Minor League Rosters Set

by rghan on Apr 6, 2011 2:59 AM PDT in Minor Leagues

Big Fish Promotions: Tyler Chatwood, Jeremy Moore, Alexia Amarista and Andrew Romine to AAA Salt Lake. Mike Trout, Garrett Richards, Luis Jimenez and Orangel Arenas to AA Arkansas. Jean Segura to High A Inland Empire. Dan Tillman, Donn Roach, Travis Witherspoon, and Drew Heid to A-Ball Cedar Rapids.

Surprises...

Trevor Reckling returns to Arkansas while twenty-one year old Chatwood battles Salt Lake's thin atmosphere. Chatwood does not yet have a full season of AA under his belt or great peripherals against advanced minor leaguers. Exposing him to AAA this early increases the likelihood of a setback and seems needlessly risky after Reckling's rough 2010.

Amarista experienced success in his limited time at Salt Lake, but was not as impressive in AA, the more challenging hitting environment. Other than the presence of Ryan Mount in AA, what reason is there to rush the 22 year old (happy birthday Alexia)? Certainly there's no shortage of middle infield types at the major league level.

No prep picks from the '10 draft were assigned to Cedar Rapids, including Kaleb Cowart, Cam Bedrosian, Chevez Clarke, Tayler Lindsey, Wendell Soto or Ryan Bolden. That gives the Halos a full cupboard of toolsey, high upside teenagers in extended spring training. It's the right choice to hold them back if they're not ready, and everyone knew those guys would need lots of time to polish their respective games; but not having a single teenager from the 2010 draft class make the jump to full season league is disappointing.

Absences: Fabio Martinez-Mesa, Randal Grichuk, Gabe Jacobo, Tyler Kehrer, Steven Geltz, Amalio Diaz, Dan Reynolds, Efren Navarro, Jeremy Cruz, Jon Bachanov, and John Karcich are nowhere to be found on the organizational rosters. PJ Phillips is also missing, though he remains a wildcard and may not have made the cut. Most of those guys are likely nursing injuries in Arizona.

Take Aways: The organization is rushing Chatwood and Amarista at the higher levels without clear cause, since neither has much of a role on the major league depth chart presently, while playing it safe with last year's prep picks. It's sad to see so many injuries this early, but that's not unusual.

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Last years draft so far has been srsly disappointing.

With so many high picks, it sure would have been nice to have so more help on the way , a la Zack Cox. (Crdinals, could a had him with the Kowart pick.)

by Wally's World on Apr 6, 2011 4:26 AM PDT reply actions

except I'd take waiting a year or two and buy Cowart's ceiling over Cox's floor any day

by HaloFanInDC on Apr 6, 2011 6:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Right

Also, Conger and Wood were on the fast track as teens, going to the Midwest League the year after they were drafted. Two other prep products, Bourjos and Trumbo, stuck around for a second season of rookie ball the year after they were drafted. I think I’d rather have the second pair, even if they took a little longer to develop.

by rghan on Apr 6, 2011 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Conger seems to have developed alright

You look at Conger’s numbers and he’s been pretty consistent, at least offensively. I guess the argument could be made that spending another year on his defense,as well as maturing physically so as to avoid that early injury bug he had, wouldn’t have hurt (though that also could mean another full year of Mathis which causes me to shudder).

Overall, if Conger sticks at catcher and puts up his projected numbers (as well as replacing Mathis in the lineup, increasing his value that much more), then those contributions are a bit stronger in my book than what Bourjos and Trumbo would offer. I think currently, clearly it’d be better to have the latter pair, but depending on Conger’s development, you could easily make the argument for taking the former.

by HaloFanInDC on Apr 6, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

hope your right.

Cox is highly rated by BA. Higher than Kowart.

by Wally's World on Apr 6, 2011 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Grichuk and F Mart

They are two of my favorites I wonder what there problems are?

Brandon Wood 4 Prez

by miketrout on Apr 6, 2011 7:21 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Efren is in Salt Lake....

http://www.halosheaven.com/2011/4/4/2091551/salt-lake-bees-announce-2011-roster

dissenter, dubious and devil's advocate to blog monitors everywhere.

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Apr 6, 2011 8:12 AM PDT reply actions

I have no doubt he'll be there eventually

But Navarro doesn’t show up on the Bees roster yet, nor was he mentioned in the Bee’s press release.

by rghan on Apr 6, 2011 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Disagree a bit on Amarista and Completely Agree about Chatwood

Not idea at all what the team is thinking about Chatwood unless they’re trying to convert him to some kind of reliever. It just makes no sense at all to throw him to the SLC batting cages, particularly when he’s still figuring out his control.

As for Amarista, I’m not as pessimistic about moving him up to the Bees. Granted I think you’re right that there isn’t really any pressing need to rush him, but if he showed he could handle the level last year, I don’t see the point in holding him back in Double A. Sure some extended consolidated time in Double A wouldn’t hurt, but I don’t see as much of a risk as there would be for Chatwood. Plus if Amarista holds his own and plays well, it gives the team some coverage for injuries (I’m looking at you Macier) or if they decide to make a trade involving Kendrick.

Also, like you mentioned, it allows Mount to get full PT as well in Double A. Not that Mount looks like too much of a prospect at this point, but why have him split time or sit on the bench if you Amarista is doing okay at SLC?

by HaloFanInDC on Apr 6, 2011 8:36 AM PDT reply actions

Maybe Chatwood is there...

until the starting pitcher injury bug at the MLB level works itself out. Maybe this is a 2 or 3 start taste of AAA for him before being re-assigned to AA?

If Palmer or Bell are recalled and spend a month in Anaheim, maybe Chatwood is in AAA until that sorts itself out? Here’s to hoping….

RIP Nick...

Jim Scully
Jim Scully Home

by jimmuscomp on Apr 6, 2011 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions

+1

go long with extenze...i do

by angelsownredsux on Apr 6, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Jiminez is the only real 3B prospect we have anywhere near the Majors, isn't he?

Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.

by Commander_Nate on Apr 6, 2011 8:51 AM PDT reply actions

Pretty much

I think Baird could move fast if he has a really good year, but as it stands, Jimenez is the closest

by ~MMP~ on Apr 6, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Great

/rumble, grumble, toil and trouble

Scioscialist Party of America - Redistributing your defense since 2000.

by Commander_Nate on Apr 6, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Going to Spring Training earlier than normal

Gave me a shot to watch some of these guys. I’m really looking forward to following the development of Segura, Navarro, and Moore along with the obvious Trout. What gives me some concern is the lack of starting pitching on the horizon. Hopefully Reckling and Chatwood can come through for us.

by JeffJoiner on Apr 6, 2011 1:34 PM PDT reply actions