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Questions for John Sickels

John Sickels has agreed to do a Q&A with me about the Rangers minor league system.

And instead of trying to come up with all the questions myself, I thought I'd solicit questions from you guys, and incorporate the best ones into the Q&A.

So if you have any questions about Rangers prospects you want to ask John, post them here, and I'll sift through them and use some of the best in the set I send to him.

 

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John Sickels Q&A

Apr 2008 by Adam J. Morris - 67 comments

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When do you expect

Drew Meyer to make the big club, and do you project him to be inducted into the Hall while still playing?

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 4, 2008 11:02 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Someone break him up

Cahill is feeling festive today.

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Apr 4, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Realistic possibilities

What is his opinion of the realistic possibilities that in 2011 we have a starting rotation of "home grown" starters and which of the current crop in Bakersfield/Frisco will settle in to viable bullpen roles down the road?

Are the middle infielders not named Andrus better suited to grow in to trade-able commodities to bring in a higher viewed corner outfield prospect than John Mayberry, Jr.?

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Apr 4, 2008 11:05 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Question

Who are the biggest sleepers, perhaps one pitcher, one hitter, in the Rangers system?

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Apr 4, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

JS

What are your thoughts on Saltalamacchia? Especially defensively? Also, if he has to change positions to 1B, which is more than likely eventually, is his bat good enough (above average) for that position?

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 4, 2008 11:17 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

also along that line of question

Bobby Cox said Salty was a better Catcher than he was a hitter in Atlanta. Coach speak? i just didnt see the same as Cox did in salty's time last season, his bat looked ahead of his defense. Does cox really feel that way, or have we missed that side of salty?

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

by Jayslick on Apr 4, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mayberry 2008

Yay or nay?

"I can only hope that you continue to monitor me, and help me out as I slowly work to take the training wheels off." - BG

by Chase Irwin on Apr 4, 2008 11:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

thoughts on zach phillips

except, he apparently talked about him in the book so if somebody knows more about what he said, that would do. no specific question.

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2008 11:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

AA to the majors

What are your thoughts on the recent trend of moving AA ball players straight to the majors? What Frisco prospects have the best chance at making the jump and being successful?

by corbsclinton on Apr 4, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

2 questions

Of the very young, very high ceiling guys that are in the system (i.e., Font, Beltre, Feliz), what are their probability of making the majors and also their probability of being a star?

Also, where do you think Matt West goes from here?

by JBImaknee on Apr 4, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Thoughts on Chris Davis

Will he be up there with the likes of Mark Teixiera? We know he can smash the ball but can he be a gold glove defender as well?

by geetar85 on Apr 4, 2008 11:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In general

what is the better situation for a minor league system - a lot of depth with no blue chip talent or two or three blue chippers with very little behind them.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 11:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

you know the answer to that question

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

"I can only hope that you continue to monitor me, and help me out as I slowly work to take the training wheels off." - BG

by Chase Irwin on Apr 4, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I honestly don't

there are systems which produce good players consistently without ever having blue chippers, and there are those whose best players become stars but get very support in return. Essentially, what is more important depth or star power.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Give me stars.

you can get role players in free agency. By the time stars become available, they are normally on the backside of their careers.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 4, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

how do you know

who is a star? Like Prior? A depth system might eventually produce more stars than one with the 'blue chippers'...

the truth.

by Longhorn on Apr 4, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly

this isn't about "proven major league" stars, but about "star" prospects. Completely different scenario.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll take 2 or 3 guys in the top 40, and a bag of beanpies

Over depth every time.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually, I've never had one

But I do like saying the word.

That was one of my New Year's resolutions: Work more beanpies in to my lexicon.

Beanpie. Oh how it just rolls off the toungue, it do.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

Beanpie. Look at that.

Beanpie.

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 4, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, during slow days at work

I sometimes daydream of the career that wasn't, beanpie magnate:

What do you do?

I'm a bidnessman. A shot calla.

And what business are you in?

I'm in beanpies, baby.

Oh. How is that?

Its like this: If you have a beanpie on the eastern seaboard, you're eating me. Beanpies are my bidness, and baby, bidness is good.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think I'd take

the Ranger system that had Blalock and Teixeira and not much else, over the piles of depth.

Most stars shine brightly at a young age. There are late bloomers, but they certainly aren't the norm.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 4, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Word

In the off season there was talk of our deep system versus Cincinnati's top-heavy system.

Would you take Votto, Bruce, Cueto, Bailey plus a bag of beanpies over our system?

It's a tough question for me cause I'm kind of attached to our guys, but I think if I was able to put my feelings aside, I'd probably take their system, though I'm really down on Bailey and would seek to deal him and his non-existent control as soon as I got him.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2008 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

In a heartbeat

though Bailey does seem to be regressing.

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 4, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The problem with that analogy

is that the Rangers were able to get all of one winning season out of Teixeira and Blalock. And the success rate of those two (one star and one ML regular) is probably better than average for two blue-chippers. One could argue that the complete lack of talent beyond those two resulted in a team that had to be supported by a bunch of second and third tier guys who other teams didn't want, especially pitching and the outfield.

Having a bunch of guys in the bottom half of a minor league top 100 allows you to make trades for good pieces to fill in the gaps rather than going out and signing them (as signing these guys often costs draft picks, hurting your system in the future as well). Volquez for Hamilton is an example of such a deal.

by JBImaknee on Apr 4, 2008 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

KK

Do you foresee Kasey Kiker establishing himself as a consensus top-5 prospect in the Rangers system in 2008?

by jamcadbury on Apr 4, 2008 11:38 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Along the lines...

Kiker = Mike Hampton (sans injuries)

or

Kiker = Billy Wagner with less cheese?

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Apr 4, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Those are the only two options?

I love the little guy, but both of those comps are mighty high praise. Hampton was brilliant before the injuries.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Merely

speaking of potential... top of the rotation starter or elite closer, seems that he might get squeezed out of the rotation if these other kids progress the way we are all hoping they do.

Not completely sure of a #3 starter that comes to mind to compare to, or realistically hope for. Joe Kennedy? (RIP)

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Apr 4, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Colon Trade

Many see the Colon to Montreal as the last great coup in terms of getting lots of quality prospects. Could the Teixeira to Atlanta trade be better than Colon to Montreal? If so, what needs to happen?

by Excel Hearts Choi on Apr 4, 2008 11:39 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Font, Castillo, Feliz

Out of Wilmer Font, Fabio Castillo, and Neftali Feliz, which of these three will be the best major leaguer, and do any of the three have "ace" potential? And if you had to project one guy from our system who does have "ace" potential, who would it be?

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo

by kentbenfer on Apr 4, 2008 11:41 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Rank

How would you rank the following for both the present and future: Kiker, Main, and Beavan

And with the 22nd overall selection the Dallas Cowboys select Jonathan Stewart.

by TheBZA on Apr 4, 2008 11:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Pitching

If you ranked all the teams based solely on pitching prospects in their minor league systems, where would the Rangers fall?

Formerly known as OKRangerFan

by B_Black on Apr 4, 2008 11:47 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Defense

A lot of times, players who are said to be "special defensive players" all seem to have high error totals in the minors, especially infielders. Is that just a product of extended range and lack of experience or is there a flaw in the method of defensive evaluation.

On that same level, where does Elvis Andrus, Julio Borbon and Taylor Teagarden rank defensively at their respective positions?

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 11:48 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

German Duran

What are your thoughts on German Duran? Was his 100 point jump in OPS last year for real?

by BAC on Apr 4, 2008 11:55 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Most importantly

How would you rank the Rangers' blogging community, both the current crop and those in the blogging farm system? Will DJCahill ever capitalize on his potential, or his he strictly a AAAA blogger?

by Back Door Yakker on Apr 4, 2008 11:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

What is your assessment

of Warner Madrigal?

Formerly known as OKRangerFan

by B_Black on Apr 4, 2008 11:58 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If we were to trade Saltalawhoppia for an OF

Name a couple of players, high A or higher, that would bring back equal value, please.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 11:59 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Young pitchers

Neftali Feliz, Wilmer Font, or ?

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Apr 4, 2008 12:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

What would have to happen for the Rangers' farm to jump

from 5 B+ players to one with 10 B+ or higher players?

What is the most B+ or higher players in one organization in the history of your lists?

by rooster on Apr 4, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

in honor of hurlerhurley...

