2006 BLB Debut Thread

[Matt]

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...layer_5029.png

Jamie McInturf, 1B/DH
Selected in 2003 (2nd pick, 3rd round)
2006 Tucson (AAA) .271/.327/.438, 8 HR, 35 RBI in 203 AB

McInturf won a 2002 NCAA championship as a member of the Stanford Cardinal. Known for his leadership skills and laid back demeanor, Jamie finished with a career .876 OPS in collegiate play and has demonstrated progress through every minor league level in the Denver system.

Not much of a fielder at all despite catching for most of his four years in Stanford, Denver has begun the process of developing him into a 1B/DH type.

McInturf will need to continue developing as a hitter to hold onto two positions mostly held for decorated power hitters.


http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...layer_4676.png

Pat Verba, LF
Selected in 2004 (2nd pick, 1st round) BNN #4
2006 Tucson (AAA) .322/.422/.721, 20 HR, 58 RBI in 208 AB

Pat Verba is a 2003 and 2004 NCAA champion with the Florida State University Seminoles.

He completed his four years at FSU by launching 44 home runs and driving in 150 runners in only 165 games.

Verba continued to provide a powerful bat in Denver affiliates where he has now hit 40 home runs in 218 minor league games.

Hidden within his power display is a deft base stealer with a patient bat.

Pat Verba is expected to take over the cleanup spot immediately upon his promotion, though he will need to improve defensively to comparatively support his bat.


http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...layer_4383.png

Jamie McPherson, CF
Selected in 2005 (1st pick, 1st round) BNN #1
2006 Tucson (AAA) .328/.405/.530, 8 HR, 35 RBI in 247 AB

Jamie McPherson is the consensus #1 prospect in the BLB and another member of the 2003 and 2004 FSU championship teams.

Since his arrival, McPherson has been projected as ready to play in the BLB. In short time, he climbed through the minors showcasing pieces of his ability and speed with flashes of potential power.

This season, Jamie has compiled a AAA résumé that has established his readiness to claim a spot in the Top Players list.

Still a developing base stealer with a growing power stroke, McPherson has already used his speed and bat to stretch doubles into triples and take off from first base without conscious.

His defense will need to continue to develop to be called a true centerfielder and expectations are he's going to strike out a ton, but so long as McPherson remains focused, he should be near the top of the lineup for years to come.

Carlos doesn't let any of his call-ups shave.

[Carlos]

2006 BLB Debut Thread

We have a no shave policy. Though it does appear Verba shaved for his debut.


Sent from my mobile device.

[Pat]

#43 BA Top Prospect SP Zachary Lewis will make his BLB debut this week against the defending champion Batavia Muckdogs in Washington, D.C.

He is still a bit erratic with the fastball...but he hits triple digits on the gun. His lack of control could scare a lot of hitters anyways. Turns 25 in August, originally a 2000 draft choice, 2.6 (54 overall). Not a late inning guy, due to average stamina and high pitch counts going for strikeouts, he might rely on a bullpen that has been 8th in the BLB in 2006.

[BradZ]

SP John Ayala - Ayala belongs in the "One man's trash . . ." thread too. Originally drafted by the LA Dinos in the 5th rd of the 2000 draft out of high school, Ayala was released prior to the 2001 season after appearing in 11 games as a RP during the remainder of the A ball schedule in his draft year. He was snatched up by Washington soon thereafter, but never appeared in a game at any level in the Bats organization. He was jobless for a month and a half before catching Philly's eye. He's been slow cooking in our minors ever since.

He's been called up to take a spot in the rotation and has picked up W's in 2 of his 3 starts (the third was a ND). He walks too many, which will probably prevent him from ever becoming a #3 type, but he looks like the type of pitcher that can bounce around the league and always find a job in the back of a rotation somewhere. Not bad for a 5th rd pick.

[Andrew]

SP Dave 'Pizza' Lippert
The #1 pitching prospect will be making his debut as Cleveland's third starter this sim. I drafted him 4th overall in 2005 after trading down from the #1 overall pick. He's only 22 but has had success in AAA and my scout thinks he's ready for the BLB.

[fsquid]

SP Ian Fink

The #3 prospect has been wanting to be promoted for a bit and my coaches have been too. Well, now is the time for the lad. The #2 pick in the 2005 draft, he throws 5 pitches including a forkball. Only thing I wish is that the groundball percentage was a bit higher.

[Pat]

#55 2B Danny Romero

Drafted 1.6 in 2003, the 21-year-old Venezuelan has been expecting majors since Spring Training. He's 6'4, 195 with a lefty bat. He's a stud fielder at 2B and 1B, good contact, eye and great gap power. He's a leader and is already "well known" nationally. Above average on the base paths.

This year, his second in Triple-A, he hit .271 with a .752 OPS. My two BLB 2B, Orlando Saucedo and Cy Gray, also defensive studs, have combined for a .598 OPS. Romero will be given the final month of the season to see if he can win the starting job.

[Andrew]

1B/DH Rich Pena
We have a few September call-ups this sim but Pena is one we are expecting to stick around for awhile. I drafted Pena 11th overall in 2003 after moving down from the 6th pick. The trade ended up being recent Washington call-up Danny Romero for Pena and Tyler Garner.

Pena is the 27th ranked prospect and has had an impressive minor league career. He hit .301 this season in AAA with a .900 OPS. He'll be starting at DH for Cleveland for the rest of this season.

[Pat]

SP Zach Minter

C Gil Rader

IF Travis McDowell

None are top prospects but they have been in Triple-A for a bit waiting for a chance.

[funclown]

3B Taylor Clarkson

2000 Draft rd 2 pick 8th Los Lunas

One of Gyrodorks last slow cooked prospects. Watched this kid for awhile. Like Todd Boyce never a top 100 prospect, but always received good verbage from my scout "Solid contributor".

Not going to be a bigtime power guy which will drag his OPS down, but really improved taking pitches this season in AAA (69 walks/ 89 st) and overall brought every stats up this season in AAA. Rated as a servicable 3B, but we would like his amount of errors to improve a bit.

He's 24 and really not much more to develop now. Time for some growing pains playing for a lousy team. Is he a core player? Nah, but might prove useful in the years ahead.

[umd]

We're going to roll the dice a bit and mix in some of these youngsters, hoping to get a spark here for a stretch run. If not, they'll all play an important part next season as we move away from some veterans.

SS DJ Boatner
Supp Round 2002 1.7 (37th Overall)

Boatner was acquired for pick 1.24 this season from Carolina, where he began the season playing 4 games at the BLB level. Not ready, and blocked by future HOF Tex Watts and utility IF Tom Kroeker, Boatner returned to the minors after previously skipping AAA.

At 26, he's an old man for a prospect, but he'll be a nice fit as a DWI caliber SS at the BLB level. He hit .277/.330/.397 this season in AAA, and we expect him to be a solid if unspectacular bottom of the order type hitter. There's also the possibility he adds a point or two in his development to project as a better hitter than he is at the moment.

OF Alex Pereda
1996 2.22

Signed as a minor leaguer in the middle of our rebuild in 2004, Pereda was released by Pittsburgh after originally being drafted by Mississippi. Nearly 10 seasons later, at the ripe age of 28, Pereda will get his first taste of BLB action platooning with veteran Pat Marlin in LF. With Marlin's impending free agency, Pereda will have every opportunity to win the job while TJ DiMaggio recovers from an ankle injury.

Pereda reached as high as #56 on the Top Prospects list in 1999, and has blossomed late in his career. Gaining a point in contact and a point in power, Pereda has exploded for 30 homers and 101 RBI's, while batting .287 this season for the AAA Rippers.

CF Tyler Roark
2002 2.12

Drafted in the 2nd round in 2002, Roark has held steady as a possible contributer in CF for the last several seasons. At 25, the time is now to see if Roark is ready to take a full time job as a BLB caliber OF as former reserve CF Chet Walton will not be resigned this offseason.

Roark has a nice combination of defense and hitting ability, batting .308/.352/.458 with 10 homers, 68 RBIs, 80 R, and 14 SBs this season.

He'll have every opportunity to earn a 4th or 5th OF role for next season.

SP Tom Bell
2001 2.21

Originally projected as a CL, Bell has spent the last 4 seasons as a starter. With 3 pitches that are still developing and borderline stamina, the 23 year old lefty has a bright big league future as either a starter or in the bullpen. We purposely kept him out of many trades, with the expectation he could be a big time contributer to a Coma anchored rotation. He, along with Adrian Pulido, should replace Manhos eventually as our lefties.

Bell has yet to disappoint and continues to develop, reaching 100 on the gun and recently adding points to his movement and control. In 22 starts this season at Reno, Bell went 10-2 with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He'll play September/October in our bullpen this season, with an eye to him taking over a rotation spot full time beginning next spring.

[Delandis]

2006 BLB Debut Thread

Willie Vega (SP/LR)

-Vega is definitely not on the "normal" Baltimore development plan. Drafted back in the 7th round back in 1996 by Davenport, we picked him up 1997 after he was cut by both Davenport and Pittsburgh. Though never really a standout pitcher in the minors until the last couple of years, Vega showed us he deserved his chance this year with his performance in AAA this year.

As a matter of fact., I believe he's slated to start a game this week.

[Matt]

OF Hidetoshi Haraguchi

Picked 18th in the 2002 draft he's been wanting to come up to the BLB all season long. At only 23 we really slow cooked him and it didn't help that we have Big Jon and Wyatt patrolling both OF corners already. He was the AAA Outstanding Hitter last season, will probably win again this year, and my scout thinks he's a stud. Let's see what he can do.