Font to Hickory where he will be in the starting rotation. And Smoak is headed to Frisco.
almost 3 years ago
shroomer
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Wow...
Was just wondering about this, thought he was extended-bound for sure. Must’ve been a nice consistent ST.
Wonderful news.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
Hell yeah! He'll be fun to follow is year.
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
What?!?!?!?
Is he hurt? Is he starting in Frisco??????????
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Apr 3, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Frisco
That would be totally astonishing. And awesome.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Apr 3, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
I forgot about extended.
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Apr 3, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Correction
I’m an idiot. The list I originally got DID have Main on it. I just accidentally skipped over his name.
Sorry :)
Is this all behind the pay wall?
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Apr 3, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Everyone should subscribe at least
during Spring Training and Fall instructs. Jason does interviews with about a dozen players during each one of his trips to Arizona. Additionally, he is the first to post rosters and player cuts and injury updates. So even if you don’t want to pay for a whole year, try it for those months. Totally worth it.
Keep 'em coming shroom...
at least as much as you can. Damn it’s going to be a fun season down on the farm.
Thanks in advance.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
This seems overly aggressive for a teenager who basically missed all of last season...
Goddamn, that Hickory rotation looks beastly though. I wonder who gets left out…Wieland?
Wieland
is on the Beavan plan. Go to extended for a few weeks before joining Hickory.
Okay
So we have Font, Ramirez, Boscan, Pimental, and Perez in Hickory to start the season.
Who do you predict Wieland replaces?
by Adam J. Morris on Apr 3, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
That was my next question
I’d assume Pimentel.
no I think
Perez starts in EXT too. I think Ocampo should start in Hickory myself.
Not all of those guys are starting in Hickory
There will be some extended out there. I have to save something for my site :)
But from what I’ve heard, Hamburger will be starting out in the rotation, even though they still like him as a reliever. They want him to get as much work as possible right now.
Hamburger really? Thats weird.
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
by Kinslerhomer on Apr 3, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I have to doubt that he does more than
spot start or split start as there is no justification for any of our elite prospects giving up time to Hamburger. If he still doesnt have a good enough #2 pitch to be a closer then we didnt’ get enough for EddieG.
and don't forget that
they will probably have a split-start system there as well so you are looking at starter 5a/5b.
2nd that
what makes you say they’ll use a split starter system?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Just a presumption
to help manage the system depth. For example, it makes sense that there will be one if Font is starting out the season in Hickory after not pitching last year. Otherwise, why not just start him out in extended? I guess they could just shut him down 2/3 thru the year but I’m not sure that makes a lot of sense for a # of reasons.
But that would fly in the face
of their edict to get guys to go longer into games and all that. Plus, I’d think if they were going to make that sort of change we’d have heard about it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I think the Rangers are going to have to make some
changes to manage their system depth without having to keep half their guys in EXT. IMO one of the best ways to do that is to implement the split-starter system employed in short-season. I can’t think of a better way at least.
Just take a look at the people who could merit assignments to Hickory: ramirez, pimentel, font, wieland, ocampo, perez, brigham, castillo, Miggie, boscan, Bleier. The solution can’t really be to keep them all in EXT this year. The system depth will merit some change in roster mgmt practices IMO.
s/b "keep them all in EXT until June
or there is a roster opening."
actually they
effectively did that with Castillo last season or so I thought.
Hickory
Is going to roll this year. That rotation is just sick. The thing I like beat about the Rangers system is it is coming in waves instead of just one and done as has been the case for so many years.
The future is near!!
Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage
I so wish that I could take a week out there and watch them through the rotation
Not sure how long those 5 will be out there though…. ;-)
Oustanding!
(and that chick that wants to chat with me is pretty hot-I likey)
"...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
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
What chick?
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I want to be the next Annie Savoy.
by The Best Micah on Apr 3, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Ha, on scout.com.
Some ad.
"...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
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Okay...
…interesting :)
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
I want to be the next Annie Savoy.
by The Best Micah on Apr 3, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Font
I expect domination.
"Come on man you have to admit the average guy in a baseball clubhouse...... is relatively a douchebag." BGL.
The 2008-2009 Dallas Mavericks are the biggest teases in the world.
Sweet.
If only they still played in Clinton. I’m so bummed about that.
Regardless, this is deserving of a WOOT!
