I'm really not a fan of prospect lists. I like the idea of providing content in an easy to understand format and I like information about prospects. I like to the think the goal of most prospect lists is to inform people about the various players that they might not otherwise be exposed to. That's a good goal. But it strikes me that most of the time the result of a prospect list is about 5% of time spent talking about prospects and the other 95% is spent bickering about the ranking of the prospects. I spent a good 10 minutes once and I just didn't find within me the ability to care.
I still find information about prospects useful however and Baseball America is one of the best at compiling good info. Their list of the top 100 prospects in baseball just came out. The link is here but BA's site might be doing a server time share with USSM because it keeps going down and there is no cached version as of yet. Per Dave the Mariners have:
Commence arguments about placement on the list in 3... 2...
0 recs | 68 comments
Random prospect question
Alex Liddi – is his defense good or bad? I have read conflicting reports on this, but I was always under the impression that he was supposedly very good
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
It's good.
I don’t know where the negatives come from as they don’t have much of a leg to stand on so far as I know. Liddi’s RF/9 was among the best in the league at his position, his +/- ranked well, and he was voted by the league’s coaches as being the best glove at his position. When all of those things are in agreement, it casts serious doubt on the dissenting opinions which claim he absolutely has to move to first.
JY - February 23, 2010
+/- ?
Minor league +/- ?
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Crap. TotalZone.
You can find it on MinorLeagueSplits.com when you click the defense tab. I associated the two because there’s positive and negative scores I guess.
Anyway, he was an overall 6 in the positive column, which makes him above-average, though not very good or elite. His glovework, based off of these rankings, at least seems to be improving.
JY - February 23, 2010
And here you had me really excited
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Excuse the idiocy, but
What’s RF/9?
Eyeball Kid - February 23, 2010
Range Factor per 9 innings, I think.
It’s slightly less worthless than fielding percentage. Slightly.
Benne - February 23, 2010
Thanks.
Eyeball Kid - February 23, 2010
Copy of the full list here
If BA is acting funky for anyone. It’s a movie site generally but has a few baseball folks around and has a good server – that won’t be flooded by every single fan for every team in the game.
Cinema Blend
ExiledToSoCal - February 23, 2010
Scheppers is a top 50 prospect already?
Damn you, Steve Baron.
OlSalty - February 23, 2010
My reaction entirely.
katal - February 23, 2010
Amen.
twoodard - February 23, 2010
Huh, Feliz all the way down to #9?
Guess they’re really worried about the whole starter-reliever thing
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
Or it's the lack of a good changeup
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Well...
Kinslerhomer - February 23, 2010
Then what the hell?
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Some people still seem to think that
even if he spends all of this year in the pen, then that’s where he’ll always be. Which JD has said many times is false.
Kinslerhomer - February 23, 2010
Awesome
I had no idea that Moore was so highly regarded outside the organization. I know catchers are premium, but he doesn’t have a stellar defensive reputation, he’s not young, and his numbers aren’t very outstanding. I had always written the Mariners’ commitment to him as a winner by default kind of situation. It’s nice to have an independent source confirm their faith in him.
Bearskin Rugburn - February 23, 2010
His defense has improved, particularly over the past year or so.
In that he’s no longer passing balls all the time still throwing dudes out at a good clip.
JY - February 23, 2010
I think I want an Ackley jersey
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
It's my next choice for a road grey, but the problem is we don't know what number he'll be wearing yet. Lame.
BrettJMiller - February 23, 2010
I think the safe money is on #13
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
Provided Kotchman goes away sooner rather than later
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
Has there been any news regarding how Ackley is looking at second?
I have no idea how much work there he may have got in during the offseason.
BrianL - February 23, 2010
Nothing real meaningful
Just “he looks good”. Which, I guess, hey, all right.
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
I read the the body of your message as if Mitch Hedberg was saying it.
kentroyals5 - February 23, 2010
That's what I like to hear
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Here is everything I have heard.
-Ackley looks good at second base.
-Ackley as been getting regular time at second in practice since the start of the year at the team “mini-camp”.
-Physically Ackley should be able to play second base, based after what the coaches have said. Ackley’s body and reaction time is all there.
-No one knows if this will work until Ackley starts playing games at 2B.
My guess is Ackley plays a bunch of late innings of early Spring Training games after starters hit the showers. Ackley may get some starts in split squad games. We will hear something of substance in mid to late March, something like “Wow! Ackley is great. We are going to start him off in AA!” Or “Things are coming along slower than we had hoped. We will hold him back here for some extended spring training then send him to a single A team when we think he is ready.”
Or the team will trade J-Lo, Gerret Olsen, and Doug Fister for Cole Hamels and Ackley will be the opening day starter. Who knows with this front office.
mark sobba - February 23, 2010
Latest from Arizona
Drayer reports he’s been doing drills with Wilson under the eyes of the coaches:
wandergeist - February 27, 2010
Angels don't have anyone ahead of Moore
could it be their farm has finally been sapped?
Bearskin Rugburn - February 23, 2010
Their farm system has been a bit stiff since last year.
abender20 - February 23, 2010
Oh, I get it now.
CapSea - February 23, 2010
What, Nick Adenhart didn't qualify for this years' list?
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
If he were still a prospect, he could play with the 1946 Spokane Indians.
JY - February 23, 2010
.
Okay, no one got it.
JY - February 23, 2010
Is that kind of like the George Costanza thing about MLB teams on airplanes?
http://www.realmofdarkness.net/sounds/seinfeld/costanza-soundboard-2.htm
Go down to the option called Baseball Plane Crash.
SeaKoala - February 23, 2010
He can only play in certain parks, ones in close proximity to cornfields.
PissedMick - February 23, 2010
We can make Adenhart jokes in here?
I’m getting crucified other places. Here, people get recs!
jam0152 - February 23, 2010
You can make pretty much any joke you want, as long as it's funny
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
But be warned
we also make Josh Hamilton jokes. A thick skin and a good sense of humor will go a long way ’round these parts.
pdb - February 23, 2010
Hamilton's fair game, but an easy target
I look forward to the banter
jam0152 - February 23, 2010
You guys are terrible, terrible people.
Hilarious, but terrible people.
SeaKoala - February 23, 2010
This made me laugh. Welp, so much for heaven for me.
Benne - February 23, 2010
Too many concerns about his attachment to the curb
OlSalty - February 23, 2010
There we go
OlSalty - February 23, 2010
I'm pretty sure...
That woman in the photo is Crankee Yankee.
Devin - February 23, 2010
Actually...
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
It's not.
Hopefully, she’ll move down to AZ and hassle all of you who get to go to Spring Training. Cheney Stadium’s served its sentence.
marc w - February 23, 2010
God I hope not.
Goose - February 23, 2010
How could you mistake Tommy Lasorda for a woman
lemonverbena - February 23, 2010
To put what Dave said in different words
The reason the Rangers are terrifying is that, while we have one Ackley, they have three prospects about as good. Plus Andrus.
Jeff Sullivan - February 23, 2010
Thank heavens for Mike Young
Poochie - February 23, 2010
But he was valuable as a third baseman
and holy shit, back to back years of ~ -25 at short? That’s like Yuni!
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
I love Yuni so much more
now that he doesn’t play for us.
Llewdor - February 23, 2010
at least we only have him signed for
oh about 3 years/ $50 million left
jam0152 - February 23, 2010
In 2005, he had a UZR of -27 and was still almost a 4 WAR player
Edgar for Pres - February 23, 2010
I've always advocated to just let Elvis play the space between third and second
and just run with a fourth outfielder.
AceJC - February 23, 2010
So the Angels have no one in the top 80.
That’s amazing.
CapSea - February 23, 2010
Things can change quickly
The Angels pick 5 times before the M’s pick once in the 2010 draft
ConorGlassey - February 23, 2010
Someone needs to bite the bullet and go drunk driving near their training camp next spring
In a tank
Graham MacAree - February 23, 2010
This was actually my favorite of the thread.
There needs to be a beer thread first series that LAAAA comes to Seattle.
hcoguy - February 23, 2010
SB should do it, but he should upgrade his gear
Decatur - February 23, 2010
I'm thoroughly excited to see what Ackley will do in the minors this year.
Also, welcome back to world of posting, Matthew! Although you may have been doing our collective productivity a favor, as Graham’s Sabre101 installments have been flying in at a furious pace. Too much of a good thing, you know.
abender20 - February 23, 2010
Me too
I’d love to see Ackley get a September call-up (how ever unlikely that maybe). I wonder how quick it’ll take for him to get to Tacoma.
SeaKoala - February 23, 2010
If he hits up to his abilities, there's no reason he can't be a regular in Tacoma this year
seattlebruin - February 23, 2010
I think the odds are pretty good he'll get a September call-up.
You never know, but they’d probably think it’s better for him to get a feel for the Major Leagues even if he hardly gets to play.
nathaniel dawson - February 23, 2010
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