Benedicts Find 2010 Closer

According to yesterday's Chicago Daily Herald (a Bruce Miles story):

Carlos Marmol is the Cubs' closer now, and he'll be the Cubs' closer next spring, according to manager Lou Piniella.

"I see that, yes," Piniella said Monday. "I really do. I think he's done enough and shown enough. We have confidence in him enough going into spring training next year. It's his job. We'll leave it just at that."

At $31, Marmol is a bargain as Chicago figures to be competitive in 2010. Since taking over as Chicago's closer on August 23rd, Marmol has 9 saves in 10 attempts and has allowed just 6 hits, 11 walks and 4 earned runs (with 19 strikeouts) in 11 appearances and 11.1 innings. Marmol has fought control problems all year -- he as issued 62 walks in 68 innings this season. If Marmol can show improvement in this department next spring, he will be poised for a big 2010.

2009 NFL Predictions

Anerican Football Conference

East Division
1. New England Patriots (12-4)
2. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
3. New York Jets (8-8)
4. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

North Division
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (5-11)

South Division
1. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
2. *Houston Texans (10-6)
3. *Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)

West Division
1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
2. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
3. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
4. Denver Broncos (3-13)

National Football Conference

East Division
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
2. *Washington Redskins (10-6)
3. New York Giants (9-7)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
3. Chicago Bears (6-10)
4. Detroit Lions (3-13)

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
2. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
3. Carolina Panthers (8-8)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
2. *San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
3. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)
4. St. Louis Rams (4-12)

AFC Championship
Tennessee over New England

NFC Championship
Green Bay over Arizona

Super Bowl
Green Bay over Tennessee

MVP - Aaron Rogers, Green Bay
Defensive POY - Mario Williams - Houston
Offensive ROY - Hakeem Nicks - New York Giants
Defensive ROY - Larry English - San Diego
Coach of the Year - Mike Singletary - San Francisco

On Jonathan Sanchez

Since July 1, Jonathan Sanchez is 4-2 in 9 starts (10 appearances) with a 2.91 ERA and a 0.988 ratio. Sanchez is averaging 6.6 innings per start for San Francisco over this period.

Tales from the Dog Days

Geoff Blum has hit 4 home runs in the last 18 games for Houston and is now .266-9-44 in 92 games for the year. Blum, 36, is a free agent for 2010...Chase Headley has played 8 games at third base this year -- if he can qualify there for 2010 his value will increase. Headly is hitting .258-9-45 in 115 games for San Diego this year...Dexter Fowler is hitting .405 so far in August...Andre Ethier is hitting .380 with 15 RBI in 17 games so far in August...The underrated Josh Willingham has become one of Washington's best hitters this year. In 95 games, Willingham is hitting .307/.415/.588 for a 1.003 OPS. Willingham has 19 home runs and 50 RBI for the Nationals...Corpus Christi native Mike Adams has been brilliant since returning from a pre-season injury - he has allowed 14 hits and 6 walks with 31 strikeouts in 28.1 innings through last night...What to make of Kevin Correia? He has a 4.32 ERA and 1.329 ratio through 25 starts and 7 of his last 9 starts have been quality starts...Florida's Chris Coghlan is hitting .353/.403/.546 since the All-Star break and has solidified himself as Florida's leadoff hitter. Coghlan is playing outfield this year, but is still considered Florida's second baseman of the future...Dominic Brown, 21, is hitting .300/.364/.583 in 16 games since his promotion to Double A Reading...Milwaukee promoted Brett Lawrie, 19, to Double A Huntsville this week. Lawrie was hitting .274-13-65-19 in 105 games at Class A Wisconsin...Top prospect Buster Posey has not missed a beat since being promoted to AAA Fresno from Class A ball last month. Posey is hitting .295-4-15 with a .534 slugging average in 24 Triple A games...

Pudge Traded for Two "Prospects"

The Astros made a good trade yesterday, sending aging and overpriced Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers for two mid-level, though marginally promising prospects.

Pitcher Matt Nevarez, 22, is dominating in the South Atlantic League this year, where he has a 2.83 ERA and a .177 average against with 50 strikeouts in 35 innings. Nevarez's development seems to have been delayed by an injury that limited him to just 1 appearance in 2006 and no play in 2007 after he was drafted by Texas out of high school in 2005. His performance in low A ball and scouting reports showing a plus fastball say he has chance to reach Houston's bullpen in 2011 or 12.

The other player, assuming he clears waivers, is 2B Jose Vallejo, who turns 23 next month. He has struggled mightly in Triple A this year (.233/.282/.307) but his performance last year split between High A and Double A (.292/.345/.415 with 42 steals) suggests that he has potential to help a Major League club down the road either at second base or in a utility role.

Pudge had a sub-par year for Houston this year and would be gone in 2010. Houston will also get another player to be named later in the deal if Texas makes the playoffs.

What's the Point?

The Chicago Cubs named Carlos Marmol as the team's closer today.

Benedicts Acquire Andre Ethier for Next To Nothing

The Benedicts made a surprising move today by acquiring Cliff Lee in the FAAB for the maximum $67 bid, then trading Lee to the Varks along with disappointing third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff in exchange for Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier and Marlin reliever Kiko Calero.

This is a surprise because the Benedicts earlier opted out of the Matt Holliday sweepstakes last week and were a cinch this week to go bargain hunting for players like Clayton Richard and George Sherrill. The pitching thin Varks had different plans and made an offer the Benedicts could not refuse with the coveted Ethier as the bait. Ethier, 27, is having a huge year for the Dodgers, hitting .274-22-67 in 105 games -- Ethier now stands as top dog in the crowded Benedict outfield for 2010.

For his part, Calero, 34, is no slouch, posting a 1.89 ERA thus far with 49 strikeouts in 34 innings for Florida, whose closer job is in a constant state of change. Whether he sticks is a long shot, but whether he does or not, a deal that was basically Ethier-for-Kouzmanoff will stand as a winner in the Benedicts' book.

West and Miller Struggle

The Florida Marlins demoted prized southpaw prospect Andrew Miller to Triple A New Orleans back on the 21st and Miller has had nothing but trouble since. Miller allowed 9 walks and 6 earned runs in his first Triple A start on the 24th, and he suffered an ankle injury - believed not to be serious - while fielding a bunt in his second start on the 29th. In those two starts, Miller has allowed 11 walks and 10 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, fellow Marlin Sean West, who blazed on the scene with three dazzling starts -- the faded as soon as the Benedicts acquired him with an FAAB bid -- has struggled since his demotion to Double A Jacksonville. In 3 starts, West has allowed 9 earned runs in 15.1 innings pitched.

Around the Horn

The Benedict brain trust, such as it is, has returned from a scouting trip to Chicago to find this news:

* The Philadelphia Phillies promoted outfield prospect Dominic Brown from Clearwater (High A) to Reading (AA). Brown, 21, was hitting .303-11-44-15 in 66 games for the Threshers.

* The Milwaukee Brewers demoted recently acquired third baseman Bill Hall to Triple A Nashville. Hall hit 35 home runs for the Brewers in 2006, but has been in free-fall ever since. Hall was hitting .201 with 5 home runs in 71 games when he accepted the demotion. Hall is 4-8 in his first two games for Nashville.

* The St. Louis Cardinals have again promoted Khalil Greene from Triple A, hoping the shortstop has rebounded from the social anxiety disorder that has undermined his year. Greene is hitting .345-4-10 in 18 games at Triple A Memphis, but is hitting just .200 in 49 games for the Cardinals. Greene's middle name, incidentally, is "Thabit".

* Mat Latos is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a ratio under one in his first three starts for San Diego this season.

Why Prospects are Not All That

The recent Matt Holliday deal shows why acquiring a cupboard full of prospects is not such a great rebuilding strategy, particularly if you are the Benedicts. This week the Cardinals traded one of their top prospects, Brett Wallace, also a Benedict farm hand, to the Oakland A's to acquire Holliday. This trade is a good deal for the rebuilding A's, a good deal for the contending Cardinals -- and a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to the hard luck Benedicts.

Wallace, in his first professional season out of college, hit .281-5-16 with a .840 OPS in 32 games at Double A Springfield then hit .293-6-19 with a .769 OPS at Triple A Nashville before the trade to the Junior Circuit. At first glance, Wallace's numbers do not look impressive for a corner infielder, but the Cardinals did rush him through the system. That said, Wallace's .390 career OBP and .856 career OPS is nothing to sneeze at, especially if he can stick defensively at third base.

And so it goes.

College Football Trivia

College football is a few weeks away still. Nevertheless, here is a college football trivia question for you.

What two Division I-A football stadiums are closest in proximity to one another?

Carlos Delgado Traded for a Song

This morning, the Benedicts traded Carlos Delgado, the team's living embodiment of two cellar-dwelling seasons, to the Boards in exchange for the rapidly declining Bill Hall.

The Benedicts also traded their 9th and 10th round reserve picks and received the Boards' 3rd and 5th round picks.

Delgado was hitting .298-4-23 in 93 at bats when he went on the disabled list with a hip injury. Delgado was 11-26 (.423) with a home run and 7 RBI in the 7 games prior to being disabled.

Hall, 30, hit .270 with 35 home runs for Milwaukee in 2006, but has been in free fall since. So far this year, he is hitting .196 in 194 at bats for the Brewers.

Carlos Delgado is expected to return from the disabled list and should be back in the Met lineup sometime in August. If this recent history is any guide, Delgado will return to single-handedly propel the Mets past the Phillies in the National League East (and maybe the Boards to the Dixie Chicken League pennant) upon his return.

On Nick Masset

The Benedicts acquired Cincinnati pitcher Nick Masset on June 15. How has Masset performed before and after?

                    G   IP  H  R ER BB SO  ERA Ratio
Before Trade       19 24.1  8  2  2  9 23 0.74 0.698
After Trade        15 13.2 15 10  8  4 12 5.27 1.390

Miller Demoted

The Florida Marlins have demoted left-handed starting pitcher Andrew Miller (3-5, 4.81) to Triple A New Orleans. The struggling Miller has not pitched out of the third inning in his last two starts. In New Orleans, Miller will join future Marlin teammate Cameron Maybin, who is hitting .380 for the Zephyrs since June 1.

What's So Special About Accumulating Prospects?

The Elephants have been quietly accumulating draft picks for the 2010 reserve draft and to hear some people talk, the Elephants are well on their way to building the next great Dixie Chicken League dynasty. But what if we told you there already was a team in the league that has accumulated a long list of current top prospects?

This mystery team has presently on its roster, (a) Arizona's No. 1 prospect, (b) Arizona's No. 3 prospect, (c) Atlanta's No. 3 prospect, (d) Colorado's No. 1 prospect, (e) Florida's No. 1 prospect, (f) Florida's No. 4 prospect, (g) Florida's No. 9 prospect, (h) Milwaukee's No. 3 prospect, (i) New York's No. 2 prospect, (j) Philadelphia's No. 1 prospect, (k) San Diego's No. 2 prospect, (l) San Francisco's No. 2 prospect, (m) St. Louis's No. 1 prospect and (n) St. Louis's No. 2 prospect. The team also has on its roster San Diego's No. 1 prospect in 2008, Cincinnati's No. 1 prospect in 2008, Colorado's No. 7 prospect from 2007 and Detroit's No. 1 prospect from 2006 (source: Baseball America)

That is 17 Top Ten prospects on one team's roster. Not even the Elephants can accumulate that many draft picks. So if the Elephants are building a dynasty by acquiring so many draft picks, then surely our mystery team is already well down that road, right? Wrong -- this team, as blog readers know, is the cellar-dwelling Benedicts.

