What a crazy past few days this has been!  My computer battery died, then my AC adapter fizzled out.  While I wait for replacements, I am forced to tap out my posts on my stone aged desktop, with 10 gigs of molasses in the hard drive that had been relegated to being an expensive hood ornament for a desk I never use.  Combine that with the beginning of the NFL season and an urgency to capture the last few remaining rays of Washingtonian sun and you have my excuse for the two day hiatus from the blog.

Nonetheless, I remain dedicated to the task of bringing you the top 10 MLB debuts from the last couple of weeks and will give you a double feature from the #8 slot with two young arms from the surging L.A. Dodgers, Scott Elbert and James McDonald.

Scott Elbert

Watch his AFL performance

I recently wrote about Elbert in one of the daily minor league reports a couple of weeks ago.  Elbert, of course, is recovering from last season’s shoulder surgery and has been cast primarily as a reliever this season.  Elbert has tossed only 2.2 innings in 5 outings with the Dodgers striking out 5 and allowing 3 earned runs.  I will hold true to my convictions that he will be a power reliever for the Dodgers instead of a starter.  Elbert will not factor into the Dodgers’ post season plans as he is slated to go to the Arizona Fall League to pitch.  I would definitely keep a close eye on how he is used there as it will be a prime indicator of the Dodgers’ intentions for 2009 and beyond.

James McDonald

MLB debut coming soon

Here’s a guy that I haven’t written much about.  McDonald was the selected as a draft and follow pick in the 11th round of the 2002 draft.  The Dodgers originally slated him as a two way player, jettisoning him between the mound and the outfield for a couple of seasons before focusing his development as a pitcher.  McDonald stepped out in a big way in ‘07 after a mid-season promotion to AA Jacksonville where he went 7-2 with a 1.71 ERA and 64 K in 52 IP.  This season, McDonald continued his ascention this season compiling a 7-4 record with a 3.26 ERA and 141K/141IP.  McDonald has plenty of things working for him with an athletic 6-5 195 lb. frame and three MLB quality pitches including a curveball that rivals that of fellow Dodger phenom Clayton Kershaw.  He hides the ball well in his delivery which gives his 88-93 MPH fastball good late life and his changeup has the potential to be a plus pitch.

At this point, it seems that the only thing that McDonald really lacks is experience.  One other area of concern to me is his low 0.56 GO/FO ratio.  As McDonald’s change continues to develop, it may become a pitch that he can use to induce more ground outs.  Finally, his inconsistent strikeout numbers causes me to raise an eyebrow.  This indicates, that his stuff is not yet consistent as he fools hitters one start and draws a lot of contact the next.  MLB hitters will pounce on mistakes, especially through the middle innings after they have seen him for an AB or two.

All told, he reminds me of Michael Bowden; a talented pitcher with good command and the ability to rack up strings of 6-7 innings on a regular basis.  Like Bowden, McDonald’s future is as a solid mid-rotation starter who can win 12-15 games every season.  Unlike Bowden, the hype for McDonald is not nearly what it could or, perhaps, should be.  McDonald has yet to have a card issued by a major manufacturer, but keep your eyes peeled for late 2008 offerings (Bowman Sterling?) and early 2009.

The time is nearing to buy up shares of Oakland A’s outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. The season numbers are still a little light to help a fantasy team, but there are plenty of reasons to think he’s turning it around. Gonzalez is one of the game’s best hitting prospects, and he’s showing a veteran’s poise in clutch situations.

The prototype for an A’s offensive player, Gonzalez came to Oakland in the preseason trade for right-hander Dan Haren. While other acquisitions Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have been more solid contributors in 2008, Gonzalez was the crown jewel of the deal. He has the body of a young Carlos Beltran and is an excellent five-tool athlete.

Gonzalez is also maturing before our eyes and guaranteeing himself playing time with stellar defensive play in center and right field. The 22-year old also has the makings of an OPS machine with potential for 25 home runs and a handful of stolen bases. But, most impressive of all, he has an “it” factor and a knack for delivering in the clutch.

Take the 2008 season, for example. He’s showing the typical rookie growing pains, striking out four times as often as he walks as he faces a steep learning curve, but he’s also hitting .364 with runners in scoring position and consistently driving in runs.

While the big breakout performance has avoided him thus far, he has reached base safely in 16 of his last 19 games and driven in 11 runs over that stretch. It is also worth noting that Gonzalez’s two homers and two stolen bases have each come in the last nine games.

And one last note, Gonzalez doesn’t seem to have that one “kryptonite split” that will seriously hold him back. When he got called up on May 29, he had a higher average against left-handed pitching (.318) than against righties (.283) for Triple-A Sacramento. So far in Oakland, he has a .258 average on the road and a .250 average at home.

The bottom line is, Gonzalez is making progress. In fantasy, by the time a young prospect puts an exclamation point on his steady improvement, everyone knows about him. It is important to anticipate that breakout effort, especially in deeper leagues where competition is heated on the waiver wire.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.

First, it was Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw on Sunday. Now, it will be Reds super prospect Jay Bruce making his major league debut on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 21-year old outfielder will presumably take over full-time duties in center field, pushing Corey Patterson and Ryan Freel back into reserve roles.

Bruce was hitting .419 for Triple-A Louisville in the month of May, raising his season average to an International League-leading .364 in 49 games. He had 10 home runs, 24 extra-base hits, 37 RBIs and 8 stolen bases, and he ranked among the league’s top four in slugging percentage (3rd, .630), OPS (4th, 1.023) and total bases (2nd, 116).

The one knock against Bruce has been plate discipline. He has managed to hit .364 despite just 12 walks to 45 strikeouts. The free-swinging will hurt him more in the majors, but not to the point where he won’t have immediate fantasy value. In terms of expectation, a .285 average, 20 homers and 10 stolen bases the rest of the way would be an ideal scenario.

A young hitter can make a far bigger impact with a mid-season callup than an April debut because he is already locked in at the plate. With good timing, rhythm, and ability to see and recognize pitches, Bruce transitions to the bigs in a good situation to succeed.

Bruce has an added benefit in that Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark has featured the second-highest home run rate in baseball in 2008. Of all the stadiums in the league, only Colorado’s Coors Field is a better haven for a young power hitter.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.