Empire State Braves Prospects: 8/30/11

As the 2011 minor league season enters it's final week, the Empire Staters offered some mixed results over the past seven days. While next week should bring the final regular update, I will plan on doing a 'Season Review' for each player shortly after that last post. But let's enjoy the few games that remain! Here's how the group performed over the past week (8/23-8/29)...

Courtesy: milb.com

Anthony Varvaro, RHP (Triple A - Gwinnett)
While Varvaro tends to be a near-lock for two appearances each week, the right-hander saw time in just one game over the past seven days. The reasoning could be game situational, but it's also possible that the team is keeping his appearances/innings down in preparation for an end of the season call up to Atlanta. The parent team is somewhat weak(er) from the right side of the pen, so Varvaro could serve as a valuable addition to that group come September.

Week: 1 G (0-0), 2 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 0 H, 2 K, 1 BB
Season (MiLB): 37 G (2-7), 1 SV, 58 IP, 2.79 ERA, 68 K, 34 BB
Season (MLB):7 G (0-0), 9 IP, 3.00 ERA, 16 K, 6 BB

Chris Cody, LHP (Double A - Mississippi)
Cody made one start this past week and it was likely the worst of his season. He surrendered his fourth home run of the season, giving him an unhealthy 1.2 HR/9 on the year. He continues to display solid control (2.1 BB/9) but has low strikeout rates (5.4 K/9). Mississippi's regular season ends September 5th, so he'll likely make just one more start for the M-Braves before then.

This Week: 1 G (0-1), 6 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 HR, 3 K, 2 BB
Season: 5 G (2-1), 30 IP, 3.60 ERA, 18 K, 7 BB

Dan Jurik, RHP (Low A - Rome)
The Vestal, NY-native was tabbed to make one start this past week and again suggested that he may be better suited out of the bullpen. His K/BB figures were solid enough and he made it into the seventh inning, but he was simply hit way too hard. Rome season's also ends on September 5th, so it will be interesting to see how Jurik is used over the last week of the season. He's made two consecutive starts and would be in line to make one more before the season ends, if he continues in that role.

This Week: 1 G (0-0), 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 4 K, 1 BB
Season (Danville, Rome & Lynchburg): 29 G (2-3), 2 SV, 73.2 IP, 3.54 ERA, 58 K, 25 BB

Cory Brownsten, C (Low A - Rome)
Brownsten remains on the DL with a broken thumb. With Rome's season ending in just one week, it would be reasonable to assume that the Niagara Falls-native's 2011 is complete.

This Week: DL
Season (Rome and Lynchburg): 13 G, .163/.234/.209, 0 HR, 0 RBI

Dave Filak, RHP (Rookie - Danville)
Filak fit in two starts this past week and put up one of the weirdest combined stat lines you will see for a long time. Perhaps serving as a healthy example of why earned vs. unearned runs is all but worthless, the former SUNY Oneonta Red Dragon was tagged for just one earned run over his two starts, but also allowed an additional seven unearned runs. Those numbers were enough to give him the loss in both games. Danville's regular season ends August 30th (Tuesday), but the team made the Appalachian League playoffs, so there may still be more to see of Filak this year.

This Week: 2 G (0-2), 6.2 IP, 8 R (1 ER), 8 H, 3 K, 5 BB
Season (Danville and Rome): 24 G (3-11), 104 IP, 6.14 ERA, 79 K, 52 BB