Christopher Carter

BaseballAmerica.com: Chat: Chat:

"Q: Tristan from California asks:
Assuming they both make the A's top ten prospect list, who will be ranked higher: Carter or Weeks?

A: John Manuel: Great question, since they are opposite players. I'll take Weeks for now because he's a middle of the diamond player and I believe in the bat."

With the sudden drop in power in the majors, why doesn't the player with Carter's power get more love than a middle infielder with a fraction of that? One more and Carter will be tied for the minor league lead. he has 39 now.

2009 Top Minor League Draftee: Gordham Beckham

He won't be Matt Wieters exciting, but a SS with pop and fast-tracking can't be ignored. From Kevin Goldstein's Future Shock: Monday Ten Pack at Baseball Prospectus (above the subscriber fold):

Gordon Beckham, SS, Low-A Kannapolis (White Sox)
The eighth overall pick in June, Beckham didn't sign until last week, and he hadn't played for nearly two months, so a slow start could easily be excused. No excuses are necessary though (so much for the rust factor), as in his first weekend as a pro he went 7-for-11 with a double, a home run, four walks, and no strikeouts. Beckham has all the tools and abilities to be a star-level player, combining contact skills with above-average power, and just enough in the way of both speed and arm strength to become at least an average shortstop. Just as importantly, all of his skills are advanced enough to project a quick rise to the majors, and Beckham should be up in Double-A by mid-2009, if not earlier.

Joba Chamberlain Prognosis

From Will Carroll's free UTK Wrap at Baseball Prospectus:

Is this a smokescreen? The Yankees pushed back the start of Chamberlain's throwing program from Wednesday to Friday, with the explanation from Joe Girardi that it was simply a matter of location. One source told me that the rehab was going to be so short that he felt that the delay was to set him up for slotting back into the rotation. We won't really know for a week or so, but with the Yankees sliding back, there's also a chance that this is nothing more than conservatism. Once Chamberlain is throwing, the program he's on will tell us pretty much everything we need to know. Is he throwing full-out, or is it a light session? Is he using all of his pitches, or is he being limited in some way? They'll also be looking for a return of any pain or tension in the shoulder. It's a binary situation—once he throws, we'll know. I'm not going to read anything into this delay... yet.

With a month and a half left, Joba can be a difference maker in the fantasy season if he returns quickly.

The 2009 #1 and #2 Ranked Prospects

ESPN: Chat with Scouts Inc.'s Keith Law - SportsNation:

"Will (NY): Whos the early favorite for number 1 on next years 100?

Keith Law: (1:30 PM ET ) Wieters.


Shawn (NYC): Best SP in the minors is...

Keith Law: (1:31 PM ET ) Price, bar none."

David Ortiz: Sell Now?

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | Under The Knife: A Failure to Communicate?:

"David Ortiz is out of the lineup for the Sox. I'm told his wrist is still an issue, but that he's having dificulty 'mentally much more than physically.'"

I see no reason to risk Ortiz not being 100% over the next 45 games. If someone offers fair enough value, trad ehim.

Todd Helton

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | Under The Knife: Contenders Contending... with Injuries:

"The Rockies won't make it official, but sources tell me that Todd Helton is done for the season. The hope is that he'll be ready for spring training."

Great news for those relying on Ian Stewart or worried about the playing time of Jeff Baker. Both should be regulars for the rest of the season.

BaseballAmerica: Prospect Hot Sheet

BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Prospect Hot Sheet: Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug. 8

FWIW, David Price is #2 this week.

The 2nd Most Exciting Fantasy Prospect

David Price threw five no-earned-runs innings last night to pick up his third consectuvie win and run his professional W-L record to 11 and 0. His Double-A line is 57 IP with 1 .89 ERA, 55 Ks and 16 BBs. he looks ready for Triple-A.

Along with Baltimore Orioles' catcher Matt Wieters, Price is one of the most anticipated prospects in fantasy baseball. He has the potential to be a Joba Chamberlain-esque reliever over the rest of 2008 if Tampa Bay promotes him.

How Will The New York Mets Fill Their Rotation Hole?

Lose out on Hit-Allowing Machine Livan Hernandez? No problem!

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | On the Beat: The New Crew:

"The Mets seem to be the fron runners to sign Freddy Garcia as a free agent after the right-hander, who has missed the entire season while recovering from shoulder surgery, threw in front of scouts Tuesday in Miami."

Closer Speculation: Cleveland Indians

Ohio.com - Indians manager wants new closer by spring:

"Asked Sunday if spring training would be a proper place to conduct the search for a closer, Wedge said, ''No, that would not be a good idea. If we don't feel like we can find someone [on the roster] in the next couple of months — and that would be tough to do — we need to go out and get somebody. And I know that's easier said than done.''"

Yowser! Nothing in the Cleveland bullpen can close? Then it is time to place all of them on waivers and hope to make a big August trade. Rafael Betancourt anyone?