Comments on: Scouting the Unknown http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09 Fantasy Baseball Advice Tue, 21 May 2013 15:03:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-67085 Stephen Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:25:39 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-67085 @Sean: Just because there is that potential to fill out and hit for a ton of power doesn’t mean it will translate. The scouts seem to think that it will guarantee it will happen. Brown is 6’5″ and 200 lbs, but BJ Upton is 6’3″ and 185 lbs and could fill out but hasn’t. Carl Crawford is 6’2″ 215 lbs and filled out for his height and the power never came. Joe Mauer, a great hitter, is 6’5″ 225 lbs, and hits with average power – he could easily hit more for his frame but doesn’t (and the catcher thing will not work for he DH’s often too). Werth would be a nice comparison, which is Crawford with a tad more power (especially if you take a base of about 10 homers a year). I expect Brown to hit between 15 and low 20′s. Essentially what I am trying to say is, reign in some of the high expectations based on potential power due to body frame.

I am not dissing the scouts, but expecting 25 to 35 may not happen. This is the tricky part of looking at minor league players, especially ones with tons of hype. I have nothing against the Phillies or Brown, I just don’t see tons of power from hit translating all the way up the ladder to the majors.

]]> By: Sean http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-67077 Sean Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:58:01 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-67077 While looking at stats for minor league prospects is very important, I think it’s negligent to look at a guy like Brown without focusing a bit on the scouting reports.

Brown is a guy who at 6’5″ 200 lbs has a lot of room to fill out. Most scouts project a lot of power development from him, and power might eventually be his biggest tool. That’s not exactly a Carl Crawford-lite type like his current stats might suggest. The fact that he is athletic and is improving his approach at the plate is only further reason to think he’ll reach that power potential.

A Jason Werth career year would probably be a much better statistical comp for Brown.

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-67041 Stephen Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:15:15 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-67041 @Pops: WOW. That is all there is to say. You forgot that Happ stuck out ten. The Phillies have tons of talent in their system. I would love to see it all flesh out and finally have a perennial contender built from within with the occasional stud from trading/FA. I see the Giants, Phillies, and Texas as one of these teams that could actually do it. Oh, and don’t forget the Rays (Boston doesn’t count. Trust me.) The Marlins could do it but they sell everyone after only a few years.

]]> By: Pops http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-67038 Pops Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:11:27 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-67038 According to the Reading Eagle, Brown hit a monstrous home run in the bottom of the first that cleared the pavilion in right field and landed on Route 61. It was only his second start at the AA level. In other news, Pedro Martinez stuck out eleven.

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-67020 Stephen Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:54:05 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-67020 @Pops: They will be, but they have a ways to go. I wouldn’t expect it to happen next year for Brown. And the best thing to do is hold your expectations in check. Not every player in the Phillies system is Chase Utley or Ryan Howard

]]> By: Pops http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66987 Pops Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:07:04 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66987 Thanks for the inclusion of Dom Brown in your weekly column. Brown and Michael Taylor will be difference makers in the future for the Phillies.

]]> By: peter http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66948 peter Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:42:59 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66948 @Wasserman: I’d rather have Braun.

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66947 Stephen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:42:43 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66947 @Wasserman: I want the Braun Side

@Joel: I haven’t done anything with Young because other more prominent writers mentioned him when he got a brief call up. He has the speed of a gazelle, and the PCL is a boost for power hitters, and thus the extraordinarily large amounts of runs. Nevertheless, he has to be doing something right to put up those numbers. It would be foolish for the Rockies to keep Atkins for another underachieving season. He will be shipped to a low buyer (like MN who only sign over the hill players and underachievers), and Young should get a chance in Spring Training to prove himself. I am excited for his chance next year.

]]> By: Joel http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66946 Joel Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:35:21 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66946 Thoughts on Eric O. Young?

Granted, it’s the PCL, but the guy is hitting .293 with 54 (!) stolen bases and 96 (!) runs in 99 games. Again, it’s the PCL, but that’s an 88 SB, 157 run pace. The runs have to be largely an outlier, since the guy isn’t Eddie Yost with the plate discipline, but he appears to be an extremely efficient baserunner. The Rockies are stocked with MI (Barmes, Stewart, Tulowitzki, even Quintanilla), but you have to imagine that Stewart slides to 3rd with Atkins being moved and Young gets his shot. Maybe it’s with another franchise?

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66944 Stephen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:25:11 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66944 @Critter Nagurski: By luck factor, I mean that he has a higher than league average BABIP, thus a slight increase in positive numbers. I am not saying he has an extraordinary level of luck (like BJ Upton did in 2008). What I am saying is that high of BABIP doesn’t always stay from year to year. The claim isn’t a deciding factor, but they are still higher than what should be expected.

Thanks for the 411, on the Short Season in Williamsport. Fangraphs doesn’t always recognize that, but Baseball-reference does. It must have just slipped my eye.

@JR: Plausible. I don’t follow the Rays enough to give a solid answer, but it is definitely a feasible option. I would expect them to at least be open to possibly trading Crawford.

@Ant: J-Upton

]]> By: Wasserman http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66943 Wasserman Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:22:18 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66943 Braun/Price for Verlander/Tulowitzki?

]]> By: Ant http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66939 Ant Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:06:10 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66939 J Upton for Aaron Hill. Which side do you like?

]]> By: JR http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66935 JR Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:30:13 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66935 The promotion of Jennings to AAA is very interesting for those in keeper leagues, given the fact that the Rays front office has suggested that it will shop Crawford in the off season to reduce costs.

Starting LF next year? Possible.

]]> By: Critter Nagurski http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66934 Critter Nagurski Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:24:15 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66934 those 285 ABs you’re so worried about were acquired in williamsport. That’s short season ball, holmes. He had the most ABs and PAs on the team that year. You didn’t list it there, but I believe he had a cup of tea with the threshers that year as well

Also, what do you mean “luck factor?” Surely you’re not just making that claim based on sub .350 babip numbers..

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66929 Stephen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:54:42 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66929 @black love: Actually, if that is what he offered you I would take it.

]]> By: black love http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66927 black love Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:51:12 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66927 @Stephen: yeah i mean i just picked up VandenHurk this morning

]]> By: Stephen http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66925 Stephen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:46:25 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66925 @black love: I don’t think I would like it unless i needed some hitting. But Greinke for VandenHurk is nothing that should ever be seriously offered. Ever

]]> By: black love http://razzball.com/scouting-the-unknown-8-5-09/#comment-66924 black love Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:42:36 +0000 http://razzball.com/?p=7286#comment-66924 I got offered Russell Branyan and Greinke for Youkillis and Rick VandenHurk.
what do you think? im not really into it but want a second opinion

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