Down on the Farm: Nick Castellanos

3B Nick Castellanos

The Scoop: Castellanos went 0-for-4 last Saturday . . . and that's the extent of negative things we can say about the 2010 supplemental pick's recent play. Despite playing in the Florida State League, a veritable pitcher's paradise, Castellanos has opened the season on a 43-for-101 (.426) tear through 25 games. He leads the minors in batting average and ranks fourth in on-base percentage (.477) by virtue of having drawn 12 walks, two of them intentional.

Having demonstrated ample feel for hitting last year in the Midwest League—he batted .312 and led the league with 158 hits—Castellanos is making encouraging strides in the power department this season. First of all, he's a physical 6-foot-4 righty hitter who connected for 36 doubles last season, and scouts often say that home-run power is the final tool to manifest. At any rate, Castellanos collected five extra-base hits last week and now leads the FSL in doubles (nine), slugging (.594) and total bases (60) in addition to average and OBP.

Baseball America 5/3/12

If Only It Was 1775: Philadelphia

2. Philadelphia

A. The rotation in Philly is among the league's finest. Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are undeniable frontline starters. In a short playoff series they would create nightmares for any opposing manager. The issue here is whether the team can make the playoffs. Matt Garza and Ricky Nolasco are good complimentary arms to Halladay and Lee. Both have the potential to win double digit games, make 30 plus starts while logging 190+ innings, and approach a K/IP. Yet, who knows who the fifth starter will be. Again, the Melkonian has taken the approach of the best players at any given position at any given cost. Consequently, there is NO depth at all on this pitching staff.

B. The bullpen is fairly good as well with some unheralded arms. John Axford was a one hit wonder that the Melkonian will soon realize. There are veteran late inning relievers, Motte, Rauch, Putz and Valverde, but the question remains as to who will bridge the game to the late guys. Unless the strategy is to allow each arm to pitch one inning, it could take forever to finish these games. Either way this is a bullpen that relies on its starters pitching late into games to create favorable matchups. May need to acquire lefty reliever or three to stop Yuma's stud Votto.

C. The lineup is as intriguing as the rest of the team. First, two tremendous sluggers in Adrian Gonzalez and Alex Rodriguez anchor the lineup that MUST get power from these two. Andre Either provides 20 homers and 90 rbi with a consistent batting approach. In right, Ichiro will also likely leadoff and provide a must sparkplug to the lineup. I am guessing that a combination of small ball and balanced approach will be the strategy here. Adam Jones, Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, and Matt Weiters/Miguel Montero must supplementary seasons for this offense to work. Defense and defensive range looks to be an added bonus in this lineup. It could really bail out some relievers and starters.

D. Intangibles are limited. By limited I mean there are not many players in the organization. This will greatly affect the organization's effort to acquire needed pieces, like a lefty reliever. The matchups in the bullpen are great if the matchup is not against Votto and company. I like the potential for speed and the great range of the defense. If the sluggers are slugging this lineup should consistently score a few runs to aid the pitching staff. Overall this team could easily challenge for a spot in the postseason as a wildcard but simply does not have enough power, depth, or tradability to contend for division crown.

How the West was Won

Quick Overview: Teams will be judged based on several categories: Ownership, Starting Pitching, Bullpen, Lineup, Depth and intangibles. Therefore, the Wild West will be one team's. Yuma wins the division in a landslide because of organizational depth, talent, and experience.

1. Yuma:

A. Ownership: Yuma's owner, Chris Melkonian, is among the strongest Barb has ever seen and has a clear-cut expectation to win and win now. Exemplified most by the courageous deal of Latos and Hanson for Doc Halladay. Melkonian has built a stellar organization with talent in all phases including that of the organization's depth. Power arms in the bullpen, high ceiling starters (including potentially the top two picks in June's draft), and a dynamic versatile lineup.

B. Starting Pitching: With two clear cut aces in LHPs CC Sabathia and David Price, Yuma looks to have the deepest rotation in the league. To compliment the lefties, RHPs Matt Cain, Clay Bucholz, Mat Latos and Tommy Hanson. Guesses are that Price, Sabathia, Cain, Hanson and Bucholz will enter the season as the starters with Latos getting spot starts and perhaps tough ground ball double plays in later stages of the game. Either way having six starters entering the season is a reasonable issue. What to look for is the second season of Mat Latos and the durability of Clay Bucholz. Both seem to have more than enough talent to overcome the issues other youngster must deal.

C. Bullpen: With Thorton, Kuo, Soriano and Gregerson, Yuma also has one of the deepest bullpens. Certainly the most balanced with two late inning lefties and a power closer. Gregerson is a key for his ability to get crucial game changing ground balls. Kuo's health must be a constant concern, however. And Thorton must prove he can duplicate last year's success and keep the ball in the strike zone. The depth is accentuated with RHP Drew Storen, who may end up as the most effective member of the bullpen within a season or two.

D. Lineup: Loaded. Posey behind the play is the key. Hanigan is a nice backup but if anything happens to Busty then issues for this lineup may arise. The lineup is extremely balanced with power from Votto and Zimmerman, Braun and Markakis. The key to me will be the health of SS Rafy Furcal and Brian Roberts. They are the two most consistent leadoff men on the roster and without a successful 2011 campaign, then the team will have many solo HRs. Still a very dangerous lineup though.

E. Depth/Intangibles: As previously stated, this is probably the deepest organization in Barb with perhaps two exceptions in the East. Injuries to any player can be overcome due to the team's versatility. Posey and Zimmerman's health is vital to the field. In addition to their bat, both have tremendous leadership and defense which will be difficult to replace. Moreover, the team has greatly improved its defense and speed in which many teams will find base hits difficult to come by.

Jason Castro Promoted

The Houston Astros have promoted one of their very few young prospects, Jason Castro. Castro, who will catch Roy Oswalt in his debut, will bat seventh and look to get on base. His overall game resembles AJ Pierzeinski in that both are physically tall, left-handed, intelligent, and good team leaders. To say the least, the Moabs are excited with Castro's future as one of the game's best catching prospects.

Jose, can you sing?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have attempted to sell some tickets by exploring the potential lineup of young hitters. Following the footsteps of burgeoning star Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates promoted Brooklyn Moab Jose Tabata. The outfielder has been an instant sparkplug in the lineup with six runs scored in ten games. Although his average is bordering the infamous Mendoza Line, Tabata has been getting on-base setting the table for McCutchen.

The Moabs have very few plans for Tabata this season joining McCutchen and Victorino in the outfield, but are delighted to see him getting an opportunity. "We expect him to step in and get some doubles and use his speed to turn singles into doubles by stealing second base. And it's because of that speed that we are so intrigued with his potential as he will get his base hits, extra-base hits and steals culminating in runs scored," commented a Moab official. "This is especially exciting considering that A-Mc will be the one driving him in."

Say it isn't Tulo!

What all die-hard Brooklyn Moab fan's feared most has occurred, a long-term injury to the Moab's team leader, Troy Tulowitzki. Tulowitzki who was batting fifth for most of the year while playing Gold Glove caliber defense was hit with a high heater on the backside of his wrist. The pitch effectively ended Tulo's summer with some optimism that he may return come post-season. The issue for management is that the post-season seems an awful distant hope considering the lack of run support with Tulo in the lineup. Now take out one of its best, seems bleak from the bleachers.

King Julio?

The Atlanta Braves have promoted their most impressive young prospect, Julio Teheran. The Moabs' fifth round pick in this season's 2010 draft, Teheran has been almost unhittable in low A ball. But with seven starts under his belt, the Braves felt it was past his time to be promoted to high class A ball. He had an ERA of 1.14, 41 K in 35.1 IP. Most impressively, JT surrendered only 23 hits and walked on 10 resulting in a WHIP of .84. Teheran's progressed will be closely monitored by the Brooklyn organization that will dictate when JT will be promoted to Double A Flint.