Hot/Cold: OF - FAAB Darling Bowker Struggling

All statistics from Wed 4/23 through Tue 4/29:


HOT

1. Curtis Granderson, DET - .348, 11 r, 3 HR, 5 rbi
2. Lance Berkman, HOU - .292, 7 r, 3 HR, 7 rbi, 1 sb
3. Carlos Quentin, CWS - .455, 5 r, 2 HR, 5 rbi, 2 sb
4. Magglio Ordonez, DET - .409, 4 r, 2 HR, 11 rbi
5. Carl Crawford, TB - .357, 7 r, 5 rbi, 3 sb
6. Jason Bay, PIT - .292, 5 r, 3 HR, 4 rbi, 1 sb
7. Nate McLouth, PIT - .200, 5 r, 4 HR, 6 rbi
8. Matt Kemp, LAD - .360, 4 r, 1 HR, 8 rbi, 1 sb
9. Josh Hamilton, TEX - .440, 4 r, 1 HR, 8 rbi
10. Ichiro Suzuki, SEA - .269, 4 r, 1 HR, 3 rbi, 3 sb

COLD

1. John Bowker, SF - 1-for-22
2. Austin Kearns, WAS - 2-for-20, 1 r
3. Jim Edmonds, SD - 0-for-13, 1 r, 1 rbi
4. Alfredo Amezaga, FLA - 2-for-17, 1 r
5. Vernon Wells, TOR - 3-for-23, 1 r, 1 rbi

Hot/Cold: Corner Infielders

All stats from 4/18 thru 4/24:


HOT

1. Garrett Atkins, 3B, COL - .355 (11-for-31), 7 r, 4 HR, 9 rbi
2. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B, CIN - .385 (10-for-26), 8 r, 4 HR, 5 rbi
3. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHC - .385 (10-for-26), 7 r, 3 HR, 9 rbi
4. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, HOU - .391 (9-for-23), 6 r, 2 HR, 10 rbi, 1 sb
5. Conor Jackson, 1B, ARI - .448 (13-for-29), 8 r, 1 HR, 6 rbi, 1 sb
6. Casey Blake, 3B, CLE - .500 (11-for-22), 5 r, 3 HR, 14 rbi
7. Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL - .440 (11-for-25), 5 r, 3 HR, 6 rbi
8. Maicer Izturis, 2B/3B, LAA - .450 (9-for-20), 4 r, 4 rbi, 5 sb
9. Miguel Cabrera, 3B, DET - .250 (7-for-28), 7 r, 2 HR, 7 rbi, 1 sb
10. Derrek Lee, 1B, CHC - .321 (9-for-28), 7 r, 1 HR, 5 rbi, 1 sb

COLD

1. Ben Broussard, 1B/OF, TEX - 1-for-17
2. Esteban German, 2B/3B, KC - 0-for-9
3. Carlos Delgado, 1B, NYM - 3-for-28, 3 rbi
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B, PIT - 4-for-25, 1 rbi
5. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI - 3-for-28, 3 r

Triple-A Highlights (PCL): Mon 4/21 - Wed 4/23

NOTE: I'm adding a new feature to the minor league highlights. If a player appears ready for promotion, I'll add a READY notation to their line. A designation of READY doesn't mean they are necessarily ready to stay, just that they are at least ready for a promotion to at least get a trial at the next level.


AMERICAN LEAGUE

Brandon Wood, 23, SS/3B, Salt Lake (LAA #1 Prospect)
3-for-5, 2 2B(5), HR(7), 2 r, 4 rbi, .268 BA / .950 OPS - .325 BA last 10 games
- Over last 40 ABs has 13 Ks, 4 walks - first 31 ABs he had 13 Ks, 1 walk - the declining K-rate (which even at .325 over his last 40 ABs is still too high) and rising walk rate need to continue, this is the only thing holding him back from Anaheim.

Carlos Gonzalez, 22, OF, Sacramento (ARI #1 Prospect traded to OAK)
0-for-5, 2 Ks, .348 BA / .930 OPS - .357 BA last 10 games

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 22, C/1B, Oklahoma (TEX - 2007 ATL #1 Prospect)
2-for-4, rbi, .291 BA / .882 OPS

Nelson Cruz, 27, OF, Oklahoma (TEX - 2006 MIL #8 Prospect)
2-for-8, 2 HR(6), 2 r, 4 rbi, .333 BA / 1.234 OPS - .361 BA last 10 games

Freddy Sandoval, 25, 3B, Salt Lake (LAA - NR)
4-for-5, 2B(9), 2 r, 2 rbi, SB(1), .422 BA / 1.151 OPS - .488 BA last 10 games

Gio Gonzalez, 22, LHP, Sacramento (CWS #1 Prospect traded to OAK)
5 ip, 7 h, 2 er, 2 bb, 5 K - 2.50 ERA / 1.33 WHIP / .238 BAA / 18 K, 9 bb over 18 ip

Kyle Davies, 24, RHP, Omaha (KC - 2005 ATL #4 Prospect)
READY FOR KC
7 ip, 2 h, 0 er, 0 bb, 3 K - 0.90 ERA / 1.05 WHIP / .191 BAA / 14 K, 8 bb over 20 ip


MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 AL Prospects for 2008 and 2009



NATIONAL LEAGUE

Colby Rasmus, 21, OF, Memphis (STL #1 Prospect)
2-for-9, 2 HR(3), 5 rbi, .222 BA / .677 OPS

Chase Headley, 23, 3B/OF, Portland (SD #1 Prospect)
1-for-3, 2 rbi, .234 BA / .663 OPS - .244 BA last 10 games

Matt Antonelli, 23, 2B, Portland (SD #2 Prospect)
1-for-5, 2B(4), 1 r, .228 BA / .845 OPS - .222 BA last 10 games

Ian Stewart, 23, 3B, Colorado Springs (COL #2 Prospect)
4-for-5, 3B(2), HR(5), 3 r, 5 rbi, .323 BA / 1.062 OPS

Nate Schierholtz, 24, OF, Fresno (SF #4 Prospect)
READY FOR SF
3-for-9, 3B(2), 2 r, 2 rbi, SB(2), .345 BA / .972 OPS - .381 BA last 10 games

Brett Carroll, 25, OF, Albuquerque (FLA #23 Prospect)
READY FOR MIAMI
3-for-6, 2B(5), HR(5), 5 r, rbi, .391 BA / 1.288 OPS

Hernan Iribarren, 23, 2B/OF, Nashville (MIL #26 Prospect)
5-for-11, 3B(1), 2 r, 2 rbi, SB(4), .341 BA / .843 OPS - .361 BA last 10 games

Max Scherzer, 23, RHP, Tucson (ARI #4 Prospect)
READY FOR ARIZONA
6 ip, 5 h, 3 er, 0 bb, 9 K - 1.17 ERA / 0.65 WHIP / .146 BAA / 38 K, 3 bb over 23 ip

Sean Gallagher, 22, RHP, Iowa (CHC #5 Prospect)
READY FOR CHICAGO
7.2 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 1 bb, 12 K - 1.93 ERA / 0.90 WHIP / .188 BAA / 25 K, 5 bb over 23.1 ip

Jonathan Meloan, 23, RHP, Las Vegas (LAD #8 Prospect)
Very near ready
5.2 ip, 10 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 7 K - 1.66 ERA / 1.29 WHIP / .266 BAA / 20 K, 7 bb over 21.2 ip


MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

Hot/Cold: Middle Infielders

All stats from 4/17 through 4/23


HOT

1. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI - .483 BA (14-for-29), 8 r, 7 HR, 12 rbi, 0 sb
2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA - .290 BA (9-for-31), 8 r, 4 HR, 6 rbi, 4 sb
3. Miguel Tejada, SS, HOU - .469 BA (15-for-32), 8 r, 2 HR, 9 rbi, 1 sb
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS - .462 BA (12-for-26), 7 r, 1 HR, 8 rbi, 1 sb
5. Edgar Renteria, SS, DET - .429 BA (12-for-28), 8 r, 2 HR, 5 rbi, 0 sb
6. Ronny Cedeno, SS, CHC - .429 BA (9-for-21), 6 r, 1 HR, 10 rbi, 0 sb
7. Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD - .375 BA (9-for-24), 3 r, 1 HR, 2 rbi 4 sb
8. Kaz Matsui, 2B, HOU - .308 BA (8-for-26) 8 r, 0 HR, 6 rbi, 2 sb
9. Ryan Theriot, 2B/SS, CHC - .458 BA (11-for-24), 6 r, 0 HR, 3 rbi, 2 sb
10. Kelly Johnson, 2B, ATL - .227 BA (5-for-22), 6 r, 2 HR, 3 rbi, 2 sb

COLD

1. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B, KC - 1-for-14
2. Jayson Nix, 2B, COL - 0-for-8
3. Ronnie Belliard, 2B, WAS - 1-for-8
4. Eric Bruntlett, SS, PHI - 4-for-25, 2 r
5. Tad Iguchi, 2B, SD - 2-for-25, 2 r, 1 sb

High-A Highlights (Carolina): Fri 4/18 - Tue 4/22

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Jake Arrieta, 22, RHP, Frederick (BAL #7 Prospect)
7.1 ip, 2 h, 3 er, 4 bb, 8 K - 2.75 ERA / 1.12 WHIP / .154 BAA / 26 K, 12 bb over 19.2 ip

Pedro Beato, 21, RHP, Frederick (BAL #9 Prospect)
5 ip, 6 h, 1 er, 1 bb, 5 K - 3.38 ERA / 1.27 WHIP / .266 BAA / 10 K, 6 bb over 21.1 ip

John Ely, 21, RHP, Winston-Salem (CWS #9 Prospect)
6 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 4 K - 3.48 ERA / 0.89 WHIP / .239 BAA / 15 K, 1 bb over 19 ip

Brandon Erbe, 20, RHP, Frederick (BAL #10 Prospect)
7 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 1 bb, 3 K - 1.29 ERA / 0.85 WHIP / .191 BAA / 21 K, 3 bb over 23.2 ip

Hector Rondon, 20, RHP, Kinston (CLE #28 Prospect)
4 ip, 3 h, 0 er, 2 bb, 5 K - 4.67 ERA / 1.44 WHIP / .257 BAA / 21 K, 7 bb over 17.1 ip

Jacob Rasner, 21, RHP, Winston-Salem (CWS - NR)
7 ip, 1 h, 0 er, 3 bb, 6 K - 1.00 ERA / 0.94 WHIP / .169 BAA / 13 K, 6 bb over 18 ip


MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 AL Prospects for 2008 and 2009



NATIONAL LEAGUE

Gorkys Hernandez, 20, OF, Myrtle Beach (ATL #5 Prospect)
4-for-17, 2B(5), 3B(5), HR(2), 4 r, 2 rbi, .309 BA / .946 OPS

Jordan Parraz, 23, OF, Salem (HOU #18 Prospect)
5-for-16, 2B(3), HR(2), .237 BA / .790 OPS

Daniel Moskos, 21, LHP, Lynchburg (PIT #5 Prospect)
6 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 4 K - 3.48 ERA / 1.11 WHIP / .238 BAA / 13 K, 4 bb over 20.2 ip

Jordan Zimmermann, 21, RHP, Potomac (WAS #7 Prospect)
5 ip, 3 h, 0 er, 2 bb, 6 K - 0.61 ERA / 0.89 WHIP / .128 BAA / 18 K, 7 bb over 14.1 ip

Tommy Hanson, 21, RHP, Myrtle Beach (ATL #9 Prospect)
6 ip, 1 h, 0 er, 2 bb, 6 K - 0.00 ERA / 0.50 WHIP / .071 BAA / 32 K, 6 bb over 22 ip
UTTER DOMINATION - should be promoted to Double-A very soon

Jhonny Nunez, 22, RHP, Potomac (WAS #25 Prospect)
6 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 10 K - 3.48 ERA / 1.06 WHIP / .250 BAA / 27 K, 2 bb over 20.2 ip

Polin Trinidad, 23, LHP, Salem (HOU - NR)
7 ip, 4 h, 0 er, 2 bb, 4 K - 1.88 ERA / 0.79 WHIP / .169 BAA / 14 K, 5 bb over 24 ip


MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

High-A Highlights (FSL): Fri 4/18 - Tue 4/22

AMERICAN LEAGUE


Rene Tosoni, 21, OF, Fort Myers (MIN #24 Prospect)
6-for-15, 4 r, 3 rbi, .351 BA / .872 OPS


Kevin Slowey, Fort Myers (MIN - REHAB)
3 ip, 1 h, 3 er, 1 bb, 5 K


Matt Garza, Vero Beach (TB - REHAB)
3.2 ip, 8 h, 4 er, 3 bb, 4 K


Scott Kazmir, Vero Beach (TB - REHAB)
3 ip, 1 h, 0 er, 0 bb, 3 K


Jeremy Hellickson, 21, RHP, Vero Beach (TB #8 Prospect)
5 ip, 4 h, 0 er, 1 bb, 7 K - 0.78 ERA / 0.83 WHIP / .202 BAA / 30 K, 2 bb over 23 ip


Ivan Nova, 21, RHP, Tampa (NYY #18 Prospect)
6 ip, 3 h, 2 er, 3 bb, 9 K - 3.38 ERA / 1.31 WHIP / .262 BAA / 16 K, 15 bb over 16 ip


Luis Marte, 21, RHP, Lakeland (DET - NR)
7 ip, 0 h, 0 er, 3 bb, 7 K - 2.40 ERA / 1.07 WHIP / .137 BAA / 17 K, 9 bb over 15 ip

MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 AL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Jose Ceda, 21, RHP, Daytona (CHC #4 Prospect)
5 ip, 3 h, 0 er, 0 bb, 7 K - 4.20 ERA / 1.27 WHIP / .196 BAA / 18 K, 8 bb over 15 ip

Tyler Herron, 21, RHP, Palm Beach (STL #10 Prospect)
5 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 0 bb, 6 K - 3.50 ERA / 1.17 WHIP / .271 BAA / 17 K, 2 bb over 18 ip

Jess Todd, 22, RHP, Palm Beach (STL #12 Prospect)
3.2 ip, 3 h, 0 er, 0 bb, 5 K - 1.15 ERA / 0.77 WHIP / .164 BAA / 16 K, 3 bb over 15.2 ip


Brad Furnish, 23, LHP, Palm Beach (STL #18 Prospect)
4 ip, 2 h, 0 er, 0 bb, 4 K - 2.37 ERA / 0.89 WHIP / .188 BAA / 12 K, 4 bb over 19 ip

Kyle Winters, 21, RHP, Jupiter (FLA #21 Prospect)
5.1 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 1 bb, 5 K - 1.54 ERA / 0.94 WHIP / .225 BAA / 14 K, 4 bb over 23.1 ip


James Russell, 22, LHP, Daytona (CHC #22 Prospect)
6 ip 3 h, 1 er, 2 bb, 5 K - 2.05 ERA / 1.18 WHIP / .266 BAA / 12 K, 5 bb over 22 ip


Carlos Monasterios, 22, RHP, Clearwater (PHI #22 Prospect)
6.1 ip, 4 h, 0 er, 3 bb, 6 K - 2.81 ERA / 0.94 WHIP / .187 BAA / 17 K, 7 bb over 25.2 ip


Antonio Bastardo, 22, LHP, Clearwater (PHI #26 Prospect)
7 ip, 4 h, 2 er, 0 bb, 12 K - 1.59 ERA / 1.19 WHIP / .217 BAA / 34 K, 9 bb over 22.2 ip


MID-APRIL UPDATE: Top 25 NL Prospects for 2008 and 2009

Hot/Cold: Catchers 4/17 thru 4/22

HOT

1. Brian McCann, ATL - .286 BA (6-for-21), 4 r, 2 HR, 3 rbi
2. Jeff Mathis, LAA - .444 BA (4-for-9), 4 r, 1 HR, 4 rbi
3. Chad Moeller, NYY - .429 BA (6-for-14), 4 r, 1 HR, 3 rbi
4. Ryan Doumit, PIT - .308 BA (4-for-13), 3 r, 2 HR, 3 rbi
5. Chris Coste, PHI - .500 BA (6-for-13), 2 r, 1 HR, 3 rbi

COLD

1. Brad Ausmus, HOU - 0-for-4, 0 r, 0 rbi
2. Matt Treanor, FLA - 1-for-10, 0 r, 0 rbi
3. Mike DiFelice, TB - 0-for-6, 0 r, 0 rbi
4. Yadier Molina, STL - 1-for-16, 0 r, 0 rbi
5. Raul Casanova, NYM - 3-for-16, 0 r, 0 rbi