The headline for this installment reads like one of Sesame Street’s “One of these things is not like the others.”
Nevertheless, RHP Ramon Ortiz made a strong pitch to return to the majors in the Dodgers’ rotation, putting together a pitching line of 420005 in a 4-0 victory over the Angels. OF prospect Angelo Songco, pretty far down the Bums’ organizational depth chart, hit surprisingly well during their China trip and hit a home run against LA/Anaheim. Put him on your list for the future, probably 2012.
After 2 ½ weeks of exhibition games, statistics are beginning to have some meaning. It doesn’t take stats to know that Phillies RHP Roy Halladay is good, but he lowered his ERA to 0.90 with a line of 531126 in a 5-1 victory over the Pirates. Normally, we’d wonder whether pitching against the Bucs should be included in major league stats, but they have been hitting surprisingly well this spring.
See the above comments and insert “Royals RHP Zack Greinke” for “Phillies RHP Roy Halladay.” Greinke also has an 0.90 ERA after also giving up a run, with a line of 421103 in a 9-1 victory over the White Sox. Chicago LHP Mark Buehrle’s line was a miserable 493312. It could have been worse for the Sox; all Kansas City could muster from 17 hits and seven walks was nine runs and 16 left on base.
OK, Athletics, it’s time to admit it: There’s something seriously wrong with RHP Ben Sheets. Their 13-5 loss to the Reds would still be going if Oakland hadn’t lifted him after 10 batters. His line was virtually impossible to surpass in futility: 0 8 10 910. That’s right; he faced 10 batters and all 10 scored.
In another 13-5 game, with the Diamondbacks defeating the Mariners, Seattle LHP Cliff Lee struggled for 2 2/3 innings, then his game ended when he was ejected for throwing at Arizona C Chris Snyder. Before that, Lee’s line was 2 2/3 64411.
Two Padres prospects, RHP Mat Latos and LHP Wade LeBlanc, combined to give up just five hits and one run in eight innings of a 7-1 victory over the Giants. That’s pitching in the hitter-friendly atmosphere of Arizona. Just imagine what that would translate into in San Diego. Another player to add to your future list: Giants RF prospect Roger Kieschnick. He has played in the minors only at high Class A San Jose, but the last two springs in major league exhibitions he has gone 6-for-12 with six RBI.
RHP Pete Parise was trying for his third save with the Cardinals, but failed when he gave up a game-winning two-run homer to Mets OF Angel Pagan in a 6-5 loss. That ballooned Parise’s ERA to 13.50.
In the Rockies’ 5-2 victory over the Cardinals, Colorado received good relief pitching from RHP Jhoulys Chacin (210012) and LHP Franklin Morales (100001). Chacin is likely to be a starter at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but seems likely to join the major league pitching staff during the season or even to begin the year in the Rockies’ bullpen. Morales and RHP Manuel Corpas could earn some regular-season saves because the closer, RHP Huston Street, is hurting.
The Nationals fell to 0-11 with a 5-2 loss to the Braves. Atlanta RHP Derek Lowe was dominant, with a pitching line of 400006. Or perhaps the meat of Washington’s batting order was submissive. The first five batters in the starting lineup – OF Justin Maxwell, SS Ian Desmond, 3B Ryan Zimmerman, 1B Adam Dunn and OF Elijah Dukes – were a combined 0-for-17.
Marlins OF prospect Michael Stanton hit his third homer this spring, this time against Twins LHP Francisco Liriano. Perhaps Liriano was building a case to pitch out of the bullpen as Minnesota’s closer because he wasn’t effective as the starter in the Twinkies’ 5-4 loss. His pitching line was 343306.
I caught some of the Rangers’ game against the Giants, enough to come up with several observations. Texas C Jarrod Saltalamacchia was back in the lineup after missing time because of a buildup of scar tissue in the area under his right armpit where he underwent surgery. The Rangers talk about Salty’s prospects for this season with smiley faces, but in the background they have to be looking for catching help just in case. 2B Ian Kinsler didn’t play, and will be out about a week, because of an ankle injury. LF Josh Hamilton’s in-and-out spring continued when he left the game after being hit on the right hand by a pitch from San Francisco LHP Madison Bumgarner. Also, Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval went 0-for-4, but one of the outs was on a diving catch by Rangers CF Julio Borbon. That event said that Sandoval’s still hitting line drives and that Texas might not have to worry much about Borbon’s defense.
Sample Scouting Report:
Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins
Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 205 B: R Age: 20
{2010} Stanton is considered one of baseball’s best power prospects. Between high Class A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville last year, he hit 28 home runs and drove in 92 runs. His batting average dropped 61 points at the higher level, and his strikeout/walk ratio grew from less than 2:1 to slightly above 3:1. For that reason, you should expect him to begin this season back in Double-A with a likely in-season promotion to Triple-A and a possible major league debut in September. Stanton has played some center field, but was exclusively a right fielder at Jacksonville. He has the arm to play that position in the majors. Born: Nov. 8, 1989, Los Angeles, Calif.
Projection
AB: 110 BA: .245 HR: 6 RBI: 19 SB: 1 R: 13 Value: $2
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