07/23: A-Jax, Chris Malec on FIRE at AA Trenton
Posted by: James
I don't know how many people are prospect watchers like me but I just wanted to point out that two of the hottest hitters in the minors right now play for the AA Trenton Thunder. Going into the ninth of tonight's Trenton/New Hampshire game with a 1-1 score, it looked like Austin Jackson and Chris Malec would have their respective 9- and 8-game hitting streaks come to an end. But I guess you can't keep a good hitting streak down...because A-Jax doubled and came around to score on a Chris Malec triple. Malec would then score on a Colin Curtis single (Curtis went 2-for-3 to get his OPS back over .700 after a horrendous June).
Over the last 10 games and 36 ABs, A-Jax has just been ludicrous. Check this out...20 for 36 (.556) with 5 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 HR) and a 6:4 BB:K ratio. He's hitting .397/466/.551/1.017 in July. Yeesh.
Almost as sizzling has been Chris Malec, who has put up a tidy 17 for 32 over his 9 game hitting streak. He's racked up 6 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 3B, 1 HR) and worked a 4:2 BB:K ratio. Oh, and he's hitting .406/.523/.580/1.103 in July. I can understand keep Jackson at AA for a while...but come on, Malec has clearly shown (after a slump at the beginning of the season) that he can handle AA pitching. At his age (26 in a month), give him some ABs at AAA so he can start there next year and possibly help the big league club at some point during 2009. I mean, come on, does he not seem like he would be a more worthwhile option than a Wilson Betemit type? And it's not like the kid is blocked by some superstars. You're telling me he can't take away ABs from 3B Cody Ransom (.256/.325/.481/.806...but 32), 2B Nick Green (29 and putting up a .221/.274/.340/.614 line) or even Eric Duncan (23 but putting up the same line as he did last year at 1B/3B; .241/.304/.399/.703)?
Over the last 10 games and 36 ABs, A-Jax has just been ludicrous. Check this out...20 for 36 (.556) with 5 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 HR) and a 6:4 BB:K ratio. He's hitting .397/466/.551/1.017 in July. Yeesh.
Almost as sizzling has been Chris Malec, who has put up a tidy 17 for 32 over his 9 game hitting streak. He's racked up 6 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 3B, 1 HR) and worked a 4:2 BB:K ratio. Oh, and he's hitting .406/.523/.580/1.103 in July. I can understand keep Jackson at AA for a while...but come on, Malec has clearly shown (after a slump at the beginning of the season) that he can handle AA pitching. At his age (26 in a month), give him some ABs at AAA so he can start there next year and possibly help the big league club at some point during 2009. I mean, come on, does he not seem like he would be a more worthwhile option than a Wilson Betemit type? And it's not like the kid is blocked by some superstars. You're telling me he can't take away ABs from 3B Cody Ransom (.256/.325/.481/.806...but 32), 2B Nick Green (29 and putting up a .221/.274/.340/.614 line) or even Eric Duncan (23 but putting up the same line as he did last year at 1B/3B; .241/.304/.399/.703)?
