Newberg Report Top 20

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 9:24 AM CDT

The latest installment of my weekly ranking of the top 20 prospects in the Rangers’ farm system has now been posted on the official Rangers website, www.texasrangers.com.

Here’s a direct link to the column:

http://tinyurl.com/5v579l

-- Jamey

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Beltre

Beltre has nearly as many triples (9) and home runs (8) as unintentional walks (10), and as much as the organization expects that second category to increase as he matures, the third category needs to be addressed as well.

Am I reading too much into this if it sounds like the org encourages the home-run swing?

Is the player’s walk rate hopeless? You can’t walk off the island, but Grady Sizemore (admittedly, not a Dominican player) started taking lots of walks playing his home games for Clinton as an 18-year-old.

I fear for Beltre’s OBP. I fear it will ground him.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 28, 2008 9:51 AM CDT 0 recs

HRs

I think Jamey just means that power develops with age and since he’s so young his HR totals are likely to increase in the next couple of years. His walks are a worry; I had hoped to see some progress in that this season.

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Aug 28, 2008 10:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

Actually I think the opposite may be true...

…supposedly he got benched the other day for swinging at the first pitch.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 28, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

More on Moreland

Outstanding list, Jamey. I really like this new segment.

To the best of my knowledge, your Rangers Top20 list is the first one that includes Mitch Moreland. His stats and consistency this year in Clinton have been nothing short of amazing. If he is able to continue his progression next year in Bakersfield, he will likely post an OPS in excess of 1000 in the Cal Lague. When I’ve looked at former Rangers minor league players who were relatively low-round picks out of college, the one with the most comparable statistical profile in his first two minor league seasons is Travis Hafner.

Given the multiple positional changes that Moreland’s been asked to make this year, it appears that the Rangers might view him more as an organizational guy than a true prospect. Do you get that sense as well? Additionally, do you have any information on Moreland’s defense? Could he be an average RF or does he profile more as a 1B/DH?

by spurdynasty on Aug 28, 2008 10:23 AM CDT 0 recs

Organizational guy? Not necessarily....

YR Club LG 1B 2B 3B SS OF
06 Spokane NWST 32 0 0 0 36
07 Bakersfield CAL 0 0 91 0 0
Frisco TEX 0 0 29 0 0

That’s what Chris Davis played his first two seasons.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ugh.

Sorry for the clunky formatting.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Interesting comp for Moreland

A review of the hitters in the Midwest League reveals that the most comparable hitter to Moreland is 22 yo Brett Wallace, 2008 1st round draft pick out of Arizona State.

Moreland – 455AB, 56BB, 63K, 323AVG, 396OBP, 532SLG, 928OPS
Wallace – 153AB, 17BB, 32K, 327AVG, 418OBP, 490SLG, 918OPS

Wallace was recently promoted to AA Springfield and has posted an 1177 OPS in his first ten games. Wallace was widely acknowledged as having one of the best bats among 2008 draftees. He is currently playing 3rd base though he is expected to play 1B in the majors.

Moreland will turn 23 next month and is approximately 12 months older than Wallace.

by spurdynasty on Aug 30, 2008 6:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

RF Defense

He’s going through the usual growing pains when moving to the outfield, but he has a good arm. He was also a pitching prospect, so it’s not his arm that limits him to first base. His range will never be good, but he’s a passable right fielder at this point.

Player Profiles - Texas Rangers Analyst

by Andy Seiler on Aug 28, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

One Final Paragraph

A who dropped out of the top 20 paragraph would be cool. I’d like to see your reasons why certain players dropped out of your favor.

by Chris Hanes on Aug 28, 2008 10:26 AM CDT 0 recs

Dropouts

I can certainly note who dropped out each week, but commentary probably won’t fit. I’m already well above prescribed word count, though BAM hasn’t said anything about it yet.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

Word count

Are they worried people won’t be willing to slog through so…many….words or won’t like scrolling?

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Aug 28, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

I thought our organizational savior was doing away with limits...

