April in OKC

April in the land of 4A players, retreads, org. soldiers and a few prospects.

Team Overview

The Redhawks have the best record in the league at 18-10, in first by 1.5 games (including last night's loss).  They are 7th in AVG (.281), 5th in OBA (.369), and 5th in SLG (.460).  The pitching staff is in the middle of the pack (7th out of 16) with a WHIP of 1.45, 6th in ERA at 4.27, 4th in K's with about 7.5 per 9, and 7th in walks allowed, about 3.5 per 9.  The defense is above average, at least when using the fielding pct. and DER ratings on minorleaguereference.com.

This roster has already had a bit of flux, so I'm sticking with prospects and leaving the Botts/Cruz/Mench
 discussions elsewhere.

Hitters

• Salty.  Did well and handled "losing" his job to Laird with a fair attitude.  He walked, slugged, hit for average, sprayed his fly balls almost equally around the OF, and played well defensively from most accounts I've seen.  He's a catcher to me and nothing else.
• Taylor Teagarden  C  .162/.278/.279 overall.  I don't think we really know yet what kind of hitter he is, and I think it's a mistake to look at 2007 and say he's answered questions about his bat.  He's probably going to strike out a lot, but he does take walks, with 117 BB's vs. 195 K's in 167 pro games played.  His BABIP numbers are up and down; in the .400 range last year in Bakersfield and Frisco, but just .235 in Frisco this year.  He's not a .300 hitter, and he's not a .162 hitter.  But with his defense, if he can split the difference and take enough walks to keep his OBA healthy he's going to be a decent to above average starting catcher.  We're all watching both him and Ramirez as they adjust to catching every day. 
  
• German Duran  IF  .250/.311/.400 with OKC.  Currently trying to keep his head above water in the big leagues, Duran became a name with a breakout 2007, earning mention on some national prospect lists and high rankings among 2B.  His power has trended upward each season from 2005-2007, slg pcts. of .393/.446/.524 respectively in Spokane, Bakersfield and Frisco.  Perhaps he is the Brandon Boggs of the infield, a solid utility guy on a good team, maybe more.  He needs to be back in OKC playing every day when the injury situation allows. 
  
• Brandon Boggs  OF  .309/.368/.456.  Boggs has hit better with every promotion, boasts solid defense, and a strong walk rate with decent power.  His splits are significant, probably a platoon player, but hits well enough against righties that he won't embarass himself.  Fantastic first few days in Arlington.  If this guy is the team's 4th outfielder next year, the OF will probably be a strength, both with bat and glove.
• Joaquin Arias  SS  .300/.333/.350.  Even after a lost year in 2007, Arias is still younger than Teagarden, Mayberry, Boggs, Duran, and Madrigal, and only a couple weeks older than Max Ramirez.  Still, he's no longer so young you can discount a lack of production.  I think we can give up on him ever drawing walks, we should just hope he can continue to hit .300 and stay healthy.  He's still got time to be of value, but he needs to produce.

Pitchers

• Eric Hurley  1-1, 6.46.  Good news:  his K/BB ratio is 3 to 1 with 37 K's in just 30.2 IP, and his BABIP is much, much higher than in any previous season.  Bad news:  he's being hit to the tune of .311; 1/3 of his hits allowed are for extra bases with a HR nearly every 6 innings; lefties are killing him; game reports from some of you suggest a pitcher struggling.   Looking through the game recaps, rare is the 1-2-3 inning; he's working hard most of the time.  If he had Kennil Gomez's April he might be in Arlington right now instead Feldman or Ponson.  Perhaps it's better he didn't and maybe he'll learn from this.  I think most Ranger fans (though maybe not most LSBers) expect Hurley to be a top of the rotation guy who will come in and immediately have success.  I think they'll be disappointed when he struggles initially and/or he's "only" a mid-rotation horse with an ERA in the high 4's giving up a HR every game.  I'm betting that he gets a bit better each month and we see him in Arlington this July or August at the latest.
• Doug Mathis  4-0, 3.82.  Those numbers look good, but really he's had 2 very good starts and 4 ho hum outings.  OKC is average almost 7 runs when he's on the mound, so he gets W's.  He is almost dominating against right handers so far, but lefties are killing him.  But his previous years did not feature outrageous splits.  He stands a good chance to see some big league time as an injury replacement in the rotation or bullpen.
• Others that might bear watching:  Elizardo Ramirez; Littleton, of course; Paul Kometani might be a bullpen guy; and Yukinaga Maeda who was just signed out of Japan at age 37. 
  

After going through the 4 full season clubs like this, one thing strikes me:  There are still a whole lot of interesting prospects not playing yet.  Pitchers Main, Font, Pimentel, Grullon, Neil Ramirez, Perez, Boscan, Wilkins...  OFers Eric Fry and Miguel Velazquez...  C Leonel de los Santos...