Prospects 11-30

[AZZenny]

Got my BA 2005 Prospects Handbook. Hee hee. No wonder I never get any work done.

11. Garrett Mock, rhp
12. Koyie Hill, c
13. Brian Bruney, rhp
14. Dustin Nippert rhp
15. Enrique Gonzalez, rhp
16. Mike Gosling, lhp
17. Jason Bulger, rhp
18. Bill Murphy, lhp
19. Carlos Gonzalez, of
20. Ross Ohlendorf, rhp
21. Marland Williams, of
22. Adam Peterson, rhp
23. Jared Ball, of
24. Phil Avlas, c
25. A.J. Shappi, rhp
26. Chris Carter, of/1b
27. Jerome Milons, of
28. Brad Halsey, lhp
29. Lance Cormier, rhp
30. Reggie Abercrombie, of

Wow - only 2.5 infielders in the top 30 prospects.

Interesting - They say Halsey doesn't have the true quality stuff to consistently challenge big league hitters but could ultimately be a very good lefty specialist. Whereas Gosling they say has better pitches, but lacks the control to be a finesse guy, and just lacks the velocity to be a power pitcher. (See, that's where that extra 2-3 mph would make or break a young pitcher's career. )

They project Lance Cormier as good long-relief candidate, but want him to get his confidence back in AAA for awhile.

OOOH OOOH! (We lack a drooling smiley.) Garrett Mock, 2004 3rd round pick - could have been a first-rounder but a broken ankle sidetracked him. Heavy 91-94 fastball with plenty of sink and can touch 97. Big downward breaking ball...DBacks love his never-say die attitude, shown by pitching for a month on the broken ankle. Needs to polish his curveball and changeup, and can get a little too fine.

Ohlendorf is regarded as 'high risk/high reward'- enormous fastball, very aggressive, but the rest of the package needs mucho development, and his mechanics need to become consistent; he will not be rushed.

Shappi is a pure finesse pitcher, with 'exquisite control' turning adequate pitches into good pitches - a nice sinking 88 mph fastball, a late breaking slider, working on a circle changeup. He was a Rhodes Scholar candidate; they say he and Ohlendorff are extremely intelligent. (That's something Rizzo has sought - athletes from good schools with good academics, feeling like that often indicates better discipline/maturity, ability to learn more quickly, and solid character.) (But how intelligent is it playing a month on a broken ankle!?)


This is cute - 'Projected 2008 lineup' (Based solely on guys already in the system):

Catcher- Chris Snyder
1b - Conor Jackson
2b - Alex Cintron
3b - Troy Glaus (sorry D'Antona, they said it, not me!)
SS - Sergio Santos
LF - Jon Zeringue
CF - Luis Terrero (Nah. Marland, or maybe Upton)
RF - Carlos Quentin

#1 starter - Brandon Webb
#2 - Russ Ortiz (Heck, is HE still here?!)
#3 - Edgar Gonzalez
#4/5 - Ramon Pena (somehow, I doubt this. I think this kid is going to flame-out.)
#4/5 - Matt Chico
Closer - Greg Aquino

 

[Mulli]

Where is Noochie?

 

[AZZenny]

Not in the top 30, along with a couple other guys who must have just missed - Justin Wechsler, Brandon Medders stand out to me. I liked Neb Brooks before he was injured, too.

 

[Phill11]

CF - Luis Terrero (Nah. Marland, or maybe Upton)


Upton? We don't have BJ...

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

CF - Luis Terrero (Nah. Marland, or maybe Upton)


Upton? We don't have BJ...

AZZenny means if we draft Justin Upton with the 1st pick in the 2005 draft (which is very likely). At least, I assume thats what Zenny means...

 

[Kolo]

AZZenny, my subscription to BA online ran out a few months ago, and I didn't re-up because I knew you covered it here for us. I hope that doesn't make me too big a leech. Thanks a lot for posting everything you do here.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

They don't do the Top 30 online, you have to get the book.

 

[Phill11]

AZZenny means if we draft Justin Upton with the 1st pick in the 2005 draft (which is very likely). At least, I assume thats what Zenny means...

Is Justin the same type of player? If so I'd die to see him in OF. Hopefully he's not asking Drew/Weaver type money though.

If we could just sign Drew then draft Upton or Weaver we'd have a GREAT farm system.

 

[Brandon_Webb]

Is Justin the same type of player? If so I'd die to see him in OF. Hopefully he's not asking Drew/Weaver type money though.

If we could just sign Drew then draft Upton or Weaver we'd have a GREAT farm system.

You hope justin doesn't want weaver money, yet you want us to draft him?

 

[AZZenny]

LOL - Wow, timing is everything! Just got the reminder today to renew my BA Web subscription, and was debating whether to also get the magazine. Heck, its only $20 bucks more to add the mag - so I'll be happy to keep the info flowing.

Yes, I was thinking if we draft Justin Upton, sort of violating the BA rule that you can only use guys already with the organization. But since Marland Williams is listed as best defensive outfielder AND fastest baserunner in the system, I expect he'll displace Terrero by 2008 (if Upton hasn't).

I need to track down who his agent is - but he WILL want mega bucks, since he's widely regarded as probably the top position player prospect of the last couple years based on his bat and speed. I just wish his defense was better. That matters in CF at BOB. (Gee - what do you think they'll be calling it in 2008? My bank person said the Bank One corporate name will be completely gone from Arizona probably around the end of 2005.)

 

[Phill11]

You hope justin doesn't want weaver money, yet you want us to draft him?

Um, yeah. Imagine in 2 years a 1-2 punch of Webb/Weaver... That'd be amazing.

EDIT: I can see throwing money at a SP, but not really a guy with just speed and defense...

 

[Dbackmomma]

Ba 11-30

AZZenny ...

Thanks for posting this list. We subscribe to the magazine and the web site, but we didn't buy the book.

It is nice to see some of the '04's being identified this early in their careers. Having watched Mock, Ohlendorf, Carter, Carlos Gonzales, and Shappi in Yakima last year, it is great to see accolades for them and to read descriptions about my 3 favorite Dback pitchers (Shappi, Ohlendorf, and Mock).

It will be interesting to see where the Yakima "'04's" end up this year. I believe that Mock, Ohlendorf, Carter and Gonzales are all working out with the Lancaster crowd and Shappi is with the South Bend boys. It is quite possible that is where they will end up in April but the final announcements have not been made. Hoping to have a little more clarification early next week.

Again, thanks for posting the list and the information.

A very proud Dbackmomma

 

[overseascardsfan]

Got my BA 2005 Prospects Handbook. Hee hee. No wonder I never get any work done.

11. Garrett Mock, rhp
12. Koyie Hill, c
13. Brian Bruney, rhp
14. Dustin Nippert rhp
15. Enrique Gonzalez, rhp
16. Mike Gosling, lhp
17. Jason Bulger, rhp
18. Bill Murphy, lhp
19. Carlos Gonzalez, of
20. Ross Ohlendorf, rhp
21. Marland Williams, of
22. Adam Peterson, rhp
23. Jared Ball, of
24. Phil Avlas, c
25. A.J. Shappi, rhp
26. Chris Carter, of/1b
27. Jerome Milons, of
28. Brad Halsey, lhp
29. Lance Cormier, rhp
30. Reggie Abercrombie, of

Wow - only 2.5 infielders in the top 30 prospects.

Interesting - They say Halsey doesn't have the true quality stuff to consistently challenge big league hitters but could ultimately be a very good lefty specialist. Whereas Gosling they say has better pitches, but lacks the control to be a finesse guy, and just lacks the velocity to be a power pitcher. (See, that's where that extra 2-3 mph would make or break a young pitcher's career. )

They project Lance Cormier as good long-relief candidate, but want him to get his confidence back in AAA for awhile.

OOOH OOOH! (We lack a drooling smiley.) Garrett Mock, 2004 3rd round pick - could have been a first-rounder but a broken ankle sidetracked him. Heavy 91-94 fastball with plenty of sink and can touch 97. Big downward breaking ball...DBacks love his never-say die attitude, shown by pitching for a month on the broken ankle. Needs to polish his curveball and changeup, and can get a little too fine.

Ohlendorf is regarded as 'high risk/high reward'- enormous fastball, very aggressive, but the rest of the package needs mucho development, and his mechanics need to become consistent; he will not be rushed.

Shappi is a pure finesse pitcher, with 'exquisite control' turning adequate pitches into good pitches - a nice sinking 88 mph fastball, a late breaking slider, working on a circle changeup. He was a Rhodes Scholar candidate; they say he and Ohlendorff are extremely intelligent. (That's something Rizzo has sought - athletes from good schools with good academics, feeling like that often indicates better discipline/maturity, ability to learn more quickly, and solid character.) (But how intelligent is it playing a month on a broken ankle!?)


This is cute - 'Projected 2008 lineup' (Based solely on guys already in the system):

Catcher- Chris Snyder
1b - Conor Jackson
2b - Alex Cintron
3b - Troy Glaus (sorry D'Antona, they said it, not me!)
SS - Sergio Santos
LF - Jon Zeringue
CF - Luis Terrero (Nah. Marland, or maybe Upton)
RF - Carlos Quentin

#1 starter - Brandon Webb
#2 - Russ Ortiz (Heck, is HE still here?!)
#3 - Edgar Gonzalez
#4/5 - Ramon Pena (somehow, I doubt this. I think this kid is going to flame-out.)
#4/5 - Matt Chico
Closer - Greg Aquino

What did they say we will do with Chad Tracy? Trade him or lose him to free agency?

 

[AZZenny]

They don't explain stuff - this is sort of their little fantasy exercise for each organization, and the only rule is every player already has to be in the system and potentially BE in the system in 2008. I personally thought leaving us with Ortiz and not Vazquez was a bit mean-spirited.