…does that apply to “word counts”?

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Aug 28, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up 1 recs

Nice.

Maybe I’ll try that argument if pressed.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

with that attitude

youre just begging for jamey to blow his finger out

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Aug 28, 2008 4:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wow, Moreland at 17?

I like him a lot, but that surprised me. I am disappointed that he hasn’t been challenged with a promotion. Both he and Smoak should start in Bakersfield next April, meaning Moreland will be moving around the field some more. Maybe they should just leave him in the OF.

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Aug 28, 2008 10:32 AM CDT 0 recs

that's fantastic Jamey.

some of the names missing on that list are reaaaally good prospects, and the ones you have up there – wow. especially the pitching prospects. it never ceases to amaze me each time I see a collective ranking of our young, strike-out-per-inning talent that are among the youngest in each respective league.

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 28, 2008 11:15 AM CDT 0 recs

You know what I like

11 pitchers among the list.

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 Aug 28, 2008 11:19 AM CDT 0 recs

Jovanny Cedeno

Does anyone have a baseball card set of the 2000 Savannah Sand Gnats? I’d like to borrow the Jovanny Cedeno card, and will get it back to you within a week — along with a free Bound Edition, any year of your choice. It needs to be unaltered, though (i.e., unautographed).

Jamey

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 11:23 AM CDT 0 recs

How about...

Jamey,

What about covering a guy(s) that is either “banging down the door” or in your “Crystal Ball?” For instance, when LSB wrapped up the prospect rankings, zywica gave his top 30 which included 17-year old catcher Tomas Telis, who’s currently in the Dominican Summer League. To my knowledge, no one else had Telis ranked. It’d be interesting to hear about him.

Also, although it goes without saying (so why on earth am I saying it?!!!) it was a really interesting article. You’re in line for the highly coveted YourNameHere recommendation.

It's not my website, but you should visit Andy Seiler's First-Rate http://texasrangersanalyst.blogspot.com/

by YourNameHere on Aug 28, 2008 11:27 AM CDT 0 recs

Consider it done.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

Whoa...

Even I underestimated the YourNameHere recommendation!!! 26 minutes and it’s done!!! Feel it’s Power!!!!

But seriously though, thanks. There are a lot of guys in the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Rookie League that we don’t hear much about. And when it comes to Big League relievers, they can spring up anywhere (e.g. science teachers in Big Lake, Simon Fraser University MBA Graduates, wherever Scott Bailes was during the mid-90’s), so hopefully you’ll see something the rest of us miss.

It's not my website, but you should visit Andy Seiler's First-Rate http://texasrangersanalyst.blogspot.com/

by YourNameHere on Aug 28, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

ARL

Speaking of, I discovered this on Clark Murphy:

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=63284&Sport=3

Corner Outfield

Fallbrook (CA) Fallbrook

Ht/Wt: 6-foot-3/200
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
GPA: 3.8
SAT: 1700
Draft: 2008

Smart kid…

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 28, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Max score is now 2400

1700 doesn’t sound all that good to me. Is that really considered very high? 1515 is average according to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT

Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.

by Brian Thomas on Aug 28, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up 0 recs

1515 is average?

I thought it would be higher.

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
und freudenvollere.

by t ball on Aug 28, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well

that’s the equivalent of about a 1010 in the old school scoring, right? 505 for each category? The way I remember it a 1010 wouldn’t have been a turrible score. Right about average.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 28, 2008 6:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well that's...

smarter than Rodney Dangerfield’s old man. He worked at a bank for 30 years and they caught him stealing pens!

It's not my website, but you should visit Andy Seiler's First-Rate http://texasrangersanalyst.blogspot.com/

by YourNameHere on Aug 28, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

They should've left it at 1600

Saying I got a 1490 makes me sound below average now >_>.

by Motiak on Aug 28, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Holy shit

You made a 1490?!?!?!?!

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

by Chase Irwin on Aug 28, 2008 7:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

2400 is max?

Did not know that!

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Aug 28, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wow!

Max Ramirez is one smart S.O.B!

And he’s number 6 this week…

"...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 Aug 28, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yep

My thoughts exactly when I saw that! The SAT is no match for Mr. Ramirez. He’s max max.

by RangersOCD on Aug 28, 2008 3:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

great work..

Again. And I’m glad that MLB thinks you are special:

By Jamey Newberg / Special to MLB.com

by corbsclinton on Aug 28, 2008 11:38 AM CDT 0 recs

We convinced you to add Poveda and drop Ross.

Now we have to convince you to add Weiland and drop Poveda. Such are the tribulations of the Rangers farm depth on the bump.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Aug 28, 2008 12:30 PM CDT 0 recs

Yes.

I caved to LSB pressure. I wanted badly not to include Omar, but couldn’t fend off the powerful influence of the LSB postership.

by Jamey Newberg on Aug 28, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

heh.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

That’s because we have a lease on the vanity #20 spot; it’s like one of those reality gameshows where you compete to sit on the bench of a professional sports team

by Telegraph on Aug 28, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

JMJ

Then consider this overwhelming pressure to drop Mayberry. I don’t see any way that a 24 year old RF from Stanford with the stats he has put up through his minor league career could be considered a prospect.

--Brian

by BCanfield on Aug 28, 2008 1:15 PM CDT 0 recs

Agree

Player Profiles - Texas Rangers Analyst

by Andy Seiler on Aug 28, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

I have never understood

the refusal to see that JMJ is not a good prospect. It sucks to look back and I know that many still cling to hope but people need to move on. He’s a 4th outfielder at best and right now if not for the 40 issue wouldn’t even be considered for a cup of coffee. Jamey and others need to let it go.

by Hull Fan on Aug 28, 2008 4:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Draft position and overall tools

He has one really really plus tool which can cause people dream big.

It’s not out of the question that if you stuck him in the big leagues for an entire season that he couldn’t hit .286/.334/.480 or so.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 28, 2008 6:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

meh

considering that he has a career minor league average of .256 im skeptical if he’d hit that high in the majors, especially if he doesnt improve his patience. i feel what youre saying though and id agree. if you put JMJ in the majors next year i think he would do as well as if not better than boggs has done this year, with the main difference being his power. i dont have any problem with his inclusion on an extended list of rangers prospects.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Aug 28, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mr. Bruce Campbell,

I love this segment and keep up the good work. I get all wet just reading your blurbs about each guy.

Our system is tits! That is all!

Big Badd Bubba J

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Aug 28, 2008 5:32 PM CDT 0 recs

Congratulations

You still hate Lil’ Lemon.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 28, 2008 6:33 PM CDT 0 recs

lil' lemon

.228/.284/.356 in August

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 29, 2008 7:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

but

it was a scrappy 640!

by bushe on Aug 29, 2008 8:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Dirk is almost up there with Bev

for liking prospects drowning in fail.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Aug 29, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

Haha!

by Rodney on Aug 29, 2008 10:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

You really think Lemon is drowning in fail?

Or are you just trying to be the clever jokester we all know you want so badly to be?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 29, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up 1 recs

On nos! A bad month! DFA! DFA!

I’ll take a 19/20 yo SS in A+ hitting .292/.374/.432/.805.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 29, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

or 2B anyway

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 29, 2008 4:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

SS

"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."

by Longhorn on Aug 29, 2008 11:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

z

I have read several accounts that Lemon doesn’t have the skills to be a ML SS, while Vallejo might. Is that your take? If so, why hasn’t Vallejo gotten a look at SS?

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 30, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't know

I haven’t gotten to watch Lemon, so I’m just going by those accounts. Vallejo seems, from his play at 2B, like he could possibly have enough range/arm, but I don’t really know how you could judge without seeing him play the position.

Offense doesn't doubt me, but my first and primemost thing is defense and punt return and kickoff return

by zywica on Aug 31, 2008 5:09 PM CDT up 0 recs