Bandit Post: End Of Season - The Ugly (Vol 6.22)

[aaronweiner]

So, how does Birmingham's farm look lately? Well, at the beginning of this year, Birmingham was near the bottom overall; now, the Birmingham farm has started to bear some fruit and the Bandits now rank in the middle of the pack.

The prize of the Birmingham farm at this point has to be Pat Larkin, who has basically set the world on fire in 1997 and has all but captured the starting catcher spot for next year. We've written plenty about Larkin in the past month, and there's little question that the switch-hitting catcher will be one of the most consistent on-base threats in the MBBA very soon.

Angelo Hidalgo has finally made it to the majors, and it looks like he's probably there to stay; while Hidalgo was just league average, there's some growth potential in the big righty's repertoire. Next year is his last option year, so he might find his way back to AAA if the Bandits make James Randolph the #5 starter and go out and get some bullpen help, but there's little question he'll be back in the majors before long or be the first call-up from Monroe.

At Monroe, there are three starters who are just 20 years old, but already making a name for themselves at a very advanced level: Roy Kitt, Cleo Blanco and Gregory Sessums.

Roy Kitt is now the prize of the farm, and his unusual combination of great stuff and solid control make him the #10 pitching prospect in the MBBA. Perhaps more impressive is that Kitt is also considered the #1 lefty starter prospect in the MBBA. Kitt went 15-7 with a strong 4.40 ERA (115 ERA+) in AAA, a very good performance for such an advanced league, and was even better in the AAA playoffs. Kitt is at least a year or two away from starring for the Bandits, but it won't be long now.

Cleo Blanco is the Bandits #2 pitching prospect, and while it's easy to call him an average prospect, Blanco posted a very solid 12 wins at AAA this year. Blanco still has lots of room to improve and posted a league-average ERA last year; however, he posted a marvelous 3-0 record in three postseason starts with a 1.88 ERA. Blanco is probably Birmingham's most major-league ready prospect, but he'll start next year in AAA and get some more seasoning before he gets tossed in the fire.

Gregory Sessums is already exceeding expectations. Successful at every level, Sessums has posted above-average numbers in every minor league stop. In possession of some of the best pure stuff in the Bandits' organization, Sessums could be a big help in a year or two for the Bandits.

Draft picks from this year have been largely disappointing, with the exceptions of #1 draft pick Larry Crawford (102 OPS+), third rounder Ryan McCutcheon (188 ERA+!) and Jesus Ramos (7-4, 2.90 ERA, 54 K/24 BB, 136 ERA+). The team is hoping that these and other draft picks develop well.

Overall, a successful year for the Birmingham farm. Hopefully, bigger things are coming this year.

[lynchy34]

Damn, when did Kitt bump to 10 stuff talent? Very nice.

[recte44]

Enthusiasm over Kitt must be tempered by his severe reverse split, he looks like a LOOGY right now.

[aaronweiner]

Except that I think his stuff could be impressive enough to overcome the split. I think it depends on what he does next. He's just 20 - he could be five-star caliber in a year or two.

[felipe]

I'm digging Kitt, too. At worst case, he'll make an all-star closer.

[aaronweiner]

And, he's a fantastic situational starter; what if I went up against a team in the playoffs or during the season whose best hitters were lefties? Plus, he's not really inept against righties, just merely average.

Wait until that stuff rating's 20/17 and he's really developed that slider.

[scottsdale_joe]

I'd certainly love to have Kitt.
He looks like a winner.