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LSB Community Prospect Project: Mid-Season #16

Cimg0157_tiny by thedirkatron on

Well, I had planned on stopping this thing after 15, since that's usually when the interest starts to wane, but the response has been much stronger than I expected as we got over 230 votes last time.

So we press on...

After 232 votes, Tommy Hunter has won the right to be called the LSB Community #15 prospect!

The list so far:
1. 1b, Chris Davis
2. RHP, Neftali Feliz
3. RHP, Eric Hurley
4. SS, Elvis Andrus
5. C, Maximiliano Ramirez
6. 1b, Justin Smoak
7. RHP, Michael Main
8. RHP, Blake "C-Wun" Beavan
9. C, Taylor Teagarden
10. LHP Kasey Kiker
11. OF, Engel Beltre
12. LHP, Matt Harrison
13. OF, Julio Borbon
14. LHP, Derek Holland
15. RHP, Tommy Hunter

Time to move on to the next vote.

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 you want on the list for next time.

NOTE: There has been some speculation as to what the criteria are for this vote. Should guys who are currently in the bigs be involved in "prospect" discussions? For the sake of this exercise we're taking what the guys have done in the big leagues and using the BA prospect formula of 130 AB's or 50 ip. If a guy is under those limits, he's still a prospect right now, so he goes on the list. It's that simple.

Poll
Who is currently the #16 prospect in the Rangers' system?
LHP, Martin Perez
8 votes
LHP, Tim Murphy
0 votes
LHP, Beau Jones
1 votes
LHP, Robbie Ross
5 votes
RHP, Neil Ramirez
36 votes
RHP, Wilmer Font
65 votes
RHP, Omar Poveda
1 votes
RHP, Thomas Diamond
25 votes
RHP, Warner Madrigal
17 votes
RHP, Fabio Castillo
1 votes
RHP, Wilfredo Boscan
1 votes
RHP, Kennil Gomez
2 votes
C/OF, Cristian Santana
4 votes
1b, Ian Gac
0 votes
2b, German Duran
17 votes
2b, Jose Vallejo
25 votes
SS, Marcus Lemon
13 votes
SS, Joaquin Arias
2 votes
SS, Renny Osuna
1 votes
3b, Matt West
0 votes
OF, John Mayberry, Jr.
49 votes
OF, Mitch Moreland
1 votes

274 votes | Poll has closed

6 recs | Comment 104 comments

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Ne Ram

for the 3rd straight time….

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 22, 2008 2:55 PM CDT   0 recs

if JMJ wins this thing

im gonna hunt all you down who voted for him and give you nookies.

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 22, 2008 5:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

nookies?!?!?

Are you going to do this, yourself?

by naropean on Jul 22, 2008 6:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

naw im gonna sub it out....

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 22, 2008 6:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Haha!

good recovery…

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley

by Rodney on Jul 23, 2008 3:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I don't get it

I think JMJ’s family found a way to vote multiple times.

by cstorm15 on Jul 22, 2008 6:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

For me also

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Jul 23, 2008 2:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I voted for Lil' Lemon last time to show how much I hearted the little guy

but that was mostly just a throw away vote since I knew Hunter would win in a runaway and I knew a vote for anyone else was a throw away.

This one comes down to M-Per, NeRa and Font to me, and I’m having a devil of a time picking between them. All three are big time young power arms. All three have top of the rotation potential. All three have question marks.

I think I’m gonna have to go with M-Per. His numbers don’t look as good after that bombing he took on the 9th (1.1ip, 4hits, 4walks, 4er’s, 0k’s) but overall I’m still absolutely blown away by what he’s doing in Spokane at such a young age. This is a kid who won’t turn 18 until after he’s reported to spring training NEXT YEAR. And he’s more than holding his own in the NWL. That’s just stupid.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 3:00 PM CDT   0 recs

cant vote font

until he throws a pitch. Add to the fact that he hasnt pitched to the fact that he is ridiculously far away. I really like him, but this is getting a little suspicous.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 22, 2008 3:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So I guess you wouldn't vote for Smoak, either

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 22, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I did

just not over feliz, davis, or maxram. I would give the benefit of the doubt to andrus, but I am higher on him than most and probably hurley for that matter cause I cant remember the last time we had quality young pitching brought up through the organization that didnt completely implode upon arrival. There is definite value in hurley.

I love the smoak pick and once some guys graduate he will be a sure fire top 3 prospect, if not #2, no way he tops feliz right now even if he were playing. My motto for this little poll we have been doing is that it is a mid season poll so the thing I tend to weigh almost as equally as ceiling and talent is what the prospects have been doing this season. Therefore guys like max and hurley get bonus points for what they have been doing so far this year. Are they better prospects than smoak? Maybe, maybe not, but that has been my criteria and im sticking to it.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 22, 2008 3:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Difficult indeed

Even with personal preferences we’re now to the point where it’s really hard to pick. I went with Font again, and at least one of the other Latin arms will be in the mix for the next few votes (Perez, Boscan, Castillo).

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 22, 2008 3:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lemon

the new Tuglett?

by bushe on Jul 22, 2008 3:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hah

No one can ever replace the Lil’ Tugger.

But Lemon is at least thought of as a “prospect” by a few people, unlike Tugger, who was only liked cause of his sweet nickname and because he loved Jesus so darn much.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 3:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

M-Per? Really?

That nickname makes me cringe. Why not wait until he’s at full season ball to christen a nickname? NeRa works because we have another Ramirez in the system, but the name Martin Perez doesn’t exactly lend itself to a nickname.

As for voting, I went Vallejo, but it was a tough choice. He’s always been pretty good defensively, and now this year his bat has really broken out. I figure he’s a lot like Duran was last year, except a better defender and with excellent speed and baserunning ability. That’s what put him above Lemon for me.

by naropean on Jul 22, 2008 3:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

heh

I just love the first letter of the first name + the first syllable of the last name = a nickname thing.

Plus I like the sound of it when you pronounce it Em-Pear.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 3:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

not sure if i really think he is 16th

but I am keeping with my vote with them till they stick mantra, vallejo for me. The more I think about it, I am tempted to go with poveda, diamond, or ramirez. I tend to wait on the low level arms, but ramirez looks very good albeit a bit wild. At this point it is almost impossible to differentiate between a lot of these guys.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 22, 2008 3:00 PM CDT   0 recs

ZOMG!

We need more recs, Scotty!

+1

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey," Bo Diddley

by Rodney on Jul 22, 2008 3:01 PM CDT   0 recs

NeRa.

Been voting for him for a while now.

by coolaid on Jul 22, 2008 3:03 PM CDT   0 recs

Vallejo

All the chatter these last couple threads has swayed me.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 22, 2008 3:04 PM CDT   0 recs

We have way too many pitching prospects

it’s time to trade a few away for Greinke.

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 22, 2008 3:05 PM CDT   0 recs

i thought you could never have enough pitching prospects when you're the rangers

:D

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 22, 2008 4:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The problem is that most of them are 2+ years away

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 22, 2008 5:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know so we have to trade em...

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 22, 2008 6:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

we can afford to trade a couple...

just hope we choose correctly.

by tyd3311 on Jul 22, 2008 6:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

All you non-Font voting haters must hate freedom

Up yours, freedom haters!

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 22, 2008 3:06 PM CDT   0 recs

+ 1776

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 22, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Can’t wait for his first pitch above rookie ball!

I mean if he’s not strung out on meth or threatening to come out of the closet or being held hostage by the mob or Islamofascists or the Klan! Awesome!

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 22, 2008 3:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OK, I left my Junior G-Man Decoder ring at home today

What does your second paragraph mean?

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 22, 2008 3:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just a reference to the situation holding him out of games, whatever…a few weeks ago.

Was it parks who was alluding?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 22, 2008 3:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Who keeps voting for Mad Mardigan?

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 22, 2008 3:09 PM CDT   0 recs

Don't stop

at least not until I get to vote for Duran 10x….

by bushe on Jul 22, 2008 3:13 PM CDT   0 recs

Duran just over Lemon

Duran > Lemon > Vallejo, but it’s all pretty close. Duran hit .300 / .352 / .525 as a 22 year old in AA this year and doesn’t deserve to fall just because we brought him up too soon. Neither Vallejo nor Lemon can match Duran in terms of power, but atleast Lemon has the advanced plate approach. Lemon may not be steller defensively at shortstop, but neither was Kinsler. I’ve read all the discussion on here about Vallejo, but I’m just not convinced. Other than speed (and supposedly defense at 2b), there’s nothing that Vallejo really does well. Lemon also has a better pedigree than Vallejo: son of a big leaguer, and we picked him up in a later round and monewhipped him to keep him out of UT.

Also, I’m not ready to vote for any of the future relievers or the pitchers that are atleast 3-4 years away.

Oh, and are people voting for Mayberry as a joke? At this point, I’m at a loss for words.

by cstorm15 on Jul 22, 2008 3:13 PM CDT   0 recs

It's at the point

That I just don’t know enough about how these guys are performing to make a judgment. If someone put up some stats of the leading candidates (perhaps focus on the top vote getters from the last round), it would help.

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 22, 2008 3:30 PM CDT   0 recs

I keep trying to find the time to do that

I’ll make a more concerted effort next time.

