2005 BLB Debut Thread

[Pat]

I don't think we have one of these yet...

IF Victor Sandoval
Originally drafted 2.3 by Wilmington in 1997 out of high school. Never listed as a top prospect, Sandoval progressed through the minors to Triple-A until his minor league contract was not renewed in 2003. Signed by Washington two months later in Free-Agency, Sandoval has a career Triple-A OPS of .840 and a OPS+ of 134.

My scout has him 5-5-4-6-6, "doesn't project as a regular" who can play solid defense at 3B and DWI level at 1B. Above average on the base paths. High work ethic and very high leadership. Still just 25 years old, the lack of offense for the Bats has lead to the promotion.

He will be the backup at 1B and 3B with a spot start this week.

[fsquid]

C Bobby Montoya



This sim coming up, I will be brining up the #31 prospect according to BA in Bobby Montoya. My scout has his all his ratings but power up to his potential, so I feel now is the time.

Montoya was selected 12th overall in the 2002 draft. Despite always being on the top prospect list, he has no awards or all-star team appearances in the minors.

[umd]

SP Zack Amaral
Pick 3.23 1999

This hard throwing lefty made his BLB debut as the #5 starter in the Scorpions rotation. At 26, Amaral had spent the previous 3 seasons working to get his control, well, under control. Posting a 3.66 ERA and 1.32 WHIP and leading the Rippers to a 13-5 record last season, the time was now for Zack to make the jump. He's faired well this season, bursting out of the gates to a 6-2 record on the strength of 5 plus pitches and an arm that's been clocked consistently in the 99-101 mph range. His 95 strikeouts in 11 starts leads Death Valley this season.

[Delandis]

Jimmy Whitworth (SP)

Selected in the now extinct supplemental rounds of the draft, Jimmy has always been a guy we've liked. Jimmy spent four years as a starter while in college at Clemson and while never overly dominant, Whitworth was a solid starter at the college level. At 26, Whitworth has been slow cooked to start in the BLB which isn't a very common occurrence in the Baltimore organization. During his last four games in Annapolis (AAA), Whitworth gave up just 4 earned runs, striking out 36 batters while walking only four.

Whitworth may get his first big league start the week after the All-Star break. Plus,he's thrown two complete game wins (including a shutout) against the Lynn Patriots this year. That gave him an automatic call up opportunity.

[funclown]

Jimmy Whitworth (SP)

Selected in the now extinct supplemental rounds of the draft, Jimmy has always been a guy we've liked. Jimmy spent four years as a starter while in college at Clemson and while never overly dominant, Whitworth was a solid starter at the college level. At 26, Whitworth has been slow cooked to start in the BLB which isn't a very common occurrence in the Baltimore organization. During his last four games in Annapolis (AAA), Whitworth gave up just 4 earned runs, striking out 36 batters while walking only four.

Whitworth may get his first big league start the week after the All-Star break. Plus,he's thrown two complete game wins (including a shutout) against the Lynn Patriots this year. That gave him an automatic call up opportunity.

If he can shut down Deatherage its a no brainer.

[Jimmy]

If he can shut down Deatherage its a no brainer.

So why isn't this Detherage kid up in the bigs? He will only fail.

[funclown]

So why isn't this Detherage kid up in the bigs? He will only fail.

Just sharpening up his game.

[Sully]

SP Zack Reeves
Pick 1.3 2005

Taken with the 3rd overall pick in the most recent BLB draft, Zack Reeves will take the mound twice this week for his BLB debut. Zack has a long track record of success, winning the NCAA Outstanding Pitcher Award in 2003 and 2004 while with USC. Travis Watkins, of FSU, kept Zack from a third straight award, despite another spectacular NCAA season by Reeves. After being drafted, he was immediately placed with Dallas' AAA affiliate in Chicago. In 14 starts with Chicago, Reeves posted a 8-2 record with a 2.88 ERA, fanning 79 batters in a little over 90 innings of work. The hard-throwing lefty has been clocked in the high 90s, and features a sinker and splitter with nasty movement. Dallas has opted not to keep Reeves in AAA for the playoffs, and instead take advantage of roster expansion to get him some quality experience in the BLB. He is expected to be at the top of the rotation in 2006.

[funclown]

SP Zack Reeves
Pick 1.3 2005

Taken with the 3rd overall pick in the most recent BLB draft, Zack Reeves will take the mound twice this week for his BLB debut. Zack has a long track record of success, winning the NCAA Outstanding Pitcher Award in 2003 and 2004 while with USC. Travis Watkins, of FSU, kept Zack from a third straight award, despite another spectacular NCAA season by Reeves. After being drafted, he was immediately placed with Dallas' AAA affiliate in Chicago. In 14 starts with Chicago, Reeves posted a 8-2 record with a 2.88 ERA, fanning 79 batters in a little over 90 innings of work. The hard-throwing lefty has been clocked in the high 90s, and features a sinker and splitter with nasty movement. Dallas has opted not to keep Reeves in AAA for the playoffs, and instead take advantage of roster expansion to get him some quality experience in the BLB. He is expected to be at the top of the rotation in 2006.

Not at all shocked to see this kid up so early. Hopefully will be fully polished mid next season.

[Carlos]

Look, if I chose 4th, I probably would have gone with this kid. He's progressed really well.

I expect Reeves to be a legit starter along with the other pitchers taken early.


Sent from my mobile device.

[umd]

SP Robby "Coma" English
Pick 1.1 2004

Las Vegas, NV - The Death Valley Scorpions have announced that highly touted pitcher Robby "Coma" English will join the BLB team this week as rosters expand to 40. He's tentatively scheduled to make his debut at California. English was selected first overall in 2004. Coma played four seasons in the Cape Cod League with the Wareham Gatemen, where he went 24-9 with a 1.96 ERA and won the Outstanding Pitcher Award in 2001. Currently rated as the #1 prospect in the BLB, many expected English to play earlier this season. An aggressive offseason and a flurry of pitching deals through the July deadline allowed the Scorpions to be patient with English. Coma wound up throwing the entire season at AAA Reno, where he went 14-6 with a 3.21 ERA for the Rippers. He finished the season as the Horizon leader in K's with 185 and 2nd in wins.

[Sully]

I was hoping to see Coma and Yoyo this sim as well.

LOL, just as I posted this. There's Coma.

[umd]

I was hoping to see Coma and Yoyo this sim as well.

Here he comes. Better late than never. He picked up another point in control this past month, which is really what I was waiting for. He's 6-7-6 now of a possible 8-7-7 by my scout. His pitches still have some room to grow, like to see that curveball hit 6 out of 7. I'm absolutely in love with his 70% GB. The 5 for stamina isn't ideal, but I always try to have a strong pen. He really only needs to get to the 7th for the foreseeable future with a Bonilla-Fajardo-Manning trio anchoring that bullpen.

[funclown]

Here he comes. Better late than never. He picked up another point in control this past month, which is really what I was waiting for. He's 6-7-6 now of a possible 8-7-7 by my scout. His pitches still have some room to grow, like to see that curveball hit 6 out of 7. I'm absolutely in love with his 70% GB. The 5 for stamina isn't ideal, but I always try to have a strong pen. He really only needs to get to the 7th for the foreseeable future with a Bonilla-Fajardo-Manning trio anchoring that bullpen.

So no "spot start". I mean, if he ends up being shut down in a few starts he could be a nice matchup starter option come playoff time.

[umd]

So no "spot start". I mean, if he ends up being shut down in a few starts he could be a nice matchup starter option come playoff time.

He's not going to be playoff eligible. I did that on purpose. This is his Spring Training. I have 6 arms that I trust...Well, 5.5. The only SP I'm reluctant to throw in a playoff game is Tommy Poe at the moment.

If I had to, I'd go with a Lindsey-Manhos-Wences-Torres rotation in the playoffs with Hoffman if I need another L. I'm comfortable with that.

If I had to rate playoff rotations (assuming DuFour is fine):

Windy City (by light years)
Washington (proven winners)
Batavia (just young)
Death Valley
Baltimore (Keifer was a huge playoff get)