Mike Newman Prospects Chat – 8/2/12
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.
When is the next knitting circle chat on how MLB without Giancarlo is like something really good without something that makes it notably better?
I’d like to attend.
I’d like to be in that one too. As arguably the best player I’ve ever seen as a prospect, I miss Stanton and his mammoth HR greatness.
http://goo.gl/nsWxg
Have you seen Krick & or Blackburn this year? if not. heard anything from scouts? thanks.
I asked that question in the chat. He said he didn’t make it down to Rome to see them this week, but that a friend of his from Bullpen Banter did and that guy should be filing a report on his site soon.
http://bullpenbanter.com/scouting-report-giants-pitcher-kyle-crick/
I keep trying to see those guys, but the day job gets in the way. I work from home generally, but had to report last Tuesday/Wednesday when Blackburn/Crick were scheduled to pitch. On those days, I get home at 5-5:30 and would have had to go straight to the park. As much as I enjoy doing this, Blackburn/Crick was just not worth going two full days without seeing my wife and kids. If baseball was my day job, I’d put more pressure on myself to make every game possible.
Waaaay too late for the chat, but I just wanted to say that Bubba Starling is NOT in complex league. He is in rookie ball. The complex leagues are the Arizona League and the Gulf Coast League. Starling is playing in the Appalachian League.
You are right. I misspoke, but my point was pretty clear. I know he’s in the Appy – might even go see him. I should have said short season, but it’s hard to explain how difficult it is to change gears on a dime with hundreds of people in a chat room without making the occasional spelling error or mistake.
Manny Machado is a good comp to Yunel Escobar. What a joke. When Escobar was Machado’s age he wasn’t even close to being in professional baseball. Machado just turned 20 a couple weeks ago and is having a very solid season at AA and will be in the big leagues before Escobar entered the minor leagues and before Machado is allowed to drink legally. Let’s get real. A good comp is Derek Jeter who was putting up similar numbers at a similar level at the same age. Machado is already showing a lot of pop and if you have ever watched him has tons of room to put on strength. The scout you talked to probably wants to dissipate his value so he can trade for him, either that or he has never watched a baseball game.
Bret,
I was surprised by the comp too, but the scout is a damn good one and I respect his opinions on players.
Escobar was from Cuba, came the the states and was subject to the draft. In this instance, you are essentially penalizing him for where he was born. Had he been in the U.S. at 18, I’m pretty sure he would have been drafted as a teen too.
As for the Machado/Jeter comp, Jeter stole 50 bases in the minors and walked as much as he struck out. If you are going to make a comp based on numbers, the numbers should fit better.
For the record, if Machado “only” ended up being as good as Yunel Escobar, the Orioles would surely be happy with that outcome.
Not penalizing him. He didn’t make show until 25. Hall of famers make show at 21 (larkin, ripken). Above average players make it at 25. And I doubt the os will be happy with an above average player given he was 3rd overall pick and is hitting very well in the eastern league as the league’s youngest position player. Seen him quite a few times in person and plan on being there for his h of f induction. He should be starting over betemit this very instant.
I appreciate the excitement for a good young prospect in Machado, but Escobar has chipped in 90-100 million in WAR value over the course of his career. Manny Machado received a 5.25 million signing bonus. The Orioles would love that kind of return on an initial investment. If you doubt me, go ask the Rays (Beckham). The next penny of WAR value he contributes will be the first.
Aren’t you leaving out the fact that if it becomes clear that Machado is great he is going to get more than his signing bonus? Last I checked Jeter has made some money over the course of his career. Of course everyone knows drafting is a much more efficient use of money than FA and Tampa has done fine even with the Beckham bust (Price, Longoria).
My point is given what Machado has shown thus far anything short of a star will be a huge letdown to O’s fans. Not saying Escobar isn’t a pretty good player, he is. But you have to nail top 5 picks with star players and most players with his advance billing who hit the big leagues before the age of 21 turn into more than a 3 win a year player.
Finally, Escobar’s career ISO is .109. Machado is .151 this year. And Machado is built like Kevin Durant when he was drafted. He has tons of room to put on strength and add to what is already solid power. I see him as a .280 20-25 homer guy for 12-15 years minimum. At SS that is a Hall of Famer easy.