All Questions Answered, Open 9 AM CST
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 10:00 AM EST
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PrintHere is an All Questions Answered thread.
The normal ground rules:
**One question per poster
**Please do not disguise multiple questions as one
**This is rapid-fire format. Questions that are too broad or would take too long to answer will be punted.
NO MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE. PLENTY TO WORK ON NOW.
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Likely no. 1's
Which of these starters with No. 1 ceilings are most likely to get there? Bauer, Skaggs, Archie Bradley, Carlos Martinez, Drew Pomeranz, Jameson Taillon, Tyrell Jenkins. Thanks in advance.
well…most likely? I would prefer to say “least risky” and the “least risky” would be Bauer.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
Pick up a gyroball
Mourning Guy Carbonneau...
Royals obscure player to watch in ST: Lenny DiNardo
by playingwithfire on Mar 1, 2012 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
Matt Adams
When I look at Matt Adams stats I see good avg over 300 in the Minors with some good power numbers over 20 HR each of the last two seasons. In 2011 he had 101 RBIs in 115 games so why is he not ranked higher?
Adams
Well RBI has no predictive value for prospects, so throw that out.
Adams is a good prospect. He has plenty of bat speed and his swing is compact for a power hitter, but he can be a bit impatient and his physical tools (other than raw power) don’t excite scouts. I have him as a Grade B prospect, a possible big-league regular
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Can Grant Green play 3B?
The A’s seem to have plenty of CF’s these days.
Green
I think he would have enough range for 3B, but scouts see his arm as marginal for the position.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
Wasn't Green's weak arm a big reason he was moved off of shortstop?
Sending him over to 3B isn’t exactly going to help that.
His arm wasn't weak
it was wild, and that was mostly because of footwork on routine plays, on hot shots to short apparently everything was fine
Snoochies
Fair enough.
I knew the arm was a problem at short. I guess I assumed it was strength.
LaHair
Not sure he qualifies as a prospect, but it sounds like the Cubs don’t want to move Rizzo around a lot and are going to give LaHair a full year (or up until September) at first base. After seeing Theo do the same for Kevin Youkilis beyond the point that he was probably ready, I believe it. What kind of production do you think the Cubs get from LaHair given the leash he’s being given?
LaHair would be a good topic for a larger post. I think I will write something about him this weekend. If I don't, please remind me to do so.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
+1
fantasy sleeper especially in OBP leagues
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
Say I've got some dirt on Kenny Williams
And as a result he is forced to play Jared Mitchell as a MLB starter this year as well as hitting leadoff. Resulting in a 600 PA season.
What’s his triple slash line and strikeout total?
Mourning Guy Carbonneau...
Royals obscure player to watch in ST: Lenny DiNardo
by playingwithfire on Mar 1, 2012 10:12 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
jared
.182/.249/.338 with 197 strikeouts in 600 PA
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
That's honestly
a lot more optimistic than I thought it would be.
Mourning Guy Carbonneau...
Royals obscure player to watch in ST: Lenny DiNardo
by playingwithfire on Mar 1, 2012 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Trevor Bauer
Made it to AA already, should be headed to AAA. When do you think we see him in the bigs and who would you guess first between him and Skaggs?
by HeLeftYouBagEnd on Mar 1, 2012 10:12 AM EST reply actions
Bauer
Assuming he doesn’t make the opening day roster, we should see Bauer as soon as another starter is needed, which could be anywhere from late April to early August. I think there is a good chance he won’t be rookie-eligible for 2013, let’s put it that way.
Skaggs should begin in AAA and would be second on the promotion list behind Bauer.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
top dog
is Bauer the most likely to be called up because his stuff more major league ready or is it because Skaggs isnt on the 40-man roster yet? It would seems like (with the current roster) having Joe Saunders as your only lefty, not named Wade Miley, might give Skaggs the edge…just a thought.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Anthony Gose
How much do you think he can hit in the bigs? Would you see Drew Stubbs sort of production as being likely?
Gose
I wrote about Gose in the Prospect Smackdown last week.
I think he can develop into a guy who hits for moderate power, steals 30+ bases a year, draws some walks, but doesn’t hit for a much of a batting average. Devon White perhaps
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
CF on 2 World Series Teams
I’ll take Gose ending up similar to Devo
3? (Also Florida 1997)
I’ll take the 6.9 peak fWAR too.
by JaysSaskatchewan on Mar 1, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Hmmmm......where did I first read that comparison?
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/28/2249332/milb-6-28-11#70829104
(KBR pats himself on the back) ;)
Big Sexy
Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey
by King Billy Royal on Mar 1, 2012 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Tyler Pastornicky
It appears the Braves are planning on him as the starting SS. How do you feel about the decision and what sort of performance would you project for him this year?
Well at this point, if he can handle the position defensively (which I think he can), I'm OK with it.
That said, a lot of last year was BABIP driven and out of context with the rest of his career. They are taking a gamble with the bat and he could be disappointing as a hitter in the short run. Long-run, his ability to make contact and avoid excessive strikeouts augers well for his future…he profiles as one of those guys who turns out surprisingly well as a hitter in his late 20s.
So, bottom line, I’m OK with it, he can hold the job defensively long enough for the bat to come around.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Jose Lobaton or Robinson Chirinos
Which young Rays Catcher do you think will be more successful in the majors?
I don't see either of those guys as anyone to get excited about. I think they will both hang around the margins of the majors for the next five years, but I don't see either as pottential regulars
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
are they the Eil Whiteside and Chris Stewart of the AL East?
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
Jason Adam
What would you need to see out of him to consider him a solid B prospect? Do you expect him to start striking some people out eventually or is he a backend-of-the-rotation innings eater at best?
Adam
I am big on Jason Adam. I gave him a C+ in the book, but the report I wrote was very positive and he had a “sleeper alert” tag. In retrospect I think I should have given him a B-. I expect he will break through this year and he can be a Number Three starter if it works out.
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Hi John
Where would you have slotted Dayan Viciedo if had still been eligible for your top 120? Thanks you!!
It is known
Tyler Skaggs
John, do think the velocity keeps nudging up sufficiently to allow him to have a career potential in the Cole Hamels’ range? Working 91-94 and carrying over great K rates?
Jed Bradley
Jed Bradley seems to still have an issue with his groin that he’s had since the AFL. Do you have any concerns that there might be something else wrong with him that has not yet been reported?
Naw, not really. These medical things are hard to read from a distance, of course. Groin stuff often lingers of course. At this point I doubt it impacts his future in a major way, maybe slows down the timetable a little
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Who will wind up being the better starter for the Astros in the long run:
Jordan Lyles or Kyle Weiland?
"Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday!"
Jenrry Mejia
What would be the reasoning behind brining Mejia back from his injury as a reliever, and would you agree with that decision?
Mejia
Well Mejia’s problems with a consistent breaking pitch might make him a reliever anyway, and with Harvey/Wheeler/Familia the Mets have three other power arms who could develop into workhorse RHP starters. Given Mejia’s history of injuries, the theory would be that he’ll have an easier time staying healthy in the pen.
Tate
Guy has hit when he plays, but had lost important development time to injuries. Say he is healthy all year and ends by raking in the cal league. Where would you rank him?
by walnut falcons on Mar 1, 2012 10:26 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Impossible to say unless I know what the numbers/scouting reports are.
He is a career .263/.382/.386 hitter with 26 steals in 236 at-bats. If he put up numbers like that in a full season of A-ball, while retaining the positive scouting reports about his tools, he’d be something like a C+
3B/SS Combo
Would you rather have Arenado/Franklin or Olt/Profar long term?
not john
but i would go for Olt/Profar…especially in that ballpark/lineup (assuming they stay with Texas)
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think park/team/league is something that should really factor into this question...
I mean it’s a hypothetical question about whether players A + B > or < players C +D, who would you rather have in your lineup?
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true
i have a hard time not thinking about those external factors when evaluating players.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
tough one
I would probably go Olt/Profar, but it isn’t a slam dunk decision. I am a big fan of Arenado and I believe Franklin will break through this year.
Mariners 3B
Who do you like for that position long-term, Fransisco Martinez or Vinnie Catricala? Or is Catricala’s defense too bad to ever be passable at the position?
3b
I don’t see Cat as a 3B. Tools are fringy and he’s not reliable enough. Martinez is a much better fielder…of course, Cat is a much better hitter, though Martinez is young enough to grow.
it wouldn’t surprise me if neither of them becomes the long-term regular.
curious
I remember you having a good “gut” feeling on Liddi.
Do you think he factors in much in the above?
Liddi
Yeah, I still like Liddi. But the question didn’t ask about him.
by John Sickels on Mar 2, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Schoop
First, were you as disappointed as I to learn it was pronounced “Scope?”
Serious question now, if you were the Orioles would you keep him and Machado at different levels so they can both play short or together to build defensive chemistry? If Machado is destined to play 3b would it make sense to give Schoop more time at SS now?
not John
but I think it’s a consensus that Machado has a much better chance sticking at short than Schoop who is probably a third baseman, or corner outfielder.
I guess I should rephrase
The question goes to overall philosophy. Is it better to have them work together for as long as possible (and progression allows) or is it better to keep one guy a level behind so they can both work at the “optimal” defensive position (assuming that SS>2b/3b)
SS2B
I think Machado can play SS at least for a few years. If it was me, I would send them both back to Frederick to begin 2012, with Machado at SS and Schoop at 2B. If they play well, move them up to Bowie in June
Machado
I’m honestly going to be surprised if he isn’t at least an average defensive shortstop through his cost-controlled/team-controlled years. He might have to move a decade from now, but I’ll be surprised if he moves far before that (well … I guess I should say I’d be surprised if he’s moved because of his failings … if they have a stud shortstop option that frees up moving Machado, that’d be a separate dynamic).
Vincent Velasquez
In the Astros Top 20, you noted “Velasquez has a high upside if he recovers properly from Tommy John.”
I realize the pro data is limited to a few innings in the Appy in 2010, but what is his upside? Do you have any additional scouting info on him? How would you compare him to someone like Heredia (understanding that Heredia is a full two years younger)? Are both candidates for the Top 100 in 2013-14?
Velasquez
I don’t have anything particularly new on him, other than he appears fully recovered and looked strong in instructional league. I’d say mid-rotation starter if all goes well.
Heredia? Which Heredia? I assume you mean the Pirates guy. Pirate Heredia has a considerably higher upside than VV…possible 1-2 starter, but he is a LONG way away.
Blue Jay Prospects
Which one has the most raw power?
surprised
jacob anderson isnt in that conversation
Anderson
I should have mentioned Anderson…he is at least equal to Dean in power potential.
by John Sickels on Mar 2, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
i know none of these players is rookie eligable
But based on your views of them as prospects and chance of succeeding who has the best chance of being the astros 3rd basemen of the future, Chris Johnson, Parades or Brett Wallace?
by lawson3 on Mar 1, 2012 10:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Parker Bridwell
any reports on his off speed stuff? I know he is athletic and can hit 97-99 but have not heard much on his offspeed.
Bridwell
Reports I have indicate very good power curveball, and a changeup that has promise but is unrefined.
Heckathorn, Thornburg
Do you feel these guys are better suited for the bullpen as closers? Should the Brewers start to develop that in them asap?
brewers
I think Heckathorn will be a reliever definitely. Thornburg has a better chance to stick as a starter.
Boras and the Koreans
I heard that Boras has lined up two Korean prospects – who are they and what do you know?
I don't know much about this
But here is an article with some basics
http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33200290
Ceilings
How would you rank the ceiling of these 4 pitchers (Joe Weiland, Tyrell Jenkins, Bryan Brickhouse, Robert Stephenson)
SS prospects...
For fantasy, Christian Colon or Trevor Story? Who you taking based on ability to stick at SS and upside of the bat?
Story has a higher ceiling definitely
But Colon will get to the majors first. I also think Colon has more in his bat than he showed last year, but that may be a minority opinion
Dom Brown
I know he’s not a prospect any more, but I was wondering what you would do with Dom if you were running the Phillies. Would you start him in AAA, have him play every day in the majors, or look to trade him?
Brown
He needs at-bats more than anything. I would give him a regular job if I could, but failing that I would send him to Triple-A. The one thing I would NOT do is let him rot on the bench. If they can’t find a regular job for him on their own roster, he needs to go to the minors, get at-bats, and get showcased for other teams.
Agreed 100%
The Phillies do have to do their best to win this year, so if Brown isn’t hitting than he needs to be in the minors.
Big Sexy
Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey
by King Billy Royal on Mar 1, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Jose Fernandez
Curious what your thoughts are on him and what you think his ceiling could be?
I like him and I felt that was a nice pick by the Marlins
I can see him becoming a number two starter or a very strong number three, or perhaps a power closer. I also think he’s a bit more polished than his rookie ball numbers indicate.
Does Oscar Taveras have top ten prospect upside? Who is a good MLB Comp?
"Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage." ― Thucydides
top ten is pretty steep. top 20 upside definitely though.
Not thinking of a good comp off the top of my head, but he could be a guy who hits .300/.375/.480 or something of that nature.
Nick Markakis?
Career numbers.. .295/.365/.453. Perhaps a bit more power.
2007 – .300/.362/.485
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 1, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure why.....
But Hunter Pence has crossed my mind.
"He don't want to walk you." -Sparky Anderson telling Kirk Gibson that Goose Gossage didn't want to walk Gibby just before he put it in the upper deck.
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by sportznut3081 on Mar 1, 2012 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
Teheran
What are the odds or how confident are you that he can be a true ace or high-end #2 in the majors? It seems like recently people are suggesting he is missing a dominant breaking ball and won’t be anything more than a #3
"Hello. My name is Matthew Berry. I am on a Fantasy Jihad. Prepare to die!"
teheran
I’ll talk about Teheran when I do the Smackdown with him and Shelby Miller next week, but my opinion is that people are making too much of this breaking ball thing. it isn’t as good as his FB and change, but he’s got the aptitude to improve it and I trust the Braves to help him work out any possible problems.
High-End 2 in my view.
Starling
Having read the scouting reports and seen some video of Bubba Starling, it seems to me that there is some doubt about his hit-tool. He looks a little like an athlete playing baseball, rather than a baseball player who is a good athlete if you see the distinction. What are your thoughts about his ability to put the bat on the ball?
starling
Well there is some risk there due to his relative rawness and lack of experience, but the stuff I heard indicated that he’s made good progress shortening his swing up and he has some feel for the strike zone. Obviously we need to see how that plays in game action, but I’ll go with “cautious optimism” at this stage.
Trevor Bauer
I know you’re high on him, do you see the birth of a new pitching school? he’s young enough to have modeled himself after lincecum, his study of effective velocity, pitch tunneling, and depth of repertoire are intriguing. Am I being seduced by hype, or is this the birth if an ace?
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by PHGold09 on Mar 1, 2012 11:06 AM EST via Android app reply actions
Not John, but my take
I personally think its a little of both. Obviously Bauer is a very good prospect, but I think some people like the story so much that they ignore the weaknesses he does have. The story is definitely cool, but its not like “effective velocity” or “pitch tunneling” are new concepts. they’re things that people within the game have known for awhile, but they didn’t name them or talk about them at length. I’m honestly a lot more interested in Bauer’s training regimen and if it will help him to continue to shoulder large workloads without incident than I am in the concepts you mention.
As for the new pitching school idea, I do think the combination of training regimen and pitching concepts that Bauer represents could lead to a lot of younger players following a similar path. For that reason, I do hope he is successful, because I do think there is a lot of merit to his training and how he approaches pitching, and the more success he has will lead to more kids following in those footsteps. I think over time you’re going to see a lot more finely tuned athletes (from the above mentioned training) with more explosive mechanics, especially as high speed video (and hopefully motion capture) eventually work their way down to younger aged players.
Nixa's comments seem reasonable to me.
Particularly the point about the workout regimen being more interesting than the pitch tunneling stuff.
Guys like Bauer and Lincecum remind me to some extent of Bob Feller, who had (by modern standards) weird mechanics and wasn’t a really big pitcher physically, but was such an amazing athlete that he generated tremendous velocity and movement anyway, and held up (for awhile) under a murderous workload.
Yankee GCL Prospects
Hey John, I know you’re fond of Santana, Austin and on some levels, Bichette. Of the following position prospects from the 2011 GCL team, which ones stand out to you the most other than those 3?
Claudio Custudio
Yeicok Calderon
Daniel Lopez
Jose Rosario
Damian Taveras
Isaais Tejada
yankees
I am very fond of Bichette. To be honest, I don’t know enough about several of the others to comment. Custodio and Lopez are the most intriguing of the others to me.
not john
after those 3? Custodio followed by Tejeda
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
Brandon Nimmo
Does he have the potential to go from toolsy high school outfielder to top ten prospect next year a la Mike Trout?
by Metfan on Mar 1, 2012 11:09 AM EST via mobile reply actions
agree, top 10 is pretty aggressive
for someone so raw. 2013 now, imo that’s possible
by rangersfan24 on Mar 1, 2012 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
J.R. Graham
Besides his height, what is the greatest factor preventing him from being seen as legitimate starting pitching prospect?
by OrangeBravo on Mar 1, 2012 11:14 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
+1
i agree, he has a decent chance to be an average mlb sp and if not he’s a decent 8th inning guy at worst in someone’s bullpen, assuming he continues to develop properly
"Hello. My name is Matthew Berry. I am on a Fantasy Jihad. Prepare to die!"
this requires some thought
ARL matters, but it isn’t the only thing to consider. It is just one factor among many and its importance is SOMETIMES overblown.
ARL?
Ray Guilfoyle
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 1, 2012 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
age relative to league
Sorry if that wasn’t the question.
Not actually affiliated with whygavs.
by WHYG Zane Smith on Mar 1, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
ESPECIALLY with pitchers?
You’re going to have to have some pretty convincing numbers to get me to believe that.
This is similar to what first popped in my mind after I read mr. manic's comment.
I thought ARL applied more to hitters and pitchers not developing on a standard age curve was generally accepted.
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by gorillakilla34 on Mar 3, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
Weird
This is just a weird comment. I guess what you’re saying is that you think ARL is very important, but it doesn’t make any sense to say that you “disagree completely” with someone saying that something “matters but isn’t the only thing to consider.” The only way you can disagree completely is if you think ARL is the only thing to consider.
Kyle Drabek
Do you see Drabek turning things around this year and what do you see as his ceiling at this point? Thanks!
For what it's worth
Alex Anthopoulos said he was making great strides toward correcting his control problems in a recent interview.
Eddie Rosario / Trevor Story / Garen Cecchini
Who has the highest upside?
Let's go Giants!!! clap clap clap-clap-clap
Let's go Giants!!! clap clap clap-clap-clap
Let's go Giants!!! clap clap clap-clap-clap
um. hm.
Some apples/oranges there since they play different positions. All are strong Grade B prospects for me right now. All have a shot at B+ (if not higher) once we see them in full season ball.
to me
gotta give the guy at the more demanding position the edge. Story has multiple plus tools, you could see him becoming a top 5 SS.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Mar 2, 2012 3:43 AM EST up reply actions
2012 Draft
The new five year Basic Agreement seems to require a sloting system for the Draft. What is the most important impact that you foresee on the 2012 Draft?
by Stephen in the UAE on Mar 1, 2012 11:23 AM EST reply actions
two things
1) I don’t think it will have as big of an impact as people think. It isn’t going to “kill the draft” or ruin farm systems or anything like that.
2) You won’t see “budget picks” in the first round anymore.
no
Teams will do their homework. Under the new circumstances, they won’t pick anyone who hasn’t given a strong signal that they will sign for slot money.
The only complication would be if someone signals they will sign then changes their mind.
Hinojosa
We already know he’s a mental case
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
Hinojosa mental case
What is that based on?
by charles wallace on Mar 4, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
Josh Donaldson
What are the chances he’s able to fill the 3B need for the A’s?
donaldson
he played infield in college and a bit last year so this isn’t a completely new thing for him. With more reps he should be OK defensively.
More Successful 2012 Rookie campaign?
Jacob Turner or Jarrod Parker?
Dan Vogelbach
I’ve been hyping him in my fantasy league as a potentially very good bat (and limited to 1B or DH). Think he can justify my hype?
vogelbach
He’s a long way off, but I like his hitting potential and I’m not worried about his “bad body” at this point. He isn’t just a power masher, he has good pure hitting skills as well.
can we all agree to call him Vogelbomb from now on?
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Kalish
If he is able to return from his shoulder injury, does Ryan Kalish have what it takes to be a solution in RF for the Red Sox? Do you think he can be a “first-division starter” type?
kalish
Yeah. I think so. He has a broad range of skills. Not a perennial all star but a guy who should be a solid regular for most teams. If he’s healthy.
"Yoan Alcantara"
Being reported by Padres beat writer that he’s in fact 22 years old. What does that mean for your evaluation of him?
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by Zach (maestro876) on Mar 1, 2012 11:27 AM EST reply actions
Jared Mitchell
All reports suggest he’s fully healthy and ready to roll this year. Obviously he needs to prove it, but if so, do you see opportunity for redemption of his prospect status this year? Do you think the tools are still there if he can get off to a good start, or has the bus already moved on without him?
tools
he still has a shot. Reports that he lost speed from the injury are discouraging, but perhaps he just needed more time. I haven’t given up yet, but he needs to take that step forward this year.
Lorenzo Cain
How is he gonna do this year?
Yadi is my hero
by Big Phil on Mar 1, 2012 11:28 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Any thoughts about doing an under 25 list?
Or some other arbitrary age. I’d be curious to see how you feel some of this year’s prospects rank with those who’ve graduated to the majors in the last few years.
+1
Ive been suggesting this for a few weeks.
by CaptainHowdy on Mar 1, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
yeah I know
honestly the biggest block from writing this is having to sit down and make the list itself
perhaps
something to consider for next offseason? With the major league season only a month away there probably won’t be much time.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Mar 2, 2012 3:46 AM EST up reply actions
please rank in terms of upside
you are welcome to just rank hitters OR pitchers if this question is too time consuming. thanks!
please rank in terms of upside:
HITTERS:
trevor story
corey spangenberg
marcell ozuna
brian goodwin
austin hedges
brandon nimmo
PITCHERS:
tyrell jenkins
alex meyer
jose fernandez
joe ross
matt purke
ranks
Well there are too many apples/oranges on the hitting list. How do you compare a SS with a C? Can’t be done.
Pitchers….on total upside I would go Jenkins, Meyer, Ross, Fernandez, Purke, but they are all upside talents.
Starling Marte? Can he become a more patient hitter. Worth a Dynasty pick?
"I never went to bed with an ugly woman but I sure woke up with a few!"
/no skitzo
what pick?
in most dynasty formats he is worth a pick but it really depends on the pick.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
marte
He has some risk but I like him. It won’t be a matter of increasing walks so much as cutting strikeouts.
Thank you guys....its a late pick. 29th to be exact, 30 man roster. 14 teams.
Avila, Perez
Sanchez, Morales, Parmelee
Kinsler, Kipnis
Andrus, Cozart, Profar
Pablo, Headley
Kalish, Boesch, Stubbs, Fowler, CarGo, Venable
Latos, Gio, Bumgarner, Leake, Teheran, Sale, Crow
Hanrahan, Jansen, Venters
"I never went to bed with an ugly woman but I sure woke up with a few!"
/no skitzo
30th I'd love a really deep sleeper Catcher
"I never went to bed with an ugly woman but I sure woke up with a few!"
/no skitzo
Deep Deep: Andrew Susac
Abyss Deep: Tommy Joseph
Fathaigh go mbuaimid!
Proud adoptive father of Enmanuel de Jesus.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base.
I'll do my research. Any thoughts on Gary Sanchez?
"I never went to bed with an ugly woman but I sure woke up with a few!"
/no skitzo
Gary Sanchez as contrasted to the Giants farmhands above?
To quote Arthur Alexander, ‘Go with him..’
Best hitting and pitching
prospect you ever saw?
by dbacks25 on Mar 1, 2012 11:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions
well
How about this
Best One-Game Individual Performance by a Top Prospect: Zack Greinke pitching for Omaha in 2004, who made AAA hitters look utterly helpless.
Best One-Game Individual Performance by a Top Prospect: Brett Lawrie against Omaha in May 2011.
Those were jaw-dropping games
You'd have to live in Omaha though
Did you see About Schmidt? Not exactly SoHo.
Ehhh
You are right. I’ll stick with going to see the Power whenever I want.
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 2, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Reese Havens
will he still become a top tier starting 2Bman?
go long with extenze...i do
by angelsownredsux on Mar 1, 2012 11:40 AM EST reply actions
Is defense generally overrated in baseball today?
It seems that, by necessity, the value of defense + pitching = the value of hitting. Has baseball out-Moneyballed itself these days – in the general case, to the point where we overvalue defense relative to hitting, or perhaps inadvertently undervalue pitching? It would seem to me that pitching would have to overwhelm the value of individual defenders, at least – but if not as a whole, that perhaps pitching actually IS less valuable than we think relative to hitting.
If that’s too broad – which I suspect – then… Jesus Montero’s made some excellent defensive plays at C this ST. What is your developing opinion on his ability to stick there, at least early in his career if not later?
While I don't think Montero will ever be a great defender, or even a good one, I think he has a chance to be adequate, which is all he would need
As for defense….it is hard to say since defensive stats are 10 years behind offensive ones.
which of Syndergaard, Nicolino, or Sanchez do you see being promoted first? (Assuming they all start at Lansing)
Nice question I wish I could’ve thought of that one…
Like I said on BBB, My heart goes with Sanchez because he has the filthiest stuff of the 3 imo and if he puts it all together this year wow watch out. However the head has to go with the polished Nicolino, although the velo of Syndergaard will draw the most attention so he could get the “publicity bump”
Kadri Fanboy since 2006
Keeper
20 Team 6X6 head to head league.
Need to pick 2 out of these 3 for my last 2 Keepers:
Ethier, D.Gordon, S.Marcum
by CT's #1 Braves Fan on Mar 1, 2012 11:50 AM EST reply actions
depends on your putching, but I would go with Ethier and Gordon...
real chance Ethier is in pinstripes in 2013 it seems.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Marcum
is dealing with some shoulder tendinitis, so go with Ethier and Gordon
Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 1, 2012 9:25 PM EST up reply actions
If you mean Jordan Akins
think super sky high. constant all star, 30/30 guy with crazy defense in CF
Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck
btho Iowa State
of course the distance between the presenet and future OFP is like 18
Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck
btho Iowa State
GM
If you were to start an expansion MLB organization from scratch, which current MLB GM would you choose as your partner? This is intended more for baseball related operations than PR, business, financial, etc. reasons.
Edit
If it’s easier, a list of your top 3 candidates would be good
by mentalpowers on Mar 1, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Jace Peterson
You had a nice writeup on him in the book. Given he is just committing to baseball full-time, his athletic background as a cross-sport FB CB, and a clear path to the bigs, what do you see as his upside and MLB ETA?
Thanks for all your hard work.
jace
A little hard to say given his distance from the majors, but I can see him developing into a low-batting-average/but high walk rate player with doubles power and good speed on the bases. He will probably need longer than the average college guy so I would say three years from now
Nick Hagadone
What kind of season is he likely to have this year?
Vinnie Catricala
If Catricala had even a average glove at 3B, what grade would he get under your grading system?
Hayden Simpson
Reports had him back up to 94 post-mono last year before he suffered either a fracture to his elbow or a slight tear. He pitched through it and saw his velo dip to an abysmal 84-85. Have you heard anything about his health for this year?
Twins GM
If Appel goes 1, who do you think the Twins take and who do you think the Shadow Twins take?
Matt Garrioch and I are working on a co-mock draft. Right now we have Gausman to houston and Giolito to the Twins, although it came down to Giolito or Zunino for me.
Shadow Twins…I don’t know. Way too early to tell that. I do find Zunino very attractive, but he seems like a slight overdraft at 2
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
Jonathan Singleton
Do you see him as a future All-Star or more of a solid or strong regular only?
by mattp31 on Mar 1, 2012 12:02 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
singleton
Well there is nothing wrong with being a strong regular. :) ….all-star play as a first baseman is tough to come by.
I expect he will be very good. I don’t know if he’ll be excellent.
well
with fielder and pujols moving to the AL there isn’t a TON of high end first base talent in the senior circuit anymore. Singleton could very well be an all star as he will be competing with guys like Votto, Davis, Rizzo, Belt, Freeman, etc.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Mar 2, 2012 3:52 AM EST up reply actions
is Stephan Parker a viable long-term option for the A's at 3rd?
by my_cat_max on Mar 1, 2012 12:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
well....viable...I don't know.
I would say it is possible, and he did make some progress on defense last year, but he needs to show more power than he did at Midland
When will the owners meet to let the A’s know if they can move to San Jose?
Bring back the Pac-10!!!
by calas on Mar 1, 2012 12:07 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Cano or Tulo?
Cano or Tulo over the next 3 years in an H2H points league? Concerned with Tulo’s injury history.
by TomReagan on Mar 1, 2012 12:11 PM EST via mobile reply actions
You do realize ...
this is a prospect site and not a Fantasy Baseball site?
Oh … and the answer is Tulo hands down.
yeah tulo is the right answer
SS is a more premium position.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
SS > 2B and it’s not particularly close really.
by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 1, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
3B > 2B too IMO
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/photo-logan-morrison-bryan-petersen-share-tub-drink-043548597.html
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Mar 2, 2012 3:59 AM EST up reply actions
Actually, I didn’t realize I was on here. I thought I was on the FakeTeams site. I was on my phone and thought I was on their recent AQA thread.
I had been wondering why my question didn’t post there, but now I know why. Oops.
Thanks for the answers anyway.
by TomReagan on Mar 1, 2012 5:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hands down? Really?
You realize that Cano’s annual average WAR is a little higher than Tulo’s, right? It’s probably close enough to call them even in the WAR department (assuming that WAR is inexact, it probably falls with the error range). Picking Tulo is fine, but I wouldn’t say ‘hands down’ by any stretch of the imagination.
And my guess is that if Cano and Tulo’s teams were switched, people would pick Cano.
we do fantasy stuff here
but moreso over at Fake Teams.
Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 1, 2012 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
Fake Teams
Kevin just published his Top 100 for H2H leagues today….head on over an check it out.
Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 1, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
Double question
1) Will the Lansing 2011 OF of Crouse, Marisnick and Knecht all stay together for a full season again in A+ (Dunedin) or do you expect at least one of them to jump to AA at some point this year. If so which ones and when?
2) Do you see a Lansing 2012 OF of Hawkins, Anderson and Smith Jr or do you think the Jays will start Anderson and Smith Jr in short season ball. Both seem like they need pro AB’s more than extended spring training to me.
Kadri Fanboy since 2006
jay OF
1) All start at A+. I would expect Knecht and Marisnick to get shots in AA first.
2) Anderson and Smith likely start in extended spring, then go to either Lansing in May or SS in June depending on how they look.
Lars Anderson-Will he ever make a meaningful impact at the MLB level?
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
Gausman
I love Mark Appel too but Gausman is the safest pitching prospect in this draft. He’s a Major League pitcher, period. Among 2012 pitchers, Giolito has by far the highest upside but Gausman, I think, has the lowest floor.
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
I actually think beck is the safest pitching prospect so far
gausman and appel have the highest upside out of all the college pitchers in my opinion, with zimmer not too far behind.
Snoochies
Give me one Tigers spec.......
That you see making a significant jump this year, whether it be in grade, or realizing his overall potential.
"He don't want to walk you." -Sparky Anderson telling Kirk Gibson that Goose Gossage didn't want to walk Gibby just before he put it in the upper deck.
Check out my blog on the Detroit sports scene, national sports scene, and current hot topic events.
http://sportznutuncensored.blogspot.com/
tigers
Awful lot of Grade C in that system.
I’d watch Brian Flynn….big lefty out of Wichita State who impressed me last spring. He could get into the B-range if everything comes together.
Mariners OF
Franklin Gutierrez is going to miss the start of the season again, and us Mariner fans are bummed. Which young player steps up to take his spot in the field, and what should we expect out of him?
OF
I’m not really seeing any young OF ready to take over right away, except possibly Catricala, who has the bat to thrive soon but would be limited to LF.
Trayvon Robinson
I think will get the obvious opportunity
Casper Wells > Trayvon Robinson
Wells will probably be the opening day starter in CF with Carp in LF and Ichiro in RF.
Robinson and Saunders are probably fighting for the 4th OF role until Guti comes back.
Figgins is gettting moved back to super-sub with Seager or Cat winning the job at 3B.
rookies
Well I was just thinking in terms of people who are still rookies, but yeah this opens up a shot for Trayvon.
by John Sickels on Mar 2, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
Scouting Question
What are your thoughts on the importance of having a great scouting department under the new CBA? I know its always of importance to have a great scouting team but now finding does diamonds in the rough will be more valuable I think.
Which will be more valuable great scouting or great player development?
XandyMan Coming for you!!!!1
Which will be more valuable great scouting or great player development?
More important than either individually is the ability of the two to work together IMO. I think most player development staffs have particular strengths when it comes to the types of players they develop best. The most important thing is scouts finding the types of players that the player development staff does the best job developing.
nixa has a good point here
But if someone put a gun to my head I would say I would rather have great amateur scouting and average player development, instead of average scouting and great PD.
You have to find the guys before you can develop them
Five big break out prospects for 2012
What are the first names that come to mind?
by innerBodhi on Mar 1, 2012 12:29 PM EST via Android app reply actions
not john
but gotta think john hellweg might be #1 on this list…
"Hello. My name is Matthew Berry. I am on a Fantasy Jihad. Prepare to die!"
Mason Williams is another one
Not sure he’s far enough under the radar (and KLaw is already very, very high on him), but I think he’s probably got a better shot at ending up in the top 10 next year than anyone ranked around him or below him.
Victor Sanchez
I am hoping for a break out from him…he was the top Venezuelan prospect (maybe even all international) in 2011. doesn’t get talked about much because he is so young/far away and he could develop into almost anything, but he has a very high ceiling.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
too broad
Too broad for this context. Someone remind me to look at this later in spring training. Would be a good article
name game
Will upgrading from Mike to Giancarlo provide an extra 5 HRs annually for Stanton? Pure intimidation baby.
In seriousness, which oddly named catcher is likely to make a more meaningful contribution in 2013, Welington Castillo or Gorman Erickson?
You think Giancarlo is intimidating?
I think it sounds more like someone from Duece Biggalow.
duece biggalow
is the kind of guy who pitchers challenge with fastballs down the middle…if the same applies for giancarlo perhaps the name change gets him more pitches to drive.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
the pitcher chuckles when his name is announced, then
lets out a whimper as he becomes another guy Giancarlo has taken deep. ha.
C
Most scouts would say Castillo, but I think Erickson is an underrated prospect. Castillo is closer to being ready.
I'm with you
This is a name upgrade of the highest order. Now, if Stanton can incorporate the ‘Cruz’ in earnest..
tall sp's
Do you see any taller SP prospects becoming great workhorse type starters? (from anything between Lackey in his prime to a Halladay/CC type level)
dang beat me to it
My question was going to be is 90210’s wife cheating on him.
by lawson3 on Mar 1, 2012 1:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You are married to Newt Gingrich?
by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Mike McDade/David Cooper
Which do you think has the better likelihood of being an average regular or better in his peak years (and how big is the difference between them)
if you could combine mcdade's power with cooper's feel for contact, you'd have a great player
alas, genetic engineering is not that advanced. I doubt either one become long-term regulars
Who do you think makes it to the majors first?
Bundy or Cole?
A.J. Cole probably beats Robert Bundy to the majors.
THE BATMAN|TOWEL BOY.|VP of TG Fanclub
Twitter|Google+|FREE TYLER GREENE!
What do you think about
Peter Tago and Hayden Simpson, do you think they could both turn it around
well
Well Tago’s issues are mechanical and maybe a bit psychological. Simpson’s problems are health-related. So it is difficult to compare the two directly. If I had to pick one I think I would pick Tago, who seems to have more upside, but both are big risks
Jerry Sands?
Does he have a role this year in LA? What kind of stats would you expect. Is he worth holding onto in a dynasty league or should I deal him for Danny Hultzen?
if you could trade Sands for Hultzen, DO IT. don't hesitate.
Sands can still be a good player but there are other guys out there like him.
What do you think would be a reasonable amount of innings for Carlos Martinez to pitch this year?
THE BATMAN|TOWEL BOY.|VP of TG Fanclub
Twitter|Google+|FREE TYLER GREENE!
sorry, for quick reference 84.2 IP in 18 starts last year (46IP in 10 palm beach starts)
would 120 be too big of an increase?
THE BATMAN|TOWEL BOY.|VP of TG Fanclub
Twitter|Google+|FREE TYLER GREENE!
he should only add about 16-25 more innings, IMO
i think if he got to roughly 105 innings that would be good in 2012.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
Jays prospects
Which Jays prospect would you say has the best chance to make it to the bigs and stick this year?
Not John
Hutchison or Deck only because teams use more starters for pitchers than backup position players.
Gose doesn’t come up at all this year unless he’s absolutely raking.
TDA only comes up if JPA goes down with a serious injury and will go back down when JPA comes back so he wouldn’t “stick”
Kadri Fanboy since 2006
I agree with this
Probably McGuire ahead of Hutchison is only for experience reasons, McGuire having more due to his college background
Can the A's find an adequate or better 3B in-house for 2012?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Mar 1, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
For the question above about potential 2012 breakout prospects...
Vollmuth gets my vote
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
Michael Saunders
Has historically had trouble with outside pitches and been inconsistent or bad at the plate. Hypothetically, Saunders has shortened his swing, is using a heavier bat, and has had success with an offseason hitting coach, blah blah. My question is: How would you assess Saunders’ shortcomings as a hitter and can you summarize what it would take for him to makes strides as a hitter? How often do players with great athleticism but a faulty hit tool “click” at a later age?
I have been around a long time
And I don’t know how many times the “retooled swing” and “worked with new coach” and ‘different bat’ stuff comes up. Most of the time it just doesn’t result in any big change and these guys never pan out.
But then you have your occasional Alex Gordon breakthrough or Ben Zobrist surprise.
When I saw Saunders in the minors, I could see the tools but the swing never really impressed me all that much and his approach was overaggressive. I don’t know if any of that has changed. The best thing for him is probably a change of scenery
how would you rank these three recently graduated guys going forward?
Tyson Ross, Alex Cobb, and Andrew Cashner. Any thoughts are welcome.
hmmm
three very different pitchers.
I’ll go Ross, Cobb, Cashner. One big question is their future roles (Ross and Cashner). Cobb has the least physical upside but is also the most polished.
Michael Crouse or Marcell Ozuna?
Is there much of a gap? What does Crouse have to do to progress, and could he play centre?
interesting combo
They were born the same month, same year (Nov 1990). Crouse has a bit more speed, Ozuna a bit more power, both have issues with contact/plate discipline.
The reports I have indicate that Ozuna’s swing is considered sounder than Crouse’s at this point and that is a separator between them.
Mets catching prospects
The Mets have some depth down there. What do you see in the future for Camden Maron, Juan Centeno, and Albert Cordero?
Not John
but i think it will be montgomery…he has a chance out of spring training to make that rotation because behind hochevar, chen, sanchez there are two wide open spots…however one thing perez has going for him is that perez is already on the 40 man roster for texas…but both could use some time in the minors to iron things out (specifically control). in a perfect world the answer would be neither.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
in a perfect world the answer would be neither.
i should clarify that i meant “neither” out of spring training.
Ride the tiger...You can see his stripes but you know he's clean.
by James Westfall on Mar 1, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
Montgomery gets to the majors first I think
But I tell you, I did not like what I saw from him in Omaha last year. He just didn’t look like the same guy I saw in ’10. Stuff was flat.
Of course, Perez goes through bouts of flat stuff too.
What are your thoughts on Rendon to 2B?
Go Fo Broke!
StL southpaws Siegrist, Ferrara, and Hernandez
Which A-baller has the best chance to be a solid #4 starter on a 90-win team? Thanks, John!
Domonic Brown
What happened last year? If it’s not a second question, do you still see him as an impact bat?
Jays
Should fans be worried about Dan Norris having a Aaron Sanchez like year in his first taste of pro ball? Or is he more polished than Sanchez was last year?
Not John, but...
…I’d say:
pitcher, pitcher, pitcher, converted outfielder, part-time bench coach, random fan from section 313.
BALLSY
but you dont win championships by playing it safe…here’s looking at you guy in section 313.
"On [umpire] Jeff Kellogg taking a foul tip to the groin: ‘Two balls, one strike.’"
by James Westfall on Mar 2, 2012 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
1. R. Romero (signed through 2015)
2. B. Morrow (signed through 2016)
3. H. Alvarez
4. D. Hutchison
5. J. Nicolino
D. McGuire fills in for Morrow during his annual 15-day DL stint.
by Kapellmeisters on Mar 1, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions
Kyle Drabek
Just needs to grow a killer mustache and he’ll be fine…
by KentuckyPirate on Mar 2, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
None of the first five will be able to hold up to the rigors of pitching 32 times per year. But fortunately, Jays’ management will see this coming and plan accordingly.
Plus, after Japan wins another WBC, more teams will trend toward their patterns…
Cherry Garcia
and the Grateful Dead!!!!
Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 1, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
very annoyed
that they scrubbed Mission to Marzipan.
Not actually affiliated with whygavs.
by WHYG Zane Smith on Mar 1, 2012 10:26 PM EST up reply actions
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