An Open Prospects Thread with FanHouse's Frankie Piliere

And he can’t even crack this guy’s top 100? That’s why I don’t put much stock in these lists. Most of the authors have only seen the guy play a couple times, if at all.

Matt and I once had it out, but we’re cool now. No, obviously I’m kidding. Moore is a stud, don’t let his absence let you think otherwise. I’m just cautious on some low level guys. If I have a long track record of scouting them I’m more confident about including them. My lists sometimes will look a bit different because I have to go a lot off my reports. I thought Moore would make it easily at first glance. If I had a biggest regret, it’s that he’s not on there. Just too many guys I liked. He’ll be a major player on it next year if he looks like he did in 2009.

I have not seen Bailey yet, but the amateur guys I’ve talked to absolutely love this guy. It sounds like a steal for the round they got him in. I can’t wait to see him in action. Surgery or not, and given the success rate of the procedure, great job by TB.

Waiting on low level guys like Colome. As far as Brignac, I went with some newer faces basically. I considered him.

If I’ve learned one thing it’s to continue trusting the clubs the clearly have their scouting and player dev. figured out. They will continue to draft well and scout well. There is good talent in the low levels so in the immediate future they are well stocked.

for the “Major League” reference…nice work lol

Obviously I’m a huge Manny B. believer. Just like a like hitters with the feel for the bat, I like the pitchers with a feel for how the work thru a ballgame. I’m not talking about good ole crafty lefty type stuff here. I’m talking about when guy know how to read bats, be more aggressive when it’s necessary, and know the hitters and how to get them out. This guy is a teenager and he’s thinking the ballgame out there already. You give me that guy from the left side, with low-90s velocity and two good secondary pitches. He’s a pretty special complete pitcher I think.

but I’ll take Arodys. Even though Braves fans are convinced that I despise him.

I’m stubborn with my opinions. But the best thing you can do is listen to other people. Sometimes you can find things out from other times guys scouted players that you didn’t see. But if I have a long track record of scouting a guy I trust myself more than most. Example: I have a long record of scouting Beckham, so I have a pretty good feel. Any guys I have not seen at all, I have people I trust to help me fill in the gaps

It’s a little easier. If I can see a 7 inning outing I can tell a lot. When we want a detailed look, I like to sit on two starts. Obviously, the more I can see a guy over a period of time the more accurate I can. Like I mentioned, track record is important. I see a guy 5 separate times in two years and he’s the same guy every time I can feel confident evaluating him even more.

Hitters are tough. If you hear someone say they watched a game and can write up the hitter, it’s a lie or well…they’re wrong. When I’m on assignment, I need 5 games at least. You need BP and you need some good ABs during the games.

as cautious. Beckham, if not for where he was drafted, would have impressed me more. It’s natural to go in with expectations and what a guy should look like. Tools are fantastic, he just isn’t a complete guy yet and has a lot to work on. A lot of guys I talked to were very down on him, but I still think he’s more than on track. I just want to see a little more consistency before I rank him just purely on upside.

Oh they are just so fun, you have no idea lol.

I won’t say no, for sure but Jennings is tough to top. Really like Westmoreland but Jennings is one of the most complete players I’ve scouted.

Two guys that should be looked at side by side. I don’t think he does. I think they have a very similar upside actually. That’s why I’m not getting crazy over Kelly yet. I like him but not calling him a frontline starter within a year or two like some have.

Of course, very reasonable. Watch me get quoted on that now.

Price, Hellickson, Davis, Garza, Shields, Niemann. Quite a group

But I wouldn’t care too much about it. I’m not a big believer in turnaround stories lol

Seen him probably the most. Just so happens I love about 20 minutes from Hudson Valley so I saw them a lot. For the record….not a big Lobstein fan. Saw him a lot and there’s a lot of work to be done.