Around the Bases – June 11, 2009

The Orioles Xavier Avery went 5 for 5 last night

Around the Bases is Diamond Future’s newest feature. Every morning we’ll take a look around both the Major and Minor Leagues and highlight a couple of key performances, by young players, that really stood out from the previous day's games.

They Said He Was Too Short…
26yo, Alberto Callaspo went 4 for 4 for the Royals, with a Grand Slam. Callaspo is now batting .311/.362/.459 on the season.

Starting to get the hang of this Closer thing…
25yo, Huston Street struck out the side to pick up his 11th Save. Pitching in Coors, Street now has a 2.84 ERA, 1.026WHIP with a 28:7 K:BB ratio.

Is two games a hitting streak…
After going hitless in his first 4 Major League games, 22yo Gordon Beckham has singled in each of the last two games, bringing his MLB totals to 2 for 20.

Mom told me there’d be days like this…
22yo, Clayton Kershaw is going to be a great pitcher. His 60Ks in 61 IP is evidence of his potential domination. But last night it took Kershaw 83 pitches just to record 2 2/3IP. He left after giving up 3ERs, 4 Hits and 3 BBs.

In case you hadn’t noticed…
22yo, Colby Rasmus now has a 10-game hitting streak in which he has gone .452/.452/.839.

Church is back…time to return to AAA…
With Ryan Church back and apparently healthy, 20yo Fernando Martinez needs to get more than 6 ABs in 4 Games. His .222/.317/.333 Big League debut, shows there is still work to be done.

Ouch!!!!...
23yo Dexter Fowler had a night he’d like to forget…0 for 5 with 4Ks.

This games is easy…
After a solid start in the FSL, the Cardinals Peter Kozma was promoted to AA. In 118 AA ABs, Kozma had 1 2B, 1 3B and 1HR. In 4 ABs last night Kozma had 1 2B, 13B and 1 HR.

Minor League Hitter of the Day…
Baltimore’s, 19yo, Xavier Avery went 5 for 5 with a HR(2) and 10 TBs.

Connecticut is calling…
The Giants Buster Posey sits at .311/.405/.528 after going 1 for 2 and hitting his 10th HR.

Under the radar…
The Blue Jays, 20yo, Moises Sierra is putting together a nice little season. Last night he was 4 for 4 with a Walk and 2 2Bs.

What does a guy have to do…
Although the Nationals, 20yo, Catcher prospect Derek Norris has made our Hot List a couple of times already this season, he has been the final cut each of the last two weeks. Norris just keeps raking though, going 3 for 5 with 2 Doubles last night and is at .321/.411/.595 on the year.

It’s a good thing they count my pitches…
The Rangers have been very strict and very cautious with, 19yo, Wilmer Fonts’ pitch counts this year, despite his often times dominating performance in the SAL. And it’s a good thing, as Font went 1 2/3 IP yesterday allowing 4 Hits, 2 Walks and fanning 4. On the year he has 40 Ks in 35IP...and has issued 28 Walks.

I’m Baaack…
Jason Knapp started the year positively on fire, before running into a 5 game stretch in May where he was just plain awful. The calendar has turned and so has Knapp’s fortunes. After a 7IP, 0ER, 4 Hit, 0 BB, 6 K performance yesterday, the 19yo Knapp now has a 1.50 ERA, 0.833 WHIP and a 16:3 K:BB ratio since 5/29.

Not Quite Perfect…
After, 21yo, Jeanmar Gomez threw his 'perfect' game, he went through a three game stretch where he posted a 8.44 ERA and a 2.000 WHIP before turning in a 6 Inning, 1 Hit, 1 BB, 5 K performance last night.

I think I’m healthy now…
23yo, Padre, Left-hander, Nick Schmidt missed all of the 2008 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He started the season off with a rather rough beginning, but Schmidt has now thrown 21 straight shutout innings with 25Ks and only 3 BB after his 6 inning, 3 Hit, 1 BB, 9K performance last night.

Something to Ponder…
Although David Aardsma was drafted as a college closer, and has a 1.84 ERA with 11 Saves on the year, his underlying peripherals, especially the 20 Walks in 29IP don’t really predict long-term success in that role. With 'yes I can'…'no I can’t'…'yes I can'…Brandon Morrow being once again converted to a Starter, How much longer will it be before the Mariners turn over closing duties to 2008 First Round Pick, Joshua Fields? Since returning from a DL stint in late May, Fields has retired 14 of the last 15 batters he has faced.