Ike Can't Catch A Break

Ike Davis is being treated for Valley Fever. He hasn't received an official diagnosis and the blood test results from a test administered 11 days ago aren't in yet, but the Mets are treating Davis as if he has Valley Fever.

This is the type of illness that can interfere with a season or even end a career, so this is actually pretty serious. Conor Jackson contracted Valley Fever a few years ago and had to miss most of the 2009 season. Hopefully, Ike has better luck than Jackson.

For more on this bummer of a story, here's the article from MLB.com.

Overturned!

Suspend your disbelief. Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned today by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das. This is the first time a baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

The decision was announced one day before Braun was due to report to Spring Training. Talk about coming down to the wire! If you'll recall, Braun tested positive for elevated testosterone in October, and ESPN broke the story in December.

MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred and union head Michael Weiner were part of the arbitration panel, and they split their vote 1-1. Das, an independent panel member, was the deciding vote.

Every Mensch Has His Month

Ryan Braun's best month was April. He posted a line of .358/.441/.695 for an OPS of 1.136 in 95 ABs. He hit 9 HRs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, drove in 22 runs, scored 21 runs, stole 3 bases, and had a BB/K ratio of 14/16. It should be noted that Braun posted an OPS well above .900 every single month except May, which was .796.

Craig Breslow's best month was September. He pitched 12 innings and posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He gave up 3 runs on 8 hits (.195 BAA), 1 HR, 3 BBs, and 8 Ks.

Ike Davis' best month (and only full month of play) was April. He posted a line of .337/.414/.600 for an OPS of 1.014 in 95 ABs. He hit 5 HRs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, drove in 20 runs, and scored 16 runs.

Scott Feldman's best month was August. He was 1-0 in 19 innings and posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. He gave up 6 runs on 14 hits (.206 BAA), 2 HRs, 5 BBs, and 14 Ks.

Sam Fuld's best month was August (However, his most productive month was April). He posted a line of .296/.472/.444 for an OPS of .917 in 27 ABs. He hit 2 doubles, 1 triple, drove in 1 run, scored 5 runs, stole 1 base, and had a BB/K ratio of 9/7. In April, he posted a line of .289/.358/.433 for an OPS of .791 in 97 ABs. He hit 1 HR, 7 doubles, 2 triples, drove in 8 runs, scored 17 runs, stole 10 bases, and had a BB/K ratio of 11/13.

John Grabow's best month was August. He was 1-0 in 12 innings and posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He gave up 6 runs (4 earned) on 11 hits (.250 BAA), 1 HR, 4 BBs, and 8 Ks.

Ian Kinsler's best month was September, which carried over into the postseason. He posted a line of .330/.421/.711 for an OPS of 1.132 in 97 ABs. He hit 11 HRs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, drove in 17 runs, scored 29 runs, stole 8 bases, and had a BB/K ratio of 16/10.

Ryan Lavarnway's best month was August. He posted a line of .304/.407/.391 for an OPS of .799 in 23 ABs. He hit 2 doubles, drove in 3 runs, scored 3 runs, and had a BB/K ratio of 4/6.

Jason Marquis' best month was April. He was 3-0 in 34 1/3 innings and posted a 2.62 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He gave up 10 runs on 35 hits (.269 BAA), 1 HR, 5 BBs, and 24 Ks. For those wondering, that comes out to a 4.8 K/BB ratio. All 5 of his starts were quality starts, and the last one that month was a complete game shutout against the Giants.

Josh Satin didn't have a best month, as he only played in September with limited success. He posted a line of .200/.259/.240 for an OPS of .499 in 25 ABs. He hit 1 double, drove in 2 runs, and scored 3 runs.

Michael Schwimer's best month was August. He pitched 5 innings and posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He gave up 2 runs on 4 hits (.222 BAA), 1 HR, 2 BBs, and 5 Ks.

Danny Valencia's best month was July. He posted a line of .303/.336/.468 for an OPS of .804 in 109 ABs. He hit 4 HRs, 6 doubles, drove in 20 runs, and scored 15 runs.

Kevin Youkilis' best month was June. He posted a line of .289/.408/.482 for an OPS of .890 in 83 ABs. He hit 3 HRs, 7 doubles, drove in 21 runs, scored 14 runs, and had a BB/K ratio of 16/15.

Bill James' 2012 Projections

Sorry for the lack of updates, faithful readers. I've been really busy. New job. New residence. Very little free time.

Ryan Braun: 157 games, 674 PAs, 195 hits, .317/.382/.571 for an OPS of .953, 35 HRs, 43 doubles, 4 triples, 115 RBIs, 111 runs scored, 59 BBs, 25 SBs, 7 CS, 351 total bases, 8.8 BB%, 16.0 K%, .254 ISO

Obviously, Braun's current projections would be contingent on his 50-game suspension being overturned. We should find out on Monday whether or not Braun's suspension will be reduced, thrown out, or upheld. Either way, the 28-year old reigning NL MVP should have a good season. You would think he would be extra motivated. Then again, the added pressure could get to him. If he misses some time, the counting numbers will take a hit. Braun will also miss the protection Prince Fielder provided. Still, Aramis Ramirez is no slouch. The 351 total bases would set a new career-high (currently 350 back in 2009), as would the 115 RBIs (114 in 2009). This would be Braun's third 20/20 season and his second 25/25 season.

Craig Breslow: 4-3, 62 innings, 3.34 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8.0 H/9, 0.73 HR/9, 3.34 BB/9, 7.84 K/9, 2.4 K/BB, 3.60 FIP

This would be a nice bounceback season for Breslow. I think these numbers are very reasonable for the 31-year old southpaw. I don't think his WHIP will be in the 1.5 range like it was in 2011. However, I could see it being in the 1.3 range. He did give up a lot of hits last year, and his strikeout rate was noticeably down. I'm sure if you asked Breslow right now if he'd take these numbers, he'd give you an emphatic yes.

Ike Davis: 141 games, 593 PAs, 150 hits, .288/.377/.504 for an OPS of .881, 25 HRs, 35 doubles, 1 triple, 87 RBIs, 80 runs scored, 73 BBs, 262 total bases, 12.3 BB%, 20.9 K%, .216 ISO

It looked like this was the kind of season Ike was going to have in 2011 before he got permanently sidelined with that foot injury. I don't think James is overshooting the mark here at all. Hopefully, Ike plays more than the 141 games projected. If he comes close to 162 games, 30 HRs and 40 doubles are not out of reach, especially with Citi Field's dimensions being moved in. The Mets will miss Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, but Lucas Duda arrived last season and David Wright should return to form this year and that can only mean good things for Ike. The soon-to-be 25-year old slugger has shown he can hang with the big boys. If he stays healthy, the numbers will be there by season's end.

Scott Feldman: 3-3, 60 innings (4 starts, 17 appearances), 4.05 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 9.5 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, 1.9 K/BB, 4.51 FIP

Apart from the ERA, this is pretty much in line with Feldman's career numbers. This would be a decent year when you consider that Feldman is a swingman. Feldman gave the Rangers quality innings in 2009, 2011, and the postseason last year. His peripherals last season were also impressive, although I could see him coming back down to Earth somewhat. At the same time, his new and improved changeup that he used in 2011 is a weapon in his arsenal that he didn't have before. The 29-year old Feldman can't like the fact that Albert Pujols is in the division now, but the Mariners and A's will still have relatively weak lineups.

Sam Fuld: 65 games, 131 PAs, 29 hits, .248/.333/.342 for an OPS of .675, 1 HR, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 14 BBs, 6 SBs, 3 CS, 40 total bases, 10.7 BB%, 10.7 K%, 0.94 ISO

With the defense Fuld provides in the outfield, pretty much anything he gives you at the plate is gravy. James projects a dropoff in playing time for Fuld, and that's hard to argue with the talented Desmond Jennings now in the mix. That said, I could see Fuld putting up better numbers than this. Last year, he may have gotten exposed somewhat because of how much he played. In a smaller sample size, a player like Fuld could really flourish. Joe Maddon likes to run and gave Fuld the green light a lot in 2011, so I think he could easily swipe 10+ bags in 2012. I don't think he'll duplicate the slash line he had with the Cubs in 2009, but a line of .270/.355/.355 wouldn't surprise me for the 30-year old sparkplug.

John Grabow: 3-4, 58 innings, 4.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.0 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 4.2 BB/9, 7.0 K/9, 1.7 K/BB, 4.60 FIP

There's no guarantee Grabow will even pitch in the Majors this year; he has a minor league contract with the Dodgers. Coming off 2 consecutive subpar seasons, the 33-year old southpaw has a lot to prove. These numbers would not constitute a great season. However, they would be a slight improvement over last year. I'd honestly be surprised if Grabow logs this many innings in 2012. At this point in his career, facing righties probably isn't a good idea, so 30 or so innings seems more realistic.

Ian Kinsler: 146 games, 647 PAs, 156 hits, .271/.358/.468 for an OPS of .826, 25 HRs, 34 doubles, 2 triples, 78 RBIs, 108 runs scored, 72 BBs, 25 SBs, 7 CS, 269 total bases, 11.1 BB%, 11.6 K%, .197 ISO

Pretty much the type of season we've come to expect from Kinsler, assuming he can stay on the field. This would be his fourth 20/20 season and his third 25/25 season. Kinsler epitomizes a five-tool player and is a terrific table-setter. On another team, he'd be a very good run producer as well. James' 2012 slash line is almost identical to Kinsler's career line of .275/.355/.469. Can't argue with this projection for the Rangers' 29-year old elite second baseman, nor would I want to. We're not there yet, but it will be interesting to see what the Rangers do with Kinsler and double play partner Elvis Andrus after 2013. Kinsler is signed through 2013 and the 23-year old Andrus is signed through 2014. Why is it interesting, you ask? Look up their top position prospect, Jurickson Profar. He's a middle infielder, and he could be just a few years away from The Show.

Ryan Lavarnway: 77 games, 231 PAs, 57 hits, .275/.351/.527 for an OPS of .878, 13 HRs, 13 doubles, 41 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 24 BBs, 109 total bases, 10.4 BB%, 21.6 K%, .252 ISO

If Lavarnway comes close to these numbers, I could live with the playing time James projects for him in 2012. All signs point to the Red Sox platooning Lavarnway and Jarrod Saltalamacchia at catcher. Lavarnway mashes against lefties. Salty does not. Salty can hit righties. Lavarnway is more of an unknown against them. Defensively, each of them leaves something to be desired, although as of right now Salty has the edge. But there are other factors to consider. Who calls a better game? Who represents the future and who is the stopgap guy? Lavarnway is 24. Salty will turn 27 in May. We've seen what Salty can do with nearly 1,300 MLB plate appearances. Lavarnway is more of a mystery, to be sure, but he also has way more upside. Curiously enough, Saltalamacchia has the longest last name in MLB history. But I have a feeling when it's all said and done, Lavarnway's name will resonate more with Red Sox fans and the front office.

Jason Marquis: 6-8, 118 innings (21 starts), 4.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 9.7 H/9, 0.9 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9, 5.0 K/9, 1.6 K/BB, 4.50 FIP

Once considered a reliable innings eater, Marquis has failed to come close to 200 innings in each of the last 2 seasons. For 20 starts last year with the Nationals, Marquis was more than serviceable, posting a 3.95 ERA with a record of 8-5. But his subsequent 3 disastrous starts and season-ending injury with the Diamondbacks marred what had been a fairly decent season. Marquis will start 2012 in the AL in spacious Target Field with the Twins. He has never pitched for a team in the AL before. While the AL is the harder league to pitch in for obvious reasons (DH), it also usually takes half a season for hitters to adjust to pitchers they haven't faced much before, so that bodes well for Marquis, especially when you consider that he is more of a 1st half pitcher (career 4.29 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, .260 BAA). His home park also doesn't yield very many HRs, and he's a groundball pitcher. Then again, the Twins don't have great infielders, so pitching to contact with that team may not be the best recipe for success. James' projections for Marquis aren't inspiring, but they could be worse. Or better. 

Danny Valencia: 114 games, 402 PAs, 104 hits, .278/.328/.420 for an OPS of .748, 9 HRs, 24 doubles, 1 triple, 50 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 28 BBs, 157 total bases, 7.0 BB%, 15.2 K%, .142 ISO

One player Marquis will be counting on to turn groundballs into outs is this guy. Valencia's projections for games played and PAs are a little strange, as the Twins' top prospect and third baseman, Miguel Sano, is still a few years away from being a threat to Valencia's playing time; Sano hasn't even played in Single-A yet. And I seriously doubt the Twins would risk rushing him and stunting his development. Still, James' slash line for Valencia would be a significant improvement over his 2011 line (.246/.294/.383) and more akin to his 2010 line (.311/.351/.448). According to James, Valencia's walk rate, strikeout rate, and ISO will all improve next year. Valencia will be 27 in 2012, and that's usually a magic number for ballplayers. A magic trick consist of 3 stages: The Pledge, The Turn, and The Prestige (great movie, by the way). This will be Valencia's 3rd stage (season) in MLB. Do you believe in magic?

Kevin Youkilis: 135 games, 576 PAs, 140 hits, .281/.389/.489 for an OPS of .878, 21 HRs, 37 doubles, 2 triples, 86 RBIs, 87 runs scored, 77 BBs, 244 total bases, 13.4 BB%, 19.6 K%, .208 ISO

The good news: Youk reportedly just got engaged to Julie Brady, Tom Brady's sister. The bad news: Youk hasn't been able to stay on the field for more than 120 games in each of the last 2 seasons. The 3-time All-Star will be 33 in 2012 and injuries have been a problem for him. He had a really good 1st half in 2011 (.911 OPS), but his 2nd half (.660) is one I'm sure he'd like to forget. We can give him a pass for that 2nd half, though, because he was playing hurt. James' projections for Youk don't seem outlandish to me. The .208 ISO is around what it was last year (.204), and that is a departure from what it had been the previous 3 seasons (around .250). If James is to be believed, Youk's ability to drive the ball isn't what it used to be. Still, the 2012 slash line is right around Youk's career line of .289/.391/.492. I don't think him playing in 135 games is unreasonable, either. He's signed through 2013 with the Red Sox, but I would not be surprised to see him dealt before then. Theo Epstein recently acquired former Red Sox prospect, Anthony Rizzo, for the Cubs. The Cubs are clearly in rebuilding mode and could use a solid veteran like Youk to man the hot corner for them and set a good example for their younger players, now that Aramis Ramirez is gone. We'll see how the Ian Stewart experiment goes. Epstein has always been very fond of Youk. Can you see how much I want this to happen?

Minor League Standouts In 2011

AAA

Ben Guez - Guez split time between AA (38 games, 146 PAs) and AAA (95 games, 348 PAs). Overall in 133 games and 494 PAs, he put up a line of .284/.345/.438 for an OPS of .783. He hit 7 HRs, 31 doubles, 8 triples, drove in 56 runs, and scored 59 runs. His ISO was .154, although at AA it was .205 and at AAA it was .133. While his walk rate went down from 9.4% to 6.9%, he at least managed to lower his strikeout rate from 23% to 19%. Last year in AAA, he hit for more power and walked more, but this year he raised his average from .251 to .278. Guez will be 25 in 2012 and profiles as a backup outfielder.

Ryan Lavarnway - Lavarnway had an outstanding season. Splitting time between AA (55 games, 239 PAs) and AAA (61 games, 264 PAs), he put up a line of .290/.376/.563 for an OPS of .939 in 503 PAs. He hit 32 HRs, 23 doubles, drove in 93 runs, scored 75 runs, and had 245 total bases. He was solid at AA, posting a line of .284/.360/.510 for an OPS of .869 with an ISO of .226. But he absolutely tore the cover off the ball at AAA, posting a line of .295/.390/.612 for an OPS of 1.002 with an ISO of .317. Overall, his ISO was .274, which was actually a little higher than Ryan Braun's ISO this year. Lavarnway also knows how to take a walk. At AA, his walk rate was 10.5% while at AAA it was 12.1%. Lavarnway didn't catch full-time, but he did put on the gear in 62 games and threw out 37% of the baserunners who attempted to steal on him. He's never been lauded for his defensive abilities, but he's clearly worked on that part of his game. Lavarnway is only 24 and should get a fair amount of ABs with the Red Sox in 2012. By season's end, I wouldn't be surprised if he were the primary catcher over Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who has never had much success against lefties. Lavarnway, on the other hand, feasts on southpaws. At the very least, you can see the makings of a catching platoon here.

