Twins Sign Top Dominican Prospect Sano

This year's most coveted Latin American prospect, 16-year-old shortstop Miguel Sano, has agreed to terms with Minnesota, ending months of speculation. Sano, who will pocket $3.15 million (the highest bonus this year and the second-highest ever for a Latin American amateur), has been lauded for his offensive potential. He was heavily rumored to be in the mix for the Pirates and Orioles, among others.

Giants Notes

The Rockies magic number for clinching a wild card birth is down to just 1 with 6 games remaining, so the Giants should be mathematically eliminated either today or tomorrow. And, although the season ends in a week, there are still some things I'd like to see happen with this club before the book closes on the 2009 season.

We talked a bit in the last post about giving Buster Posey some playing time behind the plate to see if he may be ready to take reigns of the Giants catching position at some point in 2010. Posey has actually started 2 of the last 3 ballgames, but hasn't done much with the bat yet. He's just 1-10 in his first 10 big league ab's. This is exactly why I wish they would have started playing the kid a couple weeks ago. If he finishes off the season struggling, it could very well mess with his confidence level coming into spring training next year. I don't think that will necessarily happen with Posey, but it's no secret that a positive showing in September breeds confidence heading into the next season. A prime example to look at is what happened with Pablo Sandoval last season. He tore up every minor league level he stopped at, and was thrown into the mix immediately with the Giants and didn't miss a beat. He hist .345 to end the year and set himself up for a very successful season in 2009. I'm not saying these things go hand-in-hand, but again, I'd much rather see Posey playing everyday and racking up at-bats than spot starting and struggling to get into a rythm.

It's not just Posey they should be taking a long hard look at either. There are numerous roster decisions that will arise when the season ends, including what to do with some of the teams' key free agents. Bengie Molina, Randy Winn, Randy Johnson and Brad Penny are all potential free agents after the year, and Freddy Sanchez has an 8 million dollar team option. Out of that list, the only guy who I'm really pulling for to be re-signed is Brad Penny. He showed his capabilities and his ability to pitch in the NL West over the final month of the season (3-1, 3.31 era in 32 innings in September) and he's been a very nice fit behind Cain, Lincecum and Zito. Randy Johnson is likely looking to play another season, but I think I'd lean towards Penny, who'd likely be cheaper than Johnson anyway. The three real tough decisions will revolve around Randy Winn and Bengie Molina, who've been mainstays in the Giants lineup over the past 3-5 seasons, and of course whether or not they'll pick up the option on Freddy Sanchez.

As much as I appreciate what Molina and Winn have done here over their tenure's, I think now would be a good time to cut ties with each player. Winn saw his power numbers completely fall of the charts this year, and his average and run production suffered mightily as well. It was by far his worst season in San Francisco. Molina has also struggled through most of the year in 2009. Take away his terrific April (.325, 4 hr, 18 RBI) and his numbers would be atrocious. In fact, Bengie has just 7 home runs and 25 RBI after the all-star break, and remember, this guy is the Giants clean-up hitter when he's in the lineup. Freddy Sanchez has ended up being a colossal mistake by Sabean, as he cost the Giants their #2 pitching prospect and didn't do anything to help their playoff push this year. I can think of many ways they could use the 8 million he'd cost them in 2010, including re-signing Penny and super-utility stud, Juan Uribe. We'll have much more on the Giants potential player movement when the season ends.

Adam Lind

I'm looking for the following Adam Lind cards to obtain in trades with someone:

2009 UD BALLPARK ADAM LIND JERSEY RELIC AUTO
2009 UD Goodwin Champions Adam Lind #173
2009 UD BALLPARK ADAM LIND BURNETT DUAL JERSEY #/340
2009 Icons Autograph Adam Lind

If you have any of these cards for trade let me know ASAP! Thanks!

Chicken Scratch of the Day

Oh Mr. Willis. What a sloppy pen we weave. As for you signature, it is truly an art form in its own special way. I'm not even sure what to make out of that signature with so many lines of artwork. Even though it says, "magic" at the top right corner of the card (Topps magic- the hell it is)... there is nothing magical about that penmanship! For this you get one sharpie!

State of the System: Atlanta Braves

Quick Look

Atlanta's unprecedented run of consecutive division titles is squarely in the rear-view mirror, but the Braves are still showing that they know how to develop impact young talent. Brian McCann, Jair Jurrjens, and Tommy Hanson have reached the majors, while Jason Heyward and others are close behind. The Phillies seem to have firm control of the NL East, and the Braves will need homegrown talent to overtake them. While they aren't super-deep in the minors, any team would love to have players with ceilings like Heyward and Julio Teheran.

Top Prospects

Jason Heyward, of

Age: 20 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Heyward is the finest prospect in the game today. Despite just turning 20, the lefty tore up the minors en route to capturing the 2009 Baseball America Player of the Year award. Heyward has a polished, thunderous bat, good instincts and aptitude, athleticism, and a strong arm. He has a legitimate chance to be one of the game's next superstars.

Freddie Freeman, 1B

Age: 20 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Freeman has paired with Heyward to form a fearsome middle-of-the-order duo the last two seasons. The former isn't nearly the caliber of prospect that the latter is, but the California native is talented in his own right. Freeman has a feel for hitting, power potential, and nimble actions at first base. He projects as more of a productive regular than a stud, and he'll return to Double-A in 2010.

Mike Minor, lhp

Age: 21 Level: Low A-Double-A

A personal favorite of mine, Minor went 7th overall in this year's draft after a standout career at Vanderbilt. He doesn't have knockout stuff, as his fastball comfortably resides in the high-80s and touches 92 mph. He balances that out with a plus changeup, solid slider, inchoate curveball, and a knack for pitching. Minor is a good bet to carve out a long career as a mid-rotation starter.

Julio Teheran, rhp

Age: 18 Level: Low A-High A

A gem from the 2007 international signing class, Teheran was hampered by injury problems last year. (Some wonder if they were a result of his unorthodox arm action.) Returning to full health this year, Teheran showed why he is considered a future rotation-topper. The 6-2, 150-pounder hits the mid-90s and displays an advanced swing-and-miss changeup. The Colombia native lacks is a consistent breaking ball, which should come with experience.

Craig Kimbrel, rhp

Age: 21 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Kimbrel was one of the most fascinating prospects to track in 2009. He bombed at High A Myrtle Beach to begin the season, regathered himself in Low A, then pitched so well that he finished the year in Triple-A. Kimbrel recorded mind-boggling statistics, too, with more than 15 strikeouts and 6 walks per 9 innings. The 5-11, 205-pounder will probably never have the control to close, but his high-octane arsenal (fastball that has reached 98 with life, and a vicious slider) makes him an intriguing future set-up man.

Zeke Spruill, rhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-High A

Spruill flashed a very promising skill set in his first full professional season this year in Low A. The 2008 2nd-rounder handled batters with a low-90s sinker, while making strides with his other deliveries. The Georgia native, loose and projectable at 6-4, 184, put up a 3.25 ERA over 135 IP in 2009. Spruill throws strikes and maintains a healthy groundball-flyball ratio.

Randall Delgado, rhp

Age: 19 Level: Low A-High A

Delgado has an electric arm, but is still refining his craft. He went 5-10, 4.35, with 10.2 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 this year. The Panamanian throws a 92-94 mph fastball on a downward plane, and flashes a power breaking ball. He's a definite project, but Delgado offers excellent upside.

Brett Oberholtzer, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Rookie-High A

Oberholtzer has 3 pitches that grade out as serviceable or better, and he used them to plow through inferior Appy League competition this season (2.01 ERA, 56-6 K-BB ratio). He's ready to be pushed a little faster.

Brett DeVall, lhp

Age: 19 Level: Low A-High A

DeVall, a sandwich pick in last year's draft, was limited by injuries to 53 innings this season. He is still advanced for a high school pitcher, though, with 3 pitches (his changeup rates the highest) and a feel for pitching. DeVall has the frame to absorb a lot of quality innings, but unless he gains a few ticks on his heater or sharpens his hook, his ceiling won't be all that high.

Todd Redmond, rhp

Age: 24 Level: Triple-A-MLB

The Braves landed Redmond from the Pirates for Tyler Yates in 2008. He has ridden his command and pitchability to the cusp of the big leagues. Redmond posted a 4.41 ERA in Triple-A this year and was stellar for Team USA in the World Cup. He has been durable and dependable throughout his minor league career, but Redmond's lack of a dominant pitch will relegate him to a back-of-the-rotation or middle-relief role in the majors.

Others: RHPs Luis Valdez, J.J. Hoover, and David Hale; OFs Cody Johnson and Adam Milligan

Impact Talent: A

Farm System Depth: C-

2010 Breakout Prospect

Christian Bethancourt, c

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Bethancourt played like a much older player this year. He showed all-around skills while hitting an aggregate .277/.342/.446. Bethancourt, who is 6-2, 175, is a long way from the majors, but he could become a household name if he continues to put up numbers in 2010.

St.Louis Cardinals Central Division Winners!!!!

Cards Win!! Cards Win!! Cards Win!!
These where the immortal words of Harry Carey when he was a Cardinal Broadcaster. This was a long road for the Cards this year, but they made it. So far the Dodgers have clinched the west and the Yanks have clinched the AL East. Right now the Cards need to win more games to get home field advantage. My faith is with this team and I believe they will get through the NLDS.







Here is my predictions for the Divisional Winners

NL
West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Central: St.Louis Cardinals
East: Atlanta Braves
WC: Colorado Rockies

AL
West: Los Angeles Angels
Central: Minnesota Twins
East: New York Yankees
WC: Boston Redsocks

____________________________________________________________________
Joey's Tidbits

This is what I am hearing around MLB.

Cardinals: With the recent voided contract of Wagner Mateo, that money will go towards the deal the Cardinals want to make with Matt Holliday.
More than likely Rick Ankiel will no longer be with the Cardinals next year. His agent Scott Boras is trying to convince General Managers that his client is a combination of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Duke Snider. Oh my God!

Rest, recharge, and love with family

I have not been posting anything as of lately because I went away on vacation for a week. It was kind of nice to get away from the budget-less state of PA and travel to a nice embracing state like Delaware (Fenwick Island mainly). It was also "biker's week" in Ocean City, Maryland. Nuff said! Back to the grindstone!

Giants Un-officially Out of Race

After making a nice push last week after they beat the Rockies in 2 of 3 games in San Francisco and moved to within 2.5 games of them, it looked like the Giants were going to take this race down to the wire. However, they've really started to fall apart on their recent road trip, and sit 5 games back of the Rockies with just 11 games to go.

Now, I've seen weirder things happen than a team overcoming a 5 game deficit with just 11 to go, but the Giants seem to be struggling more and more each day while the Rockies look determined to seal this thing up. After Tim Lincecum got roughed up by LA on Sunday, and then seeing Matt Cain get pounded around by the D-Backs in Tuesday's loss, I think it's finally sunk in that the Giants are not going to be a playoff team in 2009. They just don't look like a team that's playing with urgency or are fighting for their playoff lives. Maybe it's just me, but I'm really not seeing it. Their starting pitching, which has been what's really carried them all season long, has all of the sudden hit the wall. It's understandable, it is late September after all, but once their pitching starts to take a dip, then it really causes a ripple effect on the whole team. None of their starters have gone at least 5 innings yet on this road-trip in which they're 2-3, and the starting rotation is carrying an era of 13.25 in those contests and I'm a little surprised they've figured out a way to win 2 games with those kind of starting performances.

Don't get me wrong though, they've done much more than I, or any other fan likely expected coming into the year, and are still playing meaningful games in late September, which is something they haven't done in 5 years here. This season has been very much a success story for this franchise. It's tough to look at it that way at the moment, because they're struggling and likely will fail to make the playoffs, but the fact that we're even mentioning them with the playoffs in the same sentence is a step in the right direction. What I'd like to see them do over this final week and of half of the 2009 season is put Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and some of their other young players to work to see if these guys can be counted on at the beginning of 2010. I'm a little surprised that Buster Posey isn't getting more time behind the plate (played in just 3 games this month). Bengie Molina is a free agent after the year and I don't foresee the Giants re-signing him and I don't think they're planning on investing in another catcher from outside the organization, so they better throw Posey into the mix and see if he's ready. Bumgarner has gotten a little more work than Posey, and hasn't missed a beat. He's gone 8 innings, allowing just 2 runs on 2 solo home runs, and 7 hits while striking out 9 batters. I don't know that the Giants will insert him into the rotation to star the 2010 season, but I'm definitely expecting Bumgarner to have an impact on the 2010 season early, kind of like Tim Lincecum did in 2007.

State of the System: Arizona Diamondbacks

With the MiLB season all wrapped up, I am going to review the current state of each organization (focusing on their prospects and young talent, of course). Comments on my rankings and thoughts are welcomed and encouraged. The prospects are generally ranked in order, but the order is not final until my overall top prospects list. Note: "Level" indicates the highest classification the prospects reached this year, and how far I think they'll go in 2010.

