PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE TOP 20 PROSPECTS

by Asfan4ever723 on Oct 15, 2009 12:52 PM EDT Comment 31 comments

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
1. Buster Posey, c, Fresno (Giants)
2. Neftali Feliz, rhp, Oklahoma City (Rangers)
3. Travis Snider, of, Las Vegas (Blue Jays)
4. Michael Saunders, of, Tacoma (Mariners)
5. Cameron Maybin, of, New Orleans (Marlins)
6. Alcides Escobar, ss, Nashville (Brewers)
7. Brett Wallace, 3b/1b, Memphis (Cardinals)/Sacramento (Athletics)
8. Kyle Blanks, 1b/of, Portland (Padres)
9. Justin Smoak, 1b, Oklahoma City (Rangers)
10. Vin Mazzaro, rhp, Sacramento (Athletics)
11. Bud Norris, rhp, Round Rock (Astros)
12. Esmil Rogers, rhp, Colorado Springs (Rockies)
13. Mat Gamel, 3b, Nashville (Brewers)
14. Brandon Allen, 1b, Reno (Diamondbacks)
15. Gio Gonzalez, lhp, Sacramento (Athletics)
16. Jeff Samardzija, rhp, Iowa (Cubs)
17. Adam Moore, c, Tacoma (Mariners)
18. Angel Salome, c, Nashville (Brewers)
19. Adrian Cardenas, 2b, Sacramento (Athletics)
20. Gaby Sanchez, 1b/3b, New Orleans (Marlins)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2009/268996.html

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Saunders

BA and Project Prospect both love this guy. A lot to like, but I think John has been more skeptical and I am inclined to agree until he can consistently get the k rate down, which he did in AAA but not a huge sample and the k rate spiked again in the majors.

by wobatus on Oct 15, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

That’s a pretty impressive top 9 for Saunders to be in the middle of.

I’m a bit skeptical of Saunders’ contact skills as well. The fact that he’s solid across the board at a young age makes him easily underrated though. He’s not spectacular anywhere, but there isn’t much he can’t do either.

by PissedMick on Oct 15, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

He is pretty solid mostly across the board and young. each time I see how highly thought of he is by some sectors of the prospect community, i have to go back and look. And yes, that is one impressive list of guys he beat out. Smoak, Escobar, Wallace, Maybin and Blanks. All have some issue or other (not much necessarily, but you can always come up with something to improve) but are pretty good and just impresive they think so highly of him.

by wobatus on Oct 15, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Samardzija still made it?

A bit surprised. Reports just didn’t seem positive this past year.

by toonsterwu on Oct 15, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, how does Esmil Rogers end up on this leagues list? His ERA was 7.42 and K/BB was 1.3. The numbers don’t add up to have him on this list. Plus he allowed a .300 plus BA against him. If it’s his stuff that is so good, why not add Henry Rodriguez / Brad Kilby / James Simmions in his place. Esmil Rogers just doesn’t belong on this leagues list.

by Mistermidgetman on Oct 15, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

James Simmons?

Simmons is renowned for not having “stuff.”

Kilby’s average fastball is 91.3 and he’s a reliever.

Rodriguez didn’t pitch enough innings to qualify and he is a reliever.

by aCone419 on Oct 15, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

simmons

he seemed to have some bad luck…a 3.99 FIP isnt terrible in the pcl…not saying he deserves to be on the list

hrod he didnt qualify, but just throwing 100mph put him on the prospect radar at least.

by Asfan4ever723 on Oct 15, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simmons

How many years of a 10+ h/9 will it take before he goes from “unlucky” to just plain “hittable”?

I mean, he was only 22 this year, so there’s no reason to write him off, but he’s been called “unlucky” three straight years now.

by aCone419 on Oct 15, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cardenas

He’s really fallen out of favor lately. I would think the middle of the list would be a more appropriate spot for him.

Cardenas struggled initially in AAA, but hit .304/.366/.439 in 148 ABs (14:21 BB:K) his second time around, playing primarily at 2B. At age 21, that’s pretty encouraging. I’m not sure guys like Moore, Gio, Norris, Salome, or Rogers have a higher floor OR ceiling.

by PissedMick on Oct 15, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder what they’ll say in the chat re: John Bowker and the year he had.

Still the loving, adoptive father of Hector Sanchez. And who doesn't love switch-hitting catchers with power and patience?

by tedfordfan on Oct 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

International League

So, no one wanted to post that list? I wanted to complain about Fernando Martinez being ranked below Austin Jackson.

by wobatus on Oct 15, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Oct 15, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cunningham

i guess he lost his eligibility w/ his mlb time or fallen out of favor

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=RF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=488811

by Asfan4ever723 on Oct 15, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was eligible:

Jeff (Pittsburgh): Did Aaron Cunningham get any consideration? I’m surprised that Oakland didn’t give him more than a handful of sporadic at bats in the majors.

Jim Shonerd: He was on some my initial drafts and got heavy consideration. Managers loved his work ethic and he showed he’s got some pop and can play all three outfield positions. But the sense I got is he still has a ways to go. He needs to work on cutting down his swing and being more selective. His speed serves him well on the bases and in the field, but he needs to work on getting better jumps and reading pitchers. On defense, he has a good arm, but needs to clean up his footwork and throwing mechanics.

by jar75 on Oct 15, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming those initial drafts happened before he became ineligible

which he is. He has 133 at-bats.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Oct 15, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone who began the year with rookie status is eligible

See Cameron Maybin, Kyle Blanks, Gio Gonzalez…

by aCone419 on Oct 15, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, OK

That’s just retarded, then.

Like pretty much the rest of this list. These league top 20s have been FAIL city.

by PaulThomas on Oct 16, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh noes, Paul!!!!!!!111111111eleven!!!!!!!!!!11

You said RETARDED.

Why are you oppressing mentally deficient individuals?

Ban him, John.

He’s racist and homophobic and bigoted and discourteous towards people with minimal intelligence.

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Oct 16, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's enough.

Keep it to one thread, please.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 16, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cunningham

Has fewer question marks than, say, Salome, at this stage. I was kinda surprised at how the A’s handled him too, but Sweeney and Davis were pretty good this year overall. Hairston went back to being Hairston after the trade, although I guess hew as hurt. Always thought he might breakout some, despite the no walks, but he wasn’t the same after the padres trade.

But i like Cunningham. I can see that he had some K/BB issues this year, too, but he hasn’t had much issue with that in the past.

by wobatus on Oct 15, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hairston being hurt doesn't explain why he had absolutely no interest in drawing a walk

by thejd44 on Oct 16, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

but he also underperformed his carer norms in Oakland. His iso fell from .234 in SD (also a bad hitter’s park) to .155, and his slugging fell to .391. Could be just a bad stretch. He blows hot and cold. But he was hurt for a time too. Which is why i found it strange they seemed to futz around with Cunningham. He wasn’t great in the majors, then he got the concussion, then they decided not to bring him up at season’s end. I’m just wondering if they’ll give him a legit shot with consistent at-bats. He’s like the righty Buck how they treat him, although without the extensive injury history.

by wobatus on Oct 16, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hairston, Buck, Cunningham

I think one of the things that we have to consider with Hairston is that he comes with the injuries. He seems to be injured on a regular basis which will affect his performance as we saw at the end of last year.

Buck and Cunningham are interesting comps for each other. Heck, they even seem to deal with the same concussion problems as that is what has plagued Buck the most in the past 2 seasons. I’m starting to think that if either of them are successful (which I still believe both of them have the tools to do) it will have to be somewhere other than Oakland. I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of them get shipped off at some point this offseason. Certainly, of the four OFs (Hairston, Buck, Cunningham and Patterson) I think 2 of them will be somewhere else.

Visit my sports blog: Triple Slash Sports

by nobodyinparticular on Oct 16, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why are you pairing cunningham w/ buck?

I think Bucks issues either durability or attitude is much worse than cunningham right now. Cunningham has had his fair of injuries,wrist and shoulder were the result of collisions during games. If this updated report of cunningham is accurate of being able to play 3 OF positions w/ solid speed and arm, that puts him at an advantage. Considering not so long ago most rpeorts had him limited to LF. Patterson is out of options, so they will have to decide on his spot, Buck has fallen out of favor (even if the A’s wont admit it publicly)

by Asfan4ever723 on Oct 16, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buck/Cunningham

The linkage in my mind is more that the A’s don’t play either of these guys consistently even when they are healthy.

by wobatus on Oct 16, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Tuiasosopo...

I’ve said it before, but I think everyone’s whiffing on him in a big way. He came back from injury to post an OPS over 1.000 in his only healthy month in the league and is likely in line for a big-league job next year, either as a fulltime 3B (if the Ms don’t re-sign Beltre), a full-time 2B (if the Ms like him there better than Jose Lopez and want to move Lopez to 3rd), or as a super-utility guy who can play 3 infield spots and either corner outfield.

I think Tuiasosopo has the potential to be a Martin Prado type of player, only with more home run power. .280/.350/.460 or so with 15-20hr power and a lot of positional versatility.

by slamcactus on Oct 15, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Allen

Got a nice wtiteup struggled big time in the majors. Anyone believe in this guy?

by thebroman on Oct 15, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I do

Been an Allen fan for a while now, even moreso now that he’s gone to one of my favorite teams.

I’d move him up and Mazzaro down. Otherwise, I guess I’m ok with the list.

"Chicks dig the long ball, although fat chicks will settle for warning track power" - Nick Diamond

by hero66 on Oct 15, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do as well

At the Time of the Trade I thought the White Sox, felt they didtn’t really need him with guys like Gilmore and Flowers on board, to potentially take over for Konerko soon.

But man, what a Trade for the D-backs….

BTW, how in the world will the D-backs play all of Co-Jax, B-Allen, and Mark Reynolds next year at the same time?

with Parra, Upton and Jackson in the Outfield ? – I guess….

Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 16, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs