Which one is better?

Big Phil — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:28:22 -0000

I am currently in two Dynasty leagues and I am just wondering which one of my minor leagues are better. Maybe you could tell me where one of them is better than the other and where I might need more depth. I just thought this might spark some discussion. If you do not think this is worth a post just tell me and I will get rid of it.

Team 1

1) Rick Porcello, RHP, Grade A-: Went back and forth on this one due to the K/IP issue, but ultimately decided to give him the benefit of the doubt due to his youth. More of a Webb/Zambrano type than a Beckett.

2) Andrew McCutchen, OF, Grade B+: Power has been a bit disappointing, and he still needs more polish on the bases, but defense is coming along and he’s improved his plate discipline. Still very young, you can still make an A- case. PIT

3) Aaron Hicks, OF, Grade B+. Could flip with McCutchen due to higher power ceiling.

4) Todd Frazier, INF, Grade B: I like him. A nice solid hitter, maybe not a star, but should be productive. Only question is defense. (CIN)

5) Adrian Cardenas, 2B, Grade B: I think he’s a second baseman. Equivalent to a college junior entering 2009.

6) Austin Jackson, OF, Grade B: Should be a solid player but not a star. Will that be enough in New York? NYY

7) Zach Collier, OF, Grade B-: Grade is speculative, but I like his ceiling a lot. Will need time.

8) Jordan Lyles, RHP, Grade B-: Very projectable young arm but will need time to develop

9) Jon Jay, OF, Grade B-: I like him more than a lot of people, but I think he can play center and put up solid numbers. Another aggressive grade, but both Jay and Jones have impressed me and I think both tend to be underrated. (STL)

10) Lorenzo Cain, OF, Grade B-: Tools guy continues to improve his skills. MIL

11) Rob Delaney, RHP, Grade B-: Is this too high? Should he be a C+

12) Jake Jefferies, C, Grade B-: I’m very impressed with his contact hitting skills.
Power??

13) Connor Graham, RHP, Grade B-: Borderline C+. Excellent potential, but walk rate is too high.

14) Tyson Ross, RHP, Grade C+: I think he’s an injury risk, but the upside is here.

15) Zach Putnam, RHP, Grade C+: Personal favorite from the 2008 draft. Very good arm, a good hitter too, does he start or relieve?

16) Cord Phelps, 2B, Grade C+: Polished Stanford product, some pop in bat, needs to improve glove.

17) Alex Avila, C, Grade C+: Strong bat, I think more power will come, not sure about where he fits defensively.(DET)

18) Paul Demny, RHP, Grade C+: Another guy who is a long way away, but has upside. (WSH)

19) Jacob McGee, LHP, Grade C+: Would be B+ if not for Tommy John surgery. (TB)

20) Joshua Fields, RHP, Grade C+: I’m assuming he will sign. Stuff is here, but what about command

21) Felipe Paulino, RHP, Grade C+: If healthy, could rank B- and ahead of Lyles and Seaton. Great stuff, but role and condition of arm are uncertain. (HOU)

22) Clayton Mortensen, RHP, Grade C+: Gets grounders, could be an inning-eater, but strikes me as overrated by some other sources.

23) Pete Kozma, SS, Grade C+: I rather like him and I think he might end up being a better hitter than people think. (STL)

24) Mark Trumbo, 1B, Grade C+: Impressive power potential, but plate discipline and defense preclude higher grade (LAA)

25) Josh Smoker, LHP, Grade C+: Would rank higher if healthy. This grade is generous. WSH

26)Aaron Thompson, LHP, Grade C+: Could be a C. I don’t like the way his Double-A numbers slipped and I worry about health. FLA

27) Collin DeLome, OF, Grade C: Good power, some speed, but bad strike zone judgment will hold him back. HOU

28) Josh Geer, RHP, Grade C+: Could be a nice strike-throwing fourth starter if his elbow holds up. SD

29) Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Grade C+: Very young, could rank in the top 10 next year if he develops properly. NYY

30) Shane Peterson, OF, Grade C+: High OBP college guy with gap power, but not many homers.

31) P.J. Walters, RHP, Grade C+: Uses a nasty changeup to rack up large numbers of strikeouts.

32) John Tolisano, 2B, Grade C: Another young guy who couldn’t hit at Lansing, but could rebound. TOR

Team 2

1) Fernando Martinez, OF, Grade B+: Still extremely young, though at some point he’s got to produce better than he has.

2) Todd Frazier, INF, Grade B: I like him. A nice solid hitter, maybe not a star, but should be productive. Only question is defense.

3) Chris Valaika, SS, Grade B: I like him, too. Looks like a fine hitter, even without strong plate discipline. Probably more a 2B than SS.

4) Max Ramirez, C-1B, Grade B: I love this bat. Glove might not be QUITE as bad as everyone says, but it isn’t good enough for him to rank higher.

5) Beau Mills, 1B, Grade B: Another power bat with impressive home run upside. Not sure how they will fit all these guys into the lineup.

6) Angel Salome, C, Grade B: He can mash, but defense continues to draw mixed reviews, and if he can’t catch where does he play?

7) Hector Rondon, RHP, Grade B: Good arm, good stats, not sure why he isn’t ranked more highly by other

8) Drew Stubbs, OF, Grade B-: Where did the power go? Other skills are coming along nicely.

9) Junior Lake, SS, Grade B-: Intriguing toolsy infielder had strong AZL debut. A sleeper.

10) Zach Stewart, RHP, Grade B-: Strong arm, command issues, could move fast in the pen. Maybe a C+?

11) Kyle Lotzkar, RHP, Grade B-: Might downgrade to C+. Very young, tons of potential, command and injury issues. This is one of my “intuition guys” though.

12) David Huff, LHP, Grade B-: Successful finesse lefty type, Jamie Moyer upside, but could struggle like Sowers.

13) Josh Roenicke, RHP, Grade B-: Very impressive arm, could be a closer perhaps.

14) Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Grade B-: Would like to see more power, other skills coming along.

15) Daryl Thompson, RHP, Grade C+: He’s a solid pitcher if he can stay healthy, a big if. I’ve liked him since I shadow-drafted him out of high school.

16) Juan Francisco, 3B, Grade C+: Enormous power potential, very young, but dismal discipline. Did reduce strikeouts last year.

17) Robbie Grossman, OF, Grade C+: Very toolsy, could be a Seven Skill guy if he maintains the patience he showed in very brief rookie ball trial. High ceiling, could rank much higher a year from now.

18) Ramon Ramirez, RHP, Grade C+: Could rank as high as 8 depending on what you want to emphasize. Small right-hander with a strong arm, took step forward in ’08.

19) Adis Portillo, RHP, Grade C+: Portillo is a hard-throwing right-hander who shows more polish than most Venezuelan prospects. Portillo exhibits a dominating mound presence and great composure, featuring a moving fastball that tops out at about 94mph. It's the raw stuff he wields with three possible plus pitches, though, that puts him into the upper ranks of pitching prodigies.

20) Cole Gillespie, OF, Grade C+: Jason Bay type, solid across the board performance, scouts aren’t wild about tools but he has played well at every level.

21) Maikel Cleto, RHP, Grade C+: Power arm acquired from Mets. Great fastball, but rather raw

22) Chris Heisey, OF, Grade C+: Like the speed, gets on base, could be solid fourth outfielder.

23) Roberto De La Cruz, 3B, Grade C+: Young Dominican with power, big bonus, and reportedly has good strike zone judgment.

24) Wily Peralta, RHP, Grade C+: A high upside arm, but a long way from the majors.

25) Scott Shaw, RHP, Grade C+: Sleeper prospect from 2008 draft, has above average stuff and showed better command in the pros than he did at Illinois.

26) Dan Dorn, OF, Grade C+: Kills right-handers, could be a solid platoon bat.

27) Yorman Rodriguez, OF, Grade C+: Too young and raw to rank higher in my system. Need to see some numbers first.

28) Chen-Chang Lee, RHP, Grade C+: Sidearm guy signed out of Taiwan has very good stuff.

29) Josh Geer, RHP, Grade C+: Could be a nice strike-throwing fourth starter if his elbow holds up.

30) Carlos Fisher, RHP, Grade C: Considered C+, another potential relief arm with ability.

31) Josh Kroeger, OF, Grade C: He finally learned some plate discipline and has done well in Triple-A. Getting old for a prospect.

32) Efrain Nieves, LHP, Grade C: Projectable lefty got good reports from scouts in the Pioneer League. Control best attribute right now

33) Chris Carpenter, RHP, Grade C: Command problems and poor health record reduce stock, but he throws very hard and has upside if he can stay away from doctors.

34) Evan Frederickson, LHP, Grade C: Huge upside arm from the left side, but very raw for a college guy.

Top 5 Favorite Prospects

Big Phil — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:01:24 -0000

I was just wandering who everyones favorite Cardinal prospects were. Not who you think are the best, just who you would love to become a St. Louis Cardinal. Now I am a prospect freak can could name my top 100 but I will just stick to my top 5. If you do not think this is worth a post just tell me and I will get rid of it.

1) Jon Bravo

2) Jon Edwards

3) Tommy Pham

4) Donovan Solano

5) P.J. Walters

SB Nation User Blog: Big Phil

Which one is better?

Top 5 Favorite Prospects