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5 Weeks and Counting.....
Dynamo's go 1-6 this week and now are 50 games under 500 at 37-87.
Weekly Results -
Monday August 19th vs Washington 4-8 Loss
Tuesday August 20th vs Washington 5-6 Loss (11)
Wednesday August 21st vs Pittsburgh 11-18 Loss
Thursday August 22nd vs Pittsburgh 3-7 Loss
Friday August 23rd vs Pittsburgh 3-6 Loss
Saturday August 24th vs Pittsburgh 3-2 Win (11)
Sunday August 25th vs Boston 2-5 Loss
Notable Players of the Week -
OF Mickey Tompkins 9-18 4DB HR 3RBI 3R 500/550/1439
RF Howard Moss -25 DB 2TB 4RBI 4R 360/370/930
SS Slim Bloom 10-28 4DB 1TP 7RBI 3R 357/419/991
SP Max Wilder 2G 0-11 4.30 ERA
Minor League Performance of the Week AA Akron Wheels CF Roger Grant hits for the cycle in 5-5 effort against Harrisburg. Grant hit singles in the 1st and 2nd innings, then followed that up with double in the 4th, a 3-run home run in the 5th and completed the hardest part with a 7th inning triple as Akron beat Harrisburg 10-5. On the season the 26 year-old has fought off several injuries and is hitting 251/319/702 8-45. The former 3rd round pick in 1930 is likely seeing his opportunities and dreams of playing in the big leagues come to an end, at least with Detroit at seasons end.
Draft Prep
As we move towards the end of the season our Director of Scouting Fred Davis is very busy. As I review the work Fred is doing it is clear that the budget he has been given to work with is woefully inadequate. That will be something that will be addressed in the off-season.
There are really 4 prospects that are catching my eye the most at present. They are:
1B Red Johnson (17 year old high schooler) Hometown Portland, Oregon
The right-hand hitting power hitter for Central Catholic hit 500/636/1798 with 10 home runs, 9 doubles, a triple and 32 RBI's while walking 23 times and striking out only once. Scout marvel at his elite power potential and even as a youngster he projects to have an impressive command of the strike zone. He has the potential to hit 380 and some are saying that he could be the next Rankin Kellogg. Johnson has committed to Stratton University and figures to be a very hard sign for us looking at a $17,000 signing bonus.
SP Rufus Barrell II (18 year old high schooler) Hometown Egypt, Georgia
Yes the left handed starting pitcher is yes of the famous Barrell family and is an impressive 23-0 in 2 high school seasons with an ERA of around 0.60. Most GM's are drooling over the kid and many have him pegged as a sure fire 300 game winner in the big leagues. Currently scouts say he throws a 4-pitch mix that includes a plus slider, a good splitter, a good fastball and a change up that he is working on. He is about as far along as a high school prospect could be and he should have truly elite stuff. Barrell has the makings of a future ace and maybe will be the best of the Barrell clan when all is said and done. He has committed to Noble Jones College and again would be a very hard signee for Detroit with bonus demands upwards of $20,000.
3B Mack Sutton (18 year old high schooler) Hometown - Murfreesboro, Arkansas
The top of the draft appears to be dominated by high school kids in this draft once again. Nicknamed "The Arkansas Artilleryman" hit a jaw dropping 448/547/1547 14-38 with 16 doubles. Scouts love his power potential and state that he has the potential of a prototypical clean-up hitter. He is patient at the plate and will wait for a pitch he wants to drive. With his talents the light of Sutton's star could be blinding. Sutton is committed to Lawrence State University and is another hard to sign player for Detroit with a demand of $16,000.
The sleeper in this draft is likely 17-year-old SP George Garrison who is a lefty. He was 8-1 with a 1.24 ERA in 13 starts at his Carthage High School and his hometown is Piggott, Arkansas. Garrison throws a forkball, fastball, curveball, cutter, knuckle curve and a change. His pitches have plenty of movement that should help to keep the ball in the ballpark. Garrison's talent is that of a future multiple-time Allen Award winner. Right now one of the mock drafts has him slipping to the top of the 2nd round but say codswallop to that notion. He will be easily at top 10 pick and likely top 5. For a team that needs pitching, one could certainly argue that Garrison would be a good 2nd choice behind Rufus Barrell II.
Rumor is that the #1 overall pick in the draft going to most likely either the Baltimore Cannons or New York Stars will be Barrell. That means that Detroit will be on the clock to take either 1B Johnson (who most think would be lights out in Detroit with its shallow LF fence), 3B Sutton who could be another Frank Vance in Detroit or SP Garrison. It is a pick for Detroit that has to be the right one to turn this franchise around.
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