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14 February, 2006
A reminder ... flowers, chocolates, intimate dinners, vacation plans ... NO
irons, vacuum cleaners, snow blowers ... taking a day or two off (out of
town & prepping for drafts).
Troop
Movements ...
Mark Allen Haverty, The Sporting News, has the first installment of his Top
50 for 2006 (Delmon Young, Prince Fielder, Francisco Liriano 1-2-3).
" ... 24. Jered Weaver ...
Overhyped thanks to his gaudy college numbers and high-powered agent, Weaver is
going to be a solid major league pitcher. He's more of a middle-of-the-rotation
guy, not a No. 1 or No. 2."
" ... 17. Brandon Wood ...
is this low only because of the uncertainty of where he will start 2006. The
jump from High-A to the majors would be dramatic. If there were a guarantee that
he would start in the majors, he would move right to the top of the list. He's
the second coming of Nomar Garciaparra."
" ... 13. Josh Willingham
... Just about everyone has been cleaned out of town in Miami, and Willingham
will be one of the prime beneficiaries. Willingham is from the Mike Piazza
school of catching; he hits so well that no one notices how many pitches he
drops. Unlike Piazza, Willingham will wear the Marlins' teal for longer than a
week. In 219 at-bats in Triple-A Albuquerque last year, Willingham hit .324 with
19 homers and 54 RBIs."
" ... 8. Kenji Johjima ...
Not a great long-term prospect, Johjima is the M's everyday catcher after
playing in Japan since 1995. Although the home run numbers he put up in Japan --
at least 24 in each of the past five seasons -- are certainly impressive,
remember that Japanese home runs cannot be compared realistically to American
homers. After all, Alex Cabrera hit 55 home runs in Japan, and no one is
clamoring for his return. Still, Johjima should have decent pop and hit for a
respectable average."
At FOXSports,
Aaron Gleeman has his Top 100 (Young, Liriano, Daric Barton 1-2-3).
" ... 10. Yusmeiro Petit ...
cemented his place as one of baseball's most underrated prospects with an
excellent 2005 season. Despite raw stuff that has never impressed scouts, the
21-year-old Petit is 25-16 with a 2.76 ERA and 429 strikeouts in 346
minor-league innings, including 9-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 117.2
innings at Double-A in 2005. He'll soon join Scott Kazmir on the list of
pitching prospects the Mets wish they hadn't dealt away."
" ... 20. Jeff Mathis ...
figures to take over as Los Angeles' everyday catcher this season. Mathis
struggled in 2004, but bounced back last season by hitting .276 with 21 homers
in 112 games at Triple-A. He may struggle to post good batting averages, but at
23, he's a good defender and has top-notch power for the position."
" ... 25. Andy LaRoche ...
probably still behind Joel Guzman on the Dodgers' long-term depth chart at third
base, but he certainly made some gains on Guzman in 2005. LaRoche began the year
at Single-A, hit .333 with 21 homers and 51 RBIs in 63 games there, and then hit
.273 with another nine homers and 43 RBIs in 64 games at Double-A. Just 22, Los
Angeles will likely be conservative with LaRoche's development and he's been
mentioned in trade rumors."
" ... 35. Anibal Sanchez ...
strengthened his status as a top prospect in 2005 by posting a 2.85 ERA and
158-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 136 innings between Single-A and Double-A
... figures to get a shot in the rebuilt Marlins' rotation a lot sooner than he
would have with the Red Sox."
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, reviews the kids in the NL Central and finds
some potential gems:
1 - CHN " ... Felix Pie ... The club
hoped to have him replace Corey Patterson, but he couldn’t make it back from his
bone bruise. He only returned in the Dominican Winter League, where he hit just
.209/.250/.319 in 91 AB. There was never any good reason to believe Pie was
ready to help the Cubs. He still swings at too many bad pitches, and his speed
has yet to turn him into a quality basestealer. There’s no shortage of potential
here -- he’s a strong defensive center fielder and he’s developing 20-homer
power -- but another full year in the minors will be for the best."
1 - CIN " ... Homer Bailey
... seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft, had his pro debut held
up slightly last year following offseason knee surgery. He also experienced some
arm stiffness in May, and he was pretty inconsistent when he took the mound.
Still, he’s easily the Reds’ top prospect. Bailey regularly works in the mid-90s
with his fastball and his curve is a terrific second pitch. His changeup isn’t
yet good enough to fool hitters and he has a long way to go in the command
department, but he has No. 2-starter upside."
1- HOU " ... Troy Patton
... slipped to the ninth round of the 2004 draft. The Astros took him and
offered him second-round money and now have their best pitching prospect since
Roy Oswalt. Patton throws 91-94 mph and his curveball neutralizes left-handed
hitters. An improving changeup should help him against right-handers when he
reaches the majors, something that might happen as soon as the second half of
the year. He could emerge as a No. 2 starter."
4 - MIL " ... Ryan Braun ...
fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft following a season in which he hit
.388/.471/.726 for the University of Miami. More exceptional batting averages
can be expected, though he probably won’t walk much, and he could hit 25 homers
per year in the majors. However, just how good of a prospect he is depends
greatly on his ability to stay at third base. If he can handle the position
adequately, he might be an All-Star. He’d likely end up in left field otherwise,
and he might not be much more than an average regular there."
2 - PIT " ... Paul Maholm ...
failed to make the Pirates’ top 10 a year ago after he suffered a broken orbital
bone when he was hit by a line drive. He came back in impressive fashion last
season and showed the form that made him the seventh overall pick in the 2003
draft. While command is his biggest strength, Maholm now works in the low-90s
consistently and his curveball will help him maintain a respectable strikeout
rate. He’s essentially assured of a spot as the Pirates’ No. 4 starter and he
could be a Rookie of the Year contender."
1 - STL " ... Anthony Reyes
... seems ready enough, but the Cardinals went and signed Sidney Ponson
anyway, indicating that their top prospect could begin the year in middle relief
or even return to Triple-A Memphis. Most likely, Reyes will get his rotation
spot sooner or later ... works in the low-90s and has one of the
organization’s best breaking balls. His change is a quality third pitch and the
command is there, so if his arm holds up, he could develop into a No. 2 starter.
Because he does have a history of minor arm problems and he occasionally
struggles to pitch on four days’ rest, he is at high risk of flaming out."
Talk about strength at those hard to fill positions (catcher, shortstop).
In John Sickels' ranking of the
Angels kids, there are six shortstops and three catchers. SS Brandon
Wood tops the list, ahead of Howie Kendrick (A-) and
Kendry Morales (B+).
Tim Polko, RotoHelp, with a few young(er)
guns in his NL outfield review :
" ... Matt Murton ...
Many Cubs' fans view Murton as the best chance for Dusty Baker to prove he
doesn't hate rookies despite Baker's refusal to bat the kid in the logical #2
hole when Murton's OBP might have saved Chicago's season. The good news is that
Murton simply demolished the Southern League ... thoroughly earning his
mid-season promotion ... Murton appears far more likely to struggle to
emerge as a productive regular."
" ... Corey Hart ... Only
a poor 2.08 G-F in the majors particularly worries me, since Hart otherwise
appears fully seasoned and ready to join the Brewers. He obviously possesses
plenty of speed and patience, and although he currently looks on track to break
camp as the primary backup at all four corners, the fairly likely departure of
Carlos Lee within the next year should clear a starting job."
" ... Nelson Cruz ...
With little left to prove in the minors, Cruz nevertheless might return to
Nashville unless the Brewers opt to keep multiple outfield prospects as big
league reserves. Corey Hart's breakout probably pushes him ahead of Cruz in the
organization's plans, but since by 2007 I only expect either Geoff Jenkins or
Carlos Lee to continue starting in Milwaukee, Cruz only needs to repeat these
numbers to secure a starting job within the year ... I expect Cruz's
fairly broad skill base to carry him to plenty of success in the majors."
" ... Ben Johnson ...
really struggled through three trips to AA Mobile. Somehow he boosted his
contact rate from a .73 career mark to nearly .79 in his first AAA campaign,
resulting in virtually across-the-board improvement in his production. Now he
almost certainly will break camp as the Padres' fourth outfielder in the Xavier
Nady mold, absorbing any excess at-bats ceded from Brian Giles, Mike Cameron,
and especially Dave Roberts as Johnson learns the nuances of Petco Park. Treat
Johnson as an outstanding bargain almost anywhere in single digits due to the
strong likelihood of him succeeding Roberts no later than 2007."
Joe Borchard CHA having second thoughts about a football career :
" ... Borchard said he has talked to both
general manager Ken Williams and assistant GM Rick Hahn several times this
offseason about being traded. With those requests not being met as spring
training camps open this week, Borchard now is entertaining the idea of pursuing
a football career he walked away from when the Sox drafted the two-sport athlete
from Stanford in 2000. ''This was the first offseason where I did start thinking
about things differently,'' Borchard said. ''I talked to an old offensive
coordinator friend of mine from college who is now in the CFL [Canadian Football
League] and asked him if I had a chance to play in that league still. He told
me, 'You've got a spot waiting for you.' So, yeah, you start thinking about
it.'' (Chicago Sun-Times)
Mike Harmon, FOXSports,
offers some examples of "prospect breakthroughs" in 2006:
" ... Howie Kendrick ... offers
contributions in all categories (.367, 19 HR, 25 SB), and makes good contact,
striking out only once in every seven at-bats. He'll need to work on taking
pitches, but it's hard to force a hitter who is dominating to change his style.
Besides, he'd fit right in alongside Vladimir Guerrero."
" ... Stephen Drew ... defensive
liabilities may keep him out of the big leagues for a spell, but the potential
of a bat similar to older brother J.D. will force Arizona to get him in the
lineup. He hit .320 and clubbed 14 homers with 52 RBI in 250 Class-A at-bats in
2005, then bounced to AA and played in the Arizona Fall League. Drew showed good
plate discipline last season with average speed and should be a solid
contributor to fantasy lineups upon his arrival to the show."
" ... Carlos Quentin ... ,continues to
dominate at the minor league level and is ready for his chance at the show. He
hit .301 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI at Triple-A last season in 452 at-bats. He
improved his plate discipline as well in '05, actually drawing one more walk
than he had strikeouts."
13 February, 2006
Troop
Movements ... NYA - designated Jason Anderson for assignment ... WAS -
sold Jamey Carroll to COL ... CIN - signed Scott Hatteberg
...
At
minorleaguenbaseball.com, Jonathan Mayo chats with expert prospectors Jim
Callis, Baseball America, and Deric McKamey, Baseball HQ. Both went with Delmon Young as their No. 1
prospect. A few differences noted -- Papelbon (Callis No. 22, McKamey 46),
Hirsh (Callis 48, McKamey, unranked), Aybar (Callis 45, McKamey 20)
McKamey on Jon Papelbon BOS " ... the
guys I had in the Top 10 were Chad Billingsley ... Francisco Liriano ... those
guys have the plus stuff and the makeup and have the numbers to back it up ...
to me the thing with Papelbon is he's 25 years old which is a lot older than
some of the guys ranked ahead of him plus I don't know if the Red Sox are quite
sure what they want to do with him ... I project him as a number three starter
... I like Papelbon a lot, there's just a lot of pitchers ahead of him."
Callis on Felix Pie CHN " ... classic
case of a guy with great tools who needs time to put them together. Plate
discipline is still lacking, very good speed, still gets caught stealing way too
many times. He has some power potential ... but that was the first time he
had slugged as high as .450 ... I would hope they wouldn't rush him."
McKamey on Anthony Reyes STL " ...
I don't think he has the stuff of a number one starter although I can see him
being a number two without too much hesitation ... has excellent, excellent
stuff ... his big problem ... he's always been hurt ... elbow problems, shoulder
problems, his delivery is quite stiff but when he pitches he is very dominant
... he's the package when he can pitch but you just worry about his stamina."
McKamey on Jason Hirsh HOU " ...
I don't want to say he's a one-year wonder but I want to see more of that to
rank him a little bit higher."
Callis on Hirsh " ... I don't think
Deric is saying Hirsh isn't good ... his gut feel is he wants to see it again
... he just made strides against the board. He's a 6-8, 240 pounder who is
very athletic for his size and just got a lot more confidence this year ...
always had a good, powerful arm but his slider and changeup got a lot better.
For me it's a gut-feel pick too and he just snuck on to my Top 50."
Callis on Erick Aybar LAA "... he's
kind of your traditional shortstop. I don't see a huge offensive ceiling
... he's a good defender ... I see him as kind of a .290 - .300 hitter with not
many walks, maybe 25 doubles, and 10 homers ... a solid offensive player but not
an all-star calibre offensive player. "
Some variation here as Scoresheet leagues begin 2006 drafts (all AL keeper
leagues listed below with the one notable exception). A few eye-openers,
but generally Beckett, Burnett, Wilkerson tabbed as the guys to get.
1 42 Beckett 42 Beckett 42 Beckett 419 Rodriguez 42 Beckett 502 Wilkerson
2 15 Burnett 15 Burnett 502 Wilkerson 2 Santana 15 Burnett 440 Marte
3 365 Thome 38 Greinke 15 Burnett 344 Teixeira 38 Greinke 42 Beckett
4 502 Wilkerson 440 Marte 440 Marte 512 Guerrero 440 Marte 15 Burnett
5 313 Hernandez 313 Hernandez 313 Hernandez 302 Mauer 313 Hernandez 385 Polanco
6 388 Castillo 59 Santana 570 Baldelli 503 Ramirez 59 Santana E 541 Ordonez
7 107 Liriano 502 Wilkerson 390 Loretta 453 Tejada 502 Wilkerson 390 Loretta
8 343 Johjima 9 Loaiza 365 Thome 73 Hernandez 9 Loaiza 388 Castillo
9 385 Polanco 343 Johjima 9 Loaiza 495 Sizemore 343 Johjima 349 Overbay
10 390 Loretta 385 Polanco 505 Huff 57 Halladay 385 Polanco 428 Lowell
11 360 Johnson 18 Towers 26 Moyer 61 Harden 18 Towers 528 Nixon
12 368 Kotchman 305 Rodriguez 343 Johjima 452 Young 305 Rodriguez 343 Johjima
David Paresky, InsideTheDugout,
has centre fielder Lastings Milledge atop the Mets prospect list with a
pair of SP candidates in the wings :
" ... 2. Mike Pelfrey ... held out
until January, so he didn’t play this season. However, he was dominant in
college at Wichita State ... sits between 92-97 MPH and has a lot of sink
on his fastball ... very polished. Good change-up, potential plus pitch
... . could be ready with in a year or so, and will most likely dominate in the
low minors. He has the ceiling of a number one starter."
" ... 3. Phillip Humber ... first round
of the 2004 draft, 3rd overall out of Rice University. Phillip Humber was a very
successful college pitcher going 35-8 in three seasons. However, he had Tommy
John in July ... only recently has been able to throw off of flat ground
recently. His fastball is from 90-94, touching the high nineties at times. He
had an excellent plus 12-6 curve and a changeup/splitter that is above average
as well. He didn’t pitch well in his stint in the minors, but that is most
likely from his elbow problems. There are questions of whether he can remain as
a starter, and may emerge as a reliever."
John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall, goes
with five pitchers to lead off the Jays' prospect chart -- lefties Ricky
Romero (B+) and David Purcey (B+) 1-2, Dustin
McGowan (B) No. 3 ahead of Josh Banks and Casey
Janssen (both B's).
" ... I expect the ranking of Romero and Purcey
ahead of McGowan will be very controversial. When I wrote the book, my thinking
was that McGowan had the highest physical ceiling of the three, no question, and
I was VERY high on him before he got hurt. He appears healthy now, but I'm
uncertain about his command, which was a major problem for him at times last
season and will hamper him unless it improves. Because of the command issue, I
lowered his grade from B+ in the early draft of the book to a straight B before
we went to press."
In his Cubbies report, Sickels
breaks the pattern (everyone else with Felix Pie atop the Cubs' chart)
and goes with lefty starter Mark Pawelek as No. 1 although he notes it's
a toss-up :
" ... As high school pitchers go, I like Pawelek a lot.
Pie's athleticism is impressive and he performs well, at times. He is
still rather raw and will struggle if rushed. Picking between Pawelek and Pie
for the number one spot is a back-and-forth thing. When I went to bed last night
I was going to put Pie on top, but I changed my mind this morning."
Gary Gillette, ESPN, picks his blue-chip rookies of 2006 :
" ... CF Brian Anderson ...
center field on the South Side of Chicago is Anderson's to lose. The positive
spin on Anderson is that he is a multi-threat player who can hit for average,
has power, range and a strong arm. The opposite spin on the right-handed hitter
is that he doesn't excel in any area except possibly his arm, with subpar speed,
medium power and merely adequate range. Plus, he struck out 115 times in 118
games in Triple-A last year. That's a formula for disappointment if Anderson's
power is stymied by big-league pitching."
" ... RHP Jonathan Papelbon ... Ticketed
for the BoSox bullpen to start the season, Papelbon will end 2006 in the
rotation ... The right-hander throws hard enough to succeed against
big-league hitters, and his slider and split both could be out pitches, but he
needs better command of both pitches to get there."
" ... SS Stephen Drew ... weak
performance in Double-A failed to dim Drew's rising star after his boffo pro
debut in 2005, first in the independent Atlantic League and then in the
California League ... left-handed power bat and good plate discipline.
Defensively, he's adequate at best at shortstop, and the Diamondbacks signing of
Justin Upton make it highly likely that Drew will be moved to another position."
" ... LHP Paul Maholm ... left-hander
with an average fastball who depends on good control and location, Maholm jumped
all the way from Class A in 2004 to the majors in 2005. He has the potential to
be a solid starter if he can develop a reliable third pitch to go with his plus
curve, which makes him devastating on left-handed hitters."
RaysBaseball
wraps its TB Top 25 with the final five, topped by Delmon Young with
Wes Bankston as the runner-up. Jeff Niemann
ranked No. 4, just ahead of Jason Hammel and Elijah
Dukes :
" ... Niemann missed time at the beginning of the
season and missed a good portion of the middle of the season. In between, he
struck out alot of hitters, allowed few walks but also allowed too many free
passes. He was still trying to shake off the rust as he has amassed all of 110
innings the last 24 months. He no longer is topping out in the upper-90's, but
still has some nasty stuff and his 6'9 frame is imposing. The classic high
reward/high risk pitching prospect."
" ... Dukes took the momentum he gained in the second
half of 2004 and kept the peddle to the medal in Montgomery. He had two
sensational months, two very rough months and he finished the season with a
solid 820 OPS in August. He made better contact in 2005 while sustaining a good
walk rate."
Mike Hindman,
DickieThon.com, in his position-by-position analysis of the TEX farm, ranks
the outfielders and there's a familiar ring to the name atop the list - John
Mayberry Jr.
" ... From the moment Mayberry was selected by the Rangers in
the first round of the 2005 draft, we were told that a major swing rebuild was
in the offing and it showed. But something else appears to have happened: it all
seems to have clicked late in the season. Not only did Mayberry retool his swing
on the fly (with an emphasis on shortening his stroke), but ... made the
defensive switch to right field where his outstanding athleticism, above-average
speed and plus arm could become bigger assets ... All in all, Mayberry’s
debut season was a positive ... The upside here is huge: Mayberry has the
physical gifts to possibly become a 40 homer, 20 stolen base guy with well above
average skills in right field and he has the smarts, discipline and raw ability
to realize all of that potential."
Jim Molony, MLB.com, highlights his selections as the likely top young guns
of this season :
" ... which ones will play their way into the
Rookie of the Year picture? The frontrunner right now might be Florida
outfielder Jeremy Hermida. The Marlins' first-round pick in 2002,
Hermida has one of those sweet left-handed swings scouts marvel at ... has
speed and power potential, and the indications are he will one day be a star
corner outfielder. Scouts have been impressed with Hermida's knowledge of the
strike zone (he walked 111 times and struck out 89 times in 118 games at
Double-A Carolina last season). He also stole 23 bases and hit .293 with 18
homers and 63 RBIs."
" ... Seattle's Kenji Johjima, set to become
the first Japanese-born catcher in Major League history, could become the
Mariners' first Rookie of the Year winner since fellow countryman Ichiro Suzuki
did it in 2001. The 29-year-old Johjima averaged .299 with 28 homers and 97 RBIs
the last seven seasons in Japan and is solid defensively."
" ... Washington's Ryan Zimmerman ... the
first player taken in the 2005 draft to reach the Major Leagues. Washington
general manager Jim Bowden has compared Zimmerman's defense to Brooks Robinson,
Scott Rolen and Mike Schmidt ... clearly has excellent range and an
above-average glove. He's no slouch with the bat either. After hitting a
combined .336 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs for Class A Savannah and Double-A
Harrisburg, Zimmerman hit .397 with six RBIs in a 20-game September stint with
the Nationals."
D'Backs lose a top young gun for much of spring training "
" ... center field prospect Chris Young
... suffered a
broken right hand while working out at a Florida gym ...
"Right now, we're looking at four to six weeks before he can return to play,"
Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes said. "He's going to miss his spring
training at-bats, but I guess the only good news is that it happened now and not
in season." Young apparently was doing some agility drills, jumping up and
down off boxes, when he lost his balance, tried to brace himself, and broke his
hand upon falling."
(Arizona Republic)
The kids in the mix for some pitching openings in HOU :
" ... With Roger Clemens not having announced if or
where he will play this year, the Astros will have to address the bottom of the
rotation. The top three spots are set with back-to-back 20-game winner Roy
Oswalt, Astros 2005 pitcher of the year Andy Pettitte and Brandon Backe, who
tossed seven scoreless innings in Game 4 of the World Series. Lefty Wandy
Rodriguez, who won 10 games as a rookie last year, is the favorite for the
No. 4 spot. Righthander Ezequiel Astacio and rookies Taylor
Buchholz and Fernando Nieve are vying for the final spot.
"The odds-on favorites are Wandy Rodriguez and Ezequiel Astacio, but there are
no locks," Garner [manager Phil Garner] said. "We'll take a good look at some of
these kids we have in spring training." (Houston Chronicle)
11-12 February, 2006
Troop
Movements ... CIN - claimed Michael Gosling off waivers from ARZ,
designated Luke Hudson for assignment ... NYA - claimed
Darrell Rasner off waivers from WAS ...
Lawr Michaels, CREATiVESPORTS, has completed his annual Top 250 with the Top
10 available as a freebie online. There are, of course, some familiar
names - Daric Barton atop the list, Matt Cain at No. 6,
Francisco Liriano No. 8 and Delmon Young No. 9 - there
are some eye-openers as well :
" ... 2. Gabriel Hernandez ...
actually had two season in 2005, first at Hagerson where he went 6-1, 2.43
before being swapped for Paul LoDuca. Hernandez finished his seaon at Port St.
Lucie, struggling at 2-5, 5.74 but he still comported himself well enough
overall (8-6, 3.47), striking out 131 over 135 total innings, allowing 40 walks
and 107 hits. Hernandez was a third round pick of the Fish, and at age 19 has
shown excellent control and command for a 19-year old."
" ... 4. Angel Salome ... Selected
in the fifth round of the 2004 draft out of George Washington High Scool in the
Bronx, Salome is a plug (5'7", 190), but he can pound the ball. He played 37
games at Helena in rookie ball going .415-8-50 with an OPS of 1.142 before a
promotion to West Virginia cooled hinm down (.254-4-21). The aggregate was an
OPS of .970 over a combined 277 at-bats. "
" ... 7. Collin Balester ... fourth
round pick of the then Expos in 2004, Balestar spent a full season at Savannah
in '05, going 8-6, 3.67 over 125 innings. He struck out 95, walked 42, and
allowed just 105 hits for a very good 1.18 WHIP. Balester probably has the
longest way to go of any on this list."
Baseball America puts a wrap on its team-by-team prospect reviews with the SEA
Top 10 headed by catcher Jeff Clement. Adam Jones
ranks No.2 ahead of Japanese veteran catcher Kenji Johjima.
Chris Snelling (ranked No. 4) is selected as
the "Best Hitter for Average" and "Best Strike-Zone Discipline".
Clement was rated as the organization's "Best Power Hitter" and Adam
Jones the "Best Athlete".
Jan Ramirez, InsideTheDugout,
takes a tour of the Cardinal farm :
" ... 1-Anthony Reyes ... best arm in
the Cardinals system, Anthony Reyes has quietly developed into one of the better
young arms in baseball ... due to injury concerns he fell to the Cardinals
in the 15th round of the 2003 Draft. Since then he has rewarded to Cardinals by
pitching like a possible ace of a staff. Showing a good mid 90’s heater, a plus
changeup and wicked slider, Reyes shows good command of all his pitches, and
good mound presence and poise while on the hill. A battler, there are some
concerns whether he would ever get over the nagging injuries that have troubled
him all his career, as health is the only thing that could keep Reyes from being
a sucessful big league pitcher."
" ... 2-Colby Rasmus ... Taken with the 28th
pick overall in the 2005 draft, Colby Rasmus was viewed as a elite prospect from
the mound as well as at the plate coming out of high school ... a
true 5 tool talent, showing plus power from the left-side, above average speed ,
and strong arm, which projects him to be a centerfielder or rightfielder down
the road. A smart baseball player with unlimited passion for the game, he still
needs to improve on making consistent contact, but at only 19 there is a lot of
time to work on that. Reminds me a lot of Orioles prospect Nick Markakis,
because of his offensive and defensive tools."
John Sickels, in ranking the
Giants' system, finds a little more than expected. No surprise at the top
-- starter Matt Cain at No. 1 with a grade "A", Marcus Sanders
(B+) at No. 2 and Merkin Valdez (B+) at No. 3.
Yusmeiro Petit NYN says he's up to the challenge of MLB :
" ... If the Winter League results are any
indication, Petit has a strong chance to win a spot in the rotation. "I am
thankful for the opportunity," Petit said ... "I welcome the chance to be
in the rotation for the Florida Marlins. I feel I'm ready for the big leagues.
The last couple of months, I worked hard in winter ball for this opportunity."
Despite lacking an overpowering fastball or dynamic breaking pitch, Petit simply
has a knack for getting hitters out because he understands the finer points of
pitching. He's not going to overwhelm hitters; instead, he keeps them off-guard
with a four-pitch repertoire of a fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. "I
am feeling good throwing all my pitches," he said. "I don't depend on one
pitch." ... Marlins are leaning toward carrying 12 pitchers, including
possibly two long relievers who can be used as spot starters. The 21-year-old
Petit started eight games and had a relief appearance for Magallanes this
winter. He struck out 43 and walked eight. "The experience this year in
Venezuela really helped me because I was able to use my changeup and slider a
little more," Petit said. "I am ready." (MLB.com)
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on a LAD outfield candidate and Joel Zumaya - SP or
RP?
" ... I like Andre Ethier. He had a
terrific year in 2005. He's steady, not spectacular. He's good enough
defensively to play right field, though he may not hit for the kind of power you
ideally want from that position. I do think, though, that he could be a very
nice everyday player. He's a very hard worker and that will help him get the
most out of his ability. Best-case, I could see him eventually hitting .300 with
20 homers and 90 to 100 RBIs."
" ... Joel Zumaya ... He is a little bit of a
maximum - effort guy, so there may be some concern about how he'd hold up over
the course of a long Major League season. But he's also a bulldog.
Performance-wise, he's done nothing to show he shouldn't start, with a 3.23 ERA
in 409 2/3 Minor League IP. He's struck out 504 and walked 190 in that span. In
2005, he had 199 K's in 151 1/3 IP, though he did walk 76. I'd let him start ...
Verlander's overshadowed Zumaya because he's a college guy who went in the first
round as one of the top overall picks, while Zumaya was drafted out of high
school in the 12th round of the 2002 draft. For his part, Zumaya has said he
probably would enjoy coming out of the bullpen, that he has the right mentality
for it. If he becomes a closer, look out. The guy can throw triple digits
already as a starter."
Scott Rex, OnDeck,
completes his team-by-team prospect reports with the Rangers' Top 40 -- DDV this
time - Diamond, Danks, Volquez. Ian Kinsler
No. 4, ahead of Joaquin Arias. Next is Scott's Prospect 500.
10 February, 2006
Troop movements ... COL - signed Josh Fogg, released Ryan Speier &
resigned him to a minor league contract ...
Yes, it's Brian Anderson at No. 1, but
David
Regan, RotoAmerica, has some surprises in his WSox prospect chart including
a catcher poised for a breakout :
" ... #2 Francisco Hernandez ... has an
impressive package of offensive tools, particularly for a catcher. Good raw
power, the ability to hit for average, and he’s not allergic to walks. He’s a
switch-hitter and like many, he hits for more power from the left side.
Defensively his arm drew raves in both leagues this year and although he still
needs refinement on his game-calling skills, that should come with experience.
Struggled at Kannapolis, but that’s a huge jump for a teenager and he should be
fine there next year. One of baseball’s lesser-known catching prospects,
Hernandez could explode onto the scene in 2006."
" ... #5 Lance Broadway ... pitches include a
low 90s fastball, sharp curve, and the ever-present developing change ...
frame could stand to add another 15 lbs. of muscle, something that could add
needed velocity to his fastball ... Has Brandon McCarthy type potential if he
develops."
" ... #12 Jerry Owens ... If scouts
thought he could be a solid major league CF, he’d be higher on this list, but
his arm is below average and his routes to flyballs need work. No power really –
not good for a corner OF normally. Still, he’s got great leadoff skills and
handled the jump to AA amazingly well, so if he can improve his defense, he’s
got a future as a major league CF / leadoff man. He’ll work on that in AAA this
year."
Over at MinorLeagueBall, John Sickels
zips through his HOU top 20. Pitching takes the day with five of the top
six picks. Right hander Jason Hirsh (Grade "A") is No. 1 with lefty
Troy Patton (B+) as No. 2. Outfielder Hunter Pence
(B+) is next.
Scott Rex, OnDeck,
goes with catcher Jeff Clement as the top prospect in SEA. Matt
Tuiasosopo and Adam Jones 2-3.
Franklin Gutierrez CLE carries over his fine winter season into the
Caribbean Series :
" ... No prospect had a greater impact than Indians
outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. The soon-to-be 22-year-old played center
every day for the champions and hit .364, good for eighth among Series leaders.
Thanks to four walks and three extra-base hits, Gutierrez posted an impressive
1.026 OPS. The experience could help Gutierrez as he tries to find a spot in the
Indians' outfield this spring. Gutierrez actually had a younger outfield mate,
A's five-tool prospect Javier Herrera. Despite being just 20, having been
in only a handful of games above the low-A level and playing slightly out of
position (the center fielder went to left in the Series), Herrera looked
seasoned by hitting .316 over 19 at-bats. Perhaps the A's philosophy is starting
rub off, with Herrera drawing four walks in six games for a .435 OBP." (MLB.com)
RaysBaseball
is charging through a TB Top 25. Just the top five left to go. A
couple of those selected thus far:
" ... #6 Wade Davis - RHP ... Davis sprung onto the
scene in 2005. After a rough 2 months with Princeton in '04, he came back in his
first full professional year with a blazing fastball and hard curveball. He was
one of the best pitchers in the NY-Penn League as a 19 year-old. His fastball
sits in the mid-90's and he has a plus curveball. "
" ... #8 Reid Brignac - SS ... Brignac struggled at
times in 2005. But considering his age, he still looks like a very promising
prospect. He showed alot of power for a teenage middle infielder in the Midwest
League. He did commit 31 errors, but has a good enough arm to stay at short or
support a possible move to 3rd base."
Jim Callis,
Baseball America, on Conor Jackson over Carlos Quentin :
" ... I think we'll ultimately judge both
players on what they do at the plate, and I think Jackson will be the more
productive hitter of the two after talking to several PCL managers and scouts.
Jackson has an innate gift for identifying the type and quality of a pitch
seemingly as it leaves a pitcher's hand, and I think he'll turn a lot of his
doubles into homers as he gets comfortable in the major leagues. One scout told
me, "You get the feeling he's going to get a hit every time up. There's not a
pitch he can't hit. He has great hand-eye coordination and great feel for the
barrel of the bat. He must have Superman vision or something."
09 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Venezuela the champs ... an embarrassing finish for
Erick Aybar (0-4 at the plate)
as the LAA infielder has a pop-up to shallow left bounce off his
head in the bottom of the 9th as the winning run scored ... Franklin
Gutierrez CLE 1-3, triple ... Juan Cruz OAK 5-2/3 4 2 2 3 3 ...
Troop movements ... PHI - signed Alex S. Gonzalez ... WAS - signed
Matthew LeCroy ...
Lisa Winston & Paul White at
USA TODAY Sports Weekly offer their picks as the top young guns (51 hitters,
49 pitchers) for 2006 (not necessarily the top prospects, but the 100 best
bets for this season). Conor Jackson was selected as the top
hitter, Zach Duke (over Felix Hernandez) as the top
pitcher.
" ...
Playing for short-season Yakima in 2003, Jackson earned Northwest League MVP
honors, setting a league record with 35 doubles and leading the league with 60
RBI. The next summer, he combined to hit .324 with 17 homers and 91 RBI between
high-A Lancaster and Double-A El Paso. Playing for Triple-A Tucson in '05, he
finished second in the Pacific Coast League in on-base percentage (.457) and
doubles (38). Jackson has power potential to all fields, and it shouldn't be
long before many of those doubles become homers. In 2005, he also struck out
once for every 12.78 at-bats, a ratio that was second-best in the PCL."
1 Jackson Conor Duke Zach
2 Hermida Jeremy Hernandez Felix
3 Francoeur Jeff Verlander Justin
4 Willingham Josh Baker Scott
5 Encarnacion Edwin Liriano Francisco
6 Granderson Curtis Maholm Paul
7 Murton Matt Reyes Anthony
8 Navarro Dioner Vargas Jason
9 Fielder Prince Jenks Bobby
10 Zimmerman Ryan Cain Matt
Dayn Perry, FOXSports,
adds another ten to his Top 100, moving up to No. 41 :
" ... 41. Adam Jones ... showed good power and
on-base skills in the Cal League, and after a mid-season promotion to AA-San
Antonio (very much a pitcher's park) he kept it up despite being only 20 years
of age ... a transition from shortstop to center, and thus far it's going
well. Jones has the speed, instincts and throwing arm to make a plus defender,
and the offensive skills are coming along nicely. He's definitely one to watch."
" ... 47. Tom Gorzelanny ... one of the more
underrated arms around. Gorzelanny has three quality offerings—low-90s fastball,
plus-plus slider and solid changeup—and shows good command. He also kept the
ball in the park last season at Double-A Altoona. Excellent velocity for a
lefty, three pitches, command of his stuff: Gorzelanny's name doesn't get
mentioned all that often, but he's a good one. "
" ... 50. Greg Miller ... Because of recurring
shoulder problems, he's logged only 13 innings over the last two seasons, and he
suffered another setback in the Arizona Fall League. Still, the organization
says Miller is ready to go in 2006, but a "believe it when we see it" stance is
definitely in order."
Daric Barton, of course, is the leading young gun on the A's in the picks
at OnDeck. Scot
Rex goes with outfielders Javier Herrera and Travis Buck
at 2-3. A little surprise in that 2B Kevin Melillo
missed the list.
John Sickels selects outfield
Nick Markakis as the best of the BAL prospects. Markakis gets Grade "A
-". Brandon Snyder (B+) and Chris Ray (B+) ranked
2-3.
Over at
Baseball Prospectus, Nate SIlver has an interesting look at using a revised
PECOTA projection system to grade rookies. Using rookie catchers as the
example, the system finds just one of "elite" status -- ATL's Jarrod
Saltalamacchia. Three make the cut in the "almost rookie" category --
Joe Mauer, Brian McCann and Dioner Navarro.
08 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-3, walk ...
John Sickels 2006 Prospect Book ... Canada ... all in the mail ... should
be arriving this week.
Troop movements ... ARZ - signed Jeff DaVanon, designated Michael
Gosling for assignment ...
More from
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, and his AL Central prospect report.
Andy Marte included (as perhaps the only prospect who has been the No. 1
prospect on three teams in one off-season :
" ... Marte’s bad 47-at-bat stint for the
Braves should hardly qualify as a setback, not when he was so productive in
Triple-A as a 21-year-old. The 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."
" .... 3. Cameron Maybin ... signed too late to
play, but the Tigers could decide he’s ready for full-season ball this year and
send him to low Single-A West Michigan, Maybin is a true center fielder with
plenty of power potential. He should also be a basestealer, so it’s not too
early to think about him as a fantasy prospect."
" ... 1. Alex Gordon ... Where and when?
Gordon is going to be a quality major league regular. Whether he becomes a star
could depend on his ability to stay at third base... I think he’ll stay at
third, at least for the first half of his career, though the Royals aren’t
convinced. There’s little not to like about his bat. He’ll hit for average --
maybe .280 most years, .300 at his peak -- draw walks and show 30-homer power.
He may not need more than one year in the minors before he makes Mark Teahen
obsolete."
" ... 3. Matt Moses ... a 2003
first-round pick, made a nice comeback last year from a stress fracture in his
back that limited him to 29 games in 2004. He did struggle after moving up to
Double-A, but considering that he was 20 years old, that wasn’t especially
discouraging. Moses hits line drives with regularity and he could develop
30-homer power as he matures. Defense can be a problem. He’ll be average at best
at third base, and a move to left field might be a possibility if he doesn’t
make steady progress."
" ... 5. Anthony Swarzak ... might have the
second-highest ceiling among Minnesota’s pitching prospects. The 2004
second-round pick is beginning to work in the low-90s more frequently and his
curveball and changeup are developing into plus offerings. He more than held his
own as a 19-year-old in the Florida State League last year, and as he builds
strength, he could continue adding velocity."
Matt Jacovina, WarmOctoberNights,
sees pitching as the cream of the crop in the HOU system but with at least one
slugger on the horizon :
" ... 1. Troy Patton ... Everything about Patton points to a top of the
rotation starter: he’s lefthanded, throws strikes, keeps the ball in the park
and mixes in three good pitches ... just one full season after being taken out of high
school, he’s established himself as one of the game’s top young lefties, and
could make it as far as AA next season. Troy’s also said to be a rather
ferocious competitor, perhaps in an attempt to do the “Patton” name proud."
" ... 2. Jason Hirsch ... status as a prospect took a tremendous leap
during 2005, going from an interesting young arm with a moving fastball to a
potential #2/3 that already looks polished. It’s instinctive to be a bit leery
of just how good his numbers got this year after being merely mediocre in the
past (165/42 K/BB ratio this season after a 96/57 in ’04), but according to
sources that saw him frequently, it’s for real ... I’d give Jason the best chances of any young Astro
to make a big impact this year in the majors."
" ... 5. Hunter Pence ... had a very good run in low-A last year,
finishing his 302 at bats of devastation with a .338/.413/.652. Once moving up
to high-A, which was a level more appropriate for his age and experience, he
slowed down considerably, but still did respectably. The Astros will likely
challenge him with an assignment to AA some time in 2006, where his unorthodox
swing will really need to prove itself ... Pence comes off as a legitimate
hitting prospect, although not an elite one. "
John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall,
posts his ATL Top 20 with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (A-) atop the
list, ahead of Chuck James (B+) and Elvis Andrus
(B).
07 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Daniel Cabrera BAL a standout :
" ... Cabrera shone on the mound for the
Dominican Republic, allowing only two hits and one run in five strong innings.
He struck out five and walked two in the 86-pitch outing." (MLB.com)
Troop movements ... BOS - designated Roberto Petagine for assignment ...
TOR - well, so much for a 2006 MLB breakthrough for Guillermo Quiroz,
Jays sign Bengie Molina ...
The Scoresheet lists updated with the latest additions ... the
spreadsheet-friendly (and LAST NAME, FIRST NAME) pages here ...
NL AL
Matthew Pouliot, RotoWorld, adds more prospect reports as he dashes through
the AL Central, including the No. 1 pick on the WSox and three on the CLE chart
(after Andy Marte) :
" ... 1. Brian Anderson ...
was less than outstanding in a friendly offensive environment at Charlotte last
year and looked overmatched at times in the majors, but the White Sox believe
he’s ready now, trading Aaron Rowand ... to make room for him. He will
play a solid defensive center field ... has the range to be an asset and a
strong arm (he was also a reliever at the University of Arizona). Offensively,
he projects as a .280-25-80 guy, though it’s highly unlikely to happen for him
in 2006."
" ... 3. Ray Liotta ... a 2004
second-round pick, made surprising progress in his first full season, winning 14
games with a 2.02 ERA. A modest groundball pitcher with an 88-91 mph fastball
and a plus curve, he would seem to have at least No. 3-starter ability. He’ll
have to keep improving his changeup as he works his way though the minors, but
he’s on the fast track. In another organization, an arrival in the second half
of this year might be a possibility."
" ... 2. Adam Miller ... didn’t
make his debut until late June after coming down with a sore elbow in spring
training and he never returned to late 2004 form. He says he’s almost back to
normal now, so maybe he’ll resume working regularly in the mid-90s. Miller has
an outstanding slider and the changeup he learned in 2004 is a third potential
plus pitch, giving him ace ability. He’s probably not going to contribute this
year, but he can put himself into position to claim a spot in the 2007
rotation."
" ... 4. Franklin Gutierrez ...
it was quite a disappointment when he returned to the same level last year and
struggled. The explanation was a reworked swing. The Indians wanted to make some
changes because they thought his vulnerability to pitches low and away would
turn out to be a fatal flaw. Gutierrez still should have plenty of power, and
his ability to play center field will likely make him a major league regular
even if he doesn’t fulfill his .290-25 HR potential offensively. Since the
Indians are set with Grady Sizemore in center, it’s possible that Gutierrez will
be trade bait in July."
" ... 7. Ryan Garko ... appears
ready to hit in the majors now, but since the Indians waited too long to move
the Stanford product out from behind the plate, he’ll return to the minors this
season to continue to work on his defense at first base. Offensively, the
right-handed hitter could be a .280-25 HR guy while playing regularly. He might
not walk quite as much as statheads would like, but he partially makes up for it
by getting HBPs and he’s pretty good about not chasing bad pitches. If Ben
Broussard doesn’t hit, Garko might up to take his job by the All-Star break."
John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall (with
the 2006 Prospect Book completed) turns his attention to his Top 20 lisits for
each team. An easy No. 1 pick on the Twins - Francisco Liriano
(given a Grade-A). Scott Baker (B+), Anthony
Swarzak
(B+) ranked 2-3.
Prince Fielder in no danger of losing his top slot in the
BrewerFan prospect chart :
" ... 01 Fielder, Prince ... Prince
proved his worth to the organization when Overbay was traded to Toronto - the
first base job will be his to lose for years to come ... 03 Eveland,
Dana ... Edges out Zach Jackson by a nose for top
pitching prospect honors... Dana should start the year in the AAA rotation
... 08 Braun, Ryan ... The chances of Braun seeing A-ball
again are pretty slim, though the Brewers might feel less of a need to push him
now that Koskie will be at third base with the big team for a few years."
Perhaps, so hope after all :
" ... Indians first baseman Michael Aubrey is
expected to be ready to resume full baseball activities at big league camp in
Winter Haven, Fla. Aubrey, who has played just 98 games as a pro since he signed
as a first-round pick out of Tulane in 2003 due to hamstring and back problems,
appeared in just 28 games at Double-A Akron last season. "He's had monthly
checkups in Cleveland all offseason and he's ready to go," farm director John
Farrell said. "He's pain-free--we're just waiting to see how he responds to the
full activity." Aubrey is expected to return to Double-A this season."
(Baseball America)
At TheHardballTimes, Tim Dierkes ranks the Top 20 third sackers - ARod,
Cabrera, Wright 1-2-3 - with just one near rook on the list.
" ... 19. Edwin Encarnacion ... should
continue to improve as he enters his age-23 season. Over 500 at-bats, he looks
good for more than 20 home runs with an average around .260. He might throw in
10 steals as well. A solid keeper choice with a few bucks worth of value in
2006."
06 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Anderson Hernandez NYN 2-4 ... Franklin Gutierrez
CLE 2-4, double ... Edgar Gonzalez ARZ, seven innings, three runs on six
hits, three Ks ...
Brian Walton, SportsBlurb, notes the ups and downs of Erick Aybar LAA
in his first two games :
" ... one of the Angels’ top prospects, Erick Aybar,
was the epitome of futility in Game One. Batting in the #2 hole as the
designated hitter, Aybar looked awful, going 0-for-6 with seven runners
stranded. He only fanned once, though."
" ... Erick Aybar picked up his game, hitting a home
run. He added another hit, scored twice and drove in two out of RD’s two hole."
The real thing. Actual drafts underway, how the top dozen slots have gone
in a half-dozen Scoresheet leagues (the 4th American League draft a start-up
loop, others of obviously varying keeper formats). Thanks to MC's
McScoresheet list for the information :
AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN
1 42 Beckett Josh 42 Beckett Josh 42 Beckett Josh 419 Rodriguez Alex
2 15 Burnett AJ 15 Burnett AJ 502 Wilkerson Brad 2 Santana Johan
3 365 Thome Jim 38 Greinke Zack 15 Burnett AJ 344 Teixeira Mark
4 502 Wilkerson Brad 440 Marte Andy 440 Marte Andy 512 Guerrero Vlad
5 313 Hernandez Ramon 313 Hernandez Ramon 313 Hernandez Ramon 302 Mauer Joe
6 388 Castillo Luis 59 Santana Ervin 570 Baldelli Rocco 503 Ramirez Manny
7 107 Liriano Francisco 502 Wilkerson Brad 390 Loretta Mark 453 Tejada Miguel
8 343 Johjima Kenji 9 Loaiza Esteban 365 Thome Jim 73 Hernandez Felix
9 385 Polanco Placido 343 Johjima Kenji 9 Loaiza Esteban 495 Sizemore Grady
10 390 Loretta Mark 385 Polanco Placido 505 Huff Aubrey 57 Halladay Roy
11 360 Johnson Dan 18 Towers Josh 26 Moyer Jamie 61 Harden Rich
12 368 Kotchman Casey 305 Rodriguez Ivan 343 Johjima Kenji 452 Young Michael
NATIONAL NATIONAL
1 1419 Soriano Alfonso 1393 Delgado Carlos
2 1499 Renteria Edgar 1425 Hudson Orlando
3 1042 Young(SD) Chris 1054 Sosa Jorge
4 1053 Bush Dave 1419 Soriano Alfonso
5 1425 Hudson Orlando 1499 Renteria Edgar
6 1242 Baez Danys 1042 Young(SD) Chris
7 1338 Matheny Mike 1558 Winn Randy
8 1679 Young(Ari) Chris 1466 Mueller Bill
9 1567 Rowand Aaron 1429 Freel Ryan
10 1577 Lane Jason 1514 Barmes Clint
11 1597 Michaels Jason 1567 Rowand Aaron
12 1066 Perez Odalis 1017 Glavine Tom
Thanks to the folks at Scoresheet-Talk (Brian DewBerry-Jones, William
Burke et al) for the work in organizing the annual poll of members to
produce a valuable reference sheet for the 2006 drafts. I've now posted
the results of all the categories. In
response to some questions about missing rooks from the prospect list (Huber,
Kinsler, Adam Miller, BJ Upton, Papelbon, Penn) I'd guess these were simply
oversights (as some got listed in the position by position votes) and Upton &
Penn, at least, are no longer rookies by Scoresheet standards. If missing,
blame shifts to SS-Talk members like me for not getting involved in the process.
Daric Barton tops the OAK Top 10 at Baseball America. Outfielder
Javier Herrera is the runner-up with shortstop Cliff
Pennington at No. 3.
Corey Hart MIL, likely robbed of potential 3B time by the Koskie
acquisition, might get some time at 1B:
" ... We think it's time for Corey to get a good
shot, unless he falls flat on his face in spring training," said Melvin. "If we
could get him 250 at-bats this year, that's a step for his development. Corey
brings some things to the table." Beyond looking at Hart in the outfield, the
Brewers want him to get some time at first base during camp. Hart, who will turn
24 during spring training, originally was drafted as a first baseman in 2000 and
showed considerable promise before being moved from the position after Prince
Fielder was taken in the first round in 2002. Giving Hart time at first base is
a smart move. Fielder is a left-handed hitter who likely will need to sit
occasionally against tough left-handed pitches. Hart is a right-handed hitter
with power who at 6-foot-6 gives a bigger target for infielders than the 6-0
Fielder. "We're going to take a good look at Corey Hart at first base," said
Melvin ... might even see action on occasion as a pinch-runner. He has
good speed for a tall, lanky player, as evidenced by his 31 stolen bases in 113
games at Class AAA Nashville last season. "He's a good, instinctive
base-runner," said Melvin. "We're not blessed with a lot of speed. In the end, I
think you'll see that Corey Hart may be our best base-runner."
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Scott Rex, OnDeck, getting close to
posting his Top 500 ! The Angels' Top 40 among his latest postings.
Geesh, there are guys on the Angels' 5th rookie team who get win spots on some
Top 10s. They are especially loaded at two key positions - shortstop and
catcher (Mathis, Napoli, Bobby Wilson, Michael Collins). Brandon Wood, of
course, atop the chart :
MIN LAA
1 Liriano Francisco Wood Brandon
2 Kubel Jason Kendrick Howie
3 Moses Matt Weaver Jered
4 Swarzak Anthony Mathis Jeff
5 Perkins Glen Adenhart Nick
6 Rainville Jay Morales Kendry
7 Slowey Kevin Aybar Erick
8 Garza Matt Mendoza Tommy
9 Plouffe Trevor Bell Trevor
10 Durbin J.D. Saunders Joe
Jim Wisinski,
RaysBaseball, carves out his TB Top 25 (in preparation for the site's
combined prospect report beginning Monday). Delmon Young, Wes Bankston,
Jason Hammel 1-2-3.
" ... 2. Wes Bankston ... late season
slump brought down his final numbers but he was still impressive considering his
age and league. Could be ready in late 2006 and will probably be the starting
first baseman in '07."
" ... 4. Jeff Niemann ... Only
his tremendous upside allows him to be this high on my list. The condition of
his shoulder is a major concern and who knows what other damage the abuse at
Rice may have done. If he's healthy he may rival Kazmir in ability but that's a
big if."
" ... 12. Chuck Tiffany ... has had
somewhat of a control problem so far and has struggled with consistency. Still,
you can't ignore a K/9 in double digits and reasonable control from a young
lefty. Only 21 this year and already with 110 innings at High-A, he could easily
start the season at Montgomery."
A Top 10 update (actually a Top 22 now) over at
Let'sGoTribe (to reflect the Crisp/Marte
trade) :
" ... (1) 3B Andy Marte ...
entering his Age 22 season, he's posted good numbers at every stop in the
minors, he gets good marks for his defense, and has excellent power potential.
The Indians want him to get some more seasoning in Buffalo, and how long that
seasoning lasts should be in direct correlation to how long Aaron Boone
produces."
" ... (9) C Kelly Shoppach ... combines
very good power (for his position) with a good throwing arm and good
game-calling skills, a very interesting combination. He probably will struggle
to hit .260 in the majors, and he'll strike out a ton, but his total package of
skills would make him a starter for a lot of teams. Unfortunately for Shoppach,
the Indians aren't one of them."
04-05 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 1-3, double, 2 walks
... no rook, but a great day for catcher Ramon Hernandez BAL 4-6, the
cycle, double, triple, homer, 5 RBI ... Juan Cruz OAK 5 5 3 3 1 2 ...
Troop movements ... BOS -- officially announced the signing of SS Alex
Gonzalez (the one from the Marlins) ... SD - designated Rusty
Tucker for assignment, released Todd Greene ...
A deal that, obviously, wasn't meant to happen (the
Red Sox again sort of trying to move Manny to the Angels) :
" ... Boston was believed to have asked for at least
four players — [Ervin] Santana, utility player Chone Figgins
and two or three of the Angels' top four prospects, a list that includes
shortstop Brandon Wood and second baseman Howie Kendrick.
The Red Sox also wanted the Angels to assume virtually all of the $57 million
remaining on Ramirez's contract, which runs through 2008." (LA Times)
Oh what a system.
Baseball America ranks the Angels and finds no lack of candidates for the
Top 10 deciding upon a 1-2-3 of middle infielders Brandon Wood, Howie
Kendrick and Erick Aybar :
" ... the farm system is still loaded.
The middle-infield situation is indicative of the Angels' depth in the majors
and minors. No. 1 prospect Brandon Wood set an Angels minor league record with
43 homers in 2005. He plays shortstop, as do No. 3 prospect Erick Aybar and
Cabrera, both of whom are further up the organizational ladder. No. 2 prospect
Howie Kendrick has a .359 career average as a pro, and he has big leaguer Adam
Kennedy and No. 8 prospect Alberto Callaspo looming ahead of him. Catcher Jeff
Mathis will get a lot of big league playing time after Bengie Molina declared
free agency. Righthander Jered Weaver and lefty Joe Saunders could factor into
the rotation, and don't rule out Cuban defector Kendry Morales claiming some
at-bats at first base or DH."
At OnDeck, Scott Rex ranks Alex
Gordon as the top Royals prospect, ahead of Billy Butler.
Scott's Top 10 (he actually lists 40 in his review of the KC system) :
1 Gordon Alex 6 Lubanski Chris
2 Butler Billy 7 Murphy Donnie
3 Bianchi Jeff 8 Maier Mitch
4 Huber Justin 9 Dickerson Joe
5 Cota Luis 10 Buckner Billy
The folks over at
Scoresheet-Talk have completed their rankings of the top players, by
position, for the 2006 Scoresheet season. What a great draft cheat-sheet ! Members of the forum (an
excellent web locale for discussions of players and strategy) are requested to
rank players for a regular, continuing league beginning in 2006. Many
thanks to Brian DewBerry-Jones and William Burke for organizing
and setting up the annual ranking. Check out the whole list
here. Following are the
top 15 rookie picks in each league. (I'll try and archive the whole vote a bit
later.)
NATIONAL AMERICAN
1 Hermida Jeremy Young Delmon
2 Fielder Prince Wood Brandon
3 Drew Stephen Marte Andy
4 Upton Justin Liriano Francisco
5 Stewart Ian Barton Daric
6 Quentin Carlos Verlander Justin
7 Billingsley Chad Butler Billy
8 Jackson Conor Gordon Alex
9 Milledge Lastings Kubel Jason
10 Saltamacchia Jarrod Pedroia Dustin
11 Reyes Anthony Kendrick Howie
12 Young Chris Anderson Brian
13 Guzman Joel Lester Jon
14 Petit Yusmeiro Markakis Nick
15 Pie Felix Weaver Jered
Dayn Perry, FOXSports,
on Adrian Gonzalez SD :
" ... The fences at Petco are coming in a bit before next
season, so the run-suppressing nature of the park probably won't be as much of
factor in 2006. As for Gonzalez's promise, it's a mixed bag. He's 23 and already
on his third organization ... Gonzalez is a Gold Glove-caliber defender at first, but the
power just hasn't been there. He had a very nifty year at AAA-Oklahoma in 2005,
but his numbers there were out of step with the rest of his career, and the PCL
is a good loop for hitters. It's certainly possible that Gonzalez has finally
realized his substantial promise, but skepticism is warranted ... In terms
of ceiling, I'd put him in the J.T. Snow class — great glove, solid line-drive
stroke from the left side. But Gonzalez could wind up better than that."
Jim Callis,
Baseball America on Andy Marte CLE :
" ... A couple of years ago, Marte was on a very similar development track as
Miguel Cabrera. I wouldn't put him in Cabrera's class now, but he still has the
chance to be at least a star with his bat, power potential, plate discipline and
defensive skills. We've begun working on our annual Top 100 Prospects list, and
I put Marte at No. 14 on my personal rankings."
An early warning on the June draft - a lack of superstar material.
Allan Simpson, Baseball America :
" ... There are no Delmon Youngs or Justin Uptons in this year’s high school
class. There are also few marquee high school selections from three years ago
who went unsigned then and might have resurfaced to beef up this year’s college
crop. As a result, the 2006 draft is shaping up with few potential headline
players, one in which the high-end talent has been more difficult to identify or
quantify than in most years. “There are really no dominant players in the first
round,” Nationals scouting director Dana Brown said. “But from rounds two to
six, there appears to be a lot of depth.” ...
The two highest unsigned picks from 2003, North Carolina lefthander Andrew
Miller and Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs, not surprisingly rank at the
head of this year’s draft class."
A cautious review of Drew Stubbs from Ryan Levy in a college column at
Baseball Analysts :
" ... Stubbs ... really reminds me of Vince
Young heading into this past football season ... a freak of an athlete with a
huge upside who has had a couple pretty good seasons but has yet to put it all
together and earn his All-American hype. Head coach Augie Garrido has it right
when he says that Stubbs is the best athlete he's ever coached but won't say
he's the best baseball player he's ever coached. Stubbs hit .301/.372/.474 as a
freshman & .311/.384/.527 as a sophomore with 8 & 11 HRs, respectively, in his
career. Like I said, good but not Golden Spikes good."
Aaron Gleeman,
RotoWorld, on some possible 2006 sleepers :
" ... Kenji Jojima ... Not every hitter to come over from Japan has
had success in MLB, but three of the last four big names to come to
America—Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Tadahito Iguchi—have proven to be very
good players. There's always a chance that Jojima could be the next Kazuo
Matsui, but his numbers in Japan suggest that he can hit around .275 with 10-15
homers."
" ... Josh Willingham .. The Marlins won't likely contend this
season. This means Josh Willingham should see more plate time, so the team can
find out his potential ... has been ready to help a major-league team for
several years now, but injuries and the Marlins' unwillingness to give him a
chance set him back. Now that Florida is in full-on rebuilding mode Willingham
might finally be in line for a few at-bats ... best part from a fantasy
standpoint is that as a part-time catcher he may get enough time behind the
plate to qualify there in many leagues."
" ... Mike Jacobs ... Carlos Delgado's replacement in Florida has
plenty of power and might even see a little playing time behind the plate."
Another step backward for Cole Hamels PHI :
" ... The 22-year-old lefthander has suffered another setback
in his recovery from a back injury that derailed his 2005 season and probably
cost him a chance to pitch in the majors in September. Hamels, who required a
cortisone injection to cool down inflammation in his lower back in December, had
an MRI on Wednesday ... after experiencing more soreness and inflammation
in the area. The MRI, according to Hamels and general manager Pat Gillick,
showed nothing different than in December, when Hamels was diagnosed with a back
condition that Gillick said the pitcher might have to manage throughout his
career. "I don't think this will be a problem," Hamels said ... been
working with Phillies trainers to stabilize his lower back ... "I think I'll be
OK to start throwing again on Monday." Hamels did not have another injection. He
is being treated with anti-inflammatory medicine. "It's a bump in the road,"
Gillick said. "We didn't expect it, but I think we can work through it." ...
Hamels yesterday said this latest flareup was caused by "a degenerative disk
that was putting pressure on a nerve." (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Joel Guzman LAD, the transition begins. But, to which position
won't be known until Spring Training :
" ... Terry Collins, the team's farm director ... "It's a
question that won't be decided until our new Major League staff gets a good look
at him," ... "I've recommended that he starts out at shortstop again, because
it's an athletic position and his skills can be transferred anywhere. Then the
staff can look at our needs and by the end of Spring Training, we should know."
... "In winter ball, he played mostly third base and first base, very
little shortstop, and that should help him," said Collins. "There are a lot of
people who think he'll wind up in the outfield. We had a little discussion and
he's ready to make a change. He's aware it's going to happen, we just don't know
where and when. "His bat will dictate his career and the sky's the limit
offensively. He's smart, he's fluent in English, even the older players like to
be around him. He can be a leader. I've seen tremendous growth in him. When he
gets it all figured out, he can be something." ... expected to start the 2006
season at Triple-A Las Vegas, but also expected there are first baseman James
Loney and third baseman Andy LaRoche." (MLB.com)
Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports,
on a couple of possible OF sleepers for the WSox and yet another Angels
prospect:
" ... White Sox outfielder Joe Borchard,
who is out of options, could make the club as a reserve — and look out for
Jerry Owens, who led the Class AA Southern League in batting last season.
Owens probably will go to Class AAA, but could become a factor if LF Scott
Podsednik recovers slowly from hernia surgery or rookie CF Brian Anderson
struggles in camp."
" ... Angels general manager Bill Stoneman on
Mike Napoli, the catcher behind Jeff Mathis in the Angels' system. "This guy
is a heck of a catcher. He handles pitchers well. He moves well behind the
plate. He throws out a high percentage of base stealers. In addition to that,
the ball just leaps off his bat. He's not a high-average guy just yet, but he's
a highly productive hitter." Napoli batted .237 with 31 homers and 99 RBIs in
439 at-bats at Class AA last season."
03 February, 2006
Caribbean Series ... Anderson Hernandez NYN, 4-6 and the
game-winning RBI in the 11th as the Dominicans topped Puerto Rico in the series
opener ...
Troop movements ... WAS - Francis Beltran outright to AAA ...
Scott Rex, OnDeck breaks
from the norm in slotting Cameron Maybin as the top prospect in the DET
system. Justin Verlander is the runner-up, Joel Zumaya
3rd. Check out the entire DET report at the link above.
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, on Greg Miller LAD :
" ... I've received reports from the Dodgers that he's
been throwing very well in early workouts. He pitched well out of the bullpen
late last year in Jacksonville, but he got shut down when he went to the Arizona
Fall League. So they want him to log some healthy innings out of the pen before
trying to move him back into the rotation, if all goes well. Remember, he's
still only 21. He made it to Double-A as a teenager. So even with all of this
time he's missed, he's still ahead of the curve. That being said, when you have
multiple arm injuries, you start to worry about whether a guy will even get the
chance to fulfill his potential. But his ceiling is still as high as just about
anybody in baseball."
" ... Delmon
Young, I think, will start in Durham, unless he hits .900 this
spring. Even then, there's really no room for him in the deep Rays' outfield ...
I think Delmon goes down to Triple-A. I figure he's ready to come up by June, at
the latest, but only if they're ready to hand him an every-day job. As far as
numbers, he could have an immediate impact. If you're projecting for this year,
be a little more moderate, but you'd get power and speed right from the get-go."
Over at CBS
Sportsline [
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/fantasy/story/9189808 ], Eric Mack, offers his picks as the top prospects for this season
(plus some longer-term gems). Mack goes with Delmon Young,
Jeremy Hermida, Prince Fielder 1-2-3.
" ... 4 RHP Matt Cain ... Think: Kerry Wood ...
can sustain mid-90s heat and even kick it up close to triple digits on occasion.
All he needs now is control and experience ... has to be considered the top
rookie pitcher in baseball (the rookie eligibility of the Mariners' Felix
Hernandez expired last season). Only Hernandez was younger in the big leagues
last season. After Cain's outstanding results in his September call-up, the
Giants aren't hesitating to slot him in their rotation. He should better the
rookie numbers of Scott Kazmir from 2005 (10 wins, 3.77 ERA and 174
strikeouts)."
" ... 7 2B Ian Kinsler ... Think: A
right-handed Chase Utley ... It says a lot about what your organization
thinks of you if it trades a potential 30-30 second baseman in Alfonso Soriano
to clear the position. Such is the case with Kinsler, who has a slim Utley-like
build with the rare middle-infielder pop to go with it. Kinsler has progressed
rapidly through the system and gets his shot years before Utley. It could take
longer for Kinsler to hit his full stride, but we see one of the more potent
Fantasy 2Bs down the road. He's not quite in the Rickie Weeks class of speed and
power."
" ... 9 C Jeff Mathis ... Think: A
right-handed Jason Varitek ... rebounded from a disappointing 2004
campaign ... . It's rare a contender puts its pitching staff in the hands of a
rookie catcher -- Joe Mauer being the most recent exception -- but Mathis has
long been rated as a future All-Star backstop. His bat will be given time to
develop, but it's promising enough in his first year to warrant a late-round
flier in mixed leagues. We say Mathis outperforms the other young catchers --
the Pirates' second-year man Ryan Doumit included."
At
SportsFanatics, Delmon Young is ranked 9th on their lists of
prospects for 2006. It's Jeremy Hermida, Prince
Fielder, Matt Cain 1-2-3 :
" ... Fielder ... With Fielder starting on opening
day, 25-30 HR's and 85+ RBI's should be expected of him in 2006."
" ... 7. Chris Duffy ... Looks to be opening day
starting CF for PIT in 2006. Typical leadoff hitter who will get you lots of
runs, some SB's and have marginal power numbers. The thing we like about Duffy
the most is his ability to get on base and potential .300+ batting average. In
his 126 AB in the majors last season, he hit .341 and had 22 runs scored... that
is impressive."
" ... 10. Curtis Granderson ... Should be the starting
CF for DET, but he will have competition so he will have to earn it come spring
training. He has good speed and a nice power stroke, but he does strikeout a lot
and has a lower than expected on base percentage (even in the minors)."
