More Baseball Collusion in '08? Agents Say "Yes," Selig Says "No," MLBPA Not Speaking

With MLB union leader Donald Fehr planning to soon step down from his post, several MLB player agents are encouraging his likely successor, Michael Weiner, to take a more active stance against player collusion.

Unlike most other sports leagues, Major League Baseball has a long and well-documented history of colluding against its players. I provide a detailed account of Baseball's troubling history of collusion in my 2008 Wayne Law Review article, "Moving Past Collusion in Major League Baseball: Healing Old Wounds and Preventing New Ones." This article discusses specifically how Baseball's neutral arbitrator in the late 1980s, George Nicolau, found Commissioner Bud Selig directly involved in collusion. (see pages 619-20).

With respect to the game's newest collusion allegations, concern of such wrongful behavior first surfaced during the 2007-08 off-season when Barry Bonds's agent Jeff Borris announced that he believed the reason why Barry Bonds did not have a single contract offer for this season was collusion.

After reviewing the available evidence, the MLBPA announced in October 2008 that it had made a preliminary finding of collusion. However, rather than file a traditional labor grievance against the MLB club-owners, the union instead attempted to resolve the matter through private negotiation.

Thus far, the MLBPA's attempts to privately negotiate have not proved fruitful. Barry Bonds still has not received a single contract offer -- not even at the league minimum salary of $410,000. In addition, a growing number of veteran players have expressed a similar concern that they too have been collusion victims.

While the MLBPA has broad discretion to determine when, if at all, to file a formal collusion grievance, like any union, it is bound by its duty of fair representation. This means that the MLBPA cannot act in an arbitrary, discriminatory, or bad-faith manner against any of its members. Union membership includes even those who have opted out of joint licensing programs, such as Barry Bonds.

Refusing to file a collusion grievance, even after reaching a informal finding of wrongdoing, might place the MLBPA at some risk of facing a claim from Bonds for breach of the duty of fair representation. This risk, in essence, might eventually pressure the MLBPA to file a collusion grievance, presuming their talks with the MLB club-owners do not reduce union concerns of wrongdoing.

For these reasons, I fully expect the MLBPA to begin more aggressively addressing these recent concerns of collusion. Hopefully, these talks will lead to some candid answers for both those inside Baseball, and the game's fans.

(A similar version of this post previously appeared on Sports Law Blog).

Jonathan Sanchez is Jose Jimenez

This past week, the San Francisco Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez got a spot start after he was demoted to the bullpen June 28. I had him on my fantasy team and quickly dropped him, his 5.54 ERA probably worthy of his release regardless of whether he started or came out of the pen.

Then, on July 10, Sanchez came out of nowhere to throw a no hitter against the Padres (asterisk, right? It’s the San Diego Padres) and a day after Tim Lincecum went six and a third innings before giving up a hit against San Diego. I’m still not sold on Sanchez, as I’m sure most other people aren’t. The borinqueño pitched reasonably well for Puerto Rico in the World baseball Classic, but he has proved to be remarkably inconsistent over his brief major league career. Even with the no-hitter, his ERA is still 4.69 and his WHIP, despite no hits or walks over nine innings is still an even 1.50. In fact, an error by Juan Uribe was the only thing between Sanchez and perfection, which certainly must’ve made Uribe feel Julio Lugo-ish. At least someone didn’t get a base knock with two outs in the ninth inning.

No-hitters may not be all that rare, but perfect games most definitely are. For Sanchez to pitch a perfect game would have blown my mind, and he basically did a pitch a perfect game, at least on the pitcher’s end, so mind blown I guess. But is this a turning point for Sanchez’s career? Will he go the route of solid pitcher like Carlos Zambrano, Jon Lester and Justin Verlander before him? Or will he end up on the route of Anibal Sanchez, Bud Smith, and Jose Jimenez.

Jimenez is probably most comparable to Sanchez at this juncture in his career. Jimenez was in his first full big league season when he threw a no-hitter for St. Louis in 1999. He finished 1999 with a 5-14 record, a 5.85 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Sanchez is in his second full major league season as a starter and is 3-8 with the aforementioned 4.69 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Jimenez pitched until 2004, but 1999 was his only real season as a starter, another parallel to Sanchez who may very well be headed back to the bullpen.

Jimenez finished with a career ERA of 4.92 over the course of his seven seasons. Sanchez’s ERA over his four seasons? 5.07. Jimenez’s career WHIP was 1.45. Sanchez’s thus far is 1.50, the same as his WHIP thus far in 2009. Both are Hispanic pitchers whose names start with “Jo.” Both last names end in z and have seven letters. Both were 26 years old when they pitched their no hitter and both no hitters happened in a year ending in 9. And Lincoln was Kennedy’s secretary, and Kennedy was Lincoln’s secretary. Either way, my money’s on Jonathan Sanchez’s career turning out like Jose Jimenez’s. I’ll be happy to eat crow if I’m wrong, and if he shows more promise I may just pick him up on my fantasy team again, but until then, to me, he's just an Anibal Sanchez, Bud Smith, and most of all, Jose Jimenez.

The Mulligan: The 136th Open Championship

The Mulligan has been on a roll lately, picking 3 straight winners. Hopefully we can keep up the momentum for this week's tournament; "The Open Championship." This year, The British Open is being played on Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland. This should be a great week for all golf fans. I can't wait for Thursday.

Rory McIlroy has played well in the few majors he has participated in. He has the distance to give him an advantage over the shorter hitters, and growing up in England makes me think he has the game to handle the British Open style courses. I think The British Open is the title McIlroy has always dreamed of winning, and I think he will bring his A game.

Geoff Ogilvy has righted the ship after hitting a mild slump. If you have been following The Mulligan this season, you know how much I like Ogilvy. I stayed away from picking him recently because his game didn't seem as good as usual. However, mark my words. Ogilvy is back! He has finished in the Top-15 in 2 of his last 3 starts and I think it is safe to pick him again. Look for Ogilvy to finish this season strong, maybe with a jump start major victory at Turnberry.

I have a gut feeling that Henrik Stenson is going to contend this week. The Swede is due for a major championship. He won the Players earlier this year and he finished 9th in the US Open. He seems to elevate his game for the big tournaments and this is a big tournament.

The No-Brainer pick is Tiger Woods. Rather than waste your time about why I think he is a good pick, I will post this link that a friend of mine sent me telling about how Tiger and other players have their outfits chosen over a year in advance. Interesting stuff.

For this week's sleeper, I am going with Soren Kjeldsen. If you haven't heard of this Denmark native, don't worry. Unless you follow the European Tour with some regularity, you have no reason to know of him. However, Kjeldsen is the real deal. He has been tearing up the European Tour this season. He has finished in the Top-15 his last 4 starts and I think he could make some noise at The Open.

Good luck this week and lets keep moving to the top of the fantasy golf rankings!

First to Third: Acta Out as Nats Manager

In a move that was basically made a month ago, the Nationals fired manager Manny Acta and replaced him with Jim Riggleman. Riggleman will be interim manager for the second consecutive season after filling the role last year in Seattle after the departure of John McLaren.

Is all the losing Acta's fault? No way. Take a look at their roster. I'll give them credit for bringing in Adam Dunn in the off-season, but aside from Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman, there isn't much to build around in Washington. I liken them to those early 2000s Devil Rays that were absolutely hopeless. The first thing the Nats need to do is re-stock their farm system. The previous Nationals administration under Jim Bowden neglected the farm system and wasted time acquiring mediocre players who might not make another MLB team.

The first thing the Nats need to do is sign first overall pick Stephen Strasburg, the heralded pitcher some scouts say is the best pitching prospect in over a decade. Once they sign Strasburg, the Nats shouldn't rush him to the big leagues as they continue developing young talent to build around Strasburg. If I were GM of the Nats, no one (except maybe Zimmerman) is untouchable.

Above the Rim: NBA Off-season Moves

The NBA off-season started with a bang as the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired center Shaquille O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns, but there still might be one or two bullets (Carlos Boozer?) left in the chamber before the off-season is over. Here is a summary of the big moves so far.

Richard Jefferson, San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs traded for the talented wing after Jefferson spent last season in Milwaukee. Jefferson has shown that he can be very effective when playing with an all-star point guard (Jason Kidd in New Jersey) and that will continue in San Antonio where he will play with Tony Parker. The Spurs still have the pieces to win a championship with Parker and Tim Duncan both returning and healthy. Sixth man Manu Ginobli may be wearing down as it is taking him more and more time to come back from nagging injuries. With Ginobli deteriorating, Jefferson will step in and be the third option for the Spurs as they challenge the Lakers in the West. The Spurs gave up aging role players Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen, and Fabricio Oberto to get Jefferson, but RJ should be able to make up the difference as he helps spread the floor for Duncan and Parker and scores around 17 points per game this season.
Verdict- major upgrade; the Spurs gain a high scoring wing while giving up three veterans who are in decline

Vince Carter, Orlando Magic
The Magic traded Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, and Tony Battie for Carter (and Ryan Anderson). After watching the Magic dismantle the Cavaliers in the playoffs last season, I think this trade will actually hurt Orlando, along with the loss of Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic were built on perimeter shooting, ball movement, and Dwight Howard. Lee and Alston both fit that system well and Battie was a solid back-up in the post. Carter will not fit that system as well because he likes to dribble and drive. That could make the Magic stagnant as it will slow down the offense and result in lots of players becoming stationary. Alston was expendable with Jameer Nelson returning from last season’s injury, but the Magic have now lost Lee, who was a promising young guard, and Turkoglu. Carter can score, but he needs the ball and that could take away from the rest of the team’s effectiveness.
Verdict- one step backwards; the Magic lose a young core player in Lee and Carter may not mesh with Howard and Rashard Lewis

Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs finally pulled the trigger on the Shaq to Cleveland trade that was rumored at the February all-star break. Shaq played 75 games last season, his most since playing 73 in 2004-2005 with Miami when they won the championship and he should be motivated next season by the chance to win a ring with LeBron. However, the Cavs should not expect, nor do they need Shaq to match last season’s 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds. If Shaq can perform at that level, the Cavs would be thrilled, but with LeBron and Mo Williams already in the offense, the Cavs should be satisfied with 15 points and 7 or 8 rebounds a night. With shooters like Delonte West, Williams, and Daniel Gibson, the Cavs should also benefit from Shaq’s ability to pass out of the post. The Cavs still have Zydrunas Ilgauskas to back Shaq up and split minutes, so Shaq may not see 30 minutes a game like he did last season. However, this will keep both Shaq and Z fresher and healthier for the playoffs where Shaq should give the Cavs a better match-up with Dwight Howard than Anderson Varejao and Z did last season. With this acquisition, the Cavs greatly strengthened their front court and added size that should help against Orlando, Boston, and the Lakers.
Despite all of these positives that Shaq brings, the real plus for the Cavs is what they gave up to get him. Subtracting Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic without gaining anyone might be seen as improving the team and at least could be seen as not getting worse. So to add a talent like O’Neal while giving up two players who would not have played significant roles next season is a major coup for GM Danny Ferry. It is reminiscent of Ferry’s trade last off-season in which he gave up Joe Smith and Damon Jones and received future all-star Mo Williams in return.
Verdict- big upgrade in the post while not giving up any value

Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers and Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets
While both of these players were free agents, their signings virtually created a trade. The results should be interesting as well. The Lakers definitely improve in the short term with Artest joining Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol to make the Lakers the early favorites to repeat. Artest is more polished than Ariza, although a very similar player, and is an upgrade to the Lakers for the next three years.
However, Ariza is only 24 and could become much better than Artest by the end of the contract. A good perimeter defender with the ability to score, Ariza will be in his prime near the end of this contract and could become a star. Artest has probably peaked, and while he is a good player, there won’t be any more improvement.
Verdict- this deal makes the Lakers better in the short-term, but the Rockets better in the long-term. If Artest can keep his emotions in check and avoid the suspensions that have hurt him in the past, the Lakers should win at least one title in the three years of this contract. Artest represents a mild upgrade over Ariza due to his more polished game, especially offensively. However, the Lakers may have hurt themselves in the long run because Ariza may develop into an all-star. The Rockets, on the other hand, may not make the playoffs next year with injuries to Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but Ariza will be able to mature with Aaron Brooks, Von Wafer, and the Rockets other young players. When Yao returns and the Rockets use McGrady’s salary to sign other pieces when he comes off the books, the Rockets may be in a strong position to make a run at the Finals in the last few seasons of Ariza’s 5-year deal.

Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon, Detroit Pistons
The Pistons made a splash on the first day of free agency by spending $90 million on these two young players. Coming off a disappointing season in which the Pistons made the playoffs, but finished under .500 and were swept by the Cavs in the first round, the Pistons used their cap space to add two of the better young players in free agency. Initially targeting Carlos Boozer, the Pistons turned to Villanueva after Boozer exercised his player option with the Jazz. Villanueva will provide the Pistons with scoring and rebounding at the 4, but he will not be the banger Rasheed Wallace was. Villanueva is more of a finesse forward and is not as good defensively as Wallace. However, because he is only 24, Villanueva could grow into a more complete power forward and show he is worth $40 million over 5 years.
Gordon has already proven that he can score with anyone in the league, including Ray Allen in the playoffs, but the Bulls were unable to persuade him to stay in Chicago. The Pistons gain a shooting guard with unlimited range to plug next to promising young combo guard Rodney Stuckey. While Gordon can shoot the lights out, he is only 6’3” which can present match-up problems with some of the NBA’s bigger backcourts and Gordon is not very strong defensively to begin with. The signing also gives the Pistons three shooting guards (with Stuckey and Rip Hamilton) and no real point guard.
In these two deals, the Pistons sacrifice defense for offense and get younger in the process. Neither Villanueva nor Gordon will carry this team defensively like a Tayshaun Prince or Ben or Rasheed Wallace would. Also, neither player is the go-to-guy that can absolutely carry a team to victory. Both are good players, but they are not at the level where they will put a team over the top. The Pistons should see improvement, but they will not be able to catch Orlando, Cleveland, or Boston.
Verdict- moderate upgrade with defensive questions

Rasheed Wallace, Boston Celtics
This deal should help the Celtics depth, but should not be a very big upgrade. Wallace joins a crowded front court where Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and Leon Powe are already fighting for minutes. Wallace could provide intensity and perimeter shooting at the 4, but his potential contribution is being greatly exaggerated. Garnett will still be the starter, and Davis and Powe are productive back-ups who will also get playing time. While the Celtics did not spend much to obtain Wallace (just the mid-level exception), the signing will not put them over the top. If Wallace plays, it will take minutes from Powe, Davis, and maybe Garnett. If he doesn’t play as much, then his contribution is even more limited. Wallace does not present a major upgrade over what Boston already had, so it does not improve them that much to play him instead of their other post players.
Verdict- staying in place

Potential deals that could make waves are the rumored three team trade that would send Carlos Boozer to the Bulls and Kirk Hinrich to the Blazers, Boozer to the Pistons for Hamilton, and Boozer to Miami. I don’t think Boozer will be traded, but he could be the final piece of a championship for some teams in the league, especially the Bulls.

Fab Four of Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks Edition

It’s that time of year again. The time of year when fantasy football season is so close your insides start to tingle with excitement and anticipation, yet, just far off enough to make any final decisions regarding player rankings premature; so much can happen between now and draft day. But while it’s too early to solidify a plan of attack for your league(s)’s draft (wait until a week before your draft ) it’s a great idea to keep track of how things stand to prevent becoming overwhelmed at the last minute. With that in mind, here is a list of the top quarterbacks to draft this fantasy football season as it currently stands.

1. Drew Brees- As last year’s top fantasy quarterback, Brees is my, and seemingly the whole of the fantasy community’s pick for #1 quarterback this season. While Brees doesn’t exude the glitz and glamour of his follow quarterbacks ( he doesn’t have a slew of national endorsements, nor does he have a new supermodel wife) what Brees does have is far more valuable: a career on the upswing, consistency and the ability to throw deep and accurate. Since his acquisition by the Saints in 2006, Brees has thrown for more than 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns per season. ( 2006: 4418 yds/26 TD; 2007: 4423 yds/28 TD; and 2008: 5069 yds/ 34 TD) But, even prior to this, since 2003 to be exact, Brees’ yards per season has been increasingly at a steady rate. This progression, paired with the return of healthier targets in Reggie Bush and Marques Colston, sets Brees up for another high producing season.

2. Peyton Manning- Manning is in my top 5 because, well, how could you not put Peyton in your top 5. What other quarterback is so well versed in dissecting defenses and so trusted by his organization that he actually usurps one of the primary functions of an offensive coordinator /coach and calls plays as he sees fit. Manning is the type of player who can make something out of nothing; he is a master of putting together scoring drives from the most adverse situations. (Yes, I’m gushing, and no, I’m not a Colts fan) Just take a look at last season. Despite a rough start, knee injury and overall lackluster year for the Colts, Manning still threw for 27 touchdowns, 4002 yards and garnered his third NFL MVP award. While some may worry about the departure of Marvin Harrison, a perennial favorite target, I wouldn’t have concern.... at all. To be honest, Harrison hasn’t done much fantasy wise as of late and Manning still has Reggie Wayne as a target. In any case, Peyton Manning is a top fantasy quarterback because he is, in a word, clutch, and in fantasy football, clutch is what you aim for.

3. Philip Rivers- Also in a career upswing, as last year’s No. 3 overall highest FF scoring quarterback, Philip Rivers threw for an impressive 4009 yds/43 T.D., a significant increase from 3152 yds/21 T.D. in 2007. But more importantly, Rivers finally established in himself ‘08 not only as a top quarterback, but the focal point of the Chargers’ Offense. With LaDainian Tomlinson’s production on the wane, the Chargers will become increasingly more dependent on Rivers to lead the offense. If Rivers continues to connect with Vincent Jackson and if Antonio Gates stays healthy, you can expect an even better season out of Rivers this year.

4. Tom Brady- For all of those still experiencing flashbacks and other assorted symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to last season’s Brady catastrophe, why don’t you take a moment before carrying forth with this analysis. Ok, we all good? Alright, let’s get on with it. A lot of people aren’t too sure what to make of Brady this year; on one hand he’s a key player recovering from a season ending injury with almost a full year of rust to shake off, but on the other he’s freaking Tom Brady, and as much as it hurts me to say it, if there’s one person who could come back from injury better than before, its him. Still, if you’re still concerned, consider the following: Brady is not a scrambler. Much of the concern regarding an ACL/MCL injury is the agility of the player following recovery. However, with Brady this won’t be a major concern. Why? Because Brady is not a scrambler by nature nor will his team force him to become one. Brady is blessed with one of the most talent-rich teams in the entire NFL; his O-Line holds defenders long enough for him to make plays and his receivers find ways to get open. Because of this, (and strict post throw contact penalties), Brady will be able, for the most part, to drop back and pass without much juking or twisting, decreasing the likelihood of rupturing last year’s injury. Still not convinced? Keep in mind how willing the Patriots were to depart with their #1 backup for next-to-nothing, this shows the confidence the organization has in both the progress of Brady’s healing and his ability to bounce back.

Alternates: Kurt Warner, Tony Romo

And Now You Know!: The Derby

The home run derby is coming up this week and many consider it the best exhibition event in all of sports. Why not? SportsCenter highlights every home run hit and the most important record in sports in highlighted by the number 755 (unless you think that the new record is 762). I don't even have to tell you what 755 represents but it is a meter of the most spectacular individual event in a game over a career.

Participants from both leagues line up to launch balls into fans of all ages with their own baseball gloves. Since 1985 this exhibition has been a part of All-Star week and all but a handful who have won the event are hall-of-famers or soon to be by the end of their career (excluding those snubbed by voters for PEDs). Griffey Jr. is the only multiple winner of this event, winning 3 times.

Looking back at this event, especially recently, it isn't the big names that you'd typically expect to walk away with the hardware at the end of the night.

2008- Justin Morneau
2007- Vladimir Guerrero
2006- Ryan Howard
2005- Bobby Abreu
2004- Miguel Tejada
2003- Garret Anderson
2002- Jason Giambi
2001- Luis Gonzalez
2000- Sammy Sosa

Sure they are big names that anyone would recognize but these guys don't typically finish the year near the top. Take last year's winner, Morneau. He entered the contest with just 14 HR and finished the year with 23. Vlad entered with 14 HR also and finished the year with 27 in 2007. Howard was an exception in 06 but Abreu only had 18 HR at the break and just 24 to finish the year. Tejada 15 at break/34 at season's end. Anderson 22/29. Giambi 22/41. Gonzalez 35/57. Sosa 23/50. The only guy to lead the league in home runs since 2000 was Howard in 2006. (Griffey did it back-to-back years in 1998-99).

In 2005 Pudge Rodriguez was a runner up after having just 6 HR at the break.

Since 1995 Ryan Howard is the only guy to win the HR derby and MVP in the same season. So is it irony or just that the HR derby messes up a player's swing and potentially their season? Players are backing out before they are even asked. As of the posting of this article there had been no official announcement of AL participants. Can MLB afford this egg on their face or will we be forced to watch Adam Jones, Robinson Cano, Nick Green, and Ryan Freel participate on Monday? I hope not. As long as it's not the likes of Jason Bay, Brett Boone, or Troy Glaus, just a few of the guys who have laid their own egg in the Derby.

And Now You Know! (And Knowing is Half the Battle)

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not Around the Minor Leagues: O’s Matusz Looks to be Ready

Matusz has allowed only 1 earned run in 4 Eastern League starts

The American League East is easily Baseball’s best division, and it has been for a few years now. The Baltimore Orioles finished last in 2008, and currently find themselves bringing up the rear. In fact, over the last 7 years they have the Division’s worst record, haven’t finished above 4th place, and have finished an average of more than 26 games out. You have to go all the way back to 1997 to even find a plus .500 finish. In other words, it’s been a tough go if you are an Orioles fan. But things are beginning to look a lot brighter in Baltimore.

Led by 23yo Adam Jones, four of the Oriole’s (Markakis -25, Weiters -23, Reimold-25) seven best offensive players are 25 or younger. 23yo, Brad Bergesen and 24yo, David Hernandez have quickly established themselves as two of Baltimore’s best pitchers. But the real strength of the Orioles, may lie in the near Major League-ready arms. 21yo, Chris Tillman is making the Eric Bedard trade look like robbery. 23yo, Jake Arrieta is in Norfolk, sporting a 2.90 ERA. 23yo, Troy Patton appears to have recovered from labrum surgery and has a 2.63 ERA. And 2008 1st round pick Brian Matusz, may be the best of the bunch. Through 4 Eastern (ESL) League starts, Matusz is sporting a 0.34 ERA, and heads up this Week’s ‘Hot’ List.

Hot Pitchers –

1) Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL - Matusz possesses some of the Minor League’s best secondary offerings, and right now is using it to tear through the ESL. The 4th overall pick last June, Matusz has posted a 0.44 ERA, 0.639 WHIP with a 22:5 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, and now has a 1.65 ERA on the season.

2) Marc Rzepcyzynski, LHP, TOR – We had Rzepcyzynski rated as the 5th best college pitcher available in the 2007 draft, but the scouts apparently saw it differently, as they Jays got him in the 5th round. Although he lacks a true out pitch, Rzepcyznski has excellent control over all four of his offering. Over his last three starts, including Tuesday night’s Major League debut, Rzepcyzynski has posted a 1.04 ERA, a 0.981 WHIP, with a 23:8 K:BB ratio, leaving his season ERA at 2.60.

3) Rickey Romero, LHP, TOR – Back to back Blue Jays, as the 24yo Romero has been lights out all season. While he technically used up his rookie eligibility a couple of starts ago, his 1.26 ERA, .984 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB ratio are worthy of a mention here.

4) Guillermo Moscoso, RHP, TEX – Acquired from the Tigers in December, the 25yo Moscoso is back starting in Oklahoma City after a brief stint as a reliever with the big league club. Although conventional wisdom indicates that he profiles best in relief, since returning to AAA Moscoso has a 0.64 ERA, a 0.643 WHIP and a 10:4 K:BB ratio in three appearances.

5) Matt Moore, LHP, TBR – A holdover from last week, Moore has been one of our favorites since the Rays ‘stole’ him in the 8th round of the 2007 draft. All of his pitches have tremendous late action, and, once he learns to harness his control, he will become one of the best arms in a very talented system. A 0.47 ERA, a 0.828 WHIP with a 26:6 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, leaves Moore with a 2.80 ERA on the season.

6) Jeurys Familia, RHP, NYM – This week’s ‘Who’s He?’ award winner, Familia is rapidly becoming one of the best arms in the Mets’ system. Signed as a 17yo out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, Familia posted a 2.79 ERA in the GCL in 2008. Challenged with a stint in full season ball as a 19yo, Familia has added a couple of mph to his fastball and is throwing with tremendous confidence. Over the last two weeks, Familia has a 0.73 ERA, a 0.730 WHIP and a 14:4 K:BB ratio, giving him a 2.80 ERA in the South Atlantic (SAL) League.

7) Scott Barnes, LHP, SFG – One of the most polished pitchers in the CAL, the 21yo Barnes has dominated lower level hitters since being drafted in the 8th round last June. Working on a stretch of 18 plus scoreless innings, where he has a 1.111 WHIP and a 27:4 K:BB ratio, Barnes has a 2.93 ERA on the season.

8) Chris Tillman, RHP, BAL – Acquired from the Mariners in the Erik Bedard trade, Tillman is rapidly becoming one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Barely a 21yo, Tillman is dominating International (INT) League hitters, allowing a .219 Average Against. Tillman has posted a 3.14 ERA, a 0.767 WHIP, with a 12:4 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks.

9) Jordan Lyles, RHP, HOU – One of the most scrutinized picks of the 2008 draft, it looks like the Astros are going to end up with the last laugh. Only 18yo, and in the SAL, Lyles has posted a 2.12 ERA, a 1.235 WHIP, with a 20:5 K:BB ratio over his last three starts and now sports a 2.92 ERA for the season.

10) Andrew Cashner, RHP, CHN - Two weeks in a row at the #9 spot, the Cubs first round pick in 2008, had a horrendous debut last summer. His start wasn’t a lot better this Spring, as Cashner struggled mightily with his control. However, since mid-May, Cashner has reduced his walk rate to 2.0 BB per 9IP. A 1.00 ERA, 0.839 WHIP and a 9:3 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks leaves his season ERA at 1.53. Even more impressive, after allowing more walks than strikeouts last season, Cashner now has a 40:15 K:BB ratio on the year.


Hot Hitters –

1) Derek Norris, C, WSN – We were one of the few places that had Norris as a Top 100 prospect entering the season, and Norris has not disappointed, as he has quickly established himself as one of the top 5 catching prospects in the Minors. A .362/.464/.787 over his last 60 PAs, leaves him with a 1.021 OPS on the season.

2) Alex Liddi, 3B, SEA – Since the first pitch of the season, no position player has more consistently performed this year than Liddi. Rarely do you find a player with the tools, the projectable frame, the work ethic and the production on the field, all in the same package, but that is exactly what Liddi brings to the table. A .444/.468/.822 over his last 50 PA’s gives him a 1.050 OPS on the season. While his strikeout rate is improved slightly (26% to 24%) over last season, this still remains Liddi’s biggest obstacle to elite prospect status.

3) Matt Dominguez, 3B, FLA – Already one of the Minor’s best fielding third basemen, Dominguez’s bat is also starting to come around. A .320/.414/.660 over his last 60 PAs, ups his OPS to .740 for the year. Remember, Dominguez is still a 19yo playing in Hi-A.

4) Sebastian Valle, C, PHI – The Phillies signed Valle as a 16yo out of Mexico in 2006 and sent him to the Dominican Summer (DSL) League in 2007, where we had him with the third best age-adjusted offensive performance. After getting off to a fast start in the GCL last June, Valle limped home with a .748 OPS. The Phillies, for some reason, decided to start him in the SAL this year, where his struggles continued. When the short season leagues opened, Valle was shipped to Williamsport of the NYP and has seen a change of fortune. The 19yo has posted a .406/.475/.719, through 40 NYP PAs.

5) Jonathan Galvez, 2B, SDP – Galvez commanded one of the highest bonuses given to a Latin American 16yo in 2007, when the Padres inked him to a $750,000 deal. The Padres sent him to the DSL last year, where he posted a solid, but not spectacular performance. 55 Arizona League ABs this year have been eye-opening, as Galvez has posted a .400/.526/.578.

6) Anthony Gose, OF, PHI - Admittedly, Gose doesn’t profile well as the type of player we like. He is limited defensively to LF, is more tools than production, and strikes out way too often given his limited power. All that being said, we are intrigued, both by his 47 SBs this year, and the fact that he seems to be holding his own offensively as an 18yo in the SAL. While not predicting he will reach it, we can see a Lonnie Smith type ceiling for him. Over the last two weeks, Gose has posted a .462/.533/.590 and now has a .745 OPS on the season.

7) James McOwen, LF, SEA – This is one of the rare times that a nearly 24yo in the California (CAL) League will appear on this list. While, given his age and defensive limitations, McOwen is not a ‘prospect’, he currently sports a 44-game hitting streak that is the longest in the Minors since 1954 and that rates a ‘hot’ spot. Over the last two weeks, McOwen has posted a .480/.519/.820 and now has a .913 OPS on the year.

8) Greg Halman, OF, SEA – The Minor League’s streakiest player is on another run. After nearly a month of absolutely abysmal play, Halman seems to have things back on track. When he’s hot he’s hot and over his last 63 PAs, Halman is on fire, posting a .339/.381/.814. More impressive is that while Halman has fanned nearly once every 2.5 ABs on the season, he has fanned only once every 4 ABs during this stretch.

9) Austin Romine, C, NYY – One of the most underrated catching prospects in baseball, the 20yo Romine was the Yankees’ 2nd round pick in 2007. He has the complete package for a catcher, including tremendous baseball savvy. Over the last two weeks, Romine has posted a . 290/.371/.581 and has a .801 OPS for the year.

10) Roger Kieschnick, OF, SFG – Selected by the Giants in the 3rd round last June, Kieschnick didn’t make his professional debut until this year. Making up for lost time, Kieschnick has been on fire in the California (CAL) League. A .318/.400/.750 over the last two weeks, gives the 22yo a .905 OPS on the year.


The Nots –

1) Brett Cecil, LHP, TOR – Cecil can’t seem to get over the hump in moving from AAA to the Majors. Major League hitters are batting .344 against him in two stints this year and over his last three starts he has a 14.73 ERA, a 3.682 WHIP with a 6:8 K:BB ratio.

2) Adys Portillo, RHP, SDP – So far, it hasn’t been a good year for the 2008 class of Latin American 16yos. Michel Ynoa has battled arm problems and has yet to make his debut. Juan Duran went 22 ABs before getting his first hit. In 18 games, Yorman and Rafael Rodriguez are still without an extra base hit. And Adys Portillo is getting lit up in the Arizona League after signing for $2.0MM last July. Through 3 starts, Portillo has posted a 8.10 ERA, a 2.500 WHIP and a 7:7 K:BB ratio.

3) Aaron Bates, 1B, BOS – Bates has never been more than a fringe prospect, but at the moment even that status appears to be in doubt. A .088/.162/.118 over the last two weeks, leaves the 25yo Bates with a .808 OPS on the year.

4) Kyler Burke, OF, CHN – After posting solid months in May and June, where he had an OPS above .830, Burke has faded badly over the last two weeks, where he has gone .136/.224/.136. To make matters worse, he hasn’t had an extra base hit since June 19th.

5) Nick Schmidt, LHP, SDP – The 23yo Schmidt completely dominated Midwest (MWL) League hitters over the first 2 ½ months. Unfortunately, as we always point out, results by older players against younger opponents don’t typically mean a whole lot and Schmidt has found the going in the CAL a bit more difficult. He’s posted a 11.48 ERA, 2.025 WHIP with a 8:10 K:BB ratio over his first three Hi-A starts.

6) Brad Holt, RHP, NYM – After laying an egg in his season opening start, Holt strung together 8 straight excellent starts in the Florida State (FSL) League, earning him a promotion to Binghamton. Unfortunately, the 22yo Holt is finding the ESL quite a bit more challenging. Over his last three starts, Holt has a 12.46 ERA and a 1.731 WHIP. His ERA since the promotion stands at 8.40.

7) Ty Worthington, OF, ARZ – Worthington is a ‘toolsy’, athletic, project that the Diamondbacks took on with a 5th round pick in 2007. Medical issues have limited both his playing time and his productivity. In his third season, but still in short season ball, Worthington is once again struggling. A .100/.156/.133 over the last two weeks, leaves him with a .406 OPS in 50 Northwest (NWL) League PAs.

8) Xavier Avery, OF, BAL – Another of those ‘toolsy’, athletic types (is it clear yet that I don’t like them), Avery has struggled in his first look at full-season ball. A .159/.196/.182 leaves his OPS at .644 on the season. At only 19yo, there is still time for the tools to turn into production…but I remain skeptical.

9) Efrain Nieves, LHP, MIL – The 19yo Nieves entered the season seemingly poised for a breakout, after adding a couple of MPH to his fastball, but things haven’t worked out that way, as Nieves continues to miss his spots within the strikezone—allowing opposing hitters to tee off on him to the tune of a .321 Average Against. Over the last two weeks, Nieves has posted a 15.00 ERA, a 2.667 WHIP and a 4:6 K:BB ratio, leaving him with a 6.49 ERA on the season.

10) Angel Villalona, 1B, SFG – While we aren’t in ‘danger’ territory yet, there are beginning to be a number of concerns surrounding Villalona. Still just 18yo, and already in the California (CAL) League, is a positive sign, but at 6’3”, 205 lbs, his increasing immobility continues to raise the bar for his bat. A .167/.167/.188 over the last two weeks has dropped his OPS to .704 on the year and 73 Ks in 292 ABs doesn’t make one feel any better.

Chin Music: Unknowns to Knowns

This week I’m going to briefly take a look at the players who have impressed thus far in the Cape Cod Baseball League, and if history tells us anything, some of these players are already on your radar, or will be for years to come. Most of these players don’t have the pedigree of being big names before coming to the Cape League, but they are all helping their own causes with impressive seasons thus far.


Cody Hawn - The Hyannis first basemen was drafted in the 41st round out of high school but the impression he made at Walters State CC (.401, 23 HR, 71 RBI) gave him a shot to play at Tennessee next year. His Cape League numbers prove that his juco stats were no fluke. He’s hitting .382 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in just 34 at bats. The Cape League could put Hawn on the map much in the way it did with Tim Lincecum, who was also a 40+ round draft pick out of high school.

Kyle Roller – Another first basemen with similar numbers to Hawn, Roller is hitting .323 with 3 HR and 11 RBI in his 62 at bats. Roller was taken in the 47th round of this year’s draft by Oakland. While he is having an impressive offensive season this summer for the Bourne Braves, his defense remains a question with his 250 pound frame.

Chris Sale – The Florida Gulf Coast sophomore boasts a 1.29 ERA with 30 strike outs in 28 innings pitched. Sale was taken in the 21st round by Colorado out of high school but the left hander looks to have increased his draft stock going into the 2010 MLB Draft.

Ryan Cuneo – Originally signed a temporary player until players from the College World Series arrived, Cuneo impressed in Hyannis that he was signed on for the full season. Sharing first base and DH duties with Cody Hawn, Cuneo is hitting .308 with 2 HR and a league leading 13 RBI through just 17 games. Cuneo plays college ball under the radar at Delaware and was undrafted out of high school.

Eric Cantrell – The George Washington sophomore pitcher has a 2.25 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched for the Bourne Braves. Cantrell has won the Pitcher of the Week Award and is in line to win another this week.

Austin Wates – The Y-D outfielder is hitting .387 and, despite no home runs, has an OPS of .966. He has 10 RBI and 7 extra base hits. The Virginia Tech sophomore was undrafted out of high school.

Jack Armstrong – Wareham’s starter threw a 2-hitter against one of the top offensive teams in Hyannis in a shortened 7 inning complete game earlier this week. The Vanderbilt pitcher is the son of former Cincinnati Red’s pitcher of the same name. He has a 3-0 record with a 1.47 ERA and 15 strikeouts through 18 innings pitched thus far. Armstrong was drafted in the 36th round by the Rangers out of high school.

The Mulligan: John Deere Classic

This week the Tour heads to TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois for the John Deere Classic. Deere Run is an easy course and birdies should be flying all over the place this week. For this reason, I recommend picking players who are riding high on momentum for fantasy golf this week. The players who are on a hot streak right now might see the streak extend onto this easy course, resulting in very low scores. Don't be surprised if the winner gets near the -20's this week.

First, I think Lucas Glover has a good chance of winning this week. We all know what he did at Bethpage a few weeks ago, beating the best of the best when the pressure was on. But not everyone has been following Glover so closely since the Open. He has finished T11th and 5th the past two weeks. Thats 3 straight weeks in the top 11 and a recent major victory. It is hard to top a streak like that.

Next, I think Steve Stricker will play well this week. Stricker has 11 Top-25 finishes in 14 starts this season, and he has really been putting well. He is third in putts per green in regulation. I think Stricker's strong putting will translate into more birdies than most this week and maybe even a win. Look for Stricker to have a great week.

Finally, Kenny Perry should have a good week at the John Deere. Perry has 2 wins this season and he has five Top-10 finishes to go along with those. To top it all off, Perry won this tournament last year. If you play fantasy golf, Kenny Perry needs to be in your lineup this week. This is as close to a no-brainer as starting Tiger Woods at the Buick.

Good luck this week and lets keep moving to the top of the fantasy golf rankings!

SportsJudge PTI: Joey Chestnut aka American Hero

This week Chris and Adam reflect on the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and dream of one day competiting for glory.

Chris

Every year I look forward to the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on the 4th of July. In recent years, we have seen epic battles between Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut, the two best hot dog eaters on this planet. I was happy to see Chestnut take the title this for America this year on Independence Day.

The best part about the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is the ridiculous coverage on ESPN. This year, they compared Kobayashi’s hot dog dunking ability to Kobe Bryant’s basketball dunking ability. They also keep track of each competitor’s previous eating championships, which can get very strange. Among those in this year’s field included the World Champion Eater of Fried Okra, and a woman who could eat 10% of her body weight in cheesecake.

This truly is a unique event that has become an American tradition. I look forward to watching this event for years to come, and cheering on Joey Chestnut on the 4th.

Adam

I have never watched the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest, but Chris reminded me this year so I treated myself to a Ruthian display of chewing and swallowing. After the competition this weekend, I was left wondering who is the better competitor eater: Takeru Kobayashi or Joey Chestnut? The debate is not just who is better currently, but who is the best ever. No one else enters the conversation which is why ESPN’s coverage barely left the two competitors, who were seated side-by-side, during the 10 minute race. Other competitors who could make waves in the future, Pat Bertoletti and Tim “Eater X” Janus, appear to be a few years of training and development away from seriously contending for first.

I am going to pick Chestnut as the best competitive eater ever. Although he only has 3 titles to “Tsunami” Kobayashi’s 6, Chestnut has smashed world records on his way to his recent 3-peat. In the postgame interview following his stunning display of digestive endurance, Chestnut claimed that he could have eaten 71 hot dogs during the 10 minute race but that he didn’t push himself to that extreme because he already had a 3 hot dog lead on Kobayashi. To totally destroy a world record while coasting down the stretch reminds me of another world class athlete who pulled up near the finish line to showboat: Usain Bolt. Bolt and Chestnut both are young and burst onto the scene of their sports with stunning dominance. The only difference is that Chestnut has been able to maintain his dominance over a 3 year period while Bolt has only done it once. If Bolt comes to London in 2012 and breaks his sprinting records, then we can put him in the same class as Chestnut.

Comparing Chestnut to Kobayashi, I know the Tsunami has 6 titles, but Chestnut’s 3 titles have all been extremely memorable. His first title, in just his third Nathan’s competition came in 2007 when he ate a world record 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. In 2008, the competition was shortened to 10 minutes because of both Chestnut and Kobayashi smashing the world record by cracking 60 in ’07. They responded by eating 59 hot dogs and going to a 5 hot dog overtime period which Chestnut won. Both 2007 and 2008 saw Chestnut stage a comeback to catch Kobayashi in the last minutes of the competition showing the drive and heart that Chestnut brings to this competition. Some of Joe Montana’s nicknames (Joe Cool, The Comeback Kid) are more appropriately bestowed on this indulger of the weenie. Chestnut completely smashed the competition in 2009 with a world record of 68 hot dogs eaten and also saw his widest margin of victory in the competition, beating Kobayashi by 3 ½ hot dogs. While Kobayashi had won 6 straight titles, he appears to be on the decline of his career, like Ken Griffey Jr. after he was traded to the Reds. Of Kobayashi’s 6 titles, only 4 set world records while Chestnut set the 12 minute mark and then consecutive 10 minute records. So in half the titles, Chestnut has almost matched Kobayashi’s world records. By continuing to set world records, Chestnut is not just winning the competition, he is continually going above and beyond what we all thought was athletically and physically possible. Man is not meant to eat so many delicious Nathan’s hot dogs, but Chestnut’s stomach of steel continues to shock and amaze us with this remarkable ability of digestion. With Kobayashi on the downside of his illustrious career, Chestnut should have a few years of easy championships before Bertoletti or Janus can challenge him. Look for Chestnut to have 5 or 6 titles and a world record of 75 hot dogs before he is seriously challenged again making him one of the United States most celebrated athletes, remembered every 4th of July when young gluttons attempt to attain the high level of accomplishment that we have been blessed to witness.

First to Third: Welcome to Trade Season

Earlier this week, the Pirates continued their annual dismantling, sending Nyjer Morgan, Sean Burnett, and Eric Hinske packing, this coming after Nate McLouth was dealt to the Braves. Mark DeRosa was sent to the Cardinals this week as teams continue to scour MLB looking for that "last piece of the puzzle" that would propel them to October baseball. With only five teams 10 or more games out of first place, trading may not get into full swing until the end of July, but here's a list of players that could get traded:

• Matt Holliday, OF, A's: My pick for the AL West is in the cellar right now and likely stuck there for the remainder of the season. Holliday is a free agent and could help a lot of teams, if they're willing to pay the likely steep asking price.
• Cliff Lee, P, Indians: Another year, another disappointment for Cleveland, who is currently sporting the worst record in the American League. Cleveland is due for a major roster shakeup and Lee is a free agent in 2010, unlikely to resign with Cleveland. Now would be a good time for the Indians to get some value in return for Lee.
• Jack Wilson, SS, Pirates: Clearly, Wilson is not happy in Pittsburgh. After the most recent Pirate trades, Wilson criticized team management for the second time in a year and is in the last year of his contract (2010 team option). Time for Wilson and the Pirates to go their seperate ways.
• Erik Bedard, P, Mariners: After a terrible 2008, Bedard has rebounded nicely and is 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA. A free agent at the end of the year, Bedard will command big bucks and probably won't get it from the Mariners. If his pricetag comes down, Bedard will be moving.
  

And Now You Know!: NASCAR HOF

Finally, the nominations are in for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. How many people can you put in an inaugural hall of fame class? That is the debate brewing in NASCAR these days. The first class won't be until 2010 but with so many historic drivers in the last 50+ years, can they all go in first-class?

MLB had five in their first class. There was Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. These five players received the required 75% of the vote to get into the hall. Lately, it seems as if only a few players each year are elected into the Hall as voters are very cautious who they let into the fraternity of brothers.

In the NBA in 1959 there was an inaugural induction class consisting of 15 players, coaches, referees, and contributors along with the First Team and the Original Celtics. Not exactly a list of the big names going in on the first ballot for the NBA, in fact the only name you might recognize is Dr. James Naismith. Every year the NBA lets in a half-dozen or so members as their Hall expands exponentially.

The NHL opened their doors in 1945 allowing 12 players to enter on first ballot along with two builders of the game. Of those 14members, it'd be hard to find one name that stood out amongst all others but at the time the NHL felt all men were worthy of the Hall.

In the Pro Football Hall of Fame it consists of more than just the NFL's short existence. The Hall of fame opened it's doors in 1963 shortly around the time of the merger. The inaugural class had 17 members some more prolific than others including Jim Thorpe, George Halas, and Red Grange, to name a few.

So that brings us back to the NASCAR inaugural class. Is there something to be said about being the first drivers in? Well looking back across the other four major sports in the United States, one would see that MLB appears to be the most strict when allowing members in and maybe NASCAR will follow suit. The nominees though are essentially the top 25 drivers of all time with the exception of possibly Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart?

From Dale Earnhart to Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough or Richard Petty, the list of these top 25 drivers will all eventually get into the Hall of Fame so would it be wrong to put them all in right away?

And Now You Know! (And Knowing is Half the Battle)

Who’s Hot and Who’s Not Around the Minor Leagues: Mariners’ Liddi Carries Hopes of a Continent

An invasion of European players may well depend on the likes of Alex Liddi

It is hard enough being a 20yo baseball prospect trying to claw your way to the big leagues. It is even harder when you carry the hopes of your nation along for the ride. But few players have the possibility of creating paradigm shifts along with their success. Yet that is exactly what the skinny kid from San Remo, Italy faces every time he steps on the field. Alex Liddi, you see, may represent the first wave of what could well turn into an invasion of European players to the Major League game.

When the Mariners signed Liddi, for $55,000, as a 17yo, in the fall of 2005, he was one of four players signed from the inaugural Major League Baseball European academy in Tirrenia, Italy. Only he and the Cubs’ Alessandro Maestri remain. As July 2nd approaches, and with it the start of the International signing period, players like Germany’s 16yo centerfielder, Max Keppler, are eagerly watching Liddi’s 2009 success. For with it may come a flood future European-born players to the Major Leagues. Thankfully, for the Europeans, they have a player of tremendous character and work ethic to pioneer their cause and it is Liddi that sits atop this week’s list.

Hot Hitters –

1) Alex Liddi, 3B, SEA – We have been leading the Liddi bandwagon since the beginning of the season. Rarely do you find a player with the tools, the projectable frame, the work ethic and the production on the field, all in the same package, but that is exactly what Liddi has brought to the table all season long. A .395/.435/.767 over his last 50 PA’s gives him a 1.043 OPS on the season. Liddi will still need to continue to improve upon his roughly 25% strikeout rate as he moves up the ladder, but he has come from off the radar to one of the top prospects in the game with his performance this season.

2) Lance Zawadzki, SS, SDP – Zawadzki is another of those players who is putting together a breakout season. He was a 4th round pick out of NAIA Lee University in Tennessee in 2007 and has put up respectable numbers in two previous seasons. His success in the Texas (TXL) League was crucial to his prospect status and he has certainly not disappointed. A .510/.590/.745 over his last 62 PAs, leaves him with a .950 OPS on the year.

3) Tyler Flowers, C, CHA – Flowers was the centerpiece in this past winter’s Javier Vazquez trade. With A.J. Pierzynski getting a bit long in the tooth, the White Sox are hoping that Flowers will be able to step into that roll by 2011. Flowers has posted a .361/.489/.806 over the last two weeks and now has his OPS at .965 on the year. We continue to caution against too much optimism in Flower’s ability to remain at Catcher over the long haul, but his bat should play most anywhere.

4) Derrik Gibson, 2B/SS, BOS – Gibson, perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Casey Kelly’s mound success, was the Red Sox second round choice in the 2008 draft. He has the glove, the speed and the bat to be an impact middle infielder at the next level, and has gotten off to a scorching (.471/.600/.735) start in his New York-Penn (NYP) debut.

5) Freddie Freeman, 1B, ATL – After a somewhat slow start, Freeman is picking right up where he left off last season. A .378/.462/.622 over his last 55 PAs, leaves the 19yo with a .859 OPS on the season.

6) Jeff Bianachi, SS, KCR – After the Royals made him their 2nd round pick in 2005, Bianchi put up, what was arguably, the best debut by any high school player selected that year. Injuries limited him to a mere 42 ABs the following season, and he struggled in the two seasons following that. Now 22yo, he is once again playing the way he did after the Royals drafted him. A .477/.521/.659 over his last 50 PA’s, leaves him with an .857 OPS on the season.

7) Roger Kieschnick, OF, SFG – Selected by the Giants in the 3rd round last June, Kieschnick didn’t make his professional debut until this year. Making up for lost time, Kieschnick has been on fire in the California (CAL) League. A .357/.400/.786 over the last two weeks, gives the 22yo a .891 OPS on the year.

8) Kent Matthes, OF, COL – The 2009 NCAA home run champ, slipped to the Rockies in the 4th round of last month’s draft. Despite being a senior, we felt Matthes was one of the top 10 college position players available in the draft and Matthes, so far, is making us look good, with a .429/.490/.643 Northwest (NWL) League debut. At 22yo, he needs to be moved up to Ashville very soon.

9) Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX – Recovering from a strained oblique, Smoak has wasted little time restarting the ‘Arlington express’. After a two game rehab in the Arizona (AZL) League where he murdered the younger pitchers, Smoak hasn’t been any more kind to the hurlers in the Texas League. Through 9 games in his return, Smoak has posted a .424/.486/.667 and now has a .986 OPS on the year. As the Rangers battle for a Western Division title, it is this author’ s opinion that Smoak would prove to be a more productive option than Chris ‘swing and miss’ Davis.

10) Rene Tosoni, OF, MIN – A draft-and-follow from the 2005 draft, Tosoni had compiled two solid, yet not spectacular, seasons prior to this year. Only turning 22yo on Thursday, and playing in the Eastern (ESL) League, Tosoni is producing similar results. A .354/.446/.604 over the last two weeks, leaves his OPS at .886 on the year.


Hot Pitchers –

1) Mike Montgomery, LHP, KCR – The Royals have a solid group of A-ball pitchers (Duffy, Melville, Montgomery, etc), and for our money, the 19yo Montgomery is the best of the bunch. Turning 20yo today, Montgomery has only allowed more than 1 earned run, in only one of his 8 starts this year. A 1.54 ERA, with a 0.429 WHIP and a 14:1 K:BB ratio over his last two starts, gives him a 1.93 ERA on the year.

2) Casey Crosby, LHP, DET – The Tiger fans had to wait a while to see the fruits of their 2007 5th round pick, because he blew out his elbow shortly after signing. But the wait has been worth it, as Crosby has posted a 0.00 ERA, a 0.533 WHIP and a 11:4 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks, and has a 3.39 ERA through 15 Midwest (MWL) starts. With 74 K’s in 63IP, Crosby has arguably been the MWL’s best pitcher this season.

3) Matt Moore, LHP, TBR – Moore has been one of our favorites since the Rays ‘stole’ him in the 8th round of the 2007 draft. All of his pitches have tremendous late action, and, once he learns to harness his control, he will become one of the best arms in a very talented system. A 0.77 ERA, 0.771 WHIP, with a 17:4 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks, gives him a 3.14 ERA on the year.

4) Trevor Bell, RHP, LAA – People forget that Bell was a first round pick by the Angels in 2005. After four solid, but unspectacular, seasons, he had somewhat disappeared from the radar screen. Still just 22yo, Bell put on a show in 11 Texas (TXL) League starts that earned him a promotion to the PCL, where he has been even better. Through three PCL starts, Bell has a 0.39 ERA, a 0.478 WHIP and a 12:2 K:BB ratio.

5) Hector Rondon, RHP, CLE – Rondon continues his steady climb up the prospect charts, as 14 1/3 scoreless innings leaves the 21yo with a 2.29 ERA through 12 Eastern League starts. Rondon placed #31 in our latest prospect rankings.

6) Kyle Drabek, RHP, PHI – Drabek has been dealing all year long and really seems to have put his career back on track, after 2007 Tommy John surgery. A 1.76 ERA, 0.717 WHIP and a 14:1 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks, leaves the 21yo with a 2.46 ERA on the year.

7) T.J. House, LHP, CLE – Taken in the 16th round, but signed for second round money, in the 2008 draft, House didn’t make his debut until this year. Only 19yo, House has posted a 0.69 ERA, 0.846 WHIP, with a 11:2 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks. He now has a 2.48 ERA through his first 15 professional starts.

8) Luke French, LHP, DET – An 8th round pick in 2004, prior to this year, French had posted 5 non-descript seasons. 2009, though, has been a breakout for French. A 1.80 ERA, 0.733 WHIP, with a 18:2 K:BB ratio over his last three starts, leaves French with a 2.98 ERA on the year and has earned him a Big League call-up.

9) Andrew Cashner, RHP, CHN - The Cubs first round pick in 2008, had a horrendous debut last summer. His start wasn’t a lot better this Spring, as Cashner struggled mightily with his control. However, since mid-May, Cashner has reduced his walk rate to 2.2 BB per 9IP. A 0.00 ERA, 0.833 WHIP and a 10:4 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks leaves his season ERA at 1.50.

10) Brandon Hynick, RHP , COL – A 14 inning scoreless streak and the PCL’s first perfect game since June of 2007, earned Hynick this spot, as his 2.37ERA, 0.789 WHIP with an 11:2 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks, leaves him with a 3.50 ERA on the year.


The Nots –

1) Michael Almanzar, 3B, BOS – The highest priced Latin American signing of 2007, has been significantly overmatched in his brief career. At 18yo, it’s still difficult to get a read on him due to the fact that he has been so much younger than his competition, but things are beginning to get scary. The Red Sox sent him to Lowell when the short-season leagues began, but the results continue to spiral. A .091/.118/.091 over the last two weeks gives Almanzar a .520 OPS for the year.

2) Bobby Parnell, RHP, NYM – After putting together a solid April and May that had his ERA at 2.11 entering June, the 24yo Parnell had the wheels fall off last month, allowing 12 ERs in 8 IP, leaving his season ERA at 5.22.

3) Duke Welker, RHP, PIT – Some organizations just continue to fail, regardless of who is at the helm. After Huntington came out last week and admitted that the Pirates may have made a mistake in signing Ian Snell to a 3-year, $8 million, deal last Spring, I am officially declaring their 2007 2nd round round pick a ‘bust’. In three years, the 23yo University of Arkansas alum can’t get out of Lo-A. A 19.29 ERA, 3.643 WHIP with a 4:10 K:BB ratio over the last two weeks, leaves Welker with an 0-8 record and a 5.59 ERA through 15 South Atlantic (SAL) League starts. Remember, Daniel Moskos was their 2007 first round pick.

4) Wilkin Ramirez, OF, DET – The 23yo Ramirez is looking more and more to me like AAA may be his ceiling. A .104/.189/.125 over the last two weeks, leaves his OPS at .683 on the year.

5) Angel Villalona, 1B, SFG – Don’t make any mistakes by thinking his appearance on the ‘Not’ list is some sort of condemnation, but there are beginning to be a number of concerns surrounding Villalona. Still just 18yo, and already in the California (CAL) League, is a positive sign, but at 6’3”, 205 lbs, his increasing immobility continues to raise the bar for his bat. A .182/.182/.182 over the last two weeks has dropped his OPS to .726 on the year. 65 Ks in 265 ABs doesn’t make one feel any better.

6) Alex Amarista, 2B, LAA – Amarista, at 5’8”, 150lbs, the 20yo Amarista isn’t going to be given a lot of margin for error. A .083/.083/.083 over the last two weeks and only 1 XBH in his last 64 ABs isn’t the kind of numbers he needs.

7) Brett Marshall, RHP, NYY – Marshall received a larger bonus than any Yankee 2008 draftee. Making his full season debut in the SAL, Marshall has walked too many and missed two few bats to make up for, what I consider to be, fringe average stuff. The Yankees lover his raw power, but I have severe reservations as to whether he will ever be able to harness it, given the effort involved in his delivery. A 12.54 ERA, 1.821 WHIP over the last two weeks, leaves Marshall with a 5.45 ERA on the year.

8) Drew Stubbs, OF, CIN – Sometimes I feel like the President of the ‘What is there to like about Drew Stubbs?’ club. As a former first round pick, the Reds will continue to give Stubbs chances, but in four seasons, he has never posted an OPS higher than .788. A .145/.203/.164 over the last two weeks puts his OPS this year at .728

9) Danny Carroll, OF, SEA – After the Mariners made him their 3rd round selection in 2007, Carroll offered glimpses of promise with his AZL debut. Unfortunately, it has been downhill for the 20yo since. A .130/.200/.174 over the last two weeks leaves him with a .419 OPS on the year.

10) Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, MIL – Regular readers already understand that I have never been a huge fan of Jeffress and his 100mph fastball that sails all over the park. 55 walks in 60 innings this year and a demotion back to the Florida State (FSL) League did little to further endear him. Now, after strike two in baseball’s drug program, Jeffress will miss 100 games that will take him into at least May of next year. If you choose not to write him off at this point, it’s your own fault.

Chin Music: Road Shows

The Red Sox took on the NL East in Interleague play this season, and last week arrived in Washington D.C. for a three game set with the Nationals. Three days later, the Nationals had set their new single game attendance record, despite being the worst team in baseball.

David Ortiz hit a three run home run to deep center field at Nationals Park, and he got a standing ovation from 40,000 people. It seems to be a general rule for baseball fans in the northeast, they either travel in hordes to opposing ballparks up and down the east coast, or many of them simply remain loyal to their team despite relocating to somewhere else. After the Red Sox set the single game attendance record (41, 517) and the single series attendance record (breaking 120,000 in attendance) they took their show down to Atlanta with similar, although not record breaking, results.

Where does this phenomenon come from? Remember those empty box seats at the new Yankee Stadium? Fenway Park has standing room only tickets to $20 and you can’t even see any fly balls because of the overhang, never mind the difficulty of getting tickets at face value. For many fans, they travel because tickets are much easier to come by, tickets are much cheaper, and hey why not make a vacation out of it? Tons and tons of Red Sox fans head down to Baltimore every year to take in Camden Yards. I took that trip for the first time last year, and with impeccable timing I was able to catch Manny Ramirez’s 500th home run off of Chad Bradford. The thousands upon thousands of Boston fans were all lucky enough to see that historic event.

Meanwhile, while terrible teams like the Nationals continue to trot out Nick Johnson at first every night to their dismay of their dwindling fan base, they’re thankful when the giants in the northeast, whether it’s Boston, either team from New York, or Philadelphia, because those are the fans that truly care about travel, whether by choice or by lack of ticket availability at their home ballpark. Not to take anything away from any other fan base, like the Dodger fans who show up for the middle three innings, or Angels fans who patiently wait for the big screen to dictate their next move, but next time a northeast team comes to town anywhere else in the country (but small markets in particular), take notice when they dominate cheering, chants, and celebrations.