8/26/12

MMMLR - 26-8-12


Date: 8-26-12

            Kevin Goldstein‏ -  - 86.2% of the mix-ups on I Love Lucy would never occur if they had cell phones.

           

MLB –

2. Should you bear witness to Jeter lifting a ball in the air, consider it baseball's version of Halley's Comet. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/25-things-you-didn-t-know-about-baseball.html

Josh Beckett‏ -  Hey this is Josh Beckett Just set this up to say thanks to the great fans of #redsox nation I enjoyed the good times we had. Even in the tough times I ran into so many wonderful people that were so awesome I'm Greatly appreciative to all of you #redsox nation fans.

RHP Pedro Beato was in the Red Sox pen on Sunday.

 

MLB - Mets:

Mets demote Jordany Valdespin to clear roster spot for return of Lucas Duda.

The Mets have placed Scott Hairston and Andres Torres on waivers

Mets W-L record since ASG projects out close to 40-120

OF Fernando Martinez minor league stat line this year with Houston: .314/.367/.507/.875, 13-HR, 62-RBI

Dickey isn’t going to receive a massive contract considering his age and the knuckleball approach. Although, an annual salary of $8-10 million isn’t out of the question. Perhaps he signs a deal worth even more. However, the length of the contract isn’t going to push more than four years. Even a four-year extension could be too long for Dickey who will be 40 in nearly three years. - http://mlbreports.com/2012/08/26/dickey-extend/

 

AAA – Buffalo:.

RHP ZACK WHEELER will start Game 1, his fifth start with the Bisons. The righty allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings in a defeat to the Yankees on Tuesday. RHPDYLAN OWEN starts the nightcap, his first start since July 5 in Syracuse. Owen has made nine appearances out of the bullpen since then and is 2-3 with a 5.85ERA in 10 total starts this season… RHP FERNANDO CABRERA now stands atop of the Bisons record books. Cabrera recorded his 30th career save for Buffalo, the most in the team’s modern era. The reliever was also named to the Bisons ‘All 25 Seasons Team’ last night and leads all modern era Herd relievers with 132 games pitched and 228 strikeouts. His strikeout total is also 5th among ALL modern era pitchers…  OF VALENTINO PASCUCCI slugged his team-leading 16th home run of the season last night and his 54th career Bisons home run (5th in modern era). Pascucci also has a team-high 60RBI this year. He has 188RBI in his Bisons career, the 6th most in the modern era. – team PR

 

One of the ever-constant truths of baseball? No two games are the same. In Sunday afternoon's matinee doubleheader at Coca-Cola Field, the Bisons and Red Wings showed why.

 The first game marked a display of pitching and defensive prowess, with Buffalo's sole fourth-inning run being just enough for a 1-0 victory. In Game 2, one total run would have been irrelevant - bats lit up, runs were plentiful, and Rochester notched an 11-9 win.

All in all, it added up to a doubleheader split between the longtime Thruway foes.

 Newly minted Bison Zack Wheeler got the call in the opener, and definitively showed why he deserves much of the hype bestowed upon him. Wheeler looked confident on the mound from the get-go and made it through all seven innings, allowing only three hits and two walks in the complete-game shutout.

As a result, Wheeler earned a much-deserved inaugural Triple-A win, improving his record to 1-2 as a member of the Herd.

The Bisons offense didn't do too much in support of Wheeler, but it was enough. After being held scoreless despite four hits in the first three innings, Buffalo got on the board in the 4th courtesy of Matt Den Dekker's sacrifice fly that scored Adam Loewen. Wheeler allowed only one hit the rest of the way, and the Herd escaped Game 1 on top.

In Game 2, the Bisons sent an early sign that offense would be more abundant this time around. Leadoff man Fred Lewis launched a solo home run to begin the bottom of the 1st, and Buffalo jumped out to a 4-0 lead when the inning was all said and done.

But the Red Wings countered in the very next frame, with three runs of their own. Consecutive walks to begin the inning set the tone, and a two-out double by Matt Carson scored a pair to pull Rochester within a run. After both teams combined for one run in the first game, seven were scored through an inning and a half in Game 2. Quite a contrast, to say the least.

Rochester wasn't nearly done, by any means. After slugger Valentino Pascucci homered in the 3rd to extend the Buffalo lead to 5-3, the Wings responded with three runs in the 4th, and then four more in the 5th. Hence, Rochester held a 10-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 5th - after Buffalo owned a four-run advantage in the 1st. Just a typical day at the ballpark, of course.

Fittingly, the Bisons refused to go down without a fight, and battled back in the final frames to make things interesting. Buffalo clawed back with two runs in the 5th - courtesy of a two-run homer from Matt Tuiasosopo - and added two more in the 6th thanks to another two-run blast, this one off the bat of Zach Lutz.

Now, the Red Wings advantage was just a single run: 10-9. The stage was set for a frantic conclusion in downtown Buffalo.

But the Herd couldn't complete the comeback. After Carson doubled a run home to give the Wings an 11-9 advantage in the 7th, the Bisons needed two in the final frame to force extra time. It got off to a good start, with Loewen and Josh Satin reaching base to start the frame - putting the tying run on first, and the winning run at the plate.

It wasn't enough, though. Rochester reliever Anthony Slama worked his way through the next three Bisons batters, and the ballgame was over. Slama induced a Fred Lewis groundout to close the deal.

Bisons Notes: Shortstop Josh Rodriguez recorded a multi-hit game for the Herd in Game 1. Lewis and Tuiasosopo notched multi-hit efforts in Game 2...In Game 1, the Bisons went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, leaving six men on base. In Game 2, the Herd went 2-for-9 in the same situation, leaving seven men on. – team PR

 

 

AA-Binghamton:

RHP Greg Peavey (7-8, 5.12) makes his 24th start of the season and fifth against the Sea Dogs. Peavey earned the win in his last start against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on August 21, his first victory in five starts against the club. He struck out a season-high six while scattering six hits over seven shutout innings. In four starts versus Portland, Peavey has gone 2-1 with a 5.49 ERA. Over 19-2/3 innings, he has allowed a .316 batting average. RHP Jeremy Kehrt (7-3, 4.07) takes the mound for his 13th start of the season and fifth appearance against the B-Mets. Kehrt has earned five wins in his last eight starts, going unbeaten during the stretch. He took a no-decision in his last game against the New Britain Rock Cats on August 21. The former reliever allowed two runs on five his and three walks over five innings. In four appearances, including one start, Kehrt has gone 1-0 and compiled a 2.16 ERA versus Binghamton. Over 16-2/3 innings, he has allowed a .348 batting average. A 47th-round selection in 2008, Kehrt is in his fifth year with the Red Sox organization. – team PR

 

The Binghamton Mets used 15 hits and three Portland Sea Dogs errors in a5-3 win in ten innings on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Wilfredo Tovar capped a four-hit day by driving in the game-winning run with a single to center in the top of the tenth.

With the game tied at three in tenth, Allan Dykstra walked against Portland reliever Michael Olmsted to start the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Juan Lagares. With one out, Dustin Martin dribbled a roller to first. Olmsted received the toss from Travis Shaw, but failed to step on the bag. The righty followed the error by walking Juan Centeno to load the bases.

Tovar kept the rally going by lofting a single into shallow center. Lagares scored easily from third and Martin came home from second after a throw from centerfielder Shannon Wilkerson bounced off his leg and rolled into left field. Brad Holt made the lead stand with a perfect tenth inning.

The B-Mets stole the spotlight from Portland left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker who busted out the lumber to give the Sea Dogs the early lead in the first inning. The left fielder launched a 2-2 offering from Greg Peavey deep over the rightfield fence for his team-leading 18th round-tripper of the year.

The B-Mets responded with a four-hit attack in the second against Portland starter Jeremy Kehrt. After a pair of singles put runners at the corners, Juan Centeno bounced into a run-scoring fielder’s choice. Reese Havens gave the B-Mets thelead three batters later with an RBI single to left center.

Hazelbaker struck again to erase Binghamton’s lead in the third. With a runner aboard, he sent a 3-1 pitch over the right centerfield wall. The drive, his second homer of the day, gave the Sea Dogs a 3-2 lead.

Binghamton used another four-hit inning to tie the contest at three in the fourth. With runners at the corners, Havens beat out a potential double play grounder to first, allowing Tovar to score from third.

Kehrt exited after allowing a season-high twelve hits over five innings and handed the torch to Brock Huntzinger. The B-Mets nearly grabbed the lead in the sixth, but were denied by Hazelbaker in left. Huntzinger walked the first two he faced and allowed a long fly ball to left center to Havens. Huntzinger made a running grab at the wall and threw out Tovar trying to scamper to third.

Peavey settled down after Hazelbaker’s home run and posted 4-2/3 scoreless innings to close his day. The righty retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced, allowing just one more hit. Jeff Kaplan bridged the gap to the tenth by allowed one hit over two scoreless innings.

Chris Martin took over in the seventh and posted three scoreless innings to preserve the tie before Olmsted watched things come apart in the decisive tenth inning.

Tovar’s hit made Kaplan (2-0) a winner for the second time this month. Peavey took the no-decision, allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings of work. Olmsted (1-2) suffered the loss.

The win gave the B-Mets a series split in the four-game set with Portland. Binghamton finishes the season series with a 13-6 record, the most wins in one season against the Sea Dogs. – team PR

 

A+ - St. Lucie:

The scheduled Florida State League game between the St. Lucie Mets and Charlotte Stone Crabs on Sunday, August 26 at Digital Domain Park has been postponed due to inclement weather. At this time, the game will not be re-scheduled. Tickets for today’s game can be redeemed for Thursday, August 30 or Friday, August 31. – team PR

 

A – Savannah:

The Rome Braves defeated the Savannah Sand Gnats 4-3 Sunday in the Gnats’ final home game at Historic Grayson Stadium in 2012. The first place Braves have now won 10 of 12 games, while the last place Gnats finished their final homestand at 6-1 and have dropped nine of their last 10 games.

Down 4-2, the Gnats (25-37/66-63) rallied for a run the ninth inning on C Albert Cordero’s RBI single to pull within a run at 4-3. Savannah had the potential tying at second, and winning run at first, but pinch-hitter Dustin Lawley struck out to end the game.

The Braves (40-21/58-73) drew first blood in the first inning with an unearned run that scored when SS Yucarybert De La Cruz dropped a popup in shallow leftfield.

Rome added two runs on four singles in the top of the sixth inning against Savannah starter Marcos Camarena to establish a 3-0 advantage.

Camarena completed six innings, allowing three runs, two earned with three strikeouts and one walk, but was charged with the loss to fall to 7-6.

The Gnats picked up two runs back in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, De La Cruz and 3B Brandon Brown each singled.  CF Gilbert Gomez ripped a double down the leftfield line to score the two runners and pull the Gnats back within a run at 3-2.

Rome pushed their lead back to two runs in the eighth, when 1B William Beckwith blasted a solo homerun to the base of the videoboard in right-center field off Gnats’ reliever Randy Fontanez.

Braves starter Alex Wood, a University of Georgia product, who was the team’s second round draft pick in 2012, shutout the Gnats through five innings Sunday. He struck out five and did not walk a batter while yielding just two hits to pick up his fourth win

 

A-Low – Brooklyn:

Jeffrey Paternostro ‏ @jeffpaternostro  Hansel Robles - FB is 92-93, Slider at 87 is primary secondary tonight. FB is good, Slider needs work.

 

Rookie – Kingsport:

Branden Kaupe, SS, New York Mets: .174/.373/.193 with 34 walks, 35 strikeouts in 114 at-bats for Kingsport in the Appalachian League. Has struggled in conversion to 2B. Other than drawing walks, he's been terrible so far, but you know the next phrase: he's just 18. – www.minorleaguebaseball.com

Rookie – DSL Mets

Vicente Lupo finished the season:  .343/.500/.608

 

Ask Mack - 5 FAs, Duda


Ask Mack – 5 FAs

Steve Wilson asked – Mack, what five free agents would you go after in the off-season?

Mack – Hmm. Sadly, it’s not easy to answer this question. I’m sure the Mets are going to renew both RA Dickey and David Wright’s contracts for 2013, which limits the team in participating against the mega-spenders like LAD. Sandy Alderson has hinted that the 2013 salary will come in “around $100mil) but there’s a bunch of Arbitration guys (Daniel Murphy, Ike Davis, Bobby Parnell) the Mets have to deal with. By my estimate, that would bring the payroll in at $79mil, if you dump or lose Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Ronny Cedeno, Scott Hairston, Tim Byrdak, and Chris Young.
This leaves you $21mil to enter the free agent market with.
Your immediate area needing improvement is in the outfield (can we resign Fernando Martinez?). The expected free agent list (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/04/2013-mlb-free-agents.html) includes:

