Well, it's a whole new farm system now, with half of the top 20 prospects from last season gone. So as we track a handful of names we know and a bunch we didn't from last season, this might be the best place to track all of that.

First update - the Giarratano experiment is over. The oft-injured shortstop prospect who spent some time in the majors was officially released by the organization yesterday.

That doesn't surprise me at all. He seemed like he'd be a solid shortstop there for a while but he just kept getting hurt and never got it together. Who's our new top SS prospect?

Nefe

Steroids in the system!!!!!

Middle infield is actually our deepest spot now, arguably.

Last year's draft choice, Cale Iorg (dad and uncle played in the majors) is possibly our next best prospect after Porcello - regardless of position. He's a SS. We also have Holliman, Dlugach, and Worth all at SS - and all among our top 15 or so prospects.
as things shake out it's entirely possible one or more of them gets moved around the infield, but it would be more likely to move them to 3B out of need than to 2B, since we have Sizemore as our top 2B prospect but really no 3B prospect worth mentioning.

Unfortunately, I think it's probably even more likely that none of them end up much more than a utility guy.

We'll see. I think with that many we're likely to have at least one that can be ready for the show by the time Renteria needs to be replaced.

That's kind of how I'm viewing our farm system now.

We'll continue to add via free agency through the years, but assuming we had to replace our current players with homegrown talent, how well could we do that?
I'm hoping Porcello can replace Rogers.
I'm kind of hoping Inge might work out as a stop-gap replacement for Pudge, but I would really like to find out if Skelton can be legit.
In the event Zumaya doesn't come back to be the player he made us dream about as a rookie, can we develop another closer? I don't see an heir apparent there.
As guys like Guillen and Polanco get older, I think we can put players in place there as well. We've got some outfield possibilities also, but no one near the level of Magglio (but exactly how many organizations do have someone of that caliber).

My biggest hope is that the youth of our current team combined with our farm can sustain us to the point that we only need one mid-level free agent every two years to stay at the top of the division.

Hollimon doesn't really project well to an everyday MLB player (per Baseball America)...but from what I've read, he's a perfect bench infielder...perhaps if Santiago missed some time this year, Hollimon could make his debut...


Also whats up with Mike Hessman??? I know back in December they were looking to unload Thames and keep Hessman on the team, but since there were no takers, I assume that Hessman won't be on the squad come April 1...

He's still on the 40 man, so would that obligate him to report to AAA, if not, I'm sure he could land a roster spot on some other team (Florida, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)...

So what is Zach up to today?

Oh, this in MINOR league news, not MINER...

Nevermind.

Since you bumped this, I will point out that through 2 starts (10 innings), Porcello has a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with 7 strikeouts at Lakeland so far.

I'd rather have him than Grilli right now.

Since you bumped this, I will point out that through 2 starts (10 innings), Porcello has a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with 7 strikeouts at Lakeland so far.


Update on Rick: He is now 1-2, 0.64 ERA (talk about no run support), 14 innings pitched in 3 starts, 9 hits allowed, 6 runs but only 1 of those is earned (talk about horrible defense), given up no homers, 4 walks, and 12 K's...

3:1 K to BB ratio, 0.93 WHIP

Forget about the wins column, those numbers are outstanding

He's ready.

I don't care how ready he is, we'd better not bring him up until at least next season.

Preferably the next...

I don't care how ready he is, we'd better not bring him up until at least next season.


I agree, I don't want to rush him either. The sooner we bring him up, the sooner he will be eligible for free agency. No rush, he can't make an impact this soon.

I agree, I don't want to rush him either. The sooner we bring him up, the sooner he will be eligible for free agency.

He already signed a MLB deal.

I just want to be sure he has 3 pitches that are 100% major league ready and a 4th that is 90%+. From the scouting reports, that's not too far off. What often kills early call-ups is that they don't change speed well and/or they don't have an "out" pitch.

RICK PORCELLO UPDATE

1-3, 1.35 ERA, 4 starts, 20 IP, 16 K, 8 walks, 8 runs (only 3 of which are earned), has hit 3 batters, and has a 0.90 WHIP

things to point out

- he's getting absolutely NO run support
- he's getting absolutely NO defense support


Also, Jeff Larish & Mike Hessman each have 5 HR's apiece in AAA

^ I could care less about the run support or defensive support. Not a dis there Wilfredo and I'm sure you pretty much agree. He's there to learn.

I agree. And I'm sure thats what the coaches are telling him too.

I wish they had some video of his starts. I'm interested in seeing what his pitch arsenal is.

CRUCETA!!!

They finally got him out of the Dominican Republic.


Cruceta pitches strong in debut
Hard-throwing reliever could join Tigers soon after striking out six in three innings in Toledo.

Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

TOLEDO -- He was supposed to join his new employer, the Detroit Tigers, 10 weeks ago at spring training.

Not until Tuesday night did Francisco Cruceta finally get a chance to show the Tigers just what they got when they signed him last November after a sparkling stint in the Dominican Winter League.

And what he showed them could put Cruceta, a 26-year-old right-handed reliever, on Detroit's 25-man roster very quickly.

Cruceta pitched in relief against the Columbus Clippers, who beat Toledo, 5-3, and did not allow a hit or a run in a 41-pitch outing, featuring command of three impressive pitches.

He struck out the side on 10 pitches in the sixth and retired the Clippers 1-2-3 in the seventh on two ground balls and a fourth strikeout. In the seventh, he added two more strikeouts. He also hit one batter on an 0-2 breaking pitch, and walked another when he went to his mouth successively on a 3-1 count, resulting in an automatic ball being called by the plate umpire.

He retired the other batter in the seventh on a ground ball. No Clippers batter hit a ball out of the infield.

"He threw the ball pretty good," Toledo manager Larry Parrish said, dryly understating Cruceta's debut, then adding a punch line:

"I figure in a couple of weeks he might be ready (for Detroit)."

Cruceta's fastball regularly touched 94 mph and once hit 95. He added a hard slider and a lethal split-finger change-up, the pitch Cruceta developed after earlier stints with the Mariners and Indians, and then with the Rangers' farm system in 2007.

"His split, from the side (dugout), almost breaks like a hard slider," Parrish said.

"The only negative I saw is that he was tipping his pitches."

Cruceta is 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. He conceded before Tuesday night's game that his visa problems stemmed from last year's 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball for using steroids. The Tigers did extensive background work and were satisfied with the circumstances of his ban, which Cruceta did not address in detail Tuesday.

Cruceta will likely be added to the Tigers' 25-man roster well ahead of the May 10 deadline the team faces in deciding Cruceta's future. He's out of big-league options and cannot be returned to the minors without being exposed to waivers. He was granted a 30-day extension on Major League Baseball's restricted list because of his visa holdup.

He had no hint there would be visa complications when he prepared Feb. 4 to fly to Florida for spring camp. The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic would not clear his visa. Officials there sent his case to Washington, D.C. for more careful examination by the State Department.

"They never told me anything," Cruceta said. "They just said, 'We will call you.' I take three months waiting for the call."

He worked out regularly at the Tigers' developmental camp in Santo Domingo and threw with the same regularity he would have thrown in Lakeland.

"They got my back when I was in the Dominican," Cruceta said of the Tigers.

Good stuff on Cruceta. He's going to take either Grilli or Miners spot...

What's that stuff about him going to his mouth twice and the batter being granted a ball? I've never heard that before.

You have to get permission from the ump to go to your mouth on the mound. They usually only grant permission when it's cold, IIRC.

Ahhh. Like blowing in your hand, I get it now.

Porcello got roughed up a little in his last start, giving up 3 runs in 5 innings.

But let's hear it for Luis Marte who now has 32 K's in only 29 innings at High A Lakeland. He's looking like a legit rotation prospect.

Any news on Cruceta?

From mlive:




-- The Francisco Cruceta decision has to come soon, because the right-handed reliever is already through the first half of his allotted 16 days at Triple-A Toledo. And the only decision is when the Tigers call on him, because through his first three appearances with the Mud Hens, Cruceta has pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits, with three walks and 15 strikeouts.

So why is he not in a Tigers uniform yet?

I think Miner has minor league options left, so I'd guess that they'll use him one or two more times and then send him down.

As of May 31st..

Brent Clevlen- .313, 9 HR, 43 RBI
Mike Hessman- .294, 20 HR, 34 RBI
Mike Hollimon- .255, 12 HR, 19 RBI
Timo Perez- .241, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 8 SB
Casey Fossum- 3-0, 1.96 ERA, 48/19 K/BB, 0.87 WHIP
Virgil Vasquez- 3-5, 6.22 ERA, 38/10 K/BB, 1.68 WHIP


Rick Porcello- 3-5, 2.48 ERA, 35/14 K/BB, 1.14 WHIP



Fossum has plenty of big league experience, I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a shot w/ the big club pretty soon, he's dominating AAA...

Nothing new for Hessman, the guy's probably one of the greatest AAA players of all time

Gawd, Vasquez is terrible.

Is Clevlen playing in AAA with those numbers?

Gawd, Vasquez is terrible.

Is Clevlen playing in AAA with those numbers?


Yeah, everybody that I listed except Porcello is in AAA

Porcello must be getting Tiger-esque run support.

By the way, I really wish he was at West Michigan, because they play the Great Lakes Loons this upcoming weekend and I'll be at Friday's game. Not sure who the Whitecaps have worth checking out, but I'll be watching closely. Alfredo Figaro and Jordan Kibler have legit pitching stats this season, both with winning records, sub 2.20 ERA's and sub 1.00 WHIPs. They've also got a 3B, Roger Tomas, who is hitting .342, but only 4 of his 38 hits have gone for extra bases. That team has zero power. As far as I can tell they have 25 HR in 54 games. Ouch.

Porcello must be getting Tiger-esque run support.
He gave up a bunch of unearned runs early this year which can't be discounted. He's improved since, though.

By the way, I really wish he was at West Michigan, because they play the Great Lakes Loons this upcoming weekend and I'll be at Friday's game. Not sure who the Whitecaps have worth checking out, but I'll be watching closely. Alfredo Figaro and Jordan Kibler have legit pitching stats this season, both with winning records, sub 2.20 ERA's and sub 1.00 WHIPs. They've also got a 3B, Roger Tomas, who is hitting .342, but only 4 of his 38 hits have gone for extra bases. That team has zero power. As far as I can tell they have 25 HR in 54 games. Ouch.

The Midwest league in general and West Michigan in particular is generally considered the hardest environment to hit for power in the minors.

Zoomy hit 100 MPH in his 2 scoreless innings of relief last night in A, he walked one, and struck out one...

Rodney also threw 2 scoreless innings in AAA, and gave up no runs...


My guess is Rodney will be back before Zumaya, but we should have both back by mid-June...

I bet Fossum and either Miner or Dolsi will be the ones to go to make room, all but Fossum have options left

Rodney also threw 2 scoreless innings in AAA, and gave up no runs...




Did anyone cross the plate off him?

Nice. It took me a second.

FIRST GAME: Right-hander Ryan Perry, the Tigers' first-round pick in the June draft, made his professional debut Thursday. He pitched one inning for the Gulf Coast League Tigers and struck out the side. ... Gulf Coast League shortstop Brent Dlugach, rehabilitating from shoulder surgery, has not played in more than a week because of a sore lower back.

Everyone heard that Porcello and teammates combined on a no-hitter a week or so ago as well, right?

Draft supplies arms for system

June's picks have come in and performed well, as well as restoring pitching depth to farm teams.

Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Even if Detroit's bullpen had not blown to pieces Sunday at Tampa Bay, at least with respect to outings by Kyle Farnsworth and Fernando Rodney, the Tigers would have been looking admiringly at their pitching-heavy draft.

