Future Redbirds

First of all, I want to remind everyone to get the vote out for the Channel Cats. You can vote here, here and here. Friends don’t let friends vote for River Bandits.

Bryan Smith of BP uses Clay Davenport’s peak translations to identify some possible breakouts next year, and really likes Mark Hamilton:

High-A peak translation: .286/.347/.589, .304 EqA.
I feel like I’ve been comparing Hamilton to Ryan Klesko for ages, and I’m not taking off that tag yet. Like Klesko, Hamilton has power in spades, a trait he has shown at every level; it’s a skill his peak translation warms to. Like Klesko, contact skills and the ability to hit left-handed pitching will define whether he remains the platoon player Klesko started off his career as, or the everyday player that he eventually became. Hamilton struggled a bit in the Texas League—Clay’s peak translations drop to .257/.323/.415—but the power was still there. Teams need to test the Cardinals this winter, because if the presence of Albert Pujols significantly reduces Hamilton’s value to the organization, he’d make one helluva throw-in.

Dustin from Whiteyball has an interview with Joe Mather.

Chris Loupos of Project Prospect looks at players with 30/30 potential.

If you have followed our site this season – or just minor league baseball in general – then you know the name Colby Rasmus, 21, is synonymous with stud. Rasmus was a first round pick in the now infamous 2005 draft (known for elite high school outfield talent it possessed). He has really come into his own in 2007.

In 128 Double-A games, Rasmus knocked 29 balls over the fence and stole 18 bases in 21 attempts – an 85.7% success rate. The only thing keeping Rasmus from topping our list is the likelihood that as he matures he may attempt fewer stolen bases. The power is for real and at this rate he could amass a few 30/30 seasons in his big league career.

On to tonight’s game–it pretty much sucked.

Springfield 2, San Antonio 6

• The story of the game was that Mitch Boggs was awful. He allowed 2 homers in the 1st inning alone, and a total of 6 runs on 7 hits and 5 walks, while striking out 2 over 5 innings.
• Jose Martinez went 3 for 4 with a double.
• Cody Haerther went 2 for 4.
• Rasmus went 1 for 4, but took two balls to the warning track.
• Craig went 1 for 3.