I don't have time to drag up the notable starters today, but at least we can get a thread going.

What I really wanted to post about is Jose Altuve's 2-for-4, 2B night (he may/may not get another AB).  That's five straight multi-hit games for Altuve at AA, and seven multi-hit games of nine total.  I'm not sure there's anything the kid can't hit right now.

It's up now at Fanhouse: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/09/baseballs-top-100-prospects-of-2011/

Immediate points of interest:

• Teheran at #2
• Harper down at #7
• Singleton at #11 (above Moustakas, Jennings, Belt and Myers)
• Ackely at #9, Lawrie at #47
  

Continue reading this post »

In his first 442 AB in the big leagues, at ages 22 and 23, James Anthony Loney hit .324/.376/.548 with 24 doubles, 9 triples, 19 HR, and a 36:58 BB:K ratio.  While he was a mild disappointment in 2008 at age 24, he still showed solid gap power and enough HR that there was hope for those who thought the 6'3" lefty with a sweet swing could develop into an offensive force.  This year, in Loney's age 25 season, despite improving both his contact and walk rate and running a 1:1 B:K, he's lost all semblence of power.

Obviously, Loney's star has faded since the days he was an exciting prospect, and since he set MLB on fire entering the league.  The question is, where does he go from here?  I think he's an interesting example of prospect development, as he's been a guy many expected to add power as he matured, yet is hemmorhaging it even as he improves his approach.

What do you think we're going to see from Loney as he enters his prime?  Can he put all the pieces together?