SB Nation User Blog: jbluestone

Selena Roberts has Arod book Coming out this May

jbluestone — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:28:44 -0000

Yep, the same author who is the only person who has any sources abotu Arod using steroids, is coming out with a Book about Arod this May called "Hit and Run: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez."

So.... gotta wonder, what could she have to gain from putting out 4 unnamed sources who told her Arod is on a list of players who tested positive for steroids. A list no one can confirm because its sealed.... boy isn't that convienient. She breaks the story, gets all the interviews, all the face time, with a new book on the horizon.... if that doesnt smell fishy I don't know what does.

Tommy Hanson

jbluestone — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:06:03 -0000

I was reading the Atlanta Braves Top 20 that was posted on October 23rd. And I was curious, because it appeared that Hanson's stock jumped a lot with his starts in teh Fall league, many of which happened after the top 20 was released.

BA ranked him #1 ahead of both Heyward and Freeman. Goldstein over at BP ranked him #2 behind Heyward, but said in a previous article that

I checked his writeup was part of the free stuff..

I remain massively confused as to why Hanson doesn't get talked about when most discuss the top pitching prospects in the game. For some reason, he's relegated to Group B, on the fringes of the discussion. That's despite the fact that he had one of the most dominating seasons put up by any pitcher at any level this year, and he also proved himself at Double-A, and he now has the scouting reports to match the numbers. Now, he's proving he belongs in that group in Arizona as well. With nine strikeouts in four no-hit innings on Saturday, Hanson extended his scoreless streak to 8 2/3innings in three games, during which he's allowed just one hit and struck out 14. Right-handers against him are 0-fo-20 with 12 strikeouts. Don't make the same mistake as other observers—this guy is one of the best out there.

Hanson finished in Arizona with a 5-0 record 0.63 era 7 starts, 28.2 ip, 10 hits 2 runs, yes 2 in 28.2 ip, 49 ks and 7 walks 7.0 k/bb ratio.

This was on top of an incredible season where he dominated at two levels, and I don't feel like looking it up (does anyone know where you can get gamelogs for players?) but I am pretty sure he has one really bad start early on after he was promoted to AA, but otherwise was equally as dominant.

BA Yankees top 10 prospects

jbluestone — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:46:13 -0000

Baseball America released their top 10 list, scouting reports are for insiders only, but the list is available for free. 1. Austin Jackson, of
2. Jesus Montero, c
3. Andrew Brackman, rhp
4. Austin Romine, c
5. Dellin Betances, rhp
6. Zach McAllister, rhp
7. Alfredo Aceves, rhp
8. Phil Coke, lhp
9. Mark Melancon, rhp
10. Bradley Suttle, 3b A couple of interesting points from the chat with John Manuel who created the list. When asked if brackman could hit triple digits again, Manuel said his first pitch in Hawaii was 97, and he also said this later on, Alan Matthews and I mused in 2007 that Brackman had the highest ceiling in the '07 draft class, one that included David Price and Matt Weiters. Chew on that a minute. He also had some nice stuff to say about some lesser guys in most fans minds I don't think Aceves & Coke are mediocre. We have reports (from other clubs' scouts, not the Yankees) of Coke throwing 95 mph with a plus slider out of the big league bullpen; that's at least an 8th-inning guy. As a starter, he's a lefty with three average pitches. Aceves is Kennedy with more pitches for strikes and more savvy & experience. He's ahead of Hughes right now in the pecking order for the big league rotation. Who's to say he's not Jorge Campillo, to compare him to another Mexican pitcher and mid-rotation workhorse type. So it certainly seems we have some real hope, they also project the yankees 2012 rotation assuming no free agency (just based on current in organization talent) to be Joba, Wang, Brackman, Betances, Hughes. (in that order).

Henry Sosa

jbluestone — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:33:23 -0000

I just read up on Henry Sosa over at Baseball america, and I hadnt heard of him before. I checked and he isnt in John's prospect book. Does anyone know anything about him... sounds pretty promising.

Here is a blub of what they said... its free access to that article so I assume I am not breaking any copyright violations

"Sosa's season is nearly incomprehensible. He's not allowed two earned runs in any of his 12 outings and he's not allowed any earned run in seven outings. Righthanders are hitting .109 against him this year. And his stuff is legit: he has a 94-95 mph fastball that has touched 98 this season to go with an improving curveball."

Citation
-Chris Kline, Baseball America
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/hotsheet/264256.html

Thoughts?

Should minor league experts actually see the players they report on?

jbluestone — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:26:44 -0000

I just read John Manuels chat from february 1st... and i knew that BA gets alot of info from the guys in the orginization... but he seemed to be saying that he doesnt see alot of these guys actually play.. and that its not even neccessary

"John Manuel : (2:04 PM ET ) Dave, thanks for the kind words. You don't have to see prospects to get good scouting reports. What Jim Callis does and what I do and what we do at Baseball America is talk to the people who know--the scouts, the managers, the coaches who see these players in the minors, the farm directors, the scouting directors. Stats help the further up the ladder you go; they don't mean a whole lot at the short-season level, though they have some meaning. They can point you in the right direction. But I've never been to an NY-P game in my life. I've covered college baseball for the better part of 10 years without going to many SEC games in person, and I think the people in that league know that I know SEC baseball, without having been there. It's just hard work and journalism, nothing extraordinary. "

How do you guys feel about this?

Thought for Johns Comment sections

jbluestone — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:10:47 -0000

After reading some of Kevin Goldsteins prospect writeups over at BP, I decided that I absolutely LOVE the section where he says "in a perfect world." I think this is what all of us are looking for in the end. All the other stuff is great to know.. like the background info for a cool story, but in the end, we want to know.. is this guy a possible ace, or a mid rotation innings eater, a perenial all star or a solid producer, and i think the actual sentance is much better than some letter grade or what baseball HQ is doing with a "potential ranking".. which leaves alot of room for debate becaue numbers/letters are ambiguous. I would love to see something like this from John as part of his comment sections for players.