Cleveland Indians Top 20 Prospects for 2011
by John Sickels on Nov 30, 2010 2:00 PM EST
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PrintCleveland Indians Top 20 Prospects for 2011
All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too concerned about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get past the Top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize.
Feel free to critique the list, but use logic and reason rather than polemics to do to. The list and grades are a blending of present performance and long-term potential. Full reports on all of players can be found in the 2011 Baseball Prospect Book. We are now taking pre-orders. Order early and order often!
QUICK PRIMER ON GRADE MEANINGS:
Grade A prospects are the elite. They have a good chance of becoming stars or superstars. Almost all Grade A prospects develop into major league regulars, if injuries or other problems don't intervene. Note that is a major "if" in some cases.
Grade B prospects have a good chance to enjoy successful careers. Some will develop into stars, some will not. Most end up spending several years in the majors, at the very least in a marginal role.
Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don't make it at all.
A major point to remember is that grades for pitchers do NOT correspond directly to grades for hitters. Many Grade A pitching prospects fail to develop, often due to injuries. Some Grade C pitching prospects turn out much better than expected.
Also note that there is diversity within each category. I'm a tough grader; Grade C+ is actually good praise coming from me, and some C+ prospects turn out very well indeed.
Finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. You have to read the full comment for my full opinion about a player, the letter grade only tells you so much. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player.
Cleveland Indians Top 20 for 2011
1) Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Grade B+: I think he will be a solid regular, but not a superstar.
2) Alex White, RHP, Grade B+: A quality inning-eater at worst, and could develop into a genuine ace if all goes well.
3) Jason Kipnis, 2B, Grade B+: Love the bat, and glove should be at least average with a bit more time.
4) Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Grade B+: Could be Number One on this list a year from now as a power lefty and possible future ace.
5) Nick Weglarz, OF, Grade B: Has always drawn walks, power coming along, can he stay healthy?
6) Jason Knapp, RHP, Grade B: Has B+/A- talent, but concerns about durability and command worry me enough to keep him at a Grade B for now.
7) Joe Gardner, RHP, Grade B: Another guy with a power sinker, should chew innings.
8) LeVon Washington, OF, Grade B-: Like the tools, but not sure about the refinement yet. Could rank much higher next year.
9) Nick Hagadone, LHP, Grade B-: Could also rank much higher if command issues get better.
10) Tony Wolters, SS, Grade B-: Can he stay at shortstop? Indians think so, others aren't sure. Should hit.
11) Chun-Hsiu Chen, C, Grade B-: Taiwanese catcher had breakthrough '10 season.
12) Kyle Blair, RHP, Grade B-: One of my favorite pitchers from the 2011 draft.
13) Bryce Stowell, RHP, Grade B-: My favorite of the huge corps of promising minor league relievers gathered by Cleveland.
14) Cord Phelps, 2B, Grade C+: Overshadowed by Kipnis, but could get to the majors before him and has useful skills.
15) Austin Adams, RHP, Grade C+: Very live arm, high upside, made a lot of progress last year.
16) Tyler Holt, OF, Grade C+: Looks like a steal to me as 10th round pick.
17) Scott Barnes, LHP, Grade C+: He pitched better than his 5.22 ERA in Double-A indicates, and looked good in the Arizona Fall League.
18) Jordan Henry, OF, Grade C+: Loads of speed, gets on base, lacks power, fourth outfielder?
19) Vinnie Pestano, RHP, Grade C+: Should be a very useful relief pitcher. The Indians have a ton of these guys.
20) Zach Putnam, RHP, Grade C+: Another good bullpen arm.
21) Matt Packer, LHP, Grade C+: Could rank a lot higher, had a great year.
22) Felix Sterling, RHP, Grade C+: Interesting rookie ball pitcher with upside potential.
23) Rob Bryson, RHP, Grade C+: Here's another live bullpen arm.
24) Josh Judy, RHP, Grade C+: Another good bullpen arm.
25) Corey Kluber, RHP, Grade C+: Possible fifth starter or long reliever.
26) Chen Lee, RHP, Grade C+: Another good minor league reliever.
OTHERS OF NOTE: Robbie Aviles, RHP; Cory Burns, RHP; Kelvin De La Cruz, LHP; Jared Goedert, 3B; Preston Guilmet, RHP; T.J. House, LHP; Alex Lavisky, C; Zach McAllister, RHP; T.J. McFarland, LHP; Alexander Perez, RHP; Bryan Price, RHP; Josh Rodriguez, INF; Hector Rondon, RHP; Giovanni Soto, LHP; Tyler Sturdevant, RHP; Jess Todd, RHP.
The Indians have a huge group of C+ prospects, especially potential relief arms. I spent a couple of hours trying to rank all these guys, and finally just decided to I had to get the list out. You can make a case for most of the C+ guys to rank in the top 15, but of course you can't rank them ALL in the top 15.
The system is obviously rich in pitching; you have White and Pomeranz as possible rotation anchors, as well as Knapp if he can stay healthy. Gardner and Blair can be inning-eaters. There is loads of material for the bullpen.
What the system lacks is impact hitting. Chisenhall, Kipnis, and Weglarz should all be productive regulars, but aren't franchise players. Washington and Wolters are a long way off.
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John, any sense as to the upside potential of Barnes? I was impressed by his AFL performance and his occasional dominance this year at AA (e.g. June 9 vs. New Hampshire, August 6 at New Britain).
barnes
I see him as a number 4 starter. not that there’s anything wrong with that!
by John Sickels on Nov 30, 2010 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
After all, number-four starters have been serving alongside number-three starters in clubhouses for years, and nobody really has a problem with it.
by Jay on Dec 2, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Chisenhall vs. White
For number one prospect in the system, just wondering why you put Chisenhall ahead of White, when you say that Lonnie “will be a solid regular, but not a superstar” and White “could develop into a genuine ace”. I would think that White’s potential ceiling would rank him above Chisenhall – or is there another reason to this decision I am not seeing?
I am not john but I am assuming
it’s just that Chisenhall seems a safe bet to be a solid regular in the bigs while pitcher’s are much more of a crapshoot. Same reasoning that most people had Heyward over Strasburg as the top overall prospect last year.
That's what I thought
Just wondering what the balance point on that is, though – floor vs. ceiling on prospects with the same grade? Maybe this is unanswerable, at least in a black and white way, but if John or anyone wants to give it a shot, go ahead.
by cookiedabookie on Nov 30, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
yeah
I went back and forth on that, but went with the regular everyday player over the pitcher, esp. since White does have a few flaws still.
by John Sickels on Nov 30, 2010 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Like to see Kipnis with B+, was hoping for an A-.
Alot of big names in the HM, McAllister, Rondon, House, Todd, and Perez. How far has Rondon fallin, any chance for him any more?
Correction
*Did like to see that Kipnis got a B+, was hoping for an A-.
Rondon
So by this definition, Strasburg is barely top 20 in the Nats system now if he were to qualify?
Obviously I’m not that well versed on your criteria, but based on what I consider to be relevant indicators, I find your standards to be inconsistent. For example, Knapp has shown far less success than Rondon, and is recovering from injury. I’m guessing your argument will be that Knapp has returned and we have a sample that shows he’s recovered to a degree, where we cannot assume the same for Rondon. This would be a fair point. I’d argue that based on the success rate for TJ surgery, and Rondon’s previous elite (amazing?) performance taking into account age vs level, physical traits and arm strength, Rondon is still a far safer investment than a guy like Knapp. At the very least, this fails to justify the difference between a #6 prospect and an honorable mention.
If Rondon’s injury can drop him this far, does the same hold true for Strasburg? If your argument is that Strasburg was more successful, how much are you discounting the fact that Rondon’s performance was more sustainable than Strasburg’s? (Rondon has thrown a lot more professional innings than Strasburg)
These are the conflicts that standout for me. There are more, but the other are more subtle and I’m not really looking to delve into those. We’re dealing with humans, so none of these conclusions are definitive. Obviously how much each of us weight these factors are merely reflections of our personal biases. I’m just curious about the way you view the world since you obviously spend a lot of time thinking about these things.
Not sure
where you’re getting an elite tag for Rondon from. Even at his peak (2008) it seems like almost every scouting report I read tabbed him as an arm strength guy with lacking secondaries and a relief profile. Are you seriously comping him to Strasburg?
by blackoutyears on Dec 1, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
??
I’m not sure what your point is here. If Strasburg had been hurt before demonstrating his ability to dominate in the majors, I would have probably lowered him from a Grade A to a Grade B. Rondon was never a Grade A prospect for me, more like a B+/B, so lowering him to a C or C+ due to the injury fits with my general policy.
Interesting.
Not to antagonize. Purely for my own edification, what did you not like about a 6-3, 190 lb righty with 93-97 mph heat, a 4 pitch mix (although the 4th was/is a “show me” pitch at this point), with more than respectable numbers as a 20-21 year old in the upper minors (before he got hurt obviously)?
I would think this is easily a B prospect, if not higher. I’m interested in how you distinguish this guy from say, many others that I consider to have less credentials, yet receiving higher grades. Thanks for the reply.
would think this is easily a B prospect
So did John, as stated above, prior to his injury.
by blackoutyears on Dec 2, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
Kyle Blair
He seemed a little bit underrated in June, despite a run of good starts leading up to the draft, and I’m very interested to see how that sinker/slider combo plays in the minors. He is a durable-looking guy, so an innings eater profile makes sense.
John
Is Chisenhall’s ceiling is around 20-25hr’s, .290-.300avg. with a floor of 15-18hrs .270-.280avg?
If he hits his ceiling
that would put him in the upper echelon of 3bman, at least offensively, imo. With offensive numbers reduced dramatically last year, those type of ‘ceiling’ numbers aren’t that dissimilar to what David Wright posted last year (minus the speed).
I see the floor as more ‘solid regular’, but the ceiling would make him a consistent all-star (maybe not superstar), imo.
Goldstein compared him to the good version of Casey Blake....
Does that sound reasonable to the community?
by King Billy Royal on Dec 1, 2010 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
no
Blake’s plate discipline has never been good, and he’s never had an OPS over .850. Chisenhall should be able to reach that and then some in multiple years. Bad comp. I think a Scott Rolen comp matches Chisenhall’s skill set better.
by another know it all on Dec 1, 2010 8:29 PM EST up reply actions
Response
Blake’s plate discipline has never been good, and he’s never had an OPS over .850.
Neither has Chisenhall. I am not saying KG’s comp is accurate but your reasoning seems off.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 1, 2010 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
One of Chisenhall's strengths
has always been his plate discipline. He’s a plus hitter with very few holes in his swing. Not sure I understand where your coming from with this… I thought the only question with chisenhall’s bat was with his future power. Looking at his numbers last year, I would say his plate discipline is VERY good.
BB/K
blake’s career: .42
chisenhall in the minors: .55
by another know it all on Dec 1, 2010 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
my reasoning
is pretty simple to understand… future .300 hitter, good plate discipline, even with average power he can put up an OPS of .850 easily. I can see Blake and Chisenhall having similar power numbers, but Chis OBP potential is much higher.
by another know it all on Dec 1, 2010 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
Why is he going to be a .300 hitter?
I just don’t see that. I think he will be a good 3B but not really elite.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 1, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
obvious problem with your reasoning
You’re using Blake’s major league numbers to compare to Chisenhall’s minor league numbers. Doesn’t work. I don’t think anybody sees Chisenhall as a Scott Rolen redux. Maybe a poor man’s Rolen . . .but a Casey Blake-esque career (some inconsistencies, a number of strong years) sounds much more reasonable.
when I read
scouting reports on Chisenhall, the kind of numbers one can expect from said scouting reports are right in line with a guy like Scott Rolen. Multiple years of 20-30 HR with a few outliers, a pretty good bb/k, and an average that floats around right under .300 for the most part. And there’s a difference between a COMP and CAREER.
Now I remember why I hardly ever post here.
by another know it all on Dec 2, 2010 8:32 AM EST up reply actions
Without the amazing defense then maybe a ceiling projection is Scott Rolen
but assuming that kind of longevity and consistency are mistakes, IMO, as well.
you never post here because other people have other opinions?
A big part of why Scott Rolen is so good is because he’s a special defender, will Chisenhall have that kind of ability? I doubt it, because few do.
you never post here because other people have other opinions?
Just what I was thinking…
by blackoutyears on Dec 2, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Great points
Rolen is arguably top 3 all time at his position defensively.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 2, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
True
Who would you put top 3? Brooks Robinson, Rolen, and Schmidt or Santo?
by King Billy Royal on Dec 2, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
You could make a great case for Brooks, Rolen and Beltre
Beltre might end up with a better defensive career than Rolen when all is said and done.
Beltre is solid
I wouldn’t put him at Rolen’s level but he has been great with the glove.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 2, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
Beltre is absolutely not at the same level as Rolen, when Rolen is healthy.
Nobody really can rank the all-time defensive greats across eras. The game changes, and there’s too little video. In the past 20 years, a defender like Brooks would be a stand-out but not a legend — amazing defenders aren’t commonplace but they’re not nearly as rare as they used to be. Even so, if you watch a ton of MLB and then watch Rolen for a week in his prime, you know you’re watching the cream of the cream.
by Jay on Dec 2, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
I'd say Beltre is just as good, frankly.
I’ve seen a decent amount of both. Rolen started on turf.
Even so, if you watch a ton of MLB and then watch Rolen for a week in his prime, you know you’re watching the cream of the cream.
Those who watch Beltre would say the same of Beltre. He’s fantastic.
Out of curiousity what is your age range?
I watched both guys play since they were rookies and was at an age where I could accurately rate each. That said, I’m not sure either are as good as Brooks was. I only got to watch his later years but even at that age he was a vacuum.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 2, 2010 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
31
I’m sure neither is as good as Brooks, but all I’ve seen are highlights.
I’ve seen plenty of both Rolen and Beltre.
well
I wasn’t the one who comped 6’4", 250 from the right side to 6’1", 200 from the left side. So if you’re trying to compare the two players and suggest that there’s ample reason to think that they’re similar process-wise if not necessarily results-wise . . .then yeah, I’m going to have to disagree with you. You can find better players to compare Chisenhall to. Like Casey Blake, who admittedly still isn’t a great comparison (similar body types, but different handedness), but he’s a much better fit than Rolen.
But let’s say I want to play along and go for the results-driven comparison, looking at the numbers. And let’s ignore defense, which also kills the comparison cold, because Chisenhall projects to be average to above-average, and Rolen was an unbelievably good glove in his prime. Hitting-wise, it’s still not a very good fit. Chisenhall doesn’t really strike out all that much, but he’s not a walk machine, either. Rolen has always drawn a ton of walks, and while he didn’t strike out much as a prospect, obviously that changed in the majors. Chisenhall doesn’t have the kind of raw power that Rolen has, although you might be able to scale it down.
So yeah, I’m not seeing it. Feel free to tell me where I’m wrong in my reasoning, I think I’ve been comprehensive at breaking this down on multiple levels.
He's not particularly toolsy
I think he was seen as more of a college player than pro prospect.
http://bullpenbanter.com/
Granted
but he’s very good defender and there’s a lot to like there. Seems like a nice high floor guy, too.
I’m not saying he should have been a very early pick or anything… but 10th round?
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I'm guessing that was because of his asking price
He got $500K and was probably a real threat to go back for his senior year at FSU. He has excellent instincts, but I’m not sure he has the speed to play CF in pro ball.
http://bullpenbanter.com/
Really good list, John
Best I have seen so far. Differences are really minor. Same placement for Washington but I give him a B. Same grade for Wolters but I place him lower than Phelps who also gets B-. I gave Barnes, Putnam and Packer B- and movement up the chart. IMO Barnes is closer to MOR but certainly no sure thing. Putnam is 2nd after Stowell in the relievers on my list. Packer was my most difficult grade. Can he really be as good as he looked in Akron? I have Clayton Cook where you have Chen Lee but that’s just me. I don’t think any other evaluator has him that high.
Kelvin De La Cruz
…should be in the top 20. I know he had control issues, but he’s also shown flashes of brilliance.
yeah surprised to se De La Cruz far that fall
i mean Hector Rondon’s demise was a sure bet but De La Cruz i think is underrated a touch .
I’d take him over any of the relievers in my opinion except for maybe Stowell or Putnam
Another guy who looks like a marginal lefty now is T.J. House I remember people thinking he could be top 5 Indians prospect for this year but instead he’s out of the top 25!
I called it - Joe Mauer's first career Home-Run at Target Field !!!
Why Oh Why did the D'Backs select A.J. Pollock over Mike Trout?
I hate Hunter Wendelstedt, you hate Hunter Wendelstedt we all hate hunter w
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Nov 30, 2010 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
"sure bet "
What made it a “sure bet” might I ask?
i was referring to the outcome of this list without seeing it beforehand
there was no doubt Rondon was going to drop out of the top 15 or even 20 (which he did)
it was a big surprise to me however, his season was that miserable
a year ago at this time I had Rondon as a top 40,50 or 60 prospect overall I’m pretty sure
I called it - Joe Mauer's first career Home-Run at Target Field !!!
Why Oh Why did the D'Backs select A.J. Pollock over Mike Trout?
I hate Hunter Wendelstedt, you hate Hunter Wendelstedt we all hate hunter w
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Dec 7, 2010 5:41 PM EST up reply actions
Well, he got hurt,
and you have to think he was pitching hurt as he ultimately ended up undergoing TJ. I’m not taking his 2010 IPs at face value, but since we probably won’t know until 2012 how he’s going to look going forward I can see dropping him way down, or even off, a Top 20.
by blackoutyears on Dec 7, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions
Weglarz
Potential riser this year? I’ve always read that he had a lot of untapped potential, particularly in terms of his power, so perhaps if he can avoid injury this year that could come out. If so, could he make it to the bigs this year?
Its hard to see him rise much farther
He produced in a big way this past season (production, #’s) as it was
But he looks like a marginal Corner OF at best positional wise so Thank goodness Indians are an AL team and can use a DH.
(Hafner doesn’t deserve to really be tendered after 2011.)
I called it - Joe Mauer's first career Home-Run at Target Field !!!
Why Oh Why did the D'Backs select A.J. Pollock over Mike Trout?
I hate Hunter Wendelstedt, you hate Hunter Wendelstedt we all hate hunter w
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Nov 30, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
Hmm, somewhat agree
But he could tap into his power even more this coming season and really put himself on the map. It seems like he’s only now finding a way to translate his BP power with in-game power, which I guess shouldn’t be all that surprising considering his age and great plate discipline.
Injuries are the only thing that can keep him from being an impact bat. Defense is the only thing keeping him from being more widely respected.
-1 and only member of the Nick Weglarz fan club!
aaaand
I totally forgot that I mentioned Nick Weglarz in my signature. Go me
-1 and only member of the Nick Weglarz fan club!
Yeah that's sort of what my reasoning was
Like if his power could really come alive he could take an even bigger step than last year? Could he be the next Hafner?
Haha, I should hope not
He just sounds like a guy that was very raw when he started his pro career and thus might still have a bit of development left to do, so I could see him maybe turning some of the doubles into homers while maintaining a .280-.300 avg. That’s obviously quite optimistic, though.
2010 Hafner isn't a bad player, just not tough to replace
Weglarz turning into a .358 wOBA player seems about right as the high end. The problem with him is that he offers no defensive value, and his bat doesn’t look elite.
http://bullpenbanter.com/
Jared Goedert
John, how much did you down grade Goedert because he is a Kansas State Alum? :)
Seriously his number took a step forward this year, I thought he might be a potential to be a mid-year call up 2011
Also, his younger brother Connor was all-state last year as a sophomore down here in Ottawa, and he looks like he might be the best of the three brothers. The middle brother is playing QB at a Cloud County community college.
I was surprised by that too, but once again the system is deep. If this was a top 30 list
I think he would make it, possibly with a C+ rating still.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Nov 30, 2010 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
Can they field in Kansas?
He is a terrible defender at 3B and his offense is streaky. He has been injured quite a lot but it looks like the Indians have decided his bat is real and groomed him for 1B this winter. I would expect him to fill a giant hole at 1B in Columbus to start the season. With the need for a RH bat in Cleveland, he might fit in Marte’s old slot and DH from the right side as well.
Question for the floor:
How competent is Josh Rodriguez as a shortstop? Enough to play regularly, enough to play occasionally, or no business playing there at all?
I think he can play SS but is probably better suited
to 3B or even 2B. Biggest problem with his defense is not the skills IMO but he seems to lose focus and go “walkabout” in the field. He has excellent bat speed but it hasn’t really shown up on a consistent basis until AAA. I would guess he catches on somewhere as a multipositional utility, maybe in this years rule 5.
Definitely thought I would see T.J House somewhere in the middle. I understand that the
system is rich with C+ prospects and House is probably right there, but man I must say I think he will turn out to better than Scott Barnes (UGH RYAN GARKO TRADE). Very good list overall though, the work you do here and the passion you have for baseball is truly amazing. Thanks for putting out these lists and all the work and research you do.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Nov 30, 2010 6:07 PM EST reply actions
Has Carlos Carrasco logged too many pro innings for prospect status already, or has his stock just dropped that far?
It’s interesting to see that they traded away Cliff Lee and all they got back for it may be the guy who “broke up” Galaragga’s Perfecto and the Catcher who was running down the baseline on Buehrle’s ridiculous flip throw to first.
