• Scouting the Sally provides an in-depth scouting report on Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Julio Teheran — the Sombrero’s No. 13 prospect.  Regarded as one of the top RHP prospects in the game, and the best that they have scouted over at the Sally, Teheran could reach the big leagues in 2011, although 2012 is far more realistic considering the Braves’ already have both Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor primed to round out their rotation.  Be sure to check out the incredibly detailed scouting report as well as the video they shot last season.

• The Seattle Mariners’ second baseman of the future, Dustin Ackley, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, thus ending his chances of making the Opening Day roster.  Although the left-handed hitting Ackley — the Arizona Fall League MVP and No. 3 on our list — didn’t have a blistering Spring Training, it was by no means poor.  In 15 games he hit .269 with eight walks and 16 runs.  Considering that Brendan Ryan received the nod as Opening Day shortstop, which in turn shifts the defensively-sound Jack Wilson to second base, it shouldn’t be long before Ackley is called up.

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Mike Sweeney was the type of player who was always regarded as one of the nicest guys; a great clubhouse guy who was always genuine with his teammates.  But if anyone tried to double cross him, they quickly learned that the big fella had quite the temper — just ask Jeff Weaver or the entire 2010 Seattle Mariners team.

To honor the once prolific slugger, we decided that it would only be appropriate to showcase the real Mike Sweeney. So here it is: the video of the epic Sweeney/Weaver brawl. Enjoy.

I like the part where he refers to Jeff Weaver as “one of the better pitchers in baseball.”

Last Wednesday, my dad and I flew in to Phoenix for Spring Training.  It was our second year in a row of watching baseball that doesn’t matter in the Valley of the Sun, and this year’s trip was even better than the last.  Of course, the outcomes of the games don’t mean anything. The players we know only play four or five innings a game (if at all) and the mid-day heat of the Arizona can bother even the most ardent of fans. But none of that is important to us as we spend a few days in the sun enjoying not only the game we love, but also the return of spring and the hope of another Rockies playoff run—all of that adding up to what my brother Sean (himself not even a baseball fan) appropriately calls “The Baseball Feeling”.

The trip started with a visit to the Rangers’ facility in Surprise.  Although driving in stop-and-go traffic up dreaded Grand Avenue was an ordeal, the Rockies won a wild and wacky game over the defending AL champions, 11-10.  Among the unsurprising portions of the game were a towering blast by a minor-leaguer off of former Rockies closer Franklin Morales, a wild Rockies comeback in the late innings, and not one but two instances of poor baserunning by Eric Young Jr., one of the fastest but also one of the poorest baserunners in the game.  With the winning run at the plate in the ninth, the Rangers hit into a game-ending line-drive double play to seal a bizarre win for the Rockies.

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The Sombrero’s No. 2 prospect: Mike Trout

Now that we have unveiled all of our Top 50 Prospects, we thought it would be interesting to see what all of our readers think.  Therefore, we are holding a pre-season poll to gauge everyone’s thoughts regarding the potential 2011 Minor League Player of the Year.  Now, you may look at this list and wonder why so many of baseball’s best prospects have been omitted.  Well, it was intentional.  We have structured our ballot to focus on the players who we believe will spend the majority of the season, if not the entire thing, in the minors.

Voting Rules:

– Each person is allowed two votes

– If you select ‘other’ as one of your choices, please mention the player in mind in the comments section below, and if willing, provide an explanation.

– All votes will be locked at the start of the 2011 MLB and MiLB seasons

[poll id=”2″]

#1 Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals

OF

DOB: 10-16-1992

ETA: 2013

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