norvilleb

Speaking of Lawrie, isn't there now a signing deadline of 8/1? I think this was changed last year. Looks like it could be a long year for the H-crew from a w-l perspective unless a few more college hitters are added. This has basically nothing to do with the future prospectdom of any of the players already listed of course, and I would expect that duran has a pretty good shot a league mvp if he stays all (or most) of the year.

Regarding the Wheeler/Farris on defense comments...Farris really is an excellent defensive 2B. He gets to way more balls than the average PL 2Bman and also is very steady on your run-of-the-mill plays. I don't know that he'll hit for enough power to ever make the show (especially given how hard it is for 2B prospects generally), but there is no question he is the best defensive 2B I have seen in the Pioneer League for several years. I think the jury is still out on Zealous Wheeler--he makes some really good plays (and even played SS a few nights ago) but he also botches some very routine grounders. The last home game he was only given 1 E, but it should have been 2--and both on routine plays. Given that, I'd have a tough time calling him the best defensive 3B in the league right now, though both he and Farris are among my favorite players on the team. Speaking of defense, we didn't get to see much of LaPorta in the field, but I'll be interested to hear from observers at his next stops. He looked pretty rough on the few balls hit to him here in Helena, including a misplay of a ball off the wall and hesitancy on both flyballs and groundballs. Way too early to make any judgments on his potential as a LFer, but early results generally unimpressive in the field--though he does seem to be able to hit. The best AB he had here (to me) was in his first game following the HR on a super slow curve, on which he showed excellent patience and stroked it in to the OF for a single. Not many hitters have the ability to wait on a pitch like he did. We'll be sorry not to have him around for the playoffs.

Attended the Helena crew game tonight and it was a fine night for a ballgame but yielded poor results. The team seems dejected having lost a few games recently--hope they can turn the attitude around. Gindl crushed a homer to straightaway center but that was basically the lone highlight of the evening--other than Zealous Wheeler playing perfectly acceptably at SS. Merklinger continues to show decent stuff yet also prove hittable. Perhaps the most interesting play from the game was the final run which scored on a balk but was called during the midst of an intentional walk. I don't think I've seen that before at any level.

Happened to be at the Helena game tonight and Pasma did indeed pitch great. One of the two hits he gave up was a bunt single. That said, if he makes it to the show, my guess is he'll be a LOOGY. Great Falls RF Salvador Sanchez has as good an OF arm as I've ever seen in this league. Apparently he must not be able to hit as I think he's 22 and has been in pro ball since HS and still in the Pioneer League but he can definitely throw.

I wouldn't think he'd play in the AZL, but rather in Helena for a couple of weeks while they figure out if he really can play in LF. Get him started without much defensive pressure and in an environment where he's likely to post some nice offensive numbers. Helena starts the 19th, so that's not long to wait. Maybe it's just wishful thinking since I live in Helena but it also makes sense to me, especially given past treatment of advanced college bats. Hopefully we'll know for sure soon.

Any word on where he'll be assigned yet? Prevailing sentiment seems to be WV, but I think he'll go to Helena--for a few weeks anyway. There just isn't much precendent for the Brewers to have a player totally skip rookie ball, even the advanced college guys. Even Weeks played a game or two in Arizona I believe. Other top college guys from the past decade have all spent some time in rookie ball as well, including Braun, Sheets, and Jenkins not to mention the Chad Greens of the draft. Given that LaPorta is going to be asked to learn a new position, I just don't see him skipping rookie ball altogether.