BA AZL Top 20

by rdf8585 on Sep 15, 2008 7:28 PM EDT Comment 13 comments

What do people think of this list? Just came out today - I'm happy to see Montgomery sitting there at #1 and even happier to read he has supposedly has #2 upside. I've been a fan of his since I read up on him before the draft and he's reportedly made big strides with a curveball this summer. The lefty had a good run in the AZL and at 6'5/180 is not short on projection.

AZL TOP 20 PROSPECTS (the list is free, the reports are whats for subscribers)

1. Mike Montgomery, lhp, Royals

2. Jaff Decker, of, Padres

3. Jharmidy DeJesus, 3b, Mariners

4. Ehire Adrianza, ss, Giants

5. Manuarys Correa, rhp, Angels

6. Rashun Dixon, of, Athletics

7. Jake Odorizzi, rhp, Brewers

8. Tyler Sample, rhp, Royals

9. Jose Casilla, rhp, Giants

10. Yowill Espinal, ss/2b, Royals

11. Joe Wieland, rhp, Rangers

12. Tyler Chatwood, rhp, Angels

13. Jose Bonilla, c, Royals

14. Starlin Castro, ss/2b, Cubs

15. Seth Lintz, rhp, Brewers

16. Junior Lake, ss, Cubs

17. Kyle Nicholson, rhp, Giants

18. Clark Murphy, 1b, Rangers

19. Terrell Alliman, of/3b, Angels

20. Wendell Fairley, of, Giants

List

AZL Top 20 Chat

BA's League Top 20 Schedule

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Comments

I think DeJesus is going to be a stud. I think he will be better than Triunfel. Obviously Triu is a couple levels higher, but DeJesus hit for good power in AZ and in the NWL

by VanillaGorilla on Sep 15, 2008 10:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Leyja

Am I just a biased A’s fan or was Nino Leyja unfairly passed over on this list?

Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.

by Threepwood XX on Sep 15, 2008 11:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just missed the cut

In the chat he was one of the prospects mentioned as having just missed the top 20. They said he has the quickness to play 3 infield positions (2b, ss, 3b) but that he looks like a utility player right now.

There was a lot of good propects in the AZL this year and at this far from the major’s a lot of ranking is subjective. Leyja is definitely worth keeping and eye on and I think this was mentioned in the chat.

by DiegoAsFan on Sep 16, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they'll take it slow

with both Dixon/Leyja, no need to rush either 17yr olds who were nice finds past the 10th rd. especially since there is some depth at their positions with OF’s and infielders in the system. house and berroa are also athletic speedburners that played in the AZL

by Asfan4ever723 on Sep 16, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's still at the point where his draft status matters more than his performance

and at this point, he’s a 15th round pick who wasn’t paid over slot.

Looking at performance only, he’s probably a top 5 guy for the league… but the fact is, they aren’t going to do that yet (and they probably shouldn’t). Hey, think of it this way— he couldn’t really have done any more than he did. Rome wasn’t built in a day, etc. etc.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 16, 2008 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why?

Why do they always stick black kids in CF????

Rashun Dixon was an EXCELLENT high school catcher and looked lost in the OF in the AzL. He could have been another Russell martin with his combo of athleticism, work ethic, and smarts. Dixon is only 17 and would have plenty of time to learn the nuances to the backstop.

I just don’t understand why you take a potential impact player at catcher and turn him into an OFer. Especially since Dixon is already big, bulky and muscular and will likely be a corner man instead of a CF down the road

by ScottAZ on Sep 16, 2008 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To utilize his speed?

I don’t really know the circumstances of his situation, but it seems that Dixon really has great speed. Maybe his coaches thought his legs would be worn down by the grind of catching and that it was better to play him in a position where his elite speed would be an asset?

by DiegoAsFan on Sep 16, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a different theory

6-2, 210 in a squat for 150 pitches a game is a guaranteed, surefire way of generating knee problems.

Joe Mauer is 25 and he’s already starting to develop long-term issues from catching. It is just not a position for tall players.

The racial overtones of the first post are pretty ridiculous without some kind of systematic evidence of typecasting players.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 16, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Next time please supply evidence supporting your claim please.

by asyouwish33 on Sep 16, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

In addition to the fact that his speed and athleticism project well to CF, Dixon only played C in his senior year at high school because there were no other candidates and his team needed him there. Apparently he hated the position and actually burnt his pads and glove after his final high school game. I doubt Dixon would have given up his football scholarship at Mississippi had the A’s intended on keeping him at C.

by DeJay on Sep 18, 2008 5:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its pretty much a standard thing that teams do

when they find a guy who has a good/great bat, and has other assets (speed), and with the athleticism to play another position, they pretty quickly move him off Catcher. Catching hurts your production from the Wear and Tear.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Sep 22, 2008 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Decker is a stud!

.352/.523/.541 with 11 2B, 2 3B, and 5 HR, a 55/36 BB/SO ratio, and 9-1 SB-CS

If he were a more typical lean-athletic looking build, he would have been a top 15 pick. But look at those stolen bases (he also played a lot of games in CF and threw 93 off the mound); he’s an athlete.

by pffriberg on Sep 17, 2008 2:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs