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Notes in a Minor Key
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Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Minor League Opening Day Rosters

Time to take a look at where the prospects will be hiding.

Carolina’s opening day roster includes Anibal Sanchez, who I really can’t wait to see, Aussie Paul Mildren, Adam Bostick, and Taylor Tankersley, but no one else of real consequence. I really thought that Brad McCann might be bumped to AA, but I guess he’s being slow-tracked. Grant Psomas and J.T. Restko are also going to open at Jupiter.

Tennessee’s roster includes Micah Owings and Garrett Mock. Jamie D’Antona and Jon Zeringue are repeating the level (not a huge surprise). Stephen Drew isn’t, despite struggling there a year ago.

The Cubs sent 12 players back to defending Northern Division champion West Tenn, including Adam Greenberg and Carlos Marmol, both of whom I thought would be in AAA. Brian Dopirak did get promoted, however. Felix Pie will be starting the season at Iowa.

Birmingham’s roster includes the 1-2 pitching punch of Lance Broadway and Ray Liotta, SS prospect Robert Valido, and not much else. Former Royals prospect Mark Quinn is also on the roster.

Ben Sheets will pitch the season opener for Huntsville, but clearly won’t be there all season :) Callix Crabbe, however, probably will be. Huntsville’ roster includes no one who looks like more than a marginal prospect.

In a bit of a surprise to me, Andy LaRoche and Chad Billingsley are going to open at defending SL champ Jacksonville rather than getting promotions to AAA. In Billingsley’s case, I probably should have anticipated that, given the Jackson fiasco of a year ago, and I guess that the Dodgers want Aybar at 3B every day at Las Vegas.

More later.

Mike Emeigh Posted: April 04, 2006 at 08:21 AM | 39 comment(s)
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   1. CanuckDodger Posted: April 04, 2006 at 10:12 AM (#1936651)
The Jacksonville Suns' roster you linked to is the exact roster the Suns had at the end of the 2005 season, and a couple of the players are no longer even in the Dodgers' organization. (lol)

Billingsley is going to start the season in Triple A, but I have heard that LaRoche will be starting at Double A, since he only spent half a season in Jacksonville in 2005, and with Mueller signed for two years there is no need to rush LaRoche.
   2. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 04, 2006 at 10:46 AM (#1936689)
The Jacksonville Suns' roster you linked to is the exact roster the Suns had at the end of the 2005 season, and a couple of the players are no longer even in the Dodgers' organization. (lol)


I checked the AAA roster, and it looked up-to-date, with guys like Aybar, Ethier, Martin, et. al. listed. Billingley wasn't on it, so I just assumed that the AA roster was also correct. But since Billingsley is the listed starter for the home opener against Fresno Friday night, it's definitely wrong there.

-- MWE
   3. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 04, 2006 at 10:48 AM (#1936691)
That's Thursday night for Billingsley, BTW, not Friday.

MILB.com is very slow in getting all of the rosters updated.

-- MWE
   4. PhillyBooster Posted: April 04, 2006 at 11:09 AM (#1936726)
I'm really excited about the Reading Phillies this year, especially straight up the middle (the other Phillies farm teams . . . not so much.)

Their rotation is Gio Gonzalez, Dan Haigwood, and Scott Mathieson (to be joined by Cole Hamels when the weather warms up), the Phils top 4 pitching prospects. They've got top catching prospect Jason Jaromillo catching, and the twin speedsters Tim Moss and Michael Bourn playing 2B and CF.
   5. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: April 04, 2006 at 11:10 AM (#1936730)
Wichita could be fun to watch this year.
   6. PhillyBooster Posted: April 04, 2006 at 11:20 AM (#1936750)
In a "Where Are They Now", the Reading Phillies also have former top prospect Peter Bergeron who, if I recall correctly, was hindered by the fact that an implant made a loud crashing noise go off in his head every time a pitch was thrown.
   7. El Hijo del Ron Santo (Alan Keiper) Posted: April 04, 2006 at 11:36 AM (#1936792)
Looking at Reading, I'm thrilled to see Jim Rushford back with the organization.
   8. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:06 PM (#1937114)
What on earth is Song doing in Wichita?
I don't get the Bergeron joke, but I like it.

What teams are people looking for? I've seen maybe 1/3-1/2 of the rosters in various places, but hadn't try to track all the links.
   9. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:24 PM (#1937147)
Former Major Leaguers playing in Mexico this year:

Jose Nieves (Rieleros de Aguascalientes)
Geronimo Gil (Red Devils)
Eric Knott (Puebla)
Mendy Lopez (Monterrey)
Juan Acevedo (Monterrey)
Damon Minor (Campeche)
Jon Nunnally (Campeche)
Eddy Diaz (Vaqueros Laguna)
Melvin Nieves (Vaqueros Laguna)
Chris Latham (Oaxaca)
Doug DeVore (Oaxaca)
Carlos Pulido (Oaxaca)
Scott Bullett (Yucatan)
   10. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:27 PM (#1937157)
Texas org
Atlanta org
Boston org
Brewerfan.net has Milwaukee rosters, though I'd look at the ones in the forum over the team links (which still have some of the guys in unannounced limbo).
   11. PhillyBooster Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:33 PM (#1937173)
I don't get the Bergeron joke, but I like it.


Harrison Bergeron, by Kurt Vonnegut.

In a futuristic dystopia, total equality is enforced by artificially lowering the abilities of the above-average, such as the aforementioned brain implants that made loud noises to disturb the thought processes of smarter people.
   12. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:39 PM (#1937184)
D'oh - I've read that.
   13. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:39 PM (#1937185)
Mendy Lopez is 7 for 11 in 3 games for Monterrey.

No word on where Izzy Alcantara or Randall Simon are
   14. Kyle S Posted: April 04, 2006 at 02:59 PM (#1937237)
Mel Nieves! Someone needs to give him a shot. Wasn't he in the PCL at some point last year?
   15. Kyle S Posted: April 04, 2006 at 03:10 PM (#1937286)
Also, the Braves have someone named Kala Ka'aihue on the Rome roster. Is he related to the guy with a similar name in the Royals system?
   16. Kyle S Posted: April 04, 2006 at 03:11 PM (#1937293)
(Answer: yes)
   17. Brandon in MO (for America!) Posted: April 04, 2006 at 03:41 PM (#1937420)
Nieves really wasn't that good in 2005.

At Harrisburg: .260/.412/.481, 4 HR, 20 for 77
At New Orleans: .227/.381/.453, 5 HR, 17 for 75
At Laguna: .339/.500/.694, 12 HR
   18. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 04, 2006 at 03:57 PM (#1937462)
I kind of liked Kala as a sleeper when the Red Sox signed him as a good-hit/no-field catcher (they later voided the contract over injury concerns). Supposedly, he looked pretty good after the Braves tabbed him to fill a GCL spot.
   19. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: April 04, 2006 at 04:06 PM (#1937492)
General question:

The Iowa Cubs have had park factors of 975, 982, and 1003 the last three seasons according to BPro. The PCL as a whole has a reputation for being a hitters' paradise so that park may be neutral for the league but not "truly" neutral. So: how would I put hitting stats into context for players on that team?
   20. Kyle S Posted: April 04, 2006 at 04:38 PM (#1937549)
Bah, don't give me Nieves' stats. I'm rooting for him entirely for sentimental, totally subjective reasons.
   21. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 04, 2006 at 04:52 PM (#1937580)
Some more ex-MLB Mexican Leaguers:

Edwards Guzman (Puebla)
Manny Martinez (Puebla)
Guillermo Velasquez (Puebla)
Steve Bourgeois (Saltillo)
Rigo Beltran (Saltillo)
Jose Alberro (Saltillo)
Morgan Burkhart (Saltillo)
Derrick White (Tijuana)
George Arias (Tijuana)
Tom Evans (Tabasco)
Santiago Perez (Tabasco)
Pedro Swann (Tabasco)
Francisco Cordova (Diablos Rojos)
Roberto Ramirez (Diablos Rojos)
Antonio Osuna (Tigres de la Angelopolis)
Luis Rivera (the pitcher, not the infielder - Tigres de la Angelopolis)
Willis Roberts (Campeche)
Jose Leon (Campeche)
Tilson Brito (Veracruz)
Willis Otanez (Veracruz)
Pedro Valdes (Oaxaca)
Pedro Castellano (Yucatan)

In addition, an Angel Moreno is listed on Veracruz's roster, and he's mapped in the stats DB to the former major league pitcher - but since the former major league pitcher is now 50, and the height-weight don't match, I suspect this is an error.

-- MWE
   22. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: April 04, 2006 at 04:54 PM (#1937586)
"Lance Broadway"? Gotta be a phony name.

I see that in their last year as a Phillies aphilliate, the Red Barons have a lineup of almost entirely non-prospects and players who have never been any good. It's nice to see Jim Crowell still around, though.
   23. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 04, 2006 at 05:24 PM (#1937632)
One of the worst team websites in the minors.

Pops, are you looking for league factors or level factors? Here's an old article with the former.
   24. gef the talking mongoose Posted: April 04, 2006 at 05:43 PM (#1937660)
glad this prompted me to check out the local montgomery biscuits' roster a couple of hours ago -- i wound up recognizing one name, of michael coleman, who i remembered as a red sox prospect from the late '90s. about 30 minutes ago, a guy came in & asked if we happened to carry minor league cards ... he was specifically looking for any michael colemans we might be able to dig up. turned out, of course, it was michael coleman.
   25. John Reynard Posted: April 04, 2006 at 11:08 PM (#1938499)
I once traded Michael Coleman for Geronimo Berroa in a deep sim league. Boy that trade didn't work out for anyone.
   26. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 05, 2006 at 10:31 AM (#1939078)
I'm surprised that Michael Bourn was left at Reading, especially give the sorry collection of OFs at SWB.

The Tigers have some of their best prospects at Erie: Giarratano, Clevlen, Garth McKinney, Kody Kirkland, Danilo Sanchez. The pitchers aren't quite as strong.

Bowie doesn't have much: Fiorentino and Loewen top the crew. Calvin Maduro, the second-best pitcher from Aruba, is also on the roster.

Altoona's pitching should be excellent, with Albaladejo, Connelly, Sharpless, and vets Brady Borner and Mike Connolly. The offense is suspect. Sound kinda like the big club :)

Hansen is going to start the season in Portland, and David Murphy and Brandon Moss will be returning there. Boston didn't promote too many of its Wilmington crew from 2005.

The Yankees gave Trenton Cox and Clippard, and they will eventually have Hughes as well. Jorge De Paula is also there. Kevin Howard, somewhat surprisingly, is also there.

-- MWE
   27. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 05, 2006 at 11:59 AM (#1939245)
Is Jeff Larish in Lakeland?
   28. rlc Posted: April 05, 2006 at 02:52 PM (#1939661)
Bowie doesn't have much
I hope you're wrong about that, as the pitching staff has four of the O's top ten pitching prospects in Loewen, Johnson, Britton, and Finch. Sickels rates them as B, B, B-, and C, respectively.

Offensively, yeah, no real prospects after El Magnifico.
   29. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 05, 2006 at 05:39 PM (#1940268)
Is Jeff Larish in Lakeland?


He's in extended spring. I don't have any idea why.

-- MWE
   30. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 05, 2006 at 06:09 PM (#1940401)
Wichita could be fun to watch this year.


Man, that's some roster: Butler, Gordon, Lubanski. I'm a little surprised that Murphy and Nunez went all the way back down to AA, though. I see Ryan Snare washed up there, too; he's actually not a bad pitcher, but he really needs another quality pitch to have a career.

Brandon Wood is in AA to start the season as the Angels continue their policy of level-at-a-time.

Springfield gets Cody Haerther, Mark Worrell (yes, he's being groomed as a reliever), Nick Stavinoha, and Chris Lambert. They also have a lefty pitcher named Kevin Ool, who is a NYC native; he's got little chance of a career, but it'd be cool to have Ool make it.

The Rockies are pushing Tulowitzki to Tulsa to open the season, joining Ian Stewart there; interesting. He only played 22 games at Modesto after signing, and was just OK there; I thought he might repeat the Cal League. Ubaldo Jimenez is also with the Drillers. Joe Gaetti, after a monster year at Modesto, will see if he can sustain it in AA.

Ex-Buc prospect JR House is in AA for the Astros at Corpus Christi. The Hooks also have Matt Albers and Hunter Pence on their roster, along with a couple of well-known (last) names: Jared Sandberg and Josh Bonifay.

Want to have a pool party this year? Check out Frisco's new addition. They also have cool bathrooms for your lady friends, too - might make it worth the trip for baseball chick :) Oh yeah: You also get two-thirds of the Rangers' DVD trio, Danks and Diamond.

-- MWE
   31. CFBF Has Neither Diabetes nor Cryabetes Posted: April 05, 2006 at 06:40 PM (#1940437)
Where's future Boston superstar Jeff Corsaletti starting?
   32. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 05, 2006 at 08:32 PM (#1940912)
Where's future Boston superstar Jeff Corsaletti starting?


Wilmington, along with Ellsbury and Lowrie. We will find out "very" quickly what he's made of; he's going from a good hitters' park in Greenville to one of the worst.

-- MWE
   33. Meatwad Posted: April 05, 2006 at 08:39 PM (#1940942)
Upton will be with the south bend silver hawks, and playing center field, i will try to get autographs for those who want them
   34. Gold Star for Robot Boy Posted: April 05, 2006 at 09:36 PM (#1941292)
Is Jeff Larish in Lakeland?
Yes.
One notable addition to the roster is first baseman Jeff Larish, the former Arizona State star that put on a show with a three home run game in the 2005 College World Series against Nebraska. Larish was a 5th round draft choice of the Tigers last summer. He continued his torrid hitting for the Tigers after reporting to the Gulf Coast Tigers and then the Oneonta Tigers where he hit .297/.430/.625 with 6 homers in 64 at-bats.
   35. Mike Emeigh Posted: April 06, 2006 at 12:01 PM (#1942750)
Is Jeff Larish in Lakeland?
Yes.


Hmmm. I checked Lakeland's official site before I posted #29, and he wasn't on the roster then - but he is now. And nothing else has changed. They're showing 25 players active (Sleeth and Randor Bierd are going to open on the DL) and they can only have 24.

Odd.

-- MWE
   36. Andrew Lorraine Baines McFly (Dan Lee) Posted: April 06, 2006 at 01:21 PM (#1942914)
Is this really the Tampa Yankees logo?

That's spectacular in a hideous sort of way.
   37. Andrew Lorraine Baines McFly (Dan Lee) Posted: April 06, 2006 at 01:22 PM (#1942917)
Trying again. linky.
   38. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 06, 2006 at 02:17 PM (#1943060)
Tampa logo: It's not, thank God. You can see it here.

Larish/Lakeland: I think I saw that he was a late add - not sure what the back story is.
   39. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: April 07, 2006 at 09:27 AM (#1945169)
BA has most of the minor league rosters up (missing TB, OAK, SF, Cubs). Of course, milb.com has all of them now.
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