Should the Rangers never should have got rid of Chris Young?

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Apr 4, 2008 12:53 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

haha...

hey, ask him about a smackdown with Chris Young vs. Adam Eaton

ah hahaha.

Hey Sickels, I want to know if you've decided to do a NEW Chris Young the Pitcher Crystal Ball :)

http://www.minorleagueball.com/comments/2007/3/27/1556/88806/16

Over the years, my favorite pastime outside baseball is driving through a pasture looking at cattle - Nolan Ryan

by hurlerhurley on Apr 4, 2008 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

in honor of Sharky...

Who is the next current Ranger great to be traded for a bunch of scrubs? Blalock? Benoit? Kinsler? Wilson?

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Apr 4, 2008 12:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

where the hell is

shark these days?

Over the years, my favorite pastime outside baseball is driving through a pasture looking at cattle - Nolan Ryan

by hurlerhurley on Apr 4, 2008 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

heh

just noticed that you signed up for 6 other blogs yesterday (why yesterday, btw?)

I know that means absolutely nothing -- but it still blows my mind.

Give 'em hell HH!!

"You are this month's NYTXFAN." - t ball

by Chase Irwin on Apr 4, 2008 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah...

Hurler can be the official LSB represenative.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Apr 4, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Question

Are you of the opinion that the Rangers will ever actually get Alexi Ogando into the States, and is he really as good as advertised?

LSB 2.0 confuses and scares me.

by ghtd36 on Apr 4, 2008 1:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ogando and Omar Belt are apparently being shopped in Japan. What kind of return could Texas get? Do they have an option for prospects to come back?

by Jspsm on Apr 4, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is there any real value in intentionally keeping your top prospects

together at the same level so that when they get to the Majors, they can do so in a "wave" and do so as battle-tested teammates?

by Beaumonty on Apr 4, 2008 1:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Dough Mathis

What do you see him doing this season? And what does he need to do in order to become a successful Major League pitcher and reach whatever his ceiling is?

by Gdawg on Apr 4, 2008 1:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Twins

What would it take to pry Dirk Vadjer away from the Twins?

And with the 22nd overall selection the Dallas Cowboys select Jonathan Stewart.

by TheBZA on Apr 4, 2008 1:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No deal.

Nothing could Force the Twins to deal Vadjer.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Apr 6, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Question

Would you be willing to wrestle Mike Hindman in a winner take all match to determine the proper prospect analysis on Engel Beltre?

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 4, 2008 2:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

We have a winner

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Apr 4, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Detroit

Losing to CWS as I write this. Should they start the fire sale now, after all it looks like they will be 0 - 4 after today

What?

by camartin44 on Apr 4, 2008 2:31 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hurley

How worried should the Rangers be about Hurley's HR9 numbers?

by Randy Richardson on Apr 4, 2008 2:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Max Ramirez

Why isn't more made of Max Ramirez? In your book you give him the Josh Willingham memorial TGCFH award and rated him a "B", but you seem higher on him than most. BA ranked him 23rd in our system. I know there are serious questions about his defense, but shouldn't a guy who rakes like he does get more love?

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2008 2:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That wasn't the question

Do you like your job? Do you like being chief of police?

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 4, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Engel Beltre

Great prospect or the greatest prospect?

by bushe on Apr 4, 2008 3:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I can awnser that one for you already

Adenhart is better. He's not the strikeout artist Hurley is, but he gets more ground balls, and is much less home run prone. He seems like more of a complete pitcher than Hurley, at least to me.

A better question would be Chris Davis vs. Brandon Wood.

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I could be wrong,

but I think these questions are meant for another John.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 4, 2008 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, shut up

That question wasn't gonna get picked anyway, it's too much of a no-brainer.

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah

i'd rather not take your word for it

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2008 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

No-brainer?

Not exactly. I personally think Adenhart is the better prospect but there are some people, like John Sickels (the person the question was directed towards), who believe Hurley is the better prospect.

It's an interesting question by Bushe and I'm actually quite curious to hear Sickels' thoughts on it.

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 4, 2008 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

C'mon, JP,

You and I both know the awnser to that, and there's only gonna be 10 Q's picked here - I don't see as how that would have made such a great question, other than for the purpose of throwing a wrench into Sickels brain.

