Las Vegas

The 51s are just 4 games into the season due to a series of rainouts and they have yet to win a game (though there is a double header today that will hopefully change that.)  Career minor-leaguer Randy Ruiz is off to a hot start, hitting .471/.444/.824 over his first 17 at-bats.  Joe Inglett hasn't let his demotion affect his bat, putting him in a good situation for when he works his voodoo.  He is OPSing an even 1.000, though he has made 2 errors in the field.  Scott Campbell is off to a slower start, hitting just .235 with 4 singles over his first 4 games but most recently had a good game on Monday, going 1-3 with a walk.  Campbell has also made two errors (both in the same game), showing his inexperience at third base.  Jason Lane wasn't able to carry over his hot spring into the first week of the minor-league season, batting .222/.263/.278 thusfar. 

On the pitching side, Brad Mills had a rough start, going 3 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out 1, and surrendering 6 hits and runs, though only 3 of the runs were earned.   Wade Miller is trying to rebuild his career and his first start didn't go well at all, walking 7 over his 4 2/3 innings and thus giving up 6 runs (5 earned) even though he only surrendered 2 hits.  Brian Bullington didn't start but did well in a 4-inning relief appearance, giving up 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned run) while striking out 2 and not walking a batter.  Brett Cecil made the last start for the 51s and was doing just fine over his first 4 innings before unraveling in the 5th.  All told, he surrendered 5 runs, though only 2 were earned and walked 2 (1 K) over his 4 innings.  As Tom mentioned, the hitter-friendly PCL isn't the best environment in which to evaluate pitchers, and of course it's only 1 start. 

New Hampshire

After 6 games, Brad Emaus, who impressed us all this spring, is the standout offensive player.  Emaus is hitting .364/.417/.545 and already has 4 doubles.  Brian Jeroloman is also doing a nice job offensively, so far hitting /.318/.375/.409.  2008 first-round pick David Cooper is off to a bit of a slower start but does have a home run.  On the pitching side, Reider Gonzalez has a hot hand with a 1.23 ERA and 5/1 K/BB ratio over 2 starts.  Marc Rzepcynzski was fantastic his first time out (9 Ks over 5 innings and 1 ER allowed, though he did surrender 4 walks) but struggled mightily his second time out.  13 K's over 8 innings is great, 8 walks, not so much.  Fabio Castro and Luis Perez have also made good starts, which Zach Dials, Nate Starner, and Adrian Martin have pitched well in relief. 

Dunedin

After 5 games, outfielders Eric Thames, Darrin Mastroianni, and Moses Sierra are off to great starts.  The 2008 draftee Thames, looking like a steal, is hitting .400/.526/.667 with 3 extra base hits, a steal, and 3 walks to just one strikeout.  Mastroianni is doing great out of the leadoff spot, with a .542 OBP thusfar (including 4 walks in 5 games) and 6 steals while having not been caught.  And Sierra is OPSing .915 and also has 2 doubles and a triple in 5 games.  Justin Jackson is off to a decent start at the plate, though he has 2 errors in the field already.  On the pitching side, second-round 2008 pick Andrew Liebel has struggled a bit while Tim(bit) Collins has done anything but, striking out 7 and walking no one in 4 1/3 innings. 

Lansing

No one is hitting yet for the Lugnuts -- not Tyler Pastornicky (class of 2008, SS), not Johermyn Chavez (OF), not Jon Talley, (C) not Kenny Wilson (OF), not the Balbino (3B), not Marcus Brisker (OF), though there have only been 4 games.  Nothing yet to report on the pitching side. 

Well, that's it for now.  I'll keep doing this about weekly for as long as folks find it fun and/or helpful.  Of course it will become more meaningful as the season goes on. 

Oh, and by the way, I won't insult anyone's musical intelligence by saying from where today's title comes.  But a friend of mine who has kids was telling me how someone bought his kids a cd of "popular" musicians singing classic rock songs.  Apparently one of the songs was a rendition of "My Generation" by a Hannah Montana-type person where she changes the lyrics to say "I hope I don't die before I get old."  That was about the funniest thing I've ever heard.