Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Samuel Becket reporting for the Tempe Gazette

Yesterday I looked at Tempe’s pitching, which was the primary reason why the team won 84 games. Now it is time to look at the offense, which at times was horrible. The Knights will need to pick up a right-handed power bat to secure a postseason berth next year. Tempe did have some bright spots in their offense, and towards the end of last year the Knights were actually scoring some runs. GM Van Hauter hopes the offense continues to improve because, if not, the Knights might be asking too much of their pitching staff again.

Catcher Chad Hull
Hull came into his own last year, batting .290 with 62 RBI and 13 HR in only 421 at bats. Hull continues to improve and he was the hottest hitter on the club for the last two months of the year. Defensively, Hull struggled, committing nine errors, but the Knights know Hull will improve on those numbers. Overall, Hull is Tempe’s catcher for the long run and next year the Knights feel he can hit 30 HR and drive in 100 runs.
Overall: B

Backup catcher Richard Carney

Carney could not get it going last year and had a horrible campaign, batting an anemic .150. The Knights have always stated that Carney is on the team for his glove, but .150 will not get it done and Carney’s days in Tempe could be numbered. The only thing that could save Carney is that he is fantastic catcher, not committing an error all of last year. That alone gets him another year as Hull‘s backup.
Overall: D-

First baseman Takahiro Yoshida
Yoshida really struggled in the second half last season, and that could either force the Knights to make a trade or at the very least platoon Yoshida. His final numbers totaled 14 HR, 56 RBI and a .247 average. Yoshida lacked plate discipline at times, striking out 145 times while walking only 45. Yoshida also struggled in the field. committing nine errors and showing limited range. If Yoshida is with the Knights next year. he will not be starting.
Overall: C-

Second baseman Miguel Velasco
Velasco had a very good year for the Knights and was rewarded with a two-year contract. Velasco showed surprising power by hitting 11 homers and driving in 60 runs while posting a .250 AVG. He also stole 37 bases and played solid defense at first, second, third and short. Velasco is a very valuable player to have and he will back next year platooning either at second, third or short.
Overall: B

Shortstop Allen Robinson
Robinson was a tremendous surprise for the Knights last year. “Horse” showed some pop, smacking 13 homers and driving in 58 runs. His average was low at .240 but he had a solid second half. Robinson will be the starting shortstop next year because he is an All-Leather-caliber fielder, committing only seven errors all last year at short. The Knights feel he will collect a lot of All-Leather Awards before his career is over.
Overall: B

Third baseman Rick Glendenning
Glendenning came over in a midseason trade and provided a powerful bat in Tempe‘s lineup. In a little over half a season, Glendenning hit 12 HR with 42 RBI and posted a respectable .257 BA. He also showed a good deal of patience at the plate by drawing 45 walks. The Knights will start Glendenning at either third or DH, but one thing is for sure – his bat will be in the lineup everyday. What may hurt Glendenning from getting more at bats next year is his fielding. To call his fielding horrible would be kind. Glendenning looked clueless at third, committing an alarming 14 errors in 81 starts. That will insure that Glendenning will be pulled for a defensive sub in close games.
Overall: B-

Third baseman Lorenzo Luján
Luján will be on the Tempe squad next year and the Knights feel he will probably be part of a platoon at third or first. In thirty games last year, Luján batted .222 with only one home run in 63 AB. However, in the twenty games he started at third he did not commit an error, so that alone will keep him on the squad next year. The Knights hope Luján can duplicate his AAA numbers at Chandler, where he batted .333 with seven home runs in only 159 AB.
Overall: C

Second baseman Khai Li
The Knights are pegging Li as their leadoff hitter next year and he will be leading off every game in Spring Training to get used to it. The Knights love Li’s potential. An injury cut his season short, but in the 20 games he played at AA the team loved what they saw. Li, in only 58 major league AB, hit 3 HR and walked 22 times for an astonishing .450 OBP. This was no fluke, as Li has dome this at whatever level he has played. He also struck out only 4 times and was great in the field, committing no errors at second. The Knights feel Li is ready, and if he is then he is one piece that the team desperately needs – a leadoff hitter.
Overall: A-

Center fielder Mark Young
Young had a very good year as the fourth outfielder, which is where he will be again in 2011. Overall he had a good year at the plate with a .255 average. He also played an outstanding centerfield, committing only one error all year. Young is a very valuable member of Tempe‘s team and the Knights love all the little things he does to win games.
Overall: B

Left fielder Orlando García
Picking up García was a banner day in Tempe because it showed the fans and the league that the team has arrived and that they are going to be contenders. García will bat third all year and the Knights believe he will drive in 100 and hit around 25 HR. García needs protection, and Van Hauter will hopefully provide it or else García may be walked over 100 times. Last year he drew 103 walks, and while the Knights are happy he has a good eye they want to see that number cut in half. Only a power bat behind him can ensure that. García’s fielding is very underrated because he only committed two errors in the outfield all of last year, but scouts say he has an iron glove. García will primarily play left next year and he should be solid. Van Hauter states that the club will try to lock García up long term as early as Spring Training.
Overall: A

Center fielder David LaFrance
LaFrance is penciled in as the Knights’ starting center fielder. Before his injury, LaFrance was putting up some good number, batting .282 in 117 AB. He also showed a little pop, hitting three home runs. However, he does not walk enough and that prevents the Knights from putting him in the leadoff spot. He also strikes out too much to bat second, so he will most likely bat seventh or eight until he can improve those numbers. As a fielder, LaFrance will be one of the best. He has tremendous range, which he needs in the “Grand Canyon” (Knights Stadium). Last year he committed only one error and the Knights are confident he is ready to play everyday.
Overall: B

Right fielder Tim Eaton
Eaton was a disappointment last year, batting only .249 with 8 HR and 46 RBI. His OBP was terrible at .299 and he struck out a ton (127 times). It is doubtful that Eaton will start and he may be traded at the Winter Meetings. He is a decent fielder and the Knights feel his value may be to another team.
Overall: D-

Right fielder/DH Fernando Garza
Garza will be on the team next year, either platooning at DH or right field. In his 11 games with Tempe, Garza impressed Van Hauter by hitting .296. The Knights feel that, with 400 at bats, Garza can pop 20 homeruns. With San Antonio in 2009, he hit 8 HR and batted .290 in only 210 at bats. Garza has a lot of raw power and the Knights hope he provides much needed pop in whatever role he is assigned. What surprised the team was that he has greatly improved his defense, and the club feel that opens up more windows for playing time for Garza.
Overall: B

Right fielder Jason Kirkland
Kirkland is here to stay and will be the starting right fielder next year. A September call-up, Kirkland provided a lot of power in the month of September for the Knights, hitting 6 HR and driving in 13 while posting a respectable .258 AVG. He struck out a lot (30 times in 93 at bats) but the Knights feel that, once he knows the pitchers better, those numbers will go down. Van Hauter believes the sky is the limit for Kirkland and that he can easily hit 30 HR a year. Kirkland had a little trouble in right field, committing three errors, but he has stated he is going to work on his fielding all winter and through Spring Training. The Knights love his attitude and believe he is a star in the making.
Overall: B

Tomorrow we will look at Tempe‘s minor league system, starting with Chandler.