Sickels Prospect Update on Borbon

by jf55510 on Jul 13, 2008 12:59 PM CDT Comment 16 comments

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/7/13/570357/prospect-update-julio-borb

Sickels' conclusion:

I gave Borbon a Grade C+ in the book this year. Some people see him as a future regular, maybe even a star. But I'm concerned that might still develop into more of a fourth outfielder, speed/defense type guy, if he can't develop even a little more patience. Grade-wise I have no problem rating him a Grade B- based on what he's done this year, but I won't go higher than that until we get a full set of second half Double-A numbers.

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Could have been written

by zywica or several others here who have expressed concerns about his lack of walks.

I’m guessing that Borbon has never really had to walk before, relying on his contact and speed to overwhelm less talented amateur competition. Some time in the next year or so I expect AA and/or AAA arms to adjust and he may hit a wall and be forced to try a more patient approach. If he doesn’t, he’ll be totally dependent on his batting average, which is dangerous.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 13, 2008 1:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is this a prediction or just wishful thinking?

I’d love to see Borbon become more patient, but Borbon may just be like every other high contact speed guy who can’t take a walk. It certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented, and I’m not sure we can expect any more than that. Before the draft we knew that this was the type of player Borbon was likely going to be. He’s performing about as well as anyone could reasonably have predicted, and I’m not sure he has any ceiling left.

That said, Borbon still has some value for a team like the Rangers. Our top of the lineup is set for the foreseeable future, and our offense should be strong enough to carry Borbon as a #9 hitter (assuming he can maintain a strong batting average). Borbon should provide plentyof range and hopefully an average arm in CF. He’ll never be a star leadoff hitter, but he could be a useful piece on a winning team.

by cstorm15 on Jul 13, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First Year

He hasn’t even played one full season in the minors and is holding his own in AA that should say something. John Sickels isn’t the best talent evaluator Jim Callis is alot better when it comes to columnist.

by Monkey Brain on Jul 13, 2008 3:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

B- as of right now isn't bad

If he improves his BB rate at all in the second half, he’ll be rated even higher. That’s not bad for a 22 year old in his first year of pro-ball.

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

by Gdawg on Jul 13, 2008 4:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jose Reyes

didn’t walk that much in the minors or in his first few stints with the Mets and look at him now and how he did last year too.

by Rangerchick on Jul 13, 2008 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Only thing is

he was really, really young in the minors. Reyes was almost to the majors when Borbon graduated from HS.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 13, 2008 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so are we all going to be disappointed

if we drafted Juan Pierre in Borbon? I mean, for where he was drafted and for all of the negativity surrounding the pick, is Borbon becoming Pierre such a bad thing? will we be upset with a career of .300/.350/.371 with 55 stolen bases, 100 runs a year and speedy defense from this pick?

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 13, 2008 10:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pierre

One thing on Pierre…

First five years, his OBP:
.353
.378
.332
.361
.374

Last four:
.326 .
.330
.331
.327

So would he be such a bad player if he’s like Pierre was in Colorado and early on in Florida? No. Would he be if he’s the CHC/LAD guy from the last four years? Yeah I’d be pretty underwhelmed with that.

So I guess my answer to you question, since we would have him for the first six years of his career, is that it wouldn’t be all that bad.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 13, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but, having a Major League contract in the event that we'd want to trade him...

...would be an issue, no?

by oc on Jul 13, 2008 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

He’ll be ready soon enough so that shouldn’t be a big deal.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 13, 2008 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As t ball said

the major league contract is only a matter of options, not service time. As long as he makes the majors in time, it wouldn’t affect his trade value at all.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 13, 2008 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the thing about borbon is

he is a pretty safe bet to make the majors relatively soon, maybe september call up next year at the latest barring injury (knock on wood). So while beltre might be the centerfielder of the future, borbon will have great value of taking pressure of hamilton to play center, assuming byrd is gone, while we find out whether or not beltre can continue to harness those massive tools.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 14, 2008 1:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

gagree

Although I love the defense Byrd has been playing, I think Borbon will take over for good in 2010.

Actually, I’d be somewhat surprised if Byrd is still around next year—is he signed beyond this year?

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 14, 2008 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Byrd

I think he’s got one more year of arbitration still.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 14, 2008 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which is perfect

As much as everyone likes to bash him, and he certainly hasn’t done enough offensively to get away from that, he is a very valuable member of this defensive outfield. He would be the perfect person to platoon in center with Hamilton until Borbon is ready for good which should be sometime around next trade deadline. Plus add in his clubhouse presense and I don’t mind us keeping him around.

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 Jul 14, 2008 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

while I don't think I've ever bashed Byrd personally,

I was never in love with him as a player, but the guy brings some bad ass outfield defense to every game he plays, and I’ve been happy with quite a few of his at-bats. plus, there’s that whole “chemistry” thing, which is pretty important to this specific club. with that said, I could easily give all of his at-bats to Boggs if we found another high quality outfielder from both an offensive/defensive point of view. guess we’ll have to see what we do with Bradley, Cat and Hank, and whether JMJ makes it up soon…my guess though is that we keep Byrd for another year and roll with Hamilton/Bradley/Byrd/Murphy/Boggs for another year

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Jul 14, 2008 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs