Chronicles of the Lads

WATCH LIST UPDATE
It's been two weeks since I last did this, so here we go again. Each's player's stats as of last time (April 19) are also presented.

Erick Aybar
SS, AA Arkansas

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    82  24    6    1    0    2    8   293  341  390     
Then   43  10    3    1    0    3    2   233  292  349

You see he's picked up the average, but the power is not there at all. He somehow lost a walk, which means I probably had a typo last time.

Alberto Callaspo
2B, AA Arkansas

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    97  30    3    0    1   10    6   309  370  371
Then   45  16    1    0    0    3    2   356  388  378

The walks are a nice addition, even though the batting average has come down to Earth. He's stroked a few more doubles in the last couple of weeks. As this is his second year at AA, continued improvement would be welcome.

Nick Gorneault
OF, AAA Salt Lake

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    73  23    6    1    1    7   16   315  370  466
Then   39  11    4    0    0    4    9   282  349  385

That's more like it, as Gorneault rediscovers his power, raising his isolated power to .151. Still, this is a guy that has to hit .300 to be of much worth.

Howie Kendrick
2B, A Rancho Cucamonga

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now   111  46    7    2    8    7   19   414  459  730
Then   58  23    2    1    4    1   10   397  407  672

Um, I'm not going to complain about that.

Baltasar Lopez
1B, A Rancho Cucamonga

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    37   5    0    0    0    2   10   135  175  135
Then    0   0    0    0    0    0    0   ---  ---  ---

After having served the first two weeks of the season on a drug suspension, Baltasar is getting blown away right now.

Warner Madrigal
OF, A Cedar Rapids

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    77  17    2    0    4    1   24   221  231  403
Then   33   6    1    0    1    0   11   182  182  303

He's getting worked, and is working his way toward non-prospect status. But he has improved in the last two weeks, so don't give up yet.

Jeff Mathis
C, AAA Salt Lake

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    51  19    7    1    2    5   11   373  421  667
Then   27  11    6    1    2    5    6   407  500  926

The strong start continues, though his power and walks went away in the last couple of weeks. Still, he wasn't going to hit .400 forever; he aint' Howie Kendrick.

Mike Napoli
C/1B, AA Arkansas

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    70  20    8    0    1   20   21   286  452  443
Then   32   9    5    0    1    9   11   281  442  531

Can you believe all those walks? A little less power and he'd fit right in in the A's organization.

Sean Rodriguez
SS, A Cedar Rapids

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    86  19    4    1    1   11   14   221  316  326
Then   36   9    1    0    1    5    6   250  341  361

The hits aren't falling, and the walks won't be enough to make Brandon Wood hear footsteps if that continues.

Andrew Toussaint
2B, A Cedar Rapids

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    37  12    4    0    0    5   11   324  409  432
Then    0   0    0    0    0    0    0   ---  ---  ---

How would you feel if that start still kept you pretty much last on the organizational depth chart?

NEW ADDITION!
Reggie Willits
OF, AA Arkansas
He's been unexceptional but decent up until this year, but so far in 2005:

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now    99  38    9    3    0   12   12   384  451  535

He's also stolen 10 bases in 12 attempts; he has a good sense of the strike zone and is getting some doubles, as well. Keep your eyes open.

Brandon Wood
SS, A Rancho Cucamonga

When?  AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   SO   AVG  OBP  SLG
Now   106  35    5    2   10    7   27   330  368  698
Then   51  15    0    0    5    6   12   294  368  588

Someone's enjoying the Cal League. I love the new power, but I hate the strikeout-to-walk ratio. But this is easily the best Wood has played, hitters' league or no.

Steve Andrade
RP, AA New Hampshire (Blue Jays org)

When?   W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now     0   1    0   6   0   7.7    2    0   11    2  1.17
Then    0   0    0   3   0   4.7    0    0    7    1  0.00

FREE STEVE ANDRADE!

Daniel Davidson
SP, AA Arkansas

When?   W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now     3   1    0   5   5  25.3   37    2   18    7  3.91
Then    2   0    0   2   2  11.7   14    0    8    1  2.31

Some rockiness, but overall not bad.

Abel Moreno
Has not played.

Ervin Santana
SP, AA Arkansas

When?   W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now     5   0    0   5   5  30.0   26    1   20   13  2.10
Then    2   0    0   2   2  13.0    8    0    5    5  0.69

The strikeouts and walks are improving, and though he's given up a few more runs, it's still well within the margin of good. Does a point come where Santana moves to AAA? He's young and you don't want to rush him, but if his ERA's still below 2.50 in a month, you have to wonder what more the Texas League will hold for him. But we get ahead of ourselves ...

Steve Shell
SP, AA Arkansas

When?   W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now     1   2    0   5   5  27.7   29    4   21   10  4.88
Then    0   1    0   3   3  13.7   17    2    8    8  6.59

His last two starts, as you see, have been pretty good, as in 14 IP he's struck out 13 and only walked 2, while only allowing 12 hits and lowering his ERA by nearly two runs.

Von Stertzbach
RP, AA Arkansas

When?  W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now    1   0    5  12   0  12.0   13    2    9    7  4.50
Then   1   0    3   6   0   7.3    8    1    4    3  4.91

He's allowed 5 unearned runs, as well. He doesn't seem to have done so much better in the last two weeks than in the two weeks before that.

Bob Zimmerman
RP, A Rancho Cucamonga

When?  W   L   SV   G  GS    IP    H   HR   SO   BB   ERA
Now    1   3    3  11   0  10.7   14    1   11    5  6.75
Then   1   2    1   5   0   4.7    8    1    8    3 11.57

Ah, relievers' ERA are fun in the beginning of the season! His last six innings are rather unremarkable.

ALSO: John Sickels breaks down some of our middle infield guys at Future Angels.