Minor League Beat

The Rule 5 Draft is coming up on December 6 at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, and clubs until Tuesday night to add eligible minor leaguers to their 40-man roster in order to protect them. All minor leaguers with four years years with one club are eligible to be selected by another team if they weren’t added to the 40-man roster. The one exception deals with players who signed with ballclubs at the age of 18-and-younger, they are granted an additional fifth year until they’re Rule 5-eligible.

Atlanta Braves: Minor league pitchers Jairo Cuevas, Charlie Morton and Zach Schreiber were added to the 40-man roster. Big league utility man Pete Orr was designated for assignment to make room. Cuevas, who turns 24 in January, went 6-12 with a 3.55 earned run average in 25 starts for the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League. The 6-foot-2, 217 pound Dominican limited opponents to a .225 batting average and fanned 116 batters in 132 innings of work. He struggled with his command by allowing 71 free passes. Morton posted a 4-6 record with a 4.29 earned run average in 41 appearances with the Double-A Mississippi Braves of the Southern League. Moved to a starter’s role in the Arizona Fall League, the right hander flourished going 4-1 with 2.57 earned run average in six outings that spanned 21 innings. The 2002 third round pick struck out 20 batters and held batters to a .205 clip. Schreiber split 2007 with Triple-A Richmond and Mississippi and logged a 2.31 earned run average in 78 relief innings between the two stops.

Boston Red Sox: The World Series champions placed first baseman Chris Carter and shortstop Argenis Diaz on the 40-man roster. Carter has mashed at every level of baseball but was held back in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization because of his defensive woes at first. The Stanford alumnus hit .324/.383/.521 with 18 home runs and 84 RBI for Triple-A Tucson before being dealt to the Washington Nationals in August. The Nationals turned around and shipped him to Boston as the PTBNL for outfielder Wily Mo Pena. The left-handed Carter is currently batting .354 with three dingers and 23 RBI in 127 at-bats with the La Guiara Tiburones of the Venezuelan Winter League. Diaz batted .279/.342/.380 with two home runs and 40 RBI with the low Single-A Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League in 2007. The Veneuzelan drew the attention of the Red Sox brass after hitting .358 in 32 games with the Honolulu Sharks in Hawai’i Winter Baseball this offseason.

Chicago White Sox: Catcher Cole Armstrong and hurlers Jack Egbert, Lucas Harrell and Adam Russell are the latest additions to the Pale Hose 40-man roster. Armstrong surfaced as a prospect after hitting .288/.342/.474 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI for the high Single-A Winston-Salem Warthogs of the Carolina League. The Canadian backstop slumped after a promotion to Double-A Birmingham, where he hit .239 with one round-tripper over 71 at-bats. A changeup artist, Egbert went 12-8 with a 3.06 earned run average for the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League in 2007. His command was so precise he struck out 165 batters in 161 and 2/3 innings, despite having a fastball that barely tops out in the mid-to-high 80s on the radar gun. The former Rutgers star carried his success over to the Arizona Fall League where he recorded a 3.26 earned run average in six starts for the circuit champion Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Harrell utlized his sinkerball/changeup combination to put up a 7-2 record and a 2.45 earned run average over 17 starts with Birmingham. The 22-year-old right hander got rocked in three starts with Triple-A Charlotte as evidenced by his 10.24 earned run average. Russell, the hardest thrower of the three who flings a mid-90s four-seamer, had a rough-go with the Barons registering a 9-11 record with a 4.80 earned run average. The 6-foot-8, 250 pound right hander gained some confidence in the Arizona Fall League, going 2-0 with a 2.81 earned run average and 16 punchouts in 16 frames of relief. He was the sixth round pick of the White Sox in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of Ohio.

CHRIS CARTER Minor League Beat Photo

Cincinnati Reds: Their roster additions included infielder Paul Janish, catcher Craig Tatum and pitchers Richie Gardner, Tyler Pelland, Ramon Ramirez and Darryl Thompson. Janish, a member of the 2003 Rice national championship squad, had a rough year hitting .235 with four home runs and 39 RBI in 523 at-bats between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. He probably won’t hit his way to Great America Ballpark, but his solid glove could land him a utlity role. Tatum caught fire with the Single-A Sarasota Reds as he batted .320/.348/.525 with 10 dingers and 39 RBI through 59 games in the Florida State League. He didn’t fare so well in the Southern League, slumping to .231 with two dingers in 173 at-bats with Chattanooga. The former Mississippi State Bulldog was assigned to the AFL where he hit .255 with one homer in 47 at-bats with the Surprise Rafters.

Gardner was brilliant at start of the 2007 season, going 5-1 with a 1.65 earned run average with Sarasota and 2-1 with a 1.82 earned run average with Chattanooga. He got tattooed in the International League, recording a 4-5 record with a 5.71 earned run average in 13 starts. Opponents hit .318 off the 6-foot-2, 201 pound right hander. Pelland is a southpaw with plus-stuff who was acquired by the Reds in 2003 as the PTBNL from the Red Sox in the Scott Williamson trade. He demonstrated a future as a long-term LOGGY after a respectable performance between Louisville (3.04 ERA, 27 K in 23.2 IP) and Chattanooga (3.95 ERA, 71 K in 66 IP). The Reds sent him on a paid vacation to Arizona where he sported a 1.08 earned run average in eight and 1/3 innings for the Rafters.

Ramirez is getting torched in winter ball in his native Venezuela (8.10 ERA, .429 BAA in three starts). The 5-foot-10, 172 pound right hander went 11-3 with a 3.70 earned run average between Sarasota, Chattanooga and Louisville during the 2007 campaign. He fanned 137 batters in 119 and 1/3 innings. Thompson was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the eight round of the 2003 Draft and was shipped to the Reds in the 2006 deal that sent Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to Washington. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound right hander bounced back from a torn labrum to post a 14-5 record, 3.18 earned run average and 121 strikeouts in 133 innings between low Single-A Dayton and Sarasota.

CRAIG TATUM Minor League Beat Photo

By Chris Hadorn

Several sources are reporting the Pittsburgh Pirates will name John Russell as their new manager. Russell served as the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A manager the last two seasons. The Ottawa Lynx had a 55-88 record under his command in 2007. The former big league catcher had been managing the Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League this offseason.

The Pirates will be counting on a guy with extensive experience in player development to turnaround a ballclub that is loaded with younger players. Pittsburgh has seen quite a bit of turnover this year at the top of their organization. Kevin McClatchy relinquished majority control of the team and stepped down as the club’s CEO this season to take on a reduced role in ownership. The Pirates fired general manager David Littlefield and replaced him with Neal Huntington in late September. The hiring of Russell to replace Jim Tracy is Huntington’s first prominent move as the Bucs GM.

The 46-year-old Russell played 10 seasons in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers in a career that spand from 1984-1993. His best season was in 1986 when he hit .241 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI for Philadelphia in 315 at-bats. He returns to the Steel City after being Pittsburgh’s third-base coach from 2003-05. Some of his accolades as skipper include being named International League Manager of the Year in 2006 after leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the Northern Division title, and helping the Edmonton Trappers to the Pacific Coast League championship in 2002. He began his managerial career in the Minnesota Twins organization where he was skipper for rookie ball Elizabethtown, high Single-A Ft. Myers and Double-A New Britain from 1995-2000.

• The Boston Red Sox acquired outfielder Sean Danielson from the St. Louis Cardinals to finish the deal that sent Joel Pineiro to the Redbirds on July 31. The 25-year-old Danielson hit .291/.370/.384 with four home runs and 34 RBI in 320 at-bats for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals of the Texas League in 2007. The 5-foot-8, 165 pound switch-hitter stole 14 bases in 19 tries. The Texas-San Antonio alumnus profiles as a fifth outfielder and will have a difficult time getting to Fenway Park.

• After declining options on outfielder Cliff Floyd and pitcher Steve Trachsel, the Chicago Cubs placed minor league pitcher Adam Harben on the 40-man roster. Harben had missed a good chunk of the 2007 season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 6-foot-5, 210 pound right hander was 0-1 with a 1.80 earned run average in three appearances for the rookie Cubs of the Arizona League in 2007. In six innings, Harben allowed one run, two hits, four walks and struck out six. The 24-year-old was acquired by the Cubs in September 2006 from the Minnesota Twins as the “player-to-be-named-later” in the Phil Nevin trade. In his last full season of duty, Harben went 4-9 with a 3.96 earned run average in 122 and 2/3 innings for Double-A New Britain of the Eastern League in 2006. He struggled with his command that year, striking out 76 batters while walking 67. The Arkansas native hurls a fastball with heavy sinking action, but he’s had trouble in the past with the consistency of his breaking pitches-which includes a slider, changeup and curveball.

Winter League Recap

• Arizona Fall League

Phoenix Desert Dogs 12, Peoria Javelinas 5
BOX SCORE

WP: David Haehnel (BAL) 2-2
LP: Joe Woerman (SEA) 1-1
HR: Jeff Baisley (OAK) 3rd

Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Desert Dogs scored six runs off Javelinas starter Joe Woerman and would hold onto the lead in a 12-5 rout. The inning was highlighted by Jeff Fiorentino’s two out, two RBI single on a grounder to center with bases loaded. The hit scored Ryan Sweeney and Jeff Baisley. Baisley reached base on a missed catch error by Javelinas second baseman Corey Wimberly on a force attempt at second. Chicago White Sox second baseman Chris Getz got the other big hit of the inning when he singled to center scoring Donny Lucy and Blake Davis.

Phoenix added three more runs in the fifth thanks to Davis’ two RBI, line-drive single to left that brought home Andrew McCutchen and Fiorentino. Alex Morales, of the Washington Nationals, got himself into trouble by walking three and surrendered all three runs in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Baisley smashed a two-run, dinger on a fly to left off Steven White to cap the Desert Dogs’ 12 run offensive. The Phoenix third baseman was 1-for-4 on the day with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Baisley had a rough year at Double-A Midland in 2007, hitting .257/.308/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI for the Oakland Athletics affiliate. This was after the former South Florida Bull hit .298 with 22 round-trippers and 110 RBI for Kane County of the Midwest League in 2006.

Justin Maxwell went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored for the Javelinas in a losing effort. His teammate Juan Miranda was 1-for-2 at the plate with a double, a walk, scored two runs and knocked in a run.

JUAN MIRANDA  Minor League Beat Photo

Scottsdale Scorpions 7, Mesa Solar Sox 1
BOX SCORE

WP: Nick Pereira (SF) 2-1
LP: Jose Vaquedano (BOS) 0-1
HR: Sam Fuld (CHC) 3rd

Despite allowing nine baserunners to reach base, Scottsdale starter Nick Pereira battled hard to keep them from scoring and earned his second win of the season. The San Francisco Giants right hander went four innings, allowed three hits, gave up three free passes and struck out four. The only run he allowed was a solo home run to Sam Fuld in the top of the fourth. Pereira was 9-9 with a 3.39 earned run average and struck out 123 batters in 143 and 1/3 innings for the Connecticut Defenders in 2007. The Giants didn’t go far to find him as the 6-foot, 190 pounder played collegiately at the University of San Francisco. Max Scherzer, the 2006 first round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, took over for Pereira and tossed two shutout innings. He allowed one hit, one walk and fanned one batter. Scottsdale relievers Ricky Romero, Calvin Medlock and Brian Anderson all pitched one scoreless successively to finish the game.

Third baseman Steve Sollmann was the offensive star for the Scorpions, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Aaron Cunningham also had three hits with two RBI and Travis Snider was 3-for-5 with a double.

TRAVIS SNIDER  Minor League Beat Photo

Surprise Rafters 6, Peoria Saguaros 5
BOX SCORE

WP: Scott Feldman (TEX) 1-1
LP: Zachary Hammes (LAD) 0-1
SV: Tyler Pelland (CIN) 1st
HR: Jeff Larish (DET) 1st

Brad Snyder went 2-for-5 with three RBI to help the Rafters edge the Saguaros 6-5. Snyder singled to right off Justin Orenduff to score Elvis Andrus in the of top fifth. The Cleveland Indians right fielder added another two runs with a line-drive single to left in the top sixth that scored Craig Tatum and Andrus again. Zachary Hammes entered the sixth with a 4-3 lead, but got the loss after surrendering three runs to the Rafters on two hits and two walks. Andrus had a good day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Kansas City Royals center fielder Jose Duarte was 2-for-3 with a base-on-balls, an RBI and scored two runs. The 22-year-old is batting .185 in AFL action after batting .290 and stealing 34 bases in 47 tries for high Single-A Wilmington of the Carolina League in 2007.

Adam Miller got the start for Surprise and had a rough outing, giving up four earned runs on six hits in four innings. Miller served up a two-run home run to the Saguaros Jeff Larish with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. The Cleveland Indians right hander has been projected to be a top-of-the-rotation starter for years, but has been setback by injuries. This year he was shelved during the middle of a brilliant season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons due to an elbow strain. A strain in the same elbow ligament cost Miller significant time in 2005 during a time when many considered him the second best pitching prospect in the minors to Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners. The Indians have sent him to the AFL to make up for lost time since Miller only logged 65 and 1/3 innings during the regular season. Reportedly he’s having trouble hitting 90 miles per hour with his fastball on the radar gun.

JEFF LARISH  Minor League Beat Photo

• Hawai’i Winter Baseball

North Shore Honu 8, Waikiki BeachBoys 7
BOX SCORE

WP: Shinya Nakayama (Orix Buffaloes) 5-1
LP: David Patton (COL) 0-1
SV: Omar Aguilar (MIL) 1st
HR: Mat Gamel (MIL) 7th, Michael Wilson (SEA) 5th

Shintaro Yoshida scored from third on a two-out, wild pitch from Waikiki reliever David Patton in the top of the ninth to give the Honu an 8-7 win. Patton hurled the wild pitch on a ball four to Stephen Chatman with two runners on. The Honu clinched the HWB West Division title with the victory.

Yoshida led off the inning with a single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by North Shore left fielder Michael Griffin. Patton followed with an intentional walk to third baseman Mat Gamel, who blasted his seventh home run to right in the top of the fifth. Patton got the next batter Jonathan Lucroy to induce into a ground-out, but Waikiki was unable to turn two, advancing the runners to second and third. Patton blew the game by throwing an errant pitch on a walk to Chatman. Milwaukee Brewers reliever Omar Aguilar pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save. Waikiki’s Michael Wilson went 1-for-4, but made the most of his one hit by connecting on a three-run dinger to center field during the fifth inning, which effectively tied the game at 5-5.

Honolulu Sharks 9, West Oahu CaneFires 3
BOX SCORE

WP: Jimmy James (BOS) 2-2
LP: Keisaku Itokazu (Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters) 3-1
HR: Brandon Snyder (BAL) 2nd

Honolulu’s Jimmy James pitched a gem, surrendering one run in five frames of work to earn his second victory. The Boston Red Sox farm hand gave up three hits, walked one and struck out seven. Brandon Snyder, the Baltimore Orioles 2005 first round pick, went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Snyder hit .283/.354/.422 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI for low Single-A Delmarva this past regular season. He had a disapointing 2006 campaign in which he slumped and suffered a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Chiba Lotte Marines first baseman Takumi Kobe batted 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, a double and drove-in four runs. West Oahu third baseman Jamie Hoffman went 3-for-3 with three RBI in a losing cause. Hoffman hit .309 with nine home runs and 81 RBI for the Inland Empire 66ers in 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ high Single-A affiliate.

JAMIE HOFFMAN  Minor League Beat Photo

By Chris Hadorn

Yesterday the St. Louis Cardinals named John Mozeliak their new general manager after they parted ways with long-time GM Walt Jocketty on October 3. After Jocketty’s departure, Mozeliak had been serving as the club’s interim general manager for the last four weeks. Mozeliak has been working in the Cardinals organization since 1995. He worked in both the scouting and player development and got his first major executive position in 1999, serving as the club’s farm director for two years. He was promoted to the director of minor league baseball operations role in 2001. The University of Colorado alumnus has worked as the Cardinals’ assistant general manager since 2003 gaining experience in contract negotiation and establishing budgets. He was also put in charge of St. Louis 2003 and 2004 First-Year Player Drafts that are conducted in June. The Cardinals’ other top candidate was Chris Antonelli, the assistant general manager of the Cleveland Indians, but neither side could come to terms on a contract.

Derrick Goold, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, breaks down how the makeup and culture of the Cardinals front office has changed since Jocketty first took over in 1994. There is now an “analytical” wing that deciphers statistical information to help in decision making.

•  People working in the minors sure know how to have fun and this week the Toledo Mud Hens have drawn national publicity with their humorous antics. The Mud Hens have offered free agent third baseman Alex Rodriguez a contract via mail that includes incentives for clubbing 75 home runs and for helping the club to 10 straight Governor’s Cup titles. They even designed a mock Hall of Fame plague with Rodriguez donning a Mud Hens cap and also mentioned that ARod would have to play another position since International MVP Mike Hessman already occupies the hot corner. This was in reponse to Hank Steinbrenner’s quote, “Does he want to go to the Hall of Fame as a Yankee or a Toledo Mud Hen?” Steinbrenner serves as the senior vice president of the New York Yankees.

• Chris Kline of Baseball America gets a scout’s perspective (subscription required) on San Francisco Giants infield prospect Eugenio Velez. He’s currently playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. Velez has been getting a lot of press lately even though he’s 25 years old and hit a bland .298 for Double-A Connecticut of the Eastern League. His abundance of tools and his flare on the basepaths and field stand out when one watches him in person. He’s probably more suited to be a super-utility player at 2B/SS/OF than an everyday regular at the big league level.

Winter League Recap

• Arizona Fall League

Mesa Solar Sox 5, Peoria Javelinas 3
BOX SCORE

WP: Mitch Stetter (MIL) 1-0
LP: Justin Thomas (SEA) 0-1
SV: Tim Dillard (MIL) 1st
HR: None

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Solar Sox scored three runs off Javelinas pitcher Justin Thomas to take the lead and hold on for the victory. The scoring was highlighted by Jared Lansford’s two out, two run single to right that scored Matt LaPorta and Amaury Marti. Lansford, the son of former American League batting champion Carney Lansford, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBI on the day. The Chicago Cubs third base prospect batted .273/.305/.354 with three home runs and 42 RBI for the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League in 2007. Seattle Mariners third base prospect Matt Tuiasosopo went 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI double and two runs scored in a losing effort.

Sean Gallagher, of the Chicago Cubs, got the start for Mesa and threw three shutout innings, striking out three batters, allowing three hits and two walks. The 21-year-old right hander got promoted to the Windy City this year after going 7-2 with a 3.39 earned run average in 11 starts for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League. He got promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs where he posted a 3-1 record and 2.66 earned run average after eight starts. He fanned 91 batters in 101 and 2/3 innings of minor league action in 2007. The 6-foot-2, 225 pound hurler throws a low-90s fastball along with a curveball, slider and changeup.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Ching Lung Lo was the starter for the Javelinas and punched out four batters in four shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and walked two. The Taiwanese right hander is not overpowering, but projectable at 6-foot-6, 190 pounds. He went 8-8 with a 5.61 earned run average over 139 and 2/3 innings of work for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers during the 2007 season. The 22-year-old struggled with his command (87 K/66 BB) this past year after displaying above-average control with Modesto the year before. He has a splitter, changeup and slider in his arsenal along with a mid-to-high 80s fastball.

JARED LANSFORD  Minor League Beat Photo

Scottsdale Scorpions 6, Surprise Rafters 0
BOX SCORE

WP: Mike Prochaska (TB) 2-1
LP: Sam Lecure (CIN) 1-1
HR: None

Scottsdale starting pitcher Mike Prochaska threw five shutout innings to earn the win as the Scorpions blanked the Rafters 6-0 at home. A leadoff walk of Wilkin Castillo and bunt singles by Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez in the bottom of the fifth started a four run inning for the Scorpions in route to a 6-0 shutout at Scottsdale Stadium. After loading the bases, Surprise reliever Sam Lecure surrendered a one out, two-run single to center off the bat of Travis Snider to score Castillo and Burriss. Sergio Santos followed with a bases clearing, two run double to right, making the score 4-0. Scottsdale later added two more runs off Texas Rangers hurler Daniel Herrera in the eighth.

Prochaska, a 27-year-old southpaw from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, allowed just three runners to reach base and fanned three in his five innings. San Francisco Giants reliever Sergio Romo followed him with two shutout frames. Tampa Bay relievers Evan Meek and Calvin Medlock slammed the door shut, each tossing a scoreless inning. Surprise wasted a terrific outing by starter Kansas City Royals southpaw Dusty Hughes who didn’t give up a run in four innings pitched and fanned four.

The San Francisco Giants double play combination of Velez and Burriss each had a good day at the plate. Burriss played shortstop and went 3-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored. Velez went 2-for-5 with a run, but was caught stealing for the first time in AFL action this year. Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Ryan Patterson went 3-for-4 with a double and a run.

SAM LECURE Minor League Beat Photo

Team USA 3, Peoria Saguaros 0
BOX SCORE

WP: Josh Outman (PHI) 1-1
LP: Wesley Wright (LAD) 0-1
SV: Neal Musser (KC) 1st
HR: None

Team USA won their final Arizona Fall League game in their final tuneup before the IBAF World Cup in Taiwan. They finished the week going 4-2 in AFL play. Team USA starter Brian Duensing and Josh Outman threw four scoreless innings each and Neal Musser threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to cap the shutout of the Saguaros. Saguaros starter Ricky Nolasco one hit the vaunted Team USA lineup through five innings, allowing no runs. The Florida Marlins veteran walked none and struck out four.

The 0-0 tie ended in the sixth when Team USA second baseman Jayson Nix singled in Jason Jaramillo from third on a groundout to short off Saguaros reliever Wesley Wright. Jaramillo led off the inning with a groundball single to left and advanced to third on Colby Rasmus‘ double to right field. Walker served up two more runs in the top of the seventh to Team USA. The first run occurred on a soft line-drive single off the bat of Tyler Colvin that brought Delwyn Young home. Jaramillo followed with his second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to right that scored Andy LaRoche from third base. The Philadelphia Phillies catching prospect went 1-for-2 on the day with a RBI and run scored. Peoria Saguaros center fielder Xavier Paul went 3-for-4 at the plate in a losing effort.

XAVIER PAUL Minor League Beat Photo

By Chris Hadorn

One day after the conclusion of the 2007 World Series, the “Hot Stove League” got off to a fast start as the Atlanta Braves sent All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for prospects Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez. The trade made sense for both sides. After John Schuerholz stepped down to serve as team President, this was General Manager Frank Wren’s first opportunity to put his own imprint on the club. The Braves were deep in shortstop depth thanks to the emergence of Yunel Escobar, who hit .326 and posted a .385 on-base percentage in 319 at-bats as a rookie. Atlanta also has prospect shortstop Brent Lillibridge, who batted .287 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI in 81 games for Triple-A Richmond of the International League in 2007. Renteria carried the highest trade value of the three shortstops and had one year remaining on a four year, $40 million dollar contract he originallly signed with the Boston Red Sox. There is also a $12 million option for the 2009 season on Renteria’s contract with a $3 million buyout.

One year removed from a 2006 American League Championship, the Tigers are coming off a disapointing 2007 season in which they fell short of a playoff berth. The deal exemplifies the Tigers’ “championship or bust” mentality for next season. General manager Dave Dombrowski is sending a message to the organization, coaches, players and fans by reminding them the team’s window of opportunity is now. The addition of Renteria allows the Tigers to move one of their finest hitters Carlos Guillen to first base on a full-time basis. Renteria is reunited with manager Jim Leyland and Dombrowski; both of whom he played for on the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins.

Jurrjens and Hernandez were argubly two of the Tigers’ top five prospects. Jurrjens, a starting pitcher, went 7-5 with a 3.20 earned run average in 19 starts for the Double-A Erie Sea Wolves of the Eastern League. The 21 year old right hander fanned 91 batters in 112 and 2/3 innings and limited opposing batters to a .257 average. He was called up late in the season to help Detroit on their pennant run and posted 3-1 record with a 4.70 earned run average over the span of seven starts. The Braves’ starting pitching woes beyond Tim Hudson and John Smoltz were widely publicized in 2007 and the acquisition of Jurrjens gives them another arm to compete for one of their backend rotation spots in spring training. In time, Jurrjens projects as a 3rd or 4th starter. The 6-foot-1, 160 pound native from Curacao throws a low-to-mid 90s fastball with heavy movement, but he still needs work on his secondary pitches, a curveball and changeup. He’s exhibited above-average control of his fastball thus far which has a lot to do with success in minors. He only walked 31 batters with Erie in 2007. Trading Jurrjens is a blow to the Tigers rotation depth, but he might have been sent back to Triple-A Toledo since they are expecting Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Andrew Miller and Nate Robertson back for 2007. Southpaw Kenny Rogers is eligible to become a free agent, but he’s yet to decide on his fate which might be retirement.

Gorkys Hernandez comes with the most intrigue of the three players involved in the deal. The Venezuelan center fielder was named the Midwest League MVP in 2007 after hitting .293 with four home runs, 25 doubles and 50 RBI for the low Single-A Western Michigan Whitecaps. Hernandez swiped 54 bases in 65 attempts and awed the circuit with his breathtaking range and howitzer of an arm. The five-tool outfielder was the most difficult piece the Tigers had to surrender in order to acquire Renteria, but like the Braves with their shortstops, Detroit was dealing from a position of strength. Detroit already has American League MVP candidate Curtis Granderson entrenched in center field and Cameron Maybin. Maybin, who is the same age as Hernandez at 20 years old, has already reached the majors and is considered the team’s finest prospect. Atlanta has parted ways with their long-time All-Star center fielder Andruw Jones this offseason and Hernandez could be a long-term option to fill that hole. The organization also has Jordan Schafer, another 21-year old five-tool center fielder who hit .312 with 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases between Single-A ballclubs Rome and Myrtle Beach in 2007. Schafer is at least a half year away, but there’s been talk of him getting a chance in spring training in 2008.

JORDAN SCHAFER   Minor League Beat Photo

• Several media outlets are reporting former New York Yankees skipper Joe Torre is headed west to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers to take over their managerial position and incumbent Grady Little is out the door.  How ironic since Little was fired by the Boston Red Sox after being ousted by Torre’s Yankees in the 2003 American League Championship Series.  After turning down a bench position with the Yankees, Don Mattingly is reportedly following Torre to Chavez Ravine to serve on his staff.  Following his close colleague Torre probably wasn’t the most attractive aspect of the Dodgers gig.  Donnie Baseball’s son Preston Mattingly plays in the Dodgers organization.  Sam Perkins profiled Preston last season shortly after he got drafted. His son has a lot of talent but had a rough-go in his first full season of professional baseball, batting .210 with three home runs, 40 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 107 games for the low Single-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League.  He struck out 119 times while drawing just 22 base-on-balls. 

• Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel writes Milwaukee Brewers flame thrower Jeremy Jeffress has failed another drug test, but this one doesn’t fall under the discipline of the Minor League Drug Treatment and Prevention Program because it occurred at instructional camp. The 6-foot-1, 185 pound right hander was suspended for 50 games late in late August after failing a drug test, reportedly marijuana. The suspension carries into next season. Jeffress will likely face additional discipline from the Brewers on this second offense. Jeffress went 9-5 with a 3.13 earned run average in 18 starts for the West Virginia Power of the low Single-A South Atlantic League in 2007. He struck out 95 batters in 86 and 1/3 innings, but struggled with his command by yielding 44 free passes. Opponents hit .201 off him.

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have purchased the contract of starting pitcher Luis Munoz from Double-A Altoona and designated southpaw Josh Shortslef for assignment to make room. Munoz is currently pitching for the Estrellas de Oriente of the Dominican Winter League where he’s started one game, going four innings and surrendering one earned run. The 6-foot-2, 150 pound right hander went 12-5 with a 3.63 earned run average in 23 starts for the Curve. The sinkerballer demonstrated solid command by walking only 32 batters in 2007, but he’s not overpowering as evidenced by his 89 strikeouts in 136 and 1/3 innings. At 25, he’s not that young for a 40-man roster add who has yet to reach The Show. Munoz is a native of baseball hotbed San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. Shortslef turns 26 this winter and had a rough-go at Triple-A Indianapolis, going 5-13 with a 4.40 earned run average in 27 starts. Batters tattooed him for a .295 clip. Even though he’s lost his prospect status, he’ll surely get a look by somebody due to his 6-foot-4, 250 pound frame and the fact he’s left-handed. He has a fastball that gets above 90 miles per hour and complements it with an old-fashioned “Uncle Charlie”.

The Arizona Fall League returns to the greater Phoenix area this autumn for the 16th consecutive season.  The AFL is an offseason league comprised of higher level minor league prospects from all 30 Major League clubs. The prospects are split among six clubs that play their games at Cactus League ballparks. These prospects have a chance to display their skills in front of countless baseball executives and scouts. Previous alumni of the AFL include the likes of Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard, Mike Piazza, Justin Morneau, Ryan Braun, Brandon Webb, and many more prominent All-Stars.

Here are the basic rules and setup of the Arizona Fall League
(Information courtesy of Major League Baseball)

• There are 35 players provided to an Arizona Fall League club’s roster

• All 30 big league organizations must each provide seven players to participate in the AFL

• All players on Double-A and Triple-A rosters on August 6 are eligible

• No players with more than two years or more of MLB service time are eligible. This includes time spent on a MLB disabled list.

• Recent Rule V draftees are only exception of the two-year rule

• Each club can choose to use one roster spot on a minor leaguer who is playing Single-A or rookie ball

• Foreign players are eligible as long as they aren’t on the “protected player list” of their native country

• 20 pitchers are assigned to every AFL club, but only 15 can be activated for game day

SURPRISE RAFTERS
Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Right Handed Pitchers
Greg Atencio, KC
David Austen, LAA
T.J. Burton, CLE
Michael Finocchi, CLE
Paul Kometani, TEX
Randy Newsom, CLE
Darren O’Day, LAA
Fernando Rodriguez, LAA
Joshua Roenicke, CIN
Josh Rupe, TEX
Von Stertzbach, LAA
Jeff Stevens, CLE

Southpaws
Matt Harrison, TEX
Daniel Herrera, TEX
Nate Hoelscher, KC
David Huff, CLE
Dusty Hughes, KC
Benjamin Jukich, CIN
Tyler Pelland, CIN
Rich Rundles, CLE
Pedro Viola, CIN

Catchers
Chris Gimenez, CLE
Ben Johnson, LAA
Craig Tatum, CIN
Taylor Teagarden, TEX

Infielders
Joaquin Arias, TEX
Michael Aubrey, CLE
German Duran, TEX
Kila Kaaihue, KC
Marc Maddox, KC
Sean Rodriguez, LAA
Adam Rosales, CIN

Outfielders
Trevor Crowe, CLE
Jose Duarte, KC
Chris Dickerson, CIN
Chris Lubanski, KC
John Mayberry Jr., TEX
Chris Pettit, LAA

JOHN MAYBERRY JR.
Minor League Beat Photo

PEORIA JAVELINAS
Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees

Right Handed Pitchers
Ryan Basner, ATL
Adam Carr, WSH
Steven Jackson, NYY
Stephen Kahn, SEA
Kameron Mickolio, SEA
Garrett Mock, WSH
Alex Morales, WSH
Charlie Morton, ATL
Michael Nix, ATL
Ross Ohlendorf, NYY
Zack Schreiber, ATL
Kevin Whelan, NYY
Steven White, NYY
Joe Woerman, SEA
Zech Zinicola, WSH

Catchers
Jeff Clement, SEA
Jesus Flores, WSH
Clint Simmons, ATL

Infielders
Kory Casto, WSH
Yung Chi Chen, SEA
Christian Colonel, COL
Reggie Corona, NYY
J.C. Holt, ATL
Brent Lillibridge, ATL
Juan Miranca, NYY
Matt Tuiasosopo, SEA
Corey Wimberly, COL

Outfielders
Dexter Fowler, COL
Brett Gardner, NYY
Brandon Jones, ATL
Justin Maxwell, WSH

JEFF CLEMENT
Minor League Beat Photo

 

PEORIA SAGUAROS
San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers

Right Handed Pitchers
Joseph Bisenius, PHI
Eddie Bonine, DET
Jonathan Ellis, SD
Jeff Gerbe, DET
Zachary Hammes, LAD
Neil Jamison, SD
Jair Jurrjens, DET
Scott Mathieson, PHI
Craig Molldrem, FLA
Edwin Morena, SD
Scott Nestor, FLA
Justin Orenduff, LAD
Dallas Trahern, DET
Cory Wade, LAD
Ross Wolf, FLA

Southpaws
J.A. Happ, PHI
Greg Miller, LAD
Josh Outman
Joseph Savery, PHI
Will Startup, SD
Wesley Wright, LAD

Catchers
Brett Hayes, FLA
Nick Hundley, SD
Lou Marson, PHI

Infielders
Matt Antonelli, SD
Chris Coghlan, FLA
Michael Costanzo, PHI
Ivan DeJesus, LAD
Blake DeWitt, LAD
Michael Hollimon, DET
Jeff Larish, DET

Outfielders
Gregory Golson, PHI
Cameron Maybin, DET
Jai Miller, FLA
Xavier Paul, LAD
William Venable, SD

MATT ANTONELLI
Minor League Beat Photo

PHOENIX DESERT DOGS
Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates

Right Handed Pitchers
Jake Arrieta, BAL
Nick Blackburn, MIN
Patrick Bresnehan, PIT
Jesse Chavez, PIT
Dewon Day, CWS
Jack Egbert, CWS
Jeff Gray, OAK
Chris Hernandez, PIT
Fernando Hernandez, CWS
Jim Johnson, BAL
Bob McCrory, BAL
Hayden Penn, BAL
Adam Russell, CWS
Donald Simmons, OAK
Anthony Swarzak, MIN

Southpaws
Jerry Blevins, OAK
David Davidson, PIT
Brian Duensing, MIN
Jay Marshall, OAK
Ryan Mullins, MIN

Catchers
Drew Butera, MIN
Donny Lucy, CWS
Anthony Recker, OAK

Infielders
Jeff Baisley, OAK
Brian Bixler, PIT
Paco Figueroa, BAL
Chris Getz, CWS
Cliff Pennington, OAK
Trevor Plouffe, MIN
David Winfree, MIN

Outfielders
Jeff Fiorentino, BAL
Andrew McCutchen, PIT
Steven Pearce, PIT
Nolan Reimold, BAL

ANTHONY RECKER
Minor League Beat Photo

SCOTTSDALE SCORPIONS
San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Right Handed Pitchers
Brian Anderson, SF
Nick DeBarr, TB
Calvin Medlock, TB
Evan Meek, TB
Scott Munter, SF
Nick Pereira, SF
Max Scherzer, ARZ
Esmerling Vasquez, ARZ
James Vermilyea, TOR

Southpaws
David Purcey, TOR
Ricky Romero, TOR
Mark Rosen, ARZ
Jonathan Sanchez, SF
Greg Smith, ARZ

Catchers
Wilkin Castillo, ARZ
Josh Ford, ARZ
John Jaso, TB

Infielders
Reid Brignac, TB
Evan Longoria, TB
Chris Nowak, TB
Sergio Santos, TOR

Outfielders
Aaron Cunningham, ARZ
Ryan Patterson, TOR
Nate Schierholtz, SF
Travis Snider, TOR

JONATHAN SANCHEZ
Minor League Beat Photo

MESA SOLAR SOX
Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox

Right Handed Pitchers
Matt Avera, CHC
Jim Barthmaier, HOU
Justin Berg, CHC
Mitch Boggs, STL
Tim Dilliard, MIL
Kyle Jackson, BOS
Brad James, HOU
Dave Johnson, MIL
Grant Johnson, HOU
Jason Motte, STL
Chris Perez, STL
Stuart Pomarantz, STL
Chad Reineke, HOU
Rocky Roquet, CHC

Southpaws
Steven Hammond, MIL
Hunter Jones, BOS
Josh Muecke, HOU
Mitch Stetter, MIL

Catchers
Lou Palmisano, MIL
J.R. Towles, HOU

Infielders
Aaron Bates, BOS
Adam Heether, MIL
Jarrett Hoffpauir, STL
Josh Lansford, CHC
Jed Lowrie, BOS
Tom Manzella, HOU
Joe Mather, STL
Joe Simokaitis, CHC
Steve Sollman, MIL

Outfielders
Mitch Einertson, HOU
Josh Flores, HOU
Sam Fuld, CHC
Matthew LaPorta, MIL
Colby Rasmus, STL

By Sam Perkins

Ellsbury recieved several phone calls from Red Sox brass after his run in with Fasano (Photo courtesy of flickr.com)

Lost in his short call up and subsequent re-assignment back to Triple-A Pawtucket amid the Red Sox roster shuffle were the actions of Jacoby Ellsbury in Pawtucket’s game at McCoy stadium against visiting Syracuse on August 18^th: Following Ellsbury’ two out walk, Joe McEwing ripped a double to left field. Ellsbury, who has phenomenal speed, tried to score from first base on the play, however left fielder Adam Lind hit second baseman Ryan Roberts with a perfect throw, and Roberts completed a textbook relay by firing a strike to catcher Sal Fasano. Ellsbury still had one trick up his sleeve as he launched himself like a missile head first towards home in an attempt to allude Fasano’s tag. Unfortunately for Ellsbury Fasano had the plate covered, and unfortunately for Fasano Ellsbury found him: Fasano swiped a great tag on Ellsbury, however Ellsbury plowed into Fasano’s lower half, sending the 6’2” 246 pound 14 year minor league veteran sprawling.

Fasano had to leave the game with a leg injury, but miraculously Ellsbury, who was giving away at least 60 pounds to the burly Fasano, was no worse for the wear. However, Following the game Ellsbury not only got a good natured but serious talking too by Pawtucket Manager Ron Johnson, but also half a dozen phone calls from the Red Sox brass. The Message: don’t ever do that again. The unanimous sentiment was that, while the sox love to see Ellsbury’s heart and hustle, that it is not worth him potentially derailing his career by suffering a serious injury in a Triple-A game when the Red Sox view him as their centerfielder for the foreseeable future.

…

Nix homered in his sixth straight game (Photo courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com)

On August 21^st Laynce Nix of the Nashville Sounds blasted a home run to dead centerfield to lead off the Sixth-inning, helping to lead the Sounds to a 6-5 victory of the Round Rock Express. The home run was more significant than simply aiding in a win, as it was the sixth straight game in which Nix had gone yard, tying the longest such streak in the minor leagues this year. If Nix’s name sounds familiar, its because he was billed as the Ranger’s centerfield of the future.

Nix, a physical specimen in the Gabe Kapler mold, was drafted in the 4^th round of the 200 draft by the Rangers out of Midland (Texas) high. Nix was viewed as having plus power potential, as well as plus speed, and projected as a well-above average defensive centerfielder down the road, and cracked the Major’s in 2003. Unfortunately, after a quick rise, by 2006 he was no longer in the Rangers long term plans, as his inability to make consistent contact and his sub .300 obp had relegated him to an afterthought.  Nix was traded in 2006 in a package (along with Kevin Mench Francisco Cordero and Julian Cordero) for Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz.

Nix only spent a handful of games in the Majors after the trade, and has spent the entire 2007 season at Triple-A stuck behind a logjam of young outfielders at the Majors and high minors. While Nix still isn’t hitting for much of an average (a career .241 major league hitter, he was hitting .261 in Nashville), he is putting up some legitimate power numbers, having hit 22 homers with a .532 slugging percentage in the minors, and he deserves a chance somewhere in the majors. While he will never live up to his original hype, Nix outfield defense, speed, pop in his bat, and tremendous work ethic would help many clubs as a 4^th or 5^th outfielder, and at 27 he still has a chance to make it. The Brewers may call him up for the stretch run. If not, He’s a player who could slip through the waiver wire and be dealt to a contender (the Yankees and Diamondbacks would appear to be good fits) , or potentially be dealt to a team out of the running looking to give him an extended tryout to see whether he can live up to any of the original expectations of him (the Royals, Nationals, A’s, Giants, and Orioles come to mind).

…

The Red Sox acquired Carter to complete the Wily Mo Pena trade (Photo courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com)

The Red Sox completed their trade with the Nationals in which they shipped out struggling outfielder Wily Mo Pena. Pena was originally traded for a player to be named later, and now that player has been named, and he is Chris Carter, formerly of the Tucson Sidewinders the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carter was raking the ball at Tucson, hitting 324 with 18 home runs and 84 RBIs and lead the Sidewinders in 10 offensive categories.

At 25, Carter’s path to the Major’s was blocked by Conor Jackson, and he had expressed a desire to be traded during the season, and got his wish, twice: Carter was sent by the Diamondbacks to the Nationals, and then by the Nationals to the Red Sox. There have been rumors throughout the year that following the season the Sox may part ways with Mike Lowell, and move Kevin Youkilis to third base while looking for more power at first. The Sox are going to be keeping a close eye on Carter, whom has often been compared to a poor mans Travis Hafner, and who has absolutely raked during his minor league career.

However, as good as he has been offensively, Carter has been that bad defensively, committing 15 errors at first base last season, and already surpassing that total with 16 this year. Carter is really suited to DH, but with David Ortiz a member of the Red Sox that certainly isn’t an option within the organization. The sox hope that Ron Johnson, viewed as a tremendous player developer, can help Carter become an adequate defensive player, if he can become even half-way competent in the field, he could have a legitimate chance to be on the 2008 major league roster. If not, he would still be an attractive option as a Designated Hitter for a small market ball club, and could be used as trade bait.

…

By Sam Perkins

Joel Guzman singles in the game winning run (AP File Photo)

In 2005 Joel Guzman was viewed as the number one prospect in the entire Los Angeles Dodgers organization: A 6’6” 250 pound shortstop whom fit the “5-tool” mold to a T, and whose physical gifts left coaches and rivals in awe. In fact, one of Guzman’s coaches even marveled that “Guzman is the next evolution of the shortstop position: Cal Ripken transformed it, Arod was the next in line, Guzman could change the position yet again.”

Yet one year later the Dodgers had given up on Guzman, trading him to Tampa Bay for what amounted to a half-season rental of Julio Lugo. Furthermore, by this year, at the tender age of 22 many scouts had all but written Guzman off as a bust: a player with limitless physical gifts who could simply never put them together, and worse, a player who didn’t care. Yet on August 19^th the Tampa Bay Devil Rays gave Guzman, who was trudging through another sub-par year at Triple-A Durham, the call up to the Majors to fill the roster spot vacated by Ben Zobrist, whom was placed on the disabled list.

Guzman was signed out of the Dominican Republic in January of 2001, less than two months after he turned 17 years old. The Dodgers had fallen in love with Guzman’s impressive size and athleticism, and the potential for even more growth and strength on his then 6’4” frame. Guzman already possessed both plus-plus power and plus-plus arm strength, as well as plus speed.

What became apparent to the Dodgers quickly, was that as impressive as Guzman’s physical gifts were, they paled in comparison to his on-field sense. Remarked one former coach “Guzman just always knew what to do on the field: in Rookie ball, so many of those kids are just athletes, their seventeen, eighteen years old, but they don’t know how to play. You put them on the field and you have to teach them the basics, little league stuff, footwork throwing to first, where to position yourself. With Guzman, he knew everything. He’d get a ball in the hole, and his footwork was perfect. He’d take it upon himself to go opposite field when we needed to move a kid over, when everyone else on the team was just hacking. He just knew the game…”

Guzman was the Dodgers 2004 minor league player of the year, and a futures game participant (photo courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com).

But Guzman’s incredible talent and baseball instincts, is what made Guzman’s progress, or lack there of, so much more aggravating to the Dodgers front office: Guzman wasn’t just a physical freak who needed serious coaching, he wasn’t just a kid with raw talent in need of refining, he really knew the game, yet he couldn’t put it together at the minor league level. In 2004 Guzman tore the cover off of the ball, hitting .307/.349/.550 with 14 homers and 51 RBI in 87 games at High-A Vero Beach. Guzman continued his torrid hitting that year after a call-up to Double-A Jacksonville, hitting .280/.325/.522 with nine homers and 35 RBI in 46 games while being named the Dodgers’ minor league player of the year. In a minor league system that at the time counted Jonathan Broxton, Russel Martin, James Loney, Matt Kemp, and Andy LaRoche among its best players, Guzman was viewed as on another level talent wise. Yet Guzman has never come close to duplicating his 2004 numbers, and while his numbers aren’t horrible, they aren’t anything more than average either. Furthermore, when considering his physical gifts and baseball IQ, they are downright disappointing, as Guzman has a career line of 267/.317./448 over six minor league seasons.

The reason for Guzman’s struggles proved even more frustrating to the Dodgers than his actual struggles themselves, as it has seemed that Guzman was un-motivated, and simply didn’t care on the field. By All accounts, Guzman, both of whose parents are teachers, is a model citizen and an very nice young man. “He’s an incredibly quiet, polite, good-hearted young man” said one former coach. Guzman doesn’t have any of the ego that seem standard in other young,  talented ball players, and that may be part of the problem, as he seems to lack any motivation or ego which might keep him from accepting failure the way he has. Remarked one coach “Someone need’s to light a fire under his butt, or give him a shot of adrenaline or something. If they did, he could be a Major League All-star and hit 30 homers, maybe more. But you watch him on the field, and he looks like he’s sleepwalking. He’s not lazy, he just isn’t motivated.” The feeling amongst the Dodgers staff was that Guzman had no desire to  be a great major leaguer, and that the signing bonus they paid him was counterproductive, as one former hitting Coach said bluntly “once he got paid, he was set. He didn’t care much about becoming a star, he had his money and that was enough for him.”

The Devil Rays have never been an organization to motivate their own prospects, or be involved in any facet of their lives for that matter, as evident with their actions, or lack their of, with Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young, and Elijah Dukes, and they seemed to be following the same path with Guzman, giving him enough rope to hang himself at Triple-A so to speak. The Devil Rays also haven’t been shy to call-up prospects when they don’t seem to be major league ready, or more so, don’t seem to have earned the call-up (as evident by their past promotions of Young and Dukes), and they seem to be following the same course with Guzman.

The Devil Rays have had mixed results with their strategy of promoting top talent when it doesn’t seem ready, as evident by the divergent paths of Young and Dukes after each was given an opening day roster spot. Yet Guzman’s troubles have never been character related as they were with Young and Dukes, and some think that a call-up may be the best way to get Guzman going: “A call-up could work. It really could. We tried everything to get him to start working, to get some fire burning in his belly: Sit downs, heart to hearts, we tried yelling at him, we tried encouraging him, game film sessions. Nothing worked, it just rolled off his back. But if he gets there, if he can really taste the Majors, it could finally clue him in to what he might miss out on if he doesn’t apply himself.” And if Sunday’s game is evident of things to come, Guzman’s former coach may be right.

In his first game back in the majors after a brief 2006 cameo, Guzman found himself dug in to the batters-box in the bottom of the 12^th inning, with the game tied at 3 and Johnny Gomes on second base. Guzman socked Rafael Perez’ offering back up the middle, scoring Gomes and giving Tampa Bay a walk-off win in his first game with the big league club. In the melee that followed Guzman looked anything but unmotivated, as he was the most emotional member of the Devil Rays in the ensuing celebration. “It was an unbelievable feeling,” Guzman said, shortly before receiving the traditional shaving-cream pie to the face for his heroics.

Guzman celebrated his game winning-heroics Sunday (AP File Photo).

So where does Guzman go from here? He’s still a physical freak: at 6’6” and 252 pounds he moves like a man a third his size. His arm is as good as anyone’s in the game, and he can still hit the ball out of sight. But one game does not make a career, and the biggest obstacle in Joel Guzman’s path to major league success is still Joel Guzman, or more specifically motivating Joel Guzman. A Shortstop throughout his stops in the low minors, the Dodgers began to experiment with him all over the diamond, which the Devil Rays continued to do. He is still capable of playing shortstop, and it may be one of only a few spots on the diamond where he could crack the lineup. The Devil Rays are stacked in the outfield with Young, Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Gomes, and the injured Rocco Baldelli, as well as third base with Akinori Iwamura at the major league level and Evan Longoria rising fast through the minors. The Devil Rays have been using Ben Zobrist and Josh Wilson as stop-gags at short until Reid Brignac is ready, but Guzman’s raw tools are beyond even those of Brignac, or anyone in the Devil Rays organization for that matter, and if he could take advantage of his opportunity, the Devil Rays could reconsider their long term plans. The bottom line is, if Guzman can show the Devil Rays something, they will find a spot for him, but if he doesn’t, his star may have flamed out before his 23rd birthday.

Another big league club in a pennant race has decided to look for help on the farm to help their cause. Left-handed fireballer Franklin Morales has been called up by the Colorado Rockies from Triple-A Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League to make the start in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Venezuelan southpaw was 2-0 with a 3.71 earned run average for the Sky Sox this season. He fanned 16 batters in 17 innings, but had also surrendered 20 hits and 13 walks in his brief stay there. Morales was recently promoted from Double-A Tulsa of the Texas League where he went 3-4 with a 3.48 earned run average in 17 starts. Hitters in the Texas League batted just .226 off Morales this season, but he also walked 45 batters in 95 2/3 innings pitched.

Morales has the stuff to be an Ace. The 21 year old lefty throws a mid-90s fastball, has an outpitch curveball and a fairly decent change. His mediocre control is the only thing holding him back. He’s probably not ready to pitch in the big leagues on a full-time basis, but where else are the Rockies going to find a starter to fill-in with his type of stuff?

Franklin Morales Photo courtesy of Tony Farlow/Asheville Tourists

By Chris Hadorn

Yesterday the Detroit Tigers made headlines parting ways with popular veteran Craig Monroe and they replaced him by calling up their top prospect Cameron Maybin from Double-A Erie of the Eastern League. The Tigers designated Monroe for assignment which kicks him off the 40-man roster and exposes him to waivers. Maybin learned of his call-up from his manager Matt Walbeck on Thursday during a bus trip from Erie to Altoona. After having his contract purchased from Erie, Maybin made his debut for the Detroit Tigers last night batting second and starting in left field at Yankee Stadium. Perhaps the butterflies got to the 20 year old phenom as Maybin unceremoniously went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and had his defensive issues in his first big league game against the New York Yankees.

Maybin joins the Tigers in the dead heat of an AL Central pennant race with the division leading Cleveland Indians. The Tigers entered the games of Saturday, August 18 at 67-55, a half game out of first. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound Maybin had recently been promoted on August 10 from high Single-A Lakeland to Double-A Erie. In six games and 20 at-bats with the Erie Sea Wolves, Maybin was already hitting .400 with four home runs and eight RBI. Maybin has played the majority of the season with the high Single-A Lakeland Tigers, where he hit .304/.393/.486 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He had 25 successful stolen base attempts in 31 tries.

Cameron Maybin AP File Photo

After being taken with the tenth overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Maybin burst on the scene as a 19-year old in 2006 with the low Single-A Western Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League. He hit .304/.387/.457 with nine home runs and 27 stolen bases during his first initial exposure to professional baseball. Arizona’s Justin Upton, the first overall pick of the same draft out of high school, didn’t fare so well in same league under similar circumstances hitting .263/.343/.413 for South Bend. The first year performance vaulted Maybin above Upton in many preseason prospect rankings compiled by experts. Jim Callis, Will Lingo and John Manuel all had Maybin rated higher than Upton in the 2007 Baseball America Prospect Handbook. Kevin Goldstein, of Baseball Prospectus, ranked Maybin at #7, 22 slots ahead of Upton. Time will tell who will be the better outfielder but just months ago Maybin was considered the better player and still has a strong case despite the fact a good portion of baseball now perceives Upton as the top prospect.

Maybin is a five-tool player whose only real weakness are excessive strikeouts. He punched out 91 times in 323 minor league at-bats this season and compiled 111 strikeouts in 385 official trips in 2006. When you consider all the things Maybin already does so well for his age, the strikeouts are a minor quibble. Maybin is a player with 30-30 and Gold Glove upside. Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson strikes out a lot too, but all the good things he does adds up and offsets the negatives of the whiffs. Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski who had deep farm systems during his separate tenures with both Montreal and Florida, says Maybin is the best prospect in any organization he’s ever been in. This is saying a lot because Dombrowski was with Montreal when Vladimir Guerrero was in the minors and he was in Florida for Miguel Cabrera’s debut.

For readers wishing to catch a glimpse of Maybin, Tigers-Yankees will be nationally televised by FOX at 4 p.m. EST today.

UPDATE: Cameron Maybin just hit his first career home run on a hard fly to center field off Roger Clemens in the fifth inning to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Maybin also got his first major league hit with a single to right field on a hit-and-run during his second at-bat.

During his fourth at-bat, in typical Clemens fashion, the “Rocket” busted Maybin inside and hit the rookie with a pitch on his lower forearm.   

Buchholz impressive in his major league debut

By Sam Perkins

Clay Buchholz k’s Gary Matthews Jr. to end the first inning (photo courtesy of sports.yahoo.com).

Before the first game of the Red Sox Friday day-night doubleheader, the sox traded outfielder Wily Mo Pena to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later, and used his roster spot to call up Clay Buchholz. Buchholz, who began the year at Double-A Portland, was thrown into the fire so to speak, making an emergency start for the Sox in the height of the pennant race, with the arch-rival New York Yankees gaining ground by the day.

Prior to the game, Red Sox manager Terry Francona sat Buchholz down in his office and told him that there was no pressure, and that even if he threw a no hitter, that he would still be optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game. And while Buchholz didn’t throw a no-hitter, he did nothing in his short stay with the big league club to disprove the idea that he is the top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system.

Buchholz struggled with nerves early on, walking Chone Figgins on four pitches to begin the ballgame, and throwing two more before his first strike. Buchholz nerves were understandable given that not only was he pitching in his first major league game, but that it was in Fenway Park, during the pennant race, and against the AL West leading Angels, giving it all the aura of a playoff game. But Buchholz regrouped, showing the composure of a major league veteran, and despite a J.D. Drew error, he managed to escape the first inning relatively unscathed, giving up one run.

Buchholz’ final line may not have been eye popping: he scattered 8 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) over six innings of work, throwing 91 pitches (also impressive as he’d averaged 79 per start at Pawtucket), and 58 strikes, but it was non the less an incredibly impressive feat, as he earned his first major league win in the ox 8-4 victory. Considering that Buchholz began the season playing Double-A ball, and had only pitched in six games at the Triple-A level before his call-up, Buchholz showed incredible poise, even if his command was at times lacking.

Buchholz began the year as hyped up as any Red Sox minor league pitcher in recent history, as he already possessed a major-league ready curveball, a fastball the sat in the 91-94 range and could reach 97, as well as a plus slider and change-up. After a season of fine tuning Buchholz unveiled his fine-tuned changeup at Fenway, one which sits at 78-82 miles per hour, and one which Buchholz is unafraid of throwing in any count.

Whenever Buchholz got into a jam, he didn’t hesitate to go to his change, which he throws straight over the top, and seems to be able to pull back right as it’s on the batter. During one at bat Buchholz threw three straight changeups, inducing three straight whiffs. After the second inning Buchholz settled down, and began to show off his entire arsenal, while earning the respect from catcher and team captain Jason Varitek. “He kept his poise with the lead, and he threw strikes — didn’t really walk people. He had a good changeup — you’ve seen his curveball — and I found out later he had a pretty good sinker, too” said Varitek.

While Buchholz was sent back down to Pawtucket after the game, the sky is the limit for the young righty: At age 23, Buchholz already has major league stuff, and his poise is unquestioned. Buchholz is also an incredibly athlete, as he may be the fastest runner in the entire Red Sox organization, having been timed at 6.3 in the 60 and an amazing 4.3 in the 40. In fact, coming out of high school he received many scholarship offers to play Division I football as a wide receiver (at 6’3” 190, with a 40 time that’s considered blazing even in the NFL, its no wonder). Furthermore, during his time at Angelina Junior College, Buchholz would often play the field when he wasn’t pitching.

All that’s left for Buchholz is to tighten up his control a bit, as Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson has stated that he “has ice water running through his veins.” As long as Buchholz can become a bit more consistent finding the plate, he should be in the majors for good by next year.

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The original plan going into the doubleheader, was for Buchholz to pitch the first game, and to be optioned back to Pawtucket following the game, with Jacoby Ellsbury being called up to take his place on the Red Sox 25 man roster. Since coming off the disabled list on August 8^th, Ellsbury had hit in 12 straight games at Pawtucket, batting .412 (21 for 51) over the stretch. The sox wanted to use Ellsbury’s speed and defense, and his left handed bat against as they were going to face a series of right-handers. The sox player moves following the first game of the double header were slightly complicated when Doug Mirabelli suffered a strained right calf and needed to be put on the disabled list. As a result, veteran catcher Kevin Cash was added to the 40 man roster and recalled from Pawtucket along with Ellsbury (both arrived to Fenway in time for the second game). 

Jacoby Ellsbury should see significant playing time over the next few games (photo courtesy of projo.com).

Ellsbury went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in the second game of the twin-billing, and should see some playing time over the next few days. The sox have not made an official announcement regarding their game Sunday, Tim Wakefield’s next scheduled start Mirabelli has been Wakefield’s personal catcher this year (as in years past), and with him on the disabled list, the sox must decide if they go with Jason Varitek, who has struggled greatly catching the knuckleball, or Kevin Cash. With Cash, the sox will lose a tremendous amount of offense, as he is a career .172 hitter at the major league level. However, Cash has a reputation as being a phenomenal defensive catcher, and he has caught two different knuckleballers this year at Pawtucket in Charlie Zink and John Barnes, and the word is that he will get the start on Sunday behind the dish.

Kevin Cash has a reputation as an excellent defensive catcher, and has caught 2 knuckleballers this year at Pawtucket (photo courtesy of scout.com).

            Ellsbury’s stay is also expected to be short lived, as the Red Sox need a right handed bat off of the bench, and Bobby Kielty (signed on August 6^th) is still waiting in Pawtucket for his recall to the majors. Kielty has an opt-out in his contract, which he could use if he was not recalled to Boston within 10 days of signing. Kielty, however, was quoted as saying he didn’t think he would be using it, and 10 days has come and gone without Kielty gaining free-agency. The word is that Kielty will be recalled within the week, and Ellsbury will be sent back down. Kielty, who hits lefties much better than right-handers, and is used to serving in a platoon role, was signed because he was viewed as an upgrade over Wily Mo Pena.

Bobby Kielty should be in Boston soon (photo courtesy of Getty Images).