Nevin Ashley Promoted to Durham and More AFL names

by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 1:01 PM EDT

Some quick news and notes from the farm over the weekend:

-Durham catcher Jose Lobaton has gone on the disabled list with a foot injury. Nevin Ashley received the callup from Montgomery. Ashley was the 2009 organizational defensive player of the year and showed some life with the bat in the Arizona Fall League and in Spring Training. This season Ashley posted a slash line of .258/.334.372 while throwing out 41% of base runners. We've covered Ashley before here and here . With catchers Alvin Colina and Lobaton injured and the likely imminent callup of Dioner Navarro, Ashley should be the primary catcher for the Bulls for the time being. Yesterday in his first game with the Bulls, Ashley went 1-4 with a two-run home run.

-Two more names for the Arizona Fall League have been announced: Alex Cobb and Neil Schenk. Cobb has had an excellent season for AA Montgomery with a FIP of 3.43 in 106.3 innings. The 22 year-old right-hander has seen his K/9 rise over a full strike out from 2009 up to 8.46 while also inducing north of 52% ground balls. Cobb's inclusion is likely to make up the time he missed at the beginning of the year with an oblique injury. Cobb threw 139.7 innnings with Charlotte in 2009. Schenk has been part of 2010's electric Charlotte bullpen. Schenk featured a K/9 of 10.9 versus a BB/9 of 2.9. Schenk is a 24 year old left-hander who has had success versus both hands.

-The GCL Rays have their first playoff game in team history today versus the Marlins despite a team slash line of .228/.309/.318. Prospects include catchers Luke Bailey and Justin O'Connor.

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GCL update through 5 0-0

Doubles by Ryant Brett, O’Connor and Bailey.
18-year-old Lefty Brandon Henderson impressive on the mound with one hit allowed, 3K, and no BB. 28:3 K/BB for the year in 22.2 innings, though most of the work was out of the pen.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Author neglects telling readers Ashley is his personal fav

Rumor has it the decline of Zobrist and the rise of Ashley could lead to a change of username to AskForAshley

Great news on Cobb

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by sternfan1 on Aug 30, 2010 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not buying that this is the the true Zobrist at the plate

Expect better in 2011.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn't exactly my usual biased propaganda; no need for disclaimer

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm liking Cobb a lot.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

My plus/equal sign key is broken

but (plus)1 to this comment. Across the board he doesn’t really have a weakness, and his strikeout rate being over a batter per inning is very nice. I’m thinking a better version of Mitch Talbot, but if he stays with the organization he’s likely a reliever down the road. A good one.

Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Aug 30, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Any idea why his strikeout rates have increased in AA?

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

He has Moore and Barnese behind him

But with some escalating starting salaries ahead and the always present risk of injury, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the chance of a starting job with the club.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

True.

Garza’s probably gone after this year.
Niemann could be gone after next year.
Shields’ deal expires after 2013 I think?

Of course there’s Colome and Rodriguez coming too, but Cobb and Torres might sneak into the rotation at some point.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Bless this system.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know that Shields sees 2012 with the club

Its still a valuable contract at $7 Mill, but that seems to be above what the FO pays SP. It may depend on how the team projects that season. Either way the return package would be sweet and we do have a lot of young guns coming up.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Shields and Longoria are the only players I'd want to play their entire careers here.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Within reason, I mean. Obviously if Shields turns into a walking liability then whatever.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Price?

I imagine the hangup youd have for him is he will be uber-expensive at some point.

by MagicMark on Aug 30, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I like him a lot, but yeah, I can't envision a scenario in which he signs for pennies on the dollar like Shields did.

by R.J. Anderson on Aug 30, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what you get for drafting a pitcher 1-1

Rather than in the 16th rd like Shields.

Poor decisions.

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Aug 30, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Given the nature of pitchers' developmental curves and the greater injury risk

I’m not sure there is a pitcher they will keep at those price levels. THe fact they are options is helpful, but the value to other teams may be greater.

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by FreeZorilla on Aug 30, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions