MLB Prospect Watch

Links from BA

The Baseball America blog has some great stuff in it today. 

First, Matt Eddy breaks down all the movement among prospects for the last week.  Among the highlights include the additions of Daniel Schlereth and Matt Wieters to their team's respective 40-man rosters, Matt Laporta's demotion to Triple-A, and David Price's call up to the big-leagues.

Eddy also discusses the prominence of the San Diego farm system when it comes to the minor league leaders in walks. Apparently their only hope to ever score runs is just to have as many runners on base as possible when Adrian Gonzalez comes up to bat.

Ben Badler chimes in with a breakdown of how much better Florida Marlins super-prospect Michael Stanton has gotten since last season, a scary thought considering he hti 39 homeruns last year.

Best and Worst from 5/26

BEST

• Jason Heyward (ATL) - 3-4, 2B, batting .295
• Matt Wieters (BAL) - 4-4, 2B, 4 RBI, batting .305
• Josh Vitters (CHC) - 2-4, HR, batting .359
• Jordan Danks (CWS) - 3-4, HR, batting .383
• Tommy Hanson (ATL) - 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 9 K/2 BB, 1.48 ERA
• Brian Matusz (BAL) - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 K/2 BB, 2.68 ERA

WORST

• Matt Antonelli (SD) - 0-2, batting .151
• Kris Johnson (BOS) - 2 2/3 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 4 K/1 BB, 7.41 ERA
• Jon Meloan (CLE) - 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 K/1 BB, 6.91 ERA
• Andrew Brackman (NYY) - 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 1 K/10 BB, 3.83 ERA

Link: Wieters to Make Debut on Friday

After almost two years of hype and waiting, the Baltimore Orioles will finally unveil the centerpiece of their rebuilding project, catcher Matt Wieters, reports Dan Connelly of the Baltimore Sun.  Wieters debut will take place at home on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.

According to most estimates, Wieters spent enough time in the minor leagues this year to avoid reaching Super Two status when it comes time for arbitration, ensuring the Orioles will retain Wieters for as long as possible, even if a contract extension is not eventually reached.

Needless to say, the city of Baltimore is abuzz over Wieters' arrival, as evidenced by the flooding of today's Baltimore Sun with Wieters-related articles.

Stay tuned to MLBPW for all the Wieters-related news and hype as the week progresses.

Links: O's, 'Stros, and LaPorta

• There appears to be an official date for the beginning of the Matt Wieters era (or at least one of two dates), making it seem that his time in Triple-A this season was purely financially driven.  But as Dan Connelly of the Baltimore Sun reports, Wieters is handling the situation with ease.  Connelly also discusses the Orioles replacement for Adam Eaton in their rotation, Jason Berken, a 25-year old rookie who has gone overlooked in their deep pitching-rich farm system.  Berken makes his first big-league start tonight.
• Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle discusses the Astros organizatinoal philosophy this year of pushing their young pitchers.  The Astros are trying to rebuild what is generally considered to be baseball's worst farm system.
• The Cleveland Indians have sent rookie slugger Matt LaPorta down to Triple-A after 42 major league at-bats, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  LaPorta was batting .190 since his call up.

Best and Worst from 5/14

BEST

• Matt Wieters (BAL) - 2-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, batting .270
• Anthony Rizzo (BOS) - 2-4, 4 R, 2 HR, batting .293
• Tony Thomas (CHC) - 3-5, HR, batting .352
• Ben Revere (MIN) - 3-5, 2B, batting .320
• Josh Thole (NYM) - 5-5, 2B, batting .349
• Reese Havens (NYM) - 3-5, 4 RBI, 2B, batting .268
• Andrew McCutchen (PIT) - 4-5, 2B, batting .297
• Chris Marrerro (WAS) - 2-5, 3B, HR, batting .289
• Zeke Spruill (ATL) - 8 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K/0 BB, 1.91 ERA
• Brian Matusz (BAL) - 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K/4 BB, 2.95 ERA
• Casey Kelly (BOS) - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K/0 BB, 0.96 ERA
• Jason Knapp (PHI) - 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K/1 BB, 3.82 ERA
• Neftali Feliz (TEX) - 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 7 K/1 BB, 4.38 ERA

WORST

• Kris Johnson (BOS) - 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 K/1 BB, 6.12 ERA
• James Adkins (LAD) - 6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 K/2 BB, 5.94 ERA
• Matt Moore (TB) - 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 K/6 BB, 4.18 ERA