March2111_084

John Sickels

  • joined Mar 18, 2008
  • last login May 25, 2013
  • posts 6401
  • comments 15083

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
I haven't heard anyone complain about that
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 24 on May 24 2013, 6:24p - 1 reply
No Subject
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Sean Nolin, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays on May 24 2013, 4:33p - 1 reply
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 24 2013, 4:31p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 24
Posted on May 24 2013, 4:30p
Prospect of the Day: Sean Nolin, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Posted on May 24 2013, 4:00p
that's correct. Will fix.
Commented on MLB 2013 draft: Key hitters to know on May 24 2013, 2:13p
MLB 2013 draft: Key hitters to know
Posted on May 24 2013, 10:28a
If he's gained an idea, then bully for him. That's great. The tools were never the problem.
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 6:41p
No
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 6:40p
TJ="no big deal"=myth
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 6:38p
ah, that's the difference I think
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 5:04p
last I heard he was just in the 80s
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 5:03p
Yeah I'm old
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 5:02p
Well that makes sense
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 4:55p - 1 reply
I just can't see how you could write a book or seriously blog on a smart phone. Your hand would cramp up
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 4:51p - 1 reply
I really mean this seriously and I'm not trying to be obnoxious, but where do people find the time to listen to everything?
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 4:50p - 2 replies
How on earth would a smartphone make a computer obsolete?
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 4:33p - 5 replies
Not a matter of making a "statement"
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23 on May 23 2013, 4:29p - 3 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 22 on May 23 2013, 4:07p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 23
Posted on May 23 2013, 4:01p
possibly yes, although Colabello hits righthanded
Commented on Going the Distance in Minnesota: Position Prospects in the Twins System on May 23 2013, 2:07p
I have liked Gausman since high school and really drank the kool-aid last spring
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles on May 23 2013, 2:02p
thank you for the extremely kind words
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles on May 23 2013, 2:01p
Going the Distance in Minnesota: Position Prospects in the Twins System
Posted on May 23 2013, 1:49p
No way I would put him behind Bundy at this point, not with Bundy having an arm issue
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles on May 23 2013, 12:45p - 1 reply
I heard the Moran thing too.
Commented on 2013 Shadow Draft Thoughts on May 23 2013, 12:42p - 1 reply
yeah just like the real Twins I have problems with starters
Commented on 2013 Shadow Draft Thoughts on May 23 2013, 12:41p
SHADOW TWINS APPROXIMATE MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTER
Commented on 2013 Shadow Draft Thoughts on May 23 2013, 11:04a - 1 reply
MLB 2013 draft: Key pitchers to know
Posted on May 23 2013, 10:33a
Prospect of the Day: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Posted on May 23 2013, 8:00a
I dunno...I like him, but....
Commented on 2013 Shadow Draft Thoughts on May 22 2013, 11:05p
2013 Shadow Draft Thoughts
Posted on May 22 2013, 7:00p
No Subject
Commented on MOD: Minnesota Twins #1 on May 22 2013, 6:27p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 22
Posted on May 22 2013, 2:32p
Prospect of the Day: Tyler Lyons, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Posted on May 22 2013, 8:00a
change in plan
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 21 on May 22 2013, 12:14a - 2 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 21 on May 22 2013, 12:13a
maybe but Appel was healthy
Commented on 2013 MLB Draft: Indiana State Lefty Sean Manaea Injured on May 21 2013, 6:16p
he's a junior
Commented on 2013 MLB Draft: Indiana State Lefty Sean Manaea Injured on May 21 2013, 4:50p - 1 reply
Indiana State Athletics is reporting it as "shoulder tightness"
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 21 on May 21 2013, 4:48p
2013 MLB Draft: Indiana State Lefty Sean Manaea Injured
Posted on May 21 2013, 4:25p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 20 on May 21 2013, 2:49p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 21
Posted on May 21 2013, 2:48p
that's a good point about better conditioning. I will emphasize that more.
Commented on Prospect Retrospective: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks on May 21 2013, 1:01p
lol
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers on May 21 2013, 12:36p
quite similar
Commented on Prospect of the Day: Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers on May 21 2013, 12:36p
Prospect Retrospective: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Posted on May 21 2013, 12:34p
Prospect of the Day: Jurickson Profar, SS, Texas Rangers
Posted on May 21 2013, 8:00a
if so he would be PotD on Thurs or Fri
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 20 on May 20 2013, 6:15p - 3 replies
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 19 on May 20 2013, 3:42p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 20
Posted on May 20 2013, 3:41p
Prospect of the Day: Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Posted on May 20 2013, 1:30p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 18 on May 19 2013, 1:31p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 19
Posted on May 19 2013, 1:28p
Bone31crusher is now Astros GM.
Commented on Astros MOD #1 on May 18 2013, 5:59p
definitely worth tracking
Commented on Prospect Notes: Brett Jackson, Jay Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Luke Jackson on May 18 2013, 4:29p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 18
Posted on May 18 2013, 2:18p
It's both, what we think they could do, and what we would do
Commented on MOD: Minnesota Twins #1 on May 18 2013, 1:36p
Prospect Notes: Brett Jackson, Jay Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Luke Jackson
Posted on May 18 2013, 1:31p
unfortunately no
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 17 on May 17 2013, 3:01p
No Subject
Commented on Minor League Ball Gameday, May 16 on May 17 2013, 2:32p
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 17
Posted on May 17 2013, 2:30p
no, he's a pitcher for me
Commented on 2013 MLB Mock Draft: Version Two on May 16 2013, 10:50p
It's a fair point
Commented on 2013 MLB Mock Draft: Version Two on May 16 2013, 5:21p - 1 reply
Minor League Ball Gameday, May 16
Posted on May 16 2013, 3:53p
well I haven't seen Keith's mock yet so it is hard to comment
Commented on 2013 MLB Mock Draft: Version Two on May 16 2013, 1:59p
he could go as early as 25
Commented on 2013 MLB Mock Draft: Version Two on May 16 2013, 1:40p
Player Notes: Cedar Rapids Kernels
Posted on May 16 2013, 1:31p
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