Brandon Wood's prospect stock

by The Congo Hammer on Jul 28, 2008 11:24 AM EDT Comment 20 comments

It seems everyone has jumped off the Brandon Wood bandwagon after his 2006 and 2007 seasons regressed from his monster 2005, and his 2008 got off to a similar start with weak performance in the majors. However, I still don't get how people could sour on a legitimate shortstop who is hitting .288 with 21 HRs in only 288 ABs for a .928 OPS this season as a 23-year old in Triple-A. Granted, he's repeating the level, but that's 93 points higher on OPS.

As he had his big season at such a young age, I think people are getting SNTS and forgetting about Wood since he's progressed slowly, but he's still only 23 and is showing gradual improvement even if his K/BB remains a concern, though this is not uncommon among power hitters. I for one, thing his prospect status has actually slightly risen from 2007, as he has returned to shortstop and his OPS has taken a leap. The only issue now is opportunity for playing time. Do you think he'll be dealt, and do you think he will be on a team's opening day roster for 2009?

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agree 100%

i think wood is suffering from a big case of prospect groupthink….....he was certainly over-rated after the monster 2005 season, but as a result of the backlash his status didn’t self-correct but actually went all the way to under-rated

by Wheelhouse on Jul 28, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Bay

I wonder if the Pirates would be interested in getting him for Bay. I’m sure the Angels would need to send another good prospect but the Angels have a need for a bat and Wood could get some PT in Pittsburgh.

by uwbadger on Jul 28, 2008 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Especially because Wood could pay SS for the Pirates

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Jul 28, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jack Attack

I would be much more interested in seeing the Pirates bring in LaRoche for Jack Wilson. That way they can reunite the brothers and also just hand over the 3B job to LaRoche and give him the PT he needs.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Jul 28, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny how things work out

Dodgers got a fully-funded Manny Ramirez instead of Jack Wilson. Guessing at trade value can be such a crapshoot.

"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002

by achiappanza on Aug 8, 2008 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not arguing...

...but aren’t the Angels overloaded in the OF already? Plus im crazy enough to think that Wood is a moe valuable commodity than Bay. I guess if Bay helps them win it all but I dont see it. Wood does need a change of schenery and Pittsburgh would be perfect…I team that would likely just give him a job and let him run with it for more than a week or two.

by casejud on Jul 29, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Scioscia hates Brandon Wood

I am not sre why he hates Wood, but he refuses to play him on a regular basis. For a team that supposedly values their prospects so much, Wood has been called up to sit on the bench way too often. I still think he could hit .250-.260 and hit 20+ HRs if given a fulltime gig right now as a 23 year-old. Maybe when the Angels finally open up a lead they feel comfortable with, they will give Wood a shot to play everyday for at least 2 weeks. If not, deal him now and move on.

by goose102977 on Jul 28, 2008 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad fit...

I don’t think it is that Scioscia hates Wood, I believe he is just doing his best job trying to manager the Angels into the playoffs. Wood has been terrible when playing in the majors this season and their offense has been particularly troubling. The Angels do not have the time to let a young kid learn on the job if he is harming their offense.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Jul 28, 2008 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kidding

I know Scioscia doesn’t hate Wood, but his lack of playing time in LA certainly has something to do with his lack of success, in my opinion. He is looking good of late and I think any other 23 year-old with these numbers in AAA would be getting a lot more hype than Wood is now just because of his past successes and struggles.

by goose102977 on Jul 29, 2008 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if I'd say Scioscia hates Wood

But his reluctance to play Wood (which I agree is a total waste of space. I mean, why call him up if you’re not going to play him) probably has a lot to do with the way the Angels play baseball. They are very much a contact hitting, speedy, hit and run type offense. I think small ball is a pretty good way to describe them, which is obviously not Wood’s game. Plus, from what I’ve heard, he’s an OK defender but nothing great and they have some very good fielding middle infielders. Considering they try to win with pitching and defense, while scratching across a few runs, Wood’s skill set seems to be in direct contrast to the Angel’s philosophy.
As I believe John recently said, Wood needs a change of sceneary. I’m sure there are plenty of teams who would be more than happy to take him and would offer a nice return as well.

by joltinjoe on Jul 28, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i have been on the bandwagon for quite some time (partially fantasy related) and honestly with some of the struggles and loads of K’s, it was getting tough to stay on the wagon. bottom line, he is just not the type of player that is going to succeed right away in the majors. he needs a team that is going to be patient and let him adjust. A change of scenery is exactly what he needs because the angels are not in a position to let him develop at the major league level. hopefully he gets it.

his power ceiling is still ridiculous, as evidenced by 21 HR in less than 300 ab’s this year at AAA. I stil think he can be a .260 – .275 hitter eventually in the majors with 35+ HR and solid defense. only time will tell, but i think way too many people gave up on him too early…

by rhodehead on Jul 28, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Has all the power in the world

But Wood seems like a streaky guy and he just hasn’t doesn’t make enough contact at this point in the Major Leagues. In the minor leagues, he doesn’t have to worry about not playing everyday, thus he can relax. He can go out [in a good hitting environment] and be an almost all-or-nothing, swing for the fences guy.

by BBFan1 on Jul 29, 2008 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Free Brandon Wood

The guy is raking in Salt Lake right now…time for the Angels to give him an extended look with a 12.5 game lead in the West.

by goose102977 on Aug 2, 2008 8:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

going streaking

8 HR, 12 RBi and 15 Runs in his last 10 games, now hitting .293/.360/.606 on the season…too bad he didn’t get traded at the deadline.

by rhodehead on Aug 2, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Free Every Angels Hitting Prospect

The Angels do admirably with their pitching prospects, but aside from the overhyped Howie Kendrick, who’s the last hitting prospect they handled correctly?

Kotchman was blocked by Erstad (gag) when he was ready, Rivera and Willits are given no shots, Wood is jerked around. For a team that refuses to trade its prospects, they sure don’t like them either.

by aap212 on Aug 3, 2008 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not to mention the way they handled Kendry Morales, who is once again raking in AAA.

I get so tired of this whole small ball thing, and that the major broadcasters praise it. I’d much rather have Wood as my shortstop than Aybar or Izturis.

by JP_Frost on Aug 7, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of stock drop

What about sorry ass Homer Bailey? Man has his stock dropped to an all time low.

"Over the years, my favorite pastime outside baseball is driving through a pasture looking at cattle." - Nolan Ryan

by hurlerhurley on Aug 7, 2008 11:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on Angels

.297-27-67…what more does this kid need to do?

by goose102977 on Aug 9, 2008 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

according to Angels management

Wood still needs to end world hunger…with his bat. Apparently Sean Rodriguez is still ahead of him in the pecking order. and that makes almost too much sense to me

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Aug 9, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Angel's management need some guidance

I agree that Brandon Wood should be up or traded. He is one of the hottest hitters in the minors and he will not get called up because his skill set does not fit the organization’s small ball strategy.

Please trade him for Jason Kendall or Sean Burrough or whomever you feel would be good cleanup hitter on your team so you give Wood a chance to be an everyday player.

- Frustrated Wood’s Owner

by bryeic on Aug 9, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs