TBR — Los Angeles, CA – Mary Mary have decided to pump the breaks on celebrating the holidays with fans. The duo made the announcement this week that they will be canceling their Christmas tour due to Erica Campbell’s pregnancy.

The Award winning singers have been out and about lately performing everywhere from the 2011 Soul Train Awards to events in L.A.

Erica said in a statement today, “This was a very hard decision for me. I’m accustomed to pushing myself beyond my doctor’s recommendations during my pregnancies, but after having seen my sister, Tina, deal with a premature birth as a direct result of an exhaustive pace, I recognize how real this is. Although my passion told me to push on as usual in these past months, my wisdom, as of my last week’s doctor’s visit, told me to take care of myself and my new baby-to-be.”

Sister Tina adds, “Our commitment to our passion of music and our fans is without question, but allowing wisdom, common sense, and our commitment to family take the lead at this point is necessary.”

The duo plans to return to performing in the spring and is looking forward to rescheduling their Christmas tour dates for 2012. Erica is scheduled to give birth in February.

In addition to existing backlog, the assets acquired by Toll Brothers include approximately 1,300 lots owned and 200 lots controlled in King and Snohomish Counties. The acquisition will increase Toll Brothers’ selling communities count by approximately 15 communities.

Seattle is a high barrier-to-entry home building market with a robust employment base and a concentration of affluence. The CamWest team will provide a great management platform to Toll Brothers with a strong land position and well-established relationships with local land sellers and subcontractors.

CamWest intends to capitalize Toll Brothers’ brand name, reputation, and capital resources and further expand upon the success that CamWest has achieved.

Founded in 1989 by Eric Campbell, CamWest is a premier new home builder in the Northwest. CamWest develops a variety of home types, including luxury single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes, throughout the Seattle metropolitan area, primarily in King and Snohomish Counties.

Toll Brothers, Inc., established in 1967, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The company serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers and operates in 20 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Toll Brothers builds an array of luxury residential communities, principally on land it develops and improves: single-family detached and attached home communities, master planned resort-style golf communities, and urban low-, mid- and high-rise communities. The company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development and land sale, golf course development and management, home security, and landscape subsidiaries. The company also operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. The company acquires and develops commercial properties through Toll Commercial and its affiliate, Toll Brothers Realty Trust, and purchases large distressed real estate portfolios through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gibraltar Capital and Asset Management.

What about these ads!

Though we’re influenced by things like adverts, and by the people we admire and love, and people in official positions of authority, do we take the time to really think about our beliefs? We can laugh at vintage ads like these, but such products were mostly quite acceptable at the time. Indeed, if the doctor said it was okay, it was okay! And it was quite common to hear that medical doctors smoked too.

We’ve sought weird and wonderful ways to treat our health issues for ages, and there are many paths and footsteps in the search. Actually, this one caught my fancy (not really!)… In Bhutan people are foraging for an elusive miracle grub, a bizarre mummified-grub-turned-mushroom, who “claim that it’s a super-duper antioxidant, a powerful natural antibiotic, an energy booster, heart-helper, lung improver and sex sustainer.”  Well! What more could you want? – from Eric Campbell’s news report on ABC.

I reckon that one day we’ll laugh, and even be shocked at a lot of what we believe in today. Nonetheless, my heartfelt gratitude goes to all the hard-working pros searching for answers.

Never mind the ads, now there are thousands of consumer health apps to help us out. There is genuine concern in scientific circles that some apps could cause more problems than help. According to Rochelle Sharpe’s article on The Health Care Blog, “Are Health Apps the Cure for Anything That Ails You?”, there are apps that claim to cure acne with coloured lights emitted from cell phones. You guessed it – this is opening a new chapter for law makers – said app makers are being taken to court by the Federal Trade Commission.

Regarding quitting smoking apps, Sharpe reports, “Lorien Abroms, a public health professor, concluded that the apps had “serious weaknesses” because they did not link to quit lines or clinics or suggest ways for smokers to get social support from family and friends.”

In my experience, smoking was about confidence. I would have loved a text message every time I got the urge, saying something like, “nothing can control you unless it’s good”, or “saying no gives you spiritual strength to handle all kinds of temptations”.  Anyhow, through gentle encouragement, and prayerful support of close friends, I realised that the act of smoking didn’t actually make me who I am. That was many years ago, and I gained something much more than a healthier body…  the confidence to be who I am.

So, we can blame the ads and the apps, and other people, but at the end of the day we should take responsibility for our health too. Millions of people are turning to alternative methods of healthcare, including prayer.

Is it conceivable that there’s a whole new science that isn’t being fully tapped into yet? The fact that scientists’ quests are not quenched may be telling. It’s worth contemplating that the path may be a spiritual one, with unique answers for everyone. In the meantime, we can watch what we’re thinking and believing!

Related credit for interest: Try Nerdy — “Stupid stuff we used to do”.

What about these ads!
Though we’re influenced by things like adverts, and by the people we admire and love, and people in official positions of authority, do we take the time to really think about our beliefs? We can laugh at vintage ads like these, but such products were mostly quite acceptable at the time. Indeed, if the doctor said it was okay, it was okay! And it was quite common to hear that medical doctors smoked too.  Video follows…

We’ve sought weird and wonderful ways to treat our health issues for ages, and there are many paths and footsteps in the search. Actually, this one caught my fancy (not really!)… In Bhutan people are foraging for an elusive miracle grub, a bizarre mummified-grub-turned-mushroom, who “claim that it’s a super-duper antioxidant, a powerful natural antibiotic, an energy booster, heart-helper, lung improver and sex sustainer.”  Well! What more could you want? – from Eric Campbell’s news report on ABC.

I reckon that one day we’ll laugh, and even be shocked at a lot of what we believe in today. Nonetheless, my heartfelt gratitude goes to all the hard working pros searching for answers.

Never mind the ads, now there are thousands of consumer health apps to help us out. There is genuine concern in scientific circles that some apps could cause more problems than help. According to Rochelle Sharpe’s article on The Health Care Blog, “Are Health Apps the Cure for Anything That Ails You?”, there are apps that claim to cure acne with coloured lights emitted from cell phones. You guessed it – this is opening a new chapter for law makers – said app makers are being taken to court by the Federal Trade Commission.

Regarding quitting smoking apps, Sharpe reports, “Lorien Abroms, a public health professor, concluded that the apps had “serious weaknesses” because they did not link to quit lines or clinics or suggest ways for smokers to get social support from family and friends.”

In my experience, smoking was about confidence. I would have loved a text message every time I got the urge, saying something like, “nothing can control you unless it’s good”, or “saying no gives you spiritual strength to handle all kinds of temptations”.  Anyhow, through gentle encouragement, and prayerful support of close friends, I realised that the act of smoking didn’t actually make me who I am. That was many years ago, and I gained something much more than a healthier body…  the confidence to be who I am.

So, we can blame the ads and the apps, and other people, but at the end of the day we should take responsibility for our health too. Millions of people are turning to alternative methods of healthcare, including prayer.

Is it conceivable that there’s a whole new science that isn’t being fully tapped into yet? The fact that scientists’ quests are not quenched may be telling. It’s worth contemplating that the path may be a spiritual one, with unique answers for everyone. In the meantime, we can watch what we’re thinking and believing!

Article also published on NewsMaker Australian News Syndication Service.

Related credit for interest: Try Nerdy — “Stupid stuff we used to do”.

Columbia Records/Myblock Records artists Mary Mary, sisters Erica and Tina announced the release of SOMETHING BIG, the long-awaited follow-up to The Sound, their multi-award winning, groundbreaking previous CD. Produced by Warryn Campbell for Myblock Records and written by Mary Mary, SOMETHING BIG is to be released slated for a March 29, 2011.

With powerful voices that soar, harmonies that chime and empowering lyrics, the songs on SOMETHING BIG are instantly memorable. From the lively lead single “Walking,” to the unforgettable anthem “Never Wave My Flag” and title song “Something Big,” Mary Mary is on course to drive their indisputable reputation smack into the mainstream. Billboard Magazine’s recent review of “Walking” stated “The song’s synthesizer-accented, percolating rhythms are immediately arresting, and the mix is seamlessly strung together by the engaging vocal interplay…’Walking’ is the pair’s latest track to leave the listener with a bounce in his or her step.”
Already a Top 10 Urban AC smash, “Walking” has just landed on the charts within weeks of its release to that format. The song’s video was directed by Luga Podesta, best known for shooting recent pop videos for Travie McCoy, Emily Osment and Hey Monday and will premiere late January.

As songwriters, Mary Mary’s honesty and passion are unmatched by most contemporary storytellers. Mary Mary’s lyrics underscore an unwavering faith and belief in God to conquer the challenges that life sends our way. It is that faith that has connected with fans around the globe and secured an even wider fan base that continues to grow each day.

“In life, we all need to believe in our inner strength to endure the unexpected, to face challenges which confront us, and ultimately survive; we are living in difficult times, but there are infinite reasons to be hopeful,” say Erica and Tina.

During their career, Erica and Tina have sold upwards of five million albums. In a remarkable and still ongoing story, Mary Mary’s 2008 release, The Sound topped multiple charts and broke several records. A string of awards, including 2 Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a BET Award, a Soul Train Award, and an NAACP Image Award, among others were racked up for the album.

Mary Mary have made it their life’s mission to connect with people all over the world. “It’s not just about musical achievements, awards, charts and sales,” say Mary Mary. “That’s not our guiding light. It’s about helping people…we’re committed to our message and purpose.”

Please visit http://www.mary-mary.com for an exclusive listen to Mary Mary’s “Walking” and for additional information about SOMETHING BIG.

SOMETHING BIG Track Listing:
Something Big
Something Bigger
Blind
It Is Well
Never Wave My Flag
Walking
Slow Walk
Survive
Are You Ready
Catch Me
Sitting With Me
Homecoming Glory

Listen to “Walking”

1. Charlotte JR 1B/OF Ryan Rivers
2. Charlotte SR C/OF Zane Williams
3. George Washington JR RHP Eric Cantrell
4. George Washington SR SS Tom Zebroski
5. St. Louis SR RHP Bryant Cotton
6. Dayton SO LHP Cameron Hobson
7. Dayton SO RHP Burny Mitchem
8. Rhode Island SR RHP Tim Boyce
9. Duquesne JR RHP/3B Andrew Heck
10. Richmond JR OF/RHP Billy Barber
11. Richmond SR 3B Cameron Brown
12. Richmond SR RHP Ian Marshall

I really like the Charlotte pair (Rivers and Williams) and the two “big name” pitchers (Cantrell and Hobson) both look like legit big league prospects to me. Marshall is the hardest thrower of the group. Best future prospect of the group is Dayton FR RHP Ian Gardeck (2012) with a fastball peaking in the mid-90s and a good slider.

1. (Charlotte SO OF Shane Brown)
2. (Charlotte JR OF Justin Wilson)
3. (Charlotte JR RHP Joe Yermal)
4. (Charlotte JR RHP Bryan Hamilton)
5. (Charlotte SR RHP Patrick Lawson)
6. (Charlotte SR RHP Kelly McLain)
7. (Charlotte JR 3B/SS Kevin Gillespie)
8. (Charlotte JR OF Cory Tilton)
9. (George Washington SR 2B Sean Rockey)
10. (George Washington JR OF Brendon Kelliher)
11. (George Washington SR 1B Chris Luick)
12. (St. Louis SR 1B Danny Brock)
13. (St. Louis JR OF Jon Myers)
14. (St. Louis SR C Ben Braaten)
15. (Dayton SR OF Aaron Dunsmore)
16. (Dayton SR SS Cole Tyrell)
17. (Rhode Island JR OF/1B Tom Coulombe)
18. (Rhode Island JR RHP Gardner Leaver)
19. (St. Joseph’s SR 2B David Valesente)
20. (Fordham SR OF Mike Mobbs)
21. (Duquesne SR C/1B Mark Tracy)
22. (Xavier JR OF John McCambridge)
23. (Xavier JR LHP Tommy Shirley)
24. (Xavier JR SS Phil Bauer)
25. (Richmond SR LHP Matt Zielinski)
26. (Richmond SR SS Victor Croglio)
27. (Massachusetts SR 2B Eric Fredette)
28. (Massachusetts SR OF Mike Donato)
29. (St. Bonaventure JR SS Jesse Bosnik)
30. (Temple JR SS Adrian Perez)

The conduct of the seemingly endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – and their close (“in our face”) reporting by the international media – would have been impossible without the contingents of intrepid cameramen and local interpreters, translators and ‘fixers’ who have helped the American and allied forces and the battalions of foreign correspondents. A small proportion of these civilian interpreters (etc.) have paid the ultimate price for their work: death. (Others, as in other foreign wars, may well pay a similar price, when the coalition forces finally depart.)

On assignment in North Iraq in March 2003, Eric Campbell, a correspondent for Australian ABC TV was injured and his cameraman was killed in a terrorist attack (virtually on camera). When New York Times correspondent Stephen Farrell was taken hostage recently in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, he was freed in a subsequent commando raid but his “translator”, Sultan Munadi, was killed.

In an account of his own experiences in South Lebanon, another war correspondent, Sam Kiley, narrates the death of Abed Takoush, the fixer for the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen. Kiley also provides this background information on the unique job description of a fixer and an insight into the close bond between foreign correspondents (or the military) and their invaluable local assistants, referring also to the case of Sultan Manadi. (See The Spectator, 16 September 2009)

“Abed was a “fixer”, like Sultan Manadi, who was killed last week during a NATO operation to free the British journalist Stephen Farrell from Afghan kidnappers. ‘Fixer’ is an ignoble title. The word is sleazy and demeaning: it implies the local people hired by the foreign media are mere higglers. The reality is that without a worldwide network of local freelance drivers, translators, and general all-round fixers, there would be a lot of dead journalists, and pretty soon no foreign news at all.

Any nitwit, and I am living proof, can be a ‘war correspondent’ if they are lucky enough to come across a great fixer. These men and women usually earn no more than $100 a day. For that they provide introductions to gangsters, war lords, terrorists, politicians – as well as navigate, drive and give instant tutorials on Albanian politics, Somali clan rivalries and Balkan history. More important, they keep us alive. Behind our backs they apologise for our cultural insensitivity, anticipate our needs before we know that we’ve got them, and from time to time literally lead us through minefields.”
(The Spectator, 16 September 2009)

A happier ending: 30-year-old Australian SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson was recently awarded the Victoria Cross (Australia’s first for 30 years) for rescuing an Afghan interpreter under heavy fire in 2008. He was subsequently received by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.

Note: Sam Kiley is the author of Desperate Glory: At War in Helmand with Britain’s 16th Air Assault Brigade (London, Bloomsbury).

Jon Still

• 1-5 HR(22) RBI—Slumping lately (5-32 2 HR 6 RBI last 10 games)

Jason Place

• 1-4 HR(17) RBI—.246 17 HR 58 RBI 144 K’s

Yamaico Navarro

• 3-5 HR(11) 3 RBI 2B—.429 11 R 18 H last 10 games

Chris Carter

• 1-4 HR(37) RBI—Latest player to reach 100 RBI mark

Eric Campbell

• 2-3 HR( 18 ) 3 RBI—.252 18 HR 64 RBI 47BB/53K

Jason Heyward

• 0-6 K—Tough debut at Myrtle Beach in double header (no worries about him long term)

Scott Diamond

• 7 IP 5H BB K (W)—15-3 2.89 ERA 123K/153IP

Brandon Erbe

• 7 IP 2H BB 9K (W)—Back to back super outings following two bad outings

Brandon Snyder

• 3-5 2 2B 2R RBI—.417 15 H 7 R last 10 games

Michael Burgess

• 1-2 HR(24) 2 RBI BB—.278 4 HR 12 RBI 8 R last 10 games

Tyler Herron

• 7 OP 2H 2BB 6K—7-7 4.17 ERA 102K/138IP

Michael Taylor

• 2-5 HR( 18 ) RBI—.316 3 HR 8 RBI 7 R last 10 games

Sean West

• 7 IP 3H 8K (W)—4-2 1.81 ERA 51K/55IP

Christian Garcia

• 7 IP 7H ER 2BB 10K—4-2 2.90 ERA 60K/50IP in 10 games at Tampa

BUY/SELL Analysis

Won't be overlooked for long

Yamaico Navarro was almost not included on Baseball America’s Top 30 Boston Red Sox prospects list.  The Red Sox have a treasure trove of highly talented SS prospects like Jed Lowrie, Oscar Tejeda, Will Middlebrooks, and Argenis Diaz.  Of all of them, though, Navarro is having the best offensive season.  Only 5-11 and 170 lb., Navarro has surprsing pop and great bat speed.  Navarro has caught fire in the month of August, hitting .417 with 40 hits 21 runs 2 HR and 15 RBI at Lancaster.  Navarro doesn’t always play with maximum effort and his plate discipline is inconsistent at times.  Navarro is one of the 2008 Bowman Chrome debutants and his regular chrome cards comand a price of 75 cents to $1.00 each.

Market Advice: The Red Sox have found something special in Jed Lowrie.  Fortunately for Navarro, he already has experience of playing 3B and his range, hands, and arm strength would make him a good one.  Right now, Navarro is making a strong case for future consideration by the Red Sox, but with Middlebrooks’ recent move to 3B, Navarro may find himself to be trade bait to another team.  Regardless of where he plays, the price of his cards are a great BUY right now considering the season he is having as a future Fenway fielder.

Jon Still

• 2-5 HR(19) 2 RBI 2B—HR’s in 3 straight games (underrated Red Sox power hitter)

Carlos Triunfel

• 3-5 HR(4) 4 RBI 2R 2B—Young super prospect starting to heat up (.333 HR 7 RBI last 10 games)

Matt Spencer

• 2-4 2R 2B BB—6-12 since trade to the A’s

Chris Carter

• 2-4 2B 2 RBI—.317 3 HR 14 RBI 8 R last 10 games

Adrian Cardenas

• 2-6 2 R—Where will he play for the A’s?

Austin Gallagher

• 3-3 2B 2 RBI—Blazing hot in last 10 games (.436 11 RBI 17 H)

Carlos Santana

• 2-5 2R 2B RBI—Closing in on 100 RBI for the season (look for his ’08 Bowman Chrome card)

P.J. Phillips

• 2-3 HR( 8 ) 3B 2R 2RBI—.359 2 HR 5 RBI 4 SB last 10 games

Ryan Mount

• 1-5 HR(6) RBi—.267 6 HR 22 RBI 7 SB in 43 games (good hitting prospect when healthy)

Ian Gac

• 1-4 HR(23) RBI–Hitting well since promotion to Bakersfield (.309 4 HR 18 RBI)

Marcus Lemon

• 3-5 2B RBI R–.388 19 H 9 R last 10 games

Brandon Snyder

• 1-4 HR( 8 ) 2 RBI—.292 8 HR 53 RBI 24 2B (young power hitter one to watch)

Gorkys Hernandez

• 2-3 2B R—.287 4 HR 26 RBI 11 SB (running less since returning from injury)

Eric Campbell

• 2-4 2 RBI—.351 2 HR 8 RBI 10 R 9 BB last 10 games (he’s back on my radar)

Jim Negrych

• 2-4 R 2 RBI—.368 137 Hits 36 2B 5 HR 61 RBI—(polished college hitter, can he replicate @ AA?)

Brian Dopirak

• 3-4 2 HR(23) 6 RBI 2B 2R—.410 7 HR 26 RBI 12 R last 10 games (Is he the 2nd coming of Chip Cannon?)

Brad Mills

• 6.1 IP 3H 3BB 7K—4-0 1.15 ERA 34K/31IP in 4 starts since promotion

Logan Morrison

• 1-4 HR(10) RBI—.286 3 HR 9 RBI last 10 games

Andrew Carpenter

• 9 IP 4H ER 7K—Pitching better since demotion to Clearwater (2-3 2.55 ERA 27K/42IP)

Juan Francisco

• 2-4 HR(13) 4 RBI 2B—.277 13 HR 64 RBI 12 BB/87K (young switch hitter with power, but still raw)

BUY/SELL Analysis

Is there such a thing as an underrated Red Sox prospect?

Jon Still was an All-ACC catcher out of N.C. State when the Boston Red Sox nabbed him with their 4th round pick in 2006.  Still broke out in a big way last season hitting .291 with 25 HR and 98 RBI and 90 runs scored at Greenville and Lancaster.  Additionally, Still walked 105 times en route to a .429 OBP.  This season Still has played the entire season at Lancaster hitting .282 with 19 HR and 65 RBI and 59 BB/65K’s.  Still has played C, 1B and DH for Lancaster this season and it remains unclear where he will play if and when he reaches the big leagues.  Still has superb power and advanced plate discipline, though he is prone to streakiness and has yet to prove that he can replicate his sterling numbers at higher levels.  Still’s sole first year cards can be found in the 2006 Bowman Draft and Chrome sets.  Currently, his Bowman Chrome Draft cards sell for 50-75 cents each with the refractors selling for $6-8 apiece.

Market Advice: There is a big logjam at 1B within the Red Sox organization with the likes of Lars Anderson, Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Bates ahead of Still on the depth chart.  Still’s ability to stay at catcher is questionable at best as he was drafted for his bat.  I seem to think that Still would be a nice fit with a rebuilding team like Seattle who will be looking for a 1B to replace Richie Sexson.  At less than a buck apiece, Still is a low-risk, mid-ceiling BUY.  Granted, if he is traded from the Red Sox, his exposure as a prospect will not be as high, but his opportunity to play will come sooner.

• 1-3 HR(16) RBI BB—The new 2008 Bowman Chrome set should have had his auto rather than Kalish

Yamaico Navarro

• 2-3 HR( 8 ) RBI 2R BB—7 for 12 in 3 games for Lancaster

Marcus Lemon

• 4-5 2B RBI—.303 5 HR 31 RBI .399 OBP

Johnny Whittleman

• 2-2 2 RBI R BB—.263 8 RBI 10 BB last 10 games

Daniel Mayora

• 2-5 3R—.326 HR 6 RBI 8R last 10 games

Mark Trumbo

• 2-3 HR(23) 2 RBI BB—.286 3 HR 9 RBI

Ryan Mount

• 3-4 2B R—.265 4 HR 20 RBI .357 OBP 30 R in 40 games

P.J. Phillips

• 2-5 HR (7) RBI—.341 HR 2 RBI 6 SB last 10 games

Tommy Mendoza

• 6 IP 5H 4K (W)—1st win after 8 consecutive losses (stil young enough to turn it around)

Corey Brown

• 1-4 HR(16) RBI—.243 2 HR 5 RBI 5BB/19K in 9 games since promotion

Austin Gallagher

• 2-3 2 2B R BB—.325 HR 6 RBI last 10 ( he will produce more power as he matures)

Kellen Kulbacki

• 3-5 2B 2 RBI R—.317 13 HR 44 RBI at High A

Beau Mills

• 2-4 2R RBI—.277 15 HR 63 RBI 27 2B

Eric Campbell

• 2-5 2B R 2 RBI BB—.395 4 HR RBI 7 BB last 10

Jim Negrych

• 2-5 HR(5) RBI—.366 5 HR 57 RBI .441 OBP

Derrick Robinson

• 2-5 2 2B SB(44) R—.247 0 HR 20 RBI 44 SB

Michael Taylor

• 2-3 HR(12) 2 RBI 2B—.225 2 HR 11 RBI 3BB/17K since promotion to Clearwater

Alexandre Periard

• 7 IP 6H 2 ER 3K—6-2 2.32 ERA 43K/66 IP

Tyler Green

• 2-3 HR(11) 3 RBI 2B—.394 11 HR 59 RBI 44BB/49K

Scott Cousins

• 2-5 HR(7) 3 RBI 2R—.421 4 HR 11 RBI 11 R last 10 games

Ryan Royster

• 2-3 HR(7) 2 RBI 2B BB—.382 3 HR 7 RBI last 10 games

Ryan Pope

• 7 IP 4H 2 ER 8K (W)—6-4 2.35 ERA 51K/69IP at High A level

Deolis Guerra

• 5 IP 8H 4 ER K (W)—10-4 4.42 ERA 46BB/51K in 100 IP (still just 19)

BUY/SELL Analysis

Mark Trumbo was an 18th round pick out of high school in the 2004 draft.  After a solid showing at rookie league Orem, Trumbo struggled in 2006 at Cedar Rapids hitting .220 with 13 HR and 59 RBI.  Last season, Trumbo repeated Low-A and improved to the tune of a .272 BA with 14 HR and 76 RBI.  Trumbo has stepped up his production at Rancho Cucamonga hitting .286 with 23 HR and 64 RBI.  In a system that finds itself severely lacking power hitting and 1B prospects, Trumbo has a veritable opportunity to progress quickly.  His 23BB/61K rate is not alarming, but Trumbo will need to take more bases on balls as he progresses.  2004 Donruss Elite Extra offers an autographed RC of Trumbo (#’ed to 1,321) which sells for $8-10 each.  His more popular ’04 SP Prospect Auto (#’ed to 400) can be had for $15-18.

Market Advice: I don’t see Trumbo as being a star in the making, but as the Angels’ top 1st base prospect, now that Matt Sweeney is hurt, he will get a longer look by collectors.  Coupled with the imminent possibility that Trumbo will hit 30 HR’s by the season’s end, the ’04 autos of Trumbo are a decent BUY at these prices, especially the SP Prospect autos (if you can find them).  It’s hard to diagnose whether or not Trumbo will continue to progress at higher levels, but if you are in possession of some of his cards now, SELL if and when he reaches 30 HR this year.

• 2-4 HR(16) RBI 2R—.272 58 RBI .884 OPS

Josh Reddick

• 2-3 2B 2R BB—.346 15 HR 64 RBI 10 SB 10 3B (superstar in the making)

Chih Hsien Chiang

• 2-4 HR( 8 ) 4 RBI—.395 2 HR 13 RBI last 10 games

Austin Gallagher

• 2-5 2B RBI—.405 HR 9 RBI last 10 games

Carlos Santana

• 2-4 R RBI 2 SB(7)—.371 2 HR 9 RBI last 10 games

Johnny Whittleman

• 1-3 2B R RBI 2BB—Athletic young hitter is better than his .249 Avg.

Alexander Torres

• 6 IP 2H 2BB 5K—5-0 1.23 ERA 29K/29IP

Chris Carter

• 1-3 HR(26) RBI—.366 6 HR 14 RBI last 10 games

Eric Campbell

• 1-4 HR(12) 2 RBI 2R—.333 4 HR 8 RBI last 10 games

Jon Owings

• 1-2 HR(14) RBI—.412 4 HR 14 RBI last 10 games

Brandon Snyder

• 2-4 2 RBI R—.310 7 HR 50 RBI

Brandon Allen

• 1-4 HR(15) RBI—.343 2 HR 3 RBI 10 R last 10 games

Scott Cousins

• 3-4 HR(6) 3 RBI 3R 2BB SB(10)—.395 3 HR 8 RBI last 10 games

Logan Morrison

• 3-6 HR( 8 ) RBI—.444 2 HR 8 RBI last 10 games

Shaun Garceau

• 7 IP H 2 BB 5K—5-2 2.81 ERA 29K/51 IP last 10 games

BUY/SELL Analysis

Logan Morrison was an unknown draft and follow 22nd round draft pick out of Maple Woods CC in Missouri.  After his ’07 season where he hit .267 with 24 HR and 86 RBI at Low A Greensboro, he opened eyes as a 1B who could potentially hit .300 with 30 HR per year at the MLB level.  This season at High A Jupiter, Morrison has continued to impress, hitting .337 with 9 HR and 54 RBI.  His 36 BB/ 53 K’s show that he has advanced plate discipline for his age and he seems to have figured out how to hit LHP’s (.300 this season vs. .195 last year).  Morrison has 1st year cards in the 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects set that currently are fetching $1.25-2.00 each and with refractors (#’ed to 599) selling at about $12-15 a pop. 

Market Advice: Morrison is on the fast track to Miami.  His blend of power and average are very appealing and at less than $2.00 a chrome card, he seems to be a must BUY.  Additionally, I would keep posted for the checklist of 2008 Bowman Sterling cards, as he possibly could have an auto in that set.