Minor-league riches

As Josh Fogg is striking out the side in Houston, I'm reading this bulletin from Altoona.

Select bits:

Curve LHP Zach Duke will start Game One of the Eastern League’s Southern Division Playoff Series against Erie on Wednesday at Blair County Ballpark. Duke (5-1, 1.58 in nine starts with Altoona) has not faced the SeaWolves this season. The 21-year old southpaw is 15-6 with a 1.46 ERA in 26 starts between Lynchburg and Altoona this season and will likely be named the Pirates’ Organizational Pitcher of the Year. RHP Ian Snell (11-7, 3.16) will start Game Two for the Curve. RHPs Bobby Bradley (5-3, 2.98), Bryan Bullington ( 12-7, 4.10), and Matt Peterson (9-6, 3.88) are slated to pitch Games Three, Four, and Five, respectively.

OF Nate McLouth is the Curve’s new record holder in hits for a single season with 163. McLouth also has a shot at the club records in runs scored (96-Adam Hyzdu), doubles (39-Hyzdu), and stolen bases (34-Chris Duffy).

They love Hyzdu in Altoona so it's pretty meaningful that McLouth is gunning for some of his records.

On the team side, the Curve have shattered several club records already: wins (84), home wins (46), wins in a month (20-June), wins vs. one club (16-Akron), hits (1249), home runs at home (61), most players with 10 HR or more (6), shutout wins (11), most HR allowed (132), strikeouts (978), and saves (46).

Akron won the EL championship last year.

OF Jorge Cortes has batted a combined .302 with a career-high 11 HR and 55 RBI in 106 games between Lynchburg and Altoona this season…3B/OF Yurendell DeCaster tied for the Olympic Baseball competition lead in HR by hitting three for The Netherlands at the Summer Games…OF Chris Duffy has missed 22 of the last 27 games due to a sore right wrist. He’s expected to return to the lineup tomorrow to tune up for the playoffs. Duffy was named the Curve’s MVP prior to Thursday’s final regular season home game…1B Brad Eldred has hit a combined .305 (143-for-469) with 37 HR and 133 RBI (both career highs) in 127 games between Lynchburg and Altoona

He can strike out all he wants if he'll deliver more than a RBI per game. Call him up. Let's see how many times he strikes out before he goes deep. We can get an office pool going.

OF Nate McLouth ranks first in the E.L. in hits (163) and runs (92), is fourth in batting (.320), tied for first in doubles (38), tied for fourth in steals (31), and ninth in on-base percentage (.382)

We have to get McLouth, Duffy, Eldred, and maybe DeCaster on the 40-man roster or they'll be lost in the Rule 5 draft.