Remember Shawn Wooten? After flaming out as a major league infielder/catcher, he went to the Independent American Association very briefly and then bounced around the Met and Padre organizations in 2007 and 2008 before retiring.

Now, he’s back – as a coach.

The Padre organization has hired Wooten to be the hitting coach at low-A Eugene of the Midwest League.

This is the first coaching position for the 37-year-old, and let’s hope the Emeralds don’t follow Wooten’s major league example of gradual degradation. His year-by-year OPS in six big league seasons (the first four with the Angels, the last two with Philly and Boston): 1223, 798, 773, 652, 454, 0.

Notice a pattern there?

Still, Wooten brings championship experience to Eugene, having won a ring with the Halos in 2002. And it’s not as if he was merely a passenger on that team – Wooten hit .474 in the postseason, the third-highest mark that year. The only dinger he hit in the playoffs during that run came in the deciding game in the ALDS against the Yankees.

Now that’s one for trophy case.

Angel Berroa, who just missed the cut in his efforts to secure a reserve infielder job on the Yankees this spring, has gone down to Triple-A and done his best to prove he still belongs in the majors. The 31-year-old veteran of 711 big league games looked to be on his way out as far back as when the 2006 season ground to a halt, and when he didn’t even make the Royals out of Spring Training last year, it was clear his days in the organization were numbered. To his credit, Berroa hit well at Triple-A (.291, 10 homers, four steals in 51 games) before a mid-season deal sent him to the Dodgers and back to the Show. He was decent as a backup in LA, hitting .230 with 20 walks and showing a tiny bit of extra-base pop. But the Dodgers didn’t want him back, so he signed a minor league deal with the Yanks. And he’s been raking for their Triple-A squad. While he cooled off Sunday (0-for-3 but with an RBI), in his two previous games, Berroa had gone 6-for-7 with two runs, a double, two homers, five RBI and two walks. Through 11 games at Scranton-Wilkes/Barre, he’s batting a robust .356 with six runs, 11 RBI and four walks. Should an injury or continued ineffectiveness of utility men Ramiro Pena and Cody Ransom necessitate it, Berroa looks hungry to contribute at the big league level again. Of course, it would take an injury to Derek Jeter or Robinson Cano for Berroa to have a chance at any fantasy value.

By the way, in case you hadn’t noticed, the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Yankees, who won the Governors’ Cup last season, look like the team to beat again this year. They’ve won their first 11 games of the season – the longest winning streak in franchise history. Hey, at least the Yankees’ Triple-A team is playing championship ball. They lead the International League in batting average, home runs and runs scored. How sick is this offense? Just twice have they scored less than five runs. In eight of their 11, they have six or more runs; six times they’ve put up seven runs or more; they’ve counted at least eight runs five times, and four times, they’ve put up 11 or more. Here’s a tip: if you’re in a Triple-A fantasy pool, keep any starting pitchers who have a date against these guys on the bench.

Phil Hughes has anchored the Scranton rotation, and he looked very impressive on Friday, hurling 5 2/3 shutout frames, giving up just five hits and fanning six without a walk. With wins in both his starts, it’s been a very promising start to the season for Hughes, who is still just 22 – something we forget as injuries and ineffectiveness have caused false starts the past two seasons. And as Tim pointed out Sunday, with Chien-Ming Wang getting molested like a $5 whore, Hughes may get a return call to the Show very soon indeed. After he struggled with his control in the majors and was even hit hard at Triple-A in 2008, the Yanks may have been regretting not parting with Hughes as part of the package that could have landed them Johan Santana prior to the season. But if he keeps up the early-season success he’s shown with his fastball/cutter combination, Hughes may yet develop into the front-line starter everyone expected.

I was pleased to see the New York Yankees have called up reliever Steven Jackson, a pitcher who caught my eye last season when he enjoyed very nice success at Triple-A. The 27-year-old righty will be making his big league debut, and although he’s been a bit too hittable in the early going at Scranton, his bottom line results (2.84 ERA) deserved a reward. Jackson broke through in 2006, when he was a starter in the D-Back system, after fixing his mechanics and putting himself on the radar as a prospect. Unfortunately, he got off track a bit in 2007, when the Yanks converted him to a reliever, before bouncing back last season.

While Jackson deserved the call, I’m a bit surprised the Yankees didn’t send for veteran Brett Tomko, who turned 36 earlier this month and has won 95 big league games. The way he’s pitching at Scranton right now, he can definitely help the parent club’s bullpen. He was so rancid in KC last season, that we were wondering when the Royals would cut bait. Thankfully, they did just that a couple of weeks afterwards. Tomko landed in San Diego, but got hurt after just two appearances. He came back and pitched extremely well in August and was rewarded by being released at the end of the month. The Yanks penned him to a minor league deal and he pitched extremely well this spring. His reward? A trip to Triple-A. To his credit, Tomko has sucked it up and pitched brilliantly, going 1-0, 0.00 through five games. He’s saved a pair, and has given up just five hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings while whiffing eight. Tomko has been especially nasty against righties.

Finally, there’s one other minor league reliever who deserves another chance at the majors – Sean Henn. The former Yankee prospect was hurt at the start of the 2008 season and was DFAed, getting snagged by the Padres in May. Predictably, he was shelled in San Diego, thanks to his typically awful command, so the Padres outrighted him in June. In fact, Henn was ripped in his major league debut, and it’s never really stopped since. So why do I think this lefty, who will be 28 later this week, will be back in the bigs soon? I’m glad you asked. Signed by the Twins to a minor league deal in January, Henn was reassigned to the minors in late March, but he’s pitching very well at Triple-A Rochester. Friday, he was absolutely dominant, tossing two shutout innings in which he gave up just one hit and one walk, striking out five. For the year, he’s 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA through 6 2/3 IP. He’s allowed four hits and five walks (there’s that control issue again), but he’s struck out 10. Meanwhile, up on the Twins, the bullpen (other than Joe Nathan, naturally) is a mess. Jesse Crain is struggling with his control; Matt Guerrier is getting hit hard; Luis Ayala is getting shelled; Craig Breslow can’t throw strikes and Philip Humber was so rancid that he was DFAed on the weekend. That sounds like a land of opportunity to me.

Did you happen to check out the first start by Shawn Estes, currently pitching in the Dodger organization at Triple-A Albuquerque? On Monday, he surrendered just three hits and a run over four innings, striking out three and walking one. This 36-year-old lefty, the author of 101 career major league victories, has struggled with his health in the past couple of seasons, and in his nine appearances with the Padres (all but one of which were starts) last year, he was simply too hittable. And while he pitched well in 44 2/3 Triple-A innings, proving a bit harder to hit and showing better control, command issues have always haunted Estes. He had a legitimate chance to earn the fifth starter job in San Diego last season, but regardless of his solid debut this year, I think the major league chances for Estes are drying up, especially considering how pathetic he looked this spring out of the Dodger bullpen. If he stays healthy and continues to show strong command at Triple-A, he may change my opinion, but for now, it’s going to take a meteor hitting the Dodger bullpen for Estes to have value.

Another major league veteran looking to pitch well enough for the Isotopes to get back to the Show is Jeff Weaver. He got cuffed around in his first outing of the season, but looked much sharper Monday, tossing three hitless innings of relief. The 32-year-old spent the entire season at Triple-A last year, split between the Cleveland and Milwaukee affiliates, and simply put, he was rancid, going just 4-6 in a swingman role. Weaver was shelled for 16 home runs in 84 2/3 IP, walking 30 and striking out 59, while opponents battered him to the tune of .304. The Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal, hoping they’d catch lightning in a bottle, but pitching strictly out of the bullpen this spring, he was awful, surrendering way too many hits.

Outfielder Jake Fox, who almost won a bench role with the Cubs based on his big spring, has gone down to Triple-A and hit the freaking cover off the ball. He’s got at least one hit in all six games, and after Tuesday’s huge night – 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, three runs and five RBI – he’s now batting .545 with 25 total bases while displaying an excellent batting eye in the early going. A former catcher, Fox had a big season at Double-A in 2008, but struggled when he was promoted to Triple-A. This time around, he’s making a mockery of the minors, and at the age of 26, he’s ready for an extended look in the majors. Should Milton Bradley’s groin injury worsen, I’d love to see the powerful Fox get the call to replace him.

Long-time Twin Luis Rivas failed to win a utility role with the Cubs this spring, so he’s now toiling for their Triple-A squad. Well, he got off to an abysmal start (2-for-15), but the 29-year-old Venezuelan second baseman showed signs of life Tuesday, going 2-for-5 with two runs and a steal. Speed has always been Rivas’ calling card, but with a lifetime OBP of just over .300 through 2,101 big league at bats, he’s a poster boy for the old adage ‘you can’t steal first base.’ Rivas may not see a major league diamond again without a ticket.

Second baseman Nate Spears snapped an early-season slump Tuesday, going 2-for-5 with a run and a ribbie. He enjoyed a nice season in 2007 that caught our eye and earned him a promotion to Double-A. Last season, Spears was solid at Double-A, batting .299 with a .394 OBP before holding his own in a five-game trial at Triple-A. He’s back at Triple-A to start 2009, but has gotten out of the gates slowly, failing to record an extra-base hit yet. However, Spears is just 23, and after he hit .349 with 26 runs, 19 RBI and 16 walks in 23 games in the AFL last year, I’m definitely more bullish on his long-term prospects. Mike Fontenot is capable of holding the fort at Wrigley this season, but Spears could force his way into the picture if he starts to rake at Triple-A. Keep an eye on this kid.

Jeff Samardzija, one of the Cubs’ top prospects, got roughed up in his first outing out of the Triple-A Iowa pen, but he sure looked good in his first start Monday, giving up just two hits and no earned runs over four, fanning four and walking one. At one point, he retired 11 straight batters. This 24-year-old righty has a bright future, and the while the Cubs used him as a reliever in the majors last season, they sent him down this spring to have him start again. In 2008, as a starter in Double-A, he struggled with his control, but looked much better at Triple-A (even though he had some issues with long balls). Converted to relief upon his major-league promotion, Samardzija was superb, and solved the home run problem with ease. As soon as the first Cub starter goes down (Rich Harden, anyone?), expect Samardzija to get the call.

It looks like Mitch Jones will never make it to the Show. Now 31, the one-time ASU star (he set a single-single record by mashing 27 homers his final season there) is struggling badly at Triple-A Albuquerque. An 0-for-5, two-strikeout night Tuesday has him down to .111 through six games. Jones, a seventh round pick of the Yankees back in 2000, has split the past two seasons between Japan and the Dodgers’ organization. He actually enjoyed his finest Triple-A season, batting over .300 for the first time as a pro, in 2007, but wasn’t nearly as good last year, slipping to .275 in 200 at bats. This year, however, it’s become clear that this Crash Davis type (he’s now hit over 200 career minor league dingers) won’t ever get that moment in the sun despite his prodigious power.

Lefty Scott Mitchinson, selected as a Midwest League All-Star, got some good news this week when an MRI on his injured elbow showed no structural damage. He’s been cleared to start rehab, and that’s great news considering the breakout season he was enjoying for Kane County. Originally signed by the Phillies in 2003 from Australia, the 23-year-old was taken by the A’s in the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft last year, and after a strong 2007 at three levels, he really has put himself on the map this season. Through 71 innings, Mitchinson has given up just 54 hits, one homer and 11 walks, while fanning 70. Overall, he’s 5-3, 1.90, and if he can regain his health soon, could be in line for a promotion to High-A before season’s end.

Tyson Ross, the A’s second round pick in last month’s draft, is also dealing with injury issues. He was put on the DL July 1 because of his shoulder, but also was given the go-ahead for rehab after a clean MRI. The 21-year-old righty had only made two professional appearances so far, but was impressive, giving up just two hits and one earned run, walking none and striking out five in five innings. Ross was a Pac 10 All-Star at California last year when he went 6-6, 2.49 with 120 strikeouts and just 39 walks in 115 2/3 IP.

The A’s look like they have another solid bat on their hands in Corey Brown, a first round supplemental pick (59th overall) in last year’s draft. The 22-year-old outfielder was leading Kane County in homers (14), RBI (48), was second in steals (12) and was batting .270 with 40 walks in 84 games before getting promoted to High-A Stockton last week. In four games in the Cal League, Brown is not looking overmatched at all, batting .333 with six runs, a homer and four RBI. Keep an eye on this kid, keeper league owners.

Talk about the fast track, have you seen what Ben Revere, the Twins’ first rounder from last season, has done? The 20-year-old outfielder is batting .401 through 59 games with 20 walks and 28 steals. Talk about top-of-the-order skills. This is definitely Minnesota’s centrefielder of the future, and keeper league owners would be wise to jump on him soon. A kid with a batting eye like that doesn’t come around very often.

The Tigers prospect cupboard has been accused of being fairly barren, but they’ve hit a home run this year with 24-year-old righty Alfredo Figaro. He struggled at High-A after a mid-season promotion in 2007, but he’s dominating at Class-A this year, going 11-2, 1.76 with 86 strikeouts against just 29 walks. Opponents are batting a mere .200 against Figaro. Still, because he took a step backward this year, I’ll be more excited when I see him doing this in High-A ball or higher.

Another speedster who has consistently put up high averages is Adrian Ortiz, a 21-year-old outfielder taken in the fifth round last year by the Royals. He’s batting .316 through 91 games with 27 steals, but unlike Revere, Ortiz’s command of the strike zone isn’t advanced, so I worry that he’ll struggle as he moves up. He’s young enough to adjust, so at least bears watching over the long term.

Another young Tiger hurler who’s taken a big step up this year is 21-year-old southpaw Jonathan Kibler. Just a 30th round pick in 2007, Kibler has already proved to be a bit of a diamond in the rough, enjoying a strong pro debut last year, split between the GCL and NYPL. This season he’s been even more impressive, going 8-3, 1.99 through 15 starts. In 99 2/3 IP, Kibler has been virtually unhittable (62 hits allowed), while showing tremendous command (81 Ks to 21 BBs).

Another Midwest League kid I’m keeping my eye on is outfielder Engel Beltre. Originally signed by the BoSox out of the Dominican Republic, Beltre was dealt to Texas in last season’s Eric Gagne deal. This 18-year-old is having no problem in Class-A, an impressive feat. Through 87 games, he’s batting .287 with 19 doubles, eight triples and seven homers. He’s shown some speed, but like many youngsters, needs to learn to take a walk. Still, Beltre is heating up, with four straight multi-hit games, so I think the Rangers could have a future star in the making here.

I also like the development shown this year by 21-year-old righty Jackson Quezada, signed by the Padres from the Dominican in 2003. He’s looking like a potential future closer, having saved 16 games in 40 appearances for Fort Wayne. He’s certainly been dominant enough, fanning 48 in 43 2/3 IP, with just 31 hits and only one homer allowed while compiling a very sweet 2.27 ERA. Quezada looks ready to move up to High-A ball shortly.

The team’s bullpen had been cruising in June, but this month, hasn’t quite enjoyed the same level of success. Take Marwin Vega, for instance. Converted from starter this season, the 21-year-old Columbian righty was rock solid last month, but he’s been hit hard in three of his four appearances in July, getting scored on twice, including one very ugly outing when he was charged with five earned runs in one inning, allowing a 7-2 lead to slip away. Vega’s young, but having already flamed out as a starter, and dealing with serious command issues this year, I have my doubts about his future prospects.

The Diamond Jaxx took home the first half division title, thus guaranteeing themselves a spot in the four-team Southern League playoffs. It’s a damn good thing, because West Tenn has struggled to a 6-16 start in the second half, finding itself in dead last in the North Division. Having lost three Southern League All-Stars (RHP Rich Dorman, closer Mumba Rivera and 2B Luis Valbuena) plus C Luis Oliveros and OF Mike Saunders – all promoted to Triple-A Tacoma — the club has dropped six straight and has managed just one win in its last ten games. Ironically, Tennessee, the first-half cellar dweller, is now the front runner in the North.

Pitching has really been killing the club in the second half, with an average of 6.6 runs against through the first 14 games. Compare that to its first half performance of 4.4 runs allowed per game and it’s easy to see why this team has gone from first to worst. Of course, the fact that Dorman, who led the team in wins, and Rivera, who paced the Jaxx in saves, were promoted is a big part of this trend. Injuries have hurt as well. Veteran minor leaguer Anderson Garcia, who made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year, was promoted from High-A to either start or perhaps close, but he landed on the DL with shoulder problems. Another veteran, Denny Stark, who made 64 appearances over five big league seasons, has had his return from two Tommy John procedures stalled. Pitching professionally for the first time since 2005, he struggled with his command in seven starts and then landed back on the DL a few weeks ago. At the age of 33, the pitcher who went 11-4 for the Rockies in 2002 may be just about done.

We all know about Jeff Clement, who may or may not stick behind the plate in Seattle. But down in Double-A, 24-year-old backstop Adam Moore continues to impress with his powerful stick. Seattle’s sixth round pick in 2006 broke through last year, earning California League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star honours as well as making the Topps Class-A All-Star squad thanks to a massive season (.307, 30 doubles, 22 homers, 74 runs, 102 RBI and 41 walks with a 914 OPS in 115 games). Moved up to Double-A this season, Moore isn’t quite putting up the same numbers, but he’s not far off the pace with a .303/.375/.474 line and 21 doubles, nine homers, 45 runs, 49 RBI and 25 walks. If Moore continues his hitting exploits, the Mariners are going to have a good kind of problem with two very gifted offensive catchers on their hands.

Shawn Kelley, a 24-year-old right-handed reliever taken in the 13th round last year, has whipped through the system quickly. He pitched at two levels in 2007, and is already working on his third level of 2008. After fanning a dozen batters in just 7 2/3 IP at Wisconsin of the Class-A Midwest League, Kelley was promoted to the High-A Cal League, where he limited opposing batters to a .186 mark in 12 scoreless outings. Since arriving in Double-A, he’s also been flawless – until Sunday, that is, when he took the loss after surrendering his first earned run in 16 innings of work. Clearly, Kelley is a man on the fast track, so should the Mariners need bullpen help in the second half, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get the call.

Brodie Downs was taken in the 23rd round in 2007, and he’s also moved very quickly. But let’s bear in mind that he will be 29 years old next week, so I’m not big on his prospects of having much of a career. He pitched very well in a set-up role at Double-A last year, and despite control problems in a brief look at Triple-A, held his own. But shifted to a long relief role this year, he’s been more hittable. On the plus side, the 6’4”, 235-pound Downs has been moved into the rotation for a pair of starts and has yielded just two earned runs in 11 combined innings. If he can improve his command as a starter, perhaps Downs will earn himself another look at Triple-A before the season ends.

Converting relievers to starters has been a common occurrence in West Tenn, by the way. Of its first 14 games in the second half, eight were started by converted relievers.

Marshall Hubbard, an eighth rounder in 2004, is enjoying a breakout season, in this, his third go round at Double-A. The All-Star first baseman recently returned after spending over a month on the DL with a strained oblique, and he’s struggled to regain his first-half form. His overall numbers, however (.329/.441/.561 with 26 runs, 16 doubles, six homers, 35 RBI and 29 walks in 164 at bats), indicate he’s ready for Triple-A action. The former Tar Heel is already 26, so I can’t see much more than a future bench player here, but stranger things have happened. Hubbard, by the way, was a 2004 third team All-American outfielder. Before he got hurt, he was near the league lead in BA, runs and RBI.

Anchored by organization-developed stars like Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Daniel Cabrera and Garrett Olson, a system that was in total disarray very recently is now at very least mediocre, and improving rapidly. The last three drafts have proved much more fruitful for the O’s, something that will stead this team well as it looks to make hay in the tough AL East in the coming years.

Let’s examine some of the future Orioles we’ll be hearing more about soon:

Colin Allen, a 21-year-old righty the O’s selected in the 22nd round last year, has been almost untouchable so far this season with the Rookie-level Bluefield Orioles. Armed with a go-to curveball and a 91 mph fastball, the converted outfielder has struck out 15 batters in a team-high 13 1/3 IP, limiting opponents to a BA under .175. Allen credits Bluefield pitching coach Troy Mattes with instilling in him the idea that pitchers shouldn’t give hitters too much credit – a concept that’s stead the youngster very well as he puts himself on the map as a prospect.

Lance West, a 39th round pick in last month’s draft, is proving to be a real great late-round steal so far, seamlessly making the transition to the pro game. The 20-year-old is hitting for power (four homers, .730 SLG), average (almost .300) and is showing on-base skills (with an OBP of almost .425). Coming off back-to-back multi-hit games, West is on a tear and may be a candidate to move to Class-A before season’s end.

Catcher Wally Crancer, a 12th round pick in 2007, has made great strides offensively this season. Through 45 games at Class-A Delmarva, he’s batting .296 with four homers and 16 walks. He’s been converted from the outfield to help advance his career, and so far, it has not affected his offense, a very common occurance when a player is shifted, especially behind the plate. Crancer has also played some left and right field, DH and even first base, so the team is doing whatever it takes to keep the soon to be 24-year-old’s bat in the lineup. He’ll need to move quickly to have a chance to become a prospect.

I love what I’m seeing out of Zach Britton, a third round pick in 2006. The 6’2” lefty has handled the move up to Delmarva with ease this season, going 7-5 with an excellent 2.85 ERA through 16 starts. He’s yielded just 76 hits and 25 walks in 88 1/3 IP, fanning 64. Just 20 years old, this is a kid that needs to be watched.

Jake Arrieta, the O’s fifth rounder last year, is performing quite admirably in his professional debut for the Class-A Frederick Keys. Despite some recent struggles, the 22-year-old righty is 5-4 with an ERA barely over 3.00 and 91 Ks in 89 2/3 IP. He’s allowed just 64 hits. At one time, Arrieta was expected to go in the top 20 picks of the draft, but he slipped all the way to the fifth round when he pitched very inconsistently in the month leading up to the draft. He could prove to be a serious steal, and is someone to watch in keeper leagues.

Matt Wieters, the fifth overall pick last year, signed too late to make his pro debut in 2007, but man, is he ever living up to the hype this year. The 22-year-old switch hitting catcher dominating High-A ball, batting .345 with 15 homers and 44 walks in 69 games before a recent promotion to Double-A Bowie. Clearly, the higher level is not intimidating Wieters, as he continues to wield a potent bat (.292) with power (one homer and three doubles in 24 at bats) and superior plate discipline (five walks, three strikeouts). Make no mistake: this kid is the real deal, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s ready to challenge for a starting job in B-More as soon as next spring. In fact, I would be shocked if Wieters isn’t in the majors by this time next year. Expect to see him at the very top of most prospect lists heading into 2009.

David Hernandez, Baltimore’s 16th round pick in 2005, has arrived as a prospect this season after some very middling results his first two pro seasons. The 23-year-old righty has made the jump to Double-A – the toughest leap for a pitcher – look easy. He’s 5-1, 2.63 with 100 strikeouts in 89 innings, while limiting opponents to a .209 BAA. Hernandez has been especially untouchable in his last four starts (seven hits and two earned runs in 24 2/3 IP, showing near no-hit stuff in back-to-back starts), so if he can sharpen his control a smidgeon, we could have a serious prospect on our hands here.

Chris Tillman, Seattle’s second rounder in 2006 who came to the O’s in the Erik Bedard deal, has looked fantastic at Bowie. Just 20, this righty has a very bright future, and the fact that he’s been able to maintain a solid K rate (81 in 79 IP) despite the jump to a higher level at such a young age has me very impressed. Opponents are batting just .214 against Tillman, a name that needs to targeted in keeper leagues.

Outfielder Nolan Reimold, despite solid numbers, has been a bit of a disappointment at Double-A only because in his half-season there in 2007, he was fantastic. Still, he’s coming around of late and definitely looks to have his power mojo back with six dingers, a double and nine RBI in the last five games. If this keeps up, he could find himself at Camden before season’s end.

Veteran Chris Richard is making a play to get back to the Show. He launched a pair of dingers Saturday, becoming the first Bull this season to produce a five-RBI day in the process, to continue a serious roll. The 33-year-old, who played four seasons in the bigs, last appearing there in 2003 with the Rockies, is coming off a fine Triple-A campaign in 2007. After a sluggish start this year, he’s taking it to the next level, going 15-for-30 on the Durham homestand with three dingers and ten RBI. Richard’s got some pop, but of course, so does the current first baseman in Tampa Bay. Still, Richard is proving that he could supply some power off a major league bench as an extra corner infielder/outfielder.

One vet who does not look ready to get back to the majors is Tomo Ohka. Currently toiling for the Charlotte Knights (the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate), Ohka has been battered in three of his last four starts, dropping to 0-7, 6.12 for the year. In 50 IP, he’s given up 66 hits and 20 walks. Uh, yeah. As bad as Ohka was in his ten starts for the Jays last year, he’s been even worse in the minors. Of course, who knows what that means. Last season, Ohka was actually better in the majors than he was in the minors, and that’s not saying much. Frankly, it’s about time the 32-year-old chose another occupation.

The Rays may soon need to free up some space for outfielder Justin Ruggiano. After he put up a big year at Triple-A in 2007, showing a very nice power-speed combo, he made his major league debut. This year, he’s already earned a bit of PT in Tampa when B.J. Upton was hurting, but he has taken things to a whole new level down in the minors. The 26-year-old is 9-for-20 during his current five-game hit streak, scoring seven runs and driving in eight with a double and homer. For the year, Ruggiano is up to .360 with 20 RBI in 21 games and 75 at bats. This guy is ready for a crack at the majors.

As if Tampa didn’t have enough options, minor league veteran Jeremy Cummings is suddenly looking like he’s finally ready to take on the majors. The 31-year-old righty, originally a 21st round pick of the Cardinals way back in 1999, has been toiling at Triple-A for years. Now in his first season in the Rays organization, he’s 2-0, 1.64 through his first two starts, with just six hits allowed in 11 IP. On Saturday, pitching on just three days rest, he tossed an impressive five innings for the W. Could we have a Jim Morris, Part Two on our hands in Tampa Bay?

Remember Ben Hendrickson? The one-time Brewer pitching prospect who got battered in each of his big league trials is now in the Ray organization, and so far, it’s been a smart pickup by Tampa Bay. Hendrickson is still just 27, so who knows? The lightbulb may still come on for him at some point. He’s certainly getting the job done at Durham this year, notwithstanding some serious control issues. He’s almost always had some challenges with walks, but this year, it’s real bad. Still, how can you ignore a starter who is holding the opposition to a .175 BAA? That’s worth tracking, I’d say.

Should the Rays need some help in middle relief, it looks like Calvin Medlock is ready. A 39th round pick by Cincy in 2002, the 25-year-old righty came to the Rays last year in the Jorge Cantu deal, and it’s another smart move by Tampa Bay as this kid appears to have some upside. Through 11 appearances, he’s 1-1, 1.50 with just ten hits allowed in 18 IP. The control is a problem (ten walks), but believe it or not, it’s actually an improvement over his Triple-A debut last season.

Okay, so Grant Balfour didn’t win a job in the Rays’ pen. But he’s gone down to Triple-A Durham, grabbed the closer job, and run with it. On Saturday, pitching in a non-save situation, he gave up his first run of the season. The 30-year-old Aussie is 1-0, 0.49 with six saves and he’s been touched for just five hits in 18 1/3 IP while fanning 29. No, those aren’t Nintendo numbers. I have always been a big fan of Balfour, and while he flopped in the majors last year, these results warrant another shot for him.

If Kennedy flops again, one name to keep an eye on is Steven White. The Yankees’ fourth rounder in 2003, White keeps improving his Triple-A numbers to the point where he’s sneaking onto the radar as someone who can help the big league team. Ranked by Baseball America as the fourth best prospect in the system in 2004, the 26-year-old slipped from the list the past few years, but his numbers this year are screaming out for attention. Smart owners will listen, as White has won his last three starts and is 4-1, 2.66 overall, with 35 Ks in 47 1/3 IP. I think he’s ready to at least get an audition, and given the holes in the Yanks’ rotation, that may be coming soon.

Another Yankee farmhand who is showing progress this season is outfielder Brett Gardner, the team’s third round pick in 2005. Gardner had an excellent season at Double-A last year, but found the adjustment to Triple-A somewhat challenging after a mid-season promotion. This year, despite some recent struggles, he’s picked up the pace, batting .285 through 36 games and 130 at bats. Gardner has displayed nice extra-base pop, good strike zone judgment, patience and speed. The highest drafted player in the history of the College of Charleston, the 24-year-old Gardner is someone with strong top-of-the-order skills who could carve out a major league career once opportunity comes knocking.

Andrew McCutchen, who we ranked 17th among our top 35 prospects heading into the season, is having some challenges at Triple-A recently, batting just .205 over the past ten games with 14 strikeouts. Let’s bear in mind that he’s still only 21, and overall, I like the progress he’s shown this year, both in terms of on-base skills (20 walks in 39 games after walking just four times in 17 games in his first taste of Triple-A last year) and power (ten doubles, six homers and 19 RBI). This guy’s got speed, developing power and can hit for average. Expect to see McCutchen rise into the top 10 prospects for 2008, assuming he isn’t in Pittsburgh long enough this year to lose his rookie eligibility. Right now, the Buccos don’t have any room for him with all three of their starting outfielders playing well. And with the Pirates actually hanging around .500 still, there’s no reason to start the youth movement quite yet. McCutchen is definitely a name to tuck away for the second half, however.

Remember Scott Strickland? The former Expo spent six seasons in the bigs, recording a 3.34 ERA through 236 games. But he hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2005 with Houston. Now in the Yankees’ organization, this 32-year-old reliever is pitching pretty well so far in 2008, going 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA and over a strikeout per inning. He’s held righties to a .220 BAA, so perhaps he can still help a major league bullpen.

Still with the Yankees’ Triple-A bullpen, veteran minor leaguer Scott Patterson is starting to figure out this level after some early-season struggles. The 28-year-old righty was dominant at Double-A in 2007, recording a 1.09 ERA with 91 strikeouts and just 15 walks and 45 hits allowed in 74 1/3 IP, earning his first career Triple-A appearance along the way. Well, he started sluggishly this year, but is coming around with seven straight appearances without an earned run allowed, lowering his season mark to 3.00 through 16 games. He’s got good control and is striking out one per inning, so perhaps he’ll be considered as a possible injury replacement on the Yanks should it be necessary.

Billy Traber, who made the team out of Spring Training as the Yankees’ left-handed reliever, has struggled somewhat since his demotion back to Triple-A last month. He actually wasn’t awful in New York, but wasn’t exactly dominating southpaws, so the team felt no need to keep him around. Since his return to the minors, Traber’s numbers aren’t good (4.91 ERA), but his peripherals are strong (six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 IP). This 28-year-old could get another shot in the Yankee pen later this season.

Here’s another name to track in the bullpen of the Yanks’ top affiliate – David Robertson. The team’s 17th round pick in 2006 dominated at Double-A, earning a quick promotion to Triple-A. Since taking a beating in his debut, Robertson has settled down with three straight scoreless outings, even earning his first Triple-A win in his last appearance. He’ll need to sharpen his control to get a chance in the bigs, but considering this righty is just 23, let’s cut him some slack as he adjusts to the higher level.

Finally, Steven Jackson is also pitching very well in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre bullpen. Arizona’s tenth round pick in 2004, Jackson came to the Yankee organization in the Randy Johnson trade last year. He began the year at Double-A, but has since been promoted to Triple-A, and although his overall numbers the two levels aren’t eye popping (4.50 ERA through 14 games), his peripherals suggest he’s pitching much better than that, with just 24 hits and eight walks allowed while he’s fanned 28 in 28 IP. He even chalked up his first Triple-A save earlier this week after picking up one in Double-A.

R.A. Dickey, who was called up last month to fill in for Erik Bedard and predictably took a beating in his couple of appearances with the Mariners, has struggled since his demotion back to Triple-A. He’s lost his last three starts, surrendering 32 hits in 21 innings. Still, his season ERA of 3.25 is impressive, so Dickey could get another look as an injury-fill in, assuming he stops getting tattooed in the minors.

Another pitcher who’s doing pretty well is Iowa starter Randy Keisler. He earned the win Wednesday for his six-inning, six-hit, one-earned run effort that included four Ks against two walks. Keisler wasn’t exactly the tonic the Cardinals needed last year with Chris Carpenter out, and he wasn’t long for the job. But this season his hit rates haven’t been awful, his command has been good, and he’s averaging almost a strikeout per inning with a fine 3.50 ERA for the Cubs. Given Jon Lieber’s rather horrific debut in the rotation, perhaps Keisler, the former Yankee prospect, will get another look in a major league rotation. Of course, he’s never done much with the opportunities that have been presented to him, so maybe this isn’t as juicy a prospect as you think. Still, you never know when lightning will strike, and Keisler’s peripherals do suggest that his improvement may be real, especially given a much higher groundball rate to date.

Should the Cubbies require bullpen help, Jose Ascanio is worth a look. The former Brave farmhand just turned 23, so there’s plenty of upside here. And he’s done a superb job as the Iowa closer, with just 14 hits allowed and 16 strikeouts in 17 1/3 IP. Ascanio, with a 1-0 mark, 2.60 ERA and seven saves, will get another chance in the majors very soon, and he’s got future closer written all over him, although Carlos Marmol looks quite qualified to step up should Kerry Wood falter.

Josh Towers wasn’t awful last year in his role as a swingman for the Jays, but he sure is sucking in his current capacity as a starter for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sox. Through five starts, he’s showing his usual good control (five walks), but has also been touched up for five long balls. Towers was in contention for the fifth starter job in Colorado this spring, but don’t expect the Rox to come calling for the 31-year-old righty any time soon with those kinds of results.

Remember when Chris George was a prospect? The Royals first rounder (31st overall) back in 1998, George last appeared in the majors in 2004, and judging by how badly his game has deteriorated, he won’t be back any time soon. Pitching out of the Sky Sox pen (he’s not even good enough to be a Triple-A starter any more), George has been torched for a .390 BAA through 14 innings. The good news? He has yet to yield a long ball after coughing up 21 last season.

Matt Daley, another Colorado Springs reliever, looks like someone who could actually help the big league club at some point this year. He had a decent year as a swingman for Double-A Tulsa last season, but stepped up this year, earning a quick promotion to Triple-A, where he’s held his own for the most part, despite a couple of rough outings recently. Daley, a 2005 Sally League All-Star, has fanned 15 in 11 2/3 IP, the kind of dominance that gets noticed.

Another reliever I expected could help the Rockies this year was Juan Morillo. He’s had unsuccessful cups of coffee with the big league team the last two seasons, and put himself on the radar with a dominant showing in Double-A last year. However, Morillo’s control has completely gone AWOL in this, his first full year of Triple-A. While opponents are only batting .241 against him, and he’s striking out better than a batter per inning, Morillo has walked an ungodly 18 in just 8 2/3 innings. Things are looking a bit better for him over the last few outings, so perhaps he’s nipping this problem in the bud. Morillo will need to if he has aspirations of seeing any significant time in the bigs this summer.

Back in Spring Training, I wrote about Padre pitching prospect Wade LeBlanc and how his changeup had put him in the picture for the San Diego fifth starter job. Uh, yeah. Well, he’s been rancid at Triple-A Portland so far, and is clearly not adjusting to life at this level. LeBlanc, the team’s second rounder in 2006, has progressed through the system very quickly and is only 23, so there’s plenty of time for him to figure things out. But through his first five starts, he’s been shelled for 35 hits, five homers and 13 walks in just 22 1/3 IP. In particular, LeBlanc’s last two starts have been horrible, so perhaps he’s battling an injury. His flyball rate is up, and that’s not helping matters. This kid has talent, his track record is strong, and he was very solid in 2007 at both High-A and Double-A, so keep an eye on him.

OF Sean Barker, who made his MLB debut last year for Colorado, continues to put up consistently strong numbers in this, his third year of Triple-A, as mostly a part-time player. A six-game hit streak has him up to .291 for the year, with 20 RBI in 24 games. More promising still, after walking 14 times in 72 games last season, Barker has already drawn 10 free passes this year, a newfound skill that should help put him in line for a call up should injury to one of the Rockies’ outfielders necessitate an extra flyhawk at Coors. Barker, the team’s sixth rounder in 2002, will be 28 next month, so the best we can probably hope for is he carves out a career as a fourth or fifth outfielder.

Remember Enrique Gonzalez? The D-Backs’ fifth starter in 2006, who got all of one start last year with the Snakes after a less than impressive year at Triple-A? Me thinks that Arizona gave up on the still-just-25-year-old too soon. He was waived, and claimed by the Nats in September, but they never brought him up, and in February, San Diego claimed him. Gonzalez made the team out of Spring Training, but was outrighted a couple of weeks ago after starting poorly. Since moving to Portland, Gonzalez was strong in a couple of relief appearances and decent in his only start. But with 13 strikeouts in just seven innings, it’s clear that Gonzalez could be an asset in the Padres’ pen at some point. I’d keep an eye on him.

Former Diamondback prospect Adam Bass is getting roughed up something fierce in the Portland Beaver bullpen. Bass, a 10th round pick by the D-Backs in 2003, was excellent at Triple-A Tucson last year, garnering attention from the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the NPB, if not Arizona. He spent the rest of the season in Japan, but was hammered for 30 hits in 15 1/3 IP. Now, he’s back in Triple-A, and appears no closer to getting to the majors. He’s pitched a bit better his last couple of times out, but has been ripped for 20 hits and six walks in just 12 2/3 IP over 10 appearances. The 26-year-old righty will need to show marked improvement if he’s hoping to make his big league debut this year.

Duncan’s teammate, Jason Lane, appears to be in no rush to get back to the Show. Discussed as someone in the mix for the Yanks’ first base job this spring, Lane is scuffling badly at Triple-A. He’s stuck in a 4-for-29 skid and is not being productive, with just 10 RBI in 20 games after driving in 41 in 50 games in Triple-A last season. If Lane can’t hit Triple-A pitching, how the hell is he supposed to prove that he still can’t hit major league pitching? At the age of 31, it’s time to consider Lane an organizational player.

With Mike Mussina struggling and the Yanks forced to give prospect Ian Kennedy a trial, it will interesting to see what happens if the kid fails as well. Perhaps the Pinstripers will turn back to Chase Wright, up earlier this season when injuries were decimating the Yankee rotation. After his performance on Saturday, you’d think the kid had earned another shot. Wright’s four-hit shutout marked his fifth win with Double-A Trenton to go along with eight Triple-A wins and one with the big club. Wright’s done very well in Double-A, holding opponents to a .240 BAA in 54 2/3 innings, and avoiding the command issues he faced in Triple-A and the majors. He’s been particularly nasty against Binghamton, tossing 15 consecutive goose eggs against the Mets.

Don’t look for catcher Mike Nickeas to soon be following in fellow Canuck catcher Russell Martin’s footsteps. If he somehow makes it to the majors, it won’t be on the strength of his hitting. The 24-year-old has shown no offensive ability in recent seasons, and his .214 mark with one homer and 14 RBI in 60 games and 196 at-bats for Double-A Binghamton this season does not bode well. A former fifth round by Texas in 2004, Nickeas was dealt to the Mets for Victor Diaz last year. He’s looking like a future third-stringer at best, assuming he can find his way to Triple-A at some point.

Mets’ pitching prospect Jose Sanchez, after winning 22 games the past two years at Class-A and High-A, has endured some growing pains in his adjustment to Double-A. The 23-year-old righty has battled control issues and allowed too many baserunners to experience pronlonged success at this level, hence his lackluster 4-8, 4.23 mark through 26 starts. On the plus side, he’s enjoyed a much better second half, going 3-4, with a 3.55 ERA, and before taking a bitch-slapping on the weekend, Sanchez had rhymed off eight straight starts of three earned runs allowed or less. More of that will allow him to work his way into the picture down the road.

Jamal Strong, who we checked in on a couple of months ago, noting his fine OBP this year, has been sent back to Double-A and isn’t hitting like he’s ready to head back to Triple-A any time soon. He’s stuck in a 2-for-15 slump, batting just .212 in the last 10 games, .218 in August and .205 since the All-Star break. Overall, Strong has actually shown some modest improvements this year, with a 680 OPS through 270 combined at-bats, considering last year his OPS was just 631. But the fact that he’s had to spend more than half his season at Double-A suggests that Strong is further, not closer to getting back to the majors, where he last showed up in 2005.

On Friday, we discussed how Virgil Vasquez got skipped over for promotion by the Tigers. Today, we’ll bring you up to speed on yet another Detroit farmhand who has been passed by. Watching Cameron Maybin go from High-A to Double-A to the majors in about a week’s time really helped illustrate how far Brent Clevlen has slipped in the organization’s eyes. Ranked by Baseball America as the third-best Detroit prospect heading into the season, Clevlen has endured a second straight tough season, and if the 23-year-old outfielder doesn’t turn things around soon, I have my doubts about his ability to stay at the Triple-A level. This is a kid who was named to the AFL Rising Stars team in 2006, and – albeit, surprisingly – earned a 31-game trial with the big club last year. This season, however, a broken finger in May helped derail Clevlen’s season, forcing him back to the GCL for a 14-game rehab assignment. He began to turn things around in July, even earning International League Player of the Week honours for the period ending July 16, but Clevlen has gone right back into the tank of late. He’s currently mired in an 0-for-22 slump, with a .143 BA over his last 10 games and a .196 mark in August. This swoon has helped drop Clevlen’s overall numbers down to a 661 OPS through 75 games and 274 at-bats at Toledo. He has 11 doubles, four triples, six homers and four steals with an ugly 31/94 B/KK ratio. The big problem here is Clevlen’s inability to hit righties – his OPS is just 626 against them. If this continues, the best Detroit’s second round pick from 2002 can hope for is to be a fifth outfielder/platoon player type.

In scouring the Mud Hen roster, I came across Henry Mateo’s name and realized he will soon be part of a dying breed – players who once wore the uniform of the Montreal Expos. Over the next few years, this will become a bigger and bigger rarity. At any rate, it was somewhat jarring to see Mateo lacing ‘em up for anyone other than the Montreal/Washington system, where until this season he had spent his entire career since the Expos took him in the second round way back in 1995. The 30-year-old second baseman looks like he still has a bit of life left in the tank, enjoying his finest Triple-A season since 2001, the very first time he ascended to that level. Along the way, Mateo has appeared in 190 games for the Expos/Nats, recording a 581 OPS and even hitting his first major league home run last season. With a four-game hitting streak on the go, Mateo is batting .270 through 80 games this year with 39 runs, 20 RBI, 15 doubles and 29 walks for a 725 OPS. After topping 30 steals for Triple-A New Orleans last year, Mateo is proving he can still run this season with 20 steals – 14 of them since the beginning of July. I doubt he’ll see the light of day in Detroit this year considering Omar Infante will still need to come up when rosters expand, but with a .300 BA vs. lefties and his speed, Mateo could still help a big league club in a limited capacity.

Every time I think Dennis Tankersley might be turning the corner, he quickly does something to scuffle that notion. Back at the end of June, I wrote about the fact that he was missing opportunities to move back to the majors because of his ineffectiveness. Well, Tankersley must have been reading, because he got on a serious roll shortly after that, enjoying a huge month of July (2-0, 1.72). However, as he is wont to do, that hot streak evaporated as quickly as it arrived, and he’s struggled to a 1-2, 6.38 mark in August. Overall, the 28-year-old righty is 9-7, 4.75 for Triple-A Toledo, and as long as he keeps allowing as many baserunners as he has (125 IP, 154 hits, 46 walks, .314 BAA), Tankersley won’t be a candidate to return to the majors for the first time since 2004.

I found it interesting that with the Tigers missing Andrew Miller, the team turned to youngster Jair Jurrjens instead of Virgil Vasquez to start a huge game on Wednesday against the Tribe. With first place in the AL Central on the line, you would have thought that the Tigers would have opted to give Vasquez another shot, after he had already made a couple of spot starts with the team earlier this season. Admittedly, Vasquez hasn’t been strong in his last two Triple-A outings (16 hits and seven earned runs allowed in 10 2/3 innings), but that was coming off the heels of an absolutely tremendous July. Even with those two rough outings, Vasquez is 3-2, 2.72 since the All-Star break, continuing what has been a fine first season at Triple-A for the 25-year-old righty, taken in the seventh round in 2003. Overall, Vasquez is 10-5 with an excellent 116/31 K/BB ratio and a .251 BAA in 139 innings. Improved control has really put Vasquez in a position to increase his stock this year, and I hope Detroit recognizes this with a September call up at the very least.

Kenny Kelly, the former Devil Rays prospect, has landed in the White Sox system (his sixth organization) this year, and is enjoying his finest Triple-A season since 2004. However, the 28-year-old outfielder has struggled quite a bit recently, going 0-for-8 in his last two games, .212 over the past 10 and .158 in August after enjoying a big July (.304). Overall, the former second round pick for Tampa Bay in 1997 has played well, batting .256 with 39 runs, nine homers, 30 walks and 61 strikeouts in 246 at-bats with a 731 OPS. Kelly made it to the bigs with Tampa for two games back in 2000, but didn’t return to the majors until 2005 when he split the season between Cincinnati and Washington. He hasn’t been back since. Obviously, Kelly hasn’t been a candidate for everyday work in the majors for quite some time, but with his speed, he could be decent fifth outfielder/pinch-runner type should the Pale Hose decide they need someone of that ilk. I strongly doubt he’ll get the opportunity, but stranger things have happened.

It might be time for the Marlins to give Reggie Abercrombie another shot. After spending the season as the Fish’s fourth outfielder in 2006, Abercrombie was farmed out to Triple-A Albuquerque a couple of months ago after struggling to a 579 OPS through 20 games in the bigs. Originally a 23rd round pick by the Dodgers in 1999, Abercrombie has taken the demotion in stride, enjoying his finest Triple-A season yet with a .308 BA, 10 homers, 30 steals and a .350 OBP in 279 at-bats. He still can’t take a walk to save his life, but after turning 26 last month, Abercrombie is proving that he still could make it in the Show. He struggled when first demoted, but got hot in July (946 OPS) and a big night on Monday (3-for-4, home run, double, two runs) took his OPS up to 921 for August. Given Abercrombie’s strong platoon splits, I still believe he could be an extra outfielder/pinch runner supreme at the very least. He should be back with the Marlins in September, and could be a decent source of cheap steals if they decide to give him a real look.

While Abercrombie looks to work his way back to the majors, another 26-year-old outfielder and former top prospect appears to be slipping further away. After hitting a two-run homer last night, Laynce Nix has picked things up with hits in four straight games and an 851 OPS in August, but really, it’s been a major year of regression for the one-time Rangers’ prospect. Taken in the fourth round in 2000 by Texas, Nix headed to the Brewers’ organization in the Carlos Lee deal last year in a move I thought would have a positive impact on his career. At first, the move did wonders, as Nix tore it up for Nashville last year, earning himself a 10-game trial with the Brewers in which he held his own. But overall, this year has been a forgettable experience as horrible struggles in July (626 OPS) have brought his overall numbers down (.244 BA, 44 runs, 16 homers, 51 RBI, 24 walks) in a season in which he actually had to spend four games back down at Double-A. Nix, a veteran of 250 career MLB games (.241 BA, .411 SLG), has yet to appear with the Brewers this year, and while his recent streak is promising, I doubt it’s enough for him to get a look in September on a team that will be in the midst of a playoff race.

Yet another 26-year-old (turns 27 next month) I wouldn’t be holding my breath on for a return to the bigs is Chris George, the southpaw taken by the Royals 31st overall back in 1998. George took yet another beating last night, dropping to 5-10 on the year after giving up nine hits and five earned runs over six innings. Over his last seven starts, interrupted by a stint on the DL because of a strained hammy, George has been shellacked for 50 hits and 36 earned runs over 33 1/3 innings. His ERA was 6.88 in June, 7.84 in July and is up to 7.07 in August. How long will the Isotopes keep him in the rotation at this rate? For the year, George has given up 135 hits and 85 runs in 120 innings, allowing opponents to hit .285 and generally suffering a regression from his 2006 season (which wasn’t so hot, either). Having last appeared in the majors in 2004, George looks like his career is winding down, especially considering he can’t even get lefties out this year (.301 BAA).

It’s been about three weeks since we checked in with some minor league notes, so let’s rectify that situation today.

Toronto fans may recall veteran minor league infielder Luis Figueroa, up briefly with the Jays last season. The 33-year-old switch-hitting shortstop is now in the Giants’ system, and has been hitting well of late, going 5-for-12 with three runs, a double, two homers and seven RBI over his last three games for Triple-A Fresno. He was up with the Giants briefly in June when Rich Aurilia was out, going 1-for-5 before being designated for assignment. Originally signed out of Puerto Rico by the Pirates in 1997, Figueroa has also toiled in the Mets’, Expos’, and Red Sox’ organizations. For the season, he’s batting .292 with a 715 OPS through 94 games and 349 at-bats with 16 doubles and 39 RBI – pretty well exactly his level of performance in 2006. He’s a contact hitter (just 26 strikeouts) with a bit of speed (six steals), but is not exactly running well this year (eight times caught). The biggest roadblock Figueroa faces – beyond his advancing age at this point – is his inability to hit righties. While he’s handled southpaws with ease (.345 BA), Figueroa has struggled vs. righties.

Mets pitching prospect Philip Humber took a beating Monday, but he had pitched very well in his three previous starts, so I wouldn’t worry. The 23-year-old righty, taken third overall in 2004 after a brilliant career at Rice, is not exactly dominating, but he’s holding his own in his first season at Triple-A (10-7 in 21 starts and 117 IP with a 4.38 ERA, 99 Ks, 36 walks and a .259 BAA). The Mets have wisely been patient this year with Humber, one of their top pitching prospects, but you can expect to see him in September (although probably not in a very important situation).

Met farmhand Fernando Tatis is on a tear. Before taking an 0-for-4 Wednesday, he had scored in 10 of 11 games and had hit safely in seven straight, driving in six over that stretch. When we last checked in on Tatis early this season, we presumed he was on his last legs, but a .379 July and a .396 mark since the break has him up to .274 through 409 at-bats. Although he’s whiffed 85 times, Tatis is hitting with power again with 25 doubles and 17 homers. He’s never going to rediscover his 1999 form (when he hit almost .300 with 34 homers and 21 steals), but it’s nice to see that he’s not completely toast. Certainly, the career we expected him to have after that monster year was compiled at the age of 24 never transpired, thanks mostly to conditioning and work ethic issues, but it’s nice to see that there may still be a chance he can make it back to the majors.

One-time Padre prospect Jake Gautreau has landed in the Mets’ system, and while he’s enjoying a better year than his nightmare 2006 season, he’s still no closer to making his major league debut after four years at Triple-A. Taken 14th overall back in 2001, Gautreau’s once-promising career really stalled out as he reached the higher levels of the minors. Now 27, he started this season very strong, but he’s been in an awful slump the past few weeks, batting just .231 in July and only .156 in August. And it’s getting worse, not better, with a .135 mark over the past 10 games. Overall, he’s down to .259 with 30 RBI in 53 games and he’s showing some pop (.420 slugging), but the second baseman’s inability to hit lefties (.143) will ultimately doom him. Also, the fact that he never had much speed worked against his chances of becoming a utility infielder/pinch runner type.

How is it than veteran reliever Dan Giese has never pitched a game in the major leagues? Since first reaching Triple-A in 2003, he’s posted solid numbers in every season but one, but has never got the call. No wonder the 34th rounder by the BoSox in 1999 got frustrated and retired mid-season in 2005. After enjoying a big year the previous season yet not getting a September call, he must have been pissed. Giese returned in 2006 and excelled and he’s been even better in this, his first season in the Giants’ organization. Now 30, the righty has not been scored on in his last 10 appearances, lowering his ERA to 2.14 for the year to go along with a 3-0 record. His command – 67 Ks and eight walks in 63 IP – has been off the charts. While the Giants’ pen has been pretty good this year, surely they could find a spot for this dude. Jack Taschner has pitched much better as of late, but you’d have to think that Giese could do just as good a job.

Another scorching reliever is 27-year-old lefty Willie Collazo. He’s tossed 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs to lower his ERA to 3.00 for the season. A control pitcher, Collazo was named to the mid-season PCL All-Star team and was the PCL Pitcher of the Week for the period ending July 30. Now in his second season in the Mets’ system, he’s really taken off after being converted back into a reliever, his job for several years in the Atlanta system before spending the last three years (the first two in the Angels’ system) starting. The Mets have things covered from the left side in the bullpen these days with Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis (not to mention closer Billy Wagner), but should they need help in this area, Collazo looks ready to supply it.

As we expected, the Mets called up Mike DiFelice at the end of July, but he never actually appeared in a game for them, and a couple of days later he was DFAed, and is now back at Triple-A New Orleans. The 38-year-old catcher is actually enjoying a strong year in the minors, his best Triple-A campaign in a couple of years. At this point in his career, he’s obviously just an insurance policy, and when Paul Lo Duca was hurt, the Mets were forced to cash that policy in for a brief time. It’s a shame he didn’t get any action, however, as DiFelice is just two at-bats shy of the 1,500 mark for his career.

We’re back with a new installment of Minor Matters, this time heading down to the Double-A level, where we’ll check in on a few Cubs’ farmhands currently toiling for the Tennessee Smokies. After a strong first half in which the Smokies missed the North Division title by just one game, they are currently struggling a bit (4-6 in last 10 games), but they are very much in the race, tied for second, two games back of the division lead.

Jake Fox, C: Fox, the Cub’ third-rounder in 2003, is enjoying a breakthrough power season as one of the Southern League’s top sluggers. He’s tied for first in homers and ranks in the top five in runs, doubles, RBI and hits. An All-Star at High-A last season after slamming 16 homers with 61 RBI in 66 games before a promotion to Double-A, Fox is currently on fire, batting .341 this month after struggling in June (under .200). Fox, who turns 25 on Friday, uses all parts of the field, and although he feasts on lefties, he’s still hit a decent .264 against righties this year. I’m a bit concerned by those 71 Ks, but he’s actually whiffing less than he did during his half season at Tennessee. Small wonder the Cubs thought they could part with Michael Barrett given the progress Fox has made in recent seasons.

Gary Cates, 2B: Cates leads the Smokies in steals with 14, but having just turned 26 and been stuck at Double-A since 2002, it appears that his chances of becoming anything more than a platoon player (he’s hitting just .234 vs. righties, but .295 vs. lefties) or a utility man are non existent. In 80 games this season, he’s scored just 24 runs, has shown very little pop and horrible on-base skills. It gets worse. He was hit by a pitch last week, breaking the middle finger on his right hand, an injury that will keep him out four-to-six weeks and certainly end any slim chance he had of a promotion. A 39th round pick by the Orioles in 1999 who signed with the Cubs as a six-year minor league free agent in 2005, Cates has been horribly inconsistent this year and seems to be regressing. Something tells me this Gary Cates won’t ever usurp the Ohio Senator as the most famous person with this name.

Nate Spears, 2B: Spears’ recent hot streak (.355 in July) earned him a promotion from High-A Daytona to replace Cates. He’s only hitting .261 overall this season with one homer, 26 RBI, 44 strikeouts and four steals in 78 games, but it’s somewhat of a rebound after Spears’ horrible 2006. He’s been stalled at High-A after a strong first year at the level in 2005. Yet another former Oriole farmhand (taken in the fifth round by Baltimore in 2003), the 22-year-old was dealt to the Cubs with Carlos Perez in the Corey Patterson deal. This is his first taste of Double-A. (By the way, Patterson, who spent most of 2000 with the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate before getting fast tracked to the majors, is finally starting to awaken from his nightmare 2007. After emerging as fantasy gold by smacking 16 homers and swiping 45 bases last year, he has just four dingers and 20 thefts this season. However, Patterson is batting .340 in July with half his long balls for the year and a quarter of his steals with a couple of weeks left to play. Second-half sleeper alert. Sorry for the aside; now back to our regular programming.)

Mark Holliman, SP: Holliman, a 23-year-old righty, was taken in the third round in 2005, but didn’t make his professional debut until last year, with the Cubs starting him out at High-A. This explains why he’s already at Double-A, but Holliman certainly doesn’t look overmatched, getting selected to the Southern League All-Star game based on his 7-7, 2.94 season. He started the season looking like he was hell bent on making it to Wrigley this season, going 3-0, 0.33 in four April starts, but he’s obviously been unable to keep up that pace. Holliman, who’s been particularly tough on lefties, is doing a great job of keeping the ball in the park this year with just five homers allowed in 113 1/3 IP. This is definitely a name to track as he’s moving quickly.

Kevin Hart, SP: I was planning on writing about another Smokie in Hart, but his recent success bagged him a promotion to Triple-Iowa last week. After all, he earned Topps Southern League Player of the Month honours for June by going 4-0 in six starts with a 2.54 ERA and superb 38/8 K/BB ratio. Yet another former Orioles prospect (11th round pick in 2004, traded to the Cubs in December for Freddie Bynum), the 24-year-old righty struggled at High-A last year (6-11, 4.61), but was mostly done in by the long ball. Promoted to Double-A this season, Hart was 7-5, 4.45 through 16 starts and one relief appearance with 89 strikeouts and 99 hits allowed in 97 innings. Hart’s problems with the gopher ball resurfaced in his Triple-A debut, as he coughed up three of them in just six innings.

Sean Gallagher, SP: Another Smokie who’s been moved aggressively is Sean Gallagher, the team’s 12th round pick in 2004, who has left a wake of awards and honours in his path since turning pro. Despite the fact he’s just 21, this righty has already been a Low-A classification All-Star for his 2005 showing (14-5, 2.71 in 26 starts and 146 IP, with 10 homers allowed, 55 walks and 139 strikeouts) and a 2006 FSL All-Star Game participant after a brilliant first half in which he went 4-0, 2.30 with 75 hits allowed in 78 1/3 innings with five homers, 21 walks and 80 strikeouts. That showing earned him a promotion to Double-A, where Gallagher did not look overmatched in the least, going 7-5, 2.71 in 15 games and 86 1/3 innings, surrendering just 74 hits and four homers, striking out 91 but experiencing some control problems with 55 walks and nine wild pitches. Back at Double-A to start this season, he went 7-2, 3.39 in 11 starts and 61 innings with just 54 hits and 24 walks allowed against 54 strikeouts. The Cubs brought him up to pitch out of the bullpen on June 6, and he was optioned back to Triple-A after a few less-than-impressive major league appearances. After just two Triple-A starts, Gallagher has found himself back in Chicago, but may not been there for long with the control problems he’s having. Still, at his tender age, this kid has definitely put himself on the map with a career mark of 26-12, 2.65 heading into this season.

Welcome to the newest feature on RotoRob, Minor Matters, where we’ll periodically comb various levels of the minor leagues in search of players you need to pay attention to. To kick things off, let’s take a look at some Boston Red Sox prospects currently at the Triple-A level who have caught my eye over the past few days.

David Murphy, OF: With several Red Sox flyhawks struggling and/or hurt (Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, Eric Hinske and Wily Mo Pena), how long will it be before we get another look at Murphy, who held his own in a 20-game trial last year? This 25-year-old, taken 17th overall by Boston in 2003, showed promise last season, improving as he moved up the ladder. A native of Houston, Murphy doesn’t have one dominant skill that he can hook his star to, so he may ultimately top out as a fourth outfielder, but with his improved play at Triple-A this year (826 OPS, 30 runs, 19 extra-base hits including four homers in 54 games with solid defense), he’s proving he could help Boston, should injury necessitate a call-up.

Jon Lester, SP: Currently rehabbing a foreman injury, Lester looks just about ready to rejoin the BoSox after throwing a complete game four-hitter to lower his Triple-A ERA to 1.26 through six starts. This 23-year-old lefty is unfortunately more famous for his bout with cancer that cut short a fantastic rookie season (7-2 with Boston after dominating at Triple-A). That, however, is about to change. Lester will get one more Triple-A start Saturday and is then expected to return to the Red Sox rotation, spelling the end of Julian Tavarez’s days as a starter. Boston’s second rounder in 2002, Lester was given a $1-million signing bonus ‘ the most for any second rounder that season. So far, he’s lived up to the deal, earning Pitcher of the Year honours in 2005 in the Eastern League and proving last season that he was a worthy choice as the top starting pitching prospect in the BoSox system. Lester may still wind up being a trade chip ‘ there’s a rumour he could be part of a package to bring Mark Teixiera to Boston ‘ but wherever he lands, he’s going to be someone you want to have on your squad. Lester may experience more growing pains, especially if he has more control issues, but I love his long-term prospects.

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF: While Murphy would be a logical short-term fill-in and, as discussed, profiles more as a fourth outfielder, Ellsbury is the team’s top prospect and centre fielder/lead-off hitter of the future, a future that appears to be coming very quickly. Taken 23rd overall in the 2005 draft, this 23-year-old has shot through the system, last year swiping 41 bases between High-A and Double-A and playing better at the higher level ‘ always a great sign. Ellsbury began this season back at Double-A but he was absolutely dominant, prompting a promotion after just a few weeks. Since landing in Triple-A, Ellsbury has more than held his own, batting north of .275 with 23 runs, 13 walks and 12 steals in 28 games. Combined, he’s batting .344 with 39 runs, 19 walks and 20 steals in 45 games. Sound like a capable lead-off man? Some are calling for him to be installed at the top of the BoSox order now with neither Julio Lugo nor Coco Crisp looking like they can effectively do the job. While Boston would likely need to include Ellsbury if it plans to land Teixiera, another option would be to ship Crisp out and let the Ellsbury era begin in Beantown now. Personally, I wouldn’t rush this phenom. He’s close ‘ real close, but could use a bit more seasoning judging by his .190 mark vs. lefties.

David Pauley, SP: Pauley, as we mentioned earlier this season, has looked fantastic this year. An eighth-round pick by the Padres in 2001, Pauley was acquired by the Sox in 2004 in the Dave Roberts trade. Last year, the righty was superb at Double-A, but had problems at Triple-A and made three uninspiring starts in Boston when David Wells got hurt. Pauley, who turns 24 in a couple of weeks, has looked vastly improved this season, going 2-1, 3.19 through 10 games (nine starts) with just 50 hits allowed in 59 1/3 innings and a fine ratio of 46 Ks vs. 14 walks. He’s limited opponents to a .221 mark. While Pauley is prone to occasional bouts of wildness, he’s been a much more composed pitcher this season and, unlike last year when he was thrown into the fire, he’ll be ready the next time Boston needs him.