Eight of the first 10 picks were pitchers. And most of those eight have been impressing in exceptional ways the people charged with getting them to the big leagues.

Jon Matlack, for instance. Matlack, the Tigers roving minor-league pitching instructor who is not one to embellish, has been watching and grooming all the picks who signed at various points this summer.

"No doubt, this is a very good crop of young arms," Matlack said Monday. "The results have been pretty phenomenal. And everybody's been as good as their numbers."

Ryan Perry, the first-round selection from Arizona who has thrown with such strength he began work last week at Class A Lakeland rather than at a lower rung, is 1-0 in three appearances and has yet to allow a run. .

Cody Satterwhite, a No. 2 pick out of the University of Mississippi, is also at Lakeland, where he has a 1.23 earned-run average and 10 strikeouts in seven appearances spanning 7 1/3 innings.

Scott Green, drafted No. 3 out of the University of Kentucky, has a 3.65 ERA in 10 relief appearances at Class A West Michigan. Green is 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, and "throws the ball with authority," said Matlack, who likes Green's 94-95-mph fastball and, particularly, a new 88-mph cutter that Green seems to have discovered since he arrived in Grand Rapids.

Brett Jacobson, also at West Michigan and, like Green, a right-hander, has a 2.55 ERA in 17 relief shots with the Whitecaps. Jacobson was a fourth-round selection from Vanderbilt.

Tyler Stohr, the Tigers' sixth-round selection out of North Florida, has helped the bullpen at Class A Oneonta to the tune of a 2.57 ERA in 17 games. A 6-2, 210-pound right-hander, Stohr has 17 strikeouts in 14 innings.

[b]Robbie Weinhardt might be the biggest surprise and, to date, the most impressive of all the Tigers draft picks. He was taken as a 10th-rounder out of Oklahoma State and is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 12 appearances. Weinhardt, a right-hander, has a stunning 28 strikeouts and one walk in 20 2/3 innings at Lakeland. He has allowed five hits.

"Weinhardt has been unbelievably good," Matlack said of the 6-foot-2, 198-pounder. "He has an innate ability to match his four-seamer (fastball) with his two-seamer and a feel for knowing when to use each.

"You just don't see that very often from a youngster."

Weinhardt was a 37th-round pick by the Astros in 2007 but decided to return to Oklahoma State for his senior season. He was expected to go earlier than the 10th round, which his early stretch in the Tigers system seems to have confirmed.

"We knew coming in he was better than a 10th-round pick," Matlack said. "He has kind of a slice-and-dice four seamer that goes 93-94. But what makes him effective is that he has very short arm-action that's hard to pick up. A guy watches him from the side and thinks he's nothing special, but that changes when he gets to the plate."

Perry, of course, had the heaviest reputation of all the Tigers picks as he helped pitch Arizona deep into the College World Series. He throws a fastball that can nick 100 mph and he has the size (6-4, 200) to persuade talent scouts that his heater will hold up for the long term.

"His fastball sort of jumps into the mitt," Matlack said. "It really has good, late life.

"He's got a breaking ball that he hasn't used a lot but will begin to use more, and he has thrown a sufficient amount of strikes to get the job done.

"He's maybe a little visible," Matlack said, a reference to Perry's present habit of showing the hitter the ball a bit prematurely. "It's an area we have to work on as he goes up the (minor-league) ladder.

"But he's got a real pitcher's body and a good delivery."

Stohr and Jacobson have acquired the "good arms" label that scouts and coaches like Matlack use in talking about pitchers and their upside.

For a Tigers organization that had shipped eight young pitchers to three different clubs in big trades during the past two offseasons, restocking the farm system's shelves was a project for the draft.

So far, so good, as far as Matlack is concerned.

"I just hope we have enough patience to give these young guys a solid foundation," Matlack said.


The whole article's worth a read, they talk about everyone and I was starting to bold everything, so I just removed all but 3 of them.

