Minor League Notes:
dav...@nospam.bellsouth.net
RHP Matt Belisle signed the largest bonus given to a HS drafted
pitcher this year when he inked a 1.75mill contract to sign
with the Braves. He was Atlanta's first pick in this year's
draft in teh second round - overall 52nd pick. He will appear
in the fall instructional. Prior to this season he was ranked as
the top pitcher in the HS ranks, but tore his ACL. Josh Karp was
the Braves 8th round pick and similarly was the other top HS
pitcher prior to his senior year when he was unspectacular.
Karp fell lower in the draft because he is expected to start at
UCLA soon.
Wes Helms is relatively happy with his performance at AAA this year
after a terrible season at AAA last year and ending up with in
AA and asking to be be allowed to play Winter Ball. He was one
of the youngest players in Mexico last winter and performed well
above expectations (279/7/36 in 59 games).
Atlanta has assigned 6 players to play in the Arizona Fall league
starting in October. RHP Anthony Briggs (24yo AAA), Joe Nelson
(23yo AA), LHP Micah Bowie (23yo AA), C Mike Mahoney (25yo AAA),
SS Mark DeRosa (23yo AA), and OF George Lombard (22yo AA).
Last season, Bobby Smith, John LeRoy, John Rocker
AJ Zapp has had a miserable year in Macon starting with a broken
hand in April and chronic tendonitis in his elbow which has
limited his rehab. Apparently, it flares up anytime he takes
extended batting practice. Plans are for him to go thru the
fall instructional program in Florida. [Personally, I think if
he's healthy he may go to Australia sicne that league seems to
gather a lot of the Braves A-level players - last year Erik Nelson,
Glenn Williams, Adam Johnson, Micah Bowie, and George Lombard along
with a couple younger players went to Australia and Kevin Millwood
showed his first signs of dominance in Aus. 2 years ago].
I would expect Micah Bowie to be awarded the Minor League Pitcher
of the month for August for Southern League pitcher and maybe
all minor league pitchers in any league if there is such an award.
August at AA Greenville:
7G/6GS 4W-0L 40.2IP 14H 0HR 5R/1ER 13BB 38K ERA 0.22
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Marcus Giles finished his regular season at Macon in a mild slump
if the rest of his season is to be believed hitting and should easily
be named the Braves Minor league Player of the Year and should
win the Hank Aaron award of the organization's outstanding offensive
performer.
BA 329 3rd in Sally League
OBP 433 2nd In SAL
SLG 636 1st
OPS 1069
Runs 111 1st
Hits 166 3rd
2B 38 2nd
3B 3
HR 37 1st (40 is the SAL record by Russ Branyan)
RBI 108 1st
BB 85 1st
HBP 10 (estimated)
K 103
SB 12 -- I think somewhere around 70-75%
Extra Base hits -- 78 1st (SAL record)
Errors - estimated at 25 for the season with 18 the first half
and only 3 in his last 45 games although I missed a lot
of boxscores while I was gone. Calling JJ Cooper
for help.
In Macon's first Playoff game last night against Augusta,
Giles hit another HR, but the Braves got massacred 19-6.
Best of 3 series resumes tonight in Augusta for the
final 2 games.
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