Mike Newman Prospects Chat – 2/16/12
Mike Newman is the Owner/Managing Editor ofROTOscouting, a subscription site focused on baseball scouting, baseball prospects and fantasy baseball. Follow me onTwitter. Likeus on Facebook.Subscribeto my YouTube Channel.
Thanks for the Answer Mike. Which of Hosmer or Jennings would you keep? H2H pts league and Hosmer would take a UT spot since I already have Votto.
If you are looking at one year, I’d probably go Jennings. If it’s a keeper/dynasty format, I’d keep Hosmer.At 25/26, Jennings should be hitting his prime this season so it might not get much better. Hosmer is still a few years away from his.
Hosmer it is – thanks again!
Mike, thanks for the chat. I get that age is very important when evaluating prospects, but isn’t it also true that guys develop at different speeds and some ‘get it’ latter than others? What I’m getting at is that when you compare, for example, Collin Cowgill & Brett Lawrie the numbers they put up in the PCL last year were rather similar (.442 vs .460 wOBA over roughly same # PA’s in same league). Yes, Lawrie is 4 years younger, more highly regarded, and plays a different position. But how can you argue with the lesser prospect’s numbers? I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this topic in general (I don’t really care specifically about the two players mentioned). Thanks!
You know what, this would make a good Fangraphs piece.
Mike, what are the things you’re hearing about Pirates prospects that have you concerned? Do they apply across the board or do they only apply to Alvarez specifically? If, for whatever reason, you can’t be specific, could you give a general idea? Thanks.
I can’t really get into it as it might burn bridges. I just hope the culture continues to improve in Pittsburgh after a couple of decades of losing.
Gary Brown performed significantly better in the Cal League than Francisco Peguero. As for Peguero, he did alright for himself in the Eastern League despite a delayed start to the season for knee surgery.
Peguero in the Cal
.329 .358 .488 w/40 SB during his full Cal season – even better in small sample the 2nd time around
Brown in the Cal
.336 .407 .519 w/53 SB
Is it better, yes, but I wouldn’t call it significantly better like there’s no comparison to be made. Brown is a fine prospect, but his Cal numbers point to an impact guy and I’ll need to see it to believe it.
I guess it depends on how you define “impact”. I don’t expect Brown to be the next Ricky Henderson, but he doesn’t have to be to make a solid contribution and be a fine pick for where he was taken in the draft.
My comp is Dan Gladden with better defense. Hey, Dan Gladden wasn’t a great player but if the Giants get Dan Gladden with better D out of the #24 pick in the draft, that’s doing pretty good. I think Brown can be a lot better than that, but it’s solid bet he’ll be at least that good.
You know if your expectations are somewhat tempered, then you are in good shape. Peter Bourjos being a 4-win player has really forced me to gauge CF’s differently. If Brown can replicate what Bourjos did, he’s a damn good big leaguer.
I figure Gary Brown projects as close to a 2 WAR player on defense alone. Let’s say his baserunning ads another 0.5 WAR. All he has to be at the plate is another 1.5 WAR and he’s a 4 WAR player. The Giants get that out of him and that’s darn good return for a #24 draft pick.
Could you talk a little more about what you consider age appropriate for each level?
For hitters;
Teens in R/A-
20 – A
21 – A+
22 – AA
23 – AAA
24 – MLB
For me, that’s the development path for a solid MLB regular. Star level players are generally up for good at an even younger age.
For pitchers, the scale above still works, but there’s a little more leeway for pitchers arriving at 24 having a higher ceiling.
Not about baseball, but about the chat itself: I found this all but impossible to replay, because the obnoxious movie trailer at the beginning wouldn’t load at all the first time, and of course, you can’t see the chat without that. The second time it did load, but I couldn’t get it to shut up — which is a change from the way these chats used to be. Is anyone else having that problem? Chats are devalued to me if I’m so ticked off at the advertising that I turn them off before they start.
Not much I can do about that. CoverItLive is a free chat service and use ads to generate revenue. Sometimes we forget great web apps like CoverItLive need to pay their bills too.
Right, got that, and I don’t have a problem with the concept. I do, however, have a problem with ads that either you can’t silence, or that bring your computer to its knees. One week ago, CoverItLive’s ads didn’t do that. Now they do (same thing happened in the “after dark” chat). They’ve “upgraded” their ads to the point that the thing is offensive. Oh, well, as you say, it’s a good app.
Have you voiced your concerns with CoverItLive support? My day job is in tech and companies are usually appreciative of that type of feedback before they begin losing customers in droves.
could you expand on the change of scenery for pedro alvarez? we need to trade him after 1 down year or we rushed him?
The million dollar question is whether or not the Pirates can find a way to keep Alvarez happy and motivated. It has nothing to do with his development or the fact he had a bad year.