Update
by John Sickels on Feb 1, 2026 3:41 PM EST
83 comments
We shipped another batch of books this afternoon, and are receiving reports that books shipped Saturday are now arriving at their destination.
I'm now in transition to a more normal pattern with the blog. We will do an All-Questions Answered thread on Friday. I'm also going to start doing some "Not a Rookie" pieces. Please suggest players you would like to see covered. However, before suggesting someone, please use the "search" function to make sure that I haven't already covered that person within the last year.
NOT A ROOKIES that I will do:
Bud Norris
Mat Latos
Mark Rzepczysnki
Luis Valbuena
Ubaldo Jimenez
Josh Johnson
0 recs |
83 comments
| Add comment
Email
Print
Comments
Not a Rookie: Bud Norris
Successful debut—my take—and his ability to take another stop forward will be key for the Astros’ rotation.
by byronlhsdrmr on Feb 1, 2026 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Glad Norris is at the top of the list...
I have him for $10 B contract (2nd of 3 years before extension or release required) in an 11 Team, 25 Active Players (10 Pitchers), 12 Man Reserve (Majors or Minors), 5×5 NL Only Keeper League. Young pitchers usually go for double digits ($10-$20) and most top/young pitchers are owned. Looking forward to the analysis - not so much as to whether I should keep him (I’m almost certain) - more so what I could expect this season.
by Ramakis34 on Feb 1, 2026 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Alexandria, VA
Mine showed up this afternoon
by NFA Brian on Feb 1, 2026 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
but thats where the russians invaded, good to see the book made it through enemy lines
modern warfare two
by jarjets89 on Feb 1, 2026 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a Rookie: Mike Cameron
At 37 years of age will Mike Cameron have a career year and make Sox fans forget Jason Bay???
by topjimmy on Feb 1, 2026 4:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a rookie: Denard Span
Probably should have been done last year, but I didn’t see it in the search…
by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 1, 2026 4:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
probably needs to be updated
has he’s blown all expectations away and can no longer be considered a sample size guy
by ScottAZ on Feb 1, 2026 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
not a rookie
Mark Rzepczynski
strikeouts, ground balls, decent control, successful debut . . . what is this guy’s future?
by randymilligan on Feb 1, 2026 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a Rookie: Homer Bailey
others I’d like to see:
Joey Votto
Clayton Kershaw
Tulo
Ubaldo Jimenez
Josh Johnson
by daveh33 on Feb 1, 2026 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
+1 on all of these. Others I’d like to see:
Gordon Beckham
Elvis Andrus
Colby Rasmus
Carlos Gonzalez
Brett Anderson
Clay Buchholz
Jake Peavy
Ben Zobrist
by RM on Feb 2, 2026 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Luis Valbuena
He had some troubles defensively and had a low OBP, but as a 23 year old rookie 2B he had a higher ISO (.166) than Vladimir Guerrero, Todd Helton and Nick Markakis
by Alex Trebek on Feb 1, 2026 4:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Saltalamachia
That's why they call them business sox
by egriffey on Feb 1, 2026 5:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on Feb 1, 2026 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a Rookie
Andrew McCutchen
Johnny Cueto
by sprucemoose on Feb 1, 2026 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Off subject
But John, as a Twins fan, how excited are you to see the reports coming from Minneapolis of the 10 year deal.
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Feb 1, 2026 5:55 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
For Joe Mauer, of course
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Feb 1, 2026 5:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
http://wcco.com/sports/twins/joe.mauer.minnesota.2.1462891.html
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Feb 1, 2026 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not so fast
on the contract. Olney called BS: http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/statuses/8514382779
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 1, 2026 7:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
same guy broke the Favre signing by the Vikings and was rebuffed. We all know how that turned out
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Feb 1, 2026 7:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a Rookie:
Matt Wieters and Neftali Feliz. Obviously well covered as prospects, but I’m interested in your take on their MLB numbers.
by swilliam on Feb 1, 2026 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Feliz is still a rookie
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on Feb 1, 2026 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So it will be a new feature, "Not-Not a Rookie"
by byronlhsdrmr on Feb 1, 2026 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I got my book in the mail today
so much for catching up on any sleep tonight. :)
RIP Nick Adenhart
by gatling on Feb 1, 2026 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not a rookie
Dexter Fowler. He was the subject of two discussion questions last year but never an in-depth profile. No idea what to expect from him.
by FI2 on Feb 1, 2026 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not Rookies: Andrew Lambo and Chris Withrow
Lambo struggled in AA but is just 20. Withrow looks like a stud. Curious to see the writeups, for sure
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 1, 2026 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
maybe
you don’t understand what “not a rookie” means
by richieabernathy on Feb 1, 2026 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Im guessing you can see I thought it was non-rookies in the minors… obviously disregard
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 1, 2026 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
www.oriolesprospects.com | twitter @orioleprospects
by ravensfan3 on Feb 1, 2026 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
NOT A ROOKIE
I love these more than Ed Wade loves mediocre relief pitchers.
by The Colonel on Feb 1, 2026 7:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jay Bruce
"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry
"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven
by smoooooth on Feb 1, 2026 7:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Clement?
Hasn’t been a true prospect for awhile, doesn’t have amazing stats at AAA, can’t catch anymore, yet he’s too young to be considered a AAAA-type player. Curious case.
by epoc on Feb 1, 2026 8:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Derek Holland
Very promising young pitcher who’s being overlooked because of a ridiculous HR/FB.
by Conjunction on Feb 1, 2026 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
www.oriolesprospects.com | twitter @orioleprospects
by ravensfan3 on Feb 1, 2026 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
That's why they call them business sox
by egriffey on Feb 2, 2026 4:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Got my book in California today
Better than Fed Ex or UPS
Still waiting on BA
by Bud Light on Feb 1, 2026 9:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ryan Sweeney
1000+ PAs, entering age-25 season
by scatterbrian on Feb 1, 2026 9:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Matt Antonelli
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
by OldProspects on Feb 1, 2026 9:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jordan Schafer, Drew Stubbs, Sean West, Charlie Morton, Ross Detwiler,
by rogero on Feb 1, 2026 9:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Definitely do Stubbs!
With the departure of Taveras, he appears to be in line for a full-time gig, and only exceeded rookie eligibility by about 60 ABs.
by jpollo02 on Feb 2, 2026 8:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How about a Young CF'ers piece
Tie a “not a rookie” theme with 5-6 of the young CF’s in the game today and how you see each player playing out while ranking them. Maybe go last upward to keep some suspense.
In no particular order and I am sure I am leaving someone out. Stubbs, Schafer, CarGon, Fowler, McCutcheon, Maybin, etc.
by Bud Light on Feb 1, 2026 11:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You could expand this over next month or so also by doing SP etc
by Bud Light on Feb 1, 2026 11:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'd love to see a writeup of young guns in the NL West
Something like Kershaw and Billingsley vs Lincecum and Cain vs De La Rosa and Jimenez. Not sure if it is possible, but it would be interesting….
Something similar could be done with position players in the NL West(or any divison). For example, who has become the biggest star out of Kemp, Tulo, Ethier, Drew, Young, Upton, etc
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 1, 2026 11:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Casey McGeehee ...
.. out of the blue! Where’d he come from?
by squarejaw on Feb 2, 2026 1:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
Possibly one of the biggest somewhat-unknown quantities projected for a full time role on a contending team.
That's all I've got for you today, unless you're interested in some Chris Capuano/Tom Haudricourt Fan Fiction.
by KLSnow on Feb 2, 2026 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Santa Cruz, CA
Soquel High via Fresno St.
by Bud Light on Feb 2, 2026 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jonathan Sanchez
Seems like he made a great impact with Randy Johnson beside him.
by smay24 on Feb 2, 2026 10:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Andrew Bailey,Jed Lowrie
2 guys who were under the radar a little. Is there much hope left for Lowrie now?
by powercat34 on Feb 2, 2026 11:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sean Rodriguez
He had a prospect update in July ‘08, but I’m curious what you think of him now. Will he get a chance in Tampa?
by mentalpowers on Feb 2, 2026 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Chris Tillman
Ugly numbers in majors, but strong ones in the minors and is still very young. Interested in your take on him.
by swilliam on Feb 2, 2026 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Scott Lewis
would be interesting…still young…
by Dudestl on Feb 2, 2026 1:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
ideas
Lots of Not a Rookie requests here, but I don’t want to burn out on those. What other ideas do you guys have?
by John Sickels on Feb 2, 2026 4:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
do some trivia
winners get to pick their not a rookie
by pedrophile on Feb 2, 2026 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
what about a 'oh how they've fallen' segment
that calls out the biggest busts from five or ten years prior. talk about what may have gone wrong, and what they’re up to now. Greg Miller? biggest bust doesn’t necessarily mean highest-draft-pick gone wrong. they could have been a huge prospect at AAA then flared out. it’s kind of mean, but also helps us understand the pitfalls of scouting and saber-prospecting.
2010 is Year 4707 in the Chinese Calendar - The Year Of The Tiger
by TigerFanInCleveland on Feb 2, 2026 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I really like this one.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Feb 2, 2026 11:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BP Book
Got my book today. Thanks for taking the time to sign it.
by AngryBeavers on Feb 2, 2026 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
got mine a couple days ago
thank you John and Jeri! i’m looking forward to reading again this year (after skipping last year’s entire baseball season with the other special delivery in my life…).
2010 is Year 4707 in the Chinese Calendar - The Year Of The Tiger
by TigerFanInCleveland on Feb 2, 2026 8:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Join the community and dive in!
- » Create a new account
- » Registered? Log in now!
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MLB -- FanHouse
- Tim Lincecum's Agent Expects Arbitration Hearing
- MLB Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Against Upper Deck
- Johnny Damon Would Love to Be a Tiger
- Bryce Harper Embarks on Old College Try
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
