2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[Wally West]

I think the problem starts with us being conversative having him play short season ball last season whiles guys in his same draft class coming out of high school with same swing/hit problems (Gallo, Lewis Brinson, Nick Williams) were given the confidence by their team and sent straight to Low A ball. The result was Gallo and Nick Williams having big years in Low A even though there were signs of serious changes that had to be made and Lewis Brinson who I think actually stuck out more then Gallo did last year repeating Low A seeing the same competition he saw last year and has been able to make the right changes accordingly. We've done a horrible job so far in developing our prospects since AA's taken over as GM trying to be conservative but you hope things change especially with the arrival of guys like Stroman.

[Schad]

I think the problem starts with us being conversative having him play short season ball last season whiles guys in his same draft class coming out of high school with same swing/hit problems (Gallo, Lewis Brinson, Nick Williams) were given the confidence by their team and sent straight to Low A ball. The result was Gallo and Nick Williams having big years in Low A even though there were signs of serious changes that had to be made and Lewis Brinson who I think actually stuck out more then Gallo did last year repeating Low A seeing the same competition he saw last year and has been able to make the right changes accordingly. We've done a horrible job so far in developing our prospects since AA's taken over as GM trying to be conservative but you hope things change especially with the arrival of guys like Stroman.

I agree overall that we're too conservative, but I disagree on Davis. If Davis was thrown into Lansing last season, I'm confident that he would have been bad enough that they'd have had to re-assign him to extended spring.

[Lateral Quicks]

Pompey broke out of his slump with a 2 for 3 with one walk. He did get caught stealing for the first time though: now 15:1 ratio.

[Wally West]

I think the problem starts with us being conversative having him play short season ball last season whiles guys in his same draft class coming out of high school with same swing/hit problems (Gallo, Lewis Brinson, Nick Williams) were given the confidence by their team and sent straight to Low A ball. The result was Gallo and Nick Williams having big years in Low A even though there were signs of serious changes that had to be made and Lewis Brinson who I think actually stuck out more then Gallo did last year repeating Low A seeing the same competition he saw last year and has been able to make the right changes accordingly. We've done a horrible job so far in developing our prospects since AA's taken over as GM trying to be conservative but you hope things change especially with the arrival of guys like Stroman.

I agree overall that we're too conservative, but I disagree on Davis. If Davis was thrown into Lansing last season, I'm confident that he would have been bad enough that they'd have had to re-assign him to extended spring.

I really did juggle with this as there was probably a serious chance that he'd potentially hit below the mendoza line but at least we would have seen some speed on the basepaths when he was on base and now, we're not even seeing that as well which would've likely kept him in Low A. It's like he's not running with the same confidence on the basepaths he's shown the past couple of seasons and when he is on base, he's getting thrown out. Then you'd think after repeating Low A which guys with a similar profile to him like Brinson, DeShields did, he'd be able to make the necessary adjustment seeing the same competition the following season. Now we're just left wondering will we pull the panic button and send him to short season ball or just leave him in Low A were he's not hitting, not running when he is on base, getting caught more then he's stolen.

[Schad]

I really did juggle with this as there was probably a serious chance that he'd potentially hit below the mendoza line but at least we would have seen some speed on the basepaths when he was on base and now, we're not even seeing that as well which would've likely kept him in Low A. It's like he's not running with the same confidence on the basepaths he's shown the past couple of seasons and when he is on base, he's getting thrown out. Then you'd think after repeating Low A which guys with a similar profile to him like Brinson, DeShields did, he'd be able to make the necessary adjustment seeing the same competition the following season. Now we're just left wondering will we pull the panic button and send him to short season ball or just leave him in Low A were he's not hitting, not running when he is on base, getting caught more then he's stolen.

Getting caught more isn't likely a product of spending a second year in short-season, it's a product of dealing with catchers who aren't 18 or 19 year olds. His success rate was pretty bad in short-season as well, given the level of competition he was facing there.

[blaateeee]

D-Jays have me smiling again:

Norris 4 and 2/3, 6 ks, 5 hits (no xbh), 1 walk.
Pompey going off, 3/3 so far, (all off lefties), hr, 2 singles, 2 sb and a bb
Smith 3b and a bb

Not bad at all

Pillar is also going off tonight:

HR, 2b, and a single, 3b from a cycle, he's been hot recently.

Something to smile about.

[dagger]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LottOnBaseball/status/465563675768545280[/tweet]

[Schad]

Why in the name of Bahamut is Kenny Wilson worth a 40-man spot, even temporarily.

[Lateral Quicks]

I sure hope it's Pillar they call up, but I suppose it could be Mastro instead.

Good to see Pompey officially out of his mini-slump; OPS back above .900.

Does anyone know if Jared Goedert can play 2B? I'm looking at his career numbers and find it pretty surprising he's never received a shot in the big leagues. There's a lot to like about what he's doing this year in Buffalo. If he play decent defense at 2B he's probably an upgrade over anyone else in the organization - aside from Brett Lawrie - at this point.

