SB Nation User Blog: nivarsity

Sizemore vs. Valbuena

nivarsity — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:11:24 -0000

Scott Sizemore and Luis Valbuena are under-the-radar AL Central 2B's who are likely to start full-time in 2010.

Sizemore has been compared to Marcus Giles (best case) and Frank Catalanotto. KG gave him 4 stars and ranked him #3 in the Tigers' system. He put up an .889 OPS between AA and AAA this year at age 24. The Tigers non-tendered Placido Polanco and have indicated they are going to give Sizemore every chance to be the team's opening day second baseman, even though he's currently recovering from a broken leg. He's generally rated average defensively.

Valbuena, 23, also has some pop for a 2B. In 95 PA's in AAA this year he raked to the tune of a .975 OPS. In 400 PA's with the Tribe, he was mediocre, struggling to a .298 OBP but showing power with 10 bombs. Last year he put up a 304/.381/.483 line in AA. Scouts like his defense, but UZR doesn't.

Which under-the-radar 2B do you like more?

Poll

Sizemore or Valbuena?

Braves mock draft

nivarsity — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:40:27 -0000

I will be the Scouting Director of the Braves in the mock draft on Minor League Ball, which will occur on June 6.

I'd love to hear your insight on who you think the Braves should pick.

To fill the space requirement, I will quote from my own post on the Braves mock draft:

The Braves will have just two picks in our mock -- #7 and #87. Likely candidates at #7 include (in no particular order):

Alex White - Aaron Crow - Tanner Scheppers - Zack Wheeler - Mike Leake - Kyle Gibson - Tyler Matzek

Since the Braves are well known for drafting local, I think we can include the free-falling, but still very interesting, Donovan Tate

Wheeler seems like a strong possibility -- he's a local boy with a high ceiling who figures to be there at #7.

The Braves are in a pretty good spot -- after Strasburg and Ackley, there's not much difference between #3 and #7. They'll have their choices of solid options at #7

I'll be looking to take the best player, and ignoring any positional need.

Thoughts?

MOD: Braves

nivarsity — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:31:20 -0000

The Braves will have just two picks in our mock -- #7 and #87. Likely candidates at #7 include (in no particular order):

Alex White - Aaron Crow - Tanner Scheppers - Zack Wheeler - Mike Leake - Kyle Gibson - Tyler Matzek

Since the Braves are well known for drafting local, I think we can include the free-falling, but still very interesting, Donovan Tate

Wheeler seems like a strong possibility -- he's a local boy with a high ceiling who figures to be there at #7.

The Braves are in a pretty good spot -- after Strasburg and Ackley, there's not much difference between #3 and #7. They'll have their choices of solid options at #7

I'll be looking to take the best player, and ignoring any positional need

Thoughts?

Big Donkey to the Nationals

nivarsity — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:24:44 -0000

Washington has signed Adam Dunn, 2 years, $20M

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090211&content_id=3817580&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

The Astros apparently were a late player for Dunn...Pence would've been the hardest working man in baseball with Dunn and Lee on each side.

Seems a bit pricey when compared to what Abreu got, but still a fraction of what he was seeking, and a 2-year commitment for an in-his-prime slugger is hard to question.