Rough Starts

[The Duke]

Here are some of the prospects that I still like, but have had quite the rough start to the year:

Dan Dorn - After tearing up AA for a month last year after his callup from High A he has struggled mightily out of the gate.

.154 avg
.258 OBP (3 K vs 4 BB)
0 HR
5 rbi
5 runs
.269 slg
.527 OPS
26 at bats (31 plate appearances)

Adam Rosales - Was very solid in High A and AA last year showing both power and good contact skills. This year he seems in a bit of a funk after being close to making the team out of ST.

.143 avg
.161 OBP (8 K vs 1 BB)
0 HR
4 rbi
1 run
.179 slg
.340 OPS

Craig Tatum - Not as bad a slump, and he is showing improved OBP tendencies, but he is still hitting only marginally in AA. He was a slow starter last year, but if he is going to start for the Reds in 2009 or 2010 he needs to not start so slow.

.241 avg
.353 OBP (6 k vs 5 BB, not bad)
0 HR
4 rbi
1 run
.379 slg
.732 OPS

I'd really like to see these 3 guys get their bats going as they are all AA and AAA, and could be potential contributors in 2009, especially Tatum. If he can start showing more of his power and get teh BA to around .280-.290 then he could earn a AAA callup this year and compete for the starting C spot on the big club in 2009, replacing the mendoza-like batting average of David Ross while not taking a step down defensively. He supposed calls a very good game as well, but i've never been able to see him live.

[awnawboi21]

Wow, Rosales really surprises me with that....

[starpower25]

Its early but I was hoping for a better start.

[GMBurchfield]

I am not high on Rosales or Dorn but I do like Tatum and expect good things from him.

[The Duke]

One of the positives Tatum has shown is that he is taking some walks. That was a big problem of his last year (26 walks vs 90 K in 392 at bats) that he seems to be improving on (6 walks vs 8 K in 33 at bats). Still striking out a lot (albeit not a ton), but he is walking at a much higher rate, so his .212 avg to start now has an OBP of .350.