Game on!
For a third straight season, I'm picking which team is finishing where in the Eastern League. Its not a easy thing to do, considering the player movement minor league clubs endure over a full season.
Choosing which prospects to watch and ask for a autograph? Much easier. Grab a Sharpie and go check out all the players listed below. Five or six years from now, I think you'll be glad you took my advice.
Northern Divison (in order of finish)
1. Portland Sea Dogs (74-66 in 2008)
The Manager: Arnie Beyeler
The Scoop: The Red Sox player-development machine rolls on – and this season, Lars Anderson is riding shotgun. Anderson can flat out mash and has already tasted Double-A, hitting .316-5-30 in 41 games last year. Josh Reddick struggled in his brief visit to Portland, hitting only .214, but he’s a premium prospect, as well.
Japanese starter Junichi Tazawa may not stick around for long. Tazawa posted a 13-1 record overseas with five saves and 0.80 ERA in 2008.
Bubba Bell, Aaron Bates, and Jon Still have all posted big numbers in the past, albeit at Lancaster (California!), a hitter’s paradise.
Dustin Richardson, a former player on ESPN’s
Knight School, is a big league reliever-in-waiting. Felix Doubront, the lone lefty in the Dogs’ starting rotation, led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 138 strikeouts last year.
Grab a Sharpie for Anderson, Reddick, Tazawa, and Nick Hagadone, who should be around at some point after recovering from arm surgery.
2. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (61-81 in 2008)
The Manager: Gary Cathcart
The Scoop: This club should be in the mix, thanks to nice combination of hitting and pitching prospects.
David Cooper was only drafted last June and he’s already reached Double-A. Will more experienced pitchers expose any weaknesses?
Brian Dopriak is a huge power source and Brad Emaus hit .302 with 12 homers at Dunedin in 2008. Todd Donovan and Nick Gorneault are seasoned minor league veterans. Brian Jeroloman may be the best defensive catcher in the minors.
Lefty Marc Rzepczynski will pitch in the big leagues, I’m told, and his first start was a solid one: nine strikeouts and two runs allowed in five frames.
Nate Starner (Biglerville) is on the Fisher Cats’ pitching staff, which will be guided by Tom Signore, who used to coach the Harrisburg Senators’ hurlers in 2001. Sean Stidfole of Susquenita received a quick call-up to Triple-A Las Vegas before New Hampshire's first game on Wednesday.
Grab a Sharpie for Cooper, Emaus, Rzepczynski and Starner.
3. Trenton Thunder (86-54 in 2008, won Eastern League title)
The Manager: Tony Franklin
The Scoop: I say the reign is over; however, this club has a lot of holdovers from last year’s squad that captured the EL Championship. Trenton has won three straight Eastern League crowns.
Right-hander Zach McAllister is the top prospect this year. He profiles as a middle-to-back of the rotation starter in the majors. Lefty Mike Dunn has power stuff and is a converted position player.
Trenton should be fine in the middle infield and outfielder Colin Curtis hopes to be better in his second season.
Grab a Sharpie for McAllsiter; as well as Brad Suttle, Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances, should they reach Double-A.
4. Binghamton Mets (73-69 in 2008)
The Manager: Mako Olivares
The Scoop: Nothing spectacular here. The B-Mets have put together a unheralded – but effective – rotation with the likes of LHP Mike Antonini and RHP Dylan Owen. Both were mid-to-late round finds.
Catcher Josh Thole and 1B Lucas Duda are the top hitting prospects. Third baseman Shawn Bowman has tools, but needed three-plus seasons to finally get out of the Florida State League. Ruben Tejada should be one of the youngest players in the EL.
Grab a Sharpie for the pitchers mentioned above. Scan your roster for 2008 first-round picks Ike Davis and Reese Havens, possibly later in the season.
5. Connecticut Defenders (68-73 in 2008)
The Manager: Steve Decker
The Scoop: Take a long look at those Defenders jerseys this summer. Its likely the last time you’ll see ‘em, with this club likely leaving Norwich for Richmond, Virginia.
This year’s club features right-handed pitchers Waldis Joaquin and Henry Sosa; and catcher Jackson Williams, all rated among the Giants’ Top 20 prospects by Baseball America.
