Need More Input

by John Sickels on Apr 17, 2025 5:26 PM EDT Comment 36 comments

This isn't really a free-form suggestion thread, but I need some specific input about what you guys are interested in.

Do you want more prospect retros and not-a-rookies?
Do you like the Potpourri feature, where I have bullet points about different topics?
Do you prefer participation threads like 'You're the GM!" and "Guess the Prospect," or do you prefer more analytical threads, or do you want a mix?
Do you want more Prospect Smackdowns? Crystal Balls?
Any other old features you want revived?

I know many of you want more draft coverage, and that's coming up next week.

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Cheesecake

We haven’t been blessed with a cheesecake post in a good while. Might be time to think about bringing that series back in play.

by JFP on Apr 17, 2025 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sleeper/breakout

i always enjoy sleeper prospect/breakout candidate type stuff.

i’m liking the potpourri feature so far.

personally, i am not too jazzed about participation threads.

by dmb60614 on Apr 17, 2025 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

x

Do you want more prospect retros and not-a-rookies? Yes.
Do you like the Potpourri feature, where I have bullet points about different topics? Yes.
Do you prefer participation threads like ’You’re the GM!" and “Guess the Prospect,” No.
Do you want more Prospect Smackdowns? Crystal Balls? YES.

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Apr 17, 2025 5:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Prospect Smackdowns

I have to confess that I’m not a big fan of the current format - it almost always breaks down to “these two guys are extremely similar, X has a very slight edge here, Y has a very slight edge there, we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out.”

How about a different format: compare a current prospect with someone who was at roughly the same point several years ago and speculate whether the current prospect will turn out better/worse/about the same as the former prospect (and why)?

by ManConley on Apr 17, 2025 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I do like the current smackdown format but.....

this is a solid idea. Perhaps you could give us a mix of the two. It would be cool to have an analysis of a common (or not so common) comparison for a player. McCutchen vs. a 22 yr old Marquis Grissom, for example.
Also, I like the potpourri feature.

by my dixie wrecked on Apr 17, 2025 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have been requesting a prospect retro smackdown

for many moons on Alex Gordon/Hank Blalock

by rothe on Apr 18, 2025 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

smackdowns , CRYSTALL BALLS love them!!!!! sleeper prospect/breakout candidate.

by bizzle788 on Apr 17, 2025 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy prospect retros, crystal balls, but

my 2 favorite are the guess the prospect feature, and that feature where we can ask John questions. (that live chat thing)

by Matt Rox on Apr 17, 2025 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Do you want more prospect retros and not-a-rookies? Definitely

Do you like the Potpourri feature, where I have bullet points about different topics? I’m really liking the Potpourri idea a lot so far

Do you prefer participation threads like ’You’re the GM!" and “Guess the Prospect,” or do you prefer more analytical threads, or do you want a mix? A mixture is always good, though I do miss the “guess the prospect” threads, as it just seems to me they haven’t been popping up as frequently as they used to.

Do you want more Prospect Smackdowns? Crystal Balls? I’ve always liked the prospect smackdowns, though I don’t really care for the Crystal Ball feature

Any other old features you want revived? Obviously you have a limited time frame to cull information from, but revisiting past draft classes is always something that I love.

by Grudyfan on Apr 17, 2025 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy threads that you take an active role in besides just posting the original.

I can read 3 paragraphs from Joe Schmoe poster, but a sentence or two from you about the topic is much more enjoyable and usually more useful. Afterall, you are the expert.

by rothe on Apr 17, 2025 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re: agreed cheescake!

I second that!

maybe a team by team prospect comparison? (though reading your book it’s obvious which teams you like etc).

I enjoy propsect retros the most and I do like the involvement of the community.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Apr 17, 2025 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a rookie & prospect retros

In that order are my favorite posts then analytic stuff

by CabreraluvsBelinda on Apr 17, 2025 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"Like them better than most" list

Every prospect guy clearly tries to provide an unbiased view of the prospects they’re evaluating, but at the same time they also have guys in the minors that they like better than most. Like the tools guy with a good work ethic you see developing the plate discipline necessary to really break through, or the pitcher with great makeup that just gets results even though the scouts don’t love him, or the ARL kid that you think is developing correctly even though the numbers aren’t there yet against the older competition.

Mostly looking for a short list (5 + 5?) of your favorites with of a mini-profile of the general consensus on them, what you like about them, and maybe a mini-crystal ball.

I especially like to hear about players that are showing up in the 80-120 range of rankings since I find a player showing up at 95 vs 105 really skews perception of that player.

Examples for me right now: Matt Moore (TB LHP), Ryan Kalish, Michael Almanzar, Jaff Decker, Daryl Jones, Vin Mazzaro, Hank Conger, Kelvin DeLeon…

by Ophidian on Apr 17, 2025 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's what she said!

by alskor on Apr 17, 2025 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Potpourri, Prospect Smackdown and Guess the Prospect

are the ones I enjoy most.

Im liking the Potpourri/Stream of Conciousness/Blog thing.

I also like some Crystal Balls mixed in… but not too much.

by alskor on Apr 17, 2025 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

prospect smackdown

adrian cardenas vs conor gillespie

that might be an interesting analysis

by Asfan4ever723 on Apr 17, 2025 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2007 Mark Teixeria trade and what's your opinion on it?

by Bravesin07 on Apr 17, 2025 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+other big trades

This would interesting, and I think you could possibly analyze other deals where established stars are traded for prospects. You could examine the motivation for trading the star, why the team thought the return was good, what other offers they passed up, and how it turned out long term.

I also really like the Potpourri. It’s nice getting quick little updates on some prospects as well being able to see some of your other random thoughts.

by mentalpowers on Apr 18, 2025 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be fun

Two Words. Glenn Davis..

Actually, Tejada, Bedard, both Tex deals, ect… would be good.

by ADLC on Apr 18, 2025 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Input

I really like Potpourri and Not a Prospect. I like things that provide us input on what’s going on right now and guys to keep an eye on.

Prospect Retros with guys busting out, a la the most recent Davies one, are really cool.

Guess the Prospect is a really cool idea but I don’t think it actually plays out that well, as they’ve seemed to devolve into crapshoot guessing games. As a one day filler to save you some time though, they’re plenty entertaining.

Prospect Smackdowns are a lot of fun, more of these would be sweet.

by Fanon on Apr 17, 2025 11:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

King Billy's Thoughts

Do you want more prospect retros and not-a-rookies? Yes, but ONLY with potential impact players. I do not care about guys such as Sean Gallagher or Brandon Inge
Do you like the Potpourri feature, where I have bullet points about different topics? Yes, I would enjoy this feature
Do you prefer participation threads like ’You’re the GM!" and “Guess the Prospect,” or do you prefer more analytical threads, or do you want a mix? I like the guess the prospect, but would prefer if it could be updated periodically throughout the day to keep me coming back for new trivia questions
Do you want more Prospect Smackdowns? Crystal Balls? I love both these features. However, once again please keep it to guys who will generate interest
Any other old features you want revived? More chats!!!!

Also, I have to admit I notice that in almost every prospect retro, you mention something like “I gave him a C+ but said he could be a good major leaguer if everything breaks right”. It just seems at time guys are mentioned as ‘sleepers’ or ‘could break out’ just to cover your butt. I would prefer a firmer stance on players and if things go wrong to go back and revisit why. When I purchase a book, I want to know your definitive feelings, and I feel that you have gotten a bit wishy washy on your rankings by sitting on the fence in an effort to appease your audience.

Just my two cents,
KBR

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Apr 17, 2025 11:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that

“I would prefer a firmer stance on players and if things go wrong to go back and revisit why. When I purchase a book, I want to know your definitive feelings, and I feel that you have gotten a bit wishy washy on your rankings by sitting on the fence in an effort to appease your audience.” - KBR

by Colorado Fan on Apr 18, 2025 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In John's Defense

Sleepers are sleepers for a reason. A guy who could break out but hasn’t done anything to justify hype yet statistically doesn’t deserve a grade B, which is reserved for future regulars.

by Fanon on Apr 18, 2025 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy the sweet smell of the potpourri

by Franchise55 on Apr 18, 2025 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trevor Cahill / Brett Anderson

B+’s, really?

I enjoy reading your pieces of why you were wrong on a guy, and why you were right on a guy. It gives me more persective.

by Colorado Fan on Apr 18, 2025 4:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He changed those to A-'s I believe

by alskor on Apr 18, 2025 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not impressed with cahill

he should be in AA
he shows flashes,but fringy control though umpires are no help on borderline pitches.
everything he throws is in the mid to high 80’s sinker/slider/changeup…no differentiation in speed

by Asfan4ever723 on Apr 18, 2025 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

John,

Love the “Not-a-Rookie”…always insightful reading your analysis of these players, very instructive….

and, with the new Star Trek film opening soon, wondering about your thoughts based on the (very cool) trailers shown thus far; kinda neat tie in, as the film will show the crew as Rookies, no?

by almantle on Apr 18, 2025 8:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see

More historical analysis. Looking back at specific drafts and/or front office draft strategies. It would be nice to see what they did based on their draft philosophy, and what the results were. Love the not a rookie, prospect retros, and smackdowns. Agree with Manconley’s idea on putting past prospects up against current in a mixture of retros/smackdowns. Overall, I still come to the site at least once a day, so thanks for all the hard work John, and keep it up.

by cookiedabookie on Apr 18, 2025 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs