SB Nation User Blog: bravitos5122

Heyward and Freeman to AA

bravitos5122 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:46:37 -0000

That is the word. Pretty aggressive promotions by the Braves with both guys being just 19 but the big club's production at 1B and the OF is pretty terrible so the sooner they can replace Kotchman and Franceour the better. I think both guys should hold their own since they control the strike zone so well for young hitters. Heyward has hit for more power this year and Freeman for less although has improved his walk rate a good bit. Cody Johnson not promoted as of yet. He is still striking out at a ridiculous pace. But I guess its encouraging that the power hasnt dropped off after moving up to a new level and he has struck out slightly less while walking more. He still is only 20.

Zach Britton

bravitos5122 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:31:34 -0000

Is this guy going to shoot up prospect radars? I have owned him in a deep keeper league for a couple years now and he has been getting better each year. Left handed, lots of groundballs, good K/9 and apparently improved velocity. I don't think he is too far off of the Big 3 in the Orioles system but I may be biased. But based on scouting reports and numbers there is a lot to like.

21 years old. 2.11 ERA 59 IP 45 H 53/30 K/BB 2.46 GO/FO

His command has taken a step back but I don't think its a major concern.

Adam Jones is SICK!!!

bravitos5122 — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:48:10 -0000

I thought he had a Mike Cameron ceiling, no shame in that. Yeah, its early but he obviously is a superstar in the making. Glad I acquired him in a keeper league for Elijah Dukes! lol.

Another opportunity to lol @ Bill Bavasi. Chris Tillman threw 6 shutout innings tonight striking out 10.

A Markakis/Jones/Reimold outfield has a chance to be the best OF in baseball even if Reimold is just average. And I think he is going to be good.

Will Jones surpass Sizemore as the best young CFer in baseball?

Kris Medlen

bravitos5122 — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:26:17 -0000

I never hear this guy talked about. He was a damn good relief prospect for the Braves and they moved him into the rotation and he really took to it well. Good stuff, strikes out a batter per inning, excellent control, had a strong AFL. He's diminutive in stature(5'10) so that might be the biggest reason he gets overlooked. I dont see why he isnt higher up on most lists. He seems like a safer bet than most guys to become a #3 or #4 starter.

Hanson or Flowers?

bravitos5122 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:29:37 -0000

Who has had the more impressive AFL? These two guys have been by far the best players there. Hanson's OPS is around is SLUGGING 1.000 because of his 12 homers to go with a batting average close to .400.

Hanson today went 5 IP 1 H 0 R 10 K

I would go Hanson because he a pitcher and I think its more difficult to dominate a very talented league after you have thrown 150 IP in a year but Flowers has been nothing short of remarkable.

Tommy Hanson in the AFL

bravitos5122 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:44:58 -0000

8 2/3 IP 1 H 0 R 14 K's

Dude is pretty good. where does he rank among the top pitching prospects in the game? He gets overlooked quite a bit but has the stuff and performances that indicate he has front of the rotation potential. Fastball can get up there in the mid 90s. Plus curveball and solid changeup. Flyball rate is a little bit of a concern but something he should overcome. How does he compare with guys like Tillman, Holland, Davis, an the other 2nd tier of elite pitching prospects? Who does he remind you of currently pitching in the bigs?

How good is Tyler Flowers?

bravitos5122 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:12:49 -0000

22 year old catcher at Myrtle Beach. .295/.436/.500 an that doesnt even show the whole story because he got off to a real slow start. This kid wow'd everyone on the big club in spring training with his size and mammoth power an he has certainly had a breakout season. The walk rate is just ridiculous. As a catcher, his defensive skills are solid, and his bat would carry at 1B but his value would obviously take a hit.

Where does he rank with the current catching prospects in the minors excluding Wieters? I know some other guys might be a year younger or doing it at a higher level but I think this kid has the best stick of any catching prospect not named Wieters. Braves have had a great amount of success identifying catchers in recent years. Its unfortunate the braves wont be able to find a place for this kid's bat with McCann at C and Kotchman at 1B and Freeman coming up right behind him.

Charlie Morton debuts against LAA tonight

bravitos5122 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:28:38 -0000

A lot of anticipation for this kid's start tonight, especially from Braves fans. Not much of a prospect before the year, he has dominated AAA. His stuff backs up his numbers with a plus fastball and plus curveball to go with a slider and changeup that show promise. His command is what really turned everything around for him. If he can be the pitcher the Braves have been saying he is, that would be a good addition to go with other young pitchers Jurrjens and Reyes who have pitched well.

When I saw him dominate Durham he reminded me of Wainwright quite a bit. 8 IP 1 H 13 k's against the best hitting AAA team.

Predict who will be the top 10 prospects in 09?

bravitos5122 — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:46:53 -0000

1. David Price

2. Matt Wieters

3. Rick Porcello

4. Matt LaPorta

5. Jake McGee

6. Travis Snider

7. Jason Heyward

8. Mike Moustakas

9. Fernando Martinez

10. Andrew McCutcheon

Threw a list together just to generate discussion but wanna see who are your top 10 prospects at the conclusion of the season. I didnt include guys like Maybin, Rasmus because I think they will lose their rookie status this year. LaPorta might but he has nowhere to play.

Daniel Cabrera is putting it together

bravitos5122 — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:55:49 -0000

Every year I draft this guy thinking this is the year he puts it together. And every year I drop him after a month. He has been very good this year, and should improve.

5-1 with a 3.48 ERA. He has tossed 7 straight quality starts, and isnt walking anybody these days. He walked zero batters against the Red Sox and Yankees in back to back starts, two of the most patient teams in baseball. 24 walks in 63 innings but over this stretch of games his walk rate is dropping each game. He has ditched the high 90s fastball and gone to a 2 seam fastball a la Wang and Carmona and has become a groundball pitcher which has dropped his strikeout rate but his whip dramatically as well.

Do you believe he will be a Wang or Carmona type? Or should the Orioles sell high?