Not So Fast There!

by Chris Hansen

About this time of year, some publications will list their mid-season minor league All-Stars. That's too predictable for me so (being the pessimistic person I am) I've decided to look at the biggest disappointments thus far. These are guys who most people expect to make an impact and have, for one reason or another, struggled in the first half of the season.

Players in the Spotlight Matt LeCroy, C Ft. Myers (Twins) -- The Twins best power prospect hasn't disappointed so far. The 50th overall pick in the 1997 draft out of Clemson, LeCroy went to spring training with the big club this year but didn't get much of a chance. He's a former a Olympian who figures to fly through Minnesota's system. He spent last year splitting time between two A-ball clubs and got a late call-up to Triple-A, blasting two homers in three games. As a true test of his power, he's hit 30 homers in 515 at-bats over the last two years in the pitcher-friendly FSL. He's a polished hitter who just needs to improve his game-calling and pitch-blocking skills. His overall stats as of July 10: AVG AB R H HR RBI .270 315 47 85 18 62 ********** Ryan Anderson, LHP New Haven (Mariners) -- The "Space Needle" got off to a disastrous start, going 1-3 with a 10.38 ERA in the first month of the season. He improved to 3.94 in May and 2.78 in June to earn berths on the Double-A All-Star team and Futures U.S. team. His slow start is understandable for a guy who turns 20 July 12th and has just one year of pro experience. Anderson's learning to mix in a change-up with a devastating slider and fastball, making him potentially more dangerous than Randy Johnson - a pitcher's the 6'10" lefty's often compared to. While fellow prospect Gil Meche has already made the jump to Seattle, don't expect Anderson to do the same any time soon. The Mariners feel he has a lot of learning to do and will be patient. His overall stats as of July 10: W L ERA IP BB SO 4 10 5.11 91.2 62 103

Keep in mind that I'm not saying these guys have no hope. For the most part, every player listed here is young and playing at an advanced level for his age. If there's someone who you think should be on this list or someone who should be taken off this list, feel free to e-mail me.

Russ Branyan, 3B (Buffalo/Indians) A clear indication on how much Branyan's stock has fallen is that he didn't get the call from the Indians when Travis Fryman went down, possibly for the year. Heck, the Indians would rather move Jim Thome back to third. Here's a guy in Branyan who people were comparing to Mark McGwire with his mammoth blasts and now he's trying to get things together at Buffalo.

So what's the problem? Finding the strike zone. Branyan goes into the weekend with 157 K's in 320 at-bats, a jaw-dropping pace. No matter if he's facing lefties or righties, the 6'3" slugger is whiffing every two AB's. Granted, this guy's never been a contact hitter (he averaged 2.7 K's per AB coming into the year) but his Mendoza line-like average has been a concern. He's still a young 23 and is spending his first regular season action at Triple-A so the Indians will be patient.

George Lombard, OF (Richmond/Braves) Guess you won't see Lombard patrolling left for the Braves anytime soon. It's been a tough year for the lefty-swinging outfielder who has twice spent stints on the disabled list. It's a shame, too, because after a disastrous start, he was starting to show the talent Braves fans have been drooling over.

Health is a concern for the former football player who had minor shoulder surgery in November. His two DL trips this year have been for a groin injury. In 1996, he missed part of the season after fracturing his middle ring finger.

Just like Branyan, Lombard is fairly young (24) and is in his first year at Triple-A. So his .220 average 58:21 strikeout to walk ratio, while a concern, isn't damning. He has still shown blazing speed (he holds Braves records for the 60-yard dash and triple jump) so a late-season call-up isn't out of the question, even if it's for late-inning pinch-running duty. As long as he stays healthy, that is.

Pat Cline, C (Iowa/Cubs) This time last year, it looked like the Cubs would be starting Cline behind the plate during the 1999 season. Instead, the team brought in Benito Santiago and recently signed Jeff Reed for the rest of the season. So where does that leave Cline?

It seems a couple things have been working against the 6'3" backstop. His father suddenly passed away in the off-season. Conflicts with Iowa manager Terry Kennedy haven't helped the 24-year-old get his game back on track. The Cubs sent him to Double-A on rehab to get his head on straight but it apparently didn't work.

Since coming back from West Tenn, Cline's been getting limited playing time, mostly at DH. With his average barely staying above .200, the best choice for both the Cubs and Cline may be to trade the catcher to a team in need. He had shown steady improvement every year until this season and could truly benefit from a change in scenery.

Ryan Mills, LHP (Ft. Myers/Twins) Here's a strange case of a guy who should be knocking on the Twins' door right about now. Instead, he's fighting to regain his mechanics and his control.

Mills was the sixth pick in the first round of last year's draft. Starting this year at High A-ball, Mills suddenly lost the strikezone and was sent to extended spring training to straighten things out. Apparently he still has his stuff; he just doesn't know where it's going. Strange for the son of a pitching coach.

The Twins pulled Mills from the rotation in the hopes that pitching out of the 'pen might help. But that hasn't worked either. He's walked 11 in 8.2 innings since returning to Ft. Myers and his ERA has risen to 8.52 on the season. He apparently had similar problems at Arizona State but was able to work through them every time.

A.J. Burnett, RHP (Portland/Marlins) Coming into the spring, the Marlins had faints hope that this guy could crack the starting rotation. Several months later, it looks like they might have to wait a bit longer on their prized arm.

While his 5.73 ERA may seem a bit frightening at first, it must be remembered that Burnett, at 22, is one of the youngest players in his league. He still leads the Florida organization in strikeouts but has been fighting control problems with 53 walks, four hit batters and 13 wild pitches in 93 innings. One problem he's had is getting his fastball up in the zone. In his last start Thursday, Burnett (on a pitch count because he needed rest for the Futures game) went two innings and got tatooed on fastballs up.

Burnett's still learning to pitch and his numbers will improve. His heater's been clocked in the high 90's and he has a nasty biting curve. As he learns to spot his pitches, it won't take long until he's pitching in South Florida.

Honorable mention: Andy Brown, OF (Staten Island/Yankees) - First-rounder in 1998 who was recently demoted after hitting .176; Matt Drews, RHP (Toledo/Tigers) - 24-year-old former Yankees phenom who's 2-8 with an 8.62 ERA at Triple-A; Arturo McDowell, OF (Bakersfield/ Giants) - 1998 first-rounder who's shown speed (21 steals) but no patience (88:25 strikeout to walk ratio); Alex Escobar (St. Lucie/Mets) - New York's top prospect was recently shut down for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder; Ron Wright, 1B (Altoona/Pirates) - Ex-Braves prospect came into the season feeling fit. He's lost his position and is hitting .213 in 80 at-bats.