Grading the Vermont Mountaineers: Offense/Pitching

Mike Vigliarolo has been excellent coming off of a temporary
contract in Cape Cod. Photo by Stefan Hard, TA. 

With the All-Star game looming on the horizon (Sunday to be exact), I think now is as good time as ever to look back at the first 29 games the Vermont Mountaineers have played before we turn towards the frantic last week of playoff chases and lead changes. It's time to grade the Mountaineers on just two quick categories- offense and pitching. This is a shorter piece, just to give a glimpse of the team so far.

Vermont sits at 19-10 and lead the Northern Division by a game and a half over Sanford.

Offense: A+
Team offensive ranks:

	Runs	Hits	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Stat	144	238	29	7	8	.255	.335	.326	.661
Northern	1st	2nd	5th	1st	T-3rd	2nd	2nd	4th	3rd
NECBL	2nd	6th	10th	1st	T-8th	5th	5th	8th	7th

This is a very deep roster- manager Joe Brown can put pretty much put two different lineups out there every night. They're aggressive on the basepaths and lead the league in stolen bases. Vermont's offense get's an A+ because they've scored the most runs out of any team in the league. They're also starting three offensive players in Sunday's all star game in Holyoke- the first time since 2006 that the Mountaineers have had more then two starters.

Pitching: A+

Team pitching ranks:

	ERA	SV	BB	SO	WHIP	BAA
Stat	2.48	12	81	162	1.20	.231
Northern	2nd	1st	2nd	6th	3rd	4th
NECBL	2nd	1st	3rd	12th	3rd	5th

Vermont's pitchers rank dead-last in strikeouts- 90 less then first place Newport. However, they've pitched to contact and it's worked well, as the Mountaineers rank second to just Sanford in ERA and are third in WHIP. Easily one of the elite pitching teams in the league, Vermont's rotation is unmatched in depth and they've got an excellent bullpen. Brown has used a closer-by-committee with five different players picking up saves. They've overcome season-ending knee surgery to Evan Bell and all but one of the five pitchers who've made multiple starts have ERA's under 2.62. 

Prospect Retrospective: AJ Pollock

AJ Pollock swings in a 2013 game for the Diamondbacks. /AP

If it was not for a Johnny Cueto fastball that ran up and in on a check swing, AJ Pollock might have spent the All-Star break in Minnesota as a member of the national league all-stars, instead of rehabbing from a broken hand. Pollock was enjoying an career year, hitting .316 and ranking near the league-leaders in WAR before going down. 

As everyone knows, Pollock was a member of the 2007 Vermont Mountaineers. I wrote a feature on here discussing the majors, but I've decided to dig into his minor league career and the ups and downs he faced. Pollock has an interesting story, so here goes. 

Pollock hit .372/.464/.474 as a freshman at Notre Dame and came to Vermont, where he earned 10th man honors. He returned to South Bend for another productive year (.352/.414/.505) before taking the prestigious Cape Cod League by storm and earning league MVP honors. He caught the Diamondbacks attention and was taken 17th overall after a strong junior season.

He didn't go anywhere, staying in Notre Dame as the Diamondbacks Rookie league affiliate was located in South Bend. Here's his Baseball America scouting report after his 2009 season where he hit .271 in 63 games and was ranked Arizona's third top prospect.

Pollock with Falmouth /CCBL

"Pollock's best tool is his bat, and his bat speed, strong hands and line-drive approach should allow him to hit for high average. He has gap power, slightly above-average speed and good instincts on the bases. He's a quality defender with an average arm in center field. In addition to his all-around athleticism, he also has strong makeup. Some scouts take a glass-half-empty view and say Pollock doesn't do anything particularly well beyond hit. He showed a tendency to get out on his front foot during the spring at Notre Dame, but he has a calmer approach with wood bats. His swing can get flat at times, limiting his power. Pollock projects as a solid major league leadoff hitter and center fielder, mostly because he knows how to affect games with his skill set. He could start 2010 in Double-A and will certainly get there at some point during the season. He's on the fast track to Arizona." -BA

A freak injury during a spring training fielding drill required shoulder surgery and set him on the sidelines for the entire 2010 season, derailing him from the fast track to the majors. Baseball America dropped him to their No. 6 Diamondbacks prospect.

"He spent his downtime working on conditioning, especially strengthening his lower half, before returning to play in instructional league and the Arizona Fall League. Other than his bat, Pollock may not have a plus tool, but he has well-rounded skills and instincts that let him play above his physical ability. He uses his quick hands to stroke line drives from gap to gap. He won't have big-time power but could develop into a 15-homer threat. His speed is slightly above average and he runs the bases well. Pollock reads balls well and covers a lot of ground in center field, and he had an average arm before he hurt his elbow. Pollock projects as a solid big league regular or at least a quality fourth outfielder on a contender. He was on the fast track prior to his injury, so he could jump to Double-A to begin 2011." -BA

Pollock with Mobile in 2011. /Mobile

Pollock returned in 2011 with Double-A Mobile and hit .307 in 133 games with 71 RBIs and was ranked the Southern League's No. 14 prospect. He moved up to the Diamondbacks No. 5 prospect after leading Mobile to the championship.

"He looked as good as ever when he returned in 2011, leading the Southern League in runs (103) and hits (169) while helping Mobile to the championship. Pollock's total package is greater than the sum of its parts. First and foremost, he's a blue-collar player with great makeup and excellent instincts in all phases of the game. He's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter who squares balls up consistently and produces lots of doubles. He could develop 15-homer power once he gets stronger. He makes contact so easily that it hampers his ability to draw walks. Though he has just average speed, Pollock is the system's best baserunner and stole 36 bases in 43 tries in 2011. He's solid defensively at all three outfield positions, making good reads in center field and displaying an average arm. Pollock is ready for a move to Triple-A in 2012 and could fill a need at the big league level at some point in the season. Though some scouts see him as a fourth outfielder because he isn't loaded with plus tools, the Diamondbacks envision him becoming a solid regular." -BA

Pollock with Reno. /Reno

He then hit .318 in Reno, a minor league high for him and earned a callup for 31 games. He hit just .247 with 11 strikeouts but added eight runs and eight RBIs. He dropped to the No. 10 prospect by BA.

"The Diamondbacks expected Pollock to move quickly after signing him for $1.4 million as the 17th overall pick in 2009, but he missed the following season when he fractured a growth plate in his right elbow during spring training. He has made up for lost time by batting .312 in the upper minors during the last two seasons and getting three separate big league callups in 2012. Pollock’s total package is more than the sum of its parts, with only his bat and makeup grading better than average. He’s a gap-to-gap hitter who makes reliable contact but has yet to develop much over-the-fence power. The ball does come off his bat well, so Arizona believes he will eventually produce 10-15 homers per year. Pollock makes the most of his average speed, running the bases well and showing annual 20-steal potential. He’s capable of playing all three outfield positions, getting good reads and displaying an average arm that’s enough to handle right field. Scouts are split on Pollock, with some seeing him as a solid regular in center field and others thinking he profiles best as a fourth outfielder. The Diamondbacks have no shortage of starting outfield candidates in Adam Eaton, Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra and Justin Upton, so Pollock will have to settle for a reserve role in 2013." -BA

Pollock came back in 2013 and hit .269 in his rookie season, earning a spot on Baseball America's All-Rookie team. One of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, Pollock was off to a scorching start at the plate as well in 2014. He had a slash line of .316/.366/.554 through 52 games and made the Diamondbacks feel comfortable after trading away fellow rookie Adam Eaton to the White Sox.

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson hinted at the start of a rehab assignment in early August. He successfully underwent surgery at the start of June.

Danbury's Ryan welcomed back to Montpelier

-Originally appeared in the Times Argus

Ryan fields a ground ball. (Danbury News Times)

A few weeks ago, the biggest ovation in a matchup between the Danbury Westerners and the Vermont Mountaineers arguably went to the Westerners first basemen, a familiar face in Montpelier. AJ Ryan, a 2013 Mountaineer, made his return last Sunday for the only time this year. When he stepped up to the plate in the top of the first, he was greeted by applause and his walkup song.

“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Ryan described the moment. “To walk up to the plate for my first at bat and hear my walkup song from last summer but what was even better was the way the crowd embraced me. I could have never imagined that warm of a welcome and I’m  extremely thankful of the fans and the Mountaineers organization.”

Ryan, a first baseman from Dayton, played in 39 games with the Mountaineers in 2013. He was crucial in Vermont’s run to the Western Division finals, hitting .381 over five playoff games with three doubles and four runs. He finished the year with a .172 average and seven RBIs along with three doubles and seven runs.

He drove in two runs twice, including a pair in a 9-0 regular season beatdown of Keene, who ultimately knocked Vermont out of the playoffs. He reached base three of his four times up against Saratoga in the Mountaineers first win of the season and added two hits in the series clinching win against North Adams in the first round.

“My best moment in a Mountaineer uniform is tough,” Ryan continued. “I have so many great memories, but I would have to say just playing the home games and the great enviroment the fans create with their enthusiasm and love for the Mountaineers.”

Ryan now plays a four-hour drive away in Danbury, Connecticut with the Westerners, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. He’s hitting .240 through 26 games with the team, who sit at 7-21 with the second worst-record in the league.

“I am enjoying my summer in Danbury,” Ryan added. “It’s a different atmosphere and situation then Vermont but I’m happy where I am this summer. I’m grateful to have been able to play in two great places the last two summers.”

A rising senior at Dayton, this will be Ryan’s last summer league team. Vermont won’t get another chance to face him and the Westerners, as they split the season series at a game apiece. He finished 0-8 against his old squad, scoring one run after reaching on an error in the first game.

“The Mountaineers have the best fans and home field advantage in the NECBL,” Ryan finished. “That is one of the things that I miss the most.”

However, there  is also another pair of former Mountaineers in the league- Thomas Roulis and Bret Dennis.

Roulis was the team’s starting shortstop in 2013, hitting .244 in 38 games. The Dartmouth rising senior has been key for the first-place Pilgrims this summer, hitting .295 with 14 RBIs and 13 runs as well as an impressive .984 fielding percentage with just two errors.

Dennis is playing for the rival Swamp Bats, the second Mountaineer to do this after Brian O’Grady donned the purple-and-black in 2013.  Vermont’s starting second basemen last summer, Dennis hit .255  in 35 games and scored 15 runs while stealing seven bases. A rising senior at St. Johns, Dennis has already surpassed his Mountaineer RBI total with 11 and is hitting .266 with seven doubles.  

Roulis makes another return to Recreation Field on Thursday, July 24th while Dennis and Keene return on Friday, July 18th. Both of these players could end up facing off against their former team and teammates (Chandler Brock, Cameron Sorgie and Robert Strader) in the playoffs, as the Swamp Bats could play Vermont in either of the divisional rounds while Plymouth could meet the Mountaineers in the championship series.

2014 MLB Home Run Derby Predictions

The 2014 MLB Home Run Derby is tonight, with a new format and several heavy hitters. Defending champion Yoenis Cespedes is back for more, while Justin Mourneau and Jose Bautista both make their third appearances. The new format features a bracket, with just seven outs per round. After the first round, the bottom two in each league are eliminated and the first place leaders get byes. Eventually, it culminates in an AL v. NL showdown to be crowned the champion.

Of course, I've decided to try to predict what's going to happen.

American League First Round
1. Josh Donaldson
2. Jose Bautista
3. Yoenis Cespedes
ELIMINATED: Brian Dozier, Adam Jones

National League First Round
1. Giancarlo Stanton
2. Todd Frazier
3. Yasiel Puig
ELIMINATED: Justin Mourneau, Troy Tulowtizki

Round 2
AL: Jose Bautista over Yoenis Cespedes
NL: Todd Frazier over Yasiel Puig

Round 3
AL: Josh Donaldson over Jose Bautista
NL: Giancarlo Stanton over Todd Frazier

Final
Championship: Giancarlo Stanton over Josh Donaldson

Former Mountaineer to Futures Game

Photo by Buren Foster/Charlotte Knights

Four years ago, Micah Johnson was in the midst of an All-Star season with the Vermont Mountaineers. Now, he sits on the verge of appearing in the Futures Game as one of Major League Baseball’s brightest prospects. Johnson, currently on the Charlotte Knights- the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox- looked back on his summer in Vermont with and remembered a great experience.

“I loved the atmosphere at the games,” Johnson said. “We had a great team and we all hung out often.”

He went on to compare the NECBL season to the minor leagues, because you’re traveling frequently and playing every day. His All-Star season in Montpelier propelled him to the Cape Cod League in 2011 and he was selected in the 9th round of the 2012 draft by the White Sox.

Now, he is being honored again- this time on a national stage. The Futures Game is being held this Sunday at 5 p.m at Target Field, and will feature two teams made up of teams top prospects. Johnson, born in Indianapolis, Indiana will appear for the US team as they face off against the World Team.

“It’s a blessing and an amazing honor,” Johnson said of his selection. “God has given me this opportunity and I cannot wait to play in this game.”

In 2010, Johnson was a rising sophomore from Indiana who had excelled for the Hoosiers as a freshman. He hit .292 for the Mountaineers with 19 runs and 11 stolen bases and played in all but three of the 42-game Vermont season. The Mountaineers went 15-27 but featured several future stars.

Texas Ranger starter Nick Martinez was on the 2010 club, appearing as a middle infielder as did future minor leaguer Jantzen Witte (Boston Red Sox). However, Johnson hasn’t been able to keep up with either of them.

“You play with too many people,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to keep in touch.”

After leaving Vermont in 2010, he went on to play the 2011 summer on the Cape with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League. He suffered an elbow injury and hit just .212 on the season, and the injury concerns dropped him farther down in the eyes of Major League teams. He played just 24 games as a senior at Indiana and missed time after arthroscopic surgery,  hitting just .225. However, the White Sox took him in the ninth round and it paid off.

Johnson began his professional career with the Rookie league Great Falls and hit .375 with 19 stolen bases in 70 games. He entered the 2013 season as Chicago’s 25th ranked prospect, and promptly went out and led the minor leagues in stolen bases. Johnson stole 84 bases and moved up three levels, ending up in Double-A Birmingham. He hit .360 in Spring Training and currently sits in Triple-A Charlotte with a .287 mark through 37 games.

“I’m working hard every day,” Johnson said of his rapid ascent through the White Sox affiliates. “I don’t take any days off and I’m always improving offensively or defensively.”

His impressive minor league resume earned him a ranking as the No. 6 White Sox prospect  by Baseball America and a spot on the United States Futures roster. He joins some of the biggest names in Minor League Baseball- D.J Peterson (Mariners), Javier Baez (Cubs) and Kris Bryant (Cubs) among many others.

The US team has won the Futures Game for four straight years, as last year they downed the World team 4-2 behind a two-RBI day from Matt Davidson, who took home Most Valuable Player honors. Past players to win MVP in the game’s 15-year history has included MLB stars Jose Reyes, Aaron Hill and Billy Butler.

The game is taking place at Target Field, the home of the Twins. Johnson is the second Mountaineer to make the roster, joining 2006 pitcher Christian Friedrich. Friedrich is currently a starter for the Colorado Rockies. After the Futures Game on Sunday, the All-Star game will be held on Tuesday.

NECBL Thoughts for a Wednesday morning

1. Sanford has forgotten how to lose. Seven consecutive wins have them atop the Northern Divsion by a game. Remember when the Mountaineers had a seven-game winning streak? They lost two in a row after that and haven't regained their top form- they did rattle off a three-game win streak however, and sit just a game out.

2. Speaking of Vermont, they have a big matchup tonight against Laconia. The Muskrats have taken the last two games from them, including a 5-4 win at Robbie Mills Field that featured a two-and-a-half hour rain delay. A very controversial call was present, but regardless- the Mountaineers are just 5-5 over their last ten games and a Laconia win would mean a season series split.

3. The Muskrats send Mariano Rivera III to the mound, the son of the Yankee legend. Referred to as Junior, he is 1-1 with a 3.96 ERA on the season with 22 strikeouts in 25 innings. He attends Iona and is not a closer- rather, he's a starter. Ironically, he was drafted by the Yankees in the 29th round this year but didn't sign. 

4. He does not posses a cutter. SB Nation interviewed him during the spring at Iona, and he attempted to- he said it wasn't consistent and it didn't feel unique. Rivera Jr. does have a slider.

5. The St. Louis Cardinals had back-to-back walkoffs the past two nights, the first one a walkoff home run from Matt Adams. Adams was the league MVP in the NECBL in 2008, hitting .351 with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 37 RBIs.

6. Braxton Martinez. NECBL Player of the Week, hitting .476 over his last ten games. More impressively, he's gone 13-for-21 (.619) over his last five games. Big reason this Laconia team is so hot right now.

7. Another reason might be teammates Colton Bottomley's ability to come through with runners in scoring position. He's hitting .650 with 16 RBIs in 20 at bats. The 16 RBIs rank second behind Vincent Guglietti and Blaise Salter- however, they both had more at bats.

8. Danbury finally won! Ended a season long 13-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over North Adams.

9. Valley has lost eight in a row, a streak that is the second-longest. In a marquee matchup tonight, the Blue Sox take on Danbury.

10. The Southern Division playoff field is pretty much set in terms of the four teams in. Danbury and New Bedford won't be making the playoffs as they sit 13.5 and 14 games back.

Prospect Update: Jantzen Witte

Witte in Greenville. (Drive Photo)

Instead of going over every single former Mountaineer and giving you their stats in one overwhelming piece, I've decided to single out one every couple of days and provide some notes and analysis. The first edition of this covers a Mountaineer in 2009 and 2010, Jantzen Witte.

Jantzen Witte, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Level: Advanced A    Age: 24    Drafted: 24th Rd
Line: 65 PA, .300/.358/.467, 8 XBH, 8.33 BB%, 11.67 K%

Summary: After hitting just .161 in 2013 across short season Lowell and rookie league GCL, Witte has begun to hit the ball exceptionally well, and hasn't seen his average dip below .300 this season. He dominated in Class-A Greenville, hitting .330 and was named a Midseason All-Star, which earned a promotion to Advanced-A Salem.

Notes: His current batting average, .300, is higher then it was a senior at Texas Christian University (TCU). His BB/K ratio is the highest it's been in affiliated baseball, but he has struggled in strikeouts. His strikeout percentage is almost nine percentage points higher then it was in college at an alarming 18%, but it's come as he's developed his power. His isolated slugging percentages have increased from .098 in the Rookie league to .223 for Greenville in Class A, a sign that his power output has increased significantly. He's been able to hit both ways with ease.

Against top prospects: He has faced several top prospects throughout the year, and hasn't fared well. He went 0-2 against the Washington Nationals top prospect, Lucas Giolito, who's the 36th overall prospect on MLB's Top 100 list. Witte also went 0-3 against Kansas City Royals No. 5, Miguel Almonte.

Moving forward: The Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, have a more then capable third basemen- third round draft pick Sean Coyle. Coyle is hitting .355 this year for the Sea Dogs with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. Triple-A Pawtucket has the Red Sox's 4th overall prospect, Garin Cecchini, so it doesn't look like Witte will advance. Expect him to finish the year in Salem.

2014 Stats: