colbyjack

PG Crosschecker has a Shane Thompson in their database, a '05 draftee from Wilmington that went to Hoggard HS. He seems to be a smaller (5'9") switch-hitting middle infielder. He probably played on one of the Perfect Game assembled teams at the '04 PG/WWBA Jupiter tourney if he had a PG shirt (as you noted, he's not on the PG database since he didn't participate at a PG showcase). Two '07 players with High Point as their hometown are listed: Nick Oelker-RHP-Ledford HS Blake Hassebrock-RHP-Parkland HS (committed to UNCG) How far are you from Ashville? Two of the top players in the nation are from there, Justin Jackson (SS-TC Roberson HS) and Sam Runion (RHP-Reynolds HS).

Jim Callis has assured me twice now that Keith Law is wrong, and the MLB has told Callis specifically that the sandwich picks will be awarded as they have in the past, regardless of the Elias Sports Bureau number. Meaning, the worse team from 2006 to gain a sandwich pick will gain the first pick in the sandwich round, and so on and so forth. As I noted above, since the Royals and D-Rays don't have any free agents that would garner a comp pick, the Brewers stand to have no worse than the 5th overall pick in the sandwich round (35th overall) should they offer Graffanino and/or Ohka arbitration (assuming they sign elsewhere). Keep in mind, they would not get back-to-back picks, as the compensatory selections cycle through all of the teams, one pick per team, first before starting over at the top (or bottom, depending on how you look at it).

Pogo, what school do you work for? I could probably figure out exactly who the person was wearing the Perfect Game shirt. Here are the PG players that are listed from Greensboro: Catlin Carter-IF- Ragsdale HS Brent O'Berry-OF-Ragsdale HS Jason Wallace-OF-Ragsdale HS Bryant Clark-C-Fuquay-Vana Clint Moore-IF-Grimsley There may be more that went to these high schools, but these are the ones whose hometown's are listed as Greensboro. If you go to Perfect Game's site you can search these players by their last name to pull up the different showcases they've attended and to see what they look like. As for UNC Greensboro, no players are listed on PG Crosschecker's top 250 college prospects, but you're right pogo, they always seem to play spoiler and can never be overlooked. NC State has Andrew Brackman, who could go in the top 3-5 picks. UNC's best prospect is SS Josh Horton, who is a Bill Spiers clone IMO. I would love to live in your neck of the woods; between college, high school and the minor leagues you're in one heck of a baseball hotbed.

I agree that the D-Rays probably don't want much to do with Hall. However, I think the Twins might, and in the $60 million challenge thread I suggested a Hall to Minnesota deal for a prospect package, highlighted by two of their three top pitching prospects (Matt Garza, Glen Perkins & Kevin Slowey). Another player I would move Hall for is Jake Peavy, who has been tossed into a few trade conversations this offseason. That would obviously take a shot to the offense, but the pitching staff could be one of the best (and youngest) in the National League.

Keep in mind, the D-Rays don't have to move Crawford right now, and they always seem to start dangling the players they will actually lose about two years before they do actually lose that player (Aubrey Huff, Julio Lugo). Even if they do move Crawford, they're going to be looking for talented young pitching in return, and as brett already mentioned, they're not going to simply take some package of our castoffs to make it happen. Whomever they take in return for Crawford will need to be cheap and locked up for a few years. I don't think we necessarily have to move Yo or Braun in a trade. Melvin has said in interviews he still has Carlos' $12 million to spend if needs be, we have some platoon/backup pieces teams might want, and if Jenkins is included, that's some extra $ room, too. There are still some high-dollar FA's out there, so maybe there are some teams hoping to unload a little money to make a stronger offer for a FA. Maybe we get our bat that way. The only big FA bat remaining is J.D. Drew, and it seems as though he's heading to Boston. And keep in mind that Melvin said he would spend the $12 million he originally had on the table for Carlos Lee if the right player/scenario were available. It's not like he's just going to spend that money regardless of what's out there. I don't think the Brewers take a chance on someone like Drew who seems to be injured more often than he is not. I think a trade is more likely. For whom I have no clue, but I think it's more likely that the big bat people are hoping the Brewers acquire is a player already on the team that needs to step up, as a few have already guessed.

I started this thread yesterday afternoon thinking basically the same thing Weirdos. A few people, myself included, said they sensed something bigger on the way, possibly including a deal for Billy Hall. I'm not sure the Brewers can trade 3-5 players for one good to great one, but we'll see what happens.

I have read that draft and follows will still somewhat be around, teams just won't have as long to sign them. Meaning, teams now will take some players hoping they can have a big summer in the numerous summer college leagues, which will increase the importance to those players to perform well. So, instead of a near 12-month window, bordelrine draftees have two months to prove to the team that drafted them that they are worth being signed. Which may increase the importance of the summer college leagues as well. I'm not aware of any Canadian summer leagues, but it would be pretty smart for someone to start one.

I wanted to add this comment provided by endaround from the trade rumors forum. This comes from a column by Keith Law over at ESPN discussing some of the new rules for draft pick compensation: "The picks in the sandwich round are ordered by the Elias ratings on the free agents, so a club that lost the top-rated free agent to sign with a new club (currently San Francisco for Moises Alou) gets the first pick in that supplemental round." This is something I wondered about out loud previously in this thread. I wasn't sure if the old format would be followed (in which sandwich picks were awarded to the worse teams, not in order of the Elias ranking) because Type A and Type B free agents now garner a sandwich pick. That's not really fair to the teams losing Type A free agents, since they are quite simply better than the Type B free agents. If Law's statement is true, the Brewers comp pick for Ohka (or even Graffanino should he bring one) probably will come pretty late in the round based on the number of Type A and B free agents that will generate compensation this offseason.

Perhaps, and I admit he is great. But will he make the majors with Milwaukee, or will he be dealt in 2007-2008 as part of a deadline deal for a playoff run or for help elsewhere? This has absolutely nothing to do with evaluating prospects. It has to do with talent and weighing that talent in relationship to their age in relationship the level in which they are playing. Inman is very young and dominated A-ball. The only pitching prospect better in the system is Gallardo. It's one thing to have Inman a few spots lower than most, but again, to completely omit him from the top 5-10 prospects (much less the top 20) causes me to look past your entire list.

Clancy, regardless of how Inman stacks up on the Brewers depth chart in your mind, your top 20 really lacks any credibility if you're going to omit Inman. And if his injury problems troubled you as well, why do you have Salome so high after he finished the season with a broken ankle? That doesn't exactly bode well for his future being a catcher. I didn't see this story posted anywhere, but given the conversation I figured I would add it here, but Inman was named MiLB's A-ball pitcher of the year: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Oh yeah, and Errecart bats right-handed. He throws left-handed.

BA doesn't get too fancy with their projected future lineups. If someone is currently signed through that year, they automatically make the list. If not, the next top prospect takes their place, although they did have Richie Sexson in LF and Prince Fielder at 1B in one of their projections, which quite simply was just never going to happen. In other words, Billy Hall wouldn't be removed from their projected lineup just because he might be gone by 2010. Anyway, the Royals list it out today. It's hard to match their top-three of Alex Gordon (arguably the top prospect in all of baseball), Luke Hochevar and Billy Butler. Their overall top 10 is strong, with Southern Door, WI native Erik Cordier checking in at #6. Congrats Erik! www.baseballamerica.com/t...62906.html

I agree with end, that ZachJack didn't pitch as well as everyone seems to remember him. However, it's clear that there are numerous people, myself included, that walked away impressed with his pitching style. He commanded the strike zone really well, and IIRC, he was subject to some pretty bad innings. I remember him pitching 6 innings in one game in which he gave up 5 runs or something like that and reading and hearing the glowing reports about the way he pitched. It's clear he is an advanced pitcher, and is a better pure pitcher than Eveland and some of the other guys he's been compared to. But, the bottom line that endaround keeps repeating ad nauseam is that the results for Jackson need to get significantly better next year, and I wouldn't count on him figuring it out at the big-league level.

Rivera's numbers actually look pretty similar to those of Carlos Lee through the same age. And the deal to me really is Santana. I really can't believe that his name has been tossed around so much. His numbers look great for a 23-year old, and of course you wouldn't have to worry about free agency with him for a good four years. It's fun to pretend http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

danzig, that's pretty much what I was thinking, especially with the rumored Figgins/Santana for Crede/Garcia deal (which doesn't make much sense for the Angels to me) out there. Here is what I was thinking... Angels get: Ramirez Brewers get: Figgins (and/or Rivera), Santana Red Sox get: Hall, Turnbow That doesn't seem like enough for Hall, but I really like Santana, and who knows, maybe the Brewers can flip Santana and something else for Crawford. The Red Sox don't need any more starters, which is why they probably would be looking for a CF or a SS. Just some thoughts...

Bench Coach, according to Rosenthal, the Padres deal with Counsell is off the table, with the Brewers now reportedly after Counsell and the Padres back to targeting Graffanino: msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6214970 Somehow though I keep thinking Carl Crawford. TB could use a shortstop. If TB deals Crawford, I'm sure it will be for pitching and more pitching. I agree that this series of possible acquisitions may not mean anything, but again, I just get a sense that Hall may be on the move. If Crawford were a possible trade target, I think it would have to be as part of a 3-way deal. Hall to the Angels makes sense, where they could make him their everyday 3B. Hall to the Red Sox also makes a lot of sense to me, where he could be their everyday SS. He could be involved in a possible 3-way deal involving Manny Ramirez, as I don't see Ramirez in Milwaukee.

I agree, I don't think that deal is that crazy. If Schmidt stays as productive as he has been, he is one of the better starting pitchers in the NL. I would be more concerned about the Cubs getting Schmidt than I was about them getting Soriano.

Given the recent rumors that the Brewers are pursuing both Craig Counsell and Shannon Stewart, does this hint at all that one of either J.J. Hardy or Billy Hall is on the block? Unless Hall is slated to play CF, but Melvin really hasn't seemed to be too keen on that, even if the rest of us would like to see it. Stewart really can't play anywhere but LF, and Counsell obviously would be brought in to give the team a utility IF that can actually play SS (Graffy can play SS in a pinch I'm sure, but Counsell is a more reliable backup plan). If the team intends to keep both Hall or Hardy, I wouldn't sign either Stewart or Counsell. IMO, the Brewers don't need a backup SS even if Hardy (or Hall) goes down since Hall could always slide back to SS if needed. I just sense that there could be something bigger going on with this series of events.

Someone already mentioned this, but Stewart isn't even the most ideal platoon mates since, as a right-handed hitter, he actually hits RHPs better than LHPs. So platooning him with Jenkins, or even Gabe Gross (which was my first thought) really wouldn't solve anything there. And of course you have the injury situation. I do agree with the idea that if the Brewers are indeed interested in Stewart it may mean they aren't as serious about Hall playing LF. I have always liked Stewart as a hitter for his ability to hit for a high average and get on base, but if they're talking about a 1-year deal, again, I still prefer Kenny Lofton.

The Tigers are up today: www.baseballamerica.com/t...62899.html Maybin and Miller give the Tigers one of the best 1-2 prospects in all of baseball, but the talent falls off significantly after that. I think I forgot to add the Indians last week, who are highlighted once again by RHP Adam Miller and have a nice blend of overall talent: www.baseballamerica.com/t...62889.html

Yeah, the Rockies trade idea is a good one, the Hall proposal isn't. If Hall goes anywhere, the centerpiece of the deal better be a lot better than Jake Westbrook (not so much that Westbrook isn't good, but he's a year away from free agency, which pretty much goes against the type of players Melvin has been targeting in recent years).

Wolf seems like the favorite to be this year's free agent value version of Kenny Rogers from a year ago. While the injury status somewhat clouds his future effectiveness, all reports seem to point to him being healthy, and if he regains his previous form he could have a very good year for the Dodgers (or whomever signs him). I was kind of hoping that the Brewers might get involved with Wolf since they moved one of their lefty starters in Davis, not to mention one of their top lefty starting prospects in Eveland.

I just wanted to gauge people's thoughts on the idea of drafting defense. I have been a big fan of Jack Z. for the simple fact that he drafted guys like Fielder and Braun for their bats, and so far they haven't disappointed. Rickie Weeks could be thrown into this group as well, although with the 2nd overall pick in 2003 it really came down to Delmon Young or Weeks, so defense, and anything else, really wasn't an issue. I ask somewhat because of the possibility of drafting someone like Tennessee's J.P. Arencibia, who receives a lot of praise for his bat, but he's a guy some think may have to move to 1B down the road. However, Arencibia has been Team USA's primary catcher for the past two summers, which in my mind says he is more than adequate behind the dish to stay there (and from the two or three times I have seen him catch, I have seen no reason to think about moving him). Regardless of how someone like Arencibia stacks up on defense, it seems clear that he will never been considered a plus defender, just like Fielder and Braun won't be. Are you all for the bat-first approach, knowing that the bat is the one tool that can overcome any deficiency, or do you have reservations about drafting such players, particularly as a position (catcher) where defense is stressed more than most? And this question isn't limited to someone like Arencibia, but basically any player whose skills clearly favor their offensive potential.

Thanks for the scoop. I'm going to close this thread since it is no longer pending and is being discussed at great length on the MLB forum.

Wilson would be a great pickup, good call JohnBriggs.

I like the trades you have working aracko. I have no clue how realistic they are, but I like the players that would be coming to Milwaukee in return. The offense would take a blow by losing Hall. Although I don't see why you would release Koskie, and I'm not really interested in Figgins if he's not playing CF. I really think Milledge could be had, and Heilman has already been made available. I'm not sure if Davis as the centerpiece is enough to make that happen, but I hope that is an avenue Melvin has explored. With Roberts now signing with the Giants, I hope Melvin takes more time to seriously consider a few more appealing trade options that would provide an even longer solution to CF than Roberts would.