Archive for Daniel Moskos

The Arizona Fall League rosters were announced by Major League Baseball last week. The league allows up-and-coming prospects (usually from high-A and double-A levels, as well as recent high draft picks) to continue honing their skills away from the fall instructional leagues held by each organization. Play will begin in early October and run until late November with the six teams – each one made up of five organizations’ players – continually facing each other.

Over the next week, we’ll take a look at some of the more interesting names on each team. The rosters that were recently released are preliminary rosters and some players will be added, while others could be removed. Yesterday, we took a look at the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Today, we’ll have a peek at the Scottsdale Scorpions roster.

The Scottsdale Scorpions (Click HERE for the entire roster)
Arizona, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Colorado

Daniel Moskos | LHP | Pittsburgh
The Scottsdale squad does not feature many truly interesting pitching names, although Moskos does stand out as a former No. 1 draft pick of the Pirates. The left-hander has had a disappointing pro career to this point, although you may enjoy the 3.84 ERA in double-A… but the ground-ball rate of 54.3% is more impressive. Moskos has been too hittable but with a better defense behind him, he should have a little better luck. The strikeout rate in the past three years has plummeted, which is troubling (9.24 to 6.36 to 4.20 K/9).

Buster Posey | C | San Francisco
Teams have become very conscious of service time, so it would not be a surprise to see Posey begin 2010 in triple-A. With that said, the bat and glove are both ready for the Majors. If possible, the best scenario would be for San Francisco to resign veteran Bengie Molina to split the catching duties with Posey next year. Whether Molina would accept that type of playing time remains to be seen. The Giants prospect should eventually become a very real (and much-needed) threat in the heart of the club’s lineup.

Wilin Rosario | C | Colorado
The Rockies organization was extremely aggressive with Rosario after his breakout 2008 season in short-season ball. He was jumped over low-A ball and the 20 year old spent the season in high-A. Not surprisingly, Rosario struggles in April and May before finding his footing over the next two months. Injuries then wiped out August so the Dominican native will be fresher than most of the catchers in the league.

Brandon Allen | 1B | Arizona
A busy year for Allen is only going to get busier. The first-base prospect has played for four teams already this year – including making his MLB debut with Arizona – and he’ll join his fifth club in the AFL. Currently in the Majors, Allen is holding his own and the 23 year old has a shot at being the Diamondbacks’ opening day first baseman in 2010.

Hector Gomez | SS | Colorado
Gomez is a very promising prospect, but the Rockies organization would no doubt like to see him spend a little more time on the field. After missing all but one game in 2008, the shortstop missed significant time in April and June of this year. Gomez is a good defensive player but he needs a lot more work on his approach at the plate, including his walk rate which was at 4.3% this year at high-A ball.

Domonic Brown | OF | Philadelphia
A two-sport prep star, Brown has quickly become quite the baseball player ever since he began focusing on the sport on a full-time basis. He has made himself into a five-tool player with the increase in power this season; his ISO increased from .126 in 2008 to .212 in ’09. Brown also has the ability to hit .300 and steal 20-30 bases in a full season.

Jose Tabata | OF | Pittsburgh
On the plus side, Tabata has shown the ability to hit for a consistently-high average despite playing at double-A and triple-A in 2009. On the downside, his power has yet to develop and he’s had trouble staying on the field due to injuries. His off-the-field lifestyle is also questionable, as is his actual age. Tabata, though, is showing signs of being ready to contribute in Pittsburgh by mid-2010 at the latest.

2008 Draft Slot: Second overall
Top Pick: Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt University
Best Pick: Pedro Alvarez
Keep an Eye On: Robbie Grossman, OF, Texas high school (Sixth round)
Notes: The Pirates organization is still trying to live down some poor (cheap) draft picks from recent years and Pedro Alvarez was the first move in an attempt to erase those memories. He’s struggling more than expected in high-A ball, but scouts agree that the tools and potential to be a star player at the Major League level are still there. The organization gave Robbie Grossman $1 million to sign after he slid to the sixth round. He’s shown some intriguing tools, but his power has been muted (one homer in 152 low-A at-bats in 2009) and he’s striking out more than 40% of the time as a pro. The Pirates failed to sign second-round pick Tanner Scheppers out of Fresno State, who is expected to go in the first 10 picks of the 2009 draft.

2007 Draft Slot: Fourth overall
Top Pick: Daniel Moskos, LHP, Clemson University
Best Pick: Brian Friday, SS, Rice University (3rd round)
Worst Pick: Daniel Moskos
Notes: Daniel Moskos was an ill-advised selection with the fourth pick from Day 1, especially with the likes of Matt Wieters, Rick Porcello, Madison Bumgarner and Matt LaPorta still on the board. Moskos was terrible last year (124 hits in 110.1 innings) and things are not getting any better this season (52 IP, 20 BB, 18 K – 3.12 K/9). Making matters worse, the club failed to find any diamonds in the rough in later rounds. This an all-around-uninspiring draft. Shortstop Brian Friday looks like he could develop into a nice utility player at the MLB level.

2006 Draft Slot: Fourth overall
Top Pick: Brad Lincoln, RHP, University of Houston
Best Pick: Brad Lincoln
Worst Pick: Mike Felix, LHP, Troy University (2nd round)
Notes: Brad Lincoln’s career was slowed by Tommy John surgery in 2007, but he’s looked good so far this season in double-A. He has a fastball that can still touch the mid-90s, as well as a plus curveball. Lincoln projects as a No. 2 or 3 starter. Shelby Ford and Jim Negrych should both, at the very least, develop into useful part-time players at the Major League level.

2009 Draft Slot: Fourth overall
Draft Preference (2006-08): College prospects
MLB Club Need: Starting pitching, Relief pitching
Organizational Need: Right-handed pitching, Left-handed pitching, Left field, First base
Organizational Strength: Shortstop, Center field, Third base
Notes: Along with the fourth-overall selection in the draft, Pittsburgh also has the final supplemental first round pick (49th overall) for failing to come to terms with 2008 second round draft pick Tanner Scheppers. With the fourth-overall pick, Pittsburgh has reportedly been focusing on prep picks, according to ESPN’s Keith Law. Baseball America has the club looking at independent league hurler Aaron Crow and college pitcher Kyle Gibson, as well as prep hurler Zack Wheeler. Both media outlets report that the club is trying to free up money to sign the top Dominican prospect: Miguel Angel Sano.

The Graduate: Brandon Moss | Born: September 1983 | Outfielder

The Pirates did not see much impact from its own system in 2008; the majority of rookies like Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche came from other organizations in mid-season. Moss was stuck behind a backlog of outfielders in Boston but should get the chance to play everyday in Pittsburgh, although he may be better suited for a fourth outfielder role. He has modest power potential for a corner outfielder (.188 career MLB ISO) and he’s never hit more than 16 homers in a season. He also has a healthy line-drive rate in the Majors of 21.1%. Like most young hitters, Moss could stand to cut down on his whiffs.

The Riser: Jim Negrych | Born: March 1985 | Infielder

The former University of Pittsburgh infielder had a breakout 2008 campaign by hitting .370/.449/.508 in 386 High-A at-bats. Jim Negrych also held his own during a late-season promotion to Double-A. He doesn’t have much power, but he showed a good eye at the plate (55 walks, 55 strikeouts in High-A) and he steals in the odd base (12 attempts, seven stolen in 2008). Negrych spent his first two pro seasons playing second base but was moved over to third for most of 2008 where he struggled defensively (.912 FP, 2.87 RF/g). He also lacks the power to be an average to above-average offensive player at the hot corner. He is back playing second base in the fall Hawaii Baseball League.

The Tumbler: Daniel Moskos| Born: April 1986 | Left-Handed Pitcher

Daniel Moskos was a bit of a quizzical pick as the Pirates’ first selection (fourth overall) in the 2007 draft and he struggled miserably in his first full pro season. Most teams felt Moskos had the potential to be a starter in pro ball, but Pittsburgh initially announced that he would be a reliever. After the 2007 season, though, Moskos was shifted to the rotation and posted a 5.95 ERA in High-A ball this past year. He allowed 124 hits in 110.1 innings and posted rates of 3.51 BB/9 and 6.36 K/9. Moskos’ fastball was also lacking zip. Obviously, he needs to turn things around in 2009.

The ’08 Draft Pick: Chase D’Arnaud | Born: January 1987 | Shortstop

The brother of Philadelphia’s 2007 supplemental first round pick Travis D’Arnaud, Chase D’Arnaud had a solid college career at Pepperdine and was selected in the fourth round by Pittsburgh. He posted solid numbers in his debut with a line of .286/.330/.423 in 168 short-season at-bats. D’Arnaud played mostly third base in college, before his final season, but lacks the power to play there regularly in pro ball. At worst, he should be a solid utility player who can do a little bit of everything at the Major League level.

The ’09 Sleeper: Robinzon Diaz | Born: September 1983 | Catcher

Robinzon Diaz was obtained from Toronto late in the season for the disappointing Jose Bautista. Diaz has the chance to be a solid player, as an athletic catcher who does not strikeout (7.6 K% at Triple-A in 2008) and puts his bat on everything he swings at (which is just about everything – 3.7 BB% at Triple-A). Diaz is athletic for a catcher and has also played some third base and second base. He could be a valuable bench player and third catcher in the National League – although he has the potential to play regularly.

Up Next: The Chicago White Sox