AZZenny
Registered User
Chris Carter is slammin the ball around in Double-A. Daigle got his first loss of the year as a closer - in fact pretty much all our teams coughed up hairballs yesterday, not just Bruney.
Meanwhile, BA rated the teams farm systems on a pre-trade deadline basis - Top 5 were Angels, Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Twins for depth of top talent and ready-to-rock prospects.
AZ and Boston regarded as two farm systems which have jumped up this season. • Diamondbacks. Justin Upton wasn’t under contract yet, but when he signs, the Diamondbacks will add the No. 1 talent in the 2005 draft to a system already brimming with future stars. Scouts, managers and stat heads have a hard time picking between Carlos Quentin (.307-19-70) and Conor Jackson (.356-8-71) at Triple-A Tucson. Those who favor Quentin consider him the better all-around player because of his above-average right-field defense. Jackson’s backers rave about his bat speed and quiet, focused approach at the plate.
The Diamondbacks are buoyed in 2005 by the healthy return of righthander Dustin Nippert (5-2, 2.91 at Double-A Tennessee) from Tommy John surgery and the signing of 2004 first-rounder Stephen Drew (.366-8-29, .699 slugging), who made a strong debut at high Class A Lancaster and gives the organization an impact bat in the middle of the diamond. The 2005 draft brought the potential to add the final piece—pitching depth—as Arizona selected nine pitchers in the first 10 rounds.
Also from their chat:
Q: Chris from Huntsville, AL asks:
If you had to make a prediction, in five years, what will the D-backs have done with their middle infielders (Drew, Upton, Santos, etc.)?
A: Kevin Goldstein: I'll predict Jackson at first, Drew at shortstop, Santos at third and Upton in centerfield.
Q: zach from arizona asks:
do you think the diamondbacks taking jason neighborgall was possibily the dumbest pick of the draft? so far he has yet to go an inning where he didnt walk anyone or give up a run. we keep seeing lines like 1 IP 0 Hits 3 ER...is he the biggest project in the diamondbacks organization? obviously he has potential with his 98 MPH fastball, but do you think this was a case where someone was picked only based on hard of a thrower he was and lack of a pitcher? thanks
A: Kevin Goldstein: Not a dumb pick at all. Kind of like a 500,000 dollar lottery ticket. He could be a bust, but he ever figures it out, that pick will look like a steal. Chances are thin, but nobody ever got anywhere without taking chances.
Q: Dan from Chandler AZ asks:
Assuming Upton signs, Rank the Dbacks farm system. Top Ten? Thanks!
A: Kevin Goldstein: I would think top five.
Q: Ron from Phoenix asks:
Any arms in the Diamondbacks system to speak of? What's the word on Dustin Nippert's recovery from TJ surgery? Thanks.
A: Kevin Goldstein: Far more position players of note in the system, but Nippert has been fantastic in his return, and they got a few nice arms in this year's draft.
Q: Bobby O'Shea from a wedding asks:
With Joe Jr going to MLB, any recommendations for next D-Backs GM?
A: Kevin Goldstein: Mike Rizzo -- by a mile.
Q: Terry from Orlando asks:
Is Carlos Gonzales a top 100 prospect after this season? Where would he be on the Dbacks' top 10?
A: Kevin Goldstein: He's worked his way in the discussion for the fringes of the top 100. I'm guessing he'll be between 4 and 8 on the Arizona Top 10.
Q: zach from arizona asks:
Is Miguel Montero for real or is what we see an illusion because of the ballpark he was playing in?
A: Kevin Goldstein: He's for real in the fact that he's definitely a very good catching prospect. But you make a good point, and the season's final month for Montero at Double-A will be very telling.
Meanwhile, BA rated the teams farm systems on a pre-trade deadline basis - Top 5 were Angels, Dodgers, Brewers, Braves, Twins for depth of top talent and ready-to-rock prospects.
AZ and Boston regarded as two farm systems which have jumped up this season. • Diamondbacks. Justin Upton wasn’t under contract yet, but when he signs, the Diamondbacks will add the No. 1 talent in the 2005 draft to a system already brimming with future stars. Scouts, managers and stat heads have a hard time picking between Carlos Quentin (.307-19-70) and Conor Jackson (.356-8-71) at Triple-A Tucson. Those who favor Quentin consider him the better all-around player because of his above-average right-field defense. Jackson’s backers rave about his bat speed and quiet, focused approach at the plate.
The Diamondbacks are buoyed in 2005 by the healthy return of righthander Dustin Nippert (5-2, 2.91 at Double-A Tennessee) from Tommy John surgery and the signing of 2004 first-rounder Stephen Drew (.366-8-29, .699 slugging), who made a strong debut at high Class A Lancaster and gives the organization an impact bat in the middle of the diamond. The 2005 draft brought the potential to add the final piece—pitching depth—as Arizona selected nine pitchers in the first 10 rounds.
Also from their chat:
Q: Chris from Huntsville, AL asks:
If you had to make a prediction, in five years, what will the D-backs have done with their middle infielders (Drew, Upton, Santos, etc.)?
A: Kevin Goldstein: I'll predict Jackson at first, Drew at shortstop, Santos at third and Upton in centerfield.
Q: zach from arizona asks:
do you think the diamondbacks taking jason neighborgall was possibily the dumbest pick of the draft? so far he has yet to go an inning where he didnt walk anyone or give up a run. we keep seeing lines like 1 IP 0 Hits 3 ER...is he the biggest project in the diamondbacks organization? obviously he has potential with his 98 MPH fastball, but do you think this was a case where someone was picked only based on hard of a thrower he was and lack of a pitcher? thanks
A: Kevin Goldstein: Not a dumb pick at all. Kind of like a 500,000 dollar lottery ticket. He could be a bust, but he ever figures it out, that pick will look like a steal. Chances are thin, but nobody ever got anywhere without taking chances.
Q: Dan from Chandler AZ asks:
Assuming Upton signs, Rank the Dbacks farm system. Top Ten? Thanks!
A: Kevin Goldstein: I would think top five.
Q: Ron from Phoenix asks:
Any arms in the Diamondbacks system to speak of? What's the word on Dustin Nippert's recovery from TJ surgery? Thanks.
A: Kevin Goldstein: Far more position players of note in the system, but Nippert has been fantastic in his return, and they got a few nice arms in this year's draft.
Q: Bobby O'Shea from a wedding asks:
With Joe Jr going to MLB, any recommendations for next D-Backs GM?
A: Kevin Goldstein: Mike Rizzo -- by a mile.
Q: Terry from Orlando asks:
Is Carlos Gonzales a top 100 prospect after this season? Where would he be on the Dbacks' top 10?
A: Kevin Goldstein: He's worked his way in the discussion for the fringes of the top 100. I'm guessing he'll be between 4 and 8 on the Arizona Top 10.
Q: zach from arizona asks:
Is Miguel Montero for real or is what we see an illusion because of the ballpark he was playing in?
A: Kevin Goldstein: He's for real in the fact that he's definitely a very good catching prospect. But you make a good point, and the season's final month for Montero at Double-A will be very telling.
