McCutchen is Baseball America's ROY
Publication recognizes Pirates outfielder's stellar debut.
A dynamic first season in the big leagues has earned Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen Baseball America's 2009 Major League Rookie of the Year Award.
The award was announced on Monday, and McCutchen is currently featured on the cover of the publication's most recent issue.
After debuting for Pittsburgh on June 4, the day after the trade of established center fielder Nate McLouth, McCutchen batted .286 with 26 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, 22 stolen bases and a .364 on-base percentage in 108 games.
The 23-year-old McCutchen's 47 extra-base hits led NL rookies, and he ranked second among NL rookies in multihit games (36), runs, walks and total bases (204). He was third in RBI, third in stolen bases, third in slugging percentage (.471), third in doubles, fifth in batting and fourth in on-base percentage.
Pittsburgh's first-round Draft choice in 2005 (11th overall), McCutchen was the lineup's leadoff hitter in every game he played this season and hit four leadoff homers in the first inning. He was the first Pirates player to achieve that feat since Al Martin hit six leadoff homers in 1999.
Another Pirates player was also honored by Baseball America. Garrett Jones was named to the 2009 All-Rookie team as a first baseman. Jones batted .293 and led all Major League rookies with 21 home runs. He also notched 44 RBIs in his 82 games.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Baseball America: Pirates center fielder McCutchen rookie of the year
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was named major league rookie of the year by Baseball America.
McCutchen hit .286 with 26 doubles, 12 homers, 54 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 108 games. He led National League rookies with 47 extra-base hits and ranked second in multi-hit games, runs, walks and total bases.
A first-round draft pick in 2005, McCutchen is expected to be among the top finishers in MLB's Rookie of the Year voting, which will be announced after the World Series.
Garrett Jones was named to Baseball America's all-rookie team as a first baseman. In 82 games, Jones batted .293 with 21 homers and 44 RBI. He led all rookies in home runs and slugging percentage (.567).
(c) 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Wolverine Freshman Class Ranked No. 18 by Baseball America
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- The University of Michigan baseball team's 2009 recruiting class, which features 11 freshmen, including a pair of MLB draft picks, has been ranked No. 18 by Baseball America in its list of top 25 recruiting classes.
The Wolverines landed 11 talented newcomers that make up nearly a third of the 2010 roster, including shortstop Derek Dennis (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Northern), who was a 10th round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays, and outfielder Patrick Biondi (Woodhaven, Mich./Divine Child), who was taken in the 35th round by the Detroit Tigers.
Michigan was the lone Big Ten school represented on the Baseball America list, which was headlined by SEC power Florida.
Baseball America synopsis of Michigan's class
The Wolverines believe this class compares favorably with their watershed 2005 haul, which included stalwarts Zach Putnam, Jason Christian and Adam Abraham. Dennis is a true marquee recruit, an athlete of Christian's caliber with a smooth, inside-out swing that evokes fellow ex-Michigan prepster D.J. LeMahieu. He projects for average or better tools across the board. He'll have a running mate with plus-plus speed in Biondi, who could step into Michigan's leadoff spot on Opening Day. He also has excellent defensive skills and a strong arm in centerfield, and he plays the game with boundless energy. [Cameron] Luther adds plus raw power to the mix, and [Zach] Johnson brings athleticism and arm strength behind the plate. Michigan relies on its ability to develop raw, projectable arms, and the towering trio of [Kyle] Clark, [Ben] Ballantine and [Logan] McAnallen has plenty of upside. Clark is the most polished of the three; he commands an upper-80s fastball and has good feel for his slider. Ballantine currently works in the 87-90 range with deception and McAnallen sits around 85-87 and owns a promising change. All three figure to throw harder after three years with Michigan pitching coach Bob Keller.
(c) 2009 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved.
Richmond looks for a name of its own
Baseball America rarely misses a chance to put together a list. So when we heard that Richmond had narrowed the list of names for its new team down to six, we decided to get in on the act.
But hold on . . . This is Richmond, Va., right? The Capital of the Commonwealth. "Give me liberty or give me death." The Confederate States of America. Where the giant cigarette stands tall.
Certainly, one of the candidates will represent the city's rich history. So let's review. The nominees are:
Flatheads: A catfish that swims in the James River.
Flying Squirrels: You better duck.
Rockhoppers: It is kinda fun to say.
Rhinos: If it didn't work in Winston-Salem, let's try it here.
Hush Puppies: Richmond ain't that South.
So, yes, it's safe to say that there was an underwhelming response among us all-knowing minor league baseball experts. The offerings fail to incorporate any real historical significance or capture much local flavor.
But here's the catch:
They're naming a minor league baseball team, not the new symphony hall, or even the mayor's dog. The more irreverent the better has long been the standard, and even the secret to success, in the minors. (The TinCaps was panned when announced last offseason, but Fort Wayne finished third in Midwest League attendance and sold team merchandise like it was popular.)
And let's not forget that one of the most marketable teams on a national scale in the minors is the Muckdogs. The Fishercats and Storm do pretty well too - all three teams' success has as much to do with unique logos that appeal to kids and Little League teams as it does their names. And Richmond's new president, Chuck Domino, is the same man who brought you the Lehigh Valley IronPigs a couple years ago - a team that has quickly blossomed into one of the minors' best franchises.
So, I'll agree that these names do little to soak up Richmond's local history. But if combined with a unique logo and marketing plan, which is being designed by the creative folks at Plan B Branding, most any of the names above will work just fine (except Rhinos, anything but Rhinos).
But that's not to say we didn't come up with a few ideas of our own. One of my favorites, proposed by a BA correspondent, is the Richmond 500s - named for both the local NASCAR race and the nine local Fortune 500 companies.
Another winner proposed by a couple of our voters played off the history of the Richmond ballclub's longtime temporary home: The Diamond. It was not that long ago that the ballpark that drove the Braves out of town had a bit of a rodent problem. So how about the Richmond Roof Rats or River Rats? (If you can't laugh at yourself . . . )
"Of course, Connecticut fans might think Richmond Robbers to be an equally appropriate name," one anonymous voter suggested.
A few other notable suggestions included: the Richmond (States) Rights, the Richmond Travellers (after General Lee's horse) and the Richmond Rockfish (bass fishing is big in the James River).
But, alas, you can only play the cards you've been dealt. And after 24 responses, we had a three-way tie at the top between Flatheads, Flying Squirrels and Hambones.
To break the tie, I turned to the demographic minor league baseball teams try so hard to attract: my 5-year-old son, Griffin. It didn't take Grif long to make up his mind. Like many of his elders, my son couldn't quite figure out what a Flathead or a Hambone is. But a Flying Squirrel? Well, let's just say there's a push for a new pet in the Leventhal household.
So, the unofficial is now official. My son says Richmond's baseball future should be centered around a Flying Squirrel.
Like father like son.
(c) 1999-2009 Baseball America Inc.
Baseball America ranks Dee Gordon No. 2 prospect in Midwest League
Baseball America has come out with its Midwest League prospect rankings, which include plenty of Great Lakes Loons. Dee Gordon was ranked No. 2.
baseballamerica.com: 1. Aaron Hicks, of, Beloit (Twins); 2. Dee Gordon, ss, Great Lakes (Dodgers); 3. Josh Vitters, 3b, Peoria (Cubs); 4. Brett Lawrie, 2b, Wisconsin (Brewers); 5. Mike Montgomery, lhp, Burlington (Royals); 6. Casey Crosby, lhp, West Michigan (Tigers); 7. Simon Castro, rhp, Fort Wayne (Padres); 8. Jaff Decker, of, Fort Wayne (Padres); 9. Cody Scarpetta, rhp, Wisconsin (Brewers); 10. Ethan Martin, rhp, Great Lakes (Dodgers); 11. Tim Melville, rhp, Burlington (Royals); 12. Eric Hosmer, 1b, Burlington (Royals); 13. A.J. Pollock, of, South Bend (Diamondbacks); 14. Wily Peralta, rhp, Wisconsin (Brewers); 15. James Darnell, 3b, Fort Wayne (Padres); 16. Chris Archer, rhp, Peoria (Cubs); 17. Kyle Russell, of, Great Lakes (Dodgers).
(c) 2009 Michigan Live LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Love Him Or Leave Him, Freddy Sanchez Will Be a Giant in 2010 (So Love Him)
I'm not sure what to make of a headline that announced Freddy Sanchez is "open" to the idea of staying with the San Francisco Giants in 2010. In all honesty, my first reaction was to be a little perturbed.
