MLB FanHouse

MLB Live Chat: Giving Thanks

Frankie Piliere — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, Prospects, Scout's Eye View, MLB Hot Stove

It's the eve before Thanksgiving, and unless you are en route to your holiday destination (travel safe), there aren't many better things you can spend your afternoon doing than chatting with FanHouse's in-house scout Frankie Piliere.

There's plenty to talk about, from prospects to the Rule 5 draft to the recent 40-man roster maneuvers (like the Yankees' addition of Austin Jackson, pictured) to, of course, the latest Hot Stove chatter.

Piliere took everyone's questions Wednesday afternoon. Read a wrapup of his chat, after the jump.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=2d0cac507f" >Frankie Piliere Live Chat, Nov. 25</a>

MLB Live Chat: Giving Thanks originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scouting Notes: 40-Man Maneuvers Hint At Diamonds in Rough

Frankie Piliere — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:26:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Transactions, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

If there's one common theme to take note of when teams are deciding who to protect on their 40-man rosters, it's that the list of names usually contains high-upside pitchers with good arms.

This year was no different. Each team made their best effort to leave none of their top arms exposed.

Some of the names added seemed like foregone conclusions -- many top prospects unquestionably required protection for the Rule 5 draft. Others, however, may not be household names. The addition of the lesser known or lower-level players can speak volumes about just how highly an organization regards certain obscure talents.

Luis Lebron, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: It has taken Lebron a long time to find his way in professional baseball, as he toiled for the better part of the last last three seasons prior in the lower levels of the minors. This year was an entirely different story, however. Wildness had plagued him throughout his pro career, with his walk totals routinely the number of innings pitched, but after catching an early glimpse of Lebron in spring training in 2009, it was clear to me that he had turned things around. He sat around 92-94 mph with the fastball, reaching as high as 95. That velocity only got better as the summer months approached, and he hit 97 mph routinely. Along with the fastball, the hard-throwing right-hander has the makings of a plus slider at 82-85 mph.

With two dynamic, swing-and-miss pitches and much-improved command, Lebron has himself squarely on scouts' radar screens. The Orioles were wise in protecting this 24-year-old not only because of the risk of losing such a good arm but because he may not be far off from helping their big-league bullpen. He has the presence, raw stuff and easy velocity to be a dangerous weapon in the late innings.

Juan Jaime, RHP. Washington Nationals: Jaime might be the most fascinating named added to a 40-man roster of all. Even with no experience above low Single-A, the Nationals felt Jaime's stuff might have been enticing enough for a team to snatch him in the Rule 5. Given what I saw out of Jaime, it's close to impossible to imagine him sticking on a 25-man roster right now, but his arsenal is intriguing. A thick-bodied right-hander, Jaime uses his lower half and drives towards the plate very well. The stuff is clearly there, but consistency is a major issue for him. He had outings in 2009 where he was 94-98 mph with the fastball and others where his velocity was in the 90-93 range.

At this point, his secondary pitches are a work in progress, with his best offering a slow curveball at 70-73 mph. The 22-year-old also flashed a changeup at 80-83 and what appeared to be a cutter. Control was at times a major issue. He looked uncomfortable with his mechanics and had to let off the velocity to pick up some command. He doesn't look to have the full arsenal or feel for pitching to start, but if Washington can harness that sometimes upper-90s fastball he has the look of a potential closer.

Alex Burnett, RHP, Minnesota Twins: Another strong right arm, Burnett performed everywhere the Twins sent him in 2009, including the Arizona Fall League. Burnett likes to pitch aggressively with the fastball, and he has a good one. He's not a flame-thrower but he lives around 91-93 mph, touching 94. His velocity also had the tendency to improve in multi-inning appearances. He likes to go to his changeup at 80-82 and also mixes an occasional cutter at 84-87 mph. Burnett also likes to change eye levels, going up with the fastball and down with the changeup.

Prior to 2009, he spent the vast majority of his career as a starter and the results were solid, but to say his stuff reacted well to the switch to the bullpen is an understatement. Look for him to pitch in Triple-A in 2010.

Roque Mercedes, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks: For most of the early part of his career, Mercedes spent a lot of time starting and a lot of time putting up mediocre numbers. All that changed in 2009. Something clearly clicked into place as Mercedes transitioned into a downright dominant reliever. You might remember him as one of the prospects sent to Arizona in the Felipe Lopez deal. Let's just say the Diamondbacks did pretty well for themselves.

Mercedes fastball ranges from 91-95 mph, reaching 96 and settling in around 92-93. But, the velocity is not what took him to the next level as a prospect. The credit for that goes to Mercedes' plus slider, which grades out as a 7 pitch on the 2-8 scouting scale. It's a true slider at 84-86 mph with superb late bite. He's learned to locate it to both left- and right-handed hitters, making him equally difficult from both sides. This is the type of pitch that will induce swings and misses at any level. Mercedes would have almost certainly been snatched up in the Rule 5 if not protected.

Daniel Cortes, RHP, Seattle Mariners: There are only a handful of starting pitchers in the minors that can match Cortes' stuff. Somehow he hasn't broken out into star prospect status, mostly because of makeup issues and what appears to be a lack of feel for pitching. This might also be a familiar name, as he was the centerpiece of a trade that sent Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City. It was clear that the Royals had their concerns about Cortes' makeup, but the Mariners were more than happy to take him.

At first glance, in terms of frame, raw stuff and easy velocity, Cortes, pictured above as a Royal, looks like an elite prospect. The 6-foot-6 right-hander throws his fastball with ease at 93-96 mph with hopping late life. He's also the owner of an inconsistent but potentially plus slider at 78-84 mph. The changeup is behind his first two pitches. The 22-year-old is extremely enigmatic, as he goes from dominant to barely being able to find the strike zone at times. He's also quite often the victim of his high-strung emotions on the mound. The Mariners would like to develop him as a starter, but from my impression, he may not have a starter's mentality. It would be fascinating to see how his already dynamic stuff translates to a bullpen role. Despite all his issues, someone would have taken Cortes in a heartbeat in the Rule 5 draft.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.

Scouting Notes: 40-Man Maneuvers Hint At Diamonds in Rough originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stephen Strasburg's Knee Injury Will Not Require Surgery

Pat Lackey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:14:00 EST

Filed under: Nationals, NL East, Prospects

The Nationals learned Friday that the knee injury suffered by Stephen Strasburg will not require surgery to repair. It's instead been diagnosed as a dislocated knee cap. As painful as that sounds, there's no ligament damage and the Nats' phenom will only require rest and some rehab to get the knee back up to full strength, though he'll still miss Saturday's Arizona Fall League championship game.

Considering those that witnessed the injury firsthand saw Strasburg crumple while playing long toss on Thursday and reported hearing a popping sound (often a telltale sign of ligament damage), this is obviously great news for the Nats. I can't even fathom following up a 103-loss season with a serious knee injury to the highest-paid draft pick in baseball history.

The injury ends Strasburg's debut in a professional uniform after 19 innings. In those innings, Strasburg was excellent, if not quite as dominant as some expected. He struck out 23 hitters and walked seven, but also allowed three homers and had a 4.26 ERA. The AFL is known to be a hitter's league, though, and given the layoff between Strasburg's last real game for San Diego State during the College World Series, there's not much for the Nats to be concerned about.

In fact, since he made it through the league in relative good health, despite Thursday's scare, they're probably pretty happy.

Stephen Strasburg's Knee Injury Will Not Require Surgery originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB Live Chat: Free Agency Nears

Frankie Piliere — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, MLB Rumors, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Hot Stove season will get in to full swing on Friday, the first day free agents are allowed to discuss finances with teams other than the one they played for in 2009.

With the market about to open, FanHouse's National Baseball Analyst Frankie Piliere is assembling his list of the top 50 free agents. While he won't unveil the whole thing until Friday, he is ready to talk about the lay of the free-agent landscape, address some of the biggest rumors, size up the intentions of buyers and sellers and, of course, talk prospects.

Piliere chatted live on Wednesday afternoon. After the jump, read a wrapup.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=178388f9c9" >Frankie Piliere Live Chat, Nov. 18</a>

MLB Live Chat: Free Agency Nears originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marlins Ready to Replenish Again

Frankie Piliere — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Marlins, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

It can be frustrating to be a Florida Marlins fan as star after star is sent on their way to richer organizations. One thing has remained constant, however. The talent continues to flow throughout their player development system. They draft well, coach well, and even without shelling out the big bucks, they find talent through international free agency.

Maybe they have trouble holding onto these guys once they blossom into big-league stars but there is no end in sight to their seemingly endless pipeline of young talent. So, as we continue to examine farm systems that could have an impact on 2009 and beyond, Florida has to be taken into account. No, it will not be dealing away any prospects but the outstanding minor-league depth once again will allow it to sell off its more expensive major leaguers.

The Next Wave

Michael Stanton, OF -- There aren't too many talents floating around the minor leagues with as dynamic a skill-set as Stanton, pictured above and to the right. What's most interesting about him is the way he approaches his at-bats and the huge power he's able to produce. This is not your typical pull-happy, over-swinging young slugger. Watching him take batting practice is a fascinating sight as he spends at least a couple rounds not only focusing on taking the ball to right field, but driving shots out of the park that look like they should be coming off the bat of a left-handed slugger.

He has a compact swing and has a calm at the plate few young hitters can match. What the Marlins have here is a superior athlete with special physical skills that has evolved into a nearly complete ballplayer. It won't be too long until he's making a splash with the big club.

Matt Dominguez, 3B -- The polish has not yet arrived for Dominguez, and he may not be on the verge of bursting onto the big stage, but the physical tools are clearly present. Fans will be most curious about his bat but his glove nearly guarantees him a big-league future. He's especially quick to his backhand side and has the arm to pull off the spectacular play. His good hands may carry him to a Gold Glove sometime down the road.

At the plate, the ball jumps off his bat and he could develop into a 25-homer type of hitter. However, given his occasional front-foot approach and often sloppy mechanics it's difficult to see him hitting for a high average. There's a lot of room for him to grow both physically and mechanically as a player.

Jake Smolinski, 3B -- With Dominguez in the system it's easy to see how Smolinski could be glanced over, but, you won't find too many guys who make hitting look as pretty as this 20-year-old. He has solid tools across the board, but nothing that jumps out. That is, of course until you get to his hitting tool. A player who works very hard at his craft in the cage, Smolinski has the profile of a perennial .300 hitter with some power to all fields.

His stance and swing mechanics resemble Evan Longoria's, and although he likely won't develop that type of power, he is as consistent a line-drive hitter as you'll find in the minors. If he can stay healthy and maintain his compact stroke, it's difficult to envision him hitting many roadblocks on his way up. This is a major sleeper and he could be a big part of Florida's future.

The Future of the 'Pen?

Steven Cishek, RHP -- If Florida needs a bullpen arm sometime in 2010, Cishek could come up and be a viable option pretty quickly. In his fastball and slider, he is the owner of two plus pitches and has the command of each to allow him to quickly move up the ladder. He mixes in a changeup now and then, but primarily works off the fastball and slider. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph, and he has shown the ability to reach 95 when needed. The slider has looked a little inconsistent at times, but the majority were plus, swing-and-miss pitches at 82-85 mph.

What makes him so difficult, however, is his funky leg kick and three-quarters delivery. He's very difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up, and he also has enough command to combat lefties. This is not a guy who will need to be used situationally. What the Marlins may have in him is a setup man who can pitch multiple innings. Cishek may have only reached advanced Single-A ball this year, but he has a veteran's approach and is not far off from contributing in the majors.

Daniel Jennings, LHP -- With their ninth-round selection in 2008, the Marlins may have netted themselves quite a steal. Jennings was outstanding at three levels this year, ending the season at Double-A. Jennings probably has the stuff to start, but Florida has elected to use him in the 'pen. He showed plus command for the most part, although during the year he hit a patch where he struggled with his control. But, when he's on, he throws his 90-93 mph fastball and sharp breaking ball at 80-83 for strikes.

He likes to pound the zone and work quickly, and shows off a very calm, professional demeanor. Jennings has the raw stuff and command to miss both left-handed and right-handed bats and could fill a key setup role on a contending club. It wouldn't be unreasonable to think Jennings could be pitching in the majors by the end of 2010.

Jhan Marinez, RHP -- In 2008, Marinez was scuffling in the Gulf Coast League. What I saw in 2009 was perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the minor leagues. At first it was curious why a a pitcher with an ERA north of 6.00 in rookie ball a season before would warrant such a big jump all the way to advanced Single-A ball with Jupiter (Fla.). The reason became clear the first time I saw Marinez enter a game. As he sat 96-99 mph, touching 100 in his first inning of work, it was apparent that the 21-year-old righty had experienced a tremendous velocity spike. In other outings, the velocity remained consistently around 95-97 mph, touching the upper 90s with ease.

Marinez also owns a slider, which at this stage is rather inconsistent, but has shown flashes of being an above average offering. When he has both pitches working, he is essentially unhittable at the minor-league level. He's still very raw and inexperienced, but with a superb breakout 2009 season, showing the type of explosive stuff he had on display, Marinez must be placed squarely on the prospect radar screen.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.

Marlins Ready to Replenish Again originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips

Frankie Piliere — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Prospects exist to help their team fortify their future, be it years down the road, or, in some cases, the not-so-distant future. These prospects can become valuable chips in blockbuster trades. Each team with a player on the block this offseason will come to the negotiating table with stacks of detailed scouting information on the prospects of buyers out there like the New York Yankees.

So, what should teams like the Blue Jays, Tigers or any other club rumored to be in talks with the Yankees be looking to get in return? We'll take a look from a scouting perspective at just what potential trade partners should be looking for as they sift through the crop of New York prospects, with a focus on some who may be flying under the radar.

The Untouchables

Jesus Montero, C -- Some scouts make the argument that Montero is the best hitting prospect in the minor leagues. That's debatable, but at the catching position, which I believe he can stick at, few players are as valuable. You just don't find too many bats as potent as his behind the dish. He's shown offensive skills reminiscent of Miguel Cabrera on his way up. It would likely take a blockbuster-type deal to pry him away but this is the guy you want for your team if you are dealing a star to New York.

