Call ups

[Panzram]

Callups: Travis Smith, Dewon Brazelton, Xavier Nady. . .
by Matt Watson
Our weekly look at players called up to the majors (for the first time this season) in the past seven days.



Travis Smith, RHP, Atl
Smith posted a solid 4-1 record and 2.49 ERA over nine starts (50.2 IP) with Triple-A Richmond before his big league promotion last week. He started twice and pitched well (3.46 ERA, 0.92 WHIP) in place of the injured Horacio Ramirez, but probably won't stick around if Ramirez is able to return this week as expected. At 31, Smith is a minor league journeyman and most definitely not a prospect. Feel free to pass on him without regret.


Joe Valentine, RHP, Cin
Valentine is considered by most to be a possible future closer or setup man, but the Reds asked him to try his hand at starting this year. It's been a disaster: he posted a 6.21 ERA over nine starts (37.2 IP) at Triple-A Louisville, and gave up three runs off five walks and two hits in just one inning during a spot start with the Reds. He had no business being asked to make a big league start in the first place, so go ahead and ignore him. Besides, Valentine was covering Paul Wilson's spot in the rotation for one turn, and Wilson has already returned to action.


Tim Olson, UT, Ari
He was hitting .362 over 69 at-bats with Triple-A Tucson before he was called up, but that's about one hundred points better than his career minor league average. He's simply a utilityman that was called up to replace the injured Matt Kata. Don't expect much playing time, or production, in his time up.


Ben Howard, RHP, Fla
Once a prospect as a starter, Howard has been used exclusively out of the bullpen at Triple-A Albuquerque this year. He's posted a 3.41 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 17 walks over 29 innings. The Marlins recalled him to fill Josh Beckett's spot on the roster, though not his spot in the rotation. After a shaky first week (3 games, 5 ER, 2.2 IP), why gamble on him now?


Mark Corey, RHP, Pit
Corey has been dominant in relief at Triple-A Nashville this year, posting a 1.85 ERA with 22 strikeouts and six walks over 24.1 IP. He's collected 12 saves along the way, earning a promotion to pitch middle relief for the Buccos. At 30 years old, it's not fair to call Corey a "closer of the future," though he could work his way into a valuable setup role. Jose Mesa has apparently forgotten he's Jose Mesa, and as such has been a consistent ninth-inning fireman this year. Should his memory return, Corey might be an effective stopgap. That's pure speculation, though, and it should be safe to leave him on your free agent list until Mesa shows signs of falling apart.


Felipe Lopez, SS, Cin
Juan Castro's trip to the DL earned Lopez a roster spot, and Barry Larkin's sore abdominal muscles has earned him some playing time. Lopez was once a top shortstop prospect, but inconsistency with his glove and bat in the big leagues has punched his ticket to the minors the past two seasons. He was hitting .289 with seven homers and 34 RBI in 194 AB with Triple-A Louisville before his promotion, but his 2-for-18 first week in the big leagues looks all too familiar.


Chris George, LHP, KC
At first glance, George's 1-3 record at Triple-A Omaha this year may turn you off. Then you notice his 2.32 ERA over 31 IP and wonder if you should give him a second look. Take a third look and realize he's struck out 17 with 12 walks -- he still lacks the control to be an effective big league starter. That was evident in his first start of the year last week: though he allowed "only" three runs in 6.2 IP, he allowed seven hits, walked five, and struck out only one. Taking a chance on him could sabotage your fantasy staff.


Matt Treanor, C, Fla
Despite an impressive start at Triple-A Albuquerque (.280-6-31), Treanor is not worthy of a fantasy pickup. He was called up simply to provide depth with Ramon Castro on the DL and won't garner enough at-bats to really matter. He's already 28 years old, so he's hardly a prospect.


Xavier Nady, OF, SD
Now 25, Nady hasn't developed into the elite player that the Padres had expected. His start at Triple-A Portland (.314-3-16) would be respectable for a middle infielder, but he's supposed to be a power-hitting corner outfielder. Brian Buchanan's injury gave him a roster spot, and he might garner some at-bats as the DH when the Friars tour the AL in interleague play this week. Go ahead and take a chance on him if you're looking for short-term help, but temper your expectations from what they were a year or two ago.


Esteban German, UT, Oak
A second baseman by trade, German may see time at third base while helping cover the loss of Eric Chavez. Mark McLemore is slated to earn the majority of time there, but German is nice insurance given the condition of McLemore's knees. German's best attribute may be his speed, though Oakland's philosophy renders his stolen base contributions minimal. He was hitting .333 with one home run and 20 RBI in 33 games at Triple-A Sacramento before the promotion.


Hiram Bocachica, UT, Sea
It's been a long time, but Bocachica was once highly regarded as a shortstop prospect. He's shown very little in the big leagues, however, bringing a .216 BA over 333 AB into the season. He hit .299-7-21 with 12 steals in 107 AB with Triple-A Tacoma before his promotion, however, and he could factor into the left field job with Raul Ibanez on the DL. If you're short on steals and just want to fill a roster spot, take a chance on him. He's a low-risk option that could prove useful in the short-term.


Dewon Brazelton, RHP, TB
Still considered a top prospect, Brazelton is flirting with becoming a bust. He's been thoroughly ineffective in two big league stints and was merely average (4.71 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 15 walks, 49.2 IP) in 10 starts with Triple-A Durham this year. Already 24, Brazelton needs to show some positive results soon. On the other hand, he can't possibly be worse than Paul Abbott has been this year, so he should get ample opportunity to prove himself.


Jesus Colome, RHP, TB
Colome is living proof that dialing up 100 mph on the radar gun does not guarantee big league success. Control has always been his nemesis, and there was nothing about his minor league numbers (17 strikeouts, 16 walks, 30.2 IP) that suggests he's ready for consistent success. If anything, his declining strikeouts should be a sign to stay away.


Bob File, RHP, Tor
He allowed just 1 ER over 17.2 IP with Triple-A Syracuse before his promotion. That's too small of a sample size to get excited about, especially considering he's only struck out six batters while walking four. Yawn. Jason Frasor is still dominating hitters as the Jays pseudo-closer, so there's no reason to speculate on Toronto relievers like you did early in the season.


Yadier Molina, C, StL
Molina joined brothers Bengie and Jose in the big leagues when the Cards called him up to replace the injured Mike Matheny. He was hitting .310 with one home run and 14 RBI over 126 AB with Triple-A Memphis before his promotion. Considering the only other option the Cards have behind the plate right now is Cody McKay, Molina should see at least part-time action until Matheny returns. He's a fine defensive backstop but he has almost no power at all. Can he at least hit for average? It's tough to say -- he's only 22 years old and may be a bit overmatched right now. Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.


Choo Freeman, OF, Col
He was hitting .294 with three home runs and 25 RBI over 180 AB when the Rockies recalled him to provide an extra bat off the bench. He has plenty of speed but isn't as successful as you'd like him to be stealing bases. He's simply an outfield reserve for the time being. Fantasy owners in keeper leagues might be intrigued by his potential, but the odds of him contributing in the short-term are slim.


Todd Linden, OF, SF
After giving up on the Jeffrey Hammonds experiment, the Giants recalled Linden from Triple-A Fresno. He hit .286-4-32 before the promotion, stealing four bases in seven attempts. He's a switch-hitter with a touch of power, though perhaps not enough to be a factor at SBC Park. Perhaps he sees a few at-bats when the Giants use the DH in AL ballparks, but otherwise he's simply a reserve outfielder. The Giants should have given him a full-time job instead of signing Michael Tucker in the offseason, but what's done is done and Tucker is playing well enough to not worry about job security.


Jeff Liefer, 3B/OF/1B, Mil
Liefer showed his potential when he hit 18 HR in just 254 AB in 2001, but he's showed very little since. After tearing things up at Triple-A Indianapolis (.341-11-44 over 179 AB), however, the Brewers found room on their 40-man roster to give him another crack at the big leagues. He can play the infield and outfield corners, and could see time as a DH as the Brew Crew head to the AL this week. If you need home runs and play in a deep NL-only league, you could do a lot worse than giving him a short audition.


Matt Hensley, RHP, Ana
With Troy Percival on the DL, Francisco Rodriguez will move into the closer role. That leaves a hole at the setup spot that the Halos hope to fill with Hensley. He posted a sparkling 1.57 ERA with 32 strikeouts and five walks over 28.2 IP with Triple-A Salt Lake before the promotion. Considering that effort came in a hitter-friendly league, he should be up for the task of facing big league hitters. He won't be in a position to get saves and likely won't pitch enough innings to even vulture wins, but if you're looking for a cheap low-ERA, low-WHIP guy to eat a few innings while picking up a few strikeouts, this could be your guy.


Edgar Gonzalez, RHP, Ari
The D'Backs gave their 21 year-old prospect a spot start in place of the demoted Casey Daigle. Gonzalez struggled (6 ER, 4 IP), which wasn't surprising given his results at Triple-A Tucson this year (5.63 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). He's a fine prospect, but may be sent down before his spot in the rotation comes up again. With the exception of those playing in keeper leagues, there's no reason to pay much attention to Gonzalez for the time being.


Brandon Villafuerte, RHP, Ari
Villafuerte posted a 2.64 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks in 30.2 IP with Triple-A Tucson before his promotion. While he won't reproduce those numbers with the D'Backs, he shouldn't stray too far from a 4.00 ERA -- quite possibly staying below it. Considered a possible closer as recent as last year, Villafuerte won't have a chance at that type of role right now, though you can't rule anything out for good given Jose Valverde's struggles with consistency. His current role doesn't have enough value to risk taking a chance on him, but keep him in the back of your head if you own Valverde.


Jon Leicester, RHP, Cubs
After posting a 4.01 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 34 walks in 11 starts (60.2) with Triple-A Iowa, Leicester was recalled over the weekend to provide bullpen depth when Joe Borowski landed on the DL. While he has some strikeout ability, he obviously has some control issues, as well. In a limited role such as middle relief, there's just not enough of a payoff to consider taking a chance on him. Perhaps things would be different were he to crack the starting rotation, but that's not where we are right now.

[Panzram]

Expos bring up Downs

06/24/04 11:55:09 PM CDT

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - The Montreal Expos have recalled pitcher Scott Downs from Triple-A Edmonton.

Expos manager Frank Robinson has said Downs will start Saturday's game against Toronto.

Downs was 8-3 with a 2.89 earned run average in 15 starts for Edmonton, which included a seven-inning no-hitter on June 11 against Las Vegas.

The Expos optioned pitcher Chad Bentz to Edmonton to open a roster spot. The lefthander was 0-2 with a 5.03 ERA in 31 games.

[Panzram]

Latest callups

One of the interesting callups this week is Tampa Bay OF Joey Gathright, who is a top prospect with great speed. He hit .341-0-8 with 10 SBs in 32 games at Double-A Montgomery earlier this year and then hit .326-0-3 with 15 SBs in 21 games at Durham. He was called up to play center field while Rocco Baldelli nurses a thigh injury and he could be sent back down to the minors this week. But keep him on your radar as this 23-year-old has serious speed (69 SBs in the minors last year) who could be a fantasy wonder someday.

With Chipper Jones back at third base and DeWayne Wise on the DL, the Braves called up 25-year-old Charles Thomas, who was leading the International League with a .358 average. He has little power and speed, and thus has minimal fantasy value. But the Braves are weak in the outfield and he could get meaningful at-bats this month.

I mentioned Marcus Thames last week and he got called up by the Tigers this week. Yes, he's 27, but look at the numbers again before giving up on him. He hit .329-24-59 at Toledo, posting a .735 slugging percentage in 64 games. He's a worthy pickup in AL-only leagues as he will likely DH some.

The A's also called up Kirk Saarloos, who was acquired from Houston earlier this year. Saarloos could get some spot starts with Tim Hudson on the DL and Rich Harden sidelined, so he's a worthy pickup in AL-only leagues. Saarloos struggled at Triple-A New Orleans, but was 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts at Sacramento.

[Panzram]

Edwin Jackson (P) LA
Edwin Jackson will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to start tonight's game, according to the LA Times.

[Panzram]

by Mike Rainey

Dan Haren, RHP, Stl
Haren started off like a house on fire at Triple-A Memphis this season but has struggled a bit lately, and his ERA has ballooned to 4.11 overall to go along with a 9-4 record. He started the Triple-A All-Star game and tossed two perfect innings for the Pacific Coast League. Haren recorded 133 strikeouts in 116 innings for the Redbirds and the Cardinals plan to use him in long relief for as long as he's with the big club. Haren made a spot start for the Cardinals in place of the injured Jason Marquis on June 10 at Wrigley Field and was promptly rocked for 10 runs in 3.2 innings of work. Pitching coach Dave Duncan later said that Haren's delivery was out of whack during that start, and the Cardinals still have high hopes for this talented righthander. They project him to be in their starting rotation in 2005. Haren won't have much value in a long relief role, and he may not be in St. Louis very long if the Cardinals meet their trade deadline objective of acquiring a right-handed reliever.

