Down on the Farm : All-Star Edition

Before we go into today's article, we need to announce a few changes and updates to the site. First off, the scheduling format has undergone a face-lift. The new format will be two bookend posts on Monday and Friday. Monday will alternate between fantasy sports and national interest and Friday will continue to be the Royals' farm report. Additionally, while Wednesday's post has been "eliminated", a third "ghost" post will appear periodically as news and events permit. These ghost-posts will spotlight major events such as breaking news, drafts, or anything else especially of note. Thanks for your patience. Now, on to the important stuff!

The buzz around the MLB, and especially surrounding Kansas City, for the past year has centered around the site of the 2012 All-Star game. With the recent renovations to the "K", Kansas City believed itself to be a player in the race for the All-Star game. This past week, commissioner Bud Selig reiterated those sentiments by awarding the home of jazz and barbecue with their first All-Star game in 37 years.

Aside from this event carrying enormous economic rewards (an estimated 70 million dollar boom), a very quiet underlying factor seems present; Dayton Moore's plan from the "get-go" has been to begin competing in 2012 with home-grown talent, and to be fully "organic" by 2014.

What does this mean? Well, it's supposed to mean his draft selections are expected to begin blossoming into the Majors within the next calender year. The first wave of this talent should include names like Moustakas, Colon, Hardy, Robinson, Pina, Coleman, Montgomery, Crow and Dwyer. Guys like Eric Hosmer, Johnny Giavotella, John Lamb, and Brett Eibner are supposed to become the second wave.

So, with Dayton's plan coinciding with Kansas City playing host to the Major League All-Star game, an interesting possibility arises. Could one of these young names represent the Royals as part of the American League team in 2012? A long-shot? Sure. But, Possible? Absolutely! Remember that Evan Longoria kid coming up as a rookie and taking the league by storm? Also, remember he accomplished this feat in the most difficult division in baseball?

If you've followed Beer League's farm reports each Friday, you've probably recognized a few players (or more) taking full advantage of their opportunities and mashing in the Minors. Guess who else has recognized this? The rest of the Minor Leagues. Kansas City had fifteen minor leaguers selected to All-Star teams at three different levels. Beer League has followed or covered eleven of the fifteen. Who are they?

*indicates a player on Beer League's top 10 prospects list

AA

*3B Mike Moustakas= .344 17(2B) 15(HR) 57(RBI) 20BB-30K

-As one of the youngest players in the Texas League (21), Mike ranks in the top 3 of most offensive categories.

CF Derrick Robinson= .299 10(2B) 6(3B) 24(RBI) 28(SB) 28BB-47K

-The speedy, athletic center fielder continues to have success with the stick. Anyone catch his web gem on ESPN?

2B Johnny Giavotella= .273 14(2B) 3(3B) 19(RBI) 8(SB) 30BB-34K

-The power is still not showing up this season, but fear not, the pop is present (somewhere). Everything else looks on par as he continues to collect hitting stats.

1B Clint Robinson= .285(AVG) 24(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 46(RBI) 31BB-43K

-The only drawback on Clint is his age (1985).

OF Paulo Orlando= .293(AVG) 8(2B) 4(3B) 2(HR) 20(RBI) 9BB-26K

-Athletic Brazilian seems to progress each year with the stick.

OF Tim Smith= .301(AVG) 8(2B) 5(HR) 22(RBI) 17BB-15K

SP Edgar Osuna= 6-2 75(IP) 54(K) 2.76(ERA) 1.11(WHIP)

-Another successful Rule 5 draft pick for Dayton Moore?

*SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 50(IP) 55(K) 1.98(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)

-After a stint on the DL, he's back and ready to blow away more hitters.

SP Mario Santiago= 5-5 69(IP) 37(K) 2.33(ERA) 1.21(ERA)

A+

*1B Eric Hosmer= .352 23(2B) 5(3B) 3(HR) 40(RBI) 9(SB) 28BB-26K

-When he finally realizes his power, watch out for Hosmer. He will lack nothing.

C Salvador Perez= .262 11(2B) 1(3B) 3(HR) 22(RBI) 1(SB) 9BB-17K

SP Alex Caldera= 6-4 74(IP) 71(K) 3.25(ERA) 1.27(WHIP)

SP Christopher Dwyer= 3-3 64(IP) 64(K) 3.22(ERA) 1.29(WHIP)

A-

*C William Myers= .290 16(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 8(SB) 39BB-50K

-Hello Brian McCann Jr.

SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 61(IP) 65(K) 3.08(ERA) 0.88(WHIP)

Totals

C= 2

1B= 2

2B= 1

3B= 1

OF= 3

P= 6

It's important to keep in mind that players such as Dan Duffy, John Lamb, and Manny Pina did not get selected due to three different reasons: Duffy hasn't played yet this year, Lamb has played at two different levels, and Pina has been injured the past few weeks. All three players would have been selected had these circumstances been different.

So, could a perfect storm erupt? Could Moustakas become the next Longoria? Only time will tell, but if this year's performance is any indication, "Moose" looks to be destined for a hellacious hitting career.

Let's hope he can get it going early enough to represent the boys in blue on the American League team in 2012.