Update

by John Sickels on Apr 23, 2025 12:15 PM EDT

We are still fighting off the respiratory bug, but are making progress. The 5-year-old is almost 100%, I'm about 90%, the 12-year-old is fine. Jeri is still struggling, but I hope to be fully operational on Monday.

Projected Schedule
Saturday Afternoon: Discussion Question
Sunday: Guest Column
Monday: Player of the Day; Minor League Notes; Chris Tillman Analysis
Tuesday: PofD, MLN, Career Profiles for the Alex Gonzalezi
Wednesday:PofD, MLN, more high school players for the 2011 draft
Thursday: PofD, MLN, suggest something
Friday: PofD, MLN, suggest something

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Jonny Gomes

I think a career profile or whatever could be interesting. He’s off to a very nice start this season, so maybe more people than just myself would read it.

by auclairkeithbc on Apr 23, 2025 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

John

You get sick way too often. Grow some balls and suck it up.

by spoondoggie on Apr 23, 2025 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Bust breakdowns.

What makes a top ten prospect bust? Maybe look at similar bust categories like never developed power busts (Sean Burroughs) to injury to play discipline to minor league bashers who could not hit MLB pitching. What prospects failed and which ones were able to either overcome or succeed despite problems.

#269: Listen to SPORTS ROUNDUP every Sunday at 7:00pm at WVBR.com

by mrmetaa on Apr 23, 2025 1:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Extended Spring Training

How about a general look at extended spring training? I hear that players are sent there for the first part of the year, but I never hear anything beyond that. My only understanding of it comes from the single paragraph on the spring training wikipedia page, which leaves me with a lot of uncertainly about day to day operations and any interaction that may or may not exist among organizations.

by mentalpowers on Apr 23, 2025 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Post Hype

Pedro Alverez

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 23, 2025 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Billy Hamilton/Jean Segura Smackdown

I’d also like to see a Jaff Decker PoD.

by Brownson on Apr 23, 2025 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

+1

go long with extenze...i do

by angelsownredsux on Apr 23, 2025 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Big Jaff needs to stop running. Eleven attempted steals, been caught NINE TIMES. Stop it. :)

by Brownson on Apr 24, 2025 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Math fail

Decker’s 2-for-3 on SB attempts this season.
For his career, he’s 26-for-38.

by realitypolice on Apr 24, 2025 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh. Was going off the firstinning.com stats

… which are apparently not to be trusted on caught-stealings. A lot of mistakes on other player’s CS numbers there, too - wonder what that’s about.

Anywho, not a ‘math fail’, a website fail.

by Brownson on Apr 28, 2025 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Tyson Ross PoD

go long with extenze...i do

by angelsownredsux on Apr 23, 2025 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

Charlie Furbush PoD

Off to a hot start…had that awesome start a couple days ago, and got a lot of buzz during spring training.

by auclairkeithbc on Apr 23, 2025 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Dberg on Apr 23, 2025 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Woulldn't mind something on Neil Ramirez

>mfw

by MonkeyEpoxy on Apr 23, 2025 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Ryno1984 on Apr 24, 2025 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Get Well, get well soon we want you to get well...

by NastyNate82 on Apr 23, 2025 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Scott patterson

scott patterson acts in the nbc series the event he was a first round pick in 1980 can we do something on him

by Michael C Grantz on Apr 23, 2025 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Brett Jackson

John,

Can you do something on Brett Jackson he is destorying AA.

by KevG on Apr 23, 2025 5:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Larry Walker Career profile? Very underated player when you look at his career WAR.

by Tim Montague on Apr 23, 2025 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

Any chance a profile on Jeurys Familia?

by garik16 on Apr 23, 2025 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

post hype for brandon morrow

To Infinity. And BEYOND!!!

by YunelTheLazyLatino on Apr 23, 2025 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

Post Hype

Seth Smith.

Assuming that there ever was hype about Seth Smith, but I’d be curious what your thoughts are on him now that he’s an every day starter.

by noelman31 on Apr 23, 2025 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

Best Minor League Player Acquisition Seasons of the last 20 years

Whether its via the draft, international free agent signings, or trades. While building a complete minor league system takes years it would be interesting to see what the best system improvements teams were able to do in a single season.

by Zeke K on Apr 24, 2025 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

Brett Jackson

Was going to say Jerry Sands but you’ve already covered him I think. :-) How about something on the amazing start of Brett Jackson and when you might see him arriving and how godd (or not) he might be?

by raymsand on Apr 24, 2025 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Post Hype

I thought of 2 more:

Jeff Niemann or James Shields.

Niemann has been terrible this year, and was at the end of last year. But he was good before that. What is up with Jeff Niemann?

James Sheilds was bad last year, but has been great this year (and he was great before).

These 2 guys are intriguing because of all the depth the Rays have in the minors.

by noelman31 on Apr 24, 2025 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Post Hype Doug Fister

by jackyz on Apr 25, 2025 6:56 AM EDT reply actions

Conveniently, this could also be a pre-hype on Fister since there’s never really been any.

by realitypolice on Apr 25, 2025 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Prospect of the Day: Darwin Barney

everyone’s favorite!

by PrincetonCubs on Apr 25, 2025 9:22 AM EDT reply actions

Prospect Promotions/Levels

This may have been discussed before ad nauseum, but I’m very interested in your thoughts on prospects and how long they need to spend at each level, when to promote them, etc. I know you are big on kids being given a full year at each level, but when do you break from that? Especially when you are talking about college kids who’s age might not afford them a full year at each level. Things you look for in terms of statistics, approach that would make you think a guy is ready for the next level, maybe even though his overall line is unimpressive. What specific skills do prospects tend to learn at each level (i.e. pitch recognition for hitters, breaking ball control for pitchers)?

by polodude017 on Apr 25, 2025 10:37 AM EDT reply actions