No promises though.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 3:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

One person cannot make a concerted effort :)

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 22, 2008 4:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Damn you, Brian Thomas

Damn you to hell.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 6:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I just assumed

you were going to add background music to the next poll or something.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 22, 2008 9:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's actually what I did mean

but don’t try telling that cloyingly erudite dolt Brian Thomas that, cause he’d probably get all offended and write a scathing 3,000 word reply claiming that his perspicacity is big and yours is small.

And if you don’t think he’d find some way to work in a Billy Beane-bashing playlet in there somewhere, you don’t know Brian Carter Thomas.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 23, 2008 1:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No need to vituperative...

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 23, 2008 11:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

to be

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jul 23, 2008 11:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Try

www.baseballcube.com

or

www.firstinning.com

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Jul 22, 2008 3:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lol, i know where to find them

"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2

by tdi1985 on Jul 22, 2008 5:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Warner Madrigal

easily.

Warner Madrigal is the Rangers most underrated prospect by a longshot; he SHOULD be be closing games within 3 years IMO. Matt Harrison is underrated too.

by dstar442005 on Jul 22, 2008 3:36 PM CDT   0 recs

Wow, dead heat so far.

by zywica on Jul 22, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Don't stop

we need to go to at least 75. We’ll finish just in time to start the offseason polls.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 22, 2008 3:52 PM CDT   0 recs

Font

Nickname suggestions: Courier New, Tahoma, Franklin Gothic Book?

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Jul 22, 2008 4:01 PM CDT   0 recs

Wilmer Fudd

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 22, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

who is that guy in the middle?

And why is he smelling that woman’s shoulder?

by naropean on Jul 22, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

She looks like

an unwilling participant in that photo op.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 22, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have a question...

to accurately rank these guys, don’t you have to know all them on the list. I’m a fan but other than the players that have made their debut, I only have heard of a few. How is possible to know these guys enough to have independent thoughts about them. If I were ranking, i would just copy the newberg report

by texasrangerfan on Jul 22, 2008 4:03 PM CDT   0 recs

fan

I look at the minor league boxscores everyday try it. Its fun to watch these guys come up through the system. It somthing to get excited for. Especially when the big club isnt performing in the last few years.

by mai on Jul 22, 2008 4:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In addition to what Brian linked

...(and I can’t recommend the prospect book highly enough)...

If you check the "FanPosts" here periodically, there is a wealth of information linked on prospects (as well as ad nauseum conversations and debates), almost an overwhelming amount for most people. Also, if you feel like spending a couple of bucks, Jason Cole’s Rangers scout.com affiliate is awesome.

by zywica on Jul 22, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Where's the love for Warner?

The guy we stole from the Angels. Who’s only pitched for two freaking years, and has rebounded very nicely from his bombing in New York. He’s got good heat and a nice breaking ball. The kid is our 8th inning guy next year and may well push to be our closer in 2010. Everyone was all excited this past off season when we picked him up and now nothing. You guys and your what have you done for me lately itus…are going to piss him off.

by Hull Fan on Jul 22, 2008 5:05 PM CDT   0 recs

if he were homegrown,

there’d be more love i bet..

by tyd3311 on Jul 22, 2008 5:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Relievers just aren’t as valuable as starters and position players. That said, he probably still has a shot at top 20 (which in our system isn’t bad at all).

by cstorm15 on Jul 22, 2008 5:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i still see 6 or 7 guys i vote for before Mad Dog.

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 22, 2008 5:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I really, really like him

But I wonder if he really has the stuff to be a closer. I think he’s going to be a successful reliever in the big leagues, but unless I’m absolutely sure he’s got what it takes to close, I have a hard time voting for him over a guy like Font or NeRa or Perez who have top of the rotation potential.

It goes to the value of starters vs. the value of relievers, imo.

But, yah, I love Warner. He’s gonna be a big part of our bullpen going forward.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 6:06 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Falling Fast and Random Thoughts...

Before the season, there was a player who Baseball America ranked as the #21 prospect for the Rangers, Mike Hindman and Evan Grant had at 18, Jamey Newberg had at 16, John Sickels and Scott Lucas had at 14, and the LSB community had at 13.

Anybody remember John Whittleman?

Bad year by almost all accounts, but now that Chris Davis is a first baseman and Travis Metcalf (.231/.268/.349 in Oklahoma) practically begging to be designated for assignment, is Whittleman the best third base prospect in the organization? Anyone think, at 21, he still has some upside?

I was just thinking about the third base situation, especially because it seems like Hank Blalock is gone in the next 12 months. I guess German Duran or Jose Vallejo could also take over at that corner; but keeping 27 year old Blalock, if feasible, is starting to sound like an interesting option.

Anyone got any thoughts?

by YourNameHere on Jul 22, 2008 5:29 PM CDT   0 recs