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Expansion Era Minor League All-Star Rosters – Diamondbacks

Derek Bain

Founded on my research for the “Minors vs Majors” chapter in my book, “Hardball Retroactive” paired with complementary articles “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Batters in the Expansion Era” and “Minors vs. Majors: The Top Minor League Pitchers in the Expansion Era“, the ensuing series will reveal the Minor League All-Star rosters for every MLB franchise based primarily on single-season statistics in Runs Created / 140 Games (batters) and Fielding Independent Pitching (pitchers).

Selection Criteria

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Arizona Diamondbacks 

Erubiel Durazo cruised through the upper minors in ‘99, sustaining a .404 BA with 24 round-trippers and a .703 SLG after the D-Backs purchased his contract from the Monterrey Sultanes (Mexican League). Outfielders Adam C. Eaton (.450) and Jack Cust (.445) pace the Snakes in career minor league on-base percentage. Paul Goldschmidt enters the 2018 campaign with five consecutive All-Star appearances and three top-five finishes in the NL MVP balloting. “Goldy” paced the Senior Circuit with 36 jacks and 125 ribbies in 2013 subsequent to posting League-best home run totals in each of his three minor league seasons. Mark Reynolds launched at least 30 long balls in four MLB seasons despite whiffing in 35.5% of his at-bats. The “Sheriff of Swattingham” slashed .318 / .401 / .633 while dividing 2006 between Lancaster (A+) and Tennessee (AA). Scott Hairston clubbed 106 circuit clouts across 11 MLB seasons as a part-time outfielder after hammering 93 four-baggers and logging 120 RC/140 in the Arizona system. Collin Cowgill registered 100.3 RC/140 during his stint as a Diamondbacks farmhand and earned playing time in parts of six seasons (2011-16) with five MLB organizations as a spare outfielder.  Jarrod Patterson merited cups of coffee with Detroit (2001) and Kansas City (2003) following a productive two-year stint among the Arizona affiliates in which he averaged .347 with 43 two-base knocks, 19 taters, 100 ribbies and 99 runs scored. Craig Ansman supplied a .294 BA and slugged .541 in a six-year minor league career.

Four-time All-Star outfielder Justin Upton (#1, 2005) logged career-bests in doubles (44), home runs (35) and RBI (109) in 2017. “J-Up” reached the Majors ten years earlier during his age-19 campaign after slashing .319 / .410 / .551 for the Visalia Oaks (A+) and Mobile BayBears (AA). Jake Lamb supplied 30 taters and 98 ribbies per year over two seasons with the D-Backs (2016-17) subsequent to delivering a .327 BA with 39 two-base knocks throughout the upper minors in 2014. Lyle Overbay crafted a .342 BA as an Arizona prospect and rapped 38 doubles per year spanning seven seasons (2004-2010) including an NL-best 53 two-base hits in ’04. Conor Jackson (#1, 2003) smacked 35 doubles annually across three seasons (2003-05) prior to his promotion to the big leagues in July 2005. Miguel Montero manufactured a .326 BA with 26 four-baggers and 95 RBI while splitting the ’05 season between the Lancaster JetHawks (A+) and the Tennessee Smokies (AA). Alberto Callaspo made his MLB debut in August 2006 following a fantastic stint with the Tucson Sidewinders (AAA) encompassing a .337 BA with 43 extra-base hits and 93 tallies. Mitch Haniger (.321/25/94) soared through the upper minors to attain big league status in August 2016. First-sacker Christian Walker (.309/32/114) registered 104 runs scored and laced 34 two-baggers to complement a .597 SLG for the Reno Aces (AAA) in 2017.

