Sickels on Feliz

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 23, 2008 10:56 AM CDT Comment 33 comments

John Sickels has a write-up on Neftali Feliz, Ranger pitching prospect extraordinaire.

Check it out...

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

B+

Gotta feel good about that. Right there with Hurley and DVD. John’s 2006 Rangers Top 20. He almost sounds like he could be talked into an A-. Perhaps he could if Feliz’s walk rate were half it’s current (not-so-bad) value.

by rooster on Jun 23, 2008 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You got to love the high end potential in this system

Look at his preseason top 20: Link. Feliz jumping up in the grades, Sickels already has said that Beltre is going to be graded higher, Feliz is a B+ and is still behind Chris Davis, and of course there are guys like Beaven, Mayberry, Borbon, Hunter, and so on that are raising their value to.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jun 23, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

JMJ sure made Sickels' look smart. Hurley has too, even though John wimped out and backed down on him lately.

I get really excited when both a performance/stats guy like John and an upside guy like Goldstein have a prospect rated highly. Feliz is now rated highly by both guys.

Add Neil Ramirez to the list of upward moving grades, and it will be really interesting to see what Sickels will do this offseason with the Latin boy wonders in Spokane, especially Perez.

I’m still forecasting that Main will be given consideration in the top spot, but I notice he’s still not on the field in Arizona. Wieland is the 2nd pitcher in today’s game.

De Los Santos, C: 3B yesterday, HR today.

by rooster on Jun 23, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

catchers

I’m really hoping that de Los Santos and Telis both do well this year in order to maintian the org’s rep at finding and developing catchers. It’s possible that at this time next year none of the top 4 (Laird, Salty, Tea and Ramirez) are in the minors anymore.

...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on Jun 23, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Macumba

That’s really encouraging about De Los Santos. You just can’t believe how small he is.

And man, can he throw....

by Jamey Newberg on Jun 23, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Telis

isn’t exactly a large man either.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jparks77 on Jun 23, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's listed 5'10", 170.

Hey, I’m 5’10”, 170.

See, this is one of the types of athletes that leaves me shaking my head. There are the otherworld athletes like Hamilton and Shaq. Then there are the athletes that look like me and yet do things that I could only dream of doing.

by rooster on Jun 23, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha...

I’m 5’11’’ and 170. I’ve got a inch on ya. And I’ll bet in more places than just one. =P

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

by slc ranger on Jun 23, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Right there with Hurley and DVD."

That’s a little ominous for Feliz, isn’t it?

"I'm extremely complex. I'm not easy to understand." - a) Charles Manson, b) Madonna, c) Milton Bradley.

by Clueless on Jun 23, 2008 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In what way?

Danks is pitching extremely well. Volquez is a world beater. Hurley has looked decent (aside from the 3 HRs allowed) in two outings. Diamond missed a year because of TJ and is on his way to being a better pitcher than before.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 23, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With regards to remaining with the Rangers.

"I'm extremely complex. I'm not easy to understand." - a) Charles Manson, b) Madonna, c) Milton Bradley.

by Clueless on Jun 23, 2008 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hurley and Diamond are still here.

That’s 2 out of 4 “star” pitching prospects.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 23, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hell...

and the two that left are arguably the best 2 of the 4. I’d say that’s the opposite of ominous for Feliz.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 23, 2008 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...the two that (are?) left are arguably the best 2 of the 4."

But previously: “Danks is pitching extremely well. Volquez is a world beater. Hurley has looked decent…”

Hey, I think that Hurley is solid…and that Feliz could be a superstar.
And I do realize that Hurley and Diamond are still here…but thanks for the heads-up.

I’d just rather that Feliz not be throw in with DVD and Hurley…as you said,
half of them are gone, and I want Feliz to stay.

"I'm extremely complex. I'm not easy to understand." - a) Charles Manson, b) Madonna, c) Milton Bradley.

by Clueless on Jun 24, 2008 12:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You completely changed the meaning of what I wrote

by adding a word that shouldn’t be there… are you insane?

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 24, 2008 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In case you haven't put it together yet...

If he stays a Rangers he’s goes into the Hurley/Diamond category – pretty good company.

If he goes, he’s in the Danks/Volquez category – damn good company.

I’ll type slower next time, so that you have more time to read what I’m saying.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 24, 2008 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't...

guarantee subject/verb agreement though.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 24, 2008 12:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So the best two were given away to other teams

and you think that’s a good thing?
“If he goes, he’s in the Danks/Volquez category – damn good company.”
Yep, NoName…that would be just great for the Rangers.

Think before you type…

"I'm extremely complex. I'm not easy to understand." - a) Charles Manson, b) Madonna, c) Milton Bradley.

by Clueless on Jun 24, 2008 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You said it would be ominous for Feliz.

Maybe you need to check yourself before you think others to be actin’ a fool.

Word.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 24, 2008 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Given away?

We did get a little something back for them.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 25, 2008 2:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Movin' up?

When does he move up? I don’t want to rush the guy, but I can’t wit to see him compete at a higher level.

by SonnyKoufax on Jun 23, 2008 11:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I bet they take the slow route with him,

but that’s just a guess.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jun 23, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moving him to high A for 50 innings

isn’t taking it too fast. I have no problem with them watching his innings, but they absolutely should try and challenge him so he’s ready for a hot start in Bakersfield next year before moving on to Frisco. Besides a few of those guys in Clinton should move so that guys like Main can finish the season there as well.

by Hull Fan on Jun 23, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's about what they did with Danks, and Danks was a bit younger when he was moved up.

by rooster on Jun 23, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Da cube sez ...

John Danks’ and Neftali Feliz’ birth dates are just 2 weeks apart.

NF just turned 20. When JD was 20 he pitched 57.2 for BAK [2.50 ERA] and 98.1 for FRS [5.49 ERA]. 156 total innings.

NF sits at 74.1 IP for CLN [2.06 ERA]. If Neftali is on the Danks’ plan he’s got 81.2 innings to play with.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jun 23, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because Feliz

only pitched 42 IP last season, I figured his plan would resemble Kiker’s over Danks’. You might be right though.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jparks77 on Jun 23, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yah, caution is the word of the day with Neftali

I really hope they’re gonna be careful with the kid’s innings this year.

I’d rather the remainder of those carefully handled innings occurred in Bakersfield, though.

He has zilch left to prove in Iowa.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 23, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fwiw

This article deems him a candidate for AA…this year. I think they’ll announce something during these Bakersfield off days.

And I’m highly interested in seeing if Neftali stubs his toe on Bakersfield the way everyone else out of Clinton seems to.

I forgot how aggressively Danks got pushed. Seeing Feliz climb the ranks will help me accept that guy’s performance a little more.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jun 23, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing at least 100 IP at each level.

That’s pretty much been the minimum no matter your dominance level. I think they’ll let him hit 100 IP in Clinton and then move him to Bakersfield (not that I’d rule out Frisco at this point) and have him pitch in relief on some kind of regular schedule.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 23, 2008 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What kind of IP ceiling do you think he has for the year?

Didn’t Danks throw nearly 150? I wonder where the cutoff will be considering he threw only 40 something last year.

This is the Texas Rangers, professional destroyers of hope, we're talking about. - BAC

by nikpin on Jun 23, 2008 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

IP totals...

aren’t that major when you consider how they were achieved. It’s like considering a tough 100 pitches vs and easy 100 pitches. If the pitcher throws 100 pitches in 5 innings, that’s a hard 5 innings and/or a hard 100 pitches. But if the pitcher throws a complete game, and stays between 9-13 pitches per inning, those 100 are easy, relatively speaking.

I think Feliz is probably going to be capped around 100 IP as a starter. Instead of shutting him down, I expect a promotion and a move to the bullpen. That way, he will be able to continue working against live competition, but instead of throwing 80-100 pitches once every five days, he’ll be looking at 20-30 pitches every 4 or 5 days.

I expect them to keep his innings limited and on a regular schedule to help minimize the switch from starter to reliever. Who knows if this will happen, but it’s what I’d do.

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 23, 2008 11:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs