MiLB 8/24
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 24, 2025 6:14 PM EDT
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Ok...you get some probables today...
Vin Mazzaro
Kyle Drabek
Casey Crosby
Drew Hutchinson
Trey McNutt
Charles Brewer
Alex Colome
Jarred Cosart
Joe Cruz
Jake Thompson
Jon Pettibone
Noah Syndergaard
A.J. Cole
Jesse Biddle
Blake Perry
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Arteaga
2-5, 2B, 2 SB
R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix
by doublestix on Aug 24, 2025 6:36 PM EDT reply actions
Noah Syndergaard
hits 104 on the lansing stadium gun — has broken 100mph 4 times so far (4th inning)
by Alfamale on Aug 24, 2025 8:24 PM EDT reply actions
Apparently the Lansing gun is like ~5mph…so more like hitting ~99mph
…either way; kid is ridiculous.
by metafour on Aug 24, 2025 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Kid isn’t going to have much trouble blowing through the minors with his fastball alone. Throws really hard and has very advanced fastball command; theres not many minor league hitters that will be able to contend with that.
by metafour on Aug 24, 2025 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Through the lower minors, sure
"BA doesn't stand for Batting Average. It’s Brandon Allen, as in the percentage of a hitter’s worth compared to Brandon Allen. Ted Williams, at his best, was only 4/10th of the hitter Brandon Allen is today." - YonYonson
by hero66 on Aug 25, 2025 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Through the entire minors. Madison Bumgarner flew through the minors on fastball command alone and his fastball had nowhere near the juice that Syndergaard’s has. Guys like Verlander in the majors can dominate a game on fastball alone if its working.
The report from the game is that he threw like 2 curveballs, 4 or 5 changeups, and everything else was either a heavy fastball or a 2-seam fastball that he threw every once in a while.
by metafour on Aug 25, 2025 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Hmm, seems like he wants to work on his fastball command a lot which is good since thats the pitch you need most command of and considering how hard it is, he can dominate hitters if he has command to go with it.
I imagine he will probably work on his breaking ball more next year
by Sniderlover on Aug 25, 2025 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Brandon Nimmo
1-3 with his first home run and first walk
by Metfan on Aug 24, 2025 8:43 PM EDT reply actions
Drew Hutchison AA debut so far
4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Apparently sitting low 90’s (92/93) and has hit 96mph (although minor league radar guns can be pretty inconsistent).
by metafour on Aug 24, 2025 8:50 PM EDT reply actions
Bogaerts
2 for 3 with a walk. Working his avg up to ~.250 in the last week.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:37 PM EDT reply actions
sadly all singles
lowering his iso slg to .244…
by hybrid on Aug 25, 2025 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
that .244 IsoP is disappointing. lol
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Down in Durham:
Torres with an ugly start: 5IP 2H 3ER 7(!!!) BB 5K
Beckham 1-4 HR
by walnut falcons on Aug 24, 2025 9:37 PM EDT reply actions
Torres is so on and off from start to start.
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
i remember when you argued that he was better than romero last year
how do you feel about that now? both have had underwhelming years.
by Los Gueros on Aug 25, 2025 6:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, it isn't particularly close at the moment to be honest
if nothing else just because of Torres’ proximity to the majors
by Navi's_Navy on Aug 25, 2025 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Did I?
I would take Romero at this point. I still like both, and I think Romero’s season is a lot better than he gets credit for. I also think Torres gets underrated because he will probably never be a starter for the Rays.
Both are probably straight B prospects.
by mr. maniac on Aug 25, 2025 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Seager closes out the Indians series in style
4 for 4 with three doubles and a walk.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:45 PM EDT reply actions
Seabass.
Leader of Drew Vettleson fanclub
by Marinerfanjake on Aug 24, 2025 10:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Alfredo Silverio
1 for 3 with a triple and a walk.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:45 PM EDT reply actions
Finally got #30.
Only took him about 3 weeks since he hit his 29th. Maybe this’ll get him going again.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 24, 2025 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
He's just really up and down right now
Five games of hitting, four games of O-fer, now three solid games. I’m a little disappointed that he never made the adjustment and let the strikeouts get the best of him, though it’s been slightly better this month. I wouldn’t be surprised if he needed almost a full year in Triple-A before he’s ready. It’s scary to think what kind of numbers he could put up in Colorado Springs.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Personally I don't want him anywhere near the Springs.
Granted, they’re installing a humidor for next season, but still. It’d do nothing to improve his approach.
Last night the Sky Sox lost 23-11 to Salt Lake. And both those teams are full of horrible horrible players. If Ryan Spilborghs and Alfredo Amezaga can rake there, you know the place is an absolutel joke.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 24, 2025 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
You're probably right,
but I’d be surprised if he and Blackmon didn’t end up spending a lot of the year there.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
the rox are fairly set with Cargo/Fowler/Smith in the OF.
by noelman31 on Aug 24, 2025 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Charlie Brewer
Slowly coming back from broken hand
5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4/3 K/BB, 6/3 GO/FO, 61 Pitches, 38 Strikes
by bbtng on Aug 24, 2025 9:49 PM EDT reply actions
Should be 3/3 K/BB
Looks like a game of 1-up among those guys in Mobile
by bbtng on Aug 24, 2025 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions
A.J. Cole
Rough start: 4.1IP 6H 5R 4ER 1BB 5K.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
He'll get them next time.
Sleep, those little slices of death. Oh how I loathe them.
by Daggerrrrrr on Aug 24, 2025 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
He only gave up 1 ER in his first 4 IP
Than the wheels came off.
by Dr Mcsexy on Aug 25, 2025 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say that
He gave up 3 singles, two of which were the ground ball variety, before allowing a triple to Profar. It looks like a solid outing to me.
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by Jeff Reese on Aug 25, 2025 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Tom Milone
7IP 4H 1R 1ER 1BB 8K and 1 HRA. One more Triple-A start before he’s called up?
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:52 PM EDT reply actions
I can't wait to see him in the majors.
Sleep, those little slices of death. Oh how I loathe them.
by Daggerrrrrr on Aug 24, 2025 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm definitely intrigued
At worst it seems like he could perform along the same lines as Lannan.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
That K rate suggests he could be significantly better
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by OldProspects on Aug 25, 2025 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
We'll see if it holds up
Charlie Furbush’s Triple-A strikeout rate (and most of his “dominance” being honest) didn’t survive the jump to the majors, and it remains to be seen if Milone’s can.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Furbush looks like
he’ll be a solid starting pitcher in the majors…of course not dominant, but solid #4s are good to have. without the ability to put up those big Ks in the minors, he probably wouldn’t be able to survive the majors.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 25, 2025 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Never said he isn't solid
We’re talking about how lofty minor league strikeout rates don’t necessarily translate, especially when the pitches don’t really support them.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah
they can’t be expected to continue in many cases, but they do matter…in a way.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 25, 2025 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I keep looking,
and can’t see where I said they didn’t matter. Actually, I have yet to see a response that has much of any bearing on what I posted. lol
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, that's probably because
I was agreeing with you.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 25, 2025 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting
because it doesn’t come off that way. lol As you were…
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
wow And he isn't even close to their top pitching prospect
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 25, 2025 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Angel Sanchez
7IP 7H 1R 1ER 2BB 6K. Very solid year.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 9:55 PM EDT reply actions
B.J. Hermsen
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 24, 2025 10:00 PM EDT reply actions
6.0 IP - 3 Hits - 0 BB - 4 K's - o runs
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 24, 2025 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Eddie Rosario (Appy League's Best) [named along with Drury]
2-3 , BB , CS , HR (17)
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 24, 2025 10:02 PM EDT reply actions
he's super intriguing
but he’ll be 21 on September 28 and he’s in Rookie Ball, so he should be mashing, right?
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Aug 25, 2025 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL is this a joke
He’s 19 so i guess that’d make him 20 after the season subsides.
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 25, 2025 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Still taking Sano.
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
by OctaShields on Aug 25, 2025 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Miguel Sano 2-4 , BB , 2B
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 24, 2025 10:03 PM EDT reply actions
Former Orioles Pitcher/Exec
Mike Flanagan found dead
http://www.wbaltv.com/sports/28967968/detail.html
by ADLC on Aug 24, 2025 10:08 PM EDT reply actions
That's too bad!
Man, Flanagan was a really good pitcher when I first started following baseball back in the 80s. The sort of guy who probably doesn’t get remembered often once retired, but who was a formidable player in his era.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Alex Colome: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
His K/BB ratio in AA has been very terrible.
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:14 PM EDT reply actions
Hak Ju Lee was 1-3 with a 3B in the game.
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
probably
wasn’t ready to be promoted but maybe he needed to be really challenged since it seemed like he was putting up good numbers despite really commanding his FB. in AA he will need to learn to do that better, but I just get a RP vibe from him these days… which isn’t really a bad thing, he could be dominating in that role.
by hybrid on Aug 25, 2025 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Joe Cruz: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K
He was supposed to have TJ but somehow avoided the knife. I believe this was his first start back from the injury.
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:18 PM EDT reply actions
JBJ?
Jackie Bradley Jr left the game tonight. Anybody know if he’s injured?
by Dorn on Aug 24, 2025 10:18 PM EDT reply actions
Andrew Bellatti (Rays pitching prospect in NYPL)
6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
He has been very impressive this year. Does anyone know how hard he has been throwing (or anything really?)?
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:20 PM EDT reply actions
Princeton Rays
Ryan Brett: 1-5, 2B
Jake Hager: 3-4
Drew Vettleson: 1-3, BB, SB
O’Conner: 1-3, 2B, BB, K
Josh Sale: 1-4, SO (I don’t know how many times he has had this line)
Matt Spann: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
Jeff Ames: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K
by mr. maniac on Aug 24, 2025 10:24 PM EDT reply actions
i'm starting to feel better about the Rangers passing on Sale and getting Skole
>mfw
by MonkeyEpoxy on Aug 25, 2025 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Many many teams
…passed on him. And not for high bonus concerns. Simply because they didn’t think he was all that great.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 25, 2025 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
indeed
That’s not to say that Sale is a bad prospect. But with him there was a 70 raw power grade and not a whole lot else. Of course, if he learns how to hit, he could still end up doing something. I just haven’t been terribly optimistic about his chances of being an above-average player at any point.
Skole, on the other hand, is a really intriguing one to track.
by mrkupe on Aug 25, 2025 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
He has a great plate approach though
I think people tend to undersell that. Patience, pitch recognition are important parts of hit tool—a lot of scouts pay far more attention to the swing, and while the swing does matter, I think those other things are just as important.
I still think Josh Sale will hit, his stock is starting to drop though.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 25, 2025 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say "just as important", but they are worth considering
Above all else, it’s about whether a guy can hit or not, and pure hitting ability is (in my opinion at least) the skill that translates best to offensive projection and future production. I will grant you that good plate discipline can, in the case of a guy who can’t really hit yet, help or at least ease the burden on a player in his efforts to learn to do so. Ultimately, at the highest levels, plate approach doesn’t suffice as a direct substitute for hitting ability.
Of course, there are multiple ways a guy can produce. I don’t think anybody was expecting Sale to be a great hitter, as most opinions I saw pre-draft had his hit for contact tool in the 45-55 range. It was all going to be about how well he can translate that raw power, and despite his meh season, that’s still the story with him.
by mrkupe on Aug 26, 2025 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, I wasn't just talking about patience/discipline
I was also talking about plain and simple pitch recognition which I think is one of the most important skills for a position player.
That ability to choose to lay off bad pitches is good and all, but more important is to recognize velocity, spin, etc.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 27, 2025 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Why did so many teams pass on him then?
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 25, 2025 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, he went 17th
So it’s not like he was passed on that much. He didn’t go as high as I expected, though.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 26, 2025 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
True
But some people had him as a clear top 10 pick. Quite a few teams we know disagreed. Quite possibly, the vast majority or all teams disagreed.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Who had Sale that high?
I remember some of the punditry being really high on him during the spring but it seemed like thing shook out by Draft Day and that he went at an appropriate spot. As kupe says, he didn’t offer solid speed or great positional value, two things most evaluators like to see in a HS prospect to consider them with a top 10 pick. Compare to the HS position players who went there this year (Starling, Lindor, Baez) and you see both these qualities in addition to above average hitting ability.
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I certainly didn't have him as a top 10 talent
He got drafted about where I ranked him talent wise. Now, Drew Vettleson fell a bit further than I expected, as I didn’t think there was a huge difference between the two.
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by Jeff Reese on Aug 26, 2025 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, here is a site you may have heard of....
http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/31/1494948/updated-top-100
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Just saying....
Some people with websites I know some of you have visited before had him ranked pretty high.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Indeed, Andy liked Sale
I was just talking about my personal view of him.
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by Jeff Reese on Aug 26, 2025 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Right
But also seemed like you might be agreeing with blackout, though that list was in the spring, so my post doesn’t really dispute what he said either. Anyway, there was a good amount of hype of him (other places too), and as blackout says, when it shook out, he went in an appropriate place. BUT lots of times mid-first rounders struggle, and people seem less shocked then some do with Sale.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
The reaction to his poor performance
Strikes me more like the reaction to the poor performance of a top 5 type pick. Maybe I’m imagining things.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the surprise
Is that he’s struggling to hit. He was drafted highly because of how well his bat projected. He doesn’t profile well defensively so he NEEDS to hit. I’m not overly down on him or anything, but I think that explains why some are so down on him now.
Bullpen Banter
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by Jeff Reese on Aug 26, 2025 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
He got a lot of positive pub
in general, and in a class without a lot of HS bats perceived as impact level, that carried a lot of weight, and the more people who know your name the more expectations will be piled on. That said, hand-wringing over where guys are taken in the first round is generally misplaced imo. Anyone think Shelby Miller should maybe have been drafted higher? Or Mike Trout? It’s not like Sale got top half of first round buzz and then fell to the fourth like A.J. Cole either.
I’d say the reaction we’re seeing is appropriate for a first rounder who’s struggling, not specifically a Top 5 draft pick. You know that when you see it (coughAckleycough). lol
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
They liked other guys more?
It doesn’t take a genius to see that some guys are drafted in positions they should not have been drafted in. Why did so many teams pass on Moore? Unless he struggles next year and possibly the year after that, I’m not buying it. I’ve seen enough stuggles and successes in the low minors to know that those stats and performances and not very indicative of future performance.
by mr. maniac on Aug 26, 2025 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
The Rays developed Matt Moore
Moore may be the best story of a team developing a guy into an elite prospect as there is in the minor leagues.
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by Jeff Reese on Aug 26, 2025 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
That doesn't really dispute my point
It is early for most of these guys. But people are quick to claim that a pick is a good one or bad one, even on draft day. If you want to take the opposite perspective and say all picks are neutral considering draft position on draft day, and still neutral a year or two later, that is fine as well. But my position is somewhere between your position and the position of the people I was originally questioning. Based on your post, you are more on my side than you think.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
All picks? No.
But we’re discussing first round picks here, and even supp picks in my estimation. I was higher on Odorizzi, Skaggs and Taijaun Walker (three notable supp picks) in their draft years than guys taken earlier. Doesn’t mean that I’m right and teams who passed on them were wrong, or that they were wrong about the players they did take. The talent at the top of a draft is simply a lot more equivalent than you’re allowing, and saying that guy taken at 17 is clearly worse than a guy taken at 10 (or that he’s worse because he seemed top 10 and was “only” top 20) is a flawed thesis imo.
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
that isn't my thesis.
my thesis is when people react vastly differently to some first rounders struggles than they do to others, ready to cut bait on some draft picks that were picked high in the 1st round (in part because they “never thought they were that good”), and continually give others drafted later in the 1st or supp or wherever chances while at the same time being shocked at their poor performances (in large part because they were really high on those players on draft day), they have their blinders on.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
But what constitutes "people"
in that thesis? You’re speaking monolithically about something that’s entirely subjective. Personally I haven’t see some tsunami of recrimination sweeping the internet over Sale’s performance, so I’m not sure what this over-arching thesis is suppoed to be demonstrating, whether in general terms or specifically regarding Josh Sale. People write prospects off (or exalt them) at any and all stages of their professional career. I don’t really see any common thread there except for a likely penchant to overreact to short term failures and successes.
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
all these posts are in response to my statement...
many, many teams passed on him. And not for high bonus concerns. Simply because they didn’t think he was all that great.
That wasn’t really meant to start a big argument. He’s a good prospect still. Maybe a weak B going into the year, maybe a mid-to-strong B- now. The point of that statement was just that we shouldn’t expect this guy to either be great right away or to have a zero % chance of flopping entirely. It happens with mid-first rounders. The only people who really should have a problem with that are the ones who think he is a special case, who shouldn’t be judged aside random other 15th-20th picks or whatever. That is how this whole thing devolved into a “thesis” which I never intended it to be.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions
And I think
that original statement is flawed in a lot of ways. As I said, by that logic Shelby Miller and Mike Trout are worse than all the players drafted before them. You can’t possibly know that teams passed on Sale because “they didn’t think he was all that great”, and it’s silly to act as if you can. And he was the 17th pick in the first round. That’s extremely high for a HS OF whose value is almost purely tied up in his bat. You act as if he fell rounds, when in fact he was drafted appropriately, and quite high.
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Sigh
Why are you arguing with me about this? I am saying what he is doing isn’t out of line with the type of prospect he is. It is VERY VERY much in the range of expected results for a 17th overall pick.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Because
you contradict that when you say that the first 16 teams in the draft “didn’t think he was all that great.” Throw in all the stuff about what “people” think and the thesis that isn’t a thesis and you’re all over the place.
by blackoutyears on Aug 26, 2025 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
You brought up the thesis stuff out of the blue...
Now it is a “thesis that isn’t a thesis?” Wow. That is as weak as it gets.
As for the other “stuff,” if he was the consensus #1 pick and everyone thought “he was all that great,” then the struggles he’s having would be way out of line with expectations. It would be a head-scratcher to me anyway. But 17th overall picks, while very good, are commonly “not all that great.” Some “all that great” prospects go 17th because of high bonus demands. Some “all that great” prospects just didn’t seem “all that great” on draft day to the majority of the teams. But the reason most 17th overall picks aren’t considered “all that great” is because flopping out right away or having a really really shaky start, isn’t way out of line with expectations. It isn’t a head scratcher. It is disappointing, but it is happens.
It is flatly absurd to attack my argument because I refer to “people” without naming every name, or enough names to please you, when 95% of the readers here know that “people” have hyped him in the past (you are one of those readers who is aware of this), and that “people” are disappointed with the start to his career. It is almost as absurd as attacking me for using “95%” as if I need to survey everyone here and prove it is within a reasonable margin of error. Hopefully you weren’t planning on doing that, but seeing as you are in an argumentative state lately, I’d bet you were considering it.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 26, 2025 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If I say "that's a flawed thesis"
and you respond “but that’s not my thesis” then you imply that you are offering a thesis. Basic conversational logic. You took the “thesis” baton, which was an off-hand use of the word btw, but whatever, and ran with it. Don’t blame me for your literal-mindedness. lol
- picks in a draft are “not all that great?” News to me, and no doubt to teams who’ve picked at that spot over the years. First round picks by definition have high expectations, fairly or not.
Blanket use of “people”, implying a completely nebulous percentage who hold an opinion, is ridiculous and lazy. You’re defending incoherent claims as if they’re common sense, which is amusing, I’ll giver you that. lol
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
That's #17 picks of course, not 1.
I seem to remember your throwing out similarly inane observations about how “people” approach the draft back in 2010 (it was very much a “thesis” then), so I suppose I’m not surprised by your diatribe here.
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
And I love
how whenever anyone is called on their most questionable claims the other person is being argumentative. Because you haven’t been arguing from the moment you posted "Many many teams
…passed on him. And not for high bonus concerns. Simply because they didn’t think he was all that great."
Double standard much? lol
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Not all all
Mentioning the bonus demands thing distinguishes him from plenty of other prospects who are expected to go in the middle or late 1st round (or 2nd round like Josh Bell), strictly because of perceived high bonus demands. Also, unless you are one of the “people” who think Josh Sale is someone who is particularly good compared to other #15-#20 picks, then the comment has nothing to do with you.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice try
The larger point has nothing to do with what you said, but rather the idea that I’m being argumentative, and you are not. I don’t blame you for not responding as the hypocrisy is undeniable.
But your ostensible point is still essentially meaningless. Your insistent harping on Sale’s draft position is flawed. Reactions of disappointment to Sale’s current performance have everything to do with pre-draft scouting reports and the opinion of some pundits that he was the best pure HS bat in his class. His draft position is mostly irrelevant for purposes of that discussion. As has been amply demonstrated above, the order in which players are drafted in the top two rounds is in now way to be confused with true talent.
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I am honestly trying to understand your point.
You have been trying to express your views on the subject of draft position and talent, but I still don’t quite understand them. Do you disagree that teams draft players based on pre-draft scouting reports (plus more information in most cases)? Or do you just disagree the job some teams do in drafting players? Do you think there is generally no difference in talent and expected performance between the #1 overall picks and late 2nd rounders? I know you are trying to convey your philosophy to me, but I am just not getting it.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm saying that
claims that being the 17th overall pick in a draft means that the player “isn’t that great”. By definition the players selected there are generally considered among the best, most elite players in their class. You seem to think that the first round plays out in the order of the drafted players true talent. My point is that even if that were true — which it clearly isn’t if you actually look at draft results — there’s not some tremendous gulf between the player taken at #10 or #17. After the handful of talents which evaluator consensus (such as it is) deem the cream, picks come down to org preferences, scouting and issues of need, signability, etc.
If we were talking about the difference in expectation between the #1 pick and a late second rounder you might be making sense, but we’re discussing a HS OF taken at 17 whom you assert was a top 10 talent at some point, which is a far narrower range.
As for the difference in talent and performance between the top of the first round picks and the second round kids, that’s where scouting, signability and organizational conviction come in to play. It’s easy to scout Strasburg and Harper. It’s tougher to scout and project Pedroia, or Skaggs. That said, the gulf in talent and projection between the second half of first round and the rest of the Day One picks is not as wide as you seem to think, and is certainly not indexed against draft slot.
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Sigh
This whole thing is about you and your thinking, not mine.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
At what point do you walk away?
You have been destroyed. You can own up to it and walk away gracefully, or you can run away and hide, or you can continue to throw things at the wall and hope something sticks.
by pedrophile on Aug 27, 2025 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I have been destroyed???
That makes no sense whatsoever.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not throwing things at a wall
Blackout is. I made one statement. It is a very true one. The rest of this has been blackout trying to explain pointlessly why it is wrong to not be too surprised when 17th overall picks struggle.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Your point is laughable
Every year there are players taken too high because they are easy signs. And there are players taken too high because the team wants either immediate help or are risk adverse. And ther are players where teams make poor scouting decisions.
To assume the draft position is a definitive answer on anything is silly.
by pedrophile on Aug 27, 2025 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha
Sale was an easy sign, which very well might have played a factor in him going earlier than he should have, but that was definitely not my point. And I am not saying that scouting decisions are always correct ones. If you like Sale, and disagree with the decisions of a lot of organizations, that is totally fine. I have no problem with that. But just don’t go re-writing history.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
How is it about me?
Multiple people have commented on your assertion regarding draft slot. You’re the only one who finds it pertinent and keeps referencing it. No one’s trying to destroy you, or pwn you, but you’re taking something tangential and making it a tent pole of your thesis/theory/philosophy/point.
by blackoutyears on Aug 28, 2025 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
It was a simple comment
The diatribe (actually the diatribe that isn’t a diatribe) was in response to your overreaction to a relativistic statement, that 100% of people would agree with if looked at in the right like.
by auclairkeithbc on Aug 27, 2025 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
My overreaction.
Again, nice try. You just don’t like being challenged, which is curious in a discussion forum, where the bare minimum expectation would be a willingness to defend your assertions without complaining about the tone or vigorousness of the questioning.
by blackoutyears on Aug 27, 2025 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Domingo Santana
2-4, 2B, HR, BB
Been on a pretty decent tear since the Astros acquired him, 11/32 with 4 HR.
by kyuss94 on Aug 24, 2025 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, that is nice to see from him
His strikeout rate is down as well, of course SSS so it doesn’t mean much at this point, but at least it is the trend you want to see from him.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 24, 2025 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Jarred Cosart
Solid outing today- 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2K.
Obviously 3/2 K/BB isn’t ideal, but he did have 12/3 GO/FO so I like the line. He has held his own in AA so far, in fact he’s been pretty great outside of one nightmare start.
by kyuss94 on Aug 24, 2025 10:45 PM EDT reply actions
He said he's working on establishing fastball
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s purposefully trying to pound the bottom of the zone and not working in his curve as much to get strikeouts, right now.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 24, 2025 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I could see on the Gamecast thing
Which I know isn’t a very reliable source, he was keeping his stuff down in the zone pretty well. That’s something I really like to see, especially after going through the Happ debacle.
by kyuss94 on Aug 24, 2025 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
good to know
it’s still a bit beyond me how he doesn’t have more K’s with his stuff though, everything but that looks great in AA.
by hybrid on Aug 25, 2025 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Juan Oramas
Salvaged his start after rolling early then getting tagged in the middle innings. Ended up at a solid 7IP 7H 4R 4ER 1BB 8K with 2 HRA.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 10:59 PM EDT reply actions
Needs to learn to throw off the plate more?
94-71 pitches-strikes, although he did have 16 swinging strikes and 6 swinging strike outs
by pickapeppa on Aug 25, 2025 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions
That's entirely possible
A lot of strike throwers have to learn that lesson the hard way as they advance.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Adrian Salcedo
2IP 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 2K. Has allowed one run since being moved to relief duty.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 11:05 PM EDT reply actions
Now up to 3IP 4H 0R 2BB 3K.
Longer leash than usual today.
by blackoutyears on Aug 24, 2025 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
kinda interesting
if they’re going to pitch him that many innings out of relief why didn’t they just keep him in rotation… and then shut him down at some point?
Liriano, Mijares, Angel Morales, & Anthony Swarzak for Josh Johnson and Brad Hand
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 25, 2025 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd be interested
to hear their reasoning on why they’ve handled him this way. I know he’s young, and he’s thrown a fair amount of innings even with the relief stint, but this seems erratic.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
man crush
that kid’s just silly
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Aug 25, 2025 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Billy Hamilton
2-5 SB, Now up to 92SB’s on the year.
by BryceHarper on Aug 24, 2025 11:53 PM EDT reply actions
Can he get 100
That would be ridiculous when his OBP isn’t even that high.
He’s done a good job turning his season around, his numbers are starting to look decent for a 20 year old
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
by OremLK on Aug 25, 2025 4:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Kind of a rough night for Kevin Matthews
3 IP | 5 H | 2 ER | 2 BB | 2 K
>mfw
by MonkeyEpoxy on Aug 25, 2025 12:17 AM EDT reply actions
Nuts
Nolan Arenado: 2-4, R, RBI
Josh Rutledge: 2-4, R, 3B
Both guys continue to dominate. My two favorite position prospects in the Rockies system right now. If they can step into the two gaping holes (2B/3B) in the infield by 2013, and produce, the Rockies could become a major force down the road.
Alanna Rizzo is my dream girl.
by Cargo's Ball Sack5 on Aug 25, 2025 12:37 AM EDT reply actions
I like the Rockies winning the West next year.
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Aug 25, 2025 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Anthony Rizzo
2 for 5 with a homer and a K. 22% Triple-A strikeout rate on the year.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
was doing better
then had a big rough patch, that said was 21 for most fo the year so I’m not really worried that much
by hybrid on Aug 25, 2025 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
David Perez
The struggles continue: 1.1IP 1H 3R 3ER 4BB 2K and 1 HRA.
by blackoutyears on Aug 25, 2025 10:55 AM EDT reply actions
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