Mack – Some ‘Minor’ Observations

Good morning.

This is going to be the start of a weekly Monday post in which I give my thoughts on some of the things going on in the pipeline this season.

I have two levels of prospects:

            “Red Prospects” are projected to someday make a rotation in the majors.

            “Blue Prospects” are projected to possibly, someday, reach that level.

So, without any delay…

I’ve always been one to try and build my team around superior starter pitching and I also tend to concentrate on the prospects in the system. It is rarely when stats are born from non-prospects, but there are exceptions and we’ll keep an eye on some of them also.

First, the starters:

Las Vegas:

Our workhorse, Corey Oswalt, did not fair well in his AAA debut (4IP, 3-ER, 6.75). The five strikeouts were there but we’re hoping for an immediate rebound here this week.

Likewise Chris Flexen (5-IP, 4-ER, 7.20, only 3-K). He too must do better in the rarified air of the CL.

Blue Prospect P.J. Conlon put aside all the rumors that he will be a relief pitcher this spring. Conlon threw 1-ER, 4-H ball over six innings (1.50, 0.83), and threw in 9-Ks for us to smile about.

And Zack Wheeler (5-IP, 1-ER, 1.80, 0.80) didn’t waist time proving he deserved to be called back to Queens.

Binghamton:

            Nabil Crismatt is our lone prospect here and couldn’t have started the season more impressively. He threw six scoreless, one-hit innings, while reco0rding nine strikeouts and zero walks.

St. Lucie:

            Justin Dunn needed to immediately step up and show that his early choice in the draft was warranted. He made the first step in throwing a 5-inning, 6-hit, scoreless stint (7-K, 0-BB).

Blue Prospect 23-year old Harol Gonzalez went 9-9, 3.53 for St. 

Lucie/Columbia last season and was hoping to get off to a great start this year as he returns to the A+ affiliate. Well, he has, going 6-IP, 4-H, 0-ER, 0.00, 4-K, 1-BB in his opening outing.

Columbia:

We’ve been waiting to get our first peek at Anthony Kay and even the biggest sceptics have to be impressed in his premier pro outing for Columbia. He pitched four innings without giving up an earned run (0.00) plus had four strikeouts and only one walk.

Next up the relievers:

Binghamton:

Drew Smith is my one red relief prospect in the system. I expect big things in Queens from Smith, as early as this season. He started this season as the Binghamton closer and recorded his first save in his first outing. He got his save, but gave up one earned run over the 1.1-IP (6.75). He must do better.

Adonis Uceta pitched one scoreless inning in his debut (2-K, 0.00, 1.00).

Everybody is expecting big things from Gerson Bautista this season. So far, so good: 1.0-IP, 0-R, 3-K, 0.00, 1.00

Nice start for blue prospect Tyler Balshor. First outing… 2-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 2-K, 0.00, 0.00. Can’t do better than a 0.00 WHIP!

St. Lucie:

            Adam Atkins threw two scoreless innings (0-H, 2-K, 2-BB, 0.00, 1.00)

            Matt Pobereyko had limited success… 2.1-IP, 1-ER, 3-K, 3-BB, 3.86

Thomas McIiraith got knocked around for three runs, though only one was earned (3-IP, 5-H, 2-K, 0-BB, 3.00)

Ryder Ryan immediately stepped up in his two outings this week: 3-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 5-K, 0-BB, 0.00, 0.33.

Joseph Zanghi added 2.2 more innings to his remarkable stretch through the last 27 innings pitched there. In total (29.2-IP), he has now given up 1-ER, with 28-K

Columbia:

Cannon Chadwick did not fair well in his first outing: 2-IP, 3-H, 3-ER, 3-K, 2-BB, 13.50

Trey Cobb did just fine this week… 1-G, 1-IP, 2-H, 0-ER, 0.00… though his 2.00 WHIP needs to be improved on

Stephan Villines pitched in two games with absolutely no success: 4-IP, 7-H, 5-ER, 11.25

Next, the bats:

Las Vegas:

            1B Dominic Smith has started hot… .400/.455/1.355 in ten at-bats. He also has one homer. Not a grand slam, but still a homer.

            2B Luis Guillorme has started the season off slowly… 16-AB, .188/.278/.375. We look for immediate improvement this week.

            SS Gavin Cecchini played in a limited role… 9-AB, .222/.300/.444.

            3B David Thompson has hit only .182 in his first 11 at-bats.

Binghamton:

            You can’t start worse than C Patrick Mazeilka has so far… 0-10 (.000)      

      

            C Tomas Nido is off to a good start… 11-AB, .364/.417/.962.

            1B Peter Alonso is simply on fire… 11-AB, .455/.500/1.682, 2-HR.

St. Lucie:

            C Anthony Dimino has only had eight at-bats, but has produced two hits (.250/.333/.583)

            SS Andres Gimenez is holding own at a playing level way above his age… 15-AB, .267/.313/.913, 1-HR)

            It really is nice to see OF Desmond Lindsay off to a quick start… 14-AB, .357/.471/.828.

Columbia:   

            2B Walter Rasquin, like most of his teammates, is off to a slow start, He also hasn’t played that much so far: 6-AB, .167

            3B Rigoberto Terrazas is only 1-10 (.100)

            OF Quinn Brody is 3-14, .214

Arm Of The Week:  SP Nabil Crismatt

Bat of The Week:  1B Peter Alonso