1991 BLB Debut Thread

[Matt]

For those up and comers that are getting a shot in 'The Show' this season.

[Matt]

MR Basil Petrohilos
1988 - Rd 3, Pick 9

Basil was one of the picks that came over in the Alsina/Ednams deal with Davenport back in 1987. With a starters stamina the Muckdogs can only dream that him and fellow youngster Yann Martel develop a 3rd pitch. For the time being though the 98 MPH fastball thrower will get a chance in the Batavia bullpen.

[Clay]

Great name... great prospect... looks like a young Kris Draper.

[Gyrodork]

SP - Don Davis

1987 Rd 1, #16 Overall

BLB's #19 prospect, according to Baseball America's last assessment. Needs to work on his control, but I'm counting on legendary Pitching Coach Tabor Felix to address that.

CL - J.J. "Crackpot" Black
1988 Rd 2, #36 Overall

He was called up in the second half of the season last year, but I thought I'd give him his due. I have officially recovered from losing Jerry Kraft to FA. I hope I can keep this guy for a while.

Giovanny Sapiara may end up as my backup Catcher; but at 28 he's not going to develop into anything special. CF Artie Dickerson will probably break into the lineup at some point this season. I picked up veteran CF Joe Viret in Free Agency, and Salguero might hit well enough to hang on to his starting spot. This position is up for grabs this spring.

[Delandis]

CL Don McKay
1987 - Rd 2, Pick 12

1987. A good year of picks for Baltimore.

Our first round pick was Loren Wallace and McKay was just behind him. Although he was called up for September work in 1990, McKay just missed the innings minimum with 24.2 innings pitched last year, and is therefore, still considered a rookie.

This year, McKay has moved to closer role in Baltimore and played well. Opponents are hitting just .186 against the 23-year old, native Californian and he leads all Baltimore relievers with four saves with 0 blown saves so far.

[BradZ]

CF - Marlon Dixon

Former 3rd round pick by the Dallas Snappers in the 1984 draft (72nd overall), Dixon was picked up a few weeks ago in a swap of AAA players with Davenport to increase our BLB/BLB ready OF depth. He’s been an OBP machine (.429 in parts of 3 seasons in AA, .398 in parts of 3 seasons at AAA) and a premium CF defender. He brings speed and defense to a position where those two traits play well. He’s not a great contact guy, but hopefully his ability to get on base will translate to the big leagues.

He’ll be the busier half of a LH/RH platoon with young OFer Pat Gibson who has really struggled since breaking his wrist midway through the ’90 season. This might well be the most fragile platoon in the league since both Dixon and Gibson have been plagued by injuries throughout their careers. That’s the primary reason Dixon is making his BLB debut at the advanced age of 25.

[Jistic]

SP Ivan Vasquez 22 years old made his debut this week. The Righty is rated as the #72 prospect in the BLB. Vasquez was drafted in the 5th round by the Indianapolis Clowns. Vasquez was then moved to Pittsburgh and then to Windy City in the mega trade involving Raul Carillo and Dunmore Theodore.

Vasquez's debut was a success facing the feared Virginia Colonials lineup he pitched 5 solid innings only giving up 1 hit, no earned runs walking 4 and fanning 3. Vasquez's repertoire is outstanding and we see good things for him in the future.

[Ryan]

SP Ivan Vasquez 22 years old made his debut this week. The Righty is rated as the #72 prospect in the BLB. Vasquez was drafted in the 5th round by the Indianapolis Clowns. Vasquez was then moved to Pittsburgh and then to Windy City in the mega trade involving Raul Carillo and Dunmore Theodore.

Vasquez's debut was a success facing the feared Virginia Colonials lineup he pitched 5 solid innings only giving up 1 hit, no earned runs walking 4 and fanning 3. Vasquez's repertoire is outstanding and we see good things for him in the future.

I knew he'd be a good one. Looks like a #3 type, IMO. Good luck with him.

[funclown]

SP - Manny Ocampo

Manny was a 6th rounder back 1986. A young 17 year old at the time was overlooked by many. Wearing an Iron-Tshirt of Tootie from "The Facts of Life" TV series on draft day was rumored to hurt his stock value.

Since the Tootie incident, each year Manny has been creeping up the top 100 prospect list up to #47 in 1991. At (AAA) this year 1.34 ERA/ WHIP .89. An injury to steady veteran Larry LaRochelle has hastened his moved to the big time.

[Matt]

2B Helespontico Jarava

Drafted in '89 with the Muckdogs 2nd round pick Jarava was thrust into the BLB lineup due to the trade of Dynes to Baltimore. He is extremely smart and his work ethic is top of the line, and he used those tools to go from AA to BLB in a matter of months. Scouts have been raving over the fact that he rarely strikes out and hope that continues on the big league level. So far in his 1st week in the BLB he hit .321/.387/.321.

[Spear]

CP - Hans Gordinho

Gordinho was the 16th overall pick in this year's BLB amateur draft and has already made the jump to the big leagues.

The same week Gordinho made his debut, Davenport's All-Star closer Doug Hill went down with a tear in his elbow. Hill is slated to be out for 9 months which means Gordinho has been given the reigns to become the full-time closer in 1991.

At the young age of 22, Gordinho is a rare talent to make the jump to the big leagues straight from College. We'll see if the youngster can handle the pressure of closing out games for a division leading team.

[Delandis]

That's great Spear. Been waiting to see this happen. I'll be keeping tabs on him.

[Dave]

SP Seika Sumita
1988 - Rd 7, 163rd overall

Sumita was a somewhat unheralded 7th round draft pick in 1988, following a disappointing final year of college ball in which he posted a 5.05 ERA. Due to his relatively low stamina and high strikeout potential, Sumita was originally envisioned as a closer prospect and remained in the bullpen as recently as last season. But given another chance to start this season, he dominated competition at single and triple A levels and fast-tracked his way to the major league club behind a live fastball and a devastating slider. Sumita has responded by winning his first two major league starts, both on the road, including a 6-inning, five-hit, one-run performance against division-leading Philadelphia. With Dani Marin being shelled this season to the tune of a .305 opposing batting average, Sumita could be up for the long haul. His arm still isn't as stretched out as we'd like, but he does have the league's best bullpen finishing games for him.

MR Yoshio Yoshida
1991 - Rd 2, 32nd overall

Sin City's Asian Invasion continues with the rapid arrival of this year's 2nd round draft pick, Yoshio Yoshida. One thing that attracted our scouts to Yoshida was his major league readiness and we couldn't pass up a chance to bolster an already strong bullpen. Yoshida got his feet wet with a six-pitch, one-batter outing against California before being called upon two days later to pitch the final two innings of a 6-2 victory over those same California Kodiaks. Yoshida responded with two clean innings and has quickly earned the trust of manager and fellow countryman, Tetsuzan Inoue. Yoshida is expected to join Willie Copeland, Vernon Simmonds and Joe Jaureguy in working the latter part of games in Sin City for the remainder of this season and beyond.

[Sully]

CL Nate Barlow
1989 Round 4, Pick 3 by Pittsburgh

With the trade of Kenshin Krsnich to Baltimore, and the hate for Hernando Ortiz in the clubhouse, Nate Barlow was called up to take over the closing duties in Wilmington. Nate was a key piece acquired in the deal that sent Alvarez to Pittsburgh, and we hope he will be the closer in Wilmington for years to come.

[Delandis]

I would bring Ortiz back to Baltimore too....but yea....he's not looking too hot right now.