Sickels' Grades for Reds Prospects

[BoydsOfSummer]

Just got my Baseball Prospect Book from John Sickels. Here are the Reds grades:

James Avery C
Homer Bailey B+
Bobby Basham C+
Willie Bergolla C
Jay Bruce B
Travis Chick C
Chris Denofia C+
Chris Dickerson C
Phil Dumatrait B-
Richie Gardner C
Justin Germano C+
Rafael Gonzalez C
Alex Graman C
Paul Janish C
Steve Kelly C
Bo Lanier C
Sam LeClure C+
Calvin Medlock C
Javon Moran C
Bubba Nelson C
Thomas Pauly C
Tyler Pelland C+
Miguel Perez C
Elizardo Ramirez C
Brandon Roberts C
Adam Rosales C
Jeff Stevens C+
B.J. Szymanski B-
Joey Votto C+
Zach Ward C+
Travis Wood B
Abe Woody C

[Ravenlord]

i pretty much agree with Sickel's take, but i think he's undervaluing Denorfia and Medlock.

[klw]

All those "C" ratings is giving me an awful flashback about my college Russian grades.

[KronoRed]

With these grades we can totally get into a community college

[Heath]

Sickels' also voted woy & krono posters of the year on redszone.com.

He gave Steel a B+. I couldn't believe it - blew me away.

[Heath]

With these grades we can totally get into a community college

or UC. :

[KronoRed]

or UC. :

BURN

[MikeS21]

I am vetry surprized to see Dumatrait rated a B-. I would have thought he was lower.

I also think he is being a little generous with Homer Bailey, since Bailey has shown no signs of being a dominating pitcher. I would be interested to see how that B+ compares to the grades Sickles has given some of the other recent young pitching studs.

[Aronchis]

I am vetry surprized to see Dumatrait rated a B-. I would have thought he was lower.

I also think he is being a little generous with Homer Bailey, since Bailey has shown no signs of being a dominating pitcher. I would be interested to see how that B+ compares to the grades Sickles has given some of the other recent young pitching studs.

Most likely because of the piggyback system, Bailey's numbers were inflated, he pitched well down the stretch when he started.

Disagree that Bailey showed no signs. He showed plenty of signs, it is the consistancy of control that is his biggest hurdle and not one overly unexpected coming out of High School. His string of starts in May, 11k game late in the season when his arm was going full power was signs of dominance.

Signs don't mean "stud" yet, but they were there.

[OSURedLeg]

I've read alot of Sickel's stuff, and the B+ rating for Bailey is based both on a decent debue at Dayton and outstanding projectibility. The only grade that surprised me was Dumatrait's, simply due to the fact that his control isn't there and it's not just post surgery - he's had a tendency for walks even beforehand.

[MikeS21]

Most likely because of the piggyback system, Bailey's numbers were inflated, he pitched well down the stretch when he started.

Disagree that Bailey showed no signs. He showed plenty of signs, it is the consistancy of control that is his biggest hurdle and not one overly unexpected coming out of High School. His string of starts in May, 11k game late in the season when his arm was going full power was signs of dominance.

Signs don't mean "stud" yet, but they were there.

Any idea some of the other "big name" pitchers who may have been graded as a B+ at the same stage of their minor league career?

[4256 Hits]

B.J. Szymanski B-

Here is another one that seems to high.

[Danny Serafini]

That sure is a really lazy list. It's as if he gave everyone a C and then threw in a few random plusses just to make it look like he was doing some actual grading.

[paintmered]

or UC. :

Some of us UC guys have the power to ban.

Just sayin' :

[dougdirt]

What on earth was he grading on, and how did he come to these conclusions? If Bailey gets a B+, then how does Travis Wood get a B? What more did he want Wood to do really? Szymanski and Rosales both played in Dayton, where Adam clearly outproduced him, yet got a grade lower than him. Bo Lainer did horrible this year, but gets a C, when Elizardo Ramirez does well in Triple A at the same age, and gets the same grade?

I dont know what he grades on, but it doesnt seem that he knows a whole lot.