Crooked Pitch

Hawaii Winter Baseball is well underway. Here are a few of the early hitting leaders.

1. Argenis Diaz | Honolulu Sharks (Boston Red Sox A) - In 16 games, [tag]Argenis Diaz[/tag] is hitting .407/.459/.500 with 3 doubles and 9 RBI.
2. Chad Tracy | West Oahu CaneFires (Texas Rangers A) - [tag]Chad Tracy[/tag], in 9 games, has hit 4 home runs and is hitting .286/.342/.686. In single A Clinton this year, Tracy hit 14 home runs and 84 RBI in 134 games.
3. Emmanuel Garcia | Waikiki BeachBoys (New York Mets High A) - [tag]Emmanuel Garcia[/tag] is showing some serious wheels as he’s swiped 8 bases in 14 games, so far. He’s also hitting .377/.468/.547 and has 5 doubles and 2 triples.

I haven’t focused on pitchers yet for my weekly updates on the Arizona Fall League. It’s easier to let them pitch a few times before noticing any trends. It still may be too early now, but here’s three pitchers who are doing well.

1. David Purcey | Scottsdale Scorpions (Toronto Blue Jays AA) - [tag]David Purcey[/tag] hasn’t seen time on the mound in over four months do to a cyst removel on his arm. But, so far in the AFL he’s pitched 8 innings with 13 strikeouts and 6 walks. And best yet, he’s pitched all eight innings, pain free.
2. Ricky Nolasco | Peoria Saguaros (Florida Marlins A /AA /AAA) - [tag]Ricky Nolasco[/tag] saw time in 2007 at the high A level, AA, AAA and the majors. His minor league K:BB numbers were great at 5.66 (34:6) in 32 innings, which included 10 starts. In the AFL, so far, Nolasco has pitched 8.2 innings with a 4.5 K:BB (9:2) ratio.
3. Dusty Hughes | Surprise Rafters (Kansas City AA) - [tag]Dusty Hughes[/tag] was 6-2 with a 3.08 ERA in AA Witchita in 2007. So far for Surprise he’s pitched 11 innings, is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA and has a 7:1 K:BB ratio.

Back for my weekly update in the Arizona Fall League, here’s three hitters who are doing well.

1. Kila Kaaihue | Surprise Rafters (Kansas City Royals A/AA) - [tag]Kila Kaaihue[/tag] hit 21 home runs between single A Wilmington and double A Wichita in 2007. However, his slash stats of .248/.359/.447 left some unimpressed. He’s off to a fast start in Arizona hitting .412/.583/.882 and shows 20+ home run power. He needs to keep up the hot hitting this fall and find ways in the spring to bring his weak ‘07 slash stats up.
2. Eugenio Velez | Scottsdale Scorpions (San Francisco Giants AA/AAA) - [tag]Eugenio Velez[/tag] is a speedy outfielder who already has 9 stolen bases in 10 games this fall in Arizona. Unfortunately, he’s also struck out 10 times and is hitting .238. Last year, Velez stole 54 bases while hitting .297 in the minor leagues. If he can bring his batting average up, the Giants may find a way to keep him in the majors in 2008.
3. Brett Gardner | Peoria Javelinas (New York Yankees AA/AAA) - [tag]Brett Gardner[/tag] is hitting .385 with 4 stolen bases in 9 games in the [tag]Arizona Fall League[/tag]. After hitting .281 with 39 stolen bases in the minors last year, Gardner is using a more aggressive approach at the plate this fall to succeed. It also doesn’t hurt to have Jacoby Ellsbury as insiration. Gardner and Ellsbury were both drafted in 2005, have played against each other in the minors and have been compared to each other for years.

At least 12 games have been played by each of the teams playing [tag]Hawaii Winter Baseball[/tag], here’s some of the early hitting stars.

• Mat Gamel | North Shore (MIL) - After a year in advanced A ball where Gamel hit .300/.378/.472 with 8 triples, 9 home runs and 14 stolen bases, he’s started strong in Hawaii with 3 doubles and 4 home runs in 44 at bats.
•  Jeramy Laster | North Shore (DET) - In single A, Laster hit 16 home runs and stole 16 bases. In hawaii, he’s hit 4 home runs in 40 at bats.
• Russell Mitchell | West Oahu (LAD) - Mitchell is leading Hawaii Winter Baseball in doubles with 6. Last season in advanced A ball he hit 32 doubles and 22 home runs.

The [tag]Arizona Fall League[/tag] has been running now for about a week and I wanted to look at a few of the hitting stars so far.

• John Mayberry Jr. | Surprise (TEX) - Mayberry has three home runs in 13 at bats and is showing the power that notched him 30 home runs between high A ball and AA last season. Home runs come naturally to this 2005 first round pick by the Texas Rangers, but he’ll need to work on plate discipline (126 strikeouts in 489 at bats with only 16 walks) before he’s handed an All-Star outfield spot for the Rangers.
• Evan Longoria | Scottsdale (TB) - Longoria also has 3 home runs in 18 at bats and Rays fans are frothing at the mouth awaiting his arrival at 3B next season. Longoria also has 8 strikouts so far, a number that’s going to have to slow down soon.
• Matt LaPorta  | Mesa (MIL) - LaPorta has a triple and 2 home runs in 17 at bats this fall. After belting 12 home runs in 30 games in Rookie ball and Single A, this first round draft pick (seventh overall) is still showing why Milwaukee fans should be excited about him.