Author Topic: Following the Minor League Teams (2011) (Read 117738 times)

hammondsnats · « **Reply #475 on:** April 24, 2011, 01:12:11 am »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on April 24, 2011, 01:10:12 am

Rizzo doesn't like to move up prospects without a year at each level.

i'm aware. again hypothetically i was saying. right now it's just a small sample size.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #476 on:** April 24, 2011, 01:24:52 am »

I think it's dumb to make a prospect do a year at each level.

If the guy is ready to move on, you move him up.

NatsDad14 · « **Reply #477 on:** April 24, 2011, 02:13:24 am »

I still don't get why meyers is in AA

hammondsnats · « **Reply #478 on:** April 24, 2011, 03:14:18 am »

Quote from: GMUNat on April 24, 2011, 02:13:24 am

I still don't get why meyers is in AA

unfortunately instead of just cutting Mock, they wanted to make sure their pet project is okay so they put him on the DL ... so meyers is still blocked.

houston-nat · « **Reply #479 on:** April 24, 2011, 04:05:28 am »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on April 24, 2011, 01:24:52 am

I think it's dumb to make a prospect do a year at each level.

You're repeating yourself. Anytime you start a sentence with "Rizzo thinks" or "Rizzo doesn't" or even just "Rizzo," then you've already told us you think it's dumb.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #480 on:** April 24, 2011, 09:40:19 am »

They bumped up Jeff Mandel from AA to take Hyde's spot in the AAA pen.

Also JR Higley is now in Potomac after starting the season in extended ST.

NatsDad14 · « **Reply #481 on:** April 24, 2011, 12:29:54 pm »

Quote from: hammondsnats on April 24, 2011, 03:14:18 am

unfortunately instead of just cutting Mock, they wanted to make sure their pet project is okay so they put him on the DL ... so meyers is still blocked.

The organization is a joke. They are more worried about options (Bernadina, Balester) and not hurting anyone's feelings (Pudge, Mock) rather than trying to win or develop their prospects.

d_mc_nabb · « **Reply #482 on:** April 24, 2011, 12:52:07 pm »

Honestly? A year may be a bit of a stretch, but just moving them up after one hot month... You could, but I don't think I would. A month is rarely a fluke, yes, but some players have fluke years, which might be Rizzo's thinking for that policy. Also, if a player, even not a fluke, breezes through one level, never having time to struggle even for a week-long slump, they already will have fallen behind in learning how to adjust... One month, I think is too oon. Again, that's not in justification of a whole year... that's a long time to be waiting. But patience is vital.

BBQ · « **Reply #483 on:** April 24, 2011, 01:01:32 pm »

I guess they don't want to give-up on Mock yet. Maybe it is because he was a big part of the Livan deal to the Diamondbacks all those years ago. In other news hows Chico?

strasmasndzimmermas10 · « **Reply #484 on:** April 24, 2011, 05:45:10 pm »

Yunesky Maya pitched a pretty good game today 7 inning 3 hits and 9 strike out.
Bernadina 1-4 with a double.

NatsDad14 · « **Reply #485 on:** April 24, 2011, 05:49:21 pm »

Quote from: strasmasndzimmermas10 on April 24, 2011, 05:45:10 pm

Yunesky maya pitche a pretty good game today 7 inning 3 hits and 9 strike out.
Brenedina 1-4 with a double.

strasmasndzimmermas10 · « **Reply #486 on:** April 24, 2011, 05:55:09 pm »

Quote from: GMUNat on April 24, 2011, 05:49:21 pm

i don't know what you are talking about.

RD · « **Reply #487 on:** April 24, 2011, 10:27:52 pm »

In general, I like the idea of guys staying for a year at the lower levels.

Its a big shock to be on your own for the first time, paying your own bills, playing ball every day, and dealing with long bus rides. Its nice to give the guys a chance to get some stability. Get comfortable with the entire lifestyle change. That goes for the first couple years. Confidence is a fragile thing, and you don't want to promote a kid too soon when he's doing well, then challenge him and watch him crawl into a hole he can't get out of.

Once you get to AA though, IMO, all bets are off. Once you hit that level, if the talent is there, and you're having success, you're good to go. The maturity should be there, a certain level of experience has been accumulated, and obviously the talent is there(if you're at the level and doing well).

Of course, there are exceptions. Bryce Harper being one. I think he should at least spend the month of May in Hagerstown, but if he's lighting it up then, get him to Potomac.

tomterp · « **Reply #488 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:00:58 am »

Quote from: RD on April 24, 2011, 10:27:52 pm

In general, I like the idea of guys staying for a year at the lower levels.

Its a big shock to be on your own for the first time, paying your own bills, playing ball every day, and dealing with long bus rides. Its nice to give the guys a chance to get some stability. Get comfortable with the entire lifestyle change. That goes for the first couple years. Confidence is a fragile thing, and you don't want to promote a kid too soon when he's doing well, then challenge him and watch him crawl into a hole he can't get out of.

Once you get to AA though, IMO, all bets are off. Once you hit that level, if the talent is there, and you're having success, you're good to go. The maturity should be there, a certain level of experience has been accumulated, and obviously the talent is there(if you're at the level and doing well).

Of course, there are exceptions. Bryce Harper being one. I think he should at least spend the month of May in Hagerstown, but if he's lighting it up then, get him to Potomac.

There's also the idea of managing their peak performance period to occur prior to their becoming a free agent. You don't want to rush them all to the majors and suffer the growing pains at the major league level, only to have key players leave for greener pastures once they finally hit their performance sweet spot.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #489 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:05:32 am »

Quote

jimcallisBA Jim Callis
Ceiling is No. 4/5 if stays healthy. @sportsfan882: Brad Meyers finally healthy 27 K 0 BB in 21 IP in AA. Potential No. 3 SP? #Nats

houston-nat · « **Reply #490 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:13:46 am »

Don't worry, SF, I feel like that's a canned response. He looked at Meyers' scouting report, saw the foot injury thing, and "Ceiling is 4/5 if healthy" is a ridiculously easy sentence to write out.

JMUalumni · « **Reply #491 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:44:35 am »

Quote from: Lintyfresh85 on April 24, 2011, 01:24:52 am

I think it's dumb to make a prospect do a year at each level.

If the guy is ready to move on, you move him up.

Just out of curiosity, who did you have in mind that he held back? IMO, he has done at good job at moving players through the system. Guys like Lombardozzi (400+ AB) and Rosenbaum (100 IP) were promoted after having good years and I'm not so sure that promoting guys from short season is ever a smart move unless they are super prospect or there is an injury. Guys not being promoted so quickly is also more indicative of the lack of talent at the upper levels, but he didn't seem to have any problem bumping Strasburg and Storen quickly. For all of Rizzo's faults, the management of the minor league ladder is not one of them in my book.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #492 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:58:04 am »

Quote from: sportsfan882 on April 25, 2011, 09:05:32 am

Quote from: houston-nat on April 25, 2011, 09:13:46 am

Don't worry, SF, I feel like that's a canned response. He looked at Meyers' scouting report, saw the foot injury thing, and "Ceiling is 4/5 if healthy" is a ridiculously easy sentence to write out.

He just doesn't throw all that hard for a right hander.

Doesn't mean he can't be good, but that's what the scouts are going to complain about.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #493 on:** April 25, 2011, 10:00:16 am »

Quote from: JMUalumni on April 25, 2011, 09:44:35 am

Just out of curiosity, who did you have in mind that he held back? IMO, he has done at good job at moving players through the system. Guys like Lombardozzi (400+ AB) and Rosenbaum (100 IP) were promoted after having good years and I'm not so sure that promoting guys from short season is ever a smart move unless they are super prospect or there is an injury. Guys not being promoted so quickly is also more indicative of the lack of talent at the upper levels, but he didn't seem to have any problem bumping Strasburg and Storen quickly. For all of Rizzo's faults, the management of the minor league ladder is not one of them in my book.

A lot of people on Nats Prospects have complained about how he is slower than need be on promotions. I think Lombo should be in AAA, as well as Meyers. I would have liked to seen Estevez get a shot at Low A ball, but I guess he'll start in GCL or SS.

Other than that, not too much to complain about.

NJ Ave · « **Reply #494 on:** April 25, 2011, 10:37:06 am »

I think an honest look at the performance of our prospects shows that there just haven't been many guys who have warranted promotions before they play a full year at a level. The few really good prospects that we've had moved quickly (Zimmermann, Strasburg, Zimmerman, Storen). And I don't think we've held back players once they've proved themselves in AA. Espinosa, for example, probably could have been promoted to AAA before the end of the season, but it's not like the team made him go back to AAA this year, which would have been the conservative route.

My guess is that if a guy like Lombo has a productive year in AA, he'll be promoted towards the end of the year, and given the chance to compete for a starting job next spring if we trade Desmond or Espinosa (please be Desmond).

But I can't think of anyone we've Ryan Howarded, where the team never speeds up development time despite the prospect tearing up each level. Am I missing someone?

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #495 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:32:12 am »

Destin Hood leads the Carolina league with a .475 OBP through 15 games.

Hood has 14 BBs in 15 games. Last year he had 33 BBs in 129 games in Hagerstown.

What has changed in his approach? Someone needs to interview Hood

hammondsnats · « **Reply #496 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:38:44 am »

Quote from: sportsfan882 on April 25, 2011, 11:32:12 am

Destin Hood leads the Carolina league with a .475 OBP through 15 games.

Hood has 14 BBs in 15 games. Last year he had 33 BBs in 129 games in Hagerstown.

What has changed in his approach? Someone needs to interview Hood

Sheinin did a recent article on nationals journal about him during spring about what areas hood is looking to improve on. Obviously drawing more walks cutting down on the k's was a major one (sorry on my droid, can't link).

Looks like he's done a good job adjusting to professional pitching...being more patient, laying off breaking balls that serve as waste pitches.

This kid is going to be a stud.

Tyler Durden · « **Reply #497 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:39:35 am »

Can Hood play defense?

JMUalumni · « **Reply #498 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:50:52 am »

Quote from: Tyler Durden on April 25, 2011, 11:39:35 am

Can Hood play defense?

Yes, pretty good range, excellent arm. Perfect for RF.

The increased walks is quite impressive, as plate discipline has been what has held him back in the past. As he fills out and matures, he should get some more power, but I like the approach he uses now of going for gappers and just stinging the ball rather than swinging for the fences.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #499 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:58:39 am »

Cole Kimball off to a hot start in AAA:

7.1 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 3 BB 8 K (1-0, 3 Saves, 0.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)

He's on the 40-man so no reason for him not to get a call-up soon