Hitting a wall

Mark Rogers, RHP, Brewers (AFL: Peoria Javelinas)
Yesterday's stats: 0.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Rogers was such a nice story this year. After missing all of 2007 and 2008 with a variety of shoulder problems and surgeries, he pitched every five days in short stints for High-A Brevard County, putting up a 1.67 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning. Even more promising was that the fifth overall pick in the 2004 draft was getting up to the mid-90s with his fastball. While he pitched just 64 2/3 innings, he stayed healthy, and one wondered what he could do once the reigns were loosened a bit. The Arizona Fall League has been a disaster however, as Rogers now sports a 17.61 ERA in six appearances, and even more concerning is the fact that he's clearly tired, sitting at just 90-92 mph while his control has abandoned him. If 70 innings is too much for his ravaged arm, that's not a good thing.

Rolling into 2010

Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers (VEN: Lara)
Yesterday's stats: 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB

After batting .304/.333/.368 during the final six weeks of the regular season in the big leagues, Escobar seems lined up to assume everyday shortstop duties for the Brewers in 2010, and he's still hitting back home in Venezuela. Of course, nearly any kind of offense from him is gravy, as his defense is so spectacular, but the real story here might end up being what the Brewers end up doing . . . or getting for J.J. Hardy.

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Jack of all trades

Marcus Lemon, IF/OF, Rangers (AFL: Surprise)
Yesterday's stats:4-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI

Marcus Lemon isn't going to make anyone's prospect list, nor should he, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a future. After splitting time between second base and shortstop at Double-A Frisco during the regular season, Lemon is now adding center field to his resume in Arizona, while batting .313/.371/.469 in 10 games. As a left-handed batter with a good approach, gifted with the kind of fundamentals one expects from the son of big leaguer, and theoretically possessing the ability to play five positions, he'll get there.

He reminds me of someone, and not necessarily in a good way

Wilkin Ramirez, OF, Tigers (DOM: Licey)
Yesterday's stats: 2-for-4, RBI

Ramirez is a difficult player to evaluate. Always one of the toolsier players in Detroit system, he's made significant progress in translating those tools to skills. In the last two years, he's slugged 36 home runs and stolen 60 bases, but there's still the hack-tastic approach keeping him back. The Tigers don't really have a spot for him and, if anything, he's reminiscent of another toolsy Dominican who once roamed the Detroit outfield: Juan Encarnacion.

An opportunity to rant

Chris Marrero, 1B, Nationals (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: 2-for-6

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Sonic boom

Stephen Strasburg, RHP, Nationals (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

On Monday afternoon, Strasburg hit 99 mph on the radar gun 18 times, 100 mph seven times, and tossed in a single 101 mph fastball for good measure. He needed just 68 pitches to get through his five innings, 43 of them for strikes. All the panic from his one bad start is pretty much gone, with one scout in Arizona saying that he's the best pitcher he's ever seen in a league he's been scouting for over a decade.

Hey, this guy is good too

Drew Storen, RHP, Nationals (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

I feel like I should issue a mea culpa here, as I wrote many times coming into the draft that Storen's ceiling was more of as a set-up man than a closer. Since then, his stuff has kept improving, as the 93-95 mph fastball he was showing at Stanford earlier in the year is now sitting at 96-97, while his upper-80s slider remains a wipeout pitch. For a player with the classic power/power arsenal, his command and control is downright outstanding. Upgrade granted.

Sleeper Alert!

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Dodgers (AFL: Peoria Javelinas)
Yesterday's stats: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

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