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Around SBN: Are The Orioles Bad Or Unlucky With Their Young Pitching?

Sickels' Ranger top 20 coming soon

John Sickels has a post up with his upcoming schedule, and the Rangers are second on the list, right after the Rockies.

So it sounds like his Ranger list will be coming out at the end of this coming week.

 

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Cool

A post telling us about a post telling us about a post. Thanks Adam.

LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

by LSBUser on Dec 13, 2008 10:53 AM CST reply actions  

Edit button!

This would have made a fine addition to the AM things… especially considering we have no AM things today.

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions  

it's nice to think how

it’s nice to see this list and think that among Feliz, Holland, Perez, and Main that only Main and Feliz were ranked in the top 20 last year. It make me wonder with such a deep system this year, who will be the next Holland that comes from nowhere, if we’re lucky enough to have another Holland type performance from a prospect.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 13, 2008 11:58 AM CST up reply actions  

Heh

I don’t think there will be another Holland for a few years.

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

i know things are slow

but this probably could have been added to the general morning post. still, thanks for the heads up. after seeing the grades he gave the A’s farm, I would be surprised to see any Rangers get an A grade, and in reality, I think Feliz, Holland, and Smoak all deserve them.

For Anderson, Cahill, and Tommy Hanson to all get B+ grades, it makes me wonder what the hell a prospect has to do to get an A.

by clark on Dec 13, 2008 10:58 AM CST reply actions  

Be Elite

He essentially cuts off the very top of the prospect world and reserves A grades for them. None of our prospects are the elite quite yet. Feliz would be if his secondary stuff was better, but in reality it’s not.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 13, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions  

Sickels is kind of like the anti-MJH

He takes pride in being (as he terms it) “a very tough grader” so seeing low grades from him just doesn’t surprise me anymore than MJH hyping up Whittleman or something.

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 11:01 AM CST up reply actions  

they have to be

Weiters
Price
Lars Andersson
Heyward
Snider
Moustakas
Hosmer

by Longhorn on Dec 13, 2008 11:06 AM CST up reply actions  

We had some discussion in October, when Jamey posted a top-20, on what folks think Sickels might do.

Link to discussion.

The range of B- or better prospects was 13-16, with a few folks thinking at least one A-. I could see as many as 18, but I bet he’ll just not want to do that many and will settle on 14 with Feliz and Smoak getting A-.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Dec 13, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions  

I didn't see it...

…until after I did the morning post.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions  

Uh-huh...sure.

You’re just chain-yankin’, and you know it.

:)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 13, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions  

i get the feeling

that SIckels really likes HOlland, he could get an A-

by blalock84 on Dec 13, 2008 8:55 PM CST up reply actions  

+1

hopefully soon nobody will post at all so we can simply stew in our bitterness, GET OFF MY GODDAM LAWN!

by bushe on Dec 13, 2008 11:02 AM CST up reply actions  

stop!

+1’s arn’t “in” right now.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 13, 2008 11:04 AM CST up reply actions   1 recs

+1

Oh wait…

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 11:05 AM CST up reply actions  

HEH

"The Gerald Laird trade is a GREAT SUCCESS! Who'd we get for him again?"

Tom Hicks

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 13, 2008 11:29 AM CST up reply actions  

Seriously

What the fuck is up will all this hand wringing over posting etiquette? For starters, this is Adam’s site, and he can do whatever he wants. Also, there are no negative comments on Fan Posts not even related to the game of baseball. I don’t give a flying fuck about college football, NFL, NBA, or whatever. This is a baseball website. Yeah, redundant posts about rumors at the GM meetings seem to be excessive, but at least it is about baseball. And if this comment is dragging up an old argument, then feel free to delete it.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Dec 13, 2008 11:06 AM CST up reply actions  

Some people enjoy discussing other sports

with baseball minds.

Is there a problem with that?

