Every arm on the Pensacola staff looks tired.
Every arm on the Pensacola staff looks tired.
http://diamondvisits.blogspot.com/ My Minor League stadium review site.
Well, as recently as this spring, he was considered a candidate (albeit an outside one) for a major-league roster spot. No doubt, he has had a wretched season, in particular the first half. It could have been a BABIP regression, it could have been a minor injury, it could have been a funk, it could have been a return to true form; who knows? He has straightened himself out lately, for what it's worth. The consensus is that he has some excellent tools (among them a fabulous arm). And the organization certainly seems to see something in him. It put him on the 40-man. The Bats keep hitting him first and third in the lineup, in spite of his awful numbers. Our own top 40 this year had him at #20. I think there's some room in all of that for opinion.
He does have some good tools. And he might be a 4th or 5th outfielder. His entire career looks awfully similar with the exception of last season when his BABIP was off the charts kinds of crazy.
I ranked him at #40 last season and don't think that was a mistake. He is 26 and has never really put up a season where his peripherals were good. That is not the kind of guy who is much of a prospect. Next season is his 'prime age' season. I wouldn't expect much from him at this point.
Can't really disagree with any of that, except for the caveat that any player who remains in the picture for a big-league roster spot may, in my opinion, be regarded as a "decent" prospect, which is what was stated in post #7.
My main purpose (in post #14) was to take exception to post #11. It just rubs me wrong when someone responds to a post with an unequivocal, blanket statement that says, in effect, "you were idiotically wrong." I think we're better than that on here. At least, I hope so.
Not just that, in each game he has thrown multiple good or better pitches with each of his offspeed pitches. He needs to improve his command, but the amount of 19 year olds who don't can generally be counted on one hand. If he remains healthy, he should be a very good pitcher.
I agree. Definitely a guy to be optimistic about. Last night was likely not the sharpest he's been, and he will improve over time, for sure. Is he "special"? I am not ready to say that, that's all.Not just that, in each game he has thrown multiple good or better pitches with each of his offspeed pitches. He needs to improve his command, but the amount of 19 year olds who don't can generally be counted on one hand. If he remains healthy, he should be a very good pitcher.
I guess I'd say a couple things. First, it's encouraging to hear that. Second -- TINSTAAP. I withhold getting too amped about almost any young arm. A guy like Bundy could qualify as an exception, but not Stephenson, at least not yet.I guess that depends on your definition of special. I have seen three of his starts now. He is the most special feeling guy the Reds have had since I started doing this whole prospect thing at some point in 2004.
Never understood that. Outside of injury, which seems to be happening less and less these days, why should we get less amped up for pitchers? If anything, I feel more confident projecting pitchers than hitters just because stuff and location plays anywhere. It seems like even when hitters reach the bigs, we still don't know quite what to expect until scouting reports get out and pitchers adjust. If Stephenson can eventually command the pitches he has right now, I feel pretty confident in him being an ace caliber pitcher.
The TINSTAAP thing is based on the fact that pitchers can have catastrophic injuries. Pretty simple idea. Of course, given that this applies to most all minor league pitchers, you can simply ignore it. I'd also say there are more variables that go into the development of a major league ready starter than go into the development of an everyday position player. Beyond health, there's the development of fastball command and the development of secondary stuff. Then the finer points -- pitch efficiency, working out of jams, holding runners. Basically -- there's more to pitching than there is to hitting.
I like Stephenson's chances -- a lot. But he is not a shoo-in ace at this point, IMO. Those guys are rare and take years to develop, including years at the major league level for almost all of them.
double post
I'm not better than that. He's not a prospect- if you tried to trade him right now, you might be able to get a low A lefthanded middle reliever for him. I should've explained more and it might have felt like i was taking exception with a good post and i found something wrong with one small thing- i try not to do that very often, but in this case i ran out of time. I don't think you are "idiotically wrong" about anything nor did i imply that.
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