Friday, August 24, 2007
September Call-Ups
Now that we're in September, the rosters expand and previously unknown players can get their chance to shine on the big league stage. So, this is a post to discuss who we're all calling up.
Of course, since those damned Canuckleheads won't go away, I don't have room this year to experiment. So, I'll only be calling up two players. Outfielder Freddie Villacorta, who spent most of the year with the big league club already, will come up to provide depth in the outfield and a right-handed bat off the bench. I'm also calling up reliever Wesley Elton to get his first taste of the majors. He's the top rated minor league closer, according to the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list, and has pitched very well for the Tacoma Titans in AAA this year.
If Saskatoon drops off in the next sim, I may call up starting pitcher Joseph Macaluso to make a spot start as a prelude to a possible spot in the rotation next year, but that would probably be it.
Of course, since those damned Canuckleheads won't go away, I don't have room this year to experiment. So, I'll only be calling up two players. Outfielder Freddie Villacorta, who spent most of the year with the big league club already, will come up to provide depth in the outfield and a right-handed bat off the bench. I'm also calling up reliever Wesley Elton to get his first taste of the majors. He's the top rated minor league closer, according to the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list, and has pitched very well for the Tacoma Titans in AAA this year.
If Saskatoon drops off in the next sim, I may call up starting pitcher Joseph Macaluso to make a spot start as a prelude to a possible spot in the rotation next year, but that would probably be it.
# posted by Mack Shultz : 1:14 PM
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I'm going to bring up a handful of players... I'm not going to catch Nate, of course, and although it would be nice to finish ahead of Michael, next year is more important.
I was going to bring up Chester Cohen, my top ranked hitting prospect who has been doing well at AAA all year, and have him be the starter at 2B the rest of the year. But then he suffered a injury in mid-August, so it will be a couple more weeks till we see him. Instead, Samuel Matamoros will get the call, and play some at 2B and 3B. Of course Cohen remains the long term answer at either 2B or SS.
The ever-disappointing Rudolf Bigelow will get one more change to prove he's worthy of a fourth outfielder spot.
On the pitching side, we'll see the debut of one of my two prize pitching prospects. Joshua Giddings has been tearing up AA and AAA this year, with a combined record of 13-3 and a WHIP just above 1. Many thought he should have been brought up sooner, rather than spending time seeing what McKinley Donaldson could do....
Relievers Abdul Higley and Floyd Janik will get another chance to prove that they aren't AAAA pitchers.
I could bring up Fred Thomas, my other top starting pitcher prospect, but he's out of options, and I've got a glut of SPs right now and into next year (keep that in mind, anyone looking for SP help!). But to be honest, Thomas could start right now at the major league level if need be.
I like how my team is coming together for next year - except for some questions at the back end of the bullpen, and at catcher, I'm pretty much ready to go. And I have the money to go after what I need on the FA market... as long as I don't miss the first sim of FA, like I did last year!
Nate, I'm coming for you!
I was going to bring up Chester Cohen, my top ranked hitting prospect who has been doing well at AAA all year, and have him be the starter at 2B the rest of the year. But then he suffered a injury in mid-August, so it will be a couple more weeks till we see him. Instead, Samuel Matamoros will get the call, and play some at 2B and 3B. Of course Cohen remains the long term answer at either 2B or SS.
The ever-disappointing Rudolf Bigelow will get one more change to prove he's worthy of a fourth outfielder spot.
On the pitching side, we'll see the debut of one of my two prize pitching prospects. Joshua Giddings has been tearing up AA and AAA this year, with a combined record of 13-3 and a WHIP just above 1. Many thought he should have been brought up sooner, rather than spending time seeing what McKinley Donaldson could do....
Relievers Abdul Higley and Floyd Janik will get another chance to prove that they aren't AAAA pitchers.
I could bring up Fred Thomas, my other top starting pitcher prospect, but he's out of options, and I've got a glut of SPs right now and into next year (keep that in mind, anyone looking for SP help!). But to be honest, Thomas could start right now at the major league level if need be.
I like how my team is coming together for next year - except for some questions at the back end of the bullpen, and at catcher, I'm pretty much ready to go. And I have the money to go after what I need on the FA market... as long as I don't miss the first sim of FA, like I did last year!
Nate, I'm coming for you!
I'm bringing (back) up SP Brian Hersh. He's had a fair season, including a brief cup of coffee as an injury stopgap earlier this year.
I'm tempted to bring up my top pitching prospect Anthony Koepp, but he hasn't really shown a reason to jump from AA to the bigs this season. Also, why start his arbitration eligibility clock unless I need to?
A few other role players and backups with earlier big league experience this season are coming up, too. Most notable is Raymond Sant, a lifer who has excelled in the bullpen in AAA Arizona Bay and also during a brief stint with the big club in South Bay.
I'm tempted to bring up my top pitching prospect Anthony Koepp, but he hasn't really shown a reason to jump from AA to the bigs this season. Also, why start his arbitration eligibility clock unless I need to?
A few other role players and backups with earlier big league experience this season are coming up, too. Most notable is Raymond Sant, a lifer who has excelled in the bullpen in AAA Arizona Bay and also during a brief stint with the big club in South Bay.
Not too much for me this year. I called up Matthew Cassity to provide a little more depth to the bullpen for September. The loss of Theriault and Beeks was not a happy occurence along the confluence of the Ohio and the Muskingum.
Also not a lot of talent to call up because I called up Suarez, Villatoro, Hukill, Marez, Dull, and Glatt earlier this year or earlier. Effectively all of my late season call ups are up.
My AA to AAA group is looking good for next year, though. I moved up Ward,
Marzano,
Boothe, and Murry to establish their place and hopefully ability to compete for major league jobs next year. I feel good about it.
Also not a lot of talent to call up because I called up Suarez, Villatoro, Hukill, Marez, Dull, and Glatt earlier this year or earlier. Effectively all of my late season call ups are up.
My AA to AAA group is looking good for next year, though. I moved up Ward,
Marzano,
Boothe, and Murry to establish their place and hopefully ability to compete for major league jobs next year. I feel good about it.
I'm still not decided on whom I'm calling up. The only thing I know for certain is that Willis Welliver, who has been a September call up every year since 2003, will be back again.
Beyond that, we'll see as the week progresses.
Zev
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Beyond that, we'll see as the week progresses.
Zev
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