Quick Look

After seeming so promising a couple of years back (when Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, Chris Young, and others were blazing a trail to the majors), Arizona has fallen precipitously. The big league club was one of the worst in the majors this year and the organization's up-and-coming talent has shriveled up. Nonetheless, the Diamondbacks have building blocks, bounce-back candidates (Brandon Webb, Young, Drew), and some interesting guys in the minors (thanks to a bountiful 2009 draft class). The Snakes will do better in the future, but the NL West is becoming a tough division.

Top Prospects

Jarrod Parker, rhp

Age: 20 Level: AA-MLB

Parker has explosive stuff (93-97 mph fastball, tight slider, change) and was blazing through the system this year, but he was shut down with an elbow injury late. Tommy John surgery isn't out of the question, but the 20-year-old is an elite prospect regardless of the severity of his injury.

Bobby Borchering, 3B

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

The 16th overall pick in this year's draft, Borchering has power from both sides of the plate. The Florida prep product has drawn Chipper Jones comparisons, but it's unclear whether he'll stay at third.

A.J. Pollock, of

Age: 21 Level: Low A-Double-A

Pollock, who was taken one pick after Borchering, can do a little bit of everything: He can hit, play defense, run well, and more. The Notre Dame product didn't set the world on fire in his pro debut, but that's not a long-term concern.

Brandon Allen, 1B

Age: 23 Level: MLB

Arizona's return for Tony Pena, Allen had a good year and is close to becoming a power-hitting first baseman. The lefty-swinger socked 23 homers and made his MLB debut. He needs to close some holes in his swing, but he has a high ceiling.

Marc Krauss, of

Age: 21 Level: Low A-Double-A

Krauss somewhat resembles current D-Back Chad Tracy. While he doesn't offer a whole lot defensively, he has a powerful and polished lefthanded bat.

Daniel Schlereth, lhp

Age: 23 Level: MLB

Schlereth has the arm to close, as he sits in the mid-90s and flashes a nasty power curveball. His uneven MLB debut this year, though, showed that he has lots of work to do on his control before he gets a permanent spot at the back of Arizona's bullpen.

Ryan Wheeler, 1B

Age: 21 Level: Low-A-Double-A

An '09 draftee from Loyola Marymount, Wheeler shined in his pro debut (.361/.462/.536). His big build and solid lefty swing could mean that power will be a bigger part of his game as he moves up. Limited athletically, he already has shown he can hit for average.

Chris Owings, ss

Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A

Owings, an undersized R-R middle infielder, has a high ceiling as long as he can stick at short. (He's currently adequate there.) He's drawn Gordon Beckham comps offensively, but that's massively hyperbolical. Hitting is one of the his strengths, though.

Matt Davidson, 3B

Age: 18 Level: Short-Season-Low A

Davidson, a touted high schooler taken 35th overall in this year's draft, has outstanding raw power. His sub-par pro debut displayed the struggles he has putting it into use, as well as his shaky defense.

Collin Cowgill, of

Age: 23 Level: High A-Triple-A

A Cody Ross-type player, Cowgill pounds the ball much more than one would expect by looking at his 5-9 frame. Injuries truncated his 2009 campaign and he'll turn 24 next year, so Cowgill needs to get moving.

Others: RHPs Barry Enright, and Eric Smith; LHP Mike Belfiore; OF Cole Gillespie; C John Hester; 2B Rusty Ryal

Impact Talent: C-

Farm System Depth: C-

2010 Breakout Prospect

David Nick, ss

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

Nick has a DiMaggio-like cut from the right side, one that consistently produces vicious line drives. He has a knack for hitting, and he is a knowledgeable player. Nick's long-term value would be significantly higher if he was able to man short, but he'll probably shift to third or second base. I'm excited to see what he can do in 2010.

A Few Updates

There are some noteworthy events going on in the world of baseball:

• The Triple-A championship game will pit Durham (83-61 and International League champs) against Memphis (77-67, Pacific Coast League champs). The best part of the matchup is Bulls ace Jeremy Hellickson. The 22-year-old righthander has been tremendous this year (2.45 ERA in 114 IP), especially in Triple-A (11.0 K/9 and .157 OBA). He'll be able to showcase his low-90s fastball, effective curveball and changeup, and control before a national audience--the game airs on ESPN2 at 7:00 ET.
• The Cardinals voided the contract of their big 2009 Latin American expenditure, Dominican OF Wagner Mateo, who received $3.1 million back in July. St. Louis cited "pre-existing injuries and physical defects".
• Giants prospect Angel Vilalona, 19, is suspected of murder in his native Dominican Republic, and appeared in court yesterday.
• On a lighter note, Baseball America recently gave Braves OF Jason Heyward the 2009 Minor League Player of the Year award.

Jeremy Hellickson

*Photo courtesy of www.milb.com

Johnson Returns As Reliever

Randy Johnson hasn't thrown a pitch for the Giants since July 5th, but the lanky left-handed legend has been activated from the 60-day DL and the Giants expect him to contribute out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.

With Brad Penny now in the rotation, and Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito each pitching very well, there really wasn't a spot in the rotation for the Big Unit anyway, so bringing him back in relief is actually a plus for this team. Right now, Jeremy Affeldt is the only left-handed reliever who Bruce Bochy really trusts with the game on the line, and now Johnson gives him another. Dan Runzler, who was among the September call-ups, has thrown very well in his limited appearances, but those have been in lopsided games and I don't think Bochy has the confidence in the young lefty to throw him out there with a game on the line in the middle of a pennant race. I'm stoked to see how Johnson does out of the pen and I have a feeling he's going to be lights out if he's healthy. He doesn't need to pace himself to pitch 6-7 innings per night now, so I'm expecting him to really let loose in the inning+ he gets each outing in relief.

Johnson will definitely help the bullpen with his return, but that's not an area on the team that is desperate for help. That area is the Giants offense, which actually came alive for the first two games of the Rockies series, both Giants victories, before being shut down by Jorge De La Rosa on Wednesday night. No Giant hitter had a multi-hit game on Wednesday, and if it weren't for Andres Torres' double, they would have been held without an extra base hit. Now, don't get me wrong, Jorge De La Rosa is a nice young lefty, who's certainly capable of doing what he did on Wednesday. I just didn't expect him to do it to a team who virtually has no room for error in their fight for a postseason birth. I don't want to say that the Giants hitters looked disinterested and overmatched, but they certainly looked like a tired bunch on Wednesday. It's really a shame too, because if they would have pulled out that victory, it really would have given them the momentum, and would have given the Rockies something to worry about. Now, even though the Giants won the series, the Rocks had to feel pretty good about themselves as they left San Francisco, still with a solid 3.5 game lead and heading into Arizona to take on one of the leagues worst teams while the Giants head to LA to take on the leagues top team. Now, this race is still very much alive, but with only 16 games on the schedule remaining, the Rockies magic number is dwindling by the day.

