2009 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[Michael Bradley]

Castro had another strong outing today for New Hampshire. 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K. His ERA dropped to 0.83 on the season (21.2 innings, 24/3 strikeout to walk ratio, 0 HR allowed). He already has MLB experience, so I would not be surprised if they promote him straight from AA to the Majors at some point this year. Good idea to avoid Las Vegas for any pitching prospect.

[evilRyu]

It seems like most of our prospects disappoint one way or another in the minor leagues but step it up when they get called up. I don't know if that's saying something about our farm system or the abilities of our pitching staff here with the Jays but i have high hopes for a guy like Cecil regardless of what his numbers look like.

maybe it's the coaching? We heard endless praise for Arnsberg to help out Ricky Romero...

[Garmfay]

Today:
Perez 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 5SO

Collins 3IP 0H 1R 0ER 3BB 6SO
26SO in 14IP

Tim Collins looks like a stud

[TorontoSF]

First game back for Janssen, he went 4 innings gave up 2 hits, 2 walks and struck out 3. Hopefully we can get him back in a couple of weeks after some minor league starts, but its a nice start.

Keep in mind he was on a pitch count, but I can't find how many pitches he threw.

[Schad]

Rzepetc. is very much back on track...still far too many walks, but his K rate and GB:FB are surreal.

[Modern_epic]

Dear Mark Rzepmahmoudahmadadczynski,

I apologize for the fact I look forward to your days in the majors far more for the ways people will pronounce and spell your name than for your pitching ability. I hope that's great too, but it won't hold a candle to people butchering your name.

Sincerely,
M_E

[Schad]

Dear Mark Rzepmahmoudahmadadczynski,

I apologize for the fact I look forward to your days in the majors far more for the ways people will pronounce and spell your name than for your pitching ability. I hope that's great too, but it won't hold a candle to people butchering your name.

Sincerely,
M_E

Funny thing is that it's easy to pronounce, but looks like something you'd see on the side of a fridge.

[Holmes]

How soon until a Wade Miller bandwagon?

[Schad]

How soon until a Wade Miller bandwagon?

About ten days before the Chris Michalak bandwagon.

[Holmes]

Maybe Michalak can bring along Joey Hamilton and Steve Parris as well.

[Schad]

Maybe Michalak can bring along Joey Hamilton and Steve Parris as well.

John Wasdin just checked his voicemail for the fourth time today.

Fun John Wasdin fact of the day: he faced 3475 batters, and gave up 135 HRs, or one every 25.7 plate appearances. The major league average last year was 1 per 38.5 PAs. The mere sight of John Wasdin made hitters 50% more powerful, yet seven teams thought it seemed like a good idea to run him out there.

[Mustard_Tiger]

Way Back....Wasdin.

[Michael Bradley]

Janssen had his 2nd rehab start for Dunedin. 4 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 strike outs (6:3 groundball to flyball ratio).

Hopefully he can help the MLB club soon.

[Schad]

A day late, but I thought I'd do a quick round-up of Jays prospects through the first month. I might do this on a monthly basis going forward, but then again I won't. Here's an update for Las Vegas and New Hampshire, with Dunedin and Lansing to follow shortly.

AAA

Brad Mills, 24, LHSP: 0-2, 4.71 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 0.83 K:BB, 1.00 GB:FB, 22 IP.

For Mills, the concern is in his weak peripherals...very few strikeouts against too many walks, and a tendency to pitch to fly balls. He has worked into the sixth inning in three consecutive starts, though, and has improved after a poor first start.

Brett Cecil, 22, LHSP: 0-3, 8.31 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 4.7 K/9, 1.1 K:BB, 2.08 GB:FB, 17.3 IP.

Cecil has struggled, but he has also been hugely unlucky...giving up 16 earned runs in 17.3 innings without a single home run suggests that he hasn't been half as bad as his numbers would appear. Like Mills, the K and BB numbers aren't where you'd like them. No matter, though; he'll get at least one chance to prove himself with the big club before returning to the bandbox in Las Vegas.

J.P. Arencibia, 23, C: .239/.280/.408, 1 HR, 10 RBI.

Despite hitting only one home run (in his last game), he's showing a fair amount of power, with over half of his hits going for extra bases. The average will climb, no doubt, but his continued inability to draw walks is more than a little worrying.

Scott Campbell, 24, 2B/3B: .237/.310/.276, 0 HR, 5 RBI.

Whether it's the move to third or his adjustment to AAA, Campbell has struggled. The power offered the possibility that he could play 3rd in the majors has thus far been absent, though he has also been very unlucky, sporting a .253 average on balls in play.

Fabio Castro, 24, LHSP: 1.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 4.8 K:BB, 0.60 GB:FB, 27 IP.

Castro has suddenly established himself as a likely candidate for a call-up, should a starting spot become available. With 30 big-league appearances to his credit, he might not truly be a prospect, though his previous major league experience came almost exclusively out of the 'pen. His ground-to-fly ratio is the only weak spot in those numbers, though when you're otherwise demolishing hitters and none of them get out of the park (0 HR allowed thus far), life is good.


AA

Brad Emaus, 23, 2B: .291/.361/.430, 1 HR, 16 RBI.

Though he has cooled off a tad, Emaus is still hitting well and proving to be extremely tough to strike out. He hasn't hit for extra bases of late, which will probably determine whether he'll be the next guy to try his hand at third base.

David Cooper, 22, 1B: .247/.333/.346, 1 HR, 5 RBI.

Not a great start by any means, and like Emaus he hasn't shown much by way of power. Not a huge shock there; the jump to AA is the biggest in the minors, and it bears repeating that he is less than a year clear of the college ranks.

Brian Dopirak, 25, 1B: .330/.368/.580, 5 HR, 16 RBI.

Dopirak bears watching...a former top prospect with the Cubs, he has previously struggled above high-A. He's mashing now, though, and if he keeps it up he have a shot to be Overbay's immediate successor, if Cooper is not ready.

Reider Gonzalez, 23, RHSP: 1-0, 1.39 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 1.68 GB:FB, 2.9 K:BB, 32.3 IP.

A pitch-to-contact type of guy, Gonzalez is building on a very solid 2008 in Dunedin. Remains to be seen what his ticket to the bigs might be, but he has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the farm system early.

Mark Rzepczynski, 23, LHSP: 4-1, 3.65 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, 2.1 K:BB, 3.6 GB:FB, 24.6 IP.

He has looked good...with one glaring flaw. He has walked 3+ batters in every start thus far, and as he hasn't lasted past the sixth yet, that ain't good. On the bright side, Zip strikes out a tonne of hitters, and those who make contact ground out weakly.

[MjJunkYard]

Thanks Schadenfreude! Great info, I would appreciate monthly updates, hopefully you can continue with the informative piece.

[evilRyu]

I'm quite intrigued with Arencibia. When can we expect to see him as the regular starting C for the Jays? I do'nt really like the average, hopefully that goes up a bit.

[Hendrix]

Thanks Schad. Any chance oyu could add Tim Collins in next time around? I'm intrigued by him.

[Holmes]

Arencibia really needs to improve that BB/K rate. The numbers are suggesting its getting worse at every level. The guy has power but if he doesn't improve that ratio he's going to be an out machine in the majors like Delmon Young.

[Raider917]

Purcey is throwing a no hitter in las vegas through 6 innings

[oomalay]

Purcey is throwing a no hitter in las vegas through 6 innings

Finished with 5 walks though