Lots going on, so a very high threshold today . . .
- Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 4-for-4, RBI. 9-for-12 in last three games and .370/.444/.543 in 13 games since return to minors.
- Matt Carpenter, 3B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 5-for-6, 2 2B, R, K. I'm frankly shocked that a guy with a .282/.431/.449 line hasn't gotten more love from the performance-minded folks.
- Garin Cecchini, 3B, Red Sox (Short-season Lowell): 4-for-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI, SB. Has raised batting average from .215 to .272 by going 11-for-24 in six games; .272/.364/.476 overall.
- James Darnell, 3B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 4-for-5, HR (4), 3 R, RBI, 2 BB. Enjoying Tucson as much as everyone else; .325/.413/.650 in ten games since promotion.
- Chris Davis, 3B/1B/OF, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 3-for-5, HR (22), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 K. Another one of those guys where it's hard to tell if he's a trade chip or part of the future (or both); .359/.399/.801 in 45 games.
- Brandon Erbe, RHP, Orioles (Rookie-level GCL): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Season-debut for once highly recorded prospect returning from surgery.
- Johnny Giovatella, 2B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 3-for-7, RBI, 2 K. What is it with American League teams not calling up second basemen who are clearly ready? .337/.392/.483 in 95 games.
- Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins (High-A Ft. Myers): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K. Has been streaky all year; .272/.380/.415 in 81 games.
- Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-3, 2B, HR (11), 3 R, 3 RBI. Hottest hitter in the minors; 16-for-26 with six home runs in his last seven games and hitting .388/.460/.760 in 32 Triple-A games.
- Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-5, 2 3B, HR (20), 3 R, 6 RBI, BB, 2 K. Slugging .837 in July and hitting .264/.340/.511 overall in 91 games.
- Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-5, HR (10), R, RBI. While it's not the way Reds fans wait it, further slippage in the NL Central could lead to seeing Mesaraco sooner.
- Nick Ramirez, 1B, Brewers (Rookie-level Helena): 3-for-6, 2 HR (7), 3 R, 5 RBI, K. Hottest hitter in the half-season leagues; 17-for-31 with five home runs in last six games.
- Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 2-for-4, HR (25), R, 3 RBI, K. Home runs in four straight games lift him to .304/.379/.581.
- Miguel Sano, 3B/SS, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 3-for-4, 2 HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 18-year-old is hitting .289/.328/.579 in 28 games, but he's probably bound for the outfield sooner than initially expected.
- Kevan Smith, C, White Sox (Rookie-level Bristol): 3-for-4, 2 HR (6), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB. Seventh-round pick is mashing at .407/.480/.733, but he's also 23 year-old and in the Appy League.
- Will Smith, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. First part of combined no-hitter; Texas League still hitting .296 against him this year.
- Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, RBI. Fifth straight two-hit game and first High-A home run; .314/.333/.429 in seven games.
- Dickie Thon, SS, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL): 2-for-3, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, K. First pro home run for big budget 2010 draftee; .286/.408/.365 in 22 games.
- Keenyn Walker, OF, White Sox (Rookie-level Great Falls): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI. Top White Sox pick has eight of 14 hits going for extra bases; .389/.450/.639 in first nine pro games.
- Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 1-for-5, HR (28), 2 R, 2 RBI, 4 K. Six home runs in last seven games has him tied for the minor league lead; .312/.395/.619 in 93 games.
- Joe Wieland, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 1.86 ERA in five Texas League starts; stock rising quickly.
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I have to say I'm shocked my previous comment has a -17 rating. I don't know what I did. Sorry to offend so many people, apparently. Tough crowd. Tie me to a stake.
There really are very pronounced similarities. Part of the lack of enthusiasm for Carpenter may be that he didn't hit during a cameo in St. Louis. It remains to be seen how significant that failure is, but in any event, St. Louis has other 3B prospects, and therefore may have decided not to take an overly optimistic view of this one.
2. The team as a whole is hot, and right or wrong, you tend not to mess with chemistry when you are on a hot streak.
3. Brandon Wood at least gives you competent defense at 3B...underrated attribute when you consider the Pirates' pitch to contact staff.
That said, Pedro will be back VERY shortly.
24 years old at AAA, OPS over 1000, striking out a ridiculous 8%. I know first basemen without power are about as useful as...well they're not useful. And Vegas is a great place to hit. But he has over 30 doubles 3 years in a row - even without a power swing, I'd think at least a few of those could turn into homers if he keeps hitting.
Seriously, look at that strikeout rate. 28 K's in almost 300 ABs. And with a 1000 OPS. If he played anywhere but 1B, I would be getting very excited.
It's funny, I own both Giavotella AND Kipnis in my dynasty league. Cmon guys!!!
That's easily the greatest abuse of the notion of "community standards" that I've seen since this system has been in place.
I'm no scout or analyst, but with those strikeout/walk rates, Chris Davis looks like the good Adam Dunn without the walks. He probably won't amount to much unless he can actually play multiple positions well.
Oh, you mean Dave Kingman.
all4themoney also chose to make groundless accusations and admitted he made a bad choice of words, basically destroying his "factual argument."
Other than that, your points are just peachy.
And you're absolutely right that I only have my soapbox to speak from, so if I may: By severely negging a comment that was clearly contributing to the conversation ("is Sano's defense really that bad? Perhaps not, and here's why"), you're making BP a worse place to visit.
As I have explained, I read Kevin Goldstein's comment next to Miguel Sano's name and had simply wondered if he heard a move to the OF was now imminent, which I thought would be odd since his errors at third were actually decreasing. I was expecting a reply to that as it was the point of what I was saying, instead he got technical about the issue of Sano's errors when he could've just as easily addressed the original point and said no, I haven't heard anything of the such, what I wrote was just based on the summation of his play. I took slight issue with that as it rubbed me the wrong way, but as you can see by my second reply I was willing to put the issue to rest. I say that to preemptively refute the inevitably of someone saying this has gotten to be to big of a deal. I am not fully responsible for the path this topic has taken.
As a paying customer of this site just as you are delatopia, I hope you respect that I get to have my "little corner" of conversations, though I wonder if you'll be one of the people to minus me.
I hate for this topic to continue to take up space and I apologize to the good people on this site to have derailed it.