Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Jays Top 75 Prospects

Throughout the remainder of the 2010 season, I'm going to update my Top 75 Jays' prospects list once a month. This is the first installment. Draft picks from 2010 will be added as they sign - beginning in July. Suggestions are always welcomed, with a supporting explanation, to help shape the next list.

1. Kyle Drabek, RHP, AA
2. Brett Wallace, 1B, AAA
3. Travis d'Arnaud, C, A+
4. Henderson Alvarez, RHP, A+
5. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, A+
6. J.P. Arencibia, C, AAA
7. Eric Thames, OF, AA
8. Chad Jenkins, RHP, A-
9. A.J. Jimenez, C, A-
10. Brad Emaus, 3B, AAA

The Top 10 list was definitely the easiest. The organization has received excellent value from the players that it picked up during the Roy Halladay trade. Even when Alex Anthopoulos had his back against the wall, he was able to acquire prospects that quickly became the three best in the system. That's the sign of a very good general manager and a smart scouting staff. Thames' power has really come on this season, although his batting average has dipped recently. Arencibia has been a pretty hot hitter lately, even if we haven't seen a huge improvement in his patience at the plate. Jimenez is one of my personal favorites. He's repeating low-A ball but is still young and has a solid defensive reputation. He'd probably be in high-A right now if it weren't for d'Arnaud's presence.

11. Brad Mills, LHP, AAA
12. Zach Stewart, RHP, AA
13. Moises Sierra, OF, INJ
14. Carlos Perez, C, SS
15. Tyler Pastornicky, SS, A+
16. Jake Marisnick, OF, R
17. Justin Jackson, SS, A-
18. Randy Boone, RHP, AA
19. Tim Collins, LHP, AA
20. Robert Ray, RHP, AAA

Mills hasn't been as sharp as he was earlier in the season, but he's holding his own in a very tough pitching environment. Sierra has yet to play this season due to a stress fracture in his leg (now healed) and a wrist injury. Perez is another talented catcher who is a couple steps behind d'Arnaud and Jimenez; the catching depth in the system is quite impressive. Pastornicky is holding his own in high-A, especially given his age, but he is going to have to get a little stronger so he can drive the ball a little more consistently. Collins has the potential to be a little higher on the depth chart, depending on whether or not you project him as a big league middle reliever or LOOGY. Jackson was just activated off the DL but was sent down a level and joins Kevin Ahrens in Lansing.

21. Kenny Wilson, OF, A-
22. Trystan Magnuson, RHP, AA
23. Danny Farquhar, RHP, AA
24. Ryan Goins, SS, A-
25. Michael McDade, 1B, A+
26. Gustavo Pierre, SS, SS
27. K.C. Hobson, 1B/OF, R
28. John Tolisano, 3B/RF, A+
29. Luis Perez, LHP, AAA

Wilson has shown improvement this season and you have to keep in mind that he's still learning to switch hit. His career line against right-handed pitching is .214/.326/.295, which clearly needs to improve if he's going to keep hitting from the left side. Both Magnuson and Farquhar are quality relief prospects, although the latter player has taken a step back this season and no one seems to know exactly why. Both Goins and McDade have impressed this season with the big first baseman showing good power. Pierre and Hobson will start their seasons later this week in the New York Penn League and Gulf Coast League, respectively. Tolisano has seen time at third base this season with Ahrens injured and struggling in high-A. With the promotion of Mark Sobolewski to Dunedin, Tolisano will now see time in the outfield, which is probably the best spot for him.

30. Sean Ochinko, 1B/3B/C, A-
31. Chuck Huggins, LHP, A+
32. Josh Roenicke, RHP, AAA
33. Joel Carreno, RHP, A+
34. Darin Mastroianni, OF, AA
35. Ryan Schimpf, 2B, A-
36. Alan Farina, RHP, A+
37. Adam Loewen, OF, AA
38. Welinton Ramirez, OF, A+
39. Brian Jeroloman, C, AA

There are definitely some sleepers within these 10 prospects, including Ochinko - who has shown good versatility by playing third, first and catcher - as well as Carreno, Mastroianni, and Farina. I've been a fan of Farina since his college days and he's finally healthy and throwing well. Ramirez is another player to keep an eye on, especially if he can show a little more patience at the plate. Loewen is technically not a true prospect anymore, given his time in the Majors, but he's on the list as a hitting prospect. He's really been impressive this season.

40. Ronald Uviedo, RHP, AA
41. Bobby Bell, RHP, AA
42. Santiago Nessy, C, DSL
43. David Cooper, 1B, AA
44. Drew Hutchinson, RHP, R
45. Brian Dopirak, 1B, AAA
46. Dustin Antolin, RHP, INJ
47. Eric Eiland, OF, A-
48. Andrew Liebel, RHP, A+
49. Scott Campbell, 3B, INJ

Uviedo could end up being a solid under-the-radar pick-up by Anthopoulos. Uviedo has good stuff and he's been moved back into the rotation by the Jays after spending the early part of '10 as a reliever in the Pirates system. It's a great pick-up for a player that didn't really figure into the Jays' plans moving forward. Nessy is having a bit of a rough time early on in the DSL, but he has a lot of potential and is just 17 years old. Hutchinson doesn't throw all that hard for a right-hander but he impressed the Jays in extended spring training and should open the year in Auburn. Antolin would have been higher on the list if he hadn't blown out his elbow while pitching in Lansing. Eiland has shown some improvements this season but he's still learning to turn his raw athleticism into baseball skill. Campbell has been on the DL all season while dealing with a torn labrum in his hip.

50. Markus Brisker, OF, SS
51. Daniel Webb, RHP, SS
52. Mark Sobolewski, 3B, A-
53. Carlos Pina, LHP, SS
54. Ryan Tepera, RHP, A-
55. Michael Crouse, OF, SS
56. Aaron Loup, RHP, A-
57. Egan Smith, LHP, A-
58. Yan Gomes, C, A+
59. Rey Gonzalez, RHP, AAA

Brisker is another one of my favorites but the organization has been pretty cautious with him this season after pushing him a little too hard in '09. Crouse is another toolsy, but raw, outfield prospect with a lot of potential - and he's Canadian. Sobolewski had a nice start to the year while repeating low-A; he's moved up to high-A so we should get a better idea of his skill level now. Tepera and Loup have been pleasant surprises so far this season. Gomes has responded well to skipping over low-A ball, although he's fighting for playing time with a number of catchers in Dunedin. Gonzalez has struggled mightily in triple-A.

60. Jon Talley, 1B/C, A+
61. Matt Daly, RHP, A-
62. Gari Pena, SS, R
63. Nick Bidois, SS, R
64. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B, A-
65. Matt Wright, LHP, A-
66. Brad Glenn, OF, A-
67. Nestor Molina, RHP, A-
68. Adrian Martin, RHP, AA
69. Jarrett Hoffpauir, 2B, AAA

Talley is another player that is fighting for playing time. It looks like the organization has decided his future is not behind the plate, and his hitting has really picked up lately. We should get a look at Pena and Bidois in the Gulf Coast League. Fuenmayor is still struggling to reach his potential; he needs to improve his pitch recognition, among other things. Molina has produced pretty good numbers in Lansing, considering his age and experience level. Hoffpauir has been a pleasant surprise in Las Vegas, but there is no point in promoting him just to have him rot on Toronto's under-used bench.

70. Evan Crawford, LHP, A-
71. Shawn Bowman, 3B, AA
72. Brian Slover, RHP, A-
73. Jonathan Jaspe, C, AA
74. Chris Hopkins, OF, A-
75. Bryson Namba, 3B, SS

You could argue for a few other prospects to sneak onto the list, but these six players have all shown flashes of potential. Bowman has shown the most improvement recently and he's done a nice job of improving his previously-terrible patience at the plate. Jaspe is an offensive-minded catcher who hasn't received much playing time in double-A. Slover is prone to big innings and give up runs in bunches.

You can also read Marc Hulet at www.FanGraphs.com.

Posted by Marc Hulet on Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 01:00 PM EDT.

Jays Top 75 Prospects | 53 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Mike Green - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#217140) #

Wallace's performance over his minor league career, with adjustment for league/park, would make him a long way away from the club's top position prospect as a first baseman. This year's 19/63 W/K would be a low point. He'll be 24 in August, and at some point, I think that you have to adjust rankings to reflect performance as opposed to potential as seen by scouts.

92-93 - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 01:59 PM EDT (#217141) #

I really don't get the love for Brett Wallace around these parts, especially when Arencibia keeps finding himself ranked behind players excelling at the lower levels. The other two most surprising things for me about this list is - 1) the love shown towards Jake Marisnick, who has never played a professional game yet and the reports were at the draft that he lacks baseball polish, and 2) the fact that Kevin Ahrens can't even make a top 75 based on potential.

China fan - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#217143) #

I think the Canadian boys, Loewen and Bowman, deserve to be higher ranked, if you're looking at performance rather than promise. They're both tearing up the AA level and should be at AAA soon. Sure, they're a little old for their level, but not terribly so, especially if you consider Loewen's history.

ayjackson - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 02:36 PM EDT (#217144) #

Thanks Marc.

I don't have a problem with Wallace holding down the #2, given that the entire top 5 is scuttling a bit right now.

Emaus at #10, while Jeroloman, Bowman and Loewen are past #30 seems a bit off to me. The think I'd have the latter three higher.

Mills seems like a AAAA player to me, whereas Jeroloman should have a long career as a left handed, plus defence, on-base catching machine.

Denoit - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#217146) #

Of the top three, I think D'Arnaud has the potential to be the best of them all. If he can translate his game to AA and AAA then you have an all-star type catcher. His power numbers are good and at his age has room to grow.

Jdog - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:13 PM EDT (#217147) #

Randy Boone at 18 really?

I like the first 10 although I think Emaus and Stewart could switch places.

Impossibles - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:14 PM EDT (#217148) #

...and at some point people have to remember he's only 24, and 2+ months does not a career make.

Compare his minor league numbers to Justin Smoak. Wallace's numbers are better but Smoak is still regarded as a better prospect. Why? Because we can't just look at a small sample size for a younger player and judge on that alone. We have to trust the scouts.

Denoit - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#217149) #

Also, John Tolisan has some intruige. He has the power to stick at 3rd. If he has figured something out then that is good news for the Jays. He has made quite a few errors, but with so few games over there you would have to think it will improve a little.

85bluejay - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#217150) #

In the top 20, I think that Wallace/Alvarez/Mills/Ray/boone are ranked too high , Stewart & McDade too low - of all our pitching prospects I like Stewart

the most.

As an aside, if anyone gets to listen to AA on the fan with Mccowan (at the Fan590 website) - there is a funny anecdote told by AA regarding the 2002

draft & Scott Kazmir - even though he doesn't name the team, I thinking it's Jp's scouting director who won't draft Kazmir because he was falling and

the scouting director was confident enough to pull the trigger.

85bluejay - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:35 PM EDT (#217151) #

The above should have read " the scouting director WASN'T confident enough to pull the trigger.

stevieboy22 - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#217153) #

Much like many of the people complaining, I haven't seen enough of these players to make such a list..

But I tend to think McDade should be higher... Given the recent comments about his defensive skills and how much playing time he got with the big league club in Spring Training.. Plus the fact that he is mashing for his age makes me think he has more value than many of the people higher than him..

That being said, it is just a list, and it is for fun... I enjoy reading these, and I hope you keep posting them..

92-93 - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#217155) #

Compare his minor league numbers to Justin Smoak. Wallace's numbers are better but Smoak is still regarded as a better prospect. Why?

John Northey - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 04:30 PM EDT (#217158) #

Just for fun I thought I'd check the best OPS (over 25+ PA) and best ERA (over 10 IP) in the system that didn't make the top 75.

OPS...
Aaron Mathews 967 but is 28, going down to 25 or less we get Chris Lubanski at 919 in AA at age 25, then Karim Turkamani age 23 in A 845 OPS (yes, another catcher but just 44 PA).

ERA...
Sean Henn age 29 with a 1.72 but 23 walks in 36.2 IP
Boomer Potts age 24 with a 2.03 in A+/AA over 31 IP with a 10-32 BB-SO ratio and a leftie to boot.
Matt Fields is the top ERA for a starter at 3.92 over 4 starts in A age 23 with a 2-18 BB-SO ratio in 20.2 IP

Fun stuff.

Impossibles - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 04:45 PM EDT (#217159) #

Because Smoak is a switch hitter, better defensively, and has shown a much better command of the K zone. As well, his minor league numbers are considerably better than Wallace's when you look at the production in terms of age/level.

I'll give you the switch hitter, but there is no evidence Smoak is better defensively as Wallace played 3B up to this year, and its generally accepted you have to look at 3 year defensive stats to draw any sort of conclusion.

As for age/level production, in 2009 both players were 22 in AAA:

Smoak: 244/363/360 k%:23 bb%:15
Wallace: 302/365/505 k%:20 bb%:7

I wouldn't call that considerably better.

Regardless, you're missing the point. I'm just saying we can't look at 1 month of numbers and knock Wallace down from where he was.

uglyone - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 04:55 PM EDT (#217160) #

Because Smoak is a switch hitter, better defensively, and has shown a much better command of the K zone. As well, his minor league numbers are considerably better than Wallace's when you look at the production in terms of age/level.

well, that's not true.

J.Smoak (21-21): 56ab, .304/.355/.518/.873
B.Wallace (21-21): 153ab, .327/.418/.490/.908

J.Smoak (22-22): 183ab, .328/.449/.481/.930
B.Wallace (21-22): 177ab, .305/.417/.497/.914

AAA

J.Smoak (22-23): 247ab, .255/.386/.397/.783
B.Wallace (22-23): 666ab, .291/.351/.468/.819

Wallace's numbers have been as good or better at the same or younger ages.

and yes, both of them hit in the PCL for their AAA numbers.

Kelekin - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 05:02 PM EDT (#217161) #

Regardless of any of this, it is one man's opinion. Marc isn't saying "this is fact", he's saying this is what he believes.

I disagree with a fair amount of it, but I feel like I'm one of the only people here who isn't on the Henderson Alvarez bandwagon yet. I like the guy, but right now he's peripherally Josh Banks. It's too bad Carreno hasn't been amazing since coming over, but he has been steady. I still think the guy has a slightly higher ceiling than Alvarez.

Just as an update, ex-Jay farmhand Johermyn Chavez is hitting .290/.360/.502 in High-A. I still am high on this kid and have been for almost six years. Can we trade A.J. Burnett Jr. back for him?

Mike Green - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#217162) #

Incidentally, in prior years, Wallace didn't walk that much but posted good OBPs with an assist from a very high HBP rate. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Olerud363 - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 05:51 PM EDT (#217164) #

You've got 2 guys Lubanski and Wallace. One was born in 1985, one was born in 1986. They are in the same league this year, one has an .919 ops, one has .827.

They were both first round picks one 5th overall, one 13th. One has a .299 .374 ..477 hitter in the minors one is a .279 .344 .474 hitter in the minors.

One is the second best prospect and the other not even in the top 75??

ayjackson - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 05:56 PM EDT (#217166) #

A month ago everyone was on the Wallace bandwagon and calling for him to replace Overbay. Now everyone's abandoning ship and saying he's not a top prospect. He's been hot and cold - let's not rush to judge during the streaks. O

ver his last ten games, he's hitting for average again and only striking out in about 11% of his PA's. He's had a power outage too. Seems like a guy still learning his trade to me. I won't sell him short or give him the keys to 1B at this point.

TheBunk - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 05:57 PM EDT (#217167) #

You want to trade a starter with a 3.61 FIP at the ML level for an outfielder who is hitting at the team average in high desert?

rpriske - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:04 PM EDT (#217168) #

With Dopirak dropped from the 40-man what is the corresponding move? Is Wallace coming up? Are they picking up another team's waiver fodder (like Lewis) or is there a trade in the works?

Mike Green - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:06 PM EDT (#217169) #

Not me, ay. I saw Wallace as a good but not great prospect before the year and when he was hitting all those homers early in the year. Overall, he has taken a small step backward so far this year. Honestly, I don't see that it is close between him and d'Arnaud unless you take the view that all catchers below double A have to be knocked back a rung because of the generic durability issues. And really among the Jay position player prospects, which one does not have some kind of a durability issue? D'Arnaud? Jimenez? Perez? Sierra? Pastornicky? Thames? Emaus? I guess you'd say that Adeiny doesn't, and if he starts hitting .300 with a little bit of pop and a modicum of strike zone judgment, he'd probably vault to the head of the class.

DH - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:10 PM EDT (#217170) #

I'd second the argument that Bowman is ranked far too low. Based on his AA stats last year, supposedly stellar defense and his much improved offense this year, I would think he'd rate as high as Dopirak if not much higher given the much more valuable defensive role he plays. He's long in the tooth for top prospect status but definitely worthy of a 30-40 slot.

stevieboy22 - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:16 PM EDT (#217171) #

At first glance, I didn't even realize Chris Lubanski wasn't on this list..

Marc, was it you take on Lubanski? Do you think he is just a minor league free agent, or do the Jays consider him to be a real prospect?

Kelekin - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:16 PM EDT (#217172) #

TheBunk: It was really in jest, more so than anything. Morrow obviously has potential, he's just peripherally David Purcey right now. I am only saying I wish we traded someone else. =)

uglyone - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:19 PM EDT (#217173) #

Given his raw talent level (as good as any position player we have) and his great across-the-board performance this year at a good level, I have a hard time not ranking Loewen near the top. What he's doing is extremely impressive.

Meanwhile, I like Thames, but I don't think he's a top-10 prospect. He's a LF/DH type, who's putting up only ok numbers - even given his lack of experience. I have a very hard time ranking him ahead of much younger guys at premium positions with similar performance only a level or two down like Jimenez or Pastornicky, let alone starting pitchers with talent levels like Stewart or Jenkins.

85bluejay - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:32 PM EDT (#217176) #

When evaluating Bowman, it should be noted that he lost considerable time (2yr?) recovering from his back problems.

If his back holds up, I think he has a good chance of being the 3rd baseman of the future and a real coup for

AA. I'm hoping sometime next yr. he arrives.

raptorsaddict - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 06:45 PM EDT (#217178) #

Love the lists, great discussion pieces.

It will definitely be interesting to see how Johermyn (which I pronounce YO, Herman! in my head) develops in the end. That said, I still take AJ Jr. over him right now, given the relative chance for "flameout" of each (i.e. I presume it's still relatively high for Yo, Herman!, despite his success, while still relatively low for Morrow, despite his struggles). I have no idea whatsoever what kind of year the Flying Hawaiian v 1.0 is having, and frankly I couldn't care less.

As far as the prospects, I'm slowly turning into a Loewen fanboy. I have got absolutely no idea why anyone ever even mentions his biological age - to me it is irrelevant. To me, he's a phenom prospect who is skyrocketing up the system in only 600-some odd at-bats. I know this isn't entirely true, and his physical development means he needed to be at higher levels quicker, but the fact he's obviously getting better and better the more AB's he gets is very, very encouraging. Throw in the fact that he's Canadian, and there is no chance I can look at him as a prospect and not be biased, but I don't care!

Could someone answer this question for me: would Loewen have been taking at-bats on a regular basis since he began his pro career? Do pitchers take BP, or is that frowned upon? In Loewen's case, would the fact that he was a good position player have factored in, or would the O's have wanted him to forget about anything that didn't involve throwing a white shiny object? OK, that was like 5 questions, but you get the gist.

Keep up the great work from all the contributors - you just can't get it anywhere else like you can get it at Da' Box!

CaramonLS - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 09:11 PM EDT (#217180) #

Marc probably just missed Lubanski, but the reason he isn't really comparable is that this is his 4th! go around through AAA in the PCL.

But then again we are talking about a guy who was being developed by the Royals. So who knows how much potential he might have. That organization is so full of fail that I wouldn't be surprised if they rushed his development.

Marc Hulet - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 09:18 PM EDT (#217181) #

I didn't forget Lubanski... he just doesn't project to be an everyday guy in the Majors and his defense isn't good enough to be a fourth outfielder so he's really a tweener... You could put him somewhere in the 60-75 range right now and I wouldn't argue with you... Ahrens could be in that same range too... there isn't much difference between the prospects in that range... it's more personal preference.

brent - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 09:21 PM EDT (#217182) #

Here is the link for keeping up with who has signed and hasn't from the draft.

Mylegacy - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 10:17 PM EDT (#217185) #

Firstly, Marc as always I love your stuff. Delicious.

Wouldn't it be wonderful IF the Jays actually had 75 "prospects"! That would be sweet. The mere fact you can name 75 guys without having to apologize for having included 30 or 40 of them is a testament to the growing depth of our organization.

As to quibbles - I like your 1 to 8 - not 100% sure I'd put them in exactly that order - but a nod is as good as a wink to a blind man. I would put McDade number 9 and Loewen number 10. I think both of them have near prodigious upside. I realize Loewen is too old to be a "prospect" in the conventional sense - but then I've really had much "conventional sense" - just ask any of my ex-wives.

Also - no question - at least two or three young guys from among: Perez, Pierre, Nessy, Hobson and Hutchinon are going to big movers in the next two years. Also at least two of: Collins, Magnuson and Farquhar are going to be solid regulars with the Jays for near on 10 years.

IF - I'm wrong on ANY of the above - it won't surprise me too much. Time for a scotch.

Mylegacy - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#217186) #

In the above I said: I realize Loewen is too old to be a "prospect" in the conventional sense - but then I've really had much "conventional sense" - just ask any of my ex-wives.

I meant to say: I realize Loewen is too old to be a "prospect" in the conventional sense - but then I've never really had much "conventional sense" - just ask any of my ex-wives.

One of these days, one of these days - I'm actually going to proof read before I let my fingers do the walking.

Mike Green - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 10:25 PM EDT (#217187) #

If 4 Ks in a game is a golden sombrero, what's 4 walks? Platinum shoes? Jeroloman did it tonight.

James W - Thursday, June 17 2010 @ 10:40 PM EDT (#217188) #

I think in the near future it will just be called a Jeroloman. Hey-O!

rtcaino - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 12:48 AM EDT (#217190) #

rtcaino - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 12:51 AM EDT (#217191) #

IF - I'm wrong on ANY of the above - it won't surprise me too much. Time for a scotch.

Oh... something seems incomplete.

Single malt, natch.

rtcaino - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 01:05 AM EDT (#217193) #

Not to steal all the bandwidth here, but I was reading this thread at work today, where I prefer not to post.

My first thoughts were that I would put Jeroloman and Bowman higher.

My personal list would be significantly different, as most individuals' lists would. However, this is a great piece for generating discussion, and I look forward to further iterations, Marc!

Perhaps we could all share on what basis we like to evaluate prospects? We all have our own mix of factors for evaluation, largely balancing demonstrated skill with potential. To argue someone should be higher or lower is one thing; but without commenting on what basis that conclusion is being drawn, we will be comparing apples to oranges and agreeing to disagree.

uglyone - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 01:13 AM EDT (#217194) #

Ya know, I got all excited about D'Arnaud's hot start......but with his numbers tumbling back down to average (.781ops after tonight), and with Arencibia, Jeroloman, Talley, and Jimenez all scorching hot.......are we maybe rating D'Arnaud a little high right now?

Is he really a significantly better prospect than Jimenez, Perez, or Arencibia?

TheBunk - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 01:54 AM EDT (#217195) #

Sneeps - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 02:17 AM EDT (#217196) #

Arencibia continues to MASH.

TamRa - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 03:21 AM EDT (#217197) #

Speaking of names missed - I for one like the stats Devy Estrada posted in the DSL at a very young age last year. Overlooked? or not impressed?

As for my own lists - which I love to make - I base them on:

1. Numbers, taking into account age, level, experience, injuries and such, and context (the details like whether the player is currently streaking or slumping and such as that)

2. the opinions expressed in print by writers and observers (like Marc) that I respect

3. personal hunch/bias

Sneeps - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 03:41 AM EDT (#217199) #

Tim Collins with another 3-K-Inning.

Ho-Hum.

jerjapan - Friday, June 18 2010 @ 06:15 PM EDT (#217231) #

Marc, just wondering why you see Collins as a LOOGY or middle reliever? with those K rates, I have visions (fantasies?) of him closing for us in the bigs in a couple of years.

Sneeps - Saturday, June 19 2010 @ 12:29 AM EDT (#217233) #

3 more batters, 3 more K's for Timmay!

Gerry - Saturday, June 19 2010 @ 10:11 AM EDT (#217240) #

Collins does not look like a LOOGY. He pitches over the top and his trademark curveball breaks 12-6 so there is no movement away from lefties.

As per todays minor league update Collins is now the closer for New Hampshire and the Jays are seeing what he can do in that role.

uglyone - Saturday, June 19 2010 @ 01:39 PM EDT (#217249) #

More to a prospect than pure numbers, d'Arnaud has a higher upside than every one of those guys. Also, it's a long season, not terribly fair to pick on a guy in a slump, all it takes is a few hot/cold days to flip flop Jimenez and d'Arnaud's numbers.

I'm not entirely convinced that D'Arnaud's "upside" is significantly higher than the likes of JImenez and Perez.

ComebyDeanChance - Saturday, June 19 2010 @ 11:21 PM EDT (#217267) #

Some Wallace numbers.

Vs. Righthanders. .322 OBP. .764 OPS.

Away from the friendly confines of Cashman, .722 OPS.

Hard to say whether or not he's the top positional prospect, but that designation is held by someone who wouldn't hold it on very many other teams.

One refreshing change of AA over Ricciardi, is that AA has never used 'the cupboard is bare' line, notwithstanding the absence of a single highly ranked positional prospect when he took over. Ricciardi inherited a much healthier situation than he left.

Spifficus - Sunday, June 20 2010 @ 11:15 PM EDT (#217298) #

Halladay, Wells (as opposed to the Wells Contract), Rios, Carpenter, Hudson, Cruz, Lopez, Escobar, McGowan, Werth, Quiroz, League, Phelps, Gross... While I don't happen to agree with the position, ComeByDeanChance's opinion is hardly vindictive and baseless (there is a case that can be made, especially if the consideration is top-end talent).

Opinions that don't happen to align with yours aren't automatically baseless, ridiculous, intellectually dishonest, or an obvious sign of Mad Cow. Sometimes people just happen to see things from a different perspective. Diversity of thought is a good thing, not something to be offended by.

mendocino - Monday, June 21 2010 @ 12:36 AM EDT (#217302) #

A potential highly ranked positional prospect

http://twitter.com/BenBadler (Baseball America)

Blue Jays 19-yr-old C Carlos Perez with three hits including a 3B in short-season debut. I see Top 100 prospect in his future

3:57 PM Jun 19th via web

92-93 - Monday, June 21 2010 @ 12:52 PM EDT (#217316) #

Halladay, Wells (as opposed to the Wells Contract), Rios, Carpenter, Hudson, Cruz, Lopez, Escobar, McGowan, Werth, Quiroz, League, Phelps, Gross...

Once you include Halladay & Carpenter I really don't see much of a debate, because that means Hill and Lind join JP's side, which already includes 4 SP in Cecil, Romero, Marcum, and Litsch that are off to better career starts than that of the good Doctor. And then there's (in no order) Snider, Stewart, Arencibia, Alvarez, Roenicke, Collins, Farquhar, Perez, Purcey, Pastornicky, Sierra, Jenkins, Thames, Cooper, Chavez, Pierre, Mills...

Besides, it was a response in jest to his post about me from a few threads ago. If a Clarence defender is going to exalt AA by drudging up Ricciardi's past for no apparent reason, he should be called out on it. As well, is there even any proof that Ricciardi called the cupboard bare, or is this just another myth perpetuated constantly by Dick, a la the five-year plan nonsense that JP never said?

Spifficus - Monday, June 21 2010 @ 03:18 PM EDT (#217326) #

Sorry. didn't realize it was in jest. Didn't come across that way to me, but I've been known to miss things.

I had included Halladay and Carpenter because they were controllable talent (If you mean pre-arb, that's a different kind of flying altogether). I had presumed Hill and Lind were in as well, though I don't consider them elite talents (good talents, just not elite). Of course, I'm running out of steam on this quick, since it's not a position I actually hold, just that I can see that it's not a preposterous assertion, especially if the focus is on front-line talent. For some reason that always rankles me. What can I say, it's a weak spot.

As for the 'cupboard is bare' bit, I don't believe it was mythos, but I'm having some trouble pinning it down. I did find a Steve Simmons article from '06 with reaction from Ash, but nothing conclusive to say that Ricciardi directly called the cupboard bare. I'd keep looking, but it's time to find another shiny bauble.

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