Continuing with the list of the top prospects in baseball.
#61 Brady Fiore RP, Milwaukee Timber Rattlers
Brady was my first round pick in Season 3 and so far he has not lived up to expectations, at least what I thought he could do in the minors. He projects to absolutely own right handed batters with a devastating 4 seam and a slider. Will spend this year at High A and most likely will be a September call up during season 7.
#62 Alberto Sanchez CF, Jacksonville Hurricanes
Sanchez appears to be a a guy who can handle himself pretty good shagging down those fly balls into the gaps, and will be mashing balls all over the place on offense. Combine his speed with his power and when he's not hitting them out of the park he'll be stretching singles into doubles and triples. Hailing from the Dominican Republic and signed in season 1, look for Sanchez to terrorize pitchers at the AA level this year. Look for him to be patrolling Jacksonville's outfield soon.
#63 Stubby Moore SP, Detroit Stars
Stubby worked 62 innings out of the bullpen for Detroit last year fairly well posting a whip of 1.30 and holding opposing batters to a .250avg. He needs to improve on his K:BB ratio as he walked 21 batters compared to striking out 24, but he has the tools to do it. If paired with a good pitch calling catcher he should be able to use his cut fastball a lot more, and stop using his dreadful change-up. Look for Stubby to start the year working out of the bullpen and perhaps getting a shot at starting if he performs immaculate.
#64 Rod Austin DH, Chicago Snow Storms
Austin is what baseball fans would consider a professional hitter. Coming over in a trade that sent Henry Greene and Paul Martin to Helena for Alfonso Cruz and Yamid Jose. Currently at the AAA level due to being blocked at both DH and 1B at the major league level. Look for Sal Martin to be traded to make room for Rod.
#65 Miguel DeLeon LF, New York Leathernecks
If Miguel can ever play in enough games he should shatter slugging records in his career. Hailing from the metropolis that is Volga, South Dakota, Miguel has spent his entire life working on hitting the ball out of the park. While he won't be breaking any stolen base records, when he is on the base paths he definitely knows when to take the extra base.
#66 Hector Reynoso RP, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
So somehow the pitchers for Los Angeles got mixed up. The name I had down for this spot was Rick Brooks but that couldn't be right. I checked the ratings and they belonged to Raul Manzanillo, but he is not eligible for the rankings as he has two years of ML service time. So the only possible person I could think who this person could be was Hector. Possessing great control with his pitches, and an immaculate 4 seamer, he should be able to handle himself decently in the majors.
#67 Yamid Rodriguez C, New York Leathernecks
Yamid was a Rule V draft selection believe it or not, coming from the San Fransisco Banana Slugs. Rodriguez should be able to handle himself behind the plate on defense, and on offense he should be an on base machine. He has had some injury problems in the past, most notably when he was playing back in Mexico. Look for Yamid to bat either 2nd or 3rd in the lineup this year for the Leathernecks.
#68 Moises Colome SP, Santa Fe Lockdown
Moises was drafted coming out of high school in the 2nd round of the 1st season by Santa Fe. Since then he has not been higher than High A, which is in my opinion a mistake. Posessing a great 4 seam fastball, he also can be effective with a splitter and a curve ball on good days. For whatever reason he only started 13 games last season, but those 13 games he was unhittable, holding his opponents to a .230OBP against. Currently still at the High A level, look for Moises to move up this year.
#69 Everett Fischbach RF, Washington D.C. Revolution
Another power hitter on this years list, Everett has a career OPS of 1.095 in the minors and 338 extra base hits. One of the most patient level headed kids in the minors these days, he has also been know to be a gym rat. Look for Everett to be playing AAA this year, and possibly get a shot in September.
#70 Pat Park RP, Minnesota Goats
Another reliever on the list, Pat came to America last year for a measly $11.1 million. He also has a nasty 4 seamer that he combines with a curve ball and slider that tends to keep right handed hitters off balance. Pitching in Low A last year, Pat is scheduled to spend the year at High A.
#71 Marino Cervantes SP, Charlotte Knights
A PALMBALL? ARE YOU SERIOUS? Marino Cervantes isn't joking around with his palmball. Much like when batters face Tim Wakefield, they know it's coming, but they can't for the life of them hit it. Cervantes immigrated from his native Venezuela when he was 18 and was signed by the Knights in season 3. After spending last year at Low A, look for Marino to move up to High A this year.
#72 Gene Hernandez RP, New Britain Bees
Gene was the 8th overall pick in the Season 3 entry draft. Overused in rookie league for a total of 124 innings and 8 complete games, Gene bounced back last year posting a whip of 1.19 in 78 innings for New Britain's High A team. Look for Gene to develop one of the league's best sliders and an effective 4 seam fastball.
#73 Eddie Pierzynski SP, Scranton SweetSwing'n AbbyMo's
Next on the list is a brother of former major leaguer A.J Pierzynski, Eddie. One thing Eddie didn't inherit from his brother is his temper. He is also the living definition of a workaholic with a 97 makeup. He tends to rely on his curveball, as his other two pitches leave a little something to be desired, but left handed hitters cannot figure him out. Look for Eddie to work out of Scranton's bullpen and compete for any rotation spots that might open up throughout the season.
#74 Rudy RothSP, New Orleans Gushing Dikes.
If Rudy knew how to control his pitches he would be a lot higher on the list, his looks don't help his cause any either. If he doesn't walk a batter, they tend to struggle against Rudy, as evidenced by his .238 average against in 431 career minor league innings. Rudy is scheduled to spend the year at AAA in hopes he can improve his control to a level that is ML capable.
#75 Mateo Colome SP, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
Once again another Trolley Dodger's pitcher that got messed up somehow. Mateo doesn't "deserve" to be on the list, but for continuity sake I'm going to allow him to occupy the 75th spot so I don't have to redo the entire list. Sorry guys.
#76 Benny Chavez RP, Anaheim Angel's
Why Benny is still in AA is beyond me. He is 24 and really close to his projections. He should have been at least a September call up last year. As a right handed pitcher who handles left handers better than right, he is a valuable commodity indeed.
#77 Braden Rolison SP, Helena Mountaineers
Possessing a plus fastball and circle change, Braden looks poised to compete for a spot in Helena's rotation in the coming years. Drafted with the 15th overall pick in season 3 out of Pelion, SC. Still needing a little fine tuning, Rolison looks like he'll be in AA all year.
#78 Ivan Romano C, New Orleans Gushing Dikes
After 8 straight pitchers on the list we get back to position players in Ivan Romano. Another international player hailing from the Domincan Republic. Ivan was brought to New Orleans by the deal that sent both Cody Presley and Wayne Bere to what is now Honolulu. Ivan is a pitchers best friend as he seems to know exactly what pitch they should throw in each situation. He is also fairly decent with a bat in his hands as his career OPS is .916 in over 1500 at bats. Ivan appears to be starting the year in AAA but will probably be called up sometime this season.
#79 Alex Alvarez SP, New York Leathernecks
Next up on the list we have two players from New York. First up is Alex Alvarez, a guy who can easily pitch 220 innings a year. Although he won't be as dominate against batters as other pitchers on the list, he certainly will be able to give New York a chance to win. Paired up with a catcher who knows to stay away from his fork and curve balls, Alex shouldn't have any problems staying in the league.
#80 Raul Ortiz C, New York Leathernecks
Another offensive catcher on the list, Raul is more suited to be a DH in the American League. Left handed pitchers will fear him throughout his career, and right handed pitchers won't fair to much better either. Raul is poised to be an OPS monster with his power and batting eye.
Friday, February 29, 2008
AL North Preview
Featuring the second and third best records in the entire world last season, the AL North promises to be as competitive as ever in season 5. After sending two teams to the playoffs last year (both losing to the eventual World Series Champion), the division will look to give the AL West a run for their money as the most competitive division in the league. The division has had excellent pitching as of late, with three of its teams ranked second, third, and fourth in the league in runs allowed (New Britain, Portland, and Detroit). If perennial doormat Minnesota is able to get decent performances from its young and inexperienced team, the AL North may well field four teams with records over .500.
1. New Britain Bees
Season 4's best pitching staff in the division propelled the Bees to their first division championship, with a solid divisional record of 20-10. Led by pitching ace Cecil Stern and his gaudy 1.06 WHIP, 3.14 ERA, New Britain finished with an overall record of 107-55. At $20 million a year, Stern will need to live up to his fearsome reputation if the franchise is to compete against its division rival and offensive juggernaut, the Portland Princes. The Bees will also be looking for a solid return from Douglas Handworth, a young pitcher with the skills of a savvy vet, currently sitting at third overall in career strikeouts. With an unreal 260 IP and 220 Ks last season, it is difficult to overstate how valuable Handworth could be to the Bees.
Though not stellar, the Bees offense was productive last season, to the tune of 990 runs. The offense was led by All-star 1B Teddy Reid, whose OBP of .443 and 38 HRs were enough to make up for a relatively weak infield. That infield has been bolstered this year by the addition of Carlos Carrasco(3B), added in a trade with Philadelphia. The Bees are still weak at 2B, however, where Tim Peters's $10 million .310 OBP may prove to be quite the albatross. New Britain was also active in the free agent market this offseason, signing veteran SP Vasco Bennett. Bennett is a 35 year-old starter with pinpoint control and an excellent repertoire of pitches. Although he is worryingly weak against right handers, his skills will likely place him as the Bees #3 starter this year. The Bees rotation will be guided by new catching acquisition Bruce Cepeda, who, although barely adequate with the bat, is known to be a defensive stalwart behind the plate. With Stern, Handworth, and Bennett in the Bees rotation this year, the Bees will be a force to be reckoned with. If Portland suffers any declines or injuries, the Bees will have an excellent chance of holding on to their divisional title.
2. Portland Princes
The Princes are an amazing franchise, loaded with talent and searching for a consistent owner. Winners of three divisional championships and barely missing last season with their 104 wins, the Princes are the favorites to regain the division title in season 5. The Princes feature the best offense in the division, raking a total of 1070 runs last year. Amazingly, Portland actually played under their expected win percentage of .684, scoring 80 more runs than New Britain and allowing only 18 more. A string of 1-run losses and lopsided wins means that the Princes already fantastic record may have even underestimated their dominance and ultimately cost them their fourth divisional title.
Portland is led by last year's MVP and this year torment of the American League, Pedro Silva.A terrifying slugging phenom from Texas, Silva posted Barry Bonds-esque numbers last year, including a jaw-dropping 70 HRs, 165 RBIs (!), and a 1.207 OPS. Having won his first MVP at only 25, Silva can expect many more seasons of hand wringing from his divisional rivals. Portland also features an excellent infield, with Gold Glove 3B Doug Buck tagging 44 HRs onto the pitchers of the AL last year. Much to the chagrin of division's GMs, Portland's returning firepower will also include slugging catcher Buddy Overbay (OPS over 1.000) and 2B Mel Wilkins (with his none too shabby .939 OPS).
Fortunately for their rivals, the Princes are not only one of the most powerful teams in the AL, but also one of the oldest, with an average age of 29.4 Although their aging pitching staff could eventually prove to be their Achilles heel, they have so far managed to avoid any precipitous declines.
The Princes were quiet in the offseason, with no significant free agent departures and no free agent signings. But with the talent they have, who wouldn't be content to watch the same team return for another season?
3. Detroit Stars
The second tier of the division is currently led by the Detroit Stars, a team that has historically hovered around .500, usually fielding decent teams but still struggling to capture their first division title. They finished season 4 with a good record of 87 wins, but in a division with two powerhouses, that was only good enough for third place. Detroit's excellent pitching staff is led by returning All-star Kurt O'Neill, who posted an incredible WHIP of 1.15 last season.
The Stars suffered a significant loss is the offseason when 2B Frank Cox entered free agency. With their already anemic offense (finishing 13th out of 16 in runs scored last year), the Stars will surely miss Cox's .297/.391 skills. Detroit must find a way to produce some runs this year if it hopes to compete for the title. After a quiet offseason, it appears that the Stars may be relying on in-house talent to find that spark.
4. Minnesota Goats
As the yearly whipping boys of the AL North, the Minnesota Goats have suffered through four consecutive losing seasons. After two years of rebuilding under new ownership, however, the Goats have high hopes for their incoming class of rookies and will look to at least improve their status within their difficult division. With big league experience at an average of only 3.3 years, the Goats are the most inexperienced team in the AL North. This inexperience clearly cost them last year, when their pitching staff gave up almost 1000 runs. The Goat's up and coming prospects have great upside, however, and may yet prove their mettle in the majors. The Goats will return last year's ROY and All-star CF Ivan Vaughn, as well as slugging vet Dennis Mori, the world's current all-time HR leader. Incoming rookies Trent "Sourpuss" Gragg and Hugh "the Pinhead" Edwards will hope will attempt to right the sinking ship that is generously called 'pitching' in Minnesota. In the offseason, the Goats have also added veteran pitchers Lawrence Lazzeri and Miguel Ortiz, along with C Lou Hall. Although he is approaching retirement, Hall may still be able to add some firepower to an already (somewhat) respectable lineup.
Having finished a vomit-inducing 5-25 in divisional play last year, the Goats will get an early look at their competition when they start the season with home sets against New Britain, Portland, and Detroit.
Predictions
- Portland Princes, 104 Wins.
- New Britain Bees, 100 Wins.
- Detroit Stars, 84 Wins.
- Minnesota Goats, 81 Wins.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
"Baseball America's" Top 100 Prospects
My rankings tend to favor guys who can play defense than those who are pure sluggers, so that's why there are fewer 1B,DH,and LF than one would expect. Also durability isn't factored into any of the rankings, so there are instances where a relief pitcher is rated really high but might not be able to pitch every other day. To qualify for the list a player cannot have a year of ML service time. I'm going to break up the post so it doesn't get super long. I'll post 81-100 tonight and then hopefully sometime tomorrow post 61-80, with the top 20 being posted sometime near the end of spring training.
Santa Fe leads the league with a grand total of 8 players on the top 100 list this season. Tied for second are New Orleans and New York who both have 6. On the other end of the spectrum there are two teams that both have zero prospects on the list; Honolulu and Philadelphia. So without further ado here is the list.
#81 Wil Sturtze DH, Chicago Snow Storms
Was Chicago's number one pick back in Season 3. Due to Iron_Emu's mishandling of the team Wil didn't devlop as much as he could have last year. Most likely will spend the year at either AA or AAA.
#82 Juan James C, Huntington Blazers
Juan, in my mind, was a bargain on the Internationals market back in Season 3, only costing the team $7.2million. He is also Huntington's only player on the list this year. Looks to be almost reaching his projections just fine, though his arm accuracy could improve. Could start the year in the Majors but most likely will see himself at AAA as he is only 21.
#83 Tony Aramboles SS, Helena Mountaineers
Tony decided to forgo his senior season at Witchita State and was a first round pick of Helena last year. Most likely will spend the year at AA as he has a little bit farther to go before he reaches the show.
#84 Jeff Gload SP, Cleveland Cuyahogas
It appears that Jeff is going to be a workhorse of a pitcher with his stamina. Was a 4 year standout at Coastal Carolina University before he was drafted in the first round of Season 3 by the Cuyahogas, and their only player on the list this year. He spent all of last year at AAA where he performed decently, posting a 10-5 record, with 6 CG and a 1.32 whip. Jeff is all set to compete for a spot in Cleveland's rotation this year.
#85 Jay Stern CF, Detroit Stars
A 4 year starter at shortstop for The University of South Carolina, Jay was the 11th pick of the draft last season. Detroit currently has him slated to play center field for their High A team this year. His glove and arm accuracy need to catch up to the development of his bat before he will ever see the Majors though.
#86 Ralph Schofield RP, New York Leathernecks
Ralph was a steal going in the 7th round of the draft last season. He is the first person ever to be drafted from Trinity Christian High School in New Jersey. Most likely will develop to be a setup guy as he won't be able to pitch on back to back days too often. Already possessing an outstanding change up, he should be able to dominate hitters and generate a slew of ground balls.
#87 Gerald Kramer RP, Las Vegas Hardways
Gerald is the first of Las Vegas' two prospects on the list. Coming out of junior college at the age of 19, he was the Hardways' first round pick in Season 3. He should develop a plus sink and curveball that will allow him to dominate most hitters in the league. It appears that Gerald will spend the year in AA with a possible September call up in the future.
#88 Robin Kelly RP, Detroit Stars
Robin dominated hitters in the shortened rookie season last year, going 12 for 12 in save opportunities and a K:BB ratio of 4 to 1. Most likely headed to a setup role in the majors, he should be able to make right handed hitters look foolish with a sinker that has some sharp late movement. Robin will most likely spend the year at AA developing his skills.
#89 David Hernandez SS, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
When scouts talk about David they always mention his combination of speed and power. He is easily one of, if not, the fastest guys in the league. Though it would appear that he should be able to burn up the base paths, he's not the smartest at running them as evidenced by him getting caught 37 times trying to steal a base. His defense at short should give Los Angeles a possible gold glove contender for years to come.
#90 Shane Cohen SP, Las Vegas Hardways
Shane is the last prospect for the Hardways on the list this year, but he isn't a chump either. He was very dominant in the minors, posting a 40-19 record in 91 starts while striking out 447 batters and a 1.28 whip. Shane will be looking to improve over the 20 appearances he made last year though where he 4.74era over 76 innings. His 4 seam fastball should be able to overpower most hitters while his curve ball is good enough to keep them on their heels.
#91 Alex Cora SP, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
When you watch Alex pitch, the first thing you realize is that his repertoire is not what you would expect from most major league pitchers these days. That's because his best pitch is a forkball. Coming off a strong showing in the College World Series for The Citidal, Alex was the number one pick for the Trolley Dodgers last year. Though righties should be able to figure him out, they'll have to work to get on base as he doesn't issue many walks. Alex is slated to start the year at High A.
#92 Francisco Martin SP, Boston BackBay BadBoys
Two injuries that put Francisco on the 60 day DL have held back his development for Boston. He was only able to pitch 31 innings last year before having elbow surgery, but those 31 innings were flawless. He is scheduled to start the year at AAA Pawtucket, but I wouldn't count on him staying their too long before getting a call from the big leagues. He possesses two plus pitches in a sinker and a 4 seam fastball.
#93 Wally Everhart SP, Boston BackBay BadBoys
Next on the list and Francisco's teammate in Boston is the pride of Waterford, NY, Wally Everhart. Scouts say his mechanics are flawless and his delivery places no strain on his arm. So the one injury Wally has had so far is said to have been a fluke. Wally came over to Boston as part of the deal that sent Ray Slocumb to Cheyenne in exchange for Stephen Taylor. Almost fully developed, I wouldn't expect Wally to be sitting in AAA much longer.
#94 Albert Montero 2B, Portland Princes.
Albert is Portland's only player on the list this year, but makes up for it in his potential power. Albert was a teamate of Jay Stern at The University of South Carolina and was also picked in the first round last year. Scouts predict that Albert will eventually be moved to left field as his defense is sub par for 2nd base. A switch hitter, he should be a mainstay in Portland for years to come. Although he is currently in Low A, I see him being promoted to either AAA or AA at the least.
#95 Tom Wise SP, Detroit Stars
Coming out of high school at the age of 18, he has spent his entire pro career in Detroit's system. Tom doesn't thorw particularly hard as he tries to work the corners with a 4 seam fastball and a slider. He's almost ready for the show and shouldn't spend too much time down in AAA this yaer.
#96 Ben Logan CF, New Britain Bees
Logan is a future defensive standout who will be able to challenge for the lead in home runs, if he can keep himself from being ejected every game that is. What makes Ben's situation particularly interesting is that he graduated from Unity Christian High School, yet still has one of the worst tempers in the game. Maybe the nuns beat him and he's resentful for their punishment. I don't think we'll ever know. Ben should be able to handle right handed pitchers fairly effectively, but if it wasn't for his power potential he would be sitting against lefties.
#97 Pedro Carrara RP, Cheyenne Magic Bus
Pedro is making the jump all the way from High A to the Majors this year. While at the High A level he tormented hitters to the tune of a .196 batting average against. Shows remarkable control, he should be able to work the corners with his fastball and slider while becoming a mainstay in Cheyenne's bullpen for years to come.
#98 Paul Houston SP, Tacoma Pilots
One of the oldest players on the list this year, Paul is looking to break into the bigs in a big way this year. He spent some time in the majors last year, but was less than spectacular, posting a 4.44era in 73 innings. Paul should definitely benefit from the huge confines of Tacoma that has made it one of the premier pitcher parks in the league.
#99 Trey Christenson C, Atlanta Incorruptibles
Trey hails from our northern friends in Canada and was signed last year for a measley $673,000. While he may lack major power, he should be able to hit for average and draw a fair amount of walks in the future. Scouts also rave about his ability to shut down opponent's running games with his rocket of an arm. The only thing holding Trey back is his durability and the fact that he has had some health problems in the past before coming to America.
#100 Juan Martin SP, San Francisco Banana Slugs
The last player on this year's list is Juan Martin, a native of Double Springs, Alabama. Other GM's were somewhat skeptical of San Fransisco's choice to pick Juan with the 10th pick of last years draft due to his tenancy to do his best Rick Ankiel impression. If he is ever able to keep his 4 seem under control then he is a threat to be dealt with due to ability to get hitters out. Look for Juan to spend the year in Low A working on his control.
Santa Fe leads the league with a grand total of 8 players on the top 100 list this season. Tied for second are New Orleans and New York who both have 6. On the other end of the spectrum there are two teams that both have zero prospects on the list; Honolulu and Philadelphia. So without further ado here is the list.
#81 Wil Sturtze DH, Chicago Snow Storms
Was Chicago's number one pick back in Season 3. Due to Iron_Emu's mishandling of the team Wil didn't devlop as much as he could have last year. Most likely will spend the year at either AA or AAA.
#82 Juan James C, Huntington Blazers
Juan, in my mind, was a bargain on the Internationals market back in Season 3, only costing the team $7.2million. He is also Huntington's only player on the list this year. Looks to be almost reaching his projections just fine, though his arm accuracy could improve. Could start the year in the Majors but most likely will see himself at AAA as he is only 21.
#83 Tony Aramboles SS, Helena Mountaineers
Tony decided to forgo his senior season at Witchita State and was a first round pick of Helena last year. Most likely will spend the year at AA as he has a little bit farther to go before he reaches the show.
#84 Jeff Gload SP, Cleveland Cuyahogas
It appears that Jeff is going to be a workhorse of a pitcher with his stamina. Was a 4 year standout at Coastal Carolina University before he was drafted in the first round of Season 3 by the Cuyahogas, and their only player on the list this year. He spent all of last year at AAA where he performed decently, posting a 10-5 record, with 6 CG and a 1.32 whip. Jeff is all set to compete for a spot in Cleveland's rotation this year.
#85 Jay Stern CF, Detroit Stars
A 4 year starter at shortstop for The University of South Carolina, Jay was the 11th pick of the draft last season. Detroit currently has him slated to play center field for their High A team this year. His glove and arm accuracy need to catch up to the development of his bat before he will ever see the Majors though.
#86 Ralph Schofield RP, New York Leathernecks
Ralph was a steal going in the 7th round of the draft last season. He is the first person ever to be drafted from Trinity Christian High School in New Jersey. Most likely will develop to be a setup guy as he won't be able to pitch on back to back days too often. Already possessing an outstanding change up, he should be able to dominate hitters and generate a slew of ground balls.
#87 Gerald Kramer RP, Las Vegas Hardways
Gerald is the first of Las Vegas' two prospects on the list. Coming out of junior college at the age of 19, he was the Hardways' first round pick in Season 3. He should develop a plus sink and curveball that will allow him to dominate most hitters in the league. It appears that Gerald will spend the year in AA with a possible September call up in the future.
#88 Robin Kelly RP, Detroit Stars
Robin dominated hitters in the shortened rookie season last year, going 12 for 12 in save opportunities and a K:BB ratio of 4 to 1. Most likely headed to a setup role in the majors, he should be able to make right handed hitters look foolish with a sinker that has some sharp late movement. Robin will most likely spend the year at AA developing his skills.
#89 David Hernandez SS, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
When scouts talk about David they always mention his combination of speed and power. He is easily one of, if not, the fastest guys in the league. Though it would appear that he should be able to burn up the base paths, he's not the smartest at running them as evidenced by him getting caught 37 times trying to steal a base. His defense at short should give Los Angeles a possible gold glove contender for years to come.
#90 Shane Cohen SP, Las Vegas Hardways
Shane is the last prospect for the Hardways on the list this year, but he isn't a chump either. He was very dominant in the minors, posting a 40-19 record in 91 starts while striking out 447 batters and a 1.28 whip. Shane will be looking to improve over the 20 appearances he made last year though where he 4.74era over 76 innings. His 4 seam fastball should be able to overpower most hitters while his curve ball is good enough to keep them on their heels.
#91 Alex Cora SP, Los Angeles Trolley Dodgers
When you watch Alex pitch, the first thing you realize is that his repertoire is not what you would expect from most major league pitchers these days. That's because his best pitch is a forkball. Coming off a strong showing in the College World Series for The Citidal, Alex was the number one pick for the Trolley Dodgers last year. Though righties should be able to figure him out, they'll have to work to get on base as he doesn't issue many walks. Alex is slated to start the year at High A.
#92 Francisco Martin SP, Boston BackBay BadBoys
Two injuries that put Francisco on the 60 day DL have held back his development for Boston. He was only able to pitch 31 innings last year before having elbow surgery, but those 31 innings were flawless. He is scheduled to start the year at AAA Pawtucket, but I wouldn't count on him staying their too long before getting a call from the big leagues. He possesses two plus pitches in a sinker and a 4 seam fastball.
#93 Wally Everhart SP, Boston BackBay BadBoys
Next on the list and Francisco's teammate in Boston is the pride of Waterford, NY, Wally Everhart. Scouts say his mechanics are flawless and his delivery places no strain on his arm. So the one injury Wally has had so far is said to have been a fluke. Wally came over to Boston as part of the deal that sent Ray Slocumb to Cheyenne in exchange for Stephen Taylor. Almost fully developed, I wouldn't expect Wally to be sitting in AAA much longer.
#94 Albert Montero 2B, Portland Princes.
Albert is Portland's only player on the list this year, but makes up for it in his potential power. Albert was a teamate of Jay Stern at The University of South Carolina and was also picked in the first round last year. Scouts predict that Albert will eventually be moved to left field as his defense is sub par for 2nd base. A switch hitter, he should be a mainstay in Portland for years to come. Although he is currently in Low A, I see him being promoted to either AAA or AA at the least.
#95 Tom Wise SP, Detroit Stars
Coming out of high school at the age of 18, he has spent his entire pro career in Detroit's system. Tom doesn't thorw particularly hard as he tries to work the corners with a 4 seam fastball and a slider. He's almost ready for the show and shouldn't spend too much time down in AAA this yaer.
#96 Ben Logan CF, New Britain Bees
Logan is a future defensive standout who will be able to challenge for the lead in home runs, if he can keep himself from being ejected every game that is. What makes Ben's situation particularly interesting is that he graduated from Unity Christian High School, yet still has one of the worst tempers in the game. Maybe the nuns beat him and he's resentful for their punishment. I don't think we'll ever know. Ben should be able to handle right handed pitchers fairly effectively, but if it wasn't for his power potential he would be sitting against lefties.
#97 Pedro Carrara RP, Cheyenne Magic Bus
Pedro is making the jump all the way from High A to the Majors this year. While at the High A level he tormented hitters to the tune of a .196 batting average against. Shows remarkable control, he should be able to work the corners with his fastball and slider while becoming a mainstay in Cheyenne's bullpen for years to come.
#98 Paul Houston SP, Tacoma Pilots
One of the oldest players on the list this year, Paul is looking to break into the bigs in a big way this year. He spent some time in the majors last year, but was less than spectacular, posting a 4.44era in 73 innings. Paul should definitely benefit from the huge confines of Tacoma that has made it one of the premier pitcher parks in the league.
#99 Trey Christenson C, Atlanta Incorruptibles
Trey hails from our northern friends in Canada and was signed last year for a measley $673,000. While he may lack major power, he should be able to hit for average and draw a fair amount of walks in the future. Scouts also rave about his ability to shut down opponent's running games with his rocket of an arm. The only thing holding Trey back is his durability and the fact that he has had some health problems in the past before coming to America.
#100 Juan Martin SP, San Francisco Banana Slugs
The last player on this year's list is Juan Martin, a native of Double Springs, Alabama. Other GM's were somewhat skeptical of San Fransisco's choice to pick Juan with the 10th pick of last years draft due to his tenancy to do his best Rick Ankiel impression. If he is ever able to keep his 4 seem under control then he is a threat to be dealt with due to ability to get hitters out. Look for Juan to spend the year in Low A working on his control.
Budget Analysis
This was originally posted by robocoach as a comment on the first post:
A brief pre-season analysis of prospect budgets.
This season all teams combined allocated 440 Million to prospect budget, with 8 maxing at 20 million. Last year teams allocated 454 million to prospect, also with 8 teams at 20 million. However, last year more than 20 teams increased their prospect budget during the season, some of them (most of the 20 million teams) doing so substantally. I'm guessing that as leagues mature their 1st few seasons, steadily more budget goes to player salary, but I'll guess we'll see.
-robocoach
A brief pre-season analysis of prospect budgets.
This season all teams combined allocated 440 Million to prospect budget, with 8 maxing at 20 million. Last year teams allocated 454 million to prospect, also with 8 teams at 20 million. However, last year more than 20 teams increased their prospect budget during the season, some of them (most of the 20 million teams) doing so substantally. I'm guessing that as leagues mature their 1st few seasons, steadily more budget goes to player salary, but I'll guess we'll see.
-robocoach
Season 5 Rule V Draft
So the Rule V draft took place a couple of cycles ago and Sal Martinwas chosen first overall by the Chicago Snow Storms. It looks like he will either split time between first base and dh as the Snow Storms already have Rich Davenport. Despite having the first overall pick during the draft, Chicago also had the most players chosen during it with a total of 6.
The Portland Princes took a record 9 selections in this years draft. It will be interesting to see if all 9 of those players stick around for the entire year, but my guess is going to be no. On the flip side they had zero players chosen.
Overall every team except The Charleston Chiefs participated in the Rule V draft in one shape or another. Besides Chicago who had 6 players drafted from their team, New Orleans and Atlanta tied with 4 players drafted apiece. 5 teams tied with a total of 3 players drafted.
As mentioned earlier Portland lead the way with drafting a total of 9 players, followed by Chicago, Cheyenne, and Durham with 4. 4 teams tied with a total of 3 players drafted.
Stay tuned for Division Previews coming up in the next few days.
-LC
The Portland Princes took a record 9 selections in this years draft. It will be interesting to see if all 9 of those players stick around for the entire year, but my guess is going to be no. On the flip side they had zero players chosen.
Overall every team except The Charleston Chiefs participated in the Rule V draft in one shape or another. Besides Chicago who had 6 players drafted from their team, New Orleans and Atlanta tied with 4 players drafted apiece. 5 teams tied with a total of 3 players drafted.
As mentioned earlier Portland lead the way with drafting a total of 9 players, followed by Chicago, Cheyenne, and Durham with 4. 4 teams tied with a total of 3 players drafted.
Stay tuned for Division Previews coming up in the next few days.
-LC
Monday, February 18, 2008
Assignments
Trade Review -
Free Agent Signings -
International Free Agents - robocoach
Draft Review(Grades) AL - robocoach
Draft Review(Grades) NL - lccooler
Rule V Draft Review - lccooler
"Baseball America's" Top 100 Prospects - lccooler
Season Predictions AL:
North - pbodine
East -
South -
West -
Season Predictions NL:
North - lccooler
East -
South - will9899
West -
Power Rankings/Monthly Review -
AL Playoff Previews/Reviews -
NL Playoff Previews/Reviews - lccooler
Season Awards Review - will9899
Can anyone else think of anything that could be added?
Free Agent Signings -
International Free Agents - robocoach
Draft Review(Grades) AL - robocoach
Draft Review(Grades) NL - lccooler
Rule V Draft Review - lccooler
"Baseball America's" Top 100 Prospects - lccooler
Season Predictions AL:
North - pbodine
East -
South -
West -
Season Predictions NL:
North - lccooler
East -
South - will9899
West -
Power Rankings/Monthly Review -
AL Playoff Previews/Reviews -
NL Playoff Previews/Reviews - lccooler
Season Awards Review - will9899
Can anyone else think of anything that could be added?
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