Excellent Prospects

None

 

Very Good Prospects

1. Sean West, LHP

2. Ryan Tucker, RHP

3. Chris Volstad, RHP

 

Good Prospects

4. Brett Sinkbeil, RHP

5. Gaby Hernandez, RHP

6. Aaron Thompson, LHP

 

Average Prospects

7. Rick Vanden Hurk, RHP

8. Tom Hickman, OF

9. Henry Owens, RHP

10. Jose Garcia, RHP

 

Here's the link to the article providing more analysis of each player: http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5726

we have absolutely no hitting prospects of note :lol

Little low on Volstad, or about right?

 

I seem to remember he's been listed above both Tucker and West on a few other lists I've seen

we have absolutely no hitting prospects of note :lol

 

On one hand it kind of makes you want to have a swap meet with a Kansas City, Tampa or LAA, especially the former, which is overflowing with offense and little in the way of pitching prospects and equally as cost conscious as the Fish but I suspect the thinking is that pitching prospects increase in value faster than position players and as long as you have pitchers in the pipeline you can trade for position players as the need warrants.

 

Lol, and why won't I be surprised if and when Admin Beinfest drafts more pitching in the next draft.

Little low on Volstad, or about right?

 

I seem to remember he's been listed above both Tucker and West on a few other lists I've seen

We'll low a lot more once they enter the competition at Jupiter. It's a pitcher friendly league, but the competition is a huge step from rookie ball, short-season, and Low-A ball.

When I look at this FA market though, I really love the fact that we have so many great pitching prospects. That 2005 draft was fantastic.

How about this for our closer of the future:

 

2. Ryan Tucker, RHP

DOB: 12/6/86

Height/Weight: 6-2/190

Bats/Throws: R/R

Draft: 1st round, 2005, California HS

What he did in 2006: 5.00 ERA, 131.1-123-67-133 at Low A

The Good: The best raw arm of the young guns, pumping heavy 92-95 mph fastballs and touching 98 at times. He flashes a plus slider at times and has shown a good feel for a changeup.

The Bad: His slider is very inconsistent, leaving him extremely vulnerable when it's not on. He needs to throw the change up more in order to gain more confidence with it, as it certainly should become at least an average offering. His command is an issue at times, but improved throughout the season.

The Irrelevant: Of Tucker's 11 wild pitches on the season, five came in his first start.

In A Perfect World, He Becomes: A solid No. 3 starter at the least, and a No. 2 if the breaking ball comes around.

Gap Between What He Is Now, And What He Can Be: High. Tucker's ability to light up radar guns is not an issue, so he'll spend 2007 working on his secondary pitches. That could mean another year of stats that are less impressive than the total package.

 

 

 

:mischief :mischief

It's fair to say you can't base the results of the 2005 on stats alone, as with Tank in '04, pitchers are often forced to start when much better as relievers just to increase their innings, and/or forced to throw pitches they are less comfortable with to improve control.

 

Also I fail to see how Jose Garcia is just an average prospect, he has proved himself at all the levels he has been exposed to (discounting AAA, but that was a small sample size) and pitched in the majors, despite really only 'appeared' a a year and a half ago (started at Greensboro from mid-season '05 and also missed a chunk of time due to injury that year also).

I would agree on Garcia with CM.

 

As September rolled along, the two players who I thought really stood out were Pinto and Garcia, who, while his stats may not show it, seemed to just get more and more comfortable, and more capable with every appearance. Whereas Petit always looked like he was waiting for the roof to cave in and it did all too often, Garcia (and anyone who wants to accuse me of mind-reading be my guest) it seemed to me went to the mound each time with "the right stuff", that attitude that says "I'm here to get you out...and I can". Unlike a Randy Messenger who tries to be an intimidating presence until he throws the first pitch and the real player behind the personna is exposed, Garcia really seemed to love the combat and thrived on it, even through what was a rough initiation. I think he has the potential to be around a long time.

 

And BTW I wasn't being negative about Petit. I think he just needs more time.

he'saverage because he projects as a backend rotation guy, but more likely a bullpen arm with his build...and there are a ton more relief prospects than legit SP prospects. His build is a big knock.

he'saverage because he projects as a backend rotation guy, but more likely a bullpen arm with his build...and there are a ton more relief prospects than legit SP prospects. His build is a big knock.

 

 

Already read the full article so I know where they are coming from and I understand there's a popular myth that ballplayers have to be X size and why, because in many cases it fits.

 

And the perception that taller pitchers have the physical tools to throw certain pitches more deceptively and again all that makes sense, until you realize Pedro Martinez and Jose Garcia are the same height and the fifteen pound differential in weight I bet is gone already if not by spring training.

 

In no way am I equating the two or drawing any comparisons other than to say stature is only a problem if you need it and don't have it. If you have "it", in life and in baseball, your stature is measured by your accomplishments not with a ruler.

mi ni ped ro clap clap clap clap clap

he'saverage because he projects as a backend rotation guy, but more likely a bullpen arm with his build...and there are a ton more relief prospects than legit SP prospects. His build is a big knock.

 

 

Already read the full article so I know where they are coming from and I understand there's a popular myth that ballplayers have to be X size and why, because in many cases it fits.

 

And the perception that taller pitchers have the physical tools to throw certain pitches more deceptively and again all that makes sense, until you realize Pedro Martinez and Jose Garcia are the same height and the fifteen pound differential in weight I bet is gone already if not by spring training.

 

In no way am I equating the two or drawing any comparisons other than to say stature is only a problem if you need it and don't have it. If you have "it", in life and in baseball, your stature is measured by your accomplishments not with a ruler.

It's not a myth if more ballplayers succeed with a certain body type. I don't even know what you're arguing here. I said more "likely," which means there's a greater chance that his body type holds him back than helps him. sometimes I wonder...

he'saverage because he projects as a backend rotation guy, but more likely a bullpen arm with his build...and there are a ton more relief prospects than legit SP prospects. His build is a big knock.

 

 

Already read the full article so I know where they are coming from and I understand there's a popular myth that ballplayers have to be X size and why, because in many cases it fits.

 

And the perception that taller pitchers have the physical tools to throw certain pitches more deceptively and again all that makes sense, until you realize Pedro Martinez and Jose Garcia are the same height and the fifteen pound differential in weight I bet is gone already if not by spring training.

 

In no way am I equating the two or drawing any comparisons other than to say stature is only a problem if you need it and don't have it. If you have "it", in life and in baseball, your stature is measured by your accomplishments not with a ruler.

It's not a myth if more ballplayers succeed with a certain body type. I don't even know what you're arguing here. I said more "likely," which means there's a greater chance that his body type holds him back than helps him. sometimes I wonder...

 

I wasn't arguing Shamster. It was merely an observation.

 

Not to say conventional wisdom by definition is wrong but one of the reasons more players of X size and shape succeed is because more players of X size and weight are programmed (as in college program, as in professional program) to succeed. Imagine if you will a minor league manager sending his first report of spring training back to the home office, "Tony Gwynn, 5'11', 200 lbs, got this funny voice and won't shut up...might be able to hit a little. Where'd you find this guy? I thought you were sending me that new stud Orestes Destrade. What gives?"

 

But in the end, if you read what I wrote I said all these generalities made sense. I'm just willing to be open-minded about the exceptions.