Charleston Riverdogs

[jacksonianmarch]

The offensive prospects have started out well sans a couple

Taylor Grote 3/7 with a double

Ray Kruml 5/12 with 2 steals

Almonte 4/11 a triple and a steal

Angelini 4/13 2 doubles

 

Adams and Lassiter (3/18 total) have started slowly

 

DJ Mitchell was dominant and he shouldnt stay in Charleston long

6IP 1H 0ER 0BB 6K

Andrew Brackman had a solid first 3 innings, but fell apart in the 4th. Overall, his line was poor

5IP 5H 5ER 3BB 5K

Manny Banuelos, the highly touted lefty INTL signee from Mexico, who is one of the youngest players in the league had a hell of a debut. BTW, he just turned 18 in March.

4.2IP 3H 1ER 6K 0BB as he ramps up his IP

[jacksonianmarch]

Phelps dominated. 5.2IP 3H 0ER 4K 0BB

Venditte chalked up his second save.

Lassiter paced the offense with a 3 for 4 day.

[jacksonianmarch]

2008 8th round pick, Dan Brewer has started out hot, hitting .400 since the start of the yr with a .488OBP.

 

Garrison Lassiter continues to pace the offense, even though he is one of the youngest players in the league at 19. He's hitting .346 with limited power at this point.

 

After horrible starts for both, 2007 HS draftees, Taylor Grote and Chase Weems have been hot lately. Grote hitting .291 with 2 homers. Weems hitting .286 with a .342OBP.

 

David Adams, the yankees 3rd rounder from a yr ago has rebounded nicely as well. He's hitting .282 with a .817OPS.

 

2 guys who started well this yr have fallen off the map. Carmen Angelini and Abraham Almonte, arguably the most talented position players on this team have really struggled. Almonte's BA is .259 with a sub .700OPS and Angelini is hitting .229 with a sub .600OPS and 13 errors.

 

On to the pitchers. Brackman has been hit or miss. 2 solid starts sandwiched between two poor ones. 1 yr removed from TJ, and I guess that should be expected. The 20K to 8BB is pretty nice to see out of the big man in the early going.

 

DJ Mitchell has been dominant. 3-0, 24IP 19H 6ER 1BB 28K. That is not a typo. He has a 28:1 K/BB ratio. And his GO/AO ratio is 1.93 to boot. He'll be out of Charleston soon. He isnt even being challenged

 

Manny Banuelos and Brett Marshall, the two youngest starters on this team, have had hit and miss starts to the season. Banuelos had one bad start where he allowed 11 baserunners in 3.2IP, but he was good in the other three (14IP 12H 4ER 4BB 14K). Marshall, for a power pitcher, he isnt striking anyone out. He also has been getting hit at a good clip. WHIP of 1.4 isnt too bad, but he needs to start missing bats.

 

Then there's Pat Venditte. The quirky switch pitcher who everyone wrote off. Well, he's started off solidly. 7.1IP 4H 0ER 0BB 14K. Overall since being drafted, he's allowed 3ER in 40IP. Not bad for a guy with apparently no stuff from either side.

[jacksonianmarch]

Update 5/11/09

 

Garrison Lassiter got really hot for about 10 games. But an injury caused him to have a rough last 10 games and subsequently landed him on the DL. He's hitting .271 with a .342OBP in early action. His return date is questionable as some think that he will be kept out until early June when the short season teams start.

 

Corban Joseph was activated in his spot and should see regular playing time until short season opens, then he might be demoted to SI.

 

Daniel Brewer, the Yankees 8th round pick from a yr ago is just lighting up A ball. .357/.458/.475

 

David Adams, the yankees 3rd rounder from a yr ago and a player the yankees hope can rise the ranks like Pedroia, has started out hot. .302/.388/.457 with 14 doubles early on.

 

Mitch Abeita, mid round catcher from a yr ago, is reaching base at quite a clip. .439OBP and .880OPS early on. If we didnt have a glut of catching talent in the system, Abeita likely would have started in Tampa.

 

The early season isnt without its disappointments.

Carmen Angelini has been about as bad as a player could be. The 10th rounder from 2007 who signed for 7 figures, is hitting under .200 with an OPS under .500 and nearly 20 errors in 30 games.

 

Abraham Almonte, the switch hitter who drew comparisons to Jose Reyes coming out of the DSL, is hitting .234 with a sub .600OPS.

 

The pitching has been up and down.

Andrew Brackman has been inconsistent as one could expect s/p TJ. He had his best effort of the season tonight, going 8IP 7H 2ER 1BB 9K. His ERA is down to 4.06 with 37.2IP 37H 17ER 15BB 38K. Since his opening start, his ERA is 3.02.

 

DJ Mitchell has been nothing short of stellar. He's the sleeper of the bunch, throwing the best sinker in the incoming draft class. He's gone 37IP 31H 8ER 42K 6BB for an ERA of 1.95 and a WHIP of 1.00. He has just been demoted to ExST to limit his innings. He'll be back in Charleston by the end of the month. And if he comes back the same way he started, he'll finish in Tampa.

 

Manuel Banuelos has been up and down also and is just s/p a short stint in ExST to limit his innings as well. The 18 yr old lefty has put up the line of 22.2IP 21H 8ER 8BB 25K. He just put up his best outing when he went 5IP 1H 0ER 8K 1BB. He will not be moving up levels most likely. He has no significant mileage on his arm and at his age, they will build arm strength over working on his stuff. He'll be a one level at a time kind of player for now.

 

Brett Marshall has been absolutely atrocious in the early going. The fireballing 19 yr old came into the yankee system a 2 pitch pitcher with a hard 96mph fastball and a plus slider. As the yankees have done with most all HS pitchers, they took away his slider and are teaching him the curve and change. Sufficed to say, it isnt working. 24.1IP 28H 18ER 12BB 11K. If he doesnt get the hang of the curve and changeup within the next yr and a half, the yankees will likely allow him to throw his slider again and convert him to the pen. Which is a place I think he ultimately ends up.

 

Pat Venditte has been nearly unhittable as the Riverdog closer. 14.2IP 11H 1ER 0BB 23K. He continues to use the switch pitcher role and continues to throw strikes from both sides of the rubber. He will likely end up in Tampa if he keeps this up.

 

Thats about it for big ceiling prospects in the yankees system, and I am stretching it with the addition of Venditte as a big ceiling player. The best of the rest include Melky Mesa, a former INTL signee who prospect people thought would be a big time prospect yrs ago, is now hitting well with 8 homers. David Phelps, the college pitcher selected in the 12th (I think) round from last yr also is off to a good start. But as a contact pitcher in a system full of power pitching, I dont think he stands much of a chance. And thats about it.

[RobiForMVP]

Started Last night in Charleston.

 

7IP BB 7K

 

For the season:

 

(1-0) 0.00ERA 27.1IP 11H 3BB 35K

 

Season is getting just ridiculous and he's not getting much attention. He's worked him way to the starting rotation for the RiverDogs.

[ORS]

Good for Hector NobodyGivesAShit.

 

2009 Charleston River Dogs

 

You would have had to look down the list like 5 whole threads to find the appropriate place for this.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hector Noesi was an afterthought coming into this season. He's a DSL signee who has battled through a bum arm and a 50 game PED suspension to make it finally to the long season leagues at 22. He throws hard, 92-95mph with good sink, but has inconsistent second and third offerings. So much so that most prospect websites had written him off. And now, it seems his curve has finally developed into a reliable pitch. If that is the case, then IMO Noesi becomes a bullpen prospect. And yes, he did just have a great start, but I would think it far fetched for him to take his marginal curve and change and turn them both into MLB pitches in one offseason. If he did, then he is gonna move up this list.

[diony]

Sorry for not being excited about a 22 year old DOMINICAN pitching in Low-A.

[jacksonianmarch]

Brackman threw a gem. 8IP 5H 1ER 6K. He really got hot over his last 5 starts.

 

30IP 26H 8ER 10BB 26K 2.40ERA 1.20WHIP 7.8K/9IP. He is really starting to come together and might be ready for a promotion.

[jacksonianmarch]

Just in time for him to implode. He walked 10 batters in 3.1IP in his last start. What is amazing is that he only allowed 3ER since he only allowed 1 hit. Not sure why they even allowed him to get to 10 walks. Thats impressive. As a big guy, he is going to need a lot of work to keep his mechanics sound. They say his FB isnt all the way back yet either, yet he's sitting 94-96mph. If he gets his mechanics down this yr and finds another couple mph on the fb, then he should shoot through the system

[jacksonianmarch]

Montero went 2 for 4 with a double today. He's 10 for his last 20 with 4 doubles and 2 homers. Wow.

[diony]

He's annihilating High-A.

 

.341/.394/.573 as a 19 year old.

[jacksonianmarch]

Charleston Riverdogs season in review.

 

I honestly dont think there was a more talented minor league team to implode then explode this season than the Charleston Riverdogs. They finished with the second best record in their division, but narrowly missed the first half title and missed the overall title by 2 games. The season was marred by injury and inconsistency as well.

 

Starting with the pitchers:

Andrew Brackman- started off strong, then imploded in the rotation. A late season switch to the pen did him wonders and makes one think that the pen could be his eventual role. He had a 2 month lull where he walked more than a batter per inning pitched and his FB was topping out in the 90mph range. Since his change to the pen, his heater had picked up into the mid 90s and his command improved. He'll be an interesting topic of conversation in prospect circles, because it sounds like NY is intent on giving him one more shot at a rotation spot

 

Manuel Banuelos- The mexican lefty pitched the entire season as an 18 yr old and he pitched extremely well. Heck, well enough to land him on the futures team and likely within the top 50 in next yrs BA list. He threw 109IP, had a 1.06WHIP and a 2.67ERA to go along with 106K's. He is now the best pitching prospect of the Riverdogs bunch and should be a fast riser next yr if he continues his dominance with Tampa.

 

Brett Marshall- 20 yrs old and arguably the best pitcher signed by NY out of the 2008 draft class had an off and on season until he went down with Tommy John surgery. He is expected to miss all of 2010.

 

Brandon Braboy pitched admirably as the swing man for Charleston. He was old for the league, but drafted out of Indianapolis as a new pitcher, he had a nice debut. His live arm projects well out of the pen, but he still has a lot of work to do on his off speed offerings

 

Brad Rulon a soft tossing right handed reliever, had a ridiculous season out of the pen. 0.88WHIP, 1.18ERA and 9.8K/9IP, he is due for a promotion, but I dont think his stuff will get by at the higher levels.

 

Promoted Pitchers

David Phelps- Phelps was our most polished draft pick out of ND a yr ago and he pitched well in Charleston. But, what he did in Tampa is going to put him on the prospect map. He was billed as a location first pitcher with a FB that topped out at 92mph and good command of an average to plus curve and an average change. But once he got to Tampa, he started sitting in the 93-95 range, something that is sure to improve his stock with the organization

 

D.J. Mitchell- A Clemson pitcher we drafted in the 10 spot in 2008, Mitchell really shone in the Yankee system. He started 2009 with Charleston and put up an incredible line. 37IP 31H 8ER 6BB 42K, which earned him a promotion to Tampa. He continued pitching well, albeit with a little less command and a little less power, but has cemented himself as a good looking sinkerballer in the NY system

 

Pat Venditte- the switch pitcher, put up a ridiculous line in Charleston. 30.2IP 24H 5ER 40K 2BB. That earned him a promotion to Tampa. His first few outing in Tampa were terrible, but he righted himself and continued dominating there with 47K in 36IP and notching a low 2's ERA. Nobody ever wants to call him a prospect because he's a pus throwing from both sides of the rubber, but he keeps getting people out.

