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Andrew Miller, LHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K. He was a cheap risk to take, and now the Red Sox are on the verge of fixing a second North Carolina first-round pick whose career went south due to control problems, with Daniel Bard being the first. After walking 32 batters over 40.1 innings in his first nine games, he's given up just three walks over 25.1 in his last four, while giving up just 17 hits and striking out 26. His fastball has been in the 91-95 mph range, his slider has always been a quality pitch, and with the ability to opt out of his deal today if he's not in the big leagues, the Red Sox are now forced to decide if he's ready. [Late note: Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that Miller and his agent will meet with Red Sox brass with a plan of promoting him next week.]

Others Of Note:

  • Christian Bethancourt, C, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-4, K. Hitting .413 in 11 games and up to .300/.318/.435 in 51 games with outstanding defense.
  • Jesse Biddle, LHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K. Career-high strikeouts; 7.16 ERA in April but 3.02 since.
  • Kyle Blanks, 1B/OF, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R, BB, K. 8-for-12 in last three games and mixing in more outfield play now that Rizzo is at first base in the big leagues.
  • Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (6), 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Up to .299/.368/.498 in 55 games after home runs on back-to-back nights; just waiting for the July clearinghouse to begin.
  • Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-3, 2 HR (4), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Second game back since missing six weeks with a thumb injury; .211/.378/.474 in 16 games.
  • Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 2-for-4, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K. Fourth straight multi-hit game, .362 in June and .278/.322/.417 overall.
  • Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 2-for-3, HR (13), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Contact issues remain but power and patience are outstanding; .245/.350/.481 in 60 games.
  • Christian Colon, SS, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-3, 4 R, 2 BB. Picking things up with .327 June; still just .256/.333/.332 in 57 games.
  • Taylor Green, 3B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB. 23-for-43 (.535) during 12-game hitting streak and .318/.394/.575 overall; finally healthy and hitting at a time when Casey McGehee isn't.
  • Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB. As if he couldn't get hotter, he's now 20-for-35 in last seven games and .384/.445/.663 overall; not sure what we're learning from having him still in High-A.
  • Reese Havens, 2B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 2-for-5, HR (2), R, RBI, 2 K, SB. Oft-injured former first-rounder has been just so-so since return to Double-A; .259/.323/.448 in 15 games.
  • Drew Hutchinson, RHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 18 shutout innings over last three starts with 25 strikeouts; not monster stuff, but low-90s fastball, average changeup and very good slider.
  • Scott Kazmir, LHP, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 BB, K. 17.02 ERA in five starts while allowing 48 base runners in 15.1 innings.
  • Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 2-for-4, 2 3B, 2 R, RBI, K. 11-for-22 with 20 total bases in last five games and up to .296/.368/.505; in other words, get him up already.
  • Kyle Lotzkar, RHP, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Season-debut for oft-injured power righty.
  • Barret Loux, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K. 3.48 ERA in 13 games with 74-to-19 K/BB ratio in 67.1 innings.
  • Carlos Martinez, RHP, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. It's taken seven starts (or less) for him to be seen as having the best stuff in the league; 2.48 ERA in seven games with 43 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.
  • Francisco Martinez, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 3-for-5, RBI, K, CS. 20-year-old Venezuelan hit .179 in April but .344 in 32 games since; .286/.334/.448 overall and one of the better hitting prospects that nobody seems to know about.
  • Tommy Mendonca, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB, K. 14-for-23 in last five games and .322/.367/.572 on year; with 71 Ks in 236 at-bats, how can it be sustainable?
  • Mike Montgomery, LHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 8 K. Season-high in strikeouts but control problems persist.
  • Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 R, BB, K. OPS is up 68 points in two days; up to .282/.346/.410 in 31 games.
  • Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 9 K. Fastball has been outstanding while secondary pitches come and go; 2.60 ERA in 12 starts with 72 strikeouts in 62.1 innings.
  • Dave Sappelt, OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 5-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI. 11-for-25 in five games after missing a month with an oblique injury and .365/.426/.600 overall in 28 games; some scouts believe that fourth outfielder projections are too conservative.
  • Blake Smith, OF, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-for-3, HR (14), 2 R, 5 RBI, 3 BB, CS. Athletic outfielder combines power with a big arm and a propensity for strikeouts; .276/.345/.522 in 59 games.
  • Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R. Hitting .362 in June and .315/.385/.449 overall; lack of power (2 HR in 178 ABs) has been shocking.
  • Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Career-high in strikeouts; opposing batters 4-for-31 against him in last two starts.
  • Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. Stuff has been at its best in the last two starts; 92-98 mph fastball while sitting comfortably at 95, with both his curveball and changeup looking plus.
  • Eric Thames, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-3, 3B, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI. Hitting .323 since return to minors; .339/.409/.605 in 45 games.
  • Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-4, HR (8), 2 R, RBI, BB, K, SB (23). From hot to crazy hot; 10-for-17 with 18 total bases in last four games and .330/.434/.565 overall.

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fantasy
6/15
Has Andrew Miller shown an average or better third pitch?
leites
6/15
Related to DGBL's comment, what Miller's upside? Could he be a solid #3 starter for a good team?
kgoldstein
6/15
I think speculating on Miller's upside right now is a total dart throw. He's been good for a month.
Bodhizefa
6/15
And he hasn't even been as good as many seem to think either. He dominated a lefty-heavy line-up in Charlotte, so that pitching line looks a lot less impressive when you account for competition. I'd love to see him succeed as much as the next guy, but the odds seem stacked against him overall.
SaberTJ
6/15
KG,

With Phelps already called up, does that slow the call up of Kipnis at all? Or do the Indians plug Phelps into their current Adam Everett role but with more at bats?
kgoldstein
6/15
Great question, and one I've been trying to figure out. I think we might see Kipnis soon, but there's some chance they just punt it and save him for '12.
moehk21
6/15
Any thoughts on Jonathan Schoop? Dude's 19 years old and tearing it UP. Possible plus on the future power, can he stay at short, and can he give Machado a run for his money as the Baltimore SS of the future?
cjmart29
6/15
Everything I've read suggests that Schoop's future is at 3B
kgoldstein
6/15
Yes, Schoop is a 3B or 2B in the end, just not good enough for short, but few are. We're not even sure Machado will stay there.
bloodface
6/15
kgoldstein
6/15
1-for-4 w/ 2 Ks. Gotta have a good day to make the list!
jhardman
6/15
Is Travis Snider showing the hitting style that the Jays sent him to Triple-A for? Regardless of the lack of power, is he making the adjustments they wanted?
leites
6/15
"The last five games or so, he's opened up his stance a little more than in the past and we're seeing him drive the ball," general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "That's the most exciting thing. The home run he hit five games ago, he hit it over the batter's eye in center field. He's been driving the ball with authority to left-center." http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2011/06/14/18284286.html
pobothecat
6/15
My thought exactly. Recall A.A. comments, early after demotion, to the effect, "we don't care about his numbers in AAA, we want to see him keeping bat and hands inside the ball."
pobothecat
6/15
And a question for those who follow Toronto more closely than I --- is the thinking that Snider, if/when he returns, moves to LF, Patterson to RF and Bautista to 3B? Or Snider to LF/DH, Patterson to 4th-OF/DH and Lawrie should be ready by then?
rawagman
6/15
Hasn't really been discussed, but the first order of business would probably be deciding who gets cut. Many fingers are pointing at Edwin Encarnacion. If that is the case, Patterson, Rivera and Snider would probably share LF/DH, with Rivera getting a few starts at 1B when Lind needs a rest. Another option is Juan Rivera getting the short straw. Same would apply, with Encarnacion playing some 3B as well as 1B on occasion. Patterson is not seen as a keeper.
pobothecat
6/16
Thanks R.A.
dsher84
6/15
Francisco Martinez is really rolling the last two months. Does he have the defensive chops to stay at 3B? Seems like those chops don't even have to be all that good since his MLB club is willing to play Raburn at 2B.
kgoldstein
6/15
He's that always difficult to assess combination where the TOOLS are there for him to be a good 3B, but he's not.
Peter7899
6/15
Question on Zach Rosscup, the guy the Cubs got as a throw-in in the Garza trade, as his numbers look pretty solid at Daytona. I keep dreaming that this parallels getting Chris Archer in the DeRosa trade. Any chance my dreams become a reality?
timber
6/15
Heard some noises that Biddle was maxing out at 85 last night. Any truth to that?
marjinwalker
6/15
Welcome back to prostectdom, Carlos Triunfel?
marjinwalker
6/15
erm, prospectdom. A perfectly cromulent word.

And how soon until you think we see Carter and Green embiggening their respective teams' lineups?
zasxcdfv
6/15
This post embiggens me.
MFBabyFeets
6/15
A noble spirit embiggens any prospect.
kgoldstein
6/15
And with all of that, I'm still not a Triunfel fan.
pobothecat
6/15
That was embelittling.
hmamis
6/15

Dear Kevin

Could you give your opinion on JOSE ALTUVE 2B in the Houston organization in a future article.?

Harry
kgoldstein
6/15
Big writeup in Monday's ten pack.
mattseward
6/15
The irony in Harry's post is the ALL CAPS are probably bigger than Altuve himself....
blcartwright
6/16
Or that this seemed to be the first time in a week or so that Kevin didn't say something about Altuve.
delatopia
6/16
I thought Harry was being sarcastic at first.
LynchMob
6/16
re: Gyorko ... I think we're learning that the Padres value having him play in the All-Star game, perhaps? Is there any/much value to that? I guess we're also learning that the Padres feel they can be patient with their promotions.

re: "Red Sox are on the verge of fixing" another pitching prospect with control problems ... wonder if they'll take a shot at the recently DFA'd Aaron Poreda?
dwachtell
6/16
Or Kazmir.
ColonelTom
6/16
What are the scouts saying about Taylor Green? I don't remember him being on any of the top-prospect lists for Milwaukee last winter, but I know he had wrist surgery a couple of years back and fell down the charts. It's hard to ignore those AAA numbers from a lefty-swinging 3B.
terryspen
6/16
Miller showed streaks of brilliance with the Marlins where he would just shutdown the opposition -- and then after two or three of those starts he would go back to walking the park. If I were a Red Sox fan, I wouldn't get my hopes up.