Weekend All-Questions-Answered Thread

No in April. Yes in July

He’s just 20. Let’s see how he does once he comes back from the injury. I know the batting average at high desert was disappointing, but I remain optimistic about him long term

I’d probably give him a B- right now. I don’t know where that would rank him, I’d have to look at the rest of the system in detail.

I’d go with Odo right now….better command.

If Odo performs well in Double-A he could get an A-. Wheeler is a very strong B or a B+.

Any thoughts on Taylor Lindsey
?

i have not followed the situation closely enough to comment on this. I knew it was considered an issue earlier in his career, but I haven’t payed attention to this since he reached the majors.

I will say this. Parental interference, especially for guys coming out of high school, is something that I think is pretty common, but we usually don’t hear about until the problem gets VERY out of control.

Well so far his batting average has been pretty crappy in the Appy League, but 21 games isn’t enough to get all panicked about a .187 average. He’s drawing walks and showing good isolated power,which fits the pre-season scouting reports about his skills just fine. …power and patience, he’s showing that. He’s the equivalent of a college freshman, keep in mind. Ceiling is the same as it was before, a guy who can mash 30 homers and draw a bunch of walks, but beyond that we just need more data.

Hmm…i can see some similarities there. I wouldn’t say top 100 at this point ,not based on less than 60 innings of work, but if he stays at this level of performance through July and August he could get in there, depending on the final scouting reports of course.

Basically, too soon for a Hellickson comp. But not implausable for the future.

A guy who can hit .280/.340/.440. Call that what you will.

Top 100 if he keeps hitting like this, yeah. I gave him a B- in the book and a positive review based on last year’s results. I can see that as a B now.

In the book I gave him a Grade C+, with “a leap forwarwd possible in 2011”.

I’d say he’s lept.

I would go with a B+ right now I think

HE IS 20 YEARS OLD. This nitpicking is ridiculous.

I think it is mostly legiimate…I don’t expect a .500 SLG all year, but .450, sure.

Pretty close actually. love them both. My gut says Taijuan but they are both elite.

Very different types. I think I like Wieland better overall, younger, better command.

could be up as soon as sometime in 2013. I think he can stick at SS if given the chance

Beckham, Lee, Dietrich, and they drafted a ton in this years draft.

I don’t know, I’d have to look at all 30 teams to know for sure, but the Texas group is certainly impressive. Seattle is good too.

I think the bat is ready or almost ready. Not sure he will field well enough to hold that position long-term with the glove though. I can see him as a .280/.350/.475 guy.

I’ve heard his secondaries are good and that he mixes his pitches up very well.

I don’t know a lot about him at this point. If maniac’s scouting report is accurate, i’d make him a C+ pending more data.

The slippage is enough to be concerning for me. Although his K numbers have improved in July. I don’t have an up-to-date scouting report off the top of my head, and I would like to know what the scouts are seeing before commenting further.

In boston probably still a setup guy. If he gets traded he could be a fourth starter for someone.

Short and medium terms: Gyorko, Cuthbert, Salcedo, Flores
Long Term: Cuthbert, Salcedo, Gyorko, Flores

His development as a starter has been uneven, and it would not surprise me at all if a permanent move to the bullpen is in his best interests, even if it doesn’t happpen right away.

Can’t argue with that…you summed him up nicely with power/patience/defense.

Don’t expect him to hit for a terrific batting average, but he should have a very solid bat, strong OBP with at least moderate power.

some command issues have cropped up in High-A. I’d say number three starter or a more dominating reliever

B+ I think.

I’d say Gose, but it is close, and his K-rate still scares me. I think his risks are higher than some people believe, although the upside is obivous

I’d say a number two. I really like him.

No. Not on offense.

Well, just 20 games is a tiny sample, but the speed/power combo is certainly intriguing…11 steals in 11 attempts, three homers…bad BB/K though. Very interesting guy but beyond that it is too ealry to say. Let’s se ehow things go in the NYP

Still young enough to live up to potential….but damn, at some point he’s got to start shownig more power. Haven’t given up, but my confidence is slipping….in other words, I’m confused too!

Well, it has improved my opinion, LOL.

I think I would go with a strong Grade B depending on what the exact end-of-season scouting reports indicate. B+ not impossible. I had him a B- pre-season.

No. It made sense at the time. They were both rated C+ prospects.

I would drop Anderson to a C now that we have a more complete read on him. But I don’t see how Beckham’s stock has risen that much, at least not as much as everyone is saying.

Not guaranteed, but at worst a solid regular I’d say.

Ceiling…a guy who hits .300 with 15 homers, 30 steals, high OBP.

Midpoint, someone who hits .275 with 10 homers, 30 steals, modeate OBP

Worst case…gets injured a lot, never gets past a .250ish guy with little power and some speed.

so I don’t think Venters will be a closer next year unless hes traded.

but I’d expect the Rays to give Brandon Gomes a very good chance to be the Rays closer in 2012 if they don’t bring Farnsworth back.

I dunno…i would have to look at all the bullpen candidates for all of these teams. All of them are capable of holding a closer job if the chance is there. I don’t know who will get a chance and who won’t.

I think Nicolino and Syndergaard are ahead of Sanchez at this point according to my tarot cards

gotta love the strikeouts, but his walks have to come down for him to be successful.

His defense is amazing but he won’t hit enough to start for a first-division team.

Won’t do that here. Good article idea for later

what grade do you think you would you give him?

Kid is a beast. This is a lose comparison, but he reminds me some of Granderson. With his speed he should definitely be stealing bases better than 7/12. Quick stroke. Has really turned on some inside pitches to drive them. He is obviously young and still far away, but he looks like a Major League ballplayer.

Stuff

Occasionally spotty command.

His command has been pretty weak in his first two Iowa starts, but it was good in double-A. He’s been moved very quickly and he needs to stablize here. It COULD hurt his development, but I won’t conclude that it has just yet. Certainly he’s reached the level where he has to make some adjustments. He was a C/C+ type pre-seaon and still fits in that area.

right now I would probably go with Walker’s ceiling.

I was debating whether to ask about Riefenhauser or Hernandez but I figured it was more likely someone else would ask about the Venezuelan Babe, I’m not sure what I like most about him his HR’s, Average, K/BB, or that he is a catcher.

I am anxious to get SOMETHING on this guy.

A Dodgers prospect who is actually doing something positive on the mound.

Low-to-mid-90s fastball, holding peak velocity more often this year. Solid-average and improving curveball, plus changeup, command can be spotty still, gets lots of grounders. Number three starter.

I would go with A- until we see how he does in pro ball. He’s not Strasburg.

There shouldnt’ be any questions about his bat….I think this is a frustration-induced blip. If they don’t play him, they need to trade him.

i haven’t heard anything specific recently.

Well….I still think Norris could become Mickey Tettleton (look him up if you don’t remember him) but his defense has regressed some and he may be TOO patient at the plate. Might need a switch of organizations evnetually.

I like the power and patience, but he strikes out a lot and I’m not sure about his batting average/OBP against better pitching.

Austin, although Andrew will hang around for 10 years as a utility player

I haven’t seen him but I have reports earlier this year of his fastball up to 94 with a good splitter.

I’d be a bit suspicious about it unless he repeats it in AAA.

That said, I have seen enough of Mercer in the past that I think he is the kind of guy who could have a surprise season in him around age 27/28, come out of nowhere, hit .270 with 15 homers or something like that.

He can definitely get a job as a Walmart greeter.

Not impossible he could be a useful 11th man on a staff eventually

Sorry about the double question - how about just the defense question on Wallace?

He’s caught just 1 of 17 runners in the Texas League…that’s not very good. However, he nailed 39% in Low-A and 45% in rookie ball. There is more to defense than throwing of course. Bat is interesting enough with the power that even average defense will get him a chance to start, but i don’t know if his defense is average. I don’t have any info on his game-calling or leadership skills at this time.

Hard to say exactly because my mind doesn’t work that way until I start writing my book, but the Blue Jays and Rays are always a good bet with these sorts of questions.

No, I see him as a number two.

Maybe back edge of top 50. Yes

He’s doing OK considering lack of experience, striking out a lot but good isolated power. Strong arm, range expected to decline as he gets older, probably ends up at 3B.

Big improvement in his plate dicipline this year, but was repeating the Florida State League. Let’s see if he maintains it against better competition. He is young enuogh that the improvement could be genuine, and his name is “Zolio,” so he has the cool factor too.

Possible future LOOGY. Need to see in Double-A before going beyond that.

career slash line

.278/.345/.474

I’m not gonna do a comp based on 21 games in rookie ball. :)

The scouting reports haven’t changed from what I havev heard…good swing, good feel for hitting, speed is below average but has outtsanding instincts on the bases, long-term power output uncertain.

No idea.

He’s been erratic but I don’t think “struggle” is quite the right word. I wouldnt’ change my opinion yet, not based on eight starts.

He is a lefty with a decent arm. He’ll get more chances. Probably needs a change of scenery though.

That sort of question is really too big for this kind of format, and it is even something that seems to change from year to year.

The Rays do a really good job with their pitching, I would say. Maximizing their potential.

I will do him as prospect of the day on monday

Probably wont’ see him this year. If he ends the year healthy, it’s a success. He’s got command issues but that isn’t unexpected coming back from TJ.

I believe in him. Mini pedroia.

As for God, I am a panentheist.