Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/31

Arizona Fall League
Suprise Saguaros 8, Scottsdale Scorpions 5
Tim Beckham was 1 for 3 with a 2 run homer.
Tyler Bortnick was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI.
Adam Liberatore pitched 2 no-hit innings with 4 strikeouts and a walk.
Mikie Mahtook was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Prospect A to Z Day 8: James Harris

This is a new feature on the site, mainly because we're still in the doldrums of prospect season and we want to get discussion going. We'll be going through the alphabet in October and November to pick one prospect a day before our top prospect coverage starts in December. There's no real rhyme or reason to who we'll talk about, and we're open to suggestions for some letters.


Harris was the Rays final supplemental draft pick, a raw high school outfielder from California. Here's the BaseballAmerica report on him from the draft:

Outfielder James Harris looks great in a uniform with his 6-foot-1, 175-pound athletic frame. He's raw and may need two years in Rookie ball, but he has huge upside. Harris is an explosive athlete. He is a well above-average runner, with a 37-inch vertical leap, and can fly on the bases and in center field. He has below-average arm strength, but enough for center field. A righthanded hitter, Harris is patient at the plate, trying to get on base any way possible, and some scouts wonder if he's actually too passive. He also shows some raw power. Harris has not committed to a college, so he should be signable.

Harris was also one of the youngest players in the draft, or at least the top few rounds. It's something we mentioned on the podcast relating to Rany Jazayerli's study at Baseball Prospectus, which you should check out.

Harris hit .165/.253/.203 for the GCL Rays in 45 games and should play with Princeton in 2012.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/30

Venezuelan Winter League
Leones del Caracas 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 0
Jose Lobaton was 0 for 4.
Daniel Mayora was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Aguilas del Zulia 4, Bravos de Margarita 1
Ryan Reid allowed 1 run on 2 hits in an inning pitched.




Dominican Winter League
Gigantes del Cibao 9, Aguilas Cibaenas 3
Elliot Johnson was 1 for 5 with a double.

Future Considerations Podcast (Episode 6: World Series Wrap, General Manager Roulette, First and Second Base Prospects)

This week, Scott and Kevin give their thoughts on the craziness that was the World Series, discuss Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon interviewing for the Angels job, and continue their positional rundown with first and second base prospects (one note: we totally forgot Russ Canzler when talking about first base prospects).

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Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/29

Arizona Fall League
Suprise Saguaros 11, Phoenix Desert Dogs 0
Kirby Yates pitched a no-hit inning with 2 strikeouts and a walk.




Venezuelan Winter League
Navegantes del Magallanes 6, Leones del Caracas 5 (12 innings)
Jose Lobaton was 0 for 6.
Daniel Mayora was 1 for 5 with a walk.




Dominican Winter League
Tigres del Licey 4, Gigantes del Cibao 1
Nevin Ashley was 0 for 3.
Elliot Johnson was 1 for 4.

Leones del Escogido 7, Estrellas de Oriente 4
Alex Colome pitched 1 1/3 no hit innings with 3 strikeouts and a walk to earn the save.
Cole Figueroa was 1 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/28

Arizona Fall League
Phoenix Desert Dogs 11, Surprise Saguaros 5
Tim Beckham was 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Mikie Mahtook was 2 for 4 with a triple.




Venezuelan Winter League
Tiburones La Guaira 3, Leones del Caracas 0
Jose Lobaton was 0 for 3.
Daniel Mayora was 1 for 3.

Tigres de Aragua 3, Navegantes del Magallanes 1
Albert Suarez allowed a run on a hit and 3 walks with 1 strikeout in 1 2/3 innings pitched, charged with the loss in his VWL debut.

Bravos de Margarita 5, Aguilas Zulia 4
Ryan Reid pitched a no-hit 1/3 inning.




Dominican Winter League
Aguilas Cibaenas 7, Gigantes del Cibao 5
Nevin Ashley was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Elliot Johnson was 1 for 3 with a 3 run homer.
Omar Luna was 0 for 3.

Tigres del Licey 4, Leones del Escogido 3
Cole Figueroa was 0 for 2.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/27

Arizona Fall League
Surprise Saguaros 5, Salt River Rafters 3
Tyler Bortnick was 1 for 4.
Shane Dyer allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.




Venezuelan Winter League
Leones del Caracas 6, Aguilas del Zulia 3
Jose Lobaton was 1 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI's.
Daniel Mayora was 0 for 4.

Prospect A to Z Day 7: Geisel De La Cruz

This is a new feature on the site, mainly because we're still in the doldrums of prospect season and we want to get discussion going. We'll be going through the alphabet in October and November to pick one prospect a day before our top prospect coverage starts in December. There's no real rhyme or reason to who we'll talk about, and we're open to suggestions for some letters.

A quick one today on a potential sleeper from the Dominican Summer League. Left-hander Geisel De La Cruz is listed at 6-0/139, which means he projects to be Juan Cruz or Edwar Ramirez-type skinny. He struck out more than a hitter per inning in 2011 -- 59 in 58 innings -- and walked just 16 while holding opponents to a .216 batting average. He turns 19 in April and should be in the United States for 2012.

Looking over the DSL and VSL stat pages, is there anyone (besides the obvious, Oscar Hernandez) you think can make a splash with Princeton or the GCL Rays next year?

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/26

Arizona Fall League
Salt River Rafters 6, Suprise Saguaros 2
Tim Beckham was 0 for 4.
Tyler Bortnick was 1 for 3.
Marquis Fleming allowed a run on 4 hits with 2 strikeouts and a walk in 2 innings pitched.
Mikie Mahtook was 2 for 3 with a home run.
Kirby Yates pitched a no-hit inning of relief with a strikeout.




Venezuelan Winter League
Aguilas de Zulia 5, Leones del Caracas 2
Jose Lobaton was 2 for 4.
Daniel Mayora was 1 for 3.




Dominican Winter League
Licey 5, Gigantes del Cibao 2
Nevin Ashley was 0 for 4.
Elliot Johnson was 0 for 4 with a walk.

Estrellas 5, Leones del Escogido 2
Cole Figueroa was 0 for 2.

Prospect A to Z Day 6: Cole Figueroa

This is a new feature on the site, mainly because we're still in the doldrums of prospect season and we want to get discussion going. We'll be going through the alphabet in October and November to pick one prospect a day before our top prospect coverage starts in December. There's no real rhyme or reason to who we'll talk about, and we're open to suggestions for some letters.

The upper-level middle infielders are sure to be a topic of conversation heading into next year. Tim Beckham and Hak-Ju Lee, of course, and Tyler Bortnick too. But what of the fourth, likely Durham starting 2B Cole Figueroa?

The only position player acquired from San Diego in the Jason Bartlett deal, Figueroa was coming off a .303/.408/.392 year in the hitter-friendly Cal League. Promoted to double-A for 2011, he hit .283/.375/.398 for the Biscuits. After playing primary second base in 2010, he played 58 games there in 2011 along with 36 at third base and twelve at shortstop.

His walk rate dropped from 2010, but only down to a still-impressive 11.3%. His strikeout rate also fell with just 41 in 488 plate appearances (8.4%). His IsoP was .115, a .026 improvement from the Cal League and his highest since 2008 in his pro debut.

Range is a more important measure of defense, but Figueroa appears extremely sure-handed with a .983 career fielding percentage (though baseball-reference notes minor league fielding numbers are incomplete). For reference, Tyler Bortnick's career mark is .969. Figueroa doesn't steal bases like Bortnick, but he did swipe 26 in 2010 (just nine in 2011).

Given the range of positions he played, it seems the Rays are prepping him as a potential utility infielder. What do you think of his potential?

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/25

Arizona Fall League
Adam Liberatore allowed a run on 2 hits and a walk in 2 innings pitched.





Venezuelan Winter League
Daniel Mayora was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a home run, 3 RBI's and a run scored.






Dominican Winter League
Nevin Ashley was 1 for 3 with a double, walk and 2 runs scored.
Alex Colome allowed a run on 1 hit with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks, charged with the loss.
Elliot Johnson was 2 for 5 with a triple.

Prospect A to Z Day 5: Enny Romero

[Note: Bumping this back up. Cole Figueroa coming on Wednesday -Kevin]

This is a new feature on the site, mainly because we're still in the doldrums of prospect season and we want to get discussion going. We'll be going through the alphabet in October and November to pick one prospect a day before our top prospect coverage starts in December. There's no real rhyme or reason to who we'll talk about, and we're open to suggestions for some letters.

Together with this years' top pick Taylor Guerrieri, Enny Romero has the highest ceiling of any Rays pitcher in the lower minors. His FB/CB combo is very intriguing and his frame is very projectable. He induces an above average amount of groundballs and also shows promise with his change-up. The only thing holding him back is the very inconsistent control of his pitches. He tried to hit the corners, which when working made the A-ball hitters look foolish. If it didn't work, however, the result wasn't pretty. Hence, excellent starts were followed by catastrophic ones. His control, therefore, determines the fate of Enny Romero - the pitcher.

Despite ongoing inconsistency throughout his first full pro-season, his numbers improved during the season. The following table looks at 6 data points taken during the '11 season.

(Click at the image for a larger view)

The table shows that his results (ERA and FIP) improved from a 6.52/6.04 ERA/FIP at the 6th of May to 4.26/3.66 at the end of the season. Regarding the complementary statistics he improved slightly in BB/9 and H/9 during the season while holding his K/9 at a higher level. The stats tell me that - after trying to avoid his control problems by pitching a bit more for contact in May/June - he got a bit more comfortable with his pitches as the season progressed. Despite still, due to control problems, highly varying starting performances in the summer months, he managed to improve his results by trusting his abilities. I look forward to seeing more of that while having him working at his control for all of his career. If he improves in this department the same way Matt Moore did in '10 and '11, Enny Romero has a future as an above average major league starting pitcher.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/24

Arizona Fall League
Tim Beckham was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI's and a walk.
Tyler Bortnick was 0 for 4.
Mikie Mahtook was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/23

Venezuelan Winter League
Daniel Mayora was 0 for 4.
Ray Olmedo was 0 for 1.





Dominican Winter League
Nevin Ashley came into game as a defensive sub in the seventh.
Alex Colome pitched a shut-out inning with 2 hits and a strikeout.
Elliot Johnson was 1 for 4.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/22

Arizona Fall League
Tim Beckham was 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
Mikie Mahtook was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Kirby Yates pitched 1/3 of an inning and struck out his only batter faced.




Venezuelan Winter League
Daniel Mayora was 0 for 4.
Ray Olmedo was 0 for 1.





Dominican Winter League
MLB did not have results posted from Saturday at the time at the time this was posted.

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/21

Arizona Fall League
Tyler Bortnick was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Shane Dyer allowed 5 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeous in 5 innings pitched.
Adam Liberatore allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with a strikeout and a a walk in 1 2/3 innings to earn his second hold of the fall.




Venezuelan Winter League
Rob Delaney pitched 2 scoreless innings with a hit, 2 strikeouts and a walk.
Daniel Mayora was 0 for 2 with 2 walks.





Dominican Winter League
Nevin Ashley was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI's.
Alex Colome pitched a no-hit inning with a strikeout to earn a hold.
Cole Figueroa was 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Elliot Johnson was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Prospect A to Z Day 4: Frank De Los Santos

This is a new feature on the site, mainly because we're still in the doldrums of prospect season and we want to get discussion going. We'll be going through the alphabet in October and November to pick one prospect a day before our top prospect coverage starts in December. There's no real rhyme or reason to who we'll talk about, and we're open to suggestions for some letters.

Frank De Los Santos has methodically risen through the system a level each year, from Princeton in 2007 up to Montgomery this year. 2011 was the first season he worked primarily as a reliever, but two things he's always been able to do is have success against lefties and get groundballs.

This season with the Biscuits, he held lefties to a .228 while posting a 25-to-3 strikeout-to-walk rate (compared to 23-20 vs. RHB) and a 2.54 GO/AO against them. Last season with Charlotte, it was a 35-8 K-BB rate and a 2.09 FIP vs. lefties. For his career, his 2011 GO/AO of 1.98 was his lowest mark.

He especially seemed to thrive as a reliever. In 19.1 innings as a starter, he allowed 12 earned runs with a 13-10 K-BB rate. In 59.1 innings as a reliever, he allowed 19 earned runs with a 35-13 K-BB. He held opponents to a .236 average out of the bullpen compared to .385 as a starter.

As a small (listed at 6-0/165) lefty who's vulnerable to right-handers, his path to the majors is a lefty specialist. It's a role the Rays may have an opening for in 2012 or 2013, as J.P. Howell is a non-tender candidate and Cesar Ramos was good but not great against lefties. De Los Santos figures to start next season with Durham's bullpen, but if Ramos is ineffective or suffers an injury, the Rays may come calling for De Los Santos if they want a lefty specialist.

Two other candidates for that role (not in 2012, most likely) are C.J. Riefenhauser and Adam Liberatore. Riefenhauser spent the year as a starter, and likely will continue that role in 2012, but he was death on lefties. I can't find his splits with Bowling Green but in 37 innings with Charlotte, lefties hit .147 against him, which is close to the BG number. Liberatore is pitching in the Arizona Fall League, but he too had success against LHBs during the season with Charlotte.

A - Chris Archer
B - Blake Snell
C - Robinson Chirinos
D - Frank De Los Santos

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/20

Arizona Fall League
Tyler Bortnick was 0 for 4.
Marquis Fleming pitched 2 no-hit innings with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Mikie Mahtook was 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.



Venezuelan Winter League
Daniel Mayora was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Ray Olmedo was 1 for 5 with an RBI.

Prospect A to Z Day 3: Robinson Chirinos

My apologies for a short post today. I thought the letter C was a good time to talk about catchers, specifically, the Rays 2012 situation. Kelly Shoppach, John Jaso, Robinson Chirinos, and Jose Lobaton all figure to be in the mix, with Nevin Ashley on the 40-man roster as well. Who do you want to see in 2012?

There was a very comprehensive piece on this last week at DRaysBay.

A - Chris Archer
B - Blake Snell
C - Robinson Chirinos

Longer posts coming tomorrow (from me) and Monday (from BurGi).

Winter League Scores and Highlights from 10/19

Arizona Fall League
Kirby Yates pitched a no-hit inning with a strikeout.





Venezuelan Winter League
Daniel Mayora was 2 for 4 with a grand slam.






Dominican Winter League
Mayo Acosta came into the game as defensive sub in the bottom of the ninth.
Elliot Johnson was 1 for 5 with a double and 2 runs scored.