Why I am looking forward to next year.

[Quakers]

From BA. They have chosen their minor league All-star team.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/051007milbas.html

 

 

Second Base: Howie Kendrick, Angels

 

It’s almost impossible to expect a hitter with a .355 career batting average to improve on that mark while at the same time facing the most difficult competition of his career. That’s what Kendrick did in 2005, however, hitting .367 overall (second in the minors) and throwing in a .614 slugging percentage that ranked eighth overall for good measure. Overshadowed in the first half because of the amazing season of his Rancho running mate, Brandon Wood, Kendrick was the one who got a promotion to Double-A and made the most of it.

 

 

 

Shortstop: Brandon Wood, Angels

 

The Angels' amazing depth up the middle is evident in the presence of Kendrick and Wood, who teamed together at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga and team here on the Minor League All-Star Team. It's also evident in that Wood didn't get a promotion until September, when he got a late cameo in Triple-A Salt Lake. He certainly had earned the promotion, as no minor leaguer consistently crushed the ball like Wood, who led the minors with 101 extra-base hits.

 

 

Outfield: Jeremy Hermida, Marlins

 

Hermida's Double-A Carolina team sent six pitchers to the parent Marlins this season, but the pickings were slimmer in the Mudcats lineup, Hermida was pitched around all season--that and his excellent eye and advanced approach helped him rank third in the minors with 111 walks. When he got a pitch he could handle, Hermida rarely missed, even when rusty. He hit a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, even though he had not hit in a game for nine days due to a bone bruise in his wrist.

 

 

Hopefully these guys, with a good draft can propel me into the play-offs for the first time.

[Tim]

You definitely have the strongest crop of minor leaguers at this point.

 

And huge props for Van Buren making the list as the first team reliever. Even if they did call him Jamie.

[Quakers]

Well so far Kendrick is hitting a cool .500 and Wood is not far behind hitting a mere .444. Oh did I mention that Wood has 8 homeruns and 16 RBI's:)

 

STAY’N ALIVE: Brandon Wood’s (Angels) hot start continued on Tuesday. Wood homered and had two hits in Surprise’s loss to

Grand Canyon. Wood has a hit in each of the six games he’s played in and leads the AFL in home runs (8) and RBIs (16).

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&did=l119&lid=119&sid=l119

[rawaction]

Trade Wood to me.

[Quakers]

Trade Wood to me.

 

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....:)

 

 

But seriously, you seem to have a couple of players ready for a breakout campaign.

[Tim]

I don't want to wait five more months for the draft. :(

 

And somebody please dump a few more good pitchers!

[Tim]

heh, heh.

 

I was just looking at the six pitcher I kept, all of whom have tasted the major leagues. Anthony Reyes is the oldest of them and he's not 24 yet. Chuck James is next oldest, also at 23. Bonderman is 22, Liriano and Hansen are 21 and I guess Cain just turned 21 a few days ago, too. That's banking on a lot of young arms to stay in one piece!

[rawaction]

heh, heh.

 

I was just looking at the six pitcher I kept, all of whom have tasted the major leagues. Anthony Reyes is the oldest of them and he's not 24 yet. Chuck James is next oldest, also at 23. Bonderman is 22, Liriano and Hansen are 21 and I guess Cain just turned 21 a few days ago, too. That's banking on a lot of young arms to stay in one piece!

 

They're not Cubs, so they should be ok.

[Quakers]

Well, with the Fall League over (except for Saturday's championship game), my players have done well.

 

Brandon Wood hit .307 with a league record 14 homeruns. :D

 

Howie Kendrick hit .389 with 5 homeruns. :D

 

Brad Eldred hit .289 with 7 homeruns. :D

 

And Angel Guzman came on strong in a hitters league and posted a 3.82 ERA :)

 

 

The offseason can not go by fast enough.

[BigbadB]

This might be a good place to let people know that Andy Pratt is on the market.

 

You'll have to wow me. I won't just give him away. Hermida, Kendrick, Cain and Wood are enticing, but I have ANDY PRATT!

 

Line forms at the rear! :D

[Quakers]

This might be a good place to let people know that Andy Pratt is on the market.

 

You'll have to wow me. I won't just give him away. Hermida, Kendrick, Cain and Wood are enticing, but I have ANDY PRATT!

 

Line forms at the rear! :D

 

I will have to mull that offer over. Let me consult my baseball manual and I will get back to you ASAP. :readingxxx:

[Quakers]

This sounds good; From CBS-Sportsline

 

Analysis: When thinking of a prospect who erupted for .316-43-116-110-7 in 134 games (130 in Class A, four in Triple-A), you'd figure he's a corner outfielder or infielder. Nope. This minor-league Babe Ruth is a shortstop. Consider Wood, who also set an Arizona Fall League record with 14 homers, the most intriguing Fantasy SS prospect since Alex Rodriguez. Jump on him in long-term keeper and AL-only leagues and, if his rampage continues, he'd have to be in the bigs by midseason. Trade or no trade.

 

Also this; apparently the Red Sox were trying to ship Manny Rameriz to the Angels and;

 

Analysis: Apparently the Red Sox mentioned Brandon Wood, and you can't blame the Angels for ending the conversation right there. Ramirez remains a top-five slugger in Fantasy no matter the destination, but Boston is obviously going to remain very cozy for him.

[Quakers]

This sounds good too.

 

Analysis: Aybar went .303-9-54-101-49 in Double-A. He will likely begin 2006 in Triple-A as he tries to hold off slugging Brandon Wood as the franchise's shortstop of the future. Aybar would likely be the first prospect to get a call if something significant happens to veteran Orlando Cabrera. He has some measure of value in deeper AL-only leagues on Draft Day -- particularly since he promises some steals for Rotisserie owners.

 

I have 4 of the Angels top infield prospects. Unless Wood is switched to third, Aybar and Callaspo will have to be traded to another team to realize their true potential. If anyone is interested, these two prospects may be available.

[rawaction]

I think there are a lot of good teams in the league for next year.

 

Quakers has great young talent that could/should play a lot this year led by Mauer, Wood, Hermida, McCarthy, Guzman, and still has one of the league's best players, Beltran, coming off a down year.

 

NSBB has another great team, with prospects and a ton of draft picks.

 

Galesburg is a catcher away from having an entire lineup filled, and also has 3 ML starters for 06, including a legit ace in Sheets. And is returning champ.

 

BDCoopers have 2 of the best keepers Utley and Howard, to go with stud D. Lee and Michael Young.

 

Buddiga has the same nucleus of a perennial playoff team.

 

NCCubbies, Tootielicious and SOS have cornered the market on great starting pitching.

 

Bulbs have Peavy and Felix at the top of their rotation.

 

Budcrew has great young talent with V. Martinez, Zambrano, Miggy Cabrera, Delmon and Figgins.

 

And I have the best OF ever assembled with Vlad, Bay, Sizemore, and Berkman (though he'll probably be my 1B), and a top 3 2B.

[Tim]

And I have the best OF ever assembled with Vlad, Bay, Sizemore, and Berkman (though he'll probably be my 1B), and a top 3 2B.

Hey, now...

 

Bonds, Abreu, Dunn & Gomes isn't any slouch of an OF! And I still haven't ruled out Sheff with the 3rd pick if he's still available. ;)

 

I also have a complete starting staff on hand with Oswalt, Bonderman, Cain, Liriano, Reyes + Verlander all expected to have starting roles for their teams in 2006. :!:

[Tim]

This sounds good too.

 

Analysis: Aybar went .303-9-54-101-49 in Double-A. He will likely begin 2006 in Triple-A as he tries to hold off slugging Brandon Wood as the franchise's shortstop of the future. Aybar would likely be the first prospect to get a call if something significant happens to veteran Orlando Cabrera. He has some measure of value in deeper AL-only leagues on Draft Day -- particularly since he promises some steals for Rotisserie owners.

 

I have 4 of the Angels top infield prospects. Unless Wood is switched to third, Aybar and Callaspo will have to be traded to another team to realize their true potential. If anyone is interested, these two prospects may be available.

I saw that you were cornering the market on Angels MIF prospects. Too bad Cabrera's in the way, huh? :D

[stitchface]

This sounds good too.

 

Analysis: Aybar went .303-9-54-101-49 in Double-A. He will likely begin 2006 in Triple-A as he tries to hold off slugging Brandon Wood as the franchise's shortstop of the future. Aybar would likely be the first prospect to get a call if something significant happens to veteran Orlando Cabrera. He has some measure of value in deeper AL-only leagues on Draft Day -- particularly since he promises some steals for Rotisserie owners.

 

I have 4 of the Angels top infield prospects. Unless Wood is switched to third, Aybar and Callaspo will have to be traded to another team to realize their true potential. If anyone is interested, these two prospects may be available.

I saw that you were cornering the market on Angels MIF prospects. Too bad Cabrera's in the way, huh? :D

 

 

Every team needs a neifi.

[NCCubFan]

NCCubbies, Tootielicious and SOS have cornered the market on great starting pitching.

Hopefully my emphasis on starting pitching will work better than the Cubs' has. :D

[Quakers]

This sounds good too.

 

Analysis: Aybar went .303-9-54-101-49 in Double-A. He will likely begin 2006 in Triple-A as he tries to hold off slugging Brandon Wood as the franchise's shortstop of the future. Aybar would likely be the first prospect to get a call if something significant happens to veteran Orlando Cabrera. He has some measure of value in deeper AL-only leagues on Draft Day -- particularly since he promises some steals for Rotisserie owners.

 

I have 4 of the Angels top infield prospects. Unless Wood is switched to third, Aybar and Callaspo will have to be traded to another team to realize their true potential. If anyone is interested, these two prospects may be available.

I saw that you were cornering the market on Angels MIF prospects. Too bad Cabrera's in the way, huh? :D

 

You take the best of what's available. At the time I needed to draft a prospect or two the Angel infielders were free.

[Tim]

BA likes my prospects. 8)

 

#6, 8, 10, 14, 21, 41, 54, 98

 

And Callis says BJ would have been #2 if he still qualified.