All-star Futures Game

[AZZenny]

Two DBack prospects - Conor Jackson will play 1st base for the US Team, and for the World Team, Miguel Montero is second catcher.

CONOR JACKSON 1B, Tucson (Diamondbacks)
Age: 23. Drafted: First round (19th overall), 2003, California.
Two words describe Jackson best: power and patience. He followed the path of teammate Carlos Quentin, jumping from high Class A Lancaster to Double-A last season; and the two are back together again this year at Tucson. Jackson is one of the best pure hitters in the minors. He has above-average bat speed and makes consistent sharp contact to all fields. One of his best tools is his plate discipline--he rarely swings at bad pitches and rarely misses good ones. He's ranked in the top three in the minors in on-base percentage all season. Primarily a third baseman in college, he moved from the outfield to first base this season.

MIGUEL MONTERO C, Lancaster (Diamondbacks)
Age: 21. Signed: Venezuela, 2001.
After two straight seasons at Rookie-level Missoula, Montero showed power potential last season at low Class A South Bend, hitting a career-high 11 homers in 403 at-bats. His power has been on full display this season at high Class A Lancaster, where he had 19 homers in 292 at-bats. He's been remarkably consistent, hitting safely in all but 11 of those games, highlighted by a 19-game hitting streak and a stretch when he homered seven times in 10 games. He is a plus defender with an average arm. At the beginning of the season, Chris Snyder, Koyie Hill, Phil Avlas and Orlando Mercado Jr. all graded out ahead of Montero. In a little less than three months, he has turned the organizational depth chart on its head.

 

[Lefty]

I wonder why Carlos Quentin was not picked? I want to see Montero play. His stats so far this year are damn impressive, even if it's class A ball. I don't think Snyder is the answer. The guy has been given a lot of opportunities, but he has not produced much. I know he is a rookie but can the Diamondbacks afford to keep his bat in the line-up? Also, can we put total blame on the pitchers or can some go towards Snyder's calling. It must be tough for a rookie catcher not knowing the NL batters. That is why I really liked Damian Miller, he knew the batters in the league and could really handle the pitching staff.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I may have this ALL wrong, but I believe that Quentin was at the Futures Game last year and you can only be in one Futures Game. Once again, I am not sure of that at all....

Edit: Appears I am wrong, as it was Jackson at last years Futures Game.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

I may have this ALL wrong, but I believe that Quentin was at the Futures Game last year and you can only be in one Futures Game. Once again, I am not sure of that at all....

Edit: Appears I am wrong, as it was Jackson at last years Futures Game.

And Choo has been in it 3 times

 

[AZZenny]

Carlos Quentin has some pretty good competition for the OF - Jeremy Hermida, Delmon Young, Jeff Francoeur, Lastings Milledge - and although some of Carlos' numbers are as good or better, he is not in the top ten in any batting category for his league except Home Runs. (Conor is in the top 5 all except HR, and top 2-3 for most of the stats.) The guys who got picked seem generally to be tops in a couple categories for their respective leagues - and the leagues participate in the selection process.


Which has me thinking - last year someone here - BWebb maybe? asked me, who I really thought would be the better player. I sort of CMA by saying while I personally would pick Conor, it was probably true Carlos has more all-around balanced skill and potential. Well, no more quibbling - in five years it may even out, but I'm sticking with Conor Jackson - he'll be up here first, and be in ROY contention, and get to an All-Star game before Carlos. There. I said it for the record!

(btw, it was amusing the other night Matt Williams said Conor reminds him of Mark Grace - bigger and better-looking with just a smidge more power, but a simply amazing contact hitter. Brennaman said Grace compares him to a young Matty! Of course I assume they refer only to his offense, because one thing I doubt we'll ever see is CJ accepting a Gold Glove.)

 

[AZZenny]

Even odder than Carlos not making the Futures game - he was not put on the Triple-A All-star squad for the Pacific League.
Conor Jackson, Andy Green (!!) and pitcher Jason Bulger (since Medders got promoted, I imagine) are the Tucson selectees. Green's numbers are really pretty nice for a utility guy - he's in the top ten in a number of categories - and I gather is beyond giddy at his first-ever all-star game. That must be exciting for someone who has always been an organizational afterthought.

Meanwhile, Conor got whacked in the head by a BP home run ball yesterday when he was on his phone just outside the park, and missed last night's and tonight's game, although the radio announcers sounded like it's not considered serious.