So, ATVL is ready to start the second off-season list: starting pitchers. The first thing that needs to be mentioned is that to be considered for this list, each pitcher must be eligible for the ERA title... that is, they must have as many innings pitched as team games played. The pool for this year's list is pretty thin; only 19 pitchers were even eligible.

Also, readers need to be aware of ATVL's criteria. While many feel that wins are the single best indicator of a pitcher's success, ATVL looks at ERA, innings pitched, opponent's batting average, WHIP (hits and walks per inning pitched), BB/9 (walks per 9 innings), K/9 (strikeouts per 9 innings), and, yes, wins. 

With that said, let's turn to our #10 starting pitcher, Matt Benedict, a Haymarket Senator.

Matt, a current junior at Western Carolina, was an important piece of the Senator's championship run. He finished the season 3-4, 3.41, with a 1.318 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9, and 7.7 K/9 in his 60 2/3 innings. Opponents batted .243 off him. He finished 5th in the league in innings pitched, and 9th in opponent's batting average.

In the playoffs, Benedict started the second game against heavily favored Staunton, with the Senators already up 1-0 in the three game series. He ended up earning the win, going 7 innings and allowing 7 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs (earned), and striking out 2 to send Haymarket on to face New Market in the second round.

His best start was probably his June 15 start at Winchester, in which he allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks in 6 shutout innings, adding 6 strikeouts.

In his freshman year at Western Carolina, Matt went 0-1, 5.51, with a 2.02 WHIP, 6.1 BB/9, and 7.7 K/9 in 16 1/3 innings. As a sophomore in 2009, Bendict went 0-1, 12.00, with a 2.29 WHIP, 5.6 BB/9, and 9.0 K/9 in only 24 innings. Look for Matt to break out in 2010!

As Baseball America is nearing the home stretch with their top 10 prospects lists, ATVL keeps tuning in to catch information about former Valley Leaguers.

No VBLer made the Orioles' top 10 list, but Cole McCurry (New Market 05) showed up in Will Lingo's chat (subscription required). Here's his question:

Mark (NC): Do you Cole McCurry as a prospect or organizational guy after a solid year at Delmarva which included 13 k's in a seven inning game (first game of doubleheader) ?

Will Lingo: More of an organizational guy, crafty lefthander with below-average stuff, a profile that often succeeds against lower-level hitters but runs into a brick wall at the higher levels. He's in the 86-88 mph range with a curveball and changeup.

While the answer to this question is not the "He's going to be a #1 starter in the major leagues" we were looking for, it IS true that Cole had a super season at Delmarva. While only going 6-9, Cole had an excellent 2.71 ERA, 3.0 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 in 139 2/3 innings.

LSU's Ryan Schimpf came to the Luray Wranglers late in 2008, but he ended up being a huge reason the team went on to the championship. He started hitting when he arrived, and continued straight through the playoffs. By the end of the championship series with Covington, he was one of those guys who made everything stop when he came up to hit- like a Valley League version of Albert Pujols or Barry Bonds from a few years ago. Even though he didn't have enough at-bats to qualify for ATVL's top hitters list, he received a "special recognition."

Ryan was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 2009 draft, and made his professional debut, batting 4 times in the Gulf Coast League, and playing 34 games in Auburn of the New York-Penn League. At the two stops, he hit 293/381/444 with a 17/24 BB/K ratio. He did not make the Blue Jays' top 10 prospect list, but he was mentioned, briefly, in the chat held by Nathan Rode (subscription only).

This is what went down:

Roger (Baton Rouge): Where does Ryan Schimpf fit in the top 30? Is he a future organizational player or does he have a major league ceiling?

Nathan Rode: He and [Ryan] Goins have some similarities. Schimpf can be an offensive second baseman but also showed versatility in college with the ability to play the outfield. I think he can be a solid major leaguer with that.

Any time the reports have "solid major leaguer" included, that's a good sign. I think Ryan will punish low-A pitchers in 2010, and carve a quick path to the upper levels of the minors!

Next up is a young lefthanded pitcher who would make be a finalist on the "smartest individual to ever have played in the Valley League" list: Brad Mills (Harrisonburg 05).

Brad was just named by Baseball America (subscription required) as the #8 prospect in Toronto's system, after a year in which he admirably in a tough hitter's park in Las Vegas, and made his major league debut. Although his two starts at the major league level did not go wonderfully, Brad will be a finalist on a different list this upcoming year: who will be the first pitcher called up during the year.

Here's his writeup:

Background: A 22nd-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2006, Mills returned to Arizona to complete his civil-engineering degree. He went 18 rounds higher in 2007, made it to Double-A in his first full season and reached the majors in his second. He got hammered in two big league starts, went down to Triple-A and threw eight shutout innings before spending the rest of the season on the disabled list with bruised ribs.

Strengths: Though he's far from overpowering, Mills has averaged more than a strikeout per inning as a pro via deception. His herky-jerky delivery throws hitters off, and his ability to mix his pitches keeps them off balance. He disguises his well above-average changeup with quality arm speed. He also gets outs with his solid 12-to-6 curveball. When he commands his 87-90 mph fastball, it's effective as well.

Weaknesses: Mills' below-average velocity and his tendency to pitch up in the strike zone with his high-three-quarters delivery created problems when he faced big league hitters. He's going to have to spot his fastball more precisely in the bottom of the zone to succeed in a major league rotation.

The Future: Unless he overwhelms the Jays in spring training, Mills likely will open the season back in Las Vegas. Toronto has a number of young lefthanded starter candidates, so his future with the club may lie in long relief.

Sounds a bit like a JA Happ type, doesn't he?

Just for fun, click here to see the appropriately named Facebook group "Brad Mills Will Pitch in the Bigs."

The Rule 5 draft: every team looking for the next Joakim Soria or Johan Santana...

Well, usually, the Rule 5 draft means a chance for a player that might be stuck behind other players in a talented system, or even someone that is viewed more kindly by a different front office. This is whaqt ATVL wrote about the draft last year: Players taken in the major league phase cost $50,000. If the player does not stay on the major league roster for the entire upcoming season, the player is offered back to the original owning team for half price.

Last year, Rocky Cherry (Harrisonburg 01) was selected. This year, former New Market Rebel John Raynor (04) was plucked by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Florida Marlins. Baseball America listed all the players drafted- and included this tidbit about Raynor: At least a 70 runner, Raynor fits as an extra outfielder if his defense in center is serviceable. (That number "70" comes from the 20-80 scouting scale. A 70 is another way of saying that John is really, really fast.)

So Raynor will need to stay in the major leagues (barring injury, of course) with the Pirates all season, or be offered back to the Marlins.

One of the most intriguing prospects with Valley League lineage is Collin Cowgill, a Covington Lumberjack in 2005. Drafted in the 5th round in the 2008 draft, Collin had an excellent pro debut, hitting 264/366/479 with 16 doubles, 4 triples, and 12 home runs at two levels.

Because of injury, he played in only 61 games in 2009, but still hit 277/373/445 in 220 at-bats.

In an admittedly weak Arizona Diamondback minor league system, Collin was ranked at #9 overall by BA writer Matt Forman. Here's his writeup (subscription only):

Background: Cowgill missed the entire 2007 season at Kentucky with a broken hamate bone in his left hand, and he didn't play after June 14 last season because of a hamstring injury. In between, he led the Northwest League with 11 homers in just 20 games in his 2008 pro debut, and opened his first full pro season in high Class A. The Diamondbacks considered sending him to the Arizona Fall League but kept him in instructional league instead.

Strengths: For an undersized player, Cow­gill has surprising power. He has great bat speed and takes advantage when pitchers make mistakes. One team official called Cowgill a gamer and compared him to Aaron Rowand with a better swing. Others compare him to Cody Ross. Cowgill has average speed and uses his instincts to steal bases and chase down balls in center field. His arm is solid.

Weaknesses: Already 23, Cowgill can't let injuries slow his development further. While he holds his own in center field, he ultimately projects as a right fielder. He can get overly aggressive at times and will chase pitches out of the zone, especially with two strikes.

The Future: Cowgill earned the right to open 2010 in Double-A after hitting well in his two months at Visalia. On a contender, he profiles as a fourth outfielder who can provide righthanded pop and constant energy.

Congratulations, Collin!

Well, it's taken ATVL an inordinate amount of time to get here, but we're finally arrived at the best hitting season in the 2009 Valley League season.

Suffice to say, Front Royal has gone through some struggles in the years leading up to 2009. In '09, though, the team exploded, eventually winning the #1 seed in the playoffs, and much can be laid at the feet of one of the most feared hitters in the league, Canisius's Stephen McQuail.

A current junior at Canisius, McQuail tattooed Valley League pitching to the tune of a 309/340/669 line. In 46 games and 178 at-bats, Stephen scored 41 runs, hit 14 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, drove in 42 runs, stole 6 bases in 8 attempts, and had a 7/37 BB/K ratio. He finished first in the league in home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases (119). He finished second in runs and RBI, third in OPS, and tied for 4th in doubles. He also won the home run derby at the all-star game in Woodstock (with 2 home runs against the stiff incoming wind).

Even though Front Royal lost in the first round of the playoffs against Covington, McQuail did his best in the three games: he went 4-13, with 3 runs, 7 RBI, a double, and home run against the 'Jacks. 

At Canisius as a freshman in 2008, Stephen hit 200/317/200 in only 35 at-bats. Given more regular at-bats in his sophomore year, he showed his true chops, hitting 314/370/548 in 188 at-bats, with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 42 runs, and 45 RBI in only 50 games. His BB/K ratio was 13/33.

Baseball America listed Stephen as the 5th best prospect in the league after the season, with the following writeup:

McQuail was the most prolific power hitter in the Valley this summer, leading the league in home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.669) with 31 of his 55 total hits going for extra bases. Standing nearly upright at the plate, McQuail has a smooth load and quick hands that generate explosive power. Although he is a bit pull-conscious because he doesn't stay inside the ball consistently, he showed an aptitude for driving pitches the other way when he hit two opposite-field home runs in a game against Covington. Valley managers observed above-average arm strength and solid-average speed, but he will need to improve his glovework if he is to stay at third base. But even if a move to the outfield is necessary, McQuail will keep scouts interested because of his power.

(Keep in mind that BA looks at potential, while ATVL looks at only production!)

Congratulations on your excellent season, Stephen!

(ATVL will next move to the top starting pitchers...)