2010 Tigers Rookies: Alex Avila

by on November 30, 2010   2 Comments

This past week the Tigers signed all star catcher Victor Martinez to a lengthy four year contract. At first glance, this looked like bad news for Alex Avila, the tigers rookie catcher looking to take over the reins as the tigers number one catcher in his sophomore season. He had already started to take the job from Gerald Laird by the end of last season.

Avila doesn’t have to worry. The tigers signed Martinez for his bat, not his catching liabilities. V-Mart instead will see time in the tigers everyday line up at DH and will start at catcher only when Avila needs a rest. It gives the tigers a little flexibility with Avila, if he under performs then Martinez might see more time behind the plate.

Scouts Eye Top Collegiate Position Players for 2011

by on November 26, 2010   No Comments

Throughout the past couple weeks I have given baseball fans a view at some of the top high school and college pitching talent throughout the country. However, it would be a sin not to mention the top position players that scouts have been looking at. In fact, scouts have their eyes on several college superstars that all seemingly have the ability to be within the top ten picks of the first round. These college position players are who scouts have deemed the “cream of the crop” to keep an eye on as the college baseball season begins in a few short months.

Is the Derek Jeter-New York Yankees marriage coming to a close?

by on November 25, 2010   2 Comments

When an aging superstar who’s the face of one of the most successful and storied franchises in professional sports has a contract come to an end, and both parties would like to renew that pact, you’d think that the negotiations would be quick, painless, and anything but messy.

That has not been so with the New York Yankees and shortstop Derek Jeter, however.  Before this off season, the negotiations that were bound to take place between Jeter’s agent, Casey Close and GM Brian Cashman would’ve been predicted to be possibly the quietest and quickest of the entire year.  These negotiations, however, have been anything but.

The Yankees offered Jeter, who is coming off a 10-year, $189 million contract, a three-year deal worth $15 million per year.  Jeter, however, is believed to be looking for something along the lines of a four-year contract worth around $20 million per year.

That’s quite a difference between the two sides.

Detroit Tigers: 2010 Rookies

by on November 22, 2010   No Comments

Last season the Detroit Tigers dressed several rookies. Some were planned from day one while the rest were called up due to necessity. They could almost field a full line up of their rookies from last season. This article will look at what they did at the major league level, while later articles will look at what they did at the minor league level and the contributions we can expect from them at the majors next season.

Three rookies made the team out of camp but Scott Sizemore didn’t play well enough with the big club to remain the whole season and Alex Avalia platooned most of the year with veteran catcher Gerald Laird. Austin Jackson stuck the whole season as the primary centre fielder for the team. He led the team in many categories including games played, at bats, hits, triples and stolen bases.  He also finished second to teammate and American League MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera in runs scored and total bases.

MLB Draft 2011-The Youngest Arms of the Class

by on November 19, 2010   2 Comments

Last week I wanted to give everyone a taste of the top pitching prospects for the upcoming college season. However, one cannot forget the “young guns” coming out of high school in 2011. Next year’s draft is beaming with pitching potential from high school players from all across the nation. Here are just a few of the young men that baseball fans may be hearing called to the podium when next year’s draft rolls around.

News and Rumors: Upton, Beltre, Lee, Werth

by on November 18, 2010   4 Comments

Justin Upton trade rumors

This past spring, I wrote a short piece praising the Arizona Diamondbacks for signing young star outfielder Justin Upton to a 6-year, $51.25 million contract.  At the time, Upton was coming off a strong 2009 campaign, where he batted .300 while hitting 26 home runs, driving in 86 runs, and stealing 20 bases in just 138 games.

Upton regressed a bit during the 2010 season, but the 23-year old still had a fine season, batting .273 with 17 home runs, 69 runs batted in, 73 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases.  Upton’s numbers dropped in most major statistical categories (Upton’s walk rate rose, which is a good sign, however.), but they weren’t drastic enough to warrant any kind of panic.

When news first broke that the Diamondbacks were willing to discuss dealing Upton, it seemed like nothing but a rumor.  Perhaps it was just the Arizona front office, saying those things to let everyone know that no one is safe, warning players to not get too complacent.

But on Wednesday, Jayson Stark confirmed that Arizona GM Kevin Towers is indeed willing to discuss deals that would move the face of the franchise, saying that the Diamondbacks are “genuinely open” to moving Upton.

But why?  Why consider trading away a young outfielder who appears to have the kind of tools to build a team around?  It makes very little sense, having a young outfielder that is the caliber of Upton, who is signed to a very team-friendly contract.

The chances are slim that Upton is moved, as reports indicate that Arizona is looking for a very large haul of top of the line prospects who can help them both now and in the future, but there is still a chance that the younger of the Upton brothers gets moved.

Behold, Uggla the Brave

by on November 17, 2010   8 Comments

We Braves fans are all too familiar with Dan Uggla.  He is fondly referred to as “The Braves Killer” in Hotlanta, due to his modest .340 batting avg at The Ted.  Well, yesterday Braves GM Frank Wren traded diamond wizard Omar Infante and rookie Mike Dunn to Florida for Uggla.

Austin Jackson Should have Won ROTY

by on November 16, 2010   2 Comments

The Detroit Tigers traded away their fan favourite centre fielder Curtis Granderson last season. In return they received top Yankee prospect Austin Jackson. Scouts believed he was major league ready and the Tigers slated him in to be their 2010 opening day centre fielder. It was tough for Tigers fans to see Granderson go, but the promise of Austin Jackson was great and a solid rookie season would help ease the pain. Some analysts predicted Jackson to win the American League Rookie of the Year.

The analysts that picked Jackson to win should have been right.

Birmingham approves downtown ballbark

by on November 15, 2010   No Comments

I am a huge fan of downtown Minor League parks.  Portland, Montgomery, Memphis, Chattanooga have all done great jobs with their parks, and they seem to have all reaped some benefits of having them downtown.  There’s something incredibly picturesque about a downtown park, plus it brings tourists and money into the downtown area.

Top College Pitching Prospects to Watch in Spring 2011

by on November 13, 2010   No Comments

 

The 2011 Major League Amateur Baseball Draft is fast approaching. Pitching is always a top priority for the first round of the draft. Scouts will be analyzing some of the best college baseball talent throughout the country. But who should baseball fans be keeping their eye on this spring as the college season approaches? College baseball will be starting in just a few short months, and there are some recognizable names on the scouts’ radars.