BA's AZL Top 20

by Ienpw on Sep 20, 2006 1:34 PM EDT

Hank Conger, c, Angels
Jeremy Jeffress, rhp, Brewers
Cedric Hunter, of, Padres
Marcus Lemon, ss, Rangers
Brent Fisher, lhp, Royals
Matt Sweeney, 3b/1b, Angels
Sharlon Schoop, ss, Giants
Kyler Burke, of, Padres
Jason Taylor, 3b, Royals
Vladimir Veras, rhp, Angels
Brent Brewer, ss, Brewers
Gerardo Avila, 1b, Mariners
Luis Durango, of, Padres
Jose Ceda, lhp, Cubs
Manuel Cabez, rhp, Giants
Derrick Robinson, of, Royals
Nick Van Stratten, of, Royals
Carlos Peguero, of, Mariners
Warner Madrigal, rhp, Angels
Felix Carrasco, 3b, Padres

Where's Alex Liddi?

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Warner Madrigal

is still around? Kinda weak if one of your top 20 prospects in the lowest level league is a guy who signed 6 or 7 years ago and just converted to the mound...

Why not ask where Liddi is in tomorrow's chat?

by Brickhaus on Sep 20, 2006 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

true but

madrigal switched from an of to a rhp. so he basically is starting over.

by Dfarth on Sep 20, 2006 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

and he has

a huge arm, maybe this ranking shows how huge it is

by SoCalSoxFan on Sep 21, 2006 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

definitely all about projection

since Conger got less than 90 ABs and Jeffress' numbers were terrible

by PooNani on Sep 20, 2006 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

it really has to be. I'm sure people remember Mitch Einertson a few years ago. I'm not sure that even that type of performance would put someone at the top of a Rookie league these days if he didn't have the tools to back it up.

by Brickhaus on Sep 20, 2006 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Weak league

prospect-wise. GCL is larger and as usual has better prospects, and this year, PL probably does too. Appy may not though.

by Brett Perryman on Sep 20, 2006 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

Boo

GCL sux. Teams do not play teams in other divisions last time I checked, so it is like 3 teeny leagues of high school players. They are thinking of eliminating the GCL and I hope they do.

Plus the hitting environment is better in the AZL, so the batting stats are more fun.

But seriously, the whole point of BA starting with the complex leagues is to build up the suspense as the lists have more and more real prospects.

by elricsi on Sep 21, 2006 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

i think

the low level lists are the most fun because its hardest and takes the most skill to predict how kids that far off will do (besides the obvious teenage superstars).

Its not really as interesting or hard to look at AA guys, since we know so much more

by nms on Sep 21, 2006 5:05 AM EDT up reply actions

RE:

They are thinking of eliminating the GCL? Where did you hear that?

by SmokeyJoeWood on Sep 21, 2006 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

they were talking about that in early spring

if memory serves me right.

by thedude @ Minor League Ball on Sep 21, 2006 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

It wasn't just the GCL

it was the complex leagues altogether, so that would mean no AZL either. The thought process is that it might just be better to have extended spring training / instructs for these kids anyway rather than playing a full schedule, plus in decreases some of the carrying costs, especially since the major league teams actually own the complex league teams.

by Brickhaus on Sep 21, 2006 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

GM meetings

At last year's GM meetings they said it was all but done that the GCL and AZL were gone. They were also saying all the Appy teams would go co-up (I don't see how that could happen since all the Appy teams are owned by their major league affiliate.)

Anyway, a couple of teams objected (like the Braves), and so they put it off. Plus I don't see how it saves much money as the GCL and AZL are so cheap to run seeing as they are at team facilities.

I don't see why they just don't leave it up to the individual teams. If you want to have a ton of affiliates (quality from quantity), then go ahead. Or if you only need a few since you depend on college players, then go ahead and do that.

by elricsi on Sep 21, 2006 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Jeffress

does anyone have more in-depth info on Jeffress? He's a bit of a mystery to me, other than that he throws mad fast

I'll be the first A+ prospect... www.myspace.com/posingforpennies

by ufoboy90 on Sep 21, 2006 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

I thought Liddi didn't make it

because of his K rate- then I checked Felix Carrasco's - same position, more Ks, worse stats.

Look, I know this is all about scouting, and it probably should be. But Liddi deserved to be there, esp. as a guy who's probably played the least organized baseball since he came from a non-baseball country.

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Sep 21, 2006 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

Part of it...

...could be that Carrasco is a switch-hitter, but on the other hand, they aren't entirely sure he's the advertised age, whereas Liddi, there's no dispute.

Liddi is going to be fun guy to follow, both for the story and the ability, but as Manuel said, when it comes to the lowest levels of the minors and who's legitimate, it can really be a crapshoot, and there are plenty of players who've showed up and dominated the first year only to never be heard from again (Jose Graterol, this year to last as an example for us). A guy on the playoff team is going to get more attention anyway, and fighting over the last spot, eh...

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -- Samuel Beckett

by JY on Sep 21, 2006 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions