Starting pitching has been the major downfall of the Salt Lake Stingers this season. Inconsistency has led them to a 20-33 record- good for dead last in the PCL. The rotation didn't look great on paper going into the season, but it features a couple of interesting prospects. Hard-throwing Bobby Jenks is widely considered one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball, but he only managed three sub-par starts before going down with an arm injury. His season is likely over.

The other big name in Salt Lake is Chris Bootcheck, who was once considered one of the system's brightest stars. The sheen seems to have worn off, and Bootcheck has struggled to 3-4 record this season, with a 6.44 ERA. He's only struck out 21 batters in 50.1 innings, while walking 17. This is the right-hander's second go-around in AAA, so time is running out for him to put it all together.

Other starters like Steve Green (6.30 ERA, 30/35 K/BB), Jason Middlebrook (7.35 ERA, 44/17 K/BB), and Delvin James (5.03 ERA in four starts) have also struggled.

AA Arkansas is where things start to get interesting. The rotation is anchored by the Angel's number one arm, right-hander Ervin Santana. Santana was shut down during spring training due to arm troubles, but has recently made an impressive return to action. He's 2-0 in four starts with 2.89 ERA. The most impressive numbers, however, are his strikeout totals- Santana has fanned 24 hitters in his first 18.2 innings for a K/9 of 11.57. If this guy can stay healthy, he'll be a star. I would expect to see him make a few spot-starts as soon as next season.

Santana isn't the only one opening eyes in Arkansas, as left-handers Jake Woods and Eric Cyr have also been very good. Woods (drafted 3rd round, 2001) has been nothing short of dominant, as he has gone 6-2 with a 2.41 ERA. His WHIP is very impressive at 1.09 over 71 innings- good for third in the league. Cyr is a bit of a re-tread from the San Diego system (he even made 5 appearances for the Padres in 2002), who signed as a free agent before last season. He seems to be re-vitalizing his career, as he has put up a 2.74 ERA with a 41/12 K/BB in 8 starts. The trio should make for a very solid rotation in Salt Lake next season.

The Angel's first-round pick in 2002- RHP Joe Saunders- anchors a fine staff at High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Saunders has been solid with a 3.84 ERA and 42/16 K/BB ratio in 11 starts. He has somewhat been over-shadowed by the season of RHP Steven Shell (drafted 3rd round, 2001). Shell has struck out hitters at the incredible clip of 10.86 per 9 IP. Daniel Davidson has also put up decent numbers thus far (4.08 ERA, 45/17 K/BB) in 10 starts.

Finally, we have yet another solid rotation in Low-A Cedar Rapids. The star here is right-hander Kevin Jespen (drafted 2nd round, 2002), who has collected a 2.70 ERA and 59 punch-outs in 60 innings. Fellow righty Michel Simard (drafted 25th round, 2002) has also been very strong this season, with 3.14 ERA and a 62/16 K/BB in 58 IP. Abel Moreno (4.11 ERA, 55/12 K/BB) and lefty Nic Touchstone (4.45 ERA, 34/16 K/BB) have been almost as good.

Top-Five Prospects- Starting Pitchers:

1. Ervin Santana (AA)
   
2. Bobby Jenks (AAA)
   
3. Joe Saunders (A)
   
4. Jake Woods (AA)
   
5. Steven Shell (A)