Results tagged ‘ Manny Machado ’

O’s My Goodness: Manny Machado is Elite

Strange relationship for you here:

Player A:

Year Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2012 19 51 202 191 24 50 8 3 7 26 2 9 38 .262 .294 .445 .739 99 85
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/13/2013.

Player B:

Year Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2003 20 87 346 314 39 84 21 3 12 62 0 25 84 .268 .325 .468 .793 106 147
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/13/2013.

Both of these players were shortstops in their first full seasons in the minors, but upon arrival in MLB, they were playing other positions (third base and/or outfield). In 2012, Player A’s team went 33-18 (.647) in his 51 games and Player B’s team went 56-31 (.644) in his 87 games in 2003. Both players led their surprising teams to the playoffs and both players are now dominating in 2013.

If you looked at the years and guessed that Player A is Manny Machado and Player B is Miguel Cabrera, congratulations.

Machado1Machado was a year younger when he reached Baltimore but in 2013, he has erupted offensively in the same way that Cabrera did in 2004 for the Marlins. Machado’s 2013 line:

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2013 20 BAL AL 66 303 284 42 90 28 2 5 34 5 14 42 .317 .351 .482 .834 124 137
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/13/2013.

Miguel CabreraWhen compared to Cabrera’s first full season, Machado’s numbers won’t really measure up, but, again, he is a year younger. After all, a 20-year-old who is currently on pace for 68 doubles, 12 home runs, 85 RBI, and 12 stolen bases isn’t awful, but they don’t really touch Cabrera’s All-Star 2004 season:

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2004 21 FLA NL 160 685 603 101 177 31 1 33 112 5 68 148 .294 .366 .512 .879 130 309
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/13/2013.

Machado3Manny Machado is finally gaining the attention that is so well deserved. Not only is he producing offensively, but he has become the top third baseman in baseball. He ranks third in fielding percentage (.985 behind Placido Polanco and Juan Uribe, who are brutal as far as their range is concerned), first in range factor (3.06), and first in UZR/150 (28.2, David Wright is second with a 20.2 among third basemen).

Certainly, it seems unrealistic to label Manny Machado as the next Miguel Cabrera, as the Detroit Tigers third baseman is currently just three home runs back from Machado’s teammate Chris Davis (18 to Davis’ 21), or he would be leading in all Triple Crown categories, after becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1967 (Carl Yastrzemski) when he won the award, along with AL MVP honors, in 2012; however, Machado has become one of the top players in baseball and worthy of the same hype that Mike Trout and Bryce Harper had last season. While he isn’t putting up the absurd numbers that Trout did in 2012, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t just as special. After all, how soon we forget about Trout hitting .220/.281/.390 in his first 135 plate appearances.

Machado4Manny Machado’s ceiling is that of an All-Star and if he ends up back at shortstop after J.J. Hardy‘s eventual departure, you’re looking at a player that is capable of matching Troy Tulowitzki‘s production in the middle infield. Not only that, but if Machado fills out his 6’2″ frame, he could even match-up with the man that he was compared to so frequently after being drafted at of a Miami high school – Alex Rodriguez…but…since ARod isn’t really a very “clean” name right now, lets just say that Machado becomes one of the top right-handed hitters of the generation, just like Cabrera.

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How Roy Oswalt Could Save Your Fantasy Season

Oswalt3If you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for a sneaky good move with your fantasy baseball teams. Using statistics to look into trends allowed for smart trades for Matt Moore, Manny Machado, and Dexter Fowler in one league. Now, I’m looking at Roy Oswalt.

Yes, that Roy Oswalt. I know that he is 37 and his experience with the Texas Rangers in 2012 was an absolute disaster, but this is what you need to know:

I Split W L ERA G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP SO/9 SO/BB
COL-Coors Fld 4 0 2.25 5 5 1 1 36.0 30 9 9 4 8 31 1.056 7.8 3.88
LAD-Dodger Stad 4 3 3.46 7 6 1 0 41.2 32 17 16 0 19 33 1.224 7.1 1.74
ARI-Chase Field 2 2 5.28 5 5 0 0 29.0 38 18 17 3 9 18 1.621 5.6 2.00
SDP-PetCo Pk 4 1 1.69 8 8 1 0 53.1 38 10 10 1 14 49 0.975 8.3 3.50
SFG-AT&T Pk 3 7 4.21 11 11 0 0 66.1 83 34 31 5 17 44 1.508 6.0 2.59
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/22/2013.

Oswalt2These are Oswalt’s career numbers pitching in the NL West. Granted, a lot of those totals came in his “younger years” with the Houston Astros, but outside of his struggles at Chase Field, a notorious hitter’s park, Oswalt has been very solid. A career 14-13 record with a 3.30 ERA over 226.1 innings with a 1.27 WHIP and a 175:67 K:BB over 36 games (35 starts) is the overall line.

Heading to Coors Field could be a little troubling, but as you can see from the table above, Oswalt has handled the unfriendly confines pretty well over a small five game sample; however, even doubling his ERA to 4.50 (a quality start if he goes six innings), would allow Oswalt to win several games for the Rockies this season. The Rockies offense is very impressive, as Dexter Fowler, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, and Wilin Rosario are all thriving this season, and the club hopes that Nolen Arenado can take his place as the next Vinny Castilla for the club.

In Oswalt’s recent extended spring training start (Saturday, May 18), he struck out nine and allowed just a bunt single in five innings. Needless to say, the competition was probably pretty weak, but Rotoworld.com reported that Oswalt’s fastball is already sitting in the low 90′s.

Oswalt1With a club looking to surprise in the NL West and a lively offense, don’t be shocked if Roy Oswalt shocks the world and creates value for himself in the 2013 season while pitching for the Colorado Rockies.


//

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Manny is Macho

Machado1Manny Machado was the 3rd pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, a product of Brito Miami Private School, which led to numerous comparisons to another big shortstop from Miami, the one and only Alex Rodriguez. It seemed like an unfair comparison for someone to live up to, and despite several “the next fill-in-the-blank” prospects to come and go without any success, Machado is already reaching fantastic levels of production just three years removed from his senior prom.

Machado moved to Baltimore quickly, earning just 170 plate appearances in Low-A, 260 plate appearances in High-A, and 459 plate appearances in Double-A before earning a promotion with the Orioles. His overall minor league numbers suggested a pretty drastic learning curve was to be expected:

Year Age Tm Lev G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 17 2 Teams A–Rk 9 39 36 3 11 1 1 1 5 0 3 3 .306 .359 .472 .831 17
2011 18 2 Teams A+-A 101 430 382 48 98 20 5 11 50 11 45 73 .257 .335 .421 .756 161
2011 18 Delmarva A 38 170 145 24 40 8 2 6 24 3 23 25 .276 .376 .483 .859 70
2011 18 Frederick A+ 63 260 237 24 58 12 3 5 26 8 22 48 .245 .308 .384 .692 91
2012 19 Bowie AA 109 459 402 60 107 26 5 11 59 13 48 70 .266 .352 .438 .789 176
3 Seasons 219 928 820 111 216 47 11 23 114 24 96 146 .263 .344 .432 .776 354
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/8/2013.

Surprisingly, his small sample size in Baltimore in 2012 was relatively close to his overall minor league numbers:

Year Age Tm G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 19 BAL 51 202 191 24 50 8 3 7 26 2 9 38 .262 .294 .445 .739 85
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/8/2013.

The OPS and batting average were very similar, but the OBP was pretty low. The 2013 season, however, has been a dramatic difference in ability:

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2013 20 BAL AL 33 152 140 24 44 12 1 5 21 3 9 24 .314 .356 .521 .877 73
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/8/2013.

Machado2Machado is hitting, hitting for power, and showing pretty good plate discipline. His walk rate is up to 5.9 percent in 2013 from the 4.5 percent that he had in 2012, and his strikeout rate has fallen to 15.8 percent from 18.8 percent in 2012. These are all fantastic signs for a player who won’t turn 21 until July 6th.

Certainly, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout deserve a lot of attention for their skills and production at such a young age, but it seems as though so many other excellent young players get lost in the hype. Obviously, Matt Harvey, Stephen Strasburg, and Brett Lawrie get some well-deserved attention, but Manny Machado deserves to be known as how special he already is, rather than another top talent to file with Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken, Jr. in the legacy of Baltimore Orioles’ infielders.

While his fielding is probably further along than his bat, Machado’s bat is damn good, as well.

Manny Machado is good enough right now to become the 2013 version of Mike Trout. In fact, due to the potential that he has in potentially moving back to shortstop when J.J. Hardy reaches free agency after the 2014 season, one could argue that Machado could become a more valuable player over the long haul.

Machado3ESPN got on board with his skills after a recent feature article by Jerry Crasnick, so it will only be a matter of time before he is getting too much focus. Everyone will see what he is made of at that point, good or bad, but he looks to have the skills worthy of “the next Alex Rodriguez” label, regardless.

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How Can You Rebuild the Yankees?

Keith Olbermann reported on his MLBlog on October 17 that the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins are already discussing a deal involving Alex Rodriguez once the season is over. This is big news due to the struggles of Rodriguez during the postseason, 3-for-23 (.103) with 12 strikeouts, and that fact that the quickly aging veteran is due another $114 million over the next five seasons.

Alex Rodriguez is taking a lot of heat for his struggles, as if he is the only player currently struggling during the club’s rotten postseason. Mind you, Robinson Cano is 3-for-36 (.083) and Curtis Granderson is just 3-for-29 (.103) with 15 strikeouts, so what is the deal with the hatred for the game’s highest paid player? The Yankees have bigger issues, including, how are they going to rebuild the franchise if the potential trade of Alex Rodriguez actually does happen?

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Moving Alex Rodriguez would signify a possible change in philosophy. While the Yankees have spent many hundreds of millions in payroll over the last decade, could this be the end of “buying” the talent, all because of an apparent very quick regression in some of their talent?

The Yankees have some things to look at with their current roster:

After that, the Yankees have some payroll concerns:

  • Alex Rodriguez, as mentioned before, is owed $114 million over the next five years.
  • C.C. Sabathia is due $119 million (counting his $25 million 2017 option) over the next five years.
  • Mark Teixeria is going to make $90 million over the next four seasons.
  • Derek Jeter will make $17 million in 2013 and either $8 million in 2014 or a $3 million buyout.
  • Rafael Soriano is guaranteed $14 million in 2013.

The problem with trading Alex Rodriguez is that the Yankees would have to eat a huge portion of the $114 million that he is owed. Since 2007, A-Rod’s OPS has gone from 1.067 (his MVP season) to .965, .933, .847, .823, and finally .783 in 2012. At the age of 37 (turning 38 next July), why would anyone give anything of value for the declining future Hall of Famer?

