June 10, 200422 yr Totally Stokes By Travis Sawchik, Rocky Mount Telegram ZEBULON ? When Jason Stokes takes batting practice, his quick, vicious swing summons a crowd around the batting cage. As the Mudcats' Josh Willingham, who is a fine hitter himself, and shortstop Jimmy Goelz waited for their swings in the cage Wednesday, they couldn't help but look at each other with boyish smiles, making sure the other was not missing Stokes mash batting practice tosses over the 400-foot marker in center field. But Stokes, despite his obvious thunder-clap power, is flawed. At, 22, he is not fast, he does not possess a strong throwing arm and was not blessed with a graceful glove. Those traits ended an attempt to make him a left fielder earlier in his career ? the Florida organization's attempt to solve the China-like population issue with its first base talent ? rather quickly. But the Marlins knew all that when they made Stokes, out of Coppell High School near Dallas, a second-round selection in the 2000 draft. They didn't know that last season, Stokes, for the first time in his life would have his lone tool betray him. In the heavy, humid air of the Florida State League, Stokes struggled in high-A Jupiter with a .312 on-base percentage, and 135 strikeouts in 462 at bats. It was a dramatic fall from his outstanding campaign in the Midwest League in 2002 (.421 on-base percentage and 27 home runs in just 349 at bats). As a result he did not make the Baseball Prospectus top-50 prospects list heading into 2004. "It took a little bit of my confidence away," said Stokes, who measures in at a massive 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. "In any other field, balls that were hit to the warning track could go out. I could have had five, 10, 15 more home runs, or hits in the gap that could have raised the average up." Stokes has rebounded nicely this season in the hitter-friendly confines of the Double-A Southern League. Stokes leads the league in home runs (16) and RBIs (56), impressing first-year Mudcats hitting coach Edwin Rodriguez. "Pretty much all the parks in the majors leagues are hitters' parks," Rodriguez said. "He hit 17 home runs last year in Florida State League, when he was hitting in huge parks. The power is there. "We were playing in West Tennessee (this season) and everyone says it's a pitchers' park, but he hit it well out there. When his swing is good and his swing in compact and short there is no park that can hold him." But Stokes' plate discipline is still poor. He has already struck out 70 times in 210 at bats this season and that ratio (3.33 Ks per at-bat) is worse than his 3.42 strikeout to at-bat ratio from his hellish 2003. The trend has proven to be a steady decline from his first full pro season in 2002 when the ratio was 3.62. "He has to make enough contact for his power to play," said one AL scout. "If he breaks into the big leagues when the team is contending they are going to have less patience with him. If they are rebuilding or in the middle then they will have more patience." Stokes said he realizes he is striking out too much, but in the age of Moneyball and on-base advocates, he takes to the idea of drawing a walk as a child does being presented with steamed broccoli. "The last thing I'm looking to do is walk," Stokes said. "You can't get all your RBIs walking all the time. Power guys like me like to chase a lot of pitches out of the zone, which I've been doing a lot of this year. If I would cut those in half, I would be batting .300. "I think I have the potential of hitting .300 but its hard to do. I still don't have that many pro at-bats." Rodriguez still thinks he can be a complete hitter and that his .341 batting average in Kane County was not a career anomaly, and that Stokes has grasped his concept of hitting to all fields well. Moreover, Mudcats manager Ron Hassey said he is pleased with Stokes' improved defense at first base. Still, scouts say that on a typical 23-man Double-A roster, only five players will even get so much as a single at-bat or throw one pitch at the major league level. Stokes has already overcome a few obstacles. He handled a couple million dollars as an 18-year-old. He is recovered from a 2002 surgery that removed a bone cyst from his left wrist, and Derrek Lee and Adrian Gonzalez, former first basemen in the Florida organization, have been traded. Even with his one powerful tool, the odds on Stokes are likely around 50-50. Only strikeouts and solid play from Marlins first-year first basemen Hee Seop Choi keep Stokes from his ultimate goal.
June 10, 200422 yr If he can't be an OFer, I don't see Stokes sticking around much longer unless something catastrophic happens to Choi
June 10, 200422 yr Author If Choi continues to impress and improve, there wont be any room for Stokes on the Club. He cant play the outfield so its either first base or bust. Stokes would be a perfect fit for an American League team with the DH. I wouldnt like to trade him but if we did it better be for something really good b/c this power potential is not found everyday.
June 10, 200422 yr At, 22, he is not fast, he does not possess a strong throwing arm and was not blessed with a graceful glove. Those traits ended an attempt to make him a left fielder earlier in his career ? the Florida organization's attempt to solve the China-like population issue with its first base talent ? rather quickly. So many people are calling for him to be our future left fielder, and I think this should stop that argument. Hermida is our future left fielder. He is still a long way away from being in the big leagues. Until he lowers his strike outs and increases his walks he's going to be in the minors. He's blocked by Choi who has proved that he will be a good major league hitter, and is going to be our firstbaseman for a long time. Stokes has a very high trade value right now, especially to an American League team (future DH?), and that's why I think he would be able to land us 1 or 2 solid relievers or a catcher.
June 10, 200422 yr actually fran, Hermida is our future RFer with a certain 4 hitter switching back to LF if you want to get technical
June 10, 200422 yr actually fran, Hermida is our future RFer with a certain 4 hitter switching back to LF if you want to get technical you're probably right, but I gotta believe Cabs is going to continue to improve, we know he has the ability to be a good outfielder.
June 10, 200422 yr I think I read somewhere that Hermedia has an average arm and needs improvement on his overall defense. I guess LF for Jeremy
June 10, 200422 yr actually fran, Hermida is our future RFer with a certain 4 hitter switching back to LF if you want to get technical you're probably right, but I gotta believe Cabs is going to continue to improve, we know he has the ability to be a good outfielder. he has the ability to be a good everything except baserunner
June 10, 200422 yr :blink: You can't learn to be a good base runner? he lacks speed...that's what he meant, and you really can't improve that a whole lot
June 10, 200422 yr :blink: You can't learn to be a good base runner? he lacks speed...that's what he meant, and you really can't improve that a whole lot [ Jimmy the Greek ] All latin baseball players have good speed. [ / Jimmy the Greek] Seriously, the scouts don't bring slow guys to the mainland. Cabs is fast. So is Alex.
June 10, 200422 yr i said that wrong, you're right, he can be a good basserunner, he won't be a prolific basestealer
June 10, 200422 yr :blink: You can't learn to be a good base runner? he lacks speed...that's what he meant, and you really can't improve that a whole lot [ Jimmy the Greek ] All latin baseball players have good speed. [ / Jimmy the Greek] Seriously, the scouts don't bring slow guys to the mainland. Cabs is fast. So is Alex. No. Cabs and A-Gon both have average speed. Fast is Louie. Fast is Pierre. Cabrera and A-Gon aren't Pierre and Louie.
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