Royals on the Farm 9/7 -- wrapping up 3 more teams

AAA - Omaha: Omaha finished 81-63

Omaha's best in OPS (behind Kila at 1.060 (led team in BA at .315, HR with 24, BB with 88) and Alex Gordon at 1.019)
Ed Lucas .878 -- .315/.398/.480, 52 RS, 20 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 52 BB/68 K, 7/8 SB, 12 E in 99 G/352 ABs -- third try was charm for Ed as his previous best OPS at AAA was .425, turned 28 in May tho
Mike Moustakas .878 -- .293/.314/.564, 36 RS, 16 2B, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 8 BB/25 K, 2/2 SB, 8 E in 52 G/225 ABs -- hit for .985 OPS in August, numbers at AAA don't pop overall, still thought he shoulda gotten a September call tho
Lucas May .856 -- .291/.355/.501, 61 RS, 20 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 34 BB/79 K, 4/6 SB, 1 E in 97 G/351 ABs -- put up best #s with Omaha -- .878 OPS with O-Royals
Scott Thorman .839 -- .280/.348/.491, 78 RS*, 31 2B*, 2 3B, 22 HR, 85 RBI*, 48 BB/75 K, 6/10 SB, 5 E in 125 G*/479 ABs -- was a consistent contributor, even if numbers aren't awesome
Jai Miller .815 -- .252/.326/.490, 47 RS, 24 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 57 RBI, 38 BB/132 K*!, 5/8 SB, 1 E in 94 G/345 ABs -- led in Ks by more than 50, contributed in streaks

Others....David Lough .783 (.280/.346/.437, 65 RS, 15 2B, 12 3B*, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 40 BB/72 K, 14/19 SB, 4 E in 120 G/460 ABs, only player with double figs in each XBH, held his own at AAA in first try, will probably get another shot in 2011), Jordan Parraz .760 (.266/.350/.410, 58 RS, 27 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 39 BB/78 K, 8/13 SB, 6 E in 123 G/432 ABs, stunk in April, was good in May/June, stunk out loud in July/August, raked in Sept.), Jarrod Dyson .676 (12 XBH, 16 BB/32 K, 13/16 SB, 2 E in 46 G/195 ABs, didn't crack .350 in either OBP or SLG), Irving Falu .657 (led team with 503 ABs, 137 H, had 42 BB/39 K, 15/19 SB, 23 E in 119 G, got off to hot start then didn't do much after June 1), Kurt Mertins .641 (.289 OBP, 19 XBH, 16 BB/50 K in 70 G/253 ABs, didn't make best of playing time).

Omaha's WHIP leaders
Tim Collins 0.84 -- only 20 1/3 IP, 2-1, 1.33, 4 SV, 8 BB/21 K, lived up to billing
Louis Coleman 1.04 -- 5-2, 2.23, 1 SV, 2 HRA, 11 BB/48 K in 21 G/40 1/3 IP, wonder if he'll start 2011 in KC pen
Bryan Bullington 1.12 -- 8-2, 2.82, 1 CG, 8 HRA, 28 BB/73 K in 20 G/102 IP, looked like #1 pick at times
Federico Castaneda 1.16 -- 4-2, 3.69, 13 HRA, 30 BB/54 K in 31 G/75 2/3 IP
Phil Humber 1.27 -- 5-6, 4.47, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 17 HRA, 20 BB/80 K in 21 G/118 2/3 IP, also had his moments

Others....Blaine Hardy 1.28 (3.49, 3 SV, 9 HRA, 21 BB/48 K in 28 G/67 IP, had a rough August but also posted career high in IP by a little bit, he is only 23), Anthony Lerew 1.33 (led PCL with 2.55 ERA, only gave up 4 HR, had 44 BB/74 K in 22 G/123 2/3 IP, that part's not as impressive), Luis Mendoza 1.34 (co-leader in wins with 10, 13 HRA, 32 BB/59 K in 131 2/3 IP), Gaby Hernandez 1.35 (also had 10 wins, 4.91 ERA, 31 HRA!, 56 BB/114 K* in 144 2/3 IP, only Omaha pitcher to break triple digits in Ks, only allowed 6 HR after July 1)

AA - NW Arkansas: off day

* The Nats need to finish strong and that starts with the best-of-5 TL semifinal with Springfield, which starts Wednesday in Springdale.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: The Rocks finished 68-70

