http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080609&content_id=413285&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers plan to bring up Eric Hurley from Triple-A Oklahoma to fill the fifth spot in their starting rotation. Hurley will make his debut for Texas on Thursday at Kansas City.

It looks like Hurley is on his way up.  He started the season very poorly as far as HR's and earned runs go.  His strike out numbers have been up this year and he is doing a pretty good job of not handing out a ton of free passes. 

I thought I read somewhere that his velocity was down this year.  I don't know if there is any truth to that, or if it was just an April thing. 

I am looking forward to him pitching personally.  I think if he can learn to keep the ball park he can still be a #2 type pitcher.

What are your thoughts.

The Cubs recalled him today and sent down Rich Hill.  It sounds like the Cubs will use Lieber in the rotation for now. 

What can we expect out of Gallagher if he gets the chance to start this year.  I know the Cubs still have Marshall, but it sounds like they are going to continue to use him in relief and probably take Lieber's role of the long relief.

From what I have seen out of Gallagher he profiles as probably a 3, but it seems his numbers and fastball have both got better over the last 2 years.  He probably does not become an ace, but quite possibly a 2?  Do his K numbers translate to the MLB?

Pence being called up
Astros manager Phil Garner said top prospect Hunter Pence is being called up from Class AAA Round Rock and will start in center field for the Astros on Saturday.

Chris Burke will be moved to a utility role.

http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2007/04/pence_being_cal.html

I guess I expected people to be higher on him with how he ended his season at AA last year.  Reading Rotoworlds report on him today calling him a future #3 seemed a little conservative to me.  They also mentioned him losing velocity, pitching 90-93 with his fastball.  I always thought that Hurley worked in the 93-95 range reaching 97/97.  It sounds like he has an above average slider with an improving change up.  As it, the biggest weakness right now appears to be the change up.  

Here are some of his numbers for 2006.
BB/9---2.80    
HR/9---1.04-- Concern    
H/9---7.43    
K/9---8.93    
LD%---11%    
Fly%---38%    
GB%---41%      

Why do people frown on him slightly, but believe someone like Nick Adenhart will be a stud?  

For the sake of arguement, I am not factoring in the ballpark that Hurley will pitch 1/2 his MLB starts in.

I have been searching around trying to find information into Pelfrey's last start to see if he has started to harness the control of his offspeed stuff.  I found this in the Binghamton newspaper

"Pelfrey cruised over his final three innings. He finished with eight strikeouts and showed more confidence with his curveball, using it as an effective strikeout pitch to augment his 96 mph fastball."

Has anyone had the chance to see him in person yet?  Over his last 5 starts he is has been pitching like a guy who was the top rated pitcher in last years draft class.  The only concern I have for him is his offspeed stuff and throwing it for strikes.  It sounds like 85% of the stuff he still throws is the fastball with good location.  Been working on his curveball, change up and a slider.  

The New York media has settled down on calling him up to save the Mets season since they have been getting good pitching from the rest of the staff.  I am guessing he will still get called up at some point this year, but would like to see him really work hard on his other deliveries to go with the 95 mph fastball.

I think this is a little early as well.  He really struggled to start the year,  but has played well lately.  

Currently hitting 318 with 5 jacks in 157 AB's.  Has 11 walks and 25 k's.  It sounds like he is going to be playing a lot of 1b atleast until some of the inuries heal.  

The Angels have been calling up a lot of these prospects, and not giving them  much PT.  We will see if this changes with Kendry Morales.

I am glad that I am not a Devil Ray's fan.  This lineup that they are putting out is disguisting.  It now will include Nick Green, Tomas Perez, Joey Gaithright, Travis Lee, Ty Wiggington and Damon Hollins.  This is a joke with how much offensive talent they have down on the farm.  They can't play this lineup and expect one person to go to a game.  

They owe the fans and MLB to bring up a few of their young talented prospects a shot. I know Upton's arm isn't ready, but neither is Weeks or Edwin's glove.  Delmon Young is probably going to get in some trouble with this incident so he probably doesn't deserve the shot.  Elijah Dukes and Darnell McDonald are both playing well.  They are both better then Hollins and Gaithright.

Phil Hughes, the 19-year-old pitching prospect who surprised some veteran Yankees with his talent in spring training, has 18 strikeouts, 1 walk and a 0.56 earned run average in 16 innings for Class A Tampa. General Manager Brian Cashman said Hughes would be promoted soon to Class AA Trenton, but he almost certainly would not pitch for the Yankees this season. "You're not going to see him," Cashman said. "If he can't be denied, he can't be denied, but that is not something we're looking for or expecting at all."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/21/sports/baseball/21yanks.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin& ;adxnnlx=1145628264-7Q4aKY/1h1WSAMTaQRnVLg&oref=slogin