28-29 January, 2006
Good news from John Sickels ... the 2006 Prospect Book is in the mail ...
could be arriving mid-week in the USA ... a little later in Canada
Dominican playoffs - Anderson Hernandez NYN (2B & leadoff) 3-5, .455 ...
WilyMo Pena CIN 2-4, homer, .400 ... Venezuela - Franklin
Gutierrez CLE 2-5, double
Troop movements ... SEA - Matt Tuiasosopo, Adam Jones,
Jeff Clement, Asdrubal Cabrera among the ST NRIs ...
PHI - acquired Arthur Rhodes from CLE for Jason Michaels (which
would seem to suggest the Marte / Crisp deal is back on, the Cleveland Plain
Dealer reports it's Coco Crisp, David Riske and Josh Bard to BOS for Andy Marte,
Guillermo Mota, Kelly Shoppach, PTBNL (and, if all this goes through, it seems
Ryan Madson moves into the PHI rotation & Shane Victorino becomes the prime
back-up OF) ...
Delmon Young, as expected, atop the TB prospect list at
On Deck. Young,
Jeff Niemann, Elijah Dukes ranking 1-2-3.
Well, that will surely have a major affect on his prospect status :
" ... Jairo Garcia, the A's top minor-league
reliever, is now known as Santiago Casilla. That is his real name;
Casilla used false documents when he signed his first contract, something that
is not unusual in the Dominican Republic but that has been less frequent since a
post-Sept. 11 crackdown on visas. "It's something we didn't know about, but he
came forward with the information, so I commend him for that,'' general manager
Billy Beane said. Garcia/Casilla has aged 2 years and 10 months; he's now 25.
He'll have to be issued all new papers, which could delay his arrival at spring
training.'' (San Francisco Chronicle)
Look who's back :
" ... the Astros have signed catcher J.R.
House, 26, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.
House, the former minor-league player of the year in the Pittsburgh farm system,
was released last year after a myriad of injury problems. The backup quarterback
at the University of West Virginia last season, House had surgery last Feb. 22
to repair a serious rotator cuff injury." (Houston Chronicle)
CLE General Manager Mark Shapiro on OFs Franklin Gutierrez and Brad
Snyder :
" ... Gutierrez and Snyder are guys you will
see a lot of in spring training. Franklin has had an excellent winter. He's cut
down on his strikeouts and he's an impact center fielder defensively. There's
still some question as to what he's going to be up here, but he's a big
leaguer." "Brad Snyder plays the game the way we want it be played. He's got the
power, size and athleticism combo that we look for in our young players ...And
he's a local kid which is a good match." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Confirmed - Felix Hernandez won't be pitching in the World Baseball
Classic :
" ... Seattle team president Chuck Armstrong
announced that Hernandez will not pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball
Classic. That had been speculated for some time, but there was another nugget of
news about the 19-year-old pitcher. Hernandez likely will be the No. 5 starter.
"We've been thinking of having Felix as the fifth starter, to start the season,"
Mike Hargrove said. "That's the easiest place for us to monitor his work." The
manager said he would keep a close eye on both Hernandez's pitch counts and
innings." (Seattle Times)
Justin Verlander DET, on the cusp :
" ... Now that Verlander is competing to stick
in Detroit, he's still acting like an unknown commodity with plenty to prove.
For all the speculation that the fifth spot in the Tigers rotation is his to
lose, the big right-hander with the occasional triple-digit fastball refuses to
view a Major League job as an expectation. He wants to win. "It's more of a
goal," he said. "It's something to work for and prepare myself for." New manager
Jim Leyland admitted last week that he has almost his entire roster set going
into his first Spring Training, but the final spot in the rotation remains open
... At the center of the competition is Verlander, the Tigers' top
prospect since his selection as the second overall pick in the 2004 First-Year
Player Draft. He rose from Class A Lakeland to Double-A Erie to Detroit by the
All-Star break in his first pro season, which probably would have ended with him
in the Tigers rotation if not for shoulder fatigue in August ... unlike
fellow top prospect ... Joel Zumaya, Verlander has no apparent future as a
reliever. If he doesn't make the Tigers rotation, he's most likely headed to
Triple-A Toledo." (MLB.com)
Rangers' notes from
Kat O'Brien, Fort Worth Star Telegram :
" ... "I think Kameron [Loe] has probably got
an inside edge at one [spot], based on the success he had last year," Connor
[pitching coach Mark Connor] said. "But the fifth spot for me is wide open --
[Josh] Rupe, [R.A.] Dickey, [Thomas] Diamond, [Juan] Dominguez, maybe C.J.
Wilson, but he did some pretty good things in the bullpen." Loe went 9-6 with a
3.42 ERA as a rookie in 2005. He pitched out of the bullpen most of the season
but was 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in his eight starts. He wants to be in the rotation.
"I have confidence in my own ability to win a spot or keep it," Loe said. "If I
would start the year in the bullpen, I would embrace that, then work my way out,
just like I did last year."
" ... Shortstop Joaquin Arias, 21, is likely
at least a year away from competing for a big league job. Even so, Arias is one
of the Rangers' most intriguing prospects. Manager Buck Showalter regularly
marvels at his defense. Baseball America rated Arias the 12th-best prospect in
the Double A Texas League in 2005, and he hit .318 as one of the youngest
players in the Dominican Winter League. "He still has a ways to go, but he's
going in the right direction," Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said. "The
most impressive thing is his strikeout rate [46 in 499 at-bats in 2005]. The
tools are there."
27 January, 2006
Venezuelan playoffs - Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-4, double ... Victor
Zambrano NYN 4 -2/3 5 4 4 3 1 ... Tony Armas WAS 1/3
2 3 3 3 0
Troop movements ... Marte/Crisp deal apparently off ...
Baseball America on the Tigers ... Justin Verlander, Joel
Zumaya, Cameron Maybin 1-2-3 on the charts
" ... The organization’s affectation for hard
throwers finally paid off as Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya had breakout
seasons. Verlander, the No. 2 overall pick in 2004, took off after the Tigers
altered his delivery slightly, started the Futures Game at Comerica Park and
pitched in the big leagues three months into his pro career. Zumaya reached
Triple-A as a 20-year-old and helped Toledo win the International League
championship."
The David Wells diet might jeopardize a rotation opportunity for Juan
Dominguez in TEX :
" ... Dominguez could lose any advantage he may have
had for the fifth starter's spot before spring training ever starts. Dominguez,
who missed his first flight to Dallas for the Rangers' minicamp this week, also
showed up at about 225 pounds, 15 pounds heavier than the Rangers had desired.
Weight and punctuality have been two issues that have frustrated the Rangers in
the past about Dominguez ... 22-year-old Josh Rupe and 25- year-old C.J.
Wilson left much more favorable impressions with their arrival at minicamp. In
discussing Rupe on Wednesday, manager Buck Showalter noted that Rupe breezed
through workouts while Dominguez was laboring." (Dallas Morning News)
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on a trio of D'Backs flychasers and a Phillie
mound threesome (Cole Hamels, Gavin Floyd, Gio
Gonzalez) :
" ... I think all three have a very good chance for success
at the Major League level. Obviously, Floyd has struggled of late, but still has
the kind of stuff where he can succeed if he can get command back. Cole Hamels,
it's all about health. If he can stay healthy, he's a No. 1 or 2 starter ...
If we're talking upside, I guess I'd rank them Hamels-Gonzalez-Floyd. Gio
Gonzalez is a very good left-hander. I think you'll see Hamels and Floyd in the
big leagues this year and maybe Gio makes it a year later."
" ... As for the D-Backs prospects ... I think Carlos
Gonzales is more of a 2008 kind of guy. Even if he starts speeding up and
goes from the California League to the Southern League in one year, I still
think he needs another year in the Minors. He has a tremendous amount of upside
and power potential. Chris Young is a very exciting young player ...
went from low-A to Double-A last year and didn't skip a beat ... plays a very
good center field. He swings and misses a lot, but he's still very young. I
think you'll see him this year. Carlos Quentin should be in the Opening
Day lineup, but there's not room for him there, so I don't know what they're
going to do."
Top WSox SP prospect heading for the pen.
" ... If there are no injuries to the
starters, Brandon McCarthy will start the year in the bullpen," Cooper
[pitching coach Don Cooper ] said Wednesday. "I'm not trying to paint him into a
corner. Everyone in baseball, including the White Sox, knows he's a starter. On
most teams he would have been a starter last year. "It just might not be his
time to get 30 starts this year for us — and we're able to say that from a
position of strength." ... "You don't want to jerk the kid's chain," Cooper said
of McCarthy, "but everyone that has a career both in baseball and out of
baseball has to be flexible on the job. That is what McCarthy will have to
handle this season. "There's no doubt in my mind he can handle that. The bottom
line is that no one individual comes before team." (Daily Southtown)
Jim Callis,
Baseball America, looks at Ryan Zimmerman vs David Wright
:
" ... Zimmerman gets the edge defensively, as any
scout who discusses him calls him a future Gold Glover and there's even some
possibility he could play shortstop. But Wright is also a good defender and I
think he'll be better at the plate in the long run. While both players project
as .300 hitters, Wright has more power. I see him as a 35-homer hitter, and
Zimmerman as more of a 20-25 homer guy. Wright also will draw more walks.
Zimmerman should be at least an above-average regular and likely a perennial
all-star. But Wright has a chance to be one of the game's elite players, and he
could make that leap this season."
Pitching tops the TOR prospect chart at OnDeck. Dustin McGowan,
Ricky Romero, David Purcey 1-2-3.
Jeremy Sowers CLE looking more and more like a 2006 contributor, if only
in September :
" ... General Manager Mark Shapiro predicts that
Sowers will pitch for the Indians sometime this season ... Regardless of
the timing, Sowers will get there with guile and a mature outlook about his
craft. Not that he doesn't have a live arm. Left-handers seem to be blessed with
the ability to make baseballs move in funny ways. ``Fortunately, I'm part of
that one in nine group, the 11 percent of the population that's left-handed,''
Sowers said. For lefties, 89 mile-per-hour fastballs dive and dip and somehow
appear to batters as if they're galloping along at 96. Curveballs bend in odd
ways, and change-ups fall away in what seem to be unnatural directions. ``A
pitcher's job is to get outs; pitching isn't about throwing hard, it's about
ruining a hitter's timing,'' said Sowers, who joined the Indians on their press
tour stop Wednesday night ... Sowers isn't buying into anyone else's
vision of his future, no matter how well intended. He understands that part of
the process is remaining grounded and taking his career one start at a time."
(Akron Beacon Journal)
No longer an elite system, but a few young Cubbies on the way :
" ... Here are some names to keep an eye on, leading
off with Eric Patterson, who will likely start at Double-A West Tenn. The
second baseman won the Midwest League batting title with a .333 average. Pitcher
Carlos Marmol was 6-2 with a 3.99 ERA at Class A Daytona and 3-4
with a 3.65 ERA at West Tenn. Player development director Oneri Fleita compares
Marmol to a young Carlos Zambrano. Catcher Jose Reyes hit .257 at
West Tenn and has been impressive in winter baseball. Infielder Ryan
Theriot impressed the Cubs brass during his brief callup in September.
Casey McGehee batted .297 for West Tenn with eight homers and 72
RBIs. And there's first baseman Brandon Sing, who hit .276 at West
Tenn, and who will play a little left field. The Cubs have a pretty good first
baseman now in Derrek Lee, and Sing may have to show he can play elsewhere to
get called up." (MLB.com)
Just so you won't worry about your SPs in the World Baseball Classic :
" ... Pitchers in the first round of games,
scheduled from March 3-10, will be limited to 65 pitches. The amount rises to 80
pitches for the second round, set for March 12-16, and 95 for the semifinals on
March 18 and the championship March 20. A 30-pitch outing must be followed by
one day off, and a 50-pitch outing must be followed by four days off. No one
will be allowed to pitch on three consecutive days." (AP)
26 January, 2006
Dominican playoffs - Anderson Hernandez NYN 3-5, double, triple, .429 ...
Hanley Ramirez FLO, in the OF, 2-4, double, .240
Troop movements ... CHN - purchased Angel Pagan from NYN ... OAK -
signed Frank Thomas ... COL - Ian Stewart, Chris
Iannetta, Troy Tulowitzki among the invites to the Rockies' ST
camp ...
William Calvin, InsideTheDugout
takes on the CIN system and picks Homer Bailey as the best of the
prospects but also likes a centre fielder and a potential starter :
" ... 2 - Jay Bruce ... has the speed, power,
and a great plate discipline that kids his age do not yet possess for the most
part. His speed will allow him to play center field as Griffey’s replacement.
His plus-plus arm could even allow him to play right field ... has the
potential at this very moment to play starting center field for the Reds and
most any other organization. He is without a doubt a 5-tool player and a
potential all star."
" ... 3 -Travis Wood ... another of the Reds up
and coming stars, with big time potential and composure unlike most kids his
age, he could be called up within the next 3 years for a start or two. Prior to
the 2005 draft, Wood’s fastball was sitting at right around 89-91, but as the
draft got closer he was able to get it up to the mid-90’s. Right now his highest
speed is right at 95 mph. Since Wood isn’t exactly a tall lefty, he attempts to
make up for his lack of height with a wild delivery. Most scouts say he needs to
work on his mechanics in order for him to strike out more polished hitters. Wood
is definitely a long term project with a high ceiling."
Chris Denorfia named the Reds' top minor leaguer of 2005 :
" ... Denorfia, 25, spent the 2005 Minor League
season at Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, where in 137 games he
combined to hit .317 with 20 home runs, 87 RBIs and 12 stolen bases ...
Following the season, he participated in the prestigious Arizona Fall League,
where he was an All-Star after hitting .333 with three homers, 24 RBIs and three
steals in 23 appearances for Mesa. Denorfia enters the 2006 season rated by
Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the entire organization." (MLB.com)
This - the BAL prospect list at OnDeck
- makes Nick Markakis the near unanimous pick (the No. 1 on eight of nine
lists) as the best of the Orioles farm. Scott Rex goes Markakis, Hayden
Penn, Adam Loewen 1-2-3.
Baseball America likes Bobby Jenks as the best of the WSox prospects.
Jenks, Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney 1-2-3.
Dayn Perry, FoxSports,
adds another 10 to his Top 100 (61-70). An OBA machine, an under the radar
ARZ SP and a teenage shortstop are among the entries :
" ... 63. Russell Martin ...
finished second in the Southern League with a .430 OBP; so he's certainly adept
at getting on base. To boot, Martin's also a skilled defender behind the plate,
with good receiving skills and a strong throwing arm. His primary shortcoming,
however, is a lack of power ... Many observers think Martin's strong swing
mechanics portend a power surge, but that remains to be seen. As is, he's still
a solid prospect."
" ... 66. Garret Mock ... sports
a mid-90s fastball, plus a cutter and a pair of promising breaking pitches.
Mock's shown good control thus far and solid strikeout rates, and his 4.18 ERA
from last season isn't bad once you consider that High-A Lancaster is one of the
best hitter's parks around ... Long-term, he could wind up as a strong No. 2
starter in the bigs."
" ... 67. Elvis Andrus ... The next
Braves homegrown superstar? He might be just that. Last season, Andrus, despite
being one of the youngest players in the minors, flashed strong on-base skills
across two rookie circuits. The power hasn't manifested itself just yet, but the
skills are there. Once his body fills out, Andrus will have some thump at the
plate. Defensively, he's exceptional — strong arm, great lateral range and
excellent footwork. Andrus isn't as raw as you'd think given his age, and his
tools — and baseball smarts — are off the charts. Keep your eye on this one."
David Luciani, Baseball Notebook,
with a little more on his Top 100 and specifically Lastings Milledge :
" ... Milledge came in as the 12th best
outfielder of the future in all of the majors and at #103 overall, which is a
projection for a strong player. Again, I emphasize how little a "top 100"
prospect list actually tells you about the overall future baseball population as
landing at the 103rd position puts him among the top 3% of minor league baseball
players. I project him as a future 20/20 type, good enough to stick in the
majors for a long time but not at the superstar level some are projecting."
25 January, 2006
Troop movements ... Lastings Milledge NYN among the Mets' NRIs ...
With four more teams in the books Scott
Rex, OnDeck, has wrapped up the NL Top 40s. Here's the cream of the
crop of the latest entries :
NEW YORK METS HOUSTON MILWAUKEE LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Milledge Lastings Patton Troy Fielder Prince Billingsley Chad
Pelfrey Mike Nieve Fernando Braun Ryan Guzman Joel
Humber Phil Barthmaier Jimmy Rogers Mark LaRoche Andy
Martinez Fernando Hirsh Jason Eveland Dava Elbert Scott
Maine John Pence Hunter Capellan Jose Miller Greg
Gomez Carlos Buchholz Taylor Gallardo Yovani Kemp Matt
Bannister Brian Towles J.R. Hart Corey Ethier Andre
Parnell Bobby Einertson Mitch Parra Manny DeWitt Blake
Guerra Deolis Bogusevic Brian Jackson Zach Broxton Jonathan
Soler Alay Gutierrez Juan Inman Billy Martin Russell
Bryan Smith, Baseball Analysts, on
Anthony Reyes STL and the Cubs' farm system :
" ... Anthony Reyes had a modest
start to the season in high-A before dominating the Southern League. And
whatever potential he showed that year, Reyes proved to be for real in AAA, as
well as limited Major League action last season. While the Cardinals haven't
showed a ton of faith to give him a spot yet, they expect very high things down
the road. Much further down the road lies much of the rest of the system."
" ... Cubs had very high hopes for their
farm system last year, as they were planning on having Felix Pie turn a
corner, and they had a minor league home run king in Brian Dopirak.
Angel Guzman was supposed to be healthy again, Ryan
Harvey was entering his first full season and Jason Dubois was
ready to get his big break. The Cubs were very, very well thought of, with
probably one of the top 15 systems in the game. If you had told me that Matt
Murton would hit over .300 in the Majors, and Ronny Cedeno's
bat would prove to be real, I would have said top ten. But, that was not the
case. Brian Dopirak fell apart, Angel Guzman stayed hurt, and Billy
Petrick got hurt. Jason Dubois struggled in a limited opportunity, and Felix
Pie was hurt for the year by July. Still, Pie had a very good season, and the
team's draft pick -- Mark Pawelek -- showed fantastic potential.
