“ Hall-of-Famers Bob Gibson and Stan Musial played minor-league ball there as young Cardinals prospects. George Brett passed through in 1973 on his way to Kansas City. Dave Winfield, Roger Clemens and Huston Street had memorable collegiate postseason appearances on the same diamond. Rosenblatt had been the home of the College World Series for more than six decades, before Omaha’s city fathers and the NCAA agreed in 2009 to build bigger and supposedly better digs for the event.”

I hope you’ll drop by, read the piece, and pass it around. And keep reading the site. I’ve learned piles of new stuff about sports I didn’t even know I liked while reading what others have written there.

In my opinion from reading the draft analysis and buzz from 2010, there were three typically highly regarded players that some people really liked and some didn’t, moreso than others. There’s a wide range of opinions on nearly every prospect, especially with those who are determined to always provide a contrarian opinion. I’m talking about Cox, Giants center fielder Gary Brown and Pirates pitcher Stetson Allie. They were all high picks; Allie was the last taken at 52nd overall, and he probably would’ve been taken sooner if his bonus demands weren’t as high.

Gary Brown was a very good college player at one of the top programs in the country, Cal State Fullerton. An injury in his junior season limited him, but it didn’t really affect his draft stock because it wasn’t expected to affect him long term. The Giants took him, and if he develops into the player he expected to, he’ll be a great fit at AT&T Park. He’ll catch anything in their spacious center field, and his bat will look great at the top of the lineup. He makes consistent contact and would be one of the fastest players in the league. What’s not to like?

In college, he didn’t take a lot of walks. On base percentage is a big stat now, and I believe in its importance. However, players can still succeed without walking a lot. At Fullerton, he had 41 walks in 774 plate appearances, a little over 5% of his PA. His OBP’s were high, but that was a product of his great batting average. Why should he take pitches he can hit just to walk when he can put them in play? There’s a line between being overaggressive and taking smart at bats where a player prefers to put the ball in play, and he hasn’t crossed to the bad side yet. His walk rate improved with San Jose this year, and he strikes out below the league average rate.

The Pirates were fortunate to see Stetson Allie still on the board at 52. Their organization has obviously been down in the dumps for a little bit, so they need to focus on adding talent to the organization and eventually, good things should happen. Allie certainly wasn’t only the 52nd most talented player in the draft class. He has a big, durable workhorse frame at 6’4, 225 and an aggressive, attacking mentality on the mound. His fastball can sit in the high 90′s, and his slider can touch 88-89 MPH. If he improves his changeup, he could be a really good starter. If not, that sounds like closer stuff.

However, his bonus demands and command troubles concerned teams. Players that can’t throw strikes often don’t advance very far, but Allie is only 20 years old. Coaches and development staff can work to improve mechanics and approach to work out those issues. It’s absolutely a risk to invest in a pitcher like Allie because he’s raw and not even close to reaching his potential. Isn’t it worth taking though? A bad team needs to add talent, even if their floors aren’t very high. The Pirates won’t make the playoffs by acquiring 5th starters and second division starters. At the other end of the spectrum, do teams like the Yankees have anything to lose themselves? They’re a really good team and probably don’t need any middling players, even if they may reach the majors faster than Allie.

Now back to Cox. Baseball America said he was the best pure hitter in all of last year’s draft. He set an Arkansas record with a .429 batting average and has a great swing. He can hit to all fields and make a lot of contact. In his first pro season, he started at high-A in the Florida State League and batted .335 and a .819 OPS before a midseason promotion to AA. His average dipped below .300 there, but he was still solid, batting .380 in July and .333 in August. Between both levels, he finished with a .797 OPS. That’s pretty solid for a player in his first full year as a professional, but there are certainly legitimate concerns.

It’s possible to look at it one of two ways. He’s a bit of a tweener in all regards. Looking at him as a third baseman, his current position, he may lack the appropriate power to profile there. His swing is a bit flat, but those that are optimistic about Cox believe he will begin generating enough loft in his swing to hit home runs. His isolated power (SLG-BA) was higher in AA than high-A, but that’s to be expected from moving from the Florida State League to the Texas League. If he moves to a position where his bat profiles a little better, say second base, he would probably be an above average hitter, but he probably doesn’t have the athleticism to handle playing up the middle. A quick and dirty comparison could be made to former Cardinals prospect Brett Wallace. He was a college hitter drafted in the first round whose bat didn’t profile at the position he belongs at defensively, first base.

However, Cox has plenty of time to prove he’ll be different. He’s his own player and shouldn’t be pigeonholed into a convenient comparison just for the sake of doing so. There are reasons to be optimistic about his future, and it’s also fair to say it’s reasonable to have doubts about him.

That’s obviously it for Prospect A-Z. I hope everyone enjoyed my little trip around the minors highlighting some names to know. There were many more that I didn’t talk about, and it could make for a second series, but maybe it would be best left for another offseason. Thanks for reading.

Kevin Quackenbush, RHP, San Diego Padres (2011: NCAA USF, A- Eugene, A Fort Wayne)

For a couple years, USF’s pitching staff was carried by Randy Fontanez and Andrew Barbosa, but for a school in a big conference in one of the most talented baseball states in the country, the Bulls were always quite average and never lived up to expectations. In 2011, Kevin Quackenbush emerged as one of the top relievers in college baseball. After an offseason arrest for a hit and run accident involving a police car put his senior season in jeopardy, he was reinstated and was USF’s best player in another dismal season.

It’s hard to determine the historic value of NCAA statistics because there are so many conferences, teams and players to look through, and college statistics aren’t widely available beyond a few recent seasons. That said, it’s clear that Quackenbush had a tremendous season in 2011, maybe better than any other reliever in college baseball. I looked through the stats of probably at least 1000 pitchers last year, and only two relievers I found had a lower ERA than him, Gabe Weidenaar, who actually transferred from College of Southern Nevada to Oklahoma State, and Austin Maddox, Florida’s two way player.

In 33.1 IP for USF, Quackenbush struck out 45 batters which was actually a small decrease from his previous season’s strikeout rate. The big change came in his command; his walk rate declined dramatically from 5.08 batters per nine innings to just 1.89, and he allowed fewer than four hits per inning too. He finished with a .81 ERA and .63 WHIP, numbers almost too good to be true. San Diego took him in the 8th round which is higher than just about every other reliever goes.

He got off to a fast start as most college senior relievers do professionally, but he was even better than one would expect. He first reported to the Northwest League where he struck out 33 in 20.1 IP while only allowing 13 hits and six walks. He was promoted to the Midwest League and still wasn’t challenged. His ERA nearly doubled, going from .44 to .84, but his peripheral stats got better. His strikeout rate increased while his hit and walk rates both dropped in a similar amount of innings. For the future, he has a chance at a middle relief role with a 90-95 MPH fastball and an improving slider and changeup.

Perhaps history is on his side. 45 players with a name starting with Q have suited up in the majors, and three of them have made All-Star Games. Two of them have been relief pitchers, the other being Carlos Quentin. One other had a solid career as a swing guy between the rotation and bullpen and became a very influential pitching coach. Can he follow in their footsteps? Becoming an All-Star seems unlikely, but he could always carve out a solid career like Chad Qualls or Jack Quinn, a starter who pitched in four different decades in the early 20th century.

Dan Quisenberry- Quisenberry was one of the league’s pioneer closers. Just 10 years after the league made it an official stat (for better or worse), he made his ML debut for the Royals in 1979. He went undrafted in 1975 which isn’t shocking considering his stuff wasn’t considered great, but I’m sure some teams wish they could do it over and take him. When he dropped his arm angle to a more submarine style before his second season, he was able to compensate for his lack of stuff and allowing deception to play up his command. In a 12 season career, he finished with 244 saves, won a World Series, made three All-Star teams and finished top three in Cy Young voting in four consecutive years, a feat that has no chance of happening in present day.

Paul Quantrill- Quantrill didn’t have the accolades Quisenberry piled up, but he had a very long, above average career out of the bullpen. It really was an unremarkable career. He only had 21 saves in 14 seasons which means he was never really more than a setup man. He even made an All-Star game late in his career, likely due to winning a lot of games as a reliever. From 2001-2004, he led the league in appearances in each season. He pitched for seven different teams but never reached the World Series. He participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic for Canada and was a coach in the 2009 edition.

Mel Queen- Queen pitched a solid 389.2 IP in his major league career after starting his pro career as a third baseman. He was limited by injuries, but his playing career isn’t where Queen made his mark. He was influential in developing a number of Toronto homegrown players. Even though they haven’t made the playoffs since 1993, they’ve produced a number of successful players, even if that success later happened for another team. Perhaps most famously, he reshaped the career of Roy Halladay after he set a record for worst ERA in a season. He completely rebuilt Halladay as a pitcher that relied on command, movement on his pitches and a slightly more deceptive delivery. He wouldn’t be on his way to the Hall of Fame without the changes made by Queen. Brian Matusz broke that record in 2011.

Tomorrow, Prospect A-Z will feature the letter R. Will it be a solid Rangers pitcher, a potentially underrated Cardinals starter or a guy who could be the next closer for the White Sox?

Matt Purke, LHP, Washington Nationals (2011: NCAA TCU)

In May, I wrote a little about Purke in the context of the draft. His stock was one of the interesting things to pay attention to going into the draft in June. Two years after being drafted in the first round by Texas, having his contract nixed by the commissioner and dominating college baseball as a freshman, Purke was expected to be a top pick in the 2011 draft as an eligible sophomore, but his season quickly went south.

At the start of the season, it was clear that Purke wasn’t the same pitcher. His stuff appeared down, and he was soon out of action. TCU mentioned a blister and dead arm period for reasons his struggles, but that proved to be untrue. Eventually, he went to see Dr. James Andrews, which is never good news. He ended up having shoulder soreness, and he finished with eight fewer starts than the previous season. Statistically, his season was just as good as his 2010 season, but the reports were unanimous: the stuff wasn’t matching the stats.

Where would he be drafted though? Again, it was unanimous that his stock was way down. Around the time of the 2009 draft, it was rumored that he agreed to sign with the Rangers for a bonus around 6 million, but the Rangers were controlled by the commissioner’s office at the time due to ownership difficulties, and they would not allow the team to sign Purke for that much. He ended up going to TCU and had an incredible freshman season leading the Horned Frogs to the College World Series.

When Purke is right, his fastball sits in the 91-94 range and can touch higher with some movement. His slider is above average, and his changeup could be solid to complete his starter’s arsenal. Throw in a 3/4 arm slot from the left side that creates deception, and Purke becomes a package with great upside. When he wasn’t right in 2011, his velocity was sometimes 10 MPH lower, and when it did start higher, he couldn’t hold it through a few innings. His offspeed stuff wasn’t sharp, and he looked like a completely different pitcher. Instead of looking like a top pick, he looked like a guy that teams could only hope could get back to that level.

The Nationals were the team that acted on that hope and took Purke in the 3rd round with the 96th overall pick. This was perhaps higher than some people expected, but no one could guess whether or not he would sign. If he turned down 4 million from the Rangers (and maybe MLB itself), would he even be presented with an offer high enough to entice him to pro ball? As a draft eligible sophomore, he had a little more leverage than most college players because he could go back to TCU another year and not be older than anyone else the next draft.

He did get that bonus that would entice him to turn pro as Washington offered him 4.4 million dollars and a major league contract. That surprised just about everyone even though just about every expert agrees spending a lot in the draft is the best way to develop an organization. The Nats were in a spending mood this draft, giving their top four picks, Anthony Rendon, Brian Goodwin, Alex Meyer and Purke over 15 million dollars combined. In the case of Purke, it was a big risk. Shoulder injuries for pitchers are very concerning, and it’s not a guarantee that he would ever get his stuff back.

When he first got his feet wet in the Arizona Fall League this year, it certainly seemed like his time off from competing didn’t really help. In his first three appearances, he lasted a combined 3.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, 11 runs and only striking out one while walking two. The reports on his stuff were just about the same with decreased velocity and a flat breaking ball. He eventually did settle down with Scottsdale though. After eight days off, Purke went on to make four more appearances, pitching four innings, striking out four and only allowing two hits and one walk. Did he make some adjustments in the week off, or was it just the roller coaster of pro baseball?

The Nationals certainly hope it was the former because he could help in the majors very soon if that’s the case. As I talked about on Monday, they’re an organization that’s very close to putting everything together. They just about have a core in place to become contenders, and they’re using free agency and the farm system to build around it. Stephen Strasburg can lead the offense, and Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon can combine with Ryan Zimmerman to form a more than formidable middle of the lineup. If they can fill in the pieces around those players, the NL East is going to become very competitive very soon.

Come back tomorrow for Q, a reliever that’s fond of the Flying V.

Casey Kelly, RHP, San Diego Padres (2011: AA San Antonio)

Coming out of high school, Kelly had the opportunity to play Quarterback at Tennessee, and the Volunteers probably could’ve used him. He fell to the Red Sox at the end of the first round in 2008 because of his large bonus demands, and he also wanted to play every day instead of pitch. The Red Sox accommodated his wishes, and he didn’t have success at the plate. He played in 36 games in his pro debut, splitting time between the Gulf Coast League and New York Penn League. He hit just .215 between the two levels with a .255 OBP.

The Red Sox wanted him to pitch though. In 2009, Kelly started on the mound in the South Atlantic League. In 48.1 innings, he proved why he was considered such a polished high school pitcher from the previous draft. He posted outstanding stats across the board: 1.12 ERA, .85 WHIP and a 4.33 K:BB ratio. He was promoted to the Carolina League and posted similar numbers in 46.2 IP. Kelly still wanted to hit though, so he did just that for the second half of the season. The Red Sox were able to limit his innings, and Kelly was able to realize what Boston did all along: he needed to focus on pitching.

That’s exactly what he did in 2010, and it didn’t go so well. Even though he only had 95 innings of pro experience, he pitched in AA at 20 years old. A lingering finger injury and mechanical difficulties led to a rough season for Kelly. His ERA finished at 5.31 and his WHIP at 1.61 in 95 innings. His BB/9 jumped to 3.3 which is still better than average, but he’s expected to have better command than that. His hit rate jumped through the roof, but he did post the best K/9 of his career.

Despite the down season, Kelly was still highly regarded in prospect circles. He was the centerpiece of the big trade that sent slugger Adrian Gonzalez to Boston. His style fits Petco Park well and if he continues developing, it’ll allow him to put up better numbers than he would in other environments. He has to make it there first, and he still has a lot of development to do. He was expected to start the season in AAA Tucson, but the Padres held him back at AA San Antonio.

It wasn’t expected to be easy. Even though he had spent the previous season at AA, there were still some factors working against Kelly. His career high in innings was still only 95, he battled injuries in his first full season of pitching, and it’s never easy to pitch in the Texas League as he would be doing. He ended up showing a lot of improvement. His hit and walk rates both showed improvement, but his strikeout rated dipped into dangerous territory. It appears that Kelly may not have the stuff to pitch at the top of a rotation, but again, he’s young and has plenty of time to make improvements.

He has the potential for three above average to plus pitches with his fastball, changeup and curveball. His fastball has gained velocity in recent seasons, and it has nice movement. His changeup is his second best pitch, and his curve has made strides. If he continues to smooth out his mechanics, his command will remain above average, and he should be able to reach his ceiling of a #3 or maybe even #2 starter. He still has an athletic, projectable frame and could see his stuff continue to improve.

Kelly fits in near the top of a Padres system with great depth with a number of players that don’t have star potential. Over the summer, San Diego added two more pitchers with nice command that will fit in well at Petco Park, Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland. In the brief regime of Jed Hoyer, they pumped more money into amateur players to add more talent. Josh Byrnes will need to keep that up. It’s a system that’s actually a bit reminiscent to Cleveland’s last year with a lot of good and very good prospects but probably no stars. I’m sure the Padres would love to produce a Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall in one year but maybe do without trading a Drew Pomeranz or Alex White.

Tomorrow’s Prospect A-Z will be one of the following players: a Rays shortstop who missed some time in 2011 with chicken pox, the first Italian born player to ever play in the majors or a young catcher who made an impact in a brief time for Boston.

Harper has been drafted three times, twice by the Nationals and once by the Cubs, and has also pitched at three different colleges. After not signing with Washington out of high school, he pitched a year at Cal State Northridge before transferring. When Washington drafted Harper again in the 2011 draft, it was from the College World Series champion South Carolina Gamecocks. He played a minor role, but he was still a part of something special.

It was that season between CS Northridge and South Carolina that people will remember though. He pitched for a junior college called the College of Southern Nevada. His velocity increased to sit around 88-91 and improved his stock after a season at Northridge that didn’t go well at all. Thanks to his dominant pitching, Southern Nevada was able to advance to the Junior College World Series, and scouts were able to spot his younger brother Bryce Harper, a decent prospect in his own right. With his size, competitiveness and improving fastball and mechanics, it’s easy to see why teams would be interested. What happened to the other players drafted from his College of Southern Nevada team?

Bryce Harper, Washington- Okay, okay. The last two prospects were a gag not funny to anyone besides myself. Harper beat all expectations in his first year, continuing to prove he has transcendental talent. He’s now on track to make his major league debut at some point in 2012 despite some struggles at AA in 2011.

Donn Roach, Anaheim- Roach was the second CSN pick to go off the board in 2010, and he had a solid season in relief for Anaheim’s low-A affiliate. He struck out nearly a batter per inning. He struck out nearly a batter per inning, and he had a very good K:BB ratio of 3.40.

Kenneth McDowall, New York Mets- McDowall was taken in the 8th round by the Mets but didn’t pitch until 2011. Even then, he only pitched 20 innings combined between two Mets short season affiliates this year. He only allowed 21 baserunners in 20 innings, but when nine of them were walks, it’s clear he needs to improve his command.

Aaron Kurcz, Chicago Cubs- Statistically, Kurcz appears to be one of the steals of the 2010 draft, but we all know there’s more to prospects than stats. He showed a potential three pitch mix with a fastball that can get into mid 90′s, a breaking ball and a changeup, but due to his frame, he could end up as a reliever long term. He skipped right over low-A to the Florida State League where he struck out over a batter an inning. If he becomes a reliever permanently, he could join the Cubs at some point in 2012.

Chasen Shreve, Atlanta- Atlanta has scouted the Nevada area heavily in recent years, drafting Chasen’s older brother Colby, now a Phillies prospect. Chasen had an okay year in low-A, striking out nearly one batter per inning, but he allowed too many baserunners. Opponents batted over .280 against him, and relievers can’t succeed allowing that many batters to reach. His strikeout and groundball rates were promising though.

