DISCLAIMER: The blog you are about to read is pretty much true. Some exaggeration has been inserted for alleged humor. The DEBUTS are factual, however. I may occasionally insert my own commentary but they are not exaggerated.

So, the other day my husband asked me “Why do you waste so much time on these debuts?” He was confused and perplexed. Or perplexed and confused. And I could sort of understand his viewpoint. Let me backtrack here with a little bit of history.

Back in the paleolithic era, I had the world’s best job at the awesome and for-the-most-part defunct USA Today Baseball Weekly (I say “for the most part defunct” because most of the primary baseball stories written by amazing writers like Paul White run in the pages of the USA Today daily sports section now, while the weekly is more a football/baseball conglomerate for the avid fantasy buffs and a vehicle for the frequent “special sections”). I cannot keep count of how many times people tell me “I miss Baseball Weekly.” So do I. So do I.

Among my many responsibilities as I rose through the ranks to Senior Writer/Minor League Editor was to write the weekly Major League Debut page. When I took it over, it was really barebones — basic stats and the debut. I expanded it to include as many cool notes of interest as I could within the given limitations of page space (you remember print media, right? We had space limitations).

But over the years, that space limitation grew more and more. By the time I reached my “last stand” there, space for debuts would be slashed more and more, because we needed to make room for the classified ads (because, honestly, what mattered more to our readers? Major League Debuts or the availability of Russian mail-order brides? The financial sheets said nyet to the debuts.) So debuts that had been written, as well as those that continued to occur, would be pushed back further and further based on space. I think once they ran into December. My memory may be exaggerating that. But not by much.

I saw the writing on the wall. It was in Cyrillic. And so when I was wooed by MLB.com to come over there to the internet (where there were, or so I thought, no space limitations and no Russian mail-order bride ads) and I realized that the future of Minor League coverage at Sports Weekly was probably going to be limited even more as time went on (and hey, I understood it, even if I didn’t necessarily agree with it), I moved on after a really awesome and fabulous 14 years (okay, an awesome and fabulous 13 years and a kind of crappy one last year).

Before too long, I was able to convince the powers that be at MLB.com to let me create a similar weekly column where I could introduce our readers to the guys, from top prospects to journeymen, making their big league debuts and spotlight them on a weekly basis — so was born my MLB.com “Moving On Up” column which lasted until I left the site in March 2010.

But when I left MLB.com, somewhat to my surprise, no one picked up the reins of what I thought was a valuable and unique column.

So I simply continued to follow along with the debuts independently in my own blog, because it had become not just a habit but one I truly believe it — I can’t tell you how many guys I run across, guys who had a brief cup of coffee in the big leagues, who tell me they still have that tiny little clip or bookmark where their Major League Debut writeup was documented.

To me, it’s all part of the big picture: Every player matters to me. I don’t care if he was the first player taken in a given draft and handed a gazillion-dollar bonus or the kid who made the team out of an open tryout camp. In fact, the latter guys tend to be the ones whose debuts I enjoy even more.

So in way too many words — despite the fact that this is just MY blog, it’s not part of a huge entity such as USA Today or MLB.com, it’s just my little Diamonds in the Rough column — THIS is why I continue to devote the time and energy to this project.

If you read it — if you care — it would mean the world to me if you’d go over to my Facebook page, “Like” it and post that YES you read this column and YES you give a damn about the guys making their debuts.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queen-of-Diamonds/120015321361528

And now, if you’ve read this far, the debuts of the 10 players who made it to the show this week.

Thankyouverymuch. Or, большое спасибо

(P.S.: There will be just one more “Diamonds in the Rough” column this season, which will run on Thursday, Sept. 29, the day after the regular season ends. And the day after that? Look for a VERY BIG announcement in this blog!)

CHAD BECK
RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-4/245 BORN: Jan. 17, 1985
ACQUIRED: Via trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks for IF David Eckstein August 2008
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Las Vegas Sept. 6 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 13 in an 18-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox: The last of six pitchers, he threw just one pitch to complete one-third of an inning and the game.
NOTES: Originally drafted by the Dbacks in the 14th round of 2006 out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the same school as his Las Vegas and now Toronto bullpen-mate Danny Farquhar, Beck combined between three stops this season for a 9-8 record, 4.50 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 142 innings. He posted a 1.69 ERA in 16 starts at Dunedin before moving up to Double-A New Hampshire, where he had a 3.69 ERA, and finished up with a handful of starts at Vegas. In 2010 he was 3-6 with a 3.72 ERA at Advanced A Dunedin in 41 games, 11 of them starts.

RUSS CANZLER
3B, Tampa Bay Rays
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-2/215 BORN: April 11, 1986
ACQUIRED: Signed as a minor league free agent in November 2010
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Durham Sept. 10 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 15 in a 9-2 win against the Boston Red Sox: Pinch-hitting for Johnny Damon in the ninth inning, he drew a walk.
NOTES: Brought up from Durham after the Bulls were swept in the first round of International League play, Canzler was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round of 2004 out of high school in Hazleton, Pa., which happens — coincidentally or not — to be the hometown of Rays manager Joe Maddon. You can’t attribute his promotion to nepotism, however, as he was named International League MVP this year, hitting .314 with 18 homers, 83 RBI and 40 doubles for the Bulls. He enjoyed a strong seven-year career with the Cubs, with his best season coming in 2010 with the Double-A Tennessee club where he hit .287 with 21 homers and 66 RBI. He hit a combined .272 in his seven seasons there before coming over to the Rays this spring.

XAVIER CEDENO
LHP, Houston Astros
B/T: L/L H/W: 6-1/165 BORN: Aug. 26, 1986
ACQUIRED: Signed as a minor league free agent in January 2011
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City Sept. 10 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 16 in a 4-3 12-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs: The fourth of eight pitchers, he allowed one hit in one-third of a hitless inning.
NOTES: Originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 31st round of 2004 out of Miami Dade Community College North, Cedeno did not pitch stateside in 2010 but he had such an impressive winter ball showing with Carolina in his home Puerto Rican League, posting a 2.32 ERA in 12 games, that the Astros inked him. At Double-A Corpus Christi he posted a 3.95 ERA and had a 6.23 at Oklahoma City, combining between the two stops for a 4.38 mark in 35 games (22 starts), and fanning 137 in 137 2/3 innings.

JUSTIN DE FRATUS
RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
B/T: B/R H/W: 6-4/215 BORN: Oct. 21, 1987
ACQUIRED: Selected in the 11th round of 2007 out of Ventura (Cal.) Junior College
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley Sept. 16 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 18 in a 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals: The last of three pitchers, he tossed one perfect inning and struck out one.
NOTES: A control artist who has refined his game big time since turning pro, DeFratus brought a 3.22 ERA over four seasons into the 2011 campaign, and continued to impress, with a 2.10 ERA at Double-A Reading a a 3.73 ERA at Lehigh Valley, combining for 15 saves in 51 games and a 2.99 ERA, fanning 99 in 75 1/3 innings while walking just 25. In 2010, a summer capped by serving as closer for Team USA in the Pan Am Games, he posted a 1.78 ERA at Advanced A Clearwater, a 2.19 at Reading and 21 saves between the two, with 71 strikeouts and 16 walks in 65 innings. His fastball can touch the high 90s and his slider is an impressive work in progress.

DANNY FARQUHAR
RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
B/T: R/R H/W: 5-11/180 BORN: Feb. 17, 1987
ACQUIRED: Via trade from the Oakland Athletics for P David Purcey in April 2011
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Las Vegas Sept. 6 when rosters expanded
DEBUT: Sept. 13 in an 18-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox: The fifth of six pitchers, he allowed four runs, three of them earned, on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, walking two.
NOTES: Farquhar was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of 2008 out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette but was traded to Oakland with P Trystan Magnuson in November 2010 in the deal that brought OF Rajai Davis to Toronto. He was reacquired, however, earlier this season for former Jays first-rounder Purcey. After starting the spring with eight shutout innings at Triple-A Sacramento, he moved to Vegas post-trade where he was 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA and 14 saves in 50 games, striking out 43 in 51 2/3 innings. In 2010 at Double-A New Hampshire he had a 3.52 ERA and limited Eastern League batters to a .189 average. At Advanced A Dunedin and New Hampshire in 2009, he had a 1.87 ERA and 22 saves with a .193 average against, after a 2008 pro debut during which he combined for a 1.95 ERA in 15 games between short-season Auburn and Class A Lansing. Farquhar throws from several arm slots which adds to his deception, with a fastball in the mid 90s from three-quarters and a two-seamer with more sink and a little less velocity from the side. He also adds a slider to the mix.

MICHAEL FIERS
RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-3/205 BORN: June 15, 1985
ACQUIRED: Selected in the 22nd round of 2009 out of Southeastern (Fla.) University.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Nashville Sept. 10 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 14 in a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies: The last of four pitchers, he allowed two hits in one scoreless inning, walking one and striking out two.
NOTES: In his third pro season, Fiers lit it up between Double-A Huntsville (2.64) and Nashville, going 8-0 with a 1.11 ERA at the latter to combine for a 13-3 record, 1.86 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 126 innings, walking 36 and limiting opposing hitters to a .182 average. In 2010 at Advanced A Brevard County he had a 3.47 ERA and at Huntsville he had a 3.69 mark, combining to fan 130 in 126 innings while walking 32. In 2009, his pro debut at short-season Helena, he opened eyes with a 1.29 ERA and then a 1.98 in a jump to Brevard.

JOHN GAUB
LHP, Chicago Cubs
B/T: R/L H/W: 6-2/210 BORN: April 28, 1985
ACQUIRED: Via trade from the Cleveland Indians for IF Mark Derosa Dec. 31, 2008
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Iowa Sept. 6 when rosters expanded
DEBUT: Sept. 12 in a 12-8 win against the Cincinnati Reds: The third of five pitchers, he allowed two runs on one hit in 1 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out one.
NOTES: Originally drafted in the 21st round of 2006 by Cleveland out of the University of Minnesota, Gaub was one of the more dominant relievers in the minors before missing much of 2010 with shoulder trouble which limited him to a 6.52 ERA in 30 games at Iowa. This year, back with the club, he had a 3.42 ERA in 50 games there, striking out 75 in 55 1/3 innings and limiting PCL hitters to a .209 average. In 2009 he’d posted a 2.86 ERA at Double-A Tennessee and a 1.72 ERA at Iowa in 26 games, combining to fan 80 in 60 innings. He brought a career .200 average against him into the 2011 season.

HECTOR GOMEZ
SS, Colorado Rockies
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-2/180 BORN: March 5, 1988
ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic July 2004
PROMOTED: Recalled from Double-A Tulsa Sept. 16 when rosters expanded
DEBUT: Sept. 16 in a 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants: Pinch-hitting for P Aaron Cook, he stayed in the game at shortstop, going 0-for-2 on the night with an error in the field.
NOTES: Rockies fans have long awaited the arrival of one of the premiere prospects in the system, but injuries and personal tragedy have slowed that ascent. After an ankle injury suffered in the opening game of the 2008 season sidelined him, he then blew out his arm during his rehab and underwent Tommy John surgery, costing him the entire summer. He battled back in 2009 but 2010 was a nightmare for the youngster, who not only suffered a stress fracture in his leg but also lost his infant son, Hector Jr., who passed away shortly after his birth. He has come back in 2011, showing the superior defense for which he’s known as well as the power for the middle infield, hitting .235 with 14 homers, 50 RBI and 16 steals at Tulsa this season. Due to the presence of perennial All Star Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop, look for Gomez to shift to second base for a potential Gold Glove double play combo for years to come if he can stay healthy. Unfortunately, he was scratched from a start the day after his debut due to back trouble.

MATT MOORE
LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
B/T: L/L H/W: 6-2/200 BORN: June 18, 1989
ACQUIRED: Selected in the eighth round of 2007 out of high school in Moriarty, New Mexico
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Durham Sept. 12 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 14 in a 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles: The second of three pitchers, he allowed two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and giving up a homer to Chris Davis.
NOTES: With the Rays sneaking up on the seemingly invincible Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings with just over two weeks left to play, it had to hearten Rays fans that they could summon a southpaw who has been, arguably, the single most dominant pitcher in the minors over the last three years. In a warmup for what should be a serious shot at a rotation spot next spring, Moore combined between Double-A Montgomery and Durham to post back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons with his 210 Ks in just 155 innings, scattering 101 hits and limiting opposing batters to a .184 average, going 12-3 with a 1.92 ERA in 27 starts. Had it not been for Colorado Rockies youngster Edwar Cabrera, who fanned 217 in A Ball, he would have led the minors in strikeouts for a third consecutive year and all three of his full-season campaigns. He led the minors in strikeouts in both 2010 with 208 in 145 innings at Advanced A Charlotte and 2009 with 176 in 123 innings at Class A Bowling Green, throwing a lively hard fastball in the mid 90s and a plus curveball. He has an easy delivery and continues to refine his other pitches as well. In four years coming into 2011, he combined for a 2.97 ERA and 490 strikeouts in 342 innings, limiting hitters to a .193 average without having pitched above A-ball. He has ranked at the top, or near it, in strikeouts per nine innings and average against all five of his pro seasons. A native of Moriarty, New Mexico, a suburb of Albuquerque with a population of under 2,000, he is one of two big leaguers hailing from that town (the other being San Diego slugging prospect Kyle Blanks), and could make the town better known for producing ballplayers than it is, currently, for hosting the annual Pinto Bean Fiesta (thank you, WIkipedia).

ZACH PUTNAM
RHP, Cleveland Indians
B/T: R/R H/W: BORN:
ACQUIRED: Selected in the fifth round of 2008 out of the University of Michigan.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus Sept. 13 when rosters expanded.
DEBUT: Sept. 13 in a 10-4 loss to the Texas Rangers: The fourth of five pitchers, he allowed two runs on three hits in one inning, striking out two and giving up a homer to David Murphy.
NOTES: Putnam was summoned from Columbus the day the Clippers began their pursuit of the International League title, after having posted a 6-3 record, 3.65 ERA and nine saves out of their bullpen, striking out 68 in 69 innings. He’d notched two more saves in the first round of the International League playoffs. A two-way star at Michigan, he throws a fastball in the low-mid 90s, a plus splitter, a changeup and a slider.