7/31: Rangers Farm Report

The Newberg Report surpassed 9,000 subscribers yesterday.  Thanks for reading.  I’m assuming I still have a job despite the loss of so many minor leaguers.  I can expand my focus if things get slow.  Real estate trends.  Russian history.  How to properly saute Brussels sprouts. 

Stars of the Day
AAA: Omar Beltre, Tanner Scheppers, Pedro Strop / Craig Gentry, Brandon Boggs
AA: Richard Bleier / Johnny Whittleman, Joey Butler
High-A: Cody Podraza, Jake Kaase, Mike Bianucci
Low-A: Jake Brigham, Ovispo de los Santos / Jared Bolden
Short-A: Andrew Doyle, Tim Stanford
Rookie: ugh

AAA: at Oklahoma City 4, Round Rock 1
Record: 57-48, +3.5

Texas didn’t trade its whole system; its AAA squad featured three pitchers who could help in September (or sooner).  Omar Beltre (2.50 ERA) worked six innings on just 75 pitches and limited the Express to a run on two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.  Tanner Scheppers threw 16 of 21 pitches for strikes in a two-innings, two-strikeout appearances.  Pedro Strop fanned two in a clean 9th. 

Brandon Boggs (pictured) was 2-3 with a double and walk.  Craig Gentry reached on two HBPs and a walk. 

AA: at Frisco 4, San Antonio 7
Record: 19-15, -1.0

To the disappointment of my attending sister and nephew, Frisco coughed up its 4-1 lead in the 8th. 

Frisco suited up ten pitchers and 10 position players.  CF Engel Beltre departed after hitting the outfield wall in the 1st, leaving the Riders with no bench.  Reliever Tim Murphy can play an outfield corner (and did so in Bakersfield a while back), but if MIFs Marcus Lemon or Renny Osuna goes down, the alternatives are… interesting.  Elio Sarmiento, second baseman?

Given the overuse of the bullpen lately, Richard Bleier (4.76 ERA) was the ideal starter, and he lasted 7.1 innings.  A walk and hit batter ended his evening.  Both would score, giving him three earned runs in total on eight hits, a walk, and four strikeouts.  Tim Murphy allowed four runs on four hits including a three-run homer with two out after an Emerson Frostad error. 

DH Johnny Whittleman drove in three on a single and double.  He’s batting .233/.333/.383 since rejoining Frisco.  Joey Butler singled and tripled. 

Marcus Lemon has started 16 consecutive games at second base after spending most of the season in left or at DH.  He’s batting 300/.347/.371 during that span but has committed five errors. 

Frisco did in fact receive reliever Mark Hamburger yesterday.  Texas acquired Hamburger for Eddie Guardado in 2008, and the 23-year-old has pitched very well in Bakersfield, compiling 49 strikeouts in 45.2 innings and a 1.77 ERA.  Elizardo Ramirez also dropped down from AAA.

Kasey Kiker was shipped to Arizona and placed on the DL with shoulder fatigue. 

High-A: Bakersfield 10, at Lancaster 5
Record: 23-12, +4.0

Thanks to an extremely unbalanced schedule, Bakersfield rarely visits Lancaster, one of the most hitter-friendly parks on the planet.  Often, the wind blows out to center at 25 MPH or higher.  In 2007, Lancaster and its opponents averaged 16.2 runs per game at home.  That figure has fallen to 12.4 this season (in part because Lancaster’s offense is awful), but the park is still inflating scoring by 18%.  I would rather Texas keep its affiliation with Bakersfield than play in Lancaster or High Desert.  If you’ve wondered how Bakersfield can play offense-neutral despite a center-field wall a modest 356 feet from home plate, look to Lancaster. 

The goal for pitchers is survival, and Wilfredo Boscan (4.13 ERA) survived last night.  In seven innings, Boscan walked none, struck out eight, and allowed five runs on 11 hits. 

DH Mike Bianucci (.249/.302/.407) went 3-5 with two doubles.  LF Cody Podraza (.636 in three high-A games) collected two singles and a walk. 

Low-A: at Hickory 3, Kannapolis 2
Record: 19-14, -3.0

Vin DiFazio singled home Jared Bolden in the 9th for the victory.  Bolden’s two-run homer in the 6th had erased a 2-0 deficit.  SS Jonathan Roof (.282/.317/.282) was 2-3.

Jake Brigham (4.21 ERA) fanned three in a seven-inning, 97-pitch outing.  He allowed two runs on five this and a walk.  Ovispo de los Santos threw two perfect frames with three strikeouts. 

Short-A: Spokane 1, at Eugene 2
Record: 1-2

Spokane four-hit the Emeralds to no avail.  Starter Andrew Doyle yielded an unearned run in four innings on two hits and two strikeouts.  Tim Stanford fanned two in two innings.  Colby Killian (2.63 ERA) allowed one hit and struck out three in two innings, but his two-error 7th helped to pushed Eugene’s go-ahead run across in the 7th. 

CF Jake Skole (.281/.350/.360) went 2-4 and scored Spokane’s run. 

Rookie: Rangers 0, Brewers 14
Record: 15-16, -6.5

Yipes.  Shawn Blackwell couldn’t escape the 1st (0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R), and Korean import Tae-Kyung Ahn can’t find the plate (0.2 IP, 4 BB, 11 walks in 4 IP this season).  Edward Alfonzo made a successful professional debut as a pitcher (1 IP, 0 R) after converting from the outfield.  Richard Alvarez (1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB) pitched for the first time in three weeks. 

DH Drew Robinson (.286/.415/.364) had two of the team’s five hits. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Mike Ballard
AA: Maybe Elizardo Ramirez, who threw two innings three days ago.  Or, as I tweeted yesterday, Frisco will have three folks throw ceremonial first pitches, and the one with the best velocity joins the rotation.
High-A: Carlos Pimentel
Low-A: Braden Tullis
Short-A: Randol Rojas
Rookie: Ezequiel Rijo
-Scott Lucas

7-29 Newberg Report TROT COFFEY*

(* Trade Rumor Offerings To Chew On For Fun, Even Yuks)

Not to be confused with Brewers journeyman reliever Todd Coffey, the TROT COFFEY is a mailing list-only update on various trade and free agent rumblings unearthed, if not hatched, by the media:

But first, real quick: The Rangers’ Stretch Drive promotion closes at the end of the day tomorrow.  You can reserve seats for the final 24 home games of the season, which includes five with the Yankees, three with the Red Sox, three with the A’s, and the regular-season-ending four with the Angels – and guarantees you the option of purchasing the same seats for all playoff games.  It also includes significant savings off gate prices.  Basically, you get to be a season ticket holder now, just in time for the post-season. 

More details are contained in the attached PDF and on texasrangers.com.  You can also email Troy King at TKing@texasrangers.com with questions, or call 972-RANGERS.

·         The Rangers were “inching closer to a first base acquisition” on Wednesday (Jim Bowden, MLB Network Radio/Fox Sports Radio)

·         According to local reports and the identified national outlets, Texas is said to be in the mix, to one degree or another, for Prince Fielder (Jon Heyman, Sports Illustrated; Will Carroll, Baseball Prospectus), Adam Dunn (Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports), Jorge Cantu (Jayson Stark, ESPN; Rosenthal), Ty Wigginton (Rosenthal), Mike Lowell (Rob Bradford, WEEI, noting that Lowell is 11 for 22 with four doubles and four home runs in five rehab appearances over the last week), and Wes Helms

·         We talked about the Fielder idea during a radio segment I did on 105.3 The Fan yesterday; I just don’t think it makes sense to part with, say, Martin Perez or Tanner Scheppers, plus Chris Davis (who would be the 2010 version of the Nelson Cruz piece that was included when the same two teams made the Carlos Lee deal in 2006), plus an arm like Scott Feldman or Matt Harrison, plus another blue-chip prospect like Engel Beltre since the Rangers would need Milwaukee to dump a bunch of cash into the deal – if we’re going to load up with a package that looks anything like that (and I do expect the Brewers to demand something along those lines since they’d be giving up a year and a half of Fielder), I’m going hard after Josh Johnson or Zack Greinke or someone like that

·         According to a local report, Texas refused to discuss Beltre with Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade talks

·         I suspect it would take less to get Dunn than to get Fielder, but it’s still probably a prohibitive demand (Washington reportedly asked either for second baseman Gordon Beckham straight up or a package including righthander Dan Hudson plus either catcher Tyler Flowers or outfielder Jordan Danks or third baseman Brent Morel from the White Sox); don’t hold your breath

·         Shoehorning this in: Baseball America’s Jim Callis issued a Prospect Dream Team earlier this week, including Perez in his starting rotation and making Scheppers his closer

·         The Rangers haven’t ruled out waiting until August to address first base (Rosenthal)

·         According to a local report, Florida is interested in Frisco reliever Evan Reed as part of any Cantu trade

·         The Marlins are “believed to be looking for [a] young” lefthander for Cantu (Rosenthal) (for Texas, Derek Holland and Perez and Robbie Erlin are obviously not up for discussion, which could put Harrison or Michael Kirkman or Robbie Ross in play, though I doubt Texas would move Harrison for a bench bat; Kasey Kiker likely has no trade value at the moment)

·         The hangup between Texas and Florida on Cantu is that “the Marlins are balking at [taking on virtually all of the $2 million remaining on Cantu’s 2010 contract] unless the Rangers are willing to dramatically upgrade the player return” (Stark)

·         Nonetheless, “one [big league] source . . . believes that the Marlins, while still talking with other clubs, will get something done with Texas, as long as [the] Commissioner's Office signs off on [the] financials in the deal” (Gordon Edes, ESPN Boston)

·         The same local report that mentioned Reed adds that “clubs are inquiring” about Bakersfield reliever Fabio Castillo (the Reed and Castillo notes illustrate the importance of the Rangers’ prospect depth, as those two are probably on the third tier of the club’s prospect inventory but are still drawing July interest)

·         According to a local report, Texas has dispatched a scout to Washington to keep tabs on Josh Willingham and Cristian Guzman

·         Various reports indicated that the Rangers were in on Derrek Lee, who wielded his 10/5 rights and declined a trade to the Angels on Wednesday

·         The Angels may have “pulled back” from the trade market, deciding that, at 8.5 games back, the odds of extending their season past 162 don’t justify gutting the farm system for a short-term fix (Rosenthal) (see Sosa/Alvarez/Fletcher for Baines/Manrique, which went down 21 years ago today) (yesterday afternoon’s injury to scratched starter Joel Pineiro, who will miss 6-8 weeks with a strained oblique, surely sealed the Angels’ decision) (I sorta wish they did give up a legitimate prospect or two for Derrek Lee)

·         Los Angeles could even go so far as to becoming a seller this weekend rather than a buyer, potentially listening to overtures for veterans like Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes, Hideki Matsui, and Maicer Izturis (Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times)

·         Related note: Oakland righthander Ben Sheets is done for the year, needing flexor tendon surgery

·         The second-worst part about the Angels’ acquisition of Dan Haren, for me, is that the Yankees were said to be in on Haren, whose acquisition presumably would have taken them out of the Cliff Lee hunt this winter

·         At least one local report suggests that there are clubs showing some level of interest in Scott Feldman and Rich Harden (also reported by Rosenthal)

·         Texas maintained interest in Roy Oswalt, even after acquiring Cliff Lee (Rosenthal, Heyman), but this morning all indications are that the Astros and Phillies have agreed on players (reportedly including lefthander J.A. Happ, righthander Vance Worley, and maybe two more arms) and await only Oswalt’s approval of the deal, which could include a decision on whether his 2012 option would be exercised now

·         Sadly (if you’re a Phillies fan), any package headed by Happ probably means Philadelphia will give up more for Oswalt than they got for Lee

·         The Rangers asked Florida about righthander Chris Volstad but “were turned away” (Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post)

·         The Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers are interested in Oakland reliever Michael Wuertz, but Oakland, “barring [a] knockout offer,” won’t trade the right-handed slider specialist (Rosenthal) (I’d love to add Wuertz here, but not for what the A’s would evidently want)

·         Get this: When Texas recently approached Pittsburgh about reliever Joel Hanrahan, the Pirates, “according to a scout with direct knowledge of teams’ dealings,” responded by asking for Neftali Feliz in return (Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) (umm, wow)

·         The $590,000 signing bonus that Texas gave this week to California high school righthander Cody Buckel, the club’s second-round selection in June, was more than $80,000 over slot – the second-highest over-slot deal announced so far across the league (Callis; Kevin Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus) (Buckel, who is forgoing a commitment to Pepperdine, will report to the Arizona League)

·         The Rangers have granted righthander Geoff Geary’s request for his release

·         The trade deadline arrives Saturday afternoon at 3:00 Central; stay tuned  

7/23: Rangers Farm Report

Stars of the Day
AAA: Guillermo Moscoso / Mitch Moreland, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Ryan Garko, Matt Brown
AA: Martin Perez, Tim Murphy, Evan Reed / Emerson Frostad, Andy Jenkins
High-A: Jonathan Greene, Chris Gradoville
Low-A: Joseph Ortiz / Vin Difazio, Guillermo Pimentel
Short-A: Ben Rowen, Justin Earls, Francisco Mendoza / Santiago Chirino

AAA: Oklahoma City 8, at Iowa 4
Record: 53-44, +2.0

Playing first base for the 7th consecutive game, Mitch Moreland singled twice and drew two walks.  Since the beginning of May, Moreland is batting .313/.401/.504 with exactly 40 walks and 40 strikeouts. 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.258/.333/.435 in July) walked and clubbed his 10th homer.  DH Ryan Garko doubled twice and drove in four. 

Guillermo Moscoso (4.52 ERA) had his best outing in several weeks, completing seven innings in a reasonable 91 pitches and allowing three earned runs on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.  Clay Rapada and Pedro Strop threw scoreless frames.

AA: Frisco 3, at San Antonio 2
Record: 17-9, +3.0

In front of a boisterous, Dollar Beer Night crowd of 7,000 plus some nerd with a camera and notepad, Martin Perez and his pals held off a late charge by the Missions. 

Perez’s fastball ranged from 88-94 MPH in the early innings and 90-96 later on; the vast majority were between 90 and 94.  Particularly against lefties, Perez continuously pounded the low-outside corner.  Lefties were 1-13 against him with only one fly ball and both of his two strikeouts.  61 of the 84 pitches I charted (I missed three – hard to take pictures and write simultaneously) were fastballs, and 72% of those went for strikes. 

Perez’s curve (73-79 MPH) and change (81-84) were very impressive, if only intermittently so.  He concentrated on the curve early and mixed in more changes in the 6th and 7th.  Perez lost his curve in the 5th, missing (mostly low) on six in a row at one point.  Until then, he’d avoided the deep counts that have plagued him much of the season.  Though four innings, he’d thrown only 46 pitches.  He would need another 41 to get the next seven outs. 

Through the first out of the 7th, Perez had allowed only two hits and a walk.  Alas,  following a single on a fastball that caught too much of the plate, his 87th and final pitch was a badly hung changeup that AAA veteran Christian Colonel deposited on the berm past the left-center fence.  Still, on the whole Perez was dominant, mixing his pitches effectively and hitting his spots. 

Tim Murphy fanned three in one inning with an intriguing “five-eighths” delivery (it’s not a straight sidearm, but I wouldn’t call it 3/4ths, either) that swept the ball across the plate far from the first-base side.  His fastball began in the upper 80s and finished at 92, and two of the strikeouts came on swings at diving sliders.  Murphy was no more than sporadically effective in Bakersfield (strong ground-fly ratio, terrible walk rate) but justified the promotion last night.  Evan Reed was Evan Reed.  He pitched the last 1.2 innings with a heavy diet of 92-94 MPH fastballs and (by my count) only one slider. 

DH Emerson Frostad singled and tripled, and Andy Jenkins reached on a single, double, and walk.  Marcus Lemon singled twice, the first one a nice “take what they give you” slap up the middle to drive in the first run.  He was also picked off first and committed two errors at second. 

Engel Beltre (0-5) mimicked his MLB Network appearance from a few weeks ago, constantly beating the ball into the grass in front of the plate. 

A scout behind me in the stands was very high on Josh Lueke.  Very, very, very high.  He thinks Lueke will find a cure for the common cold when he’s done with his Hall of Fame baseball career. 

High-A: Bakersfield 13, at Rancho Cucamonga 6
Record: 17-11, +1.0

Joe Wieland’s less than excellent adventure through the Cal League continued with a nightmare in Rancho Cucamonga.  Wieland allowed two homers, eight other hits, and nine runs in 6.1 innings.  He walked one and struck out four.  His ability to whiff batters and avoid walks remains very impressive in the face of five successive pastings.  So, give him a pass on that 9.35 ERA for now.  He’s more likely to come around than not. 

Yoon-Hee Nam (5.01 ERA) endured a triple-homer-homer sequence while allowing five runs in 1.2 innings.

3B Jonathan Greene homered for the third time in two games and added a single.  1B Chris Gradoville went 305 with a double and homer.

Low-A: at Hickory 7, Delmarva 5
Record: 15-12, -0.5

A couple of two-run homers ruined Braden Tullis’s evening.  He allowed one more run and four additional hits over five innings, walked none, and struck out two.  Tullis (2.51 ERA) had permitted only run in his three previous starts.  Joseph Ortiz (1.42 ERA) struck out eight in 3.2 innings.  Ortiz has faced 101 batters this season and fanned 38.  That is, to use the baseball term, “impressive.”

As an informed source told me, “Delmarva keeps throwing Guillermo Pimentel fastballs, and he keeps hitting them.” The 20-year-old Pimentel (.333/.404/.378) went 3-4, stole a base and drove in two.  His promotion to Hickory was certainly a surprise to me, but, so far, so good.  Vin DiFazio (.261/.366/.523) walked and hit a two-run homer, his 8th. 

Short-A: at Spokane 0, Yakima 2
Record: 18-15, -0.5, Elimination Number 5

2B Santiago Chirino’s two hits and a walk highlighted an ugly night for the Indian offense.  Jurickson Profar is hitless in his last 20 at-bats.

Ben Henry (3.00 ERA) allowed only two runs in four innings despite allowing eight hits (including a homer) and a walk.  He struck out five.  Ben Rowen (2.1 IP, 4 SO), Justin Earls (1.2 IP, 3 SO), and Francisco Mendoza (1 IP, 3 SO) shut down the Bears for the duration.

Yakima and Spokane are a combined 3-for-47 with runners in scoring position the last two nights. 

Rookie: Rangers off

Derek Holland is expected to pitch with the rookies tonight.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Michael Kirkman
AA: Michael Schlact
High-A: Robbie Ross
Low-A: Robbie Erlin
Short-A: Chad Bell
Rookie: Holland or perhaps Denny Peralta

Scott Lucas

Happy 4th birthday, James!

7/20: Rangers Farm Report

Stars of the Day
AAA: Omar Beltre, Willie Eyre / Max Ramirez
AA: Tanner Roark, Evan Reed / Joey Butler
High-A: Mark Hamburger / Chris Gradoville, Tommy Mendonca
Short-A: Jared Hoying, Michael Olt, Josh Richmond, Santiago Chirino, Ryan Strausborger
Rookie: Chris Hanna / Travis Meiners, Christian Villanueva, Drew Robinson, Johnathan Moore

AAA: Oklahoma City 8, at Iowa 0
Record: 52-41, +3.5

Different city, same result.  Having won the home closer of the series with Iowa 17-6, the Redhawks bussed to Des Moines and scored five in the 1st plus two more in the 2nd off one Thomas Diamond, who ranked 3rd in the league in ERA entering the contest.  Three years after Tommy John surgery, Diamond is finally pitching well in AAA, but yesterday he was the aggravator of old, burning through 115 pitches and walking five in four innings. 

With the bases loaded, Max Ramirez deposited a Diamond pitch over the fence for his first homer in 22 AAA games. Ramirez (.278/.359/.380) later singled.  1B Mitch Moreland singled and walked, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his second triple in two days.

Three Redhawks combined on a one-hitter.  Omar Beltre (2.08 ERA) allowed a Micah Hoffpauir double in the 4th and struck out four in five innings.  He wasn’t terribly efficient, averaging 17 pitches per inning and walking three.  Willie Eyre fanned four in three perfect innings. 

AA: Frisco 5, at San Antonio 2
Record: 16-7, +4.0

Tanner Roark (4.18 ERA) struck out four and walked three while shutting down the Missions for 5.2 innings.  Evan Reed (1.49 ERA) tossed a scoreless 8th and 9th.  Tim Murphy fanned two in 1.1 innings.  To date, he’s pitched better in Frisco than Bakersfield. 

RF Joey Butler doubled twice and walked.  1B Johnny Whittleman went 2-3 with a walk and double and is batting .318/.423/.545 since returning to Frisco.  Engel Beltre tripled. 
Taylor Teagarden (.243/.332/.359) added another golden sombrero to his collection.

High-A: at Bakersfield 8, Visalia 6
Record: 16-9, +2.0

Bakersfield and Wilfredo Boscan recovered from a 1st inning 4-0 deficit.  Boscan (4.25 ERA) gave up two walks, two singles, and two homers in the opening frame, after which he allowed three baserunners in four innings.  He struck out five.  Mark Hamburger struck out the side in the 9th.

The Blaze didn’t tally an extra-base hit but drew six walks and two HBPs.  DH Chris Gradoville went 4-5, and 3B Tommy Mendonca (.237/.323/.339) reached on two walks and an HBP.  Mendonca isn’t far from having a higher OBP than slugging percentage, a situation I would never have envisioned entering the season. 

Low-A: Hickory off

I’ve developed a bad habit of listing the upcoming starter regardless of whether the team is actually playing that day.  So, definitely today, Matt Thompson.

Short-A: Spokane 10, at Boise 11
Record: 17-13, +0.5

Spokane again let a large lead devolve into a nailbiter, this time with dire results.  Down 10-4 after the 5th, Boise scored in all of the last four innings including three in the 9th.  Reliever Ryan Rodebaugh gave up two runs in the 8th, then began the 9th with two singles and a walk.  Replacement Kevin Johnson proceeded to issue three bases-loaded walks.  Johnson’s ERA remains a healthy 1.74, but he’s walked 12 in just 10.1 innings. 

Miguel de los Santos (2.00 ERA) struck out six in five innings but gave up four runs on four hits and two walks.  Francisco Mendoza allowed seven hits in two innings but escaped with only two runs on his ledger.

3B Michael Olt went 3-4 with a walk; after a slow start, he’s hitting /324/.432/.559 in July.  RF Josh Richmond singled and drew four walks.  LF Jared Hoying walked and clubbed his third homer and second in two days.

2B Santiago Chirino went 2-4 with a walk and his first steal, and DH Ryan Strausborger singled, tripled, and stole his sixth base.  Failing to join the party was SS Jurickson Profar, who went 0-6 with two strikeouts and committed his 4th error.

Rookie: Rangers 11, Giants 10
Record: 12-11, -1.0

Christian Villanueva drove in five on a three-run homer (his second), a double and single.  The 19-year-old from Mexico is shredding the complex league (.342/.405/.526).  RF Travis Meiners went 2-3 with a walk.  2B Drew Robinson reached on two walks and a single, and Johnathan Moore was 3-4 with a double.

Shawn Blackwell (3.94 ERA) was not at his best, giving up five runs in four innings on four hits (including two homers), a walk and two strikeouts.  Chris Hanna delivered two scoreless frames with two Ks.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Mathis / Ramirez
AA: Richard Bleier
High-A: Carlos Pimentel
Low-A: Matt Thompson
Short-A: Randol Rojas
Rookie: Ezequiel Rijo
Scott Lucas

7/19: Rangers Farm Report

Blake Beavan struggled in his first start in the Seattle system on Saturday.  Still in AA, Beavan walked only one in four innings but burned through 83 pitches and allowed five runs.  Michael Main takes the mound tonight. 

Stars of the Day
AAA: Michael Kirkman / The Offense
AA: Michael Schlact
High-A: Robbie Ross, Trevor Hurley / David Paisano, Miguel Velazquez
Low-A: Jake Brigham / Travis Adair, Jared Bolden
Short-A: Jurickson Profar, Jared Hoying, Michael Olt
Rookie: Denny Peralta, Alexander Claudio / Jhonny Gomez

AAA: at Oklahoma City 17, Iowa 6
Record: 51-41, +3.5

Having already taken a 6-1 lead through three innings, OKC sent 13 men to the plate and scored eight in the 4th.  Craig Gentry (.323/.396/.455) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both had four of OKC’s 20 hits.  Saltalamacchia, in fact, would have hit for the cycle if not for his home run being ruled foul after an umpire’s conference.  Corner outfielders Brandon Boggs (.281/.405/.458) and Hernan Iribarren went 3-5 with a double and walk. 

In the face of several lengthy waits while his offense scored at will, Michael Kirkman (3.25 ERA) lasted seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.  Kirkman is tied with Thomas Diamond for the league lead in strikeouts with 92 and is 8th in ERA.  Cody Eppley gave up three runs in the 9th to see his ERA in OKC balloon to 6.75. 

Infielder Matt Camp pitched the 7th and 8th for the I-Cubs.  As best as I can tell, he hasn’t taken the mound since high school.  He ran his fastball up to 88 and allowed just one run on two hits and two walks.  He even struck out a couple.  Not bad. 

The teams head to Des Moines for five games in four days.

AA: at Frisco 1, Corpus Christi 2
Record: 53-38 overall

Post-surgery Michael Schlact threw well once again, limiting the Hooks to a hit and walk while fanning four in six innings.  Corpus Christi tallied runs off reliever Ben Snyder in the 7th and 8th.  With OKC hoarding the available supply of offense, Frisco managed only five baserunners.  Engel Beltre (.352/.403/.481) hit an RBI single and gunned down a runner at the plate. 

High-A: at Bakersfield 7, Visalia 4
Record: 44-50 overall

Robbie Ross showed his 2009 form by generating plenty of grounders and strikeouts.  Ross fanned eight and (similarly to Joe Wieland the day before) allowed only four of 20 balls in play to reach the outfield by air.  In seven innings, Ross (2.38 ERA) yielded four runs (just one earned) on six hits and a walk.  Errors by 1B Jonathan Greene and catcher Jose Felix plus Ross’s own wild pitch resulted in the unearned runs.  Trevor Hurley (1.35 ERA) earned a two-inning save, his first in Bakersfield.

Leadoff hitter David Paisano (.289/.347/.372) singled twice and walked, and RF Miguel Velazquez (.288/.325/.411) went 3-4 with a double.  Felix drove in three of a couple of singles and a sac fly.

Low-A: Hickory 6, at Lexington 1
Record: 53-41 overall

Jake Brigham utterly refudiated the Legends in throwing a rare low-A complete game.  Brigham isn’t striking out many batters in the Sally League (7 in 27 innings) but has reestablished his control.  He walked one, struck out four, and gave up three hits. 

Travis Adair ran his hit streak to 11 games with two doubles.  He’s batting .380/.415/.520 during that span.  Jared Bolden hit a two-run homer.  Jonathan Roof is batting .308 but has committed three errors in three games. 

Short-A: Spokane 12, at Boise 11
Record: 17-12, +1.5

Once down 9-3, the Hawks put the tying run on third in the 9th before finally succumbing.  Four errors and six stolen bases allowed certainly didn’t help their cause.  Jurickson Profar (.282/.319/.391) connected on three singles and stole two of those bases.  Not that he hit any yesterday, but Profar’s nine doubles are fourth-most in the league.

3B Michael Olt doubled twice, and Jared Hoying went 2-5 with a three-run homer, his second.  1B Andrew Clark (.326/.432/.402) was 3-4 with a walk.  Jake Skole (.245/.317/.302) singled, walked, and stole his first base. 

Starter Chad Bell (3.86 ERA) allowed eight hits and three runs in 5.2 innings but didn’t walk anyone and usually kept the ball on the ground.  He struck out three.  Brett Weibley took one on the chin (2 IP, 6 R).

Spokane is 16-5 since its 1-7 start and leads Boise by 1.5 games with nine to play in the new split-season format. 

Rookie: Rangers 0, Giants 3
Record: 11-11, -1.0

Denny Peralta (6.94 ERA) struck out seven in five innings, walked none, and gave up a couple of runs on five hits.  Jhonny Gomez’s double and single were the offensive highlights.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Omar Beltre
AA: Tanner Roark
High-A: Wilfredo Boscan
Low-A: Matt Thompson
Short-A: Miguel de los Santos
Rookie: Shawn Blackwell (really this time)
Scott Lucas

Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi 3

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi 3
Record: 5-0, +2.0

I needn’t bother looking at the box score when Blake Beavan starts. Hereafter, every five days, I can post his actual line from Sunday – 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 SO – and you’d have no reason to believe otherwise. The machine-like Beavan (2.50 ERA) has ten consecutive quality starts. I’m inclined to say that when you’ve thrown 104 innings and allowed 104 baserunners, you’re ready for the next level.

Matt Lawson (0-5) is anxiously awaiting the end of June. In April and May, Lawson batted .317/.412/.470, and his combined walks and HBPs matched his strikeouts. Since then, he’s hitting .212/.287/.412 with a 29% strikeout rate. He’s hitting for more pure power in June, but every other aspect of his offense is in steep decline.

Marcus Lemon (2-4, walk) is Bizarro Lawson, batting a miserable .242/.263/.342 with a paltry 2% walk rate in April and May, followed by a .319/.383/.415 and 10% walk rate in June. His Opening Day oblique injury certainly did him no favors, but Lemon has to see more pitches to be effective. In June, he’s doing just that.

Backup catcher Elio Sarmiento drove in three on a double and triple and was also hit by a pitch. The Riders have won six straight.

Frisco 6, at Midland 3

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 6, at Midland 3
Record: 38-31, +2.5, first half over

Walks per start by Blake Beavan:
0: 6
1: 7
2: 1
3: 1
4+: none

Beavan refused to concede a single walk once again. He struck out six and allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits. In his last nine starts covering 241 batters, Beavan has yielded one homer and five bases on balls. That is ridiculous. His strikeout rate during this period is an ordinary 16%, about 2% below the league average, but every other statistical aspect of his game is top notch.

Marcus Lemon propelled the offense with his second homer, a single and walk. Nobody else managed more than a single hit, but Frisco strung together enough one-baggers and walks to plate six.

Kasey Kiker has been activated from the DL. Andrew Laughter has reluctantly taken Kiker’s place. Utility man Andy Jenkins dropped down from OKC.

Frisco 0, at Corpus Christi 2

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 0, at Corpus Christi 2
Record: 36-28, +3.5, Magic Number 2

Blake Beavan pitched to expectations but received no support. In six innings, he allowed two runs on eight hits, a walk and strikeouts. On the season, opponents are batting a meager 229/.256/.342 against Beavan. In 14 starts, he’s surrendered more than three runs only twice.

LF Marcus Lemon (.240/.279/.340) doubled twice. Twice, Frisco hit into a double play with two out and one out.

at Frisco 4, San Antonio 3 (12 innings)

By Scott Lucas

AA: at Frisco 4, San Antonio 3 (12 innings)
Record: 34-25, +3.5, Magic Number 7

Blake Beavan continues to impress, throwing seven scoreless innings on 104 pitches. Beavan allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out four. In his last seven starts, he’s walked four and struck out 29.

Alas, he received no support. In the spirit of the World Cup, the teams refused to score until the 11th inning. Josh Lueke gave Frisco two more scoreless innings and fanned three, but Cody Eppley (1.42 ERA) surrendered a run in his second inning of work. The Riders retied the game on a Mitch Hilligoss single but couldn’t bring the winner home from third.

Brennan Garr allowed three runs in the top of the 12th. Frisco got two of them back and again had the winning run on third with two out, but Wes Bankston grounded out to end the game.

CF James Tomlin went 3-4 with a walk. Hilligoss has enjoyed his first four days in AA, going 2-4 with a walk and batting .417 overall.

Andrew Laughter was promoted from Bakersfield. That might seem odd given his results there (8.10 ERA, 20 baserunners in 10 innings). However, he spent most of 2008 and 2009 with the RoughRiders and needs to show he’s still capable of performing in AA.

Newberg Report Extra: Minor League Players of the Month

By Scott Lucas

I’ve selected Texas’s minor-league position players of the “month” covering May 10th through June 9th. Listed stats cover that period only. General requirements: minimum 70 plate appearances (except catchers) and limited to homegrown or traded-for prospects plus others who conceivably could help the Rangers this season.

1. Engel Beltre (20 years old, CF, High-A) – Beltre’s post-homer antics went viral two weeks ago. You should notice him for his .391/.402/.576 line. He appears to have abandoned the modestly improved patience displayed in April (just one walk in 98 plate appearances) but is making the strongest contact of his career.

2. Chris Davis (24, 1B/3B, AAA) – Davis batted .333/.416/.545 with an organization-high five homers. I still don’t see him back in Arlington any time soon. What role does he fill? Backup 1B/DH? Left-handed bench bat? Emergency 3B? None is in high demand. He’s better off playing every day in Oklahoma City and resuscitating his value (in trade).

3. Cristian Santana (21, LF, Low-A) – Santana batted .271/.340/.529 with four homers and a decent number of walks. As I’ve mentioned, every hit is vital to Santana, who is three-peating Low-A following two homer-happy but otherwise dismal seasons.

4. Matt Lawson (24, 2B/COF, AA) – Terrific contact, improved patience, decent power. Lawson (.319/.430/.447) continues to be the surprising leader of a Frisco offense that’s played better than I expected.

5. Brandon Boggs (27, CF, AAA) – Boggs (.276/.385/.469) will never hit for average and strikes out more than you’d like. He also can cover center field capably, draws a ton of walks (18 last month, most in the organization), and has some pop in his bat. I understand why Texas prefers Craig Gentry, but I’d like to see Boggs get another chance.

6. Joey Butler (24, RF, AA) – Throughout the season, Butler (.265/.333/.451) has been a slightly less productive version of Matt Lawson. Aside from Justin Smoak, Butler is the only batter from Texas’s 2008 draft to reach AA.

7. Jared Prince (24, RF, Low-A) – In terms of assessing prospect caliber, you can safely ignore the statistics of a 24-year-old hitter in Low-A. That said, Prince (.324/.425/.533) had the best month of anyone in the system. His 14 extra-base hits led the farm.

And some underachieving hitters:

Mike Bianucci (23, LF, High-A) – Bianucci batted .159/.216/.236 and struck out in 30% of his appearances. He’s been unlucky, batting an impossibly low .219 when he makes contact, but the power has also largely disappeared.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (23, C, AAA) – Saltalamacchia’s throwing problems in mid-May coincided with a severe decline at the plate. Salty was batting a stellar .367/.418/.583 in his first three weeks in OKC. He corrected his behind-the-plate issues relatively quickly but batted a meager .153/.219/.322 in the ensuing month. Three homers in 15 games are the sole positive.

Next, my selections for Texas’s minor league pitchers of the month. “FIP” stand for fielding-independent pitching. It estimates the pitcher’s ERA based on his rates of homers, walks, and strikeouts, and it assumes average-quality defense and an average number and distribution of hits allowed.

Rotation:

1a. Blake Beavan (21 years old, AA – 1.98 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 0.7% HR, 1% BB, 15% SO) – Beavan doesn’t generate a ton of movement on any of his pitches but has learned to spot them nearly perfectly. Beavan faced 136 batters last month. He permitted one homer and two walks. Though I don’t feel Texas is in a particular hurry to promote him to AAA, I do expect him to earn at least a handful of starts there.

1b. Robbie Erlin (19, Low-A – 2.00 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 0.0% HR, 7% BB, 27% SO) -- Erlin threw five perfect innings in his first start and allowed a total of six runs across his next four. He’s four innings short of qualifying for the Sally League leader boards. Otherwise, his 1.39 ERA for the season would lead the league.

3. Omar Beltre (28, AAA – 1.62 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 0.0% HR, 11% BB, 28% SO) – Beltre successfully transitioned to a starting role during the past month and worked up to 81 pitches in his last appearance. Side soreness kept him off the mound last week. Last night, he was listed as the Saturday starter, but he’s been held back again in favor of Geoff Geary.

4. Robbie Ross (20, Low-A – 1.13 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 0.0% HR, 5% BB, 16% SO) – Ross would rank higher if not for the worst start of his professional career ( 5.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R) on May 16th. Ross hasn’t accumulated many strikeouts, relying instead on a league-leading 65% groundball rate.

5. Wilmer Font (20, High-A – 2.77 ERA, 4.39 FIP, 1.8% HR, 14% BB, 25% SO) – The stats don’t include his final start for Low-A Hickory. The youngest pitcher in the California League struggled in his first appearance, after which he yielded only one earned run in three starts and tallied six more strikeouts than hits allowed.

Incidentally, OKC’s Michael Kirkman led the organization in walks (22) and strikeouts (33) last month.

Relievers:

1. Beau Jones (23, AA – 0.68 ERA, 1.11 FIP, 0.0% HR, 2% BB, 43% SO) – Jones was shipped to Bakersfield last June after several subpar Frisco appearances culminating in one exceptionally dreadful outing. In 52 innings since then, Jones has posted a 1.20 ERA, struck out 34% of his opponents, and held them to a .184 average.

2. Alexi Ogando (26, AAA – 3.46 ERA, 1.57 FIP, 0.0% HR, 9% BB, 36% SO) – He’s in the Majors. Two uncharacteristically wild outings inflated his ERA.

3. Pedro Strop (25, AAA – 0.00 ERA, 1.74 FIP, 0.0% HR, 7% BB, 35% SO) – Strop has looked much better during the season than when I saw him this spring. He’s pitched well enough to earn a couple of brief stints on the Texas roster, and he’s reentered the discussion of who might help the Rangers down the road.

And some underachieving pitchers:

Martin Perez (19, AA – 10.69 ERA, 6.36 FIP, 3.6% HR, 11% BB, 14% SO) – With the critical caveat that Perez is a 19-year-old in AA, he sure had a lousy month. Opponents reached at a .430 clip, and he averaged over 21 pitches per inning. Don’t worry.

Brennan Garr (26, AA – 7.50 ERA, 6.57 FIP, 5.1% HR, 5% BB, 12% SO) – The reliever posted the highest FIP in the system and allowing three homers in just 12 innings.

Frisco 1, Tulsa 4

AA: Frisco 1, Tulsa 4
Record: 33-22., +5.0

Blake Beavan kept his team in the game by lasting seven innings and surrendering three runs on eight hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Only twice in 12 starts has Beavan (2.82 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) allowed more than three runs.

Tulsa’s Brandon Durden was terrific yesterday, or Frisco’s offense made him look as such. In eight scoreless innings, Durden doled out only two hits, doubles by Matt Lawson and Elio Sarmiento. Lawson also singled off Scott Rice, who pitched for Frisco in 2007.

at Frisco 9, Tulsa 6

AA: at Frisco 9, Tulsa 6
Record: 30-20, +5.0

Blake Beavan had a memorable May: six wins in six starts, 2.23 ERA, and 40.1 innings with 28 strikeouts and just four walks. He won the league’s Picher of the Week award twice in three weeks. Yesterday, Beavan began with six scoreless innings on four hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Unfortunately, the 7th was less kind, as he gave up three runs while retiring only batter (via strikeout). Rehabbing Warner Madrigal was shaky again (0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R), and Josh Lueke allowed two runs on three hits in two innings.

Frisco scored eight runs in the 4th, all against Colorado’s Christian Friedrich, the 25th-overall pick of the 2008 draft. Matt Lawson went 3-4 with two doubles, a walk, and four driven in. Both Emerson Frostad and Taylor Teagarden homered off Friedrich. The three combined for all of the team’s nine RBIs.

Pitcher Danny Gutierrez’s 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program ends… now. No word on where he’ll be assigned, or when. Gutierrez spent a few minutes with AA Frisco after being acquired in late 2009 and also appeared in the Arizona Fall League.

League leaders:
Matt Lawson – 8th in runs (30), 3rd in doublers (13), 6th in walks (25), 4th in OBP (.412), 5th in slugging (.470), 3rd in batting average (.317)
Blake Beavan – 6th in ERA (2.71), 1st in innings (69.2), 6th in strikeouts (45), 1st in WHIP (0.90)
Richard Bleier – 6th in innings (58.67)
Tanner Roark – 7th in WHIP (1.17)
Zach Phillips – 7th in saves (4)
Team Pitching – 3rd in runs allowed (195), 2nd in strikeouts (395), 1st in WHIP (1.20)
Team Defense -- 1st in fewest errors (29, 14 fewer than any other team)

AA: Frisco 2, Northwest Arkansas 1
Record: 26-19, +4.0

Blake Beavan won the battle against Kansas City’s Aaron Crow. Beavan pitched seven extraordinarily efficient innings, shutting out the Naturals on four hits, no walks, and five strikeouts on just 81 pitches. On the season, Beavan’s 17.3% strikeout rate is just a tick below the league average and a vast improvement on last year’s 9%. As usual, he’s walking not even half as many batters as the typical pitcher.

Doubtlessly, Beavan could have stayed in -- that pitch count was his lowest since April 13th – but rehabbing Matt Harrison needed some innings. He earned a two-inning save on two hits, a run and four strikeouts.

Joey Butler (.286/.365/.451) put Frisco on the board first with a solo homer, and he later walked twice. Taylor Teagarden singled twice.

Frisco 4, at Midland 2

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 4, at Midland 2
Record: 22-18, +2.0

Blake Beavan needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings. Beavan walked just one, struck out two, and gave up both runs on five hits. Beavan’s been a little lucky – that .238 average on balls in play is going to be awfully tough to sustain – but he’s clearly making progress in his second run through the Texas League. He’s already surpassed last year’s 34 strikeouts in 33 fewer innings.

Matt Lawson (.320/.399/.453) went 3-5 with two RBI. RF Joey Butler (.296/.374/.447) drove in Frisco’s other runs on a double and also walked.

Super-utility player Emerson Frostad has joined Frisco. Johnny Whittleman hasn’t played in a few days because of a sore quad.

Frisco 4, at Midland 2

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 4, at Midland 2
Record: 22-18, +2.0

Blake Beavan needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings. Beavan walked just one, struck out two, and gave up both runs on five hits. Beavan’s been a little lucky – that .238 average on balls in play is going to be awfully tough to sustain – but he’s clearly making progress in his second run through the Texas League. He’s already surpassed last year’s 34 strikeouts in 33 fewer innings.

Matt Lawson (.320/.399/.453) went 3-5 with two RBI. RF Joey Butler (.296/.374/.447) drove in Frisco’s other runs on a double and also walked.

Super-utility player Emerson Frostad has joined Frisco. Johnny Whittleman hasn’t played in a few days because of a sore quad.

at Frisco 8, Corpus Christi 0

By Scott Lucas

AA: at Frisco 8, Corpus Christi 0
Record: 20-15, +2.0

Blake Beavan didn’t set any personal statistical records but might have thrown his most meaningful start to date. In eight innings, Beavan shut out the Hooks on four hits, no walks and eight strikeouts. Beavan (2.98 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) threw 75 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

The box scores shows five groundouts versus ten flyouts, but Beavan’s actual ground/fly ratio was more favorable: only nine of 20 balls put into play reached the outfield airborne. Three of those “flyouts” were infield popups. The “groundout/flyout” stat is often deceptive.

RF Joey Butler (.313/.388/.478) extended his hitting streak to 16 with a two-run homer (his 4th) and a double. He also walked. 2B Matt Lawson (.295/.373/.447) went 4-5 with two doubles. Taylor Teagarden swung at six of 24 pitches offered. He went 0-2 with three walks and a strikeout.

Reliever Cody Eppley and his 0.00 ERA have joined Frisco.

Newberg Report Extra: Minor League Players Of The Month

By Scott Lucas

My selections for Texas’s minor-league position players of the “month” covering April 8th through May 9th. General requirements: minimum 70 plate appearances, limited to homegrown or traded-for prospects plus others who conceivably could help the Rangers this season.

1. Miguel Velazquez (22 years old as of 7/1/10, OF, Low-A) – Chad Tracy is the official Player of the Month for April, per the Rangers, but my selection for the season’s first full month is Velazquez (.331/.403/.593). Miggy leads the South Atlantic League in OPS (.996) and homers (7), is 3rd in RBI (26) and 6th in runs scored (22). He’s spent most of his time in center field, though sticking there isn’t likely.

2. Chad Tracy (24, 1B/OF, AAA) – Usually struggling at a new level and in April, Tracy bolted out of the gate with seven homers and a line of .286/.355/.554. Unlike Chris Davis, Tracy will never compensate for a slumping bat with his glove, so he’ll need to maintain this production if he wants to face big-league pitching.

3. Renny Osuna (25, IF, AA) – After Osuna’s woeful 2008 as a 24-year-old, I didn’t give a moment’s thought to him this spring. Pegged as Frisco’s backup infielder, Osuna has received ample playing time thanks to injuries to Marcus Lemon and Jonathan Greene and has made the most of it, batting an astounding.333/.407/.528. Osuna has hit for average before; what’s notable is the return of his line-drive power. He’s already surpassed last year’s eight extra-base hits in Frisco in less than one-third as many games.

4. Cristian Santana (21, OF, Low-A) – This selection comes with baggage, as Santana is deservedly three-peating low-A after making negligible progress in the preceding two years. That said, in the present we’re talking about a .274/.337/.516 performance from someone who doesn’t turn 21 until June. Santana has improved his pitch selection from non-existent to mediocre this season, resulting in his best batting average and walk rate since rookie ball.

5. Vin DiFazio (24, C, Low-A) – Intent on proving his startling 2009 was no fluke, DiFazio (.258/.383/.500) has largely continued his torrid paces of walks and extra-base hits. Temper the excitement with the knowledge that he turns 24 in a few days. I expect him to see plenty of high-A Bakersfield this season, whereupon we can adjust our viewpoint.

6. Cody Podraza (22, OF, Low-A) – Podraza (.311/.406/.411) is playing in April for the first time in five years and has solidified his position atop of Hickory’s order. As a rookie, Podraza had an 11% HBP rate, which would leave even Don Baylor reconsidering his chosen profession. Now, he’s reaching base with a career-best 11% walk rate. Walks hurt less.

7. Matt Lawson (24, 2B/OF, AA) – For the season’s first two weeks, only Lawson and Joey Butler prevented Frisco from being shut out every night. Lawson has improved in terms of patience and power even as he’s jumped a level. He’s already set a personal record with seven games in the outfield.

8. Brandon Boggs (27, OF, AAA) – Brandon Boggs would like to remind you that he spent most of 2008 in the Majors and requests another opportunity. Speedy Craig Gentry understandably earned the nod over Boggs when Nelson Cruz hit the DL, but Boggs has reentered the discussion by batting .282/.398/.526. Staying healthy will help.

And some underachieving position players:

Taylor Teagarden (26, C, MLB and AAA) – Teagarden doesn’t meet my list requirements but demands mention for his dumbfounding opening month. Between Texas and Oklahoma City, he’s batting .049/.149 /.049 and has fanned in a staggering 55% of his plate appearances.

Leonel de los Santos (20, C, Low-A) – Repeating low-A, de los Santos is hitting .125, has no walks or extra-base hits, and is firmly behind DiFazio in the pecking order.

Tommy Mendonca (22, 3B, High-A) – Texas has drafted a third basemen in the second round in three of its last four drafts (Johnny Whittleman, Matt West, Mendonca). All are struggling, and Mendonca completed the season’s first month as a power hitter with no homers and a .308 slugging percentage. Lately, he’s been batting 8th. On the upside, he’s displayed marginally improved patience and ability to make contact, though the latter hasn’t translated to a higher batting average (.209). Don’t think I’m writing off Mendonca already – far from it – but I’d hoped for better.

Next, my selections for Texas’s minor league pitchers of the month. The “FIP” stand for fielding-independent pitching. It estimates the pitcher’s ERA based on his rates of homers, walks, and strikeouts, and it assumes average-quality defense and an average number and distribution of hits allowed.

Rotation:

1. Derek Holland (23, AAA – 0.93 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 0.6% HR rate, 5% BB rate, 24% SO rate) – Don’t fault management for choosing Matt Harrison over Holland this spring. Harrison earned his rotation spot. Now, Holland has earned his shot. He was the best pitcher in the Pacific Coast League during the season’s first month. For someone with only 59 career minor-league innings above low-A, those six AAA starts provided much-needed seasoning.

2. Matt Thompson (20, Low-A – 2.27 ERA, 2.04 FIP, 0.8% HR, 5% BB, 29% SO) – Spokane’s top four starters from 2009’s Spokane squad are all pitching well in Hickory, but Thomson (last year’s least effective of the four) leads the pack in 2010. He’s evolved into a strikeout machine this season.

3. Michael Kirkman (23, AAA – 1.82 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 0.7% HR, 11% BB, 22% SO) – During 2006-2007, Kirkman walked 88 batters in 75 innings. Since June 2008, Kirkman has ascended form short-season Spokane to the cusp of the Major Leagues. Although his assignment to AAA wasn’t surprising, his ability to handle the higher competition without an adjustment period is. Kirkman has been walk-prone but is otherwise pitching as well as ever.

4. Martin Perez (19, AA – 2.45 ERA, 2.87 FIP, 0.9% HR, 13% BB, 26% SO) – I can quibble with Perez around the margins. He’s struggled with his control. He’s used his pitch allotment inefficiently. He didn’t pitch that weekend I visited Frisco. Still, we’re talking about a 19-year-old – the youngest of 26 appearing of these lists – with a legitimate 2.45 ERA and a strikeout rate 40% above the league average.

5. Robbie Ross (21, Low-A – 2.93 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 0.0% HR, 7% BB, 18% SO) – Ross hasn’t dominated the Sally League as he did the Northwest last summer, mostly a function of a lower-than-average strikeout rate. Ross is still generating grounders at an absurd rate (66%) and has yet to allow a homer.

6. Joe Wieland (20, Low-A – 3.41 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.3% HR, 6% BB, 23% SO) – Wieland took his lumps last year and needed to return ticket to Hickory. In 2010, he’s shown across-the-board improvement, reducing his walks, increasing his strikeouts, and generating more grounders.

7. Blake Beavan (21, AA – 3.57 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 1.9% HR, 5% BB, 17% SO) – Beavan fanned a meager 12% of opposing batters last year in his AA debut. Very few AA pitchers with such a low SO rate reached the Majors, and fewer still stayed for long. That’s just how the world works. In 2010, Beavan has quietly ramped his rate up to nearly the league average while maintaining his superb control.

Relievers:

1. Tanner Scheppers (23, AA and AAA – 1.20 ERA, 2.02 FIP, 3.5% HR, 5% BB, 45% SO) – Scheppers lorded over AA and was quickly promoted to face hitters that might actually challenge him. Two homers in 15 innings are the sole blemish on his record. In AA, 40% of batters’ opposing swings drew nothing but air. The team average is 22%.

2. Zach Phillips (23, AA – 0.00 ERA, 0.72 FIP, 0.0% HR, 4% BB, 38% SO) – Phillips doesn’t cook with Scheppers’ gas but has been equally effective. After years in the rotation, Phillips has adapted easily to the bullpen. He’s not a LOOGY. Phillips has never generated a substantial platoon split; indeed, lefties have often hit him better than righties.

3. Cody Eppley (24, High-A – 0.00 ERA, 1.42 FIP, 0.0% HR, 2% BB, 34% SO) – As a 43rd-rounder with a vanilla collegiate record, an immediate conversion to relief as a professional, and an ordinary fastball, Eppley hasn’t received much ink here at the Newberg Report. So, now, let us praise him here. In 111.1 pro innings, he’s allowed fewer than one baserunner per inning, walked 12 and struck out 134. He’ll be in Frisco as soon as one of the current pitchers gets a hangnail.

4. Trevor Hurley (22, Low-A – 0.49 ERA, 1.22 FIP, 0.0% HR, 4% BB, 37% SO) – Of its 13 pitchers, Hickory has 10 who could fill the rotation. Hurley couldn’t crack the top five but has made the most of his long-relief appearances.

Note: Josh Lueke has been superior in relief, but he’s also four days from being the oldest pitcher in the entire South Atlantic League.

Ogandos:

1. Alexi Ogando (26, AA – 1.15 ERA, 1.98 FIP, 1.8% HR, 9% BB, 38% SO) – Ogando hasn’t played a traditional role but demands inclusion for his often dominating AA debut. He has allowed only nine baserunners in 15.2 innings and struck out 21. His fastball tops out at 98, and his offspeed pitches are highly promising, if still in the formative stage.

And some underachieving pitchers:

Kennil Gomez (22, High-A – 7.27 ERA, 6.44 FIP, 2.2% HR, 14% BB, 11% SO) – Gomez compensates for modest fastball velocity with ferocious movement. So far in 2010, that darting fastball has either completely missed the zone or connected with the bat’s sweet spot. While repeating high-A, Gomez has allowed 40 baserunners in only 17 innings.

Kasey Kiker (22, AA – 5.22 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 0.8% HR, 20% BB, 23% SO) – During 1992-2009, pitcher Ryan Creek of Houston-affiliated Jackson leads the Texas League in walks issued in a season with 121. Kasey Kiker is on pace to match that number and hit 28 batters for good measure. He’s still striking out hitters at a prodigious rate, but really, this can’t go on.

Ryan Falcon (25, AA – 17.36 ERA, 11.76 FIP, 7.1% HR, 21% BB, 11% SO) – Falcon was Texas’s least effective reliever in the opening month, but “underachieving” is a deeply unfair description of Falcon, who advanced to AA with an 80-MPH fastball and glacial changeup. Unfortunately, a combination of very hard hits and loss of control forced an April release. Texas selected Falcon in the 29th round of 2007. Only five of the 30 selections from that round are still playing in affiliated ball, and only one has reached AAA. For the 890th pick out of UNC-Greensboro, Falcon achieved quite a lot.

at Frisco 8, Midland 3

By Scott Lucas

AA: at Frisco 8, Midland 3
Record: 18-12, +3.0

Frisco scored seven in the 2nd inning, typically a harbinger of victory. Particularly damaging to Midland was a two-out grand slam by Matt Lawson (.291/.373/.445), his 2nd homer of the season. Joey Butler walked and doubled to extend the world’s least effective hitting streak to 11 games (.244/.333/.311 during the “streak”). Still-hot Renny Osuna (.333/.407/.528) drew two walks and singled. LF Andy Jenkins made the first and last outs in the 2nd inning but later singled and hit a solo homer for Frisco’s other run.

In six innings, Blake Beavan (3.57 ERA) permitted a lone run on just three hits and a walk plus three strikeouts. Evan Reed worked a scoreless 9th. If not for a run allowed back on April 12th, he’d own the same perfect ERA as Zach Phillips and Cody Eppley.

The RoughRiders have won seven straight and own a three-game lead in the Texas League’s South Division.

Frisco 6, at San Antonio 4

By Scott Lucas

AA: Frisco 6, at San Antonio 4
Record: 13-12, -1.0

Blake Beavan (3.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) struck out a season-high seven batters in five innings but allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks. Pitching on consecutive nights for the first time this season, Zach Phillips (0.00 ERA) struck out the side in order in the 9th for his 3rd save. Before him, Ben Snyder permitted no baserunners in 1.2 innings.

Leadoff hitter Marcus Lemon went 2-4 with a double and HBP. Also getting two hits were Matt Lawson, Wes Bankston, Andy Jenkins and Renny Osuna (who also doubled and rides a 10-game hitting streak). Johnny Whittleman’s one hit was a three-run double.

Reliever Warner Madrigal begins a rehab assignment with Frisco today.

at Frisco 1, San Antonio 0 (11 innings)

By Scott Lucas

AA: at Frisco 1, San Antonio 0 (11 innings)
Record: 10-10, -1.0

Kevin Richardson’s 11th-inning sac fly scored pinch-runner Renny Osuna following walks to Johnny Whittleman and Andy Jenkins plus a Wes Bankston sac bunt. 2B Marcus Lemon (.255/.264/.392) played the field for the first time since Opening Day and went 3-5.

Absent my presence as a cooler, Blake Beavan (3.38 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) tossed 5.2 scoreless innings and struck out six against one walk and five hits. The six Ks were his most since his inaugural AA start last June. Despite the seeming efficiency, Beavan did throw 95 pitches without completing six innings. Zach Phillips tallied the last out of the 6th and worked through the 7th, followed by clean frames from Alexi Ogando (no strikeouts) and Tanner Scheppers (one). Ryan Tatusko then pitched the 10th and 11th ably to set up the victory.