Brad Penny (16-4, 3.03) placed third in the 2007 NL Cy Young race after whiffing 10.9 per nine innings through 45 starts with the Arizona affiliates. Brett Anderson (11-7, 3.07) posted 125 strikeouts in 120.1 innings pitched during his lone campaign in the D-Backs system prior to his inclusion in an eight-player trade with Oakland in December 2007. Former Halos first-rounder Tyler Skaggs fashioned an ERA of 3.32 and struck out 9.9 batters per nine innings across 71 minor league starts as a member of the Diamondbacks. Appearing in 25 contests for the Kane County Cougars (A) and Visalia Rawhide (A+) during his first full season, Jon Duplantier (12-3, 1.39) racked up 165 strikeouts over 132 innings pitched.  Tony R. Pena averaged 73 relief outings spanning a three-year period (2007-09) for the Snakes and the Pale Hose subsequent to furnishing a record of 9-5 with an ERA of 2.86 at South Bend (A) in ’03.

Starting Lineup Age Year Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Adam C. Eaton* 23 2012 REN,MOB AAA,AA CF 130.1 0.375 7 48 0.456 0.523
Collin Cowgill 25 2011 REN AAA RF 134 0.354 13 70 0.430 0.554
Erubiel Durazo* 25 1999 ELP,TUC AA,AAA DH 176.6 0.404 24 83 0.489 0.703
Paul Goldschmidt 23 2011 MOB AA 1B 134.8 0.306 30 94 0.435 0.626
Jack Cust* 20 1999 HDS A+ LF 149.2 0.334 32 112 0.450 0.651
Scott Hairston 22 2002 SBN,LNR A,A+ 2B 132.8 0.345 22 98 0.429 0.603
Jarrod Patterson* 25 1999 TUC,ELP AAA,AA 3B 136.4 0.358 19 98 0.448 0.589
Mark Reynolds 22 2006 LNR,KNX A+,AA SS 129 0.318 31 98 0.401 0.633
Craig Ansman 23 2001 SBN A C- 118.6 0.330 21 82 0.402 0.623
Bench Age Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Jamie D’Antona 26 2008 TUC AAA 3B 131.2 0.365 21 79 0.405 0.604
Conor Jackson 23 2005 TUC AAA 1B 128.9 0.354 8 73 0.457 0.553
Brandon Allen* 25 2011 REN AAA 1B 126.7 0.306 18 66 0.427 0.579
Josh Whitesell* 26 2008 TUC AAA 1B 124.7 0.328 26 110 0.425 0.568
Ketel Marte# 23 2017 REN AAA SS 123.8 0.338 6 41 0.391 0.514
Christian Walker 26 2017 REN AAA 1B 123.7 0.309 32 114 0.382 0.597
Ryan Wheeler* 23 2012 REN AAA 3B 122.8 0.351 15 90 0.388 0.572
Cesar Nicolas 23 2005 SBN A 1B 120.9 0.302 21 70 0.428 0.594
Lyle Overbay* 24 2001 ELP AA 1B 120.9 0.352 13 100 0.423 0.528
Mitch Haniger 25 2016 REN,MOB AAA,AA CF 118.3 0.321 25 94 0.419 0.581
Andy Green 26 2004 TUC AAA 3B 118 0.327 9 45 0.394 0.534
Miguel Montero* 21 2005 LNR,KNX A+,AA C- 117.5 0.326 26 95 0.382 0.562
Jake Lamb* 23 2014 MOB,REN AA,AAA 3B 117.1 0.327 15 84 0.407 0.566
Justin Upton 19 2007 MOB,VIS AA,A+ CF 116.9 0.319 18 70 0.410 0.551
Alberto Callaspo# 23 2006 TUC AAA 2B 116.3 0.337 7 68 0.404 0.478

 

Starters Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Jon Duplantier 22 2017 KNC,VIS A,A+ 2.41 12-3 1.39 0.978 2.8 10.9
Tyler Skaggs* 19 2011 VIS,MOB A+,AA 2.58 9-6 2.96 1.107 2.8 11.3
Tony R. Pena 21 2003 SBN A 2.65 9-5 2.87 1.118 1.7 6.7
Brad Penny 20 1998 HDS A+ 2.67 14-5 2.96 1.055 1.9 11.4
Brett Anderson* 19 2007 SBN,VIS A,A+ 2.69 11-7 3.07 1.224 1.6 9.4
Relievers Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Zac Curtis* 22 2015 KNC A 1.63 33 1.33 0.833 2 12.5
Matt Elliott 21 2005 SBN A 2.15 32 2.16 1.052 3.7 11.8
Silvino Bracho 22 2015 MOB,VIS AA,A+ 1.73 19 1.61 0.896 1.8 13.1
Colin Poche* 23 2017 VIS,KNC A+,A 1.10 3 1.26 0.978 3.4 14.6
Gabriel Moya* 21 2016 VIS,KNC A+,A 1.87 5 1.57 0.87 2.4 11.7
Bench Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Charles Brewer 22 2010 VIS,SBN A+,A 2.71 11-8 2.46 1.092 2.1 9.2
Bryan Augenstein 21 2008 SBN,VIS A,A+ 2.73 7-5 2.75 1.098 1 6.8
Anthony Banda* 21 2015 VIS A+ 2.73 8-8 3.33 1.25 2.3 9
Henry Garcia* 23 2013 SBN A 2.13 0 2.25 0.95 1.5 9.4
Bryan Woodall 23 2010 VIS,MOB A+,AA 2.20 9 2.76 1.274 1.9 11
Ryan Doherty 22 2006 SBN A 2.28 5 2.6 1.125 2.9 11

 

Honorable Mention

Carlos Quentin (#1, 2003) launched 36 moon-shots, knocked in 100 baserunners and placed fifth in the 2008 AL MVP balloting after slashing .313 /.428 / .527 as a Diamondbacks phenom. Acquired from the White Sox in a four-player deal in December 2005, Chris B. Young punched his ticket to the Majors with 57 extra-base hits and a .532 SLG for Tucson (AAA) in the ensuing campaign. Chad Tracy composed a .335 BA in the Arizona farm system. Chris Capuano managed an ERA of 2.22 ERA and struck out 9.3 batters per nine innings while hurling for the South Bend Silver Hawks (A) in his first professional season (2000).

Batter Age Year Teams Levels POS RC140 BA HR RBI OBP SLG
Chris W. Carter* 24 2007 TUC AAA 1B 112.1 0.324 18 84 0.383 0.521
Chris Rahl 22 2006 LNR A+ CF 111.7 0.327 13 83 0.369 0.502
Jeff Cook* 24 2005 LNR A+ RF 111.7 0.314 19 89 0.366 0.530
Jake Elmore 25 2012 REN AAA SS 111.7 0.344 1 73 0.442 0.465
Carlos Quentin 21 2004 LNR,ELP A+,AA OF 108.3 0.332 21 89 0.435 0.549
Chris B. Young 22 2006 TUC AAA CF 107.5 0.276 21 77 0.363 0.532
Jason Conti* 26 2001 TUC AAA OF 107.3 0.331 9 52 0.402 0.503
Chad Tracy* 22 2002 ELP AA 3B 105.7 0.344 8 74 0.389 0.486
Chris Owings 21 2013 REN AAA SS 104.7 0.330 12 81 0.359 0.482
Daniel Palka* 23 2015 VIS A+ RF 103.6 0.280 29 90 0.352 0.532

 

Pitcher Age Year Teams Levels FIP WLSV ERA WHIP BB9 SO9
Beltran Perez 19 2001 SBN A 2.82 12-4 2.81 1.106 2 8.8
Edgar Gonzalez 19 2002 SBN,LNR A,A+ 2.86 14-8 2.64 1.160 1.9 6.8
Chris Capuano* 21 2000 SBN A 2.86 10-4 2.22 1.117 4 9.3
Billy Spottiswood 23 2008 SBN A 2.39 13 2.11 1.062 2.2 8.2
T.J. Hose 23 2009 SBN,VIS A,A+ 2.44 12 2.13 1.064 2.6 10.6
RJ Hively 24 2013 VIS,SBN A+,A 2.56 33 1.82 1.182 3.3 10.3

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family. 

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com. 

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

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