Unlike the Arizona Fall League where only top prospects are invited, baseball’s winter leagues are open to young and old alike. Some play winter ball to make up for lost time (like the Cleveland Indians Jake Westbrook). Others play to work on things to make them better or to continue the progress they made during the regular season. Some players play winter ball to audition for a major league club. Hometown players play to give back to their home country’s fans and to show national pride.

There are four countries that offer winter ball leagues (Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic), which culminates in the Caribbean Series that will be held in Venezuela in February. The top four teams in each league represent their country in the series. The Cubs vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita stated “I think it’s great for anybody’s development” to play winter ball.

I wrote about Jake Westbrook’s comeback attempt in winter ball in Puerto Rico. The NY Yankees have catching prospect Jesus Montero playing in his home country Venezuela to make up for the time he missed after his finger injury with Double-A Trenton. However he is not getting a lot of playing time with Navegantes del Magallanes (although it is not due to aggravating his finger). He has played in just 9 games and is hitting just .115. Another catcher, this one from the Texas Rangers, is also making up for lost time in Venezuela. Max Ramirez suffered injuries to both of his wrists during the season and only accumulated 287 at-bats. With Tiburones de La Guaira, Ramirez is hitting .245 in 42 games with 10 homeruns and 31 RBIs. Sandy Madera is leading the Mexican League in hitting, with a .433 average to go with 14 homeruns and 25 RBIs. The first baseman played in just 5 games with Triple-A Pawtucket and is using his time in Mexico to make up for the lost time.

John Mayberry Jr.

In Mexico, the Philadelphia Phillies have two outfield prospects competing for Yaquis de Obregon. John Mayberry Jr., who played in just 128 games between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, and Michael Taylor, who is coming off a .320 season split between Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley, are hoping their time in Mexico can help them crack the Phillies roster or audition for another team looking to make a trade. Despite battling an elbow injury, Taylor is hitting .309 in 19 games with 1 homerun and 11 RBIs. Mayberry is hitting .313 (which is 12^th in the Mexican League) in 38 games with 7 homeruns and 23 RBIs.

With the 3^rd best batting average in the Mexican League (.367), Mike Cervenak is hoping to sign with a team. After being named an International League All-Star with Lehigh Valley the last two seasons (and earning a World Series ring in 2008 with the Phillies), Cervenak is hoping to break through to the big leagues in 2010 (after making the majors for the first time in 2008). The third baseman (though I’ve seen him play a multitude of positions) has played in 43 games with 11 doubles, 10 homeruns, and 38 RBIs in Mexico. Cervenak’s former Triple-A teammate Andy Tracy, who re-signed with the Phillies, is playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Tracy hit his first homerun this weekend and is hitting .300 with 5 RBIs in 5 games (5 game hitting streak). Tracy could be the power bat off the bench for the Phillies in 2010.

Josh Schmidt pitching for Trenton

Josh Schmidt of the NY Yankees spent the 2009 season in Double-A Trenton, mainly out of the bullpen though he did spot start for the Thunder. In Venezuela, Schmidt just struck out ten in a 7 inning complete game shutout. He could be a long shot for the Yankees in 2010, but if he continues to pitch well as the All-Star did in 2009, you may see him as a call up next season. The Colorado Rockies young starter Jhoulys Chacin is pitching in his home country Venezuela. Chacin just was outdueled on Sunday, though he gave up just one unearned run in 6 innings. In 7 starts, Chacin is 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA with 9 walks to 22 strikeouts. Chacin should be plugged into the rotation for the Rockies in 2010.

Pablo Sandoval

The Kung Fu Panda has arrived in Venezuela. Pablo Sandoval, the fan favorite for the San Francisco Giants, has played in just 3 games though he had 3 hits in his second game (with 3 runs scored and an RBI). Also in Venezuela is the NY Mets young catcher Josh Thole, who continuing to hit in winter ball. Thole leads the league in hitting at .391 with 13 doubles, 3 homeruns, and 24 RBIs. In 39 games, Thole has more walks (24) than strikeouts (13).

Tags:

Andy Tracy, Dominican Winter League, Jesus Montero, Jhoulys Chacin, John Mayberry Jr, Josh Schmidt, Josh Thole, Max Ramirez, Mexican Pacific League, Michael Taylor, Mike Cervenak, Pablo Sandoval, Puerto Rican Winter League, Sandy Madera, Venezuelan Winter League

Remember Jake Westbrook? Cleveland Indians fans are hoping he makes them remember him again in 2010. Westbrook teamed with CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee to form a formidable tandem. From 2004-2007, Westbrook averaged over 200 innings a season and over 100 strikeouts in a season. However in that time span, he also has averaged over 50 walks a season. Before the 2007 season, the Indians signed Westbrook to an extension, keeping him through the 2010 season. He was a far cry from an ace, but the 2007 free agent market was set to be weak with starting pitching and Westbrook would have commanded close to $10 million. He was a consistent and steady middle of the rotation starter and the Indians were impressed with his leadership abilities.

Jake Westbrook

However Westbrook made just five starts in 2008, succumbing to Tommy John surgery, Sabathia was traded in July of 2008, and Lee was traded in July of 2009. Westbrook’s last major league start came on May 28, 2008 against the Chicago White Sox. Then he had Tommy John surgery in June. The Indians had hoped to have him back at midseason in 2009 but two setbacks during his minor league rehab shut him down until now. He has been at the Indians winter development complex in Goodyear, Arizona, working on his mechanics with new pitching coach Tim Belcher and stretching out his arm for a run in the Puerto Rican winter league.

Right now, Westbrook is slotted in as the Opening Day starter in 2010. The Indians would like to add a veteran starter to lead their young pitching staff. Westbrook could be that veteran guy if he is healthy. The Indians need to find the right guy because they do not want to block the progress of their young pitchers, including Justin Masterson, Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Carlos Carrasco, Hector Rondon, and Jeanmar Gomez. Westbrook is in the final year of his contract and will make $11 million in 2010. If Westbrook is healthy and effective, look for him to be traded at the July trading deadline, just as his former teammates Sabathia and Lee were the last two seasons.

In his first start for Ponce against Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico, Westbrook pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and one run, while walking one. He got four ground ball outs and one fly ball out. He did not strike out a batter. Westbrook was on a 35-pitch limit and threw 22 in the first inning. Eddie Perez, the Ponce manager and Westbrook’s former Indians teammate, said “his cutter was good, he had good velocity, good sink and good movement”. The day after his start, he was continuing his throwing program without any pain, which was a good sign. Westbrook is scheduled to pitch again on December 6^th and throw three innings or 45 pitches. If everything goes well, he should stay with Ponce through December 17^th.

Westbrook does not care if he is the ace or the fifth starter, as long as he is back pitching in the big leagues in 2010. Indians fans are hoping he can solidify the young pitching staff to help the Tribe compete for the American League Central title.

Tags:

Cleveland Indians, Jake Westbrook, Puerto Rican Winter League

Michael Taylor

The Topps Double-A All-Star team is a mix of young talent and veterans. Michael Taylor of the Reading Phillies was a hot commodity at the trading deadline in 2009. As a fan of Taylor’s, I was glad to see him still in the Phillies organization. However with John Mayberry Jr. ahead of him, Domonic Brown right behind him, Anthony Gose right behind that, and three All-Star outfielders in the big leagues, it probably would be best for Taylor to get traded to have a better opportunity to make the majors. As the Eastern League Rookie of the Year, Taylor hit .333 with 15 homeruns and 65 RBIs before his promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The fan favorite was returned to Reading during the playoffs. Taylor is continuing his progress in the Mexican League this winter; in 19 games he is hitting .308 with 11 RBIs.

His teammate in both Reading and in Mexico this season, Neil Sellers was a force batting behind Taylor in the lineup while with Reading and played a great third base. Sellers was also an Eastern League All-Star while hitting .317 with 17 homeruns and 86 RBIs. In Mexico, Sellers was hitting .371 though he hasn’t played in a game since early November. With an opening at third base and the Phillies looking for a high-priced option, I would like to see the Phillies give Sellers a chance to win the third base job.

Another Eastern League All-Star, though from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Brian Dopirak was added to the Toronto Blue Jays’ 40-man roster last week. Many fans want to see Lyle Overbay and his $8 million contract traded to open the door for Dopirak. The former top prospect of the Chicago Cubs hit .308 with 19 homeruns and 68 RBIs before being promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. He is also playing winter ball in Venezuela and in 35 games, he is hitting .270 with 7 homeruns and 35 RBIs. Dopirak, who can play first base, the outfield, and DH, will get a long shot in spring training.

The final Eastern League All-Star to make the Topps Double-A All-Star team was the Trenton Thunder’s Eduardo Nunez. The shortstop was just added to the NY Yankees 40-man roster and is known mostly for his bat; he hit .322 with 9 homeruns and 55 RBIs. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, as he made 30+ errors in Trenton in 2009. The poor defense will not have him moving All-Star and Gold Glove winning Derek Jeter to a new position anytime soon. If Nunez continues to rack up the errors in 2010, look for the Yankees to possibly move him to a new position.

Tyler Flowers

Tyler Flowers was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan before the 2009 season. Blocked by catcher Brian McCann in Atlanta, Flowers has a better opportunity to take over the catching duties in Chicago in 2011 or before. In the Southern League with Birmingham, Flowers hit .302 with 13 homeruns and 43 RBIs before moving up to Triple-A Charlotte and getting a cup of coffee with the White Sox in September.

Travis Wood led all Double-A pitchers with a 1.21 ERA and he was also 9-3. Named the Southern League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher, Wood allowed just 78 hits in 119 innings pitched while striking out 103. Wood was just added to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster.

Daniel Descalso, a second baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals, spent the 2009 season in Springfield and then Triple-A Memphis, before joining the USA Baseball team for the World Cup and helped the US to a gold medal. In Springfield, he hit .322 with 8 homeruns and 51 RBIs. The Cardinals always seem to be looking for middle infielders and Descalso could be the guy to move Skip Schumaker back out to left field.

Desmond Jennings finished in the top five in average (316), stolen bases (37), triples (8), on-base percentage (.395), and slugging percentage (.486) in being named the Southern League’s Most Valuable Player. The Montgomery Biscuits outfielder also had a .996 fielding percentage, before being promoted to Triple-A Durham in August, where he continued his offensive production and hit over .300 in 32 games. Jennings also does not strike out a lot (67 BB/ 67 K). The speedy outfielder could push the Tampa Bay Rays outfielders sometime in 2010, especially if BJ Upton continues to struggle.

Chris Carter was named the Texas League Player of the Year while hitting .337 with 24 homeruns and 101 RBIs. Carter could be the answer for Oakland in 2010 for a power hitting first baseman since his trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The downside to Carter is the strikeouts that he collects each year (133 total and 27 in winter ball in 17 games).

As a Southern League All-Star, Ezequiel Carrera of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx led the league in hitting at .337. The Seattle Mariners newly acquired speedy outfielder from the NY Mets at the end of 2008 also does not strike out much (59 BB/ 62 K). Carrera could get a shot in 2010 with the Mariners or at least a September call up.

Tags:

Brian Dopirak, Chris Carter, Daniel Descalso, Desmond Jennings, Double-A, Eduardo Nunez, Ezequiel Carrera, Michael Taylor, Neil Sellers, Travis Wood, Tyler Flowers

Randy Ruiz

It was another entertaining season for Major League Baseball and 2010 expects to be another grand season. Over the past week, Topps teamed with Minor League Baseball to name each level’s All-Star team. Randy Ruiz was named the Pacific Coast League’s MVP, as he hit .320 with 25 homeruns and 106 RBIs with Las Vegas before his promotion to Toronto. With Toronto, Ruiz hit .313 with 10 homeruns and 17 RBIs in 33 games. Ruiz flourished so much that he is in line to take over the designated hitter duties in 2010. The International League’s MVP has gone on the open market. The former NY Yankees outfielder Shelley Duncan declined his designation back to Scranton, thus making him a free agent. Duncan, the son of the St. Louis Cardinals Dave Duncan and brother of former Cardinal Chris Duncan, hit .277 with 30 homeruns and 99 RBIs with Scranton. Duncan has tremendous power and became a fan favorite in his short stints with NY and while playing in Scranton.

Jordan Brown, who was originally upset about not being a September call up to the Cleveland Indians, was added to their 40-man roster this last week. Brown hit .336 with 15 homeruns and 67 RBIs for Columbus and can play both first base and the outfield. The Indians have tons of young talent that will be competing for spots in 2010 and Brown could be one of them. Another intriguing Triple-A All-Star is former Braves top prospect Andy Marte. Marte hit .327 with 18 homeruns and 66 RBIs as a teammate of Brown’s in Columbus. Marte received a call up to Cleveland in September to play first base and had 6 RBIs in his last ten games.

Kevin Russo fielding in Trenton

Kevin Russo made the overall Triple-A All-Star team along with being named the International League’s Rookie of the Year. Russo, who was just added to the Yankees 40-man roster, played all over the field in 2009 for the Scranton Yankees. Primarily a second baseman, Russo hit .326 with 5 homeruns and 31 RBIs out of the leadoff spot (where he flourished). Russo could compete for the utility infielder spot in spring training with the Yankees. The Milwaukee Brewers traded away JJ Hardy to the Minnesota Twins to open the doors for rookie shortstop Alcides Escobar. Escobar, with Nashville, hit .298 with 4 homeruns and 34 RBIs. As a September call up, Escobar showed Brewers fans what to look forward to in 2010 and beyond, he hit .304, though he did make 6 errors in just 37 games. Escobar is flashy but also is athletic and has a strong arm at shortstop.

Lenny DiNardo

Another interesting Triple-A All-Star is Lenny DiNardo. Placed in the same boat as Shelley Duncan, he elected free agency rather than being optioned to Triple-A Omaha, which is where he spent 2009. In 2009 with the Omaha Royals, DiNardo was 10-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 29 games with 127 strikeouts to just 38 walks. DiNardo should find a deal with one of the clubs this offseason with a chance to win a big league job in spring training. Mitch Jones, the veteran minor leaguer and the designated hitter in Albuquerque, hit .297 with 35 homeruns and 103 RBIs. Jones made a brief Major League Baseball appearance this year with the LA Dodgers, nine years after originally signing. John Bowker was an outfield All-Star for Fresno of the SF Giants. Bowker hit .342 with 21 homeruns and 83 RBIs. He also led the minor leagues in on-base percentage (.451). Bowker is expected to contend for an outfield job in spring training.

Tags:

Alcides Escobar, Andy Marte, Jordan Brown, Kevin Russo, Lenny DiNardo, Randy Ruiz, Shelley Duncan, Triple-A

Omar Vizquel

The offseason is in full swing and there has been very little action regarding free agent signings or trades. The Chicago White Sox have made relatively small moves, adding veterans Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones, and re-signing Mark Kotsay, to help solidify their bench. Vizquel, who spent the 2009 season with the Texas Rangers mentoring rookie Elvis Andrus, is set to mentor the “Cuban Missile” Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, and newly acquired Mark Teahen. “I guarantee he will help those two kids in the middle of the infield to be better,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “His presence with the team is very important. He’s a guy who knows how to play the game. Jones, who was once thought to be the man to break Hank Aaron’s HR record, has seen his star dwindle due to injuries and a lack of offensive production since his later years in Atlanta. Jones has been relegated to bench duty and has to learn to contribute from the bench once or twice a week and in the clubhouse. “This is an opportunity to add a power bat to the roster while improving our outfield depth,” said White Sox general manager Ken Williams of the Jones signing. Jones averaged a homerun every 16.5 at-bats and a walk every 7.36 plate appearances.

The left-handed-hitting first baseman/outfielder Kotsay batted .292 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 113 at-bats with the White Sox, and was mentioned by manager Ozzie Guillen as a key player to have back for ’10. Kotsay signed a one-year deal and he was well-liked within the White Sox clubhouse. Williams has mentioned previously how he learned early on the benefit of a good fit among bench players, as opposed to loading up the reserves with the absolute best players he could find.

John McDonald

The Toronto Blue Jays have also quietly made a few moves. They re-signed utility infielder John McDonald to a two-year deal. McDonald is widely considered to be one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, and he can also man second and third base. It’s not his skills in the batter’s box that make him important to the Blue Jays. Beyond providing Toronto with a skilled defender at multiple spots around the diamond, McDonald serves as a mentor to other infielders in the Jays’ system. “He prepares as hard and as well as anybody that I’ve been around,” GM Alex Anthopoulos said. “[I think] that he’s going to have a long career in this role because of how diligently he does prepare, how much he cares, the example he sets for the younger players. That’s why, at his age, he still plays outstanding defense, and we expect him to continue to do so.” McDonald’s work ethic and attitude were keys to his quick re-signing, along with him becoming a fan favorite in last five years he has spent in Toronto.

The Blue Jays were looking to try and re-sign starting shortstop Marco Scutaro, but negotiations had stalled due to interest across the baseball market. Anthopoulos stated that a shortstop would have to be acquired through the free agent market as a short-term solution and after signing McDonald, he wanted to fill that need soon. One day later, the Blue Jays got their starting shortstop in free agent Alex Gonzalez, who looked like he might re-sign with the Boston Red Sox. Gonzalez signed a one year deal (with an option for 2011); giving the Blue Jays two defensive shortstops that could help the young pitching staff. “We felt at this time bringing Alex Gonzalez on board with a one-year deal and a club option made a lot of sense for us,” Anthopoulos said. “We certainly feel that there’s a lot of upside to this player. Look at the way he played for Boston the last six weeks and into the postseason. He played very good defense. We had a lot of our scouts see him. Offensively, he swung the bat very well.”

The Philadelphia Phillies have also found their utility fielder replacement for Eric Bruntlett. Juan Castro agreed to a one-year deal, as he hit .277 with one home run and nine RBIs in 112 at-bats last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the winter meetings set to begin December 7^th in Indianapolis, be assured that there will be a flurry of moves between now and then and during that week.

Tags:

Alex Gonzalez, Andruw Jones, Chicago White Sox, John McDonald, Mark Kotsay, Omar Vizquel, Toronto Blue Jays

Zack Greinke

The CY Young awards were a hot debate. Despite dominating virtually every opponent all season long in the American League, many thought that the Kansas City Royals ace’s win total was not enough. However after the votes were tallied, Zack Greinke was indeed the winner. He accumulated 25 of the 28 first place votes and a total of 134 points, well ahead of second-place finisher Felix Hernandez (80 points) of the Seattle Mariners. Even Greinke felt that the vote would be closer because he thought “Felix had an amazing year and that he would get a little more credit than he did…” King Felix finished the season 19-5 (tied for the most wins with the other CY Young hopefuls Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia) to go with a 2.49 ERA, though he is virtually unknown to people outside of the inner baseball circle.

Now back to Greinke. Playing for the bottom feeder Royals seemed to hurt him all year long when the “talking heads” discussed who should win the award. Despite a Major League Baseball best 2.16 ERA, he had just 16 wins (16-8 overall) due to a lack of offensive support and bullpen implosions. Greinke started the year hot going 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA and ended the year hot going 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 11 starts. Greinke also racked up 242 strikeouts.

Tim Lincecum

The voting in the National League illustrated the debate as it was one of the closest CY Young races. Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals garnered the most first place votes, yet he came in third place. His teammate Chris Carpenter garnered the most second place votes, which put him in second place. It seemed that the Cardinals teammates took votes away from each other. However the top three spots were only separated by ten votes. Not that the San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum did not deserve the award. He was in the same boat as the Royals Greinke. He led the majors in making 7 starts, working 8 innings without allowing an earned run. Lincecum finished the season 15-7, due to a lack of offensive support, with a 2.48 ERA and led the NL in strikeouts (261). Lincecum is a repeat winner, as he won the award in 2008, which he admitted that the first one still hasn’t really sunk in yet. Towards the end of the season, I picked Wainwright as the winner because he had similar numbers to Lincecum (19-8, 2.63 ERA, and 212 K) but he had more innings pitched than everyone else and was carrying the Cardinals into the playoffs. However even Wainwright felt he shouldn’t win the award because he wasn’t the best pitcher on his team.

Joe Mauer

The MVP races ended up being virtually unanimous selections. In the American League, the Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer accumulated 27 of the 28 first place votes. NY Yankees teammates Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter placed second and third respectively, seemed to fit the same bill as Cardinals teammates Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter: they took votes from each other. Mauer, on the season, led the American League in hitting with a .365 average, adding 28 homeruns and 96 RBIs, which were all career highs. He also added 30 doubles and walked more than he struck out (76 BB/ 63 K). Mauer also plays the most demanding position: he’s a catcher and catching a young pitching staff. My only complaint about him winning the award was that he missed the first month of the season and he tailed off at the end when Justin Morneau went down with an injury.

Albert Pujols

In the National League, Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez would have won the award if there wasn’t a certain first baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals playing. Albert Pujols was a unanimous selection, garnering all of the 32 first place votes. This is Pujols’ second straight MVP award and third overall. Who can argue with his selection? Pujols hit .327 (which was third in the NL), with 47 homeruns (which led the majors) and 135 RBIs (which was third in the NL). He also had 45 doubles (which was second in the NL) and scored 124 runs (which led the NL). While playing in 160 games and carrying the Cardinals into the postseason, Pujols also walked way more times than he struck out (115 BB/ 65 K) and even stole 16 bases.

Tags:

Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, American League, Cy Young, Felix Hernandez, Joe Mauer, MVP, National League, Tim Lincecum, Zack Greinke

Late in the MLB season, I put in my two cents about award winners: who I felt deserved the award and who I thought would win. The Rookie of the Years in both leagues was highly contested. Some said the winner should play everyday. Others said it should be one of the dominant starting pitchers. Well it came down in both leagues to an everyday player (or somewhat everyday in the American League’s case).

Andrew Bailey records another save

The American League ROY went to the dark-horse candidate, closer Andrew Bailey, who beat out his biggest competition in the Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (the everyday player) and the Detroit Tigers Rick Porcello (the dominant starting pitcher) by more than 20 points. Bailey was pretty awful as a starting pitcher in the minors last year but once he moved to the bullpen, he moved quickly. A long shot to make the Oakland A’s roster out of spring training, he excelled to make the American League All-Star team and even the President of the United States noticed. I have sort of a soft spot for Bailey, as he went to high school close to where I live in NJ. Bailey turned out to be one of the best closers in 2009 (26 saves and a 1.84 ERA), even as a rookie and even as most of America did not know who he was. Bailey’s other numbers were also impressive: 6-3, 68 games (83.1 innings), 24 BB/ 91 K, and a .167 opponent batting average. My deserving pick was Porcello of the Tigers as he helped Justin Verlander carry the Tigers down the stretch. At just 20 years of age, Porcello never showed his age as he compiled a 14-9 record with a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts. He also was called on to pitch the play-in game, which the Tigers lost to the Twins in extra innings.

Chris Coghlan gets another hit

In the National League, the hit machine from the Florida Marlins Chris Coghlan (the everyday player) beat out the Philadelphia Phillies JA Happ (the dominant starting pitcher) in a very close race (105 points to 94 points). Coghlan had been my choice to win the ROY based on his offensive numbers, especially in the second half. I am a huge fan of Happ’s but I think the few starts he missed late in the year due to injury along with starting the season in the bullpen probably hurt him. I was surprised that the Atlanta Braves Tommy Hanson, who had similar numbers to Happ, kept Atlanta in the playoff race, and was picked by many to battle Happ for this award, received very little support (just 37 points).

Now back to Coghlan. Coghlan was called up in May to play an unknown position for him (left field), batted in an unknown part of the order (leadoff), and became a hits machine once he adjusted to the majors. He accumulated 47 hits in both August and September and led all of baseball in hits after the All-Star break. He ended the season hitting .321, which was 6^th best in the National League. He played in 128 games, hit 31 doubles, 6 triples, 9 homeruns, had 47 RBIs in the leadoff position, and had 53 walks compared to 77 strikeouts. He also made just 5 errors in left field, with 3 outfield assists.

The Manager of the Year awards were next. There wasn’t much of a shock to the winners. Mike Scioscia of the LA Angels had pitching injuries to start the season and then had to help the team through the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart. All the while, he stayed a rock for his players and guided them into the American League Championship Series. Yes Joe Girardi won the World Series with the NY Yankees but who wouldn’t want to manage a $200+ million team with All-Stars at virtually every position?

Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy didn’t take over the Rockies until then-manager Clint Hurdle was fired in May with an 18-28 record. The Rockies went 74-42 under Tracy and he guided them into the playoffs as the wild card. He was also rewarded with a 3-year contract. Other candidates in the National League were the Phillies Charlie Manuel, who guided the Phillies to their second straight World Series appearance despite all the problems in the bullpen though he managed virtually the same team as the year before, and the Marlins Fredi Gonzalez who guided the young Marlins to compete and push for a playoff berth in a tough NL East.

Tags:

Andrew Bailey, Chris Coghlan, Jim Tracy, Manager of the Year, Mike Scioscia, Rookie of the Year

This time of the year in baseball is awards season. All of the major awards are handed out during the World Series (the Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron awards), at the end of the World Series (the World Series trophy), and the weeks following the World Series. In those weeks, many are given out. Let’s start with the Gold Glove winners. In the American League, there were a few first timers (Evan Longoria, Adam Jones, and Mark Buerhle) and a few usual winners (Mark Teixeira, Torii Hunter, and Ichiro Suzuki).

Derek Jeter

I was a little surprised at Derek Jeter at shortstop because the entire offseason was talked about how he lost his range and needed to find a new position. Not that I’m questioning his selection, it’s just good for him, to show those “talking heads” they have no idea what they’re talking about. The one I would dispute would be Joe Mauer at catcher. Sure offensively he had a superb season. However he missed a lot of time early on (he returned May 1^st) and there were other catchers with better defensive numbers (like Kurt Suzuki and Gerald Laird). Mauer only had 3 errors, though in just 105 starts, he had 9 passed balls, and only caught 19 of 73 base stealers (26%). Suzuki, the young catcher from the Oakland A’s and lesser-known, had 5 errors but started 132 games and only had 3 passed balls. He caught 27 of 108 base stealers (25%). Laird of the Tigers had a higher fielding percentage (.997 compared to Mauer’s .996), a higher caught-stealing percentage (42 of 101 or 41%), more than double the assists (78 compared to Mauer’s 31), and the same number of errors (three) in 24 more games than Mauer, though he did have 9 passed balls. I know those who vote on the Gold Glove choose a winner who has had a better offensive season (Mark Grudzielanek over Mark Ellis in 2006 when Ellis set the single-season record for fielding for a second baseman but Grudzielanek hit better) but it should be who the best overall defensive player is.

Jimmy Rollins

In the National League, there were many first timers (Adam Wainwright, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Bourn, and Matt Kemp). There was also the expected (Yadier Molina). I watched the announcement on ESPNNews and was shocked that the analyst (I forget his name) did not think Jimmy Rollins deserved the award at shortstop. Rollins made the fewest errors for a season in his career (6), played virtually everyday (152 starts), and had an errorless games streak similar to the Tigers Placido Polanco (who won a Gold Glove). Rollins has won the award the last three years but this year was his best defensive season.  Maybe there is a dispute because there were more shortstops to choose from this year (like Troy Tulowitzki and Rafael Furcal). The analyst felt that Furcal deserved the award because he has the best arm. Due to injuries, Furcal has lost some range. He also didn’t play in as many games (141 starts) and he made 20 errors. Even with all of the errors, Furcal has a Gold Glove-type first baseman in James Loney who saves errors, whereas Rollins has Ryan Howard (no offense to the strides Howard has made on defense this year).

Shane Victorino

The other Gold Glove he criticized was the one to Shane Victorino. Sure Victorino doesn’t take the best routes to fly balls over his head (I watch him everyday and cringe every time) but he has the speed to make up for it and a pretty good arm. There were a few outfielders who also deserved it (like Nate McLouth, though he missed time due to injury; Hunter Pence, who lead the National League in assists with 16; Nyjer Morgan, who had 14 assists and just 4 errors though missed the end of the season due to injury; and the veteran Mike Cameron, who had the most chances and put outs), but Victorino made just one error, had 8 assists, and played in virtually every game (149), despite having a swollen knee due to crashing into a wall.

There were three that I questioned. The first was Orlando Hudson. Sure he’s been one of the best second basemen when he’s healthy, but down the stretch of the season for the Dodgers, he was not playing (manager Joe Torre picked the offense of Ronnie Belliard over Hudson’s defense). The ESPN analyst liked Chase Utley for this one. When you look at Utley before the ball’s hit towards him, you don’t think he’s a good defender, but he is. He gets to balls in the hole and up the middle, stays in at second on double plays, and usually has a strong, accurate arm (forget the playoffs). The Fielding Bible ranked Chase Utley second in the game to Toronto’s Aaron Hill though he made 12 errors. Brandon Phillips of the Reds also deserved attention as he made just 9 errors.

The other award I questioned was the one to Adrian Gonzalez. He is a good defensive first baseman, as he made just seven errors, but there was one who may have been a bit better. Todd Helton made just 3 errors and had more chances than Gonzalez.

Kevin Kouzmanoff

The final complaint was with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Yes he had a good year offensively for the Nationals, but contributed to the poor defense the team displayed throughout. Zimmerman made 17 errors in 153 starts. However the Fielding Bible ranks him as the best third baseman. Kevin Kouzmanoff of the Padres was well-deserving, as he set the single-season record for fielding by a third baseman. He made just 3 errors in 134 starts.

With the Silver Slugger Awards, there really is no controversy. The award goes to the best overall offensive player at each position. Many of the Silver Slugger award winners also cashed in on the Gold Gloves.

Mark Teixeira               1B                    Albert Pujols

Aaron Hill                     2B                    Chase Utley

Derek Jeter                  SS                    Hanley Ramirez

Evan Longoria              3B                    Ryan Zimmerman

Jason Bay                     OF                   Ryan Braun

Torii Hunter                  OF                   Matt Kemp

Ichiro Suzuki                OF                   Andre Ethier

Joe Mauer                    C                     Brian McCann

Adam Lind                   DH/P               Carlos Zambrano

Tags:

Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley, Derek Jeter, Gerald Laird, Gold Gloves, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Mauer, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Kurt Suzuki, Major League Baseball, Orlando Hudson, Rafael Furcal, Ryan Zimmerman, Shane Victorino, Silver Sluggers, Todd Helton

Peoria Javelinas 5, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4: Former Arizona State infielder CJ Retherford, now a Chicago White Sox prospect, made sure that the Phoenix Desert Dogs did not take home their 6^th straight Arizona Fall League title. With a 2-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning off of another Arizona State alum, pitcher Josh Perrault (Orioles), Retherford, the local kid, gave the Peoria Javelinas a 5-4 lead. He received some help in closing out the Desert Dogs from University of Miami standout Robbie Weinhardt, as the Detroit Tigers prospect pitched two shutout innings for the win. Weinhardt, the Week Five pitcher of the Week, struck out four (including the side in the 8^th) in his two innings of work.

Grant Desme in the AFL

Prior to the game, the AFL handed out a few awards. One was the MVP award, which was given to Oakland A’s prospect Grant Desme, who has not played above A ball but led the AFL in homeruns and hit .315. In an interview with the MLB Network, Desme called the award a “humbling honor…there’s a lot of talent here. It’s pretty cool…” The other award given out was the Dernell Stensen Sportsmanship Award, which was given to the LA Dodgers Russ Mitchell. Mitchell, who hit .319 with 25 RBIs, said “It’s huge…” because “it’s a team game…”

Many were disappointed by the fact that the number one pick in the 2009 draft would again not be pitching in an AFL game that was on television. However the disappointment faded as the game proved entertaining without Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) taking the mound. Strasburg’s replacement, Mitch Talbot (Rays), pitched a perfect first inning, but struggled in the second, giving up 2 runs in an inning that could have been much worse (the Javelinas left the bases loaded).

The Javelinas decided to use the bullpen in the AFL championship, starting with the Seattle Mariners Anthony Varvaro, who was just added to the Mariners 40-man roster. Despite giving up a leadoff triple to the Baltimore Orioles Matt Angle (who seemed to glide around the bases for a triple that received no throw) and an RBI groundout, Varvaro settled in to pitch 2 innings while striking out three.

The fourth was a big inning for the Desert Dogs as the league’s MVP Desme connected on a solo homerun to deep left on a fastball in from Scot Drucker (Tigers). Two batters later, Nevin Ashley (Rays) ripped an opposite field homerun to give the Desert Dogs a 3-2 lead. However in the bottom of the inning, Jeff Mandel of the Washington Nationals gave up the lead, allowing a run without giving up a hit to tie the game at 3-3. For the Javelinas, Andrew Oliver (Tigers) followed with two shutout innings (2 K). Mickey Storey (A’s), Reidier Gonzalez (Blue Jays), and Justin Friend (A’s) followed with 3 shutout innings for the Desert Dogs. In the top of the seventh against the White Sox Sergio Santos, the Desert Dogs scored to give them a 4-3 lead on an RBI single from Shawn O’Malley (Rays). This led to the heroics from Retherford in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Javelinas to the AFL title.

It was stated throughout the game that 6 out of 10 players from the AFL make it to the big leagues. Last year, the A’s Andrew Bailey pitched in the AFL. In 2009, he was a member of the American League All-Star team and was named the American League Rookie of the Year this past week. Gordon Beckham of the White Sox and Tommy Hanson of the Atlanta Braves were also ROY candidates who played in the AFL in 2008. Who could be the 2010 ROY, who spent time in the AFL in 2009? Brent Morel of the White Sox was considered by his teammates in the AFL to have the total package (offense and defense). Casper Wells of the Tigers had 10 outfield assists in just over 80 games in Double-A Erie in 2009. Danny Espinosa of the Nationals is considered to be big league ready defensively at shortstop. Grant Desme of the A’s was the only 30-30 man in the minor leagues in 2009 (30 homeruns, 40 stolen bases). Mickey Storey of the A’s went from a 31^st round draft pick in 2008 to Triple-A Sacramento and the AFL in his first full season. We shall see who progresses to rookie stardom in 2010.

Tags:

Andrew Oliver, Andrew Varvaro, Arizona Fall League, CJ Retherford, Grant Desme, Josh Perrault, Mitch Talbot, Peoria Javelinas, Phoenix Desert Dogs, Robbie Weinhardt, Russ Mitchell

Carlos Rivero

The emergence of Asdrubal Cabrera forced the Indians to move Jhonny Peralta to third base. Carlos Rivero could force the Indians to make Peralta the player traded in 2010. Rivero, a Venezuelan signee in 2005, has regularly been one of the youngest players in whatever league he has played in. A shortstop, many scouts believe he will be better suited at third. Rivero has batting practice power that has not generated to in-game pop. At Double-A Akron, he hit .242 in 132 games with 24 doubles, 7 homeruns, and 58 RBIs. He also walked 50 times to 73 strikeouts. Ted Kubiak, the Indians minor league defensive coordinator, believes Rivero could be an All-Star because of all the potential that oozes out of the baby-faced Rivero. In the AFL, Rivero hit .318 in 22 games, with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, and 13 RBIs. He has drawn comparisons to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Peralta. The comparisons haven’t gone to his head; they just serve as motivation. He also absorbs instruction like a sponge. Rivero will be given a chance to show off his tools as he has been added to the 40-man roster.

Matt McBride in the AFL

2009 has been eye-popping in terms of Matt McBride. A catcher throughout his career, McBride spent this season in the outfield while with Double-A Akron, which made sense considering who Akron’s starting catcher was (Carlos Santana). To me the 2^nd round pick in 2006 out of Lehigh (where he was a Johnny Bench Award finalist) reminds me of another versatile Indians catcher Chris Gimenez, who made it to the big leagues in 2009 playing first base and the outfield. After hitting .405 in High-A Kinston, he was promoted to Double-A Akron, though he struggled a bit (.247 in 98 games with 42 strikeouts). He did hit 29 doubles and 12 homeruns with 63 RBIs. Coming off the Eastern League championship with Akron, McBride joined some of his teammates in Peoria in the AFL. In the AFL, he has been one of the league’s best players. In 22 games, McBride hit .378 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homeruns, and 18 RBIs. He also walked 19 times with just 9 strikeouts. He won the Rising Stars game with a 2-run homer off the Nationals first round pick Drew Storen. McBride has also been nominated for the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. The award is given to the player that best exemplifies hard work, leadership, and unselfishness. With Santana destined for Triple-A Columbus (or the big leagues), McBride could be the starting catcher in Akron. Or they could team him with Santana and get him at-bats in the outfield, as the DH, and at catcher, like the Indians did with Gimenez and Wyatt Toregas in Columbus. He also could be taken in the Rule V draft, as the Indians did not add him to their 40-man roster, and could make another team’s roster out of spring training due to his versatility.

The 2009 season was a bit of a waste for Josh Rodriguez. A hamstring injury cost him most of the season, though he did make it back for Akron’s playoff surge. He played in just 33 games, while hitting .295 with 4 doubles and 12 RBIs (and 23 BB/ 30 K). Drafted as a shortstop in 2006 in the 2^nd round out of Rice, Rodriguez played mostly second base with Akron. In the AFL, he has mostly played second and the outfield. He hit .222 in 15 games in the AFL with 3 doubles, a triple, a homerun, and 4 RBIs. However, he walked 5 times compared to the 23 strikeouts. The change in positions is mainly due to his lack of consistency at shortstop and the errors that have mounted each year.

Nick Weglarz

Despite a disappointing first half in terms of overall offensive numbers, Nick Weglarz was still named to the Eastern League All-Star team. Overall in 2009 with Akron, he hit just .227 in 105 games with 17 doubles, 16 homeruns, and 65 RBIs. The impressive numbers are his walks compared to strikeouts (75 BB/ 78 K) for a power hitter. The 3^rd round pick out of Canada in 2005 was the Canadian Olympic team’s best hitter in the Olympics in 2008, despite being the second youngest player. Many believed Weglarz was on the same track as Matt LaPorta, who graduated to the big leagues in 2009. In August, Weglarz suffered a leg injury that kept him in a boot throughout the Eastern League playoffs. While trying to play in the AFL, Weglarz was shut down due to the lingering pain and a rod was placed in his leg to stabilize the fracture. He played in just 8 games, hitting .240 with just 1 RBI. However he did walk 7 times, with just 7 strikeouts. Weglarz is expected to be ready for big league spring training, as he was added to the 40-man roster.

When Weglarz was removed from the Peoria roster, the Indians added outfielder Tim Fedroff. Fedroff spent the entire season in High-A Kinston, hitting .278 in 99 games. He added 23 doubles, 4 homeruns, and 39 RBIs. He also had 64 walks (95 K) and 13 stolen bases. At the end of the Carolina League season, Fedroff was named a post-season All-Star. The 7^th round pick in 2008 out of North Carolina has good strength and plate discipline. In 10 games in the AFL, he hit just .111 with 2 RBIs.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Carlos Rivero, Cleveland Indians, Josh Rodriguez, Matt McBride, Nick Weglarz, Tim Fedroff

The last two seasons have been disappointing for the Cleveland Indians and have led to the trades of their two CY Young pitchers (CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee), along with a few other players (Victor Martinez, Casey Blake, Ryan Garko, etc.). These trades have stocked the Indians farm system with a plethora of pitchers (Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Justin Masterson, etc.), catchers (Carlos Santana and Lou Marson), and other position players (like Jason Donald).

Connor Graham

One of those young pitchers the Indians acquired is Connor Graham, who came to Cleveland from Colorado in the deal for reliever Rafael Betancourt. He was a 5^th round pick in 2007 out of Miami (OH) University. The 6’6 righty was immediately sent to Double-A Akron and their playoff push (and eventual winning of the Eastern League title), which was his first time above A ball. In 24 games (23 starts and 118.2 innings) overall in 2009, Graham was 8-7 with a 3.72 ERA, while allowing 5 homeruns, a .239 batting average, and 66 walks to 126 strikeouts. Graham throws in the low to mid 90s with his fastball, which is his best pitch. His slider and fastball project to be plus pitches, though he has some control problems with the slider. He is working on a third pitch and many think that the development of a third pitch will determine if he will project as a starter or reliever.

If Graham can limit his control problems and the walks, he could be a front-line starter. Graham’s stuff makes it hard to get a hit off him and he rarely gives up a homerun. Even though he walks a lot of batters, he effectively limits the damage and does not allow the big inning. In the Arizona Fall League, Graham is 1-1 in 11 outings with a 6.08 ERA. He has walked more batters than he struck out (18 BB/ 16 K) and allowed a .280 batting average. He only allowed 1 homerun. Some think that he should focus on fine tuning his fastball and slider so that he can quickly become a back-end of the bullpen reliever.

Zach Putnam, a 2008 7^th round draft pick, moved quickly since moving to the bullpen. The Big Ten pitcher of the year in 2008 out of Michigan has five pitches but has settled with only regularly using three. A two-way player in college, many felt Putnam could move quickly once he focused full-time on pitching. In his first full season, he reached Double-A Akron. Scouts think he works best off his sinker which would make him useful in the bullpen. Though he started 5 games while in High-A Kinston, he moved to the bullpen full-time once he was promoted to Akron. His numbers there were good: 4-2 with a 4.13 ERA in 33 games (56.2 innings) with 2 saves, 18 BB/ 57 K, and a .261 average. However in the AFL, Putnam started 5 games (12.1 innings) and was 0-1 with an 8.76 ERA. Opponents hit .333 off of him, though he only walked 3, compared to 18 strikeouts. With the instability of the Indians bullpen the past two years, it wouldn’t be crazy to see Putnam pitching out of the Cleveland bullpen in 2010. Putnam’s goal after signing was to be a September callup in 2010. He’s well on his way to reaching that goal.

Josh Judy

The Indians have two other relievers pitching in the AFL that could see time in the big leagues in 2010. Josh Judy started out in High-A Kinston and moved up to Double-A Akron, pitching very well at both levels. Overall in 2009, Judy was 4-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 41 games (54 innings). He accumulated 14 saves, a .201 opponents batting average, and 18 BB/ 70 K. Judy, a 34^th round pick in 2007 out of Indiana Institute of Technology, has carried that momentum into the AFL. As a member of the Peoria Saguaros, he is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in 11 games (17 innings). Opponents only hit .210 off him with just 8 BB/ 20 K. Carlton Smith, the younger brother of former Indians first round pick Corey Smith, has moved from a starter in 2008 with High-A Kinston to a reliever in Double-A Akron. The 21^st round pick in 2004 out of Okaloosa-Walton College pitched very well in 2009. He was 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 37 games (79.1 innings). Smith had 3 saves to go with an opponent average of .230. Smith was also named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He has struggled though in the AFL. Smith is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 games (14 innings). He has walked 4 and struck out 6, with opponents hitting .333 against him.

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Carlton Smith, Cleveland Indians, Connor Graham, Josh Judy, Zach Putnam

When the Cincinnati Reds selected right hander Mike Leake with the 8^th overall pick in 2009, the Arizona State star quickly became the top pitching prospect in an organization heavy on hitting prospects. Overshadowed during the college season by Stephen Strasburg, Leake is considered to be more polished and could reach the big leagues before Strasburg. He has four pitches that he has plus-plus command with: an 88-94 mph fastball, a slider, an average curveball, and his top pitch-the changeup. Many pitchers are intimidated by pitching at homer-friendly Great American Ballpark, but not Leake because he is a groundball pitcher. When he’s getting ground ball outs, then he is pitching well. Leake has been considered undersized (5’10, 185 pounds) but he held up throughout his collegiate career. Leake has the right mindset for a prospect as he stated on his blog on MLB.com around draft time: “This is a great time in my life right now with fantastic opportunities and obstacles along the way. I will embrace the opportunities with open arms and will stay humble wherever the road takes me.” Despite a 1.72 ERA in 5 games (he is pitching his 6^th and final game today) in the Arizona Fall League, which is his professional debut, Leake is 0-2. He has 15 strikeouts, though he has given up more hits than innings pitched.

Chris Heisey while with Carolina

Chris Heisey’s appeal has grown since being a 17^th round pick out of Messiah (PA) College in 2006. He is an excellent defensive outfielder who can play all three outfield spots and has a strong arm. Heisey is a threat on the basepaths and also draws walks. His overall tools do not stand out but he plays with a chip on his shoulder due to being overlooked for so long. His overall numbers in 2009 were solid while splitting the year between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville: .314 in 134 games with 35 doubles, 3 triples, 22 homeruns, 77 RBIs, 21 stolen bases (3 CS), and  48 BB/ 77 K. In 2009, Heisey was a Southern League All-Star and a Future’s Game All-Star. Upon moving up to Triple-A Louisville, he was named the International League Player of the Week (7/13/09). While in the AFL, Heisey is hitting .297 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homeruns, and 14 RBIs. He has also stolen 5 bases, though he has been caught twice. Heisey is on the verge of joining a Reds outfield that already is filled with youth like Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, and Chris Dickerson.

In the 2008 draft, the Reds couldn’t pass on Yonder Alonso’s bat, even with Joey Votto at first base. The first round pick out of the University of Miami has strength, plate discipline, and a short swing. The first baseman from Cuba has the rare combination of pure power and the swing to hit for a high average. The Reds have been excited about his workaholic makeup. In 2009, Alonso was a Florida State League All-Star while playing with High-A Sarasota. His overall numbers, while splitting the 2009 season between three levels (Gulf Coast Reds, Sarasota, and Carolina), were good: .292 in 84 games with 24 doubles, 9 homeruns, 52 RBIs, and 41 BB/ 46 K. While in the AFL, Alonso has a .272 average in 22 games, with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, and 21 RBIs. He has 12 BB to 13 K, which is rare for a power hitter (think Albert Pujols). Alonso should force the Reds to make a decision on how to get both him and Votto into their big league lineup (a position change for one of them?).

Tags:

Arizona Fall League, Chris Heisey, Cincinnati Reds, Mike Leake, Yonder Alonso