Ryan Raburn (Ken Phelps All-Star) had a big game for the Tigers yesterday: 4-for-5, 2 home runs, 1 double, 3 runs, 7 rbi. To celebrate, let's look at how all the All-Stars have done in major league appearances this season.
Ryan Raburn - .500/.565/1.050 in 20 AB for Tigers.
Darnell MacDonald - .143/.200/.167 in 10 AB for Twins.
Hiram Bocachica - .238/.294/.349 in 63 AB for Padres.
D'Angelo Jimenez - .097/.200/.097 in 31 AB for Nats.
Jeff Keppinger - .308/.357/.487 in 39 AB for Reds.
Devern Hansack - 7.71 ERA in 4.2 innings for Red Sox.
Buddy Carlyle - 4.05 ERA, 5-2, 60 IP, 40 SO, 14 BB, 9 HR. He's 4-0 in his last 5 starts with a 2.24 ERA, 21 SO and only 3 walks for the Braves.
Mike Gosling - 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings for Reds.
Bobby Livingston - 3.52 ERA, 2-1 in 4 starts, 23 innings, 10 SO, 4 BB. Reds.
Cory Doyne - 0.00 ERA in 1.1 innings for Orioles.
Grant Balfour - 20.25 ERA in 2.2 innings for Brewers.
Brian Sanches - 6.39 ERA in 12.2 innings for Phillies.
The rest of my Ken Phelps All-Stars haven't had a shot in the bigs yet this season despite doing well in AAA.
Congratulations to Raburn, Keppinger, Carlyle, Gosling and Livingston for making the most of their limited time in the majors this year. I wish them continued success. That's a decent return for a bunch of players who could be had for little or nothing before the season.
Showing posts with label all-stars. Show all posts
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Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team
Here's the complete 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team, with links to individual write-ups. Selection criteria include: 1) in the minors (mostly) this season and last, 2) "freely available" (waiver claim, minor league free agent, long-time minor leaguer), and 3) performance that stands out among AAA peers.
Position Players:
LF: Ryan Raburn, 26, Tigers
CF: Darnell McDonald, 28, Nationals
RF: Hiram Bocachica, 31, Padres
3B: Scott Seabol, 32, Marlins
SS: D'Angelo Jimenez, 29, Nationals
2B: Jeff Keppinger, 27, Reds
1B: Joe Dillon, 31, Brewers
C: JD Closser, 27, As
DH: JR House, 27, Orioles
Honorable Mention:
LF/2B/3B: Bobby Scales, 29, Red Sox
2B: Edgar Gonzalez, 26, Cardinals
3B/2B: Jack Hannahan, 27, Twins
Starting Pitchers:
Devern Hansack, RHP, 29, Red Sox
Ron Chiavacci, RHP, 29, Tigers
Buddy Carlyle, RHP, 29, Braves
Mike Gosling, LHP, 26, Reds
Bobby Livingston, LHP, 24, Reds
Relief Pitchers:
Cory Doyne, RHP, 26, Orioles
Grant Balfour, RHP, 29, Brewers
Brian Sanches, RHP, 28, Phillies
Travis Driskill, RHP, 35, Astros
Dan Giese, RHP, 30, Giants
My Ken Phelps All-Stars can play, and could fill a role for the right major league team. They just need a chance. Free the Ken Phelps All-Stars!
Position Players:
LF: Ryan Raburn, 26, Tigers
CF: Darnell McDonald, 28, Nationals
RF: Hiram Bocachica, 31, Padres
3B: Scott Seabol, 32, Marlins
SS: D'Angelo Jimenez, 29, Nationals
2B: Jeff Keppinger, 27, Reds
1B: Joe Dillon, 31, Brewers
C: JD Closser, 27, As
DH: JR House, 27, Orioles
Honorable Mention:
LF/2B/3B: Bobby Scales, 29, Red Sox
2B: Edgar Gonzalez, 26, Cardinals
3B/2B: Jack Hannahan, 27, Twins
Starting Pitchers:
Devern Hansack, RHP, 29, Red Sox
Ron Chiavacci, RHP, 29, Tigers
Buddy Carlyle, RHP, 29, Braves
Mike Gosling, LHP, 26, Reds
Bobby Livingston, LHP, 24, Reds
Relief Pitchers:
Cory Doyne, RHP, 26, Orioles
Grant Balfour, RHP, 29, Brewers
Brian Sanches, RHP, 28, Phillies
Travis Driskill, RHP, 35, Astros
Dan Giese, RHP, 30, Giants
My Ken Phelps All-Stars can play, and could fill a role for the right major league team. They just need a chance. Free the Ken Phelps All-Stars!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Stars: Relief Pitchers
I've decided to present all five of the relief pitchers on my 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team at once. There are many qualified relief pitchers out there, so consider my selections as representative of lots of other effective relievers stuck in the minors. Why don't teams try these guys instead of spending millions on free agent retreads?
Cory Doyne - 26-year-old RHP, Orioles. Signed as a minor league free agent.
2007: 10.31 k/9, 2.95 bb/9, 1.97 FIP at AAA Norfolk
2006: 10.58 k/9, 5.70 bb/9, 2.94 FIP at AA Springfield (Cardinals)
Grant Balfour - 29-year-old RHP, Brewers. Comeback from injury. Minor league free agent.
2007: 13.00 k/9, 2.67 bb/9, 2.16 FIP at AAA Nashville
2006: 11.12 k/9, 4.76 bb/9, 2.85 FIP at A Sarasota (Reds)
Brian Sanches - 28-year-old RHP, Phillies. At AAA for 3 seasons. Now doing well in bigs.
2007: 11.70 k/9, 1.20 bb/9, 2.40 FIP at AAA Ottawa
2006: 10.72 k/9, 2.68 bb/9, 2.38 FIP at AAA Scranton
Travis Driskill - 35-year-old RHP, Astros. Pitching well in a tough park.
2007: 9.44 k/9, 1.98 bb/9, 3.10 FIP at AAA Round Rock
2006: 8.07 k/9, 1.81 bb/9, 3.66 FIP at AAA Round Rock
Dan Giese - 30-year-old RHP, Giants. Signed minor league contract.
2007: 8.40 k/9, 1.00 bb/9, 2.24 FIP at AAA Fresno
2006: 8.33 k/9, 1.01 bb/9, 2.78 FIP at AAA Scranton (Phillies)
Obviously I favor relievers who can get the strikeout and have excellent control. "FIP" is Fielding Independent Pitching and is a better stat for relief pitchers than ERA.
Cory Doyne - 26-year-old RHP, Orioles. Signed as a minor league free agent.
2007: 10.31 k/9, 2.95 bb/9, 1.97 FIP at AAA Norfolk
2006: 10.58 k/9, 5.70 bb/9, 2.94 FIP at AA Springfield (Cardinals)
Grant Balfour - 29-year-old RHP, Brewers. Comeback from injury. Minor league free agent.
2007: 13.00 k/9, 2.67 bb/9, 2.16 FIP at AAA Nashville
2006: 11.12 k/9, 4.76 bb/9, 2.85 FIP at A Sarasota (Reds)
Brian Sanches - 28-year-old RHP, Phillies. At AAA for 3 seasons. Now doing well in bigs.
2007: 11.70 k/9, 1.20 bb/9, 2.40 FIP at AAA Ottawa
2006: 10.72 k/9, 2.68 bb/9, 2.38 FIP at AAA Scranton
Travis Driskill - 35-year-old RHP, Astros. Pitching well in a tough park.
2007: 9.44 k/9, 1.98 bb/9, 3.10 FIP at AAA Round Rock
2006: 8.07 k/9, 1.81 bb/9, 3.66 FIP at AAA Round Rock
Dan Giese - 30-year-old RHP, Giants. Signed minor league contract.
2007: 8.40 k/9, 1.00 bb/9, 2.24 FIP at AAA Fresno
2006: 8.33 k/9, 1.01 bb/9, 2.78 FIP at AAA Scranton (Phillies)
Obviously I favor relievers who can get the strikeout and have excellent control. "FIP" is Fielding Independent Pitching and is a better stat for relief pitchers than ERA.
Monday, July 2, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Stars: Bobby Livingston (SP)
The fifth and final member of the starting rotation for my 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team is Bobby Livingston. Bobby is a 24-year-old left-handed pitcher. Now you might say "Whoa there! 24 is awful young for a Ken Phelps All-Star." And you'd be right. It is young, but Livingston was waived by the Mariners in December of last year and claimed by the Reds (the Reds did well snagging both him and Gosling off waivers), so he definitely counts as "freely available talent." He was selected in the 4th round of the 2001 draft by the Mariners and was in their organization until they prematurely dumped him.
Livingston consistently demonstrated good control in the minors and gives up few home runs. His strikeout rate is borderline good, but that's forgivable for a left-hander who gets a lot of ground-outs.
This season Livingston made 14 starts for AAA Louisville. Over 89.1 innings he had a 3.83 ERA with 58 strikeouts and only 13 walks and 4 homers. He murdered left-handed batters (.213 BA, 28 SO, 2 BB, 20 H in 26 IP).
SO/9: 5.85 (marginal)
BB/9: 1.31 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.40 (excellent)
GO/AO: 2.01 (excellent - gets lots of ground outs)
In 2006, Livingston made 22 starts for AAA Tacoma. In 135.1 innings he had 69 strikeouts, 36 walks and 18 home runs. His ERA was 4.59. Not inspiring, but remember he was only 23 years old and his stats from previous years were better (he was an all-star in the California League in 2004 and in the Texas League in 2005).
Livingston consistently demonstrated good control in the minors and gives up few home runs. His strikeout rate is borderline good, but that's forgivable for a left-hander who gets a lot of ground-outs.
This season Livingston made 14 starts for AAA Louisville. Over 89.1 innings he had a 3.83 ERA with 58 strikeouts and only 13 walks and 4 homers. He murdered left-handed batters (.213 BA, 28 SO, 2 BB, 20 H in 26 IP).
SO/9: 5.85 (marginal)
BB/9: 1.31 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.40 (excellent)
GO/AO: 2.01 (excellent - gets lots of ground outs)
In 2006, Livingston made 22 starts for AAA Tacoma. In 135.1 innings he had 69 strikeouts, 36 walks and 18 home runs. His ERA was 4.59. Not inspiring, but remember he was only 23 years old and his stats from previous years were better (he was an all-star in the California League in 2004 and in the Texas League in 2005).
2007 Ken Phelps All-Stars: Buddy Carlyle (SP)
Buddy Carlyle is in the majors at the moment, but started the season in the minors and was stuck there for years. That qualifies him for the 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team. Buddy is a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher, selected by the Reds in the 2nd round of the 1996 draft. He pitched in Japan in 2001 and 2002, then signed minor league contracts with the Royals, Yankees, Dodgers, Marlins and Braves.
Carlyle can get strikeouts and has good control, but has been plagued by giving up too many home runs through most of his career. This season he pitched great for AAA Richmond before his call-up. 2.59 ERA in 9 starts.
SO/9: 10.44 (excellent)
BB/9: 1.68 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.93 (acceptable)
GO/AO: 1.26 (good - fewer flyballs is the key for him)
In 2006 Carlyle had a 1.93 ERA for AAA Albuquerque. He had 2 starts and 11 relief appearances for a total of just 28 innings. 22 strikeouts, 7 walks, 3 home runs. Then he was sold to a team in Korea (really).
With the Braves this season he's pitched 4 good starts and 3 poor starts. If he settles in and gains confidence, Buddy Carlyle could be a success story in the second half for the Braves.
Carlyle can get strikeouts and has good control, but has been plagued by giving up too many home runs through most of his career. This season he pitched great for AAA Richmond before his call-up. 2.59 ERA in 9 starts.
SO/9: 10.44 (excellent)
BB/9: 1.68 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.93 (acceptable)
GO/AO: 1.26 (good - fewer flyballs is the key for him)
In 2006 Carlyle had a 1.93 ERA for AAA Albuquerque. He had 2 starts and 11 relief appearances for a total of just 28 innings. 22 strikeouts, 7 walks, 3 home runs. Then he was sold to a team in Korea (really).
With the Braves this season he's pitched 4 good starts and 3 poor starts. If he settles in and gains confidence, Buddy Carlyle could be a success story in the second half for the Braves.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Star: Mike Gosling (SP)
Mike Gosling is a left-handed starting pitcher for my 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star team. He's 26 years old and was selected out of Stanford in the 2nd round of the 2001 draft by the Diamondbacks. The Reds claimed him off waivers in February of 2006, thus qualifying him as a "freely available talent" eligible for this team. He actually cleared waivers in September of 2006 and was outrighted to Louisville.
This season Gosling has made 13 starts for AAA Louisville. 78 innings, 65 strikeouts, 23 walks and 7 home runs.
SO/9: 7.50 very good
BB/9: 2.65 good -- staying below 3 is the key
HR/9: 0.81 very good
GO/AO: 1.93 -- gets lots of ground-balls
In 2006 at AAA Louisville, Gosling threw 118 innings in 22 starts with 100 strikeouts, 53 walks and 12 home runs. The strikeout rate was good, but that's too many walks.
Mike Gosling pitches better as a starter than a reliever. He's appeared in 5 games of ineffective relief for the Reds this season. He's young enough to gain a little more control and become a useful long-term part of a big-league rotation. Being lefthanded will get him more opportunities.
This season Gosling has made 13 starts for AAA Louisville. 78 innings, 65 strikeouts, 23 walks and 7 home runs.
SO/9: 7.50 very good
BB/9: 2.65 good -- staying below 3 is the key
HR/9: 0.81 very good
GO/AO: 1.93 -- gets lots of ground-balls
In 2006 at AAA Louisville, Gosling threw 118 innings in 22 starts with 100 strikeouts, 53 walks and 12 home runs. The strikeout rate was good, but that's too many walks.
Mike Gosling pitches better as a starter than a reliever. He's appeared in 5 games of ineffective relief for the Reds this season. He's young enough to gain a little more control and become a useful long-term part of a big-league rotation. Being lefthanded will get him more opportunities.
Friday, June 29, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Stars: Ron Chiavacci (SP)
Ron Chiavacci, a 29-year-old righthander in the Tigers organization, makes it onto the 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team because he's learned control. Selected in the 44th round of the 1998 draft by the Expos out of Kutztown University. Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pirates. Pitched well as a reliever for AAA Indianapolis in 2005, but was sold to a team in the Korean Baseball League anyway. Back in the Pirates organization in 2006, then signed as a minor league free agent with the Tigers this year.
Chiavacci has always been able to get strikeouts, but early in his career walks killed him and he was labeled "wild". Maybe it's time that changed because he's in his third season of demonstrating good control. In 91 innings for AAA Toledo this season he's struck out 75 and walked only 25. 3.45 ERA.
SO/9: 7.42 very good
BB/9: 2.47 very good
HR/9: 0.79 excellent - he's always limited home runs
GO/AO: 1.17 good (higher is better)
In 2006 he made 13 starts and 14 relief appearances combined between AA and AAA. 3.88 ERA, 99 IP, 83 SO, 30 BB. Not bad.
In 2005, Chiavacci pitched just 10 times in relief for AAA Indy. 12 innings, 14 strikeouts, 0 walks, 6 hits, 1 homer, 1.50 ERA. A dominating performance, so I'm not sure how it led to him playing in Korea. Strange career twist.
Ron Chiavacci isn't anyone's hot prospect, but if he was he wouldn't be "freely available talent". He'll need lots of luck to get a shot at starting in the majors, but might thrive in the bullpen.
Chiavacci has always been able to get strikeouts, but early in his career walks killed him and he was labeled "wild". Maybe it's time that changed because he's in his third season of demonstrating good control. In 91 innings for AAA Toledo this season he's struck out 75 and walked only 25. 3.45 ERA.
SO/9: 7.42 very good
BB/9: 2.47 very good
HR/9: 0.79 excellent - he's always limited home runs
GO/AO: 1.17 good (higher is better)
In 2006 he made 13 starts and 14 relief appearances combined between AA and AAA. 3.88 ERA, 99 IP, 83 SO, 30 BB. Not bad.
In 2005, Chiavacci pitched just 10 times in relief for AAA Indy. 12 innings, 14 strikeouts, 0 walks, 6 hits, 1 homer, 1.50 ERA. A dominating performance, so I'm not sure how it led to him playing in Korea. Strange career twist.
Ron Chiavacci isn't anyone's hot prospect, but if he was he wouldn't be "freely available talent". He'll need lots of luck to get a shot at starting in the majors, but might thrive in the bullpen.
2007 Ken Phelps All-Stars: Devern Hansack (SP)
Let's move on to selecting the pitchers for the 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team. You'll see that finding "freely available talent" starting pitchers is difficult, but finding relief pitchers is easy.
The first starting pitcher for my Ken Phelps All-Stars is Devern Hansack, righthanded pitcher in the Red Sox organization. Devern is a 29-year-old from Nicaragua. (The official Minor League baseball site has his birthdate as February 5, 1978. Baseball Cube lists it as August 5, 1982. Obviously that makes a big difference.) Signed originally by the Astros in 1999, they released him in March of 2004. He pitched in the Nicaraguan professional league during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in December of 2005.
This season, Hansack has a 3.56 ERA in 13 starts for AAA Pawtucket. In 78.1 innings he has 76 strikeouts and only 17 walks. He's getting strikeouts, has great control, and isn't giving up too many home runs. Here are the important stats:
SO/9 innings: 8.75 (above 8 is excellent)
BB/9: 1.96 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.92 (good)
GO/AO: 0.96 (ground-out to fly-out ratio - fair)
In 2006, Hansack had a 3.26 ERA in 132 innings at AA Portland. He started 18 times and appeared in relief 13 times. 124 striketouts, 36 walks and 14 home runs.
The Red Sox have given Devern Hansack a couple little tastes of the big leagues, but he hasn't stuck yet. He's very unfortunate to be with them, because the Red Sox are loaded with pitching. He'd be starting in the majors for many other teams.
The first starting pitcher for my Ken Phelps All-Stars is Devern Hansack, righthanded pitcher in the Red Sox organization. Devern is a 29-year-old from Nicaragua. (The official Minor League baseball site has his birthdate as February 5, 1978. Baseball Cube lists it as August 5, 1982. Obviously that makes a big difference.) Signed originally by the Astros in 1999, they released him in March of 2004. He pitched in the Nicaraguan professional league during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in December of 2005.
This season, Hansack has a 3.56 ERA in 13 starts for AAA Pawtucket. In 78.1 innings he has 76 strikeouts and only 17 walks. He's getting strikeouts, has great control, and isn't giving up too many home runs. Here are the important stats:
SO/9 innings: 8.75 (above 8 is excellent)
BB/9: 1.96 (excellent)
HR/9: 0.92 (good)
GO/AO: 0.96 (ground-out to fly-out ratio - fair)
In 2006, Hansack had a 3.26 ERA in 132 innings at AA Portland. He started 18 times and appeared in relief 13 times. 124 striketouts, 36 walks and 14 home runs.
The Red Sox have given Devern Hansack a couple little tastes of the big leagues, but he hasn't stuck yet. He's very unfortunate to be with them, because the Red Sox are loaded with pitching. He'd be starting in the majors for many other teams.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
2007 Ken Phelps All-Star Team: Position Players
My 2007 Ken Phelps All-Star position players -- freely-available-talent that might help a major league club. If this team was assembled, the batting line-up might look like this ... with major league equivalent batting statistics from their 2006 seasons (as calculated by Ron Shandler for his Baseball Forecaster book):
1. D'Angelo Jimenez SS .253/.345/.387
2. Jeff Keppinger 2B .302/.358/.375
3. Hiram Bocachica RF .263/.333/.458
4. Joe Dillon 1B .273/.345/.447 (2005 season)
5. JD Closser C .272/.337/.431
6. JR House DH .285/.327/.425
7. Ryan Raburn LF .257/.328/.454
8. Scott Seabol 3B .245/.307/.454
9. Darnell McDonald CF .260/.312/.387
The major league equivalent stats take the luster off their raw stats, but some value is still apparent. A "free" player who can put up numbers like those shown for Joe Dillon is worth a pick-up.
Coming up next ... honorable mention position players, then the Ken Phelps All-Star team pitching staff.
1. D'Angelo Jimenez SS .253/.345/.387
2. Jeff Keppinger 2B .302/.358/.375
3. Hiram Bocachica RF .263/.333/.458
4. Joe Dillon 1B .273/.345/.447 (2005 season)
5. JD Closser C .272/.337/.431
6. JR House DH .285/.327/.425
7. Ryan Raburn LF .257/.328/.454
8. Scott Seabol 3B .245/.307/.454
9. Darnell McDonald CF .260/.312/.387
The major league equivalent stats take the luster off their raw stats, but some value is still apparent. A "free" player who can put up numbers like those shown for Joe Dillon is worth a pick-up.
Coming up next ... honorable mention position players, then the Ken Phelps All-Star team pitching staff.
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