Miami First Rounders - Weeks / Alonso / Raben

by jsmall404 on Apr 12, 2008 10:30 PM EDT

Game last night postponed due to the death of a GA Tech pitcher. Have not heard anymore about the death.

Went to the GA Tech game tonight to see them play. Added some video and comments on my blog:

http://21nunder.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to comment.

Filler

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question

which of the 3 would you take first?

by fewgoodcards on Apr 12, 2008 11:03 PM EDT 0 recs

RE

Weeks. Middle INF, I wonder if he cant play CF. He seems like to great leadoff hitters. Strikezone judgment, bunts well, runs extremely well. He is just so small.

With that said, I do not like Alonso. Raben's swing is unbelievably long and loopy. A low 90s FB inside would bust him up all day.

Do you think the Cards might like Weeks at 13?

http://www.21nunder.blogspot.com/

by jsmall404 on Apr 12, 2008 11:34 PM EDT 0 recs

i'm starting to think so. they do like miami players, and weeks is a guy that fits their profile. i think if a tanner scheppers or shooter hunt are there they will take them, but if not i could see them taking someone like weeks. that sure would make a nice future 1-2 punch in front of pujols if you had weeks hitting leadoff and rasmus in the 2 hole.

by fewgoodcards on Apr 12, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Long and loopy is what I was trying to get at with regards to Raben but I couldn't find a way to phrase it as clearly as you

by nms on Apr 14, 2008 1:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Idk if you saw my latest draft update, but I am getting the feeling that the only guys there at 13 for the Cards do not really fit their profile. So, Weeks may be a stretch but to say he should have gone 5 picks later is just silly when no one really knows how these guys will pan out.

Plus, they have two similar minded teams drafting in front of them in the A's and Twins, which does not help. I think Scheppers and Hunt go to those two actually.

http://www.21nunder.blogspot.com/

by jsmall404 on Apr 13, 2008 12:01 AM EDT 0 recs

What is wrong with you?

What the heck is not to like about Yonder Alonso?????????

I do NOT understand you people,

Thanks for the "effort" but it appears you dont know a great hitter when he is right in front of your face

by casejud on Apr 13, 2008 11:28 PM EDT 0 recs

RE

LOL

who are you? his wife?

Alonso is a very good college hitter. However, there is a general consensus among people who know what they are looking at that he MAY not be a 1B who can hit for enough power in the major leagues.

Most teams will not draft a 1B in the first round unless they think he can hit 30 HR. Alonso just does not project to hit that many.

By the way, GREAT argument. It takes alot to tell people they are idiots, but not give any basis to your opinion. Well done.

http://21nunder.wordpress.com/

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 12:10 AM EDT 0 recs

That is NOT the general consensus

He is projected to be picked 6th on this very site...he has a GREAT batting eye...great appraoch...is a a SUPER hard working kid and there is NOTHING to suggest he wont be at least as good as Nick Johnson and...BTW... he has PLENTY of pop. I read my transcript BTW. You may have inferred you are an idiot but i didnt say it. the questions paople have about Alonso on here are rerally stupid though. people actually talk about his FIELDING and SPEED too... fielding speed power... as if a guy who is a LOCK to be a .400 OBP guy ( and likely MUCH more than that) doesnt make him extremely valuable in and of itsself. Glove is FINE...speed doesnt matter at ALL..power is ALSO a strength.

I just cant velieve such a tremendous percentage basball player is just dismissed with a "I dont like him". Well, ask around, I get in shitty moods sometimes like right now. if you "dont like" Yonder Alonso, I dont like YOU

- Ms. Alonso

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 12:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Response

He's not a lock to be a .400 OBP guy in the major leagues, not even close. And the power is apparently a question according to plenty of scouts, although it's hard to argue that too much one way or the other off of college statistics. I agree that he looks like a solid pure hitter, but it might just be that his power is the sort that manifests itself in doubles rather than homers.

So basically you might be looking at something like Kevin Youkilis with a lesser glove at 1B? Seems like a pretty decent player, a guy who will probably be worth a relatively high pick . . .but top 10? Eh.

I don't think anybody is dismissing Alonso so much as they're trying to look at him objectively. And it's really just kind of a chore to do that when anything less than "BEST HITTER IN THE DRAFT!!!" isn't good enough for you. And then you just jump on anybody who disagrees with your POV. You're basically suffocating the discussion.

by mrkupe on Apr 14, 2008 1:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Fair enough

but Kupe, if you think there are more than 10 players better than Kevin Youklis in this draft you are likely wrong.

Also, I can spot a player pretty well pal and I say Yonder is a lock to be a .400+ OBP guy in the big leagues... you dont... like many on here you speek of "likelies" and "percentages" wheras i am giving you my projection of him as a player and willing to admit Im wrong if I am.

Who do YOU think is the best hitter in the draft if not Yonder. Brett Wallace? I can buy it because hes ANOTHER guy who will have no problem hitting big league pitching and gets no mention on here.

What is the discussion exactly? That Yonder doesnt have power? Im TIRED of hearing about it. You show me ONE SCOUT who says he wont hit for power and I wont care anyways. You that when you take a kid with his SPECIAL ability to recognize a pitch with his VERY GOOD power and pure hitting ability and his dedication and he is VERY, VERY worthy of being taken even as high as third. In fact, if the Pirates woren't a COMPLETELTY stupid baseball organization and didnt just LOVE to lose every single stinking season they would just take the kid and play him and quit worrying about how many goddamned home runs he is going to hit. He gets on base all the time! He knocks em in! He works hard. He'll get even better. Hes a HELL of a player.

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

Response

Youk is, what, an average/slightly below-average 1B all things considered? Yeah, there's at least 10 guys out there in the draft, somewhere, better than that.

I don't see an issue with saying something is "likely" to happen. The very best "can't miss" prospects often end up not performing up to what is expected of them. I think it's nice enough to say that a guy has a decent shot at a solid ML career at first base of all positions.

by mrkupe on Apr 14, 2008 1:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

BTW

Just ranting here but what exactly is so damned persuasive about saying "I dont like Yonder Alonso"? That is his ARGUMENT or whatever. I am all for anybody arguing that someone is better than him and I wasnt even comparing him to other players in the draft really. I've seen more of Yonder than many of the other top hitters (I love Alvarez and Wallace as much, if not more). Im saying the questions about his speed (really, really stupid and heard it several times here), fielding ( again stupid and insignificant) and power (again stupid, he has PLENTY of power to all fields) are dumb. He is more than a good college hitter. He is a SPECIAL player

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 1:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yonder last 2 seasons

100 Walks - 47 K's - 28 Home runs- ACC

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 1:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

I am objective

I just happen to really like him as a player. You can actually be objective about him and think he'll be a really, really good big leaguer.

havent you ever rooted for a team that couldnt get enough guys on base? I have. If you are old like me and have suffered through that you might appreciate a guy like Yonder (or Youkils) and maybe you wont give shit how Alonso fields. WHO CARES? Besides that, he isnt bad at first anyways. its exausting and assinine to keep talking about his supposed weaknesses all the time. Glove= who cares and perfectly fine speed= who gives a rats ass power= frewaking terrific especially if you account for the fact that he is selective and will get counts to drive a ball

Great OBP, all fields appraoch, AND good power. What more do you want?? He has to be freaking Keith Hernandez too? I dont get it and i dont think the view of him as some kind of Doug Mientkiewics or Scott Hatteberg or whover is accurate or objective.

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 1:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

Relax

Take a chill pill.

I think concerns about his defense are valid reasons to lower his grade. He's a first baseman and that has to be accounted for. A great fielder can save his fellow infielders many errors and a bad one can have the opposite effect. I'm not saying he's a bad fielder, but he's most likely somewhere in the middle.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on Apr 14, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ask

The Red Sox about poor fielding 1B.
Ask them if it makes a difference

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

LOL

are you aware that alot of all stars arent 400 OBP guys? yet, he is a lock? buy a clue man. he will be at least as good as nick johnson!!??? you think that is what the marlins are hoping to get out of the 6th overall pick!!???
the reason why he is projected to go to the marlins is because he is local and cheap. not because he is the 6th best player

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

I am aware...

...but by same token a guy is a table setter with good power as well can be a star too.

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think you do not at all

understand what "I don't like him" means. It doesn't mean that player ran over someones dog.
It just means someone does not feel the described player is as good as generally believed.

Scouts in every sport say that. It is just a simple, quick way of stating whether you feel someone is as good as advertised.

It is not meant to be in-depth analysis, sometimes you don't have time to get into all the details and you just need to concisely state your opinion

by nms on Apr 14, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thank you

If you want to know my full opinion..visit my blog. You will find out I do not think he sucks. I just would not take him top 10.

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

RE

"i dont like him" wasnt my argument because we were not arguing it at the time. duh.
by the way, i am very impressed with you ability to use CAPS at CERTAIN parts of your POST.

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 9:56 AM EDT 0 recs

Your problem

Is you seem him as the same pro hitter as he is right now in college. He just does not project to do that. he waits for horse crap pitching like GA Tech to throw him a FB right down the middle and he nails it, great job. Aint gonna happen in the pros. Enough said.

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 9:59 AM EDT 0 recs

The Cape

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't you have to be at least a decent pitcher to get into the Cape Cod League?

.338/ .468

by casejud on Apr 14, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

??

Who said he wasnt decent??? You are not understanding this very well at all to be honest.
Just becuase "I dont like him" dosent mean I think he sucks, you need to realize that.

by jsmall404 on Apr 14, 2008 4:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Sure but

You implied…no, SAID…that he was only getting his hits off of “Horse-Crap Georgia Tech Pitching” and Im saying there are not many truly weak pitchers in the Cape Cod League. Besides, all really good hitters do the majority of thier feasting off of bad pitching. it’s only natural. It’s actually NOT enough said. The same can be said for ANY good college hitter. The more refined the hitter’s batting eye the MORE chance he’ll be sucessful v better pitching because he can get his pitch. Especially if he is dangerous to pitch to like Yonder. Funny how the same things about power were said about Adrian Gonzlaez when he starter his pro career.

by casejud on Apr 15, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up 0 recs