A bit of a post-hype sleeper... SP Chris Lambert, the 19th overall pick in the 2004 draft. He had a sporadic track record with the Cardinals and was traded to the Tigers in the Mike Maroth deal late last year. Lambert was highly ranked in the Cardinals system for a while. Sickels had him as high as #2 in the organization (that was in 2005).

He's putting up some solid numbers through 20 starts (2 CG) at AAA-Toledo: 113.1 IP, 107 H (5 HR), 40 BB, 90 K, 3.10 ERA. Worth noting that he had 15 BB / 12 K over 27 April innings, but since then, 25 walks and 78 K over 86.1 IP. He was almost promoted to start today vs KC, but Miner was given the nod instead.

Lambert, now 25, pitched Saturday for Toledo: 6-9-2-2-8. Got David Ortiz to pop up the first time, Ortiz homered the second time, then struck out swinging the 3rd time. On the surface, you gotta like the strikeout following the HR during the previous AB.

Maybe Lambert could become a decent major league starter yet. He was a rare "raw" college pitcher, so maybe he's just figuring things out. He didn't start to pitch until after high school and I don't think he's ever pitched this well for this long as a pro.

Worth watching at least.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/draftday/y2004/sear...=round&sp=1