AA Pitching

by Matty486 on Dec 22, 2007 11:38 PM EST Comment 16 comments

Reading Sisquatch's diary about Dan Cortes started to get me thinking about the talented Wilmington rotation that is moving up to AA this year. That is, Dan Cortes, Julio Pimental, Blake Johnson, and Rowdy Hardy. The fact that we got the 1st three in trades where they weren't even the main player involved really gets me excited thinking about GMDM's evaluating ability. Didn't we get all three in about a 5 month span? I'd like to think we can get guys like this about once a year at worst.

Now, out of those 4 guys, which one is going to end up the best? Who knows. But I'd think ideally we get 2 of them into the rotation and maybe 1 in the pen. And the 4th as a good piece of a trade? Again, ALL speculation. But it's starting to get fun again thinking about our prospects.

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Excellent rotation

Cortes is easily the best prospect in that group, great stuff on a big athletic frame. Pimentel is probably next, dude gets ground balls like nobodies business and throws really hard.

Don't forget Blake Wood either in that group, he made huge strides this year with his mechanics, and thus, his control. I don't know if he starts in AA, but he'll be there after a while.

And FYI, we got those three (Pimentel, Johnson, Cortes) within about 24 hours back in July of '06.

by doublestix on Dec 23, 2007 12:03 AM EST reply actions

Wood

Yeah, I remember we drafted Wood, I think out of Geogria Tech? I just really hope Hardy does well. It seems impossible that he makes it in the bigs, but would be a great story. And you never know. There are a million stats out there that say be shouldn't be good but sometimes, some people just get hitters out. Period.

In the Royals game of life, Neifi Perez is the rake.

by Matty486 on Dec 23, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply actions

the biggest difference

between pre-GMDM and now is the AA and AAA rotations. they arent even comparable. before, they were consisted of maybe a good prospect or two in AA, everyone else was rushed to the majors before they were ready. AAA was a bunch of over-the-hill veterans that would never make a serious impact on a competing team, save for that one lucky season in 2003.

potential 2008 AAA rotation:

hocehver
davies
matt wright
carlos rosa
tyler lumsden

with ben hendrickson, dusty hughes etc. there as other potential starters...

potential 2008 AA rotation (this one is just sick):

cortes
wood
pimentel
johnson
hardy

wow. talk about pitching depth. that is why we could afford to give away buckner...

by rockchalk on Dec 23, 2007 1:25 AM EST reply actions

re:

I think Davies is out of options, but point well taken. We have enough depth finally that we can afford to deal a pitching prospect for another area of need, especially when 3 or 4 of the ones listed above have great upside than the one dealt.

Just think of the depth had Chris Nicoll not gotten the yips (he was also injured)?!? Hopefully he can return to his former self, because if he can, he's another good prospect (although I'm not optimistic).

by doublestix on Dec 23, 2007 2:01 AM EST up reply actions

you might be right...

i know i read somewhere though that said he had another year or so of options...

by rockchalk on Dec 23, 2007 2:57 AM EST up reply actions

Nicoll

I was really high on him for some reason before last season. I hope he can work out his troubles from last year and become a semi-decent prospect again.

by wildthang on Dec 23, 2007 5:03 AM EST up reply actions

Davies has one option left

I've read it on the Royals official site and on KC Star.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Dec 23, 2007 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Ah...

Didn't know that.

Still think he'll be in KC from day 1 next year, but that's good to know in case he really sucks during ST. His chances went way up when Buckner was traded...Hooch's too.

by doublestix on Dec 23, 2007 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Really like the potential of the NW Ark rotation

I think Wood and Cortes have the best potential to be the front of the rotation guy. They have the stuff to get K's and make people swing and miss. Blake Johnson and Pimental have been slower to develop but could be 4 or 5. I root for Rowdy but you just don't see many guys who below average stuff make it to the majors. He'll have to keep learning how to pitch backwards with excellent control. Back in the 70's Randy Jones won a Cy Young with that kind of slow stuff. Jamie Moyer is the reigning king of junk. It works for them. Rowdy will have to prove himself at every level and have success.

An exciting staff - it is rare to see a minor league rotation that is complete with prospects. Lots of organizational types in most rotations. I also want to see how well Chambliss and DelaVara come along in AA.

by daveyork on Dec 23, 2007 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

bullpen

Definitely a few intriguing bullpen prospects as well, nice catch. Chambliss, De La Vara, Oliveros and Haltiwanger are all interesting guys.

That whole damn team will be exciting to watch. My big sleeper is right fielder Brian McFall, he is very athletic and has a ton of raw power. He could become a legitimate prospect if he keeps improving his pitch judgment. I think he was a former 3rd round pick.

by doublestix on Dec 23, 2007 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

This rotation all looks great.

So the AA team will be in Arkansas next year? Which town? I wonder how long of a drive it will be to get there from Lawrence? Maybe it would be worth a quick visit. Drive out Saturday and watch a night game. Catch the Sunday afternoon game and drive back to Lawrence that night. I'd probably get to see most of the roster with a Day/Night pair of games. I probably could swing the whole deal for around $100.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 23, 2007 10:12 AM EST reply actions

They'll Be In

Springdale, part of the Tri-Cities area along with Fayetteville and Rogers. The main campus of the University of Arkansas is in Fayetteville. WalMart world HQ is just north of there in Bentonville.

According to Google Maps it's 255 miles, 4 hours and 21 minutes from Lawrence to Springdale. I always took 75 south from Topeka, but 71 is faster and more direct for you.

Brian Poldberg will coach the Naturals. Really, that's what they're called.
http://www.royalmania.com/news.php?extend.120

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Dec 23, 2007 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Arkansas is

the Natural State. Seriously.

by howserfan on Dec 23, 2007 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

This Is A

Relatively recent development.
http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ar_intro.htm
THE NICKNAMES:
The Natural State: (Official) This nickname was officially adopted by the legislature in 1995 and is intended to highlight the "...unsurpassed scenery, clear lakes, free-flowing streams, magnificent rivers meandering bayous, delta bottomlands, forested mountains, and abundant fish and wildlife." This nickname replaced the official Land of Opportunity nickname following the slogan Arkansas Is a Natural that was used to promote tourism and outdoor recreation.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Dec 23, 2007 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

The Naturals

I am sure it is a reference to the Robert Redford movie.

I wish they were a little closer than four and a half hours, but that is still doable. I'll have to take a look at their schedule when it is posted. Mid-May maybe.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 23, 2007 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Guess with a nickname like the Naturals

we won't have to worry about any of them being listed in the Mitchell report.

by daveyork on Dec 23, 2007 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

The Birds Left

The Natural State (insert McGwire joke here) in 2001, moving the AA affiliate status to New Haven, CT, then Knoxville, TN and to Springfield, MO where they currently are. Oddly, the Arkansas (Little Rock) Travelers are an Angels franchise now. We should own NW Arkansas now.

For many reasons, WalMart money included, NW Arkansas is growing rapidly. My niece and her husband live on a lake outside Fayetteville in a gated community. My brother can't believe his little girl lives like that. The area even has a shiny new modern airport, opened in 1998, with service from several majors. Unfortunately, there is no direct service to MCI.
http://www.nwara.com/

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Dec 23, 2007 4:16 PM EST reply actions