Blue Sparks 6/30 - 7/6

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Prospect Notes:

Suns Dominate Southern League All-Star Team with 7 selections

Nice story on our Futures All-Star SS.

Baseball Prospectus interviews the Loons play by play man, who comments on Lambo, Morris, and Miller.

Earlier this week I asked Minor League Scout and Analyst Derick McKamey about some of the Dodger prospects. He had just published his mid - season top 50 and not a Dodger was to be found. Not surprising given that LaRoche and Kershaw were on the big club at the time and Hu had used up his rookie status. I asked him about Carlos Santana, Scott Elbert, DeJesus, Lambo, and who might be cracking his top 100 list this winter.

I've always liked Santana and his season is absolutely for real. His bat has always showed some promise and it is good to see him living-up to his abilities. Defensively, his receiving skills are improving, and is doing a better job of making his arm strength an asset in halting the running game. I don't know if he's going to be strong enough defensively to be an everyday catcher, but I wouldn't sell him short.

I've heard nothing but good things on Elbert. His surgery last year was relatively minor and as you mention, just needs to build some arm strength. When he's on, he is one of the better pitchers in the mionr leagues and I think he'll resume his previous form.

DeJesus has had a phenominal year. Defense was never a problem, but his bat was always questioned. I don't think he'll ever have much power, but his contact ability and plate discipline should help in giving him a conistently high BA.

I would think McDonald and Elbert would be sure-fire top 100 prospects, with Ethan Martin, Jonathon Meloan, Chris Withrow, and DeJesus knocking on the door.

Lambo is holding his own quite well in the MWL (.288/.349/.461 with nine HR). I'd hesitate to put him in the top 100 right now, but he is developing into a run producing corner outfielder and is one of the Dodgers' top position players.

Blue Hots:

Victor Garate has the line of the week and continues to dominate Low A. Seems like a promotion is in order for this LHP that we snagged from the Astro's in the minor league Rule 5 this winter.

James Adkins hurled 14 innings of one run ball over two starts.

Carlos Santana hit 5 home runs and drove in a league leading 12 runs for the week after hitting another one last night. Everyone seems to be getting on the Carlos Santana bandwagon.

Transactions from Baseball America:

Signed: RHP Jake McCarter (NDFA—Oklahoma), RHP Heath Totten, RHP Jerome Williams, RHP Rob Zimmermann, OF Mitch Jones
Draft picks signed: RHP Josh Lindblom (2), RHP Matthew Magill (31), LHP Jonathan Runnels (29)
Released: OF Greg Jacobs
Recalled: RHP Ramon Troncoso
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Brian Falkenborg
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Blake Brannon, LHP Marlon Arias, 2B Sergio Garcia
Reinstated from DL: C Fumimasa Ishibashi, OF Greg Jacobs

You might remember MItch Jones from last year when he tore up Vegas and then signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Typically he struggled and was released. Why we signed him is anyone's guess.

Jerome Williams was once the Giants top pitching prospect but he never panned out and six years later he appears done, but we will give him a chance in our organization.