A's Land Inoa
The agent for Michel Inoa, the top Dominican Republic pitching prospect of the last decade, has told other clubs not to bother when the July 2 international signing period opens Wednesday.
That ship has sailed.
According to industry sources, Inoa, represented by Adam Katz of WMG, has agreed to terms with the A's for a $4.25 million signing bonus. Other clubs pursuing Inoa, including the Rangers, Reds and Yankees, were told this weekend that the deal was done, and that A's general manager Billy Beane would announce the signing this week.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2008/266411.html
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mid 90's
mid 90’s at 16! this kid is going to be fun to watch!
by dawg24 on Jun 29, 2008 8:18 PM PDT 0 recs
Or he'll turn out to be 27.
Or his arm will fall off.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on
Jun 30, 2008 8:30 PM PDT
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Some great news on a not so great baseball day
"Mount it? I already did. Oh! You meant on the wall?!!
by rickey939 on Jun 29, 2008 8:21 PM PDT 0 recs
Michel Inoa
Our Savior! Maybe he can replace Blanton in the 2008 Rotation!!!! j/k
by Colorado Fan on Jun 29, 2008 8:26 PM PDT 0 recs
If I'm figuring right,
that means we’ll need to put him on the roster when he’s 21, or he’ll get poached in the rule 5 draft like Johan.
Then again, maybe we’ll want to start him at 19, like Felix.
"Dispatch knuckleheadedness with Bond-like aplomb." –74mk
by iglew on Jun 29, 2008 8:29 PM PDT 0 recs
There's some possibility
that he is actually older than 16… though I suppose that’s a risk you take with all Dominican prospects.
I’m not actually convinced that this is a bad thing, however. It may mean his fastball is a little less projectable, but the decreased injury risk would seem to outweigh that.
In any event: the team will have to put him on the 40-man roster at the end of the 2012 season, when he is “20.” He will then have 3 or 4 option years (whether he has 3 or 4 is complicated). The earliest the A’s could be faced with a “do or die” decision on him is 2015, which is a hell of a long time away.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 29, 2008 8:42 PM PDT
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Well, if he grows another 8 inches
maybe they can trade him to the Warriors. Apparently they prefer upside to basketball skills…
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 29, 2008 11:05 PM PDT
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At least they have upside ...
They could have drafted Todd Fuller, or another unathletic 7 foot white guy …
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on
Jul 1, 2008 1:37 PM PDT
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Great News.
He could very well be our Felix.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on Jun 29, 2008 8:51 PM PDT 0 recs
I guess Braden is our Oscar?

A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jun 29, 2008 8:58 PM PDT
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Andre 3000's rockin' that retro jersey!
"I'm tying my dog to the railroad track, choo choo train's gonna break his back; We used to call him Spot, but now he's called Splat; That's the kind of person we are... Oh baby won't ya come home with me?"- 'The Dicky & Dino Show' from The Young Ones, 1984
by Gaijin_Suketto on
Jun 30, 2008 12:24 PM PDT
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Here:
It is the richest deal ever for an international amateur who is not from Cuba, eclipsing both the $2.44 million paid to Willy Mo Pena as part of his major league contract back in 1999, and the straight $2.25 million bonus paid by the Dodgers to Joel Guzman in 2001. In fact, the only pitcher who previously ranked among the top 10 bonuses in Latin American history was righthander Ricardo Aramboles, who got $1.52 million back in 1998 from the Yankees.
...don’t get ahead of yourself, Ace…
by oc on
Jun 29, 2008 9:04 PM PDT
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Past failures by other teams
are not indicative of future of our.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Jun 29, 2008 9:19 PM PDT
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are not indicative of our future*
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Jun 29, 2008 9:21 PM PDT
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That's true
When we fail, it’s usually in unprecedented ways (and generally involving baserunning in between 3rd and home).
A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jun 29, 2008 9:22 PM PDT
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Hahaha
So sad but true.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Jun 29, 2008 9:26 PM PDT
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Ariel Prieto instead of Todd Helton?
That kind of failure??
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on
Jun 30, 2008 9:54 AM PDT
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You just
made my head hurt. Thanks.
Florida ain't no place for a self-respecting A's fan.
by Leopold Bloom on
Jun 30, 2008 10:58 AM PDT
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OMG
I’m amazed we outbid anyone, much less the whole league.
by Mark Borgschulte on Jun 29, 2008 9:12 PM PDT 0 recs
Not sure if this is a good signing, but
I’m quite glad that they’re showing a willingness to spend money in latin america.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jun 29, 2008 9:14 PM PDT 0 recs
fixed
>glad that they’re showing a willingness to spend money
facepalm.jpg
by Zonis on
Jun 29, 2008 9:15 PM PDT
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Agree 100%
I’m much more excited about the A’s being so aggressive in the Dominican than about Inoa himself, since I haven’t seen him pitch and all.
"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe
by EastCoastA on
Jun 29, 2008 10:08 PM PDT
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It beats the Dye contract for $11.7 million in 2003
and getting very few games (65 games) with a sub-mediocre performance (OPS+ of 38!)
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on
Jun 30, 2008 10:00 AM PDT
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This is a most bewildering decision
I dont mind spending the money, but on a 16 year old pitcher? Who is 6’7? That seems the very definition of risky. I think this is going to be one of those things that we all laugh about one day. Like Ariel Prieto.
Sigh
by mikedaviswhereareyou on Jun 29, 2008 10:42 PM PDT 0 recs
Wouldn't it make our collection complete?
Whoops…sorry, wrong Ariel.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
by oblique on
Jun 29, 2008 10:43 PM PDT
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The Little Mermaid is hot
AmIRightGuys? Guys…
A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jun 29, 2008 10:46 PM PDT
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Good point. Why is Inoa a better deal at $4.25 MM than Porcello for $7 MM?
Is it that Inoa is a better prospect or that Porcello cost $3 MM more? Saying “it’s a bit of both is a cop-out.”
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 7:11 AM PDT
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Didn't Porcello sign a major league deal?
I believe he signed and was put directly onto the 40 man roster.
IMO, that makes a HUGE difference.
by mikev on
Jun 30, 2008 7:44 AM PDT
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Yes, which means he gets four options. He'd have to stick by 2012.
Are you saying Inoa and Porcello are roughly equal in upside? That would be awesome, because Porcello was basically the highest rated amateur pitching prospect in about 20 years, wasn’t he?
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 8:02 AM PDT
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I don't know - I have nothing on Inoa other than the articles posted here previously
Wasn’t the consensus that he’d pretty much have been the #1 overall pick in the draft this year if he was eligible?
by mikev on
Jun 30, 2008 8:28 AM PDT
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"He's a once-in-a-decade type pitcher," said one international scout.
That was from http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2008/266380.html
According to “one insider”, Inoa has superior body control [than Dellin Betances], command, and third pitch with an overall more polished package, and obviously is two years younger. He could very well be Rick Porcello in two years and that would seem to make $4 million a bargain. From http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/26/michelinoareport/
“Inoa, Rodriguez, Yorman and Portillo would [challenge] the first selection if they were eligible for the American draft this year; I have no doubt about that,” said a top AL executive. From http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3433834
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 8:52 AM PDT
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Nobody's mentioned the real reason why Inoa > Porcello
Opportunity cost.
If you take Porcello, you don’t get James Simmons. If you sign Inoa, you’re still free to get Simmons with your draft pick.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 8:58 AM PDT
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Are you saying Porcello + Inoa is a worse bet purely on talent than
Simmons + Inoa? Or is the money the difference maker?
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 9:14 AM PDT
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I think he's saying that
Simmons + Inoa > Porcello.
If the A’s had drafted and signed Porcello, they wouldn’t have gotten Simmons.
Inoa is not the same as a risky high school draft pick because signing did not require a pick, only money.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jun 30, 2008 9:21 AM PDT
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It doesn't.
That is a different question from the Porcello or Inoa question.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jun 30, 2008 10:05 AM PDT
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$$$$$$$$
Not saying it would necessarily preclude it—but that would certainly be a huge issue.
"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback
by devo on
Jul 1, 2008 1:40 PM PDT
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Right
I’m not sure whether Simmons+Inoa > Porcello+Inoa. Right now it looks like it might be, but the jury will be out on that case for at least another 5 years.
Think of it this way: Simmons+Porcello
Now subtract Simmons from both sides of that inequality, and you’re left with Porcello
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 9:28 AM PDT
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(&(&(* formatting
Simmons+Porcello (less than) Simmons+Inoa, because Simmons+Porcello is impossible. You can’t have both.
Now subtract Simmons from both sides of that inequality, and you get Porcello (less than) Inoa.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 9:29 AM PDT
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So you think Inoa>Porcello?
That would be tremendous!
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 9:31 AM PDT
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I think he's a better choice of scarce resources than Porcello
I’m not qualified to evaluate him as a player vis a vis Porcello.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 9:44 AM PDT
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Isn't how good a player he is vs Porcello
the key determinant as to who is a better choice of scarce resources?
Anyway, the real choice is Simmons + Inoa for $5.4M or Inoa + Porcello for $12 M.
I’ve no idea which is the better move.
by WaddellCanseco on
Jun 30, 2008 10:03 AM PDT
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IMO, Inoa + Porcello
If the only factor is money, you have to go with the higher ceiling guys.
That’s not a knock on Simmons whatsoever, btw.
by mikev on
Jun 30, 2008 10:06 AM PDT
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The point, is that
the scarce resources aren’t limited to money. The draft pick is even scarcer.
You can’t compare the $7M for Porcello with the $4.5M for Inoa. You need to include Simmons too. If the A’s had gotten Porcello, there’s no Simmons.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jun 30, 2008 10:13 AM PDT
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I'm with you on this
It’s hard to believe the Moneyball team, who thinks taking high school arms as high draft picks is a terrible practice, would spend $4.25 mil on a 16 year old pitcher. He better have flawless mechanics, or they are asking for injuries and disappointment.
by Philip Christy on
Jun 29, 2008 11:11 PM PDT
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You may have noticed the high school draftee
who is (or was as of a couple of days ago) leading the minors in strikeouts, name of Trevor Cahill. Turns out he was drafted by the A’s.
Times have changed. This isn’t 2002 anymore, and teams are taking a lot more college players in the draft.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 1:36 AM PDT
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Yes, but
they took Cahill in the second round, for (I assume) much less money than they will apparently give Inoa. My point being, Inoa is even less polished, has more chance of breaking down (I would think, because he’s younger), and yet they are paying him more.
It just seems like a real big risk, the kind the A’s never take because they can’t afford to.
by Philip Christy on
Jun 30, 2008 6:19 PM PDT
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When you cut 30mil
outta your payroll and can take a 4mil dollar gamble. Win/Win
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on
Jun 30, 2008 6:47 PM PDT
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How is this a real big risk?
It’s $4 million. It’s far less of a risk than they took signing Crosby and Harden to their contracts. Both of those deals have gone about as badly as possible, and they still weren’t bad investments. $4 million is peanuts.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 30, 2008 8:07 PM PDT
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Inoa
isn’t really comparable to a high school pitcher because of the fact that he isn’t going to cost the A’s a draft pick. The $4M the A’s are giving him is less than the $7M they gave Piazza last year. $4M to Inoa is better risk than $1.5M to Emil Brown.
The danger in taking high school pitchers isn’t really the money. It is the loss of the draft pick, which could have been used on other players.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jul 1, 2008 7:31 AM PDT
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This is not "the Moneyball team" any more. Some things are changing.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on
Jun 30, 2008 7:00 AM PDT
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Yeah.
For the 900th time, Moneyball isn’t about taking college players and drawing walks.
At all.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on
Jun 30, 2008 8:37 PM PDT
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Joe Morgan disagrees
And says Billy should never have written it.
by nevermoor on
Jun 30, 2008 8:42 PM PDT
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It was totally a feel good story about a fat catcher
Right?
by methodrampage on
Jul 1, 2008 9:12 AM PDT
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A guess
I think there may be a few things going on.
First, Oakland is still not wasting a First Round pick on a high school pitcher. I suspect this has more to do with the value of that pick and less to do with the money paid to that pick.
Second, they have picked up a lot of high school arms later in recent drafts. I expect a few things drive that. If you get enough arms at least one of them will pan out. There may be a thought in the organization that they can develop young pitchers better than college baseball. There is not the pressing need to get drafted talent into the majors ASAP anymore.
Third, related to #1. Money is less scarce than draft picks. So, spending money to get the equivalent of a first round draft pick may be a good idea.
by Donner on
Jun 30, 2008 9:17 AM PDT
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The point is this:
They draft a high schooler who flames out —-> they also lost any opportunity of the player-they-would’ve-picked had they not picked the high schooler.
They sign a 16 year old Phenom from the DR who flames out t-—> they lose the money they paid him/still have that draft pick they used on a college guy.
witty remark
by dtownmbrown on
Jul 1, 2008 7:00 PM PDT
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My question is
how did we outbid the Yankees? I thought free agent signings were out of the realm of possibility when it came against the Yanks. Obviously with Beane’s track record and his infatuation with this kid, why didn’t the Hitler Jr, I mean Steinbrenner, jump in and up the ante another million?
by petitceebee on Jun 29, 2008 10:51 PM PDT 0 recs
According to BA, the Yankees were pissed
that they thought they had an agreement with him, but then he broke it when he signed with a new agent who then upped his asking price. So they told him to go jump in the lake and pulled out.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on
Jun 29, 2008 11:03 PM PDT
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Jumped in a lake and pulled out
That’s how my first child was conceived.
A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jun 29, 2008 11:07 PM PDT
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LOL -- good swimmer?
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
by The Dogfather on
Jun 30, 2008 11:26 AM PDT
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Well, one was better than the rest.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site
jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on
Jun 30, 2008 11:30 AM PDT
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My boys can swim, baby!
A little plumbing! Got to plumb! Plumb the depths! The depths of hell! - Larry David, CYE
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jun 30, 2008 11:49 AM PDT
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Wow.
Since when did the Yankees become so ethically driven? If this kid is everything he’s supposed to be (I read somewhere that he is a a ONCE IN A LIFETIME talent) then shouldn’t the Wanks just turn the cheek and fork out the cash?
by petitceebee on
Jun 29, 2008 11:15 PM PDT
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reality check
every prospect is a once in a lifetime talent. doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to be better in the MLB than Todd VanPoppel
by nevermoor on
Jun 30, 2008 6:14 AM PDT
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No.
Hank has more ego than daddy.
Notes From The Nat has a new home: http://www.natnotes.com
by Ozzz on
Jun 30, 2008 8:38 PM PDT
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I don't see the downside here
We plopped down 4.25 million to control a “once-in-a-generation” type talent.
If he flames out, we lost all of 4.25 million in a season where we’re the 28th highest payroll in the league and Emil Brown makes like 1.8 million.
There just isn’t downside with this. It exists only in the form of money, and a considerably unimportant amount at that.
RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.
by walk off bunt on Jun 29, 2008 11:47 PM PDT 0 recs
That's what I was thinking
unsure about this one
Green Hulk Fists
by oaklandSMASH on
Jun 30, 2008 12:10 AM PDT
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Surprised
It’s so un-A’s like. But people like me complain about the team’s unwillingness to try for high-risk, high-reward players. This will shut me up for a while.
by bear88 on Jun 30, 2008 12:28 AM PDT 0 recs
GREAT signing
I don’t see any downside to this, either
If anything, it shows a new dedication to Latin baseball, which is a GREAT thing
From all reports, if Inoa is really a “once in a generation” talent, what’s there to lose? $4.25 million?
His upside, and the upside of a renewed commitment to Latin baseball, are huge pluses
He has great size, which to me sounds A LOT better than signing a 5’7”, 160 pound flamethrower. SOUNDS less injury prone, but who knows how true that holds.
1. Michel Inoa, RHP, Dominican Republic
There has certainly been much said about Inoa in recent weeks, so I’ll stick to reporting what I’ve heard rather that what you can already read there. Inoa is 6′7 and an athletic 205 pound right-handed pitcher whose fastball has been as high as 96, but sits in the 91-93 range presently.He is especially noted for his outstanding frame: he’s already enormous for a 16 year old, but has plenty of remaining projection, amazing body control, and mechanics that translate into borderline unbelievable command for his age and size. Most 6′7 teenage pitchers (there aren’t that many to begin with) are gangly, all arms and legs, raw, lack command and body control, and generally just a long way from being a finished product. One source termed Inoa frame as, "a basketball body with some definition—he’s still skinny—but he’s projectable and has basketball athleticism."
These qualities have some projecting him to hit 100 in a few years, and that isn’t too far-fetched considering the fact that he’s had little to no high-level coaching. Inoa’s mechanics are clean and the ball "comes out of his hand shockingly easy," according to another source. Inoa comes from an athletic family, has a clean and fluid arm action, and earns high marks for his makeup and work ethic.
Inoa has advanced feel a curveball that already flashes above-average and most project for plus, along with a splitter than one insider called "dirty." He’s been called a , "once in a decade talent," by more than a few. The first source said that elements of Inoa remind him of Dellin Betances as a high school prospect, with the big projectable frame, lack of high-level instruction, easy velocity, and feel for a potential plus curveball, but then points out the differences that make Betances a $1 million bonus 18 year old and figure to make Inoa a $4 million plus bonus player at 16 years old.
Inoa has superior body control, command, and third pitch with an overall more polished package, and obviously is two years younger. He could very well be Rick Porcello in two years and that would seem to make $4 million a bargain. I’ll get into more detail about the logic and risk of amateur bonuses and Latin versus draft spending an article after the Latin scouting reports
FROM: http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/26/michelinoareport/
Personally, I’m GIDDY
by BillMoresi on Jun 30, 2008 12:28 AM PDT 0 recs
The team spends money to acquire
a phenomenal talent and people complain. Its just money, which we saved 30mil or so from this year. No better way to spend it then on the draft and international free agents. This is win/win. All A’s fan should be very very happy we signed him.
When will then be now? Soon.
by Syphon on Jun 30, 2008 12:34 AM PDT 0 recs
Agree with this thinking
The Athletics (not “we”) saved $30million in salary costs, and are below average in salary expenditure, so this is a perfect shift of expense to a future asset.
"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer
by One won lost won on
Jun 30, 2008 10:11 AM PDT
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