The Prospect/Minor Leagues Thread

[GD]

My Dwight Smith review from his game against Johnny Cueto. If I walked up to the Lansing batting cage and watched the entire team just by approach and swing and someone said "who's a legit prospect?". I'd say Lopes way before Smith Jr. Just too many moving parts to be consistent. Like I say below, needs power to develop or he's pretty much never going to be a starter.

 

Smith Jr. - Makes Lawrie look like a statue out there. Way too much prep movement for my liking. When he does swing it's a nice level swing, his swing doesn't match the stats to date in my mind. I don't see him being a super low line drive guy. His leg kick isn't quite as prolific as I heard so I'm guessing he's cut it down. I can see him developing a bit more power but not enough to make him a corner OF threat. So he has to be a CF (can't speak for the defense specifically as I didn't see him make a play) or a 4th OF, not sure what happened to the experiment of him trying 2B but I'd like him a lot more if he added more positions. Appears to be a very smart ball player too.

 

I generally remember him having a Rasmus-esque leg kick, but wow, if he added positions (2B/1B/CF/LF/RF) I'd like him a whole lot more. That would be really impressive.

[GD]

My guess for a likely comp for Smith Jr. batting wise would be Eric Thames. So if he is a legit CF guy that's not bad at all. If he's not than he's ... well Eric Thames.

 

Did Thames have as much going on in his swing, though?

 

An ET comp isn't exactly a glowing review haha.

[GD]

I haven't seen him play and was careful not to add my opinion. Prospect guys say he could hit .300 with a bunch of doubles, which is the Alex Gordon corner OF profile. Didn't comp him to Gordon per se. Scouts like his hit tool and the numbers this year are good. I'm not a scout so won't comment from opinion.

 

That's a big could.

 

I respect your not wanting to comment but just because you're a not a scout means you can't comment? You're intelligent and just because you're not a scout doesn't mean you shouldn't withhold an opinion.

[Angrioter]

My guess for a likely comp for Smith Jr. batting wise would be Eric Thames. So if he is a legit CF guy that's not bad at all. If he's not than he's ... well Eric Thames.

 

Smith = Melky bad version

 

Powerless for a corner OF, No CF defense

[Captain Adama]

My guess for a likely comp for Smith Jr. batting wise would be Eric Thames. So if he is a legit CF guy that's not bad at all. If he's not than he's ... well Eric Thames.

 

He's really that impatient? Or is he Eric Thames with more walks?

[GD]

I'll read the scouting reports and decide myself what type of player he is, but am not going to say "I don't like his swing", because most scouts do like his swing. We were talking about ceiling, obviously it'd be ridiculous to project Smith as a first-division player.

 

That's fair.

 

He's really that impatient? Or is he Eric Thames with more walks?

 

With more walks, not that that's saying much of anything.

[Captain Adama]

With more walks, not that that's saying much of anything.

 

It's confusing to me, because they sound like completely different hitters. Thames is a free swinger, and Smith is a patient, spray hitter.

 

Disclaimer, I'm going off scouting reports and what I've seen from Thames.

[GD]

It's confusing to me, because they sound like completely different hitters. Thames is a free swinger, and Smith is a patient, spray hitter.

 

Disclaimer, I'm going off scouting reports and what I've seen from Thames.

 

They both hit doubles, they're both athletic corner OFs, and I guess Thames did almost hit for a high average once lol. Maybe not the best comp. Maybe a Shin-Soo Choo who strikes out a bit less?

[Laika]

Ceiling is basically Jon Jay. Maybe with a bet less defense (corner OF) and a bit more in terms of peripheral skills. We're talking about someone with a good hit tool, modest tools everywhere else, but enough instincts to make everything play up.

 

Martin Prado (the LF version) is another comp that comes to mind.

[DuckDuckGose]

Furthermore, I've yet to see one scouting report of him being a butcher in a corner outfield spot, granted he's not a fast runner, but I really don't think this organization undervalues athleticism, god forbid that I hope that the org keeps one of the few guys with a promising hit tool.

 

There has been lots of talk of using Smith Jr at 2B. Apparently he is one of those guys that grew up around the game and does the little things instinctively. He has great hands and seems to have the range necessary for the position. Obviously it isn't happening any time soon but it is something to keep an eye on.

[DuckDuckGose]

Did Thames have as much going on in his swing, though?

 

An ET comp isn't exactly a glowing review haha.

 

Not sure if the Hurl was talking just the swing but Smith Jr/Thames are very different hitters and prospects. Thames has big time K issues and was never thought to have the contact skills that Smith Jr is developing. Thames also has way more power than Smith Jr ever will.

[Caper]

Young top prospect Jose Canseco went 1-3 2K's 1 BB last night in his Fort Worth Cats debut

 

Jesus... We got to be right up top of this. Would be perfect to platoon with Lind at DH.

[DuckDuckGose]

Smith = Melky bad version

 

Powerless for a corner OF, No CF defense

 

Angel Pagan in LF...

[Caper]

Say the jays drafted him in the upcoming draft, where would Canseco fit in your Jays Prospect rankings?

 

Since Ortiz is up, I can no longer call him a prospect. But judging by the numbers you put up, I would probably have him right after Juan Perez at 17, but before Eugenio Velez at 19. I could see Conseco really rocketing up the charts though.... if he can put up the power numbers. I can only give him a 3 (on the 2 to 8 scale) for his speed... and his lack of a true fielding position, I fear will hold him back. We already have Lind and EE locked up at 1st base and DH........... Also, there is an upcoming rape investigation.... which is a whole new can of worms.

[Captain Adama]

There has been lots of talk of using Smith Jr at 2B. Apparently he is one of those guys that grew up around the game and does the little things instinctively. He has great hands and seems to have the range necessary for the position. Obviously it isn't happening any time soon but it is something to keep an eye on.

 

That would be great if he actually gets a shot and sticks there, add some extra up-the-middle talent.

[GD]

There has been lots of talk of using Smith Jr at 2B. Apparently he is one of those guys that grew up around the game and does the little things instinctively. He has great hands and seems to have the range necessary for the position. Obviously it isn't happening any time soon but it is something to keep an eye on.

 

Okay, if Smith Jr can play second, then I'm a supporter.

 

Wasn't there some talk of D.J. Davis playing 2nd? I heard something like that from Jared MacDonald.

 

By the way, your username is awesome lol.

[TheHurl]

Not sure if the Hurl was talking just the swing but Smith Jr/Thames are very different hitters and prospects. Thames has big time K issues and was never thought to have the contact skills that Smith Jr is developing. Thames also has way more power than Smith Jr ever will.

 

Agreed and I did mean more the overall slash line numbers. I do think Smith's power will develop (and Thames hit just 3 HR's through his first 245 PA's) but never will be anything more than a gap hitter (something he currently isn't even doing). As I said I feel like his swing isn't that of a guy that produces just 7% line drives. I do think that just like Thames as he moves up through the system the K rate will rise considerably. Thames didn't go too much over 20% k-rate until he hit the majors.

[DuckDuckGose]

That would be great if he actually gets a shot and sticks there, add some extra up-the-middle talent.

 

Ya, the upper minor league levels are completely devoid of MIF talent. If they think he can stick they should definitely give it a shot, especially since no one is convinced his bat actually plays at a corner OF spot to begin with.

[DuckDuckGose]

Okay, if Smith Jr can play second, then I'm a supporter.

 

Wasn't there some talk of D.J. Davis playing 2nd? I heard something like that from Jared MacDonald.

 

By the way, your username is awesome lol.

 

I haven't heard that about Davis, I miss a lot though.

 

Davis' best tool is his speed and he apparently has plus, plus range in CF, he should stay in CF IMO.

[GD]

Ya, the upper minor league levels are completely devoid of MIF talent. If they think he can stick they should definitely give it a shot, especially since no one is convinced his bat actually plays at a corner OF spot to begin with.

 

Not completely devoid, Ryan Goins could be half decent I guess.

[Caper]

Not completely devoid, Ryan Goins could be half decent I guess.

 

Don't forget DJ Davis.

[DuckDuckGose]

True, he does have a decent chance of being a bench player one day...

[DuckDuckGose]

Don't forget DJ Davis.

 

DJ Davis is an OF'er and isn't close to the upper levels of the system.

[Caper]

DJ Davis is an OF'er and isn't close to the upper levels of the system.

 

.............. I know..... troll attempt aborted.

[GD]

.............. I know..... troll attempt aborted.

 

C'mon bro, you're better than that.

[Caper]

C'mon bro, you're better than that.

 

 

 

I know.... I actually spent a few minutes trying to find the youngest player in the whole organization... no luck... then I was going to look for the biggest scrub in A ball...... but then settled on DJ Davis.

[GD]

A more effective trolling would have been a Franklin Barreto or Dawel Lugo.

 

Edit: Or #1 prospect Jim Negrych.

[DuckDuckGose]

Stroman pitches for New Hampshire tonight

 

And he was just alright, 4IP, 6H (including a HR and 2B), 2ER, 1BB, 5SO, 66 pitches - 43 strikes, 4GO:2FO

[Angrioter]

And he was just alright, 4IP, 6H (including a HR and 2B), 2ER, 1BB, 5SO, 66 pitches - 43 strikes, 4GO:2FO

 

The silver lining

5 K/BB, 2x1 GO-FO

[ElNik2013]

And he was just alright, 4IP, 6H (including a HR and 2B), 2ER, 1BB, 5SO, 66 pitches - 43 strikes, 4GO:2FO

 

 

This lowers the chances he gets called up so that's a positive. I'd like Stroman to get 5-6 starts in AA and if he's doing well, send him to AAA for the rest of the season. Call him up in Sept only. I thought the same needed to be done with Nolin, but AA saw to that. I also think the same should be done with Hutchison once he's healthy.

 

Think long term AA, you used to, but in the last 6 months have forgotten all about it for some reason.