Prospect List: #5

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 27, 2007 3:51 PM EDT

Funny exchange between Kevin Goldstein and a chatter yesterday:

Jules (TheStatPack): So what's with you skipping out on the Ballpark Feeds at the Trop this year? First it was just Carroll, then Sheehan AND Carroll. Where's our dose of the KG?

Kevin Goldstein: They keep me in a cage here with a laptop and a cell phone. Every once in a while they open the door, ask me about some Double-A pitcher, gimme a cookie and lock me back in. Sad, really.

As you all know we as a whole like Goldstein, but even more interesting is the chatter's blog The Stat Pack covers the Rays amongst other Tampa sports. Oh and The Rays have pissed the Church of Satan off, yay!

Yesterday's victor was the long awaited righty Wade Davis, here's a summary of a scouting report from the 2006 Baseball America Prospect Handbook:

92-98 FB
Hard Curve
Sweeping Slider
Breaking ball still needs work

Running List

Evan Longoria
David Price
Jake McGee
Wade Davis
Tomorrow

6-10 Next Week
11-15 Two Weeks
16-20 Three Weeks
20-25 Four Weeks

Reid Brignac
Jeff Niemann
Fernando Perez
Ryan Royster

Poll

Who's #5

Reid Brignac

12 votes

Jeff Niemann

12 votes

Fernando Perez

0 votes

Ryan Royster

3 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Re: Prospect List: #5

Brignac without a doubt.

by sattp on Sep 27, 2007 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know

I think I disagree with that. I have just never really been impressed by Brignac. I think he had a poor year and I'm not convinced of his potential to produce at the major league level. Other than 110 at bats in Montgomery last year, he's been mediocre at best in neutral full season leagues. His one taste of success that drives his value was his MVP year in the California League, and I just don't like using that as the measuring stick for hitting prospects. I also don't like performance there being the standard by which his career is powered by.

On the other hand, I was encouraged by Niemann's year. On the surface his numbers look mediocre, but I know that Niemann can pitch. The fact that he put up decent peripherals and an okay ERA while pitching a full year was huge for me. I have Niemann above Brignac.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Sep 27, 2007 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: I don't know

I still have a lot of faith in Brignac and I don't think his season was any less mediocre than Niemann's. Brignac cut down on his strikeouts, walked more and did decently in a pitching league. The most important step he took was sticking at shortstop. Everything else is there for Brignac to be exceptional, he just needs to get that batting average up a few more points.

Niemann did well and his peripherals were solid with an average ERA (although the IL is a hitter's league). The only thing that jumps out at me about Niemann is that he has more hits given up than innings pitched.

Niemann, to me, seems to have lost the "shut down ace" title we were all hoping he'd be but Brignac is still showing flashes of being a great bat in the middle infield. Brignac's farther off than Niemann but I think Brignac's ceiling is much higher.

by sattp on Sep 27, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: I don't know

Since Goldstein's been so liberally quoted here lately, did you catch his take on Niemann in 1 of the comments?

JSalda (The Trop): Was this more of a development year for Niemann or is it more of a what we see is what we get thing?

Kevin Goldstein: More b. -- he's good, but not great.

Hmmm.

To me what could hold Brignac back is his defense - all here have been talking about the need for someone with range to catch the ball. The bat would be a nice bonus. Handing SS to a rook of suspect def potential at the time you're turning the corner could be problematic. Guess we'll see.

What about Royster? That was a monster year - yeah, it's down a ways and I don't know what the park effect might be, but still. You had no qualms about canonizing Price.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Sep 27, 2007 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you saying I have an agenda?

I saw the Niemann quote, but it adds nothing to the conversation, I don't think anyone is billing Niemann as that ace anymore, a solid 2/3 in this rotation? Yes. Ace? Eh probably not.

Niemann might make a better reliever actually...

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 27, 2007 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

A solid 2/3

In the American League is extremely valuable.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Sep 28, 2007 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Beware the wrath of Satan!

Or he might make Carlos Pena take his soul back!

by nyyfaninlaaland on Sep 27, 2007 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

Damn

That Scott Boras!

by R.J. Anderson on Sep 27, 2007 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Prospect List: #5

I will repeat my comments on Brignac. The only thing that declined in a pitcher's league and pitcher's ballpark was his BA. He walked more and struck out less while still hitting for good power. A number of analysts have commented that he is not simply an adequate fielder at shortstop but a superior one. (When I saw him play, he looked very smooth at short. He also hit 2 home runs and either one or two triples in the two games I saw. That is simply a comment, not an evaluation, by the way.)

Also, I think that Desmond Jennings should be listed either in addition to or in place of Royster. He had a remarkable year, one that not only displayed his natural gifts, but his quite surprising mastery of basic skills such as pitch selection. I will still pick Brignac and then Niemann, but my next selection is neither Perez nor Royster. It is Jennings. Once Brignac and Niemann are out of the way, I think you need to add Hellickson and possibly Rollins &/or Mason as well if Royster is on the list.

by bobr on Sep 28, 2007 1:19 AM EDT reply actions