Michael Schwimer - Schwimer was utterly dominant this year. In 68 innings, he was 9-1 with 10 saves, a 1.85 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 6.8 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 2.9 BB/9, 11.4 K/9, 3.91 K/BB, and 2.45 FIP. He'll be 26 next year and presumably will battle for a spot in the Phillies' bullpen in Spring Training. However, he may already have a roster spot locked up, especially with the departure of Ryan Madson. Either way, Schwimer was unquestionably the best Jewish minor league reliever this year, and I'm fairly certain we'll see him again in 2012 at the MLB level.

Josh Satin - Satin was the Mets' minor league player of the year in 2011; that's how good he was. He split time between AA (94 games, 404 PAs) and AAA (38 games, 160 PAs). Overall in 132 games and 564 PAs, he put up a line of .323/.411/.495 for an OPS of .906. He hit 12 HRs, 43 doubles, 2 triples, drove in 76 runs, scored 77 runs, drew 71 BBs, and had 239 total bases. It should be noted that his plate discipline and power dropped off when he went to AAA. At AA, he had a walk rate of 14.1% while at AAA it was 8.8%. His ISO at AA was .213. At AAA, it was 0.76. Notwithstanding his lack of pop, he was still pretty good at AAA, posting a line of .317/.381/.393 for an OPS of .774. He tore up AA, posting a line of .325/.423/.538 for an OPS of .962. His ISO has gone up every season for the last 3 years, from .139 to .156 to .172. So, he has remained remarkably consistent with the contact and has made strides with the power. Satin will be 27 in 2012 and could battle for a utility spot on the Mets' roster next year, as he can play third base, second base, first base, and now outfield.

AA

Eric Berger - Berger split time between AA (31 appearances, 57 appearances) and AAA (11 appearances, 14 1/3 innings). Coming into 2011, Berger had primarily been used as a starter, but this year the Indians decided to use the southpaw out of the pen, and it would appear that this is where he belongs. Berger was terrific in AA. He 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 6.9 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9, 10.6 K/9, 3.05 K/BB, and 2.97 FIP. At AAA, it was a different story. Overall in 71 1/3 innings, he was 2-1 with a 4.04 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 8.8 H/9, 0.8 HR/9, 4.5 BB/9, 11 K/9, and 2.42 K/BB. Berger will turn 26 next year and will either start the season in AA or AAA. The Indians have to be pleased with the jump in his strikeout rate this year.

Charles Cutler - Cutler had a nice bounceback season after struggling in AA a year ago. In 62 games and 232 PAs, Cutler put up a line of .333/.398/.475 for an OPS of .874. He hit 5 HRs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, drove in 34 runs, scored 37 runs, and had a BB/K ratio of 21/28. He threw out 24% of the baserunners who attempted to steal against him. His ISO was .142. Cutler will turn 26 next July. He profiles as a backup catcher and now that he's with the Pirates, an organization in dire need of catchers, his chances of making it to The Show are a little better than they were with the Cardinals.

Daniel Rosenbaum - Rosenbaum split time between Class A-Advanced and AA, with 19 of his 25 starts coming at Class A-Advanced and 6 starts coming at AA. Overall in 25 starts and 171 1/3 innings, he was 9-6 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7.4 H/9, 0.2 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 7.1 K/9, and 2.60 K/BB. In Class A-Advanced, he was 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 7.7 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 7.4 K/9, 2.63 K/BB, and 3.05 FIP. He tossed 2 complete games and 1 complete game shutout. In AA, he was 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 6.2 H/9, 0.0 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 6.2 K/9, 2.45 K/BB, and 2.82 FIP in 39 1/3 innings. Rosenbaum will be 24 next year and will likely start the year in AA. If the trend holds up of advancing a level every season, he'll be in AAA by the end of 2012. I would say his MLB ETA could be as soon as 2013. He even has a shot at being a September call-up next year with the Nationals. Doesn't hurt that he's a lefty. With Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and now Gio Gonzalez, it would appear that the Nationals are set with 3 starters, but the back-end of their rotation remains wide open for the future. Fellow lefty pitching prospect, Matt Purke, has the edge over Rosenbaum, but to quote an old Chicago Bulls promo (probably my most esoteric reference yet): "Anything can change in the blink of an eye."

A+

Nate Freiman - In 138 games and 618 PAs, Freiman put up a line of .288/.354/.487 for an OPS of .842. He hit 22 HRs, 35 doubles, 4 triples, drove in 111 runs, scored 81 runs, drew 50 walks, and stole 6 bases (1 CS). In just his 3rd professional season, Freiman set career-highs in HRs, extra base hits (61), triples, hits (158), SBs, RBIs, SLG, ISO (.199), K% (15), HBP (11), and total bases (267). He led all Jewish minor leaguers in total bases. At 24, Freiman may have been a little old for Class A-Advanced. He'll be 25 next year and will presumably start the season at AA. Now that Adrian Gonzalez is gone, Freiman is no longer blocked at 1B, although he'll still face fierce competition from Jesus Guzman and a few other prospects. The Padres trading Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs certainly doesn't hurt Freiman's chances. I would say he is one of the Padres' better-kept secrets in their farm system. His MLB ETA could be 2013 if things continue to progress for the 6'7" slugger.

Casey Haerther - In 117 games and 470 PAs, Haerther put up a line of .293/.330/.426 for an OPS of .756. He hit 8 HRs, 34 doubles, drove in 68 runs, and scored 54 runs. His ISO has gone up every year, from .107 to .125 to .133. So, Haerther and the Halos have to be heartened by that. He had an excellent 1st half (.861 OPS in 269 ABs) but had an abysmal 2nd half (.583 OPS in 168 ABs). My guess is he played hurt in the 2nd half. He hit .361 with runners in scoring position. Haerther will be 24 next season and will likely start the year in Class A-Advanced or AA.

Jeffrey Kaplan - Kaplan missed all of 2010 with an injury. A few years ago, he was a starter. Now, he's being used as a full-time reliever. He split time between Class A-Advanced (45 appearances, 57 1/3 innings) and AA (3 appearances, 4 innings). Overall, he was 2-5 with 12 saves, a 3.52 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 8.2 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 3.8 BB/9, and 7.0 K/9. Kaplan will be 26 next year and will likely start the season in AA. Kaplan was lights out in the 2nd half at Class A-Advanced, posting a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 innings. In the 1st half, his ERA was 4.54 in 33 2/3 innings.

Jake Lemmerman - Lemmerman split time between Class A-Advanced (103 games, 469 PAs) and AA (21 games, 93 PAs). Overall, in 124 games and 562 PAs, the shortstop put up a line of .283/.370/.415 for an OPS of .785. He hit 10 HRs, 29 doubles, 2 triples, drove in 65 runs, scored 82 runs, drew 55 BBs, had 14 HBP, and stole 10 bases (3 CS). His ISO was .132. For just about anyone, these would be solid numbers. For a middle infielder, these are really good numbers. Lemmerman will only be 23 next year and will probably start the year at AA. He was outstanding in the Rookie Pioneer League in 2010, but that's a big-time hitter's league. What the Dodgers can take away from 2011 is Lemmmerman can hold his own outside a league where everyone's numbers are inflated.

Brett Lorin - In 17 starts and 25 appearances, Lorin was 7-6 with 1 save, a 2.84, 1.04 WHIP, 7.9 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 1.5 BB/9, 7.6 K/9, 5.21 K/BB, and 3.03 FIP in 117 1/3 innings. He tossed 1 complete game as well. This was a nice bounceback season for Lorin after he missed most of 2011 because of injuries and struggled in A when he finally did take the field again. He set career-bests in WHIP, BB/9, and K/BB. Lorin will be 25 next year and could start the season in AA. He has a chance to be in AAA by the end of 2012. The Diamondbacks recently selected him from the Pirates in the Rule 5 draft. Lorin has to remain on their 25-man roster all year or be offered back to the Pirates. In all likelihood, Lorin will be back with the Pirates before long. But now that he's healthy again, it may not be long before he advances up the minor league ladder. As a starter, his ERA was 3.26 in 85 2/3 innings. As a reliever, his ERA was 1.71 in 31 2/3 innings. Lorin was outstanding in the 1st half (2.82 ERA in 54 1/3 innings) and 2nd half (2.86 ERA in 63 innings). He's not a big name, but he's definitely one of the more promising pitchers we have in the minors.

Jack Marder - Marder only got 81 PAs in 18 games, but he made the most of his playing time. He posted a line of .324/.380/.493 for an OPS of .873. He hit 2 HRs, 6 doubles, drove in 12 runs, scored 11 runs, and stole 3 bases. Marder played 5 games at 2B and 9 games at catcher.

Ari Ronick - Ronick missed most of 2010 with an injury. This year in 45 appearances and  60 2/3 innings he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 3.56 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 5.3 BB/9, and 8.0 K/9. Ronick will turn 26 next year and will likely start the season in AA. The key for this southpaw will be improving his command.

Cameron Selik - Selik did well last year in Short-Season A used exclusively as a reliever. In his 2nd year of pro ball, the Nationals decided to use him mostly as a starter. Selik made 21 starts and 27 appearances in 120 2/3 innings, splitting time between A (5 starts, 29 innings) and Class A-Advanced (16 starts, 22 appearances, 91 2/3 innings). Selik was untouchable at Single A; his ERA was 0.31 and his WHIP was 0.90. At Class A-Advanced, his ERA was 4.52 and his WHIP was 1.28. Overall, he was 7-9 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.5 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 2.2 BB/9, 6.1 K/9, and 2.83 K/BB. Selik also had 3 complete games at Class A-Advanced, the most of any Jewish pitcher this year. The 24-year old from the University of Kansas will likely start 2012 in Class A-Advanced or AA.

A

Mike Brownstein - Brownstein split time between A (45 games, 178 PAs) and Class A-Advanced (40 games, 152 PAs). The middle infielder (34 games at 2B, 33 games at SS, 17 games at 3B) did very well in A, posting a line of .277/.381/.372 for an OPS of .752. His BB/K ratio at that level was 24/25. However, at Class A-Advanced Brownstein struggled quite a bit. Overall, he posted a line of .261/.350/.335 for an OPS of .684 in 330 PAs. He hit 2 HRs, 13 doubles, 1 triple, drove in 29 runs, scored 35 runs, and stole 13 bases (5 CS). The 24-year old middle infielder will likely start next season at Class A-Advanced.

Ben Orloff - In 96 games and 376 PAs, Orloff put up a line of .284/.359/.373 for an OPS of .733. He hit 2 HRs, 15 doubles, 4 triples, drove in 31 runs, scored 51 runs, stole 12 bases (6 CS), had 13 HBP, and had a BB/K ratio of 27/16. Orloff played 80 games at SS and 15 games at 2B. He'll turn 25 next year and profiles as a backup middle infielder. He has no power to speak of, but he hardly ever strikes out (6.9 K%) and has some speed.

Jeff Urlaub - Urlaub split time between Short-Season A (23 appearances, 37 2/3 innings) and A (14 appearances, 18 1/3 innings). The 24-year old southpaw was dominant at Short-Season A and pretty solid at A. His strikeout rate was excellent at both levels. Overall in 56 innings, Urlaub was 4-3 with 5 saves, a 2.41 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 7.2 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 1.6 BB/9, 11.6 K/9, and 7.20 K/BB. Urlaub is a little old for the lower minor league levels, but you can't hold that against him; his 1st year of pro ball was last year when he was 23. Urlaub will be 25 in 2012, and I would expect him to start the season in A or Class A-Advanced.

Rookie League/A-

Corey Baker - Baker was drafted this year in the 49th round by the Cardinals, but he certainly didn't pitch like a 49th rounder. At Short-Season A in 53 innings (4 starts, 19 appearances), Baker was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.2 H/9, 0.2 HR/9, 1.2 BB/9, 5.4 K/9, 4.57 K/BB, and 2.86 FIP. I would expect the 22-year old right-hander to start 2012 in A.

Zach Borenstein - In 31 games and 136 PAs, my brother put up a line of .274/.397/.451 for an OPS of .848. Zach hit 2 HRs, 6 doubles, 4 triples, drove in 21 runs, scored 21 runs, stole 12 bases (1 CS), and had a BB/K ratio of 17/21. His walk rate was 12.5% and his strikeout rate was only 15.4% while his ISO was .177. He'll turn 22 next July. I don't want to appear too biased, so all I'll say is the Angels are lucky to have this stud-in-the-making.

David Colvin - Colvin split time between Rookie Ball (1 start, 11 appearances, 22 1/3 innings) and Short-Season A (5 appearances, 6 2/3 innings). Overall in 29 innings, he was 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 9.9 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 4.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, and 2.23 K/BB. The ERA doesn't really correlate with the peripherals, but the 23-year old's strikeout rate was pretty good.

Adam Ehrlich - This 6th round pick by the Cardinals posted a line of .237/.333/.339 for an OPS of .672 in 69 PAs in Rookie Ball. Ehrlich hit 1 HR, 3 doubles, drove in 6 runs, and scored 3 runs in 19 games. He caught 17 of those games and threw out 21% of the baserunners who attempted to steal against him. He'll be 19 in 2012.

Jeremy Gould - In Short-Season A, Gould was 1-3 with 5 saves, a 3.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.9 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 3.0 BB/9, 13.6 K/9, 4.60 K/BB, and 2.01 FIP. The southpaw's strikeout rate had to please the Mets. Oddly enough, Gould was primarily used as an everyday player at Duke and not a pitcher. He was a good hitter, too, finishing with a lifetime .331 average and .863 OPS.

Lenny Linsky - Linsky split time between Short-Season A (12 appearances, 24 2/3 innings) and A (4 appearances, 4 2/3 innings). The Rays' 2nd round pick was 3-0 with 3 saves, a 1.23 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 6.8 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, 9.2 K/9, and 4.29 K/BB. His FIP at each level was 3.04 and 2.56, respectively. Linsky will turn 22 next year and is one of the better young arms we have in the minors, and the Rays' track record of developing pitchers in their farm system speaks for itself.

Max Perlman - Perlman had an excellent career at Harvard and was drafted in the 35th round by the A's. Splitting time between Rookie Ball (5 starts, 13 appearances, 42 1/3 innings) and AAA (2 starts, 9 innings), the 23-year old righty was 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 6.1 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, 8.2 K/9, and 3.62 K/BB in 51 1/3 innings. Perlman will be 24 in 2012. It's hard to say where he'll start next season, but if I had to guess I would say probably A or Class A-Advanced.

Nick Rickles - Rickles split time between Rookie League (6 games, 27 PAs) and Short-Season A (41 games, 166 PAs). In 47 games and 193 PAs, the young catcher put up a line of .310/.370/.458 for an OPS of .829. He hit 2 HRs, 11 doubles, 4 triples, drove in 35 runs, scored 21 runs, and stole 6 bases (1 CS). His ISO was .149. He also threw out 42% of the baserunners who attempted to steal against him. He'll turn 22 next year. Taken in the 14th round by the A's, Rickles could be a steal.

Jadd Schmeltzer - This Cornell graduate was a 49th round pick by the Red Sox. In Rookie Ball, Schmeltzer was 0-2 with a 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 7.7 H/9, 0.0 HR/9, 3.3 BB/9, and 4.4 K/9 in 24 2/3 innings. That's not a very good K/BB ratio, but Schmeltzer only allowed 21 hits in his 24 2/3 innings and didn't give up any gopher balls. For a pitcher, he was also a decent hitter in college.

Lavarnway Finally Cracks Sawx Top 10

Baseball America has at last put Ryan Lavarnway in the Red Sox top 10 prospect list, seen here. Lavarnway is currently ranked the 9th best prospect in the organization. Untested Blake Swihart is ahead of him at catcher, although it should be noted that the high school pick hasn't played at all yet. In my opinion, Lavarnway should have made this list last year as well, but better late than never, I guess. More on him later when I go over how the top Jewish minor leaguers fared in 2011.

Marquis A Twinkie

Jason Marquis has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Minnesota Twins worth $3 million. Marquis has spent all 12 of his MLB seasons in the NL. This will be his 1st AL team. The nice thing about going to Minnesota is the park. Marquis is a groundball pitcher, and Target Field does not yield very many HRs. The only real downside to this deal is Marquis will no longer get any ABs.