Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
June 14, 2004

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

Who's Hot and Who's Cold
June 15, 2004

This week's report, in which we recognize players that have recently been promoted and are continuing to excel, will be an abbreviated one due to a hectic work schedule.

HOT

David Wright, 3B – New York Mets (Norfolk, AAA International League) – One my favorite minor league hitters moved up a level, as the 21-year-old Wright is now just one jump away from the big leagues. His final AA numbers were a very strong .363/.467/.619. Just to prove he deserved the promotion, Wright went 3 for 4 in his first AAA game.

Dallas McPherson, 3B - Anaheim (Arkansas, AA Texas League) - It's hard to imagine that McPherson won't be right behind Wright in making the move to AAA. He's now hitting .329/.413/.695 with 20 homeruns in AA, and drove in eight runs in a doubleheader last week. Both McPherson and Wright should make their major league debuts later this season.

Ian Kinsler, SS – Texas (Frisco, AA Texas League) – A regular on this year's HOT list, Kinsler made a two-level jump this week, moving to AA Frisco to replace injured Drew Meyer. He had just boosted his batting average over the .400 level before leaving Low A Clinton. His numbers in 59 games there were an astounding .402/.465/.692. He's already homered in his first week in AA, going 3 for 9.

Tim Stauffer, SP – San Diego (Mobile, AA Southern League) – Last season's #1 Padre draft choice continues to thrive at the AA level after beginning the year in High A. After seven AA starts, the right-handed Stauffer has a 1.47 ERA, besting the 1.78 he posted in the California Leauge.

Freddy Guzman, OF - San Diego (Portland, AAA Pacific Coast League) - The Padres' centerfielder of the future picked his game up a notch after moving to AAA 17 games ago. He's hitting .343/.400/.388, and has been successful in all 13 of his stolen base attempts. Add that to the 17 bags he swiped in AA, and the speedy Guzman is on pace to steal 70 - 80 bases this season.

COLD

Luis Terrero, OF – Arizona (Tucson, AAA Pacific Coast League) – This angry young man was off to a good start in his second AAA season (.335/.380/.587) until the skirmish on the field that led him to throwing a ball into the stands. He's still out of action while attending an anger management class. Gosh, I wonder if the instructor looks like Jack Nicholson?

Vince Sinisi, OF - Texas (Stockton, A California League) - The former Rice slugger was doing well (.310/.383/.460) in his first full season until he broke his arm last week. He'll be out for 4-6 weeks.

--- Bill Mitchell