Austin Jackson, OF -- Given his rather quick growth as an all-around star prospect, it's easy to forget that many worried coming out of the draft that Jackson was a raw athlete and wouldn't develop as a complete ballplayer. It's been his ability to hit consistent line drives and keep his swing under control at such an early stage that makes him special. The athletic tools, plus speed and defense in center field were more of a given. The fact that he is still continuing to grow as a hitter is what makes him such an interesting commodity.

High-Risk Talents

Andrew Brackman, RHP -- At this time last year it wouldn't have been unreasonable to believe that Brackman, pictured right, would be among potential untouchables, but as 2009 unfolded it was clear that he would face all the roadblocks that a near 7-foot pitcher coming off arm surgery could. To say he struggled mightily with his command is an understatement as his walk totals were off the charts. What was more concerning, however, was the fluctuation in his raw stuff. While reports were more positive when he worked as a reliever later in the year, there were times when his stuff was close to pedestrian.

In my opportunities to evaluate the towering right-hander, I saw a pitcher who appeared tentative at times to let his fastball go as he lived around 89-92 mph. He was still able to produce some good downward sink on the fastball, and use his height, but the raw velocity was just not there. Also mixed in was a downer curveball at 71-75 mph with plus potential. The command, on the other hand, was erratic at best. There is definitely a lack of comfort with his mechanics and the big question is whether he will ever develop that feel and consistency enough to be a dependable big-league pitcher. If he does, the stuff can be brilliant, but what I got a glimpse of was the ugly side of Brackman and that needs to be taken into account.

Sleepers

Manny Banuelos, LHP -- You could make the argument that Banuelos doesn't completely qualify as a sleeper, but it's about time the baseball world was fully aware just how talented this 18-year-old lefty actually is. He doesn't have the size at 5-foot-10 and he doesn't throw 97 mph, but the total package and maturity is something to behold. Sitting at 90-92 mph, reaching 94 mph at times, Banuelos works through a lineup with very little effort. And, with some further physical maturity, it's not unreasonable to think he could pick up a little more velocity.

Despite his good lively fastball from the left side, that's not what makes him so intriguing. It is his pitching aptitude and uncanny feel for the game. He is the owner of two above-average secondary pitches, the changeup and the curveball. There's a debate among scouts as to which is a better offering. He appeared to be more consistently comfortable with the changeup at 76-80 mph, but he also showed command for the 11-5 breaking ball at 72-74 mph.

The stuff is above average, but when you consider the advanced feel he has for pitching and the often pinpoint command he possesses it's amazing that he's still only 18. He pitches with such ease and attacks hitters with such a calm demeanor, that he can be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher in the majors a few years from now. If you're trading with New York and looking for its most complete pitching prospect, look no further than Banuelos.

Hector Noesi, RHP -- He does not have the gifts or feel for pitching that Banuelos has, but that is certainly no insult. Noesi is the type of prospect that shows up in deals quite frequently. He's a little older than you'd like for a pitcher below Double-A, but has the stuff of a No. 3 big-league starter. Another reason you may not know much about Noesi is because in 2008 he was much shorter in his arsenal than he is today.

When I had the chance to see him then, he was pitcher severely lacking in secondary pitches despite his good velocity and fastball command. This year was a much different story. He displayed downright dominance at times, especially in his stint with at low Single-A Charleston (S.C.). Maybe most impressive of all was his stamina; his stuff would sometimes improve as his pitch count mounted. Although he still likes to mostly to work of his well spotted 90-94 mph fastball, this year there was the curveball as well. With good 12-6 action, the curveball came out whenever Noesi seemed to need it this year. He had a feel for just how much to mix it in and varied the speeds from 72-76 mph. With a second pitch that now shows flashes of being plus, and an occasional changeup mixed in, Noesi showed tremendous growth in 2009 and became a complete pitcher. He could be a guy that continues to emerge in a hurry and may not be far off from the big leagues.

Of course, this is just a glimpse of a number of valuable prospects the Yankees have to offer if they want to net a coveted player in a trade. New York has developed a very deep system, and has situated itself to pull off a blockbuster trade. Whether it's Curtis Granderson or Roy Halladay or someone else, the Yankees can entice the owners of these stars with the strong crop of prospects they have to offer. Whether they do so remains to be seen, but having the ability to pull off such a deal off is clearly not a concern.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.

Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB Live Chat: Hot Stove, Prospects

Frankie Piliere — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, MLB Rumors, MLB Transactions, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

With the season wrapped up, we can collectively turn our attention to off-the-field topics. As always, there is plenty to be discussed with the Hot Stove already burning. As each team turns their attention to 2010 there a number of questions to answer. How will each trade and free-agent signing impact the clubs involved? Which prospects, like Washington's Stephen Strasburg pictured on the right, can fans look forward to next year?

MLB FanHouse's Frankie Piliere examined all those questions and more, after the jump, in a live chat on Wednesday afternoon.

Piliere, who spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers this year, now serves as a National Baseball Analyst for FanHouse.

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;altcast_code=080274af7e" &gt;Frankie Piliere Live Chat&lt;/a&gt;

MLB Live Chat: Hot Stove, Prospects originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Potential Defection of Yusei Kikuchi Again Calls Into Question Posting System

Pat Lackey — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:53:00 EST

Filed under: Prospects, International Baseball

With the news this week that top Japanese prospect Yusei Kikuchi is contemplating jumping straight from a Japanese high school to American professional baseball, the relationship between Japanese baseball and the major leagues continues to grow complicated. Like Junichi Tazawa last year, Kikuchi is expected to be the first pick in this year's Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB) draft and will probably command a seven-figure bonus in the States.

Like his predecessor, though, Kikuchi is worried about the restrictive transfer agreement between NPB and Major League Baseball hindering his ability to have a full career in America.

In Japan, players are drafted right into NPB after high school, where they remain property of their teams for nine years before declaring free agency. The only way to move to an American team before that deadline is for the player's team to "post" them, allowing American clubs to bid on the rights to negotiate with them.

The posting system was mainly created in response to the early defections of Hideo Nomo, Alfonso Soriano, and Hideki Irabu to America in the late 1990s. Since its institution in 1999, 10 players have been successfully posted to American teams, including Ichiro, Daisuke Matzusaka, and Akinori Iwamura.

Most Japanese players that come to the States choose to wait for their free agency, but in doing so sacrifice a large part of their career (and potential earnings). Think Hideki Matsui here, who came to the U.S. at the age of 29, and who's been a solid, above-average performer for the Yankees over his seven-year U.S. career after being a superstar in Japan.

What makes the choice by Tazawa (and the potential choice by Kikuchi) to bypass Japan entirely different is that they stand to make more money early in their career by staying with NPB. The top draft bonus in Japan is capped at about $1.1 million and first-year salary is about $160,000, but for the nine years of club control the players renegotiate their deals each season and their salaries can escalate into seven figures (American) by their second season, if their performance merits it.

If Kikuchi signs for a bonus in the $1-2 million region and then spends two or three years in the minors, he'd still be subject to major league team control for the first three years of his big-league career, meaning that he might not make the sort of money that a pitcher like Yu Darvish makes right now in Japan until he's been in the U.S. for four or five years.

The biggest problem is the posting system. Posting is an expensive process for American teams that strongly limits where Japanese players may end up, placing the decision entirely out of their hands. On the other hand, granting free agency to players that skip the NPB draft entirely actually gives them an advantage over American prospects of the same age, because they're freely available on the open market.

NPB wants to create hurdles for its star players to move to MLB, to keep their league relevant (in the wake of Tazawa's defection, they instituted a three-year ban for any player that skips the NPB draft for America), but the system isn't close to ideal.

Where this goes from here may rely entirely on how Tazawa and Kikuchi (if he skips the draft) fare in America. So far, Japanese players have been a mixed bag in America. For every Ichiro Suzuki, there's a Kazuo Matsui. The two biggest fees of all-time were paid to Daisuke Matsuzaka, who's had varied success for the Red Sox, and Kei Igawa, a disaster for the Yankees. But how will a talented Japanese pitcher fare after being groomed in the American minor leagues instead of NPB? If a few players find success here, a larger number may try to follow in their footsteps.

If that happens, NPB may be forced to revisit the posting agreement; keeping players like Kikuchi and Tazawa around for two or three years in the domestic league is better than not having them at all, one would think. It also may create the unwanted impression that NPB is simply a de facto farm league for Major League Baseball, but if this sort of defection becomes more regular, something will have to change.

I'm not sure anything is going to change on this front any time soon, but a high-profile player moving in the opposite direction may prompt action. Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker (who, along with his co-blogger Ryo Shinkawa, was a huge source of information on the Japanese draft and contracts for this piece) says that while an undrafted American would not be subject to the NPB draft, he would likely be subject to the nine-year rule, unless something different was agreed to in his contract.

Imagine this: the Nationals take Bryce Harper with the top overall pick in next June's draft, but can't sign him. Instead of playing in an independent league and re-entering the draft, Harper jumps to Japan, knowing he'll need a year or two of minor-league seasoning in America anyway. In his contract is an agreement that once he turns, say, 20, his Japanese team will agree to post him back to America, bringing in a huge sum of money for the team that signs him (if he performs), and getting Harper around the American draft. So Harper signs an NPB contract and bonus, gets paid for a few years of Japanese baseball, then comes back to America to a huge contract.

Potential Defection of Yusei Kikuchi Again Calls Into Question Posting System originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twins Land Top Dominican Prospect

Matt Snyder — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:20:00 EST

Filed under: Twins, AL Central, Prospects

After being heavily pursued by the Pittsburgh Pirates -- and seemingly no one else -- since early July, Miguel Angel Sano will reportedly sign a $3.15 million deal with the Minnesota Twins. Sano, the 16-year-old Dominican phenom, is a shortstop but is expected to be converted to the outfield eventually.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington and Latin American scouting director Rene Gayo had been hot on Sano since the international signing period began on July 2. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, though, Sano's agent, Rob Plummer, said the relationship between the two sides became strained in the process.

"You know, I feel like I was in touch with the Pittsburgh fans on this, from reading the blogs and message boards, and I feel bad for them," Plummer said. "Sano could have been a Pirate. And when the fans see the figure Miguel signs for, they'll know that."

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"I think contracts are made entirely of relationships, that people should have a comfort level," Plummer said. "Things fell apart because Pittsburgh never believed I had other teams interested in Miguel. I gave Neal every opportunity to sign Miguel for a reasonable amount, but he was afraid he was bidding against himself. When he sees the signing, he'll see that."

Also, there was reportedly a gentleman's-type agreement in place that Sano and Plummer would contact Huntington if they got an offer from another team, so the Pirates would have a chance to counter-offer. That contact was reportedly never made.

Sano appears to be a five-tool superstar in the making, and he personally expressed to the Post-Gazette that he plans on making the majors in two years. Gayo has described Sano as the best prospect he's ever seen in his life as a scout.

The Twins are expected to announce the signing officially soon.

Twins Land Top Dominican Prospect originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yusei Kikuchi Could Bypass NPB Draft For American Baseball

Pat Lackey — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Biz, Prospects, International Baseball

Every year, the relationship between American baseball and Japanese baseball gets a little more complicated. Reports Tuesday indicate that Yusei Kikuchi, a high school pitcher expected to be the first player picked in Nippon Professional Baseball's amateur draft late next month, is contemplating skipping the draft in favor of coming to America.

That may not seem like a big deal, but under Major League Baseball's current rules, Kikuchi would not be subject to the MLB Draft and instead be declared a free agent, free to sign with any American team he wants. In light of Junichi Tazawa making a similar jump last year, skipping the NPB draft for America now carries a three-year ban, but Kikuchi would be the second top prospect in two years to make the leap, should he choose to do so.

I contacted Patrick Newman and Ryo Shinkawa, the authors of NPB Tracker, to ask about Kikuchi's situation.

Both agreed that because of age (Kikuchi is 18, Tazawa was 22 when he signed) Kikuchi is considered a much rawer prospect than Tazawa was last year and might not command contract on par with the three-year, $3.3 million deal he received from Boston, but that he still might command a seven-figure contract.

Given time spent in the minors, that may not represent more money than he'd make if he were to stay in Japan, though it's impossible to put a dollar figure on getting into the MLB system at the age of 18 without having to be posted or waiting to be granted free agency (which comes nine years after being drafted in Japan).

The above video is taken from Kikuchi's appearance in a high school tournament in July. His fastball clocks in anywhere between 85 and 92 mph and he seems to spot it nicely with a big, slow curve that clocks in the low 70s. He even mixes in an eephus pitch for good measure.

It's hard to really judge his talent with free-swinging high school kids batting against him, but I think a lefty with the ability to hit 90-plus on the radar gun regularly (he does at least three or four times in the inning shown above) and a breaking pitch would make him a pretty good prospect if he were an American high schooler.

It's not hard to see why an American team would be interested in signing him and adding him to their system, even with his young age.

Yusei Kikuchi Could Bypass NPB Draft For American Baseball originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cardinals Void Contract of Dominican Prospect Wagner Mateo

Pat Lackey — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cardinals, NL Central, Prospects

Just 21/2 months after the Cardinals agreed to a $3.1 million contract with 16-year old Dominican prospect Wagner Mateo, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the club is voiding the deal due to a pre-existing condition that Cardinals discovered during their physical exam. It was originally reported on Friday by ESPN's Jorge Arangure that the physical turned up vision problems that could potentially affect the signing, though the club had not elaborated beyond that initial report.

It's not immediately clear what Mateo's vision problems are or what the Cardinals' plan is going forward with Mateo. The voiding of the contract suggests that it's a serious condition, but it's also possible that the Cardinals are playing it safe given the amount of money and young age of the player involved. If that's the case, Mateo could potentially sign, for much less money, with another team somewhere down the road.

This news really highlights the risks of paying huge bonuses to such young players. In his initial report, the Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss wrote that there were whispers about Mateo's vision well before the Cardinals' physical (which took place at the end of July), though the Cards must certainly have vetted Mateo at least somewhat thoroughly (especially to confirm his age) before giving him such a huge bonus.

It will be interesting to see the impact that this news has on the market for young Latin-American players. Prices have shot upwards in the past two summers with Michael Inoa's $4.25 million bonus last summer, Mateo's bonus this summer and the rumored asking price for Miguel Angel Sano (who's still on the market), which is reportedly anywhere between $2.5 and $5 million. It's possible this news will hurt Sano's value as it highlights the danger of paying a seven-figure bonus to a 16-year old that virtually nothing is known about.

Then again, the Cardinals weren't really burned by this because they did catch Mateo's problems before the contract went into effect, meaning that they don't have to pay the bonus. I'd assume that the clause that hinged the contract on a full physical is standard for these types of signings, so clubs may simply view this as a unique situation and keep pressing onward with astronomical bonuses for Latin-American youngsters.

Cardinals Void Contract of Dominican Prospect Wagner Mateo originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aroldis Chapman Is Now Andorran

Tom Fornelli — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Prospects

For the most part, when Cuban baseball players defect from their country in the hopes of one day playing Major League Baseball, they usually end up in one of the many nations surrounding Cuba. That is not the case for recent defector Aroldis Chapman. After leaving Cuba's national team while they were in Holland on July 1 this year, Chapman has moved a bit further east to find his new home.

It's a long way from the island of Cuba to the tiny nation of Andorra, but the little European nation tucked between the borders of France and Spain is the new home of Chapman. He's established residency there already, which is a big first step towards getting to the United States. Even if it is a circuitous route.

Chapman's Andorran residency clears the first and most difficult of the three major hurdles to becoming a major league free agent. Because Chapman had his passport -- an almost unheard of occurrence for a Cuban defector -- establishing residency took a fraction of the time needed for most defectors and may make him available for free agency before the playoffs begin, his agents say.

Edwin Leonel Mejia of Athletes Premier International, Chapman's agent, says his client's Andorran papers "creates a new channel for players to establish residency."

Major League Baseball is probably rather pleased with this development as well as they've made a push to expand the game of baseball into Europe this year, and now having Chapman there could help that cause as well.

As for Chapman's future, scouts differ on what the Cuban will do once he gets to the States. Some have him pegged as a starting pitcher while others say he'll be better served as a middle reliever. Though odds are that wherever he ends up, he'll be rich as both the Yankees and Red Sox are expected to show interest in him.

Aroldis Chapman Is Now Andorran originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Giants Prospect Angel Villalona Suspect In Dominican Slaying

Matt Snyder — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, Prospects

Angel Villalona, a highly-touted prospect in the San Francisco Giants' system, is the prime suspect in a killing.

The Associated Press is reporting the 19-year-old has turned himself into authorities in the Dominican Republic. He is a suspect in the shooting death of a 25-year-old man, Mario Felix de Jesus Velete, in a La Romana bar.

Villalona could face up to 20 years in prison, if he's found guilty of the crime. He will have a court appearance Monday.

Villalona first signed with the Giants when he was 16. This past season, in advanced Single-A, Villalona hit .267 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and a .704 OPS in 74 games.

He still has some work to do on plate discipline, as he struck out 73 times and walked just nine. He has been projected as a potentially solid major league power hitter down the line (in a few years) by some scouts.

Depending upon how things shake out regarding this incident, he may never have that chance.

The Giants have offered the following response:

"The Giants were disappointed to learn that there was an incident in the Dominican Republic last night in which an individual was killed and one of our minor league prospects, Angel Villalona, may have been involved. We will monitor the situation closely and trust that the judicial process in the Dominican Republic will resolve the matter promptly and fairly."

Giants Prospect Angel Villalona Suspect In Dominican Slaying originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phenom Madison Bumgarner Gets Mixed Reviews in Debut

Jeff Fletcher — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:20:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, Prospects

SAN FRANCISCO -- Depending on who you ask, Madison Bumgarner's much-anticipated big league debut was a success or a failure.

Bumgarner, who got the emergency start on Tuesday night against the Padres because of Tim Lincecum's back spasms, was good enough to hold down the Padres into the sixth inning. He was good enough to leave with a one-run lead, and to a standing ovation, in a game that Giants would eventually lose 4-3.

However, to anyone who was expecting to see the eye-popping stuff of a premium prospect, the 20-year-old left something to be desired.
"I'm disappointed," said a scout who was at the game. "I'm not impressed. I couldn't write him up based on this. I couldn't tell you what his out pitch is. The one thing I was impressed with was his mound presence. He looks like a big leaguer."

At the beginning of the year, Bumgarner was ranked by Baseball America as the fourth-best pitching prospect in baseball. The three ahead of him (David Price, Brett Anderson and Tommy Hanson) have all been in the majors for most of the season. Bumgarner's statistics at Single-A and Double A (12-2, 1.85 ERA) did nothing to detract from his reputation.

That's why there was so much excitement for his debut on Tuesday, even though it came at the expense of Lincecum. There was a roar from the crowd when he was introduced.

"I didn't think anyone knew who I was," he said, "but it seemed like everyone did."

When he took the mound, though, it was quickly apparent to the scouts behind the plate that something was missing. They wondered what happened to the kid who was throwing 95 mph in spring training and early in the season?

Another scout who had seen Bumgarner a few times since spring training said that he had seen him as far back as July throwing only around 88-90 mph.

"I guess maybe I'm getting a little tired," Bumgarner said. "I don't feel it, but I guess that's what's happening. It's hard to say."

Manager Bruce Bochy said that Bumgarner made do with the velocity he had.

"He pitched with it," Bochy said. "He's a smart kid. It's getting toward the end of the season. He's young. He feels fine. That's what he pitched at and I thought he did a good job with that. We're not caught up in the velocity right now."

Bumgarner's first fastball of the game was 91 mph, and after that he spent most of the night in the upper 80s, including the two fastballs that got deposited into the left-field bleachers, by Chase Headley and Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Those two homers were the only runs he allowed in 5 1/3 innings of the Giants biggest game of the year (till the next one), so it's not fair to be too tough on him.

After all, in the majors, the idea is to get outs, not necessarily to look pretty doing it. For a big-league debut on short notice and for a guy who became the youngest active player in the majors, he did that.

"I thought he did a nice job," Bochy said. "He gave us what we wanted, gave us what we needed."

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San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner pitches against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Erick Aybar #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim hits the winning RBI against the Seattle Mariners on September 8, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Mariners 3-2 (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Erick Aybar

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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Mark Lowe #57 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim on September 8, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Lowe

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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Erick Aybar #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim celebrates with teammates after hitting the winning RBI against the Seattle Mariners on September 8, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Mariners 3-2. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Erick Aybar

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San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner pitches against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar is mobbed by teammates after his game winning RBI-single against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

San Diego Padres' Chase Headley, right, celebrates with Nick Hundley, center, and Will Venable after beating the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. The Padres won, 4-3. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar celebrates his game winning RBI-single against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

San Francisco Giants' Aaron Rowand flips his helmet after striking out against San Diego Padres' Ryan Webb in the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. The Padres won, 4-3. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Brian Fuentes reacts after giving up the game tying homer to Seattle Mariners' Mike Sweeney during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Phenom Madison Bumgarner Gets Mixed Reviews in Debut originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stephen Strasburg Likely to Make Pro Debut in Arizona Fall League

Pat Lackey — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:08:00 EST

Filed under: Nationals, NL East, Prospects

Anyone hoping to see Stephen Strasburg in a big-league uniform in 2009 got some disappointing news Tuesday. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo confirmed that Strasburg's first professional appearances will be with the Phoenix Dirt Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. This shouldn't be surprising news (Andrew Johnson reported that possibility here on FanHouse last Friday), but I think a large group of more casual fans expected to see Strasburg in red and blue almost immediately. That will clearly not be the case.

The reality is that even the most advanced pitching prospects in the past few seasons have made at least some minor-league starts before making their big-league debuts. After being drafted by the Giants in 2006, Tim Lincecum made 14 minor-league appearances in 2006 and 2007 before getting an early call to San Francisco. The Orioles drafted Brian Matusz fourth overall last year and he made his debut in the AFL, then made 19 minor-league starts before the O's brought him up a few weeks ago.

The reality of the situation is that even the most advanced pitchers take some time to advance from college to the big leagues and it's unlikely that Strasburg will be an exception. He'll probably take some lumps in the AFL, because that's what happens to most guys that pitch in that league, go to big-league camp next spring, and begin 2010 with the Potomac Nationals (Washington's advanced Single-A affiliate) or maybe the Harrisburg Senators.

He'll probably pitch in D.C. before next season ends, but do we really expect him to progress quicker than Lincecum? I know there's a lot of hype around Strasburg, but that'd be a pretty tall order.

Stephen Strasburg Likely to Make Pro Debut in Arizona Fall League originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baseball Brunch: Time for Draft Reform?

Ed Price — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Rays, Rockies, MLB Biz, MLB Draft, Prospects, FanHouse Exclusive, MLB Inside Scoop, Baseball Brunch

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

As the No. 1 overall pick in 1990, Chipper Jones signed with the Braves for $275,000.

Even in today's dollars, that's about $450,000 -- or about 3 percent of Stephen Strasburg was guaranteed as this year's No. 1 pick.

And Jones agreed to his deal the night before the draft, while Strasburg came within two minutes of missing last Monday's deadline to sign.

"I think the only way that you're going to get kids signed and get them into the various camps is to put some kind of cap on it," Jones said. "I was always of the belief that you make your money at the big-league level."

That's how the teams want it too. When the current collective bargaining agreement is up in two years, Major League Baseball may pursue an NBA-style slotting system -- with signing bonuses locked in depending on how high a player is picked, as opposed to the current non-binding slot recommendations.

Commissioner Bud Selig last week told The Washington Post, "There's no question in my mind, in 2011, certainly a [hard] slotting system and a worldwide draft are things we will be very aggressive in talking about."

Which would lead to an interesting tug-of-war between owners, the players' union and agents.

With the alliances not as clear as it might seem.

"I think it's something we can seriously talk about," Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur told FanHouse. "I don't think the guys mind [slotting] very much.

"A guy like Strasburg, he deserves it. But something to stop it [escalating bonuses], I agree."

MLB might feel that it can get the players on its side as they see the signing bonuses explode -- especially this year, just a few months after the free-agent market went soft.

As Francoeur, who signed for $2.2 million as the 23rd overall pick in 2002, said, "Now, it's crazy. Guys are wanting $7-8 million and have never stepped on the [big-league] field."

But resistance to strict slotting could come from agents (who stand to lose their commissions) and union leadership (on principle).

"I think it goes against what we've fought for in the past, the free market," said Milwaukee infielder Craig Counsell, a member of the union's executive board.

"I know it sounds like something ownership is going to want. They've wanted it before. All you can go by is the past, and in the past it hasn't happened. ... I know in the past we've decided we're not going to restrict what players are going to make."

Through a spokesman, incoming union head Michael Weiner declined comment.

Another person with ties to the union pointed out that if teams save money on signing bonuses, they may not necessarily use it on payroll instead -- so why should current players go for the strict slotting system?

"I don't want to get into what may or may not be proposals," said Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations and human resources. "It's early, but this whole player talent-acquisition area -- by that I mean the draft, international signings, acquiring professional players from other countries -- that whole group of issues, clubs are talking about.

"The draft system is less than optimal from the perspective of the 30 clubs."

It isn't just Strasburg. According to Baseball America, this year's draft set records for highest bonus to a high school player (San Diego's Donovan Tate), biggest bonus to a high school pitcher (Detroit's Jacob Turner) as well as Strasburg's overall marks for biggest bonus and largest guarantee.

"I think the amount of money we spend at the top end of the draft is now too much for what I like to label unproven talent," said Logan White, the Dodgers' assistant general manager for scouting.

"When you draft a player and sign a player -- that's supposed to be when they're a bargain."

Chart of the Week
When San Diego's Kyle Blanks -- listed at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds -- hit an inside-the-park home run last Tuesday, he tied for the tallest player ever to do so. Players 6-foot-6 to hit inside-the-park homers:
Player	Vs.	Year
Corey Hart (MIL)	ARI	2008
Darryl Strawberry (NYM)	CIN	1989
Darryl Strawberry (NYM)	STL	1984
Dave Kingman (NYM)	STL	1982
Dave Winfield (NYY)	CHW	1981
Source: David Vincent, SABR

White said about 150 big-leaguers, 35 of whom become regulars, come out of each draft, with the numbers fairly consistent.

"No matter how much money you throw into the draft," he said, "that's not going to make it [produce] 300 major-leaguers and 75 every-day players."

And while the Aug. 15 deadline to sign (Aug. 17 this year because Aug. 15 fell on a weekend) is an improvement on the old deadline of when a player first attended college classes -- imagine a scout trying to intercept a freshman on campus with one final offer before his first class -- there is a whole other set of headaches.

Along with the recommended bonuses, MLB pressures teams that intend to go over slot to hold off on announcing deals so as not to drive up the price for other draft picks. And some agents wait to see what everyone else gets. Which leads to the last-minute deals -- or, last year, two that went past the deadline but were still approved.

Also, teams that ignore the slot recommendations can be rewarded over teams that obey. The classic case in point is Detroit's Rick Porcello, who wanted a $7 million deal out of high school. He should have been a top-10 pick in 2007 but fell to 27th before the Tigers were willing to bust slot.

And their decision paid off. Porcello is a winning pitcher in the majors at age 20 -- exactly what many of the teams that drafted 1-26 could have used.

"We do have [a situation] whereby economics ... undermines the purpose of the draft," Manfred said.

Manfred said such scenarios are on the decline.

"We have really worked with the clubs and, I think, convinced them letting players slip is bad for everybody," he said.

Agent Scott Boras, who represents Strasburg and Porcello, agreed.

"In prior drafts the No. 1 draft pick was not always the best player," Boras said. "Now, because of revenue-sharing, in the draft the best player is No. 1. For maybe 15 years, the best players in the draft were rarely No. 1 because of signability issues."

White said he thinks the current slotting system works in "90 percent of the cases, probably.

"... it's usually fair for whenever we pick the player."

According to Manfred, 75 percent of the drafted players signed, and 75 percent of those signed for within 5 percent of the slot recommendation.

Still ...

"We spend nearly $200 million on players, a very, very small percentage of whom make it to the major leagues," Manfred said.

But from the union point of view, that the teams are willing to make such investments proves they shouldn't cry poverty.

As Counsell put it, "It's easy to say when you see a kid sign for $16 million that's never played a day in the big leagues, 'Oh, that's not fair. There's some guys that have 10-year careers that don't make that much.' But there's market for his services, that's why he's getting that much."

When a new CBA is negotiated, as one high-ranking union person said, "It always comes down to tradeoffs." If the players want something else more, they may give in on a slot system.

One team official theorized that the top agents, such as Boras, would go for a strict slotting system, because it would result in fewer high school players passing up college scholarships to turn pro, and it's easier for the agents to identify and pursue potential clients once they're in college.

But the general perception is that Major League Baseball's pursuit of drastic signing-bonus reform would be determined by whether players or the agents call the shots.

"I would be open to listening to something," Jones said, "but the fact of the matter is, there were people here before me that allowed me to do the things that I've done. Who am I to say that there needs to be a cap or some kind of different system that regulates what kids make out of college or high school?"

Overheard and Understood

o. Before next Saturday's game in Seattle, Jim Bouton will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to catcher Gerry McNertney to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Seattle Pilots, an expansion team that lasted one season before moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers.

o. Matt Holliday is batting .404 since the All-Star break. According to STATS LLC, since expansion in 1961, only five players have batted .400 or better after the break (200 or more plate appearances): Ichiro Suzuki in 2004, George Brett in 1980, Barry Bonds in 2002, Larry Walker in 1998 and Tony Gwynn in 1993.

o. Pick your poison in the Cubs bullpen -- if you're manager Lou Piniella, that is. Kevin Gregg is second among NL relievers for most home runs allowed per nine innings, while Carlos Marmol has given up the fourth-fewest. But Marmol has averaged the most bases on balls per nine innings (8.2), while Gregg averages 3.6. So you want the guy who gives up walks or the one who surrenders home runs?

o. Kenshin Kawakami opened the season as the Braves' No. 4 starter, but he has faced a Cy Young Award winner five times (Barry Zito, Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson and Johan Santana twice); Opening-Day starters John Lannan and Brett Myers; aces Cole Hamels and Jonathan Johnson; and Clayton Kershaw, eighth in the NL in ERA. No wonder Kawakami is 6-9.

o. San Francisco's Jeremy Affeldt has induced 16 groundball double plays, most among big-league relievers, and has a chance to be the first reliever since Doug Sisk in 1988 to get 21 DP balls.

o. Since opening the season by winning their first 13 home games, the Dodgers are 27-24 at Chavez Ravine.

o. Baltimore's Brian Roberts (46) and Nick Markakis (39) have combined for 85 doubles and could threaten the teammate record of 116, set by George Burns and Tris Speaker of the 1926 Indians.

o. When Ivan Rodriguez rejoined the Rangers, it meant three teams had their all-time franchise hits leader on the current roster, along with Colorado's Todd Helton and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford.

o. Rockies manager Jim Tracy also ranks fifth all-time in managerial wins against Colorado, with 60.

o. In the Little League World Series 15 years ago, Maracaibo, Venezuela, defeated Northridge, Calif., in the championship game. Current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel played for Northridge, while Maracaibo featured Diamondbacks pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and Mariners catcher Guillermo Quiroz.

Baseball Brunch: Time for Draft Reform? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Matusz Latest Promising Oriole Arm Set to Make Baltimore Debut

Andrew Johnson — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Orioles, MLB Transactions, Prospects

Less than a week after Chris Tillman made his major league debut, another highly-touted prospect will make his first start in an Orioles uniform. Baltimore is set to call up left-hander Brian Matusz Tuesday night to face the Tigers.

Matusz, the fourth overall pick in last year's draft, has been a professional for less than a year, and only made his minor-league debut this season, but his rapid ascent to the major leagues highlights just how talented and polished he is.

The southpaw is 11-2 with a stingy 1.91 ERA across two minor-league levels this year. He has 121 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 113 innings to back up those gaudy numbers.

Though the Orioles are in an all too familiar position this year -- dead last in the American League East -- this is an exciting time to be a fan of the team.

The club has unveiled a number of promising rookies in 2009 to surround the offensive core of Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.

Left fielder Nolan Reimold and catcher Matt Wieters have been joined by Tillman and now Matusz recently, with the latter three being ranked first, 22nd and 25th, respectively, on Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list before the season.

Competing with the Red Sox and Yankees every year is never going to be easy, but the Rays have proved it is possible with smarts and a strong player-development machine. The Orioles may have the young talent on hand to follow the path blazed by Tampa Bay over the last few seasons -- a possibility that will make the AL East that much tougher heading into the next decade.

Brian Matusz Latest Promising Oriole Arm Set to Make Baltimore Debut originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Bush Says His Behavior a 'Disgrace'

Matt Snyder — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Padres, Prospects

You might remember Matt Bush as the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Baseball's 2004 first-year player draft; he went to the San Diego Padres. You might remember him for being a colossal bust who was never even serviceable in the minors, to the point where the Padres just cut him before he was even 24 years old. More likely, though, you remember him for his trouble with the law, and, most likely, his crying-on-YouTube performance.

Tuesday, Bush had to face the consequences for his actions in the crying incident. He was arrested for drunken driving, vandalism and resisting arrest -- and this followed being arrested for drunken assault in February of this year. He appeared to be contrite and accountable -- kind of.

"The way I acted was a disgrace," and took responsibility for his many run-ins with the law this year, blaming them on alcohol abuse.

"My actions were only a result of my drinking," said Bush, 23. "When I drink alcohol, I become another person which I do not like."

So, yeah, he admitted to acting a fool, but blamed it on his drinking. If that's true, he needs to not drink ever again. According to Bush, he hasn't since the latest arrest -- June 29. You have to wonder how much of this Bush actually believes and how much is being said because he's sorry he got caught. After all, when he was arrested in February, he was screaming "I'm Matt [expletive] Bush" to the police, according to several eyewitness accounts. Seven months is a good amount of time, but is it enough to wash away this sense of entitlement?

Hopefully the arrests humbled him enough and the sentence -- 120 days residential rehab, 240 hours community service, three years probation and a $4,400 fine -- are enough to help him get his life back on a positive track.

To give an idea of how big a bust Bush has been, considering his draft slot, here are some of the other players selected in the first round of the 2004 draft: Justin Verlander, Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Sowers, Homer Bailey, Jered Weaver, Billy Butler, Stephen Drew, David Purcey, Josh Fields, Glen Perkins, Phil Hughes and Blake DeWitt.

As if the above list isn't painful enough for the Padres and their fans, check this out. Here are the top overall picks between 1998 and 2007: Pat Burrell, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Gonzalez, Joe Mauer, Bryan Bullington, Delmon Young, Bush, Justin Upton, Luke Hochevar and David Price. Four have already been All-Stars, eight of them currently receive substantial major league playing time and Bush is the only one who never made the majors. Talk about a big-time whiff.

Perhaps one name on that list can become an inspiration for Bush, even if it's just off the field. Mr. Hamilton was also once labeled a pretty big bust due to self-sabotage, but he fought through personal demons and is now a two-time All-Star. If anyone can talk to Bush from a position of experience, he can. Maybe he will. The most important thing Hamilton has going for him in regards to this situation is the fact that he is still clean, because Bush has bigger problems than his baseball career.

Matt Bush Says His Behavior a 'Disgrace' originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston's Kelly Is a Prospect, but Is It on Mound or in Field?

Ed Price — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Red Sox, MLB All-Star Game, Prospects, Minor Leagues

ST. LOUIS - Casey Kelly pitched an inning for the U.S. team in Sunday's Futures Game, an All-Star showcase for baseball's top prospects.

And, just like that, he became a shortstop.

Kelly's unique arrangement with the Red Sox called for him to spend the first half of the minor-league season as a pitcher and then move to shortstop. Eventually, he will be one or the other, and there seems to be a slight difference of opinion between team and player.

"The determining factor is just going to be what I feel most comfortable with and whatever's going to get me to the big leagues the fastest," said Kelly, 19. "That's the main goal, is to get to the big leagues as quick and fast as possible, whatever position that might be.

"This year is kind of experimental, to see which one is going to be the best." Boston likes him better as a pitcher, perhaps to the point of pushing him for a Futures Game spot to both extend his pitching work this season by an extra week and to help convince him that his future lay on the mound.

But by letting Kelly do both, for now, the team has avoided any sort of battle.

"The Red Sox have been awesome through this whole process," he said. "I think once we get done with this season we'll kind of see what side is the best for me and the best for them."

Kelly's father, Pat, caught in three games for the 1980 Blue Jays and now is a minor-league manager wit the Reds. Coming out of high school in Sarasota, Fla., Casey had a scholarship offer from the University of Tennessee to play quarterback. But he turned that down after the Red Sox drafted him in the first round last year.

After getting a $3 million signing bonus, Kelly played only shortstop last summer. He didn't pitch between the end of his senior year at high school and this year's spring training.

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Team USA's Eric Young holds his helmet as he rounds the bases on a solo home run during the third inning of the All-Star Futures baseball game against the World Team at Busch Stadium on Sunday, July 12, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: U.S. Futures All-Star play against the World Futures All-Star during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: World Futures All-Star Yohan Flande of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yohan Flande

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: U.S. Futures All-Star Eric Young of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a home run against the World Futures All-Stars during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eric Young

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: World Futures All-Star Tyson Gillies of the Seattle Mariners fails to chase down a foul ball during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tyson Gillies

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A smattering of fans watch the All-Star Futures baseball game at Busch Stadium after a rain delay that lasted several hours Sunday, July 12, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

World Team right fielder Tyson Gillies reaches for a ball hit just foul down the line by Team USA's Desmond Jennings during the third inning of the All-Star Futures baseball game at Busch Stadium on Sunday, July 12, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: World Futures All-Star Wilmer Flores of the New York Mets dives to make a play during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wilmer Flores

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ST LOUIS, MO - JULY 12: World Futures All-Star Francisco Samuel walks off the mound during the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 the in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Francisco Samuel

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ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 12: Pitcher John Lackey #41 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim throws a pitch against the New York Yankees on July 12, 2009 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels won 5-4. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Lackey

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As a pitcher, Kelly (6-foot-3 and 194 pounds) features a fastball that isn't overpowering but with good command and movement, along with a curve and changeup. He retired all three batters he faced Sunday on nine total pitches, hitting 93-94 mph with his fastball.

After going 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA in nine starts for low Single-A Greenville (S.C.), Kelly moved up to advanced Single-A Salem (Va.) and went 1-4 with a 3.09 ERA in eight starts. Combined, he had 74 strikeouts, just 16 walks and 65 hits allowed in 95 innings.

"They let me just kind of go out there and kind of learn for myself," he said. "I made a lot of adjustments. I felt like every outing I learned something."

Meanwhile, he took batting practice at least twice a week in preparation for the second half.

"It was weird," he said. "To sit in the dugout or sit in the stands and chart [when not pitching] and watch the team play I think was the toughest thing. I'm such a competitor and stuff, and not to be in there during the game was tough for me at first."

"To sit in the dugout or sit in the stands and chart [when not pitching] and watch the team play I think was the toughest thing."
-- Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly Kelly compared the eventual choice between pitcher and position player to the one he made a year ago between baseball and football.

"I've kind of been through it before," he said. "Everybody was like, 'How are you going to deal with this?' It [the decision] was made for me. The opportunity came by [in baseball] and I don't regret it at all."

From St. Louis he will go to Boston's spring-training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., where the Red Sox will determine where to send him for the second half.

"Aw, man, I'm really excited," he said. "To kind of have two seasons in one is really unique. So I'm excited to get back and start playing shortstop."

Kelly said it was worth delaying his move to shortstop for a week to play in the Futures Game. Just one thing was missing from his experience in St. Louis: getting to hit off one of the other phenoms.

"That would be probably the best feeling in the world, to get an at-bat today." he said. "But I'm here strictly as a pitcher today."

Boston's Kelly Is a Prospect, but Is It on Mound or in Field? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite Report, No Reason to Think Aroldis Chapman Is 26

Pat Lackey — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Prospects

The news of Aroldis Chapman's defection last week very quickly excited a lot of people. Free agent 21-year-old left-handed starters with 100 mph fastballs don't really grow on trees or, well, anywhere and the immediate speculation on Chapman was that he could command a contract in the eight-figure neighborhood. The next day, the New York Times penned a piece on Chapman that mentioned almost casually, like it was common knowledge, that the Cuban super-prospect was actually 26 years old and not 21 as commonly thought.

Because Chapman pitched in America in the World Baseball Classic this spring, this claim surprised a lot of people. Baseball America's J.J. Cooper (who also writes for our NFL FanHouse) did some digging on the subject and in a story posted at BA today gives his findings. As far as he or anyone else can tell right now, it still appears that all signs point to Chapman being 21.

You can read Cooper's post for the full logic -- the source of the discrepancy appears to be some miscommunication during the WBC between an NYT editor and BA's John Manuel -- but he makes another good argument:

International scouts have been keeping an eye on him every since he broke into Cuba's Serie Nacional late in 2005 as an 18-year-old. He made his first appearance on the Cuba National Team at the Pan American Games 2007 as a 19-year-old. If he was 26, there would have been no logical reason for Cuba to have kept him under wraps for several years when he could have been helping the team in the World Baseball Classic and other national tournaments.

Cuba was doing their best to keep Chapman in-house to prevent his defection (his presence with the team at the tournament in the Netherlands was unexpected for that very reason) but given the importance of baseball in the country, it seems crazy they'd keep such a huge talent under wraps.

Age questions will probably dog Chapman for much of his career, just as they seem to for any prominent Latin American player in this era. Right now, though, there doesn't seem to be reason to believe he's any age but the one he's listed at.

Despite Report, No Reason to Think Aroldis Chapman Is 26 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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