Well then maybe I just have a problem with rating someone who is 5 or more years away from the big leauges as a top prospect due to washout rate. I guess anyone can formulate any kind of "prospect" ranking based off any criteria they want. However when I look at these things, I want to not only base my evaluations off of a player's upside, but off of their likelihood to reach that ceiling. Maybe its a matter of a difference of opinion, but I don't think it is fair or realistic to ever rank someone who is more than a leap year away from contributing in the top 5 of anything. It's like creating a college recruiting magazine that profiles middle school athletes.
I've seen way too many Justin Gillmans, John Olivers, Chris Grulers and Ty Howingtons over the years to start projecting 18 year olds' contributions to the Reds with any high degree of confidence.
Last edited by Benihana; 11-21-2007 at 12:28 PM.
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Well in hindsight I don't think anyone was projecting Szymanski to get to the big leagues at age 26 either. He washed out, but all prospects wash out. Not all of them, but all types. Pitchers, hitters, high schoolers, college kids, international kids, international free agents....
Of course they do, but there is a much higher degree of washout with players who have yet to accomplish anything in rookie ball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not predicting doom and gloom for Mesoraco or anybody else. I'm just saying that until someone has produced consistently at the A ball level or better, they cannot be legitimately considered a top prospect in my eyes, so proceed with caution. Just my opinion.
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I believe David Price will be starting in AA or AAA this year, and is expected to be with the big club at some point this season. That's a little different than rookie ball.
A player who dominates at the major college level is often considered to be comparable to success at the high A level. Yet another reason why Drew Stubbs is such a disappointment.
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If you want to nitpick, that's fine. I would hope you get the general idea here.
If you want me to spell it out for you, I have no problem declaring that I have more confidence in a 6'7" pitcher who dominates at the major college level than a high school kid from the middle of nowhere that had little to no success once he made his professional debut in rookie ball.
Could the high school kid eventually succeed? Sure. But I would err on the side of caution before I declare him a top prospect.
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No, we were talking about Mesoraco, who comes in at #6 on this BA ranking despite having little to no success in rookie ball. That's fine though, I'm still rooting for the kid. The other reason I'm skeptical regarding these BA rankings is the fact that D-Mes ranked ahead of Lotzkar, despite the latter's sparkling debut. You could argue sample size, and you could also argue (and I would agree) that neither has any business in the Top 10. But if I had to put one of them up there, I would put Lotzkar ahead of Mesoraco because of their performance at the professional level, which given both of their pedigrees, I think has more bearing than the round they were drafted.
As far as Szymanski goes, he hardly played at what could be described as a major college program. With all due respect to Princeton (the college) and princeton (the poster), doing well in the Ivy League is a far cry from dominating at the College World Series. Could you do the latter and still wash out? Of course. But I'd bet on the kid dominating the CWS before the high school kid from nowhere that failed to impress in rookie ball.
Last edited by Benihana; 11-21-2007 at 01:06 PM.
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What a high schooler did in rookie ball while playing with two hurt thumbs hardly gives me any worries about him. I didn't rank Mesoraco that high on my list, but I can certainly understand where it comes from given the scouting reports.
I can't believe the lack of love for Roenicke. He made a huge step forward, and he means more to the Reds right now than a couple of the guys above him.
-LTlabnerIf you can't build a winning team with that core a fire-sale isn't the solution. Selling the franchise, moving them to Nashville and converting GABP into a used car lot is.
Relief pitchers value is very little. I have noticed that in Cincinnat they tend to be overvalued simply becuase the Reds have a horrible bullpen. Relief pitchers are of some value, but nowhere near the value of a solid every day player who isn't even of the all star level.
Any word on the chat?
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