jay87shot

Dang, he is going to be making a case for going from a non top 30 prospect to a league wide top 100 prospect in like a month. He is even showing some power which I wouldnt have though possible before his injury.

I watched the Tigers broadcast last night and the Tigers announcers were dumbfounded by Ashby's pure stuff and movement. The made a good point at one point saying his stuff has so much movement that it can make it hard to command. I agree with that to a point but there was a sequence to the 3rd batter he faced that pitching ninja needs to look at because is was awesome.

Pratt doesnt strikeout a lot and has much better power potential. However if you go off of last year's stays they would say that his bat still has a way to go. I do think that Pratt is pretty similar to Turang as far a minor league development at a similar age. We have seen glimpses but he isn't there. I like how we collectively trashed Hamiltons offense yesterday and he had a huge game yesterday. I would like to organize a trash Sal Frelick offense start campaign today in efforts to keep the momentum going.

I think they did that last year as well and I know that a lot of other teams have similar schedules. My guess is it gets more division rivalry games later in the year and sustains fan involvement better.

I think neither guys are really starting caliber at least on a contender. Both are very good utility guys that can be reliable at multiple positions but neither has hit enough to be an everyday guy. Hamilton has walked (great baserunning) a bunch and has a 0.5 WAR, Joey's glove is elite making both passable at least for a month or so until one of the young guys breaks out and deserves a shot. Here is a fun stat, Joey and Ham-bone have 18 hits and 0 XBH. When both of them play that makes for a very low stress AB knowing I can fire one right down the middle and the worst thing that will happen is a single. However it is bad that our SS and 3B positions currently support .167 (39 ops+), .196 (34 ops+), and .178 (51 ops+) batting averages. We can survive with the intangibles but those 2 spots need to drastically improve to compete in what looks like the best (deepest for sure) division in baseball. Throw in the 2 weak hitting OF positions currently and we do really need Chourio and Vaughn back ASAP (Yeli when ready).

Made will likely be the #1 prospect in the league by most publications (Leo de Vries is the only challenger) in a couple weeks. Pena is a very good player but not a guy anyone would get a #1 prospect for. I doubt we we even entertain Luis Pena, my thought would be he would have value like Peralta with maybe a mid level 3rd prospect. Jett, Henderson, and like Bitonti or something. When I write that it does seem like a high price for a year and a half of a player even if he is a 4-6 WAR player.

Does anyone know if some of the advanced stats and defensive stats will take into account catcher challenge rates. I can see Gary and William both being at least slightly above average. Being the 1st year I can see how taking those challenges and quantifying them into a runs saved/lost metric could be extremely challenging. However with it being in the minors a couple years I wouldn't be surprised if someone had been working on it.

I have been looking at them as the leaders of the next wave and mainly their rough starts are my worry. It only takes a good start from each and a lot of concerns will go out the door. We have so many arms that I think are easily projectable as 3-4 starters or solid bullpen arms, but Letson and Dorchies are the best young candidates for top of the rotation arms. The point liveforoctober made about have 8 or so controllable young guys at the big leagues is probably though the best point not to be concerned about the 19/20/21 year old pitchers. We have time and resources to supplement as needed.

Correct, I just think at some point in the near future Jones and Matos will be DFA'd so holding them an extra week until Chourio is back doesn't make much difference if you think Perkins can help more. I would guess 1 of Jones or Matos has a decent chance to clear waivers, Perk isn't hitting so I don't have an issue if any of the 3 get sent down.

I would bring Tyler Black up within a week for either Jones or Matos (maybe even Perkins). Bringing Black up doesn't hurt any control time or 40 man spot and he has more upside than either of those guys. I think he came off the IL yesteday so he probably needs a couple games to get up to speed. He could also DH a bit while Yeli is out. Any news on Chourio, I think we are over 3 weeks on the injury end of a 2-4 week injury that probably needs a week of rehab starts.

