Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
May 31, 2004

Weekly HOT - COLD Report
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Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Who's Hot and Who's Cold
June 1, 2004

HOT

B.J. Upton, SS – Tampa Bay (Durham, AAA International League) – Is there any better prospect in baseball right now? The 19-year-old Upton hasn't been phased by AAA ball in the least. Since last month's promotion, he's hitting .352/.432/.648 with six long balls in 71 at bats. It's not likely that Upton will spend much more time in AAA.

Dallas McPherson, 3B - Anaheim (Arkansas, AA Texas League) - The left-handed hitting McPherson clubbed several homeruns this week, boosting his numbers to .321/.405/.622, with 11 homeruns in 193 at bats. With Troy Glaus no longer in the third base picture for the parent team and the AAA affiliate devoid of any real prospects, it should only be a matter of time before McPherson jumps a level or two.

Brian Anderson, OF – Chicago White Sox (Winston-Salem, A Carolina League) – Last year's first round draft choice is developing into one of the top young outfielders in the minor leagues. The former U. of Arizona product had a four hit game last week to help bring his average up to .337/.403/.546. He's stolen eight bases.

Joshua Banks, SP – Toronto (Dunedin, A Florida State League) – This young right-hander skipped a level after his debut in short season ball last year and has been dominant at high A Dunedin (7-1, 1.80 ERA, 60/8 K/BB).

Alex Graman, SP - New York Yankees (Columbus, AAA International League) - The Yankee southpaw pitched two strong games last week, giving up only one unearned run in 14 innings. In his third AAA season, he's now 4-2 with a 2.12 ERA.

Jeff Francis, SP – Colorado (Tulsa, AA Texas League) – Canadian-born left-hander Francis has dominated AA hitters this season, going 7-0 with a 2.24 ERA and 77/11 K/BB rate. He hurled a complete game, four-hit shutout in his only start last week.

Matt Chico, SP - Arizona (South Bend, A Midwest League) - Another southpaw who recorded a complete game shutout last week was Chico, who yielded only two hits in his masterpiece. He's now at 6-3, 2.37, 67/17.

Richard Lewis, 2B - Chicago Cubs (West Tennessee, AA Southern League) - Former Atlanta farmhand Lewis is following up on his fine Arizona Fall League season with solid numbers in his first year with the Cubs organization. The right-handed hitter put together a string of multi-hit games and hit over .500 last week to boost his numbers to .352/.401/.608.

Matt Cain, SP - San Francisco (San Jose, A California League) - Cain is quickly moving into the upper echelon of pitching prospects with another strong outing last week. He's now at 4-1, 1.94 ERA, 62/16 K/BB.

John Buck, C - Houston (New Orleans, AAA Pacific Coast League) - Buck is far surpassing his AAA numbers from last season, hitting .325/.410/.517 with seven homeruns and 19 walks. The last two totals already top what he put up all of last season.

Howard Kendrick, 2B - Anaheim (Cedar Rapids, A Midwest League) - Unheralded prospect Kendrick finally breaks onto the HOT list after knocking on the door for the past couple of weeks. A bunch of multi-hit games has the 20-year-old right-handed hitter batting .344/.370/.519, with 12 stolen bases, in his first year in a full season league.

Kevin Collins, OF/1B - Chicago Cubs (Lansing, A Midwest League) - He won't be found on many prospect lists, despite leading the short season Northwest League in hitting two years ago, but the 23-year-old left-handed stick is tearing up the Midwest League in his second try. Collins is repeating the level after an abysmal performance last year, and is batting .335/.399/.706 this time around. He's leading the league with 15 homeruns in 170 at bats.

COLD

Luis Terrero, OF – Arizona (Tucson, AAA Pacific Coast League) – It's hoped that Terrero's stay on the COLD list will be a short one. He was having a fine season until getting into a fight in a game in Albuquerque. There's not much wrong with that, since boys will be boys when they're out on the field. But then Terrero got into a shouting match with a fan and threw a ball into the stands, hitting a woman. His projected return to the field is uncertain right now.

Chris Bootcheck, SP - Anaheim (Salt Lake, AAA Pacific Coast League) - Bootcheck is struggling in AAA this year, as opposing batters are hitting .350 against him, leading to a 6.44 ERA.

Alexis Gomez, OF – Kansas City (Omaha, AAA Pacific Coast League) – Once a highly-ranked prospect, Gomez's game seems to have regressed. He recently got his batting average over the .200 mark, and is now at .213/.249/.317.

--- Bill Mitchell