By: Rich Douglas
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The Mariners arguably have the best system in the majors due to the depth of their prospects at multiple positions and the high ceilings that the most prominent ones have. Seattle is already turning it around at the major league level, and should be a force in the next 5 years as they now combine a mix of willingness to spend money (King Felix and they tried to steal Josh Hamilton) and develop prospects (Seager, Ackley).
Top Prospect
Michael Zunino - The 22 year old power hitting catcher is somehow under the radar as he showed last year that he is arguably ready for the majors. The Mariners have Jesus Montero at catcher with the big league squad, but Zunino may push Montero into the DH slot (something he probably would prefer anyways) as the Mariners may be forced to promote him sooner than later. Zunino split time at 3 different levels last season and absolutely crushed pitching at every one of them. He has good plate discipline and did a good job at recognizing breaking pitches which led to his ridiculous slugging of .614. The Mariners will eventually have to make a decision, but for the time being, they'll have an embarrassment of riches at arguably the most key position on the field.
Top Pitcher
Danny Hultzen - The big lefty was the second overall pick in the 2012 draft, and showed excellent poise as he made his way through the minors. Unfortunately, Hultzen seemed to hit a wall against more advanced batting in Triple A as it seemed to affect the way he pitched. Hultzen ended the year with an impressive 9.87 K/9 but walked 5.44 per 9. He's got a good fastball that sits in the low 90s, but his best pitch is definitely his changeup as he'll use it as his primary out pitch. His command needs to be worked on to set up his out pitch, while his slider is developing, but Hultzen may be ready for the majors sooner than later. He should at the very least become a back of the rotation starter, but may turn into a #2.
Bronze Medal
Nick Franklin - The 22 year old projects as a solid middle infielder with a good approach to the plate, excellent speed, and solid defense. Franklin's arm may eventually move him over to 2nd base, but his instincts will keep him as a good fielder at the major league level. With Dustin Ackley having a stronghold on 2nd base, Franklin will probably be given a long look at short since the Mariners could use his surprising gap power in their lineup. Franklin needs to lower his strikeout numbers, but certainly is a future major leaguer.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Prospect Review: Oakland A's
by Richard Douglas
The A's last season went from being projected at the bottom of the division, to winning it out. It was largely due to a farm system that produced 12 rookies that appeared on the ALDS roster. The farm system though was not so raided that its in poor shape. 5 players were acquired in trades in the top 30, along with 4 international signings. Because the A's have so much young talent amongst the big league club, they were able to draft a top high school prospect Russel Addison. In his first pro season he easily dominated the Rookie, Short Season and Low A levels, posting an OPS of 1.026 with 7 home runs, 16 stolen bases and 9 triples. Addison has an aggressive profile at the plate, leading him to chase pitches. That should change though as he matures. Having said that, he has excellent hand eye coordination to generate contact, resulting in just a 22% strike out rate in his premiere. Defensively, he has an above average arm that is accurate. He's athletic as well, especially since dropping 30 pounds before the draft. His spring was good for a currently low level prospect, OPSing over .600 with just 5 strike outs. He should progress through the system quickly.
The A's last season went from being projected at the bottom of the division, to winning it out. It was largely due to a farm system that produced 12 rookies that appeared on the ALDS roster. The farm system though was not so raided that its in poor shape. 5 players were acquired in trades in the top 30, along with 4 international signings. Because the A's have so much young talent amongst the big league club, they were able to draft a top high school prospect Russel Addison. In his first pro season he easily dominated the Rookie, Short Season and Low A levels, posting an OPS of 1.026 with 7 home runs, 16 stolen bases and 9 triples. Addison has an aggressive profile at the plate, leading him to chase pitches. That should change though as he matures. Having said that, he has excellent hand eye coordination to generate contact, resulting in just a 22% strike out rate in his premiere. Defensively, he has an above average arm that is accurate. He's athletic as well, especially since dropping 30 pounds before the draft. His spring was good for a currently low level prospect, OPSing over .600 with just 5 strike outs. He should progress through the system quickly.
Prospect Review: Texas Rangers
by Richard Douglas
The Rangers left last season with a disappointment. They lost the AL West crown and got smashed by the Orioles in the play in game. They also ended up losing Josh Hamilton to free agency. The upside, is that despite having only 3 of their past 10 top draft picks still in the system, the top of the system is extremely strong. The Rangers have possibly the league's best prospect in Jurickson Profar, a now 20 year old middle indfieleder out of Curacao. Baseball America gives him a total 75 rating on their 20-80 system, with good reason. His minor league career has seen him OPS .817, with 30 home runs (14 at AA Frisco last year) and 82 doubles. Profar learned how to switch hit and is able to show excellent bat speed, helping give him the possibility of above average power for his position. He has solid speed, and a good intuitive approach to base running. Defensively, Profar has an above average arm and very good hands. His jump to the majors though is blocked by the Rangers stellar middle infielders, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler. Profar is back at AAA to start the season, ofter posting just 14 total bases and a .697 OPS during spring training.
The Rangers left last season with a disappointment. They lost the AL West crown and got smashed by the Orioles in the play in game. They also ended up losing Josh Hamilton to free agency. The upside, is that despite having only 3 of their past 10 top draft picks still in the system, the top of the system is extremely strong. The Rangers have possibly the league's best prospect in Jurickson Profar, a now 20 year old middle indfieleder out of Curacao. Baseball America gives him a total 75 rating on their 20-80 system, with good reason. His minor league career has seen him OPS .817, with 30 home runs (14 at AA Frisco last year) and 82 doubles. Profar learned how to switch hit and is able to show excellent bat speed, helping give him the possibility of above average power for his position. He has solid speed, and a good intuitive approach to base running. Defensively, Profar has an above average arm and very good hands. His jump to the majors though is blocked by the Rangers stellar middle infielders, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler. Profar is back at AAA to start the season, ofter posting just 14 total bases and a .697 OPS during spring training.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Prospect Review: Miami Marlins
By: Rich Douglas
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The Marlins aren't as stacked as one would believe with all the trades that they've made in the offseason, but they're still considered to be a top 10 minor league system due to their top players' high ceilings.
Top Prospect
Jose Fernandez - I won't consider Nate Eovaldi or Jacob Turner as prospects since they saw a decent amount of time last year in the majors and are both slotted into the rotation of the young Marlins squad. Fernandez at just 20 years old has a ceiling higher than anyone throughout the entire system due to his big frame, workhorse like mentality, and advanced command. He absolutely dominated batters in single A with a 1.75 ERA and 1.93 FIP. HIs FIP was especially low because he only gave up 2 HRs in 134 innings while striking out 10.6 and walking 2.35 men per 9 innings. Fernandez already has 2 plus pitches, a mid to high 90s fastball and an excellent changeup. He also has an above average curveball and slider to fill out his repertoire. He should be considered a top 10 prospect, if not higher and will certainly be in the majors in the next year.
Top Hitter
Christian Yelich - The power hitting Centerfielder is still working on his defense and should develop into a serviceable fielder in the outfield, but his real contribution to the team should be at the plate. The 21 year old put up stellar numbers at the plate in A ball as he had an OBP of .392, a wOBA of .403, while slugging 12 HRs and 35 doubles in 550 plate appearances. He projects as a 20 HR hitter with a .300 average due to his high line drive rate which leads to his high BABIP. He needs to show a bit more plate discipline and better pitch recognition as he struck out 102 times. This will ultimately determine his future as it is something he'll need to shore up during his process through the minors. Expect him to get a shot at a roster spot next season.
Bronze Medal
Marcell Ozuna - The 22 year old slugger still has plenty of work to do, but the Marlins will give him the time to develop as they envision a future outfield of Ozuna-Yelich-Stanton. Assuming Ozuna and Yelich reach their potential, they could form a very dangerous outfield. Ozuna projects as a 5 tool player, but is a couple years away from the majors due to his inability to hit for average and get on base consistently. He has the most power and arguably the best defense in the system, but he possesses a high strike out rate that is hampering his overall development. In all likelihood, Ozuna develops into a Jonny Gomes type hitter with excellent defense, but if he cuts down on the strikeouts, he could turn into something special. That is of course, a big "if."
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The Marlins aren't as stacked as one would believe with all the trades that they've made in the offseason, but they're still considered to be a top 10 minor league system due to their top players' high ceilings.
Top Prospect
Jose Fernandez - I won't consider Nate Eovaldi or Jacob Turner as prospects since they saw a decent amount of time last year in the majors and are both slotted into the rotation of the young Marlins squad. Fernandez at just 20 years old has a ceiling higher than anyone throughout the entire system due to his big frame, workhorse like mentality, and advanced command. He absolutely dominated batters in single A with a 1.75 ERA and 1.93 FIP. HIs FIP was especially low because he only gave up 2 HRs in 134 innings while striking out 10.6 and walking 2.35 men per 9 innings. Fernandez already has 2 plus pitches, a mid to high 90s fastball and an excellent changeup. He also has an above average curveball and slider to fill out his repertoire. He should be considered a top 10 prospect, if not higher and will certainly be in the majors in the next year.
Top Hitter
Christian Yelich - The power hitting Centerfielder is still working on his defense and should develop into a serviceable fielder in the outfield, but his real contribution to the team should be at the plate. The 21 year old put up stellar numbers at the plate in A ball as he had an OBP of .392, a wOBA of .403, while slugging 12 HRs and 35 doubles in 550 plate appearances. He projects as a 20 HR hitter with a .300 average due to his high line drive rate which leads to his high BABIP. He needs to show a bit more plate discipline and better pitch recognition as he struck out 102 times. This will ultimately determine his future as it is something he'll need to shore up during his process through the minors. Expect him to get a shot at a roster spot next season.
Bronze Medal
Marcell Ozuna - The 22 year old slugger still has plenty of work to do, but the Marlins will give him the time to develop as they envision a future outfield of Ozuna-Yelich-Stanton. Assuming Ozuna and Yelich reach their potential, they could form a very dangerous outfield. Ozuna projects as a 5 tool player, but is a couple years away from the majors due to his inability to hit for average and get on base consistently. He has the most power and arguably the best defense in the system, but he possesses a high strike out rate that is hampering his overall development. In all likelihood, Ozuna develops into a Jonny Gomes type hitter with excellent defense, but if he cuts down on the strikeouts, he could turn into something special. That is of course, a big "if."
Friday, March 29, 2013
Prospect Review: Philadelphia Phillies
Rich Douglas
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The Phillies have started to develop their minor league system again as they look to start building towards the future. Their minor league system is not deep by any means, and will take years to redevelop. The top 3 prospects however seem to be progressing very well.
Top Prospect
Jesse Biddle - The 21 year old lefty stands at 6'4 225 lbs and has shown great durability during his professional career. Biddle 4 pitches that he likes to throw. A nice low 90s fastball, a potential plus curve, and a slider and changeup that require some more polish, but can develop into usable pitches. His command was excellent last season as he struck out over 9 men per 9 innings while lowering his walk rate to 3.41. He only gave up 10 home runs in 142.2 innings and may be brought up to the majors in September if he duplicates the year he had last. I see him as a possible #2 or 3 starter with a floor that isn't much lower than that.
Top Hitter
Roman Quinn - The young SS is just 19 years old and is already beginning to turn some heads. After watching Quinn for about 2 minutes, you'll see that he has plus plus speed and base running instincts. The speedster showed excellent plate discipline and decent pitch recognition for a young player as he recorded an impressive .370 OBP in rookie ball. He doesn't have much power, but he projects as a good leadoff hitter with plus defense. Quinn is still learning the SS position as he is still new to it, but he predictably has excellent range and seems to have decent arm strength. He has a great deal of potential and should eventually make the big league club in the next 3 seasons with a chance at a middle infield spot.
Bronze Medal
Adam Morgan - Another big left handed pitcher, Morgan at 22 year old has a 4 pitch repertoire like fellow prospect Jesse Biddle. Morgan has a smaller frame, but as far as their pitches and stats go, him and Biddle are mirror images. He has a low 90s fastball, a plus curveball and a slider and changeup that he's been working on. He has a K rate of over 9 and an impressive BB/9 of 2.21. I see Morgan as a #3 starter with a floor that isn't much behind that as well. I do believe that they will both either be with the Phillies by 2014, or traded to another team and will see the majors sooner.
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The Phillies have started to develop their minor league system again as they look to start building towards the future. Their minor league system is not deep by any means, and will take years to redevelop. The top 3 prospects however seem to be progressing very well.
Top Prospect
Jesse Biddle - The 21 year old lefty stands at 6'4 225 lbs and has shown great durability during his professional career. Biddle 4 pitches that he likes to throw. A nice low 90s fastball, a potential plus curve, and a slider and changeup that require some more polish, but can develop into usable pitches. His command was excellent last season as he struck out over 9 men per 9 innings while lowering his walk rate to 3.41. He only gave up 10 home runs in 142.2 innings and may be brought up to the majors in September if he duplicates the year he had last. I see him as a possible #2 or 3 starter with a floor that isn't much lower than that.
Top Hitter
Roman Quinn - The young SS is just 19 years old and is already beginning to turn some heads. After watching Quinn for about 2 minutes, you'll see that he has plus plus speed and base running instincts. The speedster showed excellent plate discipline and decent pitch recognition for a young player as he recorded an impressive .370 OBP in rookie ball. He doesn't have much power, but he projects as a good leadoff hitter with plus defense. Quinn is still learning the SS position as he is still new to it, but he predictably has excellent range and seems to have decent arm strength. He has a great deal of potential and should eventually make the big league club in the next 3 seasons with a chance at a middle infield spot.
Bronze Medal
Adam Morgan - Another big left handed pitcher, Morgan at 22 year old has a 4 pitch repertoire like fellow prospect Jesse Biddle. Morgan has a smaller frame, but as far as their pitches and stats go, him and Biddle are mirror images. He has a low 90s fastball, a plus curveball and a slider and changeup that he's been working on. He has a K rate of over 9 and an impressive BB/9 of 2.21. I see Morgan as a #3 starter with a floor that isn't much behind that as well. I do believe that they will both either be with the Phillies by 2014, or traded to another team and will see the majors sooner.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Prospect Review: New York Mets
by Richard Douglas
The Mets the last few years have been the ultimate sign of frustration and futility. Years of bad contracts, big name stars with injury filled years and the owner losing 162 million in a ponzi scheme have helped bring win totals down dramatically to just 74 last year. The team has also been trying to trim its payroll, last year letting cornerstone Jose Reyes walk away and needing to trade surprise star RA Dickey. That trade though helped to replenish a farm system that had completely whiffed on the 2009 draft by bringing in Travis d'Arnaud. The high end backstop signed out of high school, and has consistently posted above a .350 OBP in his 6 minor league seasons. Last year at AAA Las Vegas he easily had his best season, slugging .595 and getting on base a ta .380 clip. As a catcher he had 21 doubles and 16 home runs, giving the hope that he will be a solid power hitter. His defensive ability has improved along with his bat, throwing out 30% of base stealers last year and showing good athletic ability to get in front of pitches. He OPSed a respectable .872 this spring, but will head back to AAA for a little more seasoning.
The Mets the last few years have been the ultimate sign of frustration and futility. Years of bad contracts, big name stars with injury filled years and the owner losing 162 million in a ponzi scheme have helped bring win totals down dramatically to just 74 last year. The team has also been trying to trim its payroll, last year letting cornerstone Jose Reyes walk away and needing to trade surprise star RA Dickey. That trade though helped to replenish a farm system that had completely whiffed on the 2009 draft by bringing in Travis d'Arnaud. The high end backstop signed out of high school, and has consistently posted above a .350 OBP in his 6 minor league seasons. Last year at AAA Las Vegas he easily had his best season, slugging .595 and getting on base a ta .380 clip. As a catcher he had 21 doubles and 16 home runs, giving the hope that he will be a solid power hitter. His defensive ability has improved along with his bat, throwing out 30% of base stealers last year and showing good athletic ability to get in front of pitches. He OPSed a respectable .872 this spring, but will head back to AAA for a little more seasoning.
Prospect Review: Washington Nationals
by Richard Douglas
The Nationals had started their life as laughing stocks of the MLB, but because of their strong picks and good work at the farm level raising prospects, they've become one of the league's best teams. From 2007-2011 they averaged $10.2 million in draft signings, second only to the Pirates during that span. And unlike for the Bucs, their signings have paid off with 7 MLB players coming form the 2008 draft, Strasburg and Drew Storen from 2009, and Bryce Harper from 2010. Last year's top pick has already become the systems best player, third baseman Anthony Rendon. Rendon played his college ball at Rice, and the polish he received playing at that level showed as he quickly climbed to the AA level. Overall last year, he posted an OBP of .363 and slugged .489, worthy of a wOBA of .402 by Fangraphs ratings. His AA numbers were a little less impressive slugging just .368, but he should be able to develop enough power to stay at 3B. Despite posting an excellent track record at Rice, his walk to strikeout ratio was just average. In the Arizona Fall league though he turned it around, hitting 11 extra baggers and averaging .368. His spring has been even better, OPSing over 1.250, with 28 total bases and 4 home runs. His defense is good as well, despite just an average arm. He'll be able to come along slowly since Zimmerman has the hot corner held down for now.
The Nationals had started their life as laughing stocks of the MLB, but because of their strong picks and good work at the farm level raising prospects, they've become one of the league's best teams. From 2007-2011 they averaged $10.2 million in draft signings, second only to the Pirates during that span. And unlike for the Bucs, their signings have paid off with 7 MLB players coming form the 2008 draft, Strasburg and Drew Storen from 2009, and Bryce Harper from 2010. Last year's top pick has already become the systems best player, third baseman Anthony Rendon. Rendon played his college ball at Rice, and the polish he received playing at that level showed as he quickly climbed to the AA level. Overall last year, he posted an OBP of .363 and slugged .489, worthy of a wOBA of .402 by Fangraphs ratings. His AA numbers were a little less impressive slugging just .368, but he should be able to develop enough power to stay at 3B. Despite posting an excellent track record at Rice, his walk to strikeout ratio was just average. In the Arizona Fall league though he turned it around, hitting 11 extra baggers and averaging .368. His spring has been even better, OPSing over 1.250, with 28 total bases and 4 home runs. His defense is good as well, despite just an average arm. He'll be able to come along slowly since Zimmerman has the hot corner held down for now.
Prospect Review: Atlanta Braves
Rich Douglas
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The Braves might not be as deep as they have been in the last couple of years due to graduation (Heyward, Minor, Freeman etc.) but this system still knows how to develop talent as they have a decent mix of high and low minor prospects.
Top Prospect
Julio Teheran - Without a doubt, the hard throwing 22 year old righty is the top prospect in this system. He's arguably been the best player in Atlanta's system since Jason Heyward made the move to the big leagues, and will be looking to put it all together with the parent club this season. We all know he struggled with his command last year during his call up, but a ton of work on refining his pitches in the offseason should give the young hurler the needed polish that it will take to be a prominent starter in an already crowded rotation. He throws 95mph on his fastball fairly consistently while sporting potentially plus secondary pitches in his curve and changeup. It's only a matter of time until he reaches his potential and should at the very least fit the mold of a middle of the rotation pitcher with high variance.
Top Hitter
Jose Peraza - I'd use Andrelton Simmons as the top hitter, but he's already played over 40 games with the Braves and is slotted to bat leadoff for them. Peraza is a fellow shortstop with plenty of potential. He'll be given the time to develop properly as Simmons will no doubt have a strong hold at that position for years to come, but Peraza should eventually challenge him at short or work up the middle with him at second. The 19 year old is very similar to Simmons as he already has plus range, a plus arm, and provides solid glove work. He's very quick and should bat leadoff during his entire development in the minors, while also hitting to contact very well.
Bronze Medal
Lucas Sims - The 18 year old Georgia native should develop nicely into a solid 2 or 3 starter as he is already ahead of the learning curve with his developing command. Sims throws a mid 90s fastball while possessing an average curve and changeup. There is still much to be seen with Sims as he doesn't have an ideal frame to be a workhorse starter, but this is the same franchise that miraculously turned Kris Medlen into a star. Sims allowed a high BABIP in his small sample size of action last year and will likely see an improvement in his stats.
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The Braves might not be as deep as they have been in the last couple of years due to graduation (Heyward, Minor, Freeman etc.) but this system still knows how to develop talent as they have a decent mix of high and low minor prospects.
Top Prospect
Julio Teheran - Without a doubt, the hard throwing 22 year old righty is the top prospect in this system. He's arguably been the best player in Atlanta's system since Jason Heyward made the move to the big leagues, and will be looking to put it all together with the parent club this season. We all know he struggled with his command last year during his call up, but a ton of work on refining his pitches in the offseason should give the young hurler the needed polish that it will take to be a prominent starter in an already crowded rotation. He throws 95mph on his fastball fairly consistently while sporting potentially plus secondary pitches in his curve and changeup. It's only a matter of time until he reaches his potential and should at the very least fit the mold of a middle of the rotation pitcher with high variance.
Top Hitter
Jose Peraza - I'd use Andrelton Simmons as the top hitter, but he's already played over 40 games with the Braves and is slotted to bat leadoff for them. Peraza is a fellow shortstop with plenty of potential. He'll be given the time to develop properly as Simmons will no doubt have a strong hold at that position for years to come, but Peraza should eventually challenge him at short or work up the middle with him at second. The 19 year old is very similar to Simmons as he already has plus range, a plus arm, and provides solid glove work. He's very quick and should bat leadoff during his entire development in the minors, while also hitting to contact very well.
Bronze Medal
Lucas Sims - The 18 year old Georgia native should develop nicely into a solid 2 or 3 starter as he is already ahead of the learning curve with his developing command. Sims throws a mid 90s fastball while possessing an average curve and changeup. There is still much to be seen with Sims as he doesn't have an ideal frame to be a workhorse starter, but this is the same franchise that miraculously turned Kris Medlen into a star. Sims allowed a high BABIP in his small sample size of action last year and will likely see an improvement in his stats.
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Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Prospect Review: Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers feature a minor league system that doesn't have great depth, but at least has plenty of developed talent that is ready to breakthrough into the majors. There isn't one guy that I see as an elite or even great prospect, but there are a few guys that should contribute to the big league club this season.
Top Prospect
Taylor Jungmann - The 23 year old righty has a big frame at 6'6 210 lbs and has the makeup of a workhorse like pitcher. Jungmann doesn't have the most electric repertoire, but has shown great command in his progression through the minors. In 153 innings pitched last season, Jungmann allowed just 7 HRs while only walked 2.7 batters/9 innings. The issue with the big Texan is his paltry 5.8 K/9 against mediocre minor league batters. He still should develop into a back end of the rotation pitcher as he has a low 90s fastball and a possible above average changeup and curve.
Top Hitter
Hunter Morris - I'll be honest, Morris would probably rank outside of the top 10 batters in just about every minor league system. The Brew Crew really need to revamp their batting prospects. Nevertheless, Morris has done nothing but produce at the plate when given the opportunity. The 24 year old First Baseman will start in Triple A this season, and may get a shot at the big league club if he continues to produce while Corey Hart remains injured. He has a high career slugging percentage, and produced an ISO of .261 in double A last year. His walk rate wasn't stellar at 7%, but he's shown increased plate discipline and pitch recognition. Morris is below average in the field and has problems against left handed pitching, but I see no reason why he shouldn't rake against righties at the top level.
Bronze Medal
Tyler Thornburg - Many regard the 24 year old righty out of Charleston Southern to be the Brewers' top prospect, but i see a low ceiling for him. Thornburg pitched fairly well last year in the majors as he had a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio in 22 innings while sporting a 4.5 ERA. His K rate should always be high, as he sits in the mid 90s with his fastball while throwing a solid changeup as well. His command isn't very consistent however, and he will always be susceptible to walking plenty of batters. His future may be in the bullpen as he continues to work on his curveball, but it looks like the Brewers want to eventually place him in the rotation.
Top Prospect
Taylor Jungmann - The 23 year old righty has a big frame at 6'6 210 lbs and has the makeup of a workhorse like pitcher. Jungmann doesn't have the most electric repertoire, but has shown great command in his progression through the minors. In 153 innings pitched last season, Jungmann allowed just 7 HRs while only walked 2.7 batters/9 innings. The issue with the big Texan is his paltry 5.8 K/9 against mediocre minor league batters. He still should develop into a back end of the rotation pitcher as he has a low 90s fastball and a possible above average changeup and curve.
Top Hitter
Hunter Morris - I'll be honest, Morris would probably rank outside of the top 10 batters in just about every minor league system. The Brew Crew really need to revamp their batting prospects. Nevertheless, Morris has done nothing but produce at the plate when given the opportunity. The 24 year old First Baseman will start in Triple A this season, and may get a shot at the big league club if he continues to produce while Corey Hart remains injured. He has a high career slugging percentage, and produced an ISO of .261 in double A last year. His walk rate wasn't stellar at 7%, but he's shown increased plate discipline and pitch recognition. Morris is below average in the field and has problems against left handed pitching, but I see no reason why he shouldn't rake against righties at the top level.
Bronze Medal
Tyler Thornburg - Many regard the 24 year old righty out of Charleston Southern to be the Brewers' top prospect, but i see a low ceiling for him. Thornburg pitched fairly well last year in the majors as he had a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio in 22 innings while sporting a 4.5 ERA. His K rate should always be high, as he sits in the mid 90s with his fastball while throwing a solid changeup as well. His command isn't very consistent however, and he will always be susceptible to walking plenty of batters. His future may be in the bullpen as he continues to work on his curveball, but it looks like the Brewers want to eventually place him in the rotation.
NBA Data Visualization March 27th
Our weekly series continues, helping you easily see which teams are performing, and which ones aren't.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Prospect Review: Chicago Cubs
by Richard Douglas
The Cubs have been the mark of futility since the turn of the 20th century, failing to capture a World Series now in over 100 years. The ownership took big steps to try and change that with reshuffling the front office with Theo Epstein, and a large commitment to spending on the farm (over 20 million in 2011 and 2012 draft bonuses combined). The first year did not yield much in terms of results, but the Cubs have been restocking the pitching of the farm system by drafting 7 pitchers and trading for several more. But they also spent some top picks on polished high school bats starting with Javier Baez, a short stop out of Jacksonville. Baez has an excellent swing which has one of the bat speeds in the minors. He should develop solid power as well, hit 16 home runs at the low and high A levels. Baez's most surprising tools those might be his defensive skill set. He was scouted as an offensive short stop that might be moved to third with his strong arm, but so far he has fielded the position quite well. His wOBA last season was a very solid .381, as was .860 OPS. He's had a solid spring with a .908 OPS, with 4 home runs. But, striking out 12 times in 47 at bats is why he needs some work to tame his aggressive plate nature.
The Cubs have been the mark of futility since the turn of the 20th century, failing to capture a World Series now in over 100 years. The ownership took big steps to try and change that with reshuffling the front office with Theo Epstein, and a large commitment to spending on the farm (over 20 million in 2011 and 2012 draft bonuses combined). The first year did not yield much in terms of results, but the Cubs have been restocking the pitching of the farm system by drafting 7 pitchers and trading for several more. But they also spent some top picks on polished high school bats starting with Javier Baez, a short stop out of Jacksonville. Baez has an excellent swing which has one of the bat speeds in the minors. He should develop solid power as well, hit 16 home runs at the low and high A levels. Baez's most surprising tools those might be his defensive skill set. He was scouted as an offensive short stop that might be moved to third with his strong arm, but so far he has fielded the position quite well. His wOBA last season was a very solid .381, as was .860 OPS. He's had a solid spring with a .908 OPS, with 4 home runs. But, striking out 12 times in 47 at bats is why he needs some work to tame his aggressive plate nature.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Prospect Review: Cincinnati Reds
Top Prospect
Billy Hamilton - The 22 year old speedster is not only the best prospect in the Reds system, but is also one of the best prospects in all of baseball. Hamilton is one of the most talked about minor leaguers in recent memory due to his unbelievable speed and excellent base running ability. In 132 games last season, he stole 165 bases which led many to believe a big league call up was on the horizon. Hamilton is not only a one trick pony however, as he had an excellent OBP of .398, something many speed guys seem to have difficulty with (see: Juan Pierre & Chone Figgins). He's expected to lead off in Triple A as he's continuing to develop in CF. Based off of his speed and plate discipline alone, Hamilton has the potential to become a perennial all star.
Top Pitcher
Tony Cingrani - The 23 year old lefty has turned into a great surprise for the Reds. While he doesn't have elite stuff, Cingrani has the ceiling of a middle of the rotation starter, but should easily break into the bullpen as the season goes on. His fastball has good action on it as it averages in the low 90s while his change up and curve could use a little more work on it. Assuming his secondary pitches become more refined, the southpaw should definitely become a prominent member of the Cincinnati staff.
Bronze Medal
Nick Travieso - Due to the fact that the Reds lack top end pitching talent, I'm going to overrate Travieso as the system's third best prospect. The 18 year old hasn't been able to show his stuff in the minor leagues, but his natural raw ability should propel him into becoming a low level minor league star. The 19 year old righty already has a fastball that could develop into a plus-plus pitch as he already hits 98 mph with great command. His power slider/cutter has plus potential while his changeup could develop into a legitimate pitch as well due to his excellent arm action on his 2 power pitches. Travieso should at the very least develop into a high leverage reliever, and if his secondary pitches develop, he could become a 2 or 3 starter.
-Rich Douglas
Billy Hamilton - The 22 year old speedster is not only the best prospect in the Reds system, but is also one of the best prospects in all of baseball. Hamilton is one of the most talked about minor leaguers in recent memory due to his unbelievable speed and excellent base running ability. In 132 games last season, he stole 165 bases which led many to believe a big league call up was on the horizon. Hamilton is not only a one trick pony however, as he had an excellent OBP of .398, something many speed guys seem to have difficulty with (see: Juan Pierre & Chone Figgins). He's expected to lead off in Triple A as he's continuing to develop in CF. Based off of his speed and plate discipline alone, Hamilton has the potential to become a perennial all star.
Top Pitcher
Tony Cingrani - The 23 year old lefty has turned into a great surprise for the Reds. While he doesn't have elite stuff, Cingrani has the ceiling of a middle of the rotation starter, but should easily break into the bullpen as the season goes on. His fastball has good action on it as it averages in the low 90s while his change up and curve could use a little more work on it. Assuming his secondary pitches become more refined, the southpaw should definitely become a prominent member of the Cincinnati staff.
Bronze Medal
Nick Travieso - Due to the fact that the Reds lack top end pitching talent, I'm going to overrate Travieso as the system's third best prospect. The 18 year old hasn't been able to show his stuff in the minor leagues, but his natural raw ability should propel him into becoming a low level minor league star. The 19 year old righty already has a fastball that could develop into a plus-plus pitch as he already hits 98 mph with great command. His power slider/cutter has plus potential while his changeup could develop into a legitimate pitch as well due to his excellent arm action on his 2 power pitches. Travieso should at the very least develop into a high leverage reliever, and if his secondary pitches develop, he could become a 2 or 3 starter.
-Rich Douglas
Prospect Review: St. Louis Cardinals
by Richard Douglas
The Cardinals have been one of the best teams the past several years developing talent, helping guide them through the first year without Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols. From 2008-2011 the Cards spent 22.2 million in bonuses on their draft picks which produced Lance Lynn (All Star), Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal (playoff appearances), and the pieces for the Matt Holliday trade. This year's top prospect is Oscar Taveras, a 20 year old outfielder form the Dominican. He's been in the system since 2008 when he signed for $145,000. Its looking like its going to pay off as Taveras has decimated opposing pitching in the Rookie, Low A and AA levels so far. His minor league OPS is .906, with just 190 strike outs in 1263 at bats. He hit a career high 23 home runs at AA Springfield, showing some potential for expanded power. He's not an overly speedy player, but he has the range to play in center field, and an arm that could let him play in right. He's had some fits of poor attitude, but it hasn't been a significant red flag. His spring training this year though should have him fast tracking to the majors, with just 6 strike outs in 63 appearances, 27 total bases and a .742 OPS
The Cardinals have been one of the best teams the past several years developing talent, helping guide them through the first year without Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols. From 2008-2011 the Cards spent 22.2 million in bonuses on their draft picks which produced Lance Lynn (All Star), Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal (playoff appearances), and the pieces for the Matt Holliday trade. This year's top prospect is Oscar Taveras, a 20 year old outfielder form the Dominican. He's been in the system since 2008 when he signed for $145,000. Its looking like its going to pay off as Taveras has decimated opposing pitching in the Rookie, Low A and AA levels so far. His minor league OPS is .906, with just 190 strike outs in 1263 at bats. He hit a career high 23 home runs at AA Springfield, showing some potential for expanded power. He's not an overly speedy player, but he has the range to play in center field, and an arm that could let him play in right. He's had some fits of poor attitude, but it hasn't been a significant red flag. His spring training this year though should have him fast tracking to the majors, with just 6 strike outs in 63 appearances, 27 total bases and a .742 OPS
Friday, March 22, 2013
Prospect Review: Pittsburgh Pirates
by Richard Douglas
Pirates fans likely wish they could go back to last year just before the all star break, when the team was 11 games above .500 and the long term planning was finally paying off. Sadly though, they are forced to live instead in the world where the Pirates ended up 4 games under .550 for their 20th straight losing season, a controversy with their player development office for pitting prospects against each other in hand to hand combat, and failing to sign the 8th overall pick in the draft last year. The draft failures didn't end there though, with both Walker Buhler and Brandon Thomas deciding to head to college instead of signing with the Bucs. The news however isn't all just downright awful. 2011's top pick was Right handed pitcher Gerrit Cole, a 22 year old who had spent his collegiant career at UCLA developing some of the best fastballs seen in a starting caliber prospect in years. His 4 seam fastball touches into the triple digits with easy, and normally gets offered at the 97 mph level. He also has a two seamer that lives 93-95 that has a good sinking action. His slider gets graded out as a 70 by Baseball America, ranging from the high 80s to the low 90s with a hard tilting action. He also has an above average changeup. His control and command need some work, since hes given up 113 hits in just 132 innings of work at the minor league level. His strike out rate is still devastating though, with a career average of 9.3 per 9 innings. He posted solid numbers this spring, pitching 10 innings with 8 hits and 4 runs given up. His strike outs per walk was also a nice 3.5, right in the range of his minor league average of 3.2. He'll likely spend just a little more time seasoning at the AAA level this year before making the jump to the rotation in Pittsburgh.
Pirates fans likely wish they could go back to last year just before the all star break, when the team was 11 games above .500 and the long term planning was finally paying off. Sadly though, they are forced to live instead in the world where the Pirates ended up 4 games under .550 for their 20th straight losing season, a controversy with their player development office for pitting prospects against each other in hand to hand combat, and failing to sign the 8th overall pick in the draft last year. The draft failures didn't end there though, with both Walker Buhler and Brandon Thomas deciding to head to college instead of signing with the Bucs. The news however isn't all just downright awful. 2011's top pick was Right handed pitcher Gerrit Cole, a 22 year old who had spent his collegiant career at UCLA developing some of the best fastballs seen in a starting caliber prospect in years. His 4 seam fastball touches into the triple digits with easy, and normally gets offered at the 97 mph level. He also has a two seamer that lives 93-95 that has a good sinking action. His slider gets graded out as a 70 by Baseball America, ranging from the high 80s to the low 90s with a hard tilting action. He also has an above average changeup. His control and command need some work, since hes given up 113 hits in just 132 innings of work at the minor league level. His strike out rate is still devastating though, with a career average of 9.3 per 9 innings. He posted solid numbers this spring, pitching 10 innings with 8 hits and 4 runs given up. His strike outs per walk was also a nice 3.5, right in the range of his minor league average of 3.2. He'll likely spend just a little more time seasoning at the AAA level this year before making the jump to the rotation in Pittsburgh.
Prospect Review: San Diego Padres
Top Prospect
Austin Hedges - The 19 year old had a stellar season last year in Double A for the Padres as he showed maturity at the plate, while maintaining his reputation as an excellent defensive Catcher. Hedges is a natural at the catching position and is years ahead of his minor league counterparts in regards to presence behind the plate. He has a cannon for an arm and threw out 32% of would be base stealers while providing solid blocking and receiving skills. What surprised the Padres most was his progression offensively. Hedges won't ever become an elite hitter, but his power developed greatly as he belted 10 HRs while posting a wOBA of .354 and ISO of .172. These numbers were unthinkable at such a young age when the Padres drafted him out of high school in the second round. He showed far too much aggression striking out 62 times in 373 PAs while walking just 23 times, but Hedges has all the potential in the world to become a very solid major league backstop.
Top Pitcher
Max Fried - The 19 year old southpaw was very highly coveted as a high schooler and showed signs of greatness in his limited minor league time last season. The Padres handed Fried a big signing bonus in order to entice him from foregoing a commitment to UCLA and joining their minor league system. He has a fastball that reaches 95 mph and a curveball that is already established as a plus pitch. Fried's ability to change velocity while keeping his arm angles and mechanics steady show that he has the potential to develop his change up into a plus pitch. There's no doubt that he could become a #1 or 2 starter as the Padres may move him up through the system as quickly as he fills out his 6-4 175 lb frame. The 2015 season may feature two young exciting prospects (Fried and Hedges) as a common battery combo throughout the season.
Bronze Medal
Jedd Gyorko - There are many that would regard Gyorko as the top prospect in San Diego's system. The undersized 3B doesn't necessarily look like someone who can swing the bat with ease, but he's shown a ton of power in the minors and even during this year's spring training. Timing is everything in baseball: hitting-wise, mechanics-wise, and even injury-wise. He has shown above-average power against average pitching and with Chase Headley going down with a minor injury, the door has swung wide open for the 24 year old who is ready to hit off of some major league pitching. I can't see him ever becoming an elite player, his defense could surely use polishing even at his age, and his range and speed are not there, but the kid can hit, which is always something San Diego could use.
-Rich Douglas
Austin Hedges - The 19 year old had a stellar season last year in Double A for the Padres as he showed maturity at the plate, while maintaining his reputation as an excellent defensive Catcher. Hedges is a natural at the catching position and is years ahead of his minor league counterparts in regards to presence behind the plate. He has a cannon for an arm and threw out 32% of would be base stealers while providing solid blocking and receiving skills. What surprised the Padres most was his progression offensively. Hedges won't ever become an elite hitter, but his power developed greatly as he belted 10 HRs while posting a wOBA of .354 and ISO of .172. These numbers were unthinkable at such a young age when the Padres drafted him out of high school in the second round. He showed far too much aggression striking out 62 times in 373 PAs while walking just 23 times, but Hedges has all the potential in the world to become a very solid major league backstop.
Top Pitcher
Max Fried - The 19 year old southpaw was very highly coveted as a high schooler and showed signs of greatness in his limited minor league time last season. The Padres handed Fried a big signing bonus in order to entice him from foregoing a commitment to UCLA and joining their minor league system. He has a fastball that reaches 95 mph and a curveball that is already established as a plus pitch. Fried's ability to change velocity while keeping his arm angles and mechanics steady show that he has the potential to develop his change up into a plus pitch. There's no doubt that he could become a #1 or 2 starter as the Padres may move him up through the system as quickly as he fills out his 6-4 175 lb frame. The 2015 season may feature two young exciting prospects (Fried and Hedges) as a common battery combo throughout the season.
Bronze Medal
Jedd Gyorko - There are many that would regard Gyorko as the top prospect in San Diego's system. The undersized 3B doesn't necessarily look like someone who can swing the bat with ease, but he's shown a ton of power in the minors and even during this year's spring training. Timing is everything in baseball: hitting-wise, mechanics-wise, and even injury-wise. He has shown above-average power against average pitching and with Chase Headley going down with a minor injury, the door has swung wide open for the 24 year old who is ready to hit off of some major league pitching. I can't see him ever becoming an elite player, his defense could surely use polishing even at his age, and his range and speed are not there, but the kid can hit, which is always something San Diego could use.
-Rich Douglas
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
NBA Data Visualization March 20th
by Richard Douglas
Our weekly data visualization helps you gauge which teams are doing what, and helps to get that edge.
Our weekly data visualization helps you gauge which teams are doing what, and helps to get that edge.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Prospect Review: Arizona Diamondbacks
Top Prospect
Tyler Skaggs - This one is pretty clear cut. The 20 year old southpaw already has 6 major league games under his belt and didn't fare too poorly in hi outings. His 5.83 ERA and 5.86 FIP indicate he had some clear issues during his small sample size, but he showed flashes of his plus fastball and plus curve. Skaggs needs to continue to develop his changeup with has the potential in becoming a legitimate plus pitch as he is gaining a repertoire that resembles that of a future front line starter. Skaggs needs to work on his mechanics in order to gain more consistency at the higher level. At times, he would lose command, primarily during his secondary pitches. Nevertheless, Skaggs projects as a top level starter because of the fact that he has 3 potential plus pitches.
Top Hitter
Stryker Trahan - I hate picking such raw young talent as a top hitting prospect, but I did it with the Rockies and I'm doing it with the Diamondbacks as well. It's really annoying since Trahan may not actually make the major leagues for at least another 3 seasons, but the 18 year old catcher shined in his first season in rookie ball. His bat may speed up his movement through the system entirely, but that would require him to become a first baseman which would significantly drop his value. Trahan is already an excellent contact hitter, has plus power, and most importantly has shown signs of elite plate discipline and pitch recognition by posting an OBP of .422 in 211 plate appearances. He's needs a ton of polish in regards to catching, but the Diamondbacks should be able to bring him up slowly as Miguel Montero has a stronghold on the catching position in Arizona.
Bronze Medal
Archie Bradley - Bradley has a smooth delivery, excellent mechanics, and 2 plus pitches that should make the 19 year old righty an MLB starter one day. His excellent fastball brought him notoriety in high school, but it was his curveball that provided a ton of swings and misses in high A ball. Bradley has yet to develop a viable third pitch, which may eventually lead him to becoming a high leverage reliever, but the 6-4 225 lb power pitcher still has a ton of time to develop.
-Rich Douglas
Tyler Skaggs - This one is pretty clear cut. The 20 year old southpaw already has 6 major league games under his belt and didn't fare too poorly in hi outings. His 5.83 ERA and 5.86 FIP indicate he had some clear issues during his small sample size, but he showed flashes of his plus fastball and plus curve. Skaggs needs to continue to develop his changeup with has the potential in becoming a legitimate plus pitch as he is gaining a repertoire that resembles that of a future front line starter. Skaggs needs to work on his mechanics in order to gain more consistency at the higher level. At times, he would lose command, primarily during his secondary pitches. Nevertheless, Skaggs projects as a top level starter because of the fact that he has 3 potential plus pitches.
Top Hitter
Stryker Trahan - I hate picking such raw young talent as a top hitting prospect, but I did it with the Rockies and I'm doing it with the Diamondbacks as well. It's really annoying since Trahan may not actually make the major leagues for at least another 3 seasons, but the 18 year old catcher shined in his first season in rookie ball. His bat may speed up his movement through the system entirely, but that would require him to become a first baseman which would significantly drop his value. Trahan is already an excellent contact hitter, has plus power, and most importantly has shown signs of elite plate discipline and pitch recognition by posting an OBP of .422 in 211 plate appearances. He's needs a ton of polish in regards to catching, but the Diamondbacks should be able to bring him up slowly as Miguel Montero has a stronghold on the catching position in Arizona.
Bronze Medal
Archie Bradley - Bradley has a smooth delivery, excellent mechanics, and 2 plus pitches that should make the 19 year old righty an MLB starter one day. His excellent fastball brought him notoriety in high school, but it was his curveball that provided a ton of swings and misses in high A ball. Bradley has yet to develop a viable third pitch, which may eventually lead him to becoming a high leverage reliever, but the 6-4 225 lb power pitcher still has a ton of time to develop.
-Rich Douglas
Monday, March 18, 2013
Prospect Review: Colorado Rockies
by Richard Douglas
I don't claim to be an expert baseball scout, but for the last few years we've done an excellent job at evaluating talent by looking at a prospects peripherals and also looking at mechanics and tendencies of any given player. Both aspects of a player's game are shockingly overlooked by most analysts and fans alike. Anyways, let's take a look at a few minor leaguers in the Rockies system that you may be hearing about in the future.
Top Prospect (Hitter)
David Dahl - Dahl is not featured as the top prospect on most lists, but he's the top prospect in the Rockies system on this one. The 2012 10th overall pick is admittedly very raw, but the lefty has shown a tremendous amount of success in his first full season. Dahl projects to become a major league center fielder with plus arm and excellent range. Dahl hit .379 in rookie ball by enabling his plus bat speed while hitting 9 home runs in 306 plate appearances. As he continues to mature and bulk up, he should be able to convert his plus bat speed into a fair amount of power. He still has a long way to go at just 18 years old, but he certainly has given Rockies fans something to be excited about.
Top Pitcher
Eddie Butler - It's no secret that the Rockies have had trouble developing pitching throughout the franchises history, but they've had success in recent years bringing up solid talent like Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio. Butler may be a a little under the radar as a second round pick, but he projects as a solid Major League starter. He has a ways to go in his development, but the Radford university righty has a plus plus fastball that pops through the zone on average at 95 mph. His slider and changeup at the moment are average pitches with the potential for turning into plus pitches. Butler has above average control as well. His future will likely depend on his secondary pitches to determine whether or not he's better suited for the bullpen, but is at the very least a future high leverage reliever.
Bronze Medal
Nolan Arenado - The 21 year old third baseman has the makeup to have success in the friendly confines of Coors field. Arenado has no problem against left handed pitching as he has shown plus bat speed and excellent power when pulling the ball. He won't ever be an elite power hitter as he has shown inconsistency in regards to pitch recognition, but as he matures, he should fulfill his potential of being able to hit for average. At the start of his career, Arenado was a very raw fielder with a big arm which is why the Rockies moved him over to third. He has since refined his fielding ability and has made the adjustments to throw more accurately in order to becoming a major league 3rd basemen. As I alluded to earlier, he probably won't become an elite hitter, but he has the potential to bat over .300 as he has a high average BABIP while also generating adequate power.
-Rich Douglas
I don't claim to be an expert baseball scout, but for the last few years we've done an excellent job at evaluating talent by looking at a prospects peripherals and also looking at mechanics and tendencies of any given player. Both aspects of a player's game are shockingly overlooked by most analysts and fans alike. Anyways, let's take a look at a few minor leaguers in the Rockies system that you may be hearing about in the future.
Top Prospect (Hitter)
David Dahl - Dahl is not featured as the top prospect on most lists, but he's the top prospect in the Rockies system on this one. The 2012 10th overall pick is admittedly very raw, but the lefty has shown a tremendous amount of success in his first full season. Dahl projects to become a major league center fielder with plus arm and excellent range. Dahl hit .379 in rookie ball by enabling his plus bat speed while hitting 9 home runs in 306 plate appearances. As he continues to mature and bulk up, he should be able to convert his plus bat speed into a fair amount of power. He still has a long way to go at just 18 years old, but he certainly has given Rockies fans something to be excited about.
Top Pitcher
Eddie Butler - It's no secret that the Rockies have had trouble developing pitching throughout the franchises history, but they've had success in recent years bringing up solid talent like Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio. Butler may be a a little under the radar as a second round pick, but he projects as a solid Major League starter. He has a ways to go in his development, but the Radford university righty has a plus plus fastball that pops through the zone on average at 95 mph. His slider and changeup at the moment are average pitches with the potential for turning into plus pitches. Butler has above average control as well. His future will likely depend on his secondary pitches to determine whether or not he's better suited for the bullpen, but is at the very least a future high leverage reliever.
Bronze Medal
Nolan Arenado - The 21 year old third baseman has the makeup to have success in the friendly confines of Coors field. Arenado has no problem against left handed pitching as he has shown plus bat speed and excellent power when pulling the ball. He won't ever be an elite power hitter as he has shown inconsistency in regards to pitch recognition, but as he matures, he should fulfill his potential of being able to hit for average. At the start of his career, Arenado was a very raw fielder with a big arm which is why the Rockies moved him over to third. He has since refined his fielding ability and has made the adjustments to throw more accurately in order to becoming a major league 3rd basemen. As I alluded to earlier, he probably won't become an elite hitter, but he has the potential to bat over .300 as he has a high average BABIP while also generating adequate power.
-Rich Douglas
Prospect Review: San Francisco Giants
by Richard Douglas
The Giants entered last season with one real question: How healthy will Buster Posey be? Because with the excellent pitching staff his offensive prowess could carry this team in a weakened NL West. The answer came in the form of a second World Series Title in three years. The Giants depleted the farm a bit to help Posey with several solid role playing hitters, sending out a pair of last years top 10 prospects. The depth is also hurt by a lot of players not maturing as they should, with 12 players dropping out of Baseball America's top 30. This year's top prospect though might have shown the most growth, as Kyle Crick has become the club's top prospect, after being drafted out of high school where he played first base primarily. His fastball is an extremely dangerous offering, getting a 70 rating from BA and clocking in at 93-95 mph. He has a curveball that he is developing as well, and a changeup that is just average. Crick dominated Low A ball last year, striking out 10.3 batters per 9 innings, and allowing just a .193 average. His only real red flags at this point is his control , after he issued 67 walks in just 111 innings of work, and the fact that he averaged just about 5 innings per start.
The Giants entered last season with one real question: How healthy will Buster Posey be? Because with the excellent pitching staff his offensive prowess could carry this team in a weakened NL West. The answer came in the form of a second World Series Title in three years. The Giants depleted the farm a bit to help Posey with several solid role playing hitters, sending out a pair of last years top 10 prospects. The depth is also hurt by a lot of players not maturing as they should, with 12 players dropping out of Baseball America's top 30. This year's top prospect though might have shown the most growth, as Kyle Crick has become the club's top prospect, after being drafted out of high school where he played first base primarily. His fastball is an extremely dangerous offering, getting a 70 rating from BA and clocking in at 93-95 mph. He has a curveball that he is developing as well, and a changeup that is just average. Crick dominated Low A ball last year, striking out 10.3 batters per 9 innings, and allowing just a .193 average. His only real red flags at this point is his control , after he issued 67 walks in just 111 innings of work, and the fact that he averaged just about 5 innings per start.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
2013 NCAA Men's Tournament Charts
by Richard Douglas
Its tournament time, and there is a lot of data to sift through. Our charts help give a relative strengths for each of the teams, and we include the data to make the work a little easier.
Its tournament time, and there is a lot of data to sift through. Our charts help give a relative strengths for each of the teams, and we include the data to make the work a little easier.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Prospect Review: Los Angeles Dodgers
by Richard Douglas
The Dodgers have fully moved on from the disastrous ownership the McCourts presided over, bringing in plenty of high priced veterans and making sure to re-sign their own talent. While this has limited the chances of some of prospects making a jump to the big leagues soon, (as well as sending 3 of last year’s top 5 prospects to the Red Sox and Marlins in various deals). This hasn’t meant though the farm has been neglected though, since the team handed out three of their top five highest bonuses this past year. This includes the money paid to Hyun-Jin Ryu, a left-handed Korean prospect the Dodgers had scouted since he was in high school. His pro career in Korea has been very good, posting a 2.80 ERA and a high 8.8 K/9, including a career best 10.3 last season. He has an excellent fastball that runs in the 92-93 mph region, which he controls and adds a cutting action to. He also has two above league average secondary pitches in his slider and changeup. He’s seen a lot of work already, as most Asian pitchers do, logging 1269 innings of work already before the age of 25. In spring training this year, he’s struggled a bit with the transition. Appearing in 3 games with 2 starts, Ryu has allowed batters to bat .320 and has given up 4 earned runs in just 6 innings of work. His talent level shows he should be much better, but its early still. His ZiPs projection gives him 25 starts this year with 180 innings, and a 3.99 ERA.
The Dodgers have fully moved on from the disastrous ownership the McCourts presided over, bringing in plenty of high priced veterans and making sure to re-sign their own talent. While this has limited the chances of some of prospects making a jump to the big leagues soon, (as well as sending 3 of last year’s top 5 prospects to the Red Sox and Marlins in various deals). This hasn’t meant though the farm has been neglected though, since the team handed out three of their top five highest bonuses this past year. This includes the money paid to Hyun-Jin Ryu, a left-handed Korean prospect the Dodgers had scouted since he was in high school. His pro career in Korea has been very good, posting a 2.80 ERA and a high 8.8 K/9, including a career best 10.3 last season. He has an excellent fastball that runs in the 92-93 mph region, which he controls and adds a cutting action to. He also has two above league average secondary pitches in his slider and changeup. He’s seen a lot of work already, as most Asian pitchers do, logging 1269 innings of work already before the age of 25. In spring training this year, he’s struggled a bit with the transition. Appearing in 3 games with 2 starts, Ryu has allowed batters to bat .320 and has given up 4 earned runs in just 6 innings of work. His talent level shows he should be much better, but its early still. His ZiPs projection gives him 25 starts this year with 180 innings, and a 3.99 ERA.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Offensive Rebounds: What are they good for Tournament edition
by Richard Douglas
In part 1 of our study of offensive rebounding prowess in college basketball, we discovered that while its certainly a positive to grab the offensive glass, its not nearly as important as most other factors. But that was over the course of a season. Does it play a bigger factor though during the Tournament, with the smaller subset of games, and give us any sort of predictive power for how a team will do ?
In part 1 of our study of offensive rebounding prowess in college basketball, we discovered that while its certainly a positive to grab the offensive glass, its not nearly as important as most other factors. But that was over the course of a season. Does it play a bigger factor though during the Tournament, with the smaller subset of games, and give us any sort of predictive power for how a team will do ?
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
NBA Data Visualization March 5th
by Richard Douglas
Our NBA Data Visualization helps you make the right plays this week. Our chart and important notes after the jump.
Our NBA Data Visualization helps you make the right plays this week. Our chart and important notes after the jump.
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