The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

[Sportsforever]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Rizzo's numbers are BEASTLY.

While they are good, I'm not as impressed as the SD media seems to be. I think I read that there are like 10 hitters with higher averages than him in the league and several guys with more homers...it's a hitters league, so the numbers are inflated.

This really reminds me of 2008 when San Diego was really struggling and EVERYONE wanted Chase Headley to be brought up. He had won the ML player of the year at San Antonio the year before and everyone seemed to think he'd be the savior. It was a lot of pressure on him and that was a bad team. Chase is a decent player, but no star. I'd rather them not rush Rizzo and bring him up when he doesn't have to be a savior or is expected to carry the team.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

While they are good, I'm not as impressed as the SD media seems to be. I think I read that there are like 10 hitters with higher averages than him in the league and several guys with more homers...it's a hitters league, so the numbers are inflated.

This really reminds me of 2008 when San Diego was really struggling and EVERYONE wanted Chase Headley to be brought up. He had won the ML player of the year at San Antonio the year before and everyone seemed to think he'd be the savior. It was a lot of pressure on him and that was a bad team. Chase is a decent player, but no star. I'd rather them not rush Rizzo and bring him up when he doesn't have to be a savior or is expected to carry the team.

Everyone wanted Headley because the 3B on the team were terrible, just like how this year Hawpe and Cantu have been really bad to start the year. I think at this point Rizzo is a better hitter and a better prospect than Headley. Headley might be better suited just hitting left-handed, but he's been pretty mediocre offensively.

Just to put things in perspective, Rizzo at 21 is at AAA, at the same age Headley was just drafted out of college playing in Fort Wayne and Eugene. And I'll admit those people who thought Headley was going to come in and mash are idiots. Sure he feasted on CAL league and PCL pitching (AA is a head-scratcher since the team's numbers tend to be lower because San Antonio favors pitchers), but his scouting reported suggested nothing moe than maybe a solid player (may develop average power, which he has shown, tremendous plate discipline, which hasn't been seen since he strikeouts a lot yet, but this year he has walked a lot., and has surprisingly played better defense than his scouting report suggested). It may have been the stigma of being the number 1 prospect in the organization at the time, but there wasn't really much in cupboard then compared to now. He'd benefit from having a good power hitter behind him (don't know why he never hit in front of Gonzalez when Adrian was still here), but he really never was the kind of hitter who'd hit clean-up or even number 3.

Also just for the sake of perspective, just looking at the PCL exclusively, out of the five hitters in front of him in batting average, only Hosmer stands younger at two months (and is already called up). The other four have been around the PCL for more than one season and the youngest player closest to him is Eric Young Jr. Rizzo currently sits third behind Wily Mo Pena and Bryan LaHair in OPS (Hosmer is right there too.) Likewise only Wily Mo Pena has hit more home runs with 14. I think the power is real, but the only question is whether or not he can hit for a decent average. Oh well, we won't find out if he's legit or a bust because Kyle Blanks is ahead of him in the roster depth chart at 1B currently. I think Kyle Blanks is still destined for LF with Rizzo in the plans, but until Blanks' arm is fully ready, the Padres don't really need to lean on Rizzo this year in my opinion.

*Imagine how much buzz he'd be getting if he was still with Boston in the IL putting up these numbers.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Update on Marlins '09 1st round pick LHP Chad James

0-6
3.38 ERA
13BB/37Ks in 42.2

However he's not missing many bats with a BAA of .314

[CWood2]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Lot of love for Rizzo. Saw him play when he was with AA Portland, and rooted for him ever since he overcame cancer.

He'll be a solid, everyday player. I was hoping SD took Lars Anderson, but of course, picked the right player.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Brothers struck out Josh Hamilton on a slider today and Chad Tracy on a 97mph FB.... I want him up here.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Since I'm a big minor league junkie, I'm bumping this.

Tim Wheeler is killing it in AA. .312avg|28HR|76RBI.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

I'm surprised this isn't more active, especially now that the trade deadline is coming up and we'll be hearing about prospects being moved and what not.

Things on the Padres front have cooled since earlier this year. 2011 First Round pick Cory Spangenberg has gotten to a hot start and earned a promotion to Fort Wayne, though he's struggled through only 22 at-bats at that level. Meanwhile Casey Kelly is still struggling in AA, though his stuff is good, the numbers aren't quite there yet for a guy who's in his second full-season as a pitcher.

Jaff Decker has really struggled and has had Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type of season, posting good stats in the months of April and June, but terrible stats in May and July. At 21, he may repeat AA although he's still getting on-base.

Simon Castro might fall off the map and Keyvius Sampson continues to grind through hitters, making a push to be the Padres top-pitching prospect, something he saw himself doing quite quickly back when he was picked in the 4th round in 2009. Josh Spence may have been the second fastest player from the 2010 MLB Amateur draft to make the Majors, but a reliever drafted this year named Kevin Quackenbush might be on the same fast track should the organization reward him for his stellar season.

I'll post more, of course not everyone pans out, but hey, it's interesting to track not only your own team's minors but also other teams as well. I'll get to that in a bit.

[Sportsforever]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

I'm surprised this isn't more active, especially now that the trade deadline is coming up and we'll be hearing about prospects being moved and what not.

Things on the Padres front have cooled since earlier this year. 2011 First Round pick Cory Spangenberg has gotten to a hot start and earned a promotion to Fort Wayne, though he's struggled through only 22 at-bats at that level. Meanwhile Casey Kelly is still struggling in AA, though his stuff is good, the numbers aren't quite there yet for a guy who's in his second full-season as a pitcher.

Jaff Decker has really struggled and has had Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type of season, posting good stats in the months of April and June, but terrible stats in May and July. At 21, he may repeat AA although he's still getting on-base.

Simon Castro might fall off the map and Keyvius Sampson continues to grind through hitters, making a push to be the Padres top-pitching prospect, something he saw himself doing quite quickly back when he was picked in the 4th round in 2009. Josh Spence may have been the second fastest player from the 2010 MLB Amateur draft to make the Majors, but a reliever drafted this year named Kevin Quackenbush might be on the same fast track should the organization reward him for his stellar season.

I'll post more, of course not everyone pans out, but hey, it's interesting to track not only your own team's minors but also other teams as well. I'll get to that in a bit.

I know that Kelly is only in his 2nd year as a pitcher, but I just don't see him being successful. I think the Pads are going to be lucky if one of the guys they got for AGon becomes a solid major leaguer. Rizzo would be my pick, but even he is struggling mightily.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Rizzo's still only 21, but they're not doing him any favors by platooning him this early. Fuentes is doing fine in A+ ball and again Kelly is still young. I still think they should've waited until September to call up Anthony Rizzo, but hey, stupid fanbase always begs for that next big prospect. It happened with Headley three years ago and the only guy that's the least of our worries on the team gets the most criticism.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

I noticed that Cumberland doesn't have any stats when I checked his stats on milb, is he injured or something?

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

I noticed that Cumberland doesn't have any stats when I checked his stats on milb, is he injured or something?

Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago he announced that his career is done for. Couldn't start the season because of vertigo I believe and he never recovered and the doctors recommended he quit playing baseball before things get worse. It's shame because he had some talent.

On a side note I didn't notice that Casey Kelly has improved his numbers this year. I thought he was at a 5 ERA, but it turns out that he's almost a full run lower. Needs more K's though with his stuff.

[Sportsforever]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Rizzo's still only 21, but they're not doing him any favors by platooning him this early. Fuentes is doing fine in A+ ball and again Kelly is still young. I still think they should've waited until September to call up Anthony Rizzo, but hey, stupid fanbase always begs for that next big prospect. It happened with Headley three years ago and the only guy that's the least of our worries on the team gets the most criticism.

I understand Rizzo is 'only' 21. Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are also only 21...they went in the same draft (2007) as Rizzo. I understand Rizzo will struggle, but he has really been overmatched so far. I didn't like Kelly when he was in Boston's system and never got the fascination with him. I won't be surprised if Rizzo becomes a Chase Headley like player and Kelly never makes the bigs as a starter.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

I understand Rizzo is 'only' 21. Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are also only 21...they went in the same draft (2007) as Rizzo. I understand Rizzo will struggle, but he has really been overmatched so far. I didn't like Kelly when he was in Boston's system and never got the fascination with him. I won't be surprised if Rizzo becomes a Chase Headley like player and Kelly never makes the bigs as a starter.

We shall see in a few years. I think Rizzo will be better than Headley since Headley never had more than average power since he was drafted and Rizzo looks to be better offensively. They need to show the same patience they had with Kouzmanoff

It's also why they need to load up and work on the farm system. A team that can't go after free agents or keep great players needs to have a strong farm system with great scouting. They also neeed to fully commit to rebuilding instead of half-rebuild, half try to compete with a crap roster.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago he announced that his career is done for. Couldn't start the season because of vertigo I believe and he never recovered and the doctors recommended he quit playing baseball before things get worse. It's shame because he had some talent.

On a side note I didn't notice that Casey Kelly has improved his numbers this year. I thought he was at a 5 ERA, but it turns out that he's almost a full run lower. Needs more K's though with his stuff.

That's disappointing, I thought he was a perfect type of hitter for Petco. Slap hitter and using his speed to outrun the ball to first for infield hits.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: The Official Pimp Yo Prospect Thread

Christian Yelich continues to impress in Class A for the Marlins
.292/.366/.439 8HR 50RBIs 22SBs(4 CS)

Kyle Skipworth continues to be a major bust

Matt Dominguez is also struggling some in AAA, prolly another year away