Some info on Villalona and another stadium
by psugator on Jun 21, 2008 12:30 AM EDT
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PrintFriday, June 20: Ashville Tourists at Augusta GreenJackets at Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, Ga.
I had been pumped about this game for a long time because I'd get to see 1B uber-prospect Angel Villalona, along with 2B Nick Noonan. An added bonus would be Jhoulys Chacin, who would be starting for Asheville. For the uninformed, Chacin started 15 games in the first half, going 10-1 with 93 strikeouts in 104.2 innings.
First off, let me say that Villalona, who turns 18 in August, is listed as 6-3, 200. But this night he looked a lot bigger than that. I wouldn't find his weight to be such a problem if he showed the drive to stay in shape. But when I finally spotted him, the trainer had to coax him out of the dugout to begin his work (running, stretching exercises, etc). He looked like he'd rather be somewhere else. My first impression: how much bigger will this kid get?
I confirmed my suspicions with two scouts from the AL West who were sitting behind home plate. I told them my impression of Villalona -- that he seemed to be getting bigger every day and outgrowing 1B -- and the one scout said, "I'd hire this kid to scout for my team." So it seems I'm not the only one who is down on Villalona. By the way, the scouts rolled their eyes when I told them that some prospect experts had compared Villalona to Pujols.
Villalona was in the lineup that night as the team's DH, going 1-4 with a single and three strikeouts. In fact, he looked so confused after the third K that the scouts started laughing.
Chacin went six innings, giving up only four hits, walking two and striking out nine. His fastball topped out at 89 -- YES, 89 -- and his curveball hit 77, but it was his pinpoint command that confused Augusta. In and out, in and out, up and down, up and down, hitting his spots all night. The kid's 20 and seems to have come out of nowhere this year, but he sure knows how to pitch. I'm guessing he profiles as a 3 or a 4.
Noonan went 0-for-4 and didn't do enough for me to be able to assess his value as a prospect.
As for the stadium, I would call it average as far as SAL stadiums go. No Dippin' Dots, though they did have something called "Dips," which I refused to try out of principle. The brat and fries I sampled were both very fresh. This night was $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon from 6-7.
Parking was free. Gates opened an hour before the first pitch. Best seat in the house is in one of the two recliners behind home plate.
Next up: Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. That will be the last game of my road trip.
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Good stuff, thanks.
I LOVE informed, first-person accounts of players. Thanks man.
Couple things though According to my info Villalona doesn’t even turn 18 until August. Thats amazing. Even the great Albert Pujols may have gone through some struggles in pro ball if he was a pro at that age (he wasn’t until age 20). Not saying Angel V can hold his jock though.
Also, how can he look like he’s getting bigger every day if this is the first time you’ve seen him? :-) Just teasin’ ya. The size doesn’t bother me but reports of laziness does. Even great talents usaully have to be willing to work hard to get to and stay in the big leagues.
Nice report on Chacin. A little disappointing he doesn’t throw harder though.
Thanks Gator.
I had gotten
I had gotten a poor report on Villalona of a similar nature in Scottsdale from a source I believed to be credible. Angel is still very young, but he won’t be forever. That should mean he will outgrow some of this, and it certainly will mean that he’d better.
As for the scouts, if they were laughing at a prospect, I suspect they should find another profession where professionalism doesn’t matter. It might be that they’re not employable though.
Setting
You have to remember what setting these scouts work in. They watch baseball players at ball games. That is not a professional setting. Unless they are a board room presenting to a club how they feel their players have progressed they should be able to enjoy their job.
I’ve watch people look silly in baseball and you have too. People laugh, its human nature. I can only assume that because these guys are watching the minor leagues that there is just so much to laugh at. Especially when you have a critical eye.
Remember: baseball guys... baseball...
I understand
I understand what you’re saying, but if I had a scout who laughed at a player I would tell him we just don’t DO that.
I agree the scouts should be both able to and even encouraged to enjoy their jobs. I do not agree they should laugh at a player in public.
Let’s suppose the player’s agent was nearby. And that down the line the player becomes a major league free agent, able to sign for millions. The agent tells the potential new team, yes, my player will sign with your team—but only if you fire the scout who laughed at him.
That would be called having the last laugh. They say it is the best one.
And the scout would have found that what goes around, comes around. All because he was unprofessional.
How in the world would one expect scouting to be a respected profession if those who perform the job don’t act professionally?
Realistic Expectations
I understand what you are saying. But it isn’t as if the Scout is standing up and saying, “Hey, did you see that! He just stuck out on a 88 MPH fastball down the middle!” He is laughing to either himself, or the one person he is with. I’m not sure I call that public. If the player’s agent is sitting next to him, I’m assuming he’d know.
Regardless, I don’t think that the case you mention above is at all realistic. If anything, i’m sure the scout would be the one to tell the team not to sign said player because of the poor showing/scouting report. I don’t see it as a big deal. And if this fake scout was horrible at his job he wouldn’t have one.
Also, there is-at least in my life- a sense of loyalty among friends and co-workers. I doubt that anyone who got signed could ever make a demand like that to a serious organization. I’ll sign with you if you fire your manager/scout/pitching coach. And is that the kind of player/agent you want to be doing business with?
Very unrealistic case, imo.
Remember: baseball guys... baseball...
I'm just saying the scout was being unprofessional
I’m merely saying that the scout was being unprofessional. If you saw and/or heard him laughing at Angel, someone else could have, as well. It is the act that was unprofessional, regardless of the consequences or lack thereof.
Keep in mind that Angel is just 17 and might indeed improve a lot and reach or at least approach his potential.
And while you are right that the scenario involving the scout and free agency I mentioned are unlikely, let’s suppose that you, Metty5, are a scout for the Houston Astros. Angel makes the bigs at the start of the 2012 season and become a free agent after the 2017 season.
Angel’s agent remembers your unprofessional remark. Your Astros make the same offer as the other team who is willing to pay the most. The agent tells Angel to go where he wishes but then relays his story of your unprofessional comment and suggests that could be indicative of the Astros organization, particularly since you still work for them despite this unprofessionalism (assuming they haven’t found out and fired you).
Angel tells the agent he won’t play for the Astros unless they throw in an extra million dollars per season and fire you.
Even if this is preposterous, you have been guilty of unprofessional behavior, which probably wasn’t your stated goal when you became a scout. IMO the scout was very indiscreet.
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