beautox

With the Tribe just signing David Dellucci to a Three-Year, $11.5M Contract, and already having an over stocked OF at both the ML(Blake, Choo, Sizemore, Gutierrez) and Milb(Brad Synder, John Drennen, Trevor Crowe) level. I think Brian Barton could be good fit for the fish. OF(CF/RF) Brian Barton 24yrs old (04/25/1982), College: Miami (FL), B - R, T - R, Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190 Signed by Cleveland as a non-drafted free agent, 8/13/04. #s between A+ & AA .323/.412/.511 52BB/109SO 19 HR, 3 3B, 41SB/8CS As he advanced to AA(07/20/06) he got CS more(15SB/5CS) but he hit for more Avg. The only knock on him is his age compared to the lvl of competition. But i don't buy into that at all, so long as someone isn't repeating a lvl and is demonstrating they can adjust and improve i don't hold their age against them provided its with in reason. When a player at age 24-26 is at AA and destroying it like Uggla was, a lot of scouts tend to say they're playing over their heads, i tend to disagree with them, whats to say that what they're hitting is not within in reason? Scouts in general tend to drool over raw tools and birthdays, and players like Chris Denorfia get swept aside even thought its pretty apparent they can be solid ML contributor to a club. AA is where the real competition is. AAA is just a waiting room, where a prospect goes to get a bit of seasoning and wait for an opening.

I'll throw a name that just recently came onto my radar. CF Gregor Blanco(12/12/83) 22yrs old LH, 5-11 183Lbs signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Braves in 2000, just recently put on their 40man roster @ AAA 73G 269AB (.294/.408/.346) 52BB/53SO 14SB/9CS

Closer are closers because they thrive under pressure, don't have much stuff, and don't have endurance. what? That's pretty accurate. If they had the stuff, they'd be starters. No closer is good enough to be a starter unless he is misused. Smoltz was wasted in the closer role for instance. Thats not true at all, Bobby Jenks is a prime example. He had a constant health problems as a starter. He has 4 plus pitches 3 that would tip out on as an 80 on the scout scale. The reason he was put on waviers was because he had "charecter" issues and he could never stay healthy in the angels organization. He was very overweight and he has a screw in his arm. The Sox decided they could get the most out of him as a closer and limit the stress on his body. If closing was so easy why is it that when a regular relief pitcher is asked to close they often fail? or why do organizations as a whole often draft closers in the early rounds(1-5), why not spend those draft choices on posistion players? two reasons: 1.) they usually have the best make up and 2.) they usually have the best "stuff". Further more closers usually have the best stuff on a entire pitching staff, i've seen jenks pitch 3 inning saves before where he had to face a hitter twice and simply dominated them.

Tom Gordon's numbers outside of closing are not very flattering. And I'm skeptical of Ray and Wagner until they have been tried elsewhere. I've never been a Wagner fan myself, as I don't buy into the fastball dependency style of pitching. Sure, he can change speeds on you, but his reliance on the gas just begs to be hammered by the expecting eye. Wagner isn't a good pitcher? wow :blink: . Wagner, while posting a 17-3 record in three years at Ferrum College (VA), set the Division III mark for career strikeouts with 327 in 182 1/3 IP. He still holds the single-season NCAA records for K/9 IP (19.1) and fewest H/9 IP (1.58) as well as the career record for fewest H/9 IP (2.22). Yes, you read those numbers right. He averaged more than 19 Ks and fewer than two hits per 9 IP as a sophomore in 1992. link

Good post. The Angels can't be that smart if they gave GMJ 10 million a year. Thanks, it just boggles my mind when people want to discredit talented milb players because they're older. Willits can still wear the "prospect tag" because he but up HUGEOBP numbers at AAA, and is still relatively young, not everyone can be a King Felix and make their ML debut at 18. As an example from the Chi Sox; LHP Boone Logan(drafted in '02 20th round 600overall), literally came out of no where in ST yet he broke camp with the sox, he was only 21 and never advanced past rookie ball. Yet the sox seen something in him, now he failed in his first chance with the club but he showed flashes of brilliance(SO 5 in 2.1IP) he got sent back down to AAA but he dominated the competition(42.2IP 57SO/12BB 3.38ERA as their closer), thats a kid who jumped from rkball to MLB to AAA and will get another look in ST as the 2nd LOOGY. Another example would be Scott Proctor on the Yankees, are you telling me TSwift25 you wouldn't want him in the marlins BP because he didn't make his ML debut till he was 27 and didn't put it together he was 29. This year in the yankee BP(3.52ERA, 102.1IP, 89SO/33BB) @ age 29.

Murphy's 27, going to be 28...that's pretty old to have gotten 70 AB's in the majors, and to repeat AA at 25 and 26 isn't exactly glimmering. Willits is 25, at the age where players stop being a "prospect" and start entering their prime. If an organization such as the Angels, which has superb scouting and teeming youth, doesn't see starting quality value in a 25 year old who put up a good .327/.448/.426 in AAA (and let's be honest, it's the PCL...the ball jumps there) something's very very wrong with the guy. Especially when Matthews is essentially the same 8-something OPS player as Willits, yet Matthews is worth $55 million over 5 years (which isn't a done deal, BTW) and Willits isn't worth a look. Writing's on the wall on these two. You make it sound like the Angels are infallible when it comes to their system. Last time i checked they literally gave Jenks and Turnbow away on waivers(thanks LA ) but i digress, Willits is 25 but that doesn't mean he has reached his ceiling or that he can't improve. GMJ was DFAed twice and passed through waivers many times, yet here he is getting a 5/50 contract with a NTC. GMJ could very well become the new Mora. Don't write off Murphy or Willits, there are plenty of players that are "late bloomers" that can contribute to a team, Scott Podsednik comes to mind.

I saw Ricardo play at FIU. He was an RBI machine, leading the team in RBIs and homeruns his senior year, along with a batting average close to .400 but he has not moved through the White Sox's system very rapidly. I would say if he makes the majors one day, he would be about average. I also got see Ricardo play at FIU quite often...he has a good power bat and drove in a lot of runs batting in the No. 3 hole for the Golden Panthers...he is from Puerto Rico and if he could be grabbed in the minor league area of the Rule V could be worth a shot Awesome, I'm not expecting him to be awesome, just solid. Not an impact bat by any means, but a fundamentally sound player, with average/good defense in CF.

Going to throw a name out there who i know can be drafted via rule V. Ricardo Nanita from the White Sox Organization, he's currently playing LF for Tigres del Licey, but he spent time in CF for Birmingham(AA). Ricardo Nanita LH 25yrs old(06/12/81) .286/.372/.407 8HR 3.3B 42RBI 11SB/6CS 51BB/56SO @ AA

Maybe a good time to try and rape the Cubs....again. :lol

Buzz: Marlins Do Not Like Milledge by Matthew Cerrone at 02:32PM (EST) on November 13, 2006 | Permanent Link The Marlins will entertain trading LHP Dontrelle Willis in exchange for a premium center fielder and a pitcher, writes Joe Capozzi in the Palm Beach Post. However, in the Sun-Sentinel, Juan Rodriguez notes that the Marlins do not like Mets OF Lastings Milledge or Red Sox OF Coco Crisp, both of whom are young, play center field, and are bound to mentioned in rumors linked to Willis. Instead, the Marlins have interest in Pirates OF Chris Duffy, Astros OF Willy Taveras, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp and White Sox OF Brian Anderson. http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/200...2.html#comments Out of that list, give me Brian Anderson. If Brian is going anywhere i hope its the Marlins, BP did a article about how good his glove is, simply put its GG, and his upside is Torii, hes in Ozzies dog house for some reason though.

BTW, the reason I'm posting this stuff is because it reinforces a point I've made before that while we're all thinking in terms of the Carl Crawfords of the world there's a whole bunch of talent yet undiscovered who are just looking for the right chance in the right situation. Is Willits the right guy to play CF for the Fish? Who knows, but his very existence says if not him, someone else. I agree there is alot of undiscovered talent in the minors, and i would love to see the Marlins get someone of this make, High OBP, good baserunning skills, very limited power but high avg. Chris Denorfia, Melky Cabrera(only 22 and still has a ton of time to develop power), or Reggie Willits all sound good to me

Its too late now, but i would've liked to have seen us try and get FA CFer Luis Terrero(right handed). The White Sox already signed him. He has great tools he just has never put them all togeather at the ML level. He has a great glove in CF, defense has never been a question. This is what he put up at AAA Ottawa(IL) in 84 games. .318/.367/.560, 16BB/61SO, 16HR 44RBI, 18SB/9CS o well

I would deal D-train to the Cards for Wainwright/Reyes + Rasmus + Bryan Anderson and set up the future of this organization for the next six years. we already have 1 stud LHP (olsen) and Reyes/Wainright only bolster our BP/SP, Anderson could be ready to go asap and Rasmus would be ready by late '07. Setting us up for our target goal. i think Hermedia is going to have a great year next year, and the team as a whole is going to improve and only get better. ugh.... trade him to AZ, LA, or LAA if we move him What's the difference if its Stl, they're not in our division. I find it amazing this team has developed so rapidly we're going to be in contention from opening day next year we might even take the east . I also think that Willis needs to be moved its apparent our budget isn't going up, we already have 1 stud LHP in our rotation and one in our BP that will be our closer, both will only get better. The return we will get for Willis will set us up for the next 6+ years. Any team could use someone of Willis stature on their staff. The cards have a two young ML pitchers in Reyes and Wainright, either of them would look good in teal, Rasmus has all the tools and will be a stud for years to come, and Bryan Anderson solves our catching problem for the future. I would even consider dealing him to the Yankees for the likes of Tabata, Hughes, and Melky Cabrera. I was reading Cabreras scouting report from '04 and he has the arm and instincts to play CF, and hes only 22 and hes younger than Hermida, He would make a great #1 or #2 hitter, and hes only going to get better. This was his line this year .280/.360/.391, 56BB/59SO, 12SB/5CS, 7HR, 50 RBI. Next year this is what id like to think Melky will put up .285+avg .365OBP 400SLG, 15-20SB/6CS 12-15HR. Power is the last tool to develop he already has great plate discipline and sterling defense, i think he could be a fixture on this team for a long time Also the yankee OF is crowded with Matsui locked up till 09, Damon till 09 and Abreu till '08, using Melky as a 4th OF would be a waste of his talent. Tabata is only 17 and projects to be a corner OF, possibly by late '07 he will get a cup of coffee and could take over for Willingham by '08/09 depending on his development. Hughes is Hughes, i wouldn't deal someone like D with out getting a stud pitching prospect back, thats exactly what Hughes is. Anyways D is only going to get more $$$, and with the our inability to raise payroll he should be dealt and set up this team for the future. Also if we did go the hypothetical Yankee route i would expect we heavily draft the C position in the '07 draft its going to be the deeper draft than '03.

*puts on flame retardant suit* I love D-Train as much as anymarlins fan, but the future of this organization is far more important, and we have "new faces". Hanley, Uggla and Cabs(even though hes a vet) for the franchise. I would deal D-train to the Cards for Wainwright/Reyes + Rasmus + Bryan Anderson and set up the future of this organization for the next six years. we already have 1 stud LHP (olsen) and Reyes/Wainright only bolster our BP/SP, Anderson could be ready to go asap and Rasmus would be ready by late '07. Setting us up for our target goal. i think Hermedia is going to have a great year next year, and the team as a whole is going to improve and only get better.

Your best overall hitter goes third because he hits directly behind (in theory) your 2 best on base guys and as a bonus gets more plate appearances over a season than a "cleanup hitter." Batting 3rd is the new cleanup. Agreed. Please FO bring us Chris Denorfia. Hes got great make up, and even better plate discipline and his defense would be sterling. His "tools" aren't amazing but put it all together and you get a solid ball player and a perfect 1 or 2 hitter. Youkillis-lite with better base running instincts and speed.

Pass on Bonds, first that would never happen for the marlins, and secondly it would defeat what this team is going for and that my fellow marlins fans is a youth movement.

We will be going under teh radar for bullpen help. It's what we do, we aren't going to change that method. Marte will sign with the Whitesox anyway... We traded him to the bucs for Rob Mackowiak and Ozzie has issues with him, he will not be on the south side so long as Ozzie is at the helm. Also the white sox have enough left handed relievers Matt Thornton, Neal Cotts and Boooooooone! Logan 21yr old rookie ball phenom that failed at the show his first time up while skipping 3 levels but then settled into the knights closer and put up this line 11SV 42.2IP 57SO/12BB. Anyways the fish will not be getting Marte too much $, and they want to see what they've got in their system as far as BP help.

:drool :drool :drool :drool This is such a strong draft. We should get a really great player at # 12. Give me one of Josh Fields,Josh Vitters, Justin Jackson, Michael Burgess, or J.P. Arencibia. Agreed, give me someone who can fast track it through the milb and be behind the dish fast ala Mauer. Matt Wieters = Vmart? with better skills behind and a better arm?

2007 Draft The Brewers enjoyed a taste of what it's like to draft outside of not only the top 10 picks, but the first half of the first round. With a disappointing season the Brewers are poised to draft in the top 10 once again. As of games played through September 18, with a 68-82 record (a .453 winning percentage), the Brewers would draft seventh in next year's draft. The Brewers last drafted seventh overall in 2002 when they selected Prince Fielder. Being able to draft a player like Fielder is about the only silver lining you can take from a season like this. While the 2006 draft crop was considered relatively weak, the 2007 group is considered quite strong. There is an exciting player at every position from both the college and high school levels. In other words, there will be something for everyone. There is also very good premium talent at the top supplemented by a fair amount of depth. Most consider the top prospect overall to be left-handed pitcher David Price from Vanderbilt. He was named Baseball America's player of the summer for his amazing performance pitching for Team USA. That marked his second tour with Team USA, and he has two very good seasons at Vandy under his belt as well. He's a prototypical staff ace, with a 6'6" projectable frame and a very impressive and complete arsenal. However, I'm going to buck the trend and make Matt Wieters my top overall prospect heading into next spring. For me Price and Wieters are really prospects 1A and 1B, much like Mark Teixeira and Mark Prior were considered near equals entering the spring of 2001. If I had the first overall pick right now I would take Wieters given his productivity at every level he has played, with both a metal and wood bat while considering his switch-hitting ability, his leadership skills and the fact that he's a catcher. Prepare yourself for Jason Varitek (who also attended Georgia Tech) comparisons when it comes to Wieters. The biggest and more specific strengths in next year's draft are the number and depth of powerful arms at the high school level, prep third basemen, college closers and college lefties in general. High School 1. Josh Vitters, 3B, Anaheim, CA 2. Rick Porcello, RHP, Chester, NJ 3. Michael Main, RHP, Deltona, FL 4. Matt Harvey, RHP, Mystic, CT 5. Tanner Robles, LHP, Murray, UT 6. Michael Burgess, RF, Tampa, FL 7. Jason Heyward, 1B, McDonough, GA 8. Neil Ramirez, RHP, Virginia Beach, VA 9. Justin Jackson, SS, Asheville, NC 10. Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Lenoir, NC Prep notes: Similar to last year, we're probably going to see the high school pitchers jockey for position all spring long. There were several pitchers that stood out at the major showcase and tournament events over the summer of 2006, with a new name performing particularly well from event to event. Rick Porcello and Madison Bumgarner are two arms that pitched well almost the entire summer. Michael Main and Matt Harvey may have the strongest arms, but they also may need the most polish. Main is an exciting overall prospect that could be drafted very high as a multi-tooled outfielder, but his near-100 mph fastball means his future lies on the mound. Tanner Robles is about as smooth as they come from the left side, and Ramirez is about as polished as they come. Throw righties Sam Runion (Asheville, NC), Erik Goeddel (Hillsborough, CA), Greg Peavey (Vancouver, WA) and Tim Alderson (Pheonix, AZ) as well as lefty Joshua Smoker (Sugar Valley, GA) onto the polished pitcher pile. Michael Burgess and Jason Heyward bring the power, and if you're looking for a slick all-around shortstop, you have two to choose from: Justin Jackson and Christian Colon (Anaheim Hills, CA). Josh Vitters sits at the top of my list, proving all summer long that he has the best present day skills of any high school player. He performed well at every major stop, hitting the best pitchers in the nation along the way. Vitters may not be a third baseman in the long run, but his bat should make that concern irrelevant. Matt Dominguez (Van Nuys, CA) and Victor Sanchez (Norwalk, CA) add to the depth of talented third baseman. Outfielder Kentrail Davis (Theodore, AL) and infielder John Tolisano (Sanibel, FL) gives the prep ranks two more polished all-around players with very good present hitting skills. College 1. Matt Wieters, C, Georgia Tech 2. David Price, LHP, Vanderbilt 3. Andrew Brackman, RHP, NC State 4. J.P. Arencibia, C, Tennessee 5. Sean Doolittle, LHP/1B, Virginia 6. Joe Savery, LHP/1B, Rice 7. Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia 8. Matt Mangini, 3B, Oklahoma 9. Nick Schmidt, LHP, Arkansas 10. Bryan Augenstein, RHP, Florida College notes: I already talked about Price and Wieters above, so I'll start with the 7' tall Andrew Brackman here. Brackman reportedly has already decided not to play basketball for the Wolfpack this year. You know with his stature scouts are already drooling over his future potential. J.P. Arencibia gives the draft class another solid catching prospect with a proven bat. Sean Doolittle and Joe Savery both pitch and hit nearly equally well, although both are currently preferred as pitchers given their polish and power repertoires. Add two more SEC lefties, Nick Schmidt and James Adkins (Tennessee) to face David Price at some point next spring, and throw two lefty relievers in the mix when you're talking about potential first-rounders: Cole St. Clair (Rice) and Daniel Moskos (Clemson). The best reliever available is Georgia's Josh Fields, whose high 80s slider makes his mid-90s fastball look like a pretty good pitch to hit. If Doolittle isn't drafted as a hitter, Matt Mangini likely takes the honors as the best pure hitter. Bryan Augenstein burst onto the prospect scene as a sophomore at Florida, one of the few Gators that actually had a good year. It's a good year for shortstops in the college ranks as well. Take you pick from Rutgers' Todd Frazier, Mississippi's Zach Cozart, Arizona State's Andrew Romine, Rice's Brian Friday, Oregon State's Darwin Barney and North Carolina's Josh Horton. In the polished pitcher category, Wes Roemer (Cal State Fullerton) leads the way, who worked 50+ innings last spring before issuing a single walk. Right-handed pitchers Sean Morgan (Tulane), James Simmons (UC Riverside), Wynn Pelzer (South Carolina), Brad Meyers (Loyola Marymount), Sam Demel (TCU) and Eddie Kunz (Oregon State) could all find themselves taken in the first round with big springs. Predicting who the Brewers will take is no easy task, especially this far in advance. One thing is for sure, until Jack Zduriencik selects a college pitcher in the first two rounds, something he has yet to do as scouting director of the Milwaukee Brewers (since 2000), I'll look elsewhere. If the team is looking to address an organizational need like when they took Ryan Braun in 2005, a catcher might be the way to go, especially since next year's draft looks particularly strong at the position. While Zduriencik hasn't taken a college pitcher in the first two rounds of the draft, he hasn't selected a high school pitcher in the first round two years in a row. That leads me to a bat, and given the love for tools I am going to single out Tampa's Michael Burgess, who not only has the power potential as a left-handed hitter to rival Prince Fielder's, but also has incredible arm strength that would make him a natural fit in right field. link

