by Earl Valentine, American Baseball Perspective

May 23, 2011 – Let’s take a look at this week’s action down in AAA.

Appalachian Mountain League – South

The Jefferson County Independence (KEN) had a slightly more difficult week than they are used to, dropping a series to Allentown (CAN) and picking up a series victory against Chesapeake (Florida), both .500 teams.  Their four-game lead over Newport News (ARL) remained intact as the Anchormen played even ball themselves.  The Independence’s Leland Tatum turned in a brilliant performance, pitching 8.1 innings while allowing only two hits to pick up his fourth win on the season.  With two no-hitters under his belt, including one this year, Tatum has proved that he’s ready to bring “Hammer Time” to Kentucky.

The veteran Ángel Ramírez hit .500-1-10 for the Joplin Red Racers (SA), collecting 11 hits.  The Red Racers are currently fourth in the South.

Appalachian Mountain League – Northeast

The Northeast continues to be up for grabs, with all six teams no more than six games behind the division-leading Beantown Browns (GLO).  The Browns were led by 1B Rubén Chávez, who hit for a 1.238 OPS.  Chávez, who was drafted in the PEBA inaugural draft at age 20, has spent time in AAA every year since his professional debut, but now appears to be ready for the big leagues.  With no one blocking him in Gloucester, he’ll determine his own timetable.

Jersey City Chillitowners’ (NJ) 1B/DH prospect Pablo Sandoval extended his hitting streak to 21 games, raising his 2011 numbers to .349-10-31.  He leads the GBB in VORP at 27.5, and with New Jersey’s season already lost, he’s a lock to see time in the PEBA this year.

Rocky Mountain League – Central

The Evansville Tri-Staters (CL) continued the dominance of the Crystal Lake organization, going 6-1.  They were led by a double-barreled attack of prospects LF Hyeon-san Yi (484-2-12) and C Andy Hood (.476-0-6).  They’ll each have to do better, as they’re both blocked in Crystal Lake.  SP prospect Yoshitora Koyama may be blocked, but he’s doing his best to force CL’s hand.  He’s 7-0 in 10 starts, leading the RML in ERA, BB/9, K, K/BB, WHIP and VORP.  The righty is 23 years old, and his six-pitch arsenal ranks favorably amongst the PEBA’s best according to most scouts.  Evansville holds a slim two-game lead over the Sioux Falls Lakota (FAR).

Rocky Mountain League – West

PEBA veteran SP John Reynolds, who has seen time in the majors with Tempe and Fargo, turned in a dominating performance for the West Valley City Grizzlies (BAK), putting up 8.1 IP with 7 Ks for his third win.  The Grizzlies are in a dogfight with the Thornton FasTrax (AUR) in a far more competitive version of the Desert Hills fight, where the Bears are 18.5 games behind the Borealis.

There’s no hope on the horizon for Yuma’s pitching staff.  The Henderson Fighting Scotts (YUM) staff ERA currently sits at 6.43, which is a GBB record.  The only legitimate prospect on the staff is Cédric Pages, a Frenchman making his professional debut this year.  He’s currently 1-4 with a 8.84 ERA, with more than twice as many walks as strikeouts.  Pages’s arm won’t live long enough to see Arizona if manager Alfonso Gonzáles isn’t issued an ultimatum by the Yuma front office – he allowed Pages to throw 180 pitches on Saturday in a 12-2 loss.