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Seattle Mariners prospect Wladimir Balentien was called up from Triple-A Tacoma and got his first at-bat’s of the 2008 season last night in an 8-3 loss to Cleveland. Balentien had an impressive start going 2-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored, with one of those hits being a 7th inning three-run home run off of Cliff Lee.

Balentien was called up after 63 Triple-A at bats where he batted .254/.329/.619 with 6 home runs, 20 RBI, and a stolen base. The 23-year-old rookie has played three solid years in the minor leagues hitting more than 20 home runs in each of the three seasons. In 2007, Balentien made a huge stride in his plate discipline reducing his strikeouts from 140 in 2006 to 105 in 544 plate appearances in 2007.

Balentien is also a stolen base threat. He stole 15 bases in 19 attempts last season, and had 14 and 9 stolen bases in 2006 and 2005 respectively.

Since Balentien should be the every day right fielder for the Mariners, he’s a must add in AL-only leagues. He also should be added in deep mixed-leagues and keeper leagues. If you’re in a shallow mixed-league you may want to wait and see if Balentien’s strikeouts continue to drop. If not, his batting average may hurt you more than his home runs will help.

The Detroit Tigers will be without the use of Placido Polanco and Gary Sheffield today as they rest what ails them.

Placido Polanco has a stiff back. Gary Sheffield has a sore shoulder. Neither player will be available for the Tigers’ series finale today against the Blue Jays. How much more time they’ll miss is the question.

Manager Jim Leyland was emphatically certain about one thing, though, after the Tigers lost 5-3 to the Jays on Sunday. When asked if Sheffield would be able to play today, he replied “absolutely not.”

Lefty outfielder John Bowker saw Major League action for the first time in his career Saturday for the San Francisco Giants, and promptly went 2-3 with a home run. Then for an encore he wet 2-3 with another home run on Sunday. Not bad for the 24-year-old. His consecutive game home run streak ended at two when he went 2-4 with only a triple on Tuesday.

Bowker has come out of the gates red hot. Last season in 139 games at Double-A Connecticut, he batted .307 with 22 home runs and 37 doubles. This kid can hit, and his power keeps developing every year. With Randy Winn and Fred Lewis around, Bowker might not be around to stay, not just yet. But if his performances stay relatively close to this level, the Giants will have to find a spot for him.

Bowker is surely worth an add in NL-only fantasy baseball leagues, and he should be on your mixed-league radar as well.

To say that you must keep up with minor league prospects in order to win your fantasy baseball league is a bit of a stretch. You don’t HAVE to look to the youngsters in the minors, but boy can it sure help. Think about Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo from last season. Don’t you think the fantasy GM’s who were tracking them in the minors greatly benefited from signing them upon the call ups to the show?

So, we’re going to keep an eye on the minor leagues this season. Here we go…

1. Cameron Maybin | AA Carolina Mudcats | Florida Marlins - Maybin should have won the center field job for the Marlins out of Spring Training, but a little more minor league seasoning can’t hurt, right? Through 10 games in 2008 he’s averaging .303/.477/.545 with 2 home runs and 3 stolen bases and is just a quick flight away from Miami when Amezaga stops overproducing. Maybin should use the extra time in Double-A to work on hitting lefties, which shouldn’t be a problem for this right-handed youngster. MLB ETA: June 2008
2. Clayton Kershaw | AA Jacksonville Suns | Los Angeles Dodgers - What does a mid-90’s fastball with a plus curve get you these days? Well, if you’re Clayton Kershaw, it gets you to Double-A by the time you turn 20 and also turns you into the top Dodgers pitching prospect. He’s 0-2 so far this season in two starts, but his ERA is good at 3.38 and he’s got a very nice strikeout to walk ratio of 3.00 (12:4). The Dodgers rotation isn’t really rock solid at the #5 spot, and Kershaw could find himself pitching in Los Angeles earlier than expected if he keeps his K:BB ratio rolling along. MLB ETA: July 2008
3. Jo-Jo Reyes | AAA Richmond Braves | Atlanta Braves - This 23-year-old lefty was brought up to Atlanta a bit too early last season and suffered in 10 Major League starts with a 6.21 ERA and an abysmal 0.9 strikeout to walk ratio (27:30). If anyone could benefit from another year in the minors, it’s Jo-Jo. But, it doesn’t look like that is going to happen in 2008. Atlanta starting pitchers are dropping like flies and Reyes is really impressive so far in 2008 in his 2 starts.  He’s yet to record a victory, but he hasn’t allowed an earned run and has a phenomenal strikeout to walk ratio of 4.66 (14:3). MLB ETA: May 2008 (most likely late April… next week even)

I just found a chat transcript from yesterdays baseball chat at the Houston Chronicle with Jose de Jesus Ortiz. There were a few questions and answers that could be of some fantasy baseball assistance to you guys.

astrosmaniac: What Astros players in the minors have the best chance to emerge this season?
Jose_de_Jesus_Ortiz: When healthy, look for Felipe Paulino and Fernando Nieve to contribute. Bud Norris could be here if he stars.

astrosmaniac: What’s the problem with Hunter Pence’s slow start?
Jose_de_Jesus_Ortiz: A lot of folks are wondering the same thing. Let’s give him a few more weeks to see if he can turn it around before we declare this a sophomore slump.

G-532357578: Is there something wrong with Roy O, he seems….off.
Jose_de_Jesus_Ortiz: I’m always asked that question. If he’s healthy, it’s just a matter of correcting some mechanical flaws.

Chicago Cubs imported outfielder, Kosuke Fukudome has really enjoyed his first week playing Major League Baseball. So have fantasy baseball GM’s who own him. After seven games he’s batting .458/..581/.708 with a home run, six RBI, six runs scored and two stolen bases. All of this has been done with Fukudome hitting in the #5 spot on the lineup. Now, manager Lou Pinella wants to shake up the lineup and move Fukudome to the #2 spot.

When asked about a possible switch for Wednesday, he said, “We’re going to look at it. Remember, spring training we hit Fukudome second against the left. Well, we left it just the way it was [today with Fukudome fifth]. But we’ll take a look at it and see what it looks like [with him batting second]. We haven’t faced left-hand pitching yet. We’ll see. We can adjust if we need to.”

This isn’t supposed to be a permanent switch. It’s only going to be against left handed pitchers right now. However, if it does become a more regular event, expect Fukudome’s stolen bases and RBI to drop and his runs scored to increase.
photo credit: Somewhat Frank

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Bourn might only have one hit in six at-bats, but he’s proven his fantasy baseball worth ten-fold in only two games so far in 2008.

Bourn has an RBI, which he earned with a bases loaded walk in the Astros opening game, which constitutes the teams only run of the season. His one hit was a single, and he hasn’t struck out while walking three times. The speed and defensive skills of Michael Bourn are what’s showing everyone how special he is.

Bourn was outstanding for a second straight game. He not only got the first RBI of the season with that walk, but he stole another base — his third of the young season — and made a terrific back-to-the-infield catch in center.

Bourne leads the league with three stolen base.