I have heard that the reds are very high on rowell. he's a kinda cocky kid, but he ahs a sweet lefty swing from what i've seen. most of his experience this far is at ss though
I have heard that the reds are very high on rowell. he's a kinda cocky kid, but he ahs a sweet lefty swing from what i've seen. most of his experience this far is at ss though
From Gammons yesterday...would anyone have a problem with Hochevar?
Independent proving groundposted: Thursday, May 11, 2006
More than 50 scouts were in Fort Worth to watch Luke Hochevar on Monday night in an independent American Association exhibition game.
Oh yes. Mopping up in relief was Matt Harrington, beginning his fourth season as a Fort Worth Cat.
Hochevar could be back in the June 6 draft if the Dodgers do not get him signed before June 4. While L.A. scouting director Logan White was in attendance, there seems to be industry-wide doubt that the Dodgers will be able to sign Hochevar. Which, since this may be the weakest draft since 2000, could put Hochevar up in the top 10 picks.
You may or may not know the story. Hochevar, a junior at the University of Tennessee, was considered a tough sign because of Scott Boras and lasted until the 40th selection, in the sandwich round. The Dodgers originally could not get him signed, but when Hochevar switched agents from Boras to Matt Sosnick, a deal was worked out for $2.98 million.
Only Hochevar jumped back to Boras, the deal was off the table, and the 22-year-old right-handed pitcher is a Fort Worth Cat. Like the 24-year-old Harrington.
"Hochevar was pretty impressive," says one major league executive. "He was 92 to 97, and sat regularly at 94-95. He's healthy, which everyone wanted to see. He does tend to spin at the end of his delivery which makes it tough for him to get in on right-handed batters, but he's a quality prospect in a year when there aren't many quality arms."
The question in most scouting directors' minds is what it will take to sign Hochevar, and whether he is willing to risk sitting around for another year and becoming a repeat Cat.
If $2.98 million is not enough ...
Maybe he should ask Harrington how he enjoys his day job. Matt was a top-10 pick once, the seventh pick in the 2000 draft. He turned down $4.1 million from the Colorado Rockies, but had no school to attend and had to get a day job.
After the Colorado fiasco, Harrington switched agents from Tommy Tanzer to Boras, and in 2001 was drafted in the second round by the San Diego Padres. At the advice of Boras, he turned down more than $1 million.
In 2002, Harrington was drafted in the 13th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2003, he was drafted in the 24th round by the Cincinnati Reds. In 2004, he was drafted in the 36th round by the Yankees.
In 2005, he finally went undrafted and was -- and still is -- free to sign with any major-league team.
That hasn't happened. He is entering his fourth season with Fort Worth, for whom he has pitched in 62 games with a 10-11 record and 4.00 ERA.
"Harrington was throwing 84-85," said the executive. "His stuff wasn't close to what it was six years ago. It was very sad."
Hochevar pitches in a regular-season game on Saturday night. Harrington might mop up, or he might not. Hochevar is trying to prove that $2.5 million or $2.98 million -- or whatever -- was not enough, and if someone drafts him and sticks to a slotted number, maybe he will stick to his principle and bring the scouts back to Fort Worth next year at this time.
Harrington was advised to stick to his principles. He lost $4.1 million and then $1 million, but he's got 10 wins as a Fort Worth Cat.
I don't know if anyone saw the artiicle by Jonathon Mayo, but he projects the Reds picking 8th and taking Drew Stubbs CF from the University of Texas. Beleves the Reds will take best player available. He believes top pitchers will be gone by that pick. Anyone have any thoughts on Stubbs?
Originally Posted by jbonireland
The farm system is certainly devoid of positional players now, although that was the one thing people always hung their hat on about the Reds system (when FORCED to say something nice about it). I liked the Jay Bruce pick last year, but I can't say I wouldn't be disappointed if they selected another position player first. I DO like Stubbs and LaPorta, but with the college pitchers at the top of this draft, it's almost a certainty at least a couple of the better ones mentioned in this thread will be there at 8. It'd be a shame if the Reds didn't get one this time.
I agree. Votto and Bruce are the only "real" prospect bats we have that are functioning. Rosales has hit the injury bug and the other college talent usually isn't that good.
I like the fact Stubbs is considered a top notch defensive CF with great speed. College hitters have projected well, so I think he'd make a relatively safe pick.
No guarantee on any of these pitchers, college or HS.
The one thing people value more than most is young pitching. When deals need to be made, it's always nice to have a surplus there for trading purposes.
This may be true, but outstanding position player prospects can be nice chips too (see Hanley Ramirez, the centerpeice of the Beckett deal, and Daric Barton, the main piece in the Mulder deal).The one thing people value more than most is young pitching. When deals need to be made, it's always nice to have a surplus there for trading purposes.
Agreed. But Anibel Sanchez and Danny Haren were involved as well. Basically any successful prospect will be key, but I think arms are more coveted than bats.
he likely won't get more money by going back into the draft. Two Boras clients held out and signed at the 11th hour last year, I'd say there is a good chance he does the same this year.
although I have read a lot on him that he does not project as a good hitter. Great athlete and great CF with a questionable bat. We already have one of those in BJ.
I've heard the opposite on Stubbs, actually... his speed and defense are unquestioned, but people are wondering if he'll hit. He's anything but safe. His overall production is good but not earth-shaking for the aluminum-bat world, and he whiffs a lot. A high strikeout rate is not necessarily a bad thing if it comes attached to a proven power hitter (and let's leave Adam Dunn and the like out of this thread) but it's a concern for an alleged Top-10 prospect to have trouble making contact against college pitching swinging a metal bat.
I'm paraphrasing, but one of the BP guys quoted a scout saying Stubbs was the type of player you hoped was gone when your pick came around. You didn't necessarily want to pick him, but you might look really stupid passing on him.
Reading comprehension is not just an ability, it's a choice
If we're gonna take an outfielder with Bard still available, he better be a sure thing, and like Flyer85 said, Stubbs just looks like a slight upgrade to Szymanski right now. Here's his numbers compared to some other picks...
Drew Stubbs: 198AB .338/.438/.606 11HR 20SB
Ryan Braun: 219AB .388/.471/.726 18HR 23SB
Alex Gordon 211AB .365/.493/.754 18HR 12SB
B.J. Szymanski 177AB .362/.433/.610 6HR 11SB
Drew Anderson (a Buckeye) is absolutely tearing up the FSL right now. And B.J. and Janish are finally raking in Dayton. If I had to rate them by position, I'd probably go with
C- PEREZ (high A)
1B- VOTTO (AA)
2B- ANDERSON (high A)
SS- JANISH (low A), ROSALES (high A)
3B- HERR? (AA)
OF- BRUCE (low A)
OF- SZYMANSKI (low A)
OF- STRAIT (high A)
OF- DICKERSON (high A)
In order:
1. Bruce
2. Votto
3. Szymanski
4. Janish
5. Rosales
6. Strait
7. Anderson
8. Dickerson
9. Herr
Does this order look about right for position prospects?
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