Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Minor League Report
The Latest News on the Top Prospects
Eric Sacharski
With just one week remaining on the schedule in most of the minor leagues, the Brewers farm clubs are starting to resemble their parent club...running out of gas and fading at the tape.
NASHVILLE SOUNDS (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
The Nashville Sounds are hanging on by their chinny-chin chin, as their once 9 game lead in the PCL North Division is down to just 3 games over Omaha. With a 71-65 record, the Sounds will need to step it up in the final week to hang on and make it into the PCL playoffs.
The good news is that the two major prospects still left at Nashville, outfielders Dave Krynzel and Nelson Cruz, are stepping up their games at the right time.
Cruz hit two homeruns on Saturday, numbers 8 and 9 in AAA, then added number 10 on Sunday. Unfortunately, they were all of the solo variety.
Krynzel hit a homer (No. 11) on Saturday as well, then added a 2-for-4 game with a stolen base (No. 22) in Sunday’s contest.
If the Sounds are going to hold on, they are going to need both of these guys to keep mashing at the plate. Especially since the Ben Sheets injury is going to thin the starting pitching at Nashville even further then it already is at this point.
HUNTSVILLE STARS (Double-A Southern League)
Shortstop Enrique Cruz was on fire this past week at Huntsville, helping the Stars to win four straight games. But it appears it is too little too late, as the Stars are still 8.5 games back (at 27-35) and all but done in the Southern League playoff chase.
Cruz went 2-for-4 on Tuesday to raise his season average over .300, then continued his tear all week. He added two-hit games on Wednesday and Thursday (to get up to .305), and then hit his 14th homerun on Thursday.
Tony Gwynn Jr. stole his 30th base on Thursday, and Brad Nelson hit his 5th homerun in a 3-for-4 game on Monday, and added two-hit games on Friday and Saturday as well.
Also, starting pitcher Dennis Sarfate returned from injury and pitched well on Thursday, going 4 innings allowing just 3 hits, no runs while walking one and striking out three. It is encouraging to see him rebounding from his arm problems.
BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (High-A Florida State League)
One day after getting called up from West Virginia, 3B Ryan Braun was shut down for the rest of the season due to a strain of his ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. So Braun never was able to make an impact and help the Manatees in their FSL playoff push.
After winning two straight games at the end of the week the Manatees are still alive, just 3.5 games behind Palm Beach in the standings. But without the added offensive help of Braun, the Manatees might not have enough punch at the end.
On a good note, Lou Palmisano finally showed up this week. Captain Lou had a two-hit game on Wednesday, then went 3-for-4 on Friday and 3-for-5 on Sunday. But he still hovering around the .250 mark, not what you would expect from a former Pioneer League MVP.
Steve Moss also added a couple of two-hit games during the week, as his strong year continues.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (Low-A South Atlantic League)
The Power have officially fizzled out.
After dropping 7 of their last 10 games, the Power are now 9.5 games back and find themselves asking what happened.
The teams top two pitchers, Yovani Gallardo and Mark Rodgers, found themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum this week.
Gallardo snapped a long losing streak with a win on Tuesday, going 6 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (0 ER) with two walks and 4 K. The righty then won his second game of the week with another impressive outing Sunday, going 6.2 innings with just 3 hits, 1 run, with 4 walks and 8 K. Gallardo is now 7-3 on the season with a nice 2,90 ERA.
Rodgers was tagged for loss number 9 on Wednesday, but he got absolutely no help from his offense. Rodgers went 5.1 innings and allowed just 3 hits and 1 run (4BB, 7K), but the offense failed to score any runs and the Power lost the game 1-0. Not exactly his fault.
HELENA BREWERS (Rookie Pioneer League)
Helena looks like it will add the second half title to the first-half title they won earlier this summer. At 18-9, the Brewers are just 3 games ahead of Missoula, so its not over yet. But it would take a complete collapse for them not to win it, and even if they do, they still qualify for the playoffs because of their first-half title.
Its interesting to note that the Helena club really doesnt have any major stars. They are doing it right now with solid “johnny wholeclub” contributions from just about everyone. Although Mike Bell received mention in Baseball America this past week due to his hot streak lately. It follows:
Rookie-level Helena third baseman/shortstop Michael Bell continued his late-summer tear with three hits in the Brewers' win Tuesday over Casper. Bell was drafted in the 15th round this year out of Grayson County (Texas) CC. After batting .320 in June to start the season, the 20-year-old cooled in July but has nine hits in his last 23 at-bats and is batting .382 in 17 games in August.
Also, catcher Angel Salome was named the Pioneer League MVP this past week, even though he was sent to West Virginia at midseason.