Touch 'Em All Time

The BA Daily Dish on Montgomery RHSP Chris Archer:

Archer has been enigmatic for much of the year, showing good stuff but mediocre results for Double-A Montgomery. Even yesterday, Archer tossed seven shutout innings, but he wasn't exactly dominant. He struck out just two of the 30 batters he's faced, walked four, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. The plus fastball and slider are still there, but he's not missing as many bats as scouts would expect given his stuff, and his control remains a ways away from being big league ready.

Draft pick signing news from Marc Topkin:

Fifth-round draft pick 3B J.D. Davis is close to signing, as is 28th-round C Blake Grant-Parks.

Ex-Rays News: Saw this someplace recently (maybe from Stacy Long, can't find it now), but here is the official release of Heath Rollins retiring:

Keating takes the roster spot of right-hander Heath Rollins, who announced prior to Tuesday night's game that he was retiring. The Royals placed him on the voluntarily retired list. Rollins, a 26-year old resident of Lexington, SC, was in his first season with the Naturals and posted a 1-2 record and a 4.34 ERA in 17 appearances, including five starts. The veteran swingman also made four appearances with Triple-A Omaha. Originally the 11th round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2006 draft, Rollins joined the Royals' organization last December in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

Moves: RHRP Mike Ekstrom called up to Tampa; RHRP Rob Delaney optioned to Durham; IF Felipe Lopez traded from Durham to Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations; CF John Shelby promoted to Durham from Montgomery; OF Brett Nommensen promoted to Montgomery from Charlotte; C Alejandro Segovia assigned to GCL from Princeton.

Prospect Or Not: We use the same playing time cutoffs for prospect status as BA: 130 MLB at-bats, 50 MLB innngs pitched, or 30 MLB relief appearances. Here are the players who were prospects at the beginning of the season and how much career playing time they have accrued:

Jeremy Hellickson - 152.0 innings pitched. No longer a prospect.
Robinson Chirinos - 26 at-bats.
Desmond Jennings - 43 at-bats.
Brandon Guyer - 6 at-bats.
Jose Lobaton - 21 at-bats.
Alex Cobb - 42.0 innings pitched.
Brandon Gomes - 18.1 innings pitched, 18 relief appearances.
Jake McGee - 17.0 innings pitched, 26 relief appearances.
Alex Torres - 1.0 innings pitched, 1 relief appearance.

Oscar Watch: Hernandez was 1 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly on Thursday.

Malm Watch: 2 for 5 with a double on Thursday. Batting .303/.425/.606 on the season.

Stat 'O The Day: Strikeouts per 9 innings pitched, minimum 25 innings.

Pitcher                Team  ERA  G GS    IP  SO SO/9
Scott Shuman            CHA 5.54 31  0  37.1  65 15.7
Brandon Gomes           DHM 1.07 20  0  25.1  40 14.2
Matt Bush               MTG 5.97 28  0  37.2  59 14.1
Marquis Fleming     MTG/DHM 2.35 33  0  61.1  90 13.2
Matt Moore*         MTG/DHM 2.03 20 20 115.1 151 11.8
Enny Romero*            BWG 4.79 19 19  82.2 100 10.9
Jimmy Patterson*        BWG 3.81 27  2  59.0  70 10.7
Jake McGee*             DHM 2.70 24  0  33.1  38 10.3
Matthew Spann*          PRI 3.06  8  4  32.1  37 10.3
Dane De La Rosa         DHM 3.65 38  0  49.1  55 10.0
Chris Rearick*          BWG 1.71 34  0  58.0  63  9.8
Geisel De La Cruz*      DSL 1.88 10  9  43.0  46  9.6
Alex Cobb               DHM 1.87 12 12  67.1  70  9.4
Nate Garcia             BWG 4.03 25  0  44.2  46  9.3
Jorge Rodriguez         DSL 0.90 15  0  30.0  31  9.3
R.J. Swindle*           DHM 4.15 39  0  34.2  36  9.3
Alexander Torres*       DHM 3.04 20 20 106.2 110  9.3
Rob Delaney             DHM 1.78 35  0  50.2  52  9.2
Steve Hiscock           BWG 4.53 28  0  45.2  46  9.1
Austin Hubbard          BWG 2.22 33  0  48.2  49  9.1
Oscar Armenta*          DSL 3.16  9  4  37.0  37  9.0

Name That Minor Leaguer ===>

Hint #1: Hat is correct.

Hint #2: Born in Maryland.

Hint #3: Righty.

Hint #4: Listed at 6'7".