Moline Organizational Report

[aaronweiner]

A Moline Mallards

Moline came within a game of winning their second consecutive Single-A title, and, along with the Macon Robins, is the talent center of the Bandits' organization.

Top prospects:

Josh Oliver

Oliver gets the top spot on this impressive list due to the fact that he won the league equivalent of the Cy Young this season, the PL Outstanding Pitcher Award. Oliver was just nails this season, allowing just 127 hits in 191 innings and posting a 18-5 record and an .85 WHIP. Oliver's future is probably as a major league reliever, but he should be a good one.

Larry Crawford

Crawford quietly had a fantastic season last year at Moline. The powerhitting first baseman led the league in total bases and extra base hits, homers and isolated power. He's also really worked on his patience, and he posted a career high .331 OBA last year. Crawford is more highly regarded by some in the Birmingham organization, and he may start next year at Macon. Some people hold him in higher regard than Hank Rayman - again, a good problem to have.

Bobby Norton

Norton, the subject of nearly every trade talk with the Bandits in 2000, was considered a disappointment by many in the Birmingham organization until August. In August, however, Norton exploded, hitting .293 with an .882 OPS in the month, which lends the Bandits some hope. Norton will start the year at Moline next year but could move up quickly.

Chris Neal

The second of two Birmingham first rounders this season, Neal posted a very impressive .318 average and .385 OBP against high-A pitching in his first major league exposure. Neal may find himself at AA Macon next year as well.

Notables:

Chris Clark

Acquired in a deal forMatt Davis, Clark was a former member of the top 100 prospect list who still has excellent batting skills for a catcher. Clark is just 21 years old, and he'll get all the time he needs to succeed, as Birmingham just re-upped Pat Larkin for three more seasons at the major league level. Clark had an impressive .758 OPS after starting the year terribly for Folsom, and if he can hit for contact he'll be a major league starter. There's a fair chance he finds himself at Macon next year.

Ryan McCutcheon

McCutcheon has failed twice to make the jump to AA. Despite fantastic movement on all his pitches and the fact that he throws reasonably hard, he just hasn't been able to put anything together at the next level. Good chance he'll start the year in Macon again, and if he doesn't perform there he might be traded. He's still young (21).

Edgardo Moran

Moran went 15-6 with a 2.72 ERA this year, but there are some red flags; his control is still lacking and he looks to be a potential 4-A player. The organization is still hoping that Moran finds his way; he's still very young.

Deep Sleeper:

Esteban de la Cruz

Esteban de la Cruz was slightly old and advanced for A-ball last year, but he did post a 16-7, 2.46 mark. He'll get his shot at the AA level. It's unlikely that he'll make it, but some improvements in key areas might get him there.

[scottsdale_joe]

Josh Oliver link is pointing at Edgardo Morán.
Or is he going incognito?

De La Cruz is 54-34 in A ball.
That's almost a career.
Time for a promotion.

[aaronweiner]

Totally right. (and I fixed the Oliver thing, thanks) He's going to AA next year.