Joe Cruz, RHP, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K.
A pure power righty who seems to gets lost in the shuffle as part of a loaded Rays system, Cruz has arguably been as good as an arm in the system of late, putting up a 1.49 ERA in 14 second-half starts with 81 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 84.2 innings. Six-foot-four and all arms and legs, Cruz touches the mid-90s with his fastball while showing much improved command and secondary offerings this year, and deserves far more attention than he's getting.
Cord Phelps, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-4.
Almost forgotten about due to the explosion of Jason Kipnis, Phelps has had a breakout season of his own, batting at least .300 in every month since his promotion to Triple-A with an overall line of .326/.397/.519. A third-round pick in 2008 out of Stanford, Phelps doesn't impress with his athleticism, but he's a sound hitter from both sides of the plate with gap power, and while he's not especially rangy, his defensive fundamentals are sound. Just because of his level, he'll likely get a big league shot before Kipnis, but will likely move to a valuable bench role once the former is deemed ready.
Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 2-for-4, HR (35), 2 R, 3 RBI.
With five home runs in his last four games, Trumbo is now tied for the minor league lead and batting .302/.369/.581 overall. While a friendly home park certainly helps, Trumbo's power is legitimate, and while he should have gotten a look this year when Kendry Morales went down, it's hard to find a big league role for him in 2011.
Others Of Note:
- Alexi Amarista, 2B, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R RBI, SB, CS. Tiny hit machine is 19-for-44 (.432) in ten Triple-A games.
- Lars Anderson, 1B, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, HR (10), R, RBI, K. Ending the year on a hot streak; 20-for-50 (.400) in last 13 games and .265/.345/.434 overall.
- Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-for-4, HR (12), R, 2 RBI. One of the better pure hitters in the system; batting .374 in last 30 games and .299/.329/.519 overall.
- Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 K. Hits wherever you put him; 7-for-12 with 15 total bases in last three games.
- Bobby Borchering, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 3-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K. '09 first-rounder continues late-season surge; more patient approach has led to results.
- Aaron Crow, RHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 K. Easily best start of the year; the good news is that scouts have seen his issues as command-based, as the stuff is as expected.
- Rashun Dixon, OF, Athletics (Low-A Kane County): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K. 43-for-119 (.361) in last 30 games; ultra-toolsy outfielder could be primed for '11 breakout.
- Brandon Guyer, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 3-for-5, 2B. Arguably the hottest hitter in the minor leagues; batting .431 (81-for-188) in last 50 games.
- Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greeneville): 1-for-3, HR (12), R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, CS. 2009 fourth-round pick is getting attention from scouts for his power/speed combination; .270/.363/.467 with 60 stolen bases.
- Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 3-for-4, BB, K. Interesting that season is seen as a disappointment, yet he's hitting .280/.398/.420.
- Brett Lawrie, 2B, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI. Power has disappeared in second half; just two home runs in last 55 games.
- Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, SB. Hitting .366 in last 30 games and .328/.403/.446 overall; gets a mulligan this year for lack of power due to hand injury.
- Trevor May, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K. 92 whiffs in 65 innings since moving down to Low-A, but more importantly, the control is back.
- Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/WB): 3-for-4, HR (19), R, 2 RBI. .355/.405/.671 line since the All-Star break with 12 home runs in 152 at-bats; leads International League in passed balls while throwing out just 23% of opposing base stealers.
- Brent Morel, 3B/SS, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 2-for-4, R, RBI. 23-for-63 (.365) in last 16 games with a .714 slugging percentage; called up to the big leagues this morning.
- Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 1-for-4, HR (14), R, RBI. Keeps pace with Trumbo for minor league lead; seven home runs in last seven games.
- Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Rookie-level Casper): 2-for-4, 2B, 2R; 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, K. 19-year-old Venezuelan has been among Pioneer League's best thanks to plus speed and lightening bat; 14-for-28 in last six games and .364/.413/.519 on the season.
- Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-5, R, RBI, CS. .355/.390/.502 line since All-Star break; leadoff man profile hindered by just 18 walks in 117 games and 22 caught stealing in 60 attempts.
- Ben Revere, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 3-for-4, 3B, 2 R, BB, SB. Missed three weeks after getting hit in the face by a pitch; 9-for-26 (.346) since return.
- Kyle Russell, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 4-for-5, 2 HR (10), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Rebounding well from miserable Double-A start; hitting .333 since August 1st with seven home runs in 108 at-bats.
- Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A A Oklahoma City): 1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Something has gone horribly wrong here; three straight really bad starts.
- Marquez Smith, 3B, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 2-for-5, HR (17), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB. Excellent sleeper has 13 home runs in last 25 games; good defensive skills help his chances.
- Sammy Solis, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Pro debut for 51st overall pick; massive lefty with solid stuff, better command.
- Cody Stanley, C, Cardinals (Rookie-level Johnson City): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. Fourth-round pick starts the playoffs with a bang; hit .321/.380/.498 during regular season.
- Mike Trout, OF, Angels (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 2-for-4, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K. Not as crazy hot as Midwest League stint; .296/.376/.419 line in Cal League as teenager is still mighty impressive.
- Edinson Volquez, RHP, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 9 K. Not that the Reds need it at this point, but more help is on the way.
- Christian Yellich, 1B/DH, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 2-for-3. Full-season debut for 18-year-old first-round pick, went 9-for-24 (.375) in Gulf Coast League.
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Side note, RiverAveBlues.com reported earlier this week (not sure if it was quoting someone else or their own report) that Montero was seen in the OF before the game taking pop-ups. Makes you wonder...
SWB_Catcher 2010_SWB_CS% CareermL% CareerMLB%
Moeller 10% 24% 24%
R. Rivera 21% 39% 37%
Montero 23% 23% N/A
This season at AA Trenton, Rivera is throwing out 55% of would be base stealers (in a similarly small sample.) Last year in Trenton, Montero CS% was 32. Seeing as every catcher on the SWB roster has seen their CS% drastically reduced, what does it tell us about Montero?
Now, I'm not saying Montero is even a passable C. But I don't see how his CS% can be used as proof that he isn't.
It wouldn't surprise me if he's on the team next year DHing most of the time and getting spotted at catcher against bad running teams or when a pitcher who's good at controlling the running game is on the mound and Posada needs a day off. But I don't think there's anyway he becomes an every-day catcher.
He's leading the international league in PB, I'd bet he also leads the league in WP not caught (Kevin?). And of course that's catching guys with half the stuff as big leaguers.
Even if the Yankees were to accept that every runner on first had a free pass to second, that's less of a problem than seeing a ball hit the backstop every inning.
Yes, he's leading the IL in passed balls, but that means he's given up 15 of them all season, which is about one every 7 games. In his career, he's average one PB every 6 games. Is that something you live with on occasion to keep his bat in the lineup when you're not worried that the other team will run wild and Posada needs a day to DH? Maybe. (And in this scenario, the Yankees are keeping Cervelli to sub for Posada when he needs rest a good running team is up, so Montero can be subbed for a defensive replacement if they have the lead.)
Further, SWB pitchers have given up 64 WPs this year, although baseball-reference doesn't break that down based on who's catching. That seems like a lot, but Trenton pitchers, throwing to the supposedly better Romine, and Yankee pitchers have given up 54. So it doesn't seem like WPs are a huge problem in comparison.
Cole Nelson (7 IP), Bruce Rondon (2 IP), Matt Little (2 IP), and Wil Ramirez (2.1 IP before yielding a single) took a no-hitter into the 14th inning. Their club finally pulled out a 2-1 in the 17th w/a 2-run rally.
Cole Nelson is a 6'7" lefty from Auburn....he's done well since being drafted this June.
Maybe Cole Nelson will evolve into something down the road for the Tigers.