Joedy McCreary - AP
Hessman, who plays for Detroit's Triple-A affiliate in Toledo, Ohio, finished with three RBIs, and his two-run homer off reliever Jonathan Lockwood keyed the Americans' huge fifth. He added a solo shot an inning later

The last part is key. I don't want lighting arms that have control issue or only use 1 pitch. We've had that lately.

Weinhardt with 28 strikeouts to 1 walk. Those are the things we need to continue to develop. THROW STRIKES, DON'T WALK PEOPLE! We do that WAY too much right now.

By the time these guys are ready, our sluggers will be over the hill.

Not our sluggers from the minors. Hessman and Joyce will be our big sluggers, these guys will be manning the bullpen, Verlander and Bonderman will be the vet starting pitchers with Zumaya firmly entrenched as the closer, and Granderson will be a regular all-star. A guy can dream, no?

:emo kid:

Did anyone else notice every one of those guys is a relief pitcher?

Maybe that's because that's the way they prefer to break these guys in, or because starters are already established, or - perhaps - because that's the most obvious need in the organization.

Not our sluggers from the minors. Hessman and Joyce will be our big sluggers, these guys will be manning the bullpen, Verlander and Bonderman will be the vet starting pitchers with Zumaya firmly entrenched as the closer, and Granderson will be a regular all-star. A guy can dream, no?

LOL @ the idea of Hessman making it big in the bigs.

I did end that post by saying it was a dream.

Did anyone else notice every one of those guys is a relief pitcher?

Maybe that's because that's the way they prefer to break these guys in, or because starters are already established, or - perhaps - because that's the most obvious need in the organization.

It's probably because we traded all our starting arms (Miller, Jair and Sanchez).

It's probably because we traded all our starting arms (Miller, Jair and Sanchez).

Wouldn't that mean MORE draft choices were used as starters? Instead, it appears we've gone the opposite way.

They said some of these guys may become starting pitchers when they drafted them.

both Perry & Satterwhite (our 2nd rd pick this yr) are tearing it up in Lakeland...

I don't even want us to call Perry up late in the season. Just let him stay in the minors and not worry about the big leagues for at least a full season.

I don't even want us to call Perry up late in the season. Just let him stay in the minors and not worry about the big leagues for at least a full season.

If we're statistically out of it by then, I agree. Otherwise, he may very well be our best option down the stretch, and I'm not sure being with the big club for 26 games (he would maybe pitch 18 innings in that time) would hurt him too much.

I don't think he could possibly have an impact on this team either way this year. Andrew Miller didn't exactly do us any good in '06 (0-1, ERA over 6, more walks than K's) and he was way more highly regarded than Perry. I agree, leave him in the minors, and give him an invite to make the Big league team next spring...

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/8/7/588759/detroit-tigers-top-20-pros


Detroit Tigers Top 20 Prospects in Review (http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/8/7/588759/detroit-tigers-top-20-pros)

http://assets.sbnation.com/profile_images/7318/Napoleon_tiny.jpg by John Sickels (http://www.minorleagueball.com/users/John%20Sickels) on Aug 7, 2008 11:50 AM EDT (http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/8/7/588759/detroit-tigers-top-20-pros)
This list was originally posted December 10th, 2007. (http://www.minorleagueball.com/2007/12/10/134646/64)THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST!!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF AN OLD LIST AND OLD GRADES!!!!!!!!!!!!
1) Rick Porcello, RHP, Grade B+
2.84 ERA with 66/30 K/BB in 114 innings, 107 hits for Lakeland in the Florida State League. I don't like the low K-rate but he gets lots of grounders and is young for the level, so he gets some slack on that for now.
2) Jeff Larish, 1B, Grade B-
.269/.361/.540 for Triple-A Toledo, .245/.327/.408 for Detroit. Will hit homers and draw walks, won't hit for average.
3) Danny Worth, SS, Grade B-
.254/.331/.386 for Double-A Erie. I tihnk he's capable of better. Currently on the DL at Triple-A Toledo.
4) Yorman Bazardo, RHP, Grade C+
6.42 ERA with 66/36 K/BB in 102 innings, 132 hits for Toledo. Obviously terrible. Ground ball tendency not enough to save him.
5) Michael Hollimon, INF, Grade C+
.223/.308/.465 for Toledo, .261/.280/.565 in 11 major league games. Has power and draws walks, strikes out so much that batting average and OBP are problems.
6) Charlie Furbush, LHP, Grade C+
Hasn't pitched this year due to Tommy John.
7) Brandon Hamilton, RHP, Grade C+
5.01 ERA with 22/28 K/BB in 32 innings in the Midwest League. Now in the GCL, 1.67 ERA with 24/7 K/BB in 27 innings is much better. Good long-term potential but a long way off.
8) Duane Below, LHP, Grade C+
4.06 ERA with 105/55 K/BB in 113 innings, 115 hits allowed for Lakeland. Doing OK, command needs to be improved.
9) James Skelton, C, Grade C+
.305/.467/.405 with 14 steals for Lakeland, just promoted to Erie where he is 3-for-13 so far. Draws lots of walks, unusual speed for a catcher, no power.
10) Casey Crosby, LHP, Grade C+
Rehabbing from Tommy John.
11) Diek Scram, OF, Grade C+
.249/.336/.389 with 13 steals for Erie. Could be a fourth outfielder if he can boost the hitting more.
12) Scott Sizemore, 2B, Grade C+
.286/.365/.409 with 14 steals for Lakeland, has been on the DL since early June with broken hamate.
13) Francisco Cruceta, RHP, Grade C
2.90 ERA with 43/16 K/BB in 31 innings for Toledo, 5.40 ERA with 11/10 K/BB in 12 innings for the Tigers. He's always had the stuff, needs the command to go with it.
14) Jordan Tata, RHP, Grade C
10.31 ERA with 16/23 K/BB in 18 innings for Lakeland. Made six starts in the GCL, with 2.83 ERA but 18/18 K/BB in 29 innings. Horrendous command this year.
15) Clay Rapada, LHP, Grade C
2.96 ERA with 33/13 K/BB in 24 innings for Toledo, 4.30 ERA with 12/7 K/BB in 15 innings for the Tigers. LOOGY.
16) Cale Iorg, SS, Grade C
.257/.331/.401 with 18 steals for Lakeland. Poor plate discipline with 29 walks but 96 strikeouts in 327 at-bats.
17) Brett Jensen, RHP, Grade C
4.00 ERA with 6/1 K/BB in 9 innings for Erie. On DL since May.
18) Clete Thomas, OF, Grade C
.259/.336/.436 with 22 steals for Toledo, .284/.366/.405 in 40 games for the Tigers. Looks like he can be a useful player but not a star.
19) Brent Clevlen, OF, Grade C
.297/.383/.542 for Toledo. Clevlen needs to decide if he sucks or not. He's been horrible some years and really good other years. Back on the good track now. Can he stay there? I have no clue.
20) Noah Krol, RHP, Grade C
4.20 ERA with 41/26 K/BB in 41 innings, 11 saves, 31 hits allowed for West Michigan. Eh....gets grounders but needs better command.
Not an impressive system. Aside from Porcello, there is not much to get excited about here as trades ripped the guts out of the system over the past two years. They really need to hope the 2008 draft helps things out.

Man, Iorg is doing brutal. We gave him a nice little bonus last year, and he's not even earning that.

Nearly 1/3rd of his AB's end in K's!!! That's unreal for a top prospect!!!


Our system is blah right now. Hopefully Perry, Satterwhite, and Avila all develop from this year's draft.

WE DID IT

I BELIEVED IN THIS TEAM

https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xla1/v/t1.0-0/p526x395/12046606_10153250227413160_6264881483055690701_n.j pg?oh=2fdc9992447727c8552e180e12e5c1cf&oe=56A83DC3&__gda__=1449383862_1099bdbe117b837341c4c7d12e1f7aa 3

MY Whitecaps.

Whatever happened to Zach?

Feeling :PROUD: .

The Whitecaps have a new manager, and it’s Lance Parrish.