LSB Community Prospect Project: Mid-Season #2

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 2:38 AM CDT

After capturing 63% of a very encouraging 236 votes, Chris Davis has won the right to be called the LSB Community #1 prospect!

The list so far:
1. Chris Davis

The Beasticon was a pretty clear cut choice for #1, so let's hope we get a little more drama with the vote for #2.

The polls are open, so go ahead and vote in the poll at the bottom and feel free to make any suggestions and/or criticisms in the comments below.

And please don't hesitate to tell me who you want on the list next.

5 recs | Comment 68 comments

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Feliz needs a quality nickname

at least we’ve got time …

"I’ll say something that doesn’t need context: anyone who is a Mariner’s fan is a douchebag." - FuturePants

by Chase Irwin on Jul 2, 2008 2:42 AM CDT 0 recs

How about "Happy"

His name would then be “Happy Happy” ... a genuine Ren and Stimpy reference.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Jul 2, 2008 2:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ed...

busting out with the Ren and Stimpy reference! My admiration for you grows by the day.

by ghostofErikThompson on Jul 2, 2008 3:13 AM CDT up 0 recs

+1

by philkid3 on Jul 2, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up 0 recs

that is indeed

really impressive!

Go Vote for Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, Bradley and write in Murphy. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/ballot_reg.html - Vote up to 25 times on as many email accounts as you can think of!

by tdi1985 on Jul 2, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ren and Stimpy?

First you put in the call for an improbable winning streak … now this? You’re on fire, Ed …

"I’ll say something that doesn’t need context: anyone who is a Mariner’s fan is a douchebag." - FuturePants

by Chase Irwin on Jul 2, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

we could call him King Feliz, just to F with M’s fans, cause we’re D-bags and that’s what D-bags do. But that really only works if you pronounce it “Feel-iz”, so I don’t think it works in written form.

Hmmm… “Navidad”?

NeFe? Neffel?

God those are all stupid. No more brainstorming at whatever the hell time it is for me.

Back to bed.

This time I’m falling asleep. Really, I am.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 3:01 AM CDT up 1 recs

Ah,

when the hell did we vote for #1?

Should smoak be on this list? He hasn’t signed yet has he?

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 2, 2008 5:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

and Im voting for Hurley,

because he has made it to the bigs.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 2, 2008 5:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

The first post is up in the rec list. It was decided to included all 2008 draft picks. Signed or unsigned.

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

by nikpin on Jul 2, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

I voted for Hurley, too

In a very close call over King Feliz.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

definitely King Feliz

Go Vote for Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, Bradley and write in Murphy. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/ballot_reg.html - Vote up to 25 times on as many email accounts as you can think of!

by tdi1985 on Jul 2, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

its my fav one too

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hurley

barely over Smoak just because he has looked so good in the majors. Seems like he may be turning a corner

by bushe on Jul 2, 2008 6:47 AM CDT 0 recs

Alright

who voted for Duran?

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 2, 2008 7:30 AM CDT 1 recs

hah

I like Duran but not THAT much

Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers - can you see how incredible this is going to be? - hang gliding, come on! -- Dignan

by Hypo-Luxa on Jul 2, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Right, what the hell are people thinking

voting Duran and Lemon this high? Kiker seems like a real stretch here, too.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Feliz

Davis, Feliz, Maximus, Hurley, Smoak are my top 5. Font or Perez might have higher ceilings than Feliz, but they are a year away from thinking about pushing themselves into a position that they could make a quick leap to near ML-ready. Feliz is at that stage. Some refinement of his changeup and he would be better off against AA competition.

Feliz…. Filthy or Cheez or EasyCheez or EasyMacNCheez

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 7:58 AM CDT 0 recs

i went

Hurley, just barely over Max and Feliz.

"Hey hows the playoff push coming? How about adding the AL MVP (Milton Bradley) to your lineup, would that help? Oh, your top 3 prospects? Sure, don't mind if I do." -Future Jon Daniels quote (developed by SaltyGoesYard)

by dstar442005 on Jul 2, 2008 8:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Max

it just seems very rare to have such a complete hitter. I believe Max is near certain to become an impact, middle of the order ML hitter. And guys like that deserve lofty prospect rankings IMHO.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Jul 2, 2008 8:47 AM CDT 0 recs

The only thing that kept Max from being #2 on my list is that I'm so surprised by his power burst

this year that I wasn’t certain that he would continue to be a power threat in the Show. He seems to have the ability to hit .300+ with .375+ OBP, just don’t know if his slugging will be in the .450 or .550 range.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 9:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

I've heard comparisons between Max and Edgar Ramirez

If he’s even close to the hitter Edgar was, that will be a great DH to have. Especially one that can play catcher. I think Max is a completely legit prospect.

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 2, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

Martinez

Edgar Martinez…heh

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 2, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

You know

The thing about these polls is, you can pretty much tell

A Lonestar in California

"My keyboard is a Yankees fan" - Whipsmart

by lonestarJon on Jul 2, 2008 11:29 AM CDT 0 recs

Whoops

You can pretty much tell who the winner of the next one is going to be, based on the second-best category in the first one… we knew Feliz was gonna be #2, and we pretty much know Hurley is gonna be #3 by looking at this one…

A Lonestar in California

"My keyboard is a Yankees fan" - Whipsmart

by lonestarJon on Jul 2, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up 0 recs

probably

but you would have a hard time convincing me that either of those 2 will end up making a more valuable contribution at the ML level than Max.

Hurley’s ceiling is lower, Feliz has so many levels yet to conquer – plus stay healthy, while Max seems like nearly a sure-fire middle of the order hitter to me.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Jul 2, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

+1

Formerly known as OKRangerFan

by B_Black on Jul 2, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

Probably, yah

But there have been some pretty crazy upsets, too.

And since this is the mid-season poll, and since we here at LSB all love a good knee jerk, if Max comes out and belts three dongs today, he’s probably gonna get a big bump and probably pass Hugo.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

Knee-jerks

Yep. If Davis had 10 strikeouts in his first few games as a Ranger he might not be #1. Who is Hugo?

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hurley

it’s a Lost reference

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 2, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lost me

on that one.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 12:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wow

Can’t decide if I should applaud or boo.

That was a Dad joke for the ages.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Applaud and boo

Boo the joke, applaud the courage to be a dad and tell it. It is every dad’s sworn responsibility to embarrass his children with stuff like this, so I gotta practice.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Maybe

I voted Feliz this one but plan on voting Andrus then Hurley then Max. So I wouldn’t say the results of the next one are a sure thing.

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

by nikpin on Jul 2, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

When is

the point where we can’t call Hurley a prospect. He is in the majors for good, correct?

"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos

by miles on Jul 2, 2008 1:41 PM CDT 0 recs

Why don't we use BA's thresholds?

Aren’t they something like 100 IP and 200 AB’s?

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 2, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yo, Dirkatron

Please mention this near the top of every new diary. Let’s come up with a standard and make sure everyone knows about it. There are too many people saying they won’t vote for such and such because they’re already in the big leagues.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

He is using BAs #'s

130 AB 50 IP

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

by nikpin on Jul 2, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

I like those,

cool.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 9:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

k

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

am i the only one who thinks that hurley this high is foolish?

IMHO he is DEF behind:
feliz
smoak

i would also put him behind/on the same level as:
main
beavan
teagarden
maxram

hurley may be loved on this site, but his stats do not equal him being in the top 3 rangers prospects.

end of story.

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 2:24 PM CDT 0 recs

His major league

ERA is beastly.

"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos

by miles on Jul 2, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

personally

I think anybody but MaxRam is foolish at this spot.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Jul 2, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

if i can ask - why?

(just want to see your reasoning)

i think he is def. ahead of teagarden (played badly) + main (injury) + beavan (minors level))

but how do you put him ahead of smoak and feliz?

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

probably because of the insane year he is having

some people value bats over pitchers and smoak hasnt even seen a professional pitch yet. Im not saying tap the brakes on smoak, but I for one tend to value people in the system a little more highly.

Having said that, I still feel smoak is a top 5 rangers prospect for sure, however I am more inclined to vote for guys who have produced in the minors and actually shown some of that significant promise, whether it be at clinton or oklahoma, when ranking top prospects.

"Why do you need the stereo and the tv on?"
"Cause I like to pawrty."

by rchawk12 on Jul 2, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

ok that makes sense

(i did it last yr w/ beavan)

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

why

I put him ahead of Hurley because I think he has a much higher ceiling.

I put him ahead of Feliz, Beaven, Main, etc. because there is still a very good chance that those low A guys will never make it to the ML for one reason or another. So much can happen to pitchers between low A and ML, and I put a premium on durability and none of those guys have pitched enough for us to know if they have it or not.

I put him ahead of Smoak because there are still some unanswered questions about how he will adapt to wood bats and professional ball.

Basically I think MaxRam has a very high ceiling (cleanup hitter in a good lineup), I also think he is very likely to achieve his ceiliing or close to it because his approach appears to be nearly perfect, and I think his dominance of AA indicates that he is very close to being ready. So, in a nutshell, I think he is about as good a hitting prospect as you will find – high ceiling and a very good chance to reach it, highly polished, nearly ready. The lack of defensive skills must really be penalizing him in this poll, because this dude can mash and I fully expect to see him among the ML OPS leaders in pretty short order.

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Jul 2, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

sorry

for me its a no brainer that probably feliz, smoak, maxram and main are above hurley. probably beavean too

i just hope we dont jerk him around btwn minors/major (for lack of a better example a la botts)

is there really any doubt that we should without a doubt have
salty/maxram at c
chris davis/maxram at 1b

and find something to with laird?

its gonna be hard at 3-4-5 for me. probably gonna go with
1- davis
2- feliz
3- maxram/smoak
4- smoak/maxram
5- main

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

would you tade hurley

for feliz if he were on another team?

not me…..so I’ve got Hurley at #2

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 2, 2008 10:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

This is a fascinating vote

It has been a long time since this system had so many different types of minor league talent. Right now I see the debate being between several different camps

High ceiling/far away/high risk/premium position – King Feliz
Mid ceiling/very close/low risk/premium position – Hurley
High ceiling/very close/low risk/no defensive value – MaxRam
High ceiling/not close/low risk/low defensive value – Smoak
High ceiling/not close/high risk/high defenive value – Andrus

Its not obvious how to compare those five options. I’d rank them Hurley/Feliz/MaxRam/Smoak/Andrus, just because I think pitching is SO important and I’d take a solid #3 starter before just about any regular position player who isn’t all-star caliber. But that is a personal preference, and I suppose I could change my mind if I become convinced that MaxRam or Smoak has all-star potential…

by JBImaknee on Jul 2, 2008 3:59 PM CDT 1 recs

Smoak

I thought his defense was pretty good? Not gold glove caliber yet but pretty good and could get better

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 2, 2008 4:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well

When I say “low defensive value,” I don’t mean he’s a poor defender, just that first base is not a valuable position. Lots of guys can play first base – being able to play there doesn’t really add any value to you as a player unless you are a gold glover (e.g., Tex, Adrian Gonzalez). Smoak’s glove isn’t a negative (like with MaxRam or Botts), but it isn’t a positive (like Andrus or Teagarden)

Someone can make an argument that Andrus is a more valuable prospect than Smoak because Andrus plays a premium position very well (SS) even though Smoak’s bat is much, much more likely to make an impact than Andrus’. I wouldn’t necessarily agree. But the gloves of guys like Andrus and Teagarden are going to make them major leaguers for a long time, regardless of their bat. You can’t say the same thing for guys who don’t field a premium position.

by JBImaknee on Jul 2, 2008 5:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Washington seems to think 1B defense is pretty valuable,

which is a significant part of the reason he lobbied for Broussard.

I’m with you. 1B defense is not all that important.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Jul 2, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

King Feliz!

It’s catching on.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 5:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah

I think that’ll be the winner, most likely.

"I’ll say something that doesn’t need context: anyone who is a Mariner’s fan is a douchebag." - FuturePants

by Chase Irwin on Jul 2, 2008 6:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1

A Lonestar in California

"My keyboard is a Yankees fan" - Whipsmart

by lonestarJon on Jul 2, 2008 6:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

ok so can we settle on king feliz

for neftali’s nickname?

PLEASE.

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:13 PM CDT 0 recs

seems like a copycat move

how about “High Cheese Feliz”

Pedro: "I wasn't cockfighting, I just have a wide stance."

by tricer on Jul 2, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

copycat move

maybe… but a punch in the gut to the M’s fans? Definitely. Imagine their agony if our King Feliz does better than their King Felix…

by JBImaknee on Jul 2, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

omg im rolling

can you imagine the game in 4 years LOL

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

yea but

(knock on wood) he flames out, gets injured, etc. we will all look like a bunch of douchebags.

I cast my vote for NeFe, as long as its pronounced Neffy.

"Why do you need the stereo and the tv on?"
"Cause I like to pawrty."

by rchawk12 on Jul 2, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

NeFe

just looks too much like Neon and Iron from the Periodic Table…

Neftali “El Calor” Feliz

Simple but i like it

Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers - can you see how incredible this is going to be? - hang gliding, come on! -- Dignan

by Hypo-Luxa on Jul 3, 2008 7:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

lol someone needs to start a poll on this

these are too good to pass up

wonder if he has one yet?

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 2, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

king feliz

yuck, too derivative.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 2, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

muhammad

Neft-ali….....(insert Norm laugh)

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on Jul 2, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Has to be Feliz...

I realize he is a ways away and the risk is there, but this kids ceiling is so damn high I have to put him there.

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

by slc ranger on Jul 2, 2008 5:12 PM CDT 0 recs

I want Warner Madrigal

taken off.

waaah. someone got his feelings hurt...

by Longhorn on Jul 2, 2008 10:37 PM CDT 0 recs

Why?

Because of one bad performance? The kid is legit but he needs time to refine. Don’t forget that he is still relatively new to pitching. The Rangers obviously saw something in Madrigal that warranted a spot on the 40 and his MiLB stats suggest that he can be very effective in late-inning relief.

Based on his pure stuff and his statistical record, I think Madrigal will make a fine late innings reliever at the major league level. It’s not going to happen overnight.

Doesn’t a potential late-innings reliever have value?

Venezuelan Arms

by jparks77 on Jul 2, 2008 10:49 PM CDT up 0 recs