Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Laika]

Crazy how none of us know anything and we continue to post here.

 

The smartest BJMB poster is still a raging idiot

[King]

Crazy how none of us know anything*** and we continue to post here.

 

The smartest BJMB poster is still a raging idiot

 

***Except for King

 

ftfy

[dineke]

Wow didn't realize so many people here were ready to dump Atkins. Almost reddit level hatred lol

[Slade]

When we traded for Simeon, the scouting reports glowed. This isn't a new thing. I thought Kay was hot garbage, but he has touched 97 mph and looks really, really good. That trade worked out amazingly well.

 

Kay over throws to get that velocity, if he goes back to the rotation expect 93-94 which is still pretty good for a lefty.

[Deadpool]

90% of the board hated the trade at the time and thought we should have gotten more. Boxcar heavily included.

 

"Hated" might be a strong word.

 

I thought the return was light, but I did like the pieces we got back (I was one of those who wanted a tertiary lottery ticket type piece. I'm 100% okay with the return with the benefit of hindsight.)

 

Edit: after reading the quotes provided, hate does seem to be accurate.

[Jimcanuck]

Thought it was a fair return, IIRC "on the fence"

[Laika]

At least I drank the Kool-Aid right away:

 

SWR is in rare statistical company as far as recently historical A ball prospects go. It's like trading for Luis Patino a year ago. Could be great!

 

If you filter for A ball, 18 years old, 70+ IP, and >20% K-BB% in the last two decades, there are like 8 total names and SWR is one of them. Thor, Bumgarner, Patino, SWR... and Shelby Miller, Jordan Lyles, Jason Knapp and another dude this year.

 

Kay is being a bit underrated here. SWR is the more exciting player because of stats and upside, but in terms of value Kay and SWR are close to equal right now. His stuff and pedigree and history also indicate that it would be pretty wise to not focus too much on the smaller sample K and BB rates or ERA. He could be pretty freaking good! Watch him pitch!

 

I will carry water for Ross Atkins until I die. Or he gets fired.

[Jimcanuck]

It's going to be equivalent to the Shields for FTJ deal

[Slade]

[Boxcar]

Here is my comments on the time at the trade -

 

"Simeon Woods-Richardson is basically like trading for the prospect equivalent of Noah Syndergaard, probably better. Pretty much a lock to be an ace just a matter of time before it happens. Casuals are just mad because we acquired an elite prospect they have never heard of. Put your agendas away, fellas. Atkins got potentially the best pitching prospect in baseball in the deal. That's a win."

 

Boxy foolishly compared the trade to the Price for Adames trade, which worked out splendidly for the Rays, as I said it would at the time. Boxy actually compared SWR to Triston McKenzie (as a negative) who is now a #1 SP for Cleveland.

 

Adames sucks and Price was good for another two years.so I was right

[Spanky__99]

Adames sucks and Price was good for another two years.so I was right

 

Wrong, u suck!

[wilko]

Crazy how none of us know anything and we continue to post here.

 

The smartest BJMB poster is still a raging idiot

 

Bunch of lazyboy GM's sitting around like George Coztanza screaming at the TV.

[43211234]

[Boxcar]

Wrong, u suck!

 

Steamer pegging Adames for a 95 wRC+ next year. ELITE

[glory]

[43211234]

There isn't any substance here but I'll post this alternate site report anyways: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-alternate-site-report

[AdamGreenwood]

 

In theory, paying workers minimum wage seems like a no-brainer.

 

But, you also have to factor in the signing bonuses a lot of these guys get.

And, you have to realize, that this is a bit like going to school/doing an internship. The MLB teams generally lose money on these players already.

 

The end result of this, is that the MLB is going to drop a lot of the fringe minor league players, possibly reducing the number of players by 50%. Then to accommodate all the guys that get cut, private companies will start up - possibly even charging players money to keep their skills up so they can compete in walk-ups.

[TheHurl]

 

They don't even have a league right now.

[connorp]

 

I don’t know much of the details but in terms of Florida min wage is $8.50/hr and I thought mlb was giving them $400/wk per diem starting this last year. So the per diem alone is more than min wage

[TheHurl]

I don’t know much of the details but in terms of Florida min wage is $8.50/hr and I thought mlb was giving them $400/wk per diem starting this last year. So the per diem alone is more than min wage

 

At the lowest levels they were $290 per week (up to $400 now). Although they claim they work 70 to 100 hours per week. Even at that $8.50 an hour a Walmart employee would be making $725 a week (which is about what they are seeking as a minimum $750 a week plus $25 a day per diem) . The second issue is only paying the players meal money when they are at the spring training facility

[TheHurl]

https://dutchbaseballhangout.wordpress.com/2020/11/03/dramatic-changes-in-minor-league-landscape-become-clear/

 

My favourite Dutch baseball man has laid out the MiLB changes we know so far.

 

Even though no new deal is in place yet, several changes in the minor leagues slowly become clear. Not only will some clubs move to different levels, even complete leagues will switch to different levels.

 

Especially at the various A ball levels, there will be quite some changes. The California League and Florida State League will move from A-advanced level to Low A level. The South Atlantic League will move to the same level from A Full Season. The California League will keep the eight teams as was the case in 2019 but it is rather sure that one team will be disbanded and the Fresno Grizzlies will take its place. The Florida State League will be downsized to ten teams.

 

Other leagues will move to the A-Advanced level: the Midwest League and the Northwest League (!). The Carolina League will stay at the A-Advanced level and there will be a new league, the Mid-Atlantic League.

 

The reason behind these changes are not quite clear.

 

There will also be some changes at AA and AAA level. Three AAA teams are scheduled to be “demoted” to AA. One of them is the San Antonio Missions that moved up from the Texas League (AA) to the Pacific Coast League (AAA). This must be quite a disappointment for Elmore Sports Group, that made the team move to AAA. The Wichita Wind Surge will also move to AA, even before it has played a game at AAA level. The aforementioned Fresno Grizzlies will tumble down from AAA to Low A. According to Ballpark Digest, these three clubs will be replaced by the St. Paul Saints, the Sugarland Skeeters and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Naming the St. Paul Saints as one of the replacements is rather odd as the team made clear it was not interested in becoming an affiliated ball club, not so long ago. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are a logical candidate as their ballpark, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, is suitable for AAA baseball.

 

IF the St. Paul Saints will become an affiliated club, they will become the Twins AAA team. The Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles have made clear they do not want to change affiliations. The Miami Marlins on the other hand will have their top two minor league clubs in the state of Florida: AAA Jacksonville and AA Pensacola.

 

The New York-Penn League may have a similar role as the Appalachian League, but no deal has been hammered out yet.

 

According to information that Ballpark Digest has, the number of remaining minor league teams may not be 120 but more likely closer to 90. Ballpark Digest states the following: “One thing that’s hindered talks: MLB still declines to release a list of the chosen 120 teams. Realistically, there aren’t open slots for 120 teams: by the time you remove the MiLB teams either owned by MLB teams or operating with significant, publicized or unpublicized investments by MLB teams, the number is far closer to 90 open slots, even though some of those teams with MLB ties are likely to go away as well. And that’s not even counting the several MiLB teams whose ownership groups include individual investors who are also investors in MLB teams—the sort of relationships that have affected affiliate agreements in the past. Add in the two or three independent markets that will become affiliated markets. Right now there are 130 owners who think their teams will survive the upcoming contraction; we expect plenty of shock and surprise when that’s not the case.”

[Krylian]

https://dutchbaseballhangout.wordpress.com/2020/11/03/dramatic-changes-in-minor-league-landscape-become-clear/

 

My favourite Dutch baseball man has laid out the MiLB changes we know so far.

 

My dad used to love Dutchies.

 

[Brownie19]

Nick Bitsko is having shoulder surgery. That sucks.

[43211234]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-kloffenstein-salvaged-2020-development-covid-league/

 

 

 

King Kloff has apparently touched 99. Last I heard his stuff had ticked down a bit and was more 92-93. If he's now sitting in the mid-90s that's big.

[Laika]

The one that got away... doesn't sound as exciting as Kloff. This is from Prospects Live.

 

Kendall Williams

Age: 20 yr

Height: 6-6

Weight: 205 lbs

Hits/Throws: R/R

Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 2, TOR

RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Tall, long, lean righthander with high waist and excellent physical projection. Broad shoulders with long limbs, narrower waist, has done a nice job adding strength and bulk to frame since prep days, good strength present, does project more moving forward.

 

Delivery & Mechanics: Williams has a vertical-slot release that he used as an amateur mostly to leverage the ball down in the zone, likely he's being instructed to pitch up at this point given the release. Inline stride downhill with some effort over the front side, stays balanced through delivery, arm stroke stays inline and grades as average, overall solid operation.

 

Fastball: Williams topped out at 94-95 mph during his amateur days and the latest info has him roughly in the same range, mostly in the 90-93 mph range during a given outing with higher peaks. The pitch is mostly straight but has good spin and the Dodgers are sure to maximize these traits in his development. Given the arm speed and physical projection, some velocity projection exists but he's likely to be an above-average FB guy rather than plus. Grade: 55

 

Curveball: Was his preferred pitch as a prep, a true overhand 12/6 curveball with bite and depth, has some inconsistencies spinning the pitch at times, best ones showed plus as an amateur, thrown out of fastball tunnel, can land it for strikes or bury it as a chase pitch, quality offering with an above-average future, thrown in the 76-79 mph range mostly. Grade: 55

 

Slider: Newest part of arsenal, taught himself to throw it in bullpens leading up to NHSI appearance as a prep, will dip the slot to get to the side of it at times but has feel for the pitch, good late tilt when thrown properly, with reps could see a solid-average future. Thrown in the 81-84 mph range. Grade: 50

 

Changeup: A surprisingly advanced pitch to some evaluators during his draft spring, Williams has the feel for turning over the pitch and generating above-average action. Prefers to throw it to left handed hitters, will choke it and bury it at times, overall consistency of the pitch needs work but flashes 55 with some regularity on the pitch. Grade: 50

 

Control and Command: Williams throws a good number of strikes and grades out as having average control at present, though his command is loose in the zone and he's susceptible to catching too much plate at present, and doesn't quite have the power arsenal to get away with it. The late effort in the delivery and good-not-great athleticism give the command projection some limitations, but there's a solid chance of him reaching average command. Control: 55 | Command: 50 Control: 55 | Command: 50

 

Overall: Four-pitch starter with strikes who should have quality arsenal of above-average pitches, though none are overly likely to end up plus. Best chance for plus pitch is likely to be his curveball. Starter traits with upside of good strikes, may struggle to miss bats at high clip but should be able to turn lineups over and miss barrels. Solid stuff, somewhat limited upside.

 

OFP: 50

Role: 50 - #4 - #5 Backend SP

Risk: High

[Carlos Danger]

Not to say I told anyone so... But the Dodgers don't give away pitchers for nothing, (like the old Pirates regime)

 

I thought so at the trade deadline and nothing has changed. We will look back on this trade in a few years and grimace..

[Grant77]

Not to say I told anyone so... But the Dodgers don't give away pitchers for nothing, (like the old Pirates regime)

 

I thought so at the trade deadline and nothing has changed. We will look back on this trade in a few years and grimace..

 

Everyone said the Dodgers were getting a good prospect, so your opinion wasn't exactly unique.

[Laika]

Not to say I told anyone so... But the Dodgers don't give away pitchers for nothing, (like the old Pirates regime)

 

I thought so at the trade deadline and nothing has changed. We will look back on this trade in a few years and grimace..

 

Who at the time was saying that Kendall Williams was nothing?

[Brownie19]

The question is whether Ross Stripling can be anything for us.

[G-Snarls]

Is there anywhere good to track DWL results? The links to it on MLB.com show out of date game info.