The Bill Shelley Memorial Farm Thread

grabarkewitz:

Keith Law, in his rating of all the farm systems, has us at 19, one spot higher than the Giants. Pretty much spot on. We are pretty weak on the upper levels, but the lower levels are loaded with talented players. Even though Law didn't mention any names, I think he already has a jones for Kenley Jansen. I have read more about this kid in the past three months than were ever written about him over the past three years.

I even read a report (might've been Sickels) that felt that Jansen could be a starting pitcher once he develops his stamina. His fastball is already legendary and there has been much talk that his slider and change up are going to be plus-plus pitches. Add to that, he is a horse. He is now being listed at 6'6" and 240lbs. You know Logan White loves his big pitchers. I would not be surprised if it is a race between him, Chris Withrow and Aaron Miller to make the show. The report even speculated that Jansen may bypass high A ball and go right to AA. As I expect Miller to do the same, that rotation could be sick - Withrow, Aaron Miller, Jon-Michael Redding, Jansen and Alberto Bastardo has filth written all over it. Of course, if Jansen cannot hack it as a starter, he would be some kind of closer. This might be the smartest move the Dodgers made, last year, moving him to the mound when they figured out he couldn't hit his weight.

Maybe we should have tried to convert the Hindenburg to pitching. If not being able to hit ones weight is directly proportional to velocity of the FB, Hindy would have been able to throw about 115 MPH.

loneymiller:

MLB network just did their top 50 prospect show and had Ethan Martin at #49 and Dee Gordon in the 30s (can't remember the exact number).

Saw Gordon at 36 and Ethan Martin at 49, but I think they missed the boat on Chris Withrow. He has more upside than Martin and less mileage on his arm. The nice thing about both Withrow and Martin is if they cannot pitch, they both have powerful bats and can play third base.

Keith Law needs a refresher course on Kenley Jansen and Allen Webster. One, Jansen was not an outfielder, but a catcher and two, there is no Carl Webster on the Dodger farm, but an Allen Webster. I expect better from Law, but I am not shocked that his knowledge of Dodger prospects is so bad.

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

Torgy, Webster's full name is Carl Allen Webster.

I am aware of that, but he has gone by Allen Webster for his career on the Dodger farm. I doubt Law would have any problem knowing the right name of a Jay, Red Sock or Yankee prospect. I am just saying that Law can be lazy for a supposed expert on farm systems.

ABQ roster announced.

http://albuquerque.isotopes.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=342&stn=true&sid=t342

Splitting this into what I believe are starters and bench..

SP McDonald
SP Lindblom
SP Elbert
SP Ely
SP Towers

RP Ayala
RP Corcoran
RP Link
RP Leach
RP Miller
RP Perez

C Ellis
1B Lindsay
2B DeJesus
SS Hu
3B Mitchell
LF Restovich
CF Paul
RF Hoffmann

BN Closser C
BN Green IF
BN Sellers IF
BN Gibbons OF
BN Redman OF

As far as AAA goes, that's not a bad starting rotation at all.

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

ABQ roster announced.

http://albuquerque.isotopes.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=342&stn=true&sid=t342

Splitting this into what I believe are starters and bench..

SP McDonald
SP Lindblom
SP Elbert
SP Ely
SP Towers

RP Ayala
RP Corcoran
RP Link
RP Leach
RP Miller
RP Perez

C Ellis
1B Lindsay
2B DeJesus
SS Hu
3B Mitchell
LF Restovich
CF Paul
RF Hoffmann

BN Closser C
BN Green IF
BN Sellers IF
BN Gibbons OF
BN Redman OF

As far as AAA goes, that's not a bad starting rotation at all.

This is a pretty good baseball team for AAA. I am looking forward to seeing them when they come to Round Rock.

BluePastorKyle:

Not a Donny Baseball fan, SA?

What did Mattingly ever do for the Dodgers but latch onto Torre's coattails? Btw, I'm not a big Torre fan, either, if you haven't noticed.

On Mattingly, he has zero managerial experience. He did manage a few games while Torre was in Asia and he managed to have the lineup screwed up and the Dodgers batted out of order. Learn that stuff in A ball.

Chattanooga's Roster is out. There are some suprises:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=498&stn=true&sid=t498

They are really pushing Dee Gordon to have him in AA already.

Finally here is the Loons Roster http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=456&stn=true&sid=t456 some nice young outfielders there.

loneymiller:

Chattanooga's Roster is out. There are some suprises:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=498&stn=true&sid=t498

They are really pushing Dee Gordon to have him in AA already.

I like that they moved Pedroza with him. As I expect them to be the Dodgers' keystone combination for years, they need to get to be kept together as they move through the farm system. I like the top three of the rotation in Withrow, Bastardo and Sexton, but after that I am not impressed. Strong outfield if they all play to their potential.

loneymiller:

Finally here is the Loons Roster http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=456&stn=true&sid=t456 some nice young outfielders there.

Webster, Miller and Wallach should be fine, but I am leery of Suiter as the likely closer. He has a hard enough time finding the strike zone on a regular basis. Nice depth behind the plate, but I was hoping they would push Wise to Inland Empire. I am expecting Sands to be at first base, but I have to wonder who will play centerfield. If I had to guess, Cavazos-Galvez gets the call. I know he has the arm, but I have to wonder about the range. Either way, he should be the best hitter on the team. Great Lakes will be a good place to see if Sands' power is real and not just a mirage made by playing in Ogden. Kind of shocked the Dodgers aren't pushing Jonathan Garcia to see how he fares with players three or four years older than him. Kid has the potential to be best prospect not named Gordon on the farm.

loneymiller:

I don't think St Claire is going to be in Hi A very long before moving up to Chattanooga. I am not as sold on Boothe as you are and Jansen will be challenged to develop very quickly in this league. I didn't catch the not having a SS part. That should be real interesting.

I feel that because Jansen is on the 40-man, his development will be accelerated if only because Ned will need to justify the roster spot on a newly-minted pitcher. I like Boothe's fastball, I just think that his acclimation from Japan to the US and moving from college starting pitcher to reliever hindered him. He is hard to hit and given that I think that both Jansen and St. Clair will be in Chattanooga in short order, he will get plenty of shots at closing.

I was expecting that Bryant Hernandez would be the shortstop at Inland Empire, if only because we lack depth at the position after Gordon and Guerrero. I also believe that we don't have a real centerfielder at Great Lakes. Another omission I don't get.

WE HAVE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!

Yesterday was the kind of day that will make each and every Dodger fan giddy with excitement. All four games on the farm were victories and we might need to re-evaluate Blake Smith.

I will start with the big fun that happened for the Loons. Even after Josh Wall got his backside handed to him (4ip, 7h, 5r, 5er, 2bb, 5k, 11.25era) the Loons opened up the economy-sized can of whipass to crush the Silver Hawks, 16-5. Blake Smith practically beat the South Bend side by himself (6ab, 3r, 5h, 2-2b, hr (1), 5rbi and the best of all, no strikeouts). He had help though, Jeremy Wise, Jerry Sands, Brian Ruggiano and Christian Lara all added two hits, including a homer and double for Wise. Brandon Roberts (1-0), Luis Vasquez and Joseph Paxson held the Silver Hawks hitless for the last five innings to make the rout even better.

Kyle Russell got a quick start on LM's predicted 50-homer season as he hit his first bomb to lead the 66ers to a 6-3 victory over the Quakes. Russell paced the offense with this line (4ab, 1r, 2h, 1-2b, hr(1), 2rbi, 1bb, 1k) while former Tampa farmhands, Cesar Suarez and Chris Gutierrez added a pair of hits. Austin Gallagher had two hits and two rbis for the Sixers. Jon Michael Redding started and went four innings giving up three hits and two runs in his first experience in the pitching hell that is the California League. Another former Ray farmhand, Brandon Mann, picked up the win with an inning of shutout work. Cole St. Clair picked up the save with a yeoman-like two innings of work featuring three strikeouts. The only fly in the ointment was that the Quakes were able to steal five bases on the four Sixer pitchers and Tony Delmonico.

Next, we have the beginning of Chris Withrow's quick run through the Southern League as he went six innings and pretty much did as expected (6ip, 3h, 2r, 2er, 1bb, 4k), but didn't pick up the win as the Lookouts scored all their runs after Withrow left the game as the Lookouts to a 4-2 victory over the Stars. Scott Van Slyke, doing his best to show that 2009 was not a fluke, had this line (4ab, 1r, 2h, 2-2b, 3rbi, 1k) to lead the Lookouts. Trayvon Robinson added a pair of hits including a double and a stolen base. Andrew Lambo went 1-2 with a run and two walks. Tommy Giles made his one at bat very profitable, a single, an rbi and a stolen base, too boot. Jesus Rodriguez vultured the win with two innings of shutout work and Javy Guerra pitched a perfect ninth (2k) to pick up his first of many saves this season.