Roy Corcoran, RHP, Mon
Corcoran had an excellent season in short relief for Triple-A Edmonton, compiling a 2.98 ERA and five saves along with a 4-1 record in 29 appearances. His K/BB rate could stand to improve, as he as he fanned 34 batters while walking 24 in 42.1 innings. Corcoran has a good fastball and curveball but probably not good enough stuff to close games in the majors. Chad Cordero has that job in Montreal, anyway, but Corcoran, who had a 1.23 ERA in seven big-league innings last season, could be a viable setup man.

David Wright, 3B, NYM
Considered one of the elite prospects in the game, Wright was finally recalled to take over the hot corner for the Mets, who still have postseason aspirations. After lighting up the Eastern League at Double-A Binghamton earlier in the season (.363-10-40), Wright started off strong during his first two weeks at Triple-A Norfolk before he began to struggle in July. His average was down to .298 at the time of his recall, but if you watched MSG's coverage of his major league debut you would have thought it was the biggest event at Shea Stadium since the Beatles played there in the 60s. Wright is off to a slow start for the Mets, but it's only been a few games. He's got good power and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Wright is a terrific defensive third baseman and that is one of the biggest reasons the Mets promoted him.

Grady Sizemore, OF, Cle
After getting off to a slow start at Triple-A Buffalo this season, Sizemore hit .330 with 30 RBI after May 21, and the Indians believed the time was right to give this multi-tool player his first taste of the big leagues. The Indians acquired Sizemore two years ago from the Expos in the Bartolo Colon trade, and he took off after he landed in the Cleveland organization. Sizemore is still developing his power, though he'll get plenty of doubles and triples with his line-drive stroke and decent speed. He had four hits (including a home run) in his first 15 at-bats with the Indians and should see semi-regular action sharing time with Coco Crisp and perhaps Jody Gerut the rest of the season.

Tyler Yates, RHP, NYM
Yates flunked an earlier trial as a starter with the Mets this season (1-4, 7.22 ERA in eight appearances, including seven starts), but he was solid in a relief role at Triple-A Norfolk and the Mets have decided to give him a chance to thrive in a bullpen role. He had a 3.18 ERA, three saves, and 32 strikeouts over 28.1 innings of work with the Tides. Yates has a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s, but since he hasn't mastered his secondary pitches yet, he's probably better suited to working in short relief even if he won't have much fantasy value in that role.

Andy Dominique, C, Bos
Not a prospect at the age of 28, Dominique has hit well in the minors the past two seasons and could provide a little pop as a backup catcher in Boston. If nothing else he'll provide protection for the Red Sox in case the wrist injury that Jason Varitek suffered in his scuffle with Alex Rodriguez is more serious than expected. Dominique was a Triple-A All-Star this season and was hitting .278 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI in 313 at-bats with Pawtucket before his promotion. If he gets some playing time he could make a little noise at the plate.

Sean Douglass, RHP, Tor
To say Douglass has been roughed up in his previous major league stints would be an understatement (6.61 ERA in 22 appearances with the Orioles in 2001, 2002 and 2003 combined). He hasn't proven he has the command or the stuff to retire major league hitters, and he really wasn't that good at Triple-A Syracuse this season (5-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 18 appearances), although he had pitched better of late. There really isn't much reason to get excited about Douglass, and he's only been recalled to join the Blue Jays rotation out of dire necessity. Roy Halladay was placed on the DL and Pat Hentgen was hit so hard in his return to the rotation that he decided to retire. Douglass has given little indication through his minor league career and brief major league trials that he's any more than a flammable back-of-the-rotation starter, but right now the Jays are just looking for anybody who's warm blooded to take ball every fifth day.

Lance Cormier, RHP, Ari
Cormier has pitched well at both Double-A El Paso (2-3. 2.29 ERA) and Triple-A Tucson (3-3, 2.68 ERA) this season and the flailing Diamondbacks will give him a chance to remain in their rotation for the rest of the year. He was bombed in a spot start on June 19 against Tampa Bay and allowed five runs in six innings of work in his start on Saturday. He surrendered four home runs to the Rockies in that outing, and the game was played in Phoenix. Cormier throws four average pitches and will have to rely on precise control, which he's displayed in the minors, to be successful in the big leagues. He's yet to demonstrate that kind of command in his two starts with the D'Backs.

Edgar Gonzalez, RHP, Ari
Gonzalez is in much the same boat as Cormier and it appears as though both will struggle to remain in the majors much longer. The difference between the two is that Cormier has had a much better season in the minors than Gonzalez, who was only 5-5 with a 4.88 ERA in 15 starts with Triple-A Tucson. Like Cormier, Gonzalez has been hit hard in his two starts in Arizona this season, but the Diamondbacks can certainly afford to be patient with both of them in this lost campaign. Gonzalez doesn't have a true out pitch, and with a hittable repertoire, he probably won't be a significant factor in the Show until he develops one.

Bobby Madritsch, LHP, Sea
Madritsch sports 14 tattoos on his body but the Mariners are only concerned about whether or not he can retire major league hitters. He missed all of 1999 and most of 2000 with a shoulder injury, but he doesn't appear to be displaying any lingering effects from that injury now. Madritsch has been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to pitch out of the Mariners bullpen after working as a starter with the Rainers. He was 5-2 with a 3.75 ERA and a two-to-one K/BB ratio in Tacoma, and the Mariners are hoping hard-throwing southpaw can eventually replace Ron Villone, who has a good shot at being traded this week. Madritsch is really only a one-pitch pitcher, so his future in the majors could very well be as a reliever.

Nook Logan, OF, Det
If you're in a deep AL-only league and looking for cheap speed, Logan may be a option, though it's somewhat unlikely that he'll get enough playing time or get on base frequently enough to swipe many bases. Logan has terrible plate discipline (89 strikeouts and 20 walks in 394 at-bats this season at Triple-A Toledo) and has trouble driving the ball. He's a switch-hitter with no power from either side of the plate, and he doesn't hit for average, either (career .264 minor league hitter). Logan is off to a good start in Detroit, but nothing about his minor league history suggests that he's anymore than the 25th man on a roster. http://www.rototimes.com/index.php?sport=bsball&type=lastweekscallups&name=F20040726140026

[Panzram]

http://www.rototimes.com/index.php?sport=bsball&type=lastweekscallups&name=F20040801235445

Merkin Valdez, Jose Lopez, Jason Bartlett. . .
by Nate Ravitz

Luis Terrero, OF, ARI – We covered Terrero a couple of weeks ago, but this time he's back for good. With Steve Finley in L.A., Terrero will be a full-time starter in center field for the remainder of the season. He'll bat leadoff, as he did on Sunday, and could steal about 10 bases the rest of the way.

Merkin Valdez, RHP, SF – The No. 1 prospect in the Giants system was called up to step into the role formerly filled by Felix Rodriguez. Of course, given all of the problems the Giants have had in their bullpen recently, Valdez could fall into some save chances. He's eventually projected to be a starter, but that doesn't seem to be the cards this season. Valdez posted a 3.26 ERA while pitching for three different minor league clubs this season. For the year, he has 55 strikeouts and 12 walks in just under 50 innings pitched. He's worth a bid in NL-only leagues, especially keeper leagues.

Jose Lopez, SS, SEA – Though Lopez is just 20, he's been called up to take over the everyday job at shortstop for the Mariners. In 74 games with Triple-A Tacoma, he hit .295 with 13 home runs and five stolen bases. His success at Triple-A at such a young age bodes well for his future. However, he'll be hitting near the bottom of a very weak lineup and probably isn't ready to be a major contributor. Worth a buck or two in a deep AL-only league.

John Webb, RHP, TB – It isn't really clear why the Devil Rays decided to recall Webb from Double-A Montgomery, where he posted a 4.10 ERA with just 12 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. Regardless, you don't want him on your team.

Jesse Crain, RHP, MIN – One of the reasons people questioned whether Joe Nathan could hang onto the closer job for the Twins was the presence of the 23-year-old Crain. This season, Crain has dominated at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 2.49 ERA with 64 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 50 2/3 innings. Crain is definitely a closer candidate down the road, but for now he'll work as a setup man. Even in that role, he should pitch well enough to help roto teams needing improved ERA and WHIP, especially in 4x4 leagues. A definite keeper who should also pitch well this year.

Mike Bacsik, LHP, TEX – A spot starter for the Mets the last two seasons, Bacsik has spent all of 2004 thus far with Triple-A Oklahoma. In 28 appearances there, including nine starts, Bacsik posted a 4.45 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 22 walks in 85 innings. He may get a chance to start for the Rangers and could get some wins with decent run support, but he's not worth the risk because of the potential damage he could do to your ERA and WHIP.

Roberto Novoa, RHP, DET – After going 5-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 36 relief appearances with Double-A Erie, Novoa, earned a chance to try to help the Detroit bullpen. He struck out 47 and walked 16 in his 67 2/3 innings and doesn't appear to be dominant enough to make a major impact right now. Soon to be 25, he projects as nothing better than a setup man down the road, and he's unlikely to have much value this season.

Curtis Pride, OF, ANA – The 35-year-old Pride was called up to give the Angels some extra depth in the outfield, which was needed with Jeff DaVanon on the DL. Pride hit .446 with one homer in 17 games with Nashua of the independent Atlantic League before earning a minor league contract with Triple-A Salt Lake, where he hit .431 with two homers in 19 games. The Angels are trying to catch lightning in a bottle here, but the chances of Pride playing enough to help or doing much with his few chances aren't good. Only look here if you're desperate for an outfielder in a deep AL-only league.

Scott Atchison, RHP, SEA – Atchison is 28 years old and is likely to be mere bullpen filler in Seattle. Before his recall, he was pitching well for Triple-A Tacoma, posting a 4.15 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 26 walks in 69 1/3 innings, along with seven saves. He replaces the injured Julio Mateo in the Seattle pen.

Jason Bartlett, SS, MIN – One of the better prospects in the Minnesota system, Bartlett will be a candidate to step in for Cristian Guzman next season if Guzman leaves via free agency. Bartlett hit .310 with one homer and five steals in 39 games with Triple-A Rochester this season, missing nearly two months of action with a broken bone in his hand. As this is written, Bartlett has been in the majors five days and hasn't played. It's a shame that the Twins don't stick him at second base in place of the useless Luis Rivas. Nonetheless, it looks like Bartlett won't get much playing time the rest of the way. If he gets the starting job next year, he could hit .285 with 8-12 homers and 15-25 steals over a full season.

[Fullabull]

Jairo (Hyro) Garcia, a righty from the Dominican Republic, certainly put together some special statistics during his 2004 Tour de Dominance of the minors.


At Kane County he was 1-0 with a 0.30 ERA and 16 saves, striking out 49 over 30 innings of work. Next!

After being promoted to Double-A Midland on June 24, he went 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and two saves, striking out 32 in 18 innings. Next!

And finally, in just three games after being moved up to Sacramento on July 30, he showed enough to earn a shot in The Show. Over five innings, he struck out 10, allowed two hits, didn't issue a walk and picked up a save. Next!
All told, Garcia went 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA -- four earned runs -- in 41 appearances at the three stops, striking out 91 in 53 innings along the way. The A's have been quietly excited about the youngster for some time, and A's manager Ken Macha was excited to get his first look at the organization's hottest prospect.

[Panzram]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=prospectwatchpreseptembe&prov=tsn&type=lgns

Prospect Watch: Pre-September call-ups aplenty
By Mark Allen Haverty - SportingNews

September is generally the month that we begin to see a massive influx of talent from the minors, as the rosters expand to 40, but we've already seen a significant number making their debuts. Not just role players either, as teams out of the hunt are taking a look at the future now, while those still in the playoff hunt are looking within for help.

Both the Giants and Twins have looked within for bullpen help, calling up pitchers that could be future closers. The Devil Rays, long out of the race, have turned to their shortstop of the future, a name we'll see in All-Star Games for years to come.

ALREADY HERE

Jesse Crain, RP, Twins. The Twins' closer of the future, as he was dubbed by most this season, is finally in the majors, having pitched in 41 games in Triple-A Rochester this season. Featuring a low- to mid-90s fastball and a nasty slider, Crain was 3-2 with 19 saves, a 2.49 ERA, and a 64-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio at the time of his promotion. He already has made six appearances in the bigs since the promotion, and he has a 5.79 ERA and 2.14 WHIP.

