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John Sickels

  • joined Mar 18, 2008
  • last login Jun 19, 2013
  • posts 6475
  • comments 15551

John began his baseball career working as Bill James research assistant from 1993 through 1996. He worked as ESPN.com's Minor League Baseball Analyst from 1996 until 2005, when he joined SB Nation. He is senior editor and writer for MinorLeagueBall.com, SB Nation's site for all things related to baseball prospects and the minor leagues.

John was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1990 with a BA in History and Philosophy. He earned an MA in European History from the University of Kansas in 1993, and did PhD study in British History at KU from 1993 through 1996.

John has written 20 books. He lives in Lawrence, KS, with his wife Jeri and his sons Nicholas and Jackson.

Publications: STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook, 1996-2002
The Baseball Prospect Book 2003-2011
Bob Feller: Ace of the Greatest Generation (Potomac Books, 2004)

Non-Baseball Publications: GURPS Romulans (2005)
GURPS Federation (2011)

A Fan Of...

  • mlb Minnesota Twins
Recent Activity
he's the equivalent of a college freshman right now and he has gained velocity since HS.
Commented on Sleeper Prospects for 2013 in Review, Part TWO on Jun 19 2013, 12:59p
Sleeper Prospects for 2013 in Review, Part THREE
Posted on Jun 19 2013, 11:00a
Sleeper Prospects for 2013 in Review, Part TWO
Posted on Jun 19 2013, 9:00a
he has the most potential
Commented on Sleeper Prospects for 2013 In Review, Part ONE on Jun 19 2013, 8:24a
I'd say not. Even when on the field, he's never shown much in the way of skill
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 18 on Jun 18 2013, 6:33p - 2 replies
thank you for the very kind words
Commented on Sleeper Prospects for 2013 In Review, Part ONE on Jun 18 2013, 5:54p
lol
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 18 on Jun 18 2013, 3:32p
Yeah he pulled himself together last spring at Howard, but seems to have slipped back again
Commented on Sleeper Prospects for 2013 In Review, Part ONE on Jun 18 2013, 3:28p
Sleeper Prospects for 2013 In Review, Part ONE
Posted on Jun 18 2013, 3:22p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 17 on Jun 18 2013, 1:53p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 18
Posted on Jun 18 2013, 1:52p
Prospect of the Day: Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets
Posted on Jun 18 2013, 8:00a
honestly part of this is because I think everyone needs to ride buses in A-ball, even for just a few weeks
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 17 on Jun 17 2013, 9:12p
No Subject
Commented on Integrating Baseball Knowledge on Jun 17 2013, 6:20p
No Subject
Commented on Integrating Baseball Knowledge on Jun 17 2013, 6:13p - 1 reply
Might sound weird but I'd send him to Lancaster for three starts
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 17 on Jun 17 2013, 4:55p - 4 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 16 on Jun 17 2013, 3:25p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 17
Posted on Jun 17 2013, 3:23p
Prospect of the Day: Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Posted on Jun 17 2013, 2:13p
right, and that's my whole point
Commented on Integrating Baseball Knowledge on Jun 17 2013, 10:58a - 1 reply
I've never read Lakatos but he sounds interesting and I'll have to take a look.
Commented on Integrating Baseball Knowledge on Jun 17 2013, 9:19a - 1 reply
Integrating Baseball Knowledge
Posted on Jun 17 2013, 8:16a
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 16
Posted on Jun 16 2013, 1:00p
Max Kepler has been bothered all spring by elbow inflammation. Maybe that's well-known but I just found out, lol.
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 15 on Jun 15 2013, 7:23p - 2 replies
Everything is proceeding as I have forseen.
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 13 on Jun 15 2013, 3:34p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14 on Jun 15 2013, 2:33p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 15
Posted on Jun 15 2013, 2:31p
agreed
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14 on Jun 14 2013, 3:23p
yeah
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14 on Jun 14 2013, 3:23p
the brawl might have been just enough to tip it
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14 on Jun 14 2013, 2:23p - 1 reply
I agree with this, he is very talented.
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14 on Jun 14 2013, 2:21p - 1 reply
typo fixed
Commented on Weekend College Baseball Preview: College World Series Edition on Jun 14 2013, 12:44p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 13 on Jun 14 2013, 12:43p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 14
Posted on Jun 14 2013, 12:42p
Prospect of the Day: Mike Zunino, C, Seattle Mariners
Posted on Jun 14 2013, 8:00a
Yeah we had one come through Lawrence (and a B-24 with it) a couple of years ago, but I didn't have the spare cash at the time
Commented on How much security at the ballpark is enough? on Jun 13 2013, 3:08p - 1 reply
these are the types of guys I'm interested in, that I'm trying to find.
Commented on Community Discussion: Major League and College Success on Jun 13 2013, 2:19p
Two themes I'm working with
Commented on Community Discussion: Major League and College Success on Jun 13 2013, 2:18p - 4 replies
this is true but there are ways to adjust for that
Commented on Community Discussion: Major League and College Success on Jun 13 2013, 2:11p - 2 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 12 on Jun 13 2013, 2:08p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 13
Posted on Jun 13 2013, 2:06p
Hey wait a second....you got to fly in a B-17???
Commented on How much security at the ballpark is enough? on Jun 13 2013, 1:54p - 1 reply
You're not the only one
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 12 on Jun 13 2013, 1:38p - 1 reply
All of those guys were successful in college, some VERY successful
Commented on Community Discussion: Major League and College Success on Jun 13 2013, 1:06p - 1 reply
Community Discussion: Major League and College Success
Posted on Jun 13 2013, 10:00a
Well if you look way back at some of the other Shadows (i have been doing this in this format since 1996) many were pretty conservative and safe, so in this respect 2013 is a reversal to an older pattern
Commented on My Shadow Draft for 2013 on Jun 13 2013, 2:31a
yes
Commented on My Shadow Draft for 2013 on Jun 13 2013, 2:29a
well...
Commented on My Shadow Draft for 2013 on Jun 12 2013, 3:54p - 2 replies
yeah I should have picked Buxton
Commented on My Shadow Draft for 2013 on Jun 12 2013, 3:32p - 1 reply
My Shadow Draft for 2013
Posted on Jun 12 2013, 2:40p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 11 on Jun 12 2013, 11:54a
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 12
Posted on Jun 12 2013, 11:53a
2013 MLB Draft: American League East Summary and Review
Posted on Jun 12 2013, 9:00a
2013 MLB Draft: National League East Summary and Review
Posted on Jun 12 2013, 8:00a
I still haven't seen official confirmation of this anywhere
Commented on 2013 MLB Draft: American League West Summary and Review on Jun 11 2013, 7:23p
Baseball America reports that Billy McKinney signed with Oakland for $1,800,000
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 11 on Jun 11 2013, 2:28p
If my son was a significant pro pitching prospect, I might not let him pitch college ball. I guess it would depend on the program though
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 11 on Jun 11 2013, 2:27p - 1 reply
I think it is abusive. Boyd IS a decent enough prospect to have a pro career.
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 11 on Jun 11 2013, 2:18p - 2 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 10 on Jun 11 2013, 1:48p
Minor League Ball Gameday, June 11
Posted on Jun 11 2013, 1:47p
2013 MLB Draft: American League Central Summary and Review
Posted on Jun 11 2013, 11:30a
The quibble with Garner is fair....you are right about the 95.
Commented on 2013 MLB Draft: National League Central Summary and Review on Jun 11 2013, 10:42a - 2 replies
2013 MLB Draft: National League Central Summary and Review
Posted on Jun 11 2013, 10:00a
Kinda although Appel was more dominant this year
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates on Jun 11 2013, 9:28a
yeah tomorrow probably
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates on Jun 11 2013, 9:28a
I've also seen some Gausman-quality changeups from Cole
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates on Jun 11 2013, 9:27a
I'm going by what I've seen from him
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates on Jun 11 2013, 9:26a - 1 reply
Prospect of the Day: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Posted on Jun 11 2013, 8:00a
Urena 93-98, erratic slider, curve, change
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 10 on Jun 10 2013, 9:01p - 1 reply
I'd have to assume
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, June 10 on Jun 10 2013, 9:00p
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