The Next Mike Cameron?

by mckeeno on Mar 1, 2007 5:51 PM EST

It seems like Mike Cameron is the comp for so many players when comparing prospects. Here's a rough list of players who have been compared to Cameron by BA or other reputable sources:

Chris Young
Adam Jones
Drew Stubbs
Lastings Milledge

I feel there have been many others as well and I can't think of another player who is used as a comparison as often.

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Reasoning

He's above-average in most tools, which is a safe pick for 5 tool players who still exhibit the obvious flaws like a high K rate which will lead to a low batting average.

He has good power (20-30HR), but not great.
He has good speed (20-30SB), but not elite.
He won't be a .300 hitter, but could stay around .260-.270 if healthy.
He has good range and good defense, but not necessarily elite.

That's the profile for most 5 tool OF's in the minors assuming you don't think they will become the next Griffey and they won't become a bust.

Rays in '08....

by youALREADYknow on Mar 1, 2007 5:54 PM EST reply actions

That's about...

the best answer you could have hoped for.

by templeUsox on Mar 1, 2007 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

Maybin

Maybin got the Cameron comp at least once.

I really think Milledge, Young and probably Jones are all going to be better hitters than Cameron has been. I also think Cameron himself is kind of underrated.

by wily mo on Mar 1, 2007 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Maybin

Is the one guy listed where I think the comp is appropriate.

Dukes is Jurastically better than Bradley. After all Dukes has been playing baseball ever since T-ball.

by pedrophile on Mar 1, 2007 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

I think it works for young too

In his last two seasons in the minors, he has had an average around .270, 20 HR and about 20 steals. In addition, he is suposed to play gold-glove caliber defense. My guess is the Cameron comparison is a way for BA to hedge their bet, because Cameron is a 5-tool talent but not a perennial all-star.

yanksandmore.blogspot.com check it out

by lemonjello on Mar 1, 2007 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

the comp

I see it a little differently.

It's like saying:
The prospect is going to be a very good defensive CF with a bat that is solid but K's too much.

When projecting someones career they are talking results not really tools. I hope.

I would agree on Young as well but he seemed to really improve his K rate making me think his bat upside could be higher.

Dukes is Jurastically better than Bradley. After all Dukes has been playing baseball ever since T-ball.

by pedrophile on Mar 1, 2007 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not yet sold on Milledge or Stubbs

I think Milledge will be a useful player though...I'd like to see what Beane can make of him though, and I think it might come to pass, as it looks like the Mets' brass are already in love with Gomez and FMart...

Stubbs screams bust to me, but he is just starting, so we'll see...

I like Adam Jones' bat a lot, I think his power will be comparable to Cameron, but I think he will hit for a higher average...

Chris Young looks like a Cameron clone to me...with possibly a higher peak with the bat and glove...

personally, I like Jones the best out of all of them (career-wise, though Young may have a slightly better peak)...it's partly gut, partly scouts' takes on him, and him always being so young for his league...

by daveh33 on Mar 1, 2007 9:49 PM EST reply actions

Stubbs?

Are you allowed to compare players if they're not the same race? You almost never see that happening. You know, Danny Ferry is a poor man's (a very poor man's) Larry Bird, etc.

by Flynn Blake on Mar 2, 2007 1:59 AM EST reply actions

absolutely not

unless they have the same name:

"drew stubbs is like franklin stubbs with wheels"

but otherwise no:

"matsuzaka is sort of like a pitching ichiro"

by wily mo on Mar 2, 2007 2:30 AM EST up reply actions

+10

hilarious, and best franklin stubbs reference ever on this site

by bleedjaxblue on Mar 2, 2007 2:32 AM EST up reply actions

Stubbs

I like Stubbs more than most I think, and I like that BA was gutsy enough to put him in the top 100. At minimum he's going to be a low-average hitter with power and great defense.

by limozeen on Mar 2, 2007 3:09 AM EST reply actions