JD: Adamant about 78 wins in 2009. Go Rangers!
Hickory
i really hate dirkatron right about now (more so than usual). he gets to see font and perez!
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Me too sucka!
In yo Frisco watchin face!
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
article
I am sure ya’ll have seen this BA article linked in Jamey’s first email this A.M. It discusses the Ryan implemented conditioning/training program for Ranger pitchers.
I don’t think they are going to use a split starter system. Set your rotation and let the cream rise to the top. Promote up the system whomever needs a new challange. We saw that with Hunter, Feliz and Holland last year.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2009/267871.html
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Its gonna be hard though
Its alot easier to be aggressive with Hunter, Holland, and Feliz when they are taking the place of guys like Zac Phillips and Micheal Schlact, etc. Its gonna be harder being aggressive with Neil Ramirez for instance with a rotation full of prospects in the level above him. Especially when those prospects in the higher level are as young as they are. Its alot easier to promote a 22 year old from High A to AA even if they haven’t had the success you wanted than to promote a 20 year old from High A to AA.
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.
It has nothin' to do with cream man
just numbers. There are 10 guys who you could rightfully argue deserve a starting spot in Hickory. And as biggieSteve suggests, they are packed back to back, level to level in A+ and A, with younsters, some of whom will need to stay at their level all year. Its all about creative roster management.
Well hell, lets just trade them all then. :)
I think you can find a spot in Frisco and OKC for a pitcher ready to move up. Hopefully when Holland moves up there will be pitchers at each level ready to make the jump to the next level with him.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Who though?
Main, Beavan, and Gomez are all still very young. They shouldn’t be in Frisco until July at the earliest IMO. Without having a depth chart in front of me I can’t think if anyone who may actually be ready to jump to Frisco. The last thing I want to to is start promoting these young guys too early and risk stunting their development
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.
How old is Feliz?
I don’t recall where I heard it, but, the Rangers have said that they will not let age determine how a player advances through the system. They will be promoted when they are ready. As for a rotation spot, who is starting in Frisco? Kiker, Poveda, Schlact, Moscoso and Hunter?
Do you want Schlact blocking Main, Beavan or Gomez?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
chart out the full season rosters yourself
and then you’ll have your answer
Why should I
when I can just check out yours? Btw, what does the yellow mean on your spreadsheet? Bleier in AA?
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Im not saying it won't happen
But if you promote say Main to AA when he hasn’t dominated High A and move Boscan up to High A and slide another really good young guy into Hickory then what happens if Main struggles in AA and shows he is overmatched? There isn’t any fallback room.
Im all for promoting guys when they are ready. But I think that may delay some of the lowest leve guys because the guys above them aren’t ready. If nobody in Bakersfield is ready to jump to AA I don’t see any openings for Low A guys to get promoted. Same way if a short season or extended guy is ready to go to Hickory there may not be any room. Thats the only problem with the waves of talent like we have is you have to have multiple guys ready to move up at the same time or you simply don’t have the space.
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.
Just think
starting last year these guys were all in Low A (and Beavan and Main had delayed starts, but this was pretty much the expected starting group before Main’s injury):
Derek Holland – 21
Neftali Feliz – 19
Michael Main – 19
Blake Beavan – 19
Kennil Gomez – 19
Fabio Castillo – 19
Including potential delayed starters, this group seems to compare pretty favorably:
Martin Perez – 18 (only turns 18 tomorrow)
Wilmer Font – 18
Neil Ramirez – 19
Joe Wieland – 19
Wilfredo Boscan – 19
Robbie Ross – 19
Carlos Pimentel – 19
Jake Brigham – 21
For one, it’s amazing how fast talented pitchers can move when they figure it out. Feliz and Holland have kind of left everyone else in their dust for now.
Now that Perez and Font are at the same developmental point, they pair together nicely. They share quite a few similarities with Holland/Feliz, and they share some traits with each other: they are both Venezuelan and were the Rangers’ big pitching signing in the 2006 and 2007 Intl classes. I haven’t looked at who all will be in the SAL this season (Ethan Martin may be the biggest pitcher name), but I bet scouts will flock to see our two 18 year olds.
Z,
is the SAL league a pitchers or a hitters league?
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
I believe that it’s middle of the road. It’s more offensive than the Midwest League though. Also, I misspoke on Martin. The Dodgers are MWL now.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 4, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Thx
"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.
How are Font and Perez at the same developmental point?
Is that simply their age or the fact they are both in the same level?
I personally think we are rushing Font a tad. And I think it has a little to do with his rule 5 status. He was signed in 2006 correct? That would mean he is rule 5 eligible in 3 more years. He is a very talented kid. If we held him back and just pitched him in extended and then short season, which would still be way ahead of his age development timeline, then next year we could only have 2 years of him in full season ball before having to make a critical roster decision.
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.
I don't think the Rule V has anything to do with it
He’s got an amazing arm and looked impressive this ST. I think he showed that he is ready for full season ball and doesn’t need to be held back and start in a short season league again.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
He is a very impressive kid no doubt
But a kid who is only 18 and has only 50 innings of pro experience who just missed an entire season with injury(s) doesn’t normally jump into full season ball.
I have to think that the fact they are going to have to make a major decision on him in 3 years does play a little part in their decision. By doing this in three years Font should have at least some AA experience under his belt. If you started him in short season this season it would be a rush to get him to AA by the time you have to decide on him. And with our 40 situation in coming years with all our young players its gonna be hard justifying keeping guys who haven’t hit AA yet no matter how talented they are.
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.
Just look at Poveda
He’s a talented arm who struggled last year in high A but there wasn’t ever much doubt he would make it on the 40 man roster to avoid being picked up in the Rule V. With an arm like Font’s, do you think that 3 years from now, he won’t develop enough to warrant being added to the 40 man? Even if he spends this year in Spokane and then goes to Clinton, he’s probably going to end up like Poveda in 3 years where you have to add him to the 40 before he pitches in Frisco. I just don’t see why that is a problem for the team.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
In 3 years we are going to have a completely different 40 than we did this winter
About a month or so ago I believe it was Lucas who had a spreadsheet detailing when guys would have to be required to be added to the 40. Theres alot of people in the next couple years that will have to be added. So in 3 years we may not have the room to cary a guy who hasn’t pitched above A ball on the 40 no matter how good his arm is. Font is going to be the type of decision that Daniels and the front office is going to have to think long and hard about over the next couple years.
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.
The 40 man still won't be that good
To not have room for a guy like Font.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Age, level, experience
No, Font did not pitch at Spokane last year as anticipated, but he did pitch full time in the AZL two seasons ago. It’s not exactly rare for a teenage pitcher to move from rookie ball to full season Low A, and I think that we should remember that while Font only pitched five innings last year, it’s not like that’s the only time he stepped on the mound. After experiencing a full AZL season, he was on the mound in Arizona (including ST, extended spring and fall instructs) plenty to make some progress. This also counteracts the low game inning total he had. His innings will certainly have to be monitored, but it’s not like he was going to spend the next two months playing playstation. He’d still be pitching. I expected him to go the extended/Spokane route myself, but I think that we are too quick to forget that these guys are still pitching, just not at quite the same effort level, when they’re not on a live roster in the spring. Maybe the biggest reason you might have thought he’d miss a full season spot is how crowded those are, but we are talking about one of the most important players in the organization. Developmentally it does not surprise me at all that he’s ready for full season ball.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 4, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions
This is also what makes it so difficult
to forecast a 4 year trajectory for these pitchers. While it might be that a good to very good prospect might take 2 (college) or 4(HS) years to be in or on the cusp of the majors, the elite prospects might take half that time, and could “figure it out” earlier or later within that time frame. Just given the % (and barring injury), there is going to be 2-4 starters in A ball that put it all together this year (as with N. “perez” and holland last year); it should be a fun year in the minors.
re pitching jumps
the rangers are not just committed to station to station jumps w their players any more. I think they err on the more aggressive move rather than the more conservative one. I see players that are capable of skipping a level to deal with the roadblocks that are possible. did anyone see hunter jumping like he did last year?
I think the pitching situation is more than manageable with the injury factor. some guys innings could be well managed in long relief in some of these levels since a guy like font is not likely to go full speed all year long. the key is to have a couple of guys at each level ready to step into the available slots when they open with enough innings to project as a starter in the event another guy breaks down.
The only one who skipped a level was Feliz
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.
the rangers made a mistake with hunter
he had no business jumping to AAA last year and should have spent the year in AA. Save for his control, his peripherals were not impressive. He was hittable, and his strikeout rate was miniature and getting worse from A to AA to AAA. He needed to spend the year working on his changeup and fastball (moving it around, changing speeds). His ascent through the system and implosion in the majors was an unnerving remainder from former rangers regimes bent on ruining prospects.
From the NMLR forum -
BA’s take on 3 top Rangers DSL prospects
So our AZ rookie league staff this summer should have a few insteresting arms on it.
So let's assume that
all of the Robbie Ross, Wilmer Font types will be on full season rosters by the time short season starts. Who will be the headliners for those two teams? Aside from their run of the mill, middle of the round 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc., etc. picks, the net of all of the free agent and compensation activity will result in them picking something like 14, 45 and 60 in the first two rounds. So that’s three pretty premium picks…of course you never know if those guys will be quick signs or August 15 types. Otherwise, not trying to list everyone anyone can think of, but the more premier guys:
Carlos Melo
Matt Thompson
Gueris Grullon (assuming he can’t force his way onto Hickory at some point)
Tomas Telis
Leo de los Santos (haven’t heard if he’s in line for Hickory)
Richard Alvarez
Ezequiel Rijo
So that’s two pitchers – Thompson and Grullon – possibly headed for Spokane and three – Melo, Alvarez, Rijo – who could go to Arizona. Of course if Alvarez is as advanced as our bloggers suggest he could go the Martin Perez route. Either way, I think you’d have to think that at least half of those two rotations (and possibly their two battery mates) are already filled, before any picks are made.
Others probably of less note, guys who are always brought up in these conversations but I wouldn’t consider headliners like the above:
Juan Polanco – various questions
Miguel de los Santos – same
Johan Yan – continued progress on the mound?
Juan Grullon
Rainer Bermudez – I was hoping he’d make Hickory
Kyle Ocampo – same as G Grullon
Anyenil Mendoza
…and a slew of other Latin American kids with some degree of talent
by Brett Perryman on Apr 4, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Short season squads
Spokane: JGrullon, GGrullon, Ross, Macumba, C-murph, Martinez
Given that there will be 3-5 guys in EXT or in the BP waiting for a spot to open in the Hickory rotation there is no way Ross makes it there during the regular season. Martinez could get a surprise assignment to Hickory.
AZL: LGarcia, EGarcia, Telis, Pimentel, Polanco, Kyung, Mendoza, Thompson, Zeke, Melo, Alvarez, Peralta.
I think GGrullon is more hype than anything and a major bust candidate. I think JGrullon and Mendoza are superior prospects. I don’t think Abreu will make his AZL debut (power hitters tend to need a year in DSL) nor do I think that Escobar will given the depth that will be there now and after the draft. Yan is not a prospect worth noting IMO. Ocampo deserves to be in Hickory and gets no recognition. Polanco’s peripherals as are all impressive. The only question i have about him is his size. I like Miggie and I like him in Hickory in whatever capacity, but he would be in EXT if he were to make the rotation, which seems unlikely. As for Bermudez, given his age, if he can’t make Hickory then he is not much of a prospect. It will be interesting to start getting some reports on the kid. As for all of these Latin American starting pitchers making their debuts, I can only say: WOW.
Anyenil
38 2/3 IP
1.48 G/F
…no HRs.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Apr 6, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions
good stuff
That Escobar kid – he should be in AZ this summer, shouldn’t he?
Miggy De Los Santos – I’m sorta wondering if he’ll be in the Hickory pen.
Guillermo Pimentel – he should be in AZ this summer, you’d think.
A coupla of these flashy little Latin IF’ers should be in SS, too – Garcia and Garcia?
Then there’s Tae Ahn – but he’s kinda down in the Wilkins/Henry tier in my mind.
From the description on Escobar when he signed (fairly polished, relatively speaking, and pretty much a fully developed body) I could definitely see him being in AZL. I’d probably less optimistic that Abreu could handle it, but then I wasn’t huge on that signing anyway.
Pimentel – good one, definitely seems like he belongs in that first group
On the Garcias, I guess I have a hard time getting too psyched about tiny, flashy LA SSs until they hit just a little.
Yeah, mostly because of the underwhelming response to Ahn from Jamey and others I would probably have to hear some more positive things before thinking he’s ready to make an impact.
Escobar and Pimentel belong with those other 6-7 to me. Pretty good starting point.
by Brett Perryman on Apr 4, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions
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