1988 Debut Thread

[Delandis]

I'm not sure how one of these didn't get started this year, but I guess, better late than never. To keep things moving, why don't we make this retroactive and post anyone who has been bumped up. For me its:




Zi Chen Jin

Initially a September call-up in 1987, Jin has proven himself to be a solid young infielder and a likely full time starter next year. Hitting a respectable, .289 in his rookie season. I look forward to seeing what he'll be able to do with full-time starts at shortstop next year.




Chad Stafford

We all know the jokes about Henry Stafford's big payday in Baltimore. This Stafford(no relation) is looking to erase that blemish associated with his last name. Single A OPY Award winner in 1985, this young man has outdueled most hitters in the minors with his outstanding control. He has posted an ERA below 3.0 for the majority of his minor league career. We gave him the bump last week and due to the poor play of the current Bulldog ace, Joe Soto, Stafford will get his first start against Sin City on Friday.

[Carlos]

Gotta admit, at first glance I thought it was that Stafford.

The only major debut for Denver:


Julián Murillo

Murillo is the first of what Denver expects to be a long line of pitching prospects making their debut in the coming years. Though, Murillo has not sparkled since joining the rotation - he is 4-2 with a 4.73 ERA - it is expected that Murillo will bring down his H/IP and up his K/IP with experience in the league.

[Spear]

Just made a few call ups to back up some of the regulars. Both could become future starters.


3B - Chet Benton

At the age of 19 in 1985, Benton played 130 games at 2B and 3B. He batted .280 with a .310 on base percentage. But he has seen limited action over the past three years due to the already young and effective infield at the BLB level. Everyday 3B Vern Branch is banged up so Benton might get a few chances to prove that he belongs up here once and for all.


C - Manny Cisneros

Cisneros will assume the backup catching role for the rest of the season. He is one of our many quality catching prospects. The starting job was going to be handed him to this year but Elliott was signed to a 1 year deal. If Cisneros doesn't prove he can hit BLB pitching from now until the end of the season, Elliott could return with the team in '89.

[Spectre]

CF- Cisco Garcia

I didn't want to do this but injuries have forced me to start the arbitration clock early on Cisco Garcia- he's a young CF who I traded for several years ago in a minor league deal with Syracuse. Since joining the Storm he's done nothing but hit well. He's a career .300+ hitter at each level and was hitting .309/.370/.795 at Mobile. Importantly, he has not made an error in CF. He doesn't walk that much but he's the closest thing to a top of the order hitter I have. I'm hoping he takes over CF full-time next season so this experiment was inevitable.

[Jake]

Cisco Garcia. I forgot about him. Al Wyatt is still down in the minors as well.

[Matt]

Half my team.

[Clay]

I don't think I had a single debut this season except Rod Phillips - who was Rule 5. So, really, no one I groomed.

[Pat]

RP - Don Elliot

Elliot was drafted in the 9th round of the 1986 draft. After a promising debut in Single-A, he suffered a torn tricep in his pitching arm and missed most of 1987. This season however, he has been dominant. 5-1, 5 saves, 1.69 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 46 Ks, 53.1 IP, 0 HR, Triple-A All-Star. OSA has him rated 6-7-4 and he is armed with a really good slider and fastball.

Can't really complain about a 3.33 ERA from my bullpen, but it is an area than can be improved (4th in IL). If Elliot performs well, he will likely make the post-season roster. I signed Max Oliver in July to fill this void, but he has failed.

[Clay]

Lonnie Coleman (SP)
Drafted 4.5 in 1984

Lonnie Coleman was well regarded when he was drafted out of Missouri in 1984. During the era when the Colonials were drafting pitcher almost exclusively, Coleman was yet another arm added to the farm system.

During his early days in the system, he immediately showed a knack for winning ballgames. Not always pretty, sometimes giving up more hits and runs than his Manager's liked, but he won games. After making his way to AAA in late 1986, Coleman struggled early in the 1987 season facing the higher caliber hitters. That was until a near career ending full rotar cuff tear put Coleman on the shelf in August of last season.

After a full year of intense rehab, Coleman returned to AAA Detroit in July and hit the ground running. In 11 starts, the 26 year old has turned in 8 quality starts going 6-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.

With the injury to Jerry Morgan and the roster expansion, the Colonials organization has made the decision to not only bring Coleman to Virginia, but to give him the first chance to take Morgan's spot in the rotation for the next 4 weeks. Control will be the name of the game for Coleman and anything that he can give during this Wildcard race will be a bonus.