round up

Here are the stats on our boys, starting in the majors:

Ryan Howard-although he is hitting just .208, he is 5th in the NL in RBI with 49, and one of the guys ahead of him is Chase Utley, who just happens to hit right in front of him! Ryno also has 11 doubles and a triple for the Phillies.

Carlos Ruiz-struggling at .221, Carlos is losing playing time to a red hot Chris Coste (who is hitting .313 with 6 HR). Ruiz has 5 doubles, 2 HR and 16 RBI in just 140 AB.

Brad Harman was 1 for 10 in his short stint with the big club.

Cole Hamels has been, well, Cole! The cool one is 6-4, with a 3.27 ERA in 99 innings of work, with 2 complete game shut outs, and is 3rd in the NL with 86 strike outs.

Kyle Kendrick-who said he was a flash in the pan!? Kyle has a 5-2, 4.87 mark this year to follow up last year's 10-win season and looks like he really does belong in the major leagues.

Gavin Floyd has made 12 starts at the back of the White Sox rotation and has posted a 7-3, 3.10 line. In 78.1 innings, he has struck out 45 and walked just 28. At age 25, he looks like he has come into his own.

Michael Bourn-Mike seems to have gotten over a rough early season, moving his average up to .224. After a .195 April and a .214 May, Bourn is hitting .346 in June. He has 4 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs and is 24 for 28 in steal attempts, which is tops in the National League. For his career, Bourn is 43 for 50 (that's 86%). He also has 5 outfield assists.

Taylor Buchholz has had a stellar season so far for the Rockies. Being used basically as a 6th and 7th inning guy in games when his team is ahead, Buchholz has been in 22 games, throwing 33.1 innings. He has 2 wins, 2 loses, a save in his only opportunity, giving up just 20 hits and 6 earned runs, posting a 1.62 ERA.

Bobby Korecky has been in 9 games since being called up to Minnesota in late April. With Joe Nathan closing games for the Twins, Bobby has been eased into the bullpen rotation. He has worked a total of 10.1 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 8 hits. He has picked up a win, and has a 3.48 ERA. He is also 1 for 1 as a hitter, and has handled all 5 chances in the field flawlessly. At 29 years old, it is probably his best chance to stick in the majors leagues right now.

Robinson Tejeda has been used by the Rangers 3 times this month with mixed results. After a disastrous first appearance when all three batters he faced reached base and scored in a 9-run Oakland inning, Robinson pitched 2.1 hit less innings against the Indians, but then was roughed up by the Rays last Sunday. In a total of 4 innings, he has allowed 6 runs, on 5 hits and 5 walks. The Rangers come to Shea this weekend to face the limping Mets.

Last week, the Rangers called up Elizardo Ramirez and threw him into a game against Cleveland. Taking no mercy on him, Texas left him in the game for 2.2 innings. Plenty of time to give up 9 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks! ERA: 30.37!! He has been returned to Oklahoma.

In AAA-

Jason Jaramillo has been coming on strong for Lehigh Valley. JJ is batting .343 in his last 10 games to raise his average to .250 overall. The switch hitting catcher has 10 doubles, 3 homers and 17 RBI after a brutal start this year. Some people think he may have damaged his status as a prospect, but I disagree. Jason has always made the adjustments necessary at each new level of play, and I believe he will catch in the majors one day.

J.A.Happ has also come on, picking up 4 wins in his last 6 starts. Happ is now 4-5, with a 3.95 ERA in his 14 starts. He has given up just 78 hits in 82 innings of work, striking out 87 while walking just 32. When you think about the start this team had, these are very good numbers.

R.J.Swindel is our third boy with the IronPigs. Picked up from the Newark Bears last season, R.J. was a very effective pitcher here for Lakewood last season. In 24 games this year with Reading and Lehigh Valley, his combined numbers are 33.1 innings, just 24 hits, 2 wins, 1.35 ERA, 35 strike outs, ONLY 5 WALKS.

Randy Ruiz is batting .294 in 63 games so far for the Rochester Red Wings. Homie has 15 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs and 36 RBI for the Minnesota affiliate.

Matt Maloney- After a slow start in Louisville, Matt has come on recently. In 13 starts for the Reds AAA team, he has posted a 6-3 record (with 1 shut out) and a 4.64 ERA. In 73.2 innings, he has allowed 73 hits, striking out 67 while walking just 22. He would seem to be the perfect compliment to the Reds' young rotation, which already includes Edinson Volquez, and Homer Bailey.

Kevin Howard is on the disabled list for the Las Vegas 51s. He has not played since May 18, when he was hitting .263 for the Dodger's affiliate, with 8 doubles, 3 HR, and 22 RBI in 36 games. I will try to find out the nature of his injury. If anybody knows anything, please don't hesitate drop me an e-mail at sprfn@comcast.net or just click on the comments section below and send me the info.

Andrew Baldwin has made 13 appearances, 8 starts for the Tacoma Rainiers, posting a 2-4 mark with a 6.51 ERA. Traded to the Mariners in the Jamie Moyer trade, Andy has struggled in the heavy hitting PCL, giving up 34 earned runs on 72 hits in just 47 innings of work. He also has a very high 1.94 WHIP.(which stands for walks + hits per innings pitched)

Chris Roberson is batting .242 for the Norfolk Tides. Robey has 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR and 27 RBI for the Orioles affiliate. He is also 10 for 16 in steal attempts. Remember Robey is the BlueClaw's career stolen base leader with 59 steals in 2003. One of Roberson's teammates is Mike Costanzo, who is batting .240 in 60 games for the Tides, with 6 doubles, 5 home runs and 22 RBI. Costanzo has made 10 errors, the most on Norfolk's roster.

Jesus Merchan is playing a utility role for the Tucson Sidewinders and playing it well. Jesus had come up with 50 hits in just 44 games, with 9 doubles, a home run, 24 RBI and a .327 batting average. His 153 at bats do not qualify him for the league leader board, but this average would place him 10th in the league.

Gio Gonzalez has made 13 starts for the Sacramento River Cats, with mixed results. He has a 2-4 record, and a 5.71 ERA for the Athletics's affiliate, allowing 41 earned runs on 74 hits in just 64.2 innings of work.

I will run down the AA, single A, and independent players this weekend and then try to get back to a more regular posting routine.