Sickels' 2007 50/50 Lists Re-Examined

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 13, 2008 6:39 PM EST

Our colleague John Sickels has posted two reviews of his 50/50 list - the 50 best hitters and 50 best pitchers - and being that we're as rich as Croesus in the prospect department why not take a look at what Sickels says?

2) Matt Garza, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Went 5-7, 3.69 with a 67/32 K/BB in 83 innings for the Twins. Now traded to Tampa Bay. Like Hughes, assuming he stays healthy he should be really good.

18) Jacob McGee, LHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Combined 8-6, 3.15 with 175/52 K/BB in 140 innings between Class A Vero Beach and Double-A Montgomery. Solidified status as one of top southpaws in the minors.

23) Wade Davis, RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Combined to go 10-3, 2.50 with 169/51 K/BB in 158 innings between Vero Beach and Montgomery. A very fine prospect, one of many in the pitching-rich Tampa Bay system.

26) Jeff Niemann, RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Went 12-6, 3.98 with 123/46 K/BB in 131 innings for Triple-A Durham. Should be a good inning-eater.

36) Mitch Talbot, RHP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Horrible start hurt his numbers, but finished with a 13-9, 4.53 mark and a 124/59 K/BB in 161 innings for AAA Durham. Still a decent prospect.

Click here to see the hitters, but a few notes on the pitching prospects he talks about:

Garza was ranked #2, same position as Delmon, which is more valuable, a top pitcher or a top outfielder?
Wade Davis is underrated on a national and local scale. I would - and did - put him above both Price and McGee for the moment because he's the safest, closest, and most polished pitcher in the minors.
How is Niemann going to be an innings eater when he's barely over 5 IP/GS in AAA, particularly when he averaged more IP/GS in 2006 - an injury shortened season?

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Re: Sickels' 2007 50/50 Lists Re-Examined

all five of these young pitchers have a future in the big leagues.
1.Matt Garza will be the third pitcher in the rotation and will have a very nice year facing the other teams #3 pitchers
2.Jacob McGee will most likely pitch the whole year in the minors most likely starting in AA and working his way up to AAA and could be in the big leagues some time in 2009 either as a starter or reliever.

Wade Davis has been a pitcher was has been lights out the last two years and I think he will start the season in AA with McGee and Move up to AAA after the allstar break and then move up to the majors as a starter in 2009.
Jeff Niemann might start the year in the rotation but might have to start the year in AAA to prove his durabity but I think that he is ready for the majors and he will prove himself and become a major league starter.
mitch talbot will most likely start the year in AAA but will move his way into the majors either as a starter until David Price is ready and then be moved to a long reliever or a matt Guerrier type of pitcher who started his career as a starter in the minors and has dominanted as a reliever.

by RayOfHope on Jan 13, 2008 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Re: Sickels' 2007 50/50 Lists Re-Examined

It should be noted that this is Sickels' pre 2007 list - plenty has changed since.

Your comment on Niemann is right on - until he shows more command, gets more efficient, he's no innings-eater.

Being a Twins fan (he admits it) I think his love for Garza might have been a little hopeful -Garza has solid potential but won't qualify for the 2008 list. Davis and McGee remain top-notch pitching prospects - but I think the thinking on Niemann and Talbot has slipped since. The latter is still young and could rebound. And I can't agree on Davis being underrated - he's been top 5 on every Rays list, and top 25 in the national lists so far.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jan 14, 2008 2:30 AM EST reply actions

Underrated in terms of his rank compared to McGee

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 14, 2008 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Sickels' 2007 50/50 Lists Re-Examined

Could that not then mean McGee is overrated?

I happen to agree that Davis is closer to reaching his potential than McGee, and his performance in '07 slots him as more likely to translate his skills into a starter role sooner. I thought Sickels was aggressive in his ranking of McGee (A). But he gave so few, who should get em. Lefties just get treated better.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Jan 15, 2008 2:48 AM EST reply actions