LSB Community Prospect Project: Mid-Season #4

A note:

While Taylor Teagarden and his 130 big league PA’s technically fall within the threshold we use to decide who is eligible for this list, I’ve decided not to add him to the voting.

I think the fact that he’s been on the big league roster all season long makes him a special case. Adding a guy like him to the voting goes against the spirit of the thing, imo. These things are just for fun, after all, and I don’t think evaluating Teagarden as a prospect when he’s spent the entire season in the bigs is “fun”.

Sorry if you find this objectionable, but I got the sense from the other thread that people agreed with this line of thinking.

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 9, 2009 9:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think after the list is done

we should go through guys like Tea, Elvis, Holland, and Harrison and vote on where they’d have fallen on the list if they weren’t already full members of the Rangers right now. That’ll let the Tea lovers get their say.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers over Purke

Yeah, Scheppers has huge injury concerns. But I think the risk associated with Purke (freshly drafted high school arm) is equally high.

The way I see it though, Purke is equally risky because he’s a high school arm, and Scheppers unusually high ceiling for a college guy gives him a leg up. Before injury, Scheppers was in that group of college arms that had very low risk – he was close to the majors, almost certainly show up there and probably soon. And unlike most college arms, he’s relatively new to pitching so still has potential to grow.

I don’t see Purke in the comparable level of no doubt high school arms (i.e., Beckett, Porcello). There is still risk with Purke that he’ll meet some resistance as he faces real competition. He’s several years away from even being close to making an impact. I love drafting high school arms, but there is a reason you have do draft them regularly to . For all the Beavans, Mains, Ramirezes, Purkes, and Rosses that you pick, only a handful will become effective major league pitchers. That isn’t a knock on those guys, and obviously someone like Purke has a bit more going for him than Ross. But just because he isn’t injured like Scheppers doesn’t mean he isn’t equally as risky.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 9:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

scheppers

based on ceiling for me

better stuff
was fairly polished coming out of fresno
great FB

hope he rockets through the system

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 9, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with thise 100%

Scheppers for me. It’s close — but I went with the guy who will get here quicker if everything breaks right.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 9, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went with the fourth Stooge myself

But you wrote something JBImaknee that I didn’t understand.

" …obviously someone like Purke has a bit more going for him than Ross."

What do you mean? Ross is pitching quite well and striking a lot of mofo’s out. Help me understand.

Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador

by Parman on Jul 9, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Ross a lot

Purke is just regarded as a better prospect. Purke was one of the top two HS lefties in a pretty strong HS pitching crop, whereas Ross was the best of a weak crop. Ross has his questionmarks – things that I don’t worry much about but people often do (i.e., size). Purke’s only real questionmark was his signability.

That said, I have trouble getting overly excited about any high school pitcher who isn’t a Josh Beckett. I want to see how they do facing guys who are playing ball for some reason other than hanging out with buddies and impressing girls.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the first toughie. I love this kind of indecision.

Purke/Scheppers. Scheppers/Purke.

Enie menie mine moe. Put the hitters in a row. If he’s not a veteran, drop him low.

Holland to the bullpen… Holland to the rotation. Holland to the bullpen… Holland to the rotation.

…..huuuumph.

I think I’m gonna go Scheppers here. The health concerns bug me a bit, but the possible ceiling and the thought of how fast he could advance with it just make my baseball pants too happy. It’s really kind of a tossup, and I love me some Purke, don’t get me wrong, but this strikes me sort of like the nonexistent Feliz/Perez debate some people tried to have at #2 did: go with the more advanced arm until their imperfections/problems actually drop them behind the less advanced one. Especially in this case, when the more advanced arm is probably the slightly more talented arm.

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

Hello Win Column

by lonestarJon on Jul 9, 2009 9:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Purke/Scheppers

I can go either way and I’m looking for someone to convince me one way or another.

My gut says Purke, Callis says Purke, the Rangers picked Purke first and will pay him more.

But there is the fact that most objective observers had Scheppers ranked as a top 5-10 talent in both the last 2 drafts, plus he should be closer to contributing with a similar, or perhaps higher ceiling.

Looking for some help here.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I went Scheppers

I read a couple of notes on draft day of scouts saying Scheppers had the best stuff in the draft except Strasberg. I think his injury is behind him, and no greater than the risks Purke has. In short, a top of the rotation talent, mid-90s fastball who will be in Frisco by mid-season next year.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot

having said all that, Purke is very close to Scheppers, it’s really subjective for me here. Purke is 4A and gets my next vote.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Subjective is right.

Those two are as close to a coin flip for me as I can get.

I love you, 2009 Draft.

My Music Blog

by FuturePants on Jul 9, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted Schep

But for the 8 peeps who voted Times Roman, I owe you a beer. Collectable anytime.

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

by Brian Thomas on Jul 13, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Purke by a hair over Scheppers for me, and for pretty much exactly the reasons you listed.

My gut says Purke, Callis says Purke, we drafted him higher and he’ll get a much higher bonus.

Plus he doesn’t have those injury concerns.

You can run around flapping his clean medical reports from Dr. Awesome McMedicine, but the plain old fact of the matter is that you have downgrade Scheppers at least a little for his recent history of rather frightening arm problems. I absolutely love the guy and I just about fell off the couch screaming when we popped him in the suppy round, but I think that all concerns around his shoulder coupled with all the national love for Purke’s ridiculous upside potential, I have to go with Purke 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 9, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

dr awesome mcmedicine

isnt he the new character on greys anatomy

/joke

but seriously, how much stock do you put in yocum’s report? not much?

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 9, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read it for what it is: That he's healthy now.

And that’s a fantastic sign.

But a major shoulder injury is a major shoulder injury.

They’re scary and there are perhaps long term effects that won’t show up on a medical scan. The hell do we know about exactly what that scan showed, you know?

Also, something caused those problems, and who knows if that something is going to occur again. There are rumors that he thinks it was the way he was used at FSU that caused him to have the problems, but maybe his mechanics are going to make him injury prone his whole career. Who knows.

The fact that pretty much every team passed on him, presumably because of the injury factor combined with the cost, has to play a bit of a part in your evals, as well.

I love the guy to death, but there’s a very real risk here, and no amount of veiny as hell doctoral penis flopping from Dr. Yocum is gonna completely 100% assuage my fears about the health of his arm.

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 9, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overuse

IIRC, he wasn’t a pitcher for too many years before going there, and then they rode him hard. I haven’t seen any negative reports on his mechanics, so I’m optimistic that the overuse caused the injury and he’s no more likely than Purke to have future problems.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats one of the reasons why he left Fresno St.

He never gave a clear answer but he implied that the coaches there would overuse him and for a pitcher that hasn’t pitched that long its going to do some damage because the body isn’t use to it.

I think this rest that he’s gotten over the past year should be good for him

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was eay

to read between the lines.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But don't you think being instantly ready for AA kind of cancels out healthy but high schooley?

Me does.

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

by Brian Thomas on Jul 13, 2009 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the only real knock on Scheppers was the injury history

and he was 100% cleared by two of the best baseball doctors in the game prior to the draft…good enough for me.

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter

Simply because he is the best player at this time.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 9, 2009 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well that kind of defeats the point of this list, don't you think?

If this was a contest of who was the best player at this point and time, then Hunter would probably be #1. But we’re talking about prospects here, future ceiling and ability, not who’s performing the best at the highest level at this moment. That’s kind of why Dirky is leaving Teagarden off the list.

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

Hello Win Column

by lonestarJon on Jul 9, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so the rangers top prospects

are hunter, teagarden, madrigal, borbon — since they have seen ML time, right?

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 9, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you forgot Golson. :)

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY

by RangerMad on Jul 9, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

heh

that is true

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 9, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And if Duran was still in the system

He would have to top the list, cause, ya know, he was up there last year?

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and

moscoso

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Jul 9, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Purke

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Jul 9, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers

Went with Tanner here and will probably go Purke next. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Scheppers as a late season bullpen addition next year.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 9, 2009 9:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I went with C-Wun...

…over the unsigned guys simply because I don’t feel comfortable voting on a player who hasn’t appeared in a pro game.

It’s not that I don’t recognize the potential of those two just that until there is SOME body of work in a pro organization I don’t feel like I have enough info to process an good opinion.

I realize this may violate the spirit of this exercise so I do apologize.

Also, I hate amateur baseball.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on Jul 9, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Beavan. Young, in AA, and seems to have a floor of an inning eating 3rd starter to me.

by rothe on Jul 9, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is frustersting

i know its not the MLB but the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball is a professinal baseball league, it is just not affiliated with the MLB.

do you think that the NPB in japan isnt professional baseball?
is the KBO in korea not a a pro league?

its not like the indy league he was in was the indy version of the DSL.

pleasepleaseplase stop saying (its not just you) that scheppers hasent ever thrown a professional pitch or been in a professional game. he played against people who play baseball as their profession in the indy league.

would you rank him higher if he was sent to the DSL this summer and pitched there for the rangers team and blew everyone away? does that help his value in your (and others) eyes, since the DSL is affiliated with the MLB?

i understand using that logic with purke (i dont agree with it, but i understand it) but please. no more “he hasnt played in a professional league/thrown a pro pitch/been in a pro game” for scheppers anymore.

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 9, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not only that

But he played for a major college program which went on to win the college world series. If anything that has to be somewhat close to Low A ball at least

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 9, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this can be argued

but the fact is that he * has * been a professional baseball player

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 9, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps I misspoke on Scheppers...

…I shouldn’t discount his time in indy ball as non-professional.

Maybe I can better sum up my position this way: I’m not going to attempt to rate them against other players in our system until they have at least a small amount of time performing in our system.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on Jul 9, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

good wording

and your right — good locigal arguement

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 9, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What he said

Except I took Kiker over C-Wun since he’s a lefty and has been a little more consistent this year. And I’m not voting for the unsigned guys because, well, they are unsigned. There is a reasonable chance that at least one of them will never pitch for the organization.

My list so far:

Smoak
Feliz
Perez
Kiker

"What is that — five out of six? The numbers say what they say. They own us." -- Torii Hunter, 07/01/09

by NorCalRangersFan on Jul 9, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and I don't hate amateur baseball.

"What is that — five out of six? The numbers say what they say. They own us." -- Torii Hunter, 07/01/09

by NorCalRangersFan on Jul 9, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Listing unsigned guys

I generally agree with you, but last year I was convinced after having Smoak go so high on the list that the policy of thedirkatron is that unsigned guys qualify, and since that is the working policy, that is how it is.

My preference is also that they wouldn’t be on the list – because there is some uncertainty – but they are there, so I think you just have to abide by that. And once you include them, I don’t think it is reasonable to discount them by their probability of signing, or anything like that. I think you just have to pretend that they’re in the organization.

It is fair, however, to say “Purke is going to sign on August 15th, and he’ll unlikely pitch again this year and will miss a year of professional developmental time, so he’s that much further behind Kiker on my depth chart”

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't participate in the voting last year

And didn’t really read the intro (Sorry, Dtron, I know you put a lot of thought into it), so I missed the whole paragraph about unsigned players. I will update my thinking for tomorrow. I wasn’t trying to re-open the debate and wasn’t deliberately breaking the rules.

"What is that — five out of six? The numbers say what they say. They own us." -- Torii Hunter, 07/01/09

by NorCalRangersFan on Jul 9, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the big deal with including them?

If they don’t sign, we just take them off the list and move everybody up one. I don’t see why some people have such an issue with that.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 9, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

if they arent signed, it doesnt matter. you wasted 5 min selecting them in a poll . if they are signed, good. you spent 5 min voting for a player in a poll 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 9, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Purke

A few things make me lean towards him:

1) Youth. I know Schep isnt old but I wouldnt be surprised if Purke is a 20 y/o in AA in a few yrs.
2) No injury history.
3) Polish. Seems more polished than other HS pitchers

by Michael Cave on Jul 9, 2009 9:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I went with Scheppers

just because he is the best talent and has as many questions as Purke. Let us not forget that on draft day, Scheppers was considered the better prospect than Purke, has actually pitched against more advanced hitters and should move faster through the system.

I have to admit though that picks 4 and 5 could easily go down as 4 and 4a.

JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook

by laxtonto on Jul 9, 2009 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Purke

I guess I’ll go with Purke here since we aren’t supposed to take signability into account. Still, Hicks’ money trouble make me nervous about our ability to sign him. I’m not going to rate Scheppers highly at all. That shoulder problem scares the crap out of me.

"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley

by trza on Jul 9, 2009 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted Schep

but man how Max has fallen, huh?

by cmkelly29 on Jul 9, 2009 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Main

He had more hype than anyone over the offseason.

by jcir454 on Jul 9, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BBTIA even had him as their #1 prospect

I wonder where they would rank him now. Joey? Prof. Parks?

by naropean on Jul 9, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe Joey said

he’d have a midseason ranking out soon.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

David, Trip and I are planning to have composite rankings out early next week

I currently have Main seventh.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Jul 9, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude needs to get healthy.

Otherwise he’ll fall on all lists, for sure. Weird situation, for sure.

My Music Blog

by FuturePants on Jul 9, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which is really sad

This kid has so much potential, yet just can’t stay healthy….

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Purke a better prospect than Kiker when he was drafted?

And if so, does the delta make up for the fact that Kiker has 3 years in the minors, showed no injury concerns, advanced to AA and had some solid success there?

I don’t get the Purke love. Sure he’s a top lefty high school arm with mid-90s velo and a good breaking pitch. But so was Kiker in 2006. We all know how velocity can drop after high school, under a real professional workload and with the necessary mechanical adjustments all high schoolers must make. And scouted draft velocity tends to always be inflated IMO.

