Senior Editor Mark Haverty's work has regularly appears in such places as FOX Sports and Sporting News, where Mark is one of TSN's lead minor league analysts. Mark has also been featured in multiple print publications and as a featured guest on multiple radio shows.
The only question for Jeff Clement next year is where on the field.
Due to internet issues, Paul Sporer is out this week, so it falls to me to look into fantasy strategy and numbers this week. With the season winding down and prospects aplenty arising from the depths of the minors, this seems like a good time to look at the best callups with 2008 in mind. What players have made their major league debuts since September 1’s roster expansion deserve to be keepers for next year? Which do not?
Keepers
Ian Kennedy, Starting Pitching, New York Yankees – Everything about Kennedy says stud. An amazing arm, excellent control numbers, and very solid strikeout per nine numbers throughout his very brief time in the minors. Further, Roger Clemens is retiring, and the Yankees probably hope that Mike Mussina does as well. There will be a spot in the rotation for Kennedy, and he should be the No. 3 or No. 4 starter to open 2008.
Joey Votto, First Base/Outfielder, Cincinnati Reds – Votto is coming off his second consecutive minor league season with 22 home runs and he has been a doubles machine throughout his minor league career. Further, he has surprising speed for a player of his size, with 23 stolen bases last year and, to prove it was not a total fluke, 17 this year. The Reds have finally realized that Scott Hatteberg is not the answer at first – or the answer anywhere really – and Votto will be the everyday first baseman opening next year. 20-10 should not be a problem for Votto next year, and 20-20 is a possibility.
Wladimir Balentien, Outfielder, Seattle Mariners – Three straight seasons with over 20 home runs, three straight seasons with over 80 RBI, and three straight seasons with over 70 runs in the minors have Balentien looking quite attractive for the foreseeable future. The only question is where both he and Adam Jones will fit into the starting outfield, but they will find a way.
Jeff Clement, Catcher, Seattle Mariners – Easily the best catching prospect in the minors, the only issue for Clement is the presence of Kenji Johjima in Seattle. With 20 homers, 80 RBI, and 76 runs scored in Triple-A this year, the Mariners will find a way to work him in.
Duds
Joe Koshansky, First Base, Colorado Rockies – His numbers are down in a park and league where he should be mashing, and he has seen his one chance of becoming a starter – Ian Stewart’s falling star – dashed, as Stewart woke up at the plate this year while Koshansky fell apart. Last year at this time, I was wondering how the Rockies would work him in to the lineup in 2007; this year, I am wondering if he will get another year in Triple-A or just rot on the major league bench, and I am betting on Colorado Springs.
Josh Anderson, Outfield, Houston Astros – You cannot steal first base, and that is really the only way that Anderson could get there. With a .273 batting average in Triple-A and no power, Anderson’s only real value would come from stealing bases and a high on-base percentage. He did not draw anywhere near enough walks for the latter, though, posting an on-base percentage of just .325. Anderson has the speed managers love in a leadoff hitter, but until he starts taking more walks, he is worthless at a big league level.
Emilio Bonifacio, Shortstop, Arizona Diamondbacks – Like Anderson, Bonifacio can run like nobody’s business, and he has been an All Star at multiple levels in the minors, but he has no business in the bigs. In 551 at-bats in Double-A this year, Bonifacio struck out 105 times and walked just 38 times. If he was a power hitter with a ton of homers, that might be understandable, but he had just two. Stolen bases mean little if you cannot get on base and Bonifacio has the added drawback of the Diamondbacks having a very solid middle infield in the bigs blocking him. After this September, the next time you will see Bonifacio in the majors is next September.
Lance Broadway, Starting Pitcher, Chicago White Sox – There are plenty of young, talented arms in the White Sox’ system now, especially after all the trading that the White Sox did last offseason. Broadway is not one of them, or at least is not pitching like one right now. In 26 starts this year, Broadway was 8-9 with a 4.65 ERA, and his K/BB ratio was a joke at 108:78. This is one season after going 8-8 with a 2.74 ERA in 25 Double-A starts with a 111:40 K/BB. Broadway is going to return to Triple-A to open next year, hoping to turn things around after a mess of a season, and there is no way the White Sox will look at him as an option in camp next year after how poorly his season went this year.
