After only twelve games it is hard to make many assumptions or judgments as to the fate of the 2010 San Diego Padres’ farm teams. One thing I can say is that at this early point in the season the pitchers are well ahead of the hitters. That said, here is a look at some positives, negatives, and other observations twelve games into the season.

Portland Beavers (5-7); 3rd place (1 GB)

Positives- Batting: Craig Cooper didn’t even make the opening day lineup. Since then has hit .375/.405/.650 while leading the team in RBI (10) and 2nd in RS (7). Too bad he is a 1B… Denorfria and Mike Baxter have also gotten off to hot starts each hitting over .370…Durango has been on base 16 times this season and has 9 SB.

Pitching: Carrillo (9.2 IP, 0.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) and Inman (10 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP 9 K) are beginning to put themselves back on the prospect map while anchoring the rotation…The Beavers have 4 relievers Frieri, Webb, Worrell, and Burke each with WHIP’s under 1.00, while all having at least an 8 K/9 IP average.

Negatives- Offense: Lance Zawadzki was/is competing for a job in SD has only hit .205/.286/.227 thus far with 3 E and 15 K (44 AB). ..Cunningham and Durango have not been terrible but have not come close to the hype they deservedly received during ST. Both are hitting around .260 with a .300 OBP...Barfield was only 3-18 before being put on the DL.

Pitching: No real negatives outside of the ERAs of Leblanc (7.20) and Russel (11.57). Of course both have come to SD and been lights out.

Notes: The team is sorely missing Antonelli, as the 2B spot has not produced much of anything this year. 8 of the 12 games have been decided by the bullpen (4-4), Beavers are also 2-4 in games decided by 1 run.

San Antonio Missions (5-7); 3rd place (2 GB)

Positives- Batting: Catcher Luis Martinez is picking up where he left off hitting .419/.486/.645 in the Texas League…Former top prospect Cedric Hunter is rebounding from an off year nicely hitting .317/.348/.439

Pitching: #1 Prospect Simon Castro is showing his #1 status going 1-0 0.82 ERA, 11 IP, 10 k, 0.73 WHIP… Buschmann (12 IP, 17 K, 0.73 ERA) and Hefner (15 IP, 14 K, 1.20 ERA) have also been spectacular to begin the year…The pen behind Italiano, DeMark, Oland, Gomes, and Scribner has been fantastic.

Negatives- Batting: Team has not scored more than 4 runs in a game in a week, losing 3 straight after scoring only 1 run in each game. The offense is filled with top prospects but none of them have really produced. Outside of Martinez no Mission has an OPS over .800. Collectively as a team they have only hit 5 HR, 2 3B, and 19 2B. James Darnell only has 1 RBI through 12 games (from a solo HR). Matt Clark (.536 OPS) and Sawyer Carroll (.551 OPS) have anchored the offensive struggles.

Pitching: Wynn Pelzer is essentially the only struggling pitcher 11 R in 5.2 IP while allowing nearly 2.5 runners per inning is not helping one of the top pitching prospects…Aaron Poreda has yet to find his groove walking 6 in 6 IP (3 K). In the field neither Darnell (3 E) or Forsythe (3 E) have been extremely sharp at their position.

Notes: Not much can be said for this Storm team that isnt showing with stats. The team is built around the power and strength of the offense (Forsythe, Darnell, Clark, Carroll, Kulbacki) and the pen (see above). The pitching, for the most part, is doing their job, but the offense needs to catch up. Missions rank last in SB with 2 (both by Hunter) outside of Hunter only Forsythe has even attempted a SB this year. The starting staff could use McBryde and Luebke back to give them a boost.

Lake Elsinore (6-6); Tied for 1st

Positives: Cumberland (.326/.383/.512) and Robertson (.395/.436/.605) have paced the offense. In addition they have 8 of the teams 11 SB. They are also #1 and 2 in RS (with 10 and 9) and #2 and 3 in RBI (with 9 and 6)…After a horrible start Vince Belnome has gone 9-18, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RS, 7 RBI ib his last 4 games, and is now leading the club with 10 RBI…Cole FIguroa has also done well hitting .295/.380/.341.

Pitching: Jorge Reyes has been excellent (1-0, 3.38 ERA) but unfortuantely is the only starter with an ERA under 4.5…Brad Brach already has 5 SV this year (5 IP, 1 ER, 6 K)…Aaron Breit is leading the team in wins (2) as a reliever (8 IP, 1.13 ERA)…It hasnt shown up yet but getting a healthy Jackson Quezada back will be a huge boost for the team.

Negatives: Batting- How much longer do we have to suffer through Carvajal. Carvajal is 3-34, 0 extra base hits and 0 BB. Thats a grand OPS of .176. We’ve had to sit through this for years now and I dont know how much longer the front office can take before he is let go…Despite collecting 5 hits in his last 3 games, Dykstra is still only hitting .200 and 2nd on the team in K’s (10).

Pitching: Bass, Schmidt, Davis, and Fetter have all gotten off to tough starts. Outside of Bass each of the other 3 starters are averaging more than 5 BB/9 IP…In the field Cumberland has been strong the past few games but still has 5 errors on the season. Hopefully we see an improvement soon, or we might see the move to 2nd sooner rather than later.  Figueroa was a SS in college and played short after Cumberland went down last year.

Notes: The team is 12-12 in SB attempts. The offense has not been bad, but will be a lot better when #2 prospect JAFF Decker comes off the DL. Replace Carvajal and his .176 OPS with the guy that led the Tin Caps in nearly every offensive category last year and SHOULD have been MWL MVP and the team improves dramatically. Decker should come off the DL and appear in a game within the next few days.

Fort Wayne Tin Caps (6-6); 4th Place (5 GB)

Positives: Batting: Nate Freiman has taken over 1B hitting .391/.431//652 while leading the club with 3 HR, 9 RBI, and 8 RS…Olabasi and Benedict are each hitting over .360 in limited playing time (19 AB). ..Galvez leads the team with 7 BB and 4 SB (0 CS).

Pitching: 2nd round pick Jerry Sullivan might have been unnoticed because of the picks before (Tate) and after (Williams, Sampson) him but has pitched extremely well thus far going 1-0, 3.68 ERA, 19 K in 14.2 IP… Outside of Dexter Carter no starter has an ERA above 3.68…Rob Musrave has been the stopper for the Fort Wayne pen (4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K). Musgrave has been promoted to LE.

Negatives: The offense has the talent to score 10+ runs a game but hasnt. Williams, Rincon, Liriano and Davis are all hitting at 200 or below. Tin Caps have struck out 104 times in 12 game.  The anchors of the staff, Galvez, Valdez, Liriano, Williams, Rincon, and Davis are all averaging a K a game.

Pitching: For every good thing the rotation has done the pen has given it right back. Rafael Arias has the stuff to be the next Alex Lara or Jackson Quzada (maybe Simon Castro) but right now his 10.38 ERA and 6 BB in 4.1 IP is not doing the job as the closer. The bullpen has pitched 45 innings through the first 12 G… Defensively, to RIncon’s credit he has only committed 2 errors this season, unfortunately the person next to him (Galvez) has committed 8 errors in 12 G. We knew his defense was a work in progress but right now Tin Caps are hoping for some improvement.

Notes: The Tin Caps have an amazingly talented offense that just hasnt produced yet. Everett Williams has battled a sinus infection, so maybe now that it is starting to clear up we will see some improvement (reached base safely 7 times in last 3 G including being a part of 2 walk off wins in a row). Tin Caps can also use some help in the back of the bullpen. With all the “closers” from Eugene’s pen last year going into the rotation it might be a free for all to see who can lock up the 8th and 9th inning roles. Tin Caps have blown 3 saves in the last 3 games.