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

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

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 Cincinnati Reds 

Adam Dunn surpassed the century mark in bases on balls eight times in his big-league career and launched at least 30 circuit clouts in nine of ten seasons from 2004 to 2013.  “Big Donkey” attained the highest single-season RC140 mark for the Redlegs during the Expansion Era (152.1) while slugging .671 between Chattanooga (AA) and Louisville (AAA) in 2001. Bernie Carbo (#1, 1965) placed runner-up in the 1970 NL Rookie of the Year race subsequent to posting a 142.1 RC140 with a .359 BA and 37 two-baggers for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA) through the prior campaign. Trois-Rivieres Aigles (AA) first-sacker Harry Spilman manufactured a .373 BA, 39 doubles and a .453 OBP in 1977. Spilman registered 810 at-bats across 12 MLB seasons while Jeff R. Jones barely secured a cup of coffee with Cincinnati after delivering a .301 BA with 42 jacks and 101 ribbies with Cedar Rapids (A) in ’82. Tommy Harper (.333/26/84) coaxed 105 walks and scored 120 runs in 1962 as a member of the San Diego (AAA) squad. Jason LaRue registered 12 years as a big-league backstop after lacing 43 doubles and notching a .350 BA in the upper minors during the 1998 campaign. Pete Rose seized 1963 NL Rookie of the Year honors following an outstanding stint with the Macon Peaches (A) in the previous season. “Charlie Hustle” tallied 136 runs scored, 31 two-base hits, 17 triples and 95 walks to complement a .330 BA. Gary Redus (.462/17/62) enjoyed a phenomenal half-season in ’78 with the Billings Mustangs (Rookie). The fleet-footed outfielder swiped 54 bags in 59 attempts, scored 112 runs and batted .333 with Indianapolis (AAA) four years later. Barry Larkin (#1, 1985) tore through the American Association (AAA) with 31 doubles and a .329 BA en route to a Hall of Fame career as the Cincinnati shortstop spanning 19 MLB seasons. The Reds’ bench is stacked with HOF Tony Perez along with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Lee May.

The majority of the pitching staff for the Reds minor league All-Stars failed to make a significant contribution at the Major League level. Billy McCool (2.48, 18 SV) received an All-Star invitation in ’66 after fashioning a 1.86 ERA as an 18-year-old prospect three years prior. Kevin Jarvis pitched in parts of 12 big-league campaigns with ten different organizations in spite of a career ERA of 6.03 and a WHIP of 1.536. Donnie Joseph appeared in 7 games for the Royals (2013-14) in the wake of a dominant 2010 as he furnished a 1.63 FIP (Reds leader, min. 50 IP), saved 24 contests and struck out 14.3 batters per 9 innings.

Starting Lineup	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Bernie Carbo*	21	1969	INA	AAA	RF	142.1	0.359	21	76	0.452	0.616
Pete Rose#	21	1962	MAC	A	2B	116.9	0.330	9	71	0.431	0.500
Jeff R. Jones	24	1982	CDR	A	LF	125.4	0.301	42	101	0.426	0.662
Adam Dunn*	21	2001	LOU,CNG	AAA,AA	DH	152.1	0.334	32	84	0.444	0.671
Gary Redus	25	1982	INA	AAA	CF	122.2	0.333	24	93	0.400	0.604
Harry Spilman*	22	1977	TRV	AA	1B	132.6	0.373	16	78	0.453	0.562
Tommy Harper	21	1962	SDG	AAA	3B	123.9	0.333	26	84	0.450	0.569
Jason LaRue	24	1998	CNG,INA	AA,AAA	C	121.3	0.350	14	87	0.413	0.581
Barry Larkin	22	1986	DEN	AAA	SS	110.9	0.329	10	51	0.373	0.525
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Jay Bruce*	20	2007	SAR,LOU	A+,AAA	CF	120.8	0.319	26	89	0.375	0.587
Tony Perez	22	1964	SDG	AAA	1B	118.9	0.309	34	107	0.374	0.597
Joey Votto*	22	2006	CNG	AA	1B	117.2	0.319	22	77	0.408	0.547
Arturo DeFreites	25	1978	INA	AAA	1B	116.3	0.327	32	101	0.373	0.620
Austin Kearns	20	2000	DAY	A	RF	115.3	0.306	27	104	0.415	0.558
Cliff Cook	24	1961	INA	AAA	3B	114.4	0.311	32	119	0.386	0.588
Keith Lockhart*	22	1987	CDR	A	3B	113.7	0.313	23	84	0.420	0.540
Lee May	22	1965	SDG	AAA	1B	113.1	0.321	34	103	0.355	0.586
Jason Williams	25	1999	CNG,INA	AA,AAA	2B	112	0.339	9	64	0.419	0.502
Bubba Smith	23	1993	WSM	A+	1B	111.4	0.301	27	81	0.374	0.585
Denis Phipps	25	2011	CAR,LOU	AA,AAA	CF	111.3	0.346	12	64	0.397	0.527
Ben Broussard*	24	2001	CNG,MUD	AA,A+	1B	110.6	0.303	28	90	0.413	0.558
Mike Frank*	24	1998	CNG,INA	AA,AAA	OF	109.7	0.329	12	56	0.378	0.517
Devin Mesoraco	22	2010	CAR,LBG	AA,A+	C	106.9	0.302	26	75	0.377	0.587
Eric Owens	24	1995	INA	AAA	2B	105.6	0.314	12	63	0.388	0.492

 

Starters	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Jim Morio*	23	1964	CDR	A	2.49	14-8	2.8	1.251	3	9.6
Seth Varner*	23	2015	DAY,DYT	A,A+	2.45	11-8	2.93	1.064	0.7	8.7
Billy McCool*	18	1963	TAM,SDG	A,AAA	2.45	9-13	1.86	1.172	3.2	9.3
Michael Willis*	21	1968	TAM	A	2.38	11-10	2.17	0.985	1.4	7.7
Kevin Jarvis	22	1992	CHL,CDR	A	2.39	6-8	3.09	1.201	2.5	8.8
Relievers	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Donnie Joseph*	22	2010	LBG,DAY	A+,A	1.63	24	2.08	1.046	3.5	14.3
Bo Donaldson	24	1999	CNG,RFD	AA,A	1.71	7-4	2.33	0.925	3.1	13
Robert Manuel	24	2008	CNG,SAR	AA,A+	1.84	6-3	1.25	0.835	1.9	10.8
Victor Garcia	20	1990	CDR	A	2.07	15	1.52	0.761	2.3	13.4
Zack Weiss	23	2015	PEN,DYT	AA,A+	2.09	30	1.99	0.902	2.1	12.8
Bench	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Jose Lopez	22	2016	DAY,DYT	A,A+	2.59	6-12	4.07	1.277	2.6	8.9
Rob Lopez	23	1986	TAM	A	2.60	12-5	1.92	1.019	1.4	5.8
Thomas Frondorf	19	1964	TAM	A	2.61	10-8	2.51	1.107	4.2	10.7
Carlos Guevara	23	2005	SAR	A+	2.10	14	2.47	1.037	2.5	11.4
Bill Dodd	21	1988	CDR	A	2.12	10	2.07	1.024	3.5	11.9
Drew Hayes	23	2011	DAY	A	2.12	22	1.35	0.933	4	13.3

 

Honorable Mention

Danny Tartabull eclipsed the century mark in RBI five times in 14 MLB seasons after producing a .310 BA and drawing 90 bases on balls during his age-18 season with the Tampa Tarpons (A) in ‘81. Fellow outfielder Kal Daniels (#1, 1982) supplied 29 doubles and a .313 BA with Vermont (AA) three years later. Nick Senzel (#1, 2016) rapped 40 two-base knocks along with a .321 BA while splitting the 2017 season between the Daytona Tortugas (A+) and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA). John Roper (8-7, 5.35) recorded 32 starts for the Reds (1993-95) subsequent to a terrific ’91 campaign with the Charleston Wheelers (A) in which he furnished a record of 14-9 with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.085 WHIP.

Batter	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	POS	RC140	BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Dave Revering*	24	1977	INA	AAA	1B	107	0.300	29	110	0.399	0.553
Nick Senzel	22	2017	DYT,PEN	A+,AA	3B	106.5	0.321	14	65	0.391	0.514
Dave Sappelt	23	2010	CAR,LOU,LBG	AA,AAA	CF	106.4	0.342	10	74	0.395	0.507
Jesse Gonder*	26	1962	SDG	AAA	C	106.4	0.342	21	116	0.390	0.538
Chris Denorfia	24	2005	LOU,CNG	AAA,AA	CF	106.3	0.317	20	87	0.391	0.526
Danny Tartabull	18	1981	TAM	A	3B	105.2	0.310	14	81	0.431	0.524
Brady Clark	24	1997	BUR	A	OF	105.1	0.325	11	63	0.423	0.490
Chris Heisey	24	2009	CAR,LOU	AA,AAA	CF	104.7	0.314	22	77	0.379	0.521
Kyle Waldrop*	22	2014	BAK,PEN	A+,AA	RF	104.2	0.338	14	67	0.385	0.516
Kal Daniels*	20	1984	VMT	AA	OF	104.1	0.313	17	62	0.418	0.525

 

Pitcher	Age	Year	Teams	Levels	FIP	WLSV	ERA	WHIP	BB9	SO9
Josh Smith	23	2011	DAY	A	2.64	14-7	2.98	1.091	2.1	10.5
Josh Harris	20	1998	BUR	A	2.65	10-12	3.05	1.191	2.3	8.6
John Roper	19	1991	CHL	A	2.66	14-9	2.27	1.085	3.2	9.1
Daniel Wolford	22	2011	DAY	A	2.16	7-1	1.47	1.235	3.1	10.2
Michael Neu	23	2001	MUD	A+	2.17	21	2.38	1.246	4.2	14.3
Kerry Hardiman	22	1970	TAM	A	2.18	6-1	1.41	0.98	2.5	9.4

 

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.