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 11:50 AM CST up reply actions  

to be fair

the guy who RUNS this blog hasn’t been hating on anything from what I’ve seen…

by Longhorn on Dec 13, 2008 11:07 AM CST up reply actions  

i never hate on the friday afternoon posts

and i have put of my share of speculation driven fanposts, but this was pretty unnecessary as a stand alone post, especially coming about fifteen minutes after an empty morning post. you are right, it’s Adam’s site so he can do what he want, but this does push the more pertinent posts down on the page. and it isn’t like dirk came on here and threatened to kill him and 19 blind orphans.

by clark on Dec 13, 2008 11:09 AM CST up reply actions  

+1

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions  

Feliz

Sickels has the A’s with no A prospects but 15 at B- or higher. I think Felix is an A with the Rangers having 14 at B- or higher. From his midseason review…

12) Neftali Feliz, RHP, Grade B-
Massive breakthrough season, 2.52 ERA with 106/28 K/BB in 82 innings in the Midwest League, then 3.56 ERA and 35/17 K/BB in 30 innings after skipping High-A and moving to Double-A. One of the best pitching prospects in baseball.

http://tinyurl.com/58htha

http://www.minorleagueball.com/

Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year

by RangerMad on Dec 13, 2008 11:10 AM CST reply actions  

i would love to see

sickels give Feliz an A after not giving any of the big A’s pitchers an A. that site would melt down.

by clark on Dec 13, 2008 11:12 AM CST up reply actions  

One

The number of pitching prospects that have received an “A” thus far

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 13, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

I got 15 at B- or higher.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by octoberty on Dec 13, 2008 11:57 AM CST up reply actions  

I think he gets an A-

I wouldn’t be surprised by a B+, but my money is on Sickels buying into his combination of talent and performance.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 13, 2008 12:05 PM CST up reply actions  

I bet someone a drink

That Smoak wouldn’t get an A- or better, and I still don’t think he will, but I don’t remember who I bet…where are you?

I’m intrested to see what he does with Beltre. Sickels seems pretty stubborn once he evaluates a guy. He also seems to overrate the guys that he drafts in his Twins shadow draft but maybe thats just me.

by groundingout on Dec 13, 2008 11:21 AM CST reply actions  

Beltre

Between C+ and B-

I think he’ll probably give him a B- since he showed some raw numbers this year, and the 31 steals help. 2 things working against him are obv the K/BB and how far away he is. Neither grade would surprise me, but Engel took some steps forward this year so I doubt he leaves him at C

I think Smoak is the most likely guy in our system to get an A-

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 13, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions  

I'd be very surprised

if Sickels gives Beltre a B-. He went against the grain on him last winter, and his point that he needed to see more pretty much played out. I don’t know why he’d concede now.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 13, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions  

So you're thinking C+

right? I can’t see him not upping the grade at all, considering a .210 batting average was one of the things he harped on. I’m not on the Beltr-ain as much as many others, I like seeing numbers since I very rarely get a chance to see a stud play down here in Austin, but after staring at his line for ~11.3 hours this winter I definitely feel he showed improvement this year. I mean, the guy struck out less than once a game!! Just kidding. Kinda.

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 13, 2008 12:18 PM CST up reply actions  

He’s a prospect, sure, but he is a LONG way away, and in my system that makes him a C+ type until the numbers start living up to the hype.

I think the numbers started living up to the hype this year.. I’d be he is a B-.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by octoberty on Dec 13, 2008 5:21 PM CST up reply actions  

numbers

which one lived up to the hype? The 711 OPS? or was it the 7:1 K to BB ratio?

by bushe on Dec 13, 2008 8:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Being 3 to 4 years younger than the average player

and belonging.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by octoberty on Dec 13, 2008 9:25 PM CST up reply actions  

99% sure it was me

The A’s list has me nervous about A’s :)

by bushe on Dec 13, 2008 8:17 PM CST up reply actions  

Ya, after looking at the old link

that Rooster posted, it was you, and ya, looking at other top 20’s, not seeing many grade A’s given out.

by groundingout on Dec 13, 2008 9:50 PM CST up reply actions  

Rangeless Rangers Compound Pitching Problems

Fangraphs has an interesting post about some of the defensive problems we’ve discussed.

Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.

by tricer on Dec 13, 2008 11:39 AM CST reply actions  

Here is something for you guys to think about today

Dont know if it was posted,

Tom Haudricourt has heard that Ben Sheets is more likely to sign with the Rangers, who have Mike Maddux campaigning for them, than the Yankees.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Dec 13, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions  

Promising note

but who is their prime competition for Sheets? It wasn’t only the Yankees.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 13, 2008 12:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Sickels Quote
Is Derek Holland as good as I think he is?

