Hey guys. I am a Twins fan first and foremost, but I have recently moved to Tucson and am trying to adopt the Dbacks as my second team. I've been to one major league game, and just got home from the Sindwinder's 6-5, ten-inning win tonight. I love the minor leagues, and I am really becoming attached to the Sidewinders especially.

I want to start a regular feature where I review the minor league system of the Diamondbacks weekly. I know some of you couldn't care less about prospects, but I love them. There are others of you who don't follow the minor leagues, but are interested. I hope you read this weekly feature and get all the information you need regarding the minor league system of the team you love.

Organization record through last Sunday: 20-22

Triple A Tucson Sidewinders

Record through last Sunday: 4-2 (45-62)

The Sidewinders are still last in the Pacific South region of the PCL, but with the winning record this week, have pulled to within 17 games of Sacramento. Tucson remains the second-worst team record-wise in the Pacific Coast League. It's amazing how far a team can fall in simply two years.

The week opened up with Tucson dropping the third game in a three game series with the Tacoma Rainers. Esmerling Vasguez took the mound on Sunday, but only made it through four and two-thirds innings giving up four runs on four hits. His record is now 1-5 and he sports a 7.11 ERA. On Monday the Sidewinders again beat Tacoma 6-1 behind a great pitching performance by Matt Torra. He went seven and two-thirds innings and only allowed one un-earned run. He is now 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA. On Tuesday Tucson beat the Iowa Cubs 5-4 behind strong pitching from Evan McLane. He went seven innings giving up only three runs but ten hits. He now sits at 4-6 with a 4.86 ERA. On Wednesday Tucson again beat Iowa, this time 10-7 behind a strong bullpen. Juan Gutierrez started the game and made it through four innings while giving up four runs on five hits. He didn't get the win, so he stands at 2-10 with a 7.28 ERA. On Thursday the Sidewinders lost in a shootout, 15-7 to the Iowa Cubs. A.J. Shappi was demolished for eight runs in three innings. He now has a 1-3 record with a 6.37 ERA. After Friday's rained out game, Tucson beat the Omaha Royals 6-5 in ten innings. Juan Cruz made the start because he is rehabbing an injury but was pulled after one inning of solid pitching. My only guess as to why is because Arizona is ready to bring him back into the major league rotation again.

On the hitting side, Jeff Salazar, Josh Whitesell, and Wilkin Castillo all had over three hits in Sunday's win. On Monday Trent Oeltjen and Jamie D'Antona both had the only multi hit games for Tucson. Oeltjen had two more hits on Tuesday, as did pitcher Evan McLane. There was an offensive explosion on Wednesday's victory. Castillo, Raines, Whitesell, Merchan, and Hammock all had two hit games. On Thursday Josh Whitesell had a huge game, going 4-5 with a home run and three RBI. Saturday's game was highlighted by Jesus Merchan, who went 3-4 with a double. Tim Rainer Jr. had only a total of five hits this week, but his average is still sitting pretty at .310.

Double A Mobile BayBears

Record through last Sunday: 4-2 (45-59)

The BayBears are now officially the worst team in the Southern League. They are at the bottom of the South Division, now 12.5 games behind leading Birmingham.

Mobile started the week by shutting out the Chattanooga Lookouts 7-0 behind a great start by Brooks Brown. He went six innings of five-hit ball to improve his record to 6-10 and his ERA to 3.63. On Tuesday the Jacksonville Suns edged out the BayBears 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Green started for Mobile and lasted four innings but gave up five runs (three earned) on seven hits. His record is now 1-1 and his ERA is 5.49. Wednesday's game was rained out, so both teams played a double header on Thursday. Mobile took the first one 4-3 behind stellar pitching by Tony Barnette. He went six innings and gave up two runs. His record is now 6-7 and his ERA is 4.18. The second half of the double header was won by the Suns. Hector Ambriz was roughed up for four runs in three innings as his ERA rose to 5.53. His record is 5-12. Friday was a 2-0 victory for the BayBears. Cesar Valdez has been excellent since his promotion and he went seven innings giving up only four hits. His ERA is 2.54 through five games, and he has a 1-1 record. On Saturday Mobile beat the Suns again 5-4 behind another start by Brooks Brown. He went seven innings and gave up four runs.

Guillermo Reyes went 2-3 with a triple on Sunday to bring his average to .232. Bryan Bryne has been great this year for Mobile. He went 3-5 with a double on Monday to raise his average to .319. Both Gerardo Parra and Javier Brito homered in Tuesday's loss. Pitcher Hector Ambriz had the only extra base hit for Mobile on Thursday. On Friday Rusty Ryal went 2-3 with two doubles. Ryal also went 3-4 on Saturday. John Hester also had a good game on Saturday, going 3-4 with a double.

High A Visalia Oaks

Record through last Sunday: 1-5 (50-55)

Visalia is also having some tough luck in the California League. They are last place in their northern division, eleven games behind San Jose.

Bryan Augenstein had a great start on Sunday, going six and a third innings while giving up only three runs. The Visalia defense was horrible though, committing three errors which led to six unearned runs, which led to a loss for Augenstein. He is now 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA. 22 year-old Eddie Romero had two starts this week; one on Monday and one on Saturday. He combined for 8.1 innings and gave up eight runs (four earned) on 13 hits. His ERA is now 4.80 and after those two losses he is now 5-11. Chad Beck made one start this week on Tuesday. He only lasted 2.2 innings while giving up four runs on seven hits. His ERA is now 4.56 while his record is 2-3. Wes Roemer took the loss on Wednesday, going 6.1 innings and giving up six runs on eight hits. His record is 6-8 while his ERA is 4.51. Barry Enright earned the only win for Visalia this week. He went a solid six innings giving up only one run on Friday. His ERA is 4.75, but his record is 8-6.

Evan Frey had a decent week this week, but really heated up towards the end of it. He combined to go 7-25 through last Sunday. Mark Hallberg was bad this week, hitting 5-22. Pedro Ciriarco was great this week, going 12-26 with a double and a home run. Konrad Schmidt is raking High A pitching after being called up from South Bend. This week Schimidt went 9-19 with two doubles. Steve Mena only appeared in three games this week, but went 0-9 anyway. Peter Clifford went 6-22 this week as he had two dingers and three RBI.

Single A South Bend Silver Hawks

Record through last Sunday: 5-1 (56-48)

The Silver Hawks are leading their division in the second half standings, but are 2.5 games beind Lansing for the overall division lead. They made a strong push this week behind some excellent pitching.

Jarrod Parker made two starts this week; on Sunday and Friday. He combined for 11 innings pitched, seven runs (six earned), and ten hits. His ERA is now 4.04 and his record is 9-5. Dallas Buck also made two strong starts this week; one on Monday and one on Saturday. He combined for 12 innings pitching, four runs, and eleven hits. He had made eight starts this year and is 1-3 with a 3.76 ERA. Joshua Collmenter had an outstanding start on Wednesday, throwing seven innings and allowing only five hits. With the win he improves to 11-5 and has a 2.99 ERA to boot. On Thursday Tom Layne took the hill and pitched six innigns giving up only one run (unearned), and five hits. He didn't get the win, but improved his ERA to 2.61 and his record sits at 4-2.

Matthew Oxendine went 8-19 this week with two doubles. Sean Coughlin was awful this week, going 2-20. Colin Cowgill went 5-22 this week and his average is now at .207 after being called up from Yakima recently. Taylor Harbin, Joseph Batton, and Chance Wheeless all went deep this week. Nobody that is active on the South Bend roster is currently hitting over .300. It is amazing the discrepency between outstanding pitching and horrible batting and fielding. The South Bend starters have really shouldered this team to where it is in the standings.

Sorry chaps, but I just don't have it in me to do the other three teams tonight. My apolgizes to the big Yakima Bears, Missoula Osprey, and DSL Diamondbacks fans out there.

I really would like some feedback on this. Again, I hope it becomes a regular feature, but it was probably extremely stupid to start right now. I leave for a two-week vacation on Sunday night, and will be unavailable to do this next week. I hope to resume on the 16th of August, but I will be stopping by here if time permits before then.

Normally, I would take any questions anyone might have regarding any player in any team in the Arizona organizaiton. Feel free to ask, but I might not be available to answer this particular week. In the future, if Mr. McLennan permits, I will try to answer every question.

I hope this becomes a regular feature at the Arizona Snakepit!