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Mid Season - Who Are Our Top 10 Prospects?

Its the half way point in the season with the All Star Break here, and we've seen quite a bit of change in our system. We've acquired several prospects along the way, and we've called some up. So as of now, using ROY Qualifying rules to eliminate players who've been up too long, what does our top 10 Prospect list look like now?

First lets see what the elimination number is. From an SI Article, it says that;

Right now, though, there are no limits on age or previous experience outside of the major leagues. All a player has to do to qualify as a rookie is to have fewer than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues and fewer than 45 days on a major league roster.

I am not going to bother trying to count up how many days the players have been on the Roster, but Innings and At Bats are easily found.

Now lets look at our previous Top 10 Lists coming into the season;

    John Sickles, MinorLeagueBaseball.com

  1. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Grade B+
  2. Daric Barton, 1B, Grade B+
  3. Brett Anderson, LHP, Grade B+
  4. Chris Carter, 1B, Grade B+ (an aggressive grade but I LOVE this guy)
  5. James Simmons, RHP, Grade B
  6. Henry Alberto Rodriguez, RHP, Grade B  (big-time sleeper, great arm)
  7. Trevor Cahill, RHP, Grade B-
  8. Aaron Cunningham, OF, Grade B-
  9. Corey Brown, OF, Grade B-
  10. Andrew Bailey, RHP, Grade B- (another sleeper with an aggressive grade)
  11. Sean Doolittle, 1B, Grade B-
  12. Javier Herrera, OF, Grade C+ (great tools, but refinement??)
  13. Dan Meyer, LHP, Grade C+
  14. Greg Smith, LHP, Grade C+
  15. Sam Demel, RHP, Grade C+
  16. Andrew Carignan, RHP, Grade C+
  17. Grant Desme, OF, Grade C+
  18. Travis Banwart, RHP, Grade C+
  19. Josh Horton, SS, Grade C+
  20. Jermaine Mitchell, OF, Grade C

Kevin Goldstien, Baseball Prospectus

Five-Star Prospects
1. Daric Barton, 1B
Four-Star Prospects
2. Trevor Cahill, RHP
Three-Star Prospects
3. James Simmons, RHP
4. Henry Rodriguez, RHP
5. Andrew Bailey, RHP
6. Corey Brown, OF
7. Jermaine Mitchell, OF
8. Javier Herrera, OF
9. Jerry Blevins, LHP
Two-Star Prospects
10. Josh Horton, SS
11. Sean Doolittle, 1B

Baseball America

1. Carlos Gonzalez, of
2. Gio Gonzalez, lhp
3. Brett Anderson, lhp
4. Fautino de los Santos, rhp
5. Daric Barton, 1b
6. Trevor Cahill, rhp
7. James Simmons, rhp
8. Henry Rodriguez, rhp
9. Aaron Cunningham, of
10. Chris Carter, 1b

Of those lists, the following no longer qualify:

Daric Barton - 227 AB
Carlos Gonzalez - 146 AB
Greg Smith - 110 IP

And now we have the new guys to add to the list, aside from those who were just left off. The guys who just joined the Organization.

Sean Gallagher
Jamile Weeks
Eric Patterson
Michel Inoa
Tyson Ross

and probably some more I am forgetting.

Now, we eliminate Gallagher for pitching too many innings in the Majors already, and we are left with that list added.

We've had breakout performances in the minors by a number of players. There are those we all know, such as Doolittle, Cahill and Anderson, and there are even the resurgence of Matt Sulentic, Craig Italiano and the elevation of prospects like Corey Brown. There have also been guys who fell off the face of the earth, like De Los Santos (Tommy John Surgery), and those who were hanging on by a finger and let go all together (Javier Herrera).

This is my Mid-Season top 10 Oakland Athletics prospects, and I hope that either Taj or Grover put together a better list.

1. Trevor Cahill, SP, AA
2. Sean Doolittle, 1B, AA
3. Brett Anderson, SP, AA
4. Aaron Cunningham, CF, AA
5. Michel Inoa, SP, DSL
6. Gio Gonzalez, SP, AAA
7. James Simmons, SP, AA
8. Chris Carter, 1B, A+
9. Henry Rodriguez, SP, A+
10. Corey Brown, OF, A+

Just Outside:
Mike Mazzaro, SP, Eric Patterson, 2B/OF, Matt Sulentic, OF, Fautino De Los Santos, SP, Craig Italiano, SP, Jesus Guzman, 3B, Jamile Weeks, 2B, Tyson Ross, SP

5 recs  |  Comment 149 comments

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No matter how you dice it up

it’s an enviable embarrassment of riches. Hopefully, we’ll have some position prospects good enough to elbow their way onto that list soon.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Jul 14, 2008 9:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I would say:

1. Cahill
2. Anderson
3. Gio
4. Inoa (placing him is a bit arbitrary)
5. Simmons
6. HRod
7. DLS
8. Carter
9. Doolittle
10. Cunningham
Next 10:
C. Brown, Demel, Dixon, Jose Garcia, Guzman, Leon, Patterson, Petit, Powell, Weeks.
Next 10:
Carignan, Christian, Donaldson, Guzman, Italiano, Mazzaro, Paramore, Pennington, Ross, Sulentic.

Generally:
1. I think the pitching is way way way way better than the hitting as you can see. The best hitters are 1B/OF with K problems.
2. “We” are not particularly strong in elite prospects, which is a shame. I would say that only Cahill and Anderson fit that bill. However, the depth is astounding. All of the 30 I listed are plausible major league players. I would guess that the org blows every other club out of the water in terms of depth.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 9:58 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow, you must really dislike Sean Doolittle...

Yeesh. I mean, he’s been striking out a lot this year, but he hasn’t blown out his elbow (costing him most of two seasons) or walked 36 AA batters in 33 innings.

Procedural things: Petit may technically still be eligible, but only in the narrowest possible sense. He will be over the “service days” limit by the end of the year.

Also, unless there’s a second Guzman that I’m not aware of, you appear to have listed him twice.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 14, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Whoops on Guzman

I’d put him in the middle 20.

Doolittle: He could have been as high as 4.
But:
1)1 great half-season; not so impressive before that.
2)In my schema, high upside pitchers with electric stuff (Hrod/DLS) even if they haven’t been that successful rank higher than a 1Bman whose bat may not even play in the majors. Also, I’m much more willing to attribute a “Cal League effect” to Doolittle than to Carter, since he hadn’t shown any HR power prior to this year and is not a giant, as Carter is. His BBs could also be better given the Ks. I would guess that his babip at Stockton was somewhat fluky.

But I don’t have strong feelings on the placement of my 3-10.

I would expect Petit to go back down when Crosby returns.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

its really his first season of pro ball though

and his first season of being a position-only player.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 14, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Leon seems a bit low given how well he did in the Cal League at 19

and the Mexican League at 18. Although I guess his innings were being limited.

I guess you don’t think a lot of the Dominicans—Inoa, Contreras, Rosario, Sena..

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oops scratch Inoa

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wait

Why scratch Inoa?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 16, 2008 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

When a $4M player has an itch

You’d better damn well scratch it. It’s for the good of the team (and if you don’t he gets hit with -1 projectability)

by nevermoor on Jul 16, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because he didn't underrate him

But mostly what nevermoor said

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

i think DLS should be lower

you have to give a little more credit to guys who are 1) performing well and 2) not injured for the next year.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 14, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I put him there because

he would have been in the running for #1 (and top 4 at worst) before the injury and TJ surgery is pretty successful.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It is... but his margin for error is now gone

He’s going to be 24 in his first full season after the surgery. Optimistically hoping that he shows enough in limited time next year to get past A+, he’s going to be a 24-year-old in AA with 2 options burnt (he has to be added to the 40-man after this season). That’s not the best situation to be in.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

DLS

He might be fully healthy by 2009 Arizona Fall League. If DLS proves he’s healthy, he should be a TOP3 Prospect before the 2010 Season. Possible trade chip prior to the 2010 Season, to help bring us a bat.

by Colorado Fan on Jul 15, 2008 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No one is going to trade serious value for a guy who is 24, has never pitched above A ball,

and is just coming off major surgery. And rightly so.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

He’ll still have the talent, but he loses a lot of projection because of the lost years.

If he burns through the minors that year then all’s well, but otherwise he’s in real danger of getting buried

by nevermoor on Jul 15, 2008 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure about the two options burnt part:

1) Can’t they put him on the major league 60-day DL and burn no options?

2) Infallible Wikipedia says

“If a player is optioned to the minors, but spends fewer than 90 days as an active player, the option is not considered to be used. A player has to be on the active list of a major-league or minor-league team for at least 90 days during a championship season to be credited with a season of service for options purposes.”

http://www.mlb4u.com/wiki/index.php/Options#Full_season_Rule

Didn’t this apply to Herrera too?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have never heard of this rule

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 16, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You mean you haven't memorized Wikipedia?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He did, but then I changed it.

Seriously, though, that’s a great rule.

by nevermoor on Jul 16, 2008 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think it's accurate

Seriously. I think it’s confusing the rules whereby a player can get a fourth option year with the rules for how an option is used.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 16, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm....we need a corroborating source!

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ask and ye shall... whatever
There are other idiosyncrasies in the options rules. Fourth options for certain players who reach the big leagues quickly, for instance. The right of players with certain amounts of big league service to refuse an optional assignment. The nullification of an option when a player is active for fewer than 90 days in a Minor League season.


Not a perfect source
, but better than a wiki

by nevermoor on Jul 16, 2008 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's not wikiepedia

That’s a wiki by mlb4u.com. There’s a difference.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 16, 2008 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right. Sorry to all for the error.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thinking out loud....

It would strike me as unseemly or possibly against the rules for some team to take him in Rule 5 while he’s on the DL so maybe they won’t have to add him?....

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't think so

You have to pay the piper eventually if you Rule 5 a guy and he goes on the DL—sooner or later he has to spend 5 months on your 25-man roster before you can option him. Maybe that’s enough of a deterrent to stop anyone from taking him. But as far as I know, there’s no rule against it—and I wouldn’t be willing to take the chance.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's entirely possible there's a gentlemen's agreement on that type of thing

But even if there is it’d just be moral high ground if we lost him, which seems like a poor position to be in.

by nevermoor on Jul 15, 2008 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kinda off topic but

Do the A’s view Arnold Leon as a potential starter or a reliever? I think he was used primarily as a reliever in stockton before going back to the Mexican League

by webgem101 on Jul 14, 2008 10:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Also, that question is pretty on-topic

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Christ, I've been upstaged

My midseason top 30 list was mere days—nay, perhaps even hours—away.

Huh. I’m not sure what the correct move here is. Does proper etiquette demand that I slash it down, as a budget measure to avoid wasting words on topics already covered? Do I simply say “damn the torpedoes” and forge onward, leading to a hard-fought but ultimately not in doubt naval battle in which the mines of cynicism do more damage to my cause than the guns of Zonis’s rebel fleet? Do I ask him to delete his on the putative grounds that, well, mine is better, and I just got done watching “House” so I’m in a particularly self-centered mood right now? Should I even bother making it better? Should I instead focus on my job, which I will need in order to pay royalties to 74mk for his copyrighted “existential rant in the form of questions” style which I am shamelessly aping in this post?

It’s a head-scratcher, and no mistake.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 14, 2008 10:14 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Given the state of the big league club

duplicative minor league fanposts seem far from the end of the world. I could even post a different list in your fanpost, and making them is pretty fun.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

just post another diary on the harden trade instead

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 14, 2008 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't get tired of reading threads like this

Please post it!

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Jul 15, 2008 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

post it, PT-

Contribute your voice to the polyphony that is AN…

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 15, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gio

He should be #2 or #3 IMHO. Cunningham hasn’t done enough in AA to pass Gio, and Inoa hasn’t pitched a lick.

by Colorado Fan on Jul 14, 2008 10:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Just Checked...

Another Solid Start by Gio in Salt Lake: 7.1 IP, 5 Hits, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K

... still a little wild, but he conquered the altitude of Salt Lake.

by Colorado Fan on Jul 14, 2008 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

do not pass gio?

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 14, 2008 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But still collected $200

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

can i still have $200?

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 14, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

D'oh!

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Rashun Dixon

Where does this kid fit in? 17 Years Old and SLG. 597 (71 PA) in the Arizona Arizona League

Interesting Article Here: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080607/SPORTS02/806070336

by Colorado Fan on Jul 14, 2008 11:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

4 HRs and 5 (!) 3B so far:

very promising. I’d put him 11-15. He looked very big, very strong, and very fast in the scouting video.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 14, 2008 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Too many questions

We still don’t know how he’ll develop. Although he has the ability to develop into an all star, he’s not the safe bet (as safe a bet as a prospect can be) to make the big leagues as people like Cahill, Anderson or Doolittle.

Currently on my list I have him in the low twenty’s with a few more people to add. Now, if he erases some of those question marks by making Kane County out of spring training and doing well next year he could very easily be a top ten pick.

Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.

by Threepwood XX on Jul 14, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's 17

That would be crazy rushing him. He’s still raw as all get out—look at his strikeout numbers. He needs at least one, if not two years of the full extended spring-short season-instructional league treatment.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ahead of weeks

(damn you rangers for drafting smoak)

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 14, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Top 10

Cahill
Anderson
Gonzalez
Doolittle
Dixon
Cunningham
Carter
Inoa
DLS
Weeks

I don’t want to move Inoa too high up the list (in fact, I was not going to have him at all, but the a’s are so high on him) because I like numbers. I love Dixon. I think he will move quickly through the system. I’m not sure about Henry Rodriguez. I like him, but if he does not learn control, he won’t make it past AA.

by asyouwish33 on Jul 14, 2008 11:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm not a conformist

So I’ll post my list like Sickles. I might be a little optimistic but I think we are just so stacked and probably have the most depth of any minor league system even over Tampa. I’m not even listing injured players like DLS and Ross.

1. Trevor Cahill A- (only thing he doesn't have is an overpowering fastball)
2. Brett Anderson A- (low end Blanton 2.0 high end Mulder 2.0)
3. Gio Gonzalez A-
4. Michel Inoa B+ (Skys the limit only thing that will stop him is injuries)
5. Sean Doolittle B+
6. James Simmons B+
7. Chris Carter B+
8. Aaron Cunningham B
9. Henry Rodriguez B
10. Vince Mazzaro B
11. Jemile Weeks B-
12. Corey Brown B-
13. Josh Donaldson B-
14. Rashun Dixon C+
15. Arnold Leon C+

We just have incredible depth even our lower end prospects like Herrera has a good chance to contribute at the MLB level at some point. Now if they can use that Harden and Gaudin money to sign Zac Elgie, Brent Warren, Brett Hunter(if healthy), and Nick Maronde we will be really stacked.

by AthleticsReign on Jul 14, 2008 11:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

GOd damnit lol

I’m not gonna write that all over again /sigh maybe after I take my 30 min of practicing learning a new language I’m gonna practice my Indonesian.

by AthleticsReign on Jul 14, 2008 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really really hope we sign Warren and Hunter

If both are signed and healthy, that’s like two more first/second round picks. Granted that’s a huge if, but it’s only a little money for the A’s. I’d much rather have Inoa and those two than a guy like Loaiza. I wonder if anyone has done a study involving picks that fall in the draft due to injuries/signability/both and their rates of making it to the majors.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jul 15, 2008 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They have

Signing bonus is a much better predictor of a guy’s big-league success than what round he was picked in.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

IAs much as i'd love for Warren to get signed, what about Dusty Coleman ?

He was another top 200 prospect that got drafted and is in college, does anyone know why he is so hard to sign ?

If it’s just a matter of a couple 100 thousands, in the grand scheme of things, with all the money the A’s are saving this year, does it really mean much to just give it to them ?

Im just really hopeing they sign Coleman. Hunter/Warren/Maronde would be swell to !

by Gaffletic on Jul 15, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Coleman is a draft-eligible sophomore

He has 2 years of eligibility left, so he has a lot of negotiating leverage and the chance to continue to improve his stock.

I’d fall out of my chair if the A’s actually signed Maronde. (From surprise, not happiness. I don’t think he’s that great a prospect.)

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seems like an excerpt from the Raw Shark Texts

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Jul 15, 2008 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

here is your list.

Just needed to copy/paste in notepad…

1. Trevor Cahill A- (only thing he doesn’t have is an overpowering fastball)
2. Brett Anderson A- (low end Blanton 2.0 high end Mulder 2.0)
3. Gio Gonzalez A-
4. Michel Inoa B+ (Skys the limit only thing that will stop him is injuries)
5. Sean Doolittle B+
6. James Simmons B+
7. Chris Carter B+
8. Aaron Cunningham B
9. Henry Rodriguez B
10. Vince Mazzaro B
11. Jemile Weeks B-
12. Corey Brown B-
13. Josh Donaldson B-
14. Rashun Dixon C+
15. Arnold Leon C+

by chri5 on Jul 15, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't do Top 10 lists

Right now, the best pitching prospect is Cahill and I’m giving the nod to Doolittle for top hitting prospect.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jul 14, 2008 11:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i think pretty much everyone would agree with that, but how many pitchers are between cahill and doolittle?

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 15, 2008 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

1

Anderson

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jul 15, 2008 1:15 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My list

Cahill (will prove that movement >>> velocity on a big league level)
Anderson (Mulder 2.0)
Gio ( I saw him pitch against the portland beavers (san diego’s AAA) and worry about his ability to pitch efficiently and go deep in games over the long haul ala Zito.)
Doolittle (remember that Ryan Zimmerman hit something like 7 homers while also playing for Virginia his last season, who has a cavernous home stadium, so the new power might be real)
Simmons (I worry about the dead arm but seems to be a solid bet to be a part of the rotation soon)
HRod ( if you happen to find some missing control please return it to the A’s c/o Henry Rodriguez)
Carter (love the light tower power)
Corey Brown (can he cut the K’s?)
Cunningham ( Is he better than Tbuck or Matt Murton?)
Inoa (man i was obnoxious when i was 16)
DLS (TJ has excellent recovery rates)

Some of the most violent things I’ve ever seen were at Raiders games. And I’ve been to jail. - leopold bloom

by designatedforassignment on Jul 15, 2008 12:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

good list and good comments

Re: Gio: going deep into games is extremely overrated. Otoh, the BBs are a HUGE problem. He’s a top prospect because very few pitchers have the capability to strike out as many guys as he does, but he is a long-shot to be a plus ML starter unless he can bring the BBs down to a tolerable level.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 1:03 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How exactly is the ability to deep into games

overrated? It’s rarely mentioned at all, compared to things like Ks, walks, ERA, GB rate.

And it’s not useless. A pitcher who can still pitch well in the 7th or 8th inning allows the relievers to rest. Given how most MLB teams cycle through relievers every year in desperate and usually vain attempts to squeeze out enough semi decent innings from relievers, a starter with an ability to pitch an extra decent inning or 2 would seem to provide extra value.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 15, 2008 2:22 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

I agree. That was one of my reasons why I thought trading Harden was a good thing… 5.2 IP / Start, every 6th day… just doesn’t cut it. Especially when you have guys like Eveland, Smith, and Gallagher in the rotation.

by Colorado Fan on Jul 15, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

2008 IP Per start, AL:

1. Halladay 7.3
2. Lackey 7.3
3. Lee 6.9
4. Duchscherer 6.8
5. Santana 6.8

.
.
.

53. Harden 5.9

by 74mk on Jul 15, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah Duke

I’ve always loved that about Schilling/Halladay/etc. I didn’t realize Duke was that high, but that’s pretty awesome.

by nevermoor on Jul 15, 2008 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because relatively few pitchers

are actually an upgrade as far as trying to win the game in the 7th or 8th inning. The average reliever is better than the average starter by a fair amount, and the average starter at the beginning of the game is much better than he is later in the game. It would be a problem if none of the starters on a team could go deep into games, but the bottom line reason I think it’s overrated is that only elite starters actually help their teams win individual games in the late innings.

And I don’t really agree that teams “cycle through relievers every year in desperate and usually vain attempts to squeeze out enough semi-decent innings from relievers.” I think by and large teams get a perfectly fine performance out of their bullpens, and have a much harder time squeezing semi-decent innings out of the backs of their rotations.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I know

that a typical reliever is better than a typical tired starter. THAT is my point. What if the starter you have is NOT a typical tired starter? What if he is the type who gets tired after pitching 7+ to 8 innings, instead of the typical starter who gets tired after pitching 6 innings?

The typical MLB team gets about 450-500 innings from its bullpen in a season. Most teams have a 12 man bullpen. The closer and top setup man get around 140 innings total. The LOOGY might get 50 innings. That leaves a team to find 200-250 innings from the remaining 4 relievers. You have 30 teams in baseball, each needing on average 7 relievers who can throw about 70 innings each, a total of 210 relievers.. Yet, in 2007, from BBRef, 46 relievers threw >70 innings. 92 threw > 60, this includes closers.

Teams might get perfectly fine performances out of their bullpens, in your opinion. Most GMs don’t agree with you. Look at the contracts that a “proven” reliever gets. I’m not even talking about closers. Linebrink, $19M/ 4. Dotel, coming off injury, $11M /2, Riske, $13M /3, JC Romero $12M /3.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 16, 2008 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

When you struggle to get through 5.1 innings in AAA its a problem

I know im judging on only one AAA start but he was in a lot of 3-2 counts. He reminded me a lot of zito when I saw him though his fb is clearly better. Zito never really seemed to get deep into games unless he was up against a hacktastic team.

Some of the most violent things I’ve ever seen were at Raiders games. And I’ve been to jail. - leopold bloom

by designatedforassignment on Jul 15, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wait

Are people saying that Gio becoming Barry Zito would be a bad thing?

Zito was really frigging good for Oakland. I would be overjoyed if Gio became Zito.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

question of whether it would Oak or SFG version

The game i saw just had potential for disaster written all over it despite good numbers at the end. Plus San Diego Padres’ AAA team sucks

Some of the most violent things I’ve ever seen were at Raiders games. And I’ve been to jail. - leopold bloom

by designatedforassignment on Jul 15, 2008 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But see, this is what I'm talking about...

He does that because 1) he gives up a lot of BBs, which is very bad, and 2) he gets a lot of Ks which is very good. What that does to his pitch count pales in comparison importance-wise to what is actually causing it, being the BBs and the Ks. I would be overjoyed to have a pitcher who could only go 5 innings each game because he was striking out 15 batters every time.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

burnett

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 16, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He has pitched at least six full innings in seven of his last eight starts ...

the only one he failed to was because he was getting lit up—not because of pitch count issues.

He has also recorded quality starts in seven of his last eight starts. He’s been dominant all year - it parks under 1,000 feet of elevation. If he were a Rockies farm hand, there might be cause for some concern - but he’s in an AL farm system and the AL does not have a single park over 800 feet and the A’s play their home games at what? 10 feet of elevation? 20?

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jul 15, 2008 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

welcome back

We missed you on Saturday.

I told them 'My game is like a blog.' Because I don't know what a blog is, but it don't sound good. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 15, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you ...

I had a nice vacation … hopefully BBG will be over whatever I did to offend her and she won’t pick the only weekend I absolutely wasn’t available next year (kidding … the world does not completely revolve around me … I know this …)

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jul 16, 2008 1:37 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So the therapy sessions are starting to pay-off?

Excellent.

We all knew you had modesty in you.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jul 16, 2008 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That makes sense

Instead of being considered an arrogant ass you come across as complex.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jul 16, 2008 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dixon

Hit a grand slam today. His 4th homer of the year.

He also has 5 triples, but oddly enough zero doubles.

He’s out hitting bonus babies Beckham and Skipworth. But I don’t know how comparable the AZL and GCL are.

by Emmett89 on Jul 15, 2008 12:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Outfielders are too crappy for doubles...

I really wouldn’t read too much into stats in the AZL. Apart from using wood bats, the level of play there is probably lower than that of some of the better college conferences.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But Dixon is still 17?

Did he graduate early or something?

by mikev on Jul 15, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I graduated high school when I was 17

and didn’t skip any grades, either.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

me too

it’s usually a june-october birthday thing.

by ohmangoAs on Jul 15, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Graduate?

They let me out when I turned 21. There was no ceremony, though. Only a carton of smokes and a bus ticket.

I’d still rather have Street on my team than K-Rod, just because I hate douchebags. -Taj Adib

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 15, 2008 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because I'm bored

1. Cahill
2. Anderson

3. Gio
4. Carter (another HR today)
5. Doolittle

6. Simmons
7. Inoa
8. Leon
9. Cunningham
10. HRod
11. Jose Garcia (think FDLS after the injury)
12. FDLS

13. Mazzaro
14. Sulentic
15. C Brown
16. Italiano
17. Demel
18. Carignan
19. Donaldson
20. Petit
21. Guzman
22. Patterson
23. Bankston (dude’s still only 24)
24. Banwart

25. Weeks (this shows you how much I hate this selection)
26. Powell
27. Pennington
27. Rosario
28. Dixon
29. Recker
30. Robnett
31. Putnam
31. Lansford
32. Bailey
33. Horton
34. J Herrera
35. J Mitchell
36. Ross
37. Christian
38. David Thomas (a personal favorite who’s now hitting in the 3rd spot for Vancouver)
39. Barfield
40. Leyja
41. Paramore

42. Cobb
43. Godfrey
44. Richmond
45. LeVier
46. Sellers
47. Frank Martinez
48. Angel Sierra
49. Michael Richard
50. Tyreace House

And it’s only now that I notice I have two 27’s and two 31’s….Well I’m too lazy to change the numbers now. So there’s 52 looks at a really deep system.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jul 15, 2008 1:09 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sulentic over Corey Brown?

Huh. Can’t see that one. I know Sulentic’s younger, but their tools and athleticism are really not comparable.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sulentic's younger and put up the stats at a higher level

And I like stats more than tools, as I haven’t seen these guys enough to really judge. Scouts can often differ or be taken out of context especially when what we’re reading is often second or third hand. Plus, yeah, Brown’s K’s worry me a bit. Really they’re at about the same level to me though.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jul 15, 2008 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love Dave Thomas too

I especially like how he made it so you can get baked potatoes at a fast food joint.

RIVER CATS: AAA CHAMPS!

by niallmack on Jul 15, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

unheard of!

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 16, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sad

RIP Dave Thomas. He was awesome.

by TempletonPeck on Jul 16, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because I have nothing better to do...

Not sure how everyone is ranking prospects, so i’m going to go by how much money a team would save for the first 4-5 years of arb years rather than free agency and the risk factor of not making the big show. Taking in those factors I sort of get this using quick math. It’s funny to me how no one seems to have Brad Ziegler or Cliff Pennington in their top 10. Granted Brad Ziegler is a RP and Cliff Pennington’s bat doesn’t scream middle of the order, however they will all play in the major leagues for a long time barring any set backs because each of them has a very valuable ability, groundball relief pitcher, fast defensive SS. And I had to put Michael Inoa on the list since he has the opportunity to save the A’s the most money since by the time he makes it to the big show, starting pitchers will make about $3 Billion a year. Might have to add HRod if the A’s decide to give him the franchise tag of “closer.”

1. Sean Gallagher – SP
2. Gio Gonzalez – SP
3. Trevor Cahill – SP
4. James Simmons – SP
Hrod fits in here if he closes, otherwise he’s on the bottom.
5. Brad Ziegler – RP
6. Cliff Pennington – SS
7. Landon Powell – C
8. Chris Carter – 1B / OF
9. Jerry Blevins – RP
10. Aaron Cunningham – OF
11. Michel Inoa – SP

by Instant Replay Umpire on Jul 15, 2008 2:14 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ziggy has already been up with the team for 45 days

So this is his rookie year. He’s also 28 and not really a prospect.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 15, 2008 6:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Age doesn't matter

And I thought for the basis of this thread we were only using 130 at bats and 50 innings pitched (due to the annoyance of trying to figure out how many days a player has been in the majors).

If he wants Ziggy, let him have him until Ziggy gets to 50 innings.

Sometimes life will strike you out on a curve ball and the only choice you have is to flip off the umpire and walk to first base anyway.

by Threepwood XX on Jul 15, 2008 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK, So where are...

Carlos Gonzalez, Travis Buck, Petit > Pennington?, Smith/Eveland, Devine… No Brett Anderson??? This list is confusing.

by Colorado Fan on Jul 15, 2008 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gonzalez, Buck, Petit, Smith, Eveland and Devine are not rookie eligible

Him leaving Anderson off was an oversight, I assume.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're right

Missed Anderson, he’s top 5, A’s are loaded. Going to be a fun time ahead.

by Instant Replay Umpire on Jul 15, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Won't do a Top 10 at this point . . .

but I will say that my personal list has Anderson rated above Cahill as the best pitching prospect. Cahill’s numbers have been fantastic this year and every year he stays healthy and every level he is able to advance to while still getting hitters to swing at his pitches raises his stock, but I think he is a bit overrated at this point by folks on AN.

Coming into this year, there were two big questions scouts had about Cahill: 1) Cahill relies upon swings and misses at balls that are not in the strike zone, and there is disagreement among scouts as to how much he will be able to get those swings and misses against major league hitters; and 2) his delivery has a lot of funk to it and raises injury concerns. Those questions will only be answered with time and performance against upper level hitters.

Anderson, in contrast, has much cleaner mechanics and gets more of his outs from within the strike zone. His numbers, while not quite as flashy as Cahill’s, are also outstanding, and there are simply less question marks about his eventual success in the majors. Ceiling-wise, Cahill slightly exceeds Anderson, but Anderson is a safer bet. I have them as more of 1A and 1B as prospects than 1 and 2, but despite Cahill’s incredible numbers this year I rate Anderson as 1A.

As far as hitters go, I will hold off picking a best hitting prospect until the end of the season. Candidates for that position are Doolittle, Carter, and Cunningham, with a longshot candidacy being waged by Dixon. Every A’s hitting prospect has real question marks to address in the second half, which candidate best addresses those question marks will emerge as the hitting prospect.

by BlameChannel53 on Jul 15, 2008 5:03 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Chris Carter

http://firstinning.com/players/Chris-Carter-b

Does anybody else have concerns with the Low LD% (7%) and High K% (24.2%)?

by Colorado Fan on Jul 15, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We noticed this in a thread the other day

Reported LD rates from the CA league are really screwy. Josh Horton has a 15% “LD rate” and a BABIP of like .380. It’s consistent across all players in the league, as far as I can tell.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

Someone just needs to teach those stat guys what a LD is. It sounds like we need a new “League adjusted LD %” stat to account for individual league’s reporting differences.

by nevermoor on Jul 15, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I do

Those are part of the “question marks” I was referring to. His prospect status will depend on how well he addresses those deficiencies, and whether he continues to hit for massive power once he reaches AA.

by BlameChannel53 on Jul 15, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's a good way to think about Cahill/Anderson

but I think the ceiling gap is a little bigger, as I have a hard time seeing Anderson as an elite starter, since his stuff is pretty normal, whereas I think Cahill will maintain the extreme GB-rate even if the Ks slip. But really, Cahill/Anderson is something of a wash, and Doolittle/Carter/Cunningham is also pretty much a wash at this point.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

comments

I think I would move Gio above Cunningham. If you look at it as whether a team would trade Cunningham for Gio, I think just about any team would do so in an instant. I’d like for Cunningham to turn into a bigtime hitting prospect, but right now I don’t think I could put him above Gio.

I think MikeA’s top 3 from his list is probably the same as my own: Cahill, Anderson, Gio. I think I’d put Doolittle after those 3, primarily because I don’t see him as having a very high ceiling.

The rest of your list I think is pretty close to what I would do myself.

by rageon on Jul 15, 2008 6:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Cunningham/Gio

It also depends if you rank prospects on upside or likelihood of making a positive contribution to a major league team. I think Cunningham is a pretty safe bet to be a major leaguer. Gio, on the other hand, seems to have a bigger chance of being a bust. He will almost certainly make the majors, but Cunningham seems more likely to stick – even if it’s as a 4th or 5th OF.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Jul 15, 2008 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll concede that.

I agree that of anyone in the A’s system, Cunningham would be one of the safest bets to make it to the majors. I think of Doolittle that way as well. I just tend to think that Gio’s potential outweighs the safety of Cunningham, but there is certainly room for disagreement in the discussion of whether a guy who is sure to be a average player is more valuable than someone with a 25% (or whatever it is) of being a star.

by rageon on Jul 15, 2008 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Doolittle is both higher risk and higher reward than you give him credit for

He’s probably going to end the season with ~25 HR, an OPS around .900 and great 1B defense. That’s Mark Teixeira, give or take the switch hitting. And minor league numbers are a pretty good indicator of a player’s major league ceiling.

Conversely, of course, the K’s are a high risk element.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

His BABIP at A+

was 387.

His on contact BA 434, OC SLG 919. Until he manages to keep up those ridonkulous on contact numbers for at least a couple seasons, ie show that he actually has the ability to absolutely kill the ball when he makes contact, it’s very likely that he’s going to have to cut down on his Ks or regression is pretty much guaranteed.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 15, 2008 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is true, but his K rate this year

is radically out of line with what it was in any of his prior seasons. Of course, so is his home run rate. Which kind of puts us back at square one.

He’s certainly an interesting player…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Leon

So, what’s the deal with this guy? I understand he’s back in the Mexican league right now, but I don’t really understand how this works. As, I’ve never heard of anything like it.

So, they are splitting him over the course of the season? How long does this go on?

How comparable is the Mexican League to A+ ball? If he were called up to the majors does it negate it?

Has anyone seen my remote control?

by Emmett89 on Jul 15, 2008 9:14 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He probably got the idea from European soccer

Basically, the A’s own the rights to Leon, but as part of the deal for purchasing him they had to compensate his old club. One of the ways they’re compensating them is by loaning Leon to them for this summer. Basically, he went down there at the point where the second half of the Mexican League season started (like many other minor leagues, they have a first half and a second half champion). Ironically, Saltillo actually won the first half crown in their division, so Leon isn’t even going to be needed to get them to the playoffs.

To answer your other questions: yes; just this season—next year he will be a full time A’s farmhand; it’s probably better than A+ ball, but the players are older so there are fewer big league prospects; the A’s can’t call him up right now, but there’s no way they’d do that anyway; there’s something worth watching on TV right now?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

...
there’s something worth watching on TV right now?

No. And certainly not baseball. With the A’s off until Friday, this is officially my “get something done around the house” week.

by rageon on Jul 15, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

this whole thread makes me happy.

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jul 15, 2008 9:56 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

wish we had a middle infielder or two though (other than the semi-contentious Weeks)

by oakinboston on Jul 15, 2008 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It looks a lot better than last year's list

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Jul 15, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So does the major league team's record!

I love having my cake and eating it too!

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on Jul 15, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll bite...

1. Cahill
2. Anderson
3. Doolittle
4. Carter
5. Gio (not totally convinced he’ll master control enough to be effective)
6. H Rod
7. Cunningham
8. Leon
9. Simmons
10. Weeks
11. C. Brown
12. FDLS
13. Leon
14. Patterson
15. Mazzaro
16. Italiano
17. Carignan
18. Sulentic
19. Bankston
20. Pennington

Giambi was safe at the plate!!!!

by gorickeygo on Jul 15, 2008 10:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

For some reason Im not hating Pennington has much as I used to.

If he can keeping his 380ish OBP and his 270s while playing good D and stealing a few bases, Id like that more than Crosby.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on Jul 15, 2008 12:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He won't keep a .380 OBP

Big league pitchers know how to throw baseballs in that little rectangle over home plate.

We can hope that he’s the next Luis Castillo, but the reality is that there just aren’t very many players like Luis Castillo around. And I think Horton has a substantially better chance of beating the odds against that sort of player than Pennington does, because he hits the ball a lot harder.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I like Horton Better Too

but hes pretty far away. Horton lacking power right now but everything else seem good.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on Jul 15, 2008 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lol

OK, well, Pennington can pinch-run for him.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also since joining AAA Penington's OPS is 802.

Thats better than I thought he would put up. It comes with a .408 OBP.

When will then be now? Soon.

by Syphon on Jul 15, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

there’s no way he’s keeping a .400 OBP with a .260 AVG in the majors.

When you’re not a scary hitter, people will just pound the zone against you until you prove you can hit. I think Pennington will never successfully prove that.

by nevermoor on Jul 15, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe so, but Petit is a good bit better than either of them

Certainly as a defender, and I’m beginning to suspect he’s the superior hitter of the group too.

I’m assuming that they’re playing for second base…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also....

...quick note. In the “Ask BA” section over at Baseball America today, Jim Callis picked Anderson over Cahill as the A’s top prospect.

by rageon on Jul 15, 2008 1:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Thats just like Callis to do so....

Not that Anderson is a bad pick at all since I think you really can’t go wrong with either one. But its just like A’s hater Callis to pick the guy that wasn’t developed through Oaktowns system.

by AthleticsReign on Jul 15, 2008 2:37 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

my shot at this

Gio
Cahill
Anderson
(by the end of the year I might shift the order of the top three, but for now Gio stays on top because of having made it much further along the injury nexus)
Doolittle
Carter
Simmons

Cunningham
H-Rod
Mazzaro
Weeks
Leon
Donaldson
Patterson
Brown
Dixon
Guzman
Sulentic
Petit/Pennington/Horton/Christian
Carignan
Ross

Inoa and DLS are purposefully omitted, though by pure value terms, DLS is still in that bottom section even with the TJ. And Inoa is just such an outlier for an in-season ranking.

by jakarta on Jul 15, 2008 4:24 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

We have so many damn Pitching Prospects, yet so few elite hitting prospects

Any way to convert them to offense at all? I mean, there is the Hamilton-Volquez trade, and the Young-Garza trade… Is there any way we can pull one of those off?

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 16, 2008 4:16 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Any five guys for Hamilton?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 16, 2008 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Probably cost more then that

Hamilton did save baseball after all

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Jul 16, 2008 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think we should wait for the pitching prospects to develop

the coliseum makes pitchers look so good that I think we should all pitching prospects to come up, become “Established major league starters”, and thereby increase their trade value.

Let me put it this way: Gio now = 1 stud Offensive prospect.

Gio after a coliseum-aided 3.5 ERA season (or even better) = multiple prospects.

Our pitching assets have more leverage after they’ve played at the Coliseum.

by ohmangoAs on Jul 16, 2008 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry about the grammar

clearly the first sentence is sucky.

by ohmangoAs on Jul 16, 2008 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

How much more valuable is Greg Smith now than 3 months ago? Granted, some of that’s just luck, but a lot of it’s the park and the defense. (And some of it is him actually pitching well. Don’t mean to be unfair to him, I just don’t think he’s this good.) Give him 2 or 3 years of this and he could be traded for Bobby Kielty.

Wait, no, that’s not how I wanted to put that.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 16, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or Matt Murton

who is Bobby Kielty minus the futile switch hitting.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Jul 16, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or....

Gio after a pitching injury = no prospects.

That’s the thing with pitchers, sometimes it’s better to trade them before the injury strikes. I have no reason to believe he’s any more or less likely than most pitchers, but nevertheless, sometimes it’s best to trade guys while they’ve still got value.

I remember when the Dodgers supposedly turned down trading Edwin Jackson or Greg Miller for Adam Dunn. (supposedly) Those guys were two of the top 3 pitching prospects in baseball and were supposed to be aces. Miller then had a few surgeries and probably won’t do anything, and Jackson was basically given away, though is FINALLY doing something productive for Tampa.

I’d trade any of the A’s pitching prospects for a good, young, ML-ready hitter.

by rageon on Jul 17, 2008 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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Tyler_at_maya_school_small Tyler Bleszinski

08-_the_author_small 67MARQUEZ

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Poochini-butt_in_box_2_small Nico

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Editors

Countdown_small Taj Adib

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