Comments on: Matsuzaka, Perez, Pryor: Mining the Minors

By: Jason Catania

Jason Catania — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:01:56 +0000

Kyle: I’m a little cautious about Doolittle as far as closing. I think he’ll post good strikeout numbers, and he certainly has a top-notch heater, but his path to the closer role is a little less direct than someone like Pryor. First, he’s a lefty, which tends to work against getting ninth-inning duties. Second, he’s in his first season as a full-time pitcher, so I would think the A’s want to make sure that transition is settled before they go anointing him their closer. And third, I see no reason why Doolittle would get the job before Ryan Cook, who has been lights out all season. For holds and Ks? Sure, go get Doolittle. And he could work his way into a few save opps, but let’s see him have some success (especially against righties) in the bigs first.

By: Jason Catania

Jason Catania — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:53:19 +0000

MikeInNJ: Thanks for reading. Sorry you’ve found this season’s MtMs disappointing. It’s tough to get to every player that is on the verge, I admit. I have a running list that I update and work off of; Joe Kelly is on that. But things change so quickly, especially with injuries, that timing gets thrown off pretty easily. Not making excuses, just trying to explain why I’ve made some of the choices I have this year and how the process works in my head.

I thought highlighting Matsuzaka and Perez was a good idea this week because they’re coming back soon, and there’s a chance both could make a decent fantasy impact. They’re not your typical minor leaguer, obviously, and I realize Pryor has been up — but it’s only been, what, six days? So I’m sure there are plenty of owners who have little to no idea who he is. (I nearly wrote him up last week, and then the M’s decided to recall him a day later, so that timing kinda hurt. Similar thing happened with Shawn Tolleson of the Dodgers this week.)

But I’ve hit on a bunch of guys ahead of time who have been promoted shortly thereafter, including Alex Castellanos, David Cooper, Hank Conger, Fernando Martinez and Andrelton Simmons. And there are a handful of others who have yet to get called up — but soon may.

So keep reading. And keep sending in requests, if you have ‘em. Who knows, maybe I’ll write up Kelly next week. Even if he gets called up to replace Jaime Garcia before then.

By: Wait Til Next Year

Wait Til Next Year — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:19:48 +0000

Maybe after they move Fuentes and Balfour.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:12:12 +0000

I’d guess that Pryor is long gone in most deep legues. What about Sean Doolittle? Does he have a legit shot at the closer role in Oakland?

By: MikeInNJ

MikeInNJ — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:44:25 +0000

No offense but Mining the Minors has dropped off from last year. This is supposed to be about prospects, not returning injured players like Daisuke Matsuzaka. And telling us about Pryor well after the fact doesn’t do much good for us deep leaguers either. C’mon. Get back to talking about prospects in the minors who have a chance to be called up. How about guys like Brandon Dickson or Joe Kelly who might get the call to replace Jaime Garcia?