10/28 Arizona Fall League Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 29, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Read the First Comment

Yesterday’s games saw Atlanta Braves 1B prospect Freddie Freeman continue his hot streak with three more hits.  Oakland A’s prospects Corey Brown and Jemile Weeks had nice outings as Brown rapped three more RBI’s and Weeks doubled twice and drove in two runs.  San Diego Padres prospect Lance Zawadzki put a black mark on Aaron Crow’s professional debut by taking him deep, though Crow looked pretty sharp allowing just two runs on three hits in his four innings. 

In Mesa, Andrew Cashner logged four no-hit innings, walking two and striking out four for his first win of the season.  Boston Red Sox SS/P prospect Casey Kelly had his best day with the bat, doubling, tripling and driving in four runs.

Today’s top prospect is the hands down best player in Arizona this fall, Grant Desme.  The A’s slugger remarkably tallied two more HR’s to raise his league leading total to 10.  Desme is now just four behind Brandon Wood’s AFL record and his .469 BA and 22 RBI leads the league right now.  Desme quietly had a big season for the A’s at Low-A Kane County and High-A Stockton, hitting .288 with 31 HR 89 RBI 40 SB and 98 runs scored.  Desme’s biggest culpability right now is his contact issues as he struck out 148 time in 131 games.  To date, Desme has fanned 14 times in 12 games, but his eight walks and 23 hits in that span makes his aggressive approach at the plate tolerable, if not encouraging.  Desme doesn’t have any first year cards right now, but when they do arrive (‘09 Bowman Draft?) they should command a solid market right out of the gate. 

AFL Player of the Day—GRANT DESME

Other Notable AFL Performances:

  Mesa Solar Sox 12

• Bryan Petersen—2-5 HR(2) 2 RBI 2R
• Starlin Castro—2-5 RBI 2R
• Hank Conger—2-4 2B R RBI BB
• David Cooper—2-4 RBI R
• Casey Kelly—2-4 2B 3B 4 RBI R BB
• Josh Vitters—2-5 RBI R
• Andrew Cashner—4 IP 0H 2 BB 4K  W (1-2)

  Scottsdale Scorpions 5

• Brandon Crawford—2-4 HR(1) RBI
• William Susdorf—1-2 HR(2) 2 RBI 2  BB
• Buster Posey—1-3 2R BB

  Phoenix Desert Dogs 11

• Grant Desme—3-4 2 HR(1) 4 RBI 4R BB
• Brandon Waring—3-5 3B RBI 2R
• Corey Brown—2-5 3 RBI
• Jemile Weeks—3-3 2 2B 2 RBI R

  Peoria Javelinas 6

• Trayvon Robinson—2-5 RBI R
• Casper Wells—1-4 HR(3) 3 RBI
• Justin Sellers—3-4 2B R
• Jordan Danks—1-3 R RBI BB

  Peoria Saguaros 9

• Lance Zawadzki—2-4 HR(1) 2 RBI 2R BB
• Jon Gaston—1-5 3B R 2 RBI
• Yonder Alonso—2-4 2R 2 RBI
• Freddie Freeman—3-4 2B R RBI BB
• Brandon Hicks—2-4 3B RBI BB
• Steven Garrison—3 IP 3H 2 BB K W (1-1)

  Surprise Rafters 0

• Reese Havens—2-4
• Aaron Crow—4 IP 3H 2 ER BB 2K L (0-1)

10/21 Arizona Fall League Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 22, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

I was looking through some of my past posts and saw that the scoreboard section of each entry is a little mushed together, making it difficult to discern the final scores of each game.  I will try to do better going forward.

As for tonight’s action, the Phoenix Desert Dogs put up 17 runs tonight to provide us with a wealth of offensive performances to choose from.  Grant Desme blasted two more homeruns to up his league leading total to five and Josh Bell increased his league leading batting average to .600 on the strenght of a four hit day that included his first AFL dinger, a double and three RBI.  In other games, Jordan Danks went yard for the second consecutive day, Yonder Alonso and Colin Curtis hit their second HR’s of the fall and Daryl Jones homered, scored twice, walked three times and stole two more bases to increase his total to six on the young season.

We go back to the Desert Dogs for our top performer of the day.  Baltimore Orioles 1B prospect and former 1st round pick Brandon Snyder belted HR’s number 2 and 3 earlier today, driving in seven runs and scoring three times.  Those of you who have followed this blog for some time have heard me on several occasions laud the offensive potential of the 23 year old power hitter.  Snyder’s ‘09 campaign got off to a rousing start as he batted .343 with 10 HR 45 RBI and 19 doubles in just 54 games at AA Bowie.  A promotion to AAA Norfolk saw him struggle to maintain his batting average and power numbers (.248 2 HR 43 RBI 18 doubles in 73 games).   The cool down performance at Norfolk diminished the market for his cards somewhat, making his various autos in 2005 Rookie Cup and various 2006 Bowman products nice bargain basement buys at $5-10 each. 

The Orioles have some decisions to make in the off season as the club has clearly opted to shift to a more youth oriented lineup.  Emerging stars like Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, Nolan Reimold and a plethora of pitching talent make Baltimore an exciting up and coming A.L. East powerhouse that could contend with the other beasts in the east within the next two to three seasons.  Snyder’s torrid start to the ‘09 AFL season (.481 3 HR 12 RBI 10 runs) should increase the Orioles’ confidence in making him the front runner for the position in 2010.  Former Indians prospect Michael Aubrey should factor into the competition as well, but Snyder’s power upside and youth gives him a decided upper hand.  As much as I like Snyder, I do think he will struggle some in his first couple of months in a major league lineup.  He has a history of starting slowly at new levels before taking off and putting up better numbers.  Regardless, he’s a future 20-25 HR hitter who could drive in close to 100 runs in the middle of a young and talented Baltimore Orioles lineup.  Once that happens, the days of $5 Bowman Chrome and Sterling autos will be a thing of the distant past.

AFL Player of the Day—BRANDON SNYDER

Other Notable AFL Performances:

  Mesa Solar Sox 5

• Josh Vitters—3-5 2B R 2 RBI
• Bryan Petersen—2-5 2B R RBI
• Wellington Castillo—3-4 BB
• Greg Burns—1-2 3B R RBI 2 BB
• Tommy Mendoza—4 IP 3H ER 3K W (1-1)

  Scottsdale Scorpions 4

• Buster Posey—2-4 2B 2 RBI R
• Thomas Neal—1-4 R SB(3)

  Surprise Rafters 10

• Colin Curtis—3-5 HR(2) 2 RBI 2R 3B
• Mitch Moreland—1-5 HR(1) 2 RBI 2R
• Ike Davis—3-4 2B 2 RBI BB
• Trey Henley—2-4 2B 2r HR(1) 3 RBI BB
• Bryan Anderson—2-4 3B 2 RbI
• Daryl Jones—1-1 2R HR(1) RBI 3 BB 2 SB(6)
• Carlos Gutierrez—3.2 IP 2H 2 BB K W(2-0)

  Peoria Saguaros 9

• Chris Heisey—4-5 2 2B 3B 2R 2 RBI
• Lance Zawardzki—2-5 3B 2R RBI
• Yonder Alonso—1-4 HR(2) 3 RBI
• Josh Rodriguez—1-3 HR(1) RBI SB(1)
• Jon Gaston—2-4 3B R

  Phoenix Desert Dogs 17

• Brandon Snyder—4-5 2 HR(3) 7 RBI 2B 3R SB(1)
• Grant Desme—2-3 2 HR(5) 3 RBI
• Josh Bell—4-5 HR(1) 3 RBI 2R 2B
• Corey Brown—1-4 HR(1) RBI BB
• Matt Angle—3-5 2R RBI BB
• Jemile Weeks—1-5 3R RBI BB SB(2)

  Peoria Javelinas 4

• Russ Mitchell—3-3 2B 2R RBI
• Jordan Danks—1-4 HR(2) RBI
• C.J. Retherford—2-4 2 RBI

10/14 Arizona Fall League Report

Posted by Jeremy on October 15, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | 2 Comments to Read

Yesterday’s league action did not conjure the offensive fireworks that Tuesday’s action did, but there were a few fine performances to note.  Dustin Ackley had two hits in his first action as a pro, scoring once.  Ike Davis added two more RBI to up his league leading total to 8.  Trayvon Robinson tripled, scored and drove in a run, walking twice and stealing two bases. Domonic Brown doubled twice and drove in a run while new Arizona Diamondbacks OF prospect Cole Gillespie went 3-3 with two walks and a stolen base.

Today’s top award goes to unheralded Florida Marlins OF prospect Bryan Petersen, who collected three hits including his first AFL HR and two doubles.  Petersen’s numbers, on the surface, were solid but not standout (.297 7 HR 49 RBI 13 SB 64 runs in 121 games).  Oddly, areas that he excelled in in 2008 (23 HR 23 SB) diminished somewhat this past season, but his plate discipline (50 BB/66 K) and batting average experienced significant improvements.  All told, Petersen is a 23 year old player with a limited upside and enough athleticism and polish to be a solid contributor to a franchise.  The Marlins, however, are a team that is flush with more talented OF’s which could relegate Petersen to an eventual 4th outfielder role with the club.  He also remains someone who could draw some interest by other clubs as an inclusion in a trade, though the Marlins tend to be an organization that trades for prospects instead of shipping them out.  Until the situation changes, Petersen’s 2008 autos should continue to languish in the $3-5 range.