Discussion post up on his site for the Rangers.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 13, 2008 12:00 PM CST reply actions  

I predict

A-
Holland
Smoak
B+
Teagarden (may be tricky and make him an A-, he really likes him…)
Feliz (slightly too much uncertainty for Sickels)
Andrus
Main
B
Borbon (Mayberry got a B last year, and Borbon is at least as good a prospect now)
MaxRam
Beavan
Perez (Discounts risk a lot)
B-
N Ramirez
Boscan
Poveda (he had him as a B last year! )

Hurley, Beltre, and Kiker all get C+’s

by JBImaknee on Dec 13, 2008 12:58 PM CST reply actions  

Teagarden

I don’t think he’s an A- by any means. Sickels likes him a lot, but there’s no justification on the hitting side of things to make him one of the best dozen or so prospects in baseball.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 13, 2008 1:01 PM CST up reply actions  

Not sure where the link is

But Sickel’s did a top 100 list for I think baseballprospectus or whatever site he works for, and he said it was based on different criteria than what his book will be based on (still not sure what that means unless it was used for fantasy purposes), at any rate though he had Feliz as the 2nd best pitching prospect, behind only Price.

by groundingout on Dec 13, 2008 2:26 PM CST up reply actions  

i think he did it for rotoworld and it was a top 100 prospects from a fantasy perspective

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 13, 2008 3:28 PM CST up reply actions  

no

only fanposts/shots

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 13, 2008 1:00 PM CST up reply actions  

SBN needs to impliment

The system they have on the new BBTiA, where you have a 14-minute window in which to edit your comment after you post it.

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 8:24 PM CST up reply actions  

+1

" He throws it where he wants it, his breaking ball kept getting better and better and of course God gave him that special arm. He's great." ~ Neftali Feliz on Derek Holland.

by Kinslerhomer on Dec 13, 2008 9:39 PM CST up reply actions  

Nah. Cause sometimes the conversations here fly so fast it'd look crazy.

I’d say something dumb and then you’d ownership me with your baseball jesus-ness and then I’d feel so shamed that I’d go back and change my comment to make it look like I hadn’t said the dumb thing and then ten minutes later someone would log in and try to follow our conversation and his brain would explode.

If you say something dumb/wrong, just reply to it with a comment acknowledging the dumbness/wrongness.

Or, shit. Just proof read the shit out of your shit.

The preview button is your homeboy.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 14, 2008 3:02 AM CST up reply actions  

Preview button

Only problem with that is, it never gets used in those fast and furious-flying conversations.

I’m probably one of the worst culprits, too. About the only time I use it is when I’m posting an image, to make sure I got the image encoded right.

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 14, 2008 3:21 AM CST up reply actions  

I use it. It helps cut the horrible dumb as hellness of my posts in half.

If you don’t care enough to proof read, why would you care enough to go back and edit at all?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 14, 2008 4:39 AM CST up reply actions  

Well, for some reason

My brain needs to see a finished product before it analyzes it enough to edit it thoroughly. When I’m looking at a preview I have a tendancy to skim it too quickly and miss things, and since I’m usually too lazy to force myself to do otherwise. So I guess I hit preview more than I think, I just don’t take a very good look at it unless I’m quoting or saying something important.

What’s wierd is I do proofread myself while I’m typing – I’ll notice a word or a line that I typed three sentances ago, stop in the middle of my latest sentance and go fix it, usually balling up the sentance/thought I was typing up instead. That’s why you’ll see repetitive words/thoughts in the middle of my comments sometimes.

But anyway, the point is for some reason I’m just not very critical of stuff until I see an actual finished product – upon which I’ll reread it a couple times and instantly think of about 5 different mistakes or ways I could have improved it. That’s why the edit button issue with fanposts has become a pet peeve of mine, because I usually edit the shit out of my fanposts in the minutes after I initally post them, tweaking typos and phrases.

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 14, 2008 5:07 AM CST up reply actions  

The Powers That Be...

…have made the conscious decision that there is not to be edit capabilities on comments.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 14, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions  

That's interesting

Would it be bad for ad revenue / business? Serious question.

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 11:58 AM CST up reply actions  

Apparently...

…there were problems at DK with people editing their comments to change some of the more egregious mistakes after other commenters had disagreed with them, which made the entire thread then not make any sense.

So the decision was made to eliminate editing capabilities so those problems won’t exist.

There is a big belief in maintaining thread integrity. That was the main reason I was given for not having an “Ignore” feature…that if you had that, then threads might not make sense because you wouldn’t be able to see the original posts of hte ignored poster that other people were commenting on.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 14, 2008 12:03 PM CST up reply actions  

Wow, thanks

I’m pleasantly surprised that they prioritize thread integrity that much. Despite the enormous utility of an ignore feature, I could see how threads easily dissolve into a message board wasteland.

What is your stance?

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 12:13 PM CST up reply actions  

Don't care about changing the edit policy

I’d like an ignore function. But I was told that if that many users want to ignore someone (or someones), then I should be banning them.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 14, 2008 12:48 PM CST up reply actions  

Then can we PLEASE get rid of Steal Home's latest incarnation?

"I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

by LSJ on Dec 14, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions  

He gave Andrus a B+ last year. It’d be a tough sell to say he didn’t improve on that.

Not that I expect him to, I think B+ is a pretty fair grade for Elvis in Sickles’ system. But his chops’ll get busted a bit.

Wonder if ole’ Shedder will make it in his top 20.

by Keynes on Dec 13, 2008 1:03 PM CST reply actions  

Shed

He was #13 on the Phillies’ list for 2009, and Sickels was really down on his approach. I mean really, really down. So I don’t think he makes our top 20.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 13, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions  

Hurley

Sickels has shown bullishness on him in the past, so it’ll be interesting to see how far he drops if he does.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 13, 2008 1:43 PM CST reply actions  

KoK says

Hurley gets a Z-

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 13, 2008 2:15 PM CST up reply actions  

KoK says

You #$&*&@#, don’t you even mention his *&$# name!!!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 13, 2008 2:47 PM CST up reply actions  

New LSB 2.0 majics?

#small @#$&*&#

normal test

Haha, it works.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 13, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions  

Teach me! Teach me!

This is an exciting time in my life.

The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 11:59 AM CST up reply actions  

Perhaps,

at a later date :p

Just play around with random characters…you’ll prolly invent something else new!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 14, 2008 12:42 PM CST up reply actions  

  • okay
  • "My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
    ‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
    So I’m not going to say anything at all.
    Is my mother the greatest or what?"
    - Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

    by octoberty on Dec 14, 2008 2:35 PM CST up reply actions  

    Winner!

    This is an exciting time in my life.

    The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.

    by inactive lsb user on Dec 14, 2008 2:40 PM CST up reply actions  

    Awesome!

    "My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
    ‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
    So I’m not going to say anything at all.
    Is my mother the greatest or what?"
    - Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

    by octoberty on Dec 14, 2008 2:50 PM CST up reply actions  

    I still need instructions on how to do this.

    "I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

    by LSJ on Dec 14, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions  

    KoK ranks Hurley

    in our prospect rankings at #666.

    G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

    by t ball on Dec 13, 2008 3:12 PM CST up reply actions  

    exactly

    Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
    KG: Oh yeah.
    Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

    by knockoutking on Dec 13, 2008 3:28 PM CST up reply actions  

    You should look into doing stand-up.

    Seriously.

    meet me at the mawwl... it's goin dowwn...

    by oc on Dec 13, 2008 3:42 PM CST up reply actions  

    +1

    "I´d like to apologize in advance for anything that I may say or do that could be construed as offensive as I slowly go NUTS."

    by LSJ on Dec 13, 2008 8:25 PM CST up reply actions  

    I sit

    when I post.

    G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

    by t ball on Dec 13, 2008 10:40 PM CST up reply actions  

    i bet he gives hurley a C or a C+

    Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
    KG: Oh yeah.
    Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

    by knockoutking on Dec 13, 2008 3:29 PM CST up reply actions  

    and i bet ppl are suprised whose above him

    Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
    KG: Oh yeah.
    Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

    by knockoutking on Dec 13, 2008 3:29 PM CST up reply actions  

    who's

    in that usage.

    G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

    by t ball on Dec 13, 2008 10:41 PM CST up reply actions  

    i bet people are suprised who sickles ranks above hurley

    Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
    KG: Oh yeah.
    Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

    by knockoutking on Dec 14, 2008 1:59 AM CST up reply actions  

    I guess

     it speaks to the depth of the Ranger’s system if they can have what is regarded as the best system in baseball; without any “A” level prospects. However, I believe at least one of our top 4 cracks the “A” barrier.

    by BHill on Dec 13, 2008 3:45 PM CST reply actions  

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