Minor League Notes - 07/13/08

by John on Jul 14, 2008 7:32 AM CDT in Minor League Notes Comment 21 comments

Nashville Sounds (AAA) Notes:

Season Record: 39-60, -21.0 GB, 4th place (last) in the PCL’s American North Division
Away Record: 20-33
Home Record: 19-27
Last 10 Games: 5-5
Streak: 3 Losses

Lost (0-3) vs. New Orleanes
Steven Hammond (L, 0-4), 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K – 7.41 ERA, Game Score: 52
Callix Crabbe-LF, 1-3 - .235 BA
Ozzie Chavez-SS, 0-1, BB - .209 BA
Vinny Rottino-1B, 0-3, K - .259 BA

Lost (12-13) vs. New Orleanes
Lindsay Gulin, 3.1 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 4 K – 3.67 ERA, Game Score: 11
Adam Heether-3B-P, 2-3, 2B, HR (8), R, 3 RBI, SF - .258 BA
Vinny Rottino-C-3B, 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K - .265 BA
Brendan Katin-LF, 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, K - .270 BA

Huntsville Stars (AA) Notes:

1st Half Record: 41-29, tied for 1st place (Lost tie-break game)
2nd Half Record: 14-11, -2.0 GB, 2nd place in the Southern League’s North Division
Away Record: 19-17, 9-6
Home Record: 22-13, 5-5
Last 10 Games: 7-3
Streak: 1 Loss

All-Star break.
Huntsville All-Stars:
Patrick Ryan-P
David Welch-P
Angel Salome-C (Starter)
Alcides Escobar-SS (Starter)
Michael Brantley-OF (Starter)
Cole Gillespie-OF

Brevard County Manatees (High A) Notes:

1st Half Record: 35-34, -6.5 GB, 2nd place
2nd Half Record: 8-15, -5.5 GB, 6th place (last) in the FSL’s East Division
Away Record: 14-20, 5-6
Home Record: 21-15, 3-9
Last 10 Games: 3-7
Streak: 1 Win

Won (5-0) @ Sarasota
Alexandre Periard (W, 8-6), 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K – 3.58 ERA, Game Score: 74
Darren Ford-CF, 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SB - .232 BA
Scott Houin-LF, 1-1, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, HBP - .200 BA
Jonathan Lucroy-C, 2-5, K, GIDP - .326 BA

West Virginia Power (A) Notes:

1st Half Record: 32-37, -8.5 GB, 6th place
2nd Half Record: 18-6, +3.0 GA, 1st place in the SAL’s Northern Division
Away Record: 19-17, 10-4
Home Record: 13-20, 8-2
Last 10 Games: 8-2
Streak: 1 Loss

Lost (3-9) @ Charleston
Daniel Merklinger (L, 3-6), 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K – 6.54 ERA, Game Score: 27
Lee Haydel-CF, 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K - .276 BA
Zelous Wheeler-3B, 1-4, 2B, RBI - .282 BA
Caleb Gindl-RF, 1-4, R, K - .272 BA

Helena Brewers (Rookie) Notes:

1st Half Record: 13-13, -2.0 GB, 3rd place in the Pioneer League’s North Division
Away Record: 5-4
Home Record: 8-9
Last 10 Games: 5-5
Streak: 2 Wins

Won (8-2) vs. Casper
Efrain Nieves (W, 4-1), 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K – 2.84 ERA, Game Score: 71
Brock Kjeldgaard-1B, 3-4, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI, BB, K - .308 BA
Erik Komatsu-RF, 3-5, 2B, 3B, 4 R, RBI - .326 BA
John Delaney-3B, 1-3, 2 R, BB, HBP - .255 BA

AZL Brewers (Rookie) Notes:

1st Half Record: 3-13, -8.5 GB, 9th place (last) in the AZL
Away Record: 0-7
Home Record: 3-6
Last 10 Games: 2-8
Streak: 2 Losses

Lost (9-17) vs. AZL Athletics
Brewers’ fielding is pathetic with 10 errors in the game.
Cody Scarpetta, 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K – 13.50 ERA, Game Score: 46
Hitaniel Arias-RF, 1-2, HR (1), R, 3 RBI, K, E - .214 BA
Joseph Paciorek-3B, 1-4, 3B, R, BB, 3 K, 3 E - .160 BA
Carlos Pena-PH-C, 2-3, 2B, R - .250 BA

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Comments

Joseph Paciorek

Jack sure does have a knack for finding defensive deficient 3rd basemen.

"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."

by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 14, 2008 8:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What’s the projection for Alexandre Periard? He has some pretty solid numbers in the FSL so far. Is Brock Kjeldgaard worth watching as a prospect or does he just have a cool name? And yikes what in the world happened in the AZL rookie game? TEN errors?

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lots to talk about today

Carlos George made two more errors, 15 now in 12 games played. That’s remarkable.

Cody Scarpetta made his professional debut yesterday. He was the Brewers’ 11th-round pick last year, would have gone in the top three rounds but blew out a tendon in his arm. Check out an interview I did with him for more info.

Hitaniel Arias, a 17-year-old Dominican outfield signed last year for $450K, hit his first professional HR. He’s 6’6” and only 202 lbs, so he has the potential to be a beast as he fills out.

Kjeldgaard is really interesting. He’s a Canadian, drafted as a RHP in the 34th round back in 2005, but his pitching wasn’t going anywhere, so they converted him to first base. Now, he’s 22 and in rookie ball, but he is hitting .308/.376/.606, so it’s almost like he’s just an recently drafted college bat at this point. Hopefully the Brewers will semi-fast track him and get him to full season ball soon to see if they’ve got anything there.

I love Erik Komatsu. He’s only 5’10”, 190 lbs, so he’s not really “projectable”, but he’s only 20, young for a college draftee, and is hitting .326/.393/.516 with a 9/6 K/BB in 107 PAs—only 6 K’s!

Periard, according to Toby over at Brewerfan, “throws his fastball in the low-middle 90’s with heavy sink, with a plus curveball and an average changeup.” He’s really growing on me, and I probably have him to too low on the left; upon further thought, I’d move him above Anundsen just based on having better stuff. He has a 1.84 GO/AO.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Komatsu immediately caught my eye. It’s hard to go wrong with draftees from CSU Fullerton.

I noticed that there were almost no batting stats for Kjeldgaard and was planning on reading up on his pitching, but now I see it’s irrelevant. Do you think he’ll stick as a hitter?

Periard was one of the first prospects I noticed when I started this project. It’s easy to get excited about gaudy numbers in advanced A, but it’s not like there’s nothing there. He’s excelling for a reason. Plus he’s part of the recent increase in guys from the Quebec area, something I just find interesting.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kjeldgaard

Well, I don’t see anything that indicates he’s particularly fluky at this point. He’s got a respectable walk rate, which is somewhat surprising given his rawness, and his power obviously seems legit. He’s striking out a ton though, almost every third plate apperance (37 in 117 PAs), but maybe that will improve with experience. He’s near the top of my sleepers list for next season.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed several hitters posting huge K numbers in the California League in the last few years. Richie Robnett with the Ports in the Oakland organization struck out a ton his 2005 season, 115 Ks. He struck out in AA Midland 130 times in 2007. Okay so maybe he was a bad choice for an example, but I do remember him striking out way too much.

I chalk it up to the inexperience as you said. It is forever ironic that an A’s prospect struck out so often.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More fun in the new world

Jake Odorizzi made his second BRRROK!!! appearance today, and pitched very well: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. He’ll be moved up to Helena to play real baseball soon.

Shawn Zarraga, recipient of the third-highest bonus in the Brewers’ 2007 draft class despite being taken in the 44th round, got on the board with his first pro homer.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

O brave new world

That hath such Brewers in’t!

So how exactly did a 44th rounder get the third-highest bonus of the class?

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of the late-round fliers teams take on hard-to-sign HS guys

They threw second-round money at him and that convinced him to go pro. He has serious power, but is, uh, “unpolished” defensively (he’s a catcher—for now).

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you should rephrase that

He plays catcher. Not a ton of catching going on with the AZL Brewers.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 14, 2008 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they should try rotating the fielding positions each inning.

Can’t turn out much worse than that 10-error game…

by Zeyes on Jul 14, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Got it. I was hoping the Giants would throw money at Tyler Thompson this year. That’s Robbie Thompson’s kid drafted in the 42nd round. But no, he’s going to U Florida.

(and if the link doesn’t work this time I give up)

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I meant to ask

Why the interest in the Brewers’ farm system? And by the way, you’ve got an extra “http” in your Manny Burriss sig link.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll fix the link, thanks for the tip.

I root for the Brewers as my second NL team behind the Giants. I was dating a fellow who is a diehard Brewers fan. Since we talked on the phone 3-4 times a week, and he talked about the Brewers a lot, it was in my best interests to become a fan of the team or be very bored every time he called me. The fellow got Prince Fielder to sign a ball for me. Something good came out of the relationship.

I cover the Giants minor league news and happenings for San Francisco Dugout, so minor league stuff is my forte. When someone on McCovey Chronicles, your sister Giants blog on this network, asked a question about the Brewers farm system I was embarassed when I couldn’t answer it. I should be able to, calling myself a fan of both the Brewers and of the minor leagues.

So here I am, trying to absorb as much as I can about the Brewers system. It only took me two years to learn the Giants’ system front to back. Plus it’ll only add to my skill set once I launch my sports journalism career for real; showing that I can report on any minor league organization is a big plus.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, uh...

Now you set Manny Burriss to link to our Minor League Notes from yesterday. Not that we don’t appreciate the pub, but I suspect that’s not what you meant to link to.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh that link has been nothing but trouble, I swear. I’ve had to edit it like ten times and it’s never right. And I’m not that stupid about HTML, I swear.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 14, 2008 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

DiFelice update

Right-hander Mark DiFelice departed Saturday’s start against New Orleans after experiencing lower back stiffness throughout his two innings, he said before Sunday’s doubleheader.
“It’s nothing serious,” DiFelice said, indicating he should be ready to make his next scheduled start July 23 against visiting Tacoma.

link

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He walked a batter

Maybe that tipped off the Sounds training staff.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jul 14, 2008 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Erik Komatsu

I’m really starting to like this guy, even though he hasn’t even been a pro for a month. Can anybody tell me some more about him…what kind of upside does he have ( i understand that’s a tough question at his level)

by marty22 on Jul 14, 2008 12:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Komatsu was a Third Team All-America and Real Baseball Intelligence called him a “late-round gem” and top-100 talent.

Brewerfan’s Partrick Ebert on Komatsu:

Komatsu is playing for his third college team in as many years, starting his career in the NAIA before moving to the junior college level before landing at Cal State Fullerton. His left-handed bat is his ticket to the big-leagues, with very good swing mechanics and bat speed that allows him to lace pitches to all parts of the field with a fair amount of over the fence power. He’s a good all-round, heady ballplayer that can swipe a bag or two and plays good defense in the outfield with average arm stregnth. He’s a little on the shorter side, but could be this year’s version of Caleb Gindl, as he shouldn’t have any problems hitting at Helena to begin his pro career.

Ebert also compared him to Luis Gonzalez.

Article from June 2007 about Komatsu’s travails, including this quote:

“He may be 5-foot-10, but he hits like he’s 6-4,” said Oxnard assistant coach Roger Frash. “He has thunder in that bat.”

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Komatsu was BA’s Pioneer League Prospect of the Day:

Helena (Brewers) rightfielder Erik Komatsu continued to torch Pioneer League pitching on Sunday night, going 3-for-5 with a double and a triple. Komatsu,the Brewers’ eighth-round pick out of Cal State Fullerton, has been one of the most impressive hitters in the Pioneer League in 2008.After his big day Sunday, Komatsu is batting .326/.393/.516 in 23 games. Komatsu’s triple was the first of his professional career.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 14, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs