Royals in the Fall -- Nov. 14 update

NOTE: Anybody take notice that SP Dan Christensen was sent to Detroit Wednesday as the PTBNL in I assume the Roman Colon trade? Hope he pitches as well for the Tigres as he did in the Royals' farm system.


Hawaii -- West Oahu Canefires: The Canefires are 12-20 and eliminated from the HWB West race with play entering the final weekend.

IF Jeff Bianchi
last update (11/7) -- .290/.347/.709, 3 2B, 1 3B, 12 RS (still tied team lead), 3 RBI, 6 BB/20 K, 5/5 SB, 1 GIDP in 17 games (69 AB)
now -- .284/.338/.702, 4 2B, 13 RS, no other changes in 18 games (74 AB)
-- got one more game in over the week and lowered his numbers but added a double and RS....kinda wonder what's cut into his PT....he might just be tired as he's had the heaviest workload of his pro career in '07.

P Tyler Chambliss
last update -- 1-1, 1 hold, 1 for 3 in saves, 7.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 10 BB/18 K, .295 OAV, 2 HRA in 9 games and 18 IP of relief
now -- no change
-- gotten the week off.

P Blake Wood
last update -- 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 13 BB/38 K, .258 OAV in 6 starts and 24 IP
now -- 1-1, 3.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 16 BB/45 K, .245 OAV in 7 starts and 28 IP
-- K rate continues to increase, even though K/BB suffered a little over the week....still in good shape, tho....figure Blake will start '08 in Wilmington in A-ball....would like to see his WHIP improve.

Arizona -- Surprise Rafters: The Rafters are 18-12 with the AFL season wrapping Thursday. (Team USA guys were taken off this week as they are in play in Taiwan)

2B Marc Maddox
last update -- .389/.452/1.063, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB/10 K, 1/3 SB, 3 E in 14 G (54 AB)
now -- .356/.429/.963, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 10 BB/13 K, 2/4 SB, 3 E in 19 G (73 AB)
-- numbers continue to dip from spectacular to great...no matter how the last couple games go, he's made a name for himself this fall....should be in AA to start '08.

OF Chris Lubanski
last update -- .209/.280/.668, 3 2B, 3 3B, HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB/14 K, 10 RS, 3 E in 18 G (67 AB)
now -- .198/.267/.686, 3 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 8 BB/21 K, 12 RS, 3 E in 22 G (81 AB)
-- over the last couple years I've gone from excited about Lubanski's future to pretty damn disappointed....that feeling isn't changing.

1B Kila Kaaihue
last update -- .244/.414/.836, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 13 BB/12 K, 8 RS, 0 E in 13 G (45 AB)
now -- .215/.373/.773, 3 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 17 BB/18 K, 2 E in 19 G (65 AB)
-- numbers still sagging....Ks have caught up with BBs....also not Kila's best defensive week.

OF Jose Duarte
last update -- .185/.281/.466, 4 RBI, 6 RS, 4 BB/9 K, 2/2 SB in 8 G (27 AB)
now -- .154/.244/.398, 4 RBI, 5 BB/12 K, 2/3 SB in 11 G (39 AB)
--as a reminder, Duarte's designated to play only on weekends....not much to remark about for Duarte over the week.

P Dusty Hughes
last update -- 1-0, 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 2 BB/11 K, 1 HRA in 4 starts and 15 IP
now -- 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 8 BB/17 K in 6 starts and 22 IP
-- 6 BB and 6 K in 2 games over the week didn't help his K/BB ratio....may be tiring after long year of work....wonder if he'll see AAA to start '08.

P Tyler Lumsden
last update -- 1-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 4 BB/11 K, 2 HRA in 6 games and 11 IP of relief
now -- 1-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 5 BB/11 K in 7 G (12 IP relief)
-- yo-yo numbers....still waiting to see consistency out of Tyler.

P Nate Hoelscher
last update -- 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, BB/7 K, in 8 G and 8 IP of relief
now -- 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, BB/10 K, 2 holds, 1 save in 9 G and 10 IP of relief
-- solid work out of Nate.

P Devon Lowery
last update -- 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 2 holds, 2 BB/3 K, HRA in 4 G and 4 IP of relief
now -- 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3 BB/4 K, 2 HRA in 5 G and 5 IP of relief
-- gave up another dinger.


Dominican Winter League -- various teams: I'm not gonna do full rundowns on each guy, but several Royals are playing in the Dominican this offseason

Billy Butler is batting .234 with a .308 OBP, 3 2B and 5 RBI with 5 BB and 11 Ks in 13 games for the Azucareros del Este, while Angel Berroa is hitting .286 with a .339 OBP, 1 HR and 8 RBI with 4 walks and 9 Ks in 16 games, so need I note again that that comparison makes me kinda nauseated? On the same team, Kyle Davies is 1-1 with a 3.22 ERA and .207 OAV, 8 BB and 19 Ks in 5 games and 22 1/3 IP. Nice K rate and OAV, at least. Julio Pimentel is still 0-1 with a 5.41 ERA but a .167 OAV, 4 BB and 2 Ks in 3 games and 3 1/3 IP.

Matt Tupman is hitting .280 with a .280 OBP, 3 2B, 5 RBI and 5 K in 17 games for the Tigres del Licey.

Mitch Maier is hitting .295 with a .348 OBP, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB/11 K in 17 games for the Gigantes del Cibao.

Venezuelan Winter League -- various teams:

Andres Blanco is hitting .241/.290/.601 OPS with 2 BB/7 K and an E through 10 games (29 AB) with the Aguilas de Zulia.

P Yovany D'Amico is 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 5 BB/9 K in 9 G and 17 IP (1 start) for the Cardenales de Lara.

The Leones del Caracas have several Royals farmhands on hand as IF Luis Castillo's numbers haven't changed -- he's hitting .229 with a .552 OPS, 3 2B and 2 RBI with 4 E in 15 games; IF Mario Lisson is hitting .253 with an .876 OPS, 4 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 15 RS, 15 RBI (still leads team), 8 BB and 18 K with 6 E in 25 games; P Rayner Oliveros is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 2 BB/12 K in 5 G and 11 1/3 IP of relief (no change from last week); and P Jarod Plummer is 1-1 with 2 saves, a 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 3 BB/7 K in 9 G and 9 IP of relief (also no change from last week).

And Mike Aviles is hitting .311 with an .877 OPS, 19 RS, 7 2B, a triple, 4 HR and 15 RBI with 9 BB and 17 Ks along with 3 E in 27 games to lead the Tigres de Aragua. Leads the team in several offensive categories.