"
... When do you think Ruddy Yan will get a chance in the big
leagues? A: Phil Rogers: When he learns how to get the ball out of the infield.
The guy is as fast as Cool Papa Bell and he can't ever get a double? What's that
about? I'm not sure the Sox needed to put him on the 40-man roster this winter.
He's gonna be some kind of overmatched in a big-league camp ... pitchers still
knock the bat out of Yan's hands. When he makes contact, he's a threat to turn
groundouts into singles."
Tacoma
prospect watchers in for a treat.
"
... Travis Blackley, Clint Nageotte, Chris Snelling
and Jose Lopez are going to be pictured on baseball cards.
"Tacoma should be an interesting club to watch because there are a lot of
prospects on the team," said Benny Looper, the Mariners' vice president for
player development ... Rainiers are getting a Texas-size boost in talent from
the Mariners' Class AA team ... Baseball America picked the Missions as its
Class AA team of the year. Blackley, a left-handed pitcher, and third baseman Justin
Leone were picked to the magazine's Class AA all-star team ...
Leone, the Texas League's most valuable player, and Lopez, a strong-armed
shortstop, are slated for Tacoma. Also expected to wear the Rainiers' uniform
are first baseman A.J. Zapp and Snelling, the Australian outfield
prospect who is making his way back from knee surgery."
"
... Pitching was the Missions' real strength. Blackley, the Texas League's
pitcher of the year, tied for the minor-league lead with 17 wins and was second
in the Texas League with a 2.61 ERA. Nageotte's numbers weren't far behind. He
won 11 games and had an ERA of 3.10 while leading the league in strikeouts (157
in 154 innings). Others who could be in Tacoma, if not Seattle, are left-handed
starter Bobby Madritsch (13-7, 3.63) and left-handed reliever George
Sherrill (3-0, 0.36). Both were signed out of the independent leagues and
both were impressive." ... The Rainiers' rotation could feature Craig
Anderson and Jeff Heaverlo, holdovers from last year, and
Blackley, Nageotte and Madritsch. Then there's Rett Johnson, who
won 11 games between Tacoma and San Antonio last season, and Cha-Sueng
Baek, a 23-year-old Korean who was added to the 40-man roster this
winter." (Spokane Spokesman-Review)
Joe
Ptak, at his Cleveland Indians Report,
has begun the position-by-position reports on the CLE system. And, good news for
Brandon Phillips fans, Joe thinks he'll eventually reward your patience :
"
... The only good thing that you can say about Brandon Phillips' 2003 season is
that it's over. Save for a six-game stretch from May 8-14 when he hit .476 ...
Phillips was an extreme disappointment for the Indians at the plate last year
... not even a midseason demotion to Buffalo could shake him out of his
struggles as he hit just .175/.247/.279/.526 in 154 at-bats with the Bisons and
followed that up with a .203 September after rejoining the Indians for the final
month. Phillips chose not to participate in the Indians offseason workout
program and, while the Indians publicly say that they are fine with his decision
to workout in his hometown of Atlanta, you have to think privately they wish he
was in Cleveland under their watchful and instructional eye. With the signing of
Ronnie Belliard, Phillips is ticketed for at least a half-season (and likely a
full-season) of triple-A experience which may be the best thing for him at this
stage of his career. Plenty of players have struggled in their initial exposure
to the big leagues and it's important to remember that Phillips is just 22 years
old (turns 23 on June 28) and still possesses a ton of raw talent ... I'm
optimistic."
Grady
Sizemore becoming the jewel of the CLE haul for Bartolo Colon (Sizemore,
Brandon Phillips and Cliff Lee from Montreal) :
"
... Eastern League All-Star, the EL Rookie of the Year and the Futures
Game MVP ... Heading into last season, Sizemore was ranked by Baseball America
as the Indians' seventh-best prospect. By the end of it, he had been tabbed the
Tribe's Minor-League Player of the Year -- having led the organization in hits
(151) and runs (96), finishing third in average and tied for third in RBI. When
that job was done, Sizemore did much of the same for his country, batting .442
with 12 runs scored and seven RBI in 13 games for Team USA. ``Sizemore's a bona
fide major-league everyday player,'' said the Indians' director of player
development John Farrell, while admitting that Sizemore's solid game surprised
even some of his top supporters. ``The power numbers came quick in 2003. We
projected him to have 15-20 home run potential in the future, but to see it come
out in Double-A was faster than we imagined.'' If nothing else, the
extraordinary season proved Sizemore not only to possess top-notch baseball
talent, but also many of the intangibles that typically only come with
experience." (Akron Beacon Journal)
Hmmm.
Perhaps a spot for Victor Diaz, after all.
"
... (Mets GM Jim) Duquette said that second base prospect Victor Diaz, whom the
Mets acquired from the Dodgers in the Jeromy Burnitz trade, could begin taking
balls at third base this spring and may eventually shift to left field in order
to better utilize his bat. (MLB.com)
05 February, 2004
Gonna
REALLY miss his stuff. Josh Boyd, who many of us have followed
since his early days with his own prospect site, is leaving Baseball America to
suit up as a scout with San Diego. The Padres are getting a prime talent,
poised to become the ace of the staff. Congratulations Josh !
Baseball
America now moving along with the final few Top 10s ... Phil Rogers studied the
WSox and, just like the rest of the forecasters, picks Jeremy Reed as the
best of the CHA farm crop :
"
... Reed can really hit. He not only has a simple stroke that allows him to make
contact almost at will but he also has a terrific eye for the strike zone ...
should develop more power in time, though he’ll generate a lot more doubles
than homers. He’ll probably max out at 15-20 homers annually ... has become an
average center fielder and should get better with more experience there ... If
he proves unable to handle center field, he won’t have the home run power
typical of a corner outfielder ... Several club officials would like to see Reed
get a full season at Triple-A Charlotte ... With Magglio Ordonez one year away
from free agency, it’s conceivable both Reed and Borchard will be regulars in
2005."
Rogers
selected righthander Kris Honel as the No.2 in the WSox system.
At GetSportsInfo, Jeremy Deloney, has a look at the top catching prospects with,
as expected, Joe Mauer the best of the bunch. Dioner
Navarro NYA was an interesting pick at No. 2 :
"
... Yankees often over-hype their prospects in order to acquire veterans near
the trade deadline, but Navarro is the heir apparent to Jorge Posada. He is an
excellent defensive catcher whose bat continues to improve. He’s only 5’10”
but will gain strength as his body matures. A switch-hitter, Navarro projects to
average power with the ability to hit to all fields."
Navarro
ranked ahead of TOR's Guillermo Quiroz and Jeff Mathis
ANA.
Chris
Snyder ARZ slipped into the No. 5 slot :
"
... Scouts rave about Snyder’s leadership behind the plate. He has a “take
charge” attitude and always hustles. He’s known for his defensive prowess,
but his bat isn’t bad either. He has an imposing frame and has legitimate
power to all fields. He dominated High A ball last season and was promoted to
Double A where he struggled with a wrist injury. He’ll most likely repeat AA
ball and will lead the charge to Arizona in the next few years. His plate
discipline and keen eye will certainly help him in the long-run."
Fans of the Twins' Quad City franchise in for a treat this summer as a pair of
the top MIN prospects set to line up with the club :
"
... Speedy centerfielder Denard Spann will likely open this season as the
centerfielder for The Swing. The Twins' first-round pick in the 2002 June Draft
is called the fastest player in the organization by B.A. and is rated at the
organization's No. 7 prospect ... ``When we scouted Denard out of high school he
reminded us a lot of Kenny Loftron,'' said Rob Anthony, the Twins director of
baseball operations. ``He can really fly, he's a true centerfielder and he is a
true leadoff hitter ... Meanwhile, third baseman Matt Moses is
rated No. 3 in the Twins' organization. The 2003 first-round pick played in just
18 games with the GCL Twins last season due to minor heart surgery. He did hit
.385 and had a .492 slugging average. ``Matt has a chance to start there, we'd
love it if he did,'' said Anthony. ``The key is that he needs the games and he
needs to prove he belongs at that level. ``Everything is good with his health.
He can really hit. He can hit for power and he's got great discipline. Matt's
got a chance to be a plus fielder, but needs to work on that.'' (Quad-Cities
Online)
Bubba
Nelson anxious to begin his quest to grab the 5th rotation spot in ATL.
"
... Nelson and another Braves pitcher, Chris Waters, drove two to three hours
through ice and snow recently for a tuneup at the Goochland garage of Richmond
Braves pitching coach Guy Hansen. Hansen is a consultant for the Virginia Sports
Complex, which built a satellite facility for hitting and pitching lessons at
Hansen's home ... Nelson and Waters dodged the weather and traffic around
Washington on three separate days, all for 45- to 50-pitch sessions with Hansen
... Nelson left Saturday for Atlanta to attend the two-week minicamp of A-Braves
pitching coach Leo Mazzone, known as Camp Leo. "This is a fine-tune here
for the fine-tune when I get to Camp Leo," Nelson said. The 22-year-old
right-hander has his eyes on Atlanta's fifth starter's spot, or possibly a place
in the bullpen. Nelson, who delivers a moving 93-95 mph fastball, went 8-10 with
a 3.18 ERA last year in Greenville, mostly as a starter. With Atlanta looking
for postseason help in the bullpen, Nelson became a reliever just before being
elevated to Richmond in August. Nelson went 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 11 outings
with the R-Braves, but he wasn't called up to Atlanta. "A lot of other guys
are after that [fifth starting] spot, so I'm working my tail off doing this and
a lot of little things to get ready," Nelson said." (Richmond
Times-Dispatch)
Ah
... it's a good time. Ken Warren's
Ballpark Figures has arrived (and, it's a ton of good reading and projections)
and John Sickels' Prospect Book is on
the way. In spite of three feet of snow, it feels as if spring is just
around the corner.
04 February, 2004
Thanks
to David Farr for keeping me up to date on the NRI list. It's likely that
the most complete list of Spring Training Invitees is here.
Seth
Trachtman, at CREATiVESPORTS, has
wrapped his Top 10s with a look at the Cubbies. So unfair. Already
with rotation possibilities including Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Matt Clement,
Carlos Zambrano, Juan Cruz and maybe Greg Maddux, the Cubs have more on the
way. Looking at the Cubs' prospect list must bring tears to the eyes of
the folks in Arlington.
Seth
goes with Justin Jones over Angel Guzman as No.1 :
"
... second round pick in 2002 out of high school, Jones has a very high ceiling.
He throws in the low-90s with an impressive repertoire from the left side. Last
season he had a 2.28 ERA and 87/32 K/BB ratio in 71 innings of Low-A. He has a
large frame and no glaring weaknesses other than his slight arm injury last
season. If healthy, he should be a very good major league starter."
After
Guzman, there's big lefty Andy Sisco and Chadd Blasko
:
"
... extremely polished. He throws in the low-90s with an excellent
repertoire and dominated High-A with a 1.98 ERA and 131/43 K/BB ratio in 136.1
innings pitched. It is early, but Blasko looks like he will be a solid starter
to settle behind Mark Prior and Kerry Wood."
Last
year's top pick by the Cub, Bobby Brownlie, ranks No.6.
Now
here's the results of a real test ... the top picks in AL Stieb, a new
Canadian Scoresheet League. No sign of Joe Mauer, BJ Upton yet ... through
the first 30 picks.
1.
ARod 11. Tejada
21. Sabathia
2. Pedro 12.
Blalock 22. Giambi
3. Hudson 13.
Alfonso 23. Mussina
4. Halladay 14.
Manny 24. Jeter
5. Mulder 15. Zito
25. Berroa
6. Vlad 16.
Wells 26. Santana
7. Delgado 17.
Posada 27. Shilling
8. Beltran 18.
Ordonez 28. Sheffield
9. Nomar 19.
Chavez 29. Texeria
10. Vazquez 20. Ponson
30. Javy Lopez
The
annual ratings from the Scoresheet-talk list have been posted. The whole
thing is here (although there's a possibility
of some changes given a couple of weird ballots). Of the rookies ... not
much to raise your eyebrows. Perhaps Zack Greinke over BJ Upton for the
runner-up spot behind Joe Mauer in the NL. And, I'd guess Delmon Young
will go ahead of all but Mauer & Upton in the real drafts. The top ten
picks in each league :
ROOKIES
AL ROOKIES NL
Joe Mauer Prince
Fielder
Zack Greinke Edwin
Jackson
B.J. Upton Scott Kazmir
Bobby Crosby Jason
Bay
Alexis Rios Cole Hamels
Casey Kotchman Rickie
Weeks
Delmon Young Josh
Barfield
Jeremy Reed Khalil
Greene
Jeff Mathis Greg
Miller
Ervin Santana Andy Marte
Concerns
about Jason Bay PIT being ready to start the season in the regular lineup
:
"
... Bay continues to recover from November surgery to repair a cartilage tear in
his right shoulder. However, he admits he is getting impatient. "I thought
once I could start moving my shoulder that I'd be ready to throw but it's not
that simple because I've still have to strengthen the muscles in my
shoulder," Bay said. "I've made a lot of progress in the last month
but I don't even ask the doctors anymore when they're going to let me throw. I
just want to concentrate on getting better every day." Bay will probably be
able to start throwing by mid-March, though he should be able to take batting
practice when position players report to spring training in Bradenton, Fla., on
Feb. 25. The Pirates are hoping Bay will be ready to play by the April 5 opener,
though that is still questionable." (Beaver County Times)
This
may be the last we hear of Drew Henson, as a baseball player. The
divorce appears to be near final :
"
... Henson has agreed to forfeit the remaining $12 million on his contract with
the New York Yankees and give up his baseball career to return to football,
MLB.com reported Tuesday. A bust in the minor leagues after his highly
publicized signing, Henson is property of the NFL's Houston Texans, who took a
chance by selecting him in the sixth round of the 2003 draft ... "I have
truly enjoyed playing professional baseball, but after a great deal of thought
and discussions with the people closest to me, I have decided to make football
my career," Henson said in a statement in the New York Daily
News." (Associated Press)
Corey
Hart MIL ... bound for a position switch.
"
... Brewers will switch Hart from the hot corner to the outfield in 2004, even
though the 6-foot-6 prospect was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League last
year with Huntsville. There were a number of reasons for the switch, not the
least of which was Hart's struggle to convert from a first baseman to a third
baseman. In 119 games with the Stars in 2003, he committed 32 errors as he tried
to learn the nuances of his new position." (Baseball America)
03 February, 2004
Geeze
... less than two weeks to ... pitchers and catchers ...
Caribbean
World Series ... Rafael Soriano SEA 5 1/3 innings, two runs on two hits,
five strikeouts ...
Quite
a farm harvest in MIN. Baseball
America is back with its Top 10 coverage and Josh Boyd has the Twins on
tap. No surprise at the top -- catcher Joe Mauer :
"
... combines a picture-perfect lefthanded stroke with impeccable strike-zone
judgment to generate high batting averages and on-base percentages. His natural
approach and swing path lend themselves more to a batting title than a home run
crown ... Defensively, Mauer had no equals at the minor league level. Some
scouts say he’ll be the best receiver in the American League when he debuts in
April ... Outstanding arm strength gives him a third present 80 tool on the
20-80 scouting scale to go with his bat and glove ... scouts insist he has the
power to one day hit 35-40 in a season if he wants to. He showed signs of adding
more loft to his swing in Double-A ... no reason he shouldn’t develop into a
perennial all-star."
The
one "heads-up" on the list is Josh's No. 3 pick -- third sacker Matt
Moses.
"
... That just reflects how special his bat is and can be. In my personal top 50
that will appear in the Prospect Handbook, I have him right around 50th overall,
which is probably higher than Will Lingo, Jim Callis and Allan Simpson ...
secondary tools are overwhelming and he has work to do defensively, though,
which is why he wasn't a top 10 pick ... his bat is that good. He compares to a
Hank Blalock type hitter at the same level and Moses has outstanding makeup. He
could move fast."
Jason
Bartlett viewed as the shortstop of the future, beginning very soon :
"
... I think the plan is for Bartlett to spend most of the year in Triple-A
playing everyday in preparation to take over for Guzman in 2005. It wouldn't
make sense for them to groom him for their everyday job by sitting him on the
bench in the majors. When they first acquired Bartlett, though, they would've
been pleased if he turned out to be Hocking, instead he's exceeded expectations
and profiles as an everyday guy now ... At the plate, maybe a Mark Loretta type,
though he's more of a factor on the bases than Loretta."
Boyd
on catching defense ... Guillermo Quiroz vs Joe Mauer :
"
... Quiroz is above-average, or at least he has the tools to be and projects as
above-average (60 on the 20-80) where Mauer is a 70 now and projects as an 80,
winning Gold Gloves year after year."
On
my ... Scott Rex, OnDeck,
has out done 'em all -- a Top 500 ! Joe Mauer MIN tops the mammoth
undertaking, with LA lefty Greg Miller at No. 2. A fascinating list.
Here's the top 20 :
1.
Joe Mauer, C, Twins 2. Greg Miller, LHP, Dodgers 3. Edwin Jackson, RHP, Dodgers
4. B.J. Upton, SS, Devil Rays 5. Zack Greinke, RHP, Royals 6. Scott Kazmir, LHP,
Mets 7. Delmon Young, OF, Devil Rays 8. Cole Hamels, LHP, Phillies 9. Casey
Kotchman, 1B, Angels 10. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers 11. Rickie Weeks, 2B,
Brewers 12. Dustin McGowan, RHP, Blue Jays 13. Alexis Rios, OF, Blue Jays 14.
J.J. Hardy, SS, Brewers 15. Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins 16. Kazuo Matsui, SS, Mets
17. Angel Guzman, RHP, Cubs 18. Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians 19. Gavin Floyd, RHP,
Phillies 20. Jeremy Guthrie, RHP, Indians
Lots
of interesting names way, way down the list. Alberto Callaspo ANA at No.
239, David DeJesus KC No. 212, as examples.
Matthew
Pouliot, RotoWorld.com,
marches on with his position-by-position reports. Among the first sackers
for 2004, the young guns get little notice. Lyle Overbay MIL, at
No. 25, is listed as one of the "under-rated: types :
"
... he'll get a second chance in Milwaukee ... good thing about being a member
of the Brewers is that he should no longer have to look over his shoulder after
an 0-for-4 game ... upside is rather limited ... It's not like he was
overmatched last year, batting .276 with a 767 OPS in 254 at-bats. Now that he's
in his second year, a .290-.300 average should be expected. He's not going to
hit more than 15-18 homers, but since he will deliver plenty of doubles, he
could drive in 90 runs."
Among
the over-rated, is Adam LaRoche ATL :
"
... will deliver outstanding defense and mix in the occasional homer. He
just shouldn't be counted on to hit like an average first baseman as a rookie.
That may come with time, but since he has just a half season of Triple-A play
(with an 826 OPS) under his belt, he's due for a lengthy period of adjustment.
NL-only leaguers would be better off taking a chance on Overbay or Hee Seop Choi."
Close
to official ... Drew Henson to football :
"
... Henson has agreed to leave the New York Yankees to pursue a career in the
NFL. Henson's agent, Casey Close, told the Yankees the third baseman is quitting
after three mediocre seasons in the minor leagues, a baseball official said
Monday on the condition he not be identified. Henson will forfeit the $12
million he is owed from the contract he agreed to with the Yankees in 2001, the
official said. The NFL's Houston Texans, who hold the quarterback's rights,
announced Monday that Henson would work out with the team on Feb. 12 in a
showcase for the other 31 NFL franchises." (Associated Press)
02 February, 2004
Winter
ball playoffs ... Caribbean World Series ... once a Blue Jays prospect, Robert
Perez the hero of the opening game :
"
... Perez hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th
inning Sunday to lead Venezuela over Puerto Rico 7-6 in the opener of the
Caribbean Series. Luis Ordaz opened the 10th with a single off Justin
Lehr. After Magglio Ordonez struck out, Alex Cabrera
doubled and Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked to load the
bases. Perez, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth, followed with a line drive
off the left-field wall. On Monday, Venezuela plays Mexico while Puerto Rico
faces the Dominican Republic." (Associated Press)
Seth
Trachtman, CREATiVESPORTS, with a choice of aces --- lefty/righty -- atop the
Dodgers' Top 10. Seth went with Greg Miller at No. 1 :
"
... one of the best pitching prospects in the game and arguably has the highest
ceiling of any prospect in the game. The 2002 first round pick out of high
school throws in the mid-90s with a nasty curve and slider. While his control
still has room for improvement, it is very good. He had a 2.49 ERA and 111/41
K/BB ratio in 115.2 innings of Low-A followed by an ERA near 1.00 in High-A. If
he stays healthy, the sky is the limit."
Edwin
Jackson was the runnerup, with centrefielder Franklin Gutierrez No. 3 :
"
... as much pure power as anyone in the low minors. He also runs well and
is especially valuable since he plays center field. The 20-year-old hit
.282-20-68 with 17 steals in Low-A last season and held his own upon a short
call-up to Double-A. His only weakness is a very predictable one. Gutierrez has
poor plate discipline, represented by a 39/111 BB/K ratio in Low-A last season.
The potential is there for him to be a superstar if he gains better recognition
of the strike zone."
JJ
Davis may be on the way out in PIT :
"
... When last season ended, it was generally assumed rookie J.J. Davis would at
least platoon in right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004. However, with
spring training less than a month away, Davis' name is almost never mentioned by
the Pirates' brass. Though he is out of minor-league options and would have to
pass through waivers if the Pirates tried to drop him from the 40-man roster, it
is clear Davis has fallen out of favor. The Pirates are not happy Davis left the
Zulia club in the Venezuelan Winter League in December after playing in just 15
games. That came after Davis begged off playing for the United States team in
the Olympic qualifying tournament in November because of a strained hamstring.
"There were some at bats there we would have liked for him to have had to
get better prepared for spring training," Pirates GM Dave Littlefield said.
"It's a big year for him with the options situations. We'll see how it
goes."
Meanwhile,
another Pirate who went the other direction ... playing when the club wanted him
to rest, is in the good books :
"
... Meanwhile, left-hander Oliver Perez and center fielder Tike Redman
solidified their roster spots with good winter ball seasons. Perez was 2-1 with
a 2.37 ERA in 30 1/3 innings for Culiacan in Mexico while Redman hit .313 with
two homers and 15 RBIs in 54 games for Zulia, which was managed by Pirates bench
coach Pete Mackanin. The Pirates did not want Perez to pitch winter ball.
However, he was under enormous pressure to compete in his home country. "We
understand the pressures involved and, fortunately, it looked like at our
minicamp that Oliver wasn't any worse for the wear." (Beaver
County Times)
Drew
Henson ... close, it seems, to a break from baseball :
"
... Henson could be released from his contract within days, allowing him
to begin planning for a future as an NFL quarterback. Henson could reach an
agreement with the Yankees as soon as Monday night to settle up on the $12
million he's guaranteed over the next three years so he can pursue NFL offers
... Houston, which is happy with David Carr as its quarterback, drafted Henson
with the idea of signing and trading him. The Texans hold his rights until the
'04 draft in April. The early list of potential NFL trade suitors includes
Buffalo, Dallas, Green Bay, Miami, Pittsburgh and -- a surprise entry -- Kansas
City. Henson is planning on an invitation-only football workout for
mid-February." (ESPN.com)
