Checking Up on Minor League Guy and other Baseball Notes

Remember Minor League Guy from a couple weeks ago?

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The St. Louis Cardinals prospect better known as Oscar Taveras is off to a fast start with AA Springfield hitting .306 in his first 11 games this season. In addition to hitting for average, Taveras has shown some good power tallying 9 extra base hits and driving in 12 runs already and he's riding a 5 game hitting streak.

While we're scoping out the minors, figure we might as well talk about Washington's potential future star (and one of my keepers in our fantasy baseball league) Bryce Harper. Harper's actually struggled out of the gates in AAA batting just .222 with 10 strikeouts and 0 home runs in his first 54 at bats after going 0 for 5 tonight. Still, he's just 19 years old, so even if it takes him a while to adjust to the better pitching, it's not like he's behind schedule or anything. Except in fantasy baseball where he's contributing absolutely nothing to the Flying Cave Donkies.

Speaking of guys who aren't contributing, how about Mark Melancon's start with the Red Sox this year? After a career year for the Astros in 2011, Melancon has been an unmitigated disaster in 2012.

In four games, he's only retired 6 batters and surrendered 5 home runs while posting an almost unbelievable 49.50 ERA. Throw in a pair of losses, a blown save, an opposing batting average of .625 and cap it off with a finale in which he faced 6 hitters, retired zero and gave up three long balls against the Rangers and needless to say, Melancon is no longer with the club having been demoted to AAA today. Junichi Tazawa has been called up to replace Melancon in the Boston bullpen.

Finally, congratulations to Jamie Moyer. The ageless wonder threw 7 innings and didn't allow an earned run against the Padres last night to become the oldest player in Major League History to earn a win. The 49 year old lefty is now 1-2 on the season and leads the Rockies with a 2.55 ERA.

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