Who is the best 2b prospect in baseball?

by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 21, 2008 6:38 PM EDT

no particular order...rank your top 5-10

a few of these are combo SS/2b types...most of which should be ready around 09/10

2B Sean Rodriguez (Los Angeles Angels)

2B/SS Carlos Triunfel (Seattle Mariners)

SS Reid Brignac (Tampa Bay Rays)

2B Jemile Weeks (Oakland Athletics)

2B Taylor Green (Milwaukee Brewers)

2B Adrian Cardenas (Oakland Athletics)

2b Eric Young, jr. (colorado rockies)

2b/SS ivan de jesus jr (dodgers)

anyone else?

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I like

Weeks or Cardenas.

Pretty sure Brignac is staying at SS now. He answered the questions and has improved.

If youre going for sheer ceiling than its Triunfel, but he still has lots of hurdles to clear…

by alskor on Aug 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT 0 recs

+1

Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.blogspot.com

by Baseball Handyman on Aug 21, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Brignac

is now regarded as one of if not the best defensive SS in the minors. He’s a solidly above-average SS at the big league level.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Aug 21, 2008 7:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Having seen a good bit of Brignac this year, he’s not even the best defensive SS in the IL let alone the minors. He’s solidly above-average, but guys like Lillibridge are flat better than he is with the glove. And that’s not even going into people that I haven’t see play, like Elvis Andrus or the ton of all-glove, no-hit guys.

Brignac won’t need to move off SS for anyone in the Rays system, but I don’t think he’s going to win any gold gloves, either.

by mraver on Aug 22, 2008 7:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

BA

I guess it’s worth noting that Baseball America (or at least the mangers/whoever they poll) disagree with me: Brignac won the IL Best Tools award for “Best Defensive SS” over Lillibridge. So perhaps its closer than my observations had lead me to believe.

by mraver on Aug 23, 2008 2:24 AM EDT up 0 recs

c'mon

if you’re gonna do this thread, do it right, or let thepinstripes do it . . .

by gogotabata on Aug 21, 2008 7:34 PM EDT 0 recs

It's really

not a big deal. If you can’t figure out how to read this post, or its too hard to do so I dont know what to tell ya bud. The guy wanted to post it, so he did. Nobody’s perfect. Anyways, I really like DeJesus Jr. on this list. He looks like he’ll hit for a solid average, has good speed, and is supposed to be a very good defensive SS. Triunfel looks like he could end up a stud if he continues to develop nicely. I’m not really sold on Brignac as he has yet to have that breakout, solid year. The tools are there, but is hasn’t translated to perfromance yet. He’s still young though, and could get better. Not sure about Weeks yet, give me a year or two. He’s solid, but its very early in his professional career. Offensively, I love Cardenas. I’ve hears scouts and analysts say he could develop into a middle of the order hitter. The power should continue to develop, and the hitting ability is already there. Defensively he’s lacking. I guess its possible for him to improve, but that is his downside right now. The A’s are trying him at SS right now to see how he does, but some aren’t even sure he will stick at 2nd. Only time will tell.

by JPShark on Aug 21, 2008 7:46 PM EDT 0 recs

This annoys me...

Only a little but…uh… Jemile Weeks just finished plying three seasons in one of the best conferences in the country! He’s already accomlished way more and is more developed as a ballplayer than Carlos Triunfel is. Triunfel is the one with something to prove.

I like Cardenas’s bat, I like Eric Young Jr. to stick and be solid, Dejesus as well. Chris Coghlan could be entered into the convo on this for sure.

If I had to pick though it would be Weeks despite him haven “proven nothing”. I’ve seen him play a lot and i see akid who will always get rallies going with walks and linedrives and will hit for some pop as well. He’s got some work to do with the glove still. He’s not a real natural out there as far as hands go but he got a LOT better at Miami and is a good athlete.

by casejud on Aug 22, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

100% agree

Weeks is the most sure thing of any of these guys! He played at a major college program and is a ready made top prospect. He’s developmentally ahead of all the other guys IMHO.

by alskor on Aug 22, 2008 2:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1 on both Weeks and Eric Young Jr

I think if you’re looking at things strictly from a fantasy perspective, Young Jr has to be up near the top of a 2B list. His D is good enough to stick at the position, Colorado clearly has a spot open for him, and he could easily compile 50+ SB’s per year if he stays healthy.

Personally, I would put Cardenas #1 and Weeks #2. Jemile has the pedigree and the tools to succeed.

by guru4u on Aug 22, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

re

I have watched Young play and have followed him since he played juco ball here in AZ. I was most worried about the hit tool and plate discipline, but he has shown he can put the bat and the ball and draw a walk. I think people will be surprised with the pop he will show in Colorado. He is very stocky (5’9", 200+ pound) and I wouldn’t be shocked to see 10-15 HRs a year in the Bigs as well as the steals

by ScottAZ on Aug 22, 2008 10:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

Chris Coghlan

I’d rank Coghlan #1. What are the Marlins going to do with Dan Uggla? Left field?

by StickRat on Aug 21, 2008 7:51 PM EDT 0 recs

trade uggla?

by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 21, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tough to do

I think trading Mike Jacobs makes more sense, and it would be tough to dismantle the middle of the batting order by trading both of them.

by StickRat on Aug 21, 2008 7:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Honestly

I wouldn’t be surprised if they moved both, considering Uggla’s struggles post-ASB, and gave Coghlan and Sanchez the job (or if they pick up other options in a trade, to give them the job). I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Uggla is as bad as his post-break numbers, but I don’t think he was as good as his pre-break numbers. Jacobs is definitely replaceable. The crazy, there’s no way they can do that unless it was in a bigger deal, but WHAT IF thing would be if they got gutsy and dealt away Jeremy Hermida this offseason. I doubt it, but there were those rumors.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think they’d move all three (and I think Hermida is a case of frustration this year, as he is still too good to move IMO (I mean, he’s fine on the road)). I don’t understand the rumors on Hermida, but I think they might ponder moving Uggla/Jacobs together.

by toonsterwu on Aug 21, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

rumors on Hermida

were only if Manny was on his way to SoFla… so it’s not like it was gonna be a complete dump

as for Uggla and Jake, they have replacements for both

Jake won’t be back next year, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Uggla elsewhere either

FutureFish

by Ramp on Aug 21, 2008 10:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Why?

They’d be replacing them, right?

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Aug 21, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s their three- and four-hitters. They are most of the power in the current lineup, and neither of their replacements figure to be middle-of-the-order hitters, at least not immediately. I just don’t see them completely gutting the middle of their order. Then again, it’s the Marlins. So it is entirely possible they fire sale seven starters and burn the other one in effigy of any kind of continued success.

by StickRat on Aug 21, 2008 11:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

they'd improve

with Uggla and Jake gone and replacements who don’t swing for the fences in every at bat, every situation, every count

and both Uggla and Jake are albatrosses defensively

FutureFish

by Ramp on Aug 22, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

If Cardenas sticks at 2nd

I think he’s tops. I think Jason Donald might end up at 2nd, and he could figure into the equation. Coghlan should be in that mix.

Of course, it’s equally possible that all three of those names end up at other positions. There’s also guys at other positions that might slide over, as noted.

One guy I sorta like, but not enough to be the best, is Luis Valbuena. Part of me thinks he’s only a bench guy at best, though, if he reaches the bigs. Dunno – I’ll admit if he was more consistent with the bat, he could become a real solid big leaguer.

by toonsterwu on Aug 21, 2008 10:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Coghlan

Glas someone else brought him up so I didn’t have to… and several people mentioned him. I’ve made it known I was a fan of his (and Id rafted him in my keeper league), and from what I remember reading, he used to be a great defensive 3B so they moved him to 2B where his bat would play better. Not sure if he can play SS or not, but I think moving him anywhere else (like CF) would be a waste of his defensive skills. Of course, Florida probably has the worst defensive 2B-SS combo, so I don’t know how much defense means to them.

"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 Aug 22, 2008 2:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

another guy

i think Luke Hughes belongs in this conversation…big power and solid overall hitting skills, though he needs to tighten up his zone judgment a bit…he has been playing a lot of 3B since his promotion to AAA, but its my impresison that this is more because of organizational need than any defensive deficiencies he has as a 2B

by milkmanmax on Aug 21, 2008 10:26 PM EDT 0 recs

+1

I would actually rank him right near the top of this last. He has shown more with the bat then anyone else on that list and has been compared by Goldstein to Jeff Kent.

"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 Aug 21, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

chris valaika

does he stay at short or end up at second….if he’s at second, he’s in the mix

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

by biggentleben on Aug 21, 2008 11:56 PM EDT 0 recs

2B is a strange positon...

Most of the guys who end up excelling in the majors there are converted from the positon they played in the minors. Whether they’re a SS or OF or C or whatnot…

by alskor on Aug 22, 2008 1:13 AM EDT 0 recs

Antonelli?

Is his season that bad that he isn’t even in the top 10 anymore?

by jfish26101 on Aug 22, 2008 8:10 AM EDT 0 recs

Yes

His season has been absolutely disastrous. He needs to rebuild his performance for anyone to put him on any kind of list.

by aap212 on Aug 22, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

Give him a few months into next year before he gets forgotten about – especially considering how scarce minor league 2b are.

by slurve on Aug 24, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Jose Vallejo?

by fds on Aug 22, 2008 10:25 AM EDT 0 recs

in the 5-10 range

but his name should certainly be in the mix.

by clark on Aug 22, 2008 2:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sean Rodriguez

He’s really shown me something this year. The ability to hit for power combined with his plate discipline is a rare combination for his position. He had a down year last year (relatively speaking) but his monster 2006 season makes me think that this year isn’t really a fluke. He was a SS back then and had fringy range for that position, but he should be fine for 2B. The only thing holding him back is the fact that he plays behind a guy hitting .320 at the Major League level in Kendrick. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot not to like about Rodriguez.

by dkny22 on Aug 22, 2008 10:46 AM EDT 0 recs

In keeping with the spirit of the other positional threads, shouldn't we regard Green as a 3B?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Aug 22, 2008 3:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Tolisano...

will be good, in the top 10 in a year or two.

by soccerman0 on Aug 22, 2008 3:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Right now the question is if Cardenas will stick at SS

where the A’s moved him back to, and seem to believe he can stick. They moved a decent SS prospect Sellers off SS to 2B for him. Sellers, from what I know of the guy, is a good defensive SS, so its not out of nessesity; its purely to get Cardenas at the position.

It would be a major boone for the A’s if somehow Carter, Cardenas and Weeks all stick at and excell at their current positions (3B, SS and 2B respectivly). That is the biggest hole in the A’s Organization, Majors downward, and if they can all make it to the Majors like that, the A’s could have quite a good team with them powering the infield. After all, no one doubts their bats, but it would give the A’s questionable infield defense in 2011, something that the A’s have not had even in the softball years.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Aug 22, 2008 7:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Lets give a "Perfect World" view for a second;

That is, the prospects develop as hoped and dreamed, the busts are minimal, the top prospects who suffered this year recover (I’m looking at you, Buck, at least you have an excuse unlike Barton (Shin Spints, Non-Stupidity-Related-Concussion, Mishandled Injury, Inner Ear Infection).

“Perfect World” 2011 A’s Lineup

C1 Kurt Suzuki
1B Sean Doolittle
2B Jemile Weeks
3B Chris Carter
SS Adrian Cardenas
LF Aaron Cunningham
RF Travis Buck
CF Carlos Gonzalez
DH Corey Brown

SP Brett Anderson
SP Trevor Cahill
SP Sean Gallagher
SP Gio Gonzalez
SP James Simmons

But that “Infield” is very easily 2 LF and a DH.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Aug 22, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

You must really hate Barton.

[Crosby] "Guy that has driven in some big runs for the A's over the years" - Vince Cotroneo

by WaddellCanseco on Sep 1, 2008 9:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

2b "prospects"

Wow, so many second basemen are converted from other positions, it’s hard to think of prospects at the position seriously.

I do think Chris Getz deserves an HM, at least… he probably only has Adam Kennedy upside, but Kennedy had a few useful seasons, when you consider glove and some batting skills.

by BobbyMac on Aug 23, 2008 5:06 AM EDT 0 recs