2011 Rookie Debut News

[Matt]

Post those call ups which will be making their debut in the BLB this season.

[BradZ]

Minor league journeyman 1B Todd Valenti gets the call for the next month to be Goto's injury replacement. Valenti, former 10th rd pick of LAD in 2005, has hit at every level he's ever been at (eventually) and now he gets chance at the BLB level.

His biggest sin has always been that he plays 1B and doesn't hit for much power. That's hard sledding to move your way up through the system with that skillset, but he's paid his dues and now gets a shot at least for a month.

[Delandis]

Hector Delgadillo (SP)

A 3rd round pick way back in 2003, Delgadillo has paid his dues to get to this point. Taking page out of the Funclown (or pretty much anybody but me) playbook, I was patient with the kid's promotion through the minors.

He's probably more of pitch-to-contact type of pitcher which is ok this year since our defense is really pretty decent. He's had a stellar season so far in Annapolis and has earned his chance.

Although he would love to close, we'll do him one better and give him a start vs. Los Alamos this week.

[Carlos]

Hector Delgadillo (SP)

A 3rd round pick way back in 2003, Delgadillo has paid his dues to get to this point. Taking page out of the Funclown (or pretty much anybody but me), I was patient with the kid's promotion through the minors.

He's probably more of pitch-to-contact type of pitcher which is ok this year since our defense is really pretty decent. He's had a stellar season so far in Annapolis and has earned his chance.

Although he would love to close, we'll do him one bette and give him a start vs. Los Alamos this week.

I'm surprised he wants to close. Would have thought he preferred to start. Interesting.

[funclown]

Probably our last post in this folder for a bit:



Todd Rabb (1B/C)


4th round, 1 pick in 2007. One of our under the radar prospects really. Since Carolina really had no need for him in 2009 we decided "what hell" maybe a DH league team could see a use for him so we sent over Jonathon Hicks (Also a prospect right now ) straight up. In 2010 we sent straight to AAA and let him work on his hitting and hopefully fielding. Turns out he went 1 for 2. This year he's batted a sick .349 with 22 homeruns and OPSing at a 1.049. Also now a top 12 prospect which was unexpcted.

With Dave P always tired around the 5th or 6th we decided why not sub Pat and minimize the offensive drop off. He can also play 1B and DH in case of injury. Should see action about twice a week on average.

[Pat]

Tony Osorio (SP)

Originally drafted as the 41st overall pick by Los Angeles in 2007, Osorio was acquired by Washington in the trade that sent Travis DuFour out of town to chase a ring. The Cuban born pitcher lacks stamina but more than makes up for it in movement, control, defense and intangibles. He currently rates as the #18 overall prospect. The 22-year-old has dominated the Triple-A level this season and despite his age, appears ready for the BLB.

I'm also interested to see how he does at the plate. Osorio, according to my scout is a 4-4-3-4-4 hitter with 6-5-5 running abilities and has the defensive skill to play IF and OF at a marginal level.

[Pat]

Jimmy "Demon" Razza (SP)

Originally drafted as the 17th overall pick in 2008 by Washington, Razza will make his debut this week, something even Razza himself doubted would ever happen. "Demon" has twice torn his labrum, in '08 and '09. He currently ranks as the 29th best prospect in baseball and has hovered in the 20s-30s since being drafted. The lefty 24-year-old has a 72% groundball and 95 MPH velocity.

[funclown]

Jimmy "Demon" Razza (SP)

Originally drafted as the 17th overall pick in 2008 by Washington, Razza will make his debut this week, something even Razza himself doubted would ever happen. "Demon" has twice torn his labrum, in '08 and '09. He currently ranks as the 29th best prospect in baseball and has hovered in the 20s-30s since being drafted. The lefty 24-year-old has a 72% groundball and 95 MPH velocity.

That pitching class has taken an awful lot of injuries.

[funclown]

Johny McDade (SP)


1st round, pick 2 in 2009. Ok, here goes nothing. With Vega pissing us off, I figure it's a nice time to see what McDade can do. I'm not sure he's ready as only now he's coming into form in AAA with an ERA of 3.12 / 1.04 WHIP. I'm really hoping Vega snaps out it and can send the kid back down to keep working on some things, but a start or 2 shouldn't hurt.

OSA has him a 6-5-5 where my scout put him at 6-6-5. BOTH has his POT at 7-6-7 and durable. Like so many players on my BLB roster smart, but lazy.

We project him as a #2 pitcher in the future. The future Ace probably is residing in AA right now.

[Delandis]

Quincy Lacombe (SP)

A 4th round pick for us in 2006, I've always like Quincy. The 24 year old Canadian was pretty amazing in high school and has pretty good stamina. He really doesn't have the stuff to blow anyone away, Lacombe relies on his ability to throw 4 or 5 pitches to keep batters off balance and the ball on the ground. He's continued to impress us at every level once he adjusts to the competition level.

As well as he's played in his professional career so far, he's probably just good enough to carve out a spot on a roster as a long reliever or spot starter as long as he has a decent defense behind him. He will likely get his first start in the BLB this week against Morgantown since we play everyday this week.

[Sharkn20]

What happens if you push a young player to the BLB before is ready to perform?? Is only about that you are going to loose that games? Or is about him dropping potential ratings or not developing properly??

Thanks for the answers!

[Pat]

Ask Tom.

[Delandis]

2011 Rookie Debut News

What happens if you push a young player to the BLB before is ready to perform?? Is only about that you are going to loose that games? Or is about him dropping potential ratings or not developing properly??



Thanks for the answers!

He will not develop properly at all IF he struggles.

[Sharkn20]

He will not develop properly at all IF he struggles.

I understand now why a 1.5/4.5 1B which I promoted to the MLB and won an award in his first year, is sliding into a 0.5/2.5 crap of player underperforming his first season....

[Delandis]

I understand now why a 1.5/4.5 1B which I promoted to the MLB and won an award in his first year, is sliding into a 0.5/2.5 crap of player underperforming his first season....

The thing is that players gain experience in the majors whether they play or not(unlike in the minors where they have to play to get better). So technically you can promote players early if they are mainly sitting on the bench learning from the vets. I'm not advising this as THE route to go but try it and see what kind of results you get.

However some people consider this a waste of a year and would just rather let the the player continue to develop in the minors which is the safer and probably more prudent route.