Ok I dont want to start anything here BUT according to a Rays website Elijah Dukes would be rule V draft eligible if not put on the 40 man roster and well given his past you think they would either trade him cheap for put him in the rule V? I would LOVE to have this guy. I also read from someone who posts on John Sickels MILB site that the D-Rays are looking to get "pennies on the dollar" for Dukes and some more alleged insight here, and that it wasn't the D-Rays whos hand suspended him but the bulls, they threatened to cancel the rest of their season if he wasn't suspended. Elijah Dukes > Milton Bradley discipline wise? Hes got ML talent, but i don't know if it would be smart to have him around our young team.

Can lightning strike the same place twice? At my house it did . So, should we take another chance and go for it? We pretty much have nothing to lose -- only about $55k. Thanks to Beautox for the list. as for possible Rule V OF draftees in AA here is a list i came up with. Texas League Jorge Cortes 25 OF .293/.366/.427 8HR, 50BB/63SO, 4SB/7CS-Astros Brian Stavisky 26 OF .297/.406/.425 8HR, 80BB/76SO, 3SB/1CS-A's Southern League Chris Walker 25 OF .292/.351/.390 2HR, 40BB/102SO 50SB/23CS-Cubs Eastern League Doug Deeds 24 OF .282/.383/.470 14HR, 70BB/107SO 4SB/3CS-Twins Trent Oeltjen 23 OF .299/.378/.411 3HR, 36BB/58SO 23SB/11CS-Twins I am not sure if there are anymore out there. No Problem, i must admit i have no idea where in the OF these players play and if they are or aren't a defensive liability, if someone wants to do a little research that would be great. i used both milb.com and the baseball cube along with their respective teams 40 man roster to come up with that list.

I'd like for the Marlins to draft a C in the '07 draft, i doubt Matt Wieters falls to 12 but you never know. hes a switch hitting catcher from georgia tech.

Here is someone i'd love to see in teal. Chris Denorfia of the reds hes got so much potential, but is being used as a 4th OF, hes now 26 can play amazing defense and has a good arm esp in CF. here are his stats down at AAA Louisville for the bats .349/.409/.484 7HR, 34BB/41SO 15SB/1CS, the reds still need pitching and we have a surplus of it deal Vargas or Mitre or Nolasco and put him in CF for next year. SS Ramirez R 22 CF Denorfia R 26 * 3B Cabrera R 23 1B Jacobs L 25 2B Uggla R 26 * LF Willingh R 27 RF Hermida L 22 C Olivo R 28 P The reason for moving Uggla down is because Denorfia has better plate disipline and won't strike out over 100 times during the course of a season, and hes faster. This also allows Dan to hit with more men on base and for more power. and if not Denorfia and the marlins can no longer retain D-Train Dontrelle Willis p 1 year/$4.35M (2006), plus $0.2M in incentives * re-signed 1/06 (avoided arbitration) * $4.35M for 2006 paid as follows: o $0.2M up front o $2.65M during 2006 season o $1.5M deferred * $0.2M in incentives o $50,000 for 35 g o $100,000 for Cy Young award o $25,000 each for All-Star selection & Silver Slugger award * 2006 contract is record for first-time arbitration-eligible starting pitcher * 1 year/$0.3785M (2005), re-signed 2/05 * 1 year/$0.3535M (2004), re-signed 3/04 (split contract paying $188,891 in minors) * agent: Matt Sosnick * ML service: 2.143 link Deal him to the Card for the following: Anthony Reyes RHP, Colby Rasmus OF, & Bryan Anderson C

as for possible Rule V OF draftees in AA here is a list i came up with. Texas League Jorge Cortes 25 OF .293/.366/.427 8HR, 50BB/63SO, 4SB/7CS-Astros Brian Stavisky 26 OF .297/.406/.425 8HR, 80BB/76SO, 3SB/1CS-A's Southern League Chris Walker 25 OF .292/.351/.390 2HR, 40BB/102SO 50SB/23CS-Cubs Eastern League Doug Deeds 24 OF .282/.383/.470 14HR, 70BB/107SO 4SB/3CS-Twins Trent Oeltjen 23 OF .299/.378/.411 3HR, 36BB/58SO 23SB/11CS-Twins

I said it before in another thread and ill say it again here, i truly think our CF is going to come from the rule V draft, someone 24-27 whos at AA, AAA, possibly a RFer with range and an arm. Or its going to be Baldelli or Crawford, we have the system to aquire the likes of either of them. Honestly i'd prefer to have Rocco because hes a natural CFer and has an even friendlier contract. Put him in the two hole and move Uggla down. The Rays will NOT trade Baldelli or Crawford...not unless you want to see Tropicana Field burned down... They already have one albatross in the infield and he goes by the name Cantu, Upton needs to be moved to the OF, either LF or CF, hes athletic enough, if Upton would've started the year off in the infield he would have close to 53 errors thats not remotely acceptable and reports are being leaked from their own FO that either Crawford and Rocco will be available this offseason. The Rays need someone to complament Kazmir while Wade Davis and Jacob McGee get seasoned a little more. The fish have the peices to pull a trade off.