2008 Scouting Report

South Bend Silver Hawks

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics on this page are through the end of the 2008 season.

Season Summary

• Second Half: 43-27, .614 (1st place, 5.0 ahead; Division Champion & Playoff qualifier)
• First Half: 33-36, .478 (4th place, 5.5 behind)
• Pitching: 3.49, 76-63, 37 saves, 28 holds, 4 complete games, 1018 stikeouts
• Hitting: .249, 619 runs, 70 HR, 58 steals (58% success)

• Position Players used: 21
• Pitchers used: 22
• Pitchers per game: 3.00

Leading Players

• Best Player on the Team: Starting Pitcher Jarrod Parker

• Best Starting Pitcher: Bryan Augenstein (2.16, 5-1, 69 strikeouts)
• Bullpen Stopper: Billy Spottiswood (2.11, 5-5, 13 saves, 1 hold, 58 strikeouts)
• Strikeout Pitchers: Jordan Norberto, Clay Zavada, Evan Scribner
• Control Pitchers: Jarrod Parker, Christian Beltre, Bryan Augenstein, Billy Spottiswood, Clay Zavada, Evan Scribner, Jeff Dietz

• Best Hitter: Evan Frey (.327, 0 HR, 29 RBI; 54 runs scored, 20 steals)
• Home Run Leader: Sean Coughlin (15)
• High Batting Average: Evan Frey (.327)
• High On Base Percentage: Michael Mee (.406), Evan Frey (.401)
• High Slugging Percentage: none
• Notable Baserunners: Evan Frey
• Notable Batting Eye: Mike Mee, Evan Frey

May Profile

So far, it's been a bit too much like my pre-season prediction, though Evan Frey and Michael Mee have usurped the role I'd assigned to Clayton Connor. Jarrod Parker's probably the real deal, and Taylor Harbin still looks interesting. Matt Oxedine's done well. The pitching staff shows some promise, but no depth. The South Bend offense is a disaster.

Outfielder Evan Frey's probably been the MWL's most exciting player, so far; he's a line drive hitter with excellent speed. First baseman Michael Mee draws walks and hits singles; second baseman Taylor Harbin's a bit of a power source who swings at everything (I'd call that a pair of role reversals). 2B (DH?) Matt Oxendine's also playing well, and OF Aaron Hanke's skill mix is interesting. There's not much else, this is a team which basically doesn't hit.

Reliever Chad Beck's been this team's best pitcher, so far. Starters Bryan Augenstein, Christian Beltre, and Jarrod Parker would have winning records if their colleagues would just score some runs. Billy Spottiswood's probably the best of the rest; he's pretty much your league-average relief pitcher, which is a respectable accomplishment.

Pre-Season Profile

Manager Mark Haley's got his work cut out for him, I'm afraid. It might be Clayton Conner's show in South Bend this summer, and I expect Taylor Harbin to be interesting. Pitcher/first round draft choice Jarrod Parker has no professional track record, but (of course) shows a lot of promise. And perhaps those other pitchers--whose detail breakouts generally look better than their triple crown stats--will work things out and surprise everyone. There's some talent on this team, but not a lot of depth. I think it's gonna be a long summer.

Manager

Mark Haley's teams have been terrible on the basepaths. Except for that, and a slight tendency to bunt, he's a fairly conventional manager.

First Round Draft Selections

• none
  • Jarrod Parker, 2007 (9th selection) joined the team a couple days into the season.

Team Age Information

• Average Team Age: 22.5
• Pitchers: 22.4
• Hitters: 22.6

• Oldest Player on the Team: Matt Oxendine (10/13/1983)
• Youngest Player on the Team: Jordan Norberto (12/8/1986)

The average player in the Midwest League this season is 21.9 years old. This information is based on opening day rosters as published on MILB.com and will not be updated.

Where they played last season

This summary is based on the team's opening day roster and will not be revised to reflect roster changes.

This summer's South Bend squad was split about equally between Yakima and Missoula in 2007.

Team         League          W/L     Place    Hitters Pitchers
                                    (Teams)
Visalia      California (A+) 77/63   2(10)       0       0
South Bend   Midwest (A)     68/70   9(14)       3       3
Yakima       Northwest (A-)  33/43   8(8)        7       4
Missoula     Pioneer (R+)    27/49   8(8)        5       6

There was only light movement in the Diamondbacks system last summer; four players played for two teams and are counted twice in this table. Everyone beginning the season with the Hawks was a D'Backs farmhand last year.