When these two teams play:
1. Double-A Jackson Generals (Southern League/Mariners)No other team in the minors can boast four Top 100 Prospects. With RHP Taijuan Walker (No. 20) and LHPs Danny Hultzen (No. 21) and James Paxton (No. 52)—along with SS Nick Franklin (No. 77)—Jackson fans are sure to get an elite prospect on the mound three out of every five days.
2. Double-A Mobile BayBears (Southern League/Diamondbacks) Mobile won the Southern League title last year and was our Minor League Team of the Year. Now they've brought back much of that club to start the 2012 season. RHP Trevor Bauer (No. 9) and LHP Tyler Skaggs (No. 13) lead off maybe the best rotation in the minors, followed by LHP Patrick Corbin and RHP Charles Brewer. Center fielder A.J. Pollock and 1B Matt Davidson are also among the best prospects in the Diamondbacks system.
Carraway is our best control pitcher in the minors now that Erasmo has been promoted. Luckily he's "not a prospect" the way Fister wasn't a prospect and Erasmo isn't. Always nice when those not-a-prospects turn out well.
Chiang is on the Generals, and this is a big year for him, as it is for Carroll. Both OFers have something to prove: Chiang that last year in Portland wasn't a fluke, and Carroll that he can cut down on Ks while maintaining walks. Even Franklin has to prove he's legit after sickness and concussion derailed his year.
There's a lot of proving that's gonna happen in Jackson - it's an absolutely stacked pitching staff with a lineup that has several potential gems, but they're all gonna be fighting for big-league attention like seals at the zoo arguing over fish.
Just the way a good farm system is meant to perform. Love it.
~G