Wise Kraken 26.2032: A Thought Experiment

[aaronweiner]

With the Kraken playing respectable baseball without [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 19616.html]Valeri Kharlamov[/url], who comes off the DL this week, and with rookie [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 30011.html]Lucas Meech[/url] currently crushing it on the mound, it's time for a thought experiment. Which players in the minor leagues could help the Kraken the most, immediately, and which players should be left alone?


Hitters:


1B/DH Mario Guerrer: Guerrer has Joe Gillstrom-like potential, but he's making the leap from high-A Eau Claire to AAA Dodge City this season and the team is loathe to rush him right to the majors. The big first baseman (Guerrer is listed at 6' 9", 240) is playing well at his first AAA exposure but he's not setting the world on fire, either. 1B [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 27872.html]Chris Klein[/url] is off to an awful start again but he's only played six games.


SS Jin-Song Xuan: It's only a matter of time before Xuan comes up and is the starting shortstop, but should that happen right away? The Kraken have been getting him some experience at third base, and he's learned it quickly as with everything else. [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 18714.html]Omar Aparicio[/url] is clearly done as a starter in this league, and he'll be replaced by [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 26670.html]Carlos Graciano[/url], but Xuan is a much, much better player than Graciano.


C Francisco Flores: The 17 year old phenom is in AA this year and hitting .302, but he needs work on his defense, and did I mention he's SEVENTEEN? Surely the Kraken can wait another year or two on him, especially since [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 27902.html]Colby Stephens[/url] is off to another hot start.


OF Yi-ke Zang: [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 33140.html]Chet Gabriel[/url] had a great sim against Brooklyn and his .829 OPS in the last sim gets him out of the woods for now, but questions still surround the outfielder, who has looked lost at the major league level. Zang isn't totally ready with the bat but he's an excellent defender. Probably the least likely move of the group as the Kraken need a solid look at Gabriel.


Pitchers:

SP Bob Coleman: Coleman is the most ready callup for the Kraken. However, with the team reportedly needing to add as many as eight players to the 40-man roster this offseason (and getting back at least five spots) the Kraken might be loathe to put Coleman in that group so early if they don't have to do it, and they don't.


SP Armando Rasquilha: Rasquilha is considered the second-most ready of the Kraken super pitching farmhands, and he's playing great baseball in AAA right now. In some ways, just making it to the majors will be an accomplishment for him, as he was drafted in the 24th round. He's the most likely callup.


Fernando Marquez/Ricardo Maldonado: Almost certainly September callups, neither is completely ready.


We could see a number of new Kraken as early as May.