Link Report for Tuesday 4/2 - Huntsville's Exhibition Game

[Mass Haas]

As Voice of the Huntsville Stars Alex Cohen just tweeted:

 

You'll be able to hear his call of the Stars tuneup game vs. the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 5:45 PM Central Tuesday night.

 

Listen here

[TheCrew07]

World Baseball Classic: Top 10 Prospects

 

Subscriber piece.

 

8 of the 10 players listed were Cuban and all of the Cubans were position players, scouts don't think there is another Yoenis Cespedes or Yu Darvish in this bunch.

 

The top prospect listed was Masahiro Tanaka a RHP from Japan, some quick notes on him:

...Tanaka, 24, posted a 1.87 ERA with 169 strikeouts and 19 walks in 173 innings last year for Rakuten in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball...

 

...In Fukuoka, his fastball ranged from 88-94 mph, but he was up to 91-96 mph in the second round in Tokyo... He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, but at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds he has a drop-and-drive delivery that causes him to sink on his backside and lose downhill plane on his fastball. That makes the pitch more hittable than the velocity itself would suggest, which is what happened against Brazil.

 

Tanaka has two plus secondary weapons, with his 85-87 mph splitter earning 70 grades at its best from some scouts... ...His 82-85 mph slider is another plus pitch with two-plane break. Tanaka also throws a 71-74 mph curveball early in the count as well...

[TheCrew07]

MiLB.com 2013's Under-the-Radar Prospects

 

A Cubs prospect is the only divisional prospect listed:

 

Midwest League

Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Kane County Cougars: If one checked the final stat lines for Class A Short-Season Boise last year, the numbers from one recent Cubs Draft pick would have immediately jumped off the screen. Sporting a .322/.410/.608 slash line with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in 37 games, this prospect tore through the Northwest League after doing the same to the Rookie-level Arizona League. It was not, however, the line of the obvious choice and 2012 sixth overall selection Albert Almora, but rather Chicago's 2011 second-rounder Dan Vogelbach. With a .322/.410/.641 overall line in 61 games last year, the first baseman may not have Almora's pedigree or positional value, but he showed his bat will make a lot of noise this year in the Midwest League.

[TheCrew07]

This is just an article of note considering the pitching taken at the top of the 2011 draft. Fernandez likely wouldn't have made the roster if the MLB pitching in front of him wasn't hurt, but impressive none the less.

 

Fernandez, Bradley get the call

[TheCrew07]

A very Mehringesque look at the Pirates taking on their Altoona affiliate for a ST game. This blog post reminded me quite a bit of Chris' posting style on his blog which is why I made the comparison. It's very lengthy and full of pictures, but as it's a slow day I admit to reading the whole post.

 

On the Road: We Are Family in Altoona (Part One)

[TheCrew07]

Peralta's worst case brings a tear to my eye.

 

Best/Worst Case: Top prospects in the Show

 

Shelby Miller, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Best Case: MLB.com's No. 25 prospect Shelby Miller not only holds down the fifth spot in the Cards' rotation but starts challenging for second-in-command behind ace Adam Wainwright. And command is the reason: Miller spots his mid-90 mph fastball to both sides of the plate, racking up strikeouts and groundouts with the best of them.

 

Worst Case: The 22-year-old right-hander acts his age, as big leaguers sit on his heater and watch his stagnating off-speed stuff miss the zone. Plus, Miller struggles with the longball -- the 24 he served up in 27 Triple-A starts a year ago prove to be the tip of the iceberg. Before its top pitching prospect can settle down, St. Louis calls on Redbirds options Michael Wacha and John Gast to replace him, potentially living to regret the awkward exit of veteran Kyle Lohse.

 

Trevor Rosenthal, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

Best Case: MLB.com's No. 43 prospect Trevor Rosenthal becomes in the bullpen what Miller becomes in the rotation -- an immediate leader. Rosenthal matches his 2012 results (2.78 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 22 2/3 late-summer innings) and, going above and beyond in the absence of injured closer Jason Motte (strained elbow), takes the reins in the ninth inning. The National League Central's best team also has the division's best young closer -- OK, second-best to Mr. Chapman in Cincinnati.

 

Worst Case: The 22-year-old righty burns out in the bullpen and, with the Cards' rotation still filled to the brim, is sent back to Triple-A Memphis to rebuild his innings count and sharpen his secondary pitchers. Only now that he's been trained physically and mentally to be a reliever, his Wainwright-like transition to a starting role feels a lot like starting from scratch. He falls behind Miller, Wacha and even young Tyrell Jenkins on the prospect totem pole.

 

Wily Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Best Case: MLB.com's No. 64 prospect Wily Peralta, like Miller, is more the pitcher who shined in his big league introduction down the stretch than the one who was chewed up and spit out by the PCL. Peralta deftly controls the movement of his sinking fastball and power curve, giving up the occasional home run by circumstance.

 

Worst Case: The 23-year-old righty walks three or four batters a game -- he issued 78 free passes in 28 outings at Nashville in 2012 -- and he stops pitching to contact, trying to strike out every other batter. His up-and-down success rate is too random for his skipper, and the GM gets the message, calling on Tyler Thornburg as an alternative. And, yeah, that three-year deal with Lohse looks awfully good, as he -- not Peralta -- slots nicely behind Yovani Gallardo on the staff.

[TheCrew07]

I'm not looking forward to Taveras in a St. Louis uniform anytime soon.

 

Prospects who missed big league cut

 

Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

 

MLB.com's No. 3 prospect was told he'd be assigned to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday and was sent to Minor League camp on Friday.

 

Why: Taveras is 20, has never played above Double-A and has played more than 80 games in just one of his four Minor League seasons. While he's a natural hitter, he's still learning to play the outfield. With that in mind, there's no way Taveras should supplant center fielder Jon Jay in St. Louis and there's no reason to rush him into a corner spot when the Cards have veterans Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran in place.

 

Why Not: Taveras' .746 Spring Training OPS proves his readiness to face Major League pitching, and he would benefit defensively from playing with and being tutored by Jay. Like sluggers Bryce Harper and Mike Trout before him, he's good enough to learn the game at the highest level. Triple-A can be a waste of time for players with his kind of talent.

[TheCrew07]

BA posted a bunch of prospect notes for each team last week, all are subscriber pieces:

 

Greg Garcia Takes Big Step Forward For Cardinals

 

Pirates’ Josh Bell Showing He’s Healthy This Spring

 

Brewers’ Gindl Showing He Can Survive A Slump

This was written by TH.

 

Cubs’ Shortstop Saunders Opens Eyes

 

There wasn't a piece on a Reds' prospect posted.

[TheCrew07]

Finally just a handy refresher on which prospects moved where in the off-season, provided by BA.

 

2013 Trade Central Index

[Mass Haas]

Stars' RHP Johnnie Lowe entered the game pitching for the college club to begin a scoreless bottom of the 4th, and thus far (still in progress), five Stars' base hits have opened a 4-0 lead thus far. Told Alex I'd listen in till the Brewers game begins...

[Minigoon]

I joined the broadcast a little late. I did hear Alex's "shout out" to Jim!

 

Johnnie Lowe was not able to record an out in his inning. As it is an exhibition game, the inning was just ended. Stars pitchers are throwing for both Huntsville and Alabama A&M. Game is scheduled for 7 innings tonight.

[Minigoon]

Final score Stars 4, Alabama A&M 1. 2 run doubles from Jason Rogers and Kentrail Davis. Every pitcher with the exception of Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann pitched tonight as the Stars supplied the pitchers for both teams. Alex surmised either Nelson or Jungmann to get the opening night call with the other going in game 2.

 

Looking forward to my rookie season link reporting. Hopefully I can make it as entertaining and informative as the veterans have for so many years.

[Tedaldtada]

Looking forward to my rookie season link reporting. Hopefully I can make it as entertaining and informative as the veterans have for so many years.

 

You are gonna do great. The hardest part is the grind. Hopefully we have numerous unofficial contributors throughout the year providing tidbits which lessens the overall burden on the official posters.

 

With that said, thank you very much for sliding into my slot. I was feeling kind of crappy about not being able to help this year, but once I saw that you stepped up, I knew the L.R. would be just fine. I have always enjoyed your posts, minigoon.

 

Woohoo! Minor league ball is back!

[TooLiveBrew]

Looking forward to my rookie season link reporting. Hopefully I can make it as entertaining and informative as the veterans have for so many years.

 

You are gonna do great. The hardest part is the grind. Hopefully we have numerous unofficial contributors throughout the year providing tidbits which lessens the overall burden on the official posters.

 

With that said, thank you very much for sliding into my slot. I was feeling kind of crappy about not being able to help this year, but once I saw that you stepped up, I knew the L.R. would be just fine. I have always enjoyed your posts, minigoon.

 

Woohoo! Minor league ball is back!

Both of these points are true.

[Minigoon]

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate them.

[Mass Haas]

Stars top Alabama A&M in relaxed exhibition game

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In a relaxed atmosphere and chilly temperatures, the Huntsville Stars slightly opened the door on their 2013 season Tuesday night.

 

The Stars met Alabama A&M in a seven-inning exhibition game at Joe Davis Stadium, taking a 4-1 win.

 

However, that comes with a big asterisk. The Stars provided the pitching (and catching) for both teams, so any celebration over a four-run third -- on back-to-back two-run doubles by Kentrail Davis and Jason Rogers -- is tempered by the fact it came off a Huntsville pitcher.

 

The Stars will work out again Wednesday at home before traveling to Chattanooga and the season opener Thursday night (weather permitting) against the Lookouts.

 

"We got our work done and everybody threw and we got to hit against live pitching," manager Darnell Coles said. "It was cold, but Chattanooga's going to be cold.

 

"It was good for our guys and very good for (Alabama A&M). They got to see professional pitching."

 

Alabama A&M coach Michael Tompkins concurred.

 

"It was a good experience for our guys. They got to mingle with minor league players and it was a relaxed atmosphere for them. There was no pressure," Tompkins said.

 

"We've been struggling (3-24, with a raft of injuries) so I told our guys to just go up there and get their hacks and have fun. We got to go back to the Little League mindset for a while."

[TooLiveBrew]

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate them.

Your avatar alone tells me you're the right man for the job

[Mass Haas]

Stars Duel with Alabama A&M in Exhibition Game

By Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars

 

In a brisk, chilly two-hour affair, the 2013 Huntsville Stars played their first contest of the young season at the friendly confines of Joe Davis Stadium.

 

During an exhibition game against local Alabama A&M, the Stars used all but three of their pitchers and every single one of their position players in a 4-1 victory in seven innings on Tuesday night.

 

While the margin of defeat may be a bit misleading (Stars pitchers threw against both teams), the Bulldogs got a pair of hits from outfielder Patrick Dodson and an RBI single from shortstop Jordan Friend.

 

The Stars scored all four of their runs in the third inning, as their first seven batters of the frame reached base. Catcher Adam Weisenburger, second baseman Nick Shaw and shortstop Ozzie Chavez began the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded and nobody out, outfielder Kentrail Davis drove home Wesienburger and Shaw with a two-run double down the right-field line to put the Stars on the board. One batter later, first basemen Jason Rogers knocked in Chavez and Davis with a two-run double of his own.

 

On the night, the Stars offense had nine nits total, with two apiece from Shaw, Chavez and Weisenburger. Third baseman Mike Walker also chipped with a single.

 

After a day off on Wednesday, the Stars begin the 2013 regular season campaign on the road in Chattanooga for five games on Thursday night starting at 6:05 CT. They will return to "The Joe" on Wednesday, April 10 to open up their home slate against the Jacksonville Suns for a five-game series immediately followed by a five games against the Tennessee Smokies.

[Mass Haas]

Brief video highlights -- Kentrail Davis kicks us off this year