Brandon Beachy (SP-ATL) – The Braves are just incredible in terms of their penchant / hard work for developing major league pitching. We know all about prospects like Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado as well as 2010 debutees like Mike Minor, but Beachy is yet another guy to keep an eye on. Filling in for the injured Jair Jurrjens, Beachy allowed two runs over five solid innings on Sunday against the Nats. He struck out an impressive nine while walking three. It was a solid improvement over his debut against the Phillies (4.1-4-3-1-3-1), though keep the quality of the opponents in mind. Beachy posted impressive numbers in the minors this year between Double-A and Triple-A: 1.73 ERA and 148:28 K:BB in 119.1 innings. He’s pitched in more games out of the bullpen than as a starter in his career, but the Braves may very well have a solid back-of-the-rotation starter here. Beachy is a great story as an undrafted free agent signee out of a small college in Indiana.
J.A. Happ (SP-HOU) – I guess it’s possible I’ve been too negative on Happ’s fantasy prospects. Yes, the move from CBB to MM park helps, but despite his perception as a soft-tossing lefty, Happ continues to rack up the QS’s. Sunday was more of the same with two runs (both unearned) on four hits over six innings in a tough loss against the Pirates. Happ averages just about 90 mph on his fastball with an above-average slider and (according to pitching data) below average offerings in terms of his curve and change. He also allows more flyballs than grounders, but this hasn’t prevented a 2.82 ERA in 83 innings. Still, I just can’t fathom this continuing considering his 7.2 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9. Happ is a solid NL-only play, but 12-team mixed leaguers should be nervous playing him consistently.
Jonathan Broxton (SP-LAD) – It wasn’t a traditional save situation Sunday, as Broxton entered the game in the eighth inning, but after the first batter Broxton faced, Arizona’s Chris Young, homered, Broxton was charged with his seventh blown save of the season. Broxton now has a 6.89 ERA since August 7 in an inexplicable fall from being a top-five closer to now, a middle reliever at best. Broxton now has a 4:9 K:BB in seven innings this month, a mark that stands in stark contrast to the 68:19 mark he put up in 54.1 innings prior to this month. Headed into 2011, Broxton is scheduled to make $7 million, something that would seem to make him prime trade bait given the presence of Hong-Chih Kuo and Kensley Jansen, but not sure how wise it would be for the Dodgers to sell low.
Chris Heisey (OF-CIN) – Heisey was 2-for-5 with a solo homer and three-run double on Sunday against the Padres. The big game left Heisey .251/.326/.440 in 191 at-bats with an impressive eight home runs and 19 XBH. Heisey’s 71.2% CT% is suppressing his BA. Heisey is an interesting guy, as headed into 2011, as the Reds are really only set in RF with Jay Bruce. The other positions have JonnyGomes, Drew Stubbs, and Heisey currently in the mix. I’m not sure Heisey has shown enough to be more than a #4 or 5 OF next year, but he does have some pop and Heisey did swipe 32 bags in the minors back in 2008.
Will Venable (OF-SD) – Venable has reportedly made a “significant” change to his batting style this month, raising his elbow, a move that according to Venable, is allowing him to shorten his stroke and improve his ability to put bat to ball. Venable was 1-for-3 on Sunday (why did Tony Gwynn Jr. pinch hit for him? No idea), leaving him with a .253/.332/.423 batting line for the year, and better still, a .371/.400/.540 line for the month of September. A 15:3 K:BB mark for the month tempers that performance somewhat, but Venable should head into 2011 spring training as a strong favorite for a starting OF slot.
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