[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Overall Record: 10-10 (3rd, 6 GB)

Carroll show improvements in patience at the plate: It may not have been the program I would have given him, but our only success of three long-term programs this week (there's a fourth that should excel) was Carl Carroll's successful completion of a plate discipline program. He's already a disciplined hitter, walking in 11.8% of his plate appearances between Rookie and Low-A last year, so an improvement to his quality of contact or even bat-speed would have been more useful. Still, a win is a win, and the 18-year-old did an excellent job improving his approach. Carr expects an increase in walks this season, as he made noticeable improvements to his pre-game preparation and eventual approach at the plate. For someone as quick as him, more walks can only be a good thing, as any time he's on base he can create a run. As a lead-off hitter him being more patient could help the rest of the lineup, as long as he's still willing to ambush a mistake early in the count. Probably my favorite of our prospects, this guy could be elite, and it will be beautiful watching Tom Halliday pass the baton to him once he's ready for Chicago. Yakima will be his starting spot, and I'm excited for his full-season debut in late April.

First wave of cuts sends six to minor league camp: Most players survived the first wave of cuts, but I sent away players who weren't getting any time or were doing more harm then good. The most notable was Earl Wade, our 7th ranked prospect and the league's 156th. Our third of three talented catchers, he'll go all the way down to Memphis, where the 1971 1st Rounder hit .246/.351/.445 (113 OPS+) last season. Recently 22, the bright backstop made just one appearance, and since that matched Chappy Sanders who should be the backup, I figured I wouldn't want him taking one of his rare chances away. A little unlucky, he's stuck behind both a prospect and a big leaguer, one of which was almost traded early in the offseason. The bat is good enough that I might try and teach him another position, as he works the count well and drives the ball when he makes contact. There's enough power for first base, but corner outfield would be interesting. He's smart enough to learn the position, but he might have to wait until the offseason before buying a new glove.

Mostly position players, other notables include 24-year-old outfielder Bill White, who we picked up from the Imperials for two-time Cougar Ed Wells. White was New York's 5th Rounder in 1969, and has shown a nice bat in limited time. He's someone I'm keeping an eye on, but as a corner-only guy a pinch-hit role is his best chance. The only pitcher was Chicagoan Dale Holm, who allowed 5 walks, 4 hits, and 4 runs in 5 innings pitched. A FABL vet of three seasons, he has just 13.2 innings pitched, though they were actually pretty effective. He allowed a run a season, working to a 1.98 ERA (191 ERA+) and 0.88 WHIP. A seven pitch pitcher, most of his minor league appearances have came as the starter, and he'll probably again split time between Memphis and Omaha, where he's been great and awful. The last guy worth noting is another 24-year-old, Joe Sterling, who could easily be a Tip Harrison type utility infielder. A prankster and capable defender, he likely won't hit enough to start, but I can see him lucking out and spending a few seasons on our big league roster.

Rotation looks set:After a brilliant start to his spring, Bill Bartlett has been hit hard, and more or less sentenced himself to a return to Omaha. He lost his command against the Imperials, walking 4 before being forced out with one out in the 4th. Charged with 6 runs on 6 hits and a strikeout, he showed his youth, while Jim Norris (7.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) has been the reliable vet of earlier days. Bartlett is definitely more talented, but the command is something he's yet to master. His 6.8 BB% in 18 AAA starts last season is what it could be, and he didn't walk many hitters at Chesapeake State (7.3 BB%, 334.1 IP) either. Now up to 95 on the prospect list, the league starting to pay attention to him, and a demotion shouldn't deter him. He was a long-shot to make the rotation to begin with, and there's absolutely no reason to rush him into the five spot. If we're in contention and someone struggles he'd be a quick callup, and he'll get the finish the spring learning from some storied and talented pitchers.

Hal Adams has been the best, putting together back-to-back shutout appearances in games we won. He only got credit for the second, 5 shutout in Cleveland with just a hit, walk, and strikeout. Milwaukee put more men on base, with four reaching with a hit, though he did not allow a free pass and struck out one in 4 innings of the eventual 2-1 win. Likely with one start left, he's in line to start game two in Kansas City. That start will be his 368th, as he looks for his 190th FABL victory. His 1.26 ERA leads the rotation, but the non-Bartlett members have ERAs of 3 or lower. Set to be a strength of the squad, it might have to make up for a middle-of-the-pack offense, as we might not have done quite enough to be a team who can keep up in frequent slugfest. We'll win games by keeping teams off the board, and I'm hoping that will get enough timely hitting from the Babel-Lorang-Babb heart of the lineup.