When the second baseman came over at the trade deadline for once prized-prospect Tim Alderson, the Giants Faithful were sold on what a Good Guy and great clubhouse presence Sanchez would be. His tearful departure from the Pittsburgh Pirates suggested we weren't buying fool's gold, that the dude really was sincerely good people.
In light of that dual first impression--real and generated by the spin machines--shouldn't the ex-Bucco WANT to come back to the Giants?
After all, Alderson entered 2009 as the No. 45 prospect in all of Major League Baseball according to Baseball America. Even if his stock is slipping a touch due to shakier numbers at Double-A, there's still considerable value attached to his right arm so the organization is entitled to some return on the substantial investment, right?
Well, we--I'm including the fans in the organization--haven't seen much.
Brought in to push the Gents into the playoffs, Freddy Sanchez instead became one of the heaviest anchors that ultimately doomed the club's quest for the second season.
Plagued by injuries of various kinds and degrees since coming to the City, the slick fielder with gap-power was underwhelming when he took the diamond. That wasn't terribly often--25 of 61 possible games, 107 plate appearances, 102 at-bats, .284 batting average, .619 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, a double, a home run, seven runs batted in, and 11 scored.
That's rates somewhere between "ugh" and "too small a sample size to even count." The jury's out on which is worse.
In fairness, baseball is hard enough when you're feeling fine and dandy. It's a cruel and brutal game that saps your mental and physical strength slowly, but with unrelenting persistence. So I'm not knocking Sanchez for his performance or failure to actually take his position--dings that keep your ability from manifesting itself on the field are a part of life in the Show.
The biggest splash at the trade deadline probably deserves praise for playing as many innings as he did.
But Freddy Sanchez is supposed to be one of the dying breeds, a class act. With so much talent heading out the door in exchange for such a nothing showing while the team tried futilely to squeeze its way into the postseason, shouldn't this ferocious competitor be desperate to give the good people by the Bay their devotion's worth?
So I was getting a little hot.
Thankfully, calm reason kicked in about the same time the needle was heading into the red.
It's easy to forget the business side of things as well as all the filters through which most "news" passes.
Even if Sanchez really wants to make good on the implicit love shown him by los Gigantes, he and his agent might feel the need to strike a certain posture in case San Francisco declines the option. Or perhaps it was merely an aside comment, taken out of a larger context that had nothing to do with 2010.
There are countless details that could drastically alter true intent.
Like I said above, everything we've seen from Sanchez does smack of a genuinely decent athlete--unfettered by the demons of insecurity and self-infatuation. He seems to be the kind of pro most of us love to root for, no need to let one little snippet destroy all that.
Oh, and one other thing...
The San Francisco Giants have access to the same exact stats and the brass knows far better than I what it surrendered to import the offensive upgrade i.e. he'll be patrolling second base for the Orange and Black in 2010.
Maybe the wisdom of $8.1 million for Freddy Sanchez and his significant talents is up for debate. However, when the sum also buys a chance to avoid yet another colossal blunder by the franchise on the trade market?
It's a no-brainer.
(c) 2004-2009 Most Valuable Network, LLC.
Baseball America names Paxton a top pro prospect
Kentucky senior left-hander James Paxton has been selected as the seventh-best college baseball prospect available for the 2010 MLB Draft, Baseball America announced Wednesday.
Paxton was rated as the top Southeastern Conference prospect, just ahead of No. 8 Zach Cox, a Louisville native and Arkansas third baseman. Paxton and Cox were among the seven SEC players in the top 25.
Paxton was the highest-drafted college player in 2009 to elect to return to school. The Blue Jays selected Paxton in the supplemental first round with the 37th overall selection.
Last season, Paxton ranked third in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (13.2), fanning 115 in 781⁄3 innings. Paxton was 5-3 with a 5.86 ERA in 13 starts.
Women's soccer hosts WKU
The UK women's soccer team returns to Lexington on Friday to host Western Kentucky (4-2) in the Kentucky Tournament.
The Cats (2-2-2) are desperately seeking a goal after going 471 consecutive minutes without scoring.
(c) Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. All rights reserved.
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