HawkerRob has a knack for digging up the good info, and he’s managed the scoop on the recently released Stockton Ports roster for the coming season.

Surprises:

* Frank Martinez (left) still has a job. Not that he doesn’t deserve one after last season (he kinda destroyed Midwest League pitching), but the last time we saw him in V-Town he was the epitome of ’soon to be released’. It’s tough to even imagine him ripping through the system after his time here, but it just goes ta show ya.

* Javier Herrera drops a few levels to rehab his recently repaired arm. If Herrera hadn’t had Tommy john surgery, you’d have to think he’d have been first in line to take the major league outfield spot that Travis Buck just snared, but the A’s do like their prospects to dominate, so perhaps this is the best spot for him right now.

* Nick Blasi, still going around. I really liked Blasi’s game when he was in town in 2004, mostly because I’ve a soft spot for a good eye. But Blasi didn’t progress as fast as he would have liked over the last two seasons, getting shunted back behind higher level prospects, despite some decent results. But now, with Blasi moving up to Stockton, he’s a good start away from a AA spot and a resuscitated career.

* Lloyd Turner - STILL at the A-ball level? This is his 6th season now in Single-A ball, after having been drafted in 2002 in the 16th round. He hit .301 with Vancouver in 2003 (and .256 in 2002), and after a .292 season in high-A in 2004, and a similarly decent season there in 2005, he’ll really need to move up to AA fast in 2007 to ensure he won’t get cut when the draftees arrive.

* Leonard Landeros, another multi-year single-A stalwart, will also want to get to AA fast. This will be his 6th season in A-ball, after pitching to a 6-1, 3.28 record for Vancouver in 2002, and a slightly less helpful 0-2, 9.64 season in 2003.

For the full roster (there’s likely more to be announced soon), go to the Ports website.