Who do we see as the biggest threats at this point? Here is my rankings 1)Pirates- Their starting pitching is really good and the vet bats they have greatly improve the offense. I can see a couple injuries really hurting them but as far as upside it's the Pirates. 2) Cubs- I don't think the Cubs have enough pitching this year. Losing Horton really hurts the rotation and after Palancia the bullpen is really weak. They still have the best top to bottom lineup in the division but you have to have the pitching. 3) Reds- The pitching can be scary but right now after Burns (and Greene when healthy) the rotation is just meh to me. Sal Stewart is hitting well but they need 3-4 other guys to help that offense to contend. 4) Cards- They have been a surprise but ultimately they don't have the pitching to stay in the race all year.

What scouting ranking do you tend to use? I kind of try and get like 3 or 4 different ones to make a composite. I have seen a guy like Jacus as a 2nd round pick in some and a 3rd in others. I will say I have Jacus as like a the 60th overall player and almost all the guys I had us taking ranked 10-20 spots higher than our picks so I was definitely going on the hopefully they slide a bit end.

I thought of him when writing the idea, the Astros are a mess right now. However they always seem to start awful and pull it together. I do think Pena would be an ideal guy however say we trade for him at the deadline would we then trade him next offseason? He would have 1 more year of control and Made/Pratt/Jett will likely all be ready come 2027. To be honest, I wouldn't mind trading 3 good prospects to get Pena if we knew we could get 2 back in the offseason but the doesn't seem like our front office. My hope is that Made continues to crush AA and in like June the org just sends him straight to the bigs.

I would anticipate that players like Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan, Robert Gasser, and Coleman Crow all graduate and lose prospect status at some point this year. I am starting to worry about the imbalance of prospects between pitching and hitting specifically what things will look like in say 2027. Some of our better young pitching prospects (Letson, Hardin, Dorchies) are off to rougher starts to the season and Thompson and Knoth haven't even pitched yet. I know it is a bit to early to fully worry about pitching in the minors a year or so down the road and the have been some very good starts inculding Manny Rodriguez, Deberry, Woodward, Renz, and Meccage (Bonet, Mercedes probably too). Should this be something we worry about as the season goes on or am I just over reacting to a few of our better pitching prospects having a few rough starts at the beginning of the year.

Here is my hope 2nd- CB DeAngelo Ponds- Easily a top 10 pick if he was 5'11", the guy was just everywhere whenever I watch IU games. For us he would be a really good nickel back with the upside to play outside against most teams. His athleticism and instincts should make up for his size. 3rd- Edge Gabe Jacas- I think there is a great pocket of second-tier pass rushers that I really like that includes Jacas, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Romello Height, Derrick Moore, Keyron Crawford, LT Overton, and Trey Moore that I really like as early as the second or maybe someone even drops to the 4th. 4th- Athlete Taylen Green- I would use Green like Kordell Stewart or Taysom Hill. Put him as the #3 QB with a limit playbook and have a dozen plays or so for him as a WR/RB/TE. If he shows growth at QB keep him there if not 6'6" 235 pound WR that run a 4.35 are usually pretty good. Again 1st round talent that can be used uniquely and find a role 5th- T Aamil Wagner- I don't usually watch a lot of oline tape so I don't really have favorites. The O-line is however my biggest concern for next year so I am going to double up in the 5th. Wagner has solid experience and if forced to play as a rookie has some Rasheed Walker qualities. 5th- C Pat Coogan- IU was one of the best college teams I have ever seen last year. Getting an experienced center from that team can only be a good thing. 6th- LB Red Murdock- There are a ton of LB's I love in this draft, however it isn't a big need so I will restrain myself until the 6th and draft a nice depth piece in Murdock. He was a beast at Buffalo and should be a great depth/special teams player with upside. 7th- RB Jam Miller- We could probably use a RB before this if you have lost all hope in Marshawn Lloyd like me but Miller would be good value here. I like the depth of the running back class in general so their is a pretty good chance a better RB could drop here. 7th- QB Deigo Pavia- I don't think Pavia is a bad guy however he isn't my favorite but I like his on field attributes. With his experience he is better suited to fill the Mailk Willis role and Green can just be pure development. I think he is compariable to Dillon Gabriel and with some of his antics getting him this late would be solid value. Other players I like that I haven't mentioned: QB Drew Allar, RB's Adam Russell, Nic Singleton, Kaytron Allen, WR's Elijah Surratt, De'Zahun Stribling, Eli Heidenreich, Josh Cameron, Jeff Caldwell, Kendrick Law TE- Eli Raridon, Oscar Delp, Tanner Koziol, John Michael Gyllenborg, DJ Rogers OL-Billy Schrauth (when to my same small catholic school) Edge- mentioned in 3rd round pick DL- Lee Hunter, Landon Robinson, Albert Regis LB- Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, Kyle Lousi, Bryce Boettcher, Wade Woodaz, Jake Kelley, Aiden Fisher, Namdi Obiazor DB- Davison Igbinosun, Jalon Kilgore, Charles Demmings, Robert Spears-Jennings, Xavier Nwankpa

Showing some pop today. That would make him a super well rounded players if that continues.

It's crazy to see Juan Baez at only 20 years old still. It seems like he has been around forever. Its nice to see Jett get a strong game in. If he can string some together he might be able to force the big league team to give him a shot.

He has proved he doesn't need to be strong enough. However right now he just isn't hitting line drive lots of weak pop up and 2 hop grounders. His bat is getting worrisome but he does have enough of a track record to be able to turn it around quickly.

Zerpa has missed way to many pitches middle middle the last couple outings. Starting to see why he has had a 4 plus era the past couple years. I didnt like that Murph didnt walk Lopez (the best Marlin bat) with 1st one. Turang bailed Zerpa out. Then not swapping out for a righty vs. Slater who is great vs. Lefties and trash vs. righties. Again Brice may have saved the game on that play.

I love Murakami and had I been in the front office would have probably traded Vaughn and overpaid for him. I was sure he would get like 5/125. His 2022 season was probably one of the greatest seasons in baseball even if it was in Japan and he was 22. Outside of the 5 HR he hasn't been very good however.

I wouldn't give anything of huge importance for Arraez to be clear and the Giants would need to eat like 1/2 of his deal. However I do think that the consistency he does provide would be huge at least while we have Yeli out and Sal struggling. I would much prefer a power bat somewhere however I don't think that is available early anywhere. I doubt the Giants would even consider trading Arraez or anyone else for a month or so. I would love someone like Yandy Diaz or Byron Buxton but both of those teams are in first. The White Sox and Rockies don't really have anything to enticing.

Houser was worth -0.9 WAR with the Mets and Taylor 2.9 WAR. Now Blake Perkins has been probably as good as Taylor (2 WAR, less playing time) so that plays alot into it. I would say if we get like 20 good innings out of Crow it is a win at any point in the next couple years it is a win.

Sweet, always super excited to see a new arm get a chance. Do we expect Harrison to piggyback or are we just moving everyone back a day? Edit: Nevermind I just read we are moving his start back a few days. So I would guess maybe Hall goes a few innings after Crow, Woody starts on normal rest and Harrison goes Sunday or maybe even Tuesday after the day off.

Sproat was giving me lots of Presiter vibes from last year. Nice, Very nice

I feel like it is time to start a thread to discuss players to target as the season goes on and teams start to emerge as sellers or buyers. Here is a 1st name to get things rolling. Luis Arraez- The Giants are tied with the White Sox and Rockies for last place in the bigs, Adames or Chapman would be better fits but there contracts are to big. Arraez would add some badly needed consistency on offense and has enough defensive versatility to get on the field. The giants have some decent relief arms that would interest us I am sure as well.