I’m still rooting for Knapp, as I like his upside, but I know a lot of people always had their questions about Carrasco.
John
If Carrasco was still eligible, where would you have him on the list, and what would his letter grade be? Project Prospect would have had him #2-#4 if he was eligible.
PPPPPPUNTO 4 MVP 2010
project prospect
doesn’t do much for me… different to be different and I don’t buy into any of their logic. Case in point, Carlos Carrasco.
by another know it all on Nov 30, 2010 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
lol
Seems like a small amount of evidence to prove those two major theories no?
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there's alot
of wannabe analysts out there. i can’t be expected to prove them all wrong, can I? I might as well start my own site for that.
by another know it all on Dec 1, 2010 3:55 PM EST up reply actions
I might as well start my own site
Exactly. You should get started immediately.
by blackoutyears on Dec 2, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Very underrated
But top 5 pitcher overall, probably not. He had one of the most impressive final two thirds of the season this past year, and the reports on his stuff make him seem like should be a top 5 candidate, but he hasn’t put together a full season with stunning results yet. My guess is that he’s lucky he didn’t put one of those seasons together a few years ago, and get called up way to quick like a lot of other 20/21 year old pitchers.
by auclairkeithbc on Dec 1, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
I really like Carrasco
He looks like a pitcher that finally has found his control. If he can continue to show good control, I think he could be a #2 SP.
Kipnis
What is his upside? Marcus Giles (the good version) sound reasonable?
by King Billy Royal on Nov 30, 2010 9:37 PM EST reply actions
matt packer
anyone know how hard Packer throw? I’ve seen him touch the low 90s, but wonder if he should add velocity. I’ve done my own scouting report on him. Just looking for other opinions.
Check out www.baseballinstinct.com.
RE: Weglarz
One thing that I think scouts forget and lose due to the fact that he has “old player skills” is that Weglarz, like almost every Canadian, is still in an early developmental stage of his game. The refinement is not there in the same way it is for a kid from America, let alone the southern states. While city and regional teams do their best, their simply is not the infrastructure or financing in place to give these kids the proper development.
He's pretty close to a non-athlete.
I don’t think growing up in the states would have made him Justin Upton. The one area I would give him leniency on that front is the bat – that’s not the problem.
6 years
I see what you are saying, but Weglarz has been in professional baseball for 6 years. He has had a lot of injuries, but it still adds up to more than 450 pro games. I think you can’t discount him too much in terms of his developmental stage.
by APV on Dec 3, 2010 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
I just don't see the problem with Weglarz defense now.
I totally agree with that assessment in his early years of pro ball. However, there is considerable difference between then and now. I watched him play many games in Columbus this past year and was very surprised at how polished he has become. He gets god breaks on the ball, takes the best path for the most part and can catch and throws quite well. The early knock was that he was not athletic but he appears to have above average athleticism, especially for a player his size. I don’t expect to change your mind but maybe you will watch Columbus play a few games on the computer and see what I am talking about.
defense
My point isn’t that his defense is bad, my point is that invoking a lack of development time is a weak argument with Weglarz, Canadian or not
by APV on Dec 3, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
My bad
Didn’t understand your point. Agree that a 3rd round draft choice should overcome development issue in six years. I think he has done that pretty much. Still has some technical issues with his swing but sure understands the strike zone.
Anyone seen Cord Phelps?
Has anyone seen this Phelps play ths past year? Is he as good as his numbers suggest ? Any chance he makes the Indians in ’11 ?
phelps
saw him in Arizona Falll League. …tools don’t stand out, but a very polished player who knows what he’s doing. He has a short-term shot if he has a good spring but Kipnis is the future.
by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Thank you
Thank you John. I’m a big fan of walks so I’ve had my eye on him. I always like the guys who don’t get much fanfare and do well. Appreciate the reply.
Beau Mills
And whatever happened to Beau Mills? I’ve heard nothing from him since he was drafted and then this year I read somewhere that it’s a make or break year for him in 2011. Obviously the addition of LaPorta at 1B didn’t help, but if LaPorta went to the outfield…who knows? I realize Mills has been written off and forgotten by the masses, but I think the potential is still there if they can find a spot for him.
Mills
will be 25 next August and has yet to hit for avg or power befitting a major league 1B above High-A. Outside of his 2008 season at Kinston what has he done? I think his make or break has come and gone.
by blackoutyears on Dec 20, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
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