Minors - 08/11
by LiamP on Aug 11, 2009 6:50 PM CDT
98 comments
Ross: 5/6/3/3/1/4. 6:4 GB:FB.
Wilmer Font continues to put up aesthetically appealing lines with mildly worrying peripherals. 5/2/0/0/3/4, 2:9 GB:FB Ratio. 3 of the K's came in the 1st inning when he gave up a leadoff triple and proceed to punch out the next 3 batters.
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Leadoff triple to start the game, then 3 straight K’s.
Showing some wildness with 3BB’s in 3IP though.
by LiamP on Aug 11, 2009 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Shutout thru 5 IP for Fontatron
Lotsa flyballs and too many walks, tho.
by shroomer on Aug 11, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
a fan post needs to be made of this ASAP!!!
After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL
by hinduplaya on Aug 11, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmm how far away is tulsa?
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Aug 11, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sickels is headed to OK
He plans on hitting Tulsa and OKC this week. Surely he’s smart enough to catch MP’s AA debut.
If so we should get a good write-up about it from him.
by shroomer on Aug 11, 2009 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He said he can't make it tomorrow
family stuff. Won’t be down till thursday. Sucks for him
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Aug 11, 2009 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
dang it
looks like others will see it tho
should get some pics and writeups
by shroomer on Aug 11, 2009 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any requests?
Obviously Perez, but anyone/anything else to watch out for? Kinsler’s making a rehab appearance, as well.
by Outworlder47 on Aug 11, 2009 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
im pumped
me and my roomate are goin too
i think im gonna be taking notes on it
go here to view my blog: http://dirtfromd.blogspot.com
by studcrackers on Aug 11, 2009 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Although Golston is in AAA
how about Gentry which is who I meant.
by Hull Fan on Aug 11, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll be there!
Any other LSBers heading to Tulsa?
by Outworlder47 on Aug 11, 2009 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy lord greased-up naked Jesus is that a sweet sight.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 11, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh snap
might have to hit up my first RR game
just heard it on the hardline driving home
by kumizi on Aug 11, 2009 7:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
For anyone who might have missed it
David Brown had a great analytic piece this morning on TORPs, MORPs and BORPs with a detailed look at the Rangers’ young pitchers: http://www.bbtia.com/home/2009/8/11/a-statistical-approach-to-identifying-and-classifying-future.html
by Joey Matschulat on Aug 11, 2009 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Those aren't fucking BORPs.
That’s some shameful shit right there.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 11, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would cut off my right nutsack for Jorge De La Rosa.
by LiamP on Aug 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes.
Left handed, fantastic stuff, FIP/tRA in the low 4’s, 9 K/9, 2.43 K/BB and he gets a shit ton of grounders.
Unless you’re talking about my willingness to cut off me nads in which case I say, do you really need two?
by LiamP on Aug 11, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant figuratively, but wow.
by Brett Perryman on Aug 11, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But then you run a major risk of becoming just Liam
by Telegraph on Aug 11, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily
if he cut off the left instead. Put a reversed letter P and a regular facing P together, notice the shape, and then remove the left half
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott
by ReallyCreativeScreenName on Aug 12, 2009 3:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How many nutsacks do you have, brosephine?
And it really does say a lot about my maturity level that I can’t read one single one of your posts without saying “I love liamp!” and giggling a bit.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 11, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dirkatron – Are you talking about the Rangers’ prospects or the major leaguers that were used to set the specs?
by spurdynasty on Aug 11, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
How well does it predict past Rangers prospects?
For example, where to Kevin Brown, Kenny Rogers, Colby, Rick Helling, etc. rank?
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 Aug 11, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a fine question
Brown – minor league data are incomplete
Rogers – minor league data are incomplete
Lewis – Debut age – 22, 3.55 ERA, 2.7 BB/9, 8.6 SO/9, 1.19 GB/FB = BORP
Helling – Debut age 23, 4.32 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 7.9 SO/9, ?? GB/FB = MORP
Volquez – Debut age 21, 3.72 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 9.2 SO/9, 1.28 GB/FB = Borderline TORP
Danks – Debut age 22, 4.20 ERA, 3.3 BB/9, 9.3 SO/9, 1.04 GB/FB = BORP
Diamond – Debut age 27, 3.96 ERA, 4.9 BB/9, 10.1 SO/9, 0.8 GB/FB = <BORP
Hurley – Debut age 22, 3.97 ERA, 3.1 BB/9, 8.3 SO/9, 0.8 GB/FB = BORP
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's a little scary there on Hurley
that he was 4/5 material pre-shoulder implosion, given your criteria.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
by Keynes on Aug 12, 2009 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This exercise has changed my opinion on several pitchers
Given the Rangers’ inventory of pitchers, I would not be upset to see the team move a few of their fly ball pitchers if they could get a good return.
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like Moscoso
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moscoso and Kiker would be at the top of my list
Will a B- prospect in the upper minors get you a B prospect in the lower minors?
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Classifying
Moscoso, Kiker and Hurley together as “fly ball pitchers” is simply a sin against taxonomy. The data that you have chosen to privilege in your pitching tiers – groundballs and flyballs – elides the most important part: the type of contact made (or put simply, how they actually pitch).
Kiker and Moscoso induce weak contact (in addition to missing bats very effectively) especially Moscoso – weak pop ups, weak fly balls, and weak line drives – while only Hurley happens to fit the bill in your “levelling” categorization. The data that you need to make this differentiation is data that can only be gleaned from listening to or watching a game; you won’t find a “weak fly ball” category (but you do ignore the significance of the one that is there: IFF). Or you could just use a more corporeal gutteral: if each “fly ball” makes you gasp! and leaves you white-knuckled as your grip your seat as it travels to the wall, then that is a fly ball pitcher. That would be Eric Hurley.
Moscoso’s ceiling is that of a mid-rotation starter. Kiker will make a nice Lefty setup guy in my opinion, but that has nothing to do with his flyball rate.
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd agree that Hurley
is more of a flyball pitcher than the other two, but I also stick with my conviction that Moscoso is one of the pitchers in the system who fits Arlington less well.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The consensus seems to be that pitchers have very little control over HR/FB rates
Approximately 11% of flyballs go for home runs in the major leagues. Although there are a few exceptions (primarily pitchers who play for teams with pitcher-friendly ballparks), that rule is applicable to all pitchers. Imagining that Moscoso or Kiker are going to buck that trend when they reach the majors seems awfully optimistic. And you’ve never struck me as an optimist, Goyo.
For what it is worth, the GB/FB ratios that I used for the study did not count infield flies as flyballs. Infield flies and line drives were counted separately.
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sheesh
What has the world become when taxonomic fatalism is the “new optimism”?! I am optimistic, nay, truely hopeful, that one day you will no longer be haunted by “ouliers”. Should that happen, it won’t imply the successful deployment of a completely hermetic and perfectly predictive taxonomy, rather, it will mean that you are living a plaintive life rereading old issues of MJH prospect profiles, smiling ever so sweetly at the slightly maudlin, exaggerated stories of individual triumph.
Nothing personal man, I’m procrastinating on a thesis chapter, and once the phrase “taxonomic fatalism” popped into my head, I just had to run with it:)
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"outliers"
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I take nothing personally
I’m just thirsty for knowledge and hoped that you might have something interesting to impart.
What is your thesis topic?
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well my comments
amount to more of a foundational critique (of scientism) than you realize, but I’m more interested in engaging in rhetorical excess than blog-critique at the moment as it is a substantive writing aid…
I’m writing a speculative photographic essay (cultural anthropology/Latin American studies, masters degree) on sites of memory in Buenos Aires that attempt to refigure/ commemorate/ remember Argentina’s “Dirty War”, 1976-1983 (30,000 “disappeared”). I am primarily working with my own photos of public sites there (parks, museums, memorials, exhibits, architecture, graffiti) but also looking at literature and film scripted over over the last 10yrs or so.
So yeah, Memory and trauma, in 2 words or less.
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The transformation of John Danks
Danks’ first three major league seasons:
Year 1 – 7.1 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 0.76 GB/FB, 5.54 ERA
Year 2 – 7.3 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.21 GB/FB, 3.44 ERA
Year 3 – 7.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 1.20 GB/FB, 4.16 ERA
His improved GB/FB ratio in year 2 played a significant role in converting him from a back of the rotation starter to one that slots as a #2 or #3.
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cutters... seems like the cutter changes the dynamic of a pitcher's ability to get GBs
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 12, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hrmmm.... No, sorry. It was a joke I thought more people would get.
A while back a was on a crusade regarding the Rangers’ ability to bring in Black Outfielder Reclamation ProjectS and have an almost uncanny ability to get the most out of every single one.
I named these types of players BORPS.
It makes me sad you’ve stolen my acronym is what I was getting at.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 11, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ross?
Wow. I didnt see that one coming…
After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL
by hinduplaya on Aug 11, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ross is one of the more intriguing prospects in the system
With his ground ball and walk rates, he can drop his K/9 to 7 or 8 and still be incredibly interesting. Ross, Purke, and Scheppers are going to be the pitchers to watch next year.
by spurdynasty on Aug 11, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish they'd go ahead and promote him already.
I mean he’s not old for that league at all, but he’s 20, which ain’t exactly super duper young, either. (He’s about 6 months older than Braden Tullis, for example.)
Given the way he’s raped opposing hitters in their stupid ugly eye sockets and then taken their biological mothers as his sex prisoners this season, I really don’t have the slightest clue as to why he hasn’t seen Hickory yet.
This whole lack of a promotion thing is not cause for concern yet, but I’m getting more uneasy about it each and every passing day.
I mean if Neil “The Human Ball of Shitty Ass Sucktastick Suckoria of Suck-Suck who Dirkatron Hates” Ramirez can make actual starts in Hickory, then surely Robbie Ross is good enough to see low-A as well, right?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 11, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ross Promo Rant presented...
And I’m sure JD will make a move accordingly. Thank you for that, Dirkles. I will be awaiting the impending move patiently
What's the rumpus?
by Hypo-Luxa on Aug 11, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is the SAL that much tougher on pitchers than the NWL?
Current year hitters:
NWL – Avg age: 21.3, BA: 267, OBP: 347, SLG: 384
SAL – Avg age: 21.5, BA: 255, OBP: 324, SLG: 370
Current year pitchers
NWL – Avg age: 21.3, ERA:4.52, H/9: 9.3, BB/9: 3.6, SO/9: 7.8
SAL – Avg age: 21.5, ERA: 3.73, H/9: 8.8, BB/9: 3.0, SO/9: 7.9
Like Texas, Colorado has teams in the NWL and SAL. Unfortunately, they seem to have a policy that prohibits in-season promotions. The only starting pitcher that I could find with a reasonable number of innings in both leagues was:
Shane Lindsey (2006)
NWL – 29 IP, 2.79 ERA, 5.6 H/9, 5.3 BB/9, 14.9 SO/9
SAL – 33.2 IP, 2.67 ERA, 7.0 H/9, 7.2 BB/9, 11.5 SO/9
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 7:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um, yes. There's a pretty significan't jump from the NWL to the SAL.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 12, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would be interested in hearing why you believe that there is a big jump between the two leagues
Dan Szymborski probably has the best handle on how performances at one minor league level translate to the next. Unfortunately, I can’t find where he has compared a short season league to a full season league.
For what it is worth, the performance numbers of a lot of pitching prospects who have gone from the NWL to the SAL have improved with the jump. Of course, only Lindsey’s was an in-season jump so it is hard to know how the league’s compare in any given season.
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because of the hardest thing to quantify
Talent
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that an opinion or an informed opinion?
To be clear, I am not convinced that the level of competition in the NWL and SAL are equivalent. Based on the data at hand, I am suggesting that Ross’ stats are unlikely to dip if he is promoted to the SAL and might even improve given the discrepancy in how the two leagues play. If you have information that is contrary to that idea, then please share. I am genuinely interested.
by spurdynasty on Aug 12, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd say the jump from A to high A
is much great and, of course, the jump from high A to AA is even greater. NWL to SAL is obviously a jump, but the difference is not as great as the next two by any means. And talent might not be the best word for it. There is plenty of talent in the NWL, I think it just tends to be more raw than the talent in the SAL.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The biggest jump in level of play is between AAA → Majors. A→AA used to be bigger about 15 years ago, AAA—>majors has been bigger in recent years. Teams are better these days at promoting players efficiently and with Japan as a viable alternative for so-called Phelpsers, AAA is a bit weaker than it used to be.
The jump from each level to the next gets smaller as you go down the professional ladder. The difference between short-season A and the lower A leagues is pretty small, but it can look more volatile give the smaller sample size.
--
Dan Szymborski
dan@baseballprimer.com
by D.Szymborski on Aug 12, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you do a search for your name across SBN?
I find it random that you would just drop by, ha.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 12, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do have a small bauble that lets me know once a day where and when my name is coming up, though in this case, someone e-mailed me to check out this thread. No doubt there’s a bit of self-absorption involved as well, but I do try my best to answer any question posed to me and I make sure never to link to myself.
--
Dan Szymborski
dan@baseballprimer.com
by D.Szymborski on Aug 13, 2009 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice
I didn’t mean to imply that you were self-absorbed — I was just unexpected to see your name pop up.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 13, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t worry, I didn’t take any offense. I’m just being objective!