I just think there's many better questions up and down this page, that will most likely get picked before that one, or that at least should be picked before that one. Why not try and get some actual insight out of Sickels, instead of asking a fairly obvious question just to try and bait him into evedencing his preferences?

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok...slower

Sickels thinks HURLEY is better. Given that you think the other way, it probably means it's a good question.

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2008 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That might be

but it's far from a no brainer though. Adenhart is one year younger than Hurley and just about 1 year behind him developmentally. He has a higher walk rate and a lower K rate and a higher WHIP while playing in the same league last year.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

On another note

I don't see how this question is any different than something that asks about Brandon Boggs and how good of a prospect he is in relation to Mayberry. If anything THAT is the obvious question since Mayberry was a B- prospect while Boggs was C+.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You got me there

I didn't really expect mine to be picked either - all the good Q's are already kind of taken, so I just threw that out there for the hell of it.

As for Adenhart though, as you say, he's a year behind Hurley, but everything I've read says he projects to be a better prospect than Hurley. But if we already know Sickels is biased the other way...

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So it's a perfectly fine question

no need to jump on someone about it. Chill dude (on a sidenote, I never thought I'd be on the giving end of that sentence.)

by FirebatM3 on Apr 4, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sickels

How is it an obvious question? Sickels ranked Hurley higher than Adenhart in his latest book and I'd like to hear a detailed explanation why.

Just because you and I both think Adenhart is the better propsect doesn't mean anything. Sickels is a highly regarded prospect guru who seems to disagree with our assessment of the two players. I'd love to actually learn something from his answers. That is the point of these questions.

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 4, 2008 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That is a good point

But in your previous comment, you made it sound like you just wanted to screw with Sickels head.

I guess it's not as obvious a question as I made it out to be, but I still think there are better ones on this page. That's the point I was really tryng to make.

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i don't even agree with that

given the audience, it's probably one of the better questions

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Screwing a guru

What did I say that made you think I wanted to screw with Sickels' head? I'm actually curious about his answer especially since I think Adenhart is the better prospect.

lepricon

by jparks77 on Apr 4, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Perhaps I interpeted it wrong

But you said:

I personally think Adenhart is the better prospect but there are some people, like John Sickels (the person the question was directed towards), who believe Hurley is the better prospect.

To me, that sounded like you wanted to hear what he thought, specifically because you knew he had a predisposition toward Hurley, despite the fact that you know (as I do) that the stats and other reports suggest Adenhart has the higher ceiling. I apologize if I interperted it wrong.

I guess it's just a matter of opinion, on that question - I can see why you would want to hear the awnser. I just made a slightly stupid statement because I was attacked by Randy R. up above - the question is indeed valid, it's just more interesting to some of us than others.

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or Andrus vs. Triunfel.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: The Man, the Myth; The Alphabet.

by BudLight on Apr 4, 2008 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

More of an essay question than anything, but

If you were in Jon Daniels' shoes, what would you do about the catching situation?

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: The Man, the Myth; The Alphabet.

by BudLight on Apr 4, 2008 4:28 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Brandon Boggs

What's his ceiling, and when do you think he will be in Arlington? At this point, he seems like a better bet to make it than John Mayberrry Jr.

by lonestarJon on Apr 4, 2008 5:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Q

Are there any low-mid level minor leaguers in the system who could potentially make the jump to good prospect status a la German Duran and, to a lesser extent, Brandon Boggs?

by naropean on Apr 4, 2008 6:31 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

borbon

do you think his major league contract will be an issue in terms of his development

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2008 6:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Catching Overflow

With the depth Texas has at C and Davis now on 1B, is either Saltalamachia or Max Ramirez athletic enough to play OF?

by Jspsm on Apr 4, 2008 7:19 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Christian Santana

Does his bat pull him permanently off C? How quickly can his bat advance not considering devolping defense?

by Jspsm on Apr 4, 2008 7:23 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Choice

If you could pick between a young, 20 or younger, prospect displaying power or plate discipline, which would you take first?

by Jspsm on Apr 4, 2008 7:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Beau Jones

What do you need to see from him this year to get his ranking back to a B or better?

by Jspsm on Apr 4, 2008 7:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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