Round Rock Express AAA

Pitcher of the Month : Bud Norris RHP

Probably the easiest decision I am going to make here.  Had Felipe Paulino not made three starts with the Astros he would have battled Norris for this spot but, to our enamored joy, Paulino has thrived in Houston, and has stayed on the roster.  Norris made four starts in April, pitching a total of twenty-three and two thirds innings.  Despite the lack of a win – his record was 0-2 – Norris pitched well posting an ERA of 2.28, and striking out an organizational leading (I am almost positive about that) 25 batters.  I had Norris listed as Houston’s top pitching prospect heading into the season, and he is proving thus far he deserves a shot in the majors but, Paulino’s success will likely prevent Norris from starting for Houston anytime soon, though it will certainly happen before the end of the season. 

Others considered: Felipe Paulino RHP

Hitter of the Month : Mark Saccomanno 3B/1B

Unlike its counterpart, this was a difficult decision.  I would like to award these superlatives to actual prospects, rather than career minor leaguers but, in this case I felt pressed to give the hardware to Saccamanno, who was clearly the best hitter for the Express last month.  He hit .282/.305/.500/.805, with 4 homeruns.  He acted as the team’s catalyst knocking in 20 runs, and scoring 10 of his own.  I would like to announce that I am creating a new stat category, points, which acts the same as in hockey, it consists of a hitter’s runs (goals) and rbis (assists).  Sacco scored 30 "points" in April which is more than double the total of the two guys I also considered here… combined.  Perhaps most impressive in April was Sacco’s strikeout numbers, only four k’s in 78 at-bats.  I realize his on-base numbers are not stellar but, Mark was far and away the best power hitter on a team that was typically deprived of offense.  Now, I would like to address the issue of the term "career minor leaguer".  That’s what Saccomanno is, face it, he’s 29, and will never be a capable defender at third, I give you, the right-handed hitting Mike Lamb .  Now, I will secede that Saccamanno could make a terrific bench player, like Lamb did but, management does not seem willing to try it at the expense of veterans like Geoff Blum , Jason Smith , or Darin Erstad .  I would like to offer Saccamanno a slightly belated birthday, his was Thursday, and congratulate him on sharing his birthday with a certain blogger we know (that’s me).   Now I have written a very full paragraph which is much more than I ever intended. 

Others considered: Yordanny Ramirez OF and J.R. Towles C

Corpus Christi Hooks

Pitcher of the Month : Chad Walger

Lexington has arms, Lancaster has bats, and Round Rock as arms, Corpus Christi has bats.  That is my current philosophy on Houston’s minor league affiliates .  Corpus Christi does not have pitching, thus Walger, who started one game, while appearing in six others, for a total of seventeen and one third innings.  His ERA was a respectable 3.63, and he ended the month with a 1-2 record.  He also had the third highest strikeout total on the team with 13 (the leader was Polin Trinidad who had 17 strikouts and only one walk). 

Others considered: Polin Trinidad LHP and Brad James RHP

Hitter of the Month : James Van Ostrand OF/1B/DH

First I’ll tell you who I eliminated. Andrew Locke OF is 25 in the Texas League , not impressed, especially when there are real prospects also in contention.  Mitch Einertson OF, my favorite prospect prior to the 2008 draft, Einertson missed some games early in the season while the lineup was being worked out but, has since excelled.  He finished the month with a .950 OPS, and hit an XBH % close to 50% (so a hit of his went for extra bases 50% of the time), he also hit for a high OBP .373, which is what impressed me.  Colin DeLome scored 34 points, hit seven homeruns, stole three bases, and hit for an OPS over .900, had DeLome not struck out (16) four more times than he walked (4) he would have been the guy.  I didn’t like giving Van Ostrand the prize, he’s getting old for a prospect, and doesn’t have a position but, I can’t deny a 1.253 OPS, right?  He also scored five more points (25) than Einertson in the same number of at-bats.  Van Ostrand also hit nine XBH (extra-base-hits) and finished the month with an OBP over .500, ‘nough said.  However, as an added treat here is how I would currently rank these four as prospects. 

Others Considered: Locke, Einertson and DeLome

Lancaster Jethawks

Pitcher of the Month : Chia-Jen Lo RHP

The 22 year old Taiwanese import has been dealing thus far; he has pitched fourteen and two thirds innings, all in relief, allowing only one earned run, for an ERA of 0.61.   He has struck out 24 batters, while allowing only a .102 batting average against.  I still have not seen a scouting report on him (so, if you see one, please refer me to it) but, so far he’s looked like a top prospect. 

Others considered: Chris Hicks RHP

Hitter of the Month : Jack (J.B.) Shuck OF

This was another very close race, with five guys considered.  Shuck ended up being my guy despite a lack of power, hitting zero homeruns and only four extra base hits last month.  He did, however, hit a .354 batting average, with a .411 on-base percentage; he also stole six bases and walked as many times as he struck out (8).  Shuck was the everyday lead off hitter for the Jethawks scoring eighteen points, all but five of which were runs scored. 

Others Considered: T.J. Steele OF, Jason Castro C, Jon Gaston OF, Brian Pellegrini OF

Steele would have been the guy I selected (he led the team in OPS), had he totaled more than twelve at-bats after missing the first couple weeks of the season.  Pellegrini is kind of old for A ball, and despite hitting seven homeruns and scoring 28 points, hit only a .227 batting average, and struck out 23 times.  Gaston’s OPS was just shy of .900 and he hit five homeruns last month but, ultimately it was not enough to edge out Shuck, since Gaston’s batting average was .235 and he struck out 20 times, seven more times than he walked.  Castro, Houston’s top prospect and 2008 first round pick, was tied for the most total bases on the team with 38; he also hit .278 for the month, though that number fluctuated from game-to-game anywhere from over .300 to less than .250.  Castro hit three homeruns, nine extra bases and scored 21 points but, despite his overall numbers fell short of Shuck due to his 3:1 K to BB ratio (15 strikeouts to 4 walks).  Quite frankly I expected more plate discipline from the guy. 

Lexington Legends

Co Pitchers of the Month : Brad Dydalewicz LHP, Henry Villar RHP, Ross Seaton RHP

Like I said previously, Lexington is all about the arms.  Dydalewicz has maintained an ERA of 0.00 over 17 IP; he has struck out only 8 while walking 7, thus the "Co" status.  I am not sure where Henry Villar came from but, the 20 year old from the DR has grabbed my attention, striking out 26 batters, walking only 4, in 15.1 innings.  Seaton won three games in April, while posting an ERA of 1.14 over 23.2 innings, while striking out 15.  All three of these pitchers have offered something different to what is a terrific pitching staff in Lexington so; I felt it was fitting to include all three. 

Hitter of the Month : Albert Cartwright 2B

.328 batting average/.400 on-base percentage/.522 slugging percentage/.922 OPS, 24 points, 10 extra base hits, 37 total bases, 3 stolen bases.  Even with a K:BB ration greater than 2 to 1, Cartwright is one of the (very) few bright spots in the Lexington lineup. 

Others Considered: Ebert Rosario 3B