Kiker’s velocity has dropped a little this year, but he was still hitting 94 last year. The kid has thrown three consecutive scoreless starts at AA ball, 19 innings total. The reality is that odds are pretty low that we’ll be able to say the same about Purke in 3 years.

Promote Nam!

by LukeR on Jul 9, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You know the more I think about it

Im tending to lean this way more and more. Im a huge Kiker fan which is probably a big reason why but I have this thing about voting for a HS kid with no experience so high. Kiker has done everything we could have hoped at a young age and progressed nicely. As good as Purke is there is a very good chance he doesn’t progress as nicely as Kiker or Beavan have.

Ugh tomorrows poll is gonna be a tough one

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 9, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Purke

is a better prospect now than Kiker was when drafted. Not by a mile, but more than enough to rank him ahead of Kiker. Purke has size and projectibility advantages on Kiker.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

09 Purke is a much better prospect than 06 Kiker

Purke was a top-10 prospect in the draft and a steal at 14. Kiker was considered a reach at 12. I would compare Kiker to Ross as a draft prospect, but Purke outclasses both by a decent margin in my opinion.

I would compare Purke to Clayton Kershaw in the 06 draft. Coming out of the draft both were 6’3’’ LHPs who throw their fastball into the mid-90’s with a solid breaking pitch. While Kershaw weighed 220 with a workable changeup, Purke weighs 180 with a good changeup and good command of his pitches. Kershaw had an oblique injury prior to the draft, and while Purke’s been healthy, his slight frame suggests he may be suspect to injury if he doesn’t add strength. However, it’s that same frame that allows for a lot of projection. Purke also has good command already, so that projection is extra dreamy.

All things considered, I think Purke is a significantly better prospect than Kiker coming out of high school and is more on par with Kershaw out of that draft class. Still, I voted Scheppers because of that awesome promise of stuff.

by naropean on Jul 9, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

kershaw

kershaw was seen as being more polished with better command IIRC — kershaw > purke going into the draft and i would trade 09 purke for 06 kershaw 10 times out of 10

but thats me

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 9, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

probably

But I’d also trade 06 Kiker for 09 Purke ten times out of ten. I think going into the draft Purke was closer to Kershaw than Kiker.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Kershaw>Purke>Kiker.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my thoughts exactly

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 9, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Purke is significantly better than Kiker, but Kershaw's breaking ball sets him a good deal apart from Purke

The gap is big in both cases, from what I’ve read.

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

by Brian Thomas on Jul 13, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers for me...70 FB, at least 55 Curve

I don’t know if I’m in the minority here, but I think Fabio Castillo’s name should be added to the list. He was one of the big up and comers entering ’08, and is still young with tremendous upside.

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

has it been said one way or another if hes going to be a SP or an RP?

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 9, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, but I would have to assume he will begin as a starter.

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you were talking about Castillo, the plan is to keep him at starter until he proves he can't...

just switching him back and forth to watch his IP a la Perez, Boscan, Font.

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Tim Smith is on, Fabio definitely qualifies

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

by Brian Thomas on Jul 13, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure that

Scott Garner has made it clear to you just how awesome defensively Tim Smith is. :)

by Brett Perryman on Jul 14, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers by a hair

Schep, Schep is older, more experienced and despite a total slagging of his arm at Fresno he really hasn’t had a ton of innings. His celing is just as high if not slightly higher than Purke’s and it is more immediate. I’ll take the college guy who is identical to the HS’er. Less time for him to get injured.

by Hull Fan on Jul 9, 2009 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Purke

Beavan/Purke/Scheppers was a tough call for me, but in the end I went with ceiling and health. Scheppers has the injury history and Beavan doesn’t have that TORP ceiling anymore. This is a real tough 4-6 IMO.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jul 9, 2009 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Purke on a coin flip

Do we have any info on Max’s wrists other than “soreness”?

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Jul 9, 2009 10:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

read somewhere that he may have season ending surgery

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 9, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did he hurt the wrist at the WBC?

"What is that — five out of six? The numbers say what they say. They own us." -- Torii Hunter, 07/01/09

by NorCalRangersFan on Jul 9, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think so

but then again, maybe thats why he has so few ABs?

scratches head *

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 9, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he barely played in the WBC

seems silly to blame it on that

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who "blamed" it on the WBC?

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No surgery

I think I read this morning, after an MRI showed no need.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We need to stop bringing guys back before they're fully healthy.

Max needs to sit down and rest his wrists until they’re 100%.

All this hurrying back and trying to play through it is dumb.

At the major league level- maybe. You’re trying to win now cause wins actually matter, so perhaps rushing a guy back could you help you win.

But in the minors? Get fully healthy.

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 9, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with that is deciding when a player is healthy

I play my fair share of sports and I don’t remember the last time that I was 100% healthy. Until I get out and start playing, I don’t know if I am fit to play or not. I must assume that every player in the Rangers’ organization is nursing at least one injury and if they are like me, they really don’t know if it will affect their performance or become worse until they test it at game speeds.

by spurdynasty on Jul 9, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Its tough for an athlete to admit that he isn’t healthy. Its just in their nature. Max could know he’s not healthy, but really doesn’t want to say something and just try to play through it

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a feeling...

I’m going to be voting for Michael Main for the next 6 or 7 polls.

My has he fallen in the eyes of many, I’m still right there though.

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

by slc ranger on Jul 9, 2009 10:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Until they figure out

what the hell is wrong with him I can’t vote him top 10. This mysterious illness is a huge freaking red flag. Nope, can’t do it. MaxRam’s season is basically a wash but his wrist problems hopefully can be fixed by time. Hunter’s huge strides make both of them top 10 before Main. He’s going to have to start pitching again before I start believing.

by Hull Fan on Jul 9, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is kind of my reasoning for voting for him probably vs purke

no one knows whats wrong with him, to me fairly clearly not a baseball-realted (as in shoulder, etc) injury and the talent is obv still there but since he has had some…strange…injuries this year i am still going to be voting for him in the 5-8 range

fwiw, i feel the same way about max, hes in the 8-10 range still for me

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 9, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Went with Borbon

Solid AAA numbers, CF w/ speed and range for the cavernous OF at the BPiA. I expect him to eventually be a leadoff hitter w/ the Rangers, with the potential to add some extra pop. Hopefully a poor man’s Carl Crawford.

Position in the field and in the lineup makes him rank this high for me.

"Ho visto il tuo agire, non solo rendono per me. Basta un sacco di fluff".

by scoop16 on Jul 9, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad to see he's not getting lost in all of this

I thought about voting for him myself, but Purke and Scheppers make my baseball pants go crazy.

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Jul 9, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I gave a little extra weight

To the idea that he’s on the fringe of MLB, is likely to be atarting in a critical defensive position in a year or two, and doesn’t really have a rival within the system for those attributes. And yeah, that lightens what many seem to vote (ultimate upside).

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

"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce

by Ed Coffin on Jul 9, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or a really rich dude's Juan Pierre

x

Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador

by Parman on Jul 9, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possibly,

But I think an everyday player that bats leadoff, plays CF, and has already had success at the upper levels of the minor leagues trumps a couple guys that have never played professional baseball.

"Ho visto il tuo agire, non solo rendono per me. Basta un sacco di fluff".

by scoop16 on Jul 9, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would think

that juan pierre is a rich mans juan pierre, since hes earning something like 16 mil this year

heh

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 9, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

borbon

tough to place him for me

you mean we have to fit the majority of the rest of these guys in the top 10? gonna be tough
purke
main
maxram
borbon
weiland
font
ross
kiker

wow.

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 9, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went Purke

Because he’s good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it people like him.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 9, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That sounded senatorial. Where's it from?

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 9, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

old SNL skit

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Al Franken, perhaps?

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 9, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahh, yes

I’m always a couple steps behind you.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley.

I can’t believe they made a movie. Isn’t Al Franken somewhat intelligent? Maybe Lorne Michaels forced him to do it.

Brandon McCarthy: Scap Load Failure - TexasLeaguers.com

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 9, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure he made money doing it

seems intelligent to me.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Main

That must seem odd to most people, but this was a guy who many considered a better prospect than Feliz last year. Yes, he’s taken a step backwards, but he’s got mono, and anyone who’s ever had that knows how debilitating it can be. He still has top of the rotation potential, and his injury has nothing to do with his arm.

If we were voting on ceiling, I would have gone with Scheppers slightly over Purke — not confidently mind you.

That's why they call them business sox

by egriffey on Jul 9, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Even if Main was healthy

I probably would have him right after Scheppers and Purke. Even if he was pitching well and healthy, both of these guys are more highly regarded in their draft class than Main was in his.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think you may be underrtaing main some

he was a top 15 guy, but one reason he dropped, IIRC, is because teams were not 100% sure what to do with him (OF or P)

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 9, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That draft also had a lot of talent in it

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.

"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jul 9, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

more than this years IMHO

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 9, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Main would certainly be close to those two

but just behind in my estimation.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he dropped for that reason at all, actually.

Like, at all.

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 9, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if main was healthy

i would have gone for him probably ahead of purke, and would have been REAL tough to place him vs scheppers

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 9, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he'd been healthy and producing all season?

Or are you saying if they came out and announced today that they had cured his shit with some Airborn (it was created by a schoolteacher!) mixed with OJ and he was now fully healthy, that you’d vote for him in the 4 spot?

Cause who knows how he’d’ve been producing if he’d been healthy all season.

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 9, 2009 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not mono

That was the initial report, but that is apparently not what is ailing Main.

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Jul 9, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

if Rockin’ Robbie Ross keeps it up, he’ll be in the top 5 by the end of the season.

That's why they call them business sox

by egriffey on Jul 9, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe if he gets promoted to Hickory and keeps it up

by LiamP on Jul 9, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea

he will most def need a lot of help to jump into the top 10

unless smoak, scheppers, feliz and someone else ahead of him graduate (borbon)

figure if 4 of the guys ahead of him graduate and are ineligible at the end of the year, if hes 10 he has a fair shot to be near top 5…

that said, idk how ppl slot him — personally hes behind purke, main, borbon & even with font, maxram, borbon, weiland, kiker, 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

by knockoutking on Jul 9, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's 20 in Spokane.

He needs to do it Hickory before I get too hard.

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 9, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

15 strikeouts vs 2 walks per 9 IP is exceptional regardless of the league.

And while the SAL likely has a few more hitters who are legitimate prospects, I suspect that there is not a huge difference between the average SAL hitter and the average NWL hitter. Consider the following:

Avg age of position players
SAL – 21.5
NWL – 21.4

Avg K/9 (2008)
SAL 7.8
NWL – 8.1

I will join you in arguing that sample size is a significant concern when discussing Ross’ stats, but what he has done thus far should not be diminished by the fact that he is pitching in the NWL after very recently turning 20.

by spurdynasty on Jul 9, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When do you think he will be promoted?

by Houston27 on Jul 9, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brigham was put on the DL

So … there’s room for Ross to slide into a Hickory tandem slot.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, but

He’s too small!!!!

/Fin

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BA's midseason top 25

4. Smoak
13. Feliz

In the next 25:
Martin Perez

link

Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D

by rooster on Jul 9, 2009 12:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Castro

I was totally underwhelmed when I saw him on TV.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smae here

19 is way to high.

The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...

by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same*

The 2009 Texas Rangers offense: sigh...

by Kinslerhomer on Jul 9, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

too*

:)

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jul 9, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Castro

Saw him play in frisco a few times already this year, and he didn’t impress much (especially compared to smoak in the same game)

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 9, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who'd they have #1?

If you don’t mind sharing.

I used to shoot baskets

by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heyward

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jul 9, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jarrod Parker?

Mike Stanton?

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's the list

1. Jason Heyward, of, Braves
2. Mike Stanton, of, Marlins
3. Jesus Montero, c, Yankees
4. Justin Smoak, 1b, Rangers
5. Madison Bumgarner, lhp, Giants
6. Buster Posey, c, Giants
7. Carlos Santana, c, Indians
8. Chris Tillman, rhp, Orioles
9. Brian Matusz, lhp, Orioles
10. Logan Morrison, 1b, Marlins
11. Freddie Freeman, 1b, Braves
12. Jarrod Parker, rhp, Diamondbacks
13. Neftali Feliz, rhp, Rangers
14. Alcides Escobar, ss, Brewers
15. Yonder Alonso, 1b, Reds
16. Wade Davis, rhp, Rays
17. Dominic Brown, of, Phillies
18. Desmond Jennings, of, Rays
19. Jason Castro, c, Astros
20. Tim Beckham, ss, Rays
21. Brett Wallace, 3b, Cardinals
22. Matt LaPorta, 1b/of, Indians
23. Michael Taylor, of, Phillies
24. Kyle Drabek, rhp, Phillies
25. Michael Saunders, of, Mariners

The Next 25: Tim Alderson, rhp, Giants; Pedro Alvarez, 3b, Pirates; Lars Anderson, 1b, Red Sox; Jake Arrieta, rhp, Orioles; Jhoulys Chacin, rhp, Rockies; Lonnie Chisenhall, 3b, Indians; Christian Friedrich, lhp, Rockies; Jeremy Hellickson, rhp, Rays; Aaron Hicks, of, Twins; Brad Holt, rhp, Mets; Eric Hosmer, 1b, Royals; Austin Jackson, of, Yankees; Casey Kelly, rhp/ss, Red Sox; Jason Knapp, rhp, Phillies; Mat Latos, rhp, Padres; Jordan Lyles, rhp, Astros; Jennry Mejia, rhp, Mets; Matt Moore, lhp, Rays; Mike Moustakas, 3b, Royals; Derek Norris, c, Nationals; Martin Perez, lhp, Rangers; Ben Revere, of, Twins; Esmil Rogers, rhp, Rockies; Josh Vitters, 3b, Cubs; Nick Weglarz, of, Indians.

Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D

by rooster on Jul 9, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thx

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Jeepeers

Not one Angle…Suck It, Bitchez!

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jul 9, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah... they aren't getting Halladay

not with that barren system. Even the Astros have someone up there (and doesn’t their pick of Castro actually look fairly good now? he’s not Smoak, but he’s already one of the better prospects from that draft).

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 9, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Castro is 100% better than most thought.

But the Angles…bloated payroll & barren farm…Muah Ha Ha!!!

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jul 9, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think anyone was knocking Castro.

They were knocking the Astros for picking him over Smoak.

Brandon McCarthy: Scap Load Failure - TexasLeaguers.com

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 9, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

gotta wonder how long until the shine comes off Lars Anderson and Pedro Alvarez. Not saying they aren’t good prospects, just wondering where they are if their seasons continue down the road their on.

I used to shoot baskets

by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem

by Chase Irwin on Jul 9, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Freeman has been impressive

but 11th best prospect in baseball…hardly.

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have many, many objections to this list.

But, whatever.

It’s interesting, I suppose.

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 9, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doesnt it bring a tear to your eye to see drabek there?

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 9, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And a baby to my foot, yes.

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 9, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, the wet dream shadow draft

always chaps my hide. this is my at the time dude i pick in the draftroom not hindsight 2020 draftpicks end up being: Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Porcello, Drabek and the saddest part about all of those guys is every single one of were on the same page, we all knew who the stars were/ could be and dont miss.

I should make “Drew Meyer haunts my dreams” Tshirts

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 9, 2009 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thought Moscoso deserved one vote

It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca

by bioaggie on Jul 9, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh and

my obligatory “Put Miggy de los Santos on the list” post just to piss Goyo off.

It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.
--Seneca

by bioaggie on Jul 9, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers

The injury history made me think about Purke, Kiker, and Beaven but Scheppers FB is just too sexy. 2nd best “stuff” to only Strasburg in the draft. Has potential to rocket through the system. At worst is a stud reliever.

Sounds like Feliz-lite to me. Sure he has signability and injury concerns, but Scheppers is a premium talent who is closer than Purke and has better stuff than Kiker and Beaven.

I used to shoot baskets

by SaltyDawg on Jul 9, 2009 12:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

This is where it gets hard for me. The first three were pretty easy…this one, I’m going to have to think about.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 9, 2009 12:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Surprised.

Boscan?

I’m waiting for him to pitch effectively since coming off the DL, let alone ranking him highly orgwide.

"[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 9, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn

I like Boscan pretty well, but you’ve slotted him ahead of a lot of high ceiling types.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boscan's plunging K-rate is a red flag waving

5.2 K/9 in 2009 is down sharply from 9.1 K/9 in 2008.

In my opinion, Boscan moved from being a borderline TORP last year (depending on the development of his fastball) to being a very solid BORP (Back of the Rotation Pitcher) prospect this year. For that reason, he ranks alongside Beavan and Hunter on my list.

by spurdynasty on Jul 9, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea i think its gonna be tough for me to rank boscan and beavan

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 9, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly what I was thinking

that K rate really dived on his promotion, though I’m hopeful that it’s just a small sample and he’ll adjust. If that K rate doesn’t go up notably in the 2nd half than any hope of him being a top of the rotation guy has to be tempered greatly. I’d put both Beavan and Hunter ahead of him right now.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We already have an acronym for BORP.

It’s taken.

We need to stop coming up with shit for everything.

Just say 4/5 or something.

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 9, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the great campaign for Corey Patterson

Black Outfielder Reclamation Project.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jul 9, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He would've done so well here.

We’re teh awesome when it comes to BORP’s.

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 9, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Milkman for me.

Then…?

Purke
Kiker///\\\C-1??

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jul 9, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I know you meant Scheppers but...

…I couldn’t help but think of Gary Mielke.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on Jul 9, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm, im a little suprised people are choosing Scheppers here

we chose Purke b4 him for a good reason, that alone should put him ahead of him seeing how neither of them have thrown a minor league pitch. Scheppers injury risk has to be wieghed into the equation here, and if it is, I have no idea how you put him ahead of Purke

"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"

by blalock84 on Jul 9, 2009 3:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Because every pitcher is a risk

and some have suggested that Purke’s delivery makes him a bit risky. I’m optimistic that Scheppers is ok now, and stronger and wiser for having gone through it. He’s no more a risk in my mind than Purke is.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 9, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by ramjam36 on Jul 9, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but he's certaintly considered less of a risk than Scheppers

or more upside to risk than Scheppers according to our scouts and execs. And seeing how neither has thrown a single pitch and Scheppers medical reports havent been 100% positive at all after the draft then i think you have to say Purke, or at least have to defer to the the fact that he was picked before Scheppers was… but whatever.

"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"

by blalock84 on Jul 10, 2009 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I don't have to do anything.

I don’t have to say Purke is less risky, or defer to the fact he was picked earlier.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jul 10, 2009 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This was tough

Like many of us predicted. It came down to Scheppers/Purke/Beaven for me. Our two draft picks just ooze talent, but in the end, I had to go Blake Beaven, mainly because he has just exceeded expectations that many had for him this year. He might not have the FB that the other two have, but Beaven commands it just as good as the other two. And if it is true that the Rangers are asking him to ditch the Two Seam Fastball for a bit to work on the Four Seam to regain the velocity that he once had, he could be really exciting in the years to come

Bill Simmons: "I will tell you right now, if the Boston Red Sox traded Clay Buchholz for Justin Smoak, I will run around my neighborhood naked...celebrating for an hour. I love Justin Smoak"

by Smoak Some on Jul 9, 2009 4:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it crazy to vote Font here?

I can't help it. I’m an asshole.
-brettgardner on Jul 7, 2009 10:55 PM EDT

by Jayslick on Jul 9, 2009 4:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really

A 17/4 K/BB ratio over his last 17.1 IP and a scosh more GOs. If that trend holds again tonight then – holy crap, Wilmer mighta found a clue.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Posted a minute ago by Jason Cole who is in Hickory ...

Wilmer Font sitting a cool 93-95 in the second inning.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Jul 9, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sexy.

"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem

by Chase Irwin on Jul 9, 2009 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Purke

Minor Moosings

by Goyogringo on Jul 9, 2009 5:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Had to vote Kiker

AA, pitching well, and he is in the system.

I cant vote for a guy at #4 who has a history of injury, slid to us, and hasnt even signed…. After he signs and pitches as a professional, then I will consider him in the top 5 or so…

Horned Frog Frenzy

by PM Productions on Jul 9, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Scheppers -- easy decision.

1. Ceiling
2. Stuff
3. Proximity

"We're One Nation Under a Groove"
- Ayjayem

by Chase Irwin on Jul 9, 2009 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Beavan

I just think he’ll be a horse in the rotation. Not to say Purke, Scheppers, Main and the rest of the boys will not be good. I just think Beavan will be a stud.

by peachygbc_1 on Jul 9, 2009 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to defer to Jim Callis on this one

by Brett Perryman on Jul 9, 2009 10:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I could be way off

And my research is a little lacking

But how does an injury-prone Supplemental pick who hasn’t pitched a day in the bigs get to be the number 4 prospect in the top farm system in baseball?????

Am I lacking in optimism?

by BuckyB on Jul 9, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

PS I say Beaven

by BuckyB on Jul 9, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same debate last year

Its all about upside and the fact that Scheppers has a ton of it.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jul 10, 2009 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For one thing, this probably isn’t the #1 farm system in baseball after promoting Andrus, Holland and Teagarden. For another, Scheppers was one of the top ten prospects in the draft in BA’s preview.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 10, 2009 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Questino

If Scheppers were to sign early enough to pitch some games in high A, say. and he did very well in those games. Where do you think he’d land, if at all, on BA’s top 100 list (or similarly, if he plays in a Fall or Winter League and impresses)

I suspect that he could be very high on that list.

Go Rice Owls!

by JBImaknee on Jul 10, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree.

And I wouldn’t rule it out.

"[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 10, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're right

and I said in my minor league update thing today that I would guess that both Scheppers and Purke make BA’s top 100 unless something catastrophic happens. They tend to include around 17-18 new players, and a lot of guys would have to pass them by for them to not be among that group.

by Brett Perryman on Jul 10, 2009 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably neither here nor there

but they could still be #1 but really, who cares, they will be a perennial top 5 with arguably the best depth of any system.

However, With Purke, Perez, Scheppers and Borbon (who was already in the 100-110 range last year) all competing for spots in the 51-75 range of the top 100, and maybe a couple of outliers (Font anyone) they should be right there. Beltre should fall out to be sure.

Add to Perez and Scheppers, Erlin, Doyle and Mendonca – all three in my top 30 with Mendonca in my top 20 – coupled with the influx of 2nd year DSL guys and Latin American rookies, and we’ll be top 3 for sure if not #1.

Minor Moosings

by Goyogringo on Jul 10, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs