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Prospect Tidbits

Prospect Tidbits

**A friend emailed me last night to point out Chuck Tiffany's line at Class A Vero Beach: 16 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 9 walks, 26 strikeouts. Yes, a 26/16 K/IP ratio. It doesn't get much better than that. Tiffany has an excellent curveball and changeup, and good velocity (87-90) for a 20-year-old lefty. Continued domination of the Florida State League will earn him a promotion to Double-A soon, if the Dodgers hold with the pattern they established with Chad Billingsley and other young pitchers over the last few years.  

**Carlos Quentin is blowing through the Pacific Coast League. The D-backs outfield prospect is at .387/.556/.839 through 12 games, with 4 homers. His plate discipline has been excellent: 12 walks, only 4 strikeouts in 31 at-bats. Yes, it's the PCL, but the sharp strike zone judgment shows that this is not all a thin air fluke. He's ready for the Majors in my opinion.

**Howie Kendrick is a favorite of mine, similar in some ways to a young Marcus Giles: booming bat, questions about his glove at second. Hes' at .419/.429/.710 so far in 13 games for Rancho Cucamonga in the Cal League. Despite this hot start, I would be careful about promoting him right now if I were the Angels: he's drawn just 1 walk against 10 strikeouts thus far. He has an extremely quick bat, and it is possible he will continue to dominate Class A even with weak plate discipline. If I were running the Angels farm system, I'd leave him at Rancho until late June, then reassess. If he's still dominating, even with mediocre discipline, I'd go ahead and promote him anyhow and see how he adjusts.

**Chris Shelton has little left to prove in the minor leagues. The Detroit farmhand is at .425/.489/.675 through 11 games for Triple-A Toledo, 3 homers, 11 RBI, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts. Once again, the question here is defense, and finding a spot for this DH/1B/C on the major league roster. Right now he is shaking off rust after his Rule 5/injury season on the major league bench last year, but the WD-40 seems to be working quite well.

**2004 Twins first-round pick Trevor Plouffe has been a bit overmatched in his initial week of full-season play, going 3-for-36 (.083) in 10 games for the Beloit Snappers in the Midwest League. The young shortstop is controlling the strike zone OK, with 2 walks but just 3 strikeouts, and 2 of his 3 hits have been for extra-bases, so he's making contact and has shown some ability despite the early slump. If the slump continues, he'll likely move down to Elizabethton when the short-season leagues open up in June. It's too early to worry about him at this point. Keeping his confidence up through this rough patch will be the key factor.

REMINDER: I did an AQA thread at Bleed Cubbie Blue.

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prospect tidbits
Any news on Dan Meyer? He finallyh put together a good start. Do you think his early season problems were confidence, mechanics or both? You said you would check your sources about that so any information you have would be much appreciated (i hope this doesn't come off as  impatient)

by ohad on Apr 20, 2005 2:21 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

pcl
PCL source says Meyer has only been throwing 86-88 this year. No obvious health problem...the reason for the drop is unclear.

by John Sickels on Apr 20, 2005 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you so much
For this update thing. Really appreciate it.

by ohad on Apr 20, 2005 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Meyer's start
I wouldn't say "finally put together a good start". 10 baserunners in 5 innings ain't that glorious. I would say he "finally didn't get shelled."
Got my nats tickets. Lousy Seats: opening night(D'backs), 5/14(Cubs). Good Seats: 6/2(Braves), 6/9(A's), 7/5(Mets)

by natsfan2005 on Apr 20, 2005 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well
I expanded in my diary, i guess i could have pasted it but whatever.

by ohad on Apr 20, 2005 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Better than that?
A friend emailed me last night to point out Chuck Tiffany's line at Class A Vero Beach: 16 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 9 walks, 26 strikeouts. Yes, a 26/16 K/IP ratio. It doesn't get much better than that.

How about Hayden Penn at Bowie?

16 IP, 9 H, 4 R (only 2 ER), 5BB, 26K.

Maybe not better, but at least equal...and at AA.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 20, 2005 2:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Slightly better
He's a middle reliever, but former SS Ricardo  Rodriguez at Myrtle Beach:

11.1 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 19 K

Last year at Rome:
49.2 IP, 42 H, 16 BB, 61 K

Of course, he turns 24 next week, and he's still in Hi-A...

by mchenrmd on Apr 20, 2005 3:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Adam Peterson
Is there any main reason why The d'back released Peterson?  Where they hoping to sneak him through and reacquire him?  Us tiger fans don't know if this is too good to be true.  Is it a good waiver find for us?

by sgsemu on Apr 20, 2005 3:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Adam Peterson
It might have been a contractual thing.  The Diamondbacks designated Peterson for assignment off the 40-man roster to make room for Javier Lopez after acquiring him off waivers from the Rockies.

I believe Peterson is a moderate reward, low risk pick-up, and would agree with you that he was a very good waiver find.

by Bill on Apr 22, 2005 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chris Shelton Comp?
I know these comparison things are a little silly, but how about Mike Sweeney as a comparison for Sweeney?  Similar positional background, similar good discipline/moderate power profiles, similar organizational jerking around early on in their careers.  I think of Sweeney as a better defender than the reports on Shelton suggest, but what do you all think... plausible?

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 20, 2005 3:59 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Er...
Sweeney as comparable for Shelton, I mean, not for himself.  Though he's a pretty dead-on comp for himself.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 20, 2005 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

plausable
Plausable, yes. Sweeney is a better athlete.

by John Sickels on Apr 20, 2005 4:05 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ouch
Less athletic than Sweeney?  That can't be good.

by twill on Apr 20, 2005 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hayden Penn
John, I was going to point out my diary on Hayden Penn and noticed that Joltin Joe Ursulak beat me to the punch. This kid just turned 20, and is blowing everybody away in AA, which by the way is where he ended last season as a 19 yr old.

by MightyCasey on Apr 20, 2005 4:25 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

penn
Yeah, Penn looks excellent so far. Can we trust the Orioles?

by John Sickels on Apr 20, 2005 4:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No
I agree ... no, we can't trust the Orioles.

Although the ghost of injured Orioles pitching prospects past is making an appearance in Frederick:

Richard Stahl: 12 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 18 K.

Of course, he's a 24-year old pitching in A ball, but still...the fact that his arm is still attached is a positive sign.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Apr 20, 2005 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD Martin
How about JD Martin, he seems to be off to a fast start with 14IP 4H 3BB 0ER 17Ks in AA

by StormAesir on Apr 20, 2005 4:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

anibal sanchez
wow, no love for anibal sanchez, who's been better than tiffany (though in 1 less start)?

10ip  4h  1R/ER  0BB  22K

by nomarshaus on Apr 20, 2005 4:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

yep
Yes, another very hot start. Definitely worth watching.

by John Sickels on Apr 20, 2005 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shawn Kohn
2 ER in 7.2 innings with 12 K's and 0 Walks in the texas league. Hitters hitting .115 off him

by ohad on Apr 20, 2005 5:58 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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