LSB Community Prospect Project: Mid-Season #1
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 9:38 AM CDT
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That's right ladies and bitches: It. Is. On.
It's finally time for everybody's favorite meaningless in-season community exercise: The Lonestarball Community Prospect Project.
These are always interesting, and the discussion the votes generate is often more fun than the voting.
For those of y'all who are new to the LSB CPP party, it's pretty simple: Over the next month or so I (TheDirkatron) will be running a series of daily polls asking you to vote for the prospect listed on the poll you think is the "best", with the winner coming off the poll and being added to the master list. It's a fun way of taking the community's pulse when it comes to who's who among our young talent.
Again: This vote is to determine how the LSB community would rank the players currently in the system. I've listed any guy I thought could possibly be considered a threat to be our top prospect.
Also note that we WILL be including recently drafted players, even if they have not yet been signed. Every year we do this and every year we have to engage in pointless debate about why these guys deserve to be on the list. Bottom line: For right now the Rangers own their rights, and until they fail to sign them (thereby relinquishing those rights) we're going to count them as Rangers' property. If they don't sign, then it's an easy move just to cut them off the list. So please let's not have any douchebaggery regarding this issue this time, yah?
Since things can change quickly in-season and we want this to be as close to a "snapshot" as possible, I want to get through these as fast as possible. I'll try to leave each one up at least 24 hours and then get right into the next one, with no run-offs. If a vote is close, then a vote is close.
So please check in daily if you don't want to miss a vote. (I can't stress this enough... these are gonna go by quick, so if you wanna be part of the voting funnagerocity, make sure to check in every single day.)
For a frame of reference, here is the top 30 list we came up with during the Winter:
The Final List:
1. LHP, Derek Holland
2. RHP, Neftali Feliz
3. 1b, Justin Smoak
4. RHP, Michael Main
5. SS, Elvis Andrus
6. C, Taylor Teagarden
7. C, Maximiliano Ramirez
8. LHP, Martin Perez
9. OF, Julio Borbon
10. RHP, Eric Hurley
11. OF, Engel Beltre
12. RHP, Blake Beavan
13. RHP, Wilfredo Boscan
14. RHP, Neil Ramirez
15. LHP, Kasey Kiker
16. 2b, Jose Vallejo
17. RHP, Wilmer Font
18. RHP, Omar Poveda
19. LHP, Robbie Ross
20. RHP, Tommy Hunter
21. RHP, Thomas Diamond
22. RHP, Joe Wieland
23. LHP, Tim Murphy (Tie)
23. OF, Greg Golson (Tie)
25. RHP, Warner Madrigal
26. SS, Marcus Lemon
27. RHP, Kennil Gomez
28. RHP, Pedro Strop
29. 1b/OF/LHP, Mitch Moreland
30. RHP, Carlos Pimentel
All right, that's it.
Get off your lazy ass and get voting!!!
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Comments
I didn't include Julio Borbon.
Please respond to this comment with your opinion on this.
He has all of the 3 ML appearances and 5 PA’s under his belt, which screams “Rookie!”, but at the same time, he is currently on the ML roster.
So, I dunno.
I didn’t include him this time just to be on the safe side, but it likely wouldn’t have mattered anyhow. This first vote is a three horse race if ever there was a three horse race.
But please let me know about how you’d like me to handle him.
On this polls or no?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
Borbon
I think we should include him, and any rookies with the big club that still meet the BA prospect requirements (130 ab or 50 ip or whatever it is).
Plus I’m real curious to see where Borbon is going to rank and the discussion that he will generate.
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
yup BA prospect standards
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
On
5 PA’s doesn’t make a graduate, IMO. He’s probably our best positional prospect right now.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
by LSJ on Jul 6, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, aside from Smoak I mean.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
by LSJ on Jul 6, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah include him
Wash’s gut is only letting him bunt and pinch run….still a prospect.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
i would include him in the next one
just add him to #2
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Definitely include him
i think the odds of him still being a rookie next yr are pretty good
even if hes up the rest of this year
he may not get 150 AB at this rate lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
H'ed be disqualified based on service time then though, right?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
rookie info
is only the AB/IP requirement i believe
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
I believe 75 days service time within a year is also a caveat
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.
hmm
interesting
was trying to think of someone who was rule V’ed and didnt cross the threshold but no one came to mind
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I think for MLB to consider you a rookie service time comes into play, but for BA to consider you a prospect it does not.
So of course there’s a lot of confusion that goes along with that.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
He belongs on the list...
…as mentioned by others he shouldn’t be a threat to be #1 so just make sure you get him on next time.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Poveda should be on the prelim list
if Kiker don’t you think?
over kiker
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Yah, sure. He's an easy add next time.
I honestly wasn’t worrying about it too much this time since I figured this was a three horse race at best.
But, yah, Poveda belongs in there with many in this initial group.
Please don’t take me not including someone as a slight or whatever. I’m not at home right now so I was just adding dudes off the top of my head.
Who goes on initially is not really an attempt by to “rank” players, I just try to think of who someone might possibly vote for at that point in the poll. I mean, do you think anyone would have conceivably voted for Poveda as our number 1 prospect?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions
someone DID vote for maxram, weiland, robby ross and purke
you never know lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
oh no
I didn’t think that. I know you are adding more names as you go along…
Heh, yah, sorry if that came off defensive.
More of a general statement than anything really directed at you.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
SMOAK
Smoak will be smoking baseballs soon in Arlington!!!
WOOO, COMMUNITY PROSPECT PROJECT!
Smoak me.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
by LSJ on Jul 6, 2009 9:44 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
where is neftali perez damnit, i wanted to vote for him!
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
I went with Feliz
Mainly because I believe his talent is much harder to find than Smoak’s. In other words, I take the potential ace over the potential 1b masher.
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
I agree with you x2.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
I went with Smoak
only because I’m scared he might end up in the bullpen long term. I know this recent development should be temporary to help the MLB club in the stretch run, but I can’t shake that feeling.
Smoak to me is more of a sure thing, so therefore I vote him #1. Of course Neifi Perez is #2 easily.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 6, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions
He being Feliz of course
didn’t proofread before posting.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 6, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions
So
you’re saying you don’t think Justin Smoak might end up in the bullpen long term?
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
heh
there’s always a chance. RHP is a big need out there….
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
except, he's left handed...
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
He struggles against lefties, should only throw right handed.
"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem
by inactive lsb user on Jul 6, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
See that's what I meant all along
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
We've already got 2 legitimate...
Olerud/Keischnick/Ankiel/VanBenSchotens in the system in Michael Main and Mitch Moreland.
And FWIW, Chris Davis was supposedly going to pitch and play 3B had he honored his LOI to Arkansas.
saw davis at navarro
kid was their closer, he could bring it.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Really?
Granted it’s not over much time, but he really hasn’t shown very much power so far this year (6 HRs and 10 doubles over 183 ABs). He’s a really good player, but I don’t think he’s an automatic star
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
Smoaked
It’s not about star or not, who knows, to me, it’s about relativity. Top Rated Pitching Prospects are sorta like sperm cells. Many die before they complete the journey.
Good hitters usually find their way. And I think he’s a solid hitting prospect.
I went with Feliz
Mainly because I believe his talent is much harder to find than Smoak’s. In other words, I take the potential ace over the potential 1b masher.
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
Related
My related thought was: “who would I hate to trade more?” We’ve seen solid 1b-men come and go over the past several years (Teix, AGon, Davis, Raffy, etc.), but seldom do you see true ace talent.
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Jul 6, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions
We're so spoiled right now.
Our best 3 pitching prospects since the late 80’s/early 90’s and we get them all at once in Der-Hol, Neffy and Martin.
It’s nuts.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
Maybe im jumping the
gun but im sure that Purke and/or Scheppers will be way up that list as well
Agreed
and given the depth of secondary prospects and veterans available to fill out a staff, if even one of them achieves his full potential, we are in for a hell of a ride .
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Jul 6, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, amid much debate.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Yes. Much lame debate.
Ugh.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
voted for feliz
one way or another, hes still our top guy imho by a hair over smoak…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Skin that Smoak Wagon!!!!!!!!!!
I'm Ron Burgundy?
by Cecilio's Guante on Jul 6, 2009 9:53 AM CDT reply actions
btw
somewhat interesting there are over 20 votes and not 1 for perez…hmmm
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
the way i see it is
that Perez is a lock for no. 3 in the org. I went with Smoak just because i think the odds of him having success in the majors are so great with the skillset he brings. I dont have a problem with someone arguing Feliz. It should be a natural progression though.
By mid season next yr Perez should be fighting with Purke and Scheppers for top prospect honors (i hope). The most interesting person on this list will be Mitch Moreland. Where do you put him?
Moreland
Well we ranked Max 7 this winter so I would say Moreland is around 10 probably
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 really hope not.
But, maybe.
I don’t think Moreland is a top 10 prospect right now. He has no defensive position and still has some things to prove with his bat.
He’s more in the 15-20 range, imo.
But you know he’s gonna get some votes way higher than that from “Look at the numbers!” guys, so, who knows?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Max didn't really have a position either
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.
He's a catcher.
I thought he was a catcher then (as did many others, apparently), and I still think so now.
Plus Max was a better hitter last season.
They’re not really all that comparable, imo.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
ya, i agree, at that point last year Max was on another level as a hitter
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
He was on another level from Moreland
Which is why I said about 10ish considering the graduations we’ve had Id say that should be really close. Maybe a couple spots too high but not too far off
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 see moreland
as a guy that will end up having a decent ML career. He just seems like the type of guy that will hit his way onto a team. I see him as a Daryle Ward type.
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Moreland...
…would be extremely valuable if he became a Daryle Ward type…who also contributed 40 or so innings of capable LOOGY work out of the bullpen every year.
I like Moreland
in the 12-15 range probably. Who the hell voted for him at #1?
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
i want to know who voted for
weiland/maxram
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Ha ha, I kind of figured it was you, T.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
at this point
purke, ross, moreland and perez all have 1 vote
i think perez is going to be ahead of purke/scheppers — especially if he keeps this up
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I've gotta go with Neffy Feliz here.
I heart little Martin super hard, and Smoak makes me hard enough cut windshield glass, but Neffy’s a potential TORG sitting in AAA right now.
Easy upper-90’s heat resulting in nearly a K per inning and a 3.02 FIP from a 21 year old in AAA…. Dear God that’s sexy.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
to me #2 is going to be harder than #1
perez vs smoak
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Eh
I need to see Martin above Low A before I rate him over Smoak.
"[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 Jul 6, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
Perez is a lock for #3 IMO. #4 is where it should get real interesting
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.
Yep. I have no idea who to put #4 and #5.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
Purke and Scheppers.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, but they haven't been signed yet
Normally I wouldn’t care about that, but with Uncle Tommy having having dinero problems, I’m a bit skittish about ranking them just yet.
I’ll probably wind up going with them, but I’m just saying. Bigger issue than last year, IMO.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
Just rank them where you think they'd fit right now
and if they don’t sign they get taken off. It’s not a big deal. Go off talent and projection. If they are top 4 or 5, then that’s where you should vote them. Worry about the signing issue later…
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jul 6, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
No it's not.
And please vote for them as you view them as prospects and don’t skew it with your “gut feeling” about whether or not they’ll be signed.
Hicks and JD knew of the money troubles when we drafted ‘em, so that shouldn’t be an issue, just like it wasn’t when we handed out our largest j2 bonus ever a few days ago. And even if it were… JUST VOTE FOR THEM BASED ON THEIR TALENTS AS PROSPECTS AND STOP TRYING TO INSERT SIGNABLITY INTO IT.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions
Heh
Well, okay then, fuck signability.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
Yay! :)
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
No, he's too skinny and too old!
Get it right, man!
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Ha, well played
where is that crazy Finnerty.Fan? This seems like a thread that is right in his misguided wheelhouse
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
nothing new on crops
cahill is heartbroken
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh, he'll probably stumble into one of these sooner or later and attempt to totally ruin the concept for everybody.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
I've got Perez over Smoak, personally.
What Perez is doing is nucking futs.
He could be promoted to A+ right now and no one would blink.
Hell, I think he would be in A+ rby the end of the season if it weren’t for the fact that place in an abject fuckscape of a disaster zone.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
I doubt Perez sees a day of High A ball
The longer he stays in Low A the more I think hes gonna be Felized at the start of next year and jump straight to Frisco
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 would agree with that
I believe he starts next yr at AA and then the Rangers are more aggressive at that pt.
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
Interesting...
I still think Martin gets a handful of A+ starts, beginning before month’s end.
"[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 Jul 6, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't know how aggressive exactly
I bet he stays at AA all year barring complete utter domination of AA. STretch him out to about 120 innings or so next year and then in 2011, as a 20 year old, he can go to OKC and be a viable condidate for the majors at some point
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.
im w/ bigsteve here
let him spend a ton of time in AA unles he pulls a lincecum lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd guess he starts the year in A+ and then if he's still raping faces he gets moved up around June/July to Frisco.
He’s so dang young, after all, and I think they really love the environment he’s in now with all his fellow Venezuelan friends, though that part is pure conjecture on my part. (Though you really shoulda seen him and Font interacting before the game I went too. They were adorable. I kept expecting them to turn around and be sporting matching BFF necklaces.)
A SP in AA a week after his 19th birthday would be pretty fun, though…
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
you going to be taking pics/etc when you go see em play soon?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I just really think they are going to try to shield him
from the launching pad that is that lg. (A+ that is)
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
I doubt that, but, maybe.
He’s so young and there’s no need to rush him with all the arms in front of him.
I think a plan not unlike the one C1’s been on this year is the much more likely path.
And, also, there’s a possibility we’re out of the Cal league and into the Carolina next year. Or, one can dream anyhow.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
He doesn't need shielding
let him pitch in tough environments and learn to deal with it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Its for our protection not his
how many posters would throw themselves threw a plate glass window if he gave up eight runs in 1.2 innings?
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
by LBBRangerFan on Jul 6, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Heh
good point. I don’t think he’d fail that badly, but the Cal League would definitely have many looking for places to hang themselves.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Especially
with lines like 5 ips, 8 hits, 4 runs, 9 ks and 2 bbs
even when Holland was on that incredible run last year
the Cal League ate him up for one start.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
im with you DA Tron
the more i think aout it the more i think hes a #2
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
he is #2
not a #2
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Perez
has been excellent but not exactly nucking futs, IMO. His performance isn’t so off the charts that it warrants ranking a teenager who has yet to pitch above mid-A higher than a Justin Smoak just because of the inherent unpredictability and injury concerns associated with pitchers that young and in those low levels.. even the ones who are dominating batters 3 years older than them.
Yes, he has a ceiling that reaches to the moon and yeah, he legitimately deserves to be ranked the #3 prospect in the system even without an inning above A ball. He could be the next Johan Santana. Of course, he could also be the next Julio Santana.
Or he could be the next Jovanny Cedeno, whose numbers at about the same age in the same league about a decade ago are strikingly similar to those being put up by Perez right now.
cedeno may have been before my time
but i was always under the impression that perez is generally regarded as having better stuff, not being stubborn, better baseball “IQ”, etc than cedeno — was alwas under the impression cedeno had a good FB, but was very raw in the other parts of the game
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
I'm going Smoak
K-Law said take Smoak over Buchholz right now and I like him better than Feliz.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
Feliz
If only we were using him as a starter.
I voted for him here anyway but it was alot harder now that hes been moved to the AAA bullpen
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.
Would it really be THAT bad
if he turned into Papelbon or Broxton? I dont think he stays in the bullpen but if he turns into a dominant closer, so be it
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Yup, that's my thinking as well.
Having a Nathan/Papelbon type sure is valuable in October.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
It wouldn't be that bad
But if thats what he becomes then I think Smoak is the #1 prospect
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.
True.
But if Smoak never really figures out how to hit lefties as well as righties and/or never becomes more than average at 1b then that’d be bad too.
Everybody’s got their if’s is what I mean.
I think Feliz’s ceiling is higher and I think he’s the better prospect.
But I can’t really fault anyone for going with any of the big three here.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Plus, it's not like Happy is consigned to the BP forever.
All this angst over moving him to the bullpen is annoying as hell.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Ehhh.
JD’s noncommittal wording of the news was kind of disturbing, IMO. He left it open, and it shouldn’t be left open to question. He should be a starter going forward, period, and the very thought of the org leaving the idea of keeping him in the bullpen on the table disturbed me a bit.
Maybe that’s just reading too much into JD just being cryptic (you know me, I love to kneejerk), but that’s how it struck me.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
For what its worth
at 21 Feliz has the second best FIP in the PCL. For all the thought that he hasnt been completely dominate in the PCL, he’s actually been really, really good against very advanced hitters.
But, Im so torn between Perez/Feliz/Smoak i have no idea who i should vote for.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
random
whose ahead of him?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
the lefty who the Redhawks faced yesterday from Omaha
DiSarno (sp?) im too lazy to go look him up.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Lenny Dinardo?
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 6, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
former A and Red Sox guy
a rule V pick also i believe
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
yea, he was owning the r-hawks last night until the 6th or so
but yea, he’s the only pitcher better than Feliz accoring to FIP. I think that says alot about how good he’s done in his enviroment
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Going on my Washington marlboro gut...
I am the only Martin voter. Just hoping he turns into Johan. Can’t wait for him. He makes my baseball pants jump all over the place.
i might join you, im tempted
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
I wanted to go Perez..
But Smoak was too tempting at #1.
I’ll go Perez #2, and Feliz is actually #3 for me.
Feliz
Until he figures out how to avoid the pitch-count killing foul-off fests, I refuse to anoint him El Supremo. Perez is great but has a lot of obstacles yet. Smoak is gonna rake long and hard starting very soon. Smoak gets my vote here.
by shroomer on Jul 6, 2009 10:15 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
This is exactly my reasoning too.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
which would make you sicker?
trading Smoak? or trading Feliz?
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
Trading Smoak
We’ve got pitching depth, but no depth of good near-sure-thing hitters in the system.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
That's just crazy talk
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
I think either one would put me in the hospital
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.
This
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
by Kinslerhomer on Jul 6, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions
death from cardiac arrest
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.
"Dad, 10% of 120 Million isn't 12,000, it's..."
Hospital Loudspeaker: CODE BLUE.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I hate to be
THAT guy but it would matter the return. If lets say it is for the same guy either way Id be sicker if we traded Smoak. My answer would be different if the Davis struggles didnt exist
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Feliz.
No question.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Feliz' suspected-reliever taint is powerful mojo
Who would you rather lose? Teixeira or Frankie Frank?
Feliz will be better than Two Frank.
But I still say from the standpoint of depth, losing Smoak would hurt this system more.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
Papelbon or Youkilis? Morn-O or Nathan?
It’s tough.
If I was 100% sure Neffy was now a closer, period, end of story, go ahead and marry an Italian guy cause your life is over… then I might have Smoak and Martin over him.
But I’m far from 100% on that.
I think he’ll be a starter.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
feliz for me too
smoak is a 1b
at this point we have a guy who can be a long term answer at 1b (struggles or not)
we do not have another guy at AA or AAA that could be a long term answer for a TORP
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Feliz
And I voted Smoak #1. It is probably selfish and short-sided but with the history I just can stand the thought of any pitcher really getting traded right now, much less one with as much TORP potential.
Obviously, if he becomes a dominate closer then I would probably shift towards Smoak, but I just don’t see this happening right now.
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
by LBBRangerFan on Jul 6, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Whoever he is, he better look out.
Finnerty will hunt him down and knife him while yelling “Too short! Too Short! DIE SHORT PITCHER!!!!”
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
i want to know who voted for moreland
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
and weiland
i know NR doesnt read here, so it cant be him lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Probably that guy who used to have Moreland as his avy.
Who was that?
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
last year was my first year on LSB
and this is my first CPP, I misread the rules I thought the guy with the least amount of votes would be taken off, and I love me some RR right now and think he should be close to the top 10 but my bad I woulda voted for Feliz as #1 anyways
by blueballlefty on Jul 6, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Heh. No, no one comes off.
Just more dudes added on.
Basically if you want to vote for a guy next round and see he’s not on the list, mention it to me in the thread and I’ll add him for you next time so you vote your little hear away.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow, Smoak running away with it.
I figured he’d win, but I didn’t see this coming.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
Really?
I mean Davis went over Feliz last year, IIRC. I can see why most people go with the increasingly polished young hitter over the explosive pitching prospect who’s struggled with control problems this year, myself.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
His control struggles
were mainly the first month and a half
by blueballlefty on Jul 6, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, but that's still fairly fresh in peoples minds.
And Smoak has been hyped up by people who wanted to jump him from AA to the majors.
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
Smoak's OPS is only .629 in AAA, though!
He’s clearly been exposed.
That’s over 2,000 points lower than his AZRL OPS!!!
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, like I said, I expected him to win, but it's the margin that's surprising me.
I figured it’d go something like 50/35/15 between Smoak, Neffy, and Martin, respectively.
But it seems like right now it’s closer to 60/30/Negligible.
And I don’t think the “control problems” are really a big concern to people, at least they shouldn’t be. I’d be willing to bet that the single biggest issue affecting Neffy’s votes right now is the reliever issue. If they’d come out and announced that he was 100% a starter and would only relieve over Nolan Ryan’s cold dead body, then I think he’d be much closer to Smoak, maybe even ahead of him. Or that’s what I figure anyhow.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed...sigh...
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
yea, I dont feel like the control as it is wont affect him from being an effective ML
pitcher, especially from the pen, but as it is, it will probably keep him from being a true ace. I worry that much like some other highly touted kids with big arms, his control will keep him from pitching 7+ innings in a game. Kinda get stuck with a Joba label, good stuff, but doesnt really translate into dominate starter. Anyways, I think it will improve and it has been improving to the point where im getting more and more excited about him. I cant wait to see him put on the Ranger’s jersey throwing that 100 MPH heat in september
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
The gut said Marty. Filthy.
When I clicked and saw how low his votes were, I had buyer’s remorse for a second. But fuck it, he makes me hoppy, sighted.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
i almost voted for him too
i just didnt have the balls to do it.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
let me just say
how in the eff did we vote ross at 19 last year
i remember that there was some backlash on ross b/c of not pitching and thats why he was pushed back, but i didnt remember it was that low
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Well, all we had
were scouting reports, and those were nice, but hardly overwhelming.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Yup. I ranked him too low myself, but even I was conscious of what I was doing when I was doing it.
It’s just so hard to rank the guys who haven’t played yet.
But we should’ve put more emphasis on the fact that our scouts loved the guy to the point where they gave him mid-first round money to buy him out of college. That’s some serious love from people who know the kid better than anybody.
And who would you have put him over? Namirez? Font? Vallejo? Poveda? Kiker?
Our list was freaking stacked last year.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions
ehh good point
i would have put him on the same level as kiker/poveda (i liked him more than them at this point last year, but then again i didnt think much of kiker then, nor do i now) — not above fnt for sure
but yea
IIRC i was voting for him around 15 last year…
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 6, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Well you pussed out and didn't do a personal list in the wrap-up thread, so you can't scoreboard us now.
I had him at 19 personally and Diamond is the only guy I really regret putting ahead of him, though. And even that I don’t think is ridiculous. Diamond is a guy I was way high on and thought would take off as he got all the way healthy. Once I got word from Trip about the change in breaking pitches and how bad it looked, Diamond instantly fell into the mid-30’s for me. But I didn’t know that then.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Namirez
he will plummet this year. Well, maybe not too far with all the graduations, but very disappointing so far as far as his control goes.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Itll be interesting
to see how far Main falls
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Indeed.
He’s a tough case.
How much do you slight a guy for something like that? If it’s a regular old body injury, you have to take off some points for the loss of devo time, plus some point for the severity of the injury and the fact that he might never recover from it physically.
But a mystery ilness? I mean… WTF? It obviously set him back in terms of devo time, probably an entire year. (I don’t see him coming back effectively this season at all.) But in terms of long term damage? How do you judge this when we don’t know what the hell “it” is? If it were TJ surgery, that’s fine. We have precedents to go on there, but this whole “Maybe it’s Mono or perhaps it is Monkey AIDS” thing he’s got going on is something rather unique. I have no idea.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah the last
mystery illness i know of in baseball was Baldelli’s. We all know what happened to him. Honestly, Main is in the 8-12 range for me. Right now im thinking Ross above him.
What's the latest
on Main? I’ve been out of pocket…still don’t know what it is?
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
Nope, he's still going through tests
And doing a tiny bit of light work.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Can we get a pool going?
Everyone pitch in $5 and pick a diagnosis. Winners split the pot.
Mono, Syphillis, Dengue Fever, Pregnancy, Consumption or “the Vapors”. Sorry, I got my med school education from Oregon Trail.
Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.
Robbie Ross
He’s moved from the high teens to #10 on my list. If he tosses a couple more 10K/0BB games in his next few starts, he might just move in to the Top 5. It is early still, but his performance has been the most pleasant surprise for me this year.
Does anyone have a recent scouting report on Feliz' secondary pitches?
I know that Terry Clark suggested that his breaking ball is making progress and I vaguely recall someone mentioning that his change-up is coming along. But I have yet to hear someone come out and definitively say that Feliz now has at least one quality off-speed pitch that he can consistently throw for strikes.
On that note
What has Feliz been throwing since moving to the bullpen? Has he been coming in bringing the heat or has he continued to mix up his pitches?
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.
Smoak by a nose.
I think you could make a case for Smoak, Feliz, or Perez at #1. But for me the everyday player gets the nod, especially since his plate discipline and hitting skills look so damn strong and come with nice defense to boot. I think he’ll be a consistently strong every day player with all-star potential for a long time. That gets him the nod for me over Feliz, who is awesome, but still has high pitch counts and occasional control problems.
For Perez, he’s looking sharp, but he’s young enough and far enough away from Arlington that a lot could happen, so Smoak beats him out for me. I’m voting Smoak, Feliz, Perez, and then probably Scheppers and Purke, have to think about that.
It might be a week before I vote for a position player again.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
heh.
It might be a week before I vote for a position player again.
Yah, I’ve been conscious of the disparity between our hitting and pitching prospects, but it really hit me as I was filling out the poll and realized I was having to stop myself from adding more pitchers cause the list would get too long and struggling to find any hitters I could think of just to make it not look sad.
Not that that’s a horrible problem to have, mind you.
I’d much rather go into FA or a trading period looking to add a position player from outside the org than having to add an arm. Adding outside arms is expensive. I love the way we’re developing arms. Just wave after wave of big time arms. It’s greatness.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 6, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I think it speaks to the Rangers
major league players. You would think that Hamilton, Borbon and Cruz would be our starting OF next yr. Young at 3B for the next 2 yrs, Andrus, Kinsler and Davis/Smoak at first. DH would be whomever doesnt start at first or Hamilton with Murphy in LF and a RH hitter platooning with him. Salty and Teagarden at catcher. I really dont see many open spots at the Major Lg level for any position players. I know it is nice to have them but that situation is more settled than we realize i think whereas pitching is always in flux.
by Michael Cave on Jul 6, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
we pretty much have control over all the starting fielders we will need through 2012
which is awesome
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Sure do
which is why i liked the draft this year for the most part. A lot of boom/bust guys. Does Tommy Mendonca crack our top 30?
Huh?
Did you read his interview with Jason Cole (I think it was)? I think he can make adjustments based on that:
For Fresno, I was our big bat in the lineup. I was our power guy for doubles and home runs. Obviously with that, strikeouts come, and I struck out a lot throughout my career at Fresno State.
But this year was the same thing with more trying to cut back on the strikeouts so contact would be there. So it’s not just doubles and home runs, but also singles at the right times. That was my offensive plan for Fresno State.
and then Jason asked a follow up question:
Cole: This year, you really cut down on your strikeouts and your walks pretty much doubled. Was that a mechanical change that helped or was it a different approach?
Mendonca: A little of both. The year before my sophomore year, I had no idea. I got so far caught between thinking, so I lost half a year. The first 25 games I might have had 50 or 60 strikeouts. Last year was different.
But this past year, my junior year, was a lot better. All I did was focus on hitting with my coach. We fixed some mechanical stuff, then we got the mental approach in. It helped. It helped for one year. It was a very good outcome for just one year of trying to fix it. So hopefully through the years it will be better—it will progress the way we’d like it to.
I think he’ll still strikeout a bit, but it sounds like he made improvements and is willing to keep working on that. Good glove, power. He’s a legit prospect to me, but I haven’t decided yet where he fits in. Jason’s interview is a free preview:
http://rangers.scout.com/2/876101.html
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Martin Perez
Feliz in the bullpen makes Hull Fan a sad panda. I don’t want to give up on him as a starter, even if he needs another full year in AAA next season. He’s got so much talent to be be wasted as a closer until he proves unable to throw his secondary stuff.
I like Smoak but what Perez is doing is just amazing. I’d beat JD up if he traded Perez. Smoak’s loss would hurt just slightly less.
Really though any of the three deserve it but Perez, Smoak, Feliz for me.
Feliz still gets my vote.
The command issues had me a little concerned early, but it has been unbelievable how many strikes he is throwing over the last month and a half. This guy is a stud.
Can I just vote for
Neftali “Justin” Perez?
Godwin's Law Version 2.0 (Rangers Edition)
"As a Ranger discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Danks, Volquez, or Young approaches one."
Feliz
Does anyone know how his changeup is coming along?
Hey Tron
Please add Miggy de los Santos next time.
Thanks.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
Seriously?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
post what goyo said about him/the questions abotu him
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
You can wait to add him if you want.
He is just someone that I am interested in based on the numbers he is putting up in the DSL.
Hope he makes it back stateside this year.
It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca
BTW
Feliz hit 100mph yesterday on the OKC gun.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
nice :)
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
How can Marcus Lemon not be on the list?
Its an outrage.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jul 6, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
talked to finnerty recently?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
2 ppl did
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
And Dad?
Sheesh, it ain’t rocket science…
;)
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Nah
it was probably Nolan Ryan. Agreed to vote for him as number one prospect on all community lists at LSB. Rather astute move if i do say so by The Express
i think i would have that as part of my contract
“nolan must name me the top prospect, or the contract is voided” lol
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
it really hasnt been mediocre
especially relatively, he does have the 2nd best FIP in the PCL right at 3.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Marty Perez
Marty McFly is the most tantalizing pitching prospect we’ve had (maybe since Clyde) I think, including Feliz. Of course, the argument for Feliz is sound, but I prefer the lefty at RBIA.
But after further reflection, Perez could be a whole different type of beast, given Felizian progression.
"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem
by inactive lsb user on Jul 6, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions
Smoak for me
The guy’s floor is .280/.370/.450. His floor. His ceiling is Teixeira, possibly with a higher average.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
the first three
are pretty easy for me. Neftali is #1, Smoak is #2, and Perez is #3. There is a pretty big drop off after those guys.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
i think he may be a top 50 guy if he signs early enough to get some IP
seriously.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
I don't think
there is that big a drop off, really. Scheppers and Purke are awfully nice prospects, and then you have other guys that are a little bit of a drop off after that, but it’s not like they fall off a cliff.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I'd put Beavan
In the same group as Purke and Scheppers
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
No
Purke and Scheppers have TORG potential. Whereas Beavan only was LAIE potential.
The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...
I'm elated
That we got Purke and Scheppers. But Scheppers dropped to the 40s for a reason (more than just signability). I have a nagging dread about his health. Purke was a good value at 14, but not a Smoak-like jackpot; most of the gurus seemed to have him ranked at around #10 overall. He’s a good solid prospect, probably a fringe top 100 guy, but I think beavan’s around 80 right now with the spot-on command, shiny numbers, and possibility of regaining his heater.
Let me put it another way with Purke: He and Beavan are very, very similar prospects. Mid 90s heat, above-average breaker, questionable arm action. Beavan’s dealt with some of the trials that come with time; his velo’s down. Purke’s two years away from that point, who knows what could happen to him in that time?
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
In the ask BA feature right after the draft they said Purke and Scheppers were both pretty much top 100 locks.
FWIW.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
actually
1) the rangers and everyone else had scheppers medicals, and lewis yocum gave him a bill of clean health (very highly regarded)
2) yes, purke at 14 was a very good pick/value pick…according to just about everyone who covered the draft he was a top 10 guy. i believe what mayo (mlb.com) said was that the fac tthe rangers got smoak and purke back to back years that far below their actual value was VERY impressive/lucky
3) purke and beavan are not the same kind of pitchers. beavan’s entire motion had to be re-worked. most people think that while purke has some questions, his entire motion doesnt have to be redone, just tweaked. purke is going to be a top 100 guy. beavan is more of a fringe guy
beavans velo was down out of HS because…most pitchers lose velo the year after HS + he was learning a new motion — his velo is back in the lower 90s now i believe (per everyone) — why is purke 2 years away from the same point? if thats your reasoning you can only vote for players who are 1 year away from the majors
also, who knows what could happen to smoak, he could get run over by a little kid on a tricycle, breaking his foot and then fall on his arm and break it as well and then fall the kid, killing him and going to prison for the rest of his life
…whats your point?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Here's the thing
I’m aware that Yocum’s at the top of his field, but if he were omnipresent, Scheppers would have been gone long, long before the Rangers’ Supp selection came around. Don’t you think that a team like the Red Sox would rather have a top 5 pitching talent than a super-raw questionable HS bat like Fuentes? I’m very onboard with the Schepp selection, and It’s very possible that he’s fine; in which case he’s the easy #4 on this list. Until we get conclusive evidence (i.e. Scheppers actually pitching every fifth day for us on a regular basis) I have a nagging dread.
On the attrition of prospects; Yeah, It’s unfair to assume that something detrimental will happen with Purke. But that’s life, and HS pitchers fall by the wayside very often. The counterpoint on Smoak is valid, but the fact is that he’s a far more proven commodity than Purke. Freak accidents occur, but there’s a greater likelihood of something going all wonky with Purke than there is with Smoak, or someone comparable like that.
As far as Beavan, yes, he’s getting his velo back. But he doesn’t have it all back, and he was sitting along the same speeds as Purke during their senior years. Purke probably doesn’t need an overhaul, and that’s heartening. But personally, I’d rather have the 20 year old putting up a 3.5 FIP in AA than the HS talent without a pro pitch to his name who happens to be in the same place the first prospect was two years before.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
from my understand
part of the reason he dropped was the whole “they didnt take him, they know something we dont know, we shouldnt take him” along with his percieved bonus demands, whatever they may be.
also, no its not for sure that the red sox would have rather had scheppers than fuentes (how do you not know they had fuentes over scheppers on their board in the first place?)
your acting like scheppers threw for 2 or 3 innings like 3 times all year…what are you going to consider an “a regular basis”? 200 IP? 100 IP?
purke, from most every scout ive read, does have some questions with his mechanics, but not nearly as much as beavan at all
also this whole “without a pro pitch stuff” is somewhat valid, but its not like hes sidd fucking finch out there — this is a player who has played at a high level of competition in summer ball, showcases, etc. its not like hes from bumfuck oklahoma and no one has ever seen pitch before.
also, your wrong on purke vs beavan. purke was more highly ranked when he was picked. the fact that purke was there at 14 was somewhat suprising on a talent level. beavan, it was KNOWN, would have to re-do his motion because of how badly he threw across his body. not so with purke.
to say thay are at the same place is only looking at the situation from a crops perspective (HS pitchers, from texas, throw hard) — look at it at the perspective it should be: purke is LHP, purke has better mechanics, purke was more highly thought of/ranked, etc etc etc
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Purke
went higher than Beavan did, and would have gone even higher except for bonus demands. He’s a better prospect right now than Beavan was when drafted, in my opinion. I’m guessing you meant omniscient…
Regarding Scheppers, I think that a lot of teams were being careful with budget this year, more than usual, and shying away more than more years from prospects that were questionable signs for bonus reasons or injury risks. Scheppers fits both criteria, so here the Rangers just look like smart risk takers. They were a team that could afford that risk more than others, with the strength of their system and sac-size of their GM and draft team.
Having said that, I’ll vote Perez 3rd instead of 2nd precisely because he’s farther away and younger and anything can happen to pitching prospects, so I can understand the argument against Scheppers and Purke in the 4-5 range. Still, all of the other guys I would consider there have question marks of their own, and these two guys have more potential by a significant margin than Beavan. I’ll go Scheppers at 4 and Purke at 5.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
that is also probably my top 5
feliz
smoak
perez
scheppers
purke
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Almost mine
I went Smoak, Happy, Martini, Shepherd, and Perky.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
mine as well
After #5 it gets a little more complicated for me..
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
I concede
At this point I’d just be repeating myself. This was enjoyable, though!
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
Beavan
I think his potential lies somewhere in between TORG and LAIE, maybe a SMORH (Solid Middle of Rotation Horse).
There's more to the picture than meets the eye.
I don't think Beavan
can be a top guy, probably the SMORH, a #3 that gives you 200 innings plus. He’s still young, though, and if his velo picks up a bit more I can see him as a possible #2.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
SMORH
I like it.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
They key to building a good rotation:
Don’t forget the SMORH’s….
Get on base or die, Salty.
"Young is the Good version of David Eckstein. Grossly overrated because of grit. He can move one step to the right, and a half step to the left whereever you put him in the field." - DJ Cahill
by LSJ on Jul 7, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Ugh.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 7, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions
i'm sorry
i know many disagree, but it is really hard for me to rank a guy before he has even thrown a professional pitch, and in Scheppers case, before he has even proved his health. I have a hard time seeing how you can rank Purke above a guy like Main, who has at least dominated low A and had a stellar instructs. Purke, to date, has only dominated high schoolers and bonus demands.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
except that scheppers HAS thrown a (semi)professional pitch
see scheppers, 2009, st paul saints
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
well
yeah, I guess.
he probably slots fourth.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
it is really hard for me to rank a guy before he has even thrown a professional pitch
so strassburg shouldnt be a top 100 BA or BP prospect, right?
comethefuckon. like i said above, its not like scheppers has never been seen before, or ross for that matter, or purke, these ar guys who have been seen at high levels of competition vs elite competition in many cases….its not like hes sidd finch or neftali perez.
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
Scheppers
is a completely different case than Purke. I don’t really like ranking either of them yet because I am not totally confident we will be able to sign them. If we do, and if he’s healthy, then I think Scheppers is pretty much a sure thing at #4, but I can’t really rank Purke ahead of the likes of Beavan, Main, Ross, Wieland and Boscan until I see him throw a professional pitch.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
so like i said
cant rank strassburg as the #1 BA or Nationals prospect either…he hasnt thrown a professional pitch?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 7, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
before he signs?
no. if he signs, then yes, I think it is safe to say that he is their number one prospect. I am not sure I get the argument here. If we had drafted Strassburg, then yeah, the moment he signed he would be our #1 guy, regardless of whether he’s thrown a pitch. I said above that it is hard to slot guys before they have done so, not that I am unwilling to do so. It is especially hard for prep pitchers, which is why I won’t rank Purke above the guys I listed above.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
hmmm
ok thanks! (good convo)
where do you rank ross btw?
Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.
-
"Call up Joaquin Arias? He had a legit spring training and seems to have cooled off a little bit in OKC but still a DH option. " -- kch tx
by knockoutking on Jul 7, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
after the top three
I guess I’d go Scheppers, Beavan, Boscan, Ross, Font, Kiker, Main, Wieland and Purke.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
What does him not being signed yet have to with how good a prospect he is?
That’s what I don’t get.
So the minute he signs, he’s rankable.
But before, he’s not.
I hate this argument so much.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Everyone needs to drive a vehicle, even the very tall. This was the largest auto I could afford. Should I therefore be made the subject of fun?
by thedirkatron on Jul 7, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Heh
at least we get to have it every. single. time. though.
"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem
by inactive lsb user on Jul 7, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
i guess this is true
i guess i just let a bias come into play. the moment these guys sign, I will like them more, and the moment they actually throw a professional pitch, I will like them even more.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
Yeah, really weird place to draw the line
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
I exercised my right to waste my vote on a third party
And chose Martin. He so crazy.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Feliz
Went with high upside on feliz despite a down year. But really for me its Feliz and Smoak as 1a and 1b followed VERY close by perez.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Where is this
Neftali Perez guy I hear about everywhere.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
by DJCahill on Jul 7, 2009 8:50 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
sorry i'm late for the LSB CPP MS #1
i sometimes feel like i’m all ways late to the party
i would have voted for Justin as the mid season No. 1
oh wait, I can still still cast my vote :)
cogito sumere potum alterum
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 2:33 PM CDT reply actions
are you going to vote on all your accounts?
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
NO.. you know me better than that
never ever have i voted more than once. I’ve always only voted once and that goes for anything on LSB
and fwiw… I think i’ll stick with this LSB community member name the rest of the year.
by whittlemantastic on Jul 8, 2009 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions
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