Recent Calls Up
Glen Perkins – SP – MIN
Perkins will be called up to start Saturday versus the Red Sox. I wouldn’t suggest picking him up and starting him this weekend, but I do suggest watching closely. Minnesota has a very unstable rotation at this point and a few good starts could get Perkins a spot in the Twins rotation. Perkins has not given up more than three earned runs in any start this year in AAA and on April 26th pitched a two-hit shutout while striking out seven. He has 27 strikeouts in 33 innings with a .220 batting average against. He is dominating right-handed batters to the tune of a .209 BA against as well. The only red flag I see is that he has 19 walks in 33 innings. Watch his start Saturday, and if he does well, react accordingly. Perkins doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors at this point.
Top Prospect
David Price – SP – TB
Price is now officially “back” from the disabled list and I’m sure everybody would like to see why he went #1 overall in this past year’s draft. While he has yet to play for Single-A, he did make his first “extended” Spring Training appearance yesterday. He looked good based on the numbers. He allowed two hits and had four strikeouts in three innings. He did allow a run but managed 47 pitches without incident which is a good sign for his first start back. Price will be on the fast track and should be a September call-up if all else goes well this year. Price is an electric lefty whom I had as the best pitcher and #2 overall talent in last year’s draft, behind Catcher Matt Wieters. If you’re in a dynasty league and Price was passed over due to the minor injury in Spring Training, I’d claim Price now. He will be helping the Rays to 1st in the AL East in 2009. Did I just type Rays and 1st in the same sentence? Weird……
Requests from Readers
Carlos Carrasco – SP – PHI
Carrasco is fairing much better in AA this year then he did 2007. He is Philadelphia’s top prospect, in my opinion, and has a very high ceiling. So far in AA ball, he has amassed 39 strikeouts in 36 innings with a .234 BA against. He dominates lefties, who are hitting below the Mendoza line against him, while right handed batters have done much better with a .273 BA against. However, take out his lone awful start of the year against New Britain, when he allowed 6 ER in 5 IP, and Carrasco has a 2.03 ERA with a 1.03 Whip. Carrasco just turned 21 this year this will be his first full year in the advanced minors. With that said, he is Philly’s best option to turn to when any one of Kendrick, Moyer, or Eaton prove they can’t cut if for a playoff caliber team. Carrasco has the ability to be a #2 fantasy SP this year due to his K rate.
Lance Broadway – SP – CHW
Broadway is a former top prospect who is starting to realize his vast potential. While he may not be the strikeout king some thought he’d be, he is turning into a solid starting option. Lance turns 25 this year and is due for his extended ‘cup o coffee’ if you will. He is next in line in Chicago and currently has a 1.10 ERA with a sub 1.00 Whip for AAA-Charlotte. He has a BA against of .197 and is killing right-handed batters who are hitting a lowly .172 against. He has improved his walk rate from 2007 where he had 78 walks in 155 innings and now has only 12 walks in 41 innings. Monitor Broadway and if any White Sox starters get hurt or struggle for an extended period, pick Lance up in a hurry.
Blast from the Past (2007 at least)
Jeremy Sowers – SP – CLE
Remember Jeremy? He was everybody’s favorite young lefty for Cleveland last year; a top prospect that didn’t cut it his first call-up to the show. Will he make it back? I think he will and it just may not be with Cleveland, who has a very strong rotation for 2008. Sowers is pitching great in AAA with a 2.21 ERA, 1.12 Whip, and .209 BA against. So far he has been equally tough against LH and RH batters and has struck out 24 in 36 innings. Sowers will never be an ace, but should be a nice #3 SP for a good team down the road. He will likely only be a back end of the rotation starter in fantasy baseball, as he doesn’t have the K rate to be a 1, 2 or 3. Keep an eye out for Sowers if Cleveland has any more injuries or if he gets traded mid-season. He should provide good ratio stats and if he makes it to a good team, with a good pitchers park, he should be quite productive. He’s a poor man’s Tom Glavine mixed with Jamie Moyer, just a whole lot younger.
By: Pete Billingsley
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