Penn League Report

Notes from Jammers-Muckdogs

Batavia dropped Jamestown 8-1 in rather easy fashion Friday night. They jumped all over Jamestown starter Ramon Del Orbe (with all of one hit) to grab a 4-0 lead before Jamestown even got to hit. It was basically over right there.

Ramon Del Orbe

The Jamestown starter had been pretty solid this year in two starts, allowing 10 hits and just two walks, but the 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic simply didn’t have it tonight.

Routinely falling behind in the first, Del Orbe walked four of the first six hitters he faced with a David Washington lined single in between. Four runs scored in the frame despite Del Orbe only allowing the one single, but first pith balls to six of the eight hitters he saw will come back to haunt you every time.

In the second, he grooved a fastball to leadoff man Steve Ramos, which was crushed for a homer just to the left of the batter’s eye. If you’ve never been to Diethrick Park, that’s a shot. He threw just the two innings, allowing five earned.

Overall, I saw Del Orbe Sunday when he went six innings and scattered seven hits. His command was much better then to say the least, but Batavia hit him pretty hard again tonight. Even the outs were loud.

Jheyson Manzueta

It’s boom or bust with Manzueta. He has a pretty good fastball and compliments it with what looks like a slider. He threw three innings tonight, struck out four (including striking out the side in the fourth) and allowed four hits. Like Del Orbe, he grooved a fastball which was a hit a country mile by Jesus Montero to left-center. 

But, three innings and just one earned (off a homerun nonetheless) is nothing to complain about.

Here’s what I’m talking about, though. He’s allowed 11 hits (and some loud ones) in 9.2 innings pitched, but has a — get ready for it — 14:1 strikeout to walk ratio. The guy is racking up the K's, but doesn't avoid contact nearly as much as you'd think by looking at those numbers.

 Collin Cargill

First look at the righthander who is on a rehab stint after getting hurt June 3 for Jupiter. Cargill allowed lined shot singles against his first two batters but impressed me from there on out.

He got Garrett Wittels to ground one up the middle, which Anthony Gomez made a nice scoop and flip to Rony Peralta to start a double play.

He then sat down Batavia 1-2-3 in the 7th. The sidearmer threw pretty hard. With the year he’s having in Jupiter, he won’t be here long.

Slight complaint: He didn't move on a pitch that got away from catcher Brian Dice. The runner scored from third, beating a diving Dice.

Hitters of note

Juancito Martinez continues to have a solid year. The centerfielder walked twice and stole his fifth bag of the year. He’s 11-for-37 on the year with six walks. Really has been the lone bright spot of the offense.

Night off yesterday did Austin Nola well. The rookie out of LSU went 2-for-4 tonight to bump his average to .179. He's got a nice swing and a pretty good eye at the plate so you have to assume the hits will start coming.

Batavia Notes

Loved Steve Ramos, the Muckdogs leadoff hitter. He came into the game hitting .314 and had another nice day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a walk. He came around to score all three times and lined a bullet of a homerun.

Best part of his night, though, was with two outs in the sixth when Ramos sprinted home on a passed ball to score Batavia’s seventh run.

Cleanup hitter David Washington is a bit of a free swinger, but he ripped a single early and crushed a double in the ninth to score a run as well.

But it was Breyvic Valera who had the best night, albeit quietly. The second baseman went 4-for-5 with four singles. He also showed nice range at second when he went to his right to backhand a well-hit ball off the bat of Rony Peralta. He set himself easily and had the throw beat Peralta by a few steps.

Thoughts on Blue Jays Calling up Henderson Alvarez

In case you missed the news from yesterday and the day before, the Blue Jays in need of a starter for start later this week chose to select the contract of Henderson Alvarez from New Hampshire. Other candidates included newly acquired P.J. Walters, Chad Gaudin or even Kyle Drabek. The needed spot start would potentially take place this Friday against the Angels, and neither of the aforementioned trio has conflicting starts in Las Vegas.

In any case, the Jays are taking a risk by calling up Henderson Alvarez, a 21-year old with nasty stuff who's been progressing quite a good deal this year. I think it's fair to say that I've seen Alvarez more than most people this year, and although I've seen a shaky Henderson Alvarez I've seen the dominant one shine more than not. The first thing that popped in to my head after I heard the news was "he's probably going to be optioned back to NH following his start regardless of how he performs." Since the Jays do only need a starter for one start, that could very well be the case. Here's where it gets tricky.

If Henderson Alvarez doesn't get his contract selected anytime during the 2011 season, he has to be protected this upcoming off-season on the 40-man. So say the Jays made some sort of move in the off-season or Kyle Drabek has a really good spring training, the Jays potential 2012 rotation would be filled thus having Henderson Alvarez most likely start the season in New Hampshire or Las Vegas. So what that means is if he were to be called up for this Friday's start and get optioned back to the minors shortly thereafter and that would waste one option. And when the Jays call up all of the players on the 40-man for Spring Training and he gets optioned afer, that would be option number two. Is that really worthwhile to waste two options of one of your best pitching prospects within the space of eight months?

Another thought is how he'll likely perform. After seeing him pitch several times throughout the season, I don't question his effectiveness long term, but I do wonder how hitters will fare against his fastball. He typically throws in the mid-to-upper 90's, regularly touching 97 and 98 on the gun while mixing in a devisating change and occasionally a slider. While all are tough pitches to hit, neither are swing-and-miss pitches. He comands them well but doesn't get batters to whiff, which in my opinion is only a problem if he fails to consistently hit the target.

Many have said that they see Alvarez as a relief pitcher long term, which I'm not against. Although I think at least for now he could be a viable starter right now even while still working on a few kinks. He has tremendous poise and has definite want, something not all pitches posses. In addition, he works fast and challenges hitters with basically whatever Travis d'Arnaud or Yan Gomes call. It's not like he works around hitters throwing fastball after fastball -- he uses the whole kitchen sink.

So the Jays are obviously making a risky decision calling him up and then optioning him down, but I guess they feel as though he's not going to need the third option eventually or just he'll break camp with the team after Spring Training in 2012. There's no doubting the fact that Henderson Alvarez can pitch, and he's easily one of the best pitching prospects in the system, thus I think he'll make an immediate impact. Maybe two months ago I wouldn't have said the same thing but I've seen him enough to have confidence in him going forward. Sure, his fastball is extremely straight and his delivery is questionable but everyone has their flaws. It just so happens that Alvarez's qualities easily over-match his problems, and it's not particularly close.

Penn League Prospect Update: Jake Lowery, Alex Dickerson, Miguel Pena

Time for an update on a few guys worth keeping an eye on. In addition, I'll provide a usual scouting report. I'm going to try and get one of these out every couple of days going forward.

Jake Lowery -- Mahoning Valley Scrappers -- Indians: When Jake Lowery was selected in the 4th round this year by the Cleveland Indians, no one questioned his bat. Sure, he had and still has lots of work to be done as he's somewhat raw behind the plate and the bat isn't completely developed, but he's definitely opened up some eyes since the season started. Mainly with the stick.

I don't want to go too much in to detail because I'll want to save a full scouting report for a later post, but for stocky catcher who hits left-handed in his first season of pro ball, Jake Lowery is impressing the hell out of those who have seen him. Jake has some left-handed power and he's already slugged five home runs. To put that in to context, he's just fourth in the league in that very category, which is another point that proves how rare home runs are hit in this league. He's hit .262/.340 and has even shoved Alex Lavisky out of the starting role. Even though that's minor, it shows the Indians believe more in Lowery as a catcher, despite Lavisky's slow start to the season.

Alex Dickerson -- State College Spikes -- Pirates: The reason I bring Dickerson up is because of his special day today, which included his first career homer as well as a 2-4 showing at the plate. He's already gotten off to a hot start, hitting .300/.344 in 30 at bats for State College and moreso, he's playing first base. Interestingly enough, he's playing first base for the first time in six years, but he's definitely not an outfielder and it's surprising that Indiana didn't play him elsewhere during his time there.

Dickerson's best tool is his power, which might be his only tool but it's at least already developed. He's got a ways to go before the Pirates even think about preparing him for the Majors, but I expect them to refine his swing as he heads through the system. Granted, he isn't a bad hitter by any means but I fear his swing is too uppercut. Even so, he's someone to keep an eye on for the Spikes as he's not only talented, but advanced as well.

Miguel Pena -- Lowell Spinners -- Red Sox: Pena has an exciting arm. He throws at an over-the-top delivery with a free and easy motion. He's projectable both body as well as stuff wise. He features a fastball that sometimes sits in the low-90's, a slider, curve and even a change-up. He's got the whole arsenal, the question is will he remain with all four pitches going forward.

He has solid command of his fastball and slider but could use some refinery on with his change-up. This season, he boasts a 15/3 K/BB ratio in 15.1 innings, which is very solid. Continuing, he's put up a 2.35 ERA in two starts, but six appearances. He needs to grow in to his body, but has tons of time and is expected to continue to progress through the Sox system.

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The Next Few Weeks & The New York Penn League

As most of you may know, Minor League Spring Training is well underway. With players and coaches spending the last few weeks in preparation for the 2011 Season, they've also been working hard preparing for Minor League games. It's a tricky process, in fact. To be exact, there were 140 or so players in Minor League Camp when it started. Obviously, as the the Major League club re-assigns players to Minor League Camp, Camp grows. Thus creating an influx of top talent and better players for you to watch when you see them play.

But it's much more than that. From here on out (Opening Day for most Minor League teams with the exception of the NYPL, obviously starts usually the first week in April), organizations will be taking a final look at their minor league talent by assigning them to affiliated, figuring out what kind of progression they're expected to make in the coming and throughout the season, and unfortunately, many players will be released as well.

Putting in to perspective the fact that many of last years Gulf Coast Leaguers, Dominican Summer Leaguers, and Arizona Leaguers are probably set for extended Spring Training (sans players like Zack Cox and other 2010 draft talent), they're at this point, hoping for that or a release. As anything can happen within the next few weeks, you'll likely see that batch of players in Short-Season ball come June. That's obviously just an example, but also just slim amount of players who are in camp though, as many others are fighting for  a better team than they were last.

Welcome to the Penn League Report!

Welcome to the Penn League Report. This blog will feature all of the New York Penn League news that you wouldn't hear about otherwise. Until NYPL Opening Day on June 21st, I will be preparing everybody for the start of the season. After it starts, I will be updating the blog daily with news and profiles among interviews and a weekly podcast. I hope you enjoy the Penn League Report!