I can’t believe June is already here. That means it’s time to look back at May and who turned in great performances that month. Our panel has spoken, and there’s no disputing who belongs at the top this month.
FR Position Player of the Month of May:
1. Joe Mather, 20 points. Key stats: .311/.385/.709 AVG/OBP/SLG, 12.8% per plate appearance. 10 HR.
2. Allen Craig, 13 pts. .327/.356/.611. 9 HR.
3. Brian Barden, 10 pts. .377/.460/.538.
4. Bryan Anderson, 8 pts. .358/.400/.463.
5. Shane Robinson, 7 pts. .367/.402/.456.
Also receiving points: Andrew Brown, 1.
No question that Mather belongs at the top, his performance was so hard to ignore that it earned him a spot on the big league team when it was all said and done. After him, it’s pretty questionable who was 2nd best. Craig had some monster power numbers that are certainly hard to overlook. Brian Barden had a spectacular month, but how many years has he played in AAA now? Anderson and Robinson both continued to build on their impressive first months of the season.
FR Pitcher of the Month of May:
1. Jess Todd, 20 points. 18.8% K/PA rate, .169 BABIP, 0.91 ERA.
2. Fernando Salas, 16 pts. 53.8% K/PA, 3.8% BB/AP, .167 BABIP. 1.23 ERA.
3. Mitchell Boggs, 8 pts. 3.22 ERA, 51 GB%, 16.2 % K/PA.
4. Mark Diapoules, 6 pts. 64% GB, 2.73 ERA, 19.4% K/PA, 5.6% BB/PA.
5. (Tie) Jaime Garcia, Francisco Samuel 3
Also receiving points-Nick Additon, 2, Mark McCormick 1, Matt Scherer 1.
Todd has been the Pitcher of the Month two times in a row now, last month in Palm Beach now this month while he was in Springfield. At this rate, he’ll be the June Pitcher of the Month at Memphis. Salas has emerged from an unknown in the Mexican League to a shutdown closer in the TL. Like with the hitters, it’s a toss up after the top of the list. You could make an argument for Garcia being next; # 5 seems too low for me but I presume that is because after some great starts in AAA he’s had some so-so ones that have knocked him down a peg. Boggs has been one of the PCL’s most solid starters. Young Mark Diapoules come up to the QC with aplomb, missing bats and inducing lots and lots of grounders with that sinker of his. And Francisco Samuel has been “effectively wild” to this point for Palm Beach, ascending into the closer spot after others have faltered.
Filed under: Allen Craig, Brian Barden, Bryan Anderson, FR pitcher of the month, FR player of the month, Fernando Salas, Francisco Samuel, Jaime Garcia, Jess Todd, Joe Mather, Mark Diapoules, Mitch Boggs, Shane Robinson
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Let’s all hope that Rasmus is the hitter of the month for June.
He’s off to a good start Steve.
I suspect Anderson will be seasoned enough to take over LaRue’s role with the big club next season?
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I suspect Anderson will be seasoned enough to take over LaRue’s role with the big club next season?
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Just in case he should get the mullet-mustache combo going now.
They’d kill any value Anderson had if they made him the backup. I have a feeling he’ll be traded before next season starts.
Atlanta didn’t kill Saltalamacchia’s (is that spelled correctly?) trade value by having him back up McCann. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anderson by August or September. His bat could really help the bench.
I believe that Salty came up while McCann was injured. He was playing almost everyday until McCann was back and then he was dealt. It was more to show him off than anything.
Did Molina lose value backing up Matheny? Seriously with that demanding of a position I really want a 60/40 split between Anderson and Molina next season, that allows us to see what we have in each side by side. If one is trade bait after that so be it, if not then we have 2 cheap and good catchers. I don’t see the downside at all.
You won’t see Anderson unless there is an injury. LaRussa prefers his backup catchers to be veterans and/or have superior defensive skills. Yadi obviously had the defensive skills to play at the MLB level at that age. Otherwise look at the backup catchers during the LaRussa era. LaRue will stay regardless of how he does at the plate. Right or wrong is debatable.
I think there really isn’t a debate on pitcher of the month. Todd 100% deserves it without any question. You look at the numbers he put up starting and take into consideration the jump to AA, which is known to be one of the hardest jumps. Salas had a very good month, but you have a SP put up the numbers Todd did and it’s a wrap.
The callups of Mather and Worrell have convinced me that La Russa won’t make that decision. I’m starting to think some of the stuff that’s been blamed on TLR was more Jocketty’s doing.
Molina wasn’t a trade chip when he was called up. They were planning on him taking over when Matheny left. It was a different situation.
Salty also did stay up with the Braves, but he spent part of the time at 1B since they didn’t have anyone better.