Much apologies, Spikes Up fans (all three of you), for our absence last week. Originally we planned to file early before leaving on a much-needed vacation, but it would not have been timely enough to bring you the latest news. But fear not. We’re back from our travels in the north land and ready to get down to business as we enter the season’s final two weeks.
Have Nats Found a Diamond in the Rough?
It’s been a lost year for the Washington Nationals. Sitting dead last in the NL East with a 66-85 mark, the Nats have long since given up any aspirations of mediocrity this season. So it’s time to focus on the future. Why not give a young pitcher a look?
Beltran Perez, a September call-up who had made five strong relief appearances, was given a look Tuesday night as a starter for the first time in his major league career. And the righty, who turns 25 next month, made manager Frank Robinson look like a genius (not an easy task) by tossing six innings of one-hit shutout ball at the Braves.
After surrendering a two-hit single in the first, Perez retired the final 16 batters he faced, striking out three without a walk. It was the best showing by a Nat starter in two weeks. The performance earned him a rotation spot for the rest of the season and puts him on the radar for a spot in 2007. It also made Perez an interesting pickup in deeper NL-only leagues.
Perez is just the latest rookie hurler to come out of nowhere to sparkle in a season littered with tremendous freshman pitcher performances. Signed out of the Dominican Republic by Arizona in 1999, Perez was dealt to the Dodgers in the Dioneer Navarro deal. The Nats signed him to a minor league deal in February.
This is a pitcher who before this season had never pitched above Double-A. After spending 2005 as a middle reliever, Perez was being used as a swingman at Double-A Harrisburg with good results. He was 8-6, 3.11 in 31 games (16 starts) and 121 2/3 innings with 40 walks and 107 strikeouts. But his play down the stretch – 2.40 since the break and 1.95 in August – prompted the Nats to add him to the roster and give him a shot this month.
Sure, it’s just one start, but those who like to beat the bushes for diamonds in the rough need to have a look at Perez.
Giles the Homebody
One of the biggest reasons the Braves’ ridiculous run of playoff appearances will end this year is the team’s struggles at home. Atlanta is just 36-39 at home, and if you can’t win in your house, getting to the postseason is a pretty darn tough task.
But don’t tell Marcus Giles that the Braves are a better team on the road. He’ll hear nothing of it.
Giles is a .290 hitter with 20 doubles, 40 RBI and a .350 OBP at Turner Field, similar to the type of numbers you’d expect him to put up. The problem is, Giles isn’t coming close to duplicating that production on the road. With a .234 BA, 11 doubles, 18 RBI and a .336 OBP, he’s just a shell of himself away from that sweet, sweet home cooking.
With the Braves at home all week to wrap up the season, look for Giles to finish strong.
Red Sox Pitching Machine?
The Red Sox haven’t been known for their farm system over the years, but the last few years have seen the club develop several good players, particularly pitchers. Think Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester, Anibal Sanchez, Jorge De La Rosa, Wil Ledezma, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Abe Alvarez, Phil Dumatrait. All current or former Bosox prospects.
Now the club has another shiny young prospect in 22-year-old righty, Clay Buchholz. Ranked as the 10th best prospect in the system by Baseball America heading into the season, he’s done nothing but improve his stock with a wonderful season.
Splitting the year between the Low-A South Atlantic League and High-A Carolina League, Buchholz had a combined 11-4 record with a 2.42 ERA in 24 games and 119 IP. He struck out 140 batters. Best of all, his results improved after an August 15 call up to High-A Wilmington, and he was superb in the Carolina League playoffs.
Buchholz has three good pitches – a fastball, hard curve and change-up – and he throws them all for strikes. While he may have difficulties at Double-A if he continues to leave balls up in the zone, Buchholz has done nothing this season to suggest he’s not a legitimate prospect.
Boston’s first round pick in 2005, Buchholz is a name for keeper league owners – especially those who play in leagues with larger minor league systems – to track. The Red Sox have shown a willingness to promote their pitching prospects quickly over the last couple of years, so definitely keep an eye on this kid.
Whatever Happened To…
Remember Craig Anderson? He was a top pitching prospect in the Mariners organization after being named a Texas League All-Star for recording a 3.20 ERA in 2002. He won 13 games the following season at Triple-A, but struggled in 2004 and was released at the end of the season.
The lefty, signed by Seattle out of Australia in 1999, was forced to pitch in Independent ball in 2005, but performed well enough (1.15 WHIP) to catch the eye of the Orioles who signed him (an appearance with the Australian team at the World Baseball Classic didn’t hurt). Anderson pitched at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A this season, going a combined 8-5, 4.31 for 26 starts and 148 1/3 innings, giving up 164 hits (15 homers) and striking out 96 against just 26 walks.
He struggled during his time at Triple-A (0-4, 5.59 in nine starts, 66 hits in 46 2/3 innings), so he’s probably still a longshot to help a major league team. But he won’t be 26 until next month and is a southpaw with good control, so he may still make the major leagues one day.
Blog Update: If you haven’t yet visited www.RotoRob.com, our new fantasy sports analysis blog, you’ve been missing out on all the fun. In addition to our standard baseball and basketball material, our expert hockey and football writers are posting regular content. Fantasy football coverage has really picked up now that the season’s underway with weekly fantasy previews of every game, and we’ve recently posted a mini hockey draft kit. Recent baseball posts include observations from the Red Sox-Jays battle for second place; how Ken Griffey Jr.'s latest "minor" injury has cost him another big chunk of the season; and a look at the ridiculous notion that Paul Konerko is having a down season.
If you like my columns at CREATiVESPORTS.com, you’ll get more of the same, except with more of an edge and often in more bite-size form. Check it out! www.rotorob.com.
NEXT: We’re scheduled to return on October 2, assuming I don’t lose my Russian Roulette tournament next week.
Comments? Questions? Criticisms or witticisms? You can reach me at rob@creativesports.com if you’d like further information or have a question you’d like me to answer in an upcoming column. Have a suggestion for a column or want to hear analysis about a particular player? Feel free to write. I might even answer!
Rob Blackstien is a freelance writer and the principal of Pen-Ultimate (www.pen-ultimate.ca), a Toronto-based writing and editorial services firm. On weekdays, he writes the Daily Dose and posts fantasy baseball news on Rotoworld, and his baseball work has also appeared on BaseballNotebook.com and the Fantasy Baseball Guide magazine. Rob has also written baseball and basketball columns for usatoday.com and foxsports.com.