Posts belonging to Category Teams

#26 Manny Banuelos

New York Yankees

DOB: 3/13/1991

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2012

Don’t look now, but it appears the Yankees will graduate a quality young starting pitcher to the Big Leagues for the second consecutive season.  Banuelos’ 5-foot-11 and 155-pound frame certainly does not ooze projection, but the southpaw can reach back for 95 mph when he needs it and cruises at 92-94 mph most nights.

Because his command is shaky (52 walks in under 160 innings), most evaluators prefer him at the lower end, but he should improve as he matures.  His secondary stuff has great action in the form of a changeup with sharp fade and a heavy, digging breaking ball.  He can afford to come up a little in terms of command with all of his pitches, but the stuff is there.

Between Double-A and Triple-A, Banuelos posted a 3.75 ERA and recorded nearly as many strikeouts as innings pitched.  He is not quite ready for the AL East, but the Yankees will be pressed to give him a shot out of Spring Training, We think he belongs back in the International League for a couple of months until he proves his fastball command is ready for the Show.  I’m usually far more conservative in projecting guys who cannot command their fastballs, but 20-year-old lefties with this kind of stuff are hard not to fall in love with.

#27 Travis d’Arnaud

Toronto Blue Jays

DOB: 2/10/1989

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2013

d’Arnaud earned MVP honors in the Eastern League in 2011 as a 22-year-old, and seems destined to produce big numbers for Toronto sooner rather than later.  As a key portion of the package that sent Roy Halladay to the Phils, the expectations have been high for d’Arnaud.  He delivered and then some in Double-A, and should open the year ready to torch Triple-A to the same tune that he did the Eastern League, with a call-up to the Jays possible at any time.

However, with J.P. Arencibia seemingly firmly entrenched behind the Toronto dish, d’Arnaud may have to wait until September or even 2013 to arrive at the Rogers Centre.  In 2011 for New Hampshire the former 37^th-overall selection slashed .311/.371/.542 with 21 dingers.  He only walked 33 times, and plate discipline is his worst offensive tool, but he squares the ball up consistently and generates quality lift.  He covers the zone well and hits to all fields, so the lack of walks is less of a concern than it might be with other more pull-oriented hitters.

He is likely going to top out as an average receiver and thrower, and is a 40-45 in both areas now, but his bat is so good that no one will have any problem dealing with that in Toronto.  Despite the fact that the Doc deal also brought the Jays Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor (who was immediately traded to the A’s and debuted in the Show in 2011), d’Arnaud is looking like the best piece that Toronto got in the trade.

#28 Jake Odorizzi

Kansas City Royals

DOB: 3/27/1990

Previous Rank: 35

ETA: 2013

As the highest ceiling player moved for Zack Greinke last winter in the blockbuster deal between the Royals and Brewers, the expectations were significant for Odorizzi this year.  He excelled in the Carolina League and earned himself a promotion to Double-A.  His numbers took a hit a little bit in his 12 starts for Northwest Arkansas as we might expect for a 21-year-old in an advanced league, but he still finished the year with an sub-4.00 ERA and 157 strikeouts against 44 walks in nearly 150 innings.

He likely will begin the year back in the Texas League, but a quick promotion is possible given the shortage of quality starters in KC and the urgency of competing in the Central before Alex Gordon and Billy Butler begin their declines.  Odorizzi is undoubtedly the top pitcher in the system, and we at The Sombrero really hope, for Kansas City’s sake, that they don’t do something stupid like trade him for a mid-level starter this winter or at the 2012 deadline if they are still in the hunt.

His fastball reaches 96 mph and sits at 93-94, and his breaking ball is a sledge when in the zone.  His command of it needs to improve, but he has a couple of years still before it absolutely must be reliable.  He throws a slider and a change as well, but they are behind the fastball and curveball and will be no better than 50s.  Still, Odorizzi is a strike-throwing fireballer with a projectable, athletic frame and results that suggest he will be a consistent No. 2 at worst.

Santana’s Select Merlot: The ideal wine for your adulterous adventures

From CharityWines.com:

The color of this wine is intense-deep ruby purple. Aromas of ripe plums, smoky berry fruits and spice. Juicy red currant flavors on the entry, followed with rich, red cherry, black cherry and blackberry flavors extending to the mid-palate. A long finish with spicy oak and velvety fruit. Soft, lush and colorful!

Nate Pierce as a high school sophomore

In the middle of watching “Catching Hell” for the first time the other night, I had to do a massive double-take as they showed all the Niles Renegades players–the team that Steve Bartman formerly coached–picketing in support of their coach.  As one player spoke, another emerged from the left-side of the screen on crutches; a familiar face and longtime friend and reader of The Golden Sombrero.

I paused the film, turned to my girlfriend, and said, “Holy shit! That has to be Nate right there!” Quickly, I fired off a text to him hoping for confirmation.  Sure enough, Nate confirmed that he was coached by Bartman and that was him in the documentary.  Here is our exact conversation:

Me:  So dude, I’m watching “Catching Hell” and swear I saw you in it.  Am I crazy?

Nate: Haha, yeah that’s me. You know he coached me, right?

Me: I knew it was you! Holy shit! Is that the Niles Renegades?

Nate: Yeah, Niles, and he went to Notre Dame HS too.  It’s funny, I had so many people recognize me.  People at work saw it and were like, you played for Bartman?

Congratulations Nate, you’re officially famous (kind of).