Minors Pitching Staff Analysis, pt. 3
I wanted to do this roster last because it’s my understanding that it’s the last roster to be finalized, but decided to stick with the high-to-low order that I established with the first two parts.
As alluded in the previous installment, Potomac had several pitchers spend time in both the ‘pen and the starting rotation last season, but only one seems likely to me to get the call to Harrisburg. The rest will either repeat, spend time in purgatory extended Spring, or will be released. I’m not inclined to make calls on the latter, but I will say that these folks are relatively safe.
| STARTERS | SWINGMEN | RELIEVERS |
| Robbie Ray | Paul Applebee | Neil Holland |
| Matt Grace | Matt Swynenberg | Rob Wort |
| Brian Dupra | Ryan Demmin | Ben Graham |
| Alex Meyer | Trevor Holder | Dean Weaver |
| Kyle Winters | Mitchell Clegg | |
| Cameron Selik | ||
| Robert Gilliam | ||
| Erik Davis |
About the only column I’m confident in is the relievers. Not that they’ll stick, but if they make an Opening Day roster, that’s how they’ll be used. Generally speaking, I think the younger swingmen have a better chance of making it back into the rotation, but as you can see, there are a lot of SPs to contend with.
As teased yesterday, the two 2011 draft picks that I feel have a chance of making it to Woodbridge in April are Alex Meyer and Brian Dupra. That’s probably too aggressive for Meyer, but I felt like taking a gamble with one of the late signs and Meyer seemed the best choice. Dupra is simply another gut choice: I feel like one of the Auburn collegiate picks is going skip western Maryland.
Next up: The fourth and final installment in this exercise of looking at the pitching candidates for Hagerstown.
The accelerated camp roster is so comprehensive that it would almost be easier to list which players on each roster are not in the ACR
I only count 6 of the 17 listed as on the accelerated roster.
I know there are 47 players on the ACR list, must be sprinkled throughout the system.
Roughly it’s this (where they spent most of ’11):
’11 Draft Picks, DNP – Dixon Anderson, Alex Meyer, Kylin Turnbull, Brian Goodwin,
’11-’12 Acquisitions – Dan Cortes, Robert Gilliam, Michael Ballard, Beau Seabury, James Skelton
Surgery/Hurt in past 24 months – Jack McGeary, Taylor Jordan, Christian Garcia, Nathan Karns, Rick Hague
GCL – Estarlin Martinez, Blake Monar
Auburn – Brian Dupra, Wirkin “For The Weekend” Estevez, Taylor Hill, Greg Holt, Manny Rodriguez, Blake Monar, Adrian Nieto, Matt Skole, Caleb Ramsey
Hagerstown – Chris McKenzie, Matt Swynenberg, Matt Grace, Robbie Ray, David Freitas, Cole Leonida, Blake Kelso, Jason Martinson, Adrian Sanchez, Kevin Keyes, Randolph Oduber, Michael Taylor
Potomac – Paul Demny, Danny Rosenbaum, Sammy Solis, Justin Bloxom, Jeff Kobernus, Zach Walters, J.P. Ramirez
Harrisburg – Hassan Pena, Cory VanAllen, Tanner Roark
Thanks, this makes it so much easier.
Could you post a link to the ACR? Has this group reported already? Thanks!
Luke posted the link in the article. Click on the blue “these folks are relatively safe.”
You mean the link that my filter here at work screens out???!!! Will have to wait until this evening at home. Drats.
I do think you may be right on moving a couple of the 2011 draft picks up. I think if you don’t, you don’t give more deserving inviduals a place to start because too many good pitchers in Low A. I think Purke goes before Meyer though, but I’d probably go with both in Low A for less pressure on the higher picks.
I have a feeling Purke’s gonna be treated like Ray & Cole last year, but you’re right: I could have probably gone the safer route and projected two SS-A pitchers to skip Hagerstown, which last happened in ’09 (Atwood & Milone).
I know it’s too early for you to worry about it, but I’ve been taking a look at the Yankees (hey, I’ve been a Yankee fan since the early ’70’s; the Nationals are certainly nearer and no less dear, but I’m not giving up the pinstripes). As near as I can tell it, Brad Meyers is one of six pitchers competing for two spots in the Yankee bullpen. One of the six is a LHP (Cabral), and since the Yankees’ only LHRP is Boone Logan (who from my experience is only just this side of Slaten, but the Yankees seem to like him), Cabral has the inside track on one spot. So Meyers has a shot, but he’s going to have to earn it to stay out of Syracuse.
In other Nationals/Yankees news, the Yankees signed Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez yesterday. Unless someone gets hurt, all of the position player roster spots on the Yankees’ 25 man roster are now spoken for, which is bad news for Justin Maxwell. On the bright side for J-Max, Chavez is no more than even money to make it through ST in one piece. J-Max is out of options, so he’d have to clear waivers before going to AAA. I think that the Nationals could do worse than Maxwell for the 5th OF spot. OTOH no, Luke, I’m not interested in trading Meyers for Maxwell 🙂
A lot is going to depend on needs five weeks from now. Trades for Rule 5 guys are pretty rare; most get returned. Taking Meyers back and cutting loose one of the 4A starters is probably the most likely outcome. I was more or less trolling with the Maxwell comment.
In your opinion which 4A starter is most on the chopping block if Meyers returns or just in general?
Just in general. Could also have the effect of squeezing out someone in AA.