Minor Notes

Texas
Peter Gammons suggests that TX has some interest in Kevin Correia. The 28yo 6-3 200 RHP for Arizona, is having a decent year as a #5 starter with a 4.08 fip in 16 starts, and had an impressive streak in June, after bombing for SF in that role in 2008. His best years were in 06 and 07 when he pitched in a Mr/LR - spot starter role. I guess their interest must indicate a certain unwillingness to put Jennings in the rotation. I guess Correia is an upgrade on Jennings, Nippert or Bennings but not by much and his limited track record as a started makes him a risky acquisition and _not_ someone you would want to overpay for. His FB sits at 91, couples predominantly with a hard slider, and a curve, change and cutter.

Harrison is set to visit a nerve specialist on Monday to evaluate the episodic numbness that he has been having. He will not be ready to appear in a game until the end of July at the earliest.

Padz was supposed to throw a bullpen yesterday in prep. for his Tues. start. I guess things went smoothly as I have havent heard anything one way or the other.

Matt Carruth over at fangraphs, projects this years 1/2 season of UZR states, and compares them to last years #s for each time to rank them by order of improvement. Here is the top 5 rank by difference in UZR between both years:

Tigers 97.9
Pirates 89.8
Reds 89.7
Rangers 84.7
Seattle 69.6


Oklahoma
Rained out so Hambone will stay another day in OKC though he probably won't join the team until next week; he is hitting about .150 during his assignment.

Esteban German was named as a starter to the AAA ASG on 7/15.

Kris Benson has yet to be activated from the DL but after receiving cortozone shots over the last 2 weeks is expected to pitch next week.

El Duque has an out clause on his minor league deal on 7/21 or so.

Nippert's rehab assignment ends as late as 7/18 but he could be brought back as early as the end of next week. Mathis would likely be the odd man out when the move is made.


Frisco
Still short a pitcher.


Blaze
Tatusko and Falcon go back to the pen as Roark and Hyatt, fresh from AA, take their spots in the rotation. The MilB is currently 1 pitcher over their roster limit.


Hickory
LF Miguel Alfonzo gets a well-deserved promotion. He was scheduled to repeat lowA ths year but was instead assigned to the AZL club for the first 6 weeks of the season for whatever reason.

I can only hope that Alfonzo's promotion means that Bianucci has already or will soon be promoted already.


Spokane
Talented RF Miguel Velazquez also gets a not unexpected promotion from AZL as he had already made his rookie debut there in 2007 and, given his talents, probably could've handled a Spokane assignment to begin with (despite the 15 month suspension).

Jason "the brick" Ogata was demoted from Hickory.


Arizona
OF Santo de Jesus reassigned from A-.


Dominican
The DSL ASG is scheduled for 7/19. Last year Tomas Telis was named to the roster.





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