Richmond - Off
Mississippi 2, Mobile 7
I would say this was probably Medlen's worst appearance as a starter, which really isn't too bad. He has made an excellent transition to the longer role and has a 3ish ERA in 14 games started this season. At the same time his K rate and walk rate have remained solid (67 and 16 respectively in 72.1 IP). Who makes the majors first? Medlen or Hanson?
Potomac 3, Myrtle Beach 6
The power hours that is Myrtle Beach just keeps rolling over their opponents. On the season the Pelicans have an 81-42 record in the the Carolina League. That is 11 games better than anyone else in the entire league. That is good for the best record in the minors also as the next closest teams in wins are both in the international league with 77 apiece.
Hagerstown 1, Rome 6
The big three were doing their thing again in this one. Freddie Freeman has hits in 6 straight at bats and is hitting .444 in his last 10 games and .419 for August. His power is down a little this month but he is dragging his AVG back up. Heyward's power has returned this month. He is hitting .452 for the month of August and has 8 XBH in 11 games this month. He had 10 in 47 games in June and July. Amazingly his pre and post All Star game numbers are almost identical save for the counting stats.
Danville 5, Elizabethton 6
Someone finally got to Casey Hodges. Hodges has two starts where he has given up a total of 9 runs. In his other 9 starts he has given up 4 runs. I'll take it I guess. I would like to go on record as saying I am a big fan of Jon Gilmore. I know he sucked at Rome when they started him there, but he shouldn't be given a strike simply because he isn't Jason Heyward or Freddie Freeman (I'm no saying anyone is doing that), but to point out the guy is one pace for 50+ doubles in a 500 AB season in the GCL. If there were capitol numbers I would use them, because that is a crap ton of doubles. I get the feeling that if he were back in Rome now it wouldn't be quite the same, because remember, he struggled when he got to Danville too.
Yankees @ Braves - RAIN
0 recs | 6 comments
Can't wait for the September call-ups
but not just for who might be coming to Atlanta. I’m guessing (and could be very wrong) that there may not be very many interesting prospects going up when rosters expand in September. Brandon Jones, Josh Anderson, Lillibridge……eh, not too interesting. Now Schafer, Hanson – that would be cool, but I don’t see it happening. I could be wrong. But I digress.
The roster expansions could have a trickle down effect in the minors and I’m hoping we get to see Heyward move up, maybe Freeman, Locke, Flowers, Campbell, Gilmore – who knows. The minor league seasons end September 1st, but if any teams make the playoffs (Myrtle Beach, Mississippi), they usually dip into the lower lever teams to fill their playoff rosters, especially if some of their guys get called up to other levels. Could be interesting.
secondbass - August 15, 2008
it would be cool to see some people move up, but think about it. What position does Myrtle Beach need help at? Ernesto Mejia (the 1B) leads the teams in homers and the Pelicans have at least 5 productive OFs. There would be no place to fit Heyward and Freeman. Maybe they’ll get bumped to Mississippi
yondaime4 - August 15, 2008
Right, but....
I agree that specifically Heyward and Freeman probably won’t go anywhere, but the point is that the moves on the big club, coupled with the playoff appearances of the minor league teams, have a trickle down effect that could be interesting. In 2006, Rome added Jamie Richmond (then a highly touted prospect), Willie Cabrera, Phillip Britton, and Larry Williams to the playoff roster. Both Williams and Cabrera were outfielders at the time, and Rome certainly didn’t really need them, as they already had Jamie Romak, Jordan Schafer, Quentin Davis, and one other (maybe Concepcion Rodriguez?). Anyway, those guys got to come up from Danville, and I only remember Williams actually getting to play. And last year, Phillip Britton got to go to Mississippi from Rome, although as a catcher, he was probably actually needed. Some guys seem to get a look as perhaps a reward for performance, and some actually help wherever they go. And with the big club’s season in the tank, there’s certainly reason to believe that more prospects than normal may get a look this September when rosters expand, which would create holes in the lower levels of the minors.
Who knows? We’ll all find out very soon!
I’m going to Rome tomorrow night, by the way, and maybe Sunday. I may be able to add some shots to the recaps if I get anything worthwhile….
secondbass - August 15, 2008
Something to keep in mind is that the minor league season ends on the 1st of September. Atlanta is probably willing to wait a day to make the call ups rather than have to scramble and have a bunch of fill ins for Richmond for one day. In fact, in some past years, they’ve called up a player or two from the short season teams-Justin Willoughby did that one year.
I could definitely see Tommy Hanson getting called up in September, but they’d probably let him finish the playoffs first. Playoff competition is a good learning experience.
With Rome not making the playoffs it’s possible that some guys might move up to Myrtle Beach, but I feel like they would have-or still will-moved guys like Heyward and Freeman up a little earlier to give them some time to adjust before the playoffs. I agree with yondaime4 though, there isn’t really any place for them at the Beach.
cbwilk - August 15, 2008
BP's Monday Ten Pack
Is it wierd to say that I’m starting to become aroused by this guy’s performances?
Smoltz's Beard - August 15, 2008
no, though its probably weird that I’m not bothered by that fact.
yondaime4 - August 15, 2008
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