--
Dan Szymborski
dan@baseballprimer.com
by D.Szymborski on Aug 13, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I almost posted above
that the biggest difference between the NWL and full season low A ball is the number of games.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
SSS
If I am not mistaken, Boscan had a year like that last year – this is not to say Boscan is no good.
by Telegraph on Aug 11, 2009 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed on the SSS
Boscan is one of five pitchers who posted nice numbers in Spokane in 2007 and 2008. Three of the other four (Perez, Holland, and Feliz) have turned out all right. Ross might be Boscan or NeRa, but his low- to mid-90’s fastball and good control suggest that he is more likely to be like the other three.
by spurdynasty on Aug 11, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But Boscan highlights one of the difficulties with using this type of predictive stat measure
Pitchers coming back from injuries will take some time to find their groove again, with a few bad starts not uncommon. This really messes with the measuring in some cases. Main will be impossible to predict using this method.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I shouldn't say impossible
of course. If Main were to come back and post TORP stats for a few months, combined with his scouting reports, you could feel pretty good about ranking him highly.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
by t ball on Aug 12, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ross' 1st on the Radio
K on a 3-2 count
GB to Pitcher
K on a high fastball on a 3-2 pitch
Two radar readings mentioned at 93 MPH…
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
gives up a run in the 2nd after picking a guy off of 1B but Clark Murphy screws it up and
isnt able to throw out runner at 2nd who then scores on a two out hit
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 Ks through 3 IP with no BBs and a 3-3 GB/FB Ratio
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smoak 2B and another CD walk in 1st of the OKC game
good to see CD being more patient
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 9:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
they both smell the blood in the water
Hank Blalock is not long for this team.
I’m a white boy who doesn’t think a black man is good enough to manage my baseball team. - LSJ
"I really think that" - LSJ, on being asked by AirJordan
by FirebatM3 on Aug 11, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i really wish we could cut his ass
im not sure if thats a viable option seeing how the vets on this team would probably throw a rebellion
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he has probably cleared waiver already
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
by RangerMad on Aug 11, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Smoak with a single, Davis with another walk.
by LiamP on Aug 11, 2009 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Davis has K/BB rate under 2!!!
party in the streets
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 11, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bianucci
With a solo shot in the first for Bakersfield, and slowly climbing up to respectable numbers now. His strikeout rate has doubled from Hickory to Bakersfield, though, which is a bit worrisome.
by Outworlder47 on Aug 11, 2009 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ogata
This kid continues to hit pretty damn well for Spokane. I know he is repeating that level and was drafted in the back third of the draft out of a major program, so he can’t really be considered a prospect, but this torrid stretch is impressive. I wonder if they give him a few ABs in BAK before the year’s out to see if he can realistically start at that level next season…might as well reward a kid for a season like this.
Paisano is hitting .323 in BAK so far, and although its an empty BA, its still nice to see his bat coming around. Maybe he’s still got a chance after all.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 11, 2009 11:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Paisano
it looks like he just went through a cold spell in Hickory but has picked it up in high A. I’ll be interested to see what his final combined numbers look like and I’ll wonder if he couldnt see AA next year. Even if he hits for an empty .290 or so his Defense makes him a decent enough prospect to keep tabs on. Its been a pretty positive year as he’s be able to show that he can at least hold his own in full season ball which he hadnt been able to do b4.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 12, 2009 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This performance is encouraging
I don’t see Paisano figuring into the club’s 25 man roster long term, but I do think he still has value to the club. We’ve discussed at length is value to an NL club as a pinch runner/defensive replacement type 5th OF. To me, he would make a great piece of a trade package for an NL slugger: trade a couple of pitching prospects, maybe a catcher, and a Paisano who is surviving (if not thriving) at High A or Double A at the deadline in 2010 and you should be able to net a solid slugger to put us over the top and in position to win the pennant.
"andruw jones hits 3 HRS at LA of Anaheim last nite after hitting zero at LA of LA as Dodger in all of '08. thats nuts." SI_JonHeyman
by WestTxAg06 on Aug 12, 2009 5:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Ogata is nothing but an org guy
his season is not impressive, really. No, really, its not…
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 1:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I swear I saw him playing for Hickory earlier this season...
Or am I brain sharting?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 12, 2009 1:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
He was the “hands of steel” guy at 2b booting balls. He has since been demoted and moved to the OF…
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 3:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, BBCube hooked me up, he did indeed play for Hickory early in the season, and he licked man-balls.
.191/.274/.277, ugh and a half.
A .551 OPS for a 22 year old without just fantastic defensive chops is a death knell. Shit, his defense would have to be at a level that would make Elvis blush to justify that shit.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 12, 2009 1:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
sorry
i thought hitting .400 over a 100 AB stretch is pretty impressive. And its not like this guy has never been considered a pretty legit prospect. But I defer to your infinite knowledge of all things prospecty.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 12, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The biggest insight I've gained in this year of following baseball.
Numbers do not tell the whole story.
One example (though it was better a couple weeks ago) is Kiker vs Drabek. The numbers look suspiciously similar, even down to DOB.
The players are different. As dirkatron put it, stuff matters.
And there again, scouts don’t all agree on how much better Drabek is. But he’s almost certainly better than Kiker.
And we get input from bonafide watching-players-in-real-life professionals via LSB, who know how to grade the five tools, who know when an org is requiring a player to throw his secondary repertoire, who know when a player is just a mistake hitter, or something more advanced. They can parse the wheat from the chaff.
Wheat and chaff doesn’t show up in box scores. So I’ve learned to take them less seriously (though I still have genuine deference for a good BB rate).
Anyway, that being said, college players hitting in short season is jack shit.
"[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 Aug 12, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think the last line
pretty much sums it up
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 12, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
college players hitting in short season is jack shit
I agree. Scouting reports mean more than actual numbers. Moreland hit 259/.308/.398 back in 2007 at Spokane. Glad nobody gave up on him.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
by RangerMad on Aug 12, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree
but this was a kid who, a few years ago, was considered to be an elite prospect, especially on the offensive part of his game. so when he suspiciously starts hitting .400 over a 113 PA stretch against mostly other college guys, it makes me curious to know if he has made any sort of breakthrough with his swing, or if he has just been incredibly lucky for a month long period of time. I am not advocating throwing him on any top 20 prospect lists, but he’s age appropriate in his league and he’s hitting very well, so he shouldn’t be dismissed as “just an org guy” any more than Rhoad, Prince, DiFazio, Mendonca or any of the other 22 year olds in Spokane.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 12, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wasting ink on Ogata is a joke
As is pulling up his HS-era scouting report. Do some research. Look at his college #s, look up some predraft reports from last year. Ugh.
Aren’t you the guy who said just 2 days ago that you really haven’t followed the minors this year?
All you need to know is that if you are a SR drafted in the 38th round and you signed for slot, you’re an org guy. And comparing Mendonca to any of those org guys is just stupid.
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
DiFazio
I don’t lump him in with the others. I think he is looked upon as a legitimate prospect by the org. The other guys I listed are senior signs and are admittedly long shots.
And the HS scouting report is only to show that he has some pedigree. My initial post was really only pointing out he’s on a hot streak and wondering if they bump him up a level or two to finish out the year as a reward. I didn’t proclaim him Kinsler’s heir apparent at 2B…but I also think that his jumping between programs stunted his development and he could be a little better than his draft slot indicates.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 12, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's cool
I’m sure someone buys your theory that : 1. a prospect’s primary tool is “age-appropriateness”; 2. everyone is equal in the eyes of the prospect gods as long as you try really hard; 3. Ogata didnt in fact get moved off of second and demoted to a short-season club because he sucks at both fielding and hitting. Really, in the end, he only needed some fresh mountain air.
by Goyogringo on Aug 12, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
at this point
I don’t even know what you’re talking about…what theory have I been espousing? It’s like you are arguing with someone else. 1. Saying that a player is age appropriate for his league is not the same as saying it is a prospect’s primary tool. 2. I don’t know what this comment even means. 3. He has always been known as a better hitter than a fielder…obviously I can’t speak to how well he is doing in the field, but he’s been a much improved hitter in Spokane, which makes some sense. I’m not discounting his performance with Hickory, which was abysmal.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 12, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
also, I read your blog
so I have some respect for you, but stop calling Doug Mathis “Mike”, unless that is his preferred name. And how can you really justify having Michael Kirkman at #14 in your prospect rankings? Have injuries really dropped Main and MaxRam below Michael Kirkman?
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Aug 12, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rankings are for chumps
Tiers is where its at
by Goyogringo on Aug 14, 2009 6:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Melo
He looks like a very near identical twin to Font in terms of statistical indicators. 34Ks/37IP 18BBs and .77 GB/FB ratio… although the hits and runs allowed are way, way higher, i feel like he does have alot of Font in him as he has the same kind of raw stuff/ raw pitchability. I’ll be interested to see if he gets the same treatment as Font and Sees Hickory next year as a 19 yr old.
With that profile you’d think he might be stuck as a RP only in the future, but who knows, he’s still young enough that changes could be made. I do find his K rates encouraging and the fact that he isnt NeRam in terms of lack of control is positive despite being so raw.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
by blalock84 on Aug 12, 2009 12:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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