Following the Minor League Teams (2011)

[d_mc_nabb]

I'd like to Norris start hitting in AA and AAA like he hits in the AFL.  His K problems seem to disappear against better pitching.

IIRC the AFL is a hitters league, but all the same (his numbers are so good it's still impressive). I wonder if it's because he's preparing solely for MLB style pitching, which may somehow subtly differ from the minor league pitching he's used to, or maybe it comes down to umpiring- maybe even field conditions. It's interesting though, I remember Flores played well in MLB but poorly in the minors.

[Lintyfresh85]

Nats are now being discussed on Minor League Ball... Sickels will be dropping the preliminary prospect list after he finishes up his work on the Marlins.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/12/15/2638129/washington-nationals-organization-discussion

I signed up... but it takes a day to accept your username... so could someone go throw up a good work for Estevez, Taylor, Martinson and a couple of the GCL kids for me?

[Lintyfresh85]

Saw this blurb from Sickels

**I'm working on the Washington Nationals prospect list, and will have it done either this evening or tomorrow morning. In case anyone wonders, I am fully on board the Bryce Harper bandwagon and don't have any contrarian tendencies regarding his future.

**A.J. Cole is an interesting case. Right now I have him on the borderland between a Grade B and a B+. He's not refined yet, but I like his fastball and his breaking ball. If his changeup comes around and he builds additional stamina, he could be in the Top Ten pitching prospects in all of baseball this time next year.

**I still believe in Derek Norris, and despite his problems getting over the Mendoza Line in '11, his stock actually seems improved among scouts. I think Mike Napoli's season might have something to do with that, perhaps acting on the subconscious minds of observers who would normally be suspicious about players with Norris' profile (low batting average, good power, high walk rate, underrated defense).

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/12/20/2649181/morning-minor-league-notes-december-20th-2011-yu-darvish#storyjump

[hammondsnats]

we can't trade A.J. Cole. 

[JMUalumni]

Just saw that the Mets won't have a Gulf Coast team next year.  That is pretty crazy.

[Lintyfresh85]

They're that bad on cash? Yikes.

[JMUalumni]

From ESPN:

The Mets will eliminate their Gulf Coast League team based in Port St. Lucie for 2012, not Kingsport. The cost-saving move still leaves the Mets will eight affiliates, including two in the Dominican Republic, which is more than most organizations, the Mets noted.

The Mets' statement makes no mention of Kingsport's future for 2013 and beyond. It reads: "For 2012, we will be conducting our three Rookie League teams in Kingsport, Tenn., and out of our facility in the Dominican Republic and will not operate a team in the Gulf Coast League.”

Personally, I think its a weird choice to keep the Appy team over the GCL team and still run two DSL teams.

[ronnynat]

Nats are now being discussed on Minor League Ball... Sickels will be dropping the preliminary prospect list after he finishes up his work on the Marlins.

Here's the list: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/12/20/2650433/washington-nationals-top-20-prospects-for-2012

[JMUalumni]

Last year's list grades:

A:  1
B:  6
C:  7

This years:

A:  2
B:  11
C:  7

[JMUalumni]

And Peacock had to have one of the biggest jumps of any prospect this year.  He went from not even being part of Sickels top 20 last August, to being #4 in the latest one.

[Lintyfresh85]

I thought Hood would be higher... Happy to see Martinson made it as I'm high on him... Note me pulling for him in the Top 30 for WNFF.

[kirubel94]

I thought Hood would be higher... Happy to see Martinson made it as I'm high on him... Note me pulling for him in the Top 30 for WNFF.

Hood might be higher in any other farm system except here.

[JMUalumni]

I'm thinking about getting one of the handbooks for the upcoming season, but can't decide between the Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America one.  Anyone gotten either of these before?  Thoughts?

[Lintyfresh85]

I've got the BA one on preorder. Never bought it before. Excited to see what it's like.

[HalfSmokes]

The BP one usually has pretty interesting articles

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I don't have my last BP with me, but I don't think they go quite as deep into prospects as BA's top 30 for each club.  Someone with a BP could probably do a count of the number of prospects.

You could probably go into a bookstore and side-by-side them. 

The other thing to think about might be Sickels.

[HalfSmokes]

I don't have my last BP with me, but I don't think they go quite as deep into prospects as BA's top 30 for each club.  Someone with a BP could probably do a count of the number of prospects.

You could probably go into a bookstore and side-by-side them. 

The other thing to think about might be Sickels.

ron shandler's fantasy baseball forecaster tends to be pretty good if you don't mind a bit of a fantasy angle- also has a decent section on top international prospects (at least it did in 09 when I last subscribed)

[Lintyfresh85]

To be honest, I didn't even know BP put out a book.

I just went with BA because I'm a big fan of prospects and I've heard their book is quite in-depth.

[comish4lif]

To be honest, I didn't even know BP put out a book.

I just went with BA because I'm a big fan of prospects and I've heard their book is quite in-depth.

I always preferred the Sickels book to BA. I have a BA account and have since forever. The BA magazines give you the top 10s; the book provides the top 30+1 more. Sickels gives you a bunch.  He doesn't do a set number per team.

I preferred the Sickels book over the BA book because the BA book seems to weight tools heavily and has more pitchers than hitters. The Sickels book has a more balanced approach to stats, scouting and tools.

If you are just looking for the info and not needing a book in your hands. Try this:
http://www.fantasyrundown.com/2012_MLB_Prospects.html

[Lintyfresh85]

When does the Sickels book come out?

[JMUalumni]

I'm interested in getting one of these books more for the scouting reports than the fantasy value.  How are the scouting reports in Sickels?  I've heard the ones in BA are pretty thorough and detailed.  I have no idea about BP's book.

[Lintyfresh85]

If you are just looking for the info and not needing a book in your hands. Try this:
http://www.fantasyrundown.com/2012_MLB_Prospects.html

Also, this may be the best site I've ever seen. So many reports listed in one place! Thanks for the link!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm interested in getting one of these books more for the scouting reports than the fantasy value.  How are the scouting reports in Sickels?  I've heard the ones in BA are pretty thorough and detailed.  I have no idea about BP's book.

By the BP book, I just meant the annual Baseball Prospectus, the telelphone-book-sized thing that profiles each team, has some general analysis, and a top 100.  In each organization, they recap last year's roster plus a certain number of prospects.  If a guy moves on to an new organization, then his profile will be with the prior year's team.  Thus, we get to see a recap of Bally's season in the Nats section, while the analysis no doubt will discuss the impact of the move on his projections for 2012. 

[Tyler Durden]

http://www.masnsports.com/byron_kerr/2011/12/new-wave-of-prospects-expected-to-move-up-from-auburn-in-spring.html

Nice article on some lower level position guys - Skole, Byrce Ortega, Caleb Ramsey, and Justin Miller.

[Mr Clean]

Looks like Kerr has Rendon headed to Potomac where he will play alongside another Rice grad, Rick Hague.