Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky__99]

Elvis Luciano removed from the game after 1 inning.

 

I think something's up with Martin, too. Late scratch the other day and hasn't played since.

[max silver]

Kevin Smith had himself a good double header:

 

5-for-8, 1 double, 1 HR

 

Quickly playing himself into either debuting in the 2nd half or being traded for a decent return. Only issue I see with him is that he seems to be kind of streaky. He’ll have a hot couple games followed by an ice cold stretch often. But I guess that’s most major leaguers?

 

Still only 24!

 

I'm a little torn as far as what I would prefer Smith to be used for. He has turned himself into an extremely valuable trade chip. A 140 WRC+ MLB ready shortstop who is a very capable defender and provides value on the bases is a very enticing trade asset. On the other hand he might be able to take over the third base position for the Jays and allow Biggio to move into more of a fulltime super utility role. The recent surge at the plate of Espinal complicates things even further.

[Krylian]

I'm a little torn as far as what I would prefer Smith to be used for. He has turned himself into an extremely valuable trade chip. A 140 WRC+ MLB ready shortstop who is a very capable defender and provides value on the bases is a very enticing trade asset. On the other hand he might be able to take over the third base position for the Jays and allow Biggio to move into more of a fulltime super utility role. The recent surge at the plate of Espinal complicates things even further.

 

It's a great problem to have.

[RustyTrombone]

It was pretty bad.

 

https://www.wkyt.com/2020/09/10/woodford-countys-clinton-hollon-pitching-his-way-past-addiction/

 

Ya that's the one. Dude was down bad.

[Laika]

Clinton Hollon is pitching in independent ball this year. Small success after that junkie period.

 

Might be able to help the pen right now?

[OtisNixonFan]

It was pretty bad.

 

https://www.wkyt.com/2020/09/10/woodford-countys-clinton-hollon-pitching-his-way-past-addiction/

 

s***.. Thats some Bob Saget in Half Baked level s***.

[King]

Clinton Hollon is pitching in independent ball this year. Small success after that junkie period.

 

Might be able to help the pen right now?

 

Read that article Krylian posted last year. He was in a real dark place.

 

- Got hooked on Percocets after having TJS.

- Numerous drug of abuse suspensions. Got released.

- Went to Florida for treatment. Ended up getting hooked on crack, meth and heroin instead.

- 9 overdoses!

 

This doesn't even talk about his run ins with the law. Not even sure how he's alive to be honest. Surviving 9 overdoses is pretty lucky.

[King]

https://people.com/sports/former-dodgers-outfielder-andrew-toles-family-speaks-out-about-his-struggle-with-schizophrenia/

 

Hollon conversation made me look for an Andrew Toles update. Toles family described him as a "zombie" and said he can't even watch TV as he gets confused with the voices he hears/TV sounds. God damn severe schizophrenia is no joke.

 

It's insane a person can go from where he was to... that. He's just living now. Not alive, but breathing. Pretty sad.

[Ray]

Also evidenced in the trades for Lawrie, Escobar and Rasmus. All guys who came cheap because they had makeup concerns in their previous orgs. AA definitely seemed to think bad makeup guys were a market inefficiency.

 

But I think Ray was saying the same thing you guys are; he likes that this front office cares about makeup.

 

AA did an interview before the start of the season where he admitted as much. He said he cared very little about character in Toronto so long as they were good contributors to the team. Said he shifted his thinking when he was with the Dodgers and started caring more about makeup with the Braves after seeing the effect good chemistry had with the 2020 Braves.

 

Oddly enough, the example he used was Marcell Ozuna. Said he was a great clubhouse presence and they did a ton of background work on his character before signing him to the long term extension. Evidently….not enough.

[King]

AA did an interview before the start of the season where he admitted as much. He said he cared very little about character in Toronto so long as they were good contributors to the team. Said he shifted his thinking when he was with the Dodgers and started caring more about makeup with the Braves after seeing the effect good chemistry had with the Braves in 2020. Oddly enough, the example he used was Marcell Ozuna. Said he was a great clubhouse presence in the clubhouse and they did a ton of background work on his character before signing him to the long term extension. Evidently….not enough.

Swing and a miss.

[max silver]

AA did an interview before the start of the season where he admitted as much. He said he cared very little about character in Toronto so long as they were good contributors to the team. Said he shifted his thinking when he was with the Dodgers and started caring more about makeup with the Braves after seeing the effect good chemistry had with the 2020 Braves.

 

Oddly enough, the example he used was Marcell Ozuna. Said he was a great clubhouse presence and they did a ton of background work on his character before signing him to the long term extension. Evidently….not enough.

 

It seemed like with AA as long as he had some vetrin presents type guys in the locker room that would cancel out the issues that the team dipshits ended up causing, then it didn't matter how many clowns he had on the roster at any period. There was a parade of awful veteran players who were paraded out, washed up players like Kevin Millar, Omar Vizquel and Mark DeRosa were supposed to hold the clubhouses together. Vizquel was supposed to mentor Yunel Escobar, and we all remember how his tenure with the team ended.

[King]

It seemed like with AA as long as he had some vetrin presents type guys in the locker room that would cancel out the issues that the team dipshits ended up causing, then it didn't matter how many clowns he had on the roster at any period. There was a parade of awful veteran players who were paraded out, washed up players like Kevin Millar, Omar Vizquel and Mark DeRosa were supposed to hold the clubhouses together. Vizquel was supposed to mentor Yunel Escobar, and we all remember how his tenure with the team ended.

Vizquel turned out to be a piece of s*** himself, lmao.

[Buster]

It's a great problem to have.

 

I haven't spent much time over the years paying much attention to the minor leagues, outside of a small handful of top end prospects. That changed with Shapiro turning the Jays into an organization, not just an MLB team.

 

So what is the strategy going forward? It seems that teams either use their development organizations to bolster their MLB roster (most), or they use their MLB roster to bolster their minor league system, and promote (Rays). Maybe the Yankees or something are in the middle.

 

For the first time in forever, it seems we have high end minor leaguers getting blocked. I love it.

[Krylian]

I haven't spent much time over the years paying much attention to the minor leagues, outside of a small handful of top end prospects. That changed with Shapiro turning the Jays into an organization, not just an MLB team.

 

So what is the strategy going forward? It seems that teams either use their development organizations to bolster their MLB roster (most), or they use their MLB roster to bolster their minor league system, and promote (Rays). Maybe the Yankees or something are in the middle.

 

For the first time in forever, it seems we have high end minor leaguers getting blocked. I love it.

 

They're not blocked yet. We still have time. None of the abundance of middle infielders are quite ready yet. Injuries happen, underperformance happens, losing players via free agency happens. Some of our depth we might still need to plug into holes.

 

But if everything does go perfectly, you leverage your strengths to shore up areas of weakness. I think we might start seeing some of these moves next season depending on how things play out.

[The Cats Ass]

AA did an interview before the start of the season where he admitted as much. He said he cared very little about character in Toronto so long as they were good contributors to the team. Said he shifted his thinking when he was with the Dodgers and started caring more about makeup with the Braves after seeing the effect good chemistry had with the 2020 Braves.

 

Oddly enough, the example he used was Marcell Ozuna. Said he was a great clubhouse presence and they did a ton of background work on his character before signing him to the long term extension. Evidently….not enough.

 

Has Ozuna been found guilty yet? Sounds like there may be more to the story.

 

Marcell Ozuna: "With the analysis of the videos the truth of what happened will come out, and everyone will see that the Sandy Springs police will have to come and apologize to me"

 

https://www.sportstalkatl.com/braves-marcell-ozuna-believes-the-truth-will-come-out-and-reveal-a-much-different-story/

[L54]

It’s nice to have a loaded farm but we’re presently seeing most prospects struggle once they get to the bigs. Even guys like Wander and Kelenic. Not sure I’d be too eager to give Kev Smith the call.

[King]

It’s nice to have a loaded farm but we’re presently seeing most prospects struggle once they get to the bigs. Even guys like Wander and Kelenic. Not sure I’d be too eager to give Kev Smith the call.

Lol what kind of logic is this?

 

Smith is 25 and rule 5 eligible at the end of the year. You give him a chance because he's old as s*** and a decision needs to be made. It has nothing to do with Wander Franco or Kelenic struggling.

[Sammy225]

It’s nice to have a loaded farm but we’re presently seeing most prospects struggle once they get to the bigs. Even guys like Wander and Kelenic. Not sure I’d be too eager to give Kev Smith the call.

 

I don't think they will call him up because they don't think he will be here in 3 weeks. If you think he is going to be part of a package there is no reason to call him up see him possibly struggle and decrease any value he occurred this year. I Honestly think Kevin Smith is going to be used to get some pitching help.

[L54]

Lol what kind of logic is this?

 

Smith is 25 and rule 5 eligible at the end of the year. You give him a chance because he's old as s*** and a decision needs to be made. It has nothing to do with Wander Franco or Kelenic struggling.

 

There's like a 90% chance Kevin Smith is a 75 wRC+ bat playing third base and K'ing 30% of the time. Plan the parade.

[King]

There's like a 90% chance Kevin Smith is a 75 wRC+ bat playing third base and K'ing 30% of the time. Plan the parade.

 

I never said he was good. I just don't think it matters what Franco or Kelenic are doing. Do you really think we should baby a 25 year old because some 20 year old top prospects are struggling?

[L54]

I never said he was good. I just don't think it matters what Franco or Kelenic are doing. Do you really think we should baby a 25 year old because some 20 year old top prospects are struggling?

 

I never said we should baby a 25 year old

 

Do you really think we should call up a 25 year old with strikeout problems to try and shore up third base?

 

Franco K'd 11% of the time in AAA and now is striking out nearly 25% of the time. That's why its relevant how these super prospects are transitioning to the MLB.

[King]

I never said we should baby a 25 year old

 

Do you really think we should call up a 25 year old with strikeout problems to try and shore up third base?

 

Franco K'd 11% of the time in AAA and now is striking out nearly 25% of the time. That's why its relevant how these super prospects are transitioning to the MLB.

 

Hey - don't you have some bets to pay up? I think you owe a few hundred to somebody.

[L54]

Hey - don't you have some bets to pay up? I think you owe a few hundred to somebody.

 

u mad queen?

[King]

u mad queen?

 

Not mad at all. Very pathetic on your half though.

[L54]

Not mad at all. Very pathetic on your half though.

 

Pathetic would be being a 23 year old virgin in Toronto actually

[King]

Pathetic would be being a 23 year old virgin in Toronto actually

 

No, pathetic is the guy who refuses to pay up after losing a bet. You can call me whatever you want but at least I'll never be a welcher.

[L54]

No, pathetic is the guy who refuses to pay up after losing a bet. You can call me whatever you want but at least I'll never be a welcher.

 

I'm a welcher you're a virgin. Tough look for both of us!

[max silver]

It’s nice to have a loaded farm but we’re presently seeing most prospects struggle once they get to the bigs. Even guys like Wander and Kelenic. Not sure I’d be too eager to give Kev Smith the call.

 

There really isn't anything to lose by giving him a chance at some point. At worst you end up losing somebody off the fringes of the 40 man roster once Smith gets his initial chance. If he struggles he has all of his options remaining and you simply option him back down.

[Deadpool]

There's like a 90% chance Kevin Smith is a 75 wRC+ bat playing third base and K'ing 30% of the time. Plan the parade.

 

FWIW, MLB Equivalency Calculator has him as a 129 wRC+ (.253/.324/.492)

[Krylian]

I'm a welcher you're a virgin. Tough look for both of us!

 

Welcher is worse. Means you're a liar