Kevin Goldstein's BP top 101 Prospects

but it’s not untenable. Billy Hamilton’s first few months in low-A were awful, and nearly everyone wrote him off. After that though, his lowest monthly OBP in July, August, or September was .377. He showed a decent idea of the strike zone for a 20-year-old, and made good contact in the second half.

That’s not the reason to like him though. The reason is that Billy Hamilton has 90 speed. Like, literally, 90 speed. He’s going to show fantastic range at SS or CF (if he ends up there), and should be the kind of player that is a legitimate, terrorizing threat on the basepaths. If he can get to first enough times, he will be a very good offensive player. In the second half of 2011, he showed reason to believe that can happen.

Guys like Mesoraco are valuable because they’re surefire major leaguers, and probably pretty good ones. Hamilton’s ceiling though is Willie Wilson as a 60 shortstop (maybe better on both accounts), and that’s a potentially great player. I give Goldstein credit for having the balls to say it.

I didn’t say that I don’t take your opinion seriously. I also did not call your opinion a joke. I do think that you are wrong. I went to bbprospect report, didn’t see the letter on the first two pages and got sick of looking because I don’t really think it matters. I disagree with the premise that Cole is future closer. I think taking that tact would be an indefensible approach by the Pirates organization (or any organization that had control over Cole’s development).

Closers have substantially less value than starters. That is by an incredibly wide margin. For example, last season, Joel Hanrahan was one of the be closers in baseball. He was lights out. He throws 100 MPH, has good control and has the closer’s mentality. He was worth 2 fWAR. Paul Maholm had an xFIP over 4.00 and lost 14 games (I acknowledge that wins and losses are a lousy stat to show actual value but in this case it jumps off the page so I figured I’d add it…plus you have to love the irony of including losses and xFIP in the same sentence) He got hurt with a month left in the season. He struck out 5.3 batters per 9 innings. He throws about 88. He was worth 2.1 fWAR last season.

I strongly believe that it is premature to jump to the conclusion that Cole is better suited to the closer role because of his command. He will be in his first year of pro ball this season, so it’s premature to say much of anything about him, really. However, the scouting reports do not support your conclusion that Cole is better suited to be a reliever. Having 3 plus pitches makes him more likely to be a starter. His workhorse frame makes him more likely to be a starter. The fact that he maintains an upper 90’s fastball past 100 pitches (which, kinda blows the “you’re not a distance runner” comment out of the water) makes him more likely to be a starter.

It’s great that you’re not scared of your opinion (although I’m not sure why you would be since it’s your opinion). You’re absolutely entitled to it. At the same time, when you say something that runs contrary to popular opinion like suggesting the #1 overall pick in the draft is destined to be a relief pitcher before he’s thrown one official pro-pitch (AFL aside), you should be prepared to have people disagree with you. It’s not that I can’t take you seriously, but for the reasons listed above, I think your opinion is just flat out wrong.

Where did this happen?

You should be allowed to play to your strengths as a pro. You are a sprinter, not a distance runner.

Obviously Mr. Kilma has not seen much of Cole. Cole has a rare ability to hold mid-90s velocity deep into games. There were plenty of starts at UCLA where he hit 100 in the 7th inning. Calling him a sprinter is a complete joke.

Cole needs to work on his command. That’s really his issue. It’s not an injury issue, or a lack of a 3rd pitch issue, or a “can’t hold velo late in ballgames” issue. His issues would not be solved by moving him to the pen. Why would any team be that flat out stupid? If things don’t pan out, Cole is likely a good 3 or 4 starter. He’s not a closer, and unless injury strikes he will never be one.

If you say you don’t like Cole because you don’t think he will ever improve his command, that is one thing. But to say he is a closer is just plain idiotic – and it shows me you have no idea what you are talking about. Sorry for being blunt.

Certainly very close if not. He got a straight A grade.

because i might have more pitchers in front of him

but i love Profar as a prospect. i agree that he’s the third best position prospect in baseball, behind Trout and Harper.