AL East Report- After 145 games

1. Augusta Vacationers (95-50, 13 games ahead, 16-9 since last report)

The Vacs look like they’ll win their 7th consecutive AL East crown as their magic number has dwindled down to just 5 games. Danys Vasquez has been unbelievable since returning from the 60-day DL going 7-0. Altogether he is 11-0 on the year in 13 starts with a 1.58 ERA. Rich May continues to lead the team in wins with 16 and a solid 3.32 ERA. Rubber armed reliever Vic Ordonez has appeared in 86 games and is 8-4 with 9 saves and a stellar 2.85 ERA in an amazing 158 innings of relief work.

Kenneth Cannon has been a nice shot in the arm for the offense and is hitting .312-10-30 in 59 games. Adam O’Malley has played the role of table setter very well with 36 steals and 111 runs scored while missing just 1 game. Harold Martin has played in every game this season and leads the team with 42 long balls.

Minor League Watch
Final Records
AAA- 80-64 no playoffs
AA- 100-44 #1 seed (bye)
HA- 82-62 #6 seed (vs Toronto)
LA- 83-61 no playoffs
RK- 53-23 #2 seed (bye)

Minor League Player of the Year-
CAM GREISINGER
Greisinger was the first round pick of Augusta in Season 7. The 6’4 180 22 year old played the entire season at AA and led the team to a league best 100-44 record. He crushed 50 HR’s while driving in 159 runs and scoring 143. He also had 100 extra base hits while stealing 11 bags. Tons of potential for the versatile outfielder who will be knocking on the big league door very soon.

Minor League Pitcher of the Year
TOM NEAL
Early in the Season 8 season, Neal was acquired in a trade with the Louisville Reds who made Neal their #1 selection (8th overall) in the Season 6 draft. Neal came into his own this year with a 20-6 record in 30 starts at AA. The 21 year old with an above average fastball and slider struck out 175 in 204.2 innings while issuing just 43 walks.


2. Baltimore O’s (82-63, 13 games back, 15-10 since last report)

The O’s have rebounded from their horrid post All Star game collapse and are back to playing solid baseball. While it is too late to make a run at the division, they are in a 3- team dogfight with the Toronto Thoroughbreds and Portland Red Ducks for the wild card. Only 2 of those teams will make it with the O’s being tied with Portland and 2 games behind Toronto. The team ERA is at 4.17 which is much higher than the start of the year. Miguel Estrella has had the best year at 16-6 with a 4.10 ERA. Closer Felipe Cora has 45 saves in 48 chances while appearing in 64 games. Unheralded reliever Carl Lloyd has been solid of late and overall posts a 2.68 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 90 innings of relief work.

One area the O’s could improve is on base percentage where their .335 average as a team is just 24th overall in the majors. Douglas Cardona leads the team in that area at .357 and is having a solid year with 30 HR’s & 100 RBI. Speedy Michael Kingland has 57 steals in 60 chances but has struck out 94 times in just 389 AB’s. He needs to put the ball in play more. Phil Ludwick leads the team in games played at 140 but is just 5th on the team with 62 runs scored.

Minor League Watch
Final Records
AAA- 85-59 #6 seed (vs Charleston)
AA- 83-61 no playoffs
HA- 81-63 no playoffs
LA- 37-107 no playoffs
RK- 38-38 no playoffs

Minor League Player of the Year-
BOOTS BRUNETTE
Brunette, the 22 yr old Kansas native and former 4th rounder of the O’s back in season 5 came into his own at AAA this season. He hit .349-45-159 while scoring 126 runs and racking up 40 doubles as well while leading the AAA O’s squad to a playoff appearance.

Minor League Pitcher of the Year
YORK SCHMIDT
Last season, the O’s scouting department were so confident in Schmidt, they drafted the 6’0 190 southpaw in the 1st round (#11 overall) and the flame throwing closer has not disappointed. Playing at AA at the young age of 19, Schmidt saved 25 games in 27 chances while appearing in 52 games. He skipped both A levels and was not intimidated compiling a 2.93 ERA and striking out 51 hitters in 55.1 innings.

3. San Juan Slugging Diablos (62-83, 33 games back, 10-15 since last report)

After the horrid start to the season, the Diablos have basically been a .500 team but can not find any consistency whatsoever. One 4-game winning streak was the hottest they were able to get all season. Ben Walton and Rick Douglas have both started 31 games this year. Walton is 13-13 with a 4.52 while Douglas is 10-14 with a 4.66. Season 8 first round pick Dwight Thurman has made 23 starts and is 8-6 with a 4.75 ERA but in his last 6 starts is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA.

Slugger Fred Eyre was lost for the season and it is too bad for he was having a great year. (.295-35-115 with 93 runs scored and a .382 OBP). He should be fully recovered from the torn groin muscle for next season. Lawrence Grieve has really picked up the slack in Eyre absence with 10 HR’s in his last 17 games and 36 now on the season. Lorenzo Perez is making a run at rookie of the year. Overall he is .333-34-119

Minor League Watch
Final Records
AAA- 87-57 #2 seed
AA- 85-59 no playoffs
HA- 101-43 #2 seed
LA- 84-60 #4 seed (vs New Orleans)
RK- 39-37 no playoffs

Minor League Player of the Year-
PHILIP FORRESTER
Forrester was a 7th round selection in the Season 8 draft but is now looking like a steal. He skipped Low A and came out swinging in High A totaling 46 HR and 208 RBI. His .351 average was tops on the team and he also had 61 doubles, 8 triples and a super high 1.125 OPS leading the HA squad to a 101-43 record. The Virginia Tech grad has some work to do defensively at 3rd but he may be in line to skip another level in Season 10.

Minor League Pitcher of the Year
BUCKY YORK
York was a 2nd round selection in Season 7 out of a small Texas university (Hardin Simmons). In 28 starts at AA, he went 17-4 with a 3.69 ERA. He struck out 167 in 190 innings while completing 2 games. The skinny 6’6 Wisconsin native was promoted to the bigs after rosters expanded and picked up a no decision in his 1st start allowing 2 runs in 5 innings.

4. Florida Beach Bums (45-100, 50 games back, 10-15 since last report)

Another long season for the Bums but there were signs of improvement throughout the season. Starters Don Lambert and Tom Hauser were consistent and Lambert led the team in quality starts with 18 in 28 starts. $10 million dollar bonus baby Yamid Chavez got his feet wet in the bigs and pitched well for a 21 year old. Opponents hit just .239 against the Cuban defector in 83 innings of work.

While there were signs of life from the rotation, offensively, the Bums still have work to do. Brad Roosevelt is wrapping up a solid season with .267-19-71 and Rob Towers has been productive at .280-19-82 but there is a huge lack of the big bopper. Their .319 team OBP and .699 OPS leaves a lot to be desired but ownership is being aggressive signing 1b Tony Medrano and SS B.C. Cruz and spending a combined $5.3 mil.

Minor League Watch
Final Records
AAA- 55-89 no playoffs
AA- 63-81 no playoffs
HA- 75-69 no playoffs
LA- 74-70 no playoffs
RK- 31-45 no playoffs

Minor League Player of the Year-
JORDAN O’KEEFE
O’keefe played in every game at HA and produced mightily with a .320 average, 41 HR and 133 RBI. The former 8th round pick back in Season 7 might be one of the future bum boppers so desperately needed in their lineup. At 6’3, 208 lbs, the Louisville, KY native followed up a great Silver Slugger season at LA and is making great progress.

Minor League Pitcher of the Year
CARMEN SCARSONE
Scarsone, in his 5th year in the organization finally put it together in Season 9 at HA going 15-9 with a 4.02 ERA. At 25, Scarsone needs to progress or he may be plucked in the Rule 5 draft. His 171 strikeouts in 177 innings is outstanding and the former 5th round draft pick has been durable never being disabled in 5 seasons.