So the question is -- if the Benedicts' rebuilding strategy to acquire so many top prospects has spelled such doom, why are the Elephants being hailed as the next great dynasty? It's very simple -- the Elephants are playing a different game than the Benedicts.

The Elephants will no doubt use the players selected with these picks to acquire top hitting and pitching stars next season on their way to contention. In April and May this year, however, the Benedicts, found no takers for the likes of Dexter Fowler, Colby Rasmus or Jarrod Parker. In recent years, the Payolahs too have built championship teams by making big trades to acquire veteran talent for prospects in April. Strangely, no such trades were to be found this year though when the Benedicts were in the best position to trade top prospects for present consideration. This year the trade market opened up only when the Benedicts were too deep in the second division to make a serious pennant run.

So we too have no doubt that the Elephants are well on their way to contention in 2010. After all, this is the way to build a great Dixie Chicken League team -- acquire top prospects, then trade them for the hot hands. And it works -- unless you are the Benedicts.

Promotion Commotion

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the San Francisco Giants have promoted catcher Buster Posey from San Jose (Class A) to the team's Triple A club in Fresno. Posey, acquired by the Benedicts earlier this year in the Jonathan Broxton deal, is destroying California League so far this year -- in 80 games, Posey is hitting .326 with 13 homers, 58 RBIs, 45 walks, 45 strikeouts and a .967 OPS. The Giants drafted Posey, a Florida State product, with their first pick in the 2008 free agent draft.

Meanwhile, the buzz from down the coast in San Diego is that the Padres will activate Mat Latos from Double A San Antonio to the big club this weekend to start Sunday against Colorado. Latos began the season in Fort Wayne (Class A) where he was virtually unhittable in four appearance. In San Antonio, Latos is 5-1, 1.91 in 9 starts (47 innings) with 32 hits allowed, 9 bases on balls issued and 46 strikeouts.

Baseball America's Top Prospects (Mid-Season Edition)

On July 9, Baseball America posted its Top 50 prospects at the mid-season point. Some familiar names made the list:

6. Buster Posey, catcher, San Francisco
12. Jarrod Parker, pitcher, Arizona
17. Dominic Brow, outfielder, Philadelphia
21. Brett Wallace, third base, St. Louis
HM. Mat Latos, pitcher, San Diego

HM, incidentally, stands for honorable mention as the Baseball America listed the second 25 in alphabetical order.

Bad Break for Bruce

Yahoo! Sports reports that Benedict oufielder Jay Bruce broke his wrist yesterday in New York and is returning to Cincinnati today for further examinations. There is no immediate timetable for his return. Bruce is hitting .207-18-41-3 in 83 games for Cincinnati this year.

Benedicts Acquire Schlereth

The Benedicts traded Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang (16A) to the Eulogies today for minor league reliever Daniel Schlereth in an All-Star weekend deal.

Harang, 31, has been a workhorse for Cincinnati for several years, making at least 28 starts per year every year since making the Red rotation in 2004. This year, Harang is 5-8, 3.89, 1.387 in 18 starts - he makes his 19th and final Benedict start today in New York's new CitiField. Harang gives up a lot of hits (10.4 per 9 innings) and a lot of home runs (he was 2nd in total HR allowed in 2008 -- he has allowed 16 in 18 starts this year). Harang does not walk many hitters (2.1 per 9 innings this year), but the high hit rate hurts his ratio. Harang pitches in one of the National League's best hitters parks, Great American Ballpark. At $16, the Benedicts considered him at value and therefore expendable.

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Schlereth 26th overall in last year's free agent draft and signed him a month later for a $1.3 million bonus. Schlereth, 23, has been almost unhittable in his minor league appearances so far - in 12 innings last year, Schlereth allowed 6 hits, 6 walks, 2 earned runs (1.50 ERA) against 20 strikeouts. This year at Double A Mobile, Schlereth has made 18 appearances and in 23.2 innings has allowed 12 hits, 16 walks (control is an issue), 3 earned runs (1.14 ERA) and 31 strikeouts. So, the minor league record, walks aside, is stellar.

The Diamondbacks promoted Schlereth on May 30 this year and Schelerth generally struggled with consistency in 6 appearances being returned to Mobile. Schlereth pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 4 hits, 3 walks, 5 earned runs (9.64 ERA) with 7 strikeouts. On a positive note, Schlereth's final outing (June 8) for Arizona was a 1.1 perfect inning outing with 3 strikeouts against San Diego. Three days earlier on the fifth, Schlereth struck out the side in his appearance against San Diego. On the sixth though, Schlereth surrendered 4 earned runs without retiring a single Padre. The best case scenario for the Benedicts would be for Schlereth to remain in Mobile this season to polish his command then challenge Chad Qualls (yes, that Chad Qualls) for the closer's spot in Arizona next spring.

Baseball America identified Schlereth as the Diamondback's No. 3 prospect (John Sickels ranks Schlereth No. 2 in the organization) this pre-season and despite the rough two weeks with Arizona, Schlereth's performance has not dampened high expectations. The trade continues the Benedicts accumulation of National League top prospects in this second consecutive rebuilding season. The list to date (rankings supplied by Baseball America):

Jarrod Parker, rhp, Arizona No. 1
Daniel Schlereth, lhp, Arizona No. 3
Jordan Schafer, of, Atlanta No. 3
Dexter Fowler, of, Colorado No. 1
Cameron Maybin, of, Florida No. 1
Sean West, lhp, Florida No. 4
Chris Coghlan, 2b, Florida No. 9
Brett Lawrie, 2b, Milwaukee No. 3
Wilmer Flores, ss, New York No. 2
Dominic Brown, of, Philadelphia No. 1
Mat Latos, rhp, San Diego No. 2
Buster Posey, c, San Francisco No. 2
Colby Rasmus, of, St. Louis No. 1
Brett Wallace, 3b, St. Louis No. 2

P.S. Aaron Harang's last Benedict start was not a pretty one -- the Mets hung 5 earned runs and 8 hits on Harang in just 3 innings pitched. Harang goes to the Eulogy with a 5-9 record in 19 starts and a 4.18 ERA.

The Cameron Maybin Chronicles

Florida (and Benedict) minor league outfielder Cameron Maybin is enjoying a 13-game hitting streak with the Triple A New Orleans Zephyrs. During this stretch, Maybin has 8 multi-hit games and is 22-53 (.415) for the hitting streak. For the year, Maybin is hitting .343-3-21-7 in 181 at bats in New Orleans. He has a .922 OPS; exceptional, considering that he is not necessarily a power hitter.

Maybin, 22, began the 2009 season in the Florida outfield where he struggled. In 26 games, Maybin hit .202 with an anemic .589 OPS - the Marlins shipped him to New Orleans when they recalled fellow Benedict Chris Coghlan to the big club (Coghlan too has struggled, hitting .245 in 200 at bats). Maybin got off to a slow start in New Orleans, but has excelled lately and a recall to Florida appears imminent.

The Benedicts acquired Maybin for veteran outfielder Randy Winn last mongh and will have to retain Maybin as a salaried player in 2009 because Maybin has lost his rookie status. If Maybin continues his Triple A hot streak after his inevitable recall later this year and wins a starting job in the second half, the Benedicts would consider him a bargain next year at ten dollars.

Mat Latos Report

Benedict (and Padre) farmhand Mat Latos continues to mow down Texas League hitters this year and it on the fast track to Petco Park.

In his last start on July 9, Latos pitched five perfect innings with 7 strikeouts in Double A San Antonio's 5-1 win over Arkansas. In his last three starts, Latos has allowed 6 hits, 2 earned runs and zero walks (against 9 strikeouts) over 14 innings pitched. Latos seems to be on a strict pitch count at Double A -- he has pitched just 47 innings in 9 starts this season. The 6'6" right hander missed the season's first six weeks with an ankle injury.

In 13 appearances this year, Latos has a 1.37 ERA and with a .168 average against and a microscopic 0.747 ratio.

Andrew Miller

Don't look now but Andrew Miller may have finally become a legitimate Major League pitcher.

Miller has a 3.20 ERA and a 1.204 ratio in 8 starts (50.2 innings) since returning from the disabled list in early mid-May (Miller had a 6.94 ERA when he went on the DL). Last night, Miller allowed just 1 hit and 2 walks in 7 innings in Florida's 7-6 win over Baltimore at Landshark Stadium, an impressive performance by any measure.

This 8-game stretch is Miller's best pitching since becoming a Major Leaguer in 2006. Benedict fans fear false hope, though, recalling Mike Pelfrey's great second half last year (3.16 ERA, 1.140 ratio in July, August and September) that gave way to this year's meltdown (4.74 ERA, 1.473 ratio though June 23). For now, we'll enjoy watching Miller mow down Major League hiters.

Nick Masset and Milton Bradley

Like clockwork the Benedicts' newly acquired relief pitcher Nick Masset continued his instant collapse last night, allowing a run in his fourth consecutive appearance since joining the Benedicts.

Readers will recall that the Benedicts acquired Masset June 15 for Chicago outfielder Milton Bradley. When the trade occurred, Masset had a 0.74 ERA and had allowed 8 hits and 9 walks in 24.1 innings pitched (0.699 ratio) for Cincinnati.

In four appearances since the trade, Masset has pitched 4.1 innings and has allowed 6 hits, 2 walks and 4 earned runs for an 8.31 ERA and 1.848 ratio. Massett had allowed 2 hits and a walk over 7.1 innings in June up to the trade.

It is worth nothing that Bradley, a .227 hitter on June 15, is on an 8-20 streak (.400) since the trade and has raised his batting average to .248 over this short stretch.

Carlos Delgado

Carlos Delgado
Boards vs. Benedicts
2008-2009 (per 162 Met games)

Team                MG  AB  H HR RBI SB  AVG
w/Benedicts        148 364 92 15  58  1 .253
w/Boards            91 328 98 27  80  0 .299 

It's really interesting to see Delgado's production stretched over 162 Met games The third line is Delgado's career average per 162 games.

Team                MG  AB   H HR RBI SB  AVG
w/Benedicts        162 399 101 16  63  1 .253
w/Boards           162 589 174 48 142  0 .299 
Career             162 580 162 38 120  1 .280

Benedict critics argue that the team never should have acquired the aging Delgado in 2008, and should not have traded for him this off-season (though Chris Young has been no great shakes for Arizona) because of his hip injury. We respond that Delgado must have the strangest hip injury in medical history - one that bothers him only when garbed in Benedict Blue.

Kevin Correia

Benedict and Padre pitcher Kevin Correia has turned things around in San Diego - in 5 June starts, he is 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 0.903 ratio over 31 innings. In his last 2 starts, Correia has allowed 4 hits and 1 walk in 14.2 innings. This month, the 28-year old Cal Poly SLO product has lowered his ERA from 5.11 to 4.26.

Most consider Correia a 4th or 5th pitcher, but right now, he is the only Padre pitching well, what with Jake Peavy on the DL and Chris Young, Chad Gaudin, Josh Geer, Wade Sliva and Shawn Hill sporting ERAs over five. Correia had a 6.05 ERA in San Francisco last season, perhaps he has found himself in baseball's best pitcher's environment.