{On the first of every month, we’ll take a trip through the two levels of the WBL Minor Leagues.}
Featured Team: The Atlanta X-Giants
The Atlanta X-Giants (Birmingham) are off to a spectacular start, with a 22-3 record, best in AAA by 8 games in the young season. They opened the season with a 4 game sweep of Washington, “struggled” to a 5-3 record, and have since then reeled off 13 straight victories, including series sweeps of Milwaukee, Seattle, Orlando, and Louisville. That puts them 8 games ahead of second-place Hartford after only a month of play.
Larry Benton (4-0, 1.44 ERA) and Tim Hudson (3-0, 2.78 ERA with a WHIP of 0.84) have already been called up to Birmingham. John Malarkey is the current ace of the X-Giants’ staff, at 4-1, 2.85. Peter Moylan has been hit hard, but has still managed a half-dozen saves despite an ERA over 6.
Offensively, Birmingham has already raided Atlanta’s outfield for Bob Nieman (293/379/569) and Curtis Granderson (340/358/660), leaving their best hitters as 1B Jake Beckley (299/398/536) and 3B Pie Traynor (351/361/468). SS Herman Long (381/395/762) has been on an extreme hot streak, but has started only 9 games so far. Beckley and C Del Crandall (206/247/485) lead the X-Giants with 19 RBIs each.
Given how Birmingham is struggling across the board, any of these players could find themselves in the WBL soon. But the best actual prospect may be OF Joe Rudi, who at 22 was just promoted to AAA.
AAA Leaders
Robinson Cano (423/461/634) has already been called up to the WBL. There are four other batters whose performance is crying out for a chance with their big league clubs:
- Quebec’s Hi Myers is leading AAA with a .452 average, slashing 452/462/808. Given the struggles of Ottawa’s OF, Myers should be given a chance soon.
- New Orleans’ Freddy Lynn is slashing 415/465/908, and while Memphis’ OF looks full at the moment, at some point that level of production is impossible to ignore.
- Joey Votto, playing for Indianapolis’ AAA affiliate in Cincinnati, is slashing 370/500/630, and likely to to be the next player called up to the ABC’s.
- Finally, Orlando’s Gary Sheffield is pounding along at a 357/449/655 clip, and may find himself in Miami sooner than later.
In addition to the Atlanta pitchers mentioned above, San Jose’s Carlos Carrasco was pounded with San Francisco, but has been almost unhittable at AAA, posting a 1.90 ERA. Cincinnati’s Doc White has been stellar over 3 starts, allowing a WHIP of only 0.85, just slightly behind Hudson.
From the bullpen, the most dominant performer has been Quebec’s Darren Dreifort, who has gotten a decision in each of his 12 appearances, sitting at 2-1 with 9 saves. Non-prospect, 39 year-old, Doug Jones is 1-0 with 2 saves and 4 holds, and has yet to give up an earned run.
Awards
AAA Player of the Month: Freddy Lynn (New Orleans/Memphis)
AAA Pitcher of the Month: Darren Dreifort (Quebec/Ottawa)
AAA Players of the Week: Joe Cronin (New Orleans/Memphis), Lynn, Al Kaline (Toronto/Detroit), Marlon Byrd (Norfolk/Philadelphia).
Hottest Prospects
SP: Hardie Henderson (20, Buffalo/Cleveland): 4-1, 2.73 ERA; Jock Menefee (24, St. Louis/Kansas City): 2-1, 2.20 ERA, 3 CG.
RP: Darren Dreifort (24, Quebec/Ottawa): 2-1, 9 Sv, 1.42 ERA; Matt Anderson (24, Toronto/Detroit): 1 H, 0.87 ERA.
C: Mike Scioscia (25, Norfolk/Philadelphia): 303/425/485
1B: Anthony Rizzo (22, Columbus/House of David): 302/371//698, 10 HR.
2B: Robinson Cano (23, St. Louis/Kansas City): 423/461/634 [*]
3B: Gary Sheffield (23, Orlando/Miami): 357/449/655
SS: Cal Ripken, Jr. (21, Washington/Baltimore): 247/350/461
OF: Paul Waner (23, Louisville/Homestead): 326/413/640; Sandy Amoros (24, Orlando/Miami): 299/408/644, 15 ExBH; Yasiel Puig (22, Hartford/New York Gothams): 323/413/624.
Bold indicates league leader; * indicates already recalled to WBL team.