SPIBL - Prospects Update, NL

Prospects Update, NL West

last updated 20 June 05

Anaheim – Hermida and Utley added to an already plentiful talent pool here.

Ezequiel Astacio – Sent back down to AAA where his WHIP is 0.87. September call-up to try again.
Matt Cain – 69 IP, 54 hits, 81 SO are awesome but 40 BB isn’t. Once control is taken care of it’s all over.
Dan Haren – After losing 7 in a row he has won 4 straight. Lowered WHIP to 1.30.
Jeremy Hermida- 1.000 OPS at AA. Possible call-up in September.
Ryan Howard – 1.197 OPS and hitting .370 at AAA. Phillies should trade him so he can play.
Kendry Morales – Finally arrives and tears up A-ball and is now at AA.
Carlos Quentin – Has cooled off to a .930 OPS. Only 28 SO in 250 plate appearances.
Chris Snyder – Beats out Koyie Hill for the starting job in Arizona.
Chase Utley- .934 OPS and not platooning anymore… The next Jeff Kent.
Willy Taveras – Having a solid rookie year. Hitting 283 and 5^th in SB in NL.

Colorado – Loss of Jeff Mathis in trade nearly depletes the minors.

Jason Arnold – 1.05 WHIP in 25 IP.
Adam Loewen – Good H / IP ratio but just way to many BB here: 50 BB / 69 IP.

Minnesota – It's all about Kazmir here.

Josh Barfield – A .717 OPS at AAA. Underachieving here slightly.
Blake Hawksworth – Status unknown…. Usually not good when you don’t show up anywhere.
Scott Kazmir – Strikeouts and walks. If he reduces control problems, watch out.
Jason Kubel – Injured.
Jeff Mathis - Performing well at AAA but how to leapfrog the Molinas is the question.
Dioner Navarro – After slow start at AAA is hitting well now.
Chris Nelson – A slow start a low A-ball for highly touted prospect.

Seattle – Justin Upton about to embark on his Pro career.

Homer Bailey – Young guy at A-ball. Having an okay start.
Victor Diaz - Was performing well with the Mets and got sent down… but is back up again.
Zach Duke – 11-3 record in AAA. Pull him up.
Gavin Floyd – Up and down… following Brett Myers career path?
Jesse Foppert – Gets the call up to the bigs… way to go.
Joe Mauer – Every team wishes they had him.
Adam Miller – Injured.
Jeremy Reed – Has picked it up a little as of late, a steady .700 OPS.
Chris Shelton- Called up to replace Pena at 1B and is bangin’.
Justin Upton – #1 pick in the draft.
Merkin Valdez – Going real well at AA ball.
Delmon Young – Will Seattle pull him up in September?

Prospects Update, NL Central

last updated 20 June 05

Detroit – Marte getting his chance.

Yhency Brazoban – Taking over for the injured Gagne. Performing well.
Trey Hodges – Ineffective in the minors. Looking like a bust.
Andy Marte – Gets the call to the show with Chipper’s injury.
Calvin Pickering – Struggling mightily at AAA. Not very encouraging.
Jon Rauch – Put on the IR May 27 with a torn labrum. A bad break as he was pitching well.

Kansas City – The signing of Drew just adds to the stable of talent.

Matt Anderson – Called up to the show. Not going very well in Colorado.
Michael Aubrey – .808 OPS at AA. On target to reach the majors in 2 years. A good pick.
Erik Bedard – 1.04 WHIP but injured. Out for 2 more months. A tough break..
Jorge Cantu – .812 OPS with some pop. Hitting .310 while splitting time at 2B and 3B.
Stephen Drew – Signed, sealed and delivered finally. Tearing it up right now.
Prince Fielder – 21 year old gets the call-up for the AL swing to DH. Expect him to be sent back down though.
Jeff Francis – The numbers aren’t there but he is a star in the making.
Phil Humber – 1-5 in the minors right now. Struggling a little.
Brandon League – They have him starting again in the minors. Giving up lots of base runners.
Dallas McPherson – Slowly starting to hit with the big club. Flexing his power.
Jhonny Peralta – Having a solid year with the bat at 23 years of age. Glove has been just okay.
Grady Sizemore – Just lacing RHP. Won’t see him shuffled down to the minors anymore.

St. Louis – Crain and Young have been very impressive.

Jesse Crain – MLB can’t touch him yet. Has been automatic.
Jeff Francoeur – .770 OPS. Sure doesn’t walk very much though. Power is there.
Zack Greinke – Has been touched up a little this year. Stuck on a crappy KC team.
Justin Huber – He has been huberman down in the minors.
MaCay McBride – Has been solid after promotion to AAA.
Duaner Sanchez – Rock solid for the Dodgers.
Chris Snelling – Still crushing the ball. Should get a call-up this year.
David Wright – Just a stud. That’s all.
Chris Young – A Rookie Of The Year candidate in the AL.

Toronto – Just a ridiculous amount of young talent. Cordero and Street are stud closers.

Prospects Update, NL East

last updated 20 June 05

Atlanta – McCann’s quick call-up could be permanent.

Jose Capellan – 1.50 WHIP in 14 games. Still developing.
Joel Hanrahan – 1.47 WHIP at AA with good K / IP ratio.
John Mayberry, Jr.- Ready to start his pro career after successful college career.
Brian McCann – 21 year old gets the call to the show and is performing well.
Clint Nageotte- Injured.

Baltimore – A potential All-Star IF in 5-6 years with an Ace to go with it.

Brandon Claussen – Has lowered WHIP to1.53. Starting to settle down and perform.
Joel Guzman – .882 OPS at AA. One of top prospects in the minors.
Felix Hernandez – Only given up 54 hits in 73 IP but 40 BB. Once control is taken care of he’ll be the man.
Casey Kotchmann – Angels pulled him up and then didn’t play him. What’s their plans here?
Dustin McGowan – Recovering from arm surgery. Inconclusive pick.
Freddy Sanchez – Has been playing well in utility role. Hitting .282.
Ian Stewart- Highly touted prospect off to a slow start but showing raw power.
B.J.- .800 OPS at AAA. Expect the call-up again this year.
Ryan Wagner – Has seen his WHIP go up lately but has only given up 1 HR in 34 IP.
Rickie Weeks – Brewers give him the starting job and he’s fulfilling expectations.

Florida – Petit could be the best guy here. A few years away.

Jason Bartlett- Sent back down to the minors, but will be back.
Joey Gathright – A nice .407 OBP at AAA.
Edgar Gonzalez – Pulled him up for one game and he got hammered. Let the 22 year old develop before you ruin him.
Yusmeiro Petit – 1.00 WHIP at AA still. Going well.
Mark Teahen – Hitting RHP well, but struggling versus lefties.
Kevin Tolar – Has rebounded nicely and is pitching well at AAA; 1.37 WHIP.

Philadelphia – It’s all Barmes and DeJesus here.

-- Written by Todd Melton (05/18/05; updated 06/20/05)