Brett Pill is a intriguing prospect; he’s a doubles-producing machine, a slick fielder, and could surprise.
Jesse Foppert, once the Giants’ top prospect, is trying to climb back to the bigs after Tommy John surgery in 2005. Will Eddy Martinez-Esteve be this year’s Lou Montanez?
Adam Witter of Chambersburg returns after hitting 20 HRs in the Eastern League in 2008. He needs to improve his batting average (.238), however.
Grab a Sharpie for Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner, two of the best prospects in all of baseball. Both should be with Connecticut at some point this season.
6. New Britain Rock Cats (64-77 in 2008)
The Manager: Tom Nieto
The Scoop: This is the All-Father’s Day squad, with Steven Tolleson (son of Wayne), Toby Gardenhire (son of Ron), and Joe Gaetti (son of Gary).
Catcher Wilson Ramos is the most highly regarded prospect. He’s got a gun behind the plate and his offense is improving. Danny Valencia may be the Twins’ long-term answer at third base.
This team has a number of mid-level prospects that will either sink or swim.
Grab a Sharpie for Ramos and Valencia. Outfielder Ben Revere could join the team later this summer.
Southern Divison (in order of finish)
1. Akron Aeros (80-62 in 2008; South Division Wild Card)
The Manager: Mike Sarbaugh (graduate of Donegal High School)
The Scoop: Once again, Akron will contend for a league title.
Remember that famous Larry Anderson-for-Jeff Bagwell trade? The Indians may have pulled off a similar prospect swipe. Catcher Carlos Santana was acquired last summer from the Dodgers in a trade for Casey Blake. I’ve read glowing reports on Santana. As a hitter, he has power and patience and is now regarded by
Baseball America as the Indians’ #1 prospect.
But my personal favorite is Beau Mills, the reigning Carolina League MVP. Mills has big-time thump in his bat and is the son of ex-major leaguer Brad Mills, now a coach for the Boston Red Sox. I saw Beau play three years ago in the Alaska Baseball League and liked everything about him. Critics knock him for his defense, but people, he was drafted to hit – and he’s done that, tying for the league lead in 2008 with 21 home runs and finishing second with 90 RBI.
OF Nick Weglarz is also a solid prospect and has international experience with Team Canada at WBC.
The pitching staff is rock-solid with RHP Hector Rondon and Frank Herrmann, who led the Aeros’ staff with 11 wins in 2008. Closer Randy Newsom nailed down 29 saves last year.
Grab a Sharpie for Santana and Mills.
2. Erie SeaWolves (68-74 in 2008)
The Manager: Tom Brookens (resides in Fayetteville, Franklin County)
The Scoop: I like this Erie team.
Outfielder Casper Wells came out of nowhere last season. Wells drilled three home runs in August vs. Harrisburg and also hit for the cycle at Akron in late July. He combined to bang 27 home runs between Class A and AA.
First baseman Ryan Strieby slammed 29 homers in the Florida State League – which isn’t easy to do, since those parks have big league dimensions – and is regarded as the Tigers’ top power-hiting prospect.
Erie’s two middle infielders, 2B Scott Sizemore and SS Cale Iorg, are future big league regulars.
The SeaWolves have an all-prospect rotation, as well; including Jonathan Kibler, Alfredo Figaro, Jonah Nickerson, and Brooks Brown, a former first-round pick of the Diamondbacks, who was recently picked up in minor trade. Cody Satterwhite has a power arm out of the bullpen.
Ultimately, how well these young pitchers handle the jump to Double-A will determine where this team finishes in the standing. I like Erie’s chances, though.
Grab a Sharpie for Iorg (son of former Blue Jay Garth), Wells, and Satterwhite.
3. Harrisburg Senators (73-69 in 2008)
The Manager: John Stearns
The Scoop: Will Commerce Bank Park – I’m sorry, Metro Bank Park – be a hot spot in Harrisburg again? The renovations are long overdue and should help change the culture of the franchise and its dwindling fan base.
Left-hander Ross Detwiler told me he’s worked out some mechanical issues that caused him so much frustration last season. A player with his pedigree should not have Class A hitters batting over .280 against him.
Stearns mentioned to me this is the best ballclub he's had to start a season in Harrisburg - and he's smarter than I am - so I put 'em in the top three.
Leonard Davis blew threw City Island on his way to AAA Columbus. I imagine his walk-to-strikeout total there (5-48) is why he’s back at Harrisburg.
LHP Cory VanAllen and 1B Bill Rhinehart sparked the club upon their arrivals last year and will have to perform for an entire season. Shortstop Ian Desmond looks to show more consistency at the plate and in the field. Same for Zech Zinicola on the mound.
Grab a Pen for Detwiler. Be on the look out for Chris Marerro and Michael Burgess, possible call-ups from Class A Potomac.
4. Bowie Baysox (84-58 in 2008, Southern Division champions)
The Manager: Brad Komminsk
The Scoop: No Matt Wieters this year, unfortunately; but the Birds do have some prospects here.
Jake Arrieta and Brandon Erbe are the best of the bunch; two right-handers with power stuff. Another righty, Jason Berken has a major league future, as well.
First baseman Brandon Snyder could be one of the top hitters in the EL. He’s a former first-round pick.
The BaySox outfield is chock full of prospects – from three years ago. If Ambiorix Concepcion, Jeff Fiorentino, and Dave Krynzel feast on EL hitting, they’ll be heading to Triple-A Norfolk, where they probably belong.
Melvin Dorta of Palmyra is on the Baysox this season.
Grab a Sharpie for Arrieta, Erbe, and Snyder; as well as Brian Matusz, who is starting the year at Frederick.
5. Reading Phillies (53-89 in 2008) 64-76
The Manager: Steve Roadcap (graduated from Upper Dauphin High School)
The Scoop: You think Ryan Howard’s big? Wait until you see Michael Taylor.
The 6’6,” 250 lb. outfielder may be the most talented player in the entire league. I’ve been following him since his freshman year at Stanford. He finally turned his vast potential into production last season and was named the Phillies' Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .346 with 19 homers and 88 RBI at Lakewood and Clearwater. This is a crucial year for him – was last season a fluke? I’m betting no.
Quintin Berry stole 51 bases at Clearwater and enjoyed a 30-game hit streak last year.
Brad Harman played in Philly last year, while Brian Stavisky saw time with the Lancaster Barnstormers.
Joe Savery is the big name on the pitching staff, but he’s following the footsteps of other Rice products – not living up to his billing as a pro. There’s no way the Phillies have given up on him, however.
Two advanced college prospects from the ’08 draft are in Baseballtown, Mike Stutes and Vance Worley. Antonio Bastardo was the talk of the system at one point last year.
Grab a Sharpie for Taylor, Savery, and Worley. Outfielder Dominic Brown could make a cameo later in the year.
6. Altoona Curve (65-77 in 2008)
The Manager: Matt Walbeck
The Scoop: The Curve returns more than a dozen players from last year’s team and also features a couple of disappointing first-round picks. Brad Lincoln missed all of 2007 with a arm injury and returned to post a 6-10 record in two stops last year. Can he rebound?
Poor Daniel Moskos was chosen ahead of Matt Wieters – not his fault, it was the Pirates’ who were scared by Wieters’ perceived asking price – and may develop into, at best, a middle reliever.
I’ve followed 2B Jim Negrych for years – he’s a Buffalo guy and I worked there – and he’s a classic baseball rat with a great bat. He was also the Pirates’ 2008 Minor League Player of the Year. Jeff Sues went a combined 4-2 between Lynchburg and Altoona and was the system’s Pitcher of the Year.
The Pirates landed OF Jose Tabata from the Yankees in the Xavier Nady deal. He was much better after the Curve and the Bucs’ feel they have a future star on their hands. I don’t see it. He’s yet to put together a full season of success and until he does, I’m not buying. Incidentally, Tabata’s wife was recently arrested for kidnapping a infant in Florida and passing off the child as her own.
Grab a Sharpie for Tabata (maybe this is the year he meets expectations), Lincoln and Negrych. Make sure to find Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates’ top pick last year from Vandy, if – and when – he’s promoted from Class A.
I'll take Akron over New Hampshire for the league championship.
