Around the Bases - June 16, 2009

Kung Fu Panda is rapidly becoming one of our favorite players

News Flash…
In case you’ve missed it…25yo Ryan Braun has become one of the top five hitters in the Major Leagues. Yesterday’s 3 for 5 performance with a triple, a home run, a walk and a SB, leaves Braun at .319/.415/.578 on the season.

Something you probably didn’t know…
While most 22yo prospects are toiling away in AA looking for their Major League shot, only 39 players in the last 20 years have achieved more Major League production than Pablo Sandoval has at his age. Yesterday’s 3 for 5 with 2 HRs, leaves Sandoval with a .337/.367/.519 through 362 Major League ABs.

Have to plug Bradley University when I can…
Brewers, 21yo prospect Dan Brewer put up the offense performance of the day yesterday, going 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 triples.

Remember he is only 20 years old…
Dayan Viciedo posted a 3 for 4 performance with a double and a home run last night, leaving him with a .317/.364/.520 line over his last ten games—in the Southern League.

Paging Brian Sabean…
Sabean may be the only one left that hasn’t figured out that it is time to move Buster Posey up. California League pitchers are big time pitching around him these days. His 2 for 2 with a double and 2 walks last night means that in the last 8 games he has now been walked nine times. Of course I’d walk him too if he was hitting .478/.625/.826.

The Boy Can Hit…
23yo Mitch Moreland has a .962 OPS between two stops this year, after going 4 for 6 with a home run last night.

This was a bad outing?...
21yo Mat Latos surrendered the most runs he has in any game this season, going 5 1/3 innings, yielding 2 runs and 5 hits while fanning 12.

Makes me go hmmmm…
Am I the only one that believes that Bud Norris would be a better option than Brian Moehler, Russ Ortiz or Felipe Paulino in the Astro rotation? The 21yo Norris now sports a 2.39 ERA in the PCL after yesterdays 8 inning shutout performance where he allowed 2 hits and 2 walks while fanning 6.

Nobody does it better…
Than Tim Corcoran and Tom Kotchman and the Los Angeles Angels when it comes to finding talent in the small school/Juco ranks. 19yo Will Smith is their latest find and he tossed an 8 inning, 1 run, 5 hit, 2 walk, 7 strikeout gem last night.