colbyjack

Honda Civic, without a doubt. I traded one in a few years ago to get a CRV (which from what I've been told is the same engine/chasis as a Civic) when my family expanded, and it's reputation for reliability leads to extremely good re-sale value. You may plan on driving the car to the ground, but that is still a valuable asset for you to have with any car, since all cars depreciate the moment you buy them. You won't get that kind of re-sale value from a Ford Focus. I can't comment on the Elantra, but why mess with a good thing? The Civics prior to 2006 still had a pretty sharp body design IMO, so that aspect seems like a pretty minor negative to me, and as long as the mileage is close to a wash, the model year wouldn't make a difference to me. Is the dealer one you're looking at an EX model? If not, $12,000 for 30k miles sounds a tad high. Did you check out its "true" value online via Blue Book and/or Edmunds?

I read today that Rockies were interested in Shouse. I think one thing that happened in September was that under the radar was that Stetter (not Shouse) was being called on for the really big lefty bat outs. Saving a million or two in the secondary loogy spot is good business. Absolutely. I remember talking about this the last two offseasons. Some of the best bullpens in baseball seem to be built without many household names and without breaking the bank. The past few years the team could spend more money on its bullpen (and bench for that matter) since their everyday players didn't cost that much. That's going to change in a hurry starting next year. Plus a first-round (sandwich) pick? Didn't the Giants jump in early on Affeldt because they felt the market for lefty relievers would go quickly?

Check out the Twins top 10 today: http://www.baseballameric...rospects/2009/267227.html I was a big fan of Hicks' as he came out of high school, but I'm always skeptical of teams whose top prospect was just added to the system via the draft, unless you're talking about a David Price/Pedro Alvarez type of prospect. While the Twins' list doesn't look great on paper, I think their success procuring talent gives them a little more credibility.

Thanks for the link brewmann04. Although a word of advice to everyone else, don't bother reading the replies to Tom H's blog entry. Yikes. For those of us that follow prospects on all teams, Bourgeois was once a top-10 type prospect on (take a quick guess) the Texas Rangers. Back then (around 2000-01 IIRC), he was praised for his dynamic all-around offensive skills, drafted as a SS but converted to play 2B due to less than ideal defensive actions at SS. I think he was moved to the OF because he still struggled some at 2B, while also to take advantage of his speed while increasing his versatility. He's had some success in the upper levels the past few years, and he's not ancient, so he should provide some nice depth. He could even be a darkhorse to claim the 25th spot on the roster next spring.

I really like the Kansas City Royals top six guys, as their top two are particularly impressive middle-of-the-order hitters (Moustakas and Hosmer) that may have a more immediate impact than what Alex Gordon and Billy Butler have had. http://www.baseballameric...rospects/2009/267224.html

I think the thread title is a little confusing, as it makes it sounds as though Mr. Sherman actually has something behind his own speculation that the Brewers will be competing with the Mets for K-Rod or Fuentes. Despite that reasoning, Adam McCalvy noted last week that the Brewers, in his estimation, wouldn't get involved with a closer since they had greater needs with their starting rotation and lineup, and might have a sour taste in their mouth after they signed Gagne for $10M last year.

Since I haven't been entering all of the top prospects in order (and started with a prospect that isn't even on my top 30 list at this point in time), please view this post in the 2009 Draft Resource Thread to see my top 30 ranking: http://brewersfandemonium...raft-Resource-Thread.html I will be entering all of this information into Brewerfan.net's draft database over the next week or so, and will be sure to let everyone know when that page is ready to be viewed. I will continue to use this thread to profile players, usually not in any kind of order, just to keep people up to speed on the players they should be keeping their eyes on between now and next June.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/82544037.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19368FFB0B613D6DEB0D0331030ED6DE0785A5397277B4DC33E Prep catcher Max Stassi is a true baseball rat, the type of player and person that wakes up every day to play baseball. All of his success stems from his hard work and passion for the game, and that effort makes him a joy to watch. His defensive prowess is his best asset, having great catch-and-throw skills, with a rocket for an arm and very good footwork behind the plate. His take-charge, leadership skills makes him a natural at handling a pitching staff. At the plate he employs a direct, quick stroke to spray line drives to all parts of the fields. Despite his smallish, sub-6' stature, he has pretty good pop, and has enough bat speed and overall power potential to hit his fair share of dingers. Overall he's a very good athlete, with good speed for a catcher that runs the bases well. Given his work ethic, his defensive skills and his bat, he is very solid player across the board in a very good year for prep catchers. Last summer, Stassi participated at nearly every major showcase and tournament event, including the Perfect Game National, the Tournament of Stars and Team USA, as well as the Aflac All-American and Under Armour games. He has committed to play at UCLA.

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/52/525955.jpg Brad Boxberger looked like a completely different pitcher when I saw him used predominantly in relief last summer on the Cape than he did when he started the spring as one of USC's weekend starters. To open the year, his stuff looked very hittable, and it was, as it led to an ERA in excess of 6.00 for his sophomore season. He was moved to the bullpen mid-year, and served as the closer to finish the season. He continued that role into the summer, and was very successful in doing so, earning a spot on the league's all-star game roster. Boxberger showed the stuff that made him so successful as a freshman at USC, and also on the Cape, when he was named a freshman All-American. At his best, although in shorter outings, Boxberger was pitching in the 93-94 range, with pretty good, late movement on his fastball. He also throws a slider with some cut-fastball type action on it, as well as a curveball. His range of pitches makes everyone not want to give up on his future as a starter, and he reportedly will re-claim a weekend role (probably Friday) with USC next spring, but again, his stuff lately has played so much better in shorter stints. He recorded nine saves on the Cape, and when batters are making contact, they're usually hitting weak ground balls to the infielders playing behind Boxberger. He has a good, strong frame and a low waist with strong lower body strength. They is still room in his upper body to add strength, although he may not need it given his present-day stuff. If he does start for the Trojans to open the year, how he starts the season could make a huge impact on his overall draft status, as he has the size, stuff and pitching savvy to go among the top 10-15 picks. 7-11, 3.64 ERA, 58 games (29 starts), 11 saves, 187.2 IP, 158 H, 178 K, 79 BB, 1.26 WHIP

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2280704860_c92f8768a7.jpg After falling to the second round in the 2008 draft, after a stress fracture in his pitching shoulder was discovered, Tanner Scheppers has decided to play for the Saint Paul Saints in the American Association independent league in order to improve his draft status. At one point last spring he was considered to be a top 10 overall player. His promise comes from his prototypical, projectable frame and an electric arm. At this time last year scouts were talking about how Scheppers was throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s as part of Fresno State's fall practices and scrammages, with improved fastball command. His fastball sits in the 92-96 range when healthy, and he has touched 99 in shorter relief stints. If he profiled to be used out of the bullpen, he may choose to use his powerful slider that has been clocked as high as 87 as his out pitch. However, last spring he improved the bite and command of his 76-80 mph curveball, which most feel is a better secondary pitch for him to use as a starter in order to pace himself deeper into games. His changeup needs work, but at this point in time gives him the foundation for three solid offerings. The health of his pitching shoulder of course will dictate just long Scheppers remains undrafted next June. He probably will only get a handful of bullpens and three, maybe four starts to prove that he is indeed healthy and that his arm responded well to the set-back. Otherwise he may regret turning down seven figures from the Pirates as their second-round pick last June. 16-7, 4.38 ERA, 49 games (27 starts), 1 CG, 1 save, 178.2 IP, 177 H, 219 K, 81 BB, 1.44 WHIP

Brent Brewer and Lou Palmisano were both big parts of today's 13-6 thumping of Phoenix. Brewer hit a pair of solo home runs, going 2-4 in total, while Palmisano went 3-4 with a solo shot of his own. They are now hitting .300 and .370 respectively this fall for the Javelinas. Six of the nine hits Brewer has had have gone for extra bases. David Welch came into the game with two on and one out in the 8th and didn't allow either runner to cross the plate by striking out both batters he faced. He pitched 1.2 innings today, allowing only a walk with a pair of Ks. His ERA finished at 4.24. http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/s...008_11_20_pddwin_perwin_1 Today is the final day of the regular season of the AFL. Despite seeing so many key prospects fall to injuries, it's nice to see Brewer in particular give us something to be excited about over the winter, and Lou may have re-claimed his Cap'n status. Welch continues to pitch well at every level he has played despite not having overpowering stuff. Somewhere LouisEly is smiling. Mesa and Phoenix will face each other on Saturday as part of the league championship game.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2693916341_c7a9aa2e73.jpg?v=0 Robbie Shields could ascend up draft boards next spring much like Gordon Beckham did during the spring of 2008 with a strong junior campaign. He, like Beckham the year before, enjoyed a fine summer on the Cape this past year, although his time was cut short when he injured his wrist sliding into a base. With very good bat speed and solid offensive tools across the board, Shields has the talent to be a game-changing infielder, with the ability to hit for a high average and power while also having good enough wheels to be a threat on the basepaths. His bat speed comes from very strong hands, wrists and forearms, and he knows how to loft balls to give him double-digit home run potential. Defensively he doesn't have ideal range at the shortstop position, as many feel he may have to move to either 2B or 3B down the road, but he has plenty of arm strength to play any infield position. He does run well and shows good overall baseball instincts. Shields has posted solid numbers since stepping onto campus, including his two summer stints (he was named one of the top prospects in the Clark-Griffith League after his freshman year), and has started at Florida Southern from day one. He is poised for a big junior year, as more and more people will become familiar with his name between now and next June. .320/.392/.548 in 613 ABs, 41 2B, 6 3B, 29 HR, 66:107 BB:K ratio, 25 for 32 in stolen bases attempts, 49 errors

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/images/2008/8/1/rp_primary_Tootle%20Action62.jpg While Jason Stoffel is typically considered the top closing prospect available for the 2009 draft, Ben Tootle isn't that far behind, and may actually profile as more of a true, power closer. He has started in his two years at Jacksonvile State, but his stuff is much more effective in shorter outings. His stuff is highlighted by a mid-to-upper-90s fastball when used in short relief. He does struggle at times to command his fastball given how hard he throws it, but when he's pumping his heater in the zone it is nearly impossible to hit. It is even more difficult to hit when his slider is working for him. His slider is nasty, a great breaking ball with two-plane break that starts in on right-handed hitters only to break dramatically down and away. Tootle has a smaller but chiseled frame and employs a huge leg kick as part of his delivery that makes him somewhat similar to Troy Percival. He also has the same kind of Percival stare, giving him an added intimidating element on the mound to go along with his stuff. His leg kick would need to be toned down significantly if any team wanted to try and develop him as a starter, as he doesn't pitch as well out of the stretch, which makes him relatively easy to steal bases off of. He was a relative unknown before his successful stint on the Cape last summer in which he was named one of the league's top prospects by the scouts that covered the circuit, and definitely will be drawing more and more attention next spring. He could vault up draft boards similar to Casey Weathers in 2007, although his level of competition isn't as great. 19-7, 4.45 ERA, 54 games (31 starts), 2 CG, 5 saves, 206.1 IP, 209 hits, 190 K, 77 BB, 1.28 WHIP

http://i.pbase.com/g1/17/606817/2/93617828.IbOWP28M.jpg Jason Stoffel was a highly regarded pitching prospect coming out of Agoura High School in 2006, where he teamed with Robert Stock, who is now at USC. A broken ankle caused Stoffel to miss the playoffs to close his high school career, and that along with his commitment to Arizona caused him to not be drafted in 2006. Stoffel assumed the role as the Wildcats closer during his freshman year, and is currently tied with Mark Melancon for the program's leader in saves with 18. Stoffel has stated in the past that he preferred to start, but really flourished as a closer. He has the stuff to thrive as a starter should a team choose to pursue him in that role, but he hasn't thrown his changeup much at college since he hasn't needed it. His fastball sits in the low-90s and has good, late life with a knack for inducing weak swings and ground ball outs. His curveball is also a plus pitch, giving him a solid one-two punch. When I saw him when he was still in high school, his fastball velocity, movement and command coupled with an aggressive approach allowed him to break quite a few bats of opposing hitters, who rarely got a good swing at his pitches. While he's not overly projectable, he has a strong, stocky frame and an intimidating presence on the mound. His approach his fearless, he has a short memory and rarely gets rattled. The past two years he has teamed with Daniel Schlereth to give the Wildcats a very difficult late inning tandem to contend with, but now that Schlereth has begun his professional career, Stoffel will have the opportunity to showcase his skills on his own late in games in close contests. He has not pitched during the summer the past two years, so here are his cumulative stats during his two years at Arizona: 9-2, 2.46 ERA, 60 games (1 start), 18 saves, 91.1 IP, 75 H, 134 K, 28 BB, 1.13 WHIP

The Tigers are up today, led by Rick Porcello. After Porcello the talent thins out, although the system does have some promising power arms that could flourish with more seasoning. http://www.baseballameric...rospects/2009/267221.html

Cain fouled a ball off of his knee. No word on how serious the injury was. He didn't make it into today's game, but my gut tells me we'll see him in a game as early as tomorrow. Lou Palmisano was the only Brewers farmhand to make it into today's game, as the Javelinas got to kick back and watch an impressive 2-hit, 10 K performance by Phil Hughes over 5 innings of work. Palmisano caught Hughes in the 4th and 5th innings, which includes 5 of his 10 punchouts. At the plate Cap'n Lou had a K and a BB in two plate appearances.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F29A.JPG Keyvius Sampson may have impressed me more than any other player that I had the pleasure to watch during the summer of 2008. He, like Mychal Givens and Austin Maddox, is a talented two-way star who could go early in the draft as either a pitcher or as a hitter. My money is that he goes early, and at this point in time I would argue that he goes earlier than many currently project, as a right-handed pitcher. He has such an easy and electric arm in which he effortlessly produces low-to-mid-90s heat. His fastball sits in the 90-92 range, and as he warms up he starts to touch more 93s, 94s and 95s. Given the ease of his delivery and his athletic frame, it's easy to project him throwing in the upper-90s very soon, possibly as soon as next spring. He also throws a knockout curveball, which in the mid-70s, gives batters a very difficult pitch to hit regularly clocking 20 mph slower than his heater. He also throws a solid changeup. As a hitter he shows good bat speed and some power potential. He laces line drives to all parts of the field, and has enough speed to swipe his fair share of bases. Defensively his speed allows him to cover a lot of ground in centerfield, and his arm strength is also an asset. He's a five tool player across the board. Sampson is one player that I think more and more people are going to become familiar with between now and next June, as he continues to get better with the athletic talent to be a future star. He has committed to play for Florida State.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F17B.JPG Jonathan Walsh is a very good overall athlete, but his bat could allow him to sneak into the first round. I'm one of the few people that has Walsh ranked among the top 30 draft-eligible prospects in the nation, but I believe in his natural sense for the game and his ability to change games at the plate. A switch hitter with a smooth, natural stroke from both sides of the plate, Walsh makes hitting look so incredibly easy. He takes pitches and never looks anxious. He can drive the ball from gap-to-gap, and has the bat speed to pull an inside fastball and the ability to lace soft stuff away up the middle and to left field. His stance, and his facial features, resemble Joe Mauer, and he profiles as a similar high average, doubles hitter with a knack for the big hit. Walsh is a very good overall athlete that has a strong arm and runs surprisingly well. He currently plays behind the plate, and while his arm strength allows him to post impressive POP times, he has a long way to go to learn the finer nuances of the position. Should he begin his professional career after high school, he may be better off at third or first base or even a corner outfield spot, where he would be allowed to move as fast as his bat could carry him. Although his value as an impact, switch-hitting catcher is great enough to allow a team to be patient with his development. He has committed to play for the Texas Longhorns, a college program that is never easy to sway recruits from.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/82544056.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19368FFB0B613D6DEB05EF811ABFA012C765A5397277B4DC33E The prep class offers quite a few two-way talents that could be first-round picks as either pitchers or as hitters, but the arm strength and power potential at the plate at a premium position (catcher) leads many to believe that Austin Maddox will indeed be drafted and developed as a catcher. Maddox is a big, physical player, that looks like he's much older than a high school senior, with thick, muscular limbs and a barrel chest. He is surprisingly quick and agile for his size, although many think he will need to be very diligent with his conditioning given his already mature frame and proportions. When he makes contact, the ball travels a long, long way. He is one of the most powerful players eligible for the 2009 draft, although his swing can get equally big, leading to high strikeout totals. His size, bat speed and stature alone would make him a high draft pick. Behind the plate he shows off one of the strongest arms in the country. Again, his size draws some concerns about whether he would be suited long-term from the rigors of catching on an everyday basis. On the mound, he has such an easy arm that allows him to throw in the low-90s while approaching the mid-90s when he starts to find his groove. His curveball is a potential dominant pitch when it's working for him, and his size gives him a very imposing, intimidating presence on the mound. He has committed to the University of Florida as part of a very talented recruiting class for the Gators.

Going back to the first page, and tieing in some thoughts from other threads, but Mark Teahen would seem to be one of the more available options out there for the Brewers, if the team is confident he could return to 3B. I'm guessing it wouldn't take a ton to get him, and would be a relatively easy fix while keeping the rest of the current roster intact. Dayton Moore reportedly intends to turn his attention on the bullpen. This isn't exactly an area of strength for the Brewers since they have lost, or at least stand to lose so many players to free agency, not to mention Salomon Torres. The Royals still could use an upgrade at one of their two middle IF positions.

The Giants beat writer has reported that the Brewers and Giants continue to talk about Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi...?blogid=22&entry_id=32802 That final comment is very interesting, although I would have a hard time believing that the Brewers wouldn't be seriously interested if Matt Cain was on the table.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F6A.JPG Matt Davidson reclaimed his status as one of the top 10-20 prep players in the nation this past summer after having a disappointing junior season at Yucaipa High School in Southern California. He started the summer showcase season at the Perfect Game National, and ended the summer as an Aflac All-American, where he won the home run derby crown. His best tool is his bat, as he exudes confidence at the plate and shows great extension. He looks and acts like a natural run producer, with very good pull power and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. He has the bat speed to catch up with the best fastballs in the nation, and displays a patient, professional approach. Despite his power swing, he covers the plate well and is short and quick to the ball before his bat explodes through the strike zone. Defensively he has improved as well, showing a very strong arm at third base with good footwork. His arm strength allows him to succeed as a pitcher as well, although his value lies in his bat. His speed is average at best, and he could slow down as he continues to fill out and add strength. He has the potential with the bat that a move to first wouldn't hurt his overall value. Now one of the best bats available in the 2009 draft, Davidson has committed to play for USC.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F27A.JPG Zack Wheeler did his best last summer to put his name among the best prep right-handers in the nation. He participated at the Perfect Game National and East Coast Pro Showcases as well as the Aflac and Under Armour Games. There are a lot of moving parts to Wheeler's big, slow delivery, with a lot of arms and legs thanks to a tall and lanky 6'4", 180 pound frame. He resembles the Phillies' Ryan Madson quite a bit, and for a more distant comparison, there were aspects of his delivery and stuff that reminded me of Orel Hershiser. Despite his listed size, he does have strength in the lower half, and broad shoulders, meaning he should continue to fill out and add strength as his body matures. He works comfortably in the 90-93 range and can touch 94/95 regularly. His breaking ball, somewhere in between a curve and a slider, is a power pitch that hovers right around 80 mph. I'm a little concerned by his delivery, as there does seem to be some pressure on his arm as part of his delivery, but others don't seem too concerned. Most pitchers that throw like this, such as Ryan Madson or even Scot Shields, seem to be more effective in short relief, but it's far too early to write him off as a starter. He has committed to play for Kennesaw State.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F20.JPG Two-way threat Mychal Givens entered the summer of 2008 with more favoring his bat and his glove as a potential five-tool shortstop than those wowed by his natural and easy arm strength. I think the numbers shifted in favor of his promise on the mound after he consistently showed off the strongest, most electric arm at the biggest showcase and tournament events while playing with and against the best players in the nation. He needed only two pitches to record a pair of outs at the Aflac All-American Classic, the first of which clocked at 96 mph. He has a very quick, whip-like arm, and he shows very good composure on the mound. There is some deception to his delivery, and his fastball, which can approach triple digits, exhibits some late, sinking life. As hard as it is to hit his fastball, he also can unleash a wicked slider that drops down and away from right-handed batters. As a defender he has fast-twitch actions, very good range at the shortstop position and a strong arm. At the plate he has good bat speed and overall power potential, although I noticed he does have the tendency to swing down on balls. On the bases he has enough speed to be considered a consistent base-stealing threat. Overall I'm a little concerned about his ability to hit for average at the next level, which only augments his value as a pitcher. While he does have two knockout pitches, I am a little concerned that his delivery and stuff may be best suited in a short relief role down the road. Of course such decisions don't have to be made anytime soon, as it would be hard to nitpick while passing up on such an impressive athletic talent.

Matt LaPorta is ranked #2 with Michael Brantley at #9 for the Indians top prospect list, a system that has some nice depth among corner OF/1B types. Brantley of course was praised for his bat control yet questioned for his lack of power, below average CF defense and arm strength. http://www.baseballameric...rospects/2009/267213.html