Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
April 26, 2004

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Who's Hot and Who's Cold
April 26, 2004

HOT

Casey Kotchman, 1B and Dallas McPherson, 3B - Anaheim (Arkansas, AA Texas League) - These two guys were part of last week's COLD list, but turned it on with a succession of four-hit games. Kotchman boosted his numbers to .323/.405/.523, while McPherson finished the week at .288/.360/.455.

Erick Aybar, SS – Anaheim (Rancho Cucamonga, A California League) – One level down on the farm from Kotchman and McPherson is slick-fielding shortstop Aybar. He went on a tear this week to boost his average to a stratospheric .435/.493/.677.

Ian Bladergroen, 1B – New York Mets (Capital City, A South Atlantic League) – This big left-handed stick didn't show up on many prospect lists before the season, but Bladergroen (you gotta love that name!) is pounding Sally League pitchers to the tune of .431/.479/.908, seven HRs and 30 RBIs, all in only 65 ABs.

Jeremy West, 1B – Boston (Sarasota, A Florida State League – The former Arizona State Sun Devil jumped a level after starting his pro career last year at short season Lowell. He really didn't have a regular position in college, spending most of his time at DH, but the Bosox have stationed him at first base. After 15 games this season, West is hitting an amazing .510/.519/.941.

Mike Morse, SS – Chicago White Sox (Birmingham, AA Southern League) – White Sox insiders believe that Morse is the top prospect in the organization after Jeremy Reed. The 6'4" right-handed hitter has already slugged four HRs in 47 ABs. So far he's hitting .340/.404/.702.

Justin Morneau, 1B and Jason Bartlett, SS – Minnesota (Rochester, AAA International League) – The Red Wings are getting plenty of offense from their infield this year, as top prospect Morneau is hitting .397/.453/.691 with five HRs in 68 ABs. Unsung middle infielder Bartlett is the real surprise here, checking in at .397/.466/.571.

Jason Kubel, OF – Minnesota (New Britain, AA Eastern League) – The left-handed contact hitter Kubel is raking EL pitchers at a .450/.477/.717 clip. He's never been a big homerun threat, but has good doubles power (six in 60 ABs).

Val Pascucci, 1B/OF – Montreal (Edmonton, AAA Pacific Coast League) – The big right-handed slugger smacked three homers in one game this week, boosting his offensive numbers to .319/.390/.625. Pascucci was called up today for his first taste of the big leagues.

Corey Smith, 3B – Cleveland (Akron, AA Eastern League) – Smith may finally be living up to his enormous potential. After a big week, the right-handed hitter is at .345/.424/.690 with five HRs in 58 ABs. He's also making better contact this year and drawing a reasonable amount of walks.

Ryan Ketchner, SP – Los Angeles (Jacksonville, AA Southern League) – The Dodgers have to be ecstatic over picking up this southpaw from Seattle in the recent Jolbert Cabrera trade. Ketchner had two outstanding starts last week, and now has an 0.81 ERA with 22 Ks and six BBs in 22.1 IPs.

Joe Saunders, SP - Anaheim (Rancho Cucamonga, A California League) - The former first round choice is finally healthy and showing why the Angels plucked him out of Virginia Tech. After missing all of last season, the left-hander is starting out this year with a 1.06 ERA and a 14/3 K/BB ratio in 17 IPs.

Carlos Marmol, SP and Sean Marshall, SP - Chicago Cubs (Lansing, A Midwest League) - The pitching rich Cubs have a couple of more names to add to their prospect list. The right-handed Marmol is in only his second season as a pitcher after spending two years as a catcher/outfielder. He led the rookie level Arizona League in strikeouts last year in his mound debut, but often struggled with his command. That's not the case this year, as the 21-year-old right-hander has tallied an impressive 25/6 K/BB ratio in 26.1 IPs, while posting a 3-0 record and 2.39 ERA. He's an enthusiastic hard worker who should continue to get better. Not quite as big of a sleeper as Marmol is the left-handed Marshall, who checks in with a 1.33 ERA and an astounding 27/1 K/BB ratio in 27 IPs.

COLD
(abbreviated list this week)

Bobby Jenks, SP – Anaheim (Salt Lake, AAA Pacific Coast League) - The enigmatic Jenks' minor league career has been a real roller coaster ride throughout the right-hander's four+ year career. An elbow injury put him on the DL after three starts in AAA during which he was battered for an 8.76 ERA.

Jeremy Guthrie, SP – Cleveland (Buffalo, AAA International League) - The former Stanford pitcher can't seem to make the jump from AA. His ERA last season was 1.44 in AA and 6.52 in AAA. He's not faring any better this year, walking 18 batters in 19.1 IPs while putting up an ugly 7.91 ERA.

Calvin Pickering, 1B - Kansas City (Omaha, AAA Pacific Coast League) – After clubbing 11 homeruns in the first two weeks of the season, Pickering didn't go yard at all this past week. Even with the slump, his numbers are still at .388/.508/1.102.

--- Bill Mitchell