[dagger]

I sure hope it's Pillar they call up, but I suppose it could be Mastro instead.

Good to see Pompey officially out of his mini-slump; OPS back above .900.

Does anyone know if Jared Goedert can play 2B? I'm looking at his career numbers and find it pretty surprising he's never received a shot in the big leagues. There's a lot to like about what he's doing this year in Buffalo. If he play decent defense at 2B he's probably an upgrade over anyone else in the organization - aside from Brett Lawrie - at this point.

None of the position players who might be recalled have been pulled from the Buffalo lineup for today's game. So it might be a pitcher.

[dagger]

Another big Pompey night - 2-4 with a homer and double and RBI. Dwight Smith 2-4

[Lateral Quicks]

Another big Pompey night - 2-4 with a homer and double and RBI. Dwight Smith 2-4

Gotta love what those two are doing so far. I do like Pompey a lot more as a prospect simply because he plays a premium position and has the speed tool.

[Schad]

I sure hope it's Pillar they call up, but I suppose it could be Mastro instead.

Good to see Pompey officially out of his mini-slump; OPS back above .900.

Does anyone know if Jared Goedert can play 2B? I'm looking at his career numbers and find it pretty surprising he's never received a shot in the big leagues. There's a lot to like about what he's doing this year in Buffalo. If he play decent defense at 2B he's probably an upgrade over anyone else in the organization - aside from Brett Lawrie - at this point.

He has a handful of games at 2B in his minor league career, but only seven in the last five years. Suspect that he'd be a fairly dire option there.

[dagger]

Another big Pompey night - 2-4 with a homer and double and RBI. Dwight Smith 2-4

Gotta love what those two are doing so far. I do like Pompey a lot more as a prospect simply because he plays a premium position and has the speed tool.

It will be interesting to see what the organization has for both in terms of a revised timeline for advancement. New Hampshire is a dreadfully boring team, with a lot of organizational "talent", and I am hoping to see Pompey and/or Smith go there at the end of the FSL first half season, if not sooner. Then again, we've just redeployed Kenny Wilson to NH to take up space Pompey could fill, so who knows.

[-MetA4-]

July 2nd IFA buzz from Ben Badler today via MLB Trade Rumors:

The Blue Jays look like the strong favorites to ink Venezuelan right-hander Juan Meza, who could command a bonus as large as $1.5MM. Meza works out at Carlos Guillen‘s baseball academy in Venezuela and has a three-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, curveball).

Here is what Kiley McDaniel wrote about Meza when he saw him in January. At the time he supposedly had a deal in place with the Astros for ~$1.4 million so something must have changed:

Three other righties at the MLB event showed potential as starters: Venezuelan Juan Meza and Dominicans Chris Acosta and Juan Herrera. Meza is skinny and long-limbed but only 6'0/170, so you can't see that much more coming from him. That said, he's got a lot to like, including a smooth delivery and an advanced three-pitch mix. Meza broke a few bats with his heavy 87-90 mph sinker and liberally went to a 79-81 mph changeup that was above average to plus. His slurvy 3/4 breaking ball was a clear third option but was solid-average at times and gives him a chance to profile in the rotation. Sources indicate Meza has a deal done, with most believing Houston has him for around $1 million.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv1ZyaR8X4U[/youtube]

[Graham's Cracker]

Dunedin had 9 hits tonight but couldn't manage a run against Palm Beach. Ended up losing 1-0

Smith Jr and Pompey were both 1-4. Pompey had an outfield assist too.

Taylor Cole went 7 innings giving up just 4 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts. Took the loss though.

[Graham's Cracker]

in NH, Sanchez again had control issues. He went 5 innings and walked 4 while giving up 2 runs. On the positive side he only gave up two hits and he struck out 4. His BB/9 IP now sits at 5.40.

[blaateeee]

DJ Davis heating up. 3/4 with another hr, off a lefty.
Dawel Lugo, hit his first hr as well, had 4 hits yesteday, is 2/4 tonight.

[dagger]

Dunedin had 9 hits tonight but couldn't manage a run against Palm Beach. Ended up losing 1-0

Smith Jr and Pompey were both 1-4. Pompey had an outfield assist too.

Taylor Cole went 7 innings giving up just 4 hits and a run with 5 strikeouts. Took the loss though.

Derrick Chung had two hits and is raising his average. The organization sent him to the AFL last fall despite his age - perhaps in place of Jimenez - but if he can get his average up a bit more, he might be promotable. Supposedly the best defensive catcher in our system, with a great throwing arm to get base stealers out.

[Graham's Cracker]

DJ Davis heating up. 3/4 with another hr, off a lefty.
Dawel Lugo, hit his first hr as well, had 4 hits yesteday, is 2/4 tonight.

Lansing offense has been on fire.

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