Around the Bases - June 19, 2009

Grossman has a prototypical lead-off hitter skill set...but those misses are still a concern

Keeping your focus while playing for the Nats is hard…

24yo Ryan Zimmerman has been in one of those periods since May 26th. Entering last night’s game he had posted a .191/.313/.265 over his last 18 games. Judging by last night, he seems to be shaking it off after a 3 for 5 , 2 doubles, outing.

The Forgotten One…
At the beginning of the season, the A’s had 3 young pitchers vying for 2 rotation spots. While Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson joined the Big League club, 22yo Vin Mazzarro was sent down to AAA. As we approach the halfway point of the season Cahill and Anderson are battling through 3.89 and 5.77 ERAs. After last night’s 6 inning, 2 earned run, 5 hit, 1 BB, 5K performance, Mazzarro has opened up his Major League career with 4 straight quality starts and sports a 1.37 ERA.

Getting the hang of things…
21yo Braves’ right-hander, Tommy Hanson was greeted rather rudely in his Major League debut on June 7th. His next time out, he was one out shy of a quality start. Last night’s 6 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits and 4 walks, indicates he may be starting to figure this out.

Has he finally figured it out…
With Anderson, Cahill and Mazzarro already in the rotation and Dana Eveland sporting a 5-0 record in AAA, the A’s seemed to be loaded with young pitching talent. In 2 previous stints with the Big League club, 23yo Gio Gonzalez has been knocked around with a plus 7.00 ERA. But after last night’s 5 1/3 inning, 4 hit, 1 BB, 10 K performance Gonzalez has a 2.51 ERA with Sacramento and appears to be ready for a bigger challenge.

I really want to like him, but…
19yo Pirate OF prospect, Robbie Grossman, went 5 for 6 with a double and a triple yesterday, giving him a .783 OPS on the year. He’s athletic and he has 21 SBs on the year—the prototypical leadoff hitter. While there is a lot to like about Grossman, I have a hard time getting past those 82 strikeouts in 228 ABs.

He was drafted where…
You typically don’t find Major League pitching prospects in the 27th round, yet that’s where the Marlins found 22yo Elih Villanueva in last June’s draft. With last night’s 7 1/3 inning, 2 hit, 1BB, 4K, 1 run performance he now has a 2.76 ERA through his first 110 professional innings.

Guess he can hit after all…
The Reds took 23yo Zack Cozart in the second round of the 2007 draft as an excellent defensive SS with a poor bat. After yesterday’s 4 for 8 performance with 2 HRs and a walk, Cozart has an .832 OPS in the Southern League and he looks to be the organization’s best hope at SS.

Not so fast on that anointment…
With the season he has been having, the ‘experts’ have roundly proclaimed Dan Duffy as the Royal’s best pitching prospect, but 19yo, 2008 1st round pick, Mike Montgomery, isn’t yielding that distinction quite yet. Yesterday’s 6 inning, 1 run, 2 hit, 7 K performance gives Montgomery a 1.31 ERA over his last 4 starts.

He’d get more press if his name was easier to spell…
23yo Jays’ prospect Marc Rzepczynski tossed 7 innings last night, allowing 1 run, 5 hits and 1 walk while fanning 8. Over his last three starts, he has thrown 20 innings and allowed 1 run.