 

On to the position players

Jose Pirela played the entire season as a 19 yr old at SS and he played rather well. His offensive line of .295/..354/.381 shows the kind of patience this kid has, but he is very, very young and his power is expected to develop eventually. He only stole 9 bases, but he should be expected to do more in the future. Regardless, it was a good debut for the kid, and he should slot into the starting job in Tampa next yr.

 

Corban Joseph played the entire season as a 20 yr old and was arguably the Riverdogs best offensive player. His line of .300/.381/.418 shows patience and some power. A quarter of his hits were for extra bases and he is expected to develop into a power hitter eventually (only 4 homers this yr). The amazing thing about this kid is that he spent the entire season playing both 2b and 3b while also being the backup SS. He should slot in as the starting 2b in Tampa for 2010.

 

Abraham Almonte- the dominican CFer, turned 20 halfway through the season. He had an up and down season. He started the yr poorly, putting a line together of .245/.303/.315 in 50 games pre-allstar (he missed a few weeks with an ankle injury). But in 65 games post allstar break, he was dynamite, .305/.355/.445. Now, he isnt a guy expected to hit 30 homers, but he has gap power (14 doubles, 10 triples 5 homers) and incredible speed (36/41 in SBs) so he is an intriguing prospect to follow mostly because of his 5 tool talent. He should slot into Tampa's open CF spot for 2010.

 

Garrison Lassiter- played the entire season as a 19 yr old. He's a big framed 3b/SS who was signed late in 2008. He came to Charleston and had a mediocre start, but an injury really shelved him prior to the ASB and he never was the same. He finished the season with a .262/.332/.337 line. He is expected to hit for power eventually, but his injury marred season will likely leave him in Charleston for 2009.

 

Carmen Angelini- I hate this kid. Literally, hate him. He was signed for 1 mil out of the 10th round in 2007. He was billed as Jeter's replacement and had all the tools. Well, turns out, he has no f***ing tools. Start out on D. He made 18 errors in his first 33 games. His line in A ball was .197/.255/.258. He was sent down to the NYP and actually got worse (.190/.253/.270) and the only reason why his SLG was up was because of his 2 homer game in late august. As much as Betances and Brackman disappointed this yr, this kid is one of the biggest prospect misses since Jonathan Poterson. Awful.

 

Promoted Hitters

David Adams- when he was drafted in the 3rd round last yr out of Virginia, everyone was touting his Pedroia-esque abilities. He was billed as scrappy, a good hitter who has some surprising pop and someone who will have tough ABs at all times. And he didnt disappoint. For Charleston, the second baseman put up a line of .290/.385/.394 with 8 steals in 67 games. Not a bad line for a guy in his first season of professional baseball, although he didnt hit any homer for Charleston. Upon promotion, though, the power quickly came through. He hit 7 homers in 65 games in Tampa and put up an OPS of .858. Overall, he hit 40 doubles between the two levels and walked 65 times. He is going to move up to Trenton in all likelihood and is going to be quite an intriguing prospect moving forward and hopefully he continues to live up to the Pedroia commentary.

 

Daniel Brewer only two promotions out of this group this yr. Brewer was an 8th round selection out of Bradley last season and he didnt disappoint. Between the two levels, he put up a line of .306/.393/.435 with 29% extra base hits and 22 stolen bases. He will likely stay in Tampa for the start of 2010 as the team's RFer and easily projects as a 4th OFer with his current skillset. If the power comes along, he could project out as a poor man's starting OFer a la David Murphy.

 

 

So overall, up and down yr for Charleston. Disappointment abounds with the biggest blue chippers in the group, between Brackman, Marshall and Angelini. But Pirela, Joseph, Adams, and Banuelos filled in as blue chippers and made 2010 far from a lost cause.