1993 BLB Debut Thread

[Pat]

I don't think we have one yet this season...

Kel Murphy
Pick 4.11 - 1987
Starting Pitcher (L)

Now is the time. Murphy just pitched three of his best games this season consecutively. Once rated as the 91st best prospect, Murphy usually hangs on my teams prospect list just outside the top 100. I'm assuming he is one of the top 200 prospects in baseball.

My scout thinks he is good enough to be a #3 workhorse in a rotation. OSA thinks he is a bullpen/emergency starter. Four pitches, a plus fastball and a plus sinker. He got two Spring Training starts this year and got rocked.

Let's see what you got, rook.

[Pat]

Shawn Burton
Pick 2.13 - 1990
Corner Outfield

Is Shawn Burton ready for the BLB? Better question, is the BLB ready for Shawn Burton?

My past two scouts have absolutely loved this guy. He's a giant of a baseball player at 6'5 235lbs, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Currently the 97th best prospect in baseball, Burton has hit very well the past two years in Triple-A. An All-Around good hitter.

The system report hasn't said anything about him being ready but he has proven about all he can in the minors. He will start at RF right away.

[Lintyfresh85]

RP - Lanny Stevenson
Round 3.23 in 1988 draft by Maine

California will be making their first pitching call-up for the year, and it's not who you're thinking.

Adding an arm to a struggling bullpen, the Kodiaks will be calling up hard throwing right hander Lanny Stevenson who was brought over from Maine along with Top Prospect Joe Lopez in the Jared Austin deal.

Lanny, a converted starting pitcher, is a max effort guy. He strikes a lot of hitters out, and he nearly walks just as many. Bringing heat ranging from 98-100, Stevenson profiles as a back end of the bullpen arm as long as he can reign in his control. The Florida State grad was 7-0 with 4 saves in 39 appearances for AAA Bakersfield, posting a 1.17 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 46.1 IP. For the season, Stevenson has struck out 59 hitters.

Optimistic player projection - Deron Vaughan, the IL years

Pessimistic player projection - Deron Vaughan, the DL years

[Pat]

Edgar Salazar
Pick 1.24 - 1991
Closer

It's time.

According to my scout, Salazar is the third best player, regardless of position, right now, in my entire organization behind Derek Tucker and Mike Murdock. And I'm not talking potential, in which he is the top rated.

Armed with a 98 MPH fastball and plus splitter, Salazar has struck out 387 in just 289 innings in HS and minors combined. He has a 67% groundball with top notch intelligence and work ethic. It appears he still has some developing to do on his control but he has done just about all he can at Triple-A.

The minor league system report, for the first time, says he is probably ready. Good enough for me. I've been on the trigger since April.

[Pat]

Don Bolton
Pick 1.18- 1990
Pitcher

Oh boy. 101 mph and no control.

[funclown]

Don Bolton
Pick 1.18- 1990
Pitcher

Oh boy. 101 mph and no control.

Lol, I got a guy like that in AAA right now. I'll have to see how your guy does.

[funclown]

SS Deron Robinson
Pick 1.7 - 1989

He was drafted the first year I took control of the team and a prompt 9 month injury made me forget about him. After a slow development, past few seasons he has been been coming on (which is probably good or else I might of traded him). Now #49 prospect, looks like during the month of Sept he will spend sometime at 2B. My manager wants me to start him right now, but he will just get a taste this month then back for more grooming.

We continue to work with him at AAA at SS, but he still has some time to grow up in 1994. Looks like he might be more of a power hitter in the future.

Season stats (AAA):

.AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K AVG OBP SLG SB
260 80 20 6 8 45 49 52 .308 .426 .523 13

[Lintyfresh85]

OF - Wes Farmer

Round 2.17 in 1989 draft

Time for September call-ups. Only two players will be making their BLB debut this sim, both are OF'ers.

Wes Farmer, a power hitting outfielder will platoon initially, with Jose Compres who is expected to leave California after the season. Farmer mashes RHP, but struggles against LHP, so it'll be fun to see how he handles some of the better RHP the BLB has to offer. I expect him to win the RF job outright in ST next year... but this is a good audition for Farmer.

OF - Vic Watson
Round 5.19 in 1990 draft

Watson broke onto the scene in the 1991 season posting a .338/.432/.450 line in 456 AB's with A Ball Seattle. He followed that up in 1992 by posting a .342/.419/.487 line in AA Sacramento. Following a position switch to CF, Watson posted 54 extra base hits in AAA in 1993 and has forced his way into discussion for a lineup spot in 1994.