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Things I've learned this week: Trade deadline week plus Minor League Updates do not work well together. High threshold today.

  • Joe Benson, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (8), R, 3 RBI, BB; 2-for-3. Returning to form after missing a month with knee injury; 8-for-12 in last three games and .288/.384/.477 overall.
  • Ryan Carpenter, LHP, Rays (Short-season Hudson Valley): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Nice pro debut for seventh-round pick; huge lefty with so-so stuff.
  • Cito Culver, SS, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB. Best game as a pro; .296/.377/.408 line in 38 games is one of the league's most pleasant surprises.
  • Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, K, SB. First Double-A home run in 19 games; scout note adjustments being made already and could be in line for big August.
  • Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB; 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI. Seven hits on the day lift batting average eleven points, but still at just .227/.265/.334.
  • Matt Hobgood, RHP, Orioles (Short-season Aberdeen): 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, K. 2009 first-round pick has yet to come close to the stuff he showed in high school.
  • Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (18), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. If he was on the verge of the big leagues before the injury, than why does he suddenly have some things to work on? .358/.413/.683 in 62 games and to be fair, concerns about approach and defense are valid.
  • Matt Moore, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K. The best pitching prospect in baseball; if Tampa was closer in the standings, he would potentially be a difference maker.
  • Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 2-for-3, BB, SB. Six multi-hit games in eight starts for Gwinnett; 15-for-34 (.441), but all of them singles.
  • Brad Peacock, RHP, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. First dominant start at Triple-A; should at least be in line for September look and possible Opening Day 2012 rotation slot.
  • Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-3, HR (19), R, 4 RBI, BB. Home runs in three straight games after hitting one in 35 big league contests.
  • Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, K. The creep towards .400 continues; 30-for-61 in last 15 games and .396/.438/.599 overall.

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NattyFan
7/28
Keith Law has been impressed with Brad Peacock's performance, but feels that his future is probably in the bullpen because "he's a smaller guy with a lot of effort who really has to work to repeat his delivery." Have you heard similar concerns about Peacock?
kgoldstein
7/28
I like him as a starter. I think he can do it.
crperry13
7/28
Only 11 prospects today? OH MY GOSH you are getting sooooooo lazy.

Seriously, these updates are a high point of my work day.
formersd
7/29
Agreed, one the most enjoyable moments of my day is scanning through these for Padres farmhands.
GregLowder
7/29
I saw Carpenter recently on the Cape...in the words of Larry David..."Ehhhh"
Infrancoeurgible
7/29
4 strikeouts and 4 walks in 9 NY-Penn innings for Matt Hobgood, not to mention the league is hitting .404 against the kid and he wasn't all that special in his stint in the GCL?

I'm not an Orioles fan, but is there anything left to dream on with Hobgood? Even a glimpse of the tools and velo he flashed in high school? I'd hate to deem someone on the cusp of 21 a bust, but if he's regressed to the extent that he cannot get short-season hitters out, can you still (as you often cite) "bet on the tools" even if it seems a fool's errand?
jedjethro
7/29
The Astros must be kicking themselves for not having had a chance to draft this guy.
djbrown
7/29
Any update on Fabio Martinez Mesa? Hasn't pitched all year.
McGeno
7/29
I apologize if this is off topic, but I didn't see any other articles where I could bring this up. As a Phillies fan, I was wondering what kind of hit the perceived value of Dom Brown has taken based on his big league performance so far. Obviously, his fielding has been a serious issue. Is this something that works it's way out in the case of "toolsy" guys?
TheRedsMan
7/29
Has Neftali Soto hit his way back to legitimate prospect status?