2010 Affiliate Rosters

[marty22]

Bored in class today, I tried to figure out what next year's minor league rosters will look like. There are a few interesting logjams and position choices, and I thought it would be a good way to distract us from the big league crew. I'm sure I'm way off on some of this, but I figured I'd give it a shot and let you guys fill in the blanks; there will be a lot of blanks, as I'm not very familiar with the non-prospect filler in the system.

 

Nashville

C-Lucroy/Salome (I think they'll put both at AAA and try and keep them both in the lineup as much as possible thru DH and 1B)

1B-Koshansky

2B-Justis

3B-Gamel (if not MLB)

SS-

LF-Drew Anderson

CF-

RF-Katin

 

SP1-Mike Jones

SP2-Butler

SP3-Dillard

SP4-Burns

SP5-Cody

RP-Smith

RP-Axford

RP-Houston

RP-Braddock (I wish they'd let him start in AA, but maybe they know something we don't)

 

HUNTSVILLE

C-Corporan

1B-Wilson

2B-**LAWRIE or FARRIS?** - I was really unsure what they'll do here. Doubt they send Lawrie back down, but they have to move Farris up, right? I'm not aware of Farris being able to play any other position.

3B-Green

SS-Wheeler or Brewer?

LF-Gindl

CF-Schafer

RF-Cain -- Really interesting here...3 guys who can play any OF position, Cain and Schafer natural CF's and Gindl has more value as CF.

 

SP1-Rogers

SP2-Rivas

SP3-Anundsen

SP4-Kintzler

SP5-Bowman

Swingmen-Holliman/Hand

RP-Ritchie

RP-Aguilar

 

I thought about Scarpetta here, but figured they'd start him and Peralta at A+ with an eye towards a quick move up if warranted.

 

BREVARD COUNTY-I'm really not sure here, no one from WI really warranted a jump

C-Kemp

1B-Kjeldgaard (sp?)

2B-

3B-

SS-

LF-

CF-

RF-Komatsu

 

SP1-Scarpetta

SP2-Peralta

SP3-Watten

SP4-Arnett

 

 

WISCONSIN

C-Garfield/Roberts

1B-Halton

2B-Dykstra

3B-

SS-Prince

LF-

CF-Kentrail Davis

RF-Dennis

 

SP1-Odorizzi

SP2-Del Howell

SP3-Heckathorn

SP4-Bucci

SP5-Lasker

 

 

The interesting ones to watch, for me, are the Farris/Lawrie placement, the FO's treatment of Brent Brewer, and Arnett's placement. I sure hope they let Howell start at A-Wisconsin; I would think they would but I haven't followed the minors long enough to know how that works. Also, what do you guys think they'll do with D'Vontrey Richardson, Brooks Hall and Scooter Gennett? Instrux league and then Helena?

[colbyjack]

2B-**LAWRIE or FARRIS?** - I was really unsure what they'll do here. Doubt they send Lawrie back down, but they have to move Farris up, right? I'm not aware of Farris being able to play any other position.

 

I'm not going to comment on your projections at this point in time (other than that I would be somewhat surprised to see Arnett skipped over low-A), but this is really going to be an interesting situation to follow into next spring. As you already noted, Lawrie can't go back down, right? And there's no way Farris doesn't move up, unless they bump him to AAA. The only other situation that I can think of with the two playing on the same team (with Lawrie sticking at 2B) is that Farris could move to SS to increase his value as a potential future utility player. He has played SS in the past, and while 2B is clearly his best position, increasing his versatility could be huge for both Farris and the Brewers, even if he's only asked to play there in a pinch moving forward.

 

Unless the Brewers think they have Albert Pujols on their hands with Lawrie and have him open next year in Milwaukee...

 

As someone else mentioned on another thread, how Schafer and Cain are handled at the AA level is also an interesting situation to follow. You have to believe the team would like to keep both in CF, and I'm guessing one is going to be in AAA to open the 2010 season. I wouldn't be surprised if that player were Schafer, even if he is a level behind Cain at this point in time. However, another big fall in Arizona could turn us all around once again.

[marty22]

Colby, I was thinking they should try Farris at SS, too, as he obviously gains a ton of value if he's a capable SS. After being named best defensive 2B in the FSL (i think-correct me if i'm wrong), you'd think it would be worth a try. You're probably right about Arnett not skipping Wisconsin; like I said I'm not very familiar with promotions and placement as I've only followed the minors for 2 or 3 years. However, I would be surprised if Schafer skips AA altogether (apart from his 2 weeks there this year), just because I've always heard the A+ to AA jump is the toughest apart from AAA to MLB.

[Teatoe993]

I'd send Lawrie to Brevard County to start 2010. He did OK in Appleton and finished strong towards the end of his stint there. But he really never dominated at all. I do have to remember how young he is because he does look so mature out there. And he didn't do anything in his short stint in Huntsville. If he rakes immediately, or Weeks struggles/gets hurt again, then I'd put Brett on a faster track. But until then I'd prefer to keep the development slow but steady with Lawrie and stick him in A+.

Kemp deserves a promotion to A+ as does probably Kjeldgaard who finished really strong.

I'd keep Komatsu in Appleton because he never had the chance to do anything due to injury. I'd also like to Arnett start there as well.

[wibadgers23]

Wisconsin's pitching staff is going to be loaded, but I would also have Arnett start the season there. If he starts out hot, I would bump him up quickly along with Heckathorn if he is off to a good start too. The Schafer/Cain situation is going to be really interesting. I think ultimately Cain will end up playing CF in Nashville to open the season with Schafer in Huntsville. I agree with Colby in that they probably want both to stay in CF. The SS/3B/2B situation in Huntsville will also be interesting. You have Lawrie, Brewer, Wheeler, and possibly Taylor Green all vying for a spot in there somewhere. Who knows what they're going to do with Brewer.

[nate82]

Scarpetta should start in A+ to start the year but should be moving up quickly with Rogers being in AAA by midseason the latest. Lawrie is definitely going to be starting in AA at 2B so Farris will either be at A+ at 2B or playing a UTIL role in AA.

 

As for Cain and Schafer I believe Cain will be the starting CF for Nashville and Schafer will be the starting CF for Huntsville. Brewer will probably be in A+ to start the year and he will be given the chance to move up to AA.

[DHonks]

I can't see Cain in AAA next year in April. I would think Schafer would play CF in Huntsville primarily, with Cain returning to his natural position of RF. However, they'll likely rotate all three (with Gindl) into CF, LF, and RF to increase versatility should they be needed in the big leagues.

[dadofandrew]

Lawrie did almost as well in low A as Adam Jones did a few years ago...that's all-star Adam Jones. I have no idea where Lawrie will be, but Farris will not be a consideration in where Brett ends up. Top prospects go where the organization wants them, and organizational soldiers do not stand in their way. It's not always fair, but that's the way it is.

 

I would guess Huntsville myself.

[marty22]

Where do people think Arnett ends up next year? I remember reading somewhere (I think just a blurb on Rotoworld) that he could make the Majors by the end of this year. I think that's really over-aggressive, but it's at least exciting to hear that. I'm just curious to hear what people think, Wisconsin or Brevard County. I think I'd personally start him at Wisconsin with an eye to move him up very quickly to keep him challenged, but the organization doesn't seem too keen on moving prospects mid-year. That may just be my mis-observation since I've only followed the minors for about 2 years, but it seems like Gindl or Schafer could've been moved up earlier last year, for example.