Two Major One Minor 052611

The two major league players this week are Allen Craig and Andres Torres and the minor leaguer is Charlie Blackmon. All three happen to primarily be outfielders for National League organizations but they are all different type players. Each has been on my radar for over a year.


Craig has the ability to play both corner outfield spots in addition to first, second and third. In his time in the minors he showed the ability to hit for both average and power. Over the three season stretch 2007 to 2009 he hit .311 with 24 home runs, .304 with 22 home runs and .322 with 26 home runs respectively. Last season he split time between AAA ,where he hit .320 with 14 home runs over 83 games, and the St Louis Cardinals where he got his feet wet for 44 games. So far this season through 29 games he has hit .303 with three home runs. He has spent the majority of those games in the outfield but he has been getting more time at second and there is speculation he may land there to get his bat in the lineup more often. A gold glove isn't likely in his future but he could end up being like Dan Uggla with a better average.


Andres Torres is one of those players that is enticing because he is capable of double digit home runs and steals while maintaining a respectable average. 2010 was definitely his breakout season when he hit .268 with 16 home runs and 26 steals over 139 games. While he may not be able to maintain the power judging by his minor league career he is one to keep an eye on as the Giants work to defend their championship.


First I have to start with the name: Charles Cobb Blackmon. Being from Georgia Blackmon had baseball stamped on him from birth with his middle name paying homage to the great Georgia legend Ty Cobb. Blackmon is tearing it up in AAA batting .345 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 40 runs and 11 steals over 47 games. He would serve as a good compliment in center to Carlos Gonzalez in left for the Colorado Rockies because I think their current centerfielder Dexter Fowler is having trouble putting in deep roots. I find it interesting that Blackmon had started as a decent pitcher in the JUCO ranks striking out 138 over 127 innings but switched to the outfield when he transferred to Georgia Tech. After sitting out one red-shirt season he batted leadoff and hit .396 with 25 stolen bases. This gives a glimpse of Blackmon's athletic ability and is able to adapt. I think he could easily be a 20-20 guy that hits for average.