Opportunity knocks, these players answer
Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 2:17 PM
This week teams hit the halfway mark of the schedule -- a good time to look at 10 players who have taken full advantage of the opportunities given them this season. And in doing so some of these players have given themselves and their teams a chance to play in October.
Matt Garza, Rays
As an organization Minnesota makes few mistakes in player evaluations. There could have been an off-the-field issue that prompted the Twins to move this talented right-handed arm. Last November Garza was traded to Tampa Bay along with Jason Bartlett and Eduardo Morlan for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie.
Garza can show dominant stuff. His fastball gets into the mid-90s and he can also make effective use of a hard slider, change-up and a curve. He is dedicated to becoming a better pitcher and a key step in that direction is improving his consistency. But since bringing Garza aboard the Rays have seen flashes of brilliance from him and enough evidence (1.33 WHIP) to believe in his long-term ability.
Evan Longoria, Rays
Look past his raw numbers because none of them will yet jump out at you. Since he was drafted third overall a couple of summers ago, we’ve heard how he has the potential to be one of baseball’s top all-around players. Hearing is one thing, seeing is believing and we’re starting to see enough from Longoria to believe.
He has produced a significant number of clutch hits and fielded masterfully at third base. Check out his ninth-inning bunt play last week against the Cubs called by some observers the best they had ever seen. Troy Tulowitzki, Longoria’s college teammate at Cal State Long Beach, told me over the winter that Longoria was ready for the big leagues and Longoria is hoping to be Tampa Bay’s Tulo in the second half of the season.
Jair Jurrjens, Braves
It could turn out that Atlanta pulled off a steal from Detroit last October when it acquired the young power arm for a ballooning middle infielder Edgar Renteria. The 22-year-old right-handed starter, who was signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent in 2003, has already become a “stopper” for the Braves. Perhaps most impressive about his first half of the season is he allowed only five home runs in 90 innings.
Joe Saunders, Angels
He was the first-round pick of the Angels in 2002 and got to the majors in August of 2005. Since then, however, he’s shuttled between Anaheim and its Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City over 10 times. Finally, Saunders will pitch a full season for the Angels. And he has been a savior given the injuries to John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar. Saunders is a battler on the mound and he’s battled his way to 11 wins in his first 14 decisions (1.12 WHIP), challenging hitters and keeping them off balance with his two key weapons – a fastball and change-up.
Ben Francisco, Indians
A late bloomer after being chosen by Cleveland in the fifth round in 2002, Francisco survived numerous trips on the shuttle between Cleveland and Triple-A Buffalo to take advantage of an opening when the Indians dealt Jason Michaels to Pittsburgh in early May. Francisco could wind up hitting over .300 and he is crushing fastballs. He’s been a huge addition to a team that’s missing the bat of Travis Hafner, who went down with a right shoulder injury late last month.
Geovany Soto, Cubs
The Cubs parted ways with catchers Michael Barrett and Jason Kendall in the last 12 months due to their increasing faith in the talent of Soto, who they didn’t draft until the 11th round in 2001 and who prior to this year had only 30 major-league games under his belt. But their confidence in his development is paying off in a big way. His offense started to click last year and his production at the plate has exploded this year. Like many others included on this list of 10, Soto must prove his bat can maintain its punch through the summer and through a pennant race.
Carlos Quentin, White Sox
The White Sox obtaining Quentin from the Diamondbacks for Chris Carter has turned out for Chicago to be one of last winter’s best moves. Quentin, a standout college player at Stanford, has stayed healthy and provided the offense expected from Nick Swisher and no longer produced by Jim Thome. His RBIs are down this month as teams are getting a clue about how best to pitch him and approaching his at-bats with more care so his acid test should come after the All-Star break.
David Murphy, Rangers
Boston drafted him in the first round in 2003 but chose to include him in the three-player package it sent Texas last July in exchange for Eric Gagne. Murphy has delivered some punch with the at-bats given him in Texas. He surpassed 50 RBI in the first half of the season but could stand to improve his on-base percentage which has been in the neighborhood of .310 lately.
Fred Lewis, Giants
The man who now patrols left field in San Francisco is an athlete with terrific tools who is still learning baseball at 27. He was taken by the Giants in the second round of the 2002 draft but didn’t make the majors until 2006 and then for only 13 games. He hits with pop and can fly (.845 OPS as a leadoff hitter) but needs to show that he can hit lefties and improve his questionable defense.
Joakim Soria, Royals
A real nice pick by Kansas City from San Diego in the 2006 Rule 5 major league draft. This 24-year-old got a taste of closing games last year and after Octavio Dotel’s departure, the Royals gave Soria the job this year. The results have been outstanding as in 20 saves in his first 21 chances and a stunning 0.79 WHIP.
Blake DeWitt, Dodgers
Nothing on his minor-league resume could have predicted immediate success and he’s never even played a game at the Triple-A level. But his promotion to the majors coming out of spring training was done out of desperation by the injury-ravaged Dodgers and they have not regretted the move. The team’s first-round pick in 2004 has helped it survive the first half of the season. He has started to slide of late but he delivered for his team when it needed him most.
