Now that we're in September, the rosters expand and previously unknown players can get their chance to shine on the big league stage. So, this is a post to discuss who we're all calling up.
Of course, since those damned Canuckleheads won't go away, I don't have room this year to experiment. So, I'll only be calling up two players. Outfielder Freddie Villacorta, who spent most of the year with the big league club already, will come up to provide depth in the outfield and a right-handed bat off the bench. I'm also calling up reliever Wesley Elton to get his first taste of the majors. He's the top rated minor league closer, according to the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list, and has pitched very well for the Tacoma Titans in AAA this year.
If Saskatoon drops off in the next sim, I may call up starting pitcher Joseph Macaluso to make a spot start as a prelude to a possible spot in the rotation next year, but that would probably be it.
I'm bringing (back) up SP Brian Hersh. He's had a fair season, including a brief cup of coffee as an injury stopgap earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to bring up my top pitching prospect Anthony Koepp, but he hasn't really shown a reason to jump from AA to the bigs this season. Also, why start his arbitration eligibility clock unless I need to?
A few other role players and backups with earlier big league experience this season are coming up, too. Most notable is Raymond Sant, a lifer who has excelled in the bullpen in AAA Arizona Bay and also during a brief stint with the big club in South Bay.
Not too much for me this year. I called up Matthew Cassity to provide a little more depth to the bullpen for September. The loss of Theriault and Beeks was not a happy occurence along the confluence of the Ohio and the Muskingum.
ReplyDeleteAlso not a lot of talent to call up because I called up Suarez, Villatoro, Hukill, Marez, Dull, and Glatt earlier this year or earlier. Effectively all of my late season call ups are up.
My AA to AAA group is looking good for next year, though. I moved up Ward,
Marzano,
Boothe, and Murry to establish their place and hopefully ability to compete for major league jobs next year. I feel good about it.
I'm still not decided on whom I'm calling up. The only thing I know for certain is that Willis Welliver, who has been a September call up every year since 2003, will be back again.
ReplyDeleteBeyond that, we'll see as the week progresses.
Zev