COLOR ME B AAA D

SACRAMENTO

Mike Edwards	BA .290	8 HR	60 RBI
	OB .378	SLG .442	$???,???

So, you need an outfielder for a few games? Mike Edwards might be 27 years old and no longer a ‘prospect’ he’s still putting up very good numbers in Sacramento and playing good defense. A 4th outfielder or even starter for some teams in a rebuilding phase – Edwards is inexpensive building material for teams on a budget.

Graham Koonce	BA .266	20 HR	73 RBI
	OB .391	SLG .494	$???,???

What is Graham Koonce doing in AAA ball? Will someone give this guy a job? An on-base monster who might be limited by playing 1st base, but, how can you argue with an .885 OPS? Okay, go get a free agent 1st baseman for $3 million for lesser performance.

Justin Duchscherer	9W-2L	2.88 ERA	1.03 WHIP
	85 K	10 BB	$???,???

We’ve been all over Duchscherer this season and it’s not just because we can spell his name correctly without looking. Duchscherer has put all the pieces together and has (knock, knock) put the nagging injury bug behind him. He’s young. He’s got excellent command. He’s cheap. He’s available…if the A’s don’t call him up as a long reliever for the stretch, slide Harden into the 4th spot in the rotation and dump the 5th (Lilly, Halama) starter for the playoffs.

Erik Hiljus	10W-7L	4.92 ERA	1.34 WHIP
	98 K	44 BB	$???,???

Take him. He’s really got zero chance of ever being back with Oakland. Even if he threw 30 consecutive innings of shutout ball, he’s still not going to get past the Four Large. If a struggling team needs an innings eater who can float a .500 record, Hiljus is your man.

Justin Lehr	3W-1L	3.86 ERA	1.53 WHIP
	41 K	20 BB	$???,???

Right handed reliever who hasn’t shot himself in the foot. Dominating? No. Effective? Yes. Jeff Tam, without the forearm tattoos.

Joe Valentine	1W-3L 4s	4.93 ERA	1.57 WHIP
	50 K	34 BB	$???,???

The 2002 minor league pitcher of the year has not faired well from the jump to AAA. Whether or not teams look at 2002 or 2003 Valentine is still a decent prospect that might break the minor league closer curse.

Mike Wood	6W-2L	3.13 ERA	1.26 WHIP
	40 K	13 BB	$???,???

Mike Wood might be a guy the A’s could call up as early as next year. He doesn’t have the polish that Harden or even some of the other recent A’s top draft picks, but he’s effective. Think Cory Lidle without the first half discovery process. In case you didn’t realize it, the A’s are loaded with good right handed arms in the minor leagues.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP

Bobby Crosby	BA .289	HR 15	RBI 54
	OB .372	SLG 503	$???,???

Unless a team floats a Brian Giles, J.D. Drew or Carlos Beltran and offers to pay their salary for the rest of the year and add a prospect or two, the A’s 2004 shortstop is going to be in Sacramento for another six-eight weeks. Then he’ll either go to the Minor League Playoffs of get a September call up. He may not have the range that Miggi has at short (who does) but he is solid with the glove. He has good speed and his walk totals will be a blessing to a left side of the infield afraid of not swinging. Should you go out and buy your Oakland Bobby Crosby jersey now? Yes. And it will be applicable to wear at A’s games for several years. Unlike Tejada jerseys, which are being marked down.

About the only Cat teams can’t have is Crosby. Everyone else is available. Which is what makes Oakland’s farm system so unique. AAA is for a handful of high prospects, instant injury replacements and fodder for throw-ins or cash swaps. AA is for prospects and focusing on player development. High A ball and A ball is for recent draft picks and those wandering out of their baseball careers.

We're not mentioning Jeremy Fikac in the Sacramento/AAA section because he should be in Oakland:

Jeremy Fikac	2W-2L 2s	1.89 ERA	.97 WHIP
	35 K	12 BB	$316,000

So...why is Fikac in Sacramento, again? With Jim Mecir looking for a bed to lie down on, Fikac might get the call soon. He definitley should not be traded away. He could follow and close if Keith Foulke leaves after 2003.