Minor League Daily Update: Friday 5/21/2010

Here is Friday’s group of minor league players.  Their statistics shown are for May 15 through May 20.  Since the last Friday update was posted, Starlin Castro and Derek Holland have been promoted to the Cubs and Rangers respectively.  Carlos Santana, Jordan Lyles, and Alex Colome all had excellent weeks.   Click below for stats and player updates.

• Yonder Alonso has been solid at the plate in AAA – He will stay there for the time being with the Reds playing well and fighting for first place in the NL Central.  He could provide a spark late in the year for a playoff push if the pitching holds up in Cincinnati.
• Starlin Castro was called up (I’m sure you have heard) – he hit a HR in his first game and has held his own since then.  I don’t think he brings loads of power and he could better use his speed to swipe more bases but those aspects of his game will develop, he is only 20 years old.
• Mike Stanton has been in a little slump as of late.  He now has 42K’s in 137 AB (31% K-rate).  He is elite and wont stay cold for too much longer.
• Jose Iglesias really doesn’t do much with the bat – at all.  His glove will have to be special for him to contribute at the MLB level.  Even Omar Vizquel brought some offense to the dish.  Note:  I am from Cleveland so I think Vizquel is just about the best defensive SS you could draw up.  Iglesias is 1 for 3 in SB attempts and has 4 RBI on the year.  He also has 24K’s vs. only 5 BB.  He does have youth on his side however.
• Jemile Weeks has been out with an injury for a couple weeks.
• Down week for Pedro Alvarez.  He will get his chance but has 40 K in 150 AB (27% K rate) with only 15 BB. 
• Nice week for Carlos Santana – he will be up soon.  He has shown great plate discipline with 28 walks vs. only 27 strike outs.  Santana coupled with Shin-Soo Choo is a nice start but Cleveland has a lot of work to do.
• Michael Brantley has really struggled since being sent down.  He is batting .305 but only has 4 RBI and 0 HR in 23 Games.
• Jordan Danks now has 48K in 151 AB (32% K rate) with only 15 walks.  On the plus side, he is 9 of 11 in stolen bases.
• Chris Davis is still being solid but not spectacular in his return to AAA.  Batting over .300 but owns only 2 HR and 22RBI since the demotion.  He will get another chance.
• Aaron Crow last won about a month ago on April 29^th.  On that day he walked 1 batter.  Yesterday he pitched and walked 1 batter.  Guess what?  He won the game.  This should show that he hasn’t gotten away with limiting baserunners – some pitchers have been lucky in this regard (see yesterday’s post for an example).  Crow will be fine as he refines his command. 
• Mike Montgomery has a 2-1 record since being promoted to AA.  He has struggled with his command since the move though.  In the three starts, he has walked 9 batters (vs. 12 strike outs) in 12.1 IP.  In 24 innings in A ball he had only 4 BB.  The walks haven’t hurt him yet as he sports a 2.45 ERA thus far.
• Kyle Drabek has had a very nice May so far with an 18:5 K:BB.  He is only 1-2 for the month but has pitched very well.
• Trevor Reckling won’t see better results until he quits walking people.  He now has one less walk than strikeouts for the year (27BB to 28K).
• Derek Holland was promoted to the Texas rotation and has made two good starts.  I don’t expect to see him in the minors again this year.  He is up to stay.
• Alex Colome has allowed 1 ER so far in 18 Innings thus far in May.  That has lead to a 3-0 mark for the month and a 1.97 ERA for the year.  Looking good for the Hot Rods of Bowling Green.  Oh yeah, that’s in the Tampa organization so he will have plenty of time to develop before he even sniffs a chance at the MLB level.
• Jordan Lyles is 2-0 in May and has allowed only 4 ER in 22 Innings pitched. 

Comments and Questions welcome.