IBC

04/02/08

Annoyed with the slow-assed-lower-than-a-soccer-score games and cumbersome "strategery" of the senior circuit, the Fish have decided to bring the AL to the NL by stocking up on 2-way players. A pair of the Marlins' best young arms could have opposing hurlers thinking the league added the DH between innings and nobody told them.

A few paragraphs from MiLB.com's Kevin Czerwinski's article about Joe Savery and Micah Owings mashing...

Perspective: Phils savor Savery's bat
Lefty's ability to hit almost as intriguing as his pitching talent

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The comparisons between Joe Savery and Micah Owings have already begun in some quarters. Whether it's premature to start linking Savery, Philadelphia's top pick in last season's draft, with Arizona's budding young ace may not be fair just yet but it's easy to see why some would make that correlation.

Owings displayed a big-time bat to go along with a dominating right arm at Tulane and he's done nothing to change anyone's opinion of him in the nearly three years since the Diamondbacks made him a third-round pick. He won eight games for Arizona last season, his first in the Major Leagues. But just as interesting was the fact that he hit .333 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 60 at-bats.

Savery, who'll start the season opener for Clearwater against Dunedin in the Class A Advanced Florida State League on Thursday night, came out of Rice last June with a reputation similar to that of Owings. While he hadn't displayed nearly as much power as Owings, the prospect him of him being a productive part at the bottom of the batting order only added to what was already an impressive pitching resume.........

04/07/08

Notes on a few Fish off to fast starts...

Ben Sheets, SP - The question with Sheets has never been one of performance, as he's almost always effective... when he's on the field. After only making 24 starts last season, the Marlins are hoping he'll log closer to the 34 starts he made in his career season of 2004. If Sheets can stay healthy, his dominant performance thus far means he might be in for a monster season. In two starts so far (including yesterday's CG SO), Sheets has put up the following impressive line: 15.3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, 15 K, 2 BB, 7 H

Scott Hairston, OF - Hairston was an original member of the Marlins two franchises ago when for one season they were the IBC Milwaukee Brewers, so the GM has always been a believer in the former top prospect's bat. Unfortunately the Marlins have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more, for a combination of good health and a regular big league job so that Hairston can show his hitting prowess. The wait may just be paying off, as Scotty has received regular ABs in CF and LF for SD for the first time in his career. So far he's been absolutely mashing, slugging .640 and showing a knack for clutch hits that should make it near impossible for the Padres' manager to take him out of the lineup.

Ben Broussard, 1B/OF - Broussard held down the IBC O's 1B job for several seasons before the move to the NL, and generally performed well. His DMB ratings (def and off) however, inexplicably took a significant hit this year after his 2007 stint in Seattle. Broussard ended up in Texas this year and through 21 ABs he's hit 3 HR with 8 RBI and is slugging .640. Perhaps DMB was too quick to knock him down to an Av/Av power rating? The Marlins brass certainly thinks so.

Hideki Matsui, OF/DH - Reports of Godzilla's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Left for dead by many after offseason knee surgery, Matsui appears more ready than ever to take on the likes of Mothra, Bartolo Colon, or whatever other giant ugly monsters come at him in the rough and tumble AL East. His 2-run bomb off of James Shields accounted for all the Bombers runs in yesterday's 2-0 victory over the Rays. While of course it's still very early in the season, his .350/.350/.650 line and 2 HR through 21 ABs should quiet concerns about any lingering effects from the offseason surgery.

04/10/08

Marlins Minor League Notes

IBC Marlins RH SP Jhoulys Chacin is off to a blazing start at Low-A Asheville...

2008: 2 GS, 14.0 IP, 4 H, 6 BB, 13 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP

From BA's Prospect Blog - 04/09:

Asheville righthander Jhoulys Chacin put up the best pitching performance of the young season in Low-A. After finishing 2007 by going 5-2, 1.20 in his last 10 starts in the Pioneer League, Chacin has picked up where he left off in 2008. He tossed six shutout innings in his first start, though he battled some wildness to the tune of five walks, and was even better in start number two. On Tuesday night, Chacin threw eight shutout innings, allowed only three hits, walked one, and struck out nine. (Jim Shonerd)

From BA's All Day Minor League Chat - 04/04:

Q: Mike from Connecticut asks:
Are there any unfamiliar teenage prospects that are poised to break out this season?

A: Ben Badler: This doesn't quite count because he just turned 20 in January, but Rockies righthander Jhoulys Chacin. I ranked him among the top five pitching prospects in the PL last season behind guys like Jordan Walden and Aaron Poreda, and even then I think I may have sold him short. Fastball velocity is just OK, but the sink on the pitch is very good, with plus potential in his breaking stuff and good athleticism.