Royals on the Farm 9/4

AAA -- Omaha: done at 73-71

1B/LF/DH Billy Butler .291 BA/.412 OBP/.954 OPS, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 43 BB/32 K, 7 E in 57 games -- safe to say he's likely in KC to stay

1B/DH Craig Brazell .307/.337/.942, 33 2B, 32 HR, 76 RBI, 20 BB/83 K, 9 E in 108 games -- led team in batting for those with more than 60 GP, slugged way to great first season in organization, free swinger, but makes more contact than Balboni did

OF Shane Costa .326/.402/.904, 20 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 26 BB/20 K, 8/10 SB, 1 E in 59 games -- who knows what future holds for Shane

OF Joey Gathright .341/.457/.878, 14 XBH, 43 BB/24 K, 25/33 SB, 1 E in 60 games -- hopefully sticks in KC
1B/LF/RF Justin Huber .276 BA/.854 OPS, 13 2B, 18 HR, 68 RBI, 20 BB/48 K, 3 E in 77 games -- still in prospect mix but clock is ticking and he needs to stay healthy
1B Ryan Shealy .262/.837, 7 HR, 15 BB/28 K in 34 games -- a lost season for Ryan
SS Angel Berroa .300/.797, 25 XBH, 25 BB/44 K, 6 E in 81 games -- showed signs of '03 Angel but I, for one, am done with Berroa
SS Mike Aviles .296/.794, 27 2B, 6 3B (led team), 17 HR, 77 RBI (led team), 30 BB/59 K, 23 E (easily led team) in 133 games -- very nice season for Mike, doesn't look like it's been enough for a Sept. call, defensive play still a problem
OF Mitch Maier .279/.749, 29 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 62 RBI, 33 BB/89 K, 7/9 SB, 3 E in 140 games -- durable and good defensively but struck out too much and didn't hit consistently
OF Chris Lubanski .208/.636, 13 XBH, 16 BB/48 K, 3 E in 49 games -- didn't exactly blaze through AAA in first chance, will be back in Omaha to start '08, I'd bet

SP Billy Buckner 9-7, 3.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 26 BB/83 K, 11 HRA in 27 games (15 starts) and 104 2/3 IP -- better things than Tuesday's poor KC start in store for Billy, K/BB was excellent

SP Luke Hochevar 1-3, 5.12 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 21 BB/44 K, 11 HRA in 10 starts and 58 IP -- if he could cut down on the HRs....we'll see how he does in "the show"

SP Matt Wright 10-5, 4.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 40 BB/98 K, 21 HRA in 28 games (21 starts) and 137 1/3 IP -- led team in IP, take out 6 HR allowed game and numbers look much better, think he deserved a bullpen spot in KC in September

P Ben Hendrickson 11-5, 4.12 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 54 BB/66 K, 10 HRA in 27 games (18 starts) and 135 1/3 IP -- led team in wins; had great last couple months, we'll see what Dayton does with him
P Tyler Lumsden 9-6, 5.88 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 59 BB/74 K, 11 HRA in 25 games (24 starts) and 119 1/3 IP -- needs to improve in Omaha next season
P Neal Musser 4-1, 0.49 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 11 BB/47 K in 55 1/3 IP -- when your ERA is less than your walks and hits per inning pitched, that's a good season
P Ryan Braun 2-2, 1.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 12 BB/36 K in 33 IP -- led team with 9 saves, wish he'd played more to the level of the other Ryan Braun at the majors
P Roberto Giron 2-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 30 BB/92 K in 85 IP -- 14 HRA, was better than these numbers over last couple months, deserved a mention

AA -- Wichita: done at 56-84

OF Jorge Padilla .336/.424/.942, 24 XBH, 32 BB/40 K, 11/14 SB, 2 E in 69 games -- roster-filler type pickup paid dividends at AA, didn't do that much in chance at Omaha

1B/LF Mike Stodolka .291/.409/.871, 27 2B, 12 HR (tied for team lead), 59 RBI (led team), 73 BB/91 K, 8 E in 110 games -- another solid offensive season from Mike, if could cut down on Ks would be good step for '08 at Omaha (I presume)

1B/DH Kila Kaaihue .246/.359/.806, 13 2B, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 41 BB/40 K, 4 E in 70 games -- showed improvement at plate, will he start '08 in Northwest Arkansas or Omaha?

OF Adam Greenberg .266 BA/.802 OPS, 30 2B, 11 3B (led team in both), 8 HR, 74 BB/107 K, 23/32 SB, 1 E in 132 games -- comeback bid progressed over course of season, led team in XBH and games played, struck out too much
3B Jeff Nettles .267/.750, 22 XBH, 16 BB/52 K, 10 E in 58 games -- Graig's son did OK at Wichita
2B/OF Geraldo Valentin .288/.688, 24 XBH, 54 RBI, 25 BB/46 K, 5/16 SB (yeesh), 10 E in 112 games -- faltered defensively near end, could be AA or AAA to start '08
C Adam Donachie .207/.643, 9 HR, 31 BB/76 K, 4 E in 84 games -- one of more disappointing farmhands

SP Dusty Hughes 6-2, 3.08 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 45 BB/77 K, 5 HRA in 25 games (16 starts) and 108 IP -- K/BB wasn't great but his last couple starts were excellent and he was the best starter at Wichita

P Jarod Plummer 5-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 16 BB/90 K, 13 HRA in 77 IP -- led team in appearances (44) and saves (11), had great K/9 and K/BB numbers but gave up too many longballs; will start '08 in Omaha pen

P Gabe DeHoyos 6-0, 1.64 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 19 BB/44 K, 2 HRA in 29 games (2 starts) and 55 IP -- faltered in chance at AAA but put together really good season in Wichita; started last couple games he appeared in, so I have no idea what they'll do with him next season

SP Carlos Rosa 6-6, 4.36 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 43 BB/70 K, 8 HRA in 21 games (17 starts) and 97 IP -- needs more time at AA, it seems; started on fire in Wilmington to earn call but struggled against Texas League bats
SP Dan Christensen 3-15, 6.21 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 56 BB/99 K, 23 HRA in 27 games (24 starts) and 140 2/3 IP -- led team in innings but had nightmare year with only a few good starts; should cost him spot on 40-man but we'll see; I can't imagine anyone rule V-ing him after this line

A-Adv. -- Wilmington: off day, finished regular season 75-62

The playoffs start tonight in Wilmington with game 1 of a best-of-3 with the Frederick Keys (O's affiliate) as Rowdy Hardy takes the mound for the Rocks. Chorye Spoone (10-9, 3.26) is the probable starter for Frederick.

A -- Burlington: done at 61-77

C/1B/DH Brady Everett .266/.324/.756 OPS, 30 2B (led team), 2 3B, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 29 BB/69 K, 3/8 SB, 11 E in 108 games -- best OPS on team, showed some pop but could draw more walks and play better defensively

OF Jamar Walton .278/.349/.752 OPS, 15 XBH, 18 BB/47 K, 8/14 SB, 2 E in 54 games -- midseason pickup started slow but ripped off 20-game hit streak to set team record; likely to start '08 in Wilmington if he's back

OF Joe Dickerson .289/.354/.729 OPS, 23 doubles, 2 3B, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 38 BB/76 K, 26/39 SB, 5 E in 115 games -- led team in OBP at .354, which speaks of the Bees and the Midwest League, has holes in game to fix; season cut short by shoulder injury, hope it doesn't cost him much time in '08

1B/DH Luis Castillo .258 BA/.705 OPS, 11 XBH, 14 BB/22 K, 2 E in 38 games -- didn't start playing at Burlington until midseason after shoulder surgery ended '06 season; may see at Burlington or Wilmington to start '08
3B Mike Thompson .217/.691, 22 2B, 19 HR, 54 RBI (led team in homers and RBI), 15 BB/89 K, 17 E in 108 games -- power but little contact or plate discipline, struck out too much, wasn't exactly good defensively
2B Kurt Mertins .249/.668, 15 2B, 5 3B (led team), 4 HR, 50 BB/95 K, 30/38 SB, 22 E (led team) in 125 games -- led team in walks but swung and missed a lot, too, also had defensive issues to some extent, but did show good speed
SS Jeff Bianchi .247/.611, 19 2B, 25 BB/72 K, 15/19 SB, 13 E in 99 games -- ho-hum season in first shot above rookie ball, but note it was his first season back from shoulder surgery; I expect some rebound in '08
OF Derrick Robinson .243/.599, 16 XBH, 32 BB/100 K, 34/41 SB, 7 E in 102 games -- defensively OK but needs to hit better; I didn't realize his OPS was that low and his Ks that high; will play out playoffs in Wilmington and has much room to improve

SP Jason Godin 5-6, 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 36 BB/60 K, 0 HRA in 19 games (16 starts) and 96 1/3 IP -- kept ball down and was helped by pitcher's league; got hammered somewhat in Wilmington in chance at advanced A

SP Mario Santiago 5-10, 3.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 39 BB/70 K, 13 HRA in 26 games (20 starts) and 132 1/3 IP -- second-most IP on team, season ended with liner off head but no report on any serious harm; K rate wasn't great but kept Bees in games and had several really good starts

P Angelo Morales 4-1, 2.34 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 8 BB/35 K, 3 HRA in 13 games (2 starts) and 34 2/3 IP -- had some injury problems but seemed to have good stuff; K rate was good and he was shutdown for the most part in the MWL

P Chris Hayes 4-4, 3.10 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 14 BB/51 K, 3 HRA in 42 games (tied for team lead) and 69 2/3 IP -- led team with 11 saves, will get shot at Wilmington in '08
P Matt Campbell 4-2, 4.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 16 BB/43 K, 5 HRA in 15 games (7 starts) and 56 2/3 IP -- battled shoulder problems for second-straight season, did all right when healthy
P Aaron Hartsock 7-4, 2.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 26 BB/51 K, 6 HRA in 42 games and 75 2/3 IP -- had shaky moments but was dependable overall, most IP among relievers
SP Everett Teaford 6-8, 4.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 36 BB/84 K, 11 HRA in 27 games (21 starts) and 134 2/3 IP -- led team in innings pitched, mixed in a handful of good starts with some poor one, K/BB was OK

Rookie -- Idaho Falls: suspended in 6th (power problems)

IF's series finale versus Orem didn't finish because of power problems in Orem that left the game 5-2 Orem in the 6th. The Chukars start their final series of the season tonight in Casper versus the Rockies (11-23). They are 12-3 versus the Rockies. IF has a 2-game lead on Orem for the second-half division crown after winning the first half. I assume the game will only be finished if it has to be, as Orem has the edge for a wild card spot in the playoffs if Idaho Falls wins the second half.

Rookie -- Burlington: done at 38-30
Rookie -- AZL: done at 28-28