Tuesday Potpourri
**Evan Anundsen threw a no-hitter for the Brevard County Manatees in the Florida State League this morning, fanning 10 with one walk in nine innings, giving him a 1.44 ERA with a 25/8 K/BB ratio in 25 innings, with 15 hits allowed and a 1.82 GO/AO mark. A fourth round pick in 2006 out of high school in Littleton, Colorado, Anundsen was bought away from a Wichita State scholarship by the Brewers with $282,000. Not a big guy at 6-2, 180 when drafted, he's grown to 6-3, 200 as a pro, relying on a 90 MPH sinker, curveball and changeup. He posted a 12-8, 4.28 record with a 102/38 K/BB in 145 innings last year in the Sally League, with an unattractive 158 hits allowed but an intriguing 2.71 GO/AO mark. He's clearly a sleeper to watch.
**Some irony on the statsheet for the San Jose Giants. Outfielder Roger Kieschnick is hitting .301/.333/.479, but with a poor 3/21 BB/K ratio in 73 at-bats, clearing having problems with the strike zone. Third baseman Conor Gillaspie is hitting .239/.370/.328, very disappointing in the power department, but with a 14/12 BB/K mark in 67 at-bats. Gillaspie is controlling the strike zone really well but hasn't produced much batting average or power; Kieschnick is swinging more wildly but has produced pop, though note that his OBP is lower despite a 62 point advantage in average. Who is likely to end up having a better seasonal line?
**Matt LaPorta is off to a blistering start at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .381/.452/.730 with seven walks and just six strikeouts in 63 at-bats. Obviously the combination of plate discipline and excellent production is what you want to see. I especially like the low strikeout rate in his first look at Triple-A pitching. Yes, the sample is small, but at this rate anyway it doesn't look like he has much left to learn in the minors.
**After a slow start, Kila Ka'aihue is starting to improve a bit at Triple-A Omaha. He's still hitting just .207, but with three homers and a .385 OBP, courtesy of 18 walks in 58 at-bats. He also has 18 strikeouts, but the even BB/K mark is a good sign. He still has no obvious place to play in Kansas City, but I think he'll heat up as the spring progresses. Could he be a Hawaiian Jack Cust?
**Off-Topic: With people worried about Swine Flu, I started thinking about the three-part Charlton Heston sci-fi apocalypse movies in the late 60s and 70s last night, Planet of the Apes, Omega Man, and Soylent Green. Here's a great clip (warning for you youngers, spoilers)
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