Running around the minors, trying to gather info on former C’s players can be a time-consuming thing if you’re a casual Vancouver fan. As a recent convert to the ways and wonders of The Nat, the job becomes a little more easy for me, being as I only have to keep track of last year’s crop, and not the decades of players who came before them.

So what’s happening with last year’s C’s as they make their way up the Oakland ladder? Here’s the skinny:

DANNY PUTNAM: This smooth operator had a cup of coffee at The Nat in 2004 after signing on late, knocking a few over the wall, and earning himself a spot in the Kane County Cougars roster as they made their playoff run. Putnam made a strong account for himself, and this year he’s gone a step better in Advanced-A Stockton, earning himself a spot in the California League All-Star team that went down 8-0 to the Carolina League All-Stars. Though he went 0 for 3, it’s nice to be recognized as being worthy of the next level. The 5′11″ former Team America representative is hitting .299 in Stockton this season, but his 10 homeruns are likely what earned him the All-Star honor. Look for him to hit Double-A ball in Midland, Texas soon.

KURT SUZUKI: Zook has rocketed through the A’s system, leaving the injured Landon Powell far behind as the Hawaii native has won the hearts and minds of Oakland fans looking for the next big thing behind the plate. Suzuki earned a spot at spring training alongside the Major Leaguers, as did Richie Robnett, and though he didn’t set the world aflame, he grabbed a few hits and handled the big league pitching well behind the plate, even throwing out a few steal attempts in the process. So far this season, at Advanced-A Stockton, Suzuki has managed a .280 average, 8 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a trio of triples. Expect him, like Putnam, to move up a grade at the first opportunity.

JASON WINDSOR: The braces-wearing workhorse from Cal. State Fullerton’s College World Series win has always been expected to move up the Oakland system at a speedy rate, but few would have expected him to throw this well, at this level - in AA Midland, Windsor’s stats read 3 games started, 18.2 innings pitched, for an ERA of just 2.41. He’s thrown 17 K’s while surrendering just 7 walks, and has a 1-1 record, but the interesting thing about his stats is that they’re actually BETTER than his stats from Advanced-A Stockton over the earlier part of the season. There, Windsor managed a 3.58 ERA on a 2-2 record, though it should be pointed out that he racked up a very healthy 64 K’s and just 8 walks in 55 innings of work. Windsor took it easy last season, at Oakland’s request, because his college coach had him throw an ungodly amount of innings throughout the Cal State season, and in their World Series run. Windsor told me at the time that he felt healthy enough to throw, but the A’s wanted no part of that, instead assigning him to middle relief situations - and not many of those. As season 2005 began, Windsor was still being brought out of games early, but he seems to have hit a mighty stride of late, so we can expect him to get another month or so in Midland, and if his great form continues, he’ll start looking very much bound for AAA-ball. Long term projections on Windsor at the beginning of this season were that he would top out as a major league reliever. I think, considering his form of late, those projections might be understating the case, though it would be nice if he could find a few more MPH on his fastball, and there’s always going to be questions as to whether his throwing style could hurt him physically over the long haul.
Note: As if on command, Windsor has been placed on the DL at Midland.

‘DIAMOND’ DALLAS BRADEN: The kid who could - this unlikely star of the system rocketed up from Vancouver faster than anyone in the last year, earning himself a spot in Kane County for their playoff run after bamboozling hitters in low-A ball with his outrageous screwball. Braden continued that run this season, moving up to Advanced-A Stockton and racking up a record of 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA and a whopping 64 K’s on 48 innings of work. Questions as to whether he had it in him to handle long innings were answered when his inning average moved up over 7 a game, and he threw a complete game shutout just to punctuate his dominance at that level. Since his promotion to Midland, Braden’s results have been a little less impressive, but still very strong. He’s throwing more walks (23), less strikes (47), and giving up slightly more runs per game (3.02), and his win/loss is 6-2, but most anyone would agree that those numbers are still strong enough to warrant a flirtation with AAA ball.

JARED LANSFORD: According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “The A’s are close to signing second-round pick Jared Lansford, a pitcher from St. Francis High School and the son of former Oakland third baseman Carney Lansford (pictured).” Lansford was the A’s 4th round draft pick of the 2005 draft, and they took him as a pitcher, but his dad sees him more as a second baseman, so there’s been some question as to whether he’ll sign or go to college. In Oakland’s favor is the fact that his dad is a former Athletics player and very much wants his kid to sign with the organization… when he does sign with an organization, that is. It’d be nice to see Lansford suit up for Vancouver this season, and if he does, it would be even more nice to see him turn out as a second baseman, seeing as the C’s have 6 first basemen, 2 third basemen, and only two middle infielders on their roster.

Nooner today! Be there or be at work!