Around the Bases - June 15, 2009

It's looking like a breakout season for Mariner prospect Tyson Gillies

Jorge Who?...
Always thought of as a defense-first catching prospect, 23yo Francisco Cervelli is doing an adequate job--offensively, filling in for, and backing up, Jorge Posada. A 3 for 5 yesterday leaves Cervelli with a .298 average on the year.

I certainly didn’t expect this…
Brad Bergesen has always been a solid second-tier type prospect in my book. Given an opportunity, he could find a spot at the back of someone’s rotation and have a serviceable Major League career had been the thought. But yesterday’s complete game, 5-hitter; where he allowed two Runs, Walked two and fanned three, leaves him with 4-2 record and a 3.79 ERA after 11 starts as a 23yo.

I’m going to need to see a driver’s license…
The fact that Johnny Cueto is a good pitcher is hardly news. Yesterday’s 6 shutout inning performance where he allowed 7 Hits and 1 Walk is hardly a surprise. But his domination of the National League (2.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) through 13 starts, as 23yo, is shocking.

It was just a matter of time…
Matt Cain was a Top 3 Pitching Prospect for us heading into both the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He made our Top 50 list and our Top 300 list heading into 2004 and 2003. The point is, we have been expecting great things from him for some time. Yet in three plus Major League seasons, the best he could muster up was a 30-41 record and a 3.85 ERA. Now a 24yo, he finally looks to be putting it all together. Yesterday’s complete game 4-hitter, where he allowed 1 run and struck out 9 without issuing a walk, leaves Cain at 9-1 on the year, with a 2.39 ERA.

Mother told me there’d be days like this…
Red Sox reliever, Dan Bard, has a promising future ahead of him. Yesterday just wasn’t a a part of it. In 2/3 innings yesterday, Bard gave up 4 Runs on 2 Hits and 3 Walks.

There is something more to this story…
I’m waiting for, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story” on Hector Rondon. Apparently the Indians are keeping him on a strict 60-pitch count limit. Yesterday, after throwing 4 shutout innings where he allowed only a single hit and fanned three, he was pulled after 53 pitches. Hmmm…

Ugly line of the day…
Braves middle infield prospect, Brandon Hicks, continued his miserable season as he fanned in all four At Bats. This leaves Hicks hitting .211/.267/.303 on the year.

Keep your eye on…
Marnier’s OF prospect Tyson Gillies continues what appears to be a breakout season for the 20yo. A 3 for 4 with a double and 2 home runs, puts Gillies at .330/.440/.500 on the year.

Still not sure where he fits, but…
21yo Giants prospect, Thomas Neal, sure can hit. After spending 2008 being held somewhat under wraps, recovering from shoulder surgery, Neal has been let loose this season. With a 3 for 5, double, triple, home run performance on Sunday, Neal has a 1.039 OPS on the year.

And you thought the PCL was a hitter’s league…
24yo Dodger prospect James McDonald shut out Round Rock for 7 innings on Sunday, issuing 2 hits and a walk, while fanning 13. In his last two starts, McDonald has allowed 1 ER and has a 23:3 K:BB ratio.

And the same goes for the California League…
21yo Alexander Torres is on fire. Yesterday’s 8 shutout inning performance, where he yielded 4 hits and a walk, while fanning 8, means that Torres has not allowed more than 1 run in any of his last 5 starts. Over that time he has a 0.66 ERA.