I was in Auburn for two games last week and here are my impressions of the players I noticed.  Two days is a short time to follow a team, pro scouts follow a team for four or five days, so I could have seen players at their best or their worst.  You have been warned!

Virtually all hitters who are drafted can hit a fastball down the middle.  Major league hitters can hit off-speed pitches, can generally hit the ball to the opposite field, and can hit line drives rather than ground balls or pop-ups.  so when I look at the hitters I am looking for a line drive swing, and if a hitter goes the opposite way or hits off-speed pitches, that is a good sign.

Carlos Perez is the top prospect on the Doubledays although he had limited success in the two games I saw.  I did see one at-bat where he drilled a change-up for a hit and in general looked comfortable hitting.  In batting practice he was spraying line drives all over the field.  As we all know Perez is fast, genuinely fast, not just catcher fast.  He did tell me he used to be an outfielder but catchers legs get bigger the more they catch and this might slow Perez down a little.  In one of the games he tried to go first to third on a single to left field which was too aggressive and he was thrown out, but it was gutsy, or foolish, to try.  Perez looked great behind the plate and blocking balls, his arm looks about average to me.  I don't see any reason why he won't start 2011 in Lansing.

Marcus Knecht started game one with a long home run down the right field line, impressive hitting.  He hit the ball hard in the two games and appears to have a short compact swing.  On average Marcus hit the ball harder than any other hitter in these two games.  Knecht appears to have more of a line drive swing than a home run swing but that might come as he gets stronger.  Knecht would be average size for an outfielder, to me he looked to be around 6 feet tall and he looked wiry strong.  In the outfield Knecht showed an average right field arm and the two throws he had to make were accurate which fits with his scouting report.  He looked tentative going after one ball but I don't see any reason why he couldn't be an adequate right fielder.

Gustavo Pierre is tall with a solid frame.  In batting practice he shows a lot of power with a quick bat.  Those around the team said they could see a big improvement in Pierre's plate approach as the season has progressed.  Pierre's swing looks a little raw to me still, a lot of moving parts, but he didn't strike out in two games and did get several hits.  In the second game Pierre came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, no outs, and the winning run 90 feet away.  Pierre found a pitch to drive a deep fly ball to centrefield to score the winning run.  It is easy to see the potential in Pierre and he is still just 18 years old.  Defensively Pierre has a gun for an arm.  He made several routine plays but on one play in the hole I thought he was a little slow getting set and getting rid of the ball.  Some scouts think Pierre might end up at third base, he does have the size, the arm and the power in his bat to play there, but I imagine that move is several years away.

The Blue Jay brain trust will have an interesting decision with Pierre next spring.  Although the numbers don't really show it he has improved his plate discipline this season and probably could handle Lansing.  But if they want to go slow they could keep him in Florida.

Lance Durham is a hitter, like McQuail below, who appears to be sitting on an inside fastball.  He got one in game two, with the bases loaded, and hit a grand slam.  But other than that he didn't show much.  I don't think he can yet hit a breaking ball consistently.  Durham is short for a first baseman, under six feet, and a little chunky, so his bat is his ticket.

Matt Nuzzo played third base and he has a decent bat, a good arm but limited range.  A good player to have on your team but he is 23 years old in the NYPL.

Jonathan Jones looked good to me.  He has a good swing, decent range in centre field and he made two diving catches coming in on sinking flyballs.  Because I liked him I asked Kenny Graham about him and he was positive on him too.  I don't necessarily see a major leaguer but as a collge guy he could easily be in Lansing next season.

Steve McQuail did hit a big, game winning home run but it was off an inside fastball and for the rest of the games he didn't show much.  McQuail is a muscular outfielder who definitely tries to jack the ball out of the park.  If he gets his pitch he can do it, otherwise he can be foooled by off-speed pitches.

Andy Fermin didn't play other than one at-bat but I was able to see his batting practice.  In short he profiles like his father.  Fermin is not a big guy, he is listed as 6 feet but I don't think he is quite there.  In batting practice Fermin was hitting line drives but generally short of the outfielders.  On the year Fermin has 40 hits and 9 doubles with no triples or home runs.  Fermin belongs at second base.

Yudelmis Hernandez is a big guy but he has a long swing and an uppercut swing so its home run or bust. 

Jesse Hernandez pitched a good game against Brooklyn.  He showed a 88-89 mph fastball, a solid change-up and a slurvy type curve ball.  His command was good and he was able to hold the best hitting team in the league to 2 runs.  Hernandez is about to turn 22 so he is old for the league as a non-drafted free agent he will have to prove his worth at every level. 

Zach Outman pitched one inning in relief.  He has a 91-92 mph fastball and he threw it 90% of the time.  I saw one slider and two curves other than the fastball.  Outman has fringy command of the fastball and that is when he gets into trouble.

Tyler Powell showed a 90 mph fastball, a change and a slider.  All were average for the level.

Drew Permison pitched out of a Powell jam in the eighth and got the save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.  Permisson showed four pitches, a 91-92 fastball, a change that he didn't use much, a very good curveball and a slider.  As sam mentioned last week Permison is Jason Frasor'esque but if he can continue to mix his four pitches he should move up.

Daniel Webb is a 21 year old who has a very good fastball, 93-95 mph, complemented with a slider and a change.  Webb is one of those pitchers who will have an inning where he commands his pitches and looks like a top prospect.  The next inning his fastball is in the middle of the plate and he gives up hits and runs.  Webb could be a decent prospect if he can consistently command his pitches.  Also with that fastball, if he can command it and one other pitch, he would be an interesting reliever.  

Michael Kelly is a tall, 6'5" lefty, a 23 year old free agent.  Kelly is a classic lefty, he has a 3/4 delivery with a 87-88 mph fastball that runs in on hitters, a classic change-up that comes in on the hitters, straightens and drops, and a curve.  He has all the tools to be a LOOGY.

Dayton Marze was a 14th round pick this season and you can see why.  He has a good fastball at 91-92 and a decent slider with late break.