LF:

Jay Gibbons (36)

Jonny Gomes (32)

Scott Hairston (33)

Josh Hamilton (32)

Willie Harris (35)

Brad Hawpe (34)

Eric Hinske (35)

Conor Jackson (31)

Reed Johnson (36)

Andruw Jones (36)

Austin Kearns (33)

Carlos Lee (37)

Fred Lewis (32)

Ryan Ludwick (34) - mutual option for 2013

Juan Pierre (35)

Juan Rivera (34) - $4MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout

Delmon Young (27)

CF

Alfredo Amezaga (35)

Rick Ankiel (33)

Michael Bourn (30)

Melky Cabrera (28)

Mike Cameron (40)

Curtis Granderson (32) - $13MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Scott Hairston (33)

Angel Pagan (31)

Corey Patterson (33)

Cody Ross (32)

Grady Sizemore (30)

Ryan Spilborghs (33)

B.J. Upton (28)

Shane Victorino (32)

RF:

Lance Berkman (36)

Matt Diaz (35)

Kosuke Fukudome (36) - $3.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Willie Harris (35)

Torii Hunter (37)

Andruw Jones (36)

Ryan Ludwick (34) - mutual option for 2013

Xavier Nady (34)

Juan Rivera (34) - $4MM club option for 2013 with a $500K buyout

Cody Ross (32)

Ryan Spilborghs (33)

Ichiro Suzuki (39)

Nick Swisher (32)

This is a pretty lean list of old guys, but I’d go all-in for Bourn. Cabrera would be an interesting pick, and Swisher would pull headlines in NYC.
But it’s not just going to take money here. The agents hate this owner, the players know they may be years away from a World Series game, and the fans are going to be brutal next season.
The Mets have to sign a credible, every day outfielder, preferably a switch-hitter. They simply must.

Relief Pitching
Alderson spent most of his 2012 FA money in the pen and it didn’t work. He’s going to have to revisit that again.
Nelson Figueroa stands out to me… err… just kidding… the Mets need an innings eater here who can go long every four days. That’s an ex-starter.
I also would resign Pedro Feliciano after the Yankees and bring Dontrelle Willis into camp with an incentive laden minor league contract… but that’s just me


Erik Hudson asks - 

Any idea why they recalled Duda now, vs next weekend when rosters expand?  It didn't seem like he was tearing the cover off the ball in AAA.  Is it more sending a message to Valdespin?

I heard that team officials were shown a picture that some washed up old Mets blogging dude had put up on his site showing Valdespin not giving  a shit about the fact that he cost his team a loss, but what do I know?

2013 Draft-Notes - Clinton Hollon, Joey Martarano, K.J. Hockaday, Alex Buccilli, Jaret Vermillion


Clinton Hollon  RHP  Woodford County HS, Versailles, Ky.  Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190. B/T: R/R. Hollon is one of the hardest throwers in the 2013 class, with a fastball that sits in the low 90s. He has an athletic delivery with a lightning-quick arm. He also shows a feel for a slider and curveball as well as a changeup. He is a strike thrower with outstanding stuff. He is verbally committed to Kentucky.

Joey Martarano IF Fruitland (Idaho) HS Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230. B/T: R/R. Martarano is one of the top multi-sport athletes in the country. He is a big, physical third baseman with surprising quickness, sure hands and a strong arm. He has legitimate power and is also an all-state performer as a quarterback and linebacker. He has committed to play football at Boise State.

K.J. Hockaday, 3b, Youse's Orioles (So., Maryland): A 14th-round pick by the Orioles in 2011, Hockaday was also the Ripken League's top prospect last year. After starting all 56 games and hitting .305/.367/.404 as a freshman this spring, Hockaday hit .346 this summer. He stands with a slightly open stance and hands held above his shoulders, allowing him to drive the ball with authority to all fields. But he also swings more with his upper half than his full body, reducing his strikeouts (11 in 133 Ripken League at-bats) and power numbers (13 extra-base hits with just two home runs), though his summer home field is the largest in the league. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Hockaday broke Mark Teixeira's Maryland state home run record as a senior in high school, leading scouts to believe his power numbers will come as he matures. A below-average runner, Hockaday's future lies at a corner infield spot. His plus arm plays well at third base, where he has a chance to be an average defender. He reacts better to his glove side than to his barehand side, but he charges balls well.

OF Alex Buccilli, Coastal Carolina -- Known for his unorthodox batting stance, Buccilli followed up a productive spring with a very good summer. He batted .344 with 10 doubles, a triple, seven homers and 30 RBIs. He also had an outstanding 39 walks as opposed to only 16 strikeouts. Additionally, he finished the summer with 14 stolen bases. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7564

Jaret Vermillion, 2013, 1B - Short, powerful stroke.  Can hit for average with power because he's so short to the ball.  Flat bat, direct path to the ball.  Simple swing.  Fast hands.  Big, physical Prince Fielder-type body. http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=361

Matthew Bliven  @PGBliv   Daniel Procopio 2013 from Toronto, ON showing a big arm and hammer. Consistently at 90 at the PG Mid Atlantic Showcase

Ask Mack - Nimmo, Zo, David




Gary Seagren asked -

Hi Mack, after reading your post on Brandon Nimmo being "scary good" Trout/Harper-like blew me away, I picked myself up off the floor, composed myself and had to email you for a follow up to please elaborate further.

 Could you also include Alonzo Harris's progress.

As far as David Wright is concerned I don't get that it is in David's or our best interests to sign him long term. As much as I love the guy he deserves to spend some time on a winning team where he has a chance for a ring. With us he'll be in his mid-30ss before he has any shot at one. Trade him for two or three top prospects, hey we got Zack Wheeler for 2 months of Carlos Beltran, and let’s call this what it is....REBUILDING and move on. My best to you as always Mack, Gary Seagren 

Mack – Good hearing from you, Gary.

First thing first… I have never seen Brandon Nimmo play baseball. This is a case of others telling me what they think.

I have talked recently with three different people that have consistently watched Brandon on a regular basis and they have all said that he possesses that rare level of talent that you see in only a handful of people at each minor league level. I saw this first hand with Ryan Zimmerman when came to Savannah. It happened again with Jason Heyward and Jesus Montero. They were men playing with boys, regardless of their age (another one was David Price).

The people I have spoken to in the past 45 days all say the same thing: Nimmo is one of those rare talents that seem to have the God given ability to rise above his competitors. Or, as we say, become a superstar.

I recently wrote about Alonzo Harris. Scroll down to a post on 8-22-12.

Regarding David Wright, this is out of our hands now and I, like most of the other writers out there, are pretty sick and tired about talking about this situation.

One of three things will happen between now and 4-1-13:

1.     Wright’s contract will be extended for the 2013 season

2.     Wright’s will be traded

3.     Wright’s contract will be renegotiated to include a long team deal

Gary, it is what it is. We all need to move on and let this rest until one of the above three things happen.

Stuff – Reese Havens, Tillman Pugh, BoSox Prospects, Darin Gorski, ‘The War Room’


Reese Havens
Havens is on another tear. He’s hitting .194 in his last 10 games (through Friday night) and comes in at .220 for the season. Frankly, the .220 was higher than I remembered him hitting this year. He followed up with a home run on Saturday but too little too late. Just a suck year with a stiff back thrown in for grins. I’m sure Sandy is having a hard time projecting David for next season. Danny Muno (who has moved over to 2B) is playing great at St. Lucie and deserves the bump up, and you can’t really promote a guy to AAA with these kind of numbers, can you? Tough call here. 

Tillman Pugh
I’ll never forget the day the Mets cut OF Tillman Pugh this year. We talked on the phone and he told me that the Mets told him that “the organization had too many outfielders”. That’s funny. Pugh was picked up the same day by the CWS and he’s now playing for Kannapolis (.250/.294/.198/.402, 3-SB). Not stellar, but we’re going to check back every six months to see his progress. 

BoSox Prospects
Question: Would you like to change the makeup of your upper levels in one day?
Answer: Here’s the young players Boston now features at the MLB/AAA/AA level:
LHP Felix Doubront               MLB  10-6, 4.70, 119-K, 122.2-IP

RP Franklin Morales              MLB  3-4, 3.77, 76-K, 76.1-IP

3B Will Middlebrook            MLB  .288/.325/.509/.835

C Ryan Lavarnway                 MLB  41-AB, .188 – AAA: .290/.376/.563/.939

RHP Rubby De La Rosa         AAA  On IR most of season  (tear of the ulnar collateral ligament)

2B -SS Ivan DeJesus Jr.         AAA  .295/.333/.415/.749

1B/OF Jerry Sands                AAA  .303/.380/.531/.911

SS Jose Inglesias          AAA  .266/.318/.306/.624

RHP Alan Webster                AA    117K – 121.2-IP

RHP Anthony Renaudo         AA    1-3, 6.69, 9-starts

RHP Brandon Workman       AA    10-7, 3.14 A+/AA (3-0, 1.50 – AA)

SS Xander Bogaerts              AA    .339/.373/.532/.909

RF Bryce Brentz           AA    .294/.356/.483/.839, 17-HR

OF Jackie Bradley                  AA    .276/.363/.443/.807 
Darin Gorski
Darin Gorski hasn’t duplicated the incredible year he had in 2011, but you have to give him credit for turning in a decent season at the talent-heavy AA level. Gorski went: 7.2-IP, 1-ER, 5-H, 9-K, 1-BB, 3.66 and pretty much has guaranteed that he will be the lefty rotational dude for the Mets new AAA franchise. Pick up some sunscreen Daris, you’re heading west. 
‘The War Room’
‘The Draft Room’ concept on Sunday was premature. We will return to ‘The War Room’ next Sunday.

2013 Draft-Notes - Eric Garza, Ryan Boldt, Austin Meadows, Chris Ellis, Elliot Caldwell



 
Player:  Eric Garza  Position:  SS   School:  San Antonio Reagan (TX)   Date of Birth:  12/19/1993   Height/Weight:  5’11/185   Bats/Throws:  S/R   2013 Class:  Senior   Committed To:  Texas Christian  Scouting Report:  Shortstop Eric Garza opened alot of eyes with his performance during the Area Code Games, earning good reviews in the field and at the plate. – the rest of the reportblf



Ryan Boldt notched USA an early hit, when the speedster raced down the line after hitting a ground ball towards the hole at first and getting in safe. He was credited with an infield single. He would be retired when Bryson Brigman hit into a fielder's choice. Brigman would get into scoring position with two outs, but Jeremy Martinez's fly ball to center was snagged on the run for the third out, keeping both teams scoreless in the first. usa

Austin Meadows  OF  Grayson HS, Loganville, Ga. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. B/T: L/L. Meadows is one of the top all-around players in the 2013 class with true five-tool potential. He is a polished lefthanded hitter with power to all fields. He is an above-average runner with excellent instincts. He has a plus arm from the outfield and is verbally committed to Clemson.

RHP Chris Ellis, Ole Miss -- Ellis tallied an impressive 2.84 ERA for the Rebels this past spring, but he looks to have an even bigger role in 2013. This summer, he made eight appearances (seven starts) and had a 4.93 ERA in 38 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 44 and walked 21. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7564  

Elliot Caldwell, of, Butler (So., Spartanburg, S.C., Methodist JC): After playing sparingly as a freshman for Winthrop and hitting just .217/.294/.239 in 46 at-bats, Caldwell turned the Prospect League into his personal playground this summer, impressing more than his fair share of the league's coaches along the way. Caldwell—who will play at Spartanburg Methodist JC next season—used his compact, inside-out swing and good gap power to torch Prospect League pitching to the tune of a .388/.450/.592 line with seven home runs and 47 RBIs. A rock-solid 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Caldwell has present strength and physicality with the frame to add more muscle down the road. Coaches were impressed with his ability to control the bat and drive the ball to all fields. He still had a tendency to get caught swinging at pitches he shouldn't, but he should be able to refine his approach as he gets more opportunities to play. Caldwell has above-average speed and excellent instincts on the basepaths, helping him steal 27 bases this summer, and his defensive versatility allowed the Butler coaching staff to play him in the infield and the outfield. But he projects best at a corner outfield spot, where his above-average arm and outfield instincts should allow him to develop into a plus defender. And coaches raved about his makeup and work ethic.

Justin Hlubek  @PGJustinHlubek   Dalton Ewing (2014 OF) continues to impress me. Did I mention he ran a 6.60-60 and threw 93 from the OF

Prep Baseball Report‏ @prepbaseball   MO: Chase Young, the No. 37 ranked player in the Class of 2013, has committed to the Univ. of Tennessee-Martin

Todd Gold  @TGold_PG    2013 MIF Trevor Morrison (Bothell, WA) going off @ PG Northwest Showcase. 4-for-6 w HR, squared ball up everytime.