Notes: Bruce Bochy still hasn't given Buster Posey his first major league at-bat, as the kid has been up for nearly 3 weeks now and is the only guy on the roster who hasn't gotten into a game. It's really surprising too, because I think this kid could definitely give the Giants offense a boost, even if it is as just a pinch hitter. They need something to kick-start their offense, and I think a few nights with Buster Posey getting some action may do just that... Top pitching prospect, Madison Bumgarner, has also been out of action since he made his big league debut start on September 8th. I was kind of expecting Bochy to use the kid in relief, but apparently that's not in the cards... Jonathan Sanchez will try and get some revenge on the Dodgers in Friday night's start. Sanchez's last outing came against these Dodgers last week, and they handed Sanchez his worst start and loss since June 16th.

Giants Need To Win This Series

A lot of people are already writing the Giants off in the NL Wild Card race. They're offense seems to be getting worse as the season draws near the end, and it almost seems as if they're just playing out the year, rather than fighting for a playoff spot.

This post will be a little shorter than our normal posts here at the Giants Baseball Blog, just because it won't take a whole post to say what needs to be said. The Giants have Tim Lincecum going tonight, in his first start since September 3rd, and it's anyones guess as to how his back will hold up throwing for the first time in 10 days. The Giants need him to be his dominant self though, as they'll need Matt Cain and Barry Zito to be as well. The Giants have it set up to where they'll have their three hottest arms going against the Rockies, and they're really in a great position to sweep this series if they can somehow manage to get the offense going early. One tip I'd have for Bochy is to give Andres Torres some more time in center field and at the top of the lineup for the time being. Eugenio Velez has gone into a slump in the leadoff spot, and it's really caused a ripple effect on the whole batting order, because the Giants rely so much on the top of their order. Torres has looked good at the plate in recent games and is a fine defensive centerfielder. In fact, here's the lineup I'd have for the these next three game vs. the Rockies, which some quick notes on it below:

1. CF Anders Torres 2. 2B Freddy Sanchez 3. RF Nate Schierholtz 4. 3B Pablo Sandoval 5. SS Juan Uribe 6. C Bengie Molina 7. 1B Travis Ishikawa 8. LF Randy Winn/Velez

*Bengie Molina has 3 RBI in September....Can no longer hit cleanup when in the order!
*Uribe should be moved to the middle of the lineup with the way he's swinging.
*Ishikawa at first is helps the defense, so I'd lean towards him there unless Sandy' needs to be.
*I'd limit PT for Renteria and Winn while they continue to stuggle, and throw Uribe at short and Lewis or Velez in left while letting Nate play full-time in rf.

My previous NFL picks

MY PREDICTIONS
Actual =( )

Miami 23 (7) at Atlanta 17 (19)= Fail
Denver 14 (12) at Cincinnati 21 (7)= Fail
Minnesota 31 (34) at Cleveland 12 (20)= WIN
Jacksonville 27 (12) at Indianapolis 31 (14)= Fail
Detroit 7 (27) at New Orleans 35 (45)= WIN
Dallas 14 (34) at Tampa Bay 21 (21)= Fail
Philadelphia 24 (38) at Carolina 17 (10)= WIN
Kansas City 10 (24) at Baltimore 28 (38)= WIN
NY Jets 14 (24) at Houston 24 (7)= Fail
Washington 14 (17) at NY Giants 31 (23)= WIN
San Francisco 20 (20) at Arizona 38 (16)= Fail
St. Louis 21 (0) at Seattle 10 (28)= Fail
Chicago 24 (15) at Green Bay 28 (21)= WIN

This puts me at 6-7 to start with 2 more games to go

Buffalo 18 at New England 28
San Diego 21 at Oakland 7

The Madden curse strikes again

Strong Safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers sprained his MCL in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. Folklore legend has it that when at the end of the NFL season the best player usually ends up being the coverboy for the EA game, "Madden Football". Since then, certain players have experienced a decline in performance, usually due to an injury or just poor play period. For example:

2000 Barry Sanders- Retired suddenly
2001 Eddie George- Missed 1000 yds season and Tennessee missed the playoffs
2002 Daunte Culpepper- Culpepper missed 4 games with injury and worse stats ever
2003 Marshall Faulk- Rushed for 430 less yards and had 4 less TDs compared to 2001
2004 Michael Vick- Vick missed the first 11 games with a broken leg
2006 Donovan Mcnabb- Mcnabb suffered a hernia and was lost for the season
2007 Shaun Alexander- Out for 6 games with a broken foot
2009 Brett Favre- a torn bicep injury which affected the last 5 games of the year
2010 Troy Polamalu- MCL sprain....who knows what will happen.

Hypothetical Draft 2009

I now present the second edition of my own (hypothetical) draft. In this exercise, similar to what Jim Callis does over at Baseball America, I randomly choose an MLB team and "shadow" their draft, showing who I would have taken in that spot. By doing this, I get to compare my talent-evaluating ability with that of MLB organizations. I can stack up the drafts and see if I have a better haul than most teams; and see how credible my draft "expertise" is. My picks from last year are available here.

Anyway, I got the Angels this year. Being one of the best teams in the majors last year, Los Angeles chose near the back of the first round (#24 was their first slot). They had several supplemental picks for losing free agents, however, so that definitely gave me a boost. By the way, this is who the Angels selected in real life.

Remember, my strategy is to grab players who fell because of signability. Taking advantage of teams that adhere to slot has major benefits for a team's draft. Teams can get top talents in later rounds if they are simply willing to fork over a couple extra million dollars in the draft, where talent is cheaper than in the majors. (Stephen Strasburg, for instance, would have gotten at least 3 times what he got in the draft if he was on the open market.) Heavily focusing on amateur talent and the draft pays off well in the long run (particularly when scouts are sagacious, teams invest wisely, and a few big expenditures pan out).

Here are my picks from the 2009 draft.

1. Mike Trout, of, Millville HS (New Jersey)

Trout (6-0, 200 lbs.) has a compact body that belies his plus speed. He has hitting and defensive ability, some power potential, and a grinder mentality that allows him to always get the best of his tools.

1. Tim Wheeler, of, Sacramento State

Wheeler has the size of a prototypical slugger (6-4, 205 lbs.), but he has never consistently hit for power. If he can learn to do that, he could develop into an All Star-caliber outfielder; the rest of his toolset is intriguing.

1s. Tyler Skaggs, lhp, Santa Monica HS (California)

Skaggs is a supremely projectable prep lefty with "now" secondary stuff (curveball and changeup). Once he fills out his lanky frame and puts a few ticks on his fastball, he could be a frontline starter.

1s. Marc Krauss, of, Ohio

Coming from a mid-major, Krauss hasn't gotten a lot of exposure. He starred offensively in the Cape Cod League and this spring for the Bobcats, and he could provide an above-average corner bat in the majors. He should move fairly quickly.

1s. Bryan Berglund, rhp, Royal HS (California)

Berglund, a projectable Swede whom the Marlins bought out of Loyola Marymount for $572,500, already has a solid three-pitch foundation. His fastball (90-92 mph at best) isn't a plus pitch at this stage but it figures to improve with experience, as do his slider and changeup, which have plus potential.

2. Wil Myers, c, Wesleyan Christian Academy (North Carolina)

Myers is a versatile basher. He should be able to catch as a pro, driving his value up even more. He had a promising pro debut after pocketing $2 million from the Royals, and I like him at least as much as KC's top two hitting prospects (Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas) at this juncture.

3. Max Stassi, c, Yuba City HS (California)

Stassi's fall to the 4th round was one of the biggest surprises in the draft this year. He'll be a capable catcher and an impact hitter. He has good bloodlines and makeup, and he's a steal for me and for the A's in real life.

4. Zach Von Rosenberg, rhp, Zachary HS (Louisiana)

Von Rosenberg is also a top talent who dropped because of signability. A $1.2 million bonus gets me a proven winner with control of an 88-91 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup.

5. Brooks Raley, lhp, Texas A&M

Raley, a slender draft-eligible sophomore drafted by the Cubs, is an outstanding athlete and competitor. He throws an 87-91 mph sinker, slider, curveball, and changeup. He had a 3.76 ERA for the Aggies this spring, and his ceiling is a #3-4 starter.

6. Josh Fellhauer, of, Cal State Fullerton

Fellhauer is a cheap five-tool player. He's undersized and may be a tweener, but he has plenty of average (or a tick above) tools and a good feel for the game.

7. Ryan Buch, rhp, Monmouth

Buch will need time to iron out his numerous flaws and inconsistencies. (He walked 21 in 19 innings in his pro debut.) If everything clicks, though, he'll be a top-flight reliever, with a low- to mid-90s fastball and a sharp curveball.

8. Ryan Berry, rhp, Rice

Getting Berry this late is a coup. He has some delivery and injury concerns (what a surprise for a Rice hurler), but he's a borderline 1st-round talent when healthy. Berry attacks the zone with a solid fastball that touches 93 mph, a knucklecurve, changeup, and slider.

9. Sam Dyson, rhp, South Carolina

Dyson has a mediocre track record, but his high-octane fastball-curve combo is worth taking a chance on in the 9th round. He returned to the Gamecocks in real life.

10. Nick Hernandez, lhp, Tennessee

Highly-regarded entering his junior season of college, Hernandez fell apart and dropped to the 12th round in real life. He made adjustments and performed well in his pro debut, though, and his feel for pitching and solid stuff could translate into a spot at the back of a major league rotation in a few years.

11. Nick Greenwood, lhp, Rhode Island

Greenwood has three average pitches, and his feel for pitching and control helps them all play up. He's not imposing, but he always gets results (1.63 ERA in 66 IP for the Padres this summer).

12. Dane Williams, rhp, Archbishop McCarthy HS (Florida)

Williams attended N.C. State, but I would have taken a flier on his dynamic stuff. He has touched 94-96 and flashed a power slider in short bursts.

13. Pierce Johnson, rhp, Faith Christian Academy (Colorado)

Johnson is at Missouri State, but his all-around game spurred me to sway him away from the Bears. He locates a low-90s fastball, mixes in a promising breaking ball and changeup, and has smooth mechanics.

14. Del Howell, lhp, Alabama

Howell has immense upside, although he's a bit volatile. His fastball hits 94 with life and his slider is a plus pitch in the low-80s. The quality of his stuff wavers, and he has many nuances of pitching to fine-tune.

15. Dylan Floro, rhp, Buhach Colony HS (California)

A 20th-round choice, Floro passed up the Rays for Cal State Fullerton. He'll be an elite college pitcher in short order, as he has a 90-92 mph fastball, above-average slider, and a changeup.

16. Richie Shaffer, 3B, Providence HS (North Carolina)

A hand injury allowed Shaffer to drop in the draft and make good on his commitment to Clemson. He's well worth his hefty price tag, though, as he has perfect third-base tools, particularly a strong arm and tantalizing raw power.

17. Alex Hassan, rhp, Duke

I'm interested in Hassan as a pitcher, but Boston drafted him as an outfielder. He didn't disappoint in his debut (.328 AVG while reaching Low A).

18. Sergio Burruel, c, Browne HS (Arizona)

Burruel, a Cubs draftee, has arm strength, good hands, and the ability to lead a pitching staff. A lefty-swinger, he shows some promise at the plate.

19. Drew Biery, ss, Giants

Biery is an older shortstop who had a good career at Kansas State. He could hit his way up the ladder.

20. Jon Reed, rhp, Memorial HS (Oklahoma)

Surpassed by Chad James as the Sooner State's top high school prospect this spring after Reed had some concerns with the health of his elbow, the 6-2, 200-pounder is nonetheless interesting. His fastball ranges from around 90 to a couple ticks higher, and his curve is advanced for a high schooler. Reed is now at Tennessee.

21. Michael Zunino, c, Mariner HS (Florida)

Part of Florida's superb recruiting class, Zunino is known for his power displays. He has improved his defense but is still below-average in that department.

22. Ethan Carter, rhp, Menchville HS (Virginia)

Carter is a projectable 6-5, 200-pounder hailing from one of the nation's better high school programs. The sky is basically the limit with Carter, who has a three-pitch mix including a fastball that could settle in the low-90s once he recovers from a stress fracture.

23. Shaeffer Hall, lhp, Kansas

Hall is not overpowering by any means, but he keeps his team in the game by pounding the zone with a four-pitch mix. He needs to tighten up his curveball, but he could be a #5 starter or bullpen lefty.

24. Tobin Mateychick, rhp, Enid HS (Oklahoma)

Mateychick will be a project for Wichita State, but he could pay off handsomely in three years. His projectable frame and quick arm bode well for his already-plus fastball. His changeup and slider will need time to develop.

25. Diego Seastrunk, c, Rice

Seastrunk has a patient approach, line-drive stroke, and opposite-field awareness. Defensively, the former third baseman needs more reps, but he offers soft hands and a good arm.

26. Mike Bolsinger, rhp, Arkansas

Bolsinger projects as a big league middle reliever, with a decent slider and an 88-90 mph sinker. He's touched higher in the past and had a very successful 2009 campaign.

27. Brandon Sizemore, 2B, College of Charleston

Below-average defensively and athletically, Sizemore needs to hit his way to the majors if he wants to make good on his best-case scenario of Dan Uggla. The stocky 22-year-old got off on the right foot in his pro debut, blasting 8 homers and going .292/.376/.528.

28. Matt Long, of, Santa Clara

Long will probably max out as a good college player but, hey, it's the 28th round. The 22-year-old has a solid package of tools.

29. A.J. Griffin, rhp, San Diego

Griffin's arsenal consists of a 86-91 mph fastball, slider, change, and curveball. The 6-5, 215-pounder has been primarily used as the Toreros' closer, but he could be a back-of-the-rotation or middle relief option as a pro. He pounds the zone consistently.

30. Chris Manno, lhp, Duke

Although he rarely bumps 90, Manno toys with opponents and receives unanimously glowing scouting reports. He has a projectable body and an occasionally plus changeup.

31. Scott Griggs, rhp, San Ramon Valley HS (California)

One of the top prepsters in the nation entering his senior year, Griggs slumped and ended up at UCLA. He has power stuff, though, with a 90-95 mph fastball and diving curveball.

32. Matt Moynihan, of, Cathedral Catholic HS (California)

Moynihan has athletic and offensive ability, and he projects as an impressive outfielder after 3 years at San Diego.

33. Tyler Lavigne, rhp, San Diego State

Not exactly the team ace in college, Lavigne still has a chance in the pros. His solid sinker-slider combo led him to a 3.05 ERA this spring.

34. Tanner Poppe, rhp, Girard HS (Kansas)

Poppe is a work in progress, but his textbook pitcher's body and a fastball that reaches 93 mph could make him a premium prospect after 3 years at Kansas.

35. Brandon May, inf, Alabama

May was a good college hitter and projects to have a decent bat in the professional ranks. The Cubs are trying his hand at catcher to increase his versatility and give him an easier route up the ladder. If the conversion takes, he'll be an interesting sleeper.

36. Colin Bates, rhp, North Carolina

A redshirt sophomore, Bates returned to UNC in real life. He has a low-90s sinker, decent breaking ball, and an aggressive mentality.

37. Keifer Nuncio, rhp, Katy HS (Texas)

Now at Texas, Nuncio has a bulldog approach on the mound. His three-pitch mix (headlined by a 88-91 mph fastball) isn't too shabby, either.

38. Dan Sarisky, rhp, Oglethorpe (Georgia)

A D-III product, Sarisky flashes closer stuff. His fastball teases 97, his slider has power in the mid-80s, and he has an occasional 12-6 curve. He's polishing his control.

39. Kyle Hansen, rhp, St. Dominic HS (New York)

The younger brother of big league reliever Craig Hansen, Kyle has a similarly intimidating frame and upside. After three years at St. John's he could be a premium draft prospect.

40. Jordan Poyer, of, Astoria HS (Oregon)

A supreme athlete who also plays football (at Oregon State now), Poyer would have been taken much higher if not for signability. He is rough around the edges, but he has five-tool potential.

41. Cohl Walla, of, Lake Travis HS (Texas)

Walla is a high-risk, high-reward pick. He has above-average speed, a plus arm, raw power and projectability. The only thing missing from Walla's toolset at present is a consistent bat.

42. Richard Stock, c, Agoura Hills HS (California)

Headed to USC like his brother, Cardinals '09 2nd-rounder Robert, Richard has similar skills. When healthy, he has ample power, a cannon arm, and a powerful 6-3, 185-pound frame.

43. Beau Amaral, of, Huntington Beach HS (California)

The son of a former major leaguer, Beau fits the table-setter profile nicely, although he lacks power. He's currently at UCLA.

44. Jason Novak, rhp, UCLA

Wild but strong-armed, the 21-year-old is a bullpen prospect worth taking a flier on.

45. Parker Bangs, rhp, South Carolina

Bangs is back at South Carolina (playing two ways), but his stuff merited a selection here. He hits 92 mph with his fastball, and his slider has potential.

46. Juan Avila, of, Narbonne HS (California)

A switch-hitter, Avila is an under-the-radar prospect with a variety of average-or-better tools.

47. Tommy Collier, rhp, San Jacinto JC

Collier has good stuff, beginning with a sharp slider and an occasional hammer curveball. He doesn't establish his fastball well enough, but it is formidable, sitting at 86-91 and nudging 94. He isn't particularly big for a pitcher (6-2, 195 lbs.).

48. Todd McInnis, rhp, Southern Miss

A redshirt sophomore, McInnis has a slight frame and fringy fastball, deterring teams from drafting him this year. He'll return to Southern Miss. I like him because of his exceptional array of breaking pitches and big-game experience. He should anchor the Golden Eagles' rotation in 2010 and be a decent draft pick.

49. Nolan Cain, rhp, LSU

A seldom-used member of LSU's national championship squad, Cain went undrafted. The Tigers signed him, though, and elevated him to Double-A. The 23-year-old has a durable body, is deceptive, and has solid stuff.

50. Buck Afenir, c, Kansas

Another undrafted free agent, Afenir latched on with the Yankees. The California native had an excellent career at KU, and he'll be an organizational soldier at the least.

In summation, I chose 24 high school players and 30 collegians. The approximate total cost of these players would obliterate the current record for a single draft (which is Washington's 2009 draft, which went well into 8 figures). My first 12 picks signed for about $10.3 million; and the rest, whose bonus demands were difficult to ascertain, would push the total to the $15 million range. As I always maintain, though, dollars are much better spent in the draft. We'll see if it's one of the most productive drafts of all time to match its price tag. It certainly looks like a sparkling class now, but it will take years to properly assess my crop.

Giants Fading In September

The Giants are losing ground on the Wild Card leading Colorado Rockies, and they're doing so very quickly. They've gone just 4-5 in September thus far, and are getting banged up a little in the health department which has led them to 4.5 game deficit of the wild card leading Rockies heading into play this weekend.

It's still a little unclear when the teams ace, and most important player by far, Tim Lincecum, will make his next start after aggravating his sore back in his last outing. He's tentatively scheduled to make the start on Monday, the opening of an extremely important series vs. the Rockies, but that is anything but guaranteed. The Giants called up Madison Bumgarner on September 8th, which was Lincecum's last scheduled start, in order to give Timmy a few extra days to nurse the back along. Bumgarner threw pretty decently in his major league debut, going 5 innings vs. the Padres, allowing 2 runs on a couple of solo jacks, and just 4 hits while striking out 4 batters. He showed enough to get another nod and will start on Monday if Lincecum isn't ready, or ends up going in one of the weekend games vs. the Dodgers (highly unlikely). The call-up of Bumgarner now gives the Giants 6 starting pitchers for Bochy to use, and allows him to give some guys an extra day if needed. Even if he doesn't stick in the rotation for the final 3 weeks of the season, he provides the team with another power-armed lefty they can use in middle or long relief along with Dan Runzler.

The September downfall of the Giants hasn't been just about the team being a little banged up. They flat out aren't hitting, and they are really struggling to score runs, even vs. teams and pitchers that they shouldn't have trouble with. They just lost 2 of 3 at home to the San Diego Padres, who are 15 games below .500 and trotted out to the mound guys like Wade LeBlanc and former Giant castoff, Kevin Corriea, and both had their way with the Giants hitters. Freddy Sanchez, who cost the Giants Tim Alderson at the trade deadline, has been a major disappointment so far, I don't care how you sugar coat it. He cost the Giants their second best pitching prospect, and although he's still sporting a respectable average, the dude has been anything but clutch and has been an injury waiting to happen since dawning a Giants uniform. In fact, their isn't one particular game in which I've felt Sanchez has impacted enough to help determine the outcome of. Even Ryan Garko has had a few clutch hits which have helped the Giants pull out victories late in games, but I've yet to see that happen with Sanchez. I may be a tad over-critical of Sanchez right now, but I know what kind of value Alderson had and I certainly feel Sabean could have turned him into more than just Freddy Sanchez. Oh yeah, the Giants are just 8-8 with Sanchez in the starting lineup since he arrived in San Francisco and 12-9 without him. Not a drastic difference, but not the type of impact you'd want out a guy you dealt a top-3 prospect for.

Extras: The next 6 games could really ultimately end up deciding the Giants fate as far as their wild card chances go. They have 3 with the Dodgers this weekend, then host the Rockies for three next week. If the Giants lose ground on the Rockies by the end of that series, they'd essentially need to be perfect for their remaining games and hope that the Rocks hit a rough patch. One thing the Giants do have in favor for them as far as their schedule goes, is that they'll play 12 of their remaining 18 games at home, where they're the best team in the NL.

Let us never forget......

Let us never forget the World Trade Centers and American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175.

Let us never forget United Airlines Flight 93.

Let us never forget the Pentagon and American Airlines Flight 77

Let us never forget the Policeman, the Firemen, and the hundreds of people that helped save lives and gave their own life while saving others.

Let us never forget the innocent lives that were lost that day.

Let us never forget to forgive and let our hearts heal.


"Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too." .... Will Smith

OMG! OMG! THE NFL HAS STARTED.....HOLY HANNA BALLS!

Ahhhhhh yessssssssssssssssssss ("sounds like steam escaping" -gotta love Mel Brooks). The 2009 NFL season has spawned forth the most ugliest of NFL games so far this season. In one corner of the ring is the underdog of the AFC, the meanest of hillbillys, the moonshiners of mayhem, the challengers otherwise known as the Tennessee TITans. In the other corner folks we have the tallest set of metal curtains in the world, the steelworkers of America, The ministry of Ravens nightmares, the defending champions aka the Pittsburgh Steelers. 13-10 in OT - winner= Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 4 times and picked off twice (he was sacked more times than he sacked Andrea McNulty....SUPPOSEDLY). Neither team could gain much rushing yards and thus it turned into an aerial affair. And let us not forget that Troy Polamalu was hurt.
So what I will attempt to do is gaze into the year 2000 (cue Conan's music) and predict for you my picks for this weekend's NFL Games:


Miami 23 at Atlanta 17
Denver 14 at Cincinnati 21
Minnesota 31 at Cleveland 12
Jacksonville 27 at Indianapolis 31
Detroit 7 at New Orleans 35
Dallas 14 at Tampa Bay 21
Philadelphia 24 at Carolina 17
Kansas City 10 at Baltimore 28
NY Jets 14 at Houston 24
Washington 14 at NY Giants 31
San Francisco 20 at Arizona 38
St. Louis 21 at Seattle 10
Chicago 24 at Green Bay 28
Buffalo 18 at New England 28
San Diego 21 at Oakland 7

Don't bet the farm on my advice.

Cool Old Card of the Week

This is Marv's 1959 Topps card #243.

Marvin Edward Grissom (March 31, 1918 - September 18, 2005) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York & San Francisco Giants (1946 and 1953-58), Detroit Tigers (1949), Chicago White Sox (1952), Boston Red Sox (1953) and St. Louis Cardinals (1959). He was born in Los Molinos, California.

He helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series. In that season he was named to the National League All-Star team and finished 24th in voting for NL MVP Award after having a 10-7 win-loss record in 56 games (3 started including 1 complete game, a shutout), 19 saves, 122 ⅓ innings pitched, 64 strikeouts and a 2.35 earned run average.

In 10 seasons he had a 47-45 record, 356 games (52 started), 12 complete games, 3 shutouts, 58 saves, 810 innings pitched, 343 walks, 459 strikeouts and a 3.41 ERA. After his active playing career, Grissom had a 15-year-long tenure as a pitching coach for the Los Angeles/California Angels (1961-66; 1969; 1977-78), White Sox (1967-68), Minnesota Twins (1970-71) and Chicago Cubs (1975-76).

He died in Red Bluff, California, at the age of 87. Grissom's elder brother, Lee, was a left-handed pitcher for four MLB teams between 1934-41.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marv_Grissom

Forgotten Rookie of the Week

Ronald Isiah Calloway (born September 4, 1976 in San Jose, California) is a former baseball outfielder who played two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Montreal Expos. He batted and threw left-handed.

Calloway was selected in the eighth round of the 1997 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in the Major Leagues for the Montreal Expos from 2003 to 2004. Calloway spent the 2005 season with the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets and 2006 for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Prior to the 2007 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx. On May 18, 2007, Calloway announced his retirement.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Calloway

Ravishing Relic of the Week

I admit I was a little excited to pull this relic card. I do like Mel Gibson as an actor and "We Were Soldiers" is also one of my top 20 favorite movies. It's not everyday that you get to pull a 2008 UD PIECE OF HISTORY MEL GIBSON MOVIE PANTS Relic card. Just wish they would've used a bigger piece. Still I was happy with it and it's a part of my personal collection.

Cool Old Card of the Week

The card listed is his 1958 Topps baseball card.

Stanley Edward Lopata (born September 12, 1925 in Delray, Michigan) was a former Major League Baseball player. Stan was a graduate of Southwestern High school, Detroit, where his career started under the tutelage of Lyle VanDeventer, baseball coach and Dick Strohmer Athletic Director for the "Prospectors".

Lopata, a catcher was a two-time all-star who played for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves. He made his debut in 1948 and served as a backup to Andy Seminick and Smoky Burgess for many seasons. In 1955 he hit 22 home runs and became the Phillies full time catcher the next season. In 1956, Lopata had his best season as he hit 32 home runs finished second in the league in doubles and was in the top ten in other statistical categories including slugging percentage, runs batted in, OPS, and homers.

After two years of declining performance Lopata was traded to the Braves in 1960 and played in 32 games over two more seasons before retiring.

He finished his career having played in 863 games with a .254 batting average and 116 home runs.

Lopata served in the military during World War II.

He was the first National League catcher to wear glasses.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lopata

Chicken Scratch of the Day

In the 2009 Topps Chrome baseball there is a guarantee of 2 auto's per box. This autographed card was in my second box of chrome that I had purchased along with 2 other autographs in the same box. I beat the odds...wahoo! Anyhow Tommy Hanson has hard signed these cards and I was very impressed at how Topps did not use foil sticker autos for this set.
Let us take a look at Mr. Hanson's autograph for a moment. It almost looks like he signed it T J H. For his efforts he receives:

Info on Recent Callups

Here's a look at this year's most interesting September callups.

Chicago White Sox

Tyler Flowers, c

Flowers, arguably Chicago's top prospect will get his first shot in the MLB after splitting the year between Double-A and Triple-A. (He's gone .299/.426/.520.) The offensive-minded backstop will get more big league experience in 2010, and take over for A.J. Pierzynski for good in 2011.

Dan Hudson, rhp

A good sleeper pick entering the year, Hudson has been one of the top breakout stories of the minors, climbing every rung from Low A to the majors. He has put up a 2.32 ERA and 166-34 K-BB ratio in 147 IP at those stops, and is the top pitching prospect in the organization. Hudson has an excellent repertoire and could become a Gavin Floyd-esque starter for the White Sox in the near future.

Jhonny Nunez, rhp

Picked up in the Nick Swisher deal, Nunez has an electric arm. He has posted a 2.42 ERA in 42 relief appearances this year, and will be a nice solidifier in the White Sox bullpen next year.

Cleveland Indians

Carlos Carrasco, rhp

A frustrating prospect, Carrasco has #1 stuff, but struggles to get results. He'll get his initial big league test with Cleveland.

Lou Marson, c

A steady all-around player, Marson needs to show more power if he has designs on becoming a big league regular. MLB pitchers exploit .083 ISOs in their sleep. He could be an above-average backup to Carlos Santana, though!

Michael Brantley, of

Brantley is a nice prospect, combining stellar contact-hitting ability with above-average wheels. He could become a fourth outfielder or a second-division regular.

Colorado Rockies

Jhoulys Chacin, rhp

The 21-year-old's first call-up (last month) didn't go so well. He is an outstanding prospect, though, and should ease into a #2 or #3 starter role in time.

Los Angeles Angels

Brandon Wood, ss/3B

Wood has exhausted his prospect eligibility (and spent enough time in Triple-A that he could run for mayor of Salt Lake), but the Angels still refuse to give him an extended look. He's back for more this September. I adamantly maintain that, given an opportunity with another organization, he would quickly blossom into a solid left-side defender with 30+ HR power.

Milwaukee Brewers

Mat Gamel, 3B

Gamel is an outstanding hitter in need of a position change. He has already logged 113 ABs for the Brew Crew this year. Although he has a trend of tailing off in the second half, Gamel could become an above-average player at any position.

New York Mets

Josh Thole, c

Thole is an odd prospect: Although he plays catcher, he's a slap hitter with fair speed. It's doubtful that he'll become a first-division regular, but his ability to make contact is too hard to ignore. We'll see how his approach plays in the majors.

New York Yankees

Mike Dunn, lhp

The live-armed lefty is getting his first look at The Show. If he starts to hit the mitt with some more frequency (5.65 BB/9 this year), he'll play a valuable role in the Yankees' bullpen (12.15 K/9, 3.31 ERA).

Oakland A's

Clayton Mortensen, rhp

The 24-year-old Gonzaga product has had an up-and-down year, but his sinker could translate to a #3 slot in the rotation in the near future. He'll hone his command with Oakland this month with his eye on an expanded role in 2010.

San Francisco Giants

Buster Posey, c

My personal #3 prospect in the game, Posey is ridiculously talented. He'll help the Giants immediately, hold down the starting job next year, and potentially become a perennial All Star.

Madison Bumgarner, lhp

One of the most well-known prospects in the game, Bumgarner made his debut when Tim Lincecum was scratched because of back spasms. Having turned 20 last month, Bumgarner has plenty of time to improve his offspeed stuff. He has an incredible track record (1.65 ERA over 48 career starts.)

Dan Runzler, lhp

Runzler is an under-the-radar prospect. The big-bodied UC Riverside product could be an interesting piece in the San Fran bullpen, though, as he throws serious heat and has had an amazing year (0.76 ERA).

Tampa Bay Rays

Wade Davis, rhp

Davis has been one of the better righthanded pitching prospects in the game for a few years now, and the 2004 draftee is finally making his MLB debut this year. That shows you how conservative the Rays in promoting their pitchers. Once Davis refines his command and sharpens his cutter or changeup, he'll be a frontline starter.

Fernando Perez, of

Perez's 80 speed and Columbia smarts make him a good late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-runner at the very least. If he can refine his Punch-and-Judy approach, he could be a starter in the long term. (He would've spent 2009 in the MLB if not for an injury, anyway.)

Washington Nationals

Ian Desmond, ss

Desmond toiled in the minors for several years until a light finally came on for him this year. The slick-fielding 23-year-old hit .330/.401/.477 at Double-A and Triple-A. Hey, maybe the Nats actually have a starting shortstop on their hands.

Tyler Flowers

Buster Posey

Wade Davis

*Photos courtesy of www.milb.com