Crain was tabbed as the next closer for the Twins before anyone knew how effective Joe Nathan would be in the role. Obviously, Nathan has turned out to be a very solid closer, severely reducing the value of Crain. Until Nathan falters, Crain has no real value, and even then there is no certainty he'll assume the role.

B.J. Upton, SS, Devil Rays. For those wondering, B.J. stands for Bossman Junior, so he has a nickname of a nickname. The top prospect in the Devil Rays' system, Upton has speed and arm strength that scouts covet, and he has done nothing with the bat to disappoint, hitting .327 with two home runs, 15 RBIs and three steals at Double-A and .311 with 12 home runs, 36 RBIs and 17 steals in Triple-A before his big-league promotion.

The only drawback to Upton's game is his defense. He committed 56 errors in the minors last season, and he already has committed three in 10 major league games. The D-Rays are not worried about the errors yet, and expect them to go away with experience. More importantly, they need his bat, and he's currently hitting .351. While not quite Miguel Tejada, Upton should be one of the top three shortstops in the American League as soon as next year.

Merkin Valdez, RP, Giants. Tabbed as the top prospect in the Giants' system by Baseball America entering the season, Valdez has been used primarily as a starter in his minor league career, but his future looks brighter out of the bullpen. While his fastball sits in the low-90s as a starter, he hit the high-90s in relief outings during the Arizona Fall League.

Considering how much better Valdez's velocity is coming out of the bullpen, and with the Giants having massive holes in their bullpen, Valdez's immediate future is out of the 'pen, where he will work in middle relief. In that role, he has no fantasy value. If he moves into the closing role, since the current closer (Dustin Hermanson) is far from a long-term solution, or into the rotation next spring, he could have value in either capacity.

COMING SOON

Josh Anderson, OF, Astros. After hitting .447 with 57 stolen bases for Eastern Kentucky University, Anderson was taken in the fourth round, 119th overall, by the Astros in 2003. Playing in the New York/Penn League (short season, A-ball), Anderson continued to display that speed, swiping 26 bags in 74 games. With just one pro season under his belt, Anderson has exploded this year, with 71 stolen bases in 118 games split between low-A and high-A ball.

Anderson needs to work on patience at the plate, as he's not taking enough walks for a leadoff hitter, with just nine in 195 at-bats in the Carolina League. Still, he is hitting .297, with a .341 OBP and .431 slugging percentage, and has been caught in just three of his 27 stolen-base attempts since being promoted. Anderson should move up to Double-A to start 2005, but should move through the system quickly, especially with rumors that the Astros are going into rebuilding mode as soon as this season ends. Anderson might get a look at the end of the year, and should be up as an everyday outfielder by 2006. This kid has Carl Crawford-like potential, so watch him closely.

For more on Josh Anderson, you can check out Mark Haverty's interview with him on sportsblurb.com.

Jason Kubel, OF, Twins. Yet another stud hitting prospect in the Twins' system, Kubel started getting noticed after his .321-17-69-3 campaign in 2002 in the Midwest League. The power numbers dropped off slightly last year when he moved up to the Florida State League, as he hit just five home runs, but he still hit .298 there with 82 RBIs and 20 doubles. Just 22 years old, Kubel was promoted to Double-A to start the season, and completely dominated the level, hitting .377 with six homers, 29 RBIs, and a 1.127 OPS in 37 games before a promotion to Triple-A. The hitting hasn't stopped there; in 76 games for Rochester, Kubel is hitting .353 with 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, 14 steals, and 26 doubles.

Despite being a small-market team, the Twins have shown a great reluctance to turn to rookies, as shown by the struggle for Justin Morneau to get playing time earlier in the year, and in seasons past, Matt LeCroy. So, the Twins might wait on calling up Kubel longer than most teams. Still, one cannot argue with the numbers he's putting up, and he should have a chance to make the big-league club next spring. If he doesn't, expect him up no later than midseason.

J.D. Durbin, SP, Twins. "The Real Deal" prides himself on having moved through the Minnesota system, with Joe Mauer his catcher at every stop. Seeing Mauer ahead of him in the bigs certainly has been a powerful motivating tool for him. Durbin comes after hitters with a mid-90s fastball, a solid curveball, and a nasty 87-mile slider. Durbin missed time this season because of injury, but has come back strong, going 4-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 13 games with Double-A New Britain before his promotion to Rochester. Since then, he has made three starts, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

Durbin's control numbers were not that impressive last season after his promotion to Double-A, and his numbers there this season were similarly weak, with just a 53-ot-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 64.1 innings. But he has looked much more impressive in Triple-A, where he already has 23 strikeouts in just 16.1 innings, with only three walks. If Durbin can continue to improve on his consistency, something both Mauer and Durbin have told me he needs to work on, he should be up with the Twins at some point next season, possibly to start the year.

[Panzram]

http://www.rototimes.com/index.php?sport=bsball&type=lastweekscallups&name=F20040815235916

Luke Hudson, Franklin Nunez, Craig Brazell and more
by Nate Ravitz

# Luke Hudson, RHP, CIN – Hudson made three appearances with the Reds in 2002, and shoulder surgery in April of 2003 is the main reason it's taken him this long to get back to the majors. Hudson, 27, posted a 3.32 ERA in 16 starts with Double-A Chattanooga and a 2.84 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Louisville. Between the two stops, he averaged better than a strikeout per inning and better than three strikeouts for every walk. He was knocked around a bit in his first start on Sunday night, as he allowed eight hits and five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He's better than that, but if you take a chance on him you're putting your ERA and WHIP at risk.

# Franklin Nunez, RHP, TB – The 27-year-old Nunez was called up to give the Devil Rays an extra arm in the bullpen, where he'll likely have little fantasy value. Nunez has some strikeout ability, as he posted 65 Ks in 48 1/3 innings with Triple-A Durham along with a 2.98 ERA. However, he also walked 33, and that lack of control will be a bigger problem in the majors. Since Nunez doesn't appear to be in line for any save chances this year or next, there's little reason to take a flier on him.

# Wilson Delgado, IF, NYM – Delgado is a 32-year-old journeyman with a .238 career average and three homers in 412 big league at-bats entering this season. He hit .261 with three homers and one steal at Triple-A Norfolk before his recall and could get some playing time in a three-man rotation with Danny Garcia and Joe McEwing at second base and shortstop while Kaz Matsui and Jose Reyes are out. Still, Delgado isn't good enough to warrant a FAAB bid.

# J.D. Closser, C, COL – One reason the Rockies were eager to deal Charles Johnson was to clear the starting job for Closser, a solid – but not spectacular – 24-year-old catching prospect. Closser hit .299 with seven homers in 298 at-bats with Triple-A Colorado Springs. His best attribute is his plate discipline – he had 41 walks against only 47 strikeouts with the Sky Sox. The Rockies will let him share catching duties with Johnson at least until Todd Greene returns from a strained hamstring, and perhaps for the rest of the season. With Johnson signed through 2005, Closser's outlook for next season is a bit clouded, but he's worth a pickup for NL-only leaguers in need of catching help.

# Jairo Garcia, RHP, OAK – Garcia started the year with Class-A Kane County, and by the time he was called up by the A's he'd struck out 91 batters in 53 innings at three levels. That performance, and the fact that he throws in the mid 90s, led some to speculate that Garcia could have a K-Rod-like impact down the stretch. He's off to a rough start through his first three big league outings, but that doesn't change the fact that Garcia has big-time potential as a short reliever and could even be a closer down the road.

# Mike Venafro, LHP, LA – Venafro is a 31-year-old journeyman reliever with a 4.11 career ERA in 240+ career major league innings. He'll serve as a lefty specialist in the L.A. bullpen and should have no fantasy value.

# Craig Brazell, 1B, NYM – Brazell is one of most highly-regarded prospects in the Mets system, but that's only because the system has been raided by trades and big league promotions. The 24-year-old has progressed steadily through the system, and this year marked his first full season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he hit .266 with 21 home runs and 63 RBI in 433 at-bats. Brazell could get some playing time at first base while Mike Piazza is out, and he has enough pop to be useful in a deep NL-only league. But he won't hit for average and isn't much of a keeper prospect.

# Jorge Vasquez, RHP, KC – The 26-year-old Vasquez posted a 5.16 ERA for Double-A Wichita, but not all of his numbers were bad. He struck out 64 with 24 walks in 52 1/3 innings and earned 15 saves. He was called up to replace Ryan Bukvich in the KC bullpen. Currently, anyone in that pen could conceivably get a save chance, but Jeremy Affeldt will be back soon to take back the closer job. It's probably safe to pass on Vasquez.