BA Southern League Top 20 Prospects
by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 11:51 AM EDT
35 comments
BA Southern League Top 20 prospects.
At first glance, I think I like the list moreso than most of their other league lists this year. I'm mildly surprised that Jay Jackson ranked 11th for them, because every time BA responded on Jay, it seemed like they weren't that high. I think he's been underrated on this board, though. That said, he did have a really bad month and the demotion, but he was real good for quite awhile. Let's hope he learned his lesson.
Loaded list. Very curious what the chat will be like. At 2nd glance, I guess I was mildly surprised at the placement of some of the names at the back 10, such as Danks, maybe Frazier. Overall, still doesn't seem bad, though.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
1. Jason Heyward, of, Mississippi (Braves)
2. Gordon Beckham, ss, Birmingham (White Sox)
3. Desmond Jennings, of, Montgomery (Rays)
4. Mike Stanton, of, Jacksonville (Marlins)
5. Jarrod Parker, rhp, Mobile (Diamondbacks)
6. Tyler Flowers, c, Birmingham (White Sox)
7. Logan Morrison, 1b, Jacksonville (Marlins)
8. Freddie Freeman, 1b, Misssissippi (Braves)
9. Jeremy Hellickson, rhp, Montgomery (Rays)
10. Josh Bell, 3b, Chattanooga (Dodgers)
11. Jay Jackson, rhp, Tennessee (Cubs)
12. Todd Frazier, of/2b/1b, Carolina (Reds)
13. Jonathan Lucroy, c, Huntsville (Brewers)
14. Chris Heisey, of, Carolina (Reds)
15. Dan Hudson, rhp, Birmingham (White Sox)
16. Jordan Danks, of, Birmingham (White Sox)
17. Sean West, lhp, Jacksonville (Marlins)
18. Andrew Lambo, of, Chattanooga (Dodgers)
19. Daniel Schlereth, lhp, Mobile (Diamondbacks)
20. Travis Wood, lhp, Carolina (Reds)
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Lambo
His stock really fell off of a cliff this season.
by jar75 on Oct 8, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jackson
Really happy he’s getting some recognition after the great year he had.
by sagecoll on Oct 8, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jackson
I think his late season demotion for disciplinary actions may make some people think about his prospect status. Has anyone heard if it was really a big deal or the Cubs just wanting to teach him a hard lesson? I hadnt heard of any other issues.
by NYSOX on Oct 8, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
from rumors floating around
I’m hopeful that it’s youthful mistakes that the normal maturation with age will curb, rather than any serious character flaws. That said, guess you don’t know until … well, until something happens again or he goes a period without issues.
by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Considering they bumped him from Daytona to Iowa rather than back up to Tennessee while Tennessee was in the playoff hunt, I think it’s safe to say there was an issue between him and someone in Tennessee rather than an overall organizational issue with him.
by Outshined_One on Oct 8, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, the lack of Cashner was rather surprising. Badler was really down on him in the chat, saying Cashner had trouble maintaining his velocity late in games and that he’d likely be a bullpen guy.
by Outshined_One on Oct 8, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BA lists this year
They seem more uncoordinated than usual.
by mrkupe on Oct 8, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Id say theyre as bad as usual.
and people were knocking Project Prospect for some strange calls… if BA didnt have the pedigree they would be ripped apart for some of these lists. There are some really illogical rankings… guys placed distantly from similar players, low ceiling guys far over studs with great tools… I really dont see the logic behind much of this. Im not typically one to get too wrapped up over these things… there are some pretty strange placements here. Id really like to hear some more explanations.
by alskor on Oct 13, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
Are reports good on him sticking at c? I like him and Lucroy. Lucroy had awful stats in his home park this year, although I don’t think Huntsville is a bad hitter’s park. The issue I have with Flowers is the k rate, which was up this year, and when he went to AA, small sample, but the walk rate fell. Lucroy’s walk rate spiked and his k rate declined in AA. He walked more than he struck out. But he doesn’t have Flowers power.
by wobatus on Oct 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Southern League Poll
BA’s tools survey of southern league managers had Flowers as the best Defensive Catcher in the league. link
I thought that was odd
by aCone419 on Oct 8, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that does seem odd
If he is good defensively, he is certainly a very good prospect indeed.
by wobatus on Oct 8, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's not the defense that is going to keep him from sticking behind the plate
It’s his knees. He’s a big guy who’s already had knee problems and that is not a good sign this early in his career. I’d be shocked if he was still a catcher four years down the road.
by was385 on Oct 8, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d personally be much more concerned with Flowers .39% Average on Balls in Play.
by WrenFGun on Oct 8, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not sure anyone actually thinks he's a .300 hitter in the majors.
by larry on Oct 8, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right
That’s why I said the strikeout rate worried me somewhat. I just wasn’t really thinking about the batting average. The power and walk rates are his selling points. I liked him last year and then he had that crazy hot Arizona Fall League.
by wobatus on Oct 8, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
what type of line does he put up in his ML prime do you think?
by NYSOX on Oct 8, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Id say more like
.250/.330/.450
His skillset seems to often have trouble with the initial transition to the majors.
by alskor on Oct 13, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Geez
Southern League was stacked this year. It will neat to look back 3-5 years from now and see how these guys are doing. Great talent.
by MightyMoose on Oct 8, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Greg Halman...
I’d probably have stuck him on as #20 as an homage to his upside, but then again, I’m a dreamer.
by slamcactus on Oct 8, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nope.
I don’t accept that. He’s 21. He grew up in the Netherlands, and more importantly, he’s responded incredibly well to failure in the past (see 2007 and Halman’s Mendoza-line performance in the MWL).
Halman’s prospect status has tanked right now, but he’s tanked at a really advanced level, and he’s still quite young. He’s got a few years to turn it around. I’ve watched him as far back as 2005, and I’ve always figured it would take him until 23-24 to figure it out, if he ever did. The surprise with him for me was not that he tanked this year, but that he showed as much as he did last year. I’m still a little bit hopeful in the end result.*
*Not predicting that he’s going to succeed, mind you
by slamcactus on Oct 8, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I agree with you
I just couldn’t pass up the Crowded House reference.
by ThomasG on Oct 8, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great tune, yo
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 9, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Halman
He strikes me as the sort of guy who, if you could put him in MLB for the first half of 2010 and in, say, the Cal League for the second half, would stand a 50/50 chance of doing better in MLB. He’s just that sort of guy, a player whose strengths are so prominent and his weaknesses so glaring that his performance has to be graded almost exclusive of any external context.
by mrkupe on Oct 8, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no chance
I have said and thought that way about players before, but did you see Halman in the World Baseball Classic? Obviously it’s a very small sample size against players that are more seasoned than he is, but that is also precisely what would happen to him if he was placed in the Major Leagues for the first half of 2010. I believe he went 0-4, 4 K in the particular game I saw him in. It wasn’t Jim Thome 0-4, 4 K. It would be like me stepping in the box versus Pedro Martinez circa 1999. Halman looked like American League pitchers not named CC Sabathia batting in interleague play.
by richieabernathy on Oct 9, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sean West> Dan Hudson
Also Flowers is way too high.
by Birdfan01 on Oct 8, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not if he can stick at catcher, and the managers in that league obviously think he can.
Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur
A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.
by timmy3 on Oct 8, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'd say the scouts are more important than the managers.
flowers certainly was not the best defensive catcher in the league. but he has made the stride to adequate. the upside of that bat coupled with his position merit a high ranking.
by larry on Oct 8, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
who?
Who in the league is better? I seriously don’t know the comp. I know Lucroy they said needed work last year but he gunned down 40% of base stealers. Not that that is most important thing for a catcher necessarily.
Hate to take this from a fantasy perspective, but, uh, if he actually gets a catching job, he’s going to be a stud. As long as he actually gets the at-bats and isn’t relegated to alternating with a Jeff Mathis type a la Napoli.
by wobatus on Oct 8, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'd rate lucroy better for sure.
i suppose maybe the “best defensive _” is perhaps read by managers as “the best defensive _ that is actually a prospect.” certainly more understandable if that’s the case. there are journeyman types – boscan comes to mind – who are better, as well.
by larry on Oct 8, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Hudson more than West
to make it as a starter.
by toonsterwu on Oct 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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