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woodfeld · 12-07-2007, 11:38 PM

Michigan League
South Division

Ann Arbor Democrats
Predicted finish in division – 2^nd
Minor League system ranking – 12^th (out of 16)
The Democrats couldn’t have hoped for a more immediate impact when they acquired RF Elroy Graves last season. Graves came in and was spectacular in the 64 games he played (.333, 10 HR, 32 RBI). His stats in Ann Arbor were better than with the Miners and that was with 20 fewer games played. The Dems enjoyed that trade so much, they went out and acquired 1B Jhon Sarceda from Traverse City. Sarceda is an excellent player that will help in every way, but the trade pushed 3B Tejano Bemaez to third and super prospect 3B Augustin Gowdy out of the lineup. “I really like the trades they’ve made, but they really need to have Gowdy in the lineup. Unless they are looking to deal him,” said one ML scout. After their lineup was considered a major weak spot last year, it now looks like a force to be reckoned with. LHP John Durham has been the model of superstar consistency in his three MOBL seasons (272, 270, 274 K’s in 1940, 41, 42, 0.92. 0.96, 0.96 WHIP in those same years). If it weren’t for RHP Rickey Benson, he may have three MOP trophies sitting at home. Meanwhile, 25-year old LHP Roberto Serrano has improved steadily in each of his three MOBL seasons (4.22, 3.33, 2.32 ERA in 1940, 41, 42) and will team with Durham to make one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. Backed by a strong bullpen with closer RHP John Gladstone and LHP Vernon Carpenter, this pitching staff is quite solid. If there is one team to threaten the stranglehold by Kalamazoo on the ML, this team is it.
Best Hitter – RF Elroy Graves (14 Contact, 15 Gap, 15 Power, 14 Eye, 11 Avoiding K’s)
Best Pitcher – LHP John ‘Cobra’ Durham (14 Stuff, 19 Movement, 15 Control)
Best Prospect not in the majors – AA LF Julio Andujar, 19 Years Old. Potential – (13 Contact, 14 Gap, 11 Power, 7 Eye, 17 Avoiding K’s) Projected to be a poor man’s 5-tool player, Andujar has steadily improved since being the Dems’ 1^st round pick in 1941. He’ll get his first taste of AA ball, but this Illinois native will be a nice addition to the lineup when he is ready in a couple of years.
Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – 3B Augustin Gowdy – After a full season of playing almost every day, Gowdy is back riding the pine as the Dems’ best pinch hitter. He peformed pretty well in his rookie campaign (.254, .336 OBP, 10 HR, 45 RBI) last year and really should be starting somewhere to continue his development into a fine, young third baseman.

Grand Rapids Blue Lakers
Predicted finish in division – 4^th
Minor League system ranking – 1^st (out of 16)
The Blue Lakers have featured one of the most powerful lineups in the league, but a weak pitching staff and little contact hitting has done them in every year. This season is no different as RF Kev Taylor, CF Jon Koepke and 1B Jeff Hafer will bring plenty of bop to the lineup, but other than Koepke, there aren’t any very good contact hitters. They will also be missing RF Edgardo Grateda for the first 4 months of the season after suffering a torn ACL last September. They picked up enigmatic LF Bob Dingwall after he outwore his welcome in Youngstown and was released. “Bob has been nothing but well received around here since his arrival. He’s real gracious for the opportunity we’ve given him,” GM Alex Davis said. The pitching staff needs a lot of work and some overachievers for this Blue Laker team to be in contention. RHP Fernando Garcia is a pretty decent starter but a staff ace he is not. They made a nice move in picking up RHP David Massiter off waivers after having a tremendous rookie season (12-6, 3.49 ERA) for Mackinac. The bullpen is filled with works-in-progress. Closer RHP Richard Keys alternates between excellent and mediocre and if he can be more excellent than mediocre this year it will be a tremendous boost.
Best Hitter – RF Kev Taylor (12 Contact, 14 Gap, 20 Power, 14 Eye, 11 Avoiding K’s)
Best Pitcher – RHP Fernando Garcia (9 Stuff, 14 Movement, 12 Control)
Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA 3B Ron Ewing, 20 Years Old. Potential – (11 Contact, 13 Gap, 15 Power, 10 Eye, 10 Avoiding K’s) This powerful righty has made it up the ranks very quickly after he displayed a sweet stroke in A Grand Haven (.308, .389 OBP) last year. With a young 3B Zach van Bohlen patrolling third currently, there could be a trade in the future as Ewing looks to be very legit.
Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – RHP Anthony Lewington – Still projected to be an excellent starter, Lewington finds himself in AAA Holland even though he doesn’t appear to be ready. Still only 21, he hasn’t proven himself beyond A ball yet, so the Blue Lakers are taking a leap of faith with him here. He only has a 86 mph fastball but he can move it around well, which should put him in the majors within a couple years.

Kalamazoo Bells
Predicted finish in division – 1^st
Minor League system ranking – 16^th (out of 16)
Ace pitching staff? Check. Lights out bullpen? Check. Contact hitters? Check. Power hitters? Check. Speed? Check. Gold Glove fielders? Check. Young superstars? Check. Veteran star presence? Check. A GM who finds castaway veterans that become stars again? Check. Managers that make all the right decisions? Check. Dynasty? Check.
Best Hitter – C Benjamin Landers (19 Contact, 15 Gap, 12 Power, 12 Eye, 13 Avoiding K’s)
Best Pitcher – RHP Rickey ‘Moby Dick’ Benson (17 Stuff, 16 Movement, 13 Control)
Best Prospect not in the majors – Short Season RF Mario Olivares, 18 Years Old. Potential – (10 Contact, 11 Gap, 12 Power, 9 Eye, 9 Avoiding K’s) If there is one area where the Bells have been subpar, it is scouting/drafting young talent. They have struck out on a number of prospects. Olivares (1942 2^nd round pick) could become a nice bat off the bench but the cupboard is bare in the Bells’ system for farm talent.
Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – LHP D.J. Davis – After dominating AAA hitters last year, Davis is ready to be Bells’ closer RHP Bob Aylmer’s setup man, but is still sitting at AAA Battle Creek for the time being. Hopefully he gets the call up at some point this season as this 22 year old with a wicked splitter is chomping at the bit.

Lansing Capitals
Predicted finish in division – 3^rd
Minor League system ranking – 11^th (out of 16)
A very strong pitching staff and bullpen will propel this good looking Caps team to contention this season. The wild card could be offseason acquisition Detroit-born LHP Ivar Calthorpe. After wallowing in Youngstown, Calthorpe was shipped to Ann Arbor and was dominant in 5 starts (2-2, 3.50 ERA, 33 K’s, 0.89 WHIP, 36 IP). Lansing got him extremely cheap and if he can continue to perform like that, this staff becomes brutal for opposing batters. LHP Joe O’Crouley and RHP Ramon Sinsun will be the veteran presences while RHP Alvar Sanchez tries to develop into an ace. “That staff is bordering on amazing. They are only a slight step behind the Bells and Dems, but only a slight step,” one ML scout said. Closer RHP Stephen Buchan looks to bounce back from a slightly disappointing 1942 season and get back to being one of the best in the game. RF Edward Chisholm isn’t getting any younger (37 years old in May) so if they are going to make a run, now is the time to do it. To help him in the power department, the Capitals went out and picked up 3B Paul Jenkins from Canton. An understated aspect of this Capitals organization is their scouting and development as 1940 2^nd round pick CF Pepillo Rodriguez and 1940 3^rd round pick LF Nick Bowe are currently starting on opening day. Both look like keepers, especially Rodriguez.
Best Hitter – RF Edward ‘Barbwire’ Chisholm (14 Contact, 17 Gap, 18 Power, 12 Eye, 13 Avoiding K’s)
Best Pitcher – LHP Joe O’Crouley (11 Stuff, 16 Movement, 15 Control)
Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA 2B Clancy Samuels, 25 Years Old. Potential – (16 Contact, 8 Gap, 11 Power, 14 Eye, 20 Avoiding K’s) I think everyone knows Samuels story by this point. Scouts finally seem to have a good read on his abilities though and that is of a leadoff man that plays solid D. He has what every team would like in a leadoff hitter to with good contact, a good eye, good speed and the ability to rarely, if at all, strike out, while batting from both sides of the plate.
Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – 3B Clancy Samuels – See above. Samuels has solidified himself in scouts’ eyes while learning a second position. He should be a very valuable piece in the Capitals’ organization.

12-07-2007, 11:38 PM	#96
woodfeld Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 198	Michigan League South Division Ann Arbor Democrats Predicted finish in division – 2^nd Minor League system ranking – 12^th (out of 16) The Democrats couldn’t have hoped for a more immediate impact when they acquired RF Elroy Graves last season. Graves came in and was spectacular in the 64 games he played (.333, 10 HR, 32 RBI). His stats in Ann Arbor were better than with the Miners and that was with 20 fewer games played. The Dems enjoyed that trade so much, they went out and acquired 1B Jhon Sarceda from Traverse City. Sarceda is an excellent player that will help in every way, but the trade pushed 3B Tejano Bemaez to third and super prospect 3B Augustin Gowdy out of the lineup. “I really like the trades they’ve made, but they really need to have Gowdy in the lineup. Unless they are looking to deal him,” said one ML scout. After their lineup was considered a major weak spot last year, it now looks like a force to be reckoned with. LHP John Durham has been the model of superstar consistency in his three MOBL seasons (272, 270, 274 K’s in 1940, 41, 42, 0.92. 0.96, 0.96 WHIP in those same years). If it weren’t for RHP Rickey Benson, he may have three MOP trophies sitting at home. Meanwhile, 25-year old LHP Roberto Serrano has improved steadily in each of his three MOBL seasons (4.22, 3.33, 2.32 ERA in 1940, 41, 42) and will team with Durham to make one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. Backed by a strong bullpen with closer RHP John Gladstone and LHP Vernon Carpenter, this pitching staff is quite solid. If there is one team to threaten the stranglehold by Kalamazoo on the ML, this team is it. Best Hitter – RF Elroy Graves (14 Contact, 15 Gap, 15 Power, 14 Eye, 11 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – LHP John ‘Cobra’ Durham (14 Stuff, 19 Movement, 15 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – AA LF Julio Andujar, 19 Years Old. Potential – (13 Contact, 14 Gap, 11 Power, 7 Eye, 17 Avoiding K’s) Projected to be a poor man’s 5-tool player, Andujar has steadily improved since being the Dems’ 1^st round pick in 1941. He’ll get his first taste of AA ball, but this Illinois native will be a nice addition to the lineup when he is ready in a couple of years. Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – 3B Augustin Gowdy – After a full season of playing almost every day, Gowdy is back riding the pine as the Dems’ best pinch hitter. He peformed pretty well in his rookie campaign (.254, .336 OBP, 10 HR, 45 RBI) last year and really should be starting somewhere to continue his development into a fine, young third baseman. Grand Rapids Blue Lakers Predicted finish in division – 4^th Minor League system ranking – 1^st (out of 16) The Blue Lakers have featured one of the most powerful lineups in the league, but a weak pitching staff and little contact hitting has done them in every year. This season is no different as RF Kev Taylor, CF Jon Koepke and 1B Jeff Hafer will bring plenty of bop to the lineup, but other than Koepke, there aren’t any very good contact hitters. They will also be missing RF Edgardo Grateda for the first 4 months of the season after suffering a torn ACL last September. They picked up enigmatic LF Bob Dingwall after he outwore his welcome in Youngstown and was released. “Bob has been nothing but well received around here since his arrival. He’s real gracious for the opportunity we’ve given him,” GM Alex Davis said. The pitching staff needs a lot of work and some overachievers for this Blue Laker team to be in contention. RHP Fernando Garcia is a pretty decent starter but a staff ace he is not. They made a nice move in picking up RHP David Massiter off waivers after having a tremendous rookie season (12-6, 3.49 ERA) for Mackinac. The bullpen is filled with works-in-progress. Closer RHP Richard Keys alternates between excellent and mediocre and if he can be more excellent than mediocre this year it will be a tremendous boost. Best Hitter – RF Kev Taylor (12 Contact, 14 Gap, 20 Power, 14 Eye, 11 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – RHP Fernando Garcia (9 Stuff, 14 Movement, 12 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA 3B Ron Ewing, 20 Years Old. Potential – (11 Contact, 13 Gap, 15 Power, 10 Eye, 10 Avoiding K’s) This powerful righty has made it up the ranks very quickly after he displayed a sweet stroke in A Grand Haven (.308, .389 OBP) last year. With a young 3B Zach van Bohlen patrolling third currently, there could be a trade in the future as Ewing looks to be very legit. Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – RHP Anthony Lewington – Still projected to be an excellent starter, Lewington finds himself in AAA Holland even though he doesn’t appear to be ready. Still only 21, he hasn’t proven himself beyond A ball yet, so the Blue Lakers are taking a leap of faith with him here. He only has a 86 mph fastball but he can move it around well, which should put him in the majors within a couple years. Kalamazoo Bells Predicted finish in division – 1^st Minor League system ranking – 16^th (out of 16) Ace pitching staff? Check. Lights out bullpen? Check. Contact hitters? Check. Power hitters? Check. Speed? Check. Gold Glove fielders? Check. Young superstars? Check. Veteran star presence? Check. A GM who finds castaway veterans that become stars again? Check. Managers that make all the right decisions? Check. Dynasty? Check. Best Hitter – C Benjamin Landers (19 Contact, 15 Gap, 12 Power, 12 Eye, 13 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – RHP Rickey ‘Moby Dick’ Benson (17 Stuff, 16 Movement, 13 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – Short Season RF Mario Olivares, 18 Years Old. Potential – (10 Contact, 11 Gap, 12 Power, 9 Eye, 9 Avoiding K’s) If there is one area where the Bells have been subpar, it is scouting/drafting young talent. They have struck out on a number of prospects. Olivares (1942 2^nd round pick) could become a nice bat off the bench but the cupboard is bare in the Bells’ system for farm talent. Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – LHP D.J. Davis – After dominating AAA hitters last year, Davis is ready to be Bells’ closer RHP Bob Aylmer’s setup man, but is still sitting at AAA Battle Creek for the time being. Hopefully he gets the call up at some point this season as this 22 year old with a wicked splitter is chomping at the bit. Lansing Capitals Predicted finish in division – 3^rd Minor League system ranking – 11^th (out of 16) A very strong pitching staff and bullpen will propel this good looking Caps team to contention this season. The wild card could be offseason acquisition Detroit-born LHP Ivar Calthorpe. After wallowing in Youngstown, Calthorpe was shipped to Ann Arbor and was dominant in 5 starts (2-2, 3.50 ERA, 33 K’s, 0.89 WHIP, 36 IP). Lansing got him extremely cheap and if he can continue to perform like that, this staff becomes brutal for opposing batters. LHP Joe O’Crouley and RHP Ramon Sinsun will be the veteran presences while RHP Alvar Sanchez tries to develop into an ace. “That staff is bordering on amazing. They are only a slight step behind the Bells and Dems, but only a slight step,” one ML scout said. Closer RHP Stephen Buchan looks to bounce back from a slightly disappointing 1942 season and get back to being one of the best in the game. RF Edward Chisholm isn’t getting any younger (37 years old in May) so if they are going to make a run, now is the time to do it. To help him in the power department, the Capitals went out and picked up 3B Paul Jenkins from Canton. An understated aspect of this Capitals organization is their scouting and development as 1940 2^nd round pick CF Pepillo Rodriguez and 1940 3^rd round pick LF Nick Bowe are currently starting on opening day. Both look like keepers, especially Rodriguez. Best Hitter – RF Edward ‘Barbwire’ Chisholm (14 Contact, 17 Gap, 18 Power, 12 Eye, 13 Avoiding K’s) Best Pitcher – LHP Joe O’Crouley (11 Stuff, 16 Movement, 15 Control) Best Prospect not in the majors – AAA 2B Clancy Samuels, 25 Years Old. Potential – (16 Contact, 8 Gap, 11 Power, 14 Eye, 20 Avoiding K’s) I think everyone knows Samuels story by this point. Scouts finally seem to have a good read on his abilities though and that is of a leadoff man that plays solid D. He has what every team would like in a leadoff hitter to with good contact, a good eye, good speed and the ability to rarely, if at all, strike out, while batting from both sides of the plate. Turn back the clock – 1941 Top Prospect Update – 3B Clancy Samuels – See above. Samuels has solidified himself in scouts’ eyes while learning a second position. He should be a very valuable piece in the Capitals’ organization.