CBS Sportsline SportsFanatics 2006 SportsFanatics 2007
1 Young Delmon Hermida Jeremy Wood Brandon
2 Hermida Jeremy Fielder Prince Milledge Lastings
3 Fielder Prince Cain Matt Quentin Carlos
4 Cain Matt Liriano Francisco Reyes Anthony
5 Liriano Francisco Jenks Bobby Marte Andy
6 Reyes Anthony Jacobs Mike Morales Kendry
7 Kinsler Ian Duffy Chris Verlander Justin
8 Jackson Conor Murton Matt Kendrick Howie
9 Mathis Jeff Young Delmon Weaver Jered
10 Zimmerman Ryan Granderson Curtis Eldred Brad
02 February, 2006
Baseball fans nearly everywhere! Thanks for surfing in - visitors
registered from more than 80 countries in January, including Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile,
China, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia,
Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Nicaragua, Norway,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation,
Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United
States, Uruguay, US Government, US Military, Venezuela, Viet Nam, and Virgin
Islands (U.S.). Thanks again !
Many thanks to David Farr who's been a major help in updating the
NRI and 40-man
roster lists. The latest updates now posted.
Caribbean Series kicks off today (Thursday) ... Dominican Republic vs
Puerto Rico at 1500 hours (EST) and Venezuela meeting Mexico in the night game
(1900 hours).
Troop movements ... CIN - designated Bubba Nelson for assignment ...
Justin Upton, Carlos Quentin, Dustin Pedroia
among the kids with Spring Training invites :
" ... Upton, a shortstop who was the No. 1 overall
pick in last year's draft, is expected to start his pro career at Class A South
Bend. Quentin, an outfielder, will likely start the season back in Triple-A
Tucson, where he put up impressive numbers last year. The club doesn't want to
accelerate Quentin's free agency by a year just so he could be a role player."
(Arizona Republic)
" ... The Red Sox think Pedroia, the organization's
minor league offensive player of the year last season, could contribute to the
major league team this year. He hit .324 with eight homers and 40 RBIs at
Double-A Portland then .255 with five homers and 24 RBIs with Triple-A
Pawtucket." (AP)
Dayn Perry, FOXSports,
is up to No. 51 on his Top 100. Clint Everts, Anibal Sanchez
among the picks in the latest installment :
" ... 51. Clint Everts ...
underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in September of 2004 and returned in time
to pitch only 35 innings last season. Everts' fastball is average for a
right-hander, but his changeup is tremendous, and he also boasts a plus curve.
The key will be regaining his velocity as he gets further and further removed
from surgery. Of course, he'll need to stay healthy, as well. Everts has ace
stuff, and he's certainly an excellent rebound candidate in 2006. "
" ... 52. Anibal Sanchez ...
boasts a low-90s fastball, a solid tandem of breaking pitches and, best of all,
a plus changeup. So he's certainly got the repertoire to remain in the rotation.
This past season, Sanchez skipped over Low-A entirely and still managed to
thrive across two levels. In the Carolina and Eastern Leagues in 2005, Sanchez
whiffed 158 batters in 136 innings and walked only 40. Sanchez's fly-ball
tendencies might hurt him down the road, but so far he's excelled. If he turns
in a nifty season at Triple-A, he'll be a top-25 prospect next year."
Scott Rex, OnDeck moves
on to the CLE farm and sticks with Adam Miller as the top Indians'
prospect ahead of newly acquired Andy Marte. Jeremy
Sowers ranks No. 3.
Lefty Francisco Liriano a no-brainer pick for No. 1 in the MIN
system. Baseball America
goes with Jason Kubel as the runnerup and Matt Moses ahead
of Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak for the No. 3
slot.
Signs that Kubel heading for more minor league time :
" ... [Ruben] Sierra's arrival is another
indication the Twins are not counting on Jason Kubel to be fully ready to
play after he sat out 2005 to recover from reconstructive knee surgery. The
numbers crunch alone appears to make Kubel the odd man out. The Twins don't view
Kubel as a left-handed pinch hitter, and manager Ron Gardenhire told the Pioneer
Press last weekend that Kubel would start the season in the minors if he doesn't
win the starting job in right field. Michael Cuddyer, who received a $952,500
raise when he recently signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract, is the favorite
to replace Jacque Jones in right field. "I don't think you want (Kubel) sitting
too much (at the big-league level)," Ryan said. "I'll be anxious to see him."
(St. Paul Pioneer Press)
John Sickels, MinorLeagueBall,
begins the shortstop discussion on ... Trevor Plouffe or Chris Nelson
?
" ... Plouffe was drafted in the first
round by the Minnesota Twins in 2004, 20th overall, a high school shortstop from
California. He had a rather disappointing season in the Midwest League in 2005,
hitting just .223/.300/.345 for Beloit. He did hit 13 homers and post a decent
50/78/466 BB/K/AB ratio, and scouts were impressed with his defense and his
attitude ... . Nelson was drafted in the first round by the Colorado
Rockies in 2004, ninth overall, a high school shortstop from Georgia. Like
Plouffe, he had a disappointing season, hitting just .241/.304/.330 for
Asheville in the South Atlantic League. Injuries were a major factor: he was
hampered by hamstring and groin trouble for more than half the season, and was
never 100% healthy. But even so, his production was certainly less than
expected, with plate discipline a major problem ... . Plouffe is younger (born
June 1986 compared to September 1985). Plouffe is a very good athlete in his own
right, but Nelson has better raw tools according to scouts. Plouffe has better
strike zone judgment and is more polished defensively, but Nelson has a higher
upside on both offense and defense according to scouts. Plouffe was healthy in
'05 and posted bad numbers; Nelson at least had the excuse of being injured.?
KC prospect quickies from
TheDailyLancer :
" ... Luis Cota ... has a good fastball
(mid-90s, good movement) and pitched well in the Midwest League as one of the
youngest pitchers. He has a lot of upside if he can develop his secondary
pitches and improve his command."
" ... The Royals are in good shape at third base,
despite poor depth. Mark Teahen could be a gold-glove third basemen in a
year or two and has shown signs of being an average hitter. If he learns to pull
the ball, I think a 20+ HR season isn't out of the question. The Royals' premier
talent, Alex Gordon, will challenge Teahen for the third base job.
Gordon's bat is more valuable at third base. So, the question will emerge: are
we better off with Teahen at 3rd and Gordon in the OF OR Gordon at 3rd and an OF
prospect/FA in the OF?"
" ... Justin Huber ... the Royals'
first basemen of the future. Huber has an excellent bat and compares well to
Mike Sweeney to an almost extraordinary degree."
" ... Royals have pretty good depth at second
base. By 2007, when Grudzielanek's contract will likely expire (option for
2007), the Royals should have 3 candidates for the job. [Donnie] Murphy
is probably the best overall prospect close to the majors. Murphy has shown
pretty good power and has an above-average glove at 2nd. [Jeff] Bianchi
has much more upside and could be a potential All-Star down the road."
01 February, 2006
More from the NL East prospect charts by
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld :
" ... 1. [ATL] Jarrod Salatalamacchia ...
As impressive as Brian McCann was last year, he may not be the future behind the
plate for the Braves. Saltalamacchia, the 36th overall pick in the 2003 draft,
showed tremendous offensive ability while playing in one of the best parks for
pitchers in the minors. He also has quite a bit more defensive potential than
McCann, though since he is the more athletic of the two, he probably has a
better chance of excelling at another position ... bat could be
ready for the majors as soon as early 2007."
" ... 8. [ATL] Eric Campbell ...
Braves’ first pick in the 2004 draft, getting selected 71st overall. He didn’t
impress that year in his pro debut, hitting .251/306/.384 in the GCL, so the
club decided against promoting him to full-season ball last year. Instead, he
went to the Appalachian League and was named the circuit’s co-MVP (with teammate
Max Ramirez). Campbell could stand to shorten up his swing a little, but it’s
hard not to like his power potential."
" ... 2. [NYN] Mike Pelfrey ... probably
the best pitching prospect available in the 2005 draft ... regularly
touches 95 mph with his fastball and shows a plus changeup. His curveball needs
improvement, but his command is good enough that he could be a fine major league
starter with a below average third pitch. The Mets figure to bring him along
quickly, with an arrival in the first half of 2007 looking like a possibility."
" ... 6. [NYN] Alay Soler ... With
an arsenal that reportedly includes a 93-mph fastball and a quality slider, he
might turn into a fourth starter or a setup man. The Mets are probably going to
have him open the year in Triple-A, but they could first let him compete with
Aaron Heilman and others for the last spot in the rotation."
" ... 3. [PHI] Daniel Haigwood ... the
best bet of any of the Phillies’ pitching prospects to settle in as a major
league starter. With a 34-11 record in three seasons, he’s the closest thing to
a proven winner one will find in the minors. Haigwood’s fastball rarely exceeds
90 mph, but he has a top-notch curveball and his changeup gives him three major
league pitches ... should develop into a reliable No. 4 starter. He could
help out after the All-Star break if the Phillies need it."
" ... 2. [WAS] Clint Everts ...
made a quick return from Sept. 2004 Tommy John surgery, making his 2005 debut on
June 30. He went on to pitch 35 innings over the course of 15 appearances, as
the Nationals saw little reason to push him. Everts, the fifth overall pick in
the 2002 draft, might begin to move quickly if he’s all the way back this year.
With a pair of excellent secondary pitches in his curveball and changeup, Everts
could be a quality major league starter while working in the 90-mph range."
" ... 4. [WAS] Collin Balester ... The
6-foot-5 Balester was the Nationals’ fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft. Since
he’s effective already and he has the potential to keep adding velocity to his
low-90s fastball, it’s easy to see why the Nationals are excited. If he develops
consistency with his curveball and his changeup, he might have No. 2-starter
potential."
Matt Jacovina, WarmOctoberNights,
offers his picks as the top young guns in the DET system. Justin Verlander,
Joel Zumaya, Cameron Maybin 1-2-3 :
" ... Verlander’s fastball is the type of pitch that
has so much potential that his secondary offerings will merely need to be
average for him to be a very good starter – his curveball and changeup should be
more than adequate. While his 2005 season may indicate that he’s already
dominated the minors enough to get a shot with the Tigers ... still has
more to learn and, scarily enough, will still get better. Once he tightens up
command just a bit, he’ll be an ace."
" ... Anytime a pitcher strikes out hitters at a
pace of over 11 per 9 innings, it’s wise to take note ... With a fastball
that approaches 100 mile per hour, a good change and a sometimes nasty curve,
Joel wasn’t a fun person to bat against. His problem is a common one amongst
young pitchers with a nasty fastball: lack of consistent command, and getting a
lot of fly ball outs. There’s rumblings that his stuff will be contained in the
bullpen eventually, but until he proves he’ll never make it as a starter, I
think he’ll remain in the rotation. All he needs is some time to work on his
control and his walks will drop while more balls are hit on the ground. He may
very well end up the Tigers’ third best starter, but that doesn’t mean he
doesn’t have the potential to be amongst the AL’s best."
A not-so-robust WSox farm ranked by
Scott Rex, OnDeck :
1. Bobby Jenks 6.
Lance Broadway
2. Brian Anderson 7. Tyler Lumsden
3. Ryan Sweeney 8. Rob Valido
4. Josh Fields 9. Francisco Hernandez
5. Ray Liotta 10. Sean Tracey
BJ Upton says he'll make it as a shortstop ... Ozzie adds his support :
" ... Ozzie Smith said there's no doubt Upton has
the ability to do it, and well. The only thing stopping him is a fundamental
problem. "He's never really been taught good, sound fundamentals," Smith said.
"He's made it a long way, but it's just on raw talent. Unfortunately, he has to
go through this process of learning good, sound fundamentals before he gets here
to the big league level." Upton, 21, has been projected for stardom since the
Rays made him the second pick in the 2002 draft, which Smith said may be part of
the problem. "He's such a talent that people have been reluctant to really
bother him," Smith said. "In baseball when you draft somebody that high it's
always like, "Hands off. He's gotten here by himself and he's done this stuff.'
" Upton, though, has shown he needs some help, having made 144 errors in 350
minor-league games at shortstop (and seven in 16 big-league games) over his
three pro seasons, including 53 at Triple-A last year. "For his talent, the
number of errors has been high," said Smith, who spent Thursday and Friday in
St. Petersburg working with Upton as a favor to agent Larry Reynolds. "If we can
cut that number in half and work from there, he should be okay. There's a wealth
of talent there. Now it's about honing that talent and making it consistent."
Smith said Upton needs only to make slight changes to his approach - such as
improving his footwork, being more aggressive rather than relying on his strong
arm, and being more focused. "I think you'll see as things progress here that he
will eventually become a very good big-league shortstop," Smith said."
(St. Petersburg Times)
31 January, 2006
Venezuelan playoffs ... Franklin Gutierrez CLE 2-3, walk ...
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld, ranks a bountiful Marlins' farm :
" ... 1. Jeremy Hermida ... with Andy
Marte gone, Hermida is the clear choice as the National League’s best prospect
... may never contend for batting crowns or home run titles, but he’ll have
Bobby Abreu-type seasons while playing right field for the Marlins. His patience
will result in .400+ OBPs to go along with .290 batting averages, and he may
peak at somewhere around 30 homers per year in his prime."
" ... 5. Scott Olsen ... debuted with
the Marlins last June and did a nice job in a month in the majors before
returning to Double-A on July 22. He was diagnosed with elbow inflammation
shortly thereafter and didn’t pitch again. Eventually, it was determined that he
had a bone spur that didn’t require surgery. With a 91-94 mph fastball, a
quality slider and a serviceable changeup, Olsen resembles a future third
starter. He might even be a No. 2 if his command continues to improve."
" ... 12. Chris Volstad ... A 6-foot-7
right-hander has a low-90s fastball and a couple of secondary pitches with plus
potential in his curve and changeup. Because he has very good command and he’s
not a maximum-effort pitcher, he probably has a better chance of staying healthy
than most his age."
David Regan, RotoAmerica, likes
Felix Pie as the best of the young Cubbies with a young lefty on his heels.
" ... #2 Mark Pawelek ... has an
impressive array of pitches, including a fastball that runs as high as 95
already, a solid curve, and a good change. Being a teenager last year and
showing that type of velocity from the left side is very impressive, and he
should even show more as he fills out his 6’2” frame... Has the stuff and upside
of a #1 starter."
" ... #3 Rich Hill ... Struck out an
incredible 13.4 hitters per nine IP this year in the minors, but had less
success upon his promotion as he struggled with his control while putting up a
9.13 ERA and 17 BB in 24 IP. He’s not getting any younger, so look for the Cubs
to finally figure out his role with the big club this spring. They could let him
compete for a rotation spot this spring with Jerome Williams, but more likely
Hill returns to AAA, is traded, or ends up in the pen."
" ... #5 Eric Patterson ... the Cubs’
minor league player of the year after he led the Midwest league in hitting. He’s
got very good speed and nice power for a guy who stands just 5’11” ...
exhibits very sound plate discipline and profiles as a Ricky Henderson type
leadoff hitter (OBP, steals, and some power). Scouts have said that he focuses
on hitting the longball too much at times, but a .940 OPS for a 2B is nothing to
sneeze at. The Cubs weren’t aggressive enough in promoting him last year, but I
expect he’ll spend a good portion of 2006 in AA, a more age-appropriate league
for him. Could be the Cubs 2B of the future but he’ll need to refine his skills
up the middle for that to happen."
John Sickels' 2006 Prospect Book has begun shipping (already in the hands of
several USA subscribers). John notes an omission in the book - the
Jason Kubel report somehow got dropped, which he's now posted at his web
site :
" ... when healthy, Kubel has excellent bat
speed ... along with decent strike zone judgment and above average power.
He can pull the ball for power or go the other way ... his BB/K/AB ratio is
terrific ... seems likely that most or all of his hitting skills will come back,
but can he still run well enough to play the outfield? Grading him is
problematic. I will go with Grade B for now, a compromise between a Grade A and
a Grade C ... positional doubts and injury paranoia."
Scott Rex, OnDeck, picks
lefty Jon Lester as the best of the BOS system.
1. Jon Lester
6. Manny Delcarmen
2. Jonathan Papelbon 7. Luis Soto
3. Dustin Pedroia 8. Michael Bowden
4. Craig Hansen 9. Clay
Buchholz
5. Jacoby Ellsbury 10. Brandon Moss
Good power, but ...
" ... Kelly Shoppach looks a lot like Josh
Bard did three years ago, and maybe that simple fact is the whole rationale
behind the swap. Both players solved Triple-A pitching at age 25 -- not too old,
but not too young, either. Both score high as defensive catchers; Shoppach draws
raves for controlling the running game, Bard for handling pitchers. Bard has
some power but profiles as more of a contact hitter. Shoppach has never put up
impressive batting averages, but he shows solid power and consistently excellent
walk rates -- a trait he shares with both Michaels and Andy Marte." (Let's
Go Tribe)
30 January, 2006
Venezuelan playoffs - Franklin Gutierrez CLE 3-5, .500 ...
appears to have regained some of his prospect lustre :
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO AVE OBP SLG
Regular Season 190 64 7 1 4 28 30 .337 .430 .447
Semi-Finals 61 17 1 2 3 8 14 .279 .371 .508
Finals 14 7 2 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .643
Troop movements ... SD - signed Mike Piazza ...
Alex Gordon over Billy Butler for the No. 1 prospect slot
in KC according to Baseball America. Justin Huber ranked No. 3
ahead of Chris Lubanski and Jeff Bianchi.
Ken Rosenthal,
FOXSports.com, on Andy Marte CLE :
" ... Marte isn't a certain star — some scouts and
executives are concerned about holes in his swing and the possibility that he
might develop a thick body. However, Marte possesses superior makeup and offers
a rare combination of skills in an industry short on both third basemen and
right-handed power hitters. An official with the Braves predicts that he could
hit .240 to .250 with 20 home runs if he played every day this season, then
develop into a .280 hitter with 25 to 30 homers. Others, however, believe that
Marte needs more time at Class AAA."
Another view from the Akron Beacon Journal :
" ... Marte could be the team's starting
third baseman by midseason, if Aaron Boone falters. Baseball America rates Marte
as Boston's top prospect, and No. 9 in all of baseball. His career is much like
that of Tribe shortstop Jhonny Peralta. He's always been one of the youngest
players at each of his minor-league stops, yet performed well. The most
impressive thing about Marte is not that he hit .275 with 20 homers and 74 RBI
in 389 at-bats at Class AAA in 2005. Or that Baseball America named him the
International League's best fielding third baseman. It's that he did all this at
the age of 21. If you put pro scouts in a room and asked them to pick any
minor-league third baseman who is big-league ready and has a chance to be a
star, most would select Marte, who turned 22 at the end of October."
Scott Rex, OnDeck, has
the Yankees Top 40 posted. Phil Hughes (now getting a lot of hype,
Eric Duncan, Jose Tabata 1-2-3.
Jason Kubel MIN, ready for the challenge :
" ... Now, he has full clearance to practice with
no restrictions. Since being cleared, Kubel has been able to work out in a
normal routine. He's running, lifting and throwing in the same workouts that he
did before the injury. The 23-year-old has not had any setbacks or problems with
the knee to this point. "No problems at all to report," Kubel said with a smile.
"It hasn't been sore in a long time." ... "This kid has a lot of talent
and brings a strong bat," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It will be interesting
to see how he does in Spring Training and how his knee will take to the wear and
tear of playing in the outfield." (MLB.com)
Well beyond Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez, Marlins to provide opportunities for
youth :
" ... Catcher: Josh Willingham will split time between
left field and catcher in camp, but will move to left if Miguel Olivo wins the
catcher's job. ''We believe Josh is going to hit very successfully in the big
leagues,'' Beinfest said. ``I don't know where his best position is.''
" ... Infield: First baseman Mike Jacobs (.310, 11
home runs in 100 at-bats for the Mets) figures to play against right-handers,
and Beinfest said he has the potential to play everyday." (Miami Herald)
Mike Jacobs is among those noted at Tim
Polko's RotoHelp column on NL first basemen :
" ... the Marlins' likely starter next spring
following the Carlos Delgado trade. Of course, Jacobs doesn't possess
great plate discipline and certainly will see his power numbers dive in Florida.
His OPS could fall below .800 and remain relatively in line with a normal career
arc, and a lack of baserunners could provide few RBI opportunities. However, he
still possesses promising power potential and only faces serious competition in
the near future from Jason Stokes."
" ... Ryan Shealy ... Ostensibly stuck at first
base, Shealy began converting to the outfield this fall and now seems set to
open 2006 as Matt Holliday's platoon partner in right field. If Shealy handles
the position capably, I expect the Rockies to deal Holliday given he possesses
less plate discipline than Brad Hawpe or Shealy. Any problems encountered by
Shealy instead should lead to a midseason deal to a club looking for
right-handed power at 1B/DH ... could start for almost any AL club."
More than a little pressure for the new CF with the WSox "
" ... Brian Anderson happens to be the
guy with the backpack of pressure strapped to his shoulders, though it's unclear
whether he really understands it or feels it. He's replacing one of the better
center fielders in the American League, and he's doing it for the defending
World Series champions ... The Sox need Anderson to be good enough, not great.
But being good enough in the big leagues is like being good enough as a bomb
defuser. If you're any less, you're pretty much James Frey and "A Million Little
Pieces." Outside of Thome's health, Anderson will be the Sox's biggest question
mark when spring training opens ... general manager Ken Williams said ...
"This guy has earned it, and you're going to find that he's a heck of a player
both offensively and defensively." (Chicago Tribune)
Pirates already making tentative prospect assignments :
" ... Catcher Neil Walker, the Pirates'
first-round draft pick two summers ago and No. 1 prospect as rated by Baseball
America, will begin at high Class A Lynchburg, where he finished last season
after a promotion from low Class A Hickory. Outfielder Andrew McCutchen,
the first-round pick last year, will rise one notch to Hickory. Center fielder
Rajai Davis, a member of the 40-man roster, is the only player pegged for
Class AAA who has no experience there. Davis batted .281 with 45 stolen bases
for Class AA Altoona last season ... He could join Nate McLouth
and Ray Sadler for an all-prospect outfield in Indianapolis."
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
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