Notable Grade Changes

by John Sickels on Dec 24, 2008 5:14 PM EST

Brandon Allen, 1B, White Sox: Grade C+ changed to Grade B-: Just a notch too low.
Brett Anderson, LHP, Athletics: Grade B+ changed to Grade A-. Just seems more approrpriate.
Trevor Cahill, RHP, Athletics: Grade B+ changed to Grade A-: Higher ceiling than Anderson, if Anderson goes up so does Cahill.
Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals: Grade B- changed to Grade C+: Grade changed to be more consistent with other players. Early grades get reviewed as my thinking changes during the book writing process.
Dayan Viciedo, 3B, White Sox: Grade C+ changed to Grade B-: I looked at more video. Don't want to go higher than that without evidence.

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you will definitely regret changing Giovatella's grade

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 24, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions

This sounds ominous

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 24, 2008 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

Vicendo

Any chance this video of Vicendo is publicly available. i would like to see him swing the bat. You see him play 3B?

by casejud on Dec 24, 2008 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Dayan Viciedo

From what I have seen about him, he looks like he has a lot of potential, but he will need a lot of coaching to reach it. He is pretty big and not so fast, so I doubt that he stays at third. I could see him moving to right field before his minor league career is up. He has quick wrists and very good bat speed, but it also looks like he has a pretty big hole in his swing too. I can see why you rated him B-, but I would have kept him at C+ because it looks like he still has a long way to go and no one really knows how he will do over here.

by joegonzo on Dec 24, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

just a little taste, I don't think there's anything of him fielding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1fJzSEl9eQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRe5qbqty0s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgq99hU5pGQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCETr3Ubotw&feature=related

He seems to have a fluid stroke and natural power. It also looks like he hits the ball pretty hard, and isn’t quite as puffy as I was led to believe(though he is reportedly working his way down to 230 pounds)

by Daniel Berlyn on Dec 24, 2008 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

Unreal

That bat speed is un-real. From the recent clip he does NOT look at all like a major league 3b, even just messing around out there.

Thanks Daniel

by casejud on Dec 24, 2008 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

here's some statistical background, for those who don't know of it

by Daniel Berlyn on Dec 24, 2008 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Any thoughts on reaccessing Hanson

In light of his complete dominance of the AFL and the addition of his slider which has drawn comparisons to Smoltz’s? Considering the timing of the addition (midseason in AA), I’m inclined to believe the rise in his BB rate was due impart to inconsistency with the slider, and that the improvement across the board in the AFL was due in part to increased command of the pitch. He’s a little older than guys like Cahill and Anderson, but I personally feel he’s on that same level.

by nixa37 on Dec 24, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions