Farm Report: Balentien regains form

Outfielder adjusts after demotion, having hot July By JASON A. CHURCHILL SPECIAL TO THE P-I At the end of the season's first month, the Mariners called up outfielder Wladimir Balentien for a big league audition. The club was beginning what is sure to ultimately become a rebuilding process after a disastrous start to the 2008 campaign, and was looking to find out just how much its farm system had to offer. Balentien struggled between flashes of power in Seattle, hitting just .196 with 35 strikeouts in 117 plate appearances, and was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma on June 16. "He has always had some problems with the breaking ball away," one American League scout said. "Coming up through the minors, he showed raw power and a tendency for the strikeout, and that's precisely what he looked to be up here in the bigs." Balentien... [read full story]