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Rich Poythress, HD: Rich Poythress has had a great second half overall, and this week he became the first player to accumulate 100 RBI in the minors this season (Dan Johnson has 100 combined between the minors and majors.) Lately, Poythress has introduced a new wrinkle to his game, moving across the diamond to play 3B. This stretch is the first time he has played the position in his pro career, and as far as I can tell, he didn't in college either. If he can play it well, that would greatly improve his stock as a prospect.
Jay Austin, LAN: Despite being named to the Cal League All Star team, Jay Austin had a rough June and July. In August, Austin has had what could be his best nine game stretch of the season. Austin has nine extra base hits in his last 10 games including four triples. Austin is third in the league in triples, and he recently stole his 50th base of the season. He still has a lot of work to do on his plate approach, but like earlier in the season, Austin is currently seeing the ball well and having success at the plate.
Austin Gallagher, IE: This is the second time in three seasons Austin Gallagher has played for Inland Empire, and the second time around hasn't been as good. Gallagher is recovering from a labrum injury that cost him most of 2009, and he hasn't hit as well since. However, in August he already has four extra base hits, when his high for a previous month this year is six. His approach has been better too, so the only question now is if Gallagher has turned a corner in his return, or if it's just an ordinary hot streak.
Jaff Decker, LE: As bad as Jaff Decker's first half was, his second half has been that good. Decker has four home runs in his last 10 games, and he has seven walks in that span too, after only walking eight times in 29 first half games. A great plate approach helped Decker stand out in the Midwest League in 2009, and it appears he's regaining some of that late in the year with Lake Elsinore. His second half numbers dwarf his first half numbers, and it seems that he's fully recovered from his spring training hamstring injury.
Ryan Wheeler, VIS: Ryan Wheeler missed a few games earlier this month, but his last few have been tremendous, and his performance in a big series against Modesto is why he's here. In a three game sweep of the Nuts, Wheeler went 8/13 and had eight RBI. Wheeler hasn't shown the great plate approach with Visalia that he did in 2009 across two levels, but other than that he's having a solid year. He lost his power during June and July, but other than that Wheeler has done a good job hitting doubles.
Not hot
Tommy Mendonca, BAK: Initially in the second half, it appeared that Tommy Mendonca had turned a corner in 2010, but the results as of late clash with that. Mendonca doesn't have a hit in six August games and has only reached base twice. He has three three-strikeout games in his last five, and others in the Bakersfield lineup have had to pick up some slack during this slump. The second half numbers are still better than the first half numbers, but if Mendonca's current struggles keep up, that won't be the case much longer.
Pedro Baez, IE: Like Mendonca, Pedro Baez appeared to be turning a corner after the All Star break, but right now he isn't making good contact. He appears to be making an effort to be a little more patient, but he's actually striking out more than usual. Baez is only hitting .135 in August, and he still isn't hitting for much power. This is his second year with Inland Empire, and the Dodgers didn't expect to see such a decline in production, although I'm sure the injury he suffered in May is a factor in that.
Dillon Baird, RC: Dillon Baird has shown good power while he's been in the lineup, despite missing about half the season with a wrist injury. Lately, that power hasn't been there, and Baird is only slugging .243 so far in August. His plate approach needs work because of too many strikeouts and too few walks, but the Quakes could live with it when he was hitting home runs. In 13 more AB in the second half than first half, Baird has five fewer walks and six more strikeouts.
Scott Van Slyke, IE: After a demotion from AA Chattanooga, Scott Van Slyke tore up the Cal League in his second tour of duty with Inland Empire. His plate approach has still been good lately, and he also has a couple home runs in his last 10 games, but he's still not hitting well right now. After hitting over .350 in June and July, Van Slyke is hitting .147 in the early going in August. Right now, his rate stats with the 66ers are almost identical to last year's, so he's probably just cooling off after a hot month.
Vince Belnome, LE: Lake Elsinore has had a lot of trouble scoring runs in the second half, and of course it's difficult to pin that all on just one player. However, Vince Belnome is in a slump, and his numbers have declined a bit. He recently had a two hit game, the only two hits in the game for the Storm, but he's only hitting .250 for the month so far. Belnome still has a good plate approach, posting a .386 August OBP, so he should be able to hit his way out of this slump very soon.
Moving on
Jordan Pacheco, MOD: Rockies catching prospect Wilin Rosario suffered a torn ACL at AA Tulsa, and Pacheco was promoted to fill the void...
Injured
Dennis Raben, HD: Raben was placed on the DL on 7/31. It's his second time on the DL this season, and he missed all of 2009 with a knee injury...
Ryan Ortiz, STO: Ortiz was placed on the DL on 8/3...
On the radar
Cody Podraza, BAK
Jake Shaffer, HD
Thomas Field, MOD
Clay Fuller, RC
Alberto Rosario, RC
Gabe Jacobo, RC
Charlie Culberson, SJ
Stephen Parker, STO
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