|
(Some of the prognosticators of the day
-- PP&S = Prospects, P and Suspects; FB =
Fastball, BA = Baseball America; BBHQ = Shandler's Baseball
Headquarters; BBW = Baseball Weekly; IFR - Iowa Farm Report; TSN = The
Sporting News; MEMLR = Montreal Expos Minor League Reporter)
01 January, 2001
A new year ... same concerns about a couple of
one-time super prospects -- Matt White and Bobby Seay of
TB. Jim Callis of Baseball America :
" ... Both of those guys have been
disappointments after getting multimillion-dollar bonuses. They pitched OK in
2000, but still have some work to do in Triple-A. I could see them both reaching
Tampa Bay in late 2001 or early 2002, but I don't think either will be an impact
pitcher."
On Antonio Perez SEA :
" ... He led a high Class A in slugging
percentage as a teenager. I'd say that was an explosion. The Hangar helped him,
but he's a legit prospect. He won't make anyone forget about A-Rod, but he could
become one of the game's better shortstops."
Juan
Cruz CHN :
" ... Cruz is the best pitching prospect many
people have never heard of. He has filthy stuff and was unhittable in the second
half of 2000."
Danys
Baez
SP, CLE :
" ... struggled so much against big-league hitters in spring training
that he began the year with Class A Kinston. A reliever in Cuba, the 23-year-old
was slow to adapt to a starting role, going 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA over nine starts
before being promoted to Akron. There he improved his arm strength and posted a
3.68 ERA in 18 starts. Overall he finished the season 6-11 with a 4.02 ERA and
133 strikeouts in 152 1/3 innings. The 6-4 Baez relies on a mid-90s fastball and
a plus curveball."
The previous week, BBW took a look at the AL East.
Keith Reed OF BAL was among the prospects :
" ...outstanding power and great speed. His much-improved strike zone
discipline has placed him on the fast track. The right-handed hitter finished
second in the organization with 19 homers and 90 RBI this past season. Reed has
polished up his stiff swing and now recognizes offspeed pitches. The lean, 6-4
outfielder has made strides in the field as well and shows a strong arm and
great range."
And,
Wily Mo Pena CF, NYA :
" ... After Pena made a stellar pro debut, a knee injury cut short
his 2000 season. Pena had a rough start at Class A Greensboro, hitting below
.200 over the first two months and striking out in one-third of his plate
appearances. The 6- 2, 215-pounder picked up the pace when he was sent down to
Staten Island, hitting .301 until the injury. A natural center fielder, Pena has
tremendous raw power, excellent arm strength, and average speed and range. He
must learn the strike zone and cut down his swing to make more consistent
contact."
02 January, 2001
Some additional reviews from the BBW series. Ah, now you know why BAL gave
up on Ryan Minor -- Tripper Johnson, 3B:
" ... 18-year-old Johnson, a supplemental
first-round pick in the 2000 draft, was one of the top power-hitting high school
prospects ... reached base by a hit or walk in his first 18 games in the Gulf
Coast League ... strong, physical player who's worked hard to develop his upper
body, the 6- 1, 195-pounder has decent bat speed with a slight uppercut
... A tough, aggressive competitor, Johnson has the skills to play third
base throughout his professional career."
BAL actually has a SP prospect too -- Richard
Stahl :
" ... the 18th overall selection in the 1999
draft, went 5-6 with a 3.34 ERA in his first full pro season at Delmarva. The
6-7, 185-pounder lost his first two starts, but the 19-year-old followed that by
pitching 17 consecutive scoreless innings, going 2-0 and yielding just four hits
while striking out 23 ... has a loose, quick arm and projects a high upside with
a fastball that tops out at 97 mph and a curveball he consistently throws for
strikes."
04 January, 2001
TeamOne's David Rawnsley thinks KC has a
"solid core" of young talent. It's a hat trick for Chris
George -- #1 on all three of the prospect lists to date. Dee Brown
has dipped to #3 on the KC list (Rawnsley's report reminds me of an 'ol country
ball wail "get the suitcase momma they're startin' to throw the curve
ball.")
" ... Based on my own observations, Brown has
superior bat speed and has a sound hitting approach, especially in his
willingness to drive the ball to left center field. If I were a pitcher the
absolute last thing I would do is try to blow a fastball past Brown ...
But Brown is consistently tied up on breaking balls and looks honestly offended
and confused when savvy AAA pitchers throw him 2-0/3-1 breaking balls. I think
this is the all important adjustment he will have to make before he is able to
take full advantage of his natural ability ... It's secondary, but I thought
Brown had made significant improvement in left field between what his reputation
on defense had been and what I saw in the field. He showed quickness in getting
to balls (he's a solid average runner underway) and threw accurately."
06 January, 2001
Another
Furcal? BA finally hits the NL with
a look at the prospects on ATL and 2000 trouble-maker Wilson Betemit is
at the top of the list. Bill Ballew's analysis :
" ... What’s not to like? Betemit is a
20-year-old switch-hitter who plays a premier position, has outstanding size and
has produced every time he has taken the field. He has incredible range and
soft, quick hands that make him an ideal candidate for shortstop or third base
... has plus power that is expected to increase significantly as his body
continues to mature. "
07 January, 2001
John SIckels, ESPN puts Jon Rauch atop
the CHA prospect chart.
" ... He's 6-11, throws 95 mph, throws strikes,
and went 16-4 with an excellent K/BB ratio in 2000. Sounds like an awesome
prospect to me."
Joe Borchard
checks in at #5 " ...
did well in limited action after signing, and could be as little as a year away.
He could be similar to J.D. Drew, with less speed and more power."
Some quickies from James Bailey of BA.
Xavier Nady
SD : " ... I could see Nady moving pretty darn
quickly. In fact, I'll be surprised if he's not in the big leagues by the end of
2001. And there's no reason to think he can't handle an outfield corner,
especially given what passes as a corner outfielder these days."
09 January, 200
And, what did KC get for Damon? Angel
Berroa? The 6th ranked OAK prospect, according to BA.
" ... Berroa’s potential as a shortstop is
still his calling card. He has tremendous range, an outstanding arm and an
innate sense of how to catch the ball. He also has good pop for a middle
infielder, can hit for average and runs well ... has much to learn. He
ranked third in the minors with 54 errors last season, most the result of
overaggressiveness. He could use patience at the plate as well, as his inability
to draw a walk stands out in an organization that emphasizes that skill."
11 January, 2001
Seems it wasn't that long ago when the MON prospect
stable was among the elite of MLB. Today's list in BA is a far cry from
the golden days. SP Donnie Bridges tops the list and analyst Michael
Levesque isn't exactly overwhelmed :
" ... Though he has the stuff to blow
hitters away, his ability to throw with command and purpose to both sides of the
plate may be more impressive ... made huge strides in the control department
last year, but still needs to continue to improve the command of his changeup,
which he has a habit of overthrowing at times. Like most young pitchers, he
needs to be more consistent from start to start. Pitching more than 200 innings
at age 21 isn’t the best way to prepare for a long career ... projects to be
an innings eater at the front of a rotation."
Shorstop Brandon Phillips is the #2 pick :
" ... a high-ceiling middle infielder with a
live, athletic body. He’s an above-average shortstop with soft hands, solid
range, plus arm strength and superior lateral movement. He’s a line-drive
hitter with plenty of bat speed. He projects to hit with above-average power for
his position."
13 January, 2001
Matt White
is back on the charts, at least on
John Sickels' TB list at ESPN. #5 among the TB prospects :
" ... Finally started to live up to the hype,
finishing the year with 3-2, 2.83 mark in six Triple-A starts. Throws in the
mid-90s, has a good curve, and showed more confidence last year."
Of course, the #1 is Josh Hamilton :
" ... If Oscar Charleston was the "black
Ty Cobb," then Josh Hamilton is the "white Corey Patterson."
Hamilton is fast, strong, and basically does everything on the field, except
draw walks. If his strike zone judgment doesn't get out of hand, he will be a
star."
22 January, 2001
In looking at the SF system, Jonathan Mayo
has come up with a couple of underpublicized prospects :
Jerome
Williams " ... on the verge of busting out. Last year,
he quietly dominated the Cal League as one of the circuit's youngest starters.
The teen-age righty consistently peppers the catcher's mitt with mid-90 mph
fastballs, but his offspeed/breaking offerings are surprisingly advanced for his
age as well. He's still a couple years away from making an impact, but his
ceiling is as high as they come."
Lance Niekro " ... a potent bat. The former Cape Cod League MVP won the
short-season Class-A Northwest League batting title last summer in his pro
debut, hitting at a gaudy .362 clip. Given his bloodlines, the 22-year-old third
baseman demonstrates a poised approach that belies his youth, which should help
him ease into the upper levels of the chain."
Matthew
Leach, in his ARZ review,
shows great optimism in discussing John Patterson :
" ... shelved last year after
undergoing Tommy John surgery. Expected to return to the form that
helped him punch out more than 10 batters per nine innings over the
course of his career, Patterson spent the entire season rehabilitating
in the club's Tucson facility. When healthy, his fastball rated with the
best, showing good life and mid-90s velocity with a power
curveball."
Alex
Cintron appears to be in line
to take over at shortstop :
" ... emerged last year at the age
of 21 in Double-A. The switch-hitting shortstop practices excellent bat
control, fanning just 56 times in 522 at-bats. An aggressive offensive
player, he rarely takes a pitch either, drawing just 29 walks. At
6-foot-2, 180 pounds, he is an athletic shortstop with the range and an
arm for the position."
23 January, 2001
Over at MLB, there's a look at the OAK and
SEA systems.
SEA's Willie Bloomquist doesn't have Encarnacion's tools, but he'll
likely make the majors a lot sooner than the OAK OF :
" ... Less than a year after signing as a
third-round pick, Bloomquist emerged as one of Lou Piniella's favorites in
Spring Training ... went on to tear apart California League pitching to the tune
of .379 before leapfrogging Double-A and spending the rest of his first full
season in the Pacific Coast League. Even after getting overmatched in Triple-A
(.225), Bloomquist has put himself in line for at least a utility job in the
near future -- and possibly Seattle's second baseman of the future.
On the charts, with a bullet, Antonio Perez :
" ... blossomed in the Class A California
League during his first year in the Mariners' system. He didn't turn 19 until
late in the summer, but that didn't stop him from ripping a career-best 36
doubles and 17 bombs -- and neither did an injury that limited him to just 395
at bats. He had shown some flashes of brilliance in 1999 for the Reds, but he's
now on the verge of breaking into an elite class of prospects. A dynamic player,
Perez is on the fast track to filling the void left by Alex Rodriguez'
departure.
Chris Snelling :
" ... as an 18-year-old, the 5-foot-10,
165-pounder batted .305 in the Midwest League. He's a spark plug-type center
fielder with an aptitude for getting on base. He hasn't had the bat knocked out
of his hands despite his youth, and he actually generates promising power to the
alleys.
25 January, 2001
Pitching prospect Bobby Bradley is #1 in PIT
according to John SIckels at ESPN:
" ... Posted awesome 118/21 K/BB ratio, but
limited to 83 innings by elbow injury. 95-mph fastball, excellent curve, and
great control make him a top prospect if healthy.
Catcher JR House is #2, with a warning :
" ... Superb bat speed and adequate strike zone
judgment make him offensive force. Still a risk he will play college football,
however."
PIT's 1st round pick, Sean Burnett,
looks to move quickly. Already he's the #3 prospect:
" ... is a very polished left-handed pitcher
who should move through the system much faster than most high school products.
His fastball is a tick above average, but his breaking stuff and changeup are
very good, and he knows what he is doing."
Over at MLB, Josh Boyd can barely contain his
enthusiasm over MIL's Ben Sheets:
" ... Sheets deals a filthy arsenal that
features a low-to-mid 90s fastball, hard-breaking 12-to-6 curveball and
changeup. The confident right-hander is considered a future ace after striking
out 119 between Double-A and Triple-A last year."
Now, how about Nick Neugebauer ?
" ... Armed with an intimidating power
repertoire, the righty's bulldog mentality compliments the mix perfectly.
Despite Neugebauer's command woes, the Brewers have taken an aggressive approach
with him. He reached Double-A before his 20th birthday. His slider can be
untouchable at times, too, and he was leading all Class-A pitchers with a 13.62
K/9 IP ratio, while surrendering only five hits per nine before his promotion.
Once he learns to harness his unearthly raw stuff, he has the potential to
dominate as a closer or at the front of a rotation."