There is still hope for this system, but they simply need to have a year in 2006
that is as good as 2005 was bad."
FLO hoping for big things from Scott Olsen :
" ... the 22-year-old promises to contend for
a Marlins' rotation spot in Spring Training. Elbow inflammation cut short the
left-hander's 2005 season ... The elbow had been nagging him a while, and he
resumed throwing activities in late August and September. An MRI taken a few
months back revealed a bone spur in back of his elbow. "Doctors said you can
throw with it if you choose to," said Olsen, who is already in Jupiter, Fla.,
throwing and lifting weights. "They gave me an option if I wanted to go through
surgery or not. I said, 'If I can throw through it, we'll hold off and see what
happens.' I think a lot of it was from tendinitis, the swelling. I stopped
throwing for five weeks and it went away." Now with Marlins pitchers and
catchers scheduled to report to Roger Dean Stadium on Feb. 18, Olsen recently
progressed to long-tossing at 120 feet, and on Monday he is scheduled for his
first bullpen session since last year. Barring any unexpected setbacks, Olsen
sees himself being ready to compete for a rotation spot in what projects to be a
wide-open race this spring." (Joe Frisaro, MLB.com)
Kenji Johjima, arriving early in SEA, makes a good first impression,
especially with his attempts to master English :
" ... "We're real excited about this,"
general manager Bill Bavasi said Tuesday. "This is a big change in a real
important position on our club. We're going from a position of weakness behind
the plate to one of strength." One of Johjima's main strengths is an
off-the-charts work ethic. While there has been speculation that Johjima's lack
of English-speaking skills could make communication with Mariners pitchers
difficult, Bavasi said he'd already noticed that Johjima is making a huge effort
to rectify that situation ... Bavasi also said Johjima had a meeting set
up with former Mariners catcher Wilson to discuss the Mariners pitchers and
their strategies. "These are requests he's made, so he's way ahead of me on a
lot of these things," Bavasi said. Johjima, meanwhile, said he's confident that
the unspoken language of baseball will prove to be a stronger form of
communication than English, Spanish or Japanese ... The only other
question mark about Johjima has been his health, and Bavasi showed absolutely no
concern about that. The catcher batted .309 (127-for-411) with 24 home runs and
57 RBIs over 116 games in an injury-shortened 2005 season. Johjima broke the
tibia in his left leg on Sept. 22 and missed the reminder of the season." (AP)
A few more notables from the first installment of the team-by-team reports by
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com :
BAL, No. 4 " ... Nolan Reimold ...
One of the best hitters in college last year, Reimold was taken 61st overall by
Baltimore and kept slugging away in the minors ... .boasts 25 or 30-homer power.
His ability to hit for average at higher levels is in question, but since he’s a
legitimate defensive right fielder, he’s hardly one-dimensional. He might be a
part of Baltimore’s outfield as soon as the second half of next year."
NYA, No. 6 " ... Tyler Clippard ...
has struck out more than five batters for every one he has walked since the
Yankees made him a ninth-round pick in 2003 ... relies on command and a
quality changeup to succeed. His fastball is delivered at 88-90 mph, and his
curve isn’t much more than an average third pitch. Unless he adds some velocity
as he fills out, he might be a reliever in the majors."
TOR, No. 6 " ... Casey Janssen ...
blew through three levels a year after being taken in the fourth round out of
UCLA, going 13-4 with a 2.18 ERA, 122 H and 136/20 K/BB in 148 2/3 IP overall
... doesn’t throw much harder than 92 mph, and he has great command. He
lacks a secondary pitch as strong as Banks’ slider, but he has enough weapons to
keep a batter off balance ... . Since he’s stuck behind some pretty talented
arms, it doesn’t figure that he’ll reach the majors until 2007 at the earliest."
Rays happy to add Edwin Jackson, Chuck Tiffany to the SP mix.
" ... Dodgers farm director Terry Collins,
whose job was to manage their development, said he feels pretty confident that
both can develop into successful big-league starters. "I hated to see them go,"
Collins said ... remains confident that Jackson, only 22, is very capable
of being a dominating No. 1 starter. "He is for me. He was for me," Collins
said. "If he does what got him to the big leagues, he is going to be there. He
has ( Curt) Schilling stuff - a 97 mph fastball and, he may not have the
splitter, but he has a breaking ball and the other stuff will come with age. ...
The upside is really there." Though Tiffany, a 20-year-old likely headed to
Double A, is further away, he could move quickly. In a three-week span at Class
A Columbus in 2004, he pitched five innings of a combined no-hitter, five
innings allowing one run and a seven-inning perfect game (with 12 strikeouts).
"I was there the night he threw the perfect game, and it was a mismatch. He was
19 pitching against some 23- and 24-year-olds and they couldn't touch him,"
Collins said. "He's a guy who's got a huge upside." (Marc Topkin, St.
Petersburg Times)
Joel Zumaya gunning for a 2006 rotation spot :
" ... Intensity is the self-claimed forte of
this Tigers pitching prospect ... Zumaya said "I've grown up always being
a bulldog on the field." New pitching coach Chuck Hernandez has been around
Zumaya for only a few hours, but he already can tell. "You could see it in the
way he talks," Hernandez said. "He has an aggressive nature, and there's nothing
wrong with that." ... Zumaya, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander, is
competing for the Tigers' fifth rotation spot, behind Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny
Rogers, Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson. His main competitors are right-hander
Justin Verlander and lefty Wil Ledezma. In 2005, Zumaya was 8-3 with a 2.77 ERA
at Double-A Erie and 1-2 with a 2.66 in eight games at Triple-A Toledo. "I don't
know my chances" of earning the fifth spot, he said, "but I'm going to make it
real hard for the coaches to make that decision. I wouldn't mind a spot in the
bullpen. I want to help this team out in any way." (Detroit Free
Press)
24 January, 2006
Dominican playoffs - Erick Aybar LAA 2-5 & 2-3, triple, .471 ... Joaquin
Benoit TEX picked up a win in relief, 1 2 0 0 0 0 ... Juan Cruz
OAK 6 5 3 2 2 6 ... Venezuelan playoffs
- Alberto Callaspo LAA 2-4 ... Franklin Gutierrez
CLE 3-5
Troop movements ... CHN - signed Wade Miller ... rumours - BOS to trade
Andy Marte to CLE for Coco Crisp
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld.com, is back with his Top 10s ! The initial
installment covers the teams of the AL East. A few of the choices :
BAL, No 1 " ... Nick Markakis
... seventh overall pick in the 2003 draft has established himself as one
of the game’s better outfield prospects, but he’s probably not ready yet, and
even if he is, the Orioles don’t need him becoming eligible for free agency
after 2011. Ideally, Markakis will be the club’s right fielder in 2007. He could
be a candidate to play center field for a couple of years, but he’s a natural in
right, where his strong arm -- many teams viewed him as a pitcher when he was
drafted -- could make him a Gold Glove contender someday. Offensively, he
figures to fall short of becoming an annual All-Star. He does, however, have
some 30-homer seasons in his future."
BAL, No 7 " ... Brandon Snyder
... High school catchers have tended to be among the worst picks early on
in drafts, but Snyder is very athletic and doesn’t need to stay behind the plate
to succeed. If the Orioles become convinced that the catching will take a toll
on his bat, they might make him a third baseman, something that could advance
his ETA by a year."
BOS, No 1 " ... Andy Marte ...
only real source of concern now is the mysterious right elbow injury, which came
to light after he was traded to Boston for Edgar Renteria. His agent dismissed
the report of him possibly requiring Tommy John surgery as nonsense. Even if
Marte did need the surgery and missed 2006 as a result, he’d still be a fabulous
prospect. His defense at third base, once a weak point, continues to improve,
and he’ll be a .280 hitter with 30 homers and 60-70 walks per year in his prime.
Another three to six months in Triple-A should be sufficient."
BOS, No 6 " ... Jacoby Ellsbury
... was receiving comparisons to Johnny Damon even before the Red Sox made
him the 23rd pick in the 2005 draft. Selected as the fastest baserunner and
third-best defensive player in Baseball America’s tools rankings of
draft-eligible collegians, he projects as Boston’s long-term center fielder. It
figures to be at least 2008 before he’s ready to make much of a contribution
offensively. Ellsbury lacks outstanding offensive upside, but he could get on
base enough to be a leadoff hitter."
NYA, No 1 " ... Philip Hughes
... For the first two months of last season, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound
Hughes dominated the South Atlantic League as an 18-year-old. A mild case of
shoulder tendinitis slowed him down at the end of June, and he was able to get
in just 17 2/3 innings following a promotion to Single-A Tampa. Hughes throws
91-93 mph and could add velocity as he matures. His slider is a plus pitch and
his changeup is on its way to becoming one. Since he also has good command, he
should continue to move quickly for a high school pitcher, if only he can avoid
additional arm troubles. He has No. 2-starter potential."
NYA, No 3 " ... Jose Tabata ...
turned in an extremely impressive showing in the Gulf Coast League, even though
he only turned 17 in August. Scouts rave about his tools, and it’s extremely
encouraging that he seemed to have a very good idea of what he was doing at the
plate at an extremely young age."
TB, No 2 " ... Wes Bankston
... After returning from offseason wrist surgery and spring training knee
surgery, Bankston went about solidifying his status as the Rays’ first baseman
of the future by finishing with an 897 OPS at two levels. ... has some
work to do on defense. On offense, he projects as a .270-.280 hitter with 25- or
30-homer ability."
TB, No 3 " ... Chuck Tiffany
... Since being drafted in the second round in 2003, he’s struck out 11.8
batters per nine innings. He is a flyball pitcher and he needs a much better
changeup to go along with his 88-91 mph fastball and excellent curveball, but
any lefty who can strike out that many batters at such a young age has to be
taken very seriously. A late-season audition for a rotation spot is a
possibility. However, it may be that he’ll need two more years in the minors."
TOR, No 2 " ... Ricky Romero
... the first pitcher taken in last year’s draft ... lacks the
upside one might expect from someone drafted so early, but Romero is a polished
pitcher with a very good chance of developing into a long-term No. 3 starter. He
works at 89-92 mph and records strikeouts with a terrific curveball. His
changeup is a quality third offering. If the Jays had an opening for him, he
could conceivably contribute in the second half of this season."
TOR, No 10 " ... Ryan Patterson
... a fourth-round find out of LSU last year, finished third in the New
York-Penn League in average and first in slugging in his pro debut. Although he
was primarily a center fielder initially, he’s nearly certain to end up in a
corner. The Jays could choose to test him in the Florida State League this year,
which would likely result in a major offensive decline. He still has to be
viewed as quite the sleeper."
It's Adam Miller atop the Indians' prospect chart at Baseball America.
BA goes with Jeremy Sowers at No. 2 and Brad Snyder
at No. 3.
More Cleveland prospect news, Let's Go Tribe has its picks as the
best of the CLE farm (with Miller second to Sowers) :
" ... (1) LHP Jeremy Sowers ...
doesn't have the upside that Adam Miller does, but he does have the "pitchability"
that so often leads to success in the majors. Sowers showcased his skills
against Eastern League batters in 2005, holding opposing batters to a .652 OPS.
Jeremy's control (29 walks in 159.2 IP) is also something I love in a pitcher.
While his fastball at best touches 90 mph, he has enough command and movement so
that hitters never feel comfortable against him.
" ... (4) 1B Ryan Garko ...
Consistency at the plate has helped Garko to the cusp of getting a starting job
in the majors. His ability to play first base will probably determine how long
he can stay a starter. Ryan's swing is quick and efficient, but from a scouting
standpoint, that's all he has going for him ... good news for Ryan is that
the Indians are close to giving up on Ben Broussard, and his main competition in
the minors (Aubrey, Head) are a year behind him developmentally, so he should
get his chance in 2006. The fact that he can serve as the third catcher on a
roster certainly will help as well."
" ... (6) OF Franklin Gutierrez ... has a better arm
and better range than Snyder, which is why he's looked at more as a center
fielder than Snyder, and possibly one reason why the Indians may trade Coco
Crisp soon. Gutierrez has been bothered with bone chips in his elbow, which
could be one reason why his power dropped in 2005. His offensive upside is still
very high, and given his defensive prowess, gives him a slight edge over Snyder
on my list. Gutierrez, Snyder, and Francisco should make up an interesting
outfield for Buffalo this spring. "
Scott Rex, OnDeck, has been busy
updating his Top 40s. Here's the elite group (1-10) for each of the latest
entries :
COLORADO FLORIDA PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH SAN DIEGO
Stewart Ian Hermida Jeremy Hamels Cole McCutchen Andrew Carrillo Cesar
Tulowitzki Troy Olsen Scott Gonzalez Gio Walker Neil Barfield Josh
Nelson Chris Ramirez Hanley Haigwood Daniel Maholm Paul Kottaras George
Morales Franklin Petit Yusmeiro Mathieson Scott Gorzelanny Tom Jimenez Fabian
Jimenez Ubaldo Sanchez Anibal Victorino Shane VanBenschoten Joh Johnson Ben
Roe Chaz Volstad Chris Bourn Michael Bullington Bryan Thompson Sean
Lindsay Shane Johnson Josh Golson Greg Redmond Todd Wells Jared
Morillo Juan Hernandez Gaby Baez Welinson Paulino Ronny Ramos Cesar
Baker Jeff Stokes Jason Costanzo Mike McLouth Nate Headley Chase
Shealy Ryan Bowyer Travis Garcia Edgar Bautista Jose Hundley Nick
Tim Polko, RotoHelp, in his
report on NL third sackers, includes the Reds Edwin Encarnacion :
" ... Encarnacion ... Compiling a
.309/.384/.546 performance with 15 HR, 54 RBI, a 7/9 SB%, and a 33:53 BB:K in
291 AB for AAA Louisville(IL) earned Encarnacion the starting job in Cincinnati
at the end of July, however he completely flopped down the stretch. The good
news is that a weak BA didn't impede his power or patience, and with only a
surprisingly low contact rate limiting his average, Encarnacion appears primed
for a significant step forward. Batting at the end of perhaps the league's best
overall lineup provides plenty of opportunities for success ... Even bidding
towards the teens isn't a bad idea given his long-term upside, making
Encarnacion a sleeper in any league."
22-23 January, 2006
Playoffs Venezuela - Renyel Pinto CHN 5 4 2 0 2 8 ...
Fernando Nieve HOU 4 6 2 2 3 2 ...
Troop movements ... BAL - trades Jorge Julio and John Maine
to NYN for Kris Benson ... BOS - Boston Herald reports Andy
Marte, Guillermo Mota being moved to CLE for Coco
Crisp & a reliever ...
David Purcey, Guillermo Quiroz, Francisco Rosario
are 1-2-3 in the Blue Jays prospect report by
David Regan at RotoAmerica
:
" ... A big 6’5”, 230 (or more) lb. lefty,
Purcey is the Blue
Jays’ top overall prospect. Fastball sits in the 92-93 range with a little extra
zip added when needed. His curve projects as a plus pitch as well, and while his
change isn’t his best pitch, it should be adequate enough once he reaches the
majors ... command still needs work ... his placement
here is more of a reflection on the state of the Toronto system. Has #4 starter
type upside and could make his big league debut in September or earlier if
needed."
" ... After a breakout 2003 ... Quiroz has had two disappointing
seasons. Since late 2003 however, he’s missed time with a collapsed lung and a
broke hand ... also had
issues with his conditioning, seeing his weight balloon well over 220 on a 6’1”
frame. Still, the fact that he’s a catcher and there’s a major need at the
position in Toronto gets him to near the top of this list. He’s also a solid
defender with a good arm, but his bat will always be in question. Should open as
the Jays’ starting catcher this year if he performs at all in spring."
" ... #13 Curtis Thigpen ... has
lived up to his 2nd round draft status. He’s a nice mixture of developing power
and strong plate discipline. Performed very well at Low A Lansing and based on
that, Toronto skipped him right over High A to AA where after a slow start over
the first couple weeks of the year, he finished well, hitting over .300 in his
last 100+ at-bats. In time, he could be a .280/.350/.460 type catcher which is
more than adequate to hold a major league starting job."
Quite a variety among the TOR picks :
BAmerica SportsBlurb D'mond Futures RotoAmerica InsideTheDugout Batter's Box
1 McGowan Dustin Romero Ricky Banks Josh Purcey David McGowan Dustin McGowan Dustin
2 Romero Ricky McGowan Dustin Gaudin Chad Quiroz Guillermo Purcey David Purcey David
3 Purcey David Purcey David Cheng Chi-Hung Rosario Francisc Jackson Zach Janssen Casey
4 Lind Adam Lind Adam Lind Adam Romero Ricky Banks Josh Jackson Zach
5 Banks Josh League Brandon Roberts Ryan Janssen Casey Janssen Casey Lind Adam
6 Janssen Casey Thigpen Curtis Marcum Sean Santos Sergio Lind Adam Quiroz Guiller
7 League Brandon Litsch Jesse Yates Kyle Griffin John-F Marcum Shaun Romero Ricky
8 Rosario Franci Jackson Zach Romero Davis Banks Josh Romero Ricky Banks Josh
9 Thigpen Curtis Cheng Chi-H Purcey David Cannon Chip Quiroz Guiller Marcum Shaun
10 Perkins Vince Griffin John-F Thigpen Curtis Lind Adam Rosario Franci Rosario Franci
Joe Frisaro, MLB.com, checks out the winter ball performances of a couple of FLO
prospects :
" ... Yusmeiro Petit ... Pitching for Magallanes in Venezuela, the
right-hander posted a 5-1 record with a 2.01 ERA. In nine games, with eight
starts, he tossed a total of 49 1/3 innings, striking out 43 while walking just
eight before he was shut down. While not possessing overpowering pitches, Petit
has the reputation of finding ways to win ... will get a chance to win a rotation spot with the
Marlins in Spring Training."
" ... Anibal Sanchez ... teammate of Petit on Magallanes,
Sanchez saw limited Winter League action, appearing in 10 games with two starts.
A projected starter, the right-hander had a 4.91 ERA ... worked 18 1/3 innings and showed a good strikeout-to-walk
ratio, 18-to-6 ... regarded as having a high upside as a
starter. He too will get a chance to win a rotation spot in Spring Training, but
he may not be quite ready for the big leagues. It's not out of the question that
Sanchez could be turned into a reliever with the Marlins."
Thomas Harding, MLB.com, on Matt Macri one of the unheralded COL kids (COL's
AA club likely will feature Ian Stewart at 3B, catcher
Chris Iannetta, SS Troy Tulowitzki, OFs Seth
Smith, Joe Gaetti & Jordan
Czarneicki
plus 2B Macri) :
" ... Macri, 23, an infielder who has risen
rapidly since being drafted in the fifth round out of Notre Dame in 2004 ... It
was a case of what he calls "a diverse education" at Notre Dame that has allowed
Macri to flourish in a farm system where there are prospects at his primary
positions. He was a shortstop, but he ended up playing extensively at third base
in his final year with the Fighting Irish. Macri played third at Tri-City in
2004 and batted .333, convincing the Rockies that they needed to keep him on the
field even though he and Stewart would be with Modesto in 2005. Macri batted
.283 with a healthy .381 on-base percentage in 64 games. A wrist injury that
required surgery ended his season early ... With Tulowitzki on a fast track, the
Rockies invited both to the instructional program in Tucson to work together in
the middle infield, with Macri at second base. "We got a lot of talented draft
picks coming up here, real mature," Macri said. "At this point, as long as I can
get in the lineup, it doesn't matter where they put me."
Mike Hindman
provides in depth coverage of the Rangers' farm with the TEX infielders the
subject of his latest prospect bulletin :
" ... 2. Joaquin Arias ... the Rangers remain as high on him as any
player in their system. Arias continues to be a projectable prospect and as one
of the youngest players in the Texas League last year, he did what you want
projectable prospects to do. He got better and better, just as he had as one of
the youngest players in the Cal League in 2004 ... has plenty of shortcomings:
He hasn't shown much power. He refuses to take a base on balls. He committed 29
errors last year. For every two bases he steals, he gets caught once ... He's got all of the ingredients to become another Tony
Fernandez. Arias and Fernandez share almost the exact same build: 6'2", 170
lbs., with long arms and legs. Arias has the great range, arm strength and
incredibly quick hands of Fernandez. Like Fernandez, Arias is especially good at
going to his right ... He's
been fast-tracked so far and has always been among the youngest players in his
league."
" ... 1. Ian Kinsler ... Since turning pro, Kinsler has dramatically
increased his strength and developed freakish bat speed ... In 2005, Kinsler moved up to triple-A Oklahoma where switched
over to second base, a position he'd never really played. He was very steady for
three months ... But when July rolled around, he slumped,
hitting just .229 / .328 / .376... Kinsler caught fire in August,
hitting .336 / .421 / .555 for the month. He also seemed to have ironed out his
defense at second base, making just one error during August (after making five a
month through June and three in July) ... Among his mountain of achievements, he can already count
"winning" a big league job in spring training. He did it last year. Seeing
extended time in the Rangers' spring lineup because Alfonso Soriano was still
recovering from a 2004 hamstring injury, Kinsler proceeded to hit .327 and slug
.612 while finishing 11th in all of baseball with eight spring doubles. To think
he'll either regress or that D'Angelo Jimenez will outperform him this March is
pretty unrealistic. If Kinsler is sent back to Oklahoma, it will only be for a
month or two and because the club thinks that Jimenez can hold the fort long
enough to allow Kinsler to build up a head of steam as he heads towards his big
league debut."
21 January, 2006
Troop movements ... TEX - claimed Aarom Baldiris off waivers from NYN ...
Alex Wang, InsideTheDugout,
takes on the Pirates' farm and finds some potential gems :
" ... 1- Andrew McCutchen ... first round pick,
McCutchen was praised for his athleticism and power-speed combination. McCutchen
also showed an impressive approach at the plate in his major league debut. With
top of the line speed, McCutchen covers tons of ground in center field with an
average arm ... He will likely be a 20-20 player at the major league
level, with 30-30 potential. While showing a great approach at the plate,
McCutchen is still somewhat raw."
" ... 2- Tom Gorzelanny ... 2nd round pick from
2003, Gorzelanny surprised many by making his major league debut in less than
two years since being drafted. Gorzelanny throws in the lows 90s with good
movement. His slider is a plus pitch as well, and his changeup has improved to
give Gorzelanny a solid third pitch ... can be inconsistent at times with
his pitches, and he could also tighten up his control. Gorzelanny will likely
start the year at AAA, but he may start in the majors with a good spring
training. He has a higher upside than fellow lefty Paul Maholm."
Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, on Ian Kinsler at 2B in 2006 :
" ... Barring a late trade, which is unlikely, this is
Kinsler’s job to lose. Mark DeRosa and D’Angelo Jimenez both have major league
experience, but no matter how well they play this spring, I suspect the decision
will be not about them, but about Kinsler. He is the future. The Rangers expect
the future to start now. The only way he doesn’t get the job is if he performs
poorly, and that may relate more to defense than to what he does at the plate."
Adam Miller CLE gunning for a return to top form :
" ... The baseball does not explode out of the right
hand of Adam Miller as it once did. He's not complaining. He's pitching. "I'm
almost back to normal," said Miller ... He's ticketed to begin the season
at Class AA Akron. "Adam is progressing on a throwing program," said Tribe
director of player development John Farrell. "He will go into spring training
ready to compete. "We think he responded well in the [Arizona] Fall League. He's
on a solid, progressive path - especially for someone 21 years old." Farrell
said it's not out of the question that Miller could be pitching at Class AAA
Buffalo at some point this season." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
David Luciani, Baseball Notebook,
is in the midst of his annual "IF SLEEPERS EXISTED" series. One youngster on the
list so far - Prince Fielder :
" ... Everyone knows about him but given how many
rookies have disappointed in recent years, don't be surprised if people aren't
willing to bet the farm on him. The trade of Lyle Overbay solidified Fielder's
position as the apparent Opening Day first baseman and he projects as an
immediate .250s type with 25 home run power and maybe 70 RBI ability in his
first year, if not more. My latest forecast for 461 at bats reflects the minor
uncertainty associated both with his job security and other factors related to
rookies ... If you pro-rated my forecasted ability for him to, say, 550 at bats
(meaning if you believe there's no chance he could lose his job in 2006 or spend
any time as a pinch-hitter), you end up with a forecasted 30 home runs and about
85 RBI."
Matt Kemp LAD already ready to challenge for the centre field slot :
" ... After a breakout season at Vero Beach, Kemp continued
to impress in Arizona in the Fall League ... expected to open the 2006
season at Double-A Jacksonville. "My mentality is that nobody can get me out,"
he said. "I had confidence going into every game. I've heard some people compare
my game to Derrek Lee. It's exciting to hear that. I have a power swing,
sometimes it gets too long and I have to shorten it up." Kemp not only has a
power bat, but a throwing arm that can handle right field and the ball-chasing
speed and instincts to handle center. "I love it in center," said Kemp. "That's
where I played most last year after trying it in Spring Training for the first
time. I just fell in love with it. I can play all three, but I like being the
leader in the outfielder." (MLB.com)
Jeremy Sowers CLE looks to get a little more minor league time :
" ... No matter what level he pitched at in 2005,
Sowers was effective and efficient with his four-pitch mix. He knows he still
has work to do, though. "I need to become more accurate," he said. "I need to
enhance my changeup and get a little better with my curveball. I have to work on
holding the running game a little better. "There's no part of the game you can
ever be content with in this sport, because people always adjust and you need to
be better." The Tribe will send him to Buffalo to get better this season, even
though many in the organization believe the kid could be ready to make a
big-league impact. The team just doesn't have an opening for him at this time.
"We feel he still can benefit from innings at the Triple-A level," farm director
John Farrell said. "Whether that's 10 starts or 15 starts, it's not a
predetermined number." (MLB.com)
20 January, 2006
Dominican playoffs - Hanley Ramirez, in RF, 2-7, triple, homer ...
Erick Aybar LAA 4-5, walk ... WilyMo Pena CIN 3-5,
homer ...
Troop movements ... SD - claimed Walter Young off waivers from BAL
(Padres now with Chris Young OF, Chris Young SP, Eric Young U and now Walter)
... BOS - Theo Epstein back ... CHA - among the NRIs, Lance
Broadway, Ray Liotta, Ryan Sweeney
and Josh Fields ...
Matt Jacovina, WarmOctoberNights,
looks at the new-look FLO farm :
" ... 1. Jeremy Hermida ... While
Delmon Young may be the best prospect in baseball, Hermida is currently a better
player and has quite a high ceiling himself. Jeremy has a unique skillset of
speed, patience and developing power. It’s very rare to find a 21 year old who
can walk 111 times in 118 AA games, but what makes him more remarkable is that
he’s also athletic ... In 25 stolen base attempts last season, he was only
caught twice ... Even his outfield defense is reportedly steady ...
he’s already the perfect hitter to bat in front of Miguel Cabrera. Within a few
seasons, expect the two of them to become one of the most potent run-producing
duos in the game."
" ... 2. Scott Olsen ... Assuming
Olsen’s elbow inflammation is no longer an issue come spring, there’ll be
nothing holding him back from becoming a fixture in the young Marlins’ rotation
... has the potential to be a decent major leaguer, even at the age of 22.
Both his fastball and slider are already above average pitches ... need to
improve a third pitch before he can consistently provide quality outings, but
even presently, if Olsen’s pitches are on he’ll provide some dominant games.
Scott has the advantageous combination of lots of K’s, not so many walks, and a
nice ability to keep the ball in the park, not to mention a physical frame
that’s conducive to pitching."
" ... 9. Chris Volstad ... leads a
talented pack of 2005 draft picks. He has a pitcher’s frame, which will likely
add some velocity to his fastball, and is said to be advanced for his age. It’ll
be his first full season of professional ball out of high school, so don’t
expect dominance out the gate, but keep an eye on him: he has the potential of a
#2/3."
The Daily Lancer offers a look at
a Royals' Top 10 :
" ... 1. Billy Butler ... coming off a
remarkable season ... great raw power and should be a good contact hitter
... 30 HRs during the regular season and hit above .300 at High A and AA.
His plate discipline has been good so far, although he struggled a bit in that
area at AA. He'll have no trouble finding a spot in the lineup, but finding a
position in the field might be tough. It might be hard to hide his glove in LF
... Corner outfield is a position of need in the organization, so he'll get
every chance to play there."
" ... 2. Alex Gordon ... had a
decent debut in the Arizona Fall League, exhibiting good plate discipline with a
.403 OBP. Gordon has very good power from the left side of the plate. Gordon has
drawn a lot of comparisons to Mark Teixeira and could be the Royals' No. 3
hitter of the future. The biggest question mark is Gordon's future position. The
Royals are going to keep him at third until Teahen proves himself. If Teahen
becomes a solid third basemen, then Gordon will likely be moved to the corner
outfielder."
" ... 5. Chris Lubanski ... put
up some great offensive numbers at High Desert ... 72 extra base hits and
drove in 116 runs, even with a very slow start to the season. However,
Lubanski's great numbers were likely a result of his home park, as his road
splits weren't nearly as impressive. AA will tell a lot about Lubanski's future.
His defense in CF is suspect and his arm isn't good enough to play RF."
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on Andre
Ethier LAD :
" ... Ethier is the guy to be excited about here. He
had the breakthrough season in Double-A last year, then performed exceptionally
well in the Arizona Fall League ... hits for average, has some power. His
on-base skills are improving ... though he's not quite the walk machine
some from that organization are. And he's a good defensive outfielder. I think
you will see him at some point in 2006."
Ryan Garko CLE likely heading for more time in the minors :
" ... Garko likely will open at Class
AAA Buffalo, where he batted .303 with 19 home runs and 77 RBI in 127 games last
year ... "We think his bat is ready for the major leagues," said Mike
Hazen, Indians assistant director of player development. "He simply needs more
time and reps at first." The Indians entered the off-season with an opening at
first, given Ben Broussard's struggles offensively in 2005. They apparently
closed it last week by signing veteran Eduardo Perez, a right-handed batter who
is in line to platoon with Broussard. "It's not an indictment whatsoever of Ryan
as a prospect," Hazen said. "He's still very much in our plans. It's just that
he can't be expected to learn on the job in Cleveland." ... "When I do get
the opportunity to get called up and get some playing time, I want to be there
the rest of my career," he said. "I don't want to be a guy who bounces up and
down." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
19 January, 2006
Troop movements ... MIL - released Russell Branyan ... BOS - signed
Julian Tavarez, designated Tim Bausher for assignment ... TB -
signed Shawn Camp ... NYN - signed RHP Yusaku Iriki
...
Dayn Perry, FoxSports,
moves on with the third installment of his Top 100. It includes a possible
centre fielder for the Pirates and Padres' backstop :
" ... 75. Andrew McCutchen ... one of
the only Pirate hitting prospects worth mentioning. He batted .709 during his
senior year of high school, and he boasts exceptional speed on the bases, great
range in center and command of the strike zone. He hasn't shown much power as of
yet, but he has the bat speed for it. As soon as his body fills out, the power
will follow. McCutchen will see full-season action for the first time in 2006,
and he should do just fine."
" ... 77. George Kottaras ... one of
the most promising offensive catchers currently in the minors. In the second
half of last season, he authored a batting line of .287 AVG/.397 OBP/.416 SLG
despite playing in the pitcher-friendly Southern League. Kottaras has yet to
cultivate a power stroke (but has excellent walk rates and a career OBP of
.392). At the plate, he has a picture-perfect, left-handed stroke that generates
lots of line drives. Behind the plate, he's athletic and mobile, but he has a
bit of a slow release on throws."
David Regan, RotoAmerica,
features the Washington system and, to no surprise, Ryan Zimmerman is atop the
list :
" ... One of the easier selections for a
team’s #1 prospect, Zimmerman wasn’t put on the fast track this year
after being drafted in 2005, he was as close as a guy could come from being put
on a jet plane right to the big leagues ... They had their eye on Zimmerman for
awhile and didn’t hesitate a bit on draft day. He zoomed right to the majors
(only position player 2005 draftee to do it) and hit .397/.419/.569 in 58
at-bats. Right now his glove is his best tool, as Zimmerman projects to win
several Gold Gloves in his career ... He’s got great range, hands, and a
strong, accurate arm ... projects as a .300 hitter with solid plate
discipline. Power isn’t his best tool, but he’s well put-together at 6’3”, 220,
so it’s not hard to project 25-30 HR’s annually."
" ... #2 Clint Everts ... I
think Everts is going to surprise some people this year ... was on his way
to fulfilling his promise as a #1 starter ... before coming down with a
sore arm and undergoing Tommy John surgery in September. Came back late this
year for a few rehab starts in the low levels of the minors and fared well. When
healthy, he throws a fastball that hovers in he 88-91 range, a plus curve, and
one of the minors’ best changeups. During his rehab, it’s been reported that he
grew 1-2 inches and put on up to 15 lbs. of muscle. It was certainly needed, as
he now stands 6’3”, 180 ... challenge this year will be to continue building arm
strength."
" ... #5 Mike Hinckley ...
A poor 2005 moves this former system #1 prospect down the charts. Suffered a
shoulder strain in spring training last year and never seemed to fully recover.
Velocity was down and his command was inconsistent at best. When 100%, he offers
a low 90s fastball, very good curve, and a solid change. Great work ethic and is
loved by his teammates. Just needs to get healthy and work hard to get back his
prospect status."
William Calvin. InsideTheDugout,
has a righty-lefty combo atop the HOU prospect chart :
" ... 1-Jason Hirsh ... This kid may be
exactly what the Astros need in 2006 to give them that final push in the later
months ... has the potential to be one of the best pitching prospects in
all of baseball. With his mid 90’s fastball and his nasty two-seamer similar to
that of Greg Maddux’s, Hirsh has everything needed to be a top of the rotation
starter. The Astros have very little to be happy about in their farm system, but
Hirsh is definitely a top notch talent who will soon provide them with a very
good young arm in their rotation within the next couple of years. Some experts
think that if Hirsh is unable to work on his changeup, he may be headed towards
more of a closer’s role then anything else. With everything Hirsh has in his
arsenal, I definitely see him as a very nice #2 SP and possibly even a #1 SP."
" ... 2-Troy Patton ... young
lefty is one of those pitchers who can be put side by side with just about any
pitching prospect and he’ll even up. He has a low 90’s fastball and a plus- plus
curveball that controlled batters to the tune of .211. With Patton’s ice cold
composure out on the mound, I'd go out on a limb and compare him to Zach Duke.
He’s not quite as polished as Duke, but he’s not that far off either. Patton has
the tools necessary to be a #2 SP on most rosters, but I’d say he’s going to end
up right around the middle of the rotation for the Astros."
Scott Rex, OnDeck, rates the CIN and
STL farms. Homer Bailey tops the Reds' prospects, ahead of Jay Bruce and
Travis Wood. On the Cards, it's Anthony Reyes, Mark McCormick and Colby
Rasmus, 1-2-3.
Tim Polko, RotoHelp, includes
a pair of 2006 question marks in his review of AL third basemen :
" ... Dallas McPherson ... Few
players seem harder to evaluate than McPherson, who could spend the year
anywhere from AAA Salt Lake to the DL to the heart of the Angels' order. He
entered last season as perhaps the game's top power prospect yet failed to gain
any significant traction in the majors. A herniated disk delayed his promotion
to Los Angeles until late April, he suffered a couple more minor injuries over
the summer, and then McPherson eventually required season-ending hip surgery at
the end of August. However, the removal of a bone spur from his hip shouldn't
affect his power at all ... I consider McPherson a potentially dynamic
sleeper even as a reserve."
" ... Kevin Youkilis ... Now he
moves into the starting lineup as the primary first baseman and likely #2
hitter, an ideal slot for someone with his on-base skills and seemingly limited
power. Remember that he possesses much more value in sim leagues, but also set a
.270/15/70 base for Youkilis as a full-time player. A .300/20/100 explosion
similarly wouldn't shock me, so take full advantage of any slack in the bidding
to acquire a relative youngster possessing such an impressive skill set."
Braves with a surplus of riches behind the plate. Brian McCann
getting established, Jarrod Saltalamacchia might try out another position
:
" ... Like McCann once was, Jarrod
Saltalamacchia is now considered to be one of the best catching prospects in the
Minor Leagues ... may be just a year away from making his arrival in
Atlanta. "We are fortunate enough to have two very talented catchers -- two of
the best in the game we think -- in McCann and Saltalamacchia," Schuerholz said.
While Saltalamacchia will likely begin this season at Double-A Mississippi,
McCann will attempt to improve upon a rookie season in which he hit .278 with
five homers and 23 RBIs ... Smoltz and many of the other pitchers were
impressed with McCann's strong mental makeup and ability to call a game. "They
all like him," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He does a great job calling the
game, setting up, and he can throw the ball well. And he's a good hitter, he's a
tough out. I think John sort of adopting him really meant a lot. He had a lot of
faith in him." ... While pleased with his swing, the Braves believe the
left-handed catcher has the potential to add more muscle to his frame and
potentially hit for much greater power ... As for Saltalamacchia, the
Braves are hoping that he continues his impressive development as a catcher ...
If Saltalamacchia proves he's ready for the big leagues in the next year or so,
the Braves may decide to develop him at another position. This would be a way
they could have both he and McCann in the same lineup." (MLB.com)
18 January, 2006
The book is
at the printers! It is scheduled to be shipped in early February.
This will be the 11th annual prospect book for John. It's one of the
season's most anxiously awaited baseball publications. It ships in early
February with pre-orders now being taken.
Order here.
Dominican playoffs - Andy Marte, still scuffling, 0-3, .160 ...
Joaquin Benoit TEX, in relief, 2 1 0 0 2 1 ... Erick Aybar
2-5, triple, .366 ... Juan Cruz OAK 5 4 1 1 4 4 ... Venezuela -
Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-2, 2 walks ... Wilfredo Ledezma
DET 5 5 2 2 0 3 ... Yurendell DeCaster PIT 3-4 & 2-4, homer
Whew ... busy trying to get all the lists up to date, including the 2006
players' lists from Scoresheet ... the spreadsheet friendly lists (also with
LAST NAME, FIRST NAME format) now posted ... AL,
NL ... the official ones posted at
Scoresheet ... also
posted at SS, the 2006
Splits (platoon figures) ...
A New York, live-draft auction league looking for an owner ... now into it's 5th
year, the BL Twin Towers league needs one owner to fill out the 16 team
circuit. Contact
Nate Stephens.
Michael
Laureano, Diamond Futures, has the complete Top 100 now available.
Lots of interesting choices. The list broken down by position (the other
100s also sorted out by position). This
one caught my eye - Howie Kendrick (as in the Baseball Notebook listing)
not rated very highly.
CATCHER THIRD BASE RHP
34 Huber Justin 7 Butler Billy 2 Hughes Phil
37 Saltalamacchia Jarr 11 LaRoche Andy 3 Hernandez Felix
45 Willingham Josh 36 Marte Andy 9 Hernandez Gabriel
65 Napoli Michael 48 Zimmerman Ryan 13 Broxton Jonathan
97 Montero Miguel 49 Encarnacion Edwin 16 Petit Yusmeiro
93 Moore Scott 19 Banks Josh
FIRST BASE 95 Psomas Grant 24 Diamond Thomas
10 Fielder Prince 28 Ramirez Elizardo
17 Barton Daric SHORTSTOP 33 Verlander Justin
21 Howard Ryan 15 Upton B.J.
35 Jackson Conor 23 Wood Brandon LHP
41 Nicolas Cesar 46 Jones Adam 1 Liriano Francisco
50 Carp Mike 63 Sanders Marcus 8 Patton Troy
71 Sing Brandon 73 Rodriguez Sean 22 James Chuck
83 Koshansky Joseph 74 Guzman Joel 27 Jones Justin
85 Mullhern Ryan 31 Sowers Jeremy
91 Whitesell Josh OUTFIELD 32 Gonzalez Gio
4 Hermidia Jeremy 53 Jimenez Cesar
SECOND BASE 5 Young Delmon 57 Duke Zach
6 Weeks Richie 14 Young Chris 60 Eveland Dana
12 Denker Travis 18 Pence Hunter 84 Lester Jon
39 Pedroia Dustin 20 Linden Todd
55 Sutton Drew 26 Pie Felix
67 Patterson Eric 29 Kemp Matthew
70 Kendrick Howie 30 Brinkley Dante
54 Dukes Elijah
58 Quentin Carlos
Aussie phenom ... not as bad as first thought :
" ... THE ROCKIES RECEIVED encouraging reports on
highly touted pitching prospect Shane Lindsay. The Australian right-hander, who
developed shoulder soreness this winter, has been examined by team doctors in
Denver, and they do not believe he has a severe tear in his right labrum. The
Rockies medical staff has recommended a rehabilitation- strengthening program.
Lindsay, who came to Denver earlier this month for the tests, will remain in
town the rest of the month so his progress can be monitored." (Rocky
Mountain News)
Tim Polko, RotoHelp, has few youngsters in
his review of NL second sackers ... just a pair of candidates on the fringe :
" ... Anderson Hernandez ... appears quite capable of combining a high average with sufficient
patience and speed to emerge as a productive top-of-the-order threat. He also
possesses the defensive acumen desired in the Mets' infield of future stars and
superstars. Spending an late-round pick here could net a useful big league
player, especially if New York allows him another few months of development time
as expected."
" ... Willie Bergolla ... I expected a strong AAA campaign by Bergolla to vault him into
the starting second base job in 2006. Unfortunately for the rookie, he posted
another OBP under .350, barely improved his power numbers, suffered from a
severe decrease in patience, and watched Ryan Freel emerge as one of the
league's best leadoff men. At least Bergolla only turns 23 in February, giving
him plenty of time for the additional minor league seasoning necessary before
Cincinnati can consider him as a possible regular."
Mark
Healey, GothamBaseball, posts his picks as the top young guns in the Yankee
system :
" ... 1.) Eric Duncan ... There are some that would
have dropped Duncan from the top spot after batting just .235 at Double-A
Trenton in 2005 ... However, his 19 homers and 61 RBIs
were positive signs that even when struggling in a pitchers league, he can
produce solid offensive numbers. Of course GB felt this way even before Duncan
has simply torn up the Arizona Fall League, hitting .362 with eight HRs and 27
RBIs in 23 games. He's even been working some at first base, which is an
indication the Yankees are in no rush to move him."
" ... 2.) Phil Hughes ... posted a brilliant 7-1 record with a 1.97 ERA in 12 starts for Single-A
Charleston ... has dominant stuff, sharp command, and a
progressing repertoire of breaking pitches. Simply put, the right-hander has the
makeup and physical gifts to be a No. 1 starter, and when's the last time the
Yankees produced one of those?"
Gotham Baseball also updates its Mets' prospect list to reflect recent roster
moves :
" ... 1. Lastings Milledge ...
Injuries slowed the early part of the season for Milledge at Single-A St. Lucie,
but once he proved healthy (.302 in 232 at-bats), Milledge caught fire and
continued his rampage in the Eastern League (.337 in 193 at-bats), an excellent
yardstick of his ability. There remain some concerns about his plate discipline
-- which is improving -- but his raw skills are frighteningly good. He possesses
a plus-arm, has plus-range and has above-average speed. Though he hit just 8
homers all of last season, his power projects to 20-25 homers annually."
" ... 8. Carlos Gomez ... If "tools" were the only
measuring stick for a prospect, Gomez would probably be right behind Milledge in
our prospect rankings. His speed, arm and power projects even higher than
Milledge, according to some scouts ...
Though he has tremendous upside, and is one of those players who scouts drool
over when they see him perform, we still see a very raw player with enough
inconsistency in his game to rate him this low. In fact, he only makes the Top
10 because of Minaya's deals."
Kary Mooher, Springfield News-Leader, offers a feature on Cards' Adam
Wainwright :
" ... a right-hander who is all of 24 but yet has toiled in the
minor leagues for six years now ... among a handful of pitchers ... expected to make competition for jobs as intense as any spring
training in the 11 seasons veteran pitching coach Dave Duncan has been on staff. "If everybody makes it through spring training healthy," Duncan said, "we're
going to have some real difficult decisions." Chief among them is the team's No. 5 starter, a role to be pursued by top
pitching prospect Anthony Reyes and 29-year-old veteran free agent Sidney Ponson,
formerly of the Baltimore Orioles. However, Duncan said Wainwright is in the mix, too
... "Hopefully, I'll be given a shot to compete in some way," said Wainwright,
the Cardinals' No. 2 prospect behind Reyes. "I feel like I'm ready. I've seen
every level there is to see, including the big leagues. I know I can get guys
out up there."
Lynn Henning, Detroit News, takes a crack at a Tigers' Top 10 (excluding Justin
Verlander given his MLB time in 2005)
" ... 1. Joel Zumaya ... has a shot at making the club out of
spring training, but one of the minor leagues' ace strikeout pitchers will more
likely throw his first pitch for the Tigers later in 2006. He throws hard upper 90s and has a devastating breaking ball. Zumaya is a blue-ribbon
prospect by any assessment, a potential big-league star."
" ... 2. Cameron Maybin ... 6-feet-4, 210 pounds, swings a tremendous bat, and has
athletic skills that would have made him a Division 1 basketball star. "This young man has a chance to be something, said Glenn Ezell, the Tigers
minor-league field coordinator. "He not only has very good tools. He has the
aptitude, the character, and the quality makeup."
" ... 3. Brent Clevlen ... broke through in 2005 at Single-A
Lakeland and was named Detroit's top minor-league position player for 2005. He hits for power, he hits good pitching. His big gain in 2005 was on
defense. Clevlen is a prototypical corner outfielder and middle-lineup hitter.
He should arrive in 2007. "
16-17 January, 2006
Dominican playoffs - Erick Aybar LAA 2-4, triple & 0-4, .370... Andy
Marte BOS 0-4 & 1-4, homer, 3 RBI, .182 ... Daniel Cabrera BAL 3 4 1
1 1 6 ... Victor Diaz NYN 2-5, homer, 4 RBI, .354 ... Hanley
Ramirez FLO, in LF, 3-4 Venezuelan playoffs - Franklin
Gutierrez 2-4, homer, 3 runs, 3 RBI ... Tony Armas WAS 6 3 2 2
1 6
Troop movements ... TB - trade Danys Baez, Lance Carter &
PTBNL to LAD for Edwin Jackson & Chuck Tiffany ...
LAD - designate Joel Hanrahan for assignment, invite to ST - Chad
Billingsley, Justin Orenduff, Eric Stults,
Matt Kemp, Tony Abreu and Edwin Bellorin
...
Back at home base ... trying to get the lists updated ... so far the
40-man rosters,
Crossovers and, with major help from David Farr, getting the
Spring
Training Invites sorted out ... also, Top 100s
page and Top 10s page updated
Kudos to Bryan Smith, Baseball
Analysts for more outstanding work as he puts the finishing touches on his
Top 75 with an update on Justin Upton and a couple of self-criticisms,
including a note about the inclusion of the latest draftees :
" ... Justin's one flaw is that he enters the minors
with no real position. His struggles at shortstop have been described in
numerous ways, even by attributing it to Steve Blass disease, and I'm not sure
Arizona would be smart in having him play there. There has been talk of third
base, second base and centerfield. To me, the last one is by far the best
option. It's the least taxing position to learn, and given his arm strength and
speed, the one he profiles best at. If I was ranking Upton today, I would give
him the number four slot in my top ten."
" ... While I think I was correct in my rankings of
those [2005 draftees] within the top 75 (maybe Gordon over Zimmerman),
three more players (Braun, Tulowitzki, Maybin) were
probably deserving of spots. I'm just learning how to treat these players,
however, so expect an improvement in next year's list."
" ... 2. Hanley Ramirez -- One factor
that separates a good prospect list from a bad one is the ability to trust
yourself. I believe in the ranking of each player, and the perspective of
outsiders has little influence. This was not true with the ranking of Ramirez.
It was simply a case of me listening too much to his supporters, and not
actually evaluating his candidacy like I did everyone else. As a result, he's
vastly overrated, probably to the tune of about 20 spots. So please, if you show
your friends this list, try to tone down my ranking of Hanley."
An interesting variation on the TB system in
David Regan's Devil Rays'
Top 20 at RotoAmerica. Yes, Delmon Young tops the pack, but
then David shakes it up a bit :
#2 Wes Bankston " ...
Perennially-underrated, Bankston broke out this year and now projects as the
Devil Rays’ 1B of the future, circa April 2007. He’s a strong kid, capable of
30-35 HR annually with his raw power ... bothered by wrist problems during 2004
and had offseason surgery to allievate the problem and then subsequent minor
knee surgery delayed his season until May. Got a quick promotion to AA after
just 17 games in the CAL league. Showed decent power, although he was still not
100%. Has shown the ability to take a walk, which bodes well for his future."
#3 Elijah Dukes " ... Has been
called the D-Rays version of Milton Bradley and for good reason ...
on-field stuff now. Dukes has true five-tool ability and is a tremendous
athlete. He can play any OF position with his cannon for an arm. He’s got very
good speed and 30 SB type potential. He’s got a quick bat and has the ability to
hit for 30+ HR power as well as a high average. There are just so many questions
about his makeup though that it’s hard to see him having a long, successful big
league career. If he stays out of trouble, he’s a guy with .300/.380/.540 type
upside."
#11 Reid
Brignac " ... Making the
adjustment to full-season ball is no easy chore, so perhaps my expectations
should have been lower for Brignac after seeing him hit .361 in the Appy League
last year in his pro debut. Still, there’s an awful lot to like about this kid.
He’s got a sweet left-handed stroke that uses to drive the ball a long ways.
After homering just once in 113 at-bats last year, Brignac showed improved power
in ’05 ... There’s a lot of offensive potential there, but unfortunately, most
scouts predict his 6’3” frame will have to eventually move to 3B or the OF. In
time though, he could have enough offense to play anywhere."
Jan Ramirez, InsideTheDugout
ranks the MIL farm system with no surprise atop the list :
" ... 1 - Prince Fielder ... a
more athletic left-handed hitting clone of his father Cecil ... has great
plate patience and amazing raw power and bat speed allowing him to hit the ball
hard to all fields. He could be an absolute force at the plate, hitting for both
power and average in the middle of the Brew Crew lineup for years to come."
" ... 2 - Ryan Braun ... could move
through the Brewers system quickly due to his polished bat, showing good power
to all fields ... However as with many power hitters, scouts are already
questioning whether he will stick at third. Milwaukee will start him there, but
with his strong arm, a future in the outfield is not out of the question."
" ... 4 - Zach Jackson ... Acquired
from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Lyle Overbay trade ... In the mold of a
finesse lefty, with the most reasonable comparison might be Gustavo Chacin, as
they have similar pitches. Jackson has a fastball that sits between 88-90, a
slider, changeup and curve. The Chacin comparison is also strong because Jackson
may succeed by getting guys out without high strikeout rates."
Michael
Laureano, Diamond Futures, (felled by some health probs of late) has a
partial list of his Top 100. I'm sure he'll have an explanation for Brandon Wood
at No. 23 !
1 Liriano Francisco 11
LaRoche Andy
2 Hughes Phil 12
Denker Travis
3 Hernandez Felix 13 Broxton Jonathan
4 Hermidia Jeremy 14 Young Chris
5 Young Delmon 15 Upton
B.J.
6 Weeks Richie 16 Petit
Yusmeiro
7 Butler Billy 17 Barton
Daric
8 Patton Troy 18
Pence Hunter
9 Hernandez Gabriel 19 Banks Josh
10 Fielder Prince 20 Linden Todd
Jim Callis,
Baseball America, on where Justin Upton fits on the ARZ chart :
" ... Though he has yet to make his pro debut
because he just signed for a draft-record $6.1 million, I'd put Upton on top of
the loaded Arizona Top 10. He might not stick at shortstop, but I've had too
many scouts tell me Upton could be the next Ken Griffey Jr. in center field, and
I like him more than Stephen Drew. In fact, had he signed before we sent
the Prospect Handbook to the printers, I would have ranked Upton No. 2 on my
overall Top 50 Prospects list, between Delmon Young and Brandon
Wood."
A bit of a surprise in the top ranks of the TEX pitching prospects.
Mike Hindman
goes Edison Volquez at the top with John Danks as the
runner-up and CJ Wilson besting Thomas Diamond for the No.
3 slot :
" ... 1. Edison Volquez ... the
21 year old ... isn’t terribly far from being one of the top ten pitching
prospects in all of baseball ... goes about 6'1", 190 lbs., with enormous hands
and wields a three pitch assortment that includes the best fastball in the
system. His 93-98 mph heater usually shows good late movement and he can
subtract about 14-18 mph on a turnover change that he can run to either side of
the plate (on consecutive pitches). He augments his two primary offerings with a
solid but seldom used curve ball that features legitimate two-plane break. He’ll
need to refine in order to maximize his potential as a front-line starter. The
changeup, which was evidently added to his arsenal midway through the 2004
season, has a chance to be his best pitch ... In a close race between the
top four pitchers in the system, Volquez gets the top spot due in large part to
the fact that other pitchers in the system (including John Danks, who said that
Volquez "has got the best stuff I’ve seen in the minor leagues") almost
universally consider him the best among their peers."
" ... 3. C.J. Wilson ... general
manager Jon Daniels talks of simultaneously working one-year plan and five-year
plans. C.J. Wilson, probably more than anyone else in the system, is caught in
the middle of those two plans. Can a club historically starved for pitching
actually take a guy who posted a 2.73 ERA and held the opposition to a .191
batting average out of the bullpen while posting a 2.68 G/F ratio overall as a
rookie and send him back to the farm? Isn’t he too valuable to the one-year
plan? If the guy is Wilson, then maybe the answer is they can’t afford to not
return him to the minors because, as good as Wilson was in the Rangers bullpen
last year, the club needs to find out if he can become the solid starter they
think and hope he can be in order to maximize his value in the five-year plan
... after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Wilson returned to action last
spring with improved stuff ... Wilson, who goes 6'2" and weighs a solid 210
lbs., features a four-pitch assortment that includes a heavy, sinking fastball
that sits at 91 and peaks at 94 mph, as well as a plus curve ... really
needs to log a lot of innings this year. Mark Connor says that Wilson has the
chance to be a number two starter down the road, but in order to become that, he
needs to stretch out. He won’t be able to do so in Arlington this year where he
would have a minor bullpen role on opening day if he were to break with the big
club. I’d like to see him in the Oklahoma rotation for at least half a year
before returning to Arlington. Wilson figures to compete for a spot in the
Rangers rotation in 2007 and could fit into the back end of the rotation
sometime this year should injury or ineffectiveness strike."
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