Something on Moscoso

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 2:56 AM CST Comment 102 comments

I don't know that this was great value, but I'm honestly a little excited that we're getting this guy. I think he's better than people realize, and I think, although he's obviously a different style of pitcher, he has a bit of Masterson in him, in that, one way or another, I think he can help your pitching staff. His stuff is solid, despite what a few reports have suggested, and I'm really not sure why so many are hung up on his age. He didn't even pitch in America until he was 21, and from 2007 to 2008 he's moved from GCL to AA and pitched quite well at each stop, primarily as a starter.

Anyway, remember Kevin Goldstein's post a few months ago about his simple formula to judge dominance in pitching prospects - and more specifically, the ability to miss bats?

Just to review, here were his top five pitchers at missing bats last season:

1. Madison Bumgarner: +32 at Low-A (141.2-111-21-164); MBR: 0.23
2. Tommy Hanson: +23 at High-A (40-15-11-49); +3 at Double-A (98-70-41-114); MBR: 0.19,
3. Neftali Feliz: +23 at Low-A (82-55-28-106); -10 at Double-A (45.1-34-23-47); MBR: 0.10
4. Wilkins De La Rosa: +11 at Low-A (90.1-60-39-110); -2 at High-A (16.1-12-5-15); MBR: 0.08
5. Trevor Cahill: +21 at High-A (87.1-52-31-103); -10 at Double-A (37-24-19-33); MBR: 0.08

To summarize, the five best pitchers had MBR ratios ranging from from 0.23 to 0.08. Well, Moscoso only pitched 87 innings, so he was just shy of the 100 inning minimum that Goldstein set. But check him out:

Guillermo Moscoso (cumulative): +41, 0.47

He blew them away. He was basically the best pitcher in the minors last year at missing bats.

5 recs | Comment 102 comments

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Also

Jon Daniels needs to stop using the back end of the minor league roster of my sim team for targets. I can’t believe how many prospects he’s targeted are guys I’ve had (and we are talking about a 30 team league, so no watering down):

Max Ramirez
Engel Beltre
Elvis Andrus
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Neftali Feliz
Guillermo Moscoso
Armando Galarraga

He’s traded for about as many prospects off of my roster as ones who weren’t. Copy cat.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 2:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

is this published somewhere? maybe you're our general manager and you just don't know it

by phatjeremy on Dec 8, 2008 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And spursdynasty will like this

Baseball Cube’s scores for him this season:

Scouting Report
Control: 98
K-Rating: 97
Efficiency: 100

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That’s… awesome. I can’t wait to see what he does this year.
Is the ’09 season considered to be this year yet?

by hiafex on Dec 8, 2008 3:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

that definitely changes my perception… thanks for the clarification

you can’t go wrong with a dude who has the best ability in the minors to miss bats… another nice find by junior

by Baseball North on Dec 8, 2008 3:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Man...

this is like a Sharky diary. Only it makes sense. Can you respond to yourself a few more times?

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Dec 8, 2008 3:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know

I think I’m developing my first LSB pet peeve – which is when diary authors put stuff in the comment section that could’ve gone in the diary. The edit button is conveniently placed, folks.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 8, 2008 3:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

as I said, the comment about my sim team is something that I know that almost no one would be interested in, so I didn’t want to put it in the diary. Could have put the cube thing in there I guess, though.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yah

I’m not really targeting you specifically, I’m just saying – I keep seeing folks do similar things, and all I can think is “edit button, edit button”. Dunno why that bugs me (although it probably has something to do with the fact that I usually have to correct a lot of typos after I post, and therefore use the edit button a lot).

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 8, 2008 3:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hah

I had a miscellany of thoughts, but they didn’t really go together, so I just figured I’d put the other two as comments.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i do

that alot

by blalock84 on Dec 8, 2008 3:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Z, T-ball

where would you guys situate this kid in the system rankings? I’m thinking around 19ish….

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 8:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems fair

I might go a little more mid-teens, but yeah, in that range.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 9:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In our current rankings

I’d slot him about 15, just ahead of Kiker if I’m feeling optimistic about his health.

I’m kind of psyched about Melo, too. Yet another young Latin guy that seems promising. I’ll be interested to see what scouting tidbits trickle out over the next few days about him.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BA top 10 Chat said:

Carlos Melo, RHSP — He turned 17 during the DSL season and has an explosive fastball at 92-96 mph. He also has the makings of a good curveball and change.

by BHill on Dec 8, 2008 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap 92-96 from a 17 year old?

Thanks JD! What an awesome Christmas present.

by hiafex on Dec 8, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't

write that radar reading in stone. I don’t trust a radar reading until I see it multiple times from multiple unbiased sources.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DSL radar:

a plane crash waiting to happen

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stop putting coal in my stocking

Jerk

by hiafex on Dec 8, 2008 4:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cheer up

velo isn’t everything, and that reading may be accurate. I’d be even more excited if a report says he has a low to mid 90s FB with great movement.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cheer up even more

Durrett over at the DMN blog quotes a Tigers rep that he throws up to 96.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 5:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well... do you want the coal back?

I mean, I could use it to barbecue or something… Maybe I’ll donate it to a train station.

by hiafex on Dec 8, 2008 5:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Law has him 90-96

by groundingout on Dec 8, 2008 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thats a pretty wide range

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 8, 2008 8:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

his numbers look awesome

two things to ask about him though:
Does his fly ball tendecy scare you? He’s given up his fair share of homers, and thats definitely worrisome in our park. However the fact that he misses so many bats really helps him there.
Is he a starter or a reliever? I think he can be valueable either way, but obviously more valueable if he’s a good starter. His injuries make this real questionable. He seems to have the makeup to stay as a starter, and i think his stuff is probably alot better than some of the starters we’ve run out there over the years.

We’ll see, but i do agree, he’s certaintly being overlooked b/c of his age, otherwise we’d be whorshiping JD for this one. We’ll see if the age catches up to him, but like you said he really has pitched as much as a 21 yr old latin signing would have pitched by the time he reached AA or maybe even less. He’s been hurt for a whole year and out of states til 21.

I also really like the throw in JD got. A real young, raw arm that can bring it upwards of 90 at 17… You know one of these throw in guys JD keeps getting is gonna hit the lottery.

by blalock84 on Dec 8, 2008 3:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Fly balls: It scares me more in Arlington than it did in Detroit, that’s for sure.

And I don’t know if he’s a starter. I think that Detroit thought he might be a starter for them, though.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yea

i really think he’d be a starter for sure if it wasnt for the injury concerns. who knows though

by blalock84 on Dec 8, 2008 3:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of these throw-ins

I see that Detroit has quite a few players who are currently playing only in the DR. Does anyone have a link or a list of players the Rangers currently have under contract who are not in the states? Perhaps a list of just the most notable players who could possibly be projectable or considered future prospects?

by texaschief on Dec 8, 2008 4:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

question?

What sim league are you in now perryman?

by mi_nombre_es on Dec 8, 2008 3:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I’m in a couple of different ones, but the one I’m referring to, my favorite one, and the one I take most seriously is this one: http://www.ibcleague.com/portal.php

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is that a 14 and under keeper league?

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Dec 8, 2008 3:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Venezuelans only

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

man I remember the one you got me onto that suddenly died. I really enjoyed it though.

by mi_nombre_es on Dec 8, 2008 3:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You killed it!

That one above was the one I used to always go on about, btw.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol yeah I remember. If I was interested in joining, how would I go about that? Do I need to wait for a team to open up?

by mi_nombre_es on Dec 8, 2008 3:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I can mention you the next time there’s an opening. There actually hasn’t been one in about 15 months, though.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol that’s cool I’m not going anywhere. just let me know if one ever opens up.

by mi_nombre_es on Dec 8, 2008 3:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Will do

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 3:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

how do

holland, feliz, main, et al. do in the missed bats metric?

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 8, 2008 4:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Do the math

K’s minus baserunners, divided by innings pitched.

Feliz is already listed above, lazy reader.
Holland was +16, 0.11, which ranks right up there, so I’m not sure why he wasn’t ranked. Main didn’t have nearly enough innings, but he was +0 over 58.2 IP.

I haven’t looked at that rate for a lot of players, but it should tell us something that the best pitchers in the minors have rates that are just barely positive, and Goldstein says in his article that no major league ERA qualifier had a positive number this year (Lincecum was -1).

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 7:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

dont know how i missed that

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Dec 8, 2008 7:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

also

Moscoso pitched a perfect game in ’07. so, like buchholz, he meets that criteria.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 7:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

buchholz didnt pitch a perfect game

just merely a no-hitter

by dustinvandeman on Dec 8, 2008 8:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, now we can really tell Theo to kiss our ass then, eh?

Heh-heh.

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 8, 2008 8:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh crap

you’re right.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To Boston Fans

It was a perfect game…just don’t say it wasn’t in front of them

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 2:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't feel good about the Laird deal on paper.

This is genuine encouragement on Moscoso.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 8, 2008 8:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

if you just look at it on paper

Laird is a poor hitting catcher with good defensive skills. Lets not hold up Laird in too high of a regard.

Moscoso has a lot of movement on his pitches which is why he would lead this list of missed bats.
A catcher had to be dealt, now we can let Ramirez play in AAA and have Salty and TT in the majors. Or Salty in AAA with TT and Max sharing time. I would say you alternate catching and DH.

Also, why not turn this pitching prospect + blalock in an attempt to get Sanchez from the Giants. Still probably unlikely.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 8, 2008 9:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just think as well

Moscoso missed a full year because of TJ surgery, and now is just getting back on track. Saw a lot of Tiger fans hating this trade because they think Moscoso could be in the majors by the end of the season, and that they were selling low on him

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

after further review

not a bad trade. the catcher we held with the least value netted us two pitching prospects.

Based on what I am reading Moscoso may be ready to show up in the majors this year if not next. Now, i’m not sure if he’ll be a starter or reliever, but apparently he doesn’t like being a reliever. That happens with most starters.

Melo – does some1 have a scouting report on him other than he throws well over 90?

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 8, 2008 9:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

an addendum to the Detroit Free Press article

from last night says he throws at 93-96 (he won’t turn 18 until February!) with a developing curveball and change. That makes 2 more curveballers in the system with him and Moscoso.

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Anytime

someone touches 96 at 17 (Font got to 98, but whos counting) I’m intrigued. Couple that with even a mentioning of his other pitches and I’m on board.

by groundingout on Dec 8, 2008 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We should see him in rookie ball

next year so we will get a chance to hear a lot more about him sooner rather than later.

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I Wonder

Do we see him in Spokane like we saw with Boscan this year?

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 8, 2008 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't seem as advanced

especially when you compare their DSL numbers. Not that he wouldn’t go to Spokane, though.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i have a feeling

JD is going to sell him as being a huge key to this deal. While most will read this trade as Laird for a AA pitcher with potential and some 17 kid, I would bet the Rangers would view the two pitchers as pretty much equal in value.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Just from a quick snapshot analysis, I agree with you. However, if the kid comes into Spring Training and puts on a Font-like show, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in Spokane.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 8, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's pretty hard for me to

discount any 17-18 year old in Spokane after they decided to debut Perez there. He proved to be able to handle it and all, but at the time it was very surprising and seemed a little unnecessary.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree There

At the time, I thought that the assignment could do more harm than good for Perez. It did turn out on the good side, but I was really worried we were going to push him just a tad too much. The problem now is do the Rangers get overconfident in challenging kids with high assignments after a good 2008 in which they did it a good deal. I hope not, because with certain kids challenging them in that way could be detrimental to their development. But as I said before, I’m more confident with this front office than in the past, so I trust them.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 8, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That wasn't the first time they've done it

Kiker in 2006, Main in 2007, Perez and Boscan in 2008.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 8, 2008 12:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kiker and Main

Kiker and Main were both experienced US high school prospects. There’s a big difference between that and Latin American competition.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Dec 8, 2008 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

true

But I was more going on the high ceiling talented angle.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 8, 2008 12:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Besides being 17 rather than 18, he’d never even played in the DSL.

Also, Main, like Danks and Hurley, played in rookie ball first before getting a cameo late. Kiker is really the only comparable one.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i get that the kid had an amazing season last year

but it was in the minors and we also know his stuff is good not great (from scouting reports).

Point is I can’t put so much stock in the success of one shortened season. Definitely a good pickup but it’s not like we snagged a top tier pitching prospect

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 8, 2008 9:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I wouldn’t dispute that. As I said, while both arms are intriguing to some degree, I’m a little underwhelmed.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i read your assessment again up top. we share the exact same opinion about the trade.

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 8, 2008 9:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he barely cracked the top 10 of a bad Detroit system

Couple that with the shoulder issues, and…meh.

Nah, noob.

by Brian Thomas on Dec 8, 2008 10:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

I think he was underranked by a few spots.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The shoulder issue...

…is probably why he was at #10.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2008 10:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why is this kid pitching winter

ball his first year back after TJ surgery and missing the first 6 weeks of the season with soreness…mind-boggling

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

after TJ surgery

your arm is invincible. near bionic.

W: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

by hubcityraider on Dec 8, 2008 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice little bush quote

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Guys who have missed a lot of time often will pitch winter ball because of that fact…I know the AFL is often used for guys who missed time during the season due to injury.

He’s 25, and doesn’t have many innings under his belt…if he can’t stand up to pitching out of the pen a little down there, given how few innings he’s pitched, I think he’s going to have a hard time staying healthy anyway.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2008 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Needs to get his arm back in shape

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 2:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Melo...

I knew Moscoso was a secondary piece :)

I’m glad to see he’s got something really good going with his fastball. It makes me a little more patient in judging the deal, which I initially thought was way too little return.

The Rangers turned frankfranKKKK into a reliever and he exploded at AA. It will be very interesting to see if the Rangers keep him in the rotation. I would expect them to, even if it is to keep develop his arm strength and feel for pitches in anticipation of a bullpen position in the future.

Think about how that Frisco rotation is shaping up. Three guys that are very good at missing bats compared to all minor leaguers will be there. Thomas Diamond might be the 5th starter at Frisco with the talent influx.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Dec 8, 2008 9:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

i may be wrong

but i think Holland will start in AAA. And if i had my way, Diamond would start in the OKC bullpen. He would mean much more to this team as a dominant late inning guy than a middling starter prospect.

As far as Moscoso, it seems like a lot of people think he should remain a starter. He’ll probably start in Frisco with the intention of moving him quickly, similar to Harrison last year.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm having a bit of a hard time finding rotation spots

for the full season clubs. There will be some attrition, so that is likely to alleviate it, but on paper right now, there are more than 20 decent candidates:

Tommy Hunter
Eric Hurley (or Harrison, I suppose, if Hurley beats him out but doesn’t beat out of options Feldman out)
Derek Holland*
Jared Hyatt
Luis Mendoza

middle of the road guys – Elizardo Ramirez, Michael Ballard, Doug Mathis

Neftali Feliz
Guillermo Moscoso
Omar Poveda
Kasey Kiker
Thomas Diamond
Michael Schlact

Michael Main
Blake Beavan
Kennil Gomez
Tim Murphy*
Evan Reed
Michael Kirkman*

Neil Ramirez
Martin Perez*
Carlos Pimentel
Wilfredo Boscan
Robbie Ross
Joeseph Wieland
Kyle O’Campo
Fabio Castillo
Richard Bleier

As we’ve talked about the Low A will probably sort itself out a little with the draftees probably getting a delayed start. But that’s a lot of valid starters to mix in, without a void anywhere like they had this year in AA to start the season.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hyatt?

and i don’t know about splitting up holland and feliz

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Dec 8, 2008 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't think Hyatt deserves a rotation spot somewhere?

Even though there are gaps there to help separate the high from the low, I’m not so much projecting levels as I am looking at the overall quantity. There are only 20 rotation spots available in April.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he profiles as a reliever

Do you think Hyatt profiles as a major league starter on a good club?

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No I personally don't tend to think so (the starter one)

I’m more going on what I suspect the Rangers think there. I wouldn’t be bothering with rotation spots for any of Hyatt, Ballard, Ramirez, those types, unless there are openings. But you know how Adair just loved him, and I’m sure Servais and some of the others still in the organization have a lot of respect for him as well. And he did start all last season, with a good deal of success in AA/AAA.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes I recall the high praise that Adair had for him

But that was for his moxie, mound presence, baseball intelligence and professionalism, which profiles well in whatever role he pitches

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

crowded

I’m thinking that they will have to go to a 6 man rotation and start a few out in the bullpen in A+/A levels.
Here is my surmise:
AAA
hunter, hurley, mendoza,diamond, (vet retread like Jennings)
Schlact, Hyatt, ballard, mathis, and Murray to the bullpen
AA
feliz, poveda, holland, kiker, moscoso, Reed (I think he ends up in the bullpen but remains a starter for the first half to see if he figures it out); phillips to pen
A+
Main, beavan, kirkman, TMurph, gomez, Castillo (until he proves he can’t start)
Swanson to pen
A
perez, boscan, ramirez, pimentel, Miggie, Ocampo, Brigham, Font, Bleier (likely to the bullpen)
A-
wieland, J. grullon, G. Grullon, Ross, Henry (and draft picks)
Wilkins to pen
AZL
Ahn, A.Mendoza, K. de leon, Thompson, E. Rijo, Melo (and draft picks)
DSL
Escobar, Batista (and FA signings)

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Drooooooool

That’s a great logjam of talent to have on hand in the A ball levels. I kind of doubt Font starts out in full season ball given his lack of innings last year.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I think, as Z suggested, you will see staggered starts throughout the low levels to accomodate injuries, control innings and wait for open spots (keeping folks in extended, starting them off in the bullpen). I think my list presumes the level that they are capable (and merit) starting off in but there are only enough slots without releasing a bunch of relief pitchers thorughout the system. It is the most desireable juggling act that you could possibly have that is for sure!

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and by June you will

see the standard promotions shake things up a bit

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 1:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Promotions

yes, next summer will probably be just as fluid and exciting as this past one was.

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

by t ball on Dec 8, 2008 1:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And we might have the usual

“is wilmer font dead” speculation when he fails to materialize by June

by Goyogringo on Dec 8, 2008 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Font?

Unless my illiteracy is coming back it looks like you left off Font. Where does he fit in your list?

by bioaggie on Dec 8, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My question was for zywica.

I see Goyogringo puts Font in Hickory.

by bioaggie on Dec 8, 2008 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd lean toward

projecting him in Spokane during the summer after some more extended spring time. He barely pitched this year. He could go to Hickory, but it’s so crowded and I assume can be a little cold in the spring.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ross

I think Ross is short-season, but I may be giving into the small-physique typecast there.

Hickory may also continue doing some tandem-starting.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 8, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Only reason would be

to save him innings and avoi the cold (and those are solid reasons and ones that the Rangers have used before). All indications are that he’d be ready for that level.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Its just so beautiful...

All those pitchers….some of whom are really good….I love this problem

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously though

He does look like a pretty significant part of the package.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 10:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From Aaron Fitt's chat

Melo, to me, is the real prize of the Laird trade. Our international guru, Ben Badler, tells me Melo has a 95-96 mph fastball and a very high ceiling. You know he must — not many Dominican Summer League players are involved in trades.

He doesn’t think a whole lot of Moscoso, though that sounds like it’s based on pretty old info.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs