Chronicles of the Lads

WATCH LIST INTRODUCTION AND UPDATE

I don't know how much I have to really introduce this thing, you'll get the idea.

One note; the OPS+ figures here are blank. I use the park adjustments at Minor League Splits (click on any player's name to go to his hub page there), but they haven't posted those as yet.

POSITION PLAYERS

Michael Collins, 1B, AA Arkansas, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     75  12  2   0   1   2  16   0   1  160 203 227  

Collins, who played catcher before this season, has demonstrated some good command of the strike zone in the past, but is off to a simply horrific start this season. He doesn't turn 23 until July; hopefully he'll be in the swing of things by then.


Hank Conger, C, A Cedar Rapids, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     68  18  2   0   3   4   8   4   0  265 306 426  

Conger's holding his own thus far, not doing anything exciting, just surviving. The stolen bases are an odd surprise.


Nick Gorneault, OF, AAA Salt Lake, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     81  15  4   0   3   9  17   5   2  185 283 346

Nick Gorneault pretty much stays on this list due to tradition. He has no future with the big club, having been passed by both Reggie Willits and Tommy Murphy (both of whom can play center), and starts like this aren't going to help. Maybe he'll become a six-year minor league free agent one day, and can end up starting in right field for the Pirates or something.


Jeff Mathis, C, AAA Salt Lake, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     81  24  6   0   2   5  13   2   0  296 333 444

Nothing here is going to light a fire under Mike Napoli. This still projects as an average in the .220-.230 range, and Mathis just doesn't have the other offensive skills requisite to carry that kind of average.

This performance is better than Napoli's so far, by just a bit. If Mike doesn't turn it on, who knows, maybe we'll see Mathis. But his development may be in danger of stagnating. The good news is that it's early in the season, so there's plenty of time for both guys to get it together.


Kendry Morales, 1B/DH, AAA Salt Lake, BB/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     73  21  2   0   1   2   9   0   1  288 307 356

Yet another slow start in Salt Lake. Kendry did have the interruption of coming up to the majors, and we all know he's better than this, but once again, we have a guy who's not hitting well enough to demand immediate attention.


Sean Rodriguez, SS, AA Arkansas, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     81  25  6   0   4  12  21   3   3  309 423 531

Hey, look at this! A top prospect actually hitting well. Sraud is still striking out a bit much, but he has a ton of walks to go with it (they vanished for awhile last year), and is off to an all-around good start. By comparison, Brandon Wood hit 276/355/552 at AA last year, and struck out in 29.4% of his plate appearances compared to Rodriguez's 22.6% so far. If Rodriguez can keep this up, he can really force himself into the picture, and maybe even pass up Brandon Wood (despite the fact that Wood is a level higher at the same age). Few see Rodriguez's future at short, and second is blocked, so he could possibly jump ahead of Aybar and move Wood back to short. It's also not hard to see him in the outfield, either as Garret Anderson's successor or as a Kirby Puckett type in center. Moves would have to be made to create room, but if Sean keeps this up, the Angels should be ready to accommodate.


Mark Trumbo, 1B, A Cedar Rapids, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     49  10  1   0   1   2  16   0   2  204 245 286

Grabbing Trumbo in the draft, and then saving him from the ignominy of attending U$C, was seen as something of a coup for the Angels, but the guy has had, what, one good month in professional ball? He's now struggling, and struggling big, at the onset of his encore engagement in A ball. With every whiff he's looking more and more like Josh Booty and less and less like a diamond in the rough. He is only 21, but he's gotta turn this around.


Brandon Wood, SS, AAA Salt Lake, BR/TR

When    AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Now     84  22  6   0   3  11  28   2   0  262 351 440

We know he's not ready for the majors yet. Brandon needs to cut down on his strikeouts. At least he's starting to draw more walks, but in this hitting environment, I'd like to see him get his average up above .310 or so. The season is still very early and he has plenty of time. That's time he needs to develop, and poise himself to take over the hot corner next season.


Watch Out:

Who       Lvl  AB  H  2B  3B  HR  BB  SO  SB  CS  AVG OBP SLG OPS+
Bourjos    A   66  15  1   2   1   8  16   8   1  227 325 348
ClyFuller                has not played
Mount      A   58  13  2   0   0   6  10   3   1  224 288 259
Ortiz                    has not played
Peel       AA  84  16  4   1   1   2  13   0   0  190 239 298
Phillips   A   65  13  0   2   0   2  25   3   1  200 235 262
Rivera                   has not played
Sandoval   AA  83  23  5   1   1  13  13   6   2  277 375 398
Statia     A+  99  26  7   0   0  10  14   8   1  263 336 333
Sweeney    A   63  22  3   1   1   8  13   0   1  349 431 479

Peter Bourjos is a good defender (reputedly) and fast (evidently), and is doing a good job drawing walks, though we'll need to see that average come up. Clay Fuller is waiting on his first 2007 appearance. Ryan Mount, part of the middle infield monopoly at our lower levels, is struggling in the Midwest League. Norberto Ortiz has also yet to debut. Aaron Peel is repeating at AA, and is going nowhere fast. P.J. Phillips struggled last year and is off to one ugly start this season. Luis Rivera also hasn't played. Freddy Sandoval can at least control the strike zone and run (and defend), but he'll need more pop to stay out of a utility role at the highest levels. Hainley Statia is coming off a strong year, but hasn't gotten anything going thus far in the Cal League, despite a solid walk total and walk-to-strikeout ratio. Third baseman Matthew Sweeney hasn't found his power stroke (weather may be a factor here), but is doing everything else you could hope for.


PITCHERS

Nick Adenhart, RHSP, AA Arkansas

When  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA  
Now   3  1   0   5 5   33.7  24  0  27  10  0.80

This is frakkin' awesome. I'm trying to find flaws here, and it just ain't workin'. I'd say that Adenhart is our best prospect, right now, at this moment. This is The Franchise. Stay healthy, kid.

Jose Arredondo, RHSP, AA Arkansas

When  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA
Now   0  1   2   8 0   11.0   8  1  14   5  1.64

Arredondo tore up the California League early last year, earning a call-up to AA, where he got rocked for a few months. His return engagement is going much better, as you can see. I'd like to see less walks, but otherwise is going strong.


Gustavo Espinoza, LHSP
Just to remind you that (1) he exists and (2) I am stubborn.


Stephen Marek, RHSP, A Rancho Cucamonga

When  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA
Now   1  0   0  3   3  15.0  12  1   7   6  2.40

Mediocre peripherals so far, but Marek only has a few starts and has been doing okay. He struck out a reasonable, but not dominant, number of guys at Cedar Rapids, so I'm not too concerned for now.


Tommy Mendoza, RHSP
Has not played.


Sean O'Sullivan, RHSP, A Cedar Rapids

When  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA
Now   1  2   0  4   4  23.0  26  2  13   6  3.52

His peripherals aren't blowing anyone away, but this Kevin Appier-looking type pitched very well in rookie ball last year, and pending some more strikeouts is off to a good start in the Midwest League.


Steve Shell, RHSP/RP, AAA Salt Lake and AA Arkansas

When  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA
Now   0  0   0  2   1   7.0   9  1   3   1  1.29 AAA
Now   0  0   0  4   0  10.3   8  1  14   1  0.87 AA

I've always thought that Shell might end up in the bullpen, and our rotation depth chart is pretty stacked right now. Still, he's 24, and I don't see what the harm would be in having him in Salt Lake's rotation. Sure, he got rocked there last year, but has needed one year to adjust at every single level, and we've got guys like Kasey Olenberger (age 29), Henry Bonilla (28), and Pedro Liriano (26) in the rotation. Do those guys have futures with the team?


Watch Out:

Who       Lvl  W  L  SV  G  GS  IP    H  HR  SO  BB   ERA
Bell       A   0  2   0  2   2  11.0  15  0   8   1  5.73
Bulger    AAA  1  1   0 10   0  12.3  12  1  15  10  4.38 
Green      AA  2  1   0  5   5  27.0  22  2  21   7  5.00
Madrigal    A  0  1   1  9   0   9.3  10  2  10   1  3.86 
Rodriguez  AA  0  2   0  8   0  11.3  15  0  10   4  3.97

Trevor Bell only has a couple of games under his belt, so it's too early to say much. Aren't you gald we have Jason Bulger instead of Albert Callaspo? (Callaspo is struggling right now with the D-Backs, actually.) Nick Green has good peripherals, but has given up some runs in the early going. Warner Madrigal is just learning his craft as a pitcher after a rocky career as a toolsy non-hitter; Mark Trumbo, are you paying attention? Rafael Rodriguez is another guy who played well at high-A last year before struggling at AA, though he seems back on track in the early going this season.