*** McPherson, Francis lead My Sportsbook All-Minor League team ***
Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Choosing Jeff Francis and Dallas McPherson as the pitcher and player of the year, respectively, was a simple task.
Filling out the rest of the line-up card, however, was significantly more difficult.
After careful consultation - and some arguing - the My Sportsbook's Minor League Baseball department has selected its 2004 All-Minor League team. In no particular order, the team features Francis (LHP,) Ismael Ramirez (RHP,) Ryan Speier (reliever,) Brian Dopirak (first baseman,) Clint Barmes (second baseman,) Dallas McPherson (third baseman,) Ian Kinsler (shortstop,) John Castellano (catcher,) Matt Diaz (outfield,) Brian Stavisky (outfield,) Jason Kubel (outfield,) Ryan Howard (designated hitter) and Earl Snyder (utility player).
LHP - JEFF FRANCIS - Having already been tabbed for a number of Minor League awards, Francis was simply the most dominating pitcher in the minors this season. He spent the first three months with the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, where he compiled a 13-1 record and an ERA of 1.98. Francis had an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of roughly 7:1 (147-22). After being promoted to Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League, the 23-year-old Francis continued his dominance, starting seven games and posting a 3-2 record with a sterling 2.85 ERA before getting called to the majors in September. For his career, Francis is 28-12 with a 2.71 ERA and 388 strikeouts to just 82 walks.
RHP - ISMAEL RAMIREZ - Who's Ismael Ramirez you ask? Just the nastiest right- handed pitcher in the minors this season. Don't believe us? Ask the Florida State League hitters, who faced the 6-3 Dunedin hurler. Just 23 years old, Ramirez posted a 15-6 record, which were the most wins in the FSL. His 2.72 ERA was the league's second best. He also tallied a league-leading 165 1/3rd innings, during which he gave up 151 hits and just five home runs. Ramirez struck out 131 batters and issued just 25 walks. His WHIP was an impressive 1.06. We'll take those numbers on our team any day.
CLOSER - RYAN SPEIER - With all due respect to the other closers in the minors, Speier was one of TSN's easiest selections - and an even better story. After not being drafted, Speier has elevated his game to lead the Texas League in saves with 37. He also posted a 3-1 record, a 2.04 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. The 6-7, 200-pounder struck out 70 while issuing just 25 walks. In 61 2/3rd innings, he gave up 33 hits and three home runs. Add it up and it is no wonder Speier was tabbed as the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.
FIRST BASEMAN - BRIAN DOPIRAK - We here at TSN are jumping on this bandwagon early. Just 21 years old, Dopirak has the look of a sure-fire star. He hit .307 and led the Midwest League with 38 doubles, 39 home runs and his 321 total bases were the league high by 74 sacks. He also checked in with 120 RBI and a .593 slugging percentage - both of which were second best in the Midwest League. Don't say we weren't on board with Brian Dopirak early.
SECOND BASEMAN - CLINT BARMES - The 25-year-old second-sacker continued his accent through the Colorado Rockies system with a stellar year. He led the Pacific Coast League in hits (175) and tied for second in doubles (42) and runs scored (104). His .328 average checked in as the eighth best in the PCL. Add in Barmes' 16 home runs, 51 RBI, 28 walks and 20 stolen bases and it is no wonder he was selected as a PCL All Star. It should be no surprise that he's on TSN's team either.
SHORTSTOP - IAN KINSLER - Finished the season just as he started it: On fire. In 59 games at Clinton in the Midwest League, Kinsler hit .402 with 30 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBI. He also stole 16 bases in 21 attempts before being promoted to Frisco in the Texas League. Despite the jump, Kinsler continued a torrid season at the plate, hitting. 300 with a .480 slugging percentage. He poked 21 doubles, hit nine home runs, drove in 46 runs and scored 51 times. As if those stats weren't enough, Kinsler proved to be a clutch performer when he plated the game-winning RBI as Frisco won the Texas League Championship.
THIRD BASEMAN - DALLAS MCPHERSON - The third base position is stacked with talented players, but McPherson out shined them all. A power hitter, he started the year with Arkansas in the Texas League before getting promoted to Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League. The 24 year old combined to hit .317 with 40 home runs and 126 RBI. He had an on-base percentage of .387 and a slugging percentage of .670. Drafted in the second round in 2001, McPherson has hammered Minor League pitching, averaging .308/.396/.567 (average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage) over a four-year span. He blasted 20 homers at each level and has worked hard to improve his defense. Not surprisingly, D-MAC was rewarded for his outstanding play with a call-up to the majors in early September.
CATCHER - JOHN CASTELLANO - The Reading Phillies catcher had a huge year and coupled with the poor season of Philadelphia Phillies everyday starter Mike Lieberthal, has probably positioned himself for a spring training look next year. If Castellano aims to win that job, he must improve his throwing. However, his swing should be just fine. Castellano was second the Eastern League in average with a .340 mark. He roped 44 extra-base hits, including 18 homers. He scored 50 runs, had 68 RBI and posted a .395 on-base percentage and a .560 slugging percentage. Also impressive were Castellano's 32 walks to 55 Ks.
OUTFIELDER - MATT DIAZ - The Durham outfielder filled up the stat sheet during his impressive 2004 campaign. He hit .332 with an International League leading 47 doubles. He cracked 21 home runs and drove in 93 runs, which tied for fourth best in the IL. His 287 total bases and .571 slugging percentage both ranked second in the IL. Diaz also flashed some speed on the base paths stealing 15 bases.
OUTFIELDER - BRIAN STAVISKY - Merely ranked in the top-three in five major offensive statistical categories and led the Modesto A's to the California League championship. The 6-3, 230-pounder out of Notre Dame led the California League in average (.343) and runs scored (108). He had the second most doubles (39), second-best slugging percentage (.550) and finished third with a .413 on- base percentage. Stavisky socked 19 home runs, drove in 83 runs and drew 54 walks to 89 strikeouts. It's safe to say Stavisky has earned a promotion.
OUTFIELDER - JASON KUBEL - Whether it was Double-A, Triple-A or even the bigs, Kubel has been crushing the ball. The 5-11, 180-pounder started the season with New Britain, where he played 37 games, and tore up Eastern League pitching to the tune of a .373 average with 14 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI and 19 walks to 19 Ks. After getting promoted to Triple-A Rochester, Kubel led the International League with a .343 average while collecting 71 runs, 28 doubles, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, 34 walks and 16 stolen bases. Since being called up to the Minnesota Twins on August 31st, Kubel has gone 15-for-50 (.300) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, six walks and 10 runs scored.
DESIGNATED HITTER - RYAN HOWARD - Howard had an award-winning season that saw him promoted from Double-A to the pros. A 24-year-old first baseman, Howard is best known for his towering home runs. He won the Minor League Baseball Round- Tripper Contest as he led all Minor League players with 46 home runs. Howard will be honored at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Anaheim in December, where he will receive the Joe Bauman Trophy and a check for $9,200 ($200 for each home run). Bauman set the Minor League record when he hit 72 homers for Roswell, NM, in 1954. Combining his stats at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Reading, Howard checked in with a .291 average with 28 doubles, 46 home runs and 131 RBI. He scored 94 runs and drew 60 walks.
UTILITY - EARL SNYDER - As much as TSN respects the Boston Red Sox organization, we think they made a slight error in not selecting Earl Snyder as its Minor League Player of the Year. In short, Snyder, who played second and third base this season, had a huge year. He led the International League in home runs (36,) RBI (104) and total bases (300). He finished third with 43 doubles and tied for fourth with a .558 slugging percentage. His .273 batting average was more than respectable for someone with his power numbers.
