Aaron Cunningham

by JPShark on Aug 3, 2008 6:17 PM EDT

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on Aaron Cunningham. As most of you probably know, he went to Oakland in the 6 player return the A's got for Dan Haren. Of the 6 prospects, he and Greg Smith were probably the two least talked about players in the deal. I've been fortunate enough to watch him play a few times over the past couple years, and have been nothing but impressed. In fact, as an A's fan, when I heard Oakland recieved him along with 5 others I was very excited. I think he has been one of the more underrated prospects in recent years. The guy has really done nothing but hit in his minor league career, and has continued that with an impressive stint in AA with Midland this season. Coming off a broken wrist that he suffered right out of spring training, I have the guy at a line of .317/.384/.506 through 83 games. This goes along with a minor league career average of .305, and an .863 OPS. He's not the biggest guy there is, and doesn't have huge power but he looks to have 20-25 HR pop and great bat control sporting high averages all along the way. I have heard him compared to Aaron Rowand, and I have also heard people say he looks like a 4th outfielder. I personally am very excited to see him in Oakland as soon as next season, and want to get people's opinions on what type of player they see him becoming.

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Aaron Rowand is quite a good comp for him

and not just because of the name, either. Their hitting numbers are pretty similar to this point, but Cunningham actually has the edge on Rowand by a head or so. Like Rowand, Cunningham isn’t projectable and probably won’t exceed his minor league numbers in the bigs—but also like Rowand, he only needs to play up to them, not exceed them, to be a very strong player. Defensively, he isn’t a speed-burner, but good routes and aggression should make up for that and make him a good corner OF or a decent CF.

Combined with Carlos Gonzalez, I think the A’s have 2/3 of their future outfield. They need a breakout from one of the 4th OF types (Ryan Sweeney, Travis Buck, Chris Denorfia, or less likely Danny Putnam or Richie Robnett) or a strong free agent signing and they should be set in that area.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 3, 2008 7:35 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't think Travis Buck is a 4th OF type

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Aug 3, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

You're smoking the fanboy rocks

Rowand is a plus CFer whereas I haven’t seen any unbiased source say that Cunningham is even an average MLB CF. He has 50-55 speed and arm, from what I hear, but that doesn’t make him a defender, and it is problematic to compare him to a guy who gets alot of his value from the glove.

Aaron Rowand as an above-avg defensive LF ain’t no great shakes.

by nms on Aug 4, 2008 3:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

having seen him, he should not play center. ever.

by larry on Aug 4, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

Rowand

Didn’t play center field until 2001. He basically had a half season of playing center in Charlotte before the White Sox called him up. Cunningham has also just recently moved to the position. It’s possible he could develop into the CF Rowand is.

by thejd44 on Aug 4, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Its possible in a theoretical sense

but Cunningham’s tools and glove aren’t nearly on the same level, defensively, as Rowands. If you’re going off that criteria you could look at a dozen AA LFers and say they could be Rowand

by nms on Aug 4, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

What "tools"?

Is he wearing a Little Leaguer’s catching glove or something? Trying to catch baseballs in his hat? Does he think his right hand is his left?

Considering that the A’s have consistently put the top defense in baseball on the field for the past five years or so, I’m pretty well inclined to take their word for it when they say a guy can play center field.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 4, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Rowand is a plus CF?

Not last time I checked. He’s an average CF according to every metric I’ve seen.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 4, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good for your metrics

You’re taking one narrow interpretation of defense with questionable accuracy and treating it as if it is the truth. It is hard to pay attention to the guy and take see him as a plus CFer.

Even if he is “only” an average CF that is miles better on D than Cunningham.

by nms on Aug 4, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

er

It is hard to pay attention to the guy and not see him as a plus CFer.

by nms on Aug 4, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1

Rowand may not be the most physically gifted player, but he’s got enough range and instincts to make plays that would be XBHs in the eyes of many of your prototypical ultra-toolsy CFs.

There shouldn’t be much doubt that the guy is a plus glove in CF. And if you were to stick the guy in a corner he’d be an easy plus-plus.

by mrkupe on Aug 4, 2008 6:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Apparently it's hard to pay attention to Jeter and not see him as a plus shortstop

So: is he?

Being flashy and gritty and running into walls might enhance your reputation but it does not make you a good defensive baseball player.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Aug 4, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually

the more attention you pay to Jeter the more you see his flaws. If you just watch him on SPortsCenter you see his biggest strength, the spectacular throw in the hole, and maybe you can see that his hands are solid. But if you watch him closely you’ll notice the late breaks and limited range.

Watching Rowand closely lets you see the strong jumps he makes and his good, but not burnin’, wheels. And he does often make the spectacular play that others don’t. The catches makes diving into walls do matter. Not many other guys attempt that, and it isn’t that others can catch those without diving.

Having mediocre defensive metrics does not mean you are a mediocre defender. I think we often lose sight of how imperfect those things can be.

by nms on Aug 4, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

As a Rowand fan, I hate the play in Philly from a couple years ago

Because Rowand really doesn’t dive that much, because he doesn’t have to. He makes fewer spectacular plays because he makes them pretty easily.

He gets some amazing reads and breaks that makes up for his diminishing speed. Is he the best defensive CF in baseball? Probably not. But he’s certainly top 10, and he might still be Top 5.

by thejd44 on Aug 6, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

-1

Playing hard/playing all out and being a good defensive CF are different things.

by alskor on Aug 4, 2008 11:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

sure

but in this case I’m talking about a player who plays hard and is a good defender.

by nms on Aug 5, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

Unless he's been awful this year, UZR loves him

I think MGL has him as a top 5 CF in baseball.

by thejd44 on Aug 6, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed, with caveats.

Rowand does seem a good comp for him, but may stand to have more power than Rowand (though not a lot more).

And it appears he isn’t the defender Rowand is (though I’d like to see him once up). Rowand is unquestionably a plus defender.

nms is right that Rowand with a little more pop and an above average LF ‘is no great shakes’ but that would still make for a solid MLB player, and potentially a great fit in OAK (if they get a DH with serious pop).

by haverecords on Aug 4, 2008 4:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

I haven't seen him in person...

but from what little I’ve seen on video, and more objectively looking at his numbers, he looks like a solid regular major league OF’er. I think the Rowand comp is interesting, and I can actually see some similarities in their swings as well. He’s in the middle of a great stretch at AA right now.

Nice looking swing here:

http://xrl.us/omnkc

ProspectTube.com

You Video. You Scout.

by ProspectTube.com on Aug 3, 2008 8:02 PM EDT 0 recs

impressive stats

cunningham .900 ops 5the best in texas league. he’s also the youngest in that group…fowler is a couple months older.

there are some rumblings they he might be a sept callup, not sure why…it would make sense to promote him to AAA now or very soon.

but that AAA OF is full with murton/robnett/putnam/denorfia/buck etc..most of them fringe types but we’ll see

i’m also interested in the resurgence lately of javier hererra, if only the results would match up with the tools/upside which may be higher than any OF in the system other than carlos gonzalez. he’s missed parts of 2 seasons, yet isnt too old for AA at 23…it would be a nice surprise if he can stay healthy

by Asfan4ever723 on Aug 3, 2008 10:45 PM EDT 0 recs