Thursday, June 18, 2009

Rochester Rolling Rocks "down on the farm"

We start the NL with the always dangerous Rochester Rolling Rocks. The owner has had multiple championships, and there is no question what may be on the horizon for this franchise.

1. Al Samuel....... Samuel has just recently been promoted to the Major Leagues. It was a very much deserved call up. Samuel has extreme power, great contact, great splits, and a wonderful batting eye. If you wrap all this together, it would make Mike Piazza look like " The where's the beef lady" . He has all the signs and potential to be a multiple MVP winner. Samuel was hitting .303 in AAA. He also had an OBP of .387, 13 doubles ,2 triples, 16 homers, 42 RBI'S in 53 games. He also has 26 walks, while fanning only 20 times in 208 at bats.

2.Franciso Baez.... Francisco is another player who will be an impact player in the major leagues. He also has good power, excellent contact, excellent splits, to go along with a good batting eye. Baez was hitting .383 with a .468 OBP in AA. It was a big jump to ML, but he looks like he is handling it well. He is hitting .377 in his brief ML career. He combined has 12 doubles, 1 triple, 14 homers, 47 RBI'S , 27 walks, and 29 strike outs. This to go along with a .OBP of .452 and a total OPS of . 1.117.

3. Andres Candelaria...... Andres is another huge prospect in Rolling Rock's future. Along with Baez, and Samuel, it will be hard to overcome this franchise in a bout 1 season or 2. I see multiple championships coming up. Candelaria is only in High A, but not for long. He is hitting a cool .327, with a OBP of .405 and a total OPS of 1.078. He has 18 doubles, 2 triples, 18 homers, 48 RBI'S, 29 walks, 11 stolen bases, and only 16 strikeouts. He has great contact, power, speed, good splits, a great eye, and all that adds up to trouble for other teams.

4.Arthur Camilli..... Arthur is going to be a definite closer to be dealt with in the big leagues. He is currently in Low A, but not for long. He is perfect in save chances (10 for 10) and he has a dazzling 1.40 ERA. In 19 innings, he has given up 13 hits, 8 walks , 0 homers, and a remarkable 31 strikeouts. He should make Billy Wagner look like Mitch Williams. He has pin point control, great splits, 2 very good pitches, and the drive to blow everyone away.

5. Thomas Flores..... Thomas is doing a great job in Low A this season. He may make the big leagues, as a #4 or # 5 pitcher. He could also pitch in long relief. He has good control, so so split, and 2-4 pitches in his ability. So far he is 7-1 with a 2.95 ERA this season. In 64 innings, he has given up 65 hits, 4 homers, 11 walks, while fanning 61.

6.Greg Lofton.... Greg is doing a great job in High A so far this season. He may make the major leagues, but time will tell. He is 5-5 with a very good 2.33 ERA in High A ball. In 85 innings, he surrendered 75 hits, 3 homers, 16 walks, while punching out 75 batters. He has great stamina, already 4 complete games in 11 starts. He also has 4 pitches, 2 very good, good control, so so splits, but on a team like Rochester, you don't have to be perfect to win games.

7. Wilton Hujimoto..... Wilton is in AAA and doing a great job down there. He is currently 6-1 with a 4.20 ERA. In 49 innings , he has given up 52 hits, 2 homers, 9 walks, while striking out 36. He has good stamina, good control, decent splits and 4 pitches.

8.J.T Flaherty...... J.T. is nothing fancy, but gets results when he pitches. He has so- so splits, decent control, and 4 so so pitches. In 18 innings he has given up 15 hits, 1 homers ,3 walks, while striking out 16...