The Future Lies Here . . . . .

Futures Game no mere sideshow 

07/09/2005  by Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com

Sunday's event features glimpse at game's eventual stars

DETROIT -- They say there's some big game being played here on Tuesday. Frankly, that's not what I'm here for.

To me, the best part of All-Star weekend happens on Sunday. And no, I don't mean celebrity softball. MLB's current All-Stars? Not interested. I'm much more forward-thinking than that. I'm all about the future.

Which is why Sunday is the best day of the entire All-Star event. Heck, I'm even leaving town on Monday (the fact I have a work assignment to cover the Southern League All-Star Game is besides the point).

At 4 p.m. ET the best Minor League prospects in the game will take the field for the XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game. Everyone already knows how Roger Clemens pitches on a national stage, or what David Ortiz can do in a big at-bat.

But how many of you have seen Juan Morillo dial up triple-digit heat in a big-league ballpark? Zero. How many have witnessed professional baseball's home run leader, Andy LaRoche, take shots at Major League fences? Zippo.

Sure it's a temporary stage, but that's the beauty of it. Watching Albert Pujols take swings in Comerica Park? Ho-hum. We get to see that -- or in some other stadium -- 162 games a year. Watching Delmon Young take his hacks here? Now that's something special.

It's extraordinary on several fronts. Looking into the future is a skill most wish they had, but few possess. On Sunday, we all get that chance. With the amount of Futures alumni now in the Major Leagues -- 105 at last count (17 have been Major League All-Stars) -- there's no better means of prognostication. Find out who the next Pujols or Alfonso Soriano will be by tuning into this exhibition.

Tigers fans should be flocking to this game on Sunday for that reason. Justin Verlander may have gotten a glimpse of big-league life with his Major League debut last week. But that was in Cleveland. On Sunday, Detroit's faithful can see him take the mound here, hopefully something they'll see a lot of in the not-too-distant future.

But wait, there's more. It's a two-for-the-price-of-one deal for those interested in the Tigers' future. Joel Zumaya joins Verlander here, and he'll be bringing his upper-90s heater to Comerica on a full-time basis soon as well.

And it's not just for the locals. Every organization's future will be on display in proud fashion. Players who have been just names and stats from the time they were drafted or signed will be showing off their skills. And believe me, this experience will make them even hungrier to reach The Show for good. The Futures Game, complete with big-league treatment for players used to busing all over creation, serves as the ultimate carrot at the end of a stick. Hey, prospects, this is what you're working your tails off to get. We'll give you a little taste now, but you better go back to Erie or Rancho Cucamonga or Clearwater or Tacoma and work a little harder to get the rest of it.

Quoting a line from an '80s song about the need to wear sunglasses now would be appropriate. Be sure to bring them on Sunday.

Baseball America's Daily Dish - 2005 Futures
Complete Daily Dish Archive

Compiled by Kevin Goldstein, Chris Kline and Matt Meyers  July 6, 2005

Third basemen Andy LaRoche and Scott Moore have plenty in common--both played shortstop as amateurs, both are big-time power threats, and both will be playing the hot corner for the U.S. in Sunday's Futures Game in Detroit.

While on paper LaRoche is the obvious choice to start the hot corner for the Americans after having an unbelievable offensive year, Moore's season has been more about a rebirth.

The Tigers' first-round pick in 2002 out of Cypress High in Long Beach, Calif., Moore was falling off the prospect map after hitting just .240 over three seasons in the system. Detroit apparently grew tired of Moore's lack of production and packaged him with outfielder Bo Flowers and righthander Roberto Novoa for righthander Kyle Farnsworth in February.

All Moore's done since then is make it look like the Tigers gave up on him too soon.

The 21-year-old third baseman is having a career year at high Class A Daytona, hitting .286/.358/.519 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs in 283 at-bats. He's even showing some savvy on the base paths, with 15 steals--he had only five in three seasons with the Tigers.

"I don't see anything different really in his approach from last year, except maybe he's more relaxed, more mature," a veteran American League scout said. "When he was in Lakeland (in 2004), he was a little overwhelmed. You have to take into account how young he is and him playing in a pitcher's league. He didn't hit for average--he wasn't consistent in his approach--but he still hit for power. There is nothing different in his swing, but he's getting into better counts and being more selective.

"He's still the highly-touted bat he was coming out of high school, it's just taken him more time to get adjusted. If there's one thing I've seen differently between last year and now, it's improved patience. He'll still swing and miss a lot, but there is more consistency from at-bat to at-bat. Some guys don't perform miracles right from the start--and you have to remember that this year he'd just be finishing up his sophomore year in college."

LaRoche, on the other hand, has been a miracle-worker of sorts since the Dodgers signed him out of Grayson (Texas) Community College for $1 million in the 39th round of the 2003 draft. The Kansas native hit 23 homers in his first full season last year, split between low Class A Columbus and high Class A Vero Beach.

In a return trip to Vero this season, LaRoche hit .333-21-51 in 249 at-bats. That power has carried over to Double-A Jacksonville, where he's hit five homers in 65 at-bats with the Suns.

"Awesome raw power," the scout said. "He's pulls off a little too much, but his wrists are just so quick and strong. I must have seen six or seven of those home runs where he just flipped his wrists and they were gone. He's going to be a guy with huge impact potential. He strikes out a little bit, but he's shown that he's not just a pull hitter like he more or less was last year. He's hitting for average--something a lot of people never expected him to do."

Defensively, they are both works in progress. Both were drafted as shortstops and LaRoche's development is ahead of Moore's, simply because he moved to third in his first year as a pro. Moore moved to the corner last season, and readily admits that the transition has been anything but easy.

"It's been one of the toughest things I've had to do," Moore said. "It's been a real challenge. Most of my errors come from poor footwork, but I'm getting to the point where I'm getting my feet moving under me and getting better jumps, better reactions on balls."

Both might not ever be more than average defenders, but there is little doubt that either bat will play at the higher levels.

"They both have more than enough power for the position," a National League scout said. "They can roll it, and that's what's going to get them to the big leagues regardless of where they play. I think LaRoche is already average (defensively) with above-average range. Moore will take more time just based on how long he's been there. But they're both 21. There's no reason to rush either of them."

  --  CHRIS KLINE

2005 XM SATELLITE RADIO ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME ROSTER

The following players were named to the All-Star Futures Game rosters but are unable to play due to injury or promotion to the Major Leagues: U.S. - Josh Willingham (C) - Albuquerque (Fla); Ian Snell (P) - Indianapolis (Pit); Zach Duke (P) - Indianapolis (Pit); Bobby Jenks (P) - Birmingham (ChiW); Marcus Sanders (INF) - Augusta (SF); Jeff Francoeur (OF) - Mississippi (Atl)
World - Fernando Cabrera (P) - Buffalo; John Hattig (INF) - Syracuse (Tor); Felix Pie (OF) - West Tenn (ChiC); Melky Cabrera (OF) - Columbus (NYY)

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