’ve got to
figure it out about German,” Buddy Bell said. “He’ll play almost every day now.
The thing is, if we have nine solid guys, we know he can help us.” German, 28,
is a natural second baseman, but he has been a utility man this year. He will
play third base against right-handers but could get time in left field against
lefties. He missed most of last season with injuries. Grade B
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2003 |
AAA |
467 |
86 |
3 |
51 |
32 |
.306 |
.379 |
|
2004 |
AAA |
231 |
33 |
2 |
29 |
18 |
.329 |
.380 |
|
2004 |
Athletics |
60 |
9 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
.250 |
.297 |
NATIONAL
LEAGUE
Jeff Baker, Colorado Rockies – Baker, who hit .305-20-108, will get a
long look. Drafted as a third baseman, he was moved to the outfield but has had
trouble staying healthy. He will play right field and also work out at first
base and third base with the idea he could play left field at some point next
season, too. He has good bat speed and power potential. He hit .211 in 38 at
bats with the Rockies last year. Grade B-
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
AA |
91 |
10 |
4 |
20 |
1 |
.297 |
.343 |
|
2005 |
AAA |
228 |
40 |
10 |
41 |
3 |
.303 |
.348 |
Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies – Iannetta, an excellent defensive
backstop, should get most of the starts with Yorvit Torrealba out for the
season. He is a decent enough hotter with some power but needs more experience
versus breaking stuff. He batted .336-14-48 combined at two minor league stops
this year. Grade B-
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
261 |
51 |
11 |
58 |
1 |
.276 |
.381 |
|
2005 |
AA |
60 |
7 |
2 |
11 |
0 |
.233 |
.329 |
Hong-Chih Kuo,
Los Angeles Dodgers – Kuo, 25, will make a start this week. The
left-hander is back from a pair of TJ surgeries and is throwing in the
mid-to-high 90s again. He needs polish on his slider and control but keep an
eye on him. He could be a closer or setup man one day. He went 4-3, 3.06 in
nine starts with AAA Las Vegas and is 0-4, 5.34 with LA. All of his 32 major
league appearances have come in relief, but he changed roles at Vegas six weeks
ago and pitched well in nine starts. "We feel good about his stuff,"
Grady Little said. "I think he'll be fine." Grade B-
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
1 |
3 |
26 |
42 |
2.08 |
1.50 |
|
2005 |
AA |
0 |
0 |
28 |
44 |
1.91 |
1.18 |
Miguel Montero. Arizona Diamondbacks – Montero’s quick development
has led to speculation that either Johnny Estrada or Chris Snyder will be moved
in the off-season. "That's something we're going to evaluate at the end of
the year and whether or not we feel Montero is ready," Bob Melvin said.
"There's a lot of variables that play into it. I can't comment on it right
now. I don't know where it's going to go." Montero, 23, would get some
occasional starts and might be paired with certain pitchers for evaluation
purposes. His defense is adequate but he needs to prove he can hit major league
pitching. He batted a combined .286-17-75 in two minor league stops this year.
Grade C+
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
355 |
73 |
24 |
82 |
1 |
.349 |
.403 |
|
2005 |
AA |
108 |
13 |
2 |
13 |
1 |
.250 |
.311 |
Scott Moore, Chicago Cubs – Moore, 22, plays third base and some
first base and will get opportunities at both positions 1-2 times a week. The
left-handed hitter batted .276 with 28 doubles, 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 132
games with AA West Tenn. “He's a very intense young man,” Dusty Baker said. “He
loves to play and comes to play. He's been working out some at first base,
though he's mostly a third baseman. I think he has a bright future.” Grade C+
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
Low-A |
391 |
52 |
14 |
56 |
2 |
.223 |
.322 |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
466 |
77 |
20 |
82 |
22 |
.281 |
.358 |
Jae-Kuk Ryu, Chicago Cubs – Ryu, 23, went 8-8 with a 3.23 ERA in 139
innings for AAA Iowa. He has good stuff and could win a couple of games if he
maintains command, especially of his slider. All of Kuo's 32 major league
appearances have come in relief, but he changed roles at triple A six weeks ago
and pitched well in nine starts. "We feel good about his stuff,"
Grady Little said. "I think he'll be fine." Rebuilding teams should
take a flier. Grade B
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2004 |
AA |
1 |
0 |
18 |
19 |
2.95 |
1.78 |
|
2005 |
AA |
11 |
0 |
170 |
133 |
3.34 |
1.19 |
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
AA |
266 |
47 |
6 |
35 |
12 |
.278 |
.381 |
|
2005 |
AAA. |
236 |
42 |
6 |
26 |
5 |
.263 |
.349 |
Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco Giants – A top prospect, Sanchez
could join the rotation after his quality spot start this week (3-0 with a 1.42
ERA so far). He throws in the low-90s with a solid curve and change and good
command. He posted a 3.80 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings at AAA
Fresno this year. Grade B+ for the future.
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
5 |
0 |
126 |
166 |
4.08 |
1.28 |
~~ Week ending September 3 ~~
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Scott
Baker, Minnesota Twins – Baker, 24, was recalled to join the rotation. He
was 5-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 starts for AAA Rochester. He was 2-5 with a 6.06
ERA in nine starts for the Twins earlier this season. He is not overpowering
but has decent stuff and good commend. Grade B-
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2005 |
AAA |
5 |
0 |
135 |
107 |
3.01 |
1.11 |
|
2005 |
Mariners |
3 |
0 |
54 |
32 |
3.35 |
1.16 |
Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers – Buck Showalter said Cruz, 26, would play
more frequently to see if he can be a starter next year. "We traded for
him and brought him up here before the trade deadline because we believe in
him," Jon Daniels said. "We don't see him as a platoon player."
He’s a good defensive player and has improved his plate discipline so there is
a good chance he’ll succeed. He was hitting .302-20-73-17 with a .379 OBP for
AAA Nashville. He has power and speed and could be the starting right fielder
next year with a good spring. Grade B
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
AA |
248 |
45 |
16 |
54 |
10 |
.306 |
.388 |
|
2005 |
AAA |
208 |
33 |
11 |
27 |
9 |
.268 |
.382 |
Kevin Kouzmanoff, Cleveland Indians – Kouzmanoff, 25, had a great
year batting for .389-15-55 AA Akron and for .357-7-20 AAA Buffalo. He is a
legitimate line drive hitter and adequate defender. Rebuilding teams will want
to take a flier on him. Grade B
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
Low-A |
473 |
74 |
16 |
87 |
5 |
.330 |
.394 |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
254 |
47 |
12 |
58 |
3 |
.339 |
.401 |
Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays – Lind (.394-5-18-1) swings a lively bat
but plays poor defense and doesn’t have big time power. He was voted the MVP of
the Eastern League after batting .310-19-714 in 91 games. He is worth
grabbing because he should play a lot against right-handers from here on out.
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
Low-A |
266 |
43 |
7 |
50 |
1 |
.312 |
.371 |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
495 |
80 |
12 |
84 |
2 |
.313 |
.375 |
Hayden Penn, Baltimore Orioles – Penn, 21, is not overpowering but
mixes his pitches well and could have some success if he maintains his command.
He needed an emergency appendectomy right before he was to make his season
debut earlier this year which set him back a bit. He was 7-4 with a 2.27 ERA at
AAA Ottawa. Grade B-
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2005 |
AA |
7 |
0 |
110 |
120 |
3.83 |
1.25 |
|
2005 |
Orioles |
0 |
0 |
38 |
18 |
6.34 |
1.75 |
Ryan Sweeney, Chicago White Sox – The hard-nosed Sweeney has been
hitting leadoff for AAA Charlotte the last month or so, as well as playing both
left and center field, hitting .296 with 25 doubles, 13 home runs and 70 RBI in
118 games. He might have a chance next spring (or even this month) if the struggling
Scott Podsednik isn’t offered arbitration. “If Pods continues to struggle, I
might give him a day off mentally,” Ozzie Guillen said. He needs to hit for
more power to have fantasy value though. Grade B-
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
Class-A |
515 |
71 |
7 |
66 |
8 |
.283 |
.342 |
|
2005 |
AA |
429 |
64 |
1 |
47 |
6 |
.298 |
.357 |
Delmon Young, Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Young, 23, should play regularly the rest of the way.
He was suspended 50 games after throwing his bat at an umpire during an April
26 game, but has played well since his returning from his suspension in June.
Overall, he has posted .316-8-59 numbers. Grade A
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
AA |
330 |
59 |
20 |
71 |
25 |
.336 |
.386 |
|
2005 |
AAA |
228 |
33 |
6 |
28 |
7 |
.285 |
.303 |
NATIONAL
LEAGUE
Matt Capps, Pittsburgh Pirates – Capps, 23, will share the closer
duties (with Salomon Torres) and could go into next spring competing for the
job. He has a good low-90s fastball but his breaking stuff is just average
which is why he was switched to late relief. Grade B
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
3 |
14 |
54 |
39 |
2.52 |
0.97 |
|
2005 |
AA |
0 |
7 |
20 |
26 |
2.70 |
1.10 |
James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers – Loney, 22, will challenge for the
first base job next spring but he does not hit for power, which makes him a
marginal first base prospect. He has a nice swing though and could develop some
pop in the future. He hit .225 in 40 at bats in April for the Dodgers. He was
hitting .380-8-67-9 with a .426 OBP in 366 at-bats for AAA Las Vegas. Grade C+
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2004 |
AA |
395 |
39 |
4 |
35 |
5 |
.238 |
.314 |
|
2005 |
AA |
504 |
74 |
11 |
65 |
1 |
.284 |
.357 |
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies – Tulowitzki, 21, was recalled to
play shortstop the rest of the year. We like him as an offensive middle
infielder, especially at Coots Field, but his batting average could suffer a
little until he reduces his strikeouts. He hit .291 with 13 home runs and 61
RBIs in 104 games with AA Tulsa. Grade B+
|
|
|
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OBP |
|
2005 |
Class-A |
94 |
17 |
4 |
14 |
1 |
.266 |
.343 |
David Wells, San Diego Padres – The 43-year-old Wells, who battled
knee problems most of the season, is 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA. He has a 2.65 ERA in
his last five outings and always seems to rise to the occasion of big games.
Grade B
|
|
|
W |
S |
INN |
K |
ERA |
WHIP |
|
2004 |
Padres |
12 |
0 |
196 |
101 |
3.73 |
1.14 |
|
2005 |
Red
Sox |
15 |
0 |
184 |
107 |
4.45 |
1.31 |