Rocks best in OPS (behind Eric Hosmer's .974)
Wil Myers .966 -- .346/.453/.512, 28 RS, 14 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 37 BB/39 K, 2/5 SB, 1 E in 58 G/205 ABs -- keeps getting it done wherever he goes, hit for .982 OPS in August
Nick Francis .844 -- .284/.328/.516, 55 RS, 24 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR*, 61 RBI*, 19 BB/85 K, 8/12 SB, 6 E in 84 G/335 ABs -- came back nicely from drug suspension
Ernesto Mejia .817 -- .288/.340/.476, 25 RS, 13 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 14 BB/41 K, 3 E in 43 G/170 ABs -- figured he'd do better in the Carolina League
Salvador Perez .732 -- .290/.322/.411, 35 RS, 21 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 53 RBI, 18 BB/38 K, 1/2 SB, 6 E in 99 G/365 ABs -- still adjusting to full season ball, would like to see him and Myers splitting C ABs in NWA in 2011
Christian Colon .705 -- .278/.326/.380, 38 RS, 12 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 13 BB/33 K, 2/6 SB, 17 E in 60 G/245 ABs -- nice to see him in top 5, adjusted well, hit for .748 OPS in August and .907 OPS in 4 Sept. games

Others...Adrian Ortiz .700 (only .322 OBP isn't gonna cut it as leadoff guy, 17 2B, led team with 8 3B, 22 BB/71 K, 32/47 SB* in 106 G/436 ABs), Patrick Norris .639 (only .311 OBP isn't gonna cut it as leadoff guy, 69 RS, 20 2B, 7 3B, HR, 41 BB/102 K*, 30/47 SB, 9 E in 122 G/442 ABs*, Ortiz has edge on him in most categories, but it's a pretty mediocre comparison both ways), Rey Navarro .590 (.260 OBP....21 E led team), Joey Lewis .576 (only 18 G).

Wilmington WHIP leaders
Will Smith 0.95 -- 4-1, 2.80, 6 HRA, 4 BB/51 K (insanity!) in 8 starts/54 2/3 IP, those BB/K #s are eyepopping
Brendan Lafferty 1.11 -- 4-1, 3.15, 1 SV, 4 HRA, 18 BB/57 K in 28 G/65 2/3 IP
Buddy Baumann 1.12 -- 4-2, 2.24*, 4 SV, 3 HRA, 36 BB/113 K* in 31 G (14 starts)/100 1/3 IP, very nice
Harold Mozingo 1.28 -- 5-2, 4.42, 3 SV, 8 HRA, 15 BB/53 K in 53 1/3 IP, recovery from arm surgery continues
Aaron Crow 1.30 -- 2-3, 5.93, 6 HRA, 6 BB/53 K in 7 starts/44 IP, better K rate than Smith but not as good K/BB, but not by much, opponents hit .290 off him tho

Others....Tim Melville 1.38 (led team with 12 Ls, 10 HRA, 54 BB/90 K in team-leading 112 1/3 IP), Chris Dwyer and John Lamb led the team with 6 Ws but neither finished the season in Wilmington, Kevin Chapman 1.56 (5.50 ERA, 1 SV, 1 HRA, 8 BB/20 K in 18 IP, some good, some bad in pro debut), Bryan Paukovits 1.57 (should be back to start 2011)

A - Burlington: The Bees finished 46-90

Bees OPS leaders (after Myers' .908)
Carlo Testa .831 -- .275/.365/.466, 83 RS*, 24 2B, 14 3B*, 12 HR*, 50 RBI* scary that led team, 60 BB*/125 K*, 28/37 SB, 5 E in 128 G*/461 ABs* -- gets no love from organization, makes it much easier to lead team when you're there all year
Whit Merrifield .726 -- .253/.317/.409, 24 RS, 8 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 15 BB/42 K, 5/8 SB, 1 E in 47 G/186 ABs -- nothing great in pro debut but I've got a good feeling about him, did a little something almost every game in one facet or another, hit for .747 OPS in August
Jake Kuebler .682 -- .265/.339/.343, 17 RS, 7 2B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 18 BB/35 K, 4 E in 45 G/166 ABs -- nice season for AG's cousin, should be back with Bees in 2011
Jose Bonilla .682 -- .239/.344/.338, 35 RS, 8 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 38 BB/70 K, 3/6 SB, 6 E in 88 G/284 ABs -- hasn't lived up to potential from rookie ball
Deivy Batista .630 -- .236/.293/.337, 55 RS, 14 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 34 BB/100 K, 18/23 SB, 24 E in 108 G/398 ABs -- when a .630 OPS is in your top 5, you lose 90 games

Others....Gerard Hall .627 (hit .224 but posted .310 OBP, 67 RS, 25 2B*, 55 BB/109 K, 19/27 SB, 28 E* in 120 G/433 ABs), Hilton Richardson .588 (only .272 OBP, 6 3B, 33 BB/79 K, 33/40 SB*, 9 E in 107 G/367 ABs, dragged BA up to .204 at season's end), Alex McClure .581 (.275 OBP, 8 BB/28 K, 5 E in 27 G/111 ABs), Fernando Cruz .536 (15 2B, 21 E in 106 G/376 ABs, great pick),

WHIP leaders in the Hive (behind Paukovits 0.95 and Lamb 1.08 and Lafferty 1.21)
Elisaul Pimentel 1.31 -- 10*-6, 3.98, 7 HRA, 51 BB/116 K* in 22 G/115 1/3 IP -- not as good as it looks, posted 5.76 ERA with Bees and .299 OAV with 16 BB/19 K in 25 IP
Ryan Dennick 1.35 -- 3-4, 4.33, 6 SV*, 2 HRA, 15 BB/41 K in 43 2/3 IP
Sugar Ray Marimon 1.43 -- 2-6, 5.91, 7 HRA, 27 BB/50 K in 14 G/70 IP
Matt Morizio 1.44 -- 1-2, 4.86, 1 SV, 3 HRA, 5 BB/20 K in 16 2/3 IP, nice K rate for ex C
Scott Kelley 1.46 -- 1-3, 3.84, 3 SV, 6 HRA, 45 BB/50 K in 42 G/68 IP

Others...Matt Mitchell 1.61 (1-9, 5.60, 12 HRA*, 49 BB/82 K in 98 IP, working way back from injury), Tyler Sample 1.65 (6-10, 4.69, 8 HRA, 95 BB/115 K in 121 IP, has to cut down BB), Dusty Odenbach 1.67 (8-10, 5.21, 6 HRA, 56 BB/92 K in 102 IP), Keaton Hayenga 1.68 (3-12*, 6.13, 12 HRA*, 47 BB/43 K, had sub-5 ERAs and sub-.300 OAVs in July and August), Sam Runion 1.73 (6.45, 1 SV, 14 BB/24 K in 37 2/3 IP), Mitch Hodge 1.76 (45 BB/44 K in 66 2/3 IP, the Bees somehow found a way to have crappy pitching in a league that favors pitchers), Chas Byrne 2.43 (only 7 IP, probably will be back in 2011).

Rookie - Idaho Falls: Casper 7, Chukars 6

DH Watts 2-4, BB, 2B (11), 2 RBI (56), 2 K, RS -- .278
C T. Jones 2-5, 2B (7), 2 RBI (17) -- .279
2B Espinal 2-4, BB, K, 2 RS -- .254
SS Trapp 1-5, 2B (12), RBI (19), 2 RS, SB (19) -- .262
CF Conner 0-4, BB, K -- .172
3B Liberto 1-3, BB, K -- .500

B. Martin 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 8 K, WP -- 4.36 ERA
Carl IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K -- BS, 1, L, 1-1, 7.02 ERA

* Casper plated 4 runs in the 8th to take down the Chukars again. Murray Watts hit an RBI double in the 1st but Casper scored 2 off Brennon Martin in the 2nd on 4 hits. Yowill Espinal and Watts hit RBI singles in the 3rd and Travis Jones doubled in a run to make it 4-2. The Ghosts scored a run in the 6th but Martin had a solid start to hand Edwin Carl a 5-3 lead as Jones singled in a run in the 8th. Carl loaded the bases with 0 out in the 8th and a 2-run single and 2-run double flipped the lead to 7-5 Casper. A run-scoring error cut the lead to 1 in the 9th and the Chukars loaded the bases with 1 out but couldn't get it tied. IF is 10-26. Game 3 is Wednesday. Murray Watts was named the Pioneer League All-Star DH.