I was wondering who would be the outfielders in the minors that we would love to trade for...We have discussed Gatright because of his speed but I am not so sure he would be much better then Erick Reed In fact i believe Reed is the better defensive player

Some names I like to see in the Marlin's outfield:

John Ford-Griffin

Luis Terrero

Franklyn Gutierrez

Chris Roberson

Corey Aldridge

 

Any other names yoe can think up?

Petit for Gathright. Pull the damn trigger!

 

 

Terrero might be nice. Don't know enough about the others to speak.

http://www.baseballexaminer.com/Positional...outfielders.htm

We may not be able to get any of these guys

 

Top 15 Outfield Prospects

 

 

 

In looking for elite outfield prospects, several factors come into play but first you must determine which position the player is most likely to play. Credit is given to those who have the skills to play center, meaning good range and a decent arm. In right field, having a great arm is important. For left field it is basically if you can hit you can play. After determining the players best profiled position you can then compare their skills to that position and determine their prospect level. Finding a player who can hit like a left fielder, throw like a right fielder, and have the skills to play center is like hitting the lottery. Very few players ever meet all those criteria but there are some that come close. Here are the best outfielders in the minors this year.

 

 

 

1. Delmon Young - Tampa Bay Devil Rays

 

Delmon is the best outfield prospect in the game and possibly the best prospect in all of baseball. Drafted first overall by the Devil Rays in 2003, he didn't sign in time to play that year. He made a big splash though in his debut last season, hitting .320 with 25 home runs.

As a hitter Delmon is nearly the complete package. He already hits for power and average. He has shown decent discipline at the plate drawing 53 walks last season. He did strike out 120 times which is not out of line for a power hitter but could be reduced.

In right field Young is a big body but he still moves pretty well giving him adequate range. His arm strength is excellent but he could stand to be a bit more accurate. Young still has to improve his routes to the ball but that should improve with experience.

Delmon has a prodigious bat that will carry him to the big leagues. He is still growing and will need to watch that he doesn't grow too large to play the field, much like his brother Dmitri. If he can cut down on the strikeouts a bit and continue to improve in the field he has a chance to be the best right fielder in the game.

 

 

2. Jeff Francoeur - Atlanta Braves

 

Jeff heads the next crop of stars heading for Atlanta. A center fielder before last season, his move to right takes a little luster from his package but his tools are all there. Scouts love Jeff because he displays all the skills necessary to be a star.

In the field, Francoeur is smooth and capable of playing any outfield position. He has great range for right field and a strong arm. He also showed the ability to read hitters and be in the right position to make plays.

As with any outfielder, the defense may get you to the show but the bat will make you a star. With that in mind, Jeff is destined to be a star. As good as he is defensively, he is even better with the bat. He has quick hands that allow him to generate good bat speed. He also makes solid contact and projects to hit 30+ homers annually. If Jeff has a weakness it would be his plate discipline. This should improve in time but could be used against him by more polished pitchers.

It takes more that tools to succeed in the Majors. A player must learn how to translate those tools into production. If Jeff is able to do that, he will have a bright future.

 

 

3. Carlos Quentin - Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Carlos was selected by the Diamondbacks in the first round, 29th overall, in 2003 but did not play that year. When he made his debut last season, he hit the ground running. Hitting a combined .332 with 21 home runs between Hi A and AA, he established himself as one of the premier talents in the minors.

As a hitter, there is not much to dislike. Carlos has already shown he can hit for average and power. He also doesn?t swing and miss too often, as evident of only 56 strikeouts in 452 at bats. His walk rate might be a tick low but nothing to worry about yet.

Defensively Carlos is excellent, showing good range and smooth actions while his arm is returning to its pre Tommy John strength.

Carlos has the tools to be an All Star right fielder. He will need to show that his first season wasn?t a fluke as pitchers now know what he can do.

 

 

4. Jason Kubel - Minnesota Twins

 

Hitting successfully at every stop since being drafted in 2000, Jason took it to a new level in 2004. He dominated both AA and AAA and hit .300 in the Majors, proving his bat was ready for the Show.

Jason uses his quick hands to make consistent contact and to generate good power to all fields. He also shows a pretty good eye at the plate that should get better with more experience. These abilities should allow him to continue to hit for average in the Majors.

In right field, Kubel has a strong enough arm for the position but not much else. He doesn't run very well which leads to limited range and a below average overall rating.

The biggest concern for Jason is a serious knee injury he sustained in the Arizona Fall League requiring surgery. He was slated to start in right for the Twins but now might not play at all in 2005. If he can come back to his pre injury form he could be a future batting champ.

 

 

5. Nick Swisher - Oakland Athletics

 

Money Ball. That is what Swisher is know for more than his ability. He was Oakland?s first pick in the well documented 2002 draft. Though Oakland's philosophy was to take low risk players, Swisher would likely have been a first round pick anyway.

Swisher's plate discipline and power are what intrigued Oakland the most and last season, he didn?t disappoint. Swisher hit 29 home runs and walked 103 times in 443 AAA at bats. On the down side of that, he only hit .269 which might be a concern. It must be noted that Swisher did play most of the season with a injured thumb that required off season surgery.

Nick played often in center where he was decent but is likely to play right field in the majors. He is also a gifted first baseman and it is thought he would play gold glove caliber defense if he is ever moved there.

To make it in the Majors, Swisher will need to improve his average and produce the same power and patience he showed in the minors. He projects to play at or near All Star level for many seasons.

 

 

6. Jeremy Hermida - Florida Marlins

 

Another right fielder in this list, Jeremy has made a steady progression through the minors since being drafted 11th overall in the 2002 draft. The top prospect in the Marlins system, he compares favorably to the top outfielders on this list and has 5 tool potential.

His smooth stroke from the left side of the plate and his good plate discipline are an indicator of great things to come. So far, Jeremy has shown only gap power and scouts are mixed on what his future power potential might be. As he gets stronger and advances to higher levels, his power potential will be more clearly seen.

To be a star, Jeremy has several things to work on. First he will need to improve defensively where his routes and his throwing accuracy need work. Second, he will need to prove that he can be healthy for an entire season as he has yet to do that in the minors. Jeremy has the package, if it all comes together, to be one of the elite players in the Majors.

 

 

 

7. Lastings Milledge - New York Mets

 

 

Lastings is a scouts dream because he has all the tools to be an elite center fielder. Drafted by the Mets out of high school in 2003, he has already mastered low A and has seen time in Hi A.

With the bat, Lastings can compare to almost any hitter in the minors. He has tremendous bat speed that he uses it to generate power and produce a high average. His lone weakness might be his over aggressiveness at the plate where he struck out 75 times in 343 at bats last season.

In the field, Millege has shown the ability to play center in the Bigs. His speed, range and arm all rate the best in the system. The only reason he won?t play center will be if Carlos Beltran still patrols there when he is ready.

Just 19 years old to start the season, Lastings will be in Hi A where he will again face older competition. If he can maintain his progress and all his tools continue to grow, he has a chance to win gold gloves, batting titles and MVPs.

 

 

 

8. Jeremy Reed - Seattle Mariners

 

 

The key component in the trade that sent Freddy Garcia to the White Sox, Jeremy is in line to be the opening day center fielder for the Mariners. He has shown good range in the minors but he might not have enough for the spacious Seattle outfield. His arm is decent but be a tad under par for the position however that could still improve.

Reed's bat is what holds him back. He has shown the ability to make contact and to draw walks which should allow him to be productive. His power projection is weak though it could improve as he builds strength.

If Jeremy proves he can handle center at Safeco Field, his ability to get on base and his speed once he is there will make him productive.

 

 

 

9. Felix Pie - Chicago Cubs

 

Signed by the Cubs at age 16 in 2001, Pie has been a work in progress. He has all the tools to be a star but has yet to put it all together. Despite being so raw and always being one of the youngest players in his league, Pie has produced. He has always hit for average and has shown flashes of power to come to go along with his good speed..

For Felix the sky is the limit but he has a long ways to go. Defensively he will need to improve on his routes in center. He also will need to improve his plate discipline and his base stealing. Pie mostly needs experience to improve and at age 20 he has plenty of time.

 

 

10. Conor Jackson - Arizona Diamondbacks

 

Jackson was also selected in the first round of the 2003 draft, 19th overall, by the Diamondbacks. Like Carlos Quentin, Jackson has proven himself an excellent hitter. He has hit above .300 at every stop in the minors and reached AA in only his second season.

Conor has an excellent eye and makes solid contact when he swings. He projects to hit for power and already hits for average. His walk rates suggest that he will be able to continue to hit as he advances.

Jackson?s big weakness is that he can?t field. He has little range in left field and a poor arm. Ultimately Jackson will probably end up at first base but his hitting will still be able to carry him there.

 

 

11. Franklin Gutierrez - Cleveland Indians

 

A very promising prospect acquired by from the Dodgers in the Milton Bradley trade, Gutierrez is a key block in Cleveland's rebuilding project. He projects to be average or above in every aspect of his game.

At the plate, he is already makes good contact and has shown power potential for better than 30 home runs in the Bigs. He will need to improve his plate discipline a bit to reach that potential.

In the field he has shown the range and speed to play center and the arm to play right. He has the potential to be a gold glover at either position.

After having surgery on his left elbow in 2004 there are some questions to be answered. He will need to show that it didn't affect his power and that it won't be a recurring problem in the future.

 

 

 

12. Brian Anderson - Chicago White Sox

 

Anderson doesn't have one tool that stands out as exceptional but he is able to do everything well. He has shown the ability to make consistent contact and to draw walks. His arm is good enough to play any position and he has enough speed to play center.

Brian just needs a little more experience against better pitchers and show that he can make adjustments at the higher levels.

 

13. Shin-soo Choo - Seattle Mariners

 

 

Signed out if of Korea in 2000, Choo is another example of the Mariners development strategy of signing foreign players paying off. Choo has continually improved as he advanced through the system and is about ready to make his Major League debut. Still a bit raw, the tools are there for him to be a solid player.

Choo needs to improve his outfield play and his throwing accuracy. At the plate he needs to cut down strikeouts and find more ways of getting on base and using his speed.

 

14. Curtis Granderson - Detroit Tigers

 

The best position prospect in a weak Tigers system, Granderson should help break the trend of top prospects falling short of expectations. He has shown the ability to hit since college and should continue to hit in the majors.

He has shown excellent plate discipline, drawing 80 walks last season, and surprising power with 21 home runs. Defensively he has improved enough to be a legitimate option in center and should be the everyday center fielder by mid season. While he will probably never hit massive home runs, Granderson should be a very productive hitter in the Bigs.

 

15. Dave Krynzel - Milwaukee Brewers

 

Dave took a step backwards the last few seasons with injuries playing a role. When healthy, speed is his best asset and it allows him to be an excellent center fielder. His bat is what is holding him back. Since he will likely never hit for much power, Dave will need to find a way to get on base more often to be productive. He will be given the chance to be Milwaukee's starting center fielder this spring

 

 

 

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically)

 

Joey Gathright - Devil Rays

 

Ryan Harvey - Cubs

 

Javier Herrera - Athletics

 

Fred Lewis - Giants

 

Nick Markakis - Orioles

 

Kendry Morales - Angels

 

Brandon Moss - Red Sox

 

Ryan Sweeney - White Sox

 

 

 

Top 5 Most Likely to Play Center

 

1. Dave Krynzel

 

2. Lastings Milledge

 

3. Jeremy Reed

 

4. Brian Anderson

 

5. Felix Pie

 

 

Top 5 Power Potential

 

1. Delmon Young

 

2. Jeff Francoeur

 

3. Nick Swisher

 

4. Lastings Milledge

 

5. Franklin Gutierrez

Petit for Gathright. Pull the damn trigger!

 

 

Terrero might be nice. Don't know enough about the others to speak.

 

 

 

no thanks on terrero..

 

he falls for hidden ball tricks

We have to have another OF

I want this Hermida kid on our team.

If we could only find a way to get Delmon Young and Jeff Francoeur on the team we'd have so much young talent we'd be unstopable. :blink: I'm still not big on Gathright though. I think we can do better then him.

So let's dream a little bit. How good would you all think this lineup would be:

 

Brian Anderson - CF

HanRam - SS / Willingham - LF

Hermida - RF

Cabrera - 3B

Jacobs - 1B

Willingham - LF / HanRam - SS

Uggla - 2B

Olivo - C

 

 

In 2006, is that an offense that is in the top third in offense in the NL? I think it is.

So let's dream a little bit. How good would you all think this lineup would be:

 

Brian Anderson - CF

HanRam - SS / Willingham - LF

Hermida - RF

Cabrera - 3B

Jacobs - 1B

Willingham - LF / HanRam - SS

Uggla - 2B

Olivo - C

 

 

In 2006, is that an offense that is in the top third in offense in the NL? I think it is.

 

 

Not in 2006, maybe not even in 2007. It all depends on how good you think Hanley and Jacobs turn out to be.

 

Also, no way in hell is Anderson a leadoff hitter. He doesn't steal and doesn't walk a lot.

 

I'd like to get Jerry Owens from the White Sox before Anderson, but that's probably just me.

I would want Shin-soo Choo because it's the most awesome name in the baseball. Just say it and imagine having Shin-soo Choo announced during every single game of the season. Awesome!

Granderson might be an interesting prospect...you know how much Dombrowski typically drools over the Marlins minor league pitching talent. Any thoughts on Curtis?

 

:mischief2

I think the Cardinals would take offers for Cody Haerther(sp?), and it might not take terribly much to get him.

 

.311 with 23 HR in 707 at bats, and he is only 22. A lefty as well.

I think the Cardinals would take offers for Cody Haerther(sp?), and it might not take terribly much to get him.

 

.311 with 23 HR in 707 at bats, and he is only 22. A lefty as well.

 

 

How come you've been gone for so long?

The Astros have a surplus of outfielders in their organization...Taveras may not be starting since they brought in Preston Wilson. I don't think we can get Taveras...I would only dream we could...here are a couple of players i like that will not be able to get through their logjam

Josh Anderson... he killed AFL pitching

Charlton Jimerson...bring him back to Miami (UM alumni) he can play a mean CF and has power

 

The book on Charlton Jimerson - college baseball player - Interview

Sporting News, The, June 25, 2001 by Kirk Kenney

 

Miami CF Charlton Jimerson took center stage at the College World Series. He hit leadoff home runs in Miami's first two games.

 

"Believe it or not, I'm not trying to hit home runs," said Jimerson, who was raised in Hayward, Calif., near Oakland. "But I did grow up watching Rickey Henderson."

 

Jimerson, a senior, also frustrated opponents with his baserunning in Omaha, stealing a series-high seven bases.

 

And, he reached over the fence to take a home run away from USC in a one-run victory.

 

After the Hurricanes beat Stanford 12-1 for their second national championship in three years, Jimerson was selected Most Outstanding Player.

 

"This is the perfect way to go out," says Jimerson, a fifth-round pick of the Astros in the June draft. "The storybook ending."

 

And what a story. When Jimerson was 15 and his brother Terrance was 9, his sister, Lanette, became their guardian. Lanette was only 20, but she wasn't about to let her brothers be taken away. That's what might have happened because his father was living on the streets, and their crack-addicted mother was headed there. Lanette worked three jobs, went to school and made sure her brothers went, too. Charlton was not offered a baseball scholarship by Miami, but he did receive an academic scholarship. Then he had to convince Hurricanes coach Jim Morris to give him a chance.

 

"It was a tough time for him," Morris says. "It wasn't just like he came in, and we thought this guy was a great player. In fact, after his freshman year I tried to talk him into transferring for one year to a junior college.

 

"He said, `No, Miami is where I want to be and get my degree. If I can't play at Miami, then I don't want to play baseball.'"

 

Jimerson graduated last month with a degree in computer science. Now he's prepared for the next step, whatever it might be.

 

"I don't know whether CJ will play in the big leagues or not," Morris says. "I think he's got a chance. But I know one thing. He will be very successful in life."

 

COPYRIGHT 2001 Sporting News Publishing Co.

 

 

 

Interview: Josh Anderson

By Mark Allen Haverty

Speed. When used properly in baseball, speed kills. It moves runners into scoring position, it gets the defense out of whack, and the pitcher flustered. In the 1970s and 1980s, speed was everywhere, as players took advantage of Astroturf and spacious joint baseball/football venues and ran with impunity. Baserunners ripping off 100 bases in a season was not unheard of, with Vince Coleman doing so three straight years, the first three of his six years as the top basestealer in the National League.

 

Now, though, the art of stealing seems to be dying off. Smaller ballparks and bigger players has led to an emphasis more on power than speed, with stolen base attempts being looked at by many teams as too risky a proposition. What does moving a baserunner over matter when you are playing for the three run home run? For the last five years, at least one of the two leagues, if not both, has been led by someone with less than sixty bases, with neither leader even having fifty in 2002.

 

However, speed is slowly starting to come back into the game. The introduction of Ichiro Suzuki to the American game certainly helped in that regard, and there are few players as exciting to watch than super-speedster Carl Crawford. Soon, there will be one more player to add to the list that?s trying to bring the stolen base back into vogue, and his name is Josh Anderson.

 

Selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft by the Astros, Anderson fits the mold perfectly of lead-off hitter ? he gets on base, and every single is a threat to become a double. Through 116 games between two leagues this season, Anderson already has 71 steals, to go along with a solid on-base percentage and over 100 runs. For a team in need of a quality lead-off hitter, Anderson can?t move through the system quick enough.

 

I had the chance to speak with Anderson at the beginning of the month, and we discussed his game and the state of basestealing in the game in general.

 

Okay, well let?s start with the obvious. You have a ton of steals. Do you always have the green light, and are you always looking when you get on?

 

Yeah, pretty much since I began playing pro ball, they?ve been pretty much giving me the green light. There are certain situations where I don?t always have it, but for the most part I always have it. It?s my decision when I should go and when I shouldn?t go ? certain situations call for it and some don?t. It?s been pretty easy to, in that regard, knowing when to go.

 

You?ve also done well so far at getting on base ? is that due to the Astros pushing you to be more patient and take pitches, or were you always patient?

 

No, not really; I?d say the Astros really stressed to lead-off hitters, and me especially, to draw walks, to get on base. To me as a lead-off hitter they stress that on-base percentage is as important a statistic as anything as far as that goes. They really like for players to draw walks ? however I can get on base is what they want. As far as statistics, that?s one of the most important for me, to just get on base.

 

Has it been tough going up to the plate knowing your job was to take pitches, that you need to be willing to lay off some pitches that might look good?

 

It?s tough - I consider myself an aggressive player and I always have been. I?ve been working on trying to see more pitches and trying to take more walks. In high school and college, I just wanted to hit, hit, hit, and I was more of the aggressor. Now, I can still be aggressive, but it?s good for me to see more pitches and try to draw walks. That?s something I?m trying to get better and better at, and I feel like this year has been a lot better. My first year of pro ball, I didn?t draw as many walks as I would have liked to. This year, I?m making progress towards that. That?s just something I need to continue to work on, my whole pro career really.

 

What?s harder ? finding the pitches you want to swing at, or recognizing the pitches that you don?t want to?

 

I think finding the pitches not to swing at has been the toughest thing. A lot of pitches look good coming in there. I think it?s the discipline to lay off pitches, the ones that look good coming in but end up out of the zone. Those are the toughest pitches to lay off of. If you can do that, you going to get good pitches to hit later on. The more patient you are, you?ll eventually get good pitches to hit, you just have to be disciplined enough to lay off of the bad stuff.

 

Besides the plate discipline we talked about, are there any other parts of your game that you feel you still need to work on?

 

I?m happy with the progress I am making as far as all areas go offensively. Like I said, walk more, get on base more, continue to focus on that. Other minor things too, like working on bunting, try to use my speed as much as possible ? just keep in on the ground and try to do things like that. Always focusing on trying to get on base though.

 

You might not have read Moneyball, but you?ve probably heard the talk about all the teams that are moving away from using the stolen base as a weapon. The A?s think that steals are overrated and tell their runners not to, and other teams are joining them. Do you think these teams are making a mistake giving up on steals?

 

I can?t see why an organization wouldn?t want that. To me, it?s a lot of hard work to steal bases, and it?s not something that should be taken for granted. Not only the stolen bases, but if you can run it puts pressure on the defense, and you can get into scoring position for your power hitters in the middle of the line-up. I can?t see why anyone wouldn?t want a player in scoring position at any point in the game. Stealing bases does that. You put pressure on the defense, you?re going to force errors ? it creates a lot of havoc out there.

 

I think it?s crazy that teams are getting away from it. If they had it, they wouldn?t be saying that. They have their own opinion as far as that goes, but I think it definitely helps the ballclub.

 

Feedback can be sent to markhaverty@sportsblurb.com.