On the Cubbies, Josh Sipkin has Juan
Cruz on the list :
" ... Cruz's prospect star began to shine
brightly only last season, but the Cubs feel the fireballing right-hander can
rise to the cream of the crop as he develops ... He bulked up his lively
mid-90s fastball, sharpened his breaking stuff and is now being compared to
Pedro Martinez after permitting only 105 hits in 140 1/3 innings at two Class-A
stops. His command and offspeed offerings still need further refining before
joining the elite class of pitching prospects -- two things he'll get to work on
this year in the Florida State League."
27 January, 2001
John Sickels, ESPN, tackles the PHI prospect
list, which means a word about Jimmy Rollins, #1 :
" ... Fast, athletic, makes contact, good with
the glove. Hit .274 with 11 triples, 12 homers, 49 walks, 24 steals in Triple-A
at age 21. Will not dominate, but a good steady player."
And, for curious Eric Valent owners, he's
PHI's # 3 prospect :
" ... Hit 22 homers, drew 70 walks in
Double-A at age 23. A bit streaky, but solid power and discipline. Should be
ready in '02."
Sickels has a warning on #2 guy, Brett Myers
:
" ... 13-7, 3.18, 140 K in 175 IP in the
Sally League, at age 19. Hits 93 mph, has a great curve. Word of Caution: his
workload was very heavy last year."
And, Chase Utley :
" ... an advanced college player. He
is a pure hitter, but many teams questioned his defense; he draws comparisons to
Rockies second baseman Todd Walker with both bat and glove. Utley should move
fast, and if his glove is OK, he will challenge Marlon Anderson within two
years."
29 January, 2001
Trying to pick some gems from the BBW NL West
review. Long-term possibility at SS? Alex Cintron ARZ :
" ... 22-year-old placed ninth in the Texas
League with a .301 average and fourth with 157 hits. He hit just four home runs
but added 30 doubles ... the league's toughest batter to strike out last
season ... At 6- 2, 180 pounds, Cintron has the range, arm strength and
hands to play shortstop. However, his 32 errors were the second-most by any
Texas Leaguer at that position last season."
Jody Gerut COL looks promising, but
don't expect a lot of power :
" ... 23-year-old ... ranked third in
the Southern League with 76 walks and a .405 on-base percentage. Gerut had 11
homers in 1999 but just three last season. Some of his power was sapped from a
season-long case of patellar tendinitis in his right knee ... had
surgery in the offseason to correct the problem. Gerut has an excellent
understanding of the strike zone, collecting more walks (137) than strikeouts
(119) in his first two seasons. Gerut has impressed the organization with his
intelligence and ability to make adjustments quickly. In the outfield, the 6-0
190-pounder has a solid arm, good range and has made just 11 errors in his first
242 games."
Plus, a SP who stands a chance to make the SF
rotation this spring, Kurt Ainsworth :
" ... 22-year-old went 10-9 with a 3.30 ERA
for Double-A Shreveport this past season ... placed fourth in the league
in opponent batting average (.233) and third in strikeouts (130). The 6-4,
185-pounder throws his fastball in the mid-90s, has an excellent slider and a
projectable changeup. The fiery Ainsworth has a free and easy motion and an
advanced feel for pitching. He dominated international batters in the Olympics
to cap his season."
30 January, 2001
MLB's Josh Boyd has the KC system on
tap. Again, Chris George looks like the best of the bunch :
" ... has emerged as the top pitching
prospect in a system littered with promising arms ... has been a model of
consistency since coming out of the Texas prep ranks. George didn't turn 21
until after last season, by which time he already had eight Triple-A starts
under his belt. Comparisons to Tom Glavine aside, George mixes a low-90s
fastball with an outstanding changeup, slider and curveball. He has the stuff
and makeup to get to the front of the rotation with a few more years of
experience under his belt. He may get his first taste this year, but remember
not even Glavine adjusted over night."
Also gaining mention is Angel Berroa, the
shortstop KC obtained in the Damon trade:
" ... immediately becomes the top young
shortstop in the organization. As a teenager in the advanced Class-A California
League, he exhibited exciting all-around potential, as Miguel Tejada and Jose
Ortiz had done before him. The Dominican native is rough around the edges, and
still a few years down the road from making an impact."
02 February, 2001
Josh Boyd,
at MLB, Adam Johnson
in MIN this year? :
" ... firmly established himself as a
fast-tracker after the Twins used the second-overall pick in last June's draft
on him. The Cal State Fullerton All-American showcased a better-than-advertised
arsenal in fanning 92 in 69 innings during his pro debut in the advanced Class-A
Florida State League. Overmatched FSL opponents were only able to manage a .186
average against his powerful array of stuff that is made up of a low-to-mid-90s
heater, sharp slider and change. Johnson ended his season by compiling 22.2
consecutive scoreless innings and three times the righthander struck out 12 or
more in a start. On the heels of his overwhelming debut performance, Johnson
could skyrocket up the ladder to the Twin Cities by the end of the 2001
season."
05 February, 2001
Looking to fill a specific position? From
the Spring Training 100, here are the top three by position:
C -- House
J.R., Christianson Ryan, Inge Brandon
1B -- Pena Carlos, Johnson Nick, Choi HeeSeop
2B -- Ortiz Jose, Giles Marcus, Ginter Keith
3B -- Burroughs Sean, Crede Joe, Pujols Albert
SS -- Soriano Alfonso, Perez Antonio, Lopez
Felipe
OF -- Hamilton Josh, Patterson Corey, Suzuki
Ichiro
SP -- Sheets Ben, Anderson Ryan, Smith Bud
08 February, 2001
TeamOne is back, with the Expos on tap.
Some interesting people here, as they are more likely to be available (hidden as
the Expos are, from any intense media coverage). David Rawnsley
suggests that SP Donnie Bridges is a " thoroughbred on the
way and might even get a September call-up. The Expos feel he can be their ace
or #2 pitcher before long."
" ... a strong, physically mature
pitchers with a full array of quality pitches. He throws a low 90's fastball,
good power curveball and change up. Probably the most impressive thing about
Bridges, though, is his combination of pitchability and durability ... Overall,
Bridges threw 201 innings, an average of close to 7 innings per start ...
"Bulldog" isn't a term used for pitchers much anymore, but Bridges
might be a candidate."
Anup
Sinha provides a look at SS Brandon
Phillips :
" ... All his actions are leathery smooth and
his hands are both quick and soft. Phillips has almost average MLB shortstop
arm-strength right now, he just needs to hit his target better. He has shown the
ability to throw off-balance and finish off the most difficult plays. Though the
defensive skills are the most attractive part of his package, Phillips has
potential with the bat as well. He struggled with contact in his second year as
a pro (97 Ks to 38 BBs, .242-11-72), but hit for a lot more pop ...
has some line-drive power already. Phillips runs very well and should steal
25-30 a year ... plays the game with a flair and joy that is contagious.
The Expos plan to move him up to high single-A Jupiter and allow him to smoothen
out. But they see a potential all-star shortstop if he continues to
develop."
10 February, 2001
Tom Haudricourt,
at BA, has a couple of
potential aces to choose from as he reviews the MIL system. Ben Sheets,
of course, tops the list with Nick Neugebauer at #2 :
" ... Simply put, a blazing fastball. When he
rears back, Neugebauer can approach 100 mph ... has a nasty slider that
makes him nearly unhittable when he gets it over the plate. Neugebauer continues
to work on a changeup ... has overcome the wildness by allowing few hits and
striking out hitters. He has worked hard on his mechanics and release point and
must continue to do so. Control is all that’s holding him back."
#3 on the BA chart is OF David Krynzel
:
" ... Speed is Krynzel’s calling
card, but he also is a good defensive player who has all of the tools except
power. As he fills out, the Brewers believe he’ll develop more pop at the
plate ... needs to develop more strength, but he has the frame to do so.
He’ll need to make more consistent contact to be an effective leadoff man
... Though Krynzel missed the second half of the Rookie-level Pioneer
League season with a thumb injury, managers named him the circuit’s No. 1
prospect."
13 February, 2001
Can you afford to miss out on the next
Piazza? BA's John Perrotto in his PIT review takes a shine to JR
House :
" ... outstanding hitter, House has
been called a young Mike Piazza by some for his ability to hit for both average
and power as a catcher ... catching skills are still raw but he showed
improvement in all areas last season. House’s arm is considered just average,
though his accuracy was better in 2000 ... unlikely he ever will be a Gold
Glove catcher. With Jason Kendall signed through 2007 and holding a no-trade
clause, House’s future probably doesn’t lie behind the plate with the
Pirates. He has played first base, and the Pirates might try him at third base
or one of the corner outfield spots."
Behind House on the PIT rookie chart is SP Bobby
Bradley :
" ... has extraordinary control, shown by
his 149-25 strikeout-walk ratio in 114 pro innings ... two nasty
curveballs thrown from different arm angles ... doesn’t light up radar
guns but his fastball has good life ... elbow problems are cause for at
least mild concern ... While Bradley has adapted quickly to pro ball, the
Pirates will try to avoid rushing him. Yet he could be in the majors by the 2002
season and have the chance to be a top-of-the-rotation starter."
17 February, 2001
Adam Katz
at MLBtalk has some gems in
reviewing the PIT and KC systems :
Mike MacDougal " ... one of
hardest throwers in baseball, consistently hitting the high-90s with his heater,
and he also features an above-average slider and change. His one problem is his
shaky command ... If he can improve his control, he could be a
top-of-the-rotation starter."
Jimmy
Gobble " ...
underrated lefty had a 3.66 ERA at low-A as a teenager with just 34 walks in 145
innings, which is very impressive. Very similar to George in that he throws in
the low-90s with good control and has a good change-up."
J.R. House " ... No one
expected him to have a season like he did in 2000, though, when he was the South
Atlantic League MVP despite missing a month. He hit .348 with 23 homers, 90 RBI
and a 1.000 OPS and could probably make the jump to Double-A. He'll be moved to
first base eventually, but House likes it at catcher and much to the Pirates'
dismay, he's been talking with West Virginia about a college football
career."
Bobby
Bradley " ... One of my
favorite prospects and one of the best in the game (I ranked him as the #9
prospect overall), Bradley had his season cut in half by an injury, but it was
quite a half. He struck out 118 and walked just 21 in 82.2 innings at age 19,
dominating the league with a low-90s fastball, perhaps the best curveball in the
minors and a solid change-up to go with awesome control ... He's got the
stuff to be an ace, and I'm confident that he'll be an All-Star by age 24."
20 February, 2001
Yet another shortstop on the horizon. BA's Mark
Gonzales selects Alex Cintron for the top of the Arizona
prospect chart.
" ... a capable switch-hitter who has batted
better than .300 in each of the past two seasons and was among the batting
leaders in Puerto Rico this winter. He’s tall for a shortstop, yet possesses
exceptional range at a demanding position. Durability isn’t a question, as he
has played a total 253 games over the past two seasons. He also has a tremendous
desire to learn and improve ... no masking Cintron’s 32 errors last
summer ... comparisons to Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter are premature
because Cintron has hit just 10 professional homers in four years ... on-base
percentages have been mediocre because he rarely walks."
21 February, 2001
TeamOne has completed its team-by-team prospect
reviews, with the SF posting. I hope it's not too long before they update their
Top 100.
Kurt Ainsworth
is David Rawnsley's
top pick of the SF prospects. But, a year in AAA might be in his future :
" ... has been pure fast track. He pitched
in the Cal League playoffs his first summer, then moved straight to AA ... and
onto the Olympic team ... pitches in the low 90's with his fastball and
throws an above average slider and change up. He has a very mature approach to
pitching, despite his relative lack of experience, and just has to fine tune his
command of the strike zone to become a successful big league pitcher. With the
Giants all of a sudden experiencing a glut of big league starting pitching, San
Francisco may be able to pull Ainsworth off the fast track for a full year of
AAA seasoning."
Third baseman Tony Torcato, the #3
pick behind teenager Jerome Williams, gets a very positive review :
" ... He has hit since his debut in rookie
ball and was among the leaders in multiple offensive categories in the
California League ... as a 20 year old ... continued to hit during a
late season promotion to AA. Giants officials say that Torcato has a sweet a
swing as any young player they have ever seen. Ironically, in the comparison to
Burroughs, the only thing that Torcato hasn't done offensively is show over the
fence power. But like Burroughs, Torcato has demonstrated plenty of doubles
power that should blossom as he gets older and stronger, plus Torcato has the
advanced plate discipline and ability to make selective contact that is also
usually a precursor to power potential in a young hitter."
22 February, 2001
It's Tracy Ringolsby of BA with the COL
prospect report, which places a pitcher at the top of the chart. Chin-Hui
Tsao gets the nod as #1 in COL :
" ... a legitimate power pitcher... a
fastball that is consistently in the 93-94 mph range, a hard slider, curveball
and a changeup. His fastball, slider and curve already are quality big league
pitches. The fastball has good sinking action and he’ll pitch inside. And he
does throw strikes. He walked only 40 batters, although hitting five, in 145
innings ... has the ability to be a quality No. 1 starter in the big leagues. He
could be pushed to Double-A Carolina in 2001 but more likely will go to high
Class A Salem."
Down at the #8 spot, another potential star, Shawn
Chacon :
" ... power-pitcher potential. He has a
solid 94 mph fastball and hard slider, which have allowed him to consistently
rack up strikeouts. He’s a tough competitor who doesn’t back down to hitters
... Whether Chacon winds up a starter or reliever will depend on how well he
develops a changeup. Right now it’s a raw pitch, though he does throw it with
decent action. He needs to get on the mound and get experience after pitching
just 128 innings combined in 1998-99. "
04 March, 2001
BA's chat room with Jim Callis produced a few
nuggets ....
Jody Gerut " ... never
projected as much of a power hitter. I think he's more of a 15-homer guy, even
in Coors Field, and he doesn't have the tools to play a quality center
field."
Bobby Hill " ... I think Bobby
Hill very well could be their leadoff man and second baseman in 2002."
Kevin Mench " ... I think
Mench could be ready at some point in 2002 and I like him a lot. Then again,
Greer is a very productive left fielder. I guess Tom Hicks has so much money
that it doesn't really matter. If Mench is better than Greer, they'll just
jettison Greer."
Ben Diggins " ... I don't
think he's really close ... has tremendous stuff. My guess is you'll see
him in Dodger Stadium after the all-star break in 2003."
Mark Buehrle " ... I think
he's the most major league-ready of their young pitchers and could be effective
as a starter if used in that role. Don't be surprised if that happens sometime
this year."
Mike MacDougal " ... Combine
velocity with life, and MacDougal might have the filthiest fastball in the
minors. He just needs to harness his stuff to throw it for strikes."
Jon Rauch " ... I think he'll
do more for the Sox in the majors this year than either Garland or Wells will
.... He has a great potential to dominate."
09 March, 2001
John Manuel
of BA offered a few tidbits in
BA's chat room :
2001 draft,
MarkTeixeira/Mark Prior
" ... This is just me, but Teixeira would definitely rank in my Top 5. I
think he's Sean Burrough's near equal as a hitter and he's got a lot more power,
both now and in the future, plus he switch-hits. If he can play third base, and
everyone says he can, he's a better prospect. Prior probably compares pretty
favorably to Ben Sheets and would be in my Top 10 as well, though he doesn't
have Sheets' Olympic experience. Sheets was our No. 5, I think Prior's upside is
higher but he's maybe a year away from being a big leaguer."
Rating, Zito, Prior, Adam Johnson
" ... . I'd go Prior, Zito, then Johnson. Zito's quite polished, but I
don't think anyone thinks of him as a No. 1 starter. Of course, he's been
undersold all his life, so I'm probably wrong, but Prior looks, talks, pitches
and acts like a No. 1 starter. Johnson has some makeup questions that make me
rank him third here, though his stuff is nasty."
Ed Rogers BAL over-rated?
" ... Yes."
Joe Borchard " ...
always been a big Joe Borchard fan. I think he's a switch-hitting prototypical
right fielder, and the White Sox agree and also think he can play center field.
If he can play CF, he's basically a switch-hitting Larry Walker in center field,
and to me, that's pretty freaking good. I think he'll be a .300 hitter with
25-35 HRs, and he's got a big arm. In other words, yeah, I think Borchard's a
top 10 guy."
John Sickels, ESPN, on Vernon
Wells :
" ... The most frequent comparison for Wells
is a young Ron Gant. Wells struggled in Triple-A in 2000, but he's still just
22. I'm quite confident that he will emerge as a very good player, and probably
a star. The Blue Jays seem to agree. They call him a Five Tool player. I prefer
the term Seven Skills, but to each his own methodology."
Peter Gammons, ESPN, on Wilson
Betemit :
" ... If you want to see the future, go
check out Atlanta's 20-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop Wilson Betemit.
"He's going to be a career No. 3 hitter," says Merv Rettenmund.
"He wouldn't embarrass himself in the big leagues right now." Betemit
batted .331 in the New York-Penn League last summer, but is now up to 175 pounds
on his 6-2 frame and has the bat, the hands and the arm of a star. Problem is,
there's already a 20-year-old star shortstop in Atlanta named Rafael Furcal.
Nice problem to have."
13 March, 2001
Some notes from the trenches ... TeamOne's Anup
Sinha on Felipe Lopez :
" ... I was able to see Lopez play against
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays "B" club ... and his defense was as acrobatic
as ever. Though he's generously listed at 6-1, 175, he is not nearly as physical
as Gonzalez at 6-0, 200, but has the same kind of gold glove-caliber balance,
agility, and arm-strength. More revealing of his potential is that from both
sides of the plate, Lopez has very short and tension-free swings. He skipped
high single-A to play for double-A Tennessee last summer, hitting a less than
spectacular .257-9-41, with 110 strikeouts. His hitting actions promise more to
come, and I could compare him to, say, a young Damion Easley at the plate; short
swing, solid contact, but more of a singles hitter for now. ... Easley had
a short, smooth swing the whole way through, but just got a lot stronger and
learned to turn on the ball as he matured. Lopez, of course, has even better
defensive tools and will not be moved to second without extenuating
circumstances."
Josh Hamilton Low-A to the majors ?
" ... One veteran scout I spoke to stressed
to me that Hamilton was a special talent whom he thought would be uniquely
capable of such a jump. Should the Rays not take him to Tropicana, Hamilton
would likely play for double-A Orlando, potentially highlighting an all-prospect
outfield including Kenny Kelly and Carl Crawford. For Hamilton, and Crawford for
that matter, this would be a move akin to the Cubs skipping high single-A with
super-prospect outfielder Corey Patterson last year. That is a lot to ask on its
own, and though Patterson's prospectus has hardly dimmed, he had his share of
struggles adjusting to double-A pitching last summer."
18 March, 2001
James Bailey in the BA chat room ...
Juan Cruz " ...
I'd expect Cruz sometime in 2002. He's been compared to Pedro Martinez, but
that's not really fair to Cruz, because that sets the bar awful high. The Cubs
see him as a potential staff ace, though."
Bobby Hill " ... I'd
expect Hill in Wrigley by next year at the latest. There's not a lot in his way
right now. Eric Young had a nice year last year, but he's getting up there in
age. And shortstop has been a bit of a black hole there lately."
Jon Rauch/CC Sabathia
" ... . I like Rauch a little better than Sabathia, but I'd be happy with
either one of them. I think they avoid the Ankiel hype because they're not quite
in his class and he had the spotlight on him from the start last year. Rauch and
Sabathia probably could both benefit by more time in the minors and if they slip
in in the middle of the year they can do so a little more quietly than if they
break camp with the big team."
Kurt Ainsworth " ...
Ainsworth isn't far away and I don't think San Francisco will keep him in the
minors once he's ready to contribute. He's been passed in the system
ceiling-wise by Jerome Williams and eventually those two should stack up as the
Nos. 1-2 starters in that rotation, if they stay healthy."
Wily Mo Pena " ... is only 19,
so he's got time to improve, but he has no concept of the strike zone right now.
He's hitting in the minor leagues like Rivera did in the majors. It's fun to see
a young kid with his kind of tools, but if he doesn't start turning them into
results this year I think you can forecast a Rivera-like big league career for
him."
Antonio Perez " ....
Perez is a year away, and no one is a sure thing when they haven't hit Double-A
yet. He's got a lot of talent, though, and there's no reason to expect him to
fail other than the fact that not every hot prospect fulfills his
potential."
Kevin Mench " ...
Mench should be ready late this year. Of course, there doesn't appear to be an
opening for him at this point. Still, things change unexpectedly. With an injury
to an outfielder or either Rafael Palmeiro or Andres Galarraga, a spot opens up.
And considering the Rangers dearth of pitching, if they can't fit Mench into
their lineup, they might use him to acquire a pitcher."
03 April, 2001
TeamOne's Anup Sinha is providing
some updated views of minor league prospects, including BAL's Richard Stahl:
" ... The scary thing about Stahl is that he
really doesn't seem to be using his leverage advantages, yet, and there is
probably a lot more velocity to come from him. Stahl spins off the rubber and
doesn't have the super-synchronized lower body action to maximize his throwing.
These are things the Orioles pitching coaches will be working on. There might be
a consistent 95 MPH arm in there."
And Dane Sardinha CIN :
" ... looked very impressive defensively. He
seems to have lost some weight from the fall and can really charge out of his
crouch and throw down to second. The question that the Reds have is if he will
hit. Sardinha has a decent swing-path, but isn't real loose and doesn't show a
lot of bat-speed. But there is definitely a potential to improve. He was playing
with their high Single-A Mudville club on Monday, leading me to believe that as
where he will go to start 2001."
PIT's dynamic duo, Bobby Bradley
and JR House, look to start the season in AA:
Bradley : " ... is exceptionally polished for a 20 year-old to
the point that I think he could get to the majors on very average stuff. The
fact that he has one of the best curveballs in the game and a change-up that is
not far away makes him that much more impressive. Bradley isn't a pure power
pitcher, but throws with about average velocity (89-91 MPH) and can get lively
two-seam running-and-sinking action on his fastball.
I honestly believe that Bradley could pitch in
the big leagues right now. I don't think the Pirates should rush him, but I
think if he had to, he could be in their rotation and win games today. Bradley
has a chance to be very special."
House : " ... it's hard not to like
his bat, but I'm not nearly as certain that he is a future major league starter
as a lot of scouts are. He will hit, but I don't know that he'll be a major
league middle-of-the-order guy. I see him as a line-drive hitter who'll lose
balls on occasion, but don't see the type of raw power, bat-speed, or extension
that his single-A numbers might imply. At least not yet, maybe he'll convince me
in 2001 or 2002."
04 April, 2001
Planning ahead for the June/July
supplemental? Mark Prior could be your guy. At BA, Tracy Ringolsby
suggests Prior could be one of the best ever pitchers to come out of the
draft. He's now a junior at USC and should be either the #1 or #2 pick
this June.
" ... The question isn’t whether Prior’s
the best pitcher in college this year, but is he the best ever? He’s as smooth
as Floyd Bannister and has big league stuff right now ... could step into a big
league rotation as a No. 3 or 4 starter immediately, with the ability to become
a top-of-the-rotation guy before long."
21 April, 2001
BA's Will Lingo in the chat room .... Juan
Cruz CHN the best pitching prospect"
" ... with the start Cruz is off to
(something like 28 strikeouts in 17 Double-A innings) your argument is getting
stronger. With the players ahead of him either graduating to the majors or
getting hurt, you might just be right."
Justin Morneau MIN " ... I do
think he can be an impact hitter in the big leagues. The thing that's probably
helping him the most is finally giving up on catching. He will be much better as
a first baseman and could move quickly through the system."
Beau Hale BAL " ... He was No.
6 in the Orioles' top 10 without throwing a professional pitch, so we definitely
liked him. He could be No. 1 by next year. What's better than his stuff is his
makeup and durability. But keep an eye on his workload. He had some high pitch
counts in college, so you have to watch out for arm problems."
Antonio Perez SEA " ... came
to spring training a little out of shape and had a hairline fracture in his
wrist. He's expected to join Double-A San Antonio soon after a rehab stint in
extended spring training."
28 April, 2001
Gary Reed at About.com already has a Top
20 for the FSL. More "unknowns" to pick from.
Ryan Madson SP PHI is the #1
" ... As a 19-year-old in the SAL--his first full season as a pro--Ryan
Madson racked up 123 Ks in 135.2 innings, allowing just 113 hits. At
Piedmont in 2000, Madson improved upon his BB/K ratio tremendously from the year
earlier at short-season Batavia."
Hank Blalock 3B TEX is #3
" ... Despite turning 20 last November, Blalock has already drawn favorable
comparisons to George Brett. As a 19-year-old in the Sally League, Blalock
posted an .801 OPS and led Savannah in on-base percentage AND slugging, and was
tied for the Sand Gnats' team lead in stolen bases (31). "
Gary also has an in-depth look at SEA C Ryan
Christianson and has posted his first two weekly minor league reviews.
TSN's review of catchers ... Dane Sardinha
CIN " ... One Reds front office veteran was in a spring meeting during
which the defensive skills of catcher Dane Sardinha were being analyzed. At one
point, he looked at Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and said, "Does that remind
you of anybody?" The 6-0, 215-pound Sardinha, 22, is considered to be
advanced enough defensively to already be playing in the majors if they used
designated catchers. Breaking balls regularly find the holes in his swing, and
Cincinnati almost expects him to be overmatched this season in the high-Class A
California League"
29 April, 2001
Just in case you've missed the hype on the young
Canadian who's been tearing up the minors ... he's on TSN's latest insert -- AL
first baseman.
Justin Morneau " ... a 6-4, 205-pound
power-hitting lefthanded batter. He batted .402 with 10 homers and 58 RBIs in 52
games in 2000 for the half-season Gulf Coast Twins. In his first 16 games this
season at Class A Quad City, Morneau is batting .426 with six doubles, four
homers and 22 RBIs. He has struck out only seven times in 61 at bats. Morneau
will continue to catch some when his elbow is healthy enough, but he's likely to
make it to the majors as a first baseman who has the ability to be a No. 3
catcher ... won't turn 20 until May 15. He could be playing in the majors before
he reaches his 23rd birthday."
30 April, 2001
Gary Reed,
About.com, on Dennis Tankersley
:
" ... Saw Tankersley for the first time
tonight, against a potent Mudville offense (Ben Broussard, Dane Sardinha, Josh
Spoerl and Rainier Olmedo lead the charge for the Nine). Tankersley began today
as the Cal League leader with a 0.40 ERA. Throwing 6 1/3rd innings of scoreless
ball, Tankersley lowered that ERA down to 0.31. In 28 2/3rds innings this year,
Tankersley has allowed just one earned run. Proving he is indeed human, he
allowed three walks tonight--in his previous 22 1/3rd innings in 2001, he had
yet to surrender a base-on-balls. Tankersley allowed 3 hits, while striking out
7, and picked up the win to improve his record to 3-1. Cal League batters are
hitting .175 against him so far in 2001."
05 May, 2001
TSN has moved on, in their prospects by position
series, to AL "power pitchers". Among those mentioned, Adam
Johnson MIN " ... Twins officials prefer to look past the righthander's
0-4 record and 4.82 ERA at Class AA New Britain. These are the numbers that
matter most to the Twins: nine walks and 41 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings
... The 6-2, 210-pounder relies on a fastball that hits 93 mph and also
throws a curveball, slider and changeup. Johnson relies on his fastball to set
up his other pitches, but needs to gain more command of his off-speed stuff to
advance to the majors."
And, Jovanny Cedeno TEX " ... Cedeno
began the year with a 26-6 record and 2.22 ERA in four professional seasons. But
like many power prospects, health is a concern. He missed the last bit of spring
training with a viral infection in his lungs and was brought along slowly after
that. When he did appear for Class A Charlotte, he was dominant, but he
developed shoulder tightness after just three appearances. The Rangers brought
him all the way to Dallas to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. John Conway.
The diagnosis was a strained labrum, which did not require surgery. The Rangers
are optimistic Cedeno will be back on the mound by the end of the month."
09 May, 2001
TSN's latest minor league installment has their
picks as the top power pitchers in the NL. A few unfamiliar names
too. How about:
" ... The Giants are absolutely giddy about
a 17-year-old find from the Dominican Republic named Francisco Liriano,
whom they signed when he was 16. Liriano is a 6-2 lefthander who can throw 98
mph. Unfortunately, at his young age, he throws hard in every possible
direction. He is many years away from reaching the majors and in fact hasn't
been introduced into the farm system yet."
17 May, 2001
TSN has its preview of the top 2B prospects in
the NL. It's not a deep crop. Chase Utley PHI is one of the
premium players:
" ... Utley is considered a top offensive
prospect at a position that has become increasingly oriented toward run
production. A lefthanded batter, he has prototypical pull power that should
emerge even more as he develops physically ... opened the 2001 season at
Class A Clearwater, where he is hitting .273 and ranks among the Florida State
League leaders in home runs (6) and RBIs (22). He needs to work on his judgment
of the strike zone -- he has 26 strikeouts in 139 at-bats and only nine walks.
He is 7-for-10 on stolen base attempts. Utley is a fast-track player who could
be major-league ready by 2003 if he develops defensively."
09 June, 2001
John Sickels, ESPN on the top two picks in
the draft:
" ... Joe Mauer ... is an
excellent athlete with a strong arm, but also has plus power from the left side
and is very polished for a high school hitter from a northern cold-weather state
... Historically, high school catching is quite risky; prep backstops
drafted in the first round have failure rates even higher than high school
pitchers. Mauer may be an exception, or at least the Twins hope so. He makes
superb contact to go with his power, a good sign for the future."
" ... Mark Prior ... may be the
best college pitcher in history. He throws very hard, but also knows how to
change speeds and attack hitters, both inside and on the corners. He has the
intellect, polish, and overall stuff to step right into a major-league rotation
according to many scouts. His numbers at USC are ridiculous: 14-1, 1.50 ERA,
189/17 K/BB ratio in 132 innings ... If Prior stays healthy, it's hard to see
how he will fail. His mechanics are clean and he keeps himself in top physical
condition, so the odds are in his favor."
TSN on KC's Colt Griffin :
" ... has only pitched one season for
Marshall (Texas) High, but he shot the lights out of scouts' radar guns with
fastballs that reached 100 mph. The Royals made him the ninth pick of the draft
and general manager Allard Baird says he can become a legitimate No. 1 starter.
Griffin, 18, also throws a slider, changeup and a marginal curveball. He had an
8-2 record and one save with a 1.64 ERA in 12 games. As might be expected, his
strikeout total was high -- 123 in 66 innings, an average of 16.8 strikeouts per
nine innings, and allowed just 22 hits with 43 walks. Director of scouting Deric
Ladnier says Griffin is the hardest-throwing high school pitcher he's ever
seen."
30 June, 2001
And, some notes on MIN phenom Canadian Justin
Morneau from The News-Press (Glenn Miller) :
" ... Fort Myers Miracle manager Jose Marzan
couldn’t suppress a grin. He was talking about his new first baseman, Justin
Morneau, and the grin seemed a permanent part of his expression.
“Justin Morneau hits the ball like a man,”
Marzan said. “I think that pretty much sums him up.”
In his brief career, Morneau has indeed hit.
Several weeks after turning 18 in 1999, Morneau began his career in the Gulf
Coast League and hit .302 in 17 games. He played 52 games in the GCL last year
and hit .402 with 10 homers and 58 RBI.
He started this year with the Quad City River
Bandits of the Midwest League. He left there with a league-leading .356 average
and .597 slugging percentage. He also hit 12 homers in 64 games. No Miracle
player has more than four homers.
In his first seven games in the Florida State
League, Morneau is hitting .385. “Some of the things he does you marvel at,”
Miracle hitting instructor Ricardo Ingram said.
Morneau is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of
British Columbia and a third-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 1999 draft
... While Marzan and Ingram are talkative about their new first baseman, Morneau
isn’t as voluble. Before a game earlier this week, he chatted but seemed shy
talking about himself ... Marzan and Ingram expect Morneau to be a power
hitter. “He’s got some big-time power,” Ingram said. “He has
major-league power. It’s just a matter of him learning.” ... “This
kid is some kind of hitter,” Marzan said. “I expect some really good things
from him.”
02 July, 2001
John
Sickels, ESPN, on Brandon Duckworth
PHI :
"Well, the basic problem for Duckworth is the
fact that he doesn't have a blazing fastball. Or at least he didn't when he
signed.
He's pitching great this year: 9-2, 2.70 in 15
Triple-A starts, with an excellent 104/25 K/BB ratio. When he signed as a free
agent out of Cal State Fullerton, he threw just 87 mph. But over the last two
years, his velocity has increased. He can hit 94 mph at times now, but pitches
comfortably at 90. Since his other pitches are sharp, and his control is
excellent, he's mastered the high minors. I think he's a fine prospect, but he
still has to fight his reputation as a "soft tosser," even though he
doesn't quite deserve it anymore.
Personally, I think Duckworth is going to do
quite well over the next few years. He's past the injury gauntlet that pitchers
must run in their early 20s, and he's proven he can handle every other level of
professional ball. His control is great, he's got enough stuff to make it, and
there are no holes in his numbers."
15 July, 2001
Eric-Paul Johnson & Kevin Pearson
of The Press-Enterprise on
Rafael Soriano SEA (Cal League
player of the month for June) :
" ...
Soriano, who was promoted to Class AA
San Antonio on June 27, made five starts and was 4-0 with a 0.99 earned run
average and 42 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings. He became the first and only
pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games in the Cal League this season.
Before his promotion, Soriano was 6-3 with a 2.53 ERA and 98 strikeouts and
was twice honored as the league's pitcher of the week."
And,
Chris Snelling
SEA Cal POW :
" ...
Snelling, hit .429 (12 for 28) over seven games, putting him above
the .300 mark for the first time since late April. He had six runs batted in,
four runs scored and three stolen bases.
Through Wednesday, Snelling was batting .308 with 62 runs scored, 48 RBI and
12 stolen bases. He leads the league in times hit by a pitch (15) and is tied
for third in the league in triples with seven."
22 July, 2001
Josh Boyd, Baseball America on Rafael
Soriano SEA :
" ... Mariners farm director Benny Looper
told me that Soriano is a future No.1 or 2 starter in the big leagues. It's not
hard to see how the club came to that conclusion either. The converted
outfielder throws 95-96 mph with a devastating slider and developing changeup.
He's refined his mechanics and is continuing to dominate after a promotion to
Double-A."
Boyd on Boof Bonser SF :
" ... He was considered a raw talent on the
mound coming into this season, and is quickly answering any doubts about his
stuff and more importantly his stamina. After a slow start in Hagerstown, where
he was monitored closely, Bonser has been unleashed on the league and nearly
untouchable. IF he avoids injuries and continues to progress and improve, he and
Jerome Williams could give the Giants a nice duo in their rotation by 2004. But
both are very young."
23 July, 2001
Peter Gammons, ESPN on Chris
George KC :
" ... Royals GM Allard Baird wisely and
kindly has held back left-handed pitcher Chris George, who has 10 wins in
Triple-A and could easily be right in the middle-to-top of the Kansas City
rotation. Baird doesn't want George cursed with the burden of being the club's
saviour. But while George is often compared to Tom Glavine, what surprised
everyone at the Futures Game was that he was hitting 94 on the gun.
"He's one of those rare guys who signed as a
pitchable left-hander," says one GM, "and his velocity has jumped.
George can pitch like Glavine, but he throws 94."
John
Sickels, ESPN on Rafael Soriano SEA :
" ... Soriano has made three starts since
getting promoted to San Antonio, and has done very well. He has a 20/5 K/BB
ratio in 19 innings, allowing just 13 hits and six runs. Before promotion, he
was 6-3, 2.53 at Class A San Bernadino, with 98 strikeouts in 89 innings,
allowing a mere 49 hits.
Absolutely, Soriano has what it takes to make it
in the majors. If he does well the rest of this year in Double-A, he could get a
September call-up. As you point out, his control can waiver, and I wouldn't
expect him to seriously compete for a major-league job until 2003. A converted
infielder, Soriano has made major strides learning to throw his 95 mph fastball
and hard slider for strikes. The Mariners would be wise not to rush him, and I
don't think they will.
29 July, 2001
David Paschall in the Chattanooga Times
Free Press on Ben Broussard CIN :
" ... Broussard's rise to Double-A
prominence hasn't come without glitches, however. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound
left-hander began this season back in Single-A at Mudville in Northern
California.
"He got a big wakeup call coming out of
spring," Lookouts manager Phillip Wellman said. "His defense wasn't
bad, but it didn't seem to be a priority. They told him to take it more
seriously and put in more time. Now he's probably the hardest worker on the team
in that area." ... "He's come a
long way with his bat, and he's come a longer way defensively," Wellman
said. "He's gotten to pitches this season that he used not to get to. The
power has always been there."
Brian VanderBeek in the Modesto Bee on Freddie
Bynum OAK :
" ... (Modesto manager Greg) Sparks believes
the move from shortstop to second base removed a lot of the pressure and helped
Bynum's overall game. The move wasn't a response to Bynum's shortcomings at the
position, but reflected the arrival of veteran shortstop Caonabo Cosme in
Modesto (Cosme was promoted to Double-A Midland on Tuesday) and the subsequent
signing of another shortstop, 2001 first-rounder Bobby Crosby.
"I think the move from short to second
slowed the game down a little bit for him," Sparks said. "He has the
time to set himself and make throws. I still think he has the tools to play
short, and he may eventually move back over there."
But for now, the A's have the luxury of a second
baseman with the range of a shortstop. And since Miguel Tejada just might be
Oakland's shortstop for the next 12 years, second base isn't a bad place for
Bynum to develop."
Rookies 2001 Page Two
|