Dealing Rodriguez to the Miami Marlins for Heath Bell and Logan Morrison would be a solid deal, even paying $50-70 million of his deal, so that the team gets more bullpen help and a potential replacement in an outfield corner with Swisher and Ichiro both headed to free agency. However, that deal probably would not sit well with fans.

Should the club let all of their free agents depart, will they go after Josh Hamilton in free agency? Could Hamilton’s previous off-the-field issues, which he still admits to battling, become a huge issue in the largest media market in the world?

Should the club trade Granderson and/or Cano on top of dealing Rodriguez, just to allow the franchise to make a fresh start, like the Boston Red Sox deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included the contracts of Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez?

For what it is worth, dealing Alex Rodriguez would open up third base in one of the weakest years for free agent third base in recent memory, including: Miguel Cairo, Mark DeRosa, Alberto Gonzalez, Brandon Inge, Maicer Izturis, Jose Lopez, Scott Rolen, Drew Sutton, and, if their options aren’t picked up, Ty Wigginton and Kevin Youkilis.

Courtesy: NY Times

Would the club really go into the season with Eduardo Nunez at the hot corner? General Manager Brian Cashman would have to look in the mirror and commit to a potential rebuilding mode if that is the case.

While Alex Rodriguez has struggled and his value and stock has plummeted, the unfortunate facts are that the Yankees would be and will be better with him at third base in 2013 than they would be by making a trade. Unless the Bronx Bombers were able to trade Robinson Cano to Baltimore for Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado after trading Rodriguez, starting to make trades to change the structure of the team just does not make sense.

Cashman would have to make several trades involving star players and huge contracts, just to fill the several holes that would remain from the various deals. If you trade Rodriguez, he would need to trade for a third baseman. If he traded Cano, who would play second? If he traded Granderson, he could possibly get Hamilton, but what if the Red Sox or Rangers outbid him?

You can’t rebuild the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman is in a situation where he needs to win, in a market and a fan base that wants to win – see the attendance in the ALCS. The club will rebuild by reloading, like they have done, through free agency. They will acquire a top-tier or solid starting pitcher and a solid outfielder, and they will be right back where they were. They will probably have the veterans mentioned in potential deals, as well, because it is not worth the potential hassle of dealing the contracts and taking so much less in value, just to make a change.

2012 MLB Awards

The Second Annual Baseball Haven “I’m Always Right Before the Media Figures It Out” Awards are officially ready, just one day after the season.  These guys may not win the awards below, but they certainly SHOULD.

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers

.330/.393/.606, 109 R, 40 2B, 44 HR, 139 RBI, 4 SB

Cabrera gets the award because he won the first Triple Crown in MLB since Carl Yastrzemski won it in 1967, AND because he carried the Tigers into the postseason in September and early October, blasting 11 home runs, driving in 30 runs and posting a 1.071 OPS in 31 games. He moved to a position, third base, to accommodate the acquisition of Prince Fielder. No one ever said that he would make a difference there defensively, but his .966 fielding percentage was still better than the league average for third baseman, .952. Sure, his WAR was lower than Mike Trout, but Mike Trout is at home and Cabrera proved his worth in 2012.

Honorable Mention: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels; Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers; Robinson Cano, New York Yankees; Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers;

NL MVP: Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants

.336/.408/.549, 78 R, 39 2B, 1 3B, 24 HR, 103 RBI, 1 SB

Posey led MLB in batting average and OPS+, handling catching duties and occasionally playing first base to give his reconfigured knee together after a devastating injury in 2011. Posey’s absence from the Giants 2011 season may have had a lot to do with their inability to make the playoffs after winning the 2010 World Series over the Texas Rangers. Posey’s transformation from a collegiate shortstop to a top-level offensive catcher has gone about as smoothly as anyone could have anticipated. Even while playing in an extreme pitcher’s park, AT&T Park, Posey is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

Honorable Mention:Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers; Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates; Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals; Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves;

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, RHP, Detroit Tigers

17-8, 2.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 238.1 IP, 239:60 K:BB

Verlander’s statistics in 2012 were not as impressive as his totals in 2011, but that doesn’t make him any less impressive. Verlander was the lone consistent starter for most of the 2012 season for the AL Central champion Tigers, and he scored a relationship with Kate Upton on top of that. The man is just a winner. The filth that he possesses rivals only Larry Flynt.

Honorable Mention:Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels; Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners; Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays; David Price, Tampa Bay Rays;

NL Cy Young: Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

19-9, 2.78 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 217 IP, 170:49 K:BB

He pitches in an awful park for pitchers, he is on one of the best teams in the National League, and he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons, so Cueto deserves this award. While he doesn’t pitch in a major market and he did have a few stretches where he seemed to “lose it”, Cueto finally tossed over 200 innings, and, after suffering through a rough spot, he dominated late in the season. If you put the ballpark factor into play here, Cueto would garner many more votes. He should win, but it is unlikely thanks to the New York bias and the cool story that comes along with R.A. Dickey.

Honorable Mention:R.A. Dickey, New York Mets; Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals; Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers; Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds;

AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics and Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles

Who says you can’t share an award? These two managers deserve some sort of plaque and a key from their respective city’s mayors for the work that they did this season. With the high spending Angels and Rangers out west for the A’s and the Red Sox and Yankees in the east with the O’s, the teams found creative ways to maintain a solid group of players on their rosters through trading and drafting well over the last several seasons. As both teams head into the ALDS, thanks to Friday’s victory over Texas for Baltimore, this could only be the beginning for one of these teams.

Honorable Mention:Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays; Robin Ventura, Chicago White Sox;

NL Manager of the Year: Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants

With his All-Star outfielder banned 50-games for a positive drug test, his one-time ace, Tim Lincecum, posting a 5.18 ERA over 33 starts, and injuries to Pablo Sandoval throughout the season, Bochy managed to lead the Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. While you can question him for his lack of faith in Brandon Belt during most of the season, he seemed to make the right decision more often than not with his club.

Honorable Mention:Dusty Baker, Cincinnati Reds; Mike Matheny, St. Louis Cardinals; Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates; Davey Johnson, Washington Nationals;

AL Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

.326/.399/.564, 129 R, 27 2B, 8 3B, 30 HR, 83 RBI, 49 SB

A WAR of 10.7 in his rookie season, which led the league, shows just how special Trout is going to continue to be. Having just turned 21 years old in early August, the future is as bright as a supernova, as Trout’s power, speed, on-base skills, and fielding ability will continue to make him a perennial MVP candidate. You can certainly argue that he should win the award this season over Miguel Cabrera, but due to the Tigers landing in the playoffs and the first Triple Crown in 45 years, it has to go with the Tigers chubby third baseman.

Honorable Mention:Yeonis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics; Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers; Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles;

NL Rookie of the Year: Todd Frazier, INF/OF, Cincinnati Reds

Frazier was a monster while the Cincinnati Reds went two months without their best player, Joey Votto. He finished the 2012 season with an .829 OPS was second to Colorado catcher Wilin Rosario amongst NL rookies…I see you thought I was going to say Bryce Harper there, but he posted an .817 OPS. While Harper energized his club upon his callup and had one of the best quotes of the year (“That’s a clown question, bro), it was Frazier’s bat and versatility that helped the Cincinnati Reds win the NL Central.

Honorable Mention:Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals; Wilin Rosario, Colorado Rockies; Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks; Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs;

Comeback Player of the Year: Chase Headley, 3B, San Diego Padres

2011: .289/.374/.399, 43 R, 28 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 44 RBI, 13 SB

2012: .286/.376/.498, 95 R, 31 2B, 2 3B, 31 HR, 115 RBI, 17 SB

Petco can put bats to sleep like the vets that work out of the back of actual Petco stores can do to your pet; however, Headley was one of the few bright spots for the rebuilding San Diego Padres, delivering MVP-like numbers for the Friars. At the age of 28 and with two years of arbitration eligibility, you have to wonder if the Padres are going to trade him this offseason for more prospects, especially after his surprising season and how often Headley’s name came up at the trade deadline.

Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees;

2013 MLB Top 50 Prospects

Jurickson Profar, Rangers; Faketeams.com

I have updated this list as of 12/20/12 here.

Below you’ll find the top 50 prospects for 2013. Some players may make a big impact (Machado, Profar, Olt) and lose rookie and prospect eligiblity, but, as of right now (8/15/12), this is how I would rank them. Let me know what you think in the comments!

1. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, 11/15/92, Double-A, 8-3, 2.01 ERA, 20 GS, 89.2 IP, 106:22 K:BB, .186 BAA

  • It will be interesting what Bundy can do when the O’s take their chains off and let him loose. He just recently reached the sixth inning in a start for the first time. He is well on his way to becoming an ace, and he could reach the Majors by the middle of next year.

2. Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers, 2/20/93, Double-A, .285/.363/.470, 25 2B, 7 3B, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 15 SB, 70:54 K:BB in 438 AB

  • Profar is the perfect blend of rare power, speed, and on-base skills, and it is all packed into a 19-year-old excelling in the upper levels of the minors. There are rumors that he could be called up to help the Rangers down the stretch, but it would be a shame to have him come off of the bench considering he is probably one of their top five players when he arrives in Arlington. It will be interesting to see where the Rangers work him in with Andrus and Kinsler around.

3. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals, 12/10/90, Triple-A, .316/.392/.625, 25 2B, 5 3B, 34 HR, 97 RBI, 6 SB, 127:53 K:BB in 443 AB

  • While Jeff Francoeur regressed to his pre-2011 abilities, the Royals just sit back and watch their future slugger continue to mash in Triple-A. With Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer in the middle of their long-term lineup, Myers powerful right-handed bat is a perfect fit. He should be a full-time player next spring if he isn’t in September.

4.  Xander Bogaerts, 3B/SS, Boston Red Sox, 10/1/92, Double-A, .308/.380/.521, 29 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 4 SB, 87:43 K:BB in 403 AB

  • I have him higher than most, but give me a 19-year-old who can post these numbers any day of the week. Bogaerts is still playing shortstop, but he will end up at third base or be forced elsewhere due to the presense of Will Middlebrooks. Powerful, young, projectable frame. Bogaerts will be a total offensive monster.

5. Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 7/13/91, Triple-A, 9-5, 2.38 ERA, 21 GS, 117.1 IP, 112:35 K:BB, .236 BAA

  • Skaggs may have overtaken Trevor Bauer as the club’s future ace. He has command of his pitches and has posted incredible numbers the last two seasons.

6. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners, 8/13/92, Double-A, 7-7, 4.25 ERA, 21 GS, 103.2 IP, 99:43 K:BB, .259 BAA

  • The Mariners pushed Walker by having his skip the dreaded California League, allowing him to thrive without being destroyed by the thin air and small parks of High-A. Having just turned 20, Walker has posted some solid numbers. He has top of the rotation stuff and will be a nice addition to the Mariners rotation in the coming years. He isn’t Felix Hernandez and won’t come close to him, but how many pitchers can?

7. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners, 11/28/89, Triple-A, 9-5, 2.42 ERA, 20 GS, 108 IP, 120:56 K:BB, .195 BAA

  • Hultzen may just be what he is right now and nothing more, but that is still good. He will throw strikes and toss a lot of innings while having some great success. The college arm will be ready by next season and he could get a look in September, but he will settle in nicely among a group of solid young arms that the M’s are developing.

8. Manny Machado, 3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles, 7/6/92, Majors, .266/.352/.438, 26 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 13 SB, 70:48 K:BB in 402 AB

  • Can we just call him “The Macho Man” now? Machado has been on fire since arriving in Baltimore last week, having won co-AL Player of the Week in his first week in the bigs. Not a bad introduction. he was on fire in Double-A when the Orioles called him up. He will probably be a third baseman long-term and his bat will only improve. He is a monster, just like Bogaerts, with speed and a glove that could still handle short.

9. Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, 6/19/92, Double-A, .321/.382/.574, 31 2B, 7 3B, 21 HR, 82 RBI, 9 SB, 53:39 K:BB in 427 AB

  • Taveras can do it all. He could take over right field for the Cardinals right now, but Allen Craig and the on-again/off-again season of Lance Berkman have blocked him. His power makes him a threat to the NL Central for years to come.

10. Jose Fernandez, RHP, Miami Marlins, 7/31/92, High-A, 12-1, 1.89 ERA, 22 GS, 119 IP, 142:31 K:BB, .192 BAA

  • If you missed the Futures Game, you didn’t see how big Fernandez is already. The guy has a monstrous frame that makes him look like he could step right into a Major League rotation. His results are impressive to this point and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Marlins rush him next year.

11. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, 9/8/90, Double-A, 8-5, 2.89 ERA, 22 GS, 109 IP, 112:34 K:BB, .229 BAA

  • Cole still has more stuff than impressive results at this poing in his career, but the stuff could be so dominant, that you have to hold out hope that he figures things out. For a guy who can throw a 90 mph change and curve while topping out in triple-digits with his fastball, you would expect more dominance in his strikeout totals. If he figures it out, he could be #2 behind Bundy on this list.

12. Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF, Detroit Tigers, 3/4/92, Double-A, .349/.386/.488, 29 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 7 SB, 96:28 K:BB in 459 AB

  • The Tigers have moved Castellanos to the outfield due to Miguel Cabrera occupying third base. Castellanos is an interesting talent. He strikes out a lot and doesn’t really walk much, while his power numbers are lagging. However, he is just 20 and his 29 doubles show that there is power in there somewhere. If Castellanos beefs up a little, that will help the power numbers, and then he can help the Tigers.

13. Mike Olt, 1B/3B, Texas Rangers, 8/27/88, Majors, .288/.398/.579, 17 2B, 1 3B, 28 HR, 82 RBI, 4 SB, 101:61 K:BB in 354 AB

  • Olt has arrived in the Majors to showcase his power at the corners. He was rumored in potential deals for the Rangers, but they may be better off keeping him and putting him at first base. He is ready to mash, like the Rangers needed more offense…

14. Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs, 12/1/92, High-A, .311/.363/.553, 11 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 37 RBI, 21 SB, 56:11 K:BB in 235 AB

  • Baez could be a force at short for the Cubs. Just drafted in 2011 out of high school, the Cubs have already moved the youngster to High-A ball, having started the 2012 season late due to concerns about the weather. Regardless, he will continue moving quickly, especially if he keeps hitting like he has.

15. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets, 5/30/90, Triple-A, 10-6, 3.20 ERA, 21 GS, 126.2 IP, 128:50 K:BB, .219 BAA

  • Wheeler was acquired from the San Francisco Giants for Carlos Beltran last year. He was a talented arm at the time and has established himself as the Mets top prospect since being acquired. Wheeler could still refine his command before he is a finished product, but he has the ceiling to be a top of the rotation starter.

16. Shelby Miller, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, 10/10/90, Triple-A, 8-9, 5.22 ERA, 23 GS, 112 IP, 125:46 K:BB, .274 BAA

  • Miller has fallen out of favor with the Cardinals organization due to conditioning and other issues which continue to go unannounced. He has struggled in 2012 in the Pacific Coast League, which is notoriously a hitter’s league. He still has a bright future, but he could be someone who gets dealt if he continues to upset the Cards, who practically gave away Colby Rasmus due to his “issues.”

17. Matt Barnes, RHP, Boston Red Sox, 6/17/90, High-A, 7-4, 2.65 ERA, 22 GS, 108.2 IP, 127:26 K:BB, .216 BAA

  • If Barnes continues pitching this well, he could be with the Red Sox next season while Josh Beckett and John Lackey are in AA meetings, playing golf, eating fried chicken, and trying to get Bobby Valentine fired. Barnes was good college arm, picked in 2011 out of UConn, and he should continue to move up the ranks as the Saux top prospect.

18. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians, 11/14/93, Low-A, .260/.353/.366, 20 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 25 SB, 66:52 K:BB in 415 AB

  • For a team with such a terrible offense, Indians fans sure do love this slick fielding slap-hitter. Lindor is young and has gap power, but he isn’t as valuable to the Tribe as current shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera because he can’t produce runs like Cabrera can. However, Cabrera is only signed through 2014 and Lindor should be ready by about the same time that Cabrera is leaving town. Lindor is a switch-hitter and has very good on-base skills. If he gets bigger, he won’t turn 19 until Novemer, Lindor could become a more valuable offensive weapon. As it stands, he is a solid leadoff or No. 2-hitter.

19. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies, 4/16/91, Double-A, .274/.332/.414, 33 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 0 SB, 51:36 K:BB in 442 AB

  • After a solid season full of production in the California League in 2011, Arenado has disappointed a bit due to the drop in his power numbers. The 33 doubles are pretty encouraging for future output, but the 21-year-old was thought to be capable of more home runs. He still has solid plate discipline and a clear path to the Colorado third base job, but we’ll have to see how aggressive the Rockies are with him when spring training rolls around.

20. Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Houston Astros, 9/18/91, Double-A, .279/.389/.488, 25 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 4 SB, 111:75 K:BB in 402 AB

  • The future at first base for the Astros, Singleton is developing into a solid power hitter with a nice approach at the plate. He will be a cornerstone to the Houston rebuild. With the club rebuilding, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him manning first in April of 2013.

21. Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves, 1/27/91, Majors, 7-7, 5.05 ERA, 23 GS, 114 IP, 80:38 K:BB, .290 BAA

  • There were rumors that Teheran’s breaking ball wasn’t up to par. There are also rumors that his attitude was shaky due to being sent to the minors. Whatever is going on with him, it is cause for concern. His numbers in Triple-A are pretty awful, and his brief opportunities in Atlanta haven’t gone well, either. Teheran is still a top-flight prospect, but due to this bump in the road, he may not have what it takes to be an ace. He still has some work to do.

22. Travis D’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays, 2/10/89, Triple-A, .333/.380/.595, 21 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 52 RBI, 1 SB, 59:19 K:BB in 279 AB

  • D’Arnaud has missed time due to a torn PCL that he suffered in late June. His strikeout rate was pretty alarming, but the power numbers and on-base totals were pretty impressive, still. D’Arnaud could be an offensive force for the Jays, who have a nice lineup developing in Toronto and in their minor league system. J.P. Arencibia is ahead of him, and, for some reason, the Jays just re-signed Jeff Mathis for two-years, $3 million (throwing away money?), so his future may be on hold.

23. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals, 3/27/90, Triple-A, 12-4, 3.22 ERA, 21 GS, 120.1 IP, 118:41 K:BB, .252 BAA

  • Odorizzi was a piece in the Zack Greinke deal from the Brewers. When he was drafted, he was compared to Greg Maddux due to his diverse arsenal and great command over his pitches. To this point, Odorizzi has looked great. He could make an appearance for KC this September or battle for a rotation spot in the spring.

24. Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, 8/10/92, Low-A, 10-5, 3.86 ERA, 23 GS, 114.1 IP, 120:72 K:BB, .173 BAA

  • More hype than production to this point, but Bradley could be the best arm in the Diamondbacks top-heavy (Bauer and Skaggs) system. He has issues with his command, as his .173 average allowed is truly dominant, and the 72 walks have been the culprit of his inflated 3.86 ERA. If he gets his nasty stuff under control, he’s going to be in the top 10 by the end of 2013.

25. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, 11/18/91, High-A, 6-8, 3.83 ERA, 22 GS, 120 IP, 95:36 K:BB, .227 BAA

  • Just like Bradley, Taillon has been hyped with very little as far as results. He has looked pretty good for a 20-year-old in High-A, but if he is an ace like others say he is, you have to expect more. He is coming along nicely, but he could be more of a mid-rotation arm than an ace.

26. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins, 12/5/91, High-A, .323/.395/.528, 26 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 18 SB, 72:41 K:BB in 341 AB

27. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins, 5/11/93, Low-A, .259/.380/.521, 24 2B, 4 3B, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 7 SB, 129:74 K:BB in 397 AB

28. Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds, 9/9/90, Double-A, .315/.412/.431, 20 2B, 13 3B, 2 HR, 41 RBI, 139 SB, 95:73 K:BB in 448 AB

29. Matt Davidson, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, 3/26/91, Double-A, .267/.375/.483, 25 2B, 2 3B, 21 HR, 62 RBI, 3 SB, 109:60 K:BB in 424 AB

30. Mason Williams, OF, New York Yankees, 8/21/91, High-A, .298/.346/.474, 22 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 20 SB, 47:24 K:BB in 359 AB

31. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, 9/21/91, Double-A, 4-5, 2.89 ERA, 18 GS, 87.1 IP, 74:25 K:BB, .238 BAA

32. Tyler Austin, OF, New York Yankees, 9/6/91, High-A, .318/.400/.567, 27 2B, 6 3B, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 19 SB, 83:45 K:BB in 349 AB

33. Bubba Starling, OF, Kansas City Royals, 8/3/92, Rookie League, .294/.388/.542, 7 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 31 RBI, 6 SB, 52:21 K:BB in 153 AB

34. Miles Head, 3B, Oakland A’s, 5/2/91, Double-A, .335/.396/.601, 30 2B, 8 3B, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 3 SB, 107:36 K:BB in 409 AB

35. Trevor Story, 2B/SS, Colorado Rockies, 11/15/92, Low-A, .264/.356/.484, 35 2B, 5 3B, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 11 SB, 102:52 K:BB in 409 AB

36. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland A’s, 11/10/89, Double-A, .287/.356/.423, 15 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 58 RBI, 5 SB, 88:33 K:BB in 359 AB

37. Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees, 3/13/91, Triple-A, 0-2, 4.50 ERA, 6 GS, 24 IP, 22:10 K:BB, .299 BAA

38. Joey Gallo, 1B, Texas Rangers, 11/19/93, Rookie League, .293/.435/.733, 10 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB, 52:37 K:BB in 150 AB

39. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, 12/7/90, High-A, .382/.475/.912, 0 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB, 7:6 K:BB in 34 AB

40. Jackie Bradley, OF, Boston Red Sox, 4/19/90, Double-A, .319/.429/.491, 40 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 59 RBI, 24 SB, 81:80 K:BB in 436 AB

41. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals, 6/6/90, Double-A, .304/.415/.594, 5 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 14:12 K:BB in 69 AB

42. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets, 3/27/89, Majors, 7-5, 3.68 ERA, 20 GS, 110 IP, 112:48 K:BB, .233 BAA

43. Eddie Rosario, 2B/OF, Minnesota Twins, 9/28/91, Low-A, .305/.361/.492, 27 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 9 SB, 52:30 K:BB in 321 AB

44. Christian Colon, SS, Kansas City Royals, 5/14/89, Triple-A, .301/.376/.413, 13 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 13 SB, 28:37 K:BB in 312 AB

45. Mike Zunino, C, Seattle Mariners, 3/25/91, Double-A, .366/.471/.723, 10 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 1 SB, 26:19 K:BB in 112 AB

46. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees, 12/2/92, High-A, .294/.353/.493, 28 2B, 0 3B, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 15 SB, 96:31 K:BB in 381 AB

47. Daniel Corcino, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, 8/26/90, Double-A, 7-6, 3.25 ERA, 23 GS, 127.1 IP, 113:56 K:BB, .221 BAA

48. Barret Loux, RHP, Texas Rangers, 4/6/89, Double-A, 13-1, 3.51 ERA, 21 GS, 110.1 IP, 84:35 K:BB, .250 BAA

49. James Paxton, LHP, Seattle Mariners, 11/6/88, Double-A, 7-4, 3.09 ERA, 18 GS, 90.1 IP, 93:46 K:BB, .242 BAA

50. Wilmer Flores, 3B, New York Mets, 8/6/91, Double-A, .290/.336/.450, 23 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 66 RBI, 3 SB, 51:31 K:BB in 420 AB

Are the Orioles Finished?

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the surprising teams in MLB in 2012, having gone 32-26 through Friday.  The O’s sit one game back of Tampa Bay in the AL East and they are tied with the Yankees for the Wild Card lead.

Baltimore started hot out of the gate, going 14-9 in April, thanks in large part to the 3.03 team ERA that their pitching staff posted in the first month of the season.  Things have changed since April, though, as the team ERA rose to 4.16 in May (though they did finish 15-13 in May), and it is up to 5.02 in June, while the team is now 3-4 this month after losing three straight games.

You can’t blame the pitching  entirely for the recent slide, though.  The offense is 19th in MLB in team average (.247) while leading the majors in strikeouts with 487, thanks in no small part to Robert Andino (59), Chris Davis (55), Mark Reynolds (46), and Adam Jones (42).  While the O’s struggle to make contact, they can mash, as shown by their 80 home runs (3rd in MLB) and a .733 team OPS (9th in MLB).

The rotation is currently in flux due to Jake Arrieta’s recent struggles.  The young right-hander is 2-8 with a 6.32 ERA.  While Arrieta was solid in April (1-2, 4.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .216 BAA), but he was miserable in May (1-4, 6.17 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, .306 BAA), and attrocious in June (0-2, 13.50 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, .342 BAA).  He will go to Triple-A with Tommy Hunter coming back, but the club has had great contributions from Jason Hammel, Wei-Lin Chen, and Brian Matusz to this point.

Adam Jones was just extended, Dylan Bundy has pitched like the the greatest pitching prospect in years, and the Orioles have a group of solid prospects in Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Nick Delmonico, and others.  The future is bright in Baltimore, but this probably isn’t the year.

Baltimore has dealt with a lot of injury issues.  Nolan Reimold was fantastic before back issues set in, Brian Roberts is and has been out with a concussion, and Nick Markakis is now out through the month of June due to a broken right hamate bone.  Add in Matt Lindstrom’s finger injury in the bullpen, Tsuyoshi Wada being lost for the year before he ever really got started, and the lack of contact skills in the lineup, and the luck seems to be continually going against them.

Much like the Pittsburgh Pirates temporary resurgence in 2011, the Orioles temporary return to glory has been very cute.  However, it just isn’t meant to last this year, but the future remains bright…if that sounds familiar to Orioles fans…

GM for the Day: Baltimore Orioles

Well, we finally made it to the American League.  Thanks for your patience and if you’re a Baltimore Orioles fan, I know you have some.  Baltimore finished in last place in the AL East for the 4th straight season and completed their season with a 69-93 record, their 14th straight losing season.  New management and another rebuilding effort is in the works, as the O’s look for a way to get back to the glory of the…70′s…which seems like forever ago to their fans because it was.  Who are the 25-men on the current roster?

2 Catchers: Matt Wieters and Taylor Teagarden

1B: Mark Reynolds

2B: Brian Roberts

3B: Josh Bell

SS: J.J. Hardy

LF: Nolan Reimold

CF: Adam Jones

RF: Nick Markakis

DH: Chris Davis

Bench: Endy Chavez (OF), Robert Andino (INF), Matt Angle (OF)

Starting Pitchers: Jeremy Guthrie, Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, Wei-Yin Chen and Tsuyoshi Wada

Relief Pitchers: Jim Johnson, Kevin Gregg, Pedro Strop, Troy Patton, Alfredo Simon, Darren O’Day and Brad Bergeson

The O’s didn’t have the success that they hoped to with the young arms that they were stockpiling.  Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz have been total flops, while Arrieta and Britton seem to look like solid arms, but not really the top of the rotation guys that all four were hoped to become.  Britton still has a shot, though.  Adam Jones finally reached his potential last year, and at age 25, he is either someone to build around or someone to deal.  It sounds like Dan Duquette is in the middle of deciding what that is going to be.  Markakis is solid and average at the same time.  J.J. Hardy looks like a great piece to keep until Manny Machado is ready, and the O’s have some talent in the pipeline to look forward to until they matter again.  If only they moved to the NL Central, they could contend now.

They should probably look to deal Adam Jones.  At 25, Jones is under team control until 2014.  He would be an asset for a team that wants to contend.  He would fit perfectly in the Braves outfield, they could trade Prado and put Jones or Bourn in LF, and he could get one or two of the Braves arms back in return.  But you have to wonder if taking on arms is what the O’s need to do.  They’ve added a couple of arms from Asia this offseason in Chen and Wada, basically eliminating rotation spots for Brian Matusz, Tommy Hunter and Chris Tillman…if they even wanted them there in the first place…and their system hasn’t had much luck with developing arms.  Luckily, the Braves have Minor, Teheran, Delgado and Vizcaino ready.  Packaging one of those arms with Edward Salcedo, a highly ranked 3B prospect, would be an excellent package for Jones.

The O’s aren’t going to contend in 2012.  They won’t contend for a few more years.  They need to come to grips with that and start looking at the next wave of talent.  Manny Machado at SS, Dylan and Robert Bundy at starting pitcher, and Jonathan Schoop look like top to above average prospects.  Because of their future being two years out, they shouldn’t be starting anyone over 30.  No more Derrek Lee’s or Vladimir Guerrero’s, even if they sign on the cheap.  This team needs to invest in the draft, international signings, and player development.  With the talent in the AL East, they have no choice but to build a little and THEN start signing talent via Free Agency.  They have to have more key pieces on the field before they start filing holes.  So they should waste their money on signing guys like Edwin Jackson or even spend time checking in on Prince Fielder.  Let other teams spend now.  Trade Nick Markakis to the Red Sox for Ryan Lavarnway and Anthony Renaudo, even though he is young (28 in 2012), you aren’t going to win with him.  J.J. Hardy can help you win some games, but he could also get you a nice return from, say, the Reds, at the trade deadline in 2012 if Zack Cozart doesn’t work out.  Trade Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Roberts to the Rockies for Seth Smith and Hector Gomez, giving the Rockies the solid arm they need to contend now, while the O’s get a spot for a young arm to try to prove themselves again.

There are a lot of things that the Orioles can do in 2012, but winning isn’t one of them.  They have an interesting lineup with Jones, Markakis, Reimold, Hardy and Wieters, but they just don’t have enough consistency out of those guys to win, plus the pitching is just as questionable.  Wada is a Japanese clone of Jamie Moyer, hitting 87-88 with his fastball.  Chen can throw some heat, but he also has had some shoulder issues.  We know that their young arms haven’t been consistent…or good…as Tillman and Matusz have been busts.  But they are young enough to keep getting chances, especially when your team isn’t going to be good.

If you trade Jones, Markakis and Guthrie, it makes for an ugly roster, but after going 69-93 with them and not seeing an end to the losing with four solid teams in front of you in the AL East, you’ve got nothing to lose.  Matt Angle, Reimold, Smith, and Endy Chavez would be your outfielders.  You’ve got a 2B of the future in Gomez on the way (he spent all of 2011 in Double-A), with Machado coming up at SS, and Schoop at 3B.  Lavarnway can play 1B or DH, Reimold could do the same thing.  Draft college players early, high ceiling guys later, maybe get in on Yoennis Cespedes, the CF from Cuba and get him now.  Why not?  He’s someone to plug-in now.  How would that change the roster for 2012:

2 Catchers: Matt Wieters and Taylor Teagarden

1B: Nolan Reimold

2B: Ryan Adams (.284/.341/.454, 28 2B, 10 HR in 94 games at Triple-A in ’11)

3B: Mark Reynolds

SS: J.J. Hardy

LF: Seth Smith

CF: Yoennis Cespedes

RF: Endy Chavez

DH: Ryan Lavarnway

Bench: Robert Andino (INF), Matt Angle (OF) and Chris Davis (1B/3B)

Starting Pitching: Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Chen/Wada (whoever looks best in Spring)

Relief Pitchers:  Jim Johnson, Kevin Gregg, Pedro Strop, Troy Patton, Alfredo Simon, Darren O’Day and Brad Bergeson

The fake deals that I made would make Hector Gomez (2B in 2013?), Anthony Renaudo (#3 pitcher in 2013?), Randall Delgado/Arodys Vizcaino/Mike Minor (#2 pitcher in 2013?), and Edward Salcedo (3B in 2014) a part of the organization.  They’re solid guys who could force the O’s to move other players around, like Schoop to 2B or Salcedo to 1B (as his defense is still weak/raw).  It is all made up and some of the deals may not be possible, but it is worth a shot.  The O’s won’t win again until they build from within to create their own talent.  See the Blue Jays, Rangers and Rays for current examples of this type of development.

 

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