AFL Player of the Day—BRYAN PETERSEN

Other League Action:

  Phoenix Desert Dogs 4

• Jemile Weeks—2-5 2B R RBI SB(1)
• Chris Marrero—2-4 2B RBI BB
• Brandon Waring—1-5 HR(1) RBI

 Mesa Solar Sox 2

• Bryan Petersen—3-5 HR(1) RBI 2 2B
• Josh Vitters—3-4 2B
• Michael Stanton—2-4 SB(2)
• David Cooper—1-4 2B RBI
• Mike McCardell—2 IP H 4K

  Scottsdale Scorpions 3

• Domonic Brown—2-5 2 2B RBI
• Cole Gillespie—3-3 RBI 2 BB SB(1)
• Donald Veal—2 IP 3K

  Peoria Saguaros 1

• Jason Heyward—1-4 2B R
• Matt McBride—2-3 3B RBI BB
• Josh Rodriguez—2-4 2B

  Surprise Rafters 6

• Ruben Tejeda—2-5 2R RBI
• Mike Moustakas—1-4 2B R RBI
• Austin Romine—3-4 RBI
• Ike Davis—1-3 2 RBI
• Trey Henley—2-3 RBI R BB

  Peoria Javelinas  4

• Trayvon Robinson—1-3 3R R RBI 2 BB 2 SB(2)
• C.J. Retherford—1-4 3B RBI R
• Taylor Green—1-2 2 BB
• Dustin Ackley—2-4 R

7/19 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on July 20, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Atlanta Braves OF prospect Cody Johnson reclaimed the minor league HR lead by blasting his 24th yesterday, driving in two and scoring twice.  He also walked and stole his 9th base of the season.  Power is definitively his calling card, but it is nice to see him drawing more walks as of late and stealing bases.  The more that Johnson can distinguish himself as a multi-dimensional hitter, the more bullish I become about his major league future.  Johnson has already exceeded his walk totals from last season, drawing his 47th yesterday, and his K rate has slowed significantly during the month of July (13 BB/19 K).  On the flip side, Cody has posted his lowest batting average splits this month, hitting just .207 with 4 HR and 15 RBI.  I am not too concerned with this as he may be making mechanical adjustments and altering his aggressive approach.  I look at this as a positive sign for long term success.  The power potential is there for Johnson to be a perennial 30-40 HR hitter at the big league level and his overall potential reminds me of towering slugger and whiff machine Adam Dunn.  His walk rates are behind Dunn’s at this point, but at just 20 years old, there is plenty of time for Johnson to boost his totals.  Johnson’s first year autos have experienced bi-polar fluctuations over the past couple of seasons, rising to $20+ in 2007 and dropping to $8-10 during ‘08.  Currently, they are residing somewhere in the middle at $7-9 for his Bowman Sterling autos and $9-12 for his Bowman Chrome Draft autos.  I think that AA ball is going to be a huge litmus test for the former AFLAC All-American and we’ll likely have to wait until next season to see the effects of that.  As for this season, 30 HR 90 RBI and about 150 K’s seems to be solid locks.

Roger Kieschnick had four knocks yesterday including his 19th HR, four RBI and three runs scored.  Kieschnick’s big day snapped a 2-18 dry spell and raised his average to .296 and his RBI total to 74 on the season.  Similar to Johnson, Roger seems to be altering his approach at the plate to cut back on his K’s as his BB/K ratio for the month of July has been quite balanced (8 BB/10 K) but his batting average (.237) is more than 40 points lower than his previous season low.  I am much more an advocate of a balanced approach at the plate.  Strikeouts are not a major detractor from overall performance if the power numbers and OBP remains high.  Hitters like Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena and others have put up monster seasons despite big K numbers as they are able to also draw 80-100+ walks per season.  Kieschnick’s first year autos are quite affordable right now with prices for his Donruss Elite Extra, Razor Threads, and Playoff Rookie Ticket autos selling for $7-10 each.  I think Kieschnick’s power numbers will carry forward, but I am skeptical of his batting average totals.  The athletic outfielder’s flirtation with the .300 mark has more to do with the fact that he is currently in the California Leauge and amidst a talented lineup.  Perhaps his recent struggles can be attributed in part to the fact that Buster Posey has moved on to AAA. 

Today’s top prospect is another California League offensive benefactor, San Diego Padres 3B prospect James Darnell.  The former South Carolina Gamecock belted HR’s 12 and 13 yesterday, driving in four runs.  Darnell started slowly after his late June promotion, but has caught fire over the last 10 games, hitting .324 with four HR, eight RBI and seven runs scored.  Darnell’s plate discipline is extraordinary as he has a positive 68 BB/61 K ratio.  The Padres have a pleasant dilemma at the hot corner as both Darnell and AA star Logan Forsythe are both having stellar seasons.  Defensively, Forsythe is clearly superior as his excellent range, arm, and hands trump Darnell’s decent skills.  Darnell will likely have to move to the outfield where there is a plethora of talented prospects to compete with.  I think he’s a player that should play at both AA and AAA next year with a shot at earning a 2010 September debut, but it will be interesting to see exactly where he ends up as a pro.  His first year autos from the 2008 Donruss Elite Extra, Playoff Contenders, and Razor sets are all quite affordable right now at $3-8 each and serve as excellent sleeper buys for next season.

High-A Player of the Day—JAMES DARNELL

Other Notable Performances:

Hitting:

• Michael Bianucci—2-4 HR(16) RBI 2B 2R
• Roger Kieschnick—4-5 HR(19) 4 RBI 3R
• Conor Gillaspie—3-5 2B 2R 2 RBI
• Thomas Neal—2-6 2 2B 2R
• Darren Ford—2-4 2B R RBI
• C.J. Ziegler—5-5 2B 2R RBI
• Tyson Gillies—2-4 2B
• Joe Dunigan—1-3 HR(22) 2 RBI
• Jake Rife—3-4 2B 2 RBI
• Jay Brossman—1-3 2R 2B 2 RBI BB
• Jemile Weeks—3-5 2 2B R
• Grant Desme—2-4 2B 3R RBI BB
• Jermaine Mitchell—3-4 2 RBI R SB(10)
• Jon Gaston—2-4 HR(23) 2 RBI 2R
• James Shuck—2-5 3R
• Brian Barnes—1-3 3R RBI 2 BB
• Koby Clemens—3-5 2B 3 RBI
• James Darnell—3-5 2 HR(13) 3 RBI 2R
• Matt Clark—2-5 2 HR(15) 2 RBI 2R
• Christan Lara—3-5 HR(5) 2 RBI SB(11)
• Pedro Baez—2-4 2B R SB(5)
• Radamez Nazario—3-4 2B 2R RBI
• Pedro Florimon Jr.—2-4 2B 2R 2 RBI
• Derrick Robinson—2-5 R RBI SB(46)
• Johnny Giavotella—2-5 RBI 2 SB(16)
• Eric Huber—1-4 2B 4 RBI
• Alex Presley—3-5 2B 2R
• Cody Johnson—1-3 HR(24) 2 RBI 2R BB SB(9)
• Dominic Brown—2-3 2 RBI BB
• Arlon Quiroz—3-4 R SB(15)
• Derrick Mitchell—2-4 2B HR(7) RBI
• Brad McElroy—3-5 2R SB(4)
• John Tolisano—1-3 R RBI 2 BB
• Manny Rodriguez—2-4 HR(5) 4 RBI BB
• Logan Schafer—3-5 2B 2R
• Lee Haydel—1-4 2B 2R 2 RBI
• Damon Sublett—2-5 2B BB
• Austin Romine—1-4 2B R RBI BB
• Chris Swauger—2-2 HR(9) 3 RBI BB

Pitching:

• Nick Additon—6.1 IP 7H 4 ER 2 BB 8K
• Darren Byrd—6 IP 4H ER 3K W (2-3)
• Jeff Mandel—7 IP 5H Er BB 6K W (8-4)

Top 20 Second Base Prospects for 2009

Posted by Jeremy on February 5, 2009 under 2009 Top 20 Prospects | Be the First to Comment

When I started brainstorming this list, I thought that it would be full of stinkers.  Second basemen have historically been nothing more than mediocre infield prospects who couldn’t cut it on the left side of the infield.  However, players like Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, and others have ushered dwellers of the 4-hole to a more respected place amongst the skill positions.  The headliner of this list is Philadelphia Phillies prospect Jason Donald, who has yet to play a professional game at 2B.  However, his expected Opening Day nod in place of the injured Mr. Utley lends credence to his inclusion on this list.

1.) Jason Donald—Philadelphia Phillies

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Donald has a well rounded set of polished skills that are major league ready.  His leadership, baseball instincts, and work ethic are highly lauded within the organization.

Weaknesses: None of his tangible skills stand out as being above average.  Defensively, Donald can play several infield positions, but he doesn’t dazzle at any one of them.

2009 Outlook: Utley has stated publicly that he expects to be ready for opening day which, if true, will push Donald either over to 3B in place of the injured Pedro Feliz or to AAA Ottawa for some more seasoning.  Donald’s leadership and all out efforts will be well appreciated in the city of brotherly love and could propel this former Arizona Wildcat to become a sentimental fan favorite…at least until he gets traded…or suffers an 0-20 slump.

 

2.) Chris Coghlan—Florida Marlins

2008 Stats:

Strengths: His tireless competitive drive and sound fundamental skills allow for him to put up good numbers in a variety of categories.  Coghlan has excellent plate discipline and a line drive bat that could hit for a high average at the major league level.

Weaknesses: He doesn’t have great range defensively, and his power tends to hit gaps rather than seats. 

2009 Outlook: Coghlan’s future is directly correlated with the destiny of current Marlin 2B Dan Uggla.  There have been rumors swirling in the offseason that Florida is looking to trade Uggla, but nothing substantial has materialized yet.  Coghlan, in the meanwhile, will continue to polish off his development at AAA Albequerqe until room is made for him on the big league roster.

3.) Sean Rodriguez—Los Angeles Angels

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Sean-Rod has intriguing power potential that could translate to at least 20-25 HR per season with the Angels.  Defensively, he has a strong arm, a quick first step and soft hands that should make him an above average fielder.

Weaknesses: Rodriguez left his plate discipline in Salt Lake City after his promotion to L.A.  A disciplined hitter at AAA, Sean became over-agressive at L.A.  Also, his bulky build (6-1 215 lb.) is great for power potential, but should have an adverse effect on his range and athleticism as he ages.

2009 Outlook: Rodriguez is currently blocked by Howie Kendrick at 2B, but Kendrick has failed to complete any of his first three seasons without missing substantial time with injuries.  Rodriguez’s powerful bat is close to ready and the Angels may want to consider giving Sean some reps in the OF to increase their options.  Vlad Guerrero is rapidly losing his athleticism and Juan Rivera has a laundry list of injury woes as well.  Rodriguez turns 24 in April and the best from him is yet to come.

4.) Eric Young Jr.—Colorado Rockies

2008 Stats:

Strengths: World class speed and excellent lead off skills make the junior version of Eric Young a potentially better player than his father.  Young also turned in an MVP performance in the ‘08 Arizona Fall League adding surprising power to his game, hitting 5 HR in just 100 AB.

Weaknesses: Second base may be a temporary home for Young as his glove and footwork are below average.  His power spike in the AFL, while encouraging, may not carry forward to Colorado.

2009 Outlook: If he is able to stay at 2B, his chances of staying in Colorado are much better.  The Rockies are loaded with good young outfielders and Young’s offensive upside is quite a bit better than current second baseman Clint Barmes.  Watch Young’s performance at AAA Colorado Springs to see if the power carries forward and the defense improves. 

5.) Eric Sogard—San Diego Padres

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Much like Coghlan, Sogard has a well rounded set of polished skills that, when matched with his work ethic and competitive drive, allows him to put up big numbers across the board.  Sogard has surprising pop for someone his size and has a knack for driving in clutch runs.  His plate disicpline and high contact rates makes him a solid top of the lineup hitter.

Weaknesses: Sogard has average athleticism and speed which could serve as a minor detriment to his defensive range and quickness on the basepaths in future seasons.

2009 Outlook: Sogard will look to demonstrate that his gaudy stats at Lake Elsinore were not a California League aberration.  His skill set, both tangible and intangible, closely resembles that of 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia.  By this time next season, Sogard could easily be #1 on this list.

6.) Nick Noonan—San Francisco Giants

2008 Stats:

Strengths: His athletic and projectible frame should build more strength as it matures.  Noonan hit a combined 34 doubles and triples to go with his seven HR.  This leads me to believe that he can develop into a 12-18 HR hitter in the future.  Noonan has an advanced mental approach both offensively and defensively and he utilizes his speed well on the basepaths.  He should be a leadoff or #2 hitter at the major league level.

Weaknesses: Noonan needs to improve his plate discipline and pitch recognition.  He tends to swing at pitches out of the strike zone, limiting his batting average totals and on base opportunities.

2009 Projection: High-A San Jose is his April destination and Noonan has the opportunity to put up some big numbers there.  He is part of a highly talented youth movement that includes the likes of Buster Posey, Angel Villalona, Madison Bumgarner, and Tim Alderson.  Look out for this Giants franchise in the next 3-5 seasons!

7.) Jose Vallejo—Texas Rangers

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Lethal top of the order speed and high efficiency on the basepaths.  Vallejo was successful on 94% of his stolen bag attempts (89 of 96) over the last two seasons.  His bat produces sizzling line drives from both sides of the plate and he showed a big spike in XBH power at both High-A and AA last season.  Defensively, Vallejo has good range and a strong arm that should make him an above average fielder.

Weaknesses:  Vallejo’s increase in power came at two environments that tend to surrender inflated offensive numbers.  Is the power spike for real?  Also, Jose needs to trim up his BB/K ratio.  Turning 15-20 of those strikeouts into walks could make him a top of the order hitter.

2009 Outlook: Vallejo may be a victim of circumstance.  Ian Kinsler has emerged as a perennial All-Star and his tenure in Texas looks to be a long one.  However, the Rangers are on the cusp of being a bonafide contender in the AL West and Vallejo could find himself being shipped to another organization in a package deal for more pitching depth.  Jose will increase his stock if he can demonstrate that the power increase is real.  He’ll get a chance to do that at AA Frisco this year.

8.) Adrian Cardenas—Oakland Athletics

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Adrian has a smooth left-handed swing that should develop 15-20 HR power and a high batting average as he matures.  He makes good contact at the plate and has good plate discipline.  Cardenas has average athleticism and speed, but he uses what he has efficiently.

Weaknesses: He has a thick torso and legs that should get slower as he ages.  He may eventually end up at 3B which would make his power potential a touch below average. 

2009 Outlook: Adrian should start the season back at AA Midland.  This should give the 21 year old a chance to develop his power numbers a little more.  Mark Ellis and Eric Chavez are under contract through at least 2010, which should give Cardenas more than enough time to refine his skills.

9.) Matt Antonelli—San Diego Padres

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Antonelli plays at full throttle at all times.  He has a strong, athletic body that could produce 20 HR/20 SB seasons.  Matt grinds out AB’s and works deep into counts which helps boost his walk totals and on base percentage.

Weaknesses: What happened in 2008?  Antonelli’s precipitous drop off is a little concerning as the usual culprits (injuries or breakdowns in plate discipline) were not factors.  He has solid athleticism now but, like Cardenas, he has a thick build that could lose speed and athleticism as he gets older.

2009 Outlook: Antonelli may have been a victim of bad luck in 2008.  Expect his numbers to rebound to a level that is in between his stellar ‘07 season and his lack luster ‘08.  The Padres currently list Edgar Gonzalez and Luis Rodriguez ahead of Antonelli on their depth chart, but a big spring could well change all of that.  Otherwise, Matt will start the season at AAA Portland and earn a call up at some point soon after Opening Day.

10.) Ryan Mount—Los Angeles Angels

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Big time raw power.  Mount blasted 14 of his 16 HR’s over the final two months of the season.  His frame is continuing to develop and the promise for more power is intriguing.  He makes good contact at the plate and can steal the occasional bag as well.

Weaknesses: Nagging injuries, especially in his legs, has slowed his development and probably will diminish his athleticism as he ages.  Mount already has fringe average range at 2B and his glovework was not awe inspiring.  Mount needs to continue to work on raising his walk totals as advanced pitchers will exploit his aggressiveness.

2009 Outlook: Mount has been preliminarily placed on Salt Lake City’s roster, which seems a tad aggressive given his limited exposure at lower levels.  If Mount can stay healthy, his offensive upside is as good as Sean Rodriguez’s.  His heavy legs may force him to move to 3B down the road.

11.) Jemile Weeks-Oakland Athletics

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Weeks is a prototypical leadoff hitter with elite speed, excellent plate discipline, and a line drive bat.  Weeks makes good contact with most everything he swings at and has good defensive range.

Weaknesses: His other defensive skills are below average which means that a shift to the OF may happen soon.  Weeks doesn’t have near as much power as his older brother Rickie.

2009 Outlook: Weeks should play at High-A Stockton to start the season.  Given that he has extensive collegiate experience, a performance based promotion to AA Midland is not at all out of the question.  The A’s have been devoid of speedy, top of the order guys in their farm system for years.  Jemile has a good chance to buck that trend within the next 2-3 seasons.

12.) Chih-Hsien Chiang—Boston Red Sox

2008 Stats:

Strengths: His bat is the real deal.  Chiang has a long, agile frame that should be able to hit for more power without sacrificing his good batting average.  The Taiwanese prospect makes good contact at the plate and is aggressive with pitches in the strike zone.

Weaknesses: Chiang is not a good defensive player.  He worked out in the Fall Instructional League as an OF, which means that a position change could happen as soon as this spring.  Chiang is not a weapon on the basepaths either. 

2009 Outlook: AA Portland well be a challenge for Chiang.  Watch to see how his power and defense progresses.  With his big frame, he has the potential to be a 15-20 HR hitter within the next season or two.

13.) L.J. Hoes—Baltimore Orioles

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Hoes has an impressive assortment of tools.  His sinewy 6-1 185 lb. frame should build good power as he matures and his speed is well above average.  Many young hitters struggle with their plate discipline coming out of HS, but Hoes’ 30 BB/22 K ratio is nothing short of awesome.  Hoes also has a hose for an arm, being clocked at 95 MPH in high school.  He is said to be a good teammate with a tremendous work ethic as well.

Weaknesses: Right now, it has to be experience, especially at 2B.  Hoes was an outfielder in high school and has only recently made the transition to the infield.  There is promise that he will develop good power, but it is really too early to tell for sure.

2009 Outlook: There is a lot to like in this youngster and his ranking may be a bit conservative at this time.  He should get a shot at full season ball with Delmarva this spring.  That should give us all a better feel for just how good this Maryland native could someday be.

14.) Luis Valbuena—Cleveland Indians

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Valbuena has a nice left-handed swing that produces decent power to the gaps and line drives to all fields.  His BB/K ratio improved significantly in ‘08 and he has the speed to steal double digit bags at the major league level.  Defensively, Valbuena has good range and consistently makes plays and limits his error totals.

Weaknesses: The offensive skills are good but not great.  Valbuena’s ceiling is limited to being a solid, middle of the road second baseman with better than average defensive skills.  While this is not necessarily bad, it won’t propel him into the upper echelon of this list.

2009 Outlook: Luis’ skill set is major league ready, but he must first find a way to distinguish himself from the other 2nd basemen on Cleveland’s roster.  His best chance to do that will be this spring.  If he can hit for the power that he displayed in the Venezuelan Winter League (.291 5 HR 20 RBI), there is a possibility that he could make the Tribe’s 25 man roster.  Otherwise, he will head to AAA Columbus to play every day and wait for an opportunity.

15.) Ryan Adams—Baltimore Orioles

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Adams has gap power and a strong, athletic frame.  His speed is a tick above average which plays well on the basepaths.  His arm strength is very good which opens his options to play at several positions.

Weaknesses: A change to another position might be a good move.  Adams was awful defensively, making 46 errors at 2B.  He also needs to become a more disciplined hitter.   Last year, Ryan walked just 36 times while punching out 109 times.

2009 Outlook:  There are plenty of things to like in Adam’s bat, but his skills need a great deal of refining.  he will start the ‘09 season at High-A Frederick.  Keep an eye on where he ends up defensively.  It is quite possible that this will be his only appearance on this list.

16.) David Adams—New York Yankees

2008 Stats:

Strengths: This former Virginia Cavalier has a big strong frame but still is nimble enough to be a decent middle infielder a la Jeff Kent.  Adams has the potential to hit for good power numbers and he is deceptively quick.  He is a hard-nosed player with an agressive drive to succeed.

Weaknesses: His size may get in his way as he ages.  He does have a strong enough arm to play 3B, but a move to the hot corner makes his 18-22 HR potential less alluring.

2008 Outlook: Adams will get to start at Low-A Charleston, but any sustained level of success there should earn him a promotion to Tampa.  He should take a good 2-3 seasons to develop, which should give the Yankees ample time to see if he can eventually fill the shoes of All-Star 2B Robinson Cano.

17.) Chris Getz—Chicago White Sox

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Getz is a scrappy player with a line drive bat and solid plate discipline.  He has good defensive instincts and gets the most out of his average speed on the basepaths.

Weaknesses: He has a gaggle of fringe average tools.  He gets the most out of his abilities, but there aren’t many things in his game that makes him a standout player.  Getz is one of those role players that will always be looking over his shoulder for the bigger, better prospect waiting to unseat him.

2009 Outlook: Chris is at the top of the White Sox depth chart at second base.  He should get every opportunity to keep that position but, as stated earlier, his margin for error is finite.

18.) John Tolisano—Toronto Blue Jays

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Tolisano has built his strength over the last couple of years providing a quicker and more leveraged swing that should provide 15-20 HR power in time.  He has a very strong arm and decent enough range to stick at 2B. 

Weaknesses: He strikes out way too much.  His aggressiveness leads him to swing at pitches out of the zone and to fail to recognize off speed offerings.  His added bulk has made him a touch slower on the basepaths and could cause him to lose a step in the field.

2009 Outlook: Tolisano had a big time drop off in the second half of last season at Low-A Lansing.  He may find himself back there initially in 2009 to work out some issues at the plate.  The Blue Jays are quite optimistic about his future, but his skills will take a good deal of time and patience to fully develop.

19.) Eric Farris—Milwuakee Brewers

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Farris has blazing speed and a quick bat that makes consistent contact and slashes line drives for a high average.  Farris’ quickness gives him a great deal of range at 2B and makes him a weapon on the basepaths.

Weaknesses: Eric has virtually no power and despite his speed, he is a mediocre defensive infielder.  He needs to build strength with the bat and consistency with the glove.

2009 Outlook: Farris will be AA Huntsville’s starting 2B this season.  The Brewers’ farm system doesn’t have many good middle infielders—especially 2nd basemen.  Farris has some nice top of the lineup tools, but there are several deficiencies in his game that may force the organization to look elsewhere for projectible talent. 

20.) Justin Snyder—New York Yankees

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Snyder is polished and patient at the plate.  He has shown the ability to be versitile, serving time at five different positions in ‘08.  He has decent power to the gaps and is a smart and competitive situational hitter.

Weaknesses: Similar to Chris Getz, Snyder is a low ceiling player who will be bumped around by more talented prospects.  He doesn’t have great power and his speed is average at best. 

2009 Outlook: Justin will move to High-A Tampa to continue in his development.  If he could bump up his HR totals, his value as a prospect would be considerably better. 

Others to consider: Daniel Mayora, Emmanuel Burriss, Shelby Ford, Yung-Chi Chen, Emilio Bonafacio, Justin Turner, Ryan Dent, Tony Thomas, Johnny Giavotella

Ok, it is late and I am sleepy….I hope you enjoy the list of 2B and, as always, I can’t wait to hear your comments and/or your own lists.

7/28 Low A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on July 29, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Blake Beavan

• 6 IP 3H ER 4K (W)—Solid 1st full season (7-6 2.45 47K/92IP)

Given Kutz

• 7 IP 4H BB 5K—If baseball doesn’t work for this guy, he’s got a future as a barber

Mike Moustakas

• 2-3 HR(15) 2 RbI 2R—.345 3 HR 7 RBI 15 R last 10 games

Mauricio Robles

• 7 IP H 2BB 7K—4-1 2.48 ERA 54K/62IP

Jemile Weeks

• 2-4 2B 3B R—.301 HR 8 RBI 6 SB 13BB/12K in 18 games (8 errors)

Neftali Soto

• 3-4 2B—.336 6 HR 25 RBI

Wynn Pelzer

• 7 IP 3H 10K (W)—5-2 1.99 ERA 38K/45IP last 10 games

Terrence Warren

• 1-3 HR(1) RBI—Raw athleticism in this 6-4 195 lb. 19 year old Phillies OF

Madison Bumgarner

• 7 IP 5H 6K (W)—10-3 1.81 ERA 116K/109IP

Logan Schafer

• 5-6 2 2B R—.373 9 RBI 10 R in 14 games at West Virginia

Lee Haydel

• 4-6 2 RBI 2B R SB(31)—.441 19 H 11 R last 10 games

BUY/SELL Analysis

Is the Mous Finally Loose?

Mike Moustakas got off to a very slow start hitting only .190 in the month of April.  July has been a different story, as the 3rd pick in the 2007 draft has hit .328 in 16 games with 16 runs scored 3 HR and 8 RBI.  Moustakas has a lightning quick bat with flawless technique and sound strike zone judgement.  While he will likely be a corner infielder eventually, Moustakas is not slouch in the field either.  Moustakas has several 2007 first year cards available including autographs (#’ed to 999) in 2007 Donruss Elite Extra that sell for $35-40 each.  Oddly, his Turn of the Century subset autos sell for just $5 more but are numbered to just 345.  Also, his 2007 Bowman Draft and Chrome cards are easy to find online selling at $2.25-3.50 each. 

Market Advice: Moustakas is no less an offensive prospect than fellow ‘07 draftees Jason Heyward, Matt LaPorta, Freddie Freeman, and Matt Wieters.  I am encouraged by his turnaround and think that his ‘07 Elite Extra autos have some potential for growth.  I like Kansas City’s future and I think that they are a team that could enjoy the same rise to success that Tampa Bay has encountered this year.  If you can BUY an auto at $35 or less, it could double with a fine start to 2009.  I think that the Royals would like to fast track Moustakas to the major leagues, perhaps as a shortstop.  If he stays at SS, his value amongst collectors will be greater than if he moves to a corner infield spot.  Power hitting shortstops are a valuable commodity in this industry and Moustakas is at or near the top of the list.

7/21 Low-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on July 23, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Andrew Lambo

• 2-4 HR(13) RBI—.293 13 HR 65 RBI in first full minor league season

John Tolisano

• 3-5 HR(5) 2 RBI 2R 2B—.255 5 HR 38 RBI

David Cooper

• 3-6 2B 2R RBI—.363 4 HR 30 RBI 1.001 OPS

Jemile Weeks

• 3-5 2 RBI—.325 6 RBI 8 BB last 10 games

Ben Revere

• 4-4 2B 2R RBI 2 SB(33)—.429 8 RBI 6 SB last 10 games (Avg. over .400 again)

Devin Mesoraco

• 3-4 2 HR(6) 3 RBI 2R—.300 3 HR 10 RBI last 10 games

Neftali Soto

• 1-4 HR(6) 2 RBI—.333 2 HR 12 RBI .903 OPS in 14 games at Dayton

Zack Cozart

• 2-4 2B R 2RBI—.366 3 HR 10 RBI 9 R last 10 games

Nick Additon

• 7 IP H ER 2BB 6K (L)—8-4 2.55 ERA 91K/99IP

Jesus Montero

• 3-4 2R BB—.439 HR 6 RBI 18 H last 10 games

Matt Dominguez

• 2-5 HR(7) 3 RBI—.297 7 HR 32 RBI (solid first full season at Greensboro)

Jario Heredia

• 5 IP 7H 4ER 3BB 5K—5-3 2.76 ERA 70K/76IP

Ryan Adams

• 2-4 3R BB—.307 7 HR 32 RBI

Joe Mahoney

• 3-4 5 RBI BB—Mountain sized slugger has been sluggish (.234 7 HR 56 RBI)

Carlos Fernandez-Olivia

• 3-4 2R 2B RBI—.345 4 RBI in 7 games at Greenville

Angel Villalona

• 1-3 HR(11) RBI—.350 2 HR 4 RBi 11 R last 10 games

Freddy Galvis

• 5-5 2 2B 3 RBI 2R—.241 2 Hr 26 RBI 10 SB 26BB/28K

Jason Heyward

• 1-4 HR(9) RBI 2R BB—”Say Heyward” having great first season (.323 9 HR 45 RBI 15 SB)

Cody Johnson

• 3-4 2B RBI R—.243 16 HR 55 RBI 145 K’s!

Caleb Gindl

• 2-3 R 2BB SB(10)—.290 7 HR 56 RBI 10 SB

BUY/SELL Analysis

Andrew Lambo was a 4th round pick by the Dodgers in the 2007 draft who profiled as a higher pick but scared some scouts off because of some off-field trouble as an underclassman in high school.  Seemingly beyond those issues, Lambo terrorized GCL pitching to the tune of a .343 BA with 5 HR and 32 RBI in 181 AB’s.  Lambo has been compared to fellow Dodger phenom James Loney for his propensity to lash line drives all over the field with power.  Lambo has continued his hot hitting in his first full season at Great Lakes blasting 13 HR and 65 RBI in 94 games.  Lambo’s 26 2B’s show that he may have more power as he grows into his 6′3 190 lb. frame.  Lambo has cards in the 2007 Bowman Draft and Chrome set which sell for 75 cents to $1.25 each.  Refractors are also easy to attain at $8-10 apiece.

Market Analysis: Lambo has a sweet lefty swing that should produce easy power as he matures.  He has handled himself well as a teenager in Low-A ball and has earned a promotion to High-A in 2009.  He is still probably 2-3 years away from being ready for the Dodgers, but he is a solid BUY AND HOLD prospect at his current prices.  The fact that the ‘07 Bowman Draft and Chrome cards are the only 1st year cards of Lambo’s will make them a bit more valuable as he continues to progress.  Grab a lot of 10-20 chromes and be willing to wait a couple of seasons.