The Call-Up: Sims #17-20, 2038

[recte44]

07/31/2038: Signed a minor league contract with the Montreal Blazers organization. The Blazers called up Crtima last week but he hasn't pitched in a game yet. He's a big, hard throwing righty with a fastball that can reach up to 100 mph. Two years ago he saved 25 games at the AAA level in his original organzation, the Valencia Stars. Since then he's been bouncing around a bit, with the Brooklyn Robins first taking a minor league look at him and now the Blazers. At 26 he's old for a rookie and this is probably going to be his fifteen minutes of fame.

While Riles may never reach the top flight starter potential that most thought his future would hold, he still is a highly regarded prospect. The question here is why bring him up now? He's clearly not ready and as many would have predicted got completely shelled in his first big league start. He needs more seasoning.

07/31/2032: Signed a minor league contract with the Des Moines Kernels organization. Castro is one of these pitchers there seems to be a lot of lately. Man, those three plus pitches are enticing. And he's a lefty. But he's got no movement at all and marginal control. If anything, he might end up being an ok reliever but for an unknown reason was called up and given a start; in which he gave up two homers in three innings. He's also a horrendous character guy. Yuck.

07/09/2035: Signed a minor league contract ($4,410,000 bonus) with the San Antonio Outlaws organization. Here's a good prospect, albeit with flaws of his own. When you look at Pina at first glance he looks like exactly the type of pitching prospect that is generally scant across the league these days. Outstanding movement, good stuff, acceptable control and a frame that he can grow into. Then you start to see the potential issues. The stuck changeup. The extreme splits. His first BBA start was encouraging, but he's still got a way to go to establish himself as a starter. He reminds me a lot of Julio Velasco.

The bounty for Lorenzo Pena, Hernandez is the latest in a seemingly never-ending trickle of semi-interesting but flawed Nine lefty bat prospects. He certainly has nothing left to prove at the AAA level, having fully mashed there over the last two seasons. So he'll hit some against righties, albeit with a low OBP, and can play left field acceptably. A nice complimentary player.

01/04/2035: Signed a minor league contract ($700,000 bonus) out of Panama with the Charm City Jimmies organization. Lopez is not quite developed yet but he's not an elite prospect and the Jimmies have nothing to lose by checking him out now. Could end up being a cheap power lefty bat with a borderline hit tool but better than average defense.

09/24/2035: Signed a minor league contract out of Belarus with the Long Beach Surfers organization. The preseason #8 prospect in all of the BBA, Tchekanov is certainly one of the most interesting pitching prospects in the league. It is a bit unlike Surfers GM Stephen Lane to bring a prospect up too soon, but it could be argued it is too soon for "Satan's Whelp". The counter argument is that pitchers develop their final control at the big league level, and he's fared decently in his first two starts so maybe it's not too early. An extremely interesting five pitch arsenal coupled with a high work ethic are just two of the reasons why he's the future in Long Beach.

07/02/2038: Was claimed off waivers by Brooklyn while with Atlantic City. Though he's been through a bit of a waiver claim turnstile this season, Rosado is semi-interesting. If he had any semblance of control, we'd be talking about him like we talked about Tchekanov. Five pitches, all plus. 101 mph fastball. Endurance for days. A groundball pitcher. Highly intelligent with an extreme work ethic and loyalty. Popular with the fans both locally and nationally. All of that is awesome, but it just goes to show that when you're a pitcher and you have all those tools but can;t command your pitches, you end up with a 7.08 ERA and 2.04 WHIP. If he's going to have a shot at taking best advantage of his talents, a relief role would be his best chance of success.

10/20/2035: Signed a minor league contract out of Costa Rica with the Wichita Aviators organization. The Genius is smarter than all of us. The Genius has a plan that is so exceptional people of our limited intelligence cannot even comprehend it. That is the only explanation I can give for Pena being in the BBA with so much development left in his control. I certainly hope The Genius isn't ruining the future of one of his most promising arms.

The Wolves have been ravaged by middle infield injuries, which is why a guy like Lappin is even on a big league roster. Career organizational player- nothing to see here. He's serving his purpose which is to be a warm body that can "play" middle infield.

[RonCo]

Interesting collection of bits and pieces.

[StormZ_23]

You used the wrong Rosado in the picture

[ae37jr]

Is Jefferson related to John Ross Riles? If so I need to trade for him so he can join Lasalle and Bobovich.

[recte44]

YES, HE IS

[ae37jr]

YES, HE IS

Ed if you are listening... I'll give you a fair deal. Probably even overpay. Gotta put the trio together.