Tyler Hanks, Washington- In his milb.com biography, it says that Hanks played on Bryce Harper’s team which probably doesn’t say much about him. He pitched 24.2 IP this year between three different levels, and he didn’t have much success at all in a small sample size in a full season league. He allowed 20 baserunners in just eight innings in low-A, but he was effective in his short season appearances.

Jordan Keegan, Chicago White Sox- Keegan has spent consecutive seasons in the Appy League, and unfortunately for him declined in his second season. He’s been patient and able to take walks, but his batting average is low and hasn’t hit for any power.

Joe Robinson, UNLV- Robinson did not sign with the Orioles, instead he transferred to UNLV. He was drafted again in 2011, this time by the Dodgers, and again did not sign. He was very ineffective in 2011 with a dismal K:BB ratio dangerously close to 1.00. He’ll try one more time to improve his stock.

That’s a lot of talent for a junior college team. Although Bryan Harper would be in professional baseball even without the aid of everyone coming to see his brother, it’s not uncommon for teams to acquire brothers to improve morale from talented picks.

Joe Mauer‘s brothers Jake and Bill- Joe was the #1 overall pick of the 2011 draft which was controversial at the time because the Twins passed on college ace Mark Prior. Mauer was from Minnesota and was going to have an easier negotiation. He became the All-Star people expected, but his brothers weren’t quite as productive. Jake was drafted in the 23rd round and spent nearly five seasons as an infielder in Minnesota’s system. After his playing career, he began his career as a Twins managerial prospect. In 2003, Bill Mauer was signed as an undrafted free agent who pitched 64 innings across four seasons in the minors.

Gavin Floyd‘s brother Michael- In 2001, the Phillies decided to go after Gavin Floyd at the top of the draft, knowing he would be difficult to sign. Negotiations came down to the wire, and they got their man. His older brother Michael was drafted in the 22nd round that draft but never advanced above high-A. He showed some power and patience though, but he was always old for his level.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia‘s brother Justin- Saltalamacchia was a highly touted catching prospect when the Braves drafted him in the first round in 2003. It didn’t take him long to reach the majors, and by 2007 he reached Atlanta and was then traded. Justin played for UNC Greensboro and was signed as an undrafted free agent. He only played in a handful of games that year before he was out of pro baseball.

Tim Beckham‘s brother Jeremy- Like Mauer, Tim Beckham was the first overall pick in his draft. He wasn’t considered a difficult sign, and his selection has been controversial in the Rays’ internet community since. 16 rounds later, they drafted his brother Jeremy from Georgia Southern. He spent a year and a half in the lower levels of Tampa Bay’s system but was released after not hitting particularly well.

That’s it for this week. Enjoy Thanksgiving and come back Monday for the continuation of Prospect A-Z. Will it be an A-ball slugger or a slick fielding Cuban import? What kind of name is Gac anyway?

Bauer entered the 2011 season at UCLA as one of the nation’s top starters. In his freshman and sophomore seasons, his ERA hovered around 3.00 on a staff with another standout, Gerrit Cole. In 2010, he was a key factor in UCLA winning their first game in the College World Series ever and advancing to the final series before losing to now back-to-back champion South Carolina. Despite the accolades and statistics, he wasn’t considered to be a top pick before the 2011 season. He was seen as a mid-first rounder to sandwich round guy, but that all changed.

After 2010, Bauer’s stuff showed improvement, and in the end that reflected in his junior season numbers. His ERA dropped to a minuscule 1.25, and his WHIP was well below 1.00. He struck out an absurd 203 batters in 136.2 IP, five more innings than last year despite having two fewer starts. 10 of his 16 starts were complete games which became very controversial. Why would UCLA have him pitch a full nine innings in blowout wins against inferior opponents? College coaches have no obligation to players with great pro potential, but it would still make sense to preserve him for the entire season. However, Bauer is different.

He takes a more cerebral approach to pitching than most and really studies his craft. From his research in mechanics to extensive, unusual pregame warmup routines that have him long tossing from foul pole to foul pole, Bauer is determined to get the absolute most out of his body and stuff. This should lead to durability not often seen in pitchers now even though he’s smaller than most of his contemporaries. If anyone at the collegiate level could handle Bauer’s workload, it’s Bauer.

Many comparisons between prospects and current major leaguers are lazy or inaccurate, and it’s likely that comparing Bauer to Tim Lincecum is both. They’re both small righties from the Pac-10, and they each take unique approaches to pitching compared to their peers. One interesting parallel was their draft stock. Teams regret passing on Lincecum because of perceived red flags at the time- his max effort delivery and small stature. It would be fair to have the same concerns about Bauer, but maybe teams wouldn’t want to make that same mistake again. With his low 90′s fastball and a wide array of offspeed pitches highlighted by a plus curveball, teams couldn’t afford to make that mistake again.

Thanks to his complete dominance, Bauer was awarded the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the best amateur baseball player in the United States. The last five winners, Tim Lincecum, David Price, Buster Posey, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper tell you all you need to know about the prestige of this award. With his improved stuff and dominating statistics, the Diamondbacks made him the third overall pick in the draft, just two picks after teammate Gerrit Cole was drafted by Pittsburgh. In an era of nearly every draft pick getting a seven figure bonus having to wait until midnight on August 15th to sign, Arizona was able to secure Bauer and get him out pitching early, perhaps selling the league on the possibility of him helping the team’s playoff hunt.

Bauer ultimately didn’t reach the majors, but he did make it to AA to help Mobile win the Southern League. His time in the Southern League didn’t go particularly well, but with both Visalia and Mobile, he posted great strikeout numbers. His command wasn’t as good as it was as an amateur, and in a small sample size of innings, it can be attributed to nerves and just starting out in pro ball. He’s a pitcher that loves striking batters out, and with 43 in 26 pro innings, that’s easy to see. However, to have success, he won’t be able to bounce as many curveballs and changeups in front of the plate to strike out every batter. As smart as Bauer is, he’ll be able to make the adjustments.

It’s not difficult to imagine Bauer highlighting Arizona’s rotation very soon, and it’s not difficult to imagine him making his big league debut in 2012. He should start out in Mobile or AAA Reno, and he could finish the year in Arizona either in the rotation or out of the bullpen to limit his innings. With fellow prospects Tyler Skaggs and Jarrod Parker on the way in addition to Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson already in the majors, the Diamondbacks should be considered a team on the rise.

Check out tomorrow’s post to read about the hottest name in baseball circles right now. His core strength cannot be questioned.

This was a great day for the Phillies. Chase Utley made his return to the lineup after missing nearly two months with a knee injury. They scored 10 runs that night, and they beat the Reds for their 29th win of the season, on their way to what could be the best season in franchise history. For most in the baseball world, it was just another day. For Joe Savery, it might be the day that saved his career.

The Clearwater Threshers were in Jupiter to take on the Hammerheads, Florida’s high-A affiliate. It was a pretty ordinary minor league game attended by 330. Clearwater scored in the top of the third on a Brian Gump double, and Jupiter tied it at one in the bottom of the 6th on a Dallas Poulke single. Low scoring games are common in the Florida State League thanks to the heavy air, but this one was a bit extreme. Jupiter’s 6th inning run would be the last one scored until 17 innings later when they won it in the bottom of the 23rd.

Joe Savery began that game as the DH. This was his first season as a position player in the organization. As an amateur at Lamar High School and Rice University, he was seen as a potential pro as a hitter. He played outfield in high school, but he moved to first base at Rice, likely since it would be less stressful in his arm. Playing both ways for the Owls, he was a star from the moment he stepped on campus. During his three year career, he was named to the first and second All-American teams once, and in 2007 he was a Golden Spikes semi-finalist, the award for best amateur baseball player in the country.

Savery was assigned to Clearwater to start his career over as a position player. In limited at bats at higher levels, he was able to hit well, but in high-A, he could get off to a good start and build up some confidence. That proved to be exactly what he did. He hit .450 in April, and even though he didn’t hit for much power, it’s still very impressive. Hitting professional pitching is hard, even for the people whose lives are focused on it. Savery stepped in after not being a regular hitter for three seasons and made it look easy.

Minor league pitchers’ workloads are closely monitored, even for the non-prospects. In extra inning games like this, some pitchers need to be stretched to or beyond their limits. Only half the bullpen might be available on any particular night, and teams don’t plan for games to last as long as this one did. Three Threshers relievers pitched three or more innings, and around the 18th inning, Clearwater was getting desperate.

Of course their DH that night was drafted in the first round as a pitcher, but obviously his career wasn’t going so well, or he wouldn’t be hitting. His pro debut wiT. Williamsport in 2007 was okay; his ERA was 2.73 in 26.1 innings, and his peripherals were okay although he walked too many batters. He reported to the Arizona Fall League that year and struggled, but that’s not uncommon for pitchers, especially those so new to professional baseball.

The first warning signs came the next year in his full season debut with Clearwater. At 22 years old and coming from a big college program, Savery should have pitched well. Instead, his strikeout rate dipped a little to 7.3 per 9 innings, and his hit rate shot up to over 10 per 9. His walk rate improved, but he was left with a 4.13 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. It was too soon to call him a bust, but he would have to improve at higher levels if he was going to become the pitcher the Phillies thought they were drafting.

Instead, as he rose towards the majors, his statistics went the wrong way. Despite a 12-4 record for Reading in 2009, he really didn’t pitch very well. His strikeout rate continued to decline while he struggled with allowing too many baserunners. After an Eastern League All-Star appearance, he was promoted to Lehigh Valley where he predictably struggled. In 2010, he would spend a full season with the IronPigs. If Savery wasn’t as good as his 12-4 record in 2009 suggested, he probably wasn’t as bad as his woeful 1-12 record in 2010 showed. The Phillies moved him to the bullpen late in the year, but it didn’t help. The rule 5 draft went without him being selected, and they decided that Savery should try hitting to salvage his career.

So Savery would come in to pitch in the 19th inning. Position players pitching in minor league games like this isn’t uncommon, but he was different since he was now eight weeks into his hitting career. It turned out to be his night. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Another position player, Darin Ruf, pitched after Savery, and he was pretty effective too. Savery would finish the game at first base.

What was most remarkable about his outing that night wasn’t that he pitched, but how he pitched. It was reported that his fastball was touching 92-93, unheard of from Savery in previous seasons. His stuff had deteriorated badly as a Phillies prospect. His fastball was well below average, sitting in the mid 80′s, and he simply couldn’t miss any at bats. That’s a far cry from the pitcher he was at Rice.

Rice is a great college baseball program, but they have a reputation for overworking pitchers. From Jeff Niemann and Phil Humber who had injuries reduce their stuff to Wade Townsend whose career was completely derailed, the list goes on and on. Rice pitchers get injured, and Savery was no exception. He was second in the WAC in innings in his freshman year, and the next year he dealt with a serious shoulder injury that limited him on the mound. His strikeout rate declined post-injury, but the Phillies hoped he could gain it back. Until 2011, he didn’t.

In June, he was promoted back to Reading. For the first week or so, he continued to bat. However, after his great month of April, he wasn’t particularly good at the plate. Even going back to May with Clearwater, he still wasn’t hitting for much power, and the balls just weren’t dropping in for him. On June 27th, he took to the mound for Reading in a more conventional fashion. It was revealed that the Phillies planned to have him pitch in relief twice a week and have him hit in the others.

The strikeouts and scoreless innings piled up for Savery. His velocity and stuff were much closer to what they were in his amateur days. In six appearances with Reading, he struck out 14 batters in nine innings and only allowed one run. He was back on the map as a pitcher. The Phillies certainly took notice, and his role shifted back entirely to pitching. He was promoted to Lehigh Valley, and he continued to pitch well. In 25 innings, he struck out 26 batters and allowed five earned runs on 23 hits and six walks. Unlike previous years, he showed a split against lefties that showed he could be effective as a lefty specialist, but he was successful against righties too.

On September 17th after the IronPigs lost the International League Championship to Columbus, Savery was added to the Phillies’ 40 man roster and promoted to the majors. In four brief appearances in the majors, Savery impressed. He only allowed one hit and struck out two in 2.2 innings, and the Phillies will send him to the Instructional League to stay warm in case he’s needed later in the postseason. This is a completely different position compared to where he was at this point last season, thanks to the Phillies’ patience and Savery’s hard work, and it might’ve all started on May 23, 2011.

Photo: MILB

Chris “Monkey Boy” Ames was performing at the Saturday game, which the Silver Knights won to clinch a spot in the first Future Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.

After a few minutes of Ames’ hopping, gyrating, pseudo-stripping performance that took him in front of the stands behind home plate, a young man wearing a purple T-shirt, shorts and a white baseball hat on backward flew into the frame from the right, grabbed Monkey Boy around the neck and threw him to the ground before fleeing back toward the Sharks dugout along the third-base line.

Monkey Boy appeared shaken, holding his head and stumbling slightly as he got to his feet, then looked and gestured toward the Sharks dugout before deciding to make the best of it, jogging off the field and waving to the booing crowd.

That’s crazy. As noted in the story, it sounds sort of funny – haha, Monkey Boy got tackled, LOLZ – until you actually see it. I mean, he got taken down hard, especially when you factor in that he clearly wasn’t expecting it. Unless it was part of the act, of course, in which case I must commend Ames for taking a big league bump in the name of entertainment.

If it was for real, I’m curious what this kid was thinking. There is no tunnel connecting the visiting dugout to the locker room at Holman Stadium, which means he would’ve had to “escape” by a) running past the dugout, up a few steps, and either into the crowd or up a hill toward the locker room, or b) heading into the dugout and trying to blend in. However you look at it, he didn’t have a real clear exit strategy.

Photo: Nashua Telegraph

Intentional walks became a huge part of Luray’s strategy on Sunday night, but it was one that they didn’t issue that could’ve cost them the game and ended their playoff hopes.

Harrisonburg won this wild back and forth contest 8-7 in 13 innings when Blake Austin singled to center field, scoring Dodson McPherson. After intentionally walking three batters, including one earlier in this inning, Luray opted to not issue a free pass to Austin despite pitcher Dominic Sgroi being on deck. Sgroi has no at bats this season and didn’t have any for La Salle in the spring, and if teammate Pat Christensen’s at bat earlier in the game was any indication, a likely out. The Valley Baseball League uses the DH, but due to starting catcher Eric Mason’s ejection and pinch hitting for his replacement Lazaro Torres, Austin had to move from DH to behind the plate, and when the DH takes the field, the pitcher is inserted into the batting order.

For much of the second half of the game, the umpires took center stage. Five players and coaches were ejected in a heated game with controversial calls and a disputed strike zone. Players and coaches from both sides had issues with the strike zone all night, and arguing balls and strikes resulted in the ejections of two players and a Harrisonburg coach. Two more came in the bottom of the 8th after Harrisonburg tied the game at 6. Leadoff hitter Jay Gonzalez singled to left and stole second in the following at bat. The throw appeared to beat Gonzalez to the bag, but he was called safe. After Sam Dove delivered a run scoring single, right fielder Trey Blackman was ejected by the field umpire for disputing the previous safe call from the outfield. A Luray coach soon followed for defending his player in a lengthy argument.

Luray had taken their first lead of the game an inning earlier in the top of the 7th. Joseph Charest replaced starter Justin Van Grouw and allowed a leadoff double to Luray leadoff hitter Pablo Bermudez. One batter later, Mitchel Brennan, who replaced Dale Carey who had to leave the game after being hit by a pitch in the leg, hit a towering drive over the right field fence in his first at bat. That erased Harrisonburg’s 5-4 lead, and it was the only home run of the game.

Prior to that, Harrisonburg led nearly the entire game. After an unproductive top of the first by Luray, Harrisonburg scored two in their first at bat. The first three batters reached base on a Gonzalez single, an error by Mike Martinez and a Dove single. With the bases loaded, Dodson McPherson grounded out to score Gonzalez, and Brock Green followed on a sac fly to score R.J. Perucki.

In the top of the 4th, Luray finally got to Van Grouw. After a Mark Jones leadoff walk and Orlando Olivera strikeout, Trey Blackman and Mike Martinez reached base to load the bases. Like Harrisonburg’s first inning, Luray got on the board with a fielder’s choice groundout. Harrisonburg was unable to turn the double play on a Ryan Retz grounder to second, and catcher Corey Janson followed him with a single to left to tie the game.

The game wouldn’t remain tied for long. In the bottom half of the inning, Andrew Armstrong continued to struggle. After getting leadoff hitter Chris Marconcini to pop out in foul territory, Blake Austin and Eric Mason hit back to back singles to center. Casey Goss laid down a bunt to move both runners into scoring position, and Jay Gonzalez hit a double down the left field line to score both. R.J. Perucki walked, and Sam Dove singled into left to score Gonzalez.

Luray battled back in the next half inning, reducing the Harrisonburg lead back to one run. With one out, Dale Carey was hit by a pitch for the second time and removed from the game due to injury. Mark Jones and Orlando Olivera each hit singles, and Brennan, Carey’s replacement, came around to score. Jones then scored when Trey Blackman grounded into a fielder’s choice when Harrisonburg couldn’t turn the double play.

In the 10th inning, each team scored a run. Pat Christensen relieved Julio Felix for Harrisonburg after Felix did a great job shutting down Luray for 1.2 innings to cool their momentum. With one out, Ryan Retz struck out on a wild pitch in the dirt. After reaching base, a groundout by Iosmel Leon moved him to second. Infielder Michael Broad singled him home, but the Luray lead didn’t last long. Harrisonburg tied the game with a two out rally after Casey Goss bunted for a single and was caught stealing during the next at bat. R.J. Perucki singled to keep the game alive, and Sam Dove hit a double into the right field corner to tie the game.

Sam Dove and Nick Gonzalez each had four hit games for Harrisonburg. Gonzalez scored three times, and R.J. Perucki scored twice. Dove led both teams with three RBI, and Gonzalez had two. Dodson McPherson and Blake Austin each reached base four times, as did Pablo Bermudez and Ryan Retz of Luray. Mitchel Brennan had two RBI and two runs scored, and Mark Jones also scored twice. Luray starter Anthony Armstrong allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and three walks while striking out five in five innings. His counterpart Justin Van Grouw allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out three in six innings. Dominic Sgroi got the win after striking out one and allowing a hit in the 13th. Jake Dyer took the loss with the winning run allowed on two hits and two walks in 1.2 IP with one strikeout.