Lastly, James McDonald had the best pitching line of the day (5ip, 7h, 1r, 1er, 3k) as the 'topes defeated the Red Hawks in a game that went thirteen innings, 6-3. Adding to the great pitching were Luis Ayala, Juan Perez, Justin Miller, Tim Corcoran (1-0) and Jon Link (who picked up the save, even though he made it exciting). The 'topes managed to win the game on one hit, three walks, an error and a wild pitch. Efficient doesn't even touch it. Prentice Redman's ninth-inning, two-run homer sent the game into free baseball and he was part of the big thirteenth inning with a walk and a run scored. Mike Restovich added a solo homer and a single and John Lindsey belted a pair of hits to lead the 'topes' nine-hit attack.

On the docket for today, we have Scott Elbert making his first start of the season. Alberto Bastardo and Brett Wallach are also on the hill for the Lookouts and Loons, respectively. TBA is on the hill for the Sixers. Gotta say this is a great start for the farm.

loneymiller:

Grabs thank you I missed this all winter.

Ditto! Thanks in advance for the hard work. Really looking forward to a breakout farm year!

grabarkewitz:

Day Two on the farm was not as spectacular, but don't tell that to Brett Wallach, Scott Elbert, Aaron Miller or Alberto Bastardo as again, the starting pitching was exemplary.

Brett Wallach may prove to be the find of the 2009 draft and if last night was any example he is well on his way. Wallach went five innings against the Silver Hawks and nary a one of them had a hit to show against him. Wallach struck out eight and allowed only three walks to spoil his outing as the Loons destroyed South Bend, 9-1. Andrew Suiter gave up the only run and hits of the game before Steve Smith rescued him by pitching an inning and two thirds of perfect ball. On the offensive side, Blake Smith continued his hot start with a pair of doubles and an rbi (still no strikeouts for the big lefty stick). Angelo Songco, Christian Lara and Brian Cavazos-Galvez all added two hits with Songco and Galvez each ripping a double.

Not such a good game in Cucamonga as the relief work of Paul Koss and Kyle Smit ruined a great outing by Aaron Miller and Kenley Jansen's frighteningly good two innings and let the Quakes take a 4-3 decision in ten innings. Miller gave up two runs in the first inning, but after that he was unhittable as his line shows (5ip, 5h, 2r, 2er, 10k) and Jansen was equally impressive, going two innings, giving up one hit and striking out four. Koss managed to hold the lead into the ninth when his control vanished and he gave up the tying run. Smit did him one better by wild pitching home the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. The Sixers made a fine showing against rehabbing Major Leaguer Scott Kazmir by tallying three runs and eight hits in six plus innings off of the southpaw. The big bat was Tony Delmonico, who had three hits. Chris Gutierrez and Alfredo Silverio added two hits each with Gutierrez scoring a run and Silverio knocking one home. Aside from the relief work, the only complaint is that the Quakes ran wild again with four stolen bases.

The Lookouts scored three runs early and the pitching made them stand up as they took a 3-2 decision over the Stars. Again, the starting pitching was stout as Alberto Bastardo went five giving up seven hits, one run and striking out two. Aside from Harvey Garcia making it interesting by giving up a run in the eighth, the pen was outstanding. Tim Sexton, Matthew Sartor and Javy Guerra (second save) held the Stars' bats hitless. Lucas May notched three hits to lead the Lookouts, including a double. Elian Herrera and Anthony Hatch each had a double and a run, and Trayvon Robinson scored the other Lookout tally.

Finally, Scott Elbert made his first start of the 2010 season pretty memorable if only for the fear each hitter must feel when facing him, but it wasn't enough as Brett Leach and Luis Ayala gave away the game to the Red Hawks, 4-3. Elbert went six, giving up only two hits, while striking out ten and walking five. Despite all of the walks, Elbert's pitch count at the end of six was "only" 96. The Topes managed to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth and it held up until the bottom of the seventh, when Leach was ripped for a three spot by the Red Hawks. But John Lindsey's two run double tied it in the eighth only to see Luis Ayala give up a double, a sac bunt, a walk and a wild pitch to send the Red Hawk faithful home with a win. Lindsey and Jamie Hoffman each had two hits, while Xavier Paul and Ivan DeJesus each scored a run. Nick Green showed that he cannot hit AAA pitching either as he got the hat trick in his 0-5.

The most interesting starter today will be Allen Webster as he makes his 2010 debut for the Loons. Other pitchers opening up their 2010 seasons will be Josh Lindblom, Mario Alvarez (didn't we cut this clown?) and Ethan Martin.

Man, do we have some exciting pitching or what? I love it! I'm hoping for some breakout bats this year, but there is nothing wrong with developing as much good, young pitching as possible. You can never have enough.

I'm excited for Martin, Lindblom and Webster ... good slate today.