The Official 2018 Minor League Statline and Prospect Discussion Thread

[Angelsjunky]

I would tend to agree with this scout more on Walsh, who seems like a likely quad-A guy, than Rengifo, who seems like the type of guy who will out-perform his scouting report.

That said, we always have to adjust for bias (wishful thinking). If we're all thinking Suarez is a #3 with a chance to be #2, chances are he's probably going to be more of a #4 with a chance to be a #3.

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, Angelsjunky said:

I would tend to agree with this scout more on Walsh, who seems like a likely quad-A guy, than Rengifo, who seems like the type of guy who will out-perform his scouting report.

That said, we always have to adjust for bias (wishful thinking). If we're all thinking Suarez is a #3 with a chance to be #2, chances are he's probably going to be more of a #4 with a chance to be a #3.

Yup. 

[stormngt]

4 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Last night I bumped into a friend of mine who is a scout. He had seen SLC.

He said Thaiss and Walsh are both borderline guys. Wasn’t sure either could be an everyday player. Didn’t seem to like Walsh’s swing at all. I got the feeling he’s a little Jabari-Blash-like: he can hit mistakes in the minors but has a swing that won’t be able to handle good pitching. 

He really likes Canning. Suarez is a fringy big leaguer, not going to be a star but could hang around as a 4-5 starter type. 

He also said Rengifo isn’t as good as Cowart. 

Wow...that will be a let down

Wonder what your friend felt about Fletcher a year ago.

[Angel Oracle]

Even better, what did scouts think about Figgins back in 2002?   He was acquired the year before from Colorado's farm system, in exchange for the forgettable Kimera Bartee.

[Dick B Back]

On 8/27/2018 at 8:34 AM, totdprods said:

Disagree. He isn't Rule V eligible, no need to add him now. 

His last 50 games: .258/.313/.418/.731 

He's not ready yet. I'd rather see Jared Walsh get added as he is Rule V eligible, and can also play some corner outfield - and pitch relief? 

I’d be willing to trade a couple tall guys for Altuve.

[Taylor]

18 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

I like how my post was deleted but your post in which you say you want Dipoto to get AIDS remains. I'm wondering what the thought process that went into that decision was.

You know what never gets deleted?

[Taylor]

13 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

How about Justin Upton.

Or for old timers, Dave Winfield or Andre Dawson.

Once again, black dudes.

What about Jayson Werth? Jim Edmonds?

[Angelsjunky]

20 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Once again, black dudes.

What about Jayson Werth? Jim Edmonds?

Haha. Are you saying I'm a racist?

Werth and Edmonds are interesting comps. 

I think the bottom line: decent to good average (.270-.300), very good power (30+ HR), good speed (20+ SB), and plus defense. What remains to be seen is what kind of plate discipline he'll develop. And of course where in those ranges he'll peak. Will he hit .270/.330/.520 with 30 HR and 15 SB in his prime and be a minor star? Or will he hit .300/.380/.600 with 40 HR and 30 SB and be one of the best players in baseball? 

[Docwaukee]

8 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

Last night I bumped into a friend of mine who is a scout. He had seen SLC.

He said Thaiss and Walsh are both borderline guys. Wasn’t sure either could be an everyday player. Didn’t seem to like Walsh’s swing at all. I got the feeling he’s a little Jabari-Blash-like: he can hit mistakes in the minors but has a swing that won’t be able to handle good pitching. 

He really likes Canning. Suarez is a fringy big leaguer, not going to be a star but could hang around as a 4-5 starter type. 

He also said Rengifo isn’t as good as Cowart. 

Walsh was a 39th round pick that's obviously figured something out.  He had some pretty easy power when I saw him and his swing actually looked pretty good to me.  Lots of swing and miss, but who doesn't have that these days?  Is that scout going to be right about him?  probably but to get even a couple of nice platoon seasons out of him at the major league level would be impressive.  

don't even understand comparing Cowart and Rengifo.  not sure what Luis is going to be, but he's such a different player.  I think he at least ends up a decent util.  

He's probably right about Suarez.  He gives up a lot of base runners.  

 

[Second Base]

3 hours ago, Dochalo said:

Walsh was a 39th round pick that's obviously figured something out.  He had some pretty easy power when I saw him and his swing actually looked pretty good to me.  Lots of swing and miss, but who doesn't have that these days?  Is that scout going to be right about him?  probably but to get even a couple of nice platoon seasons out of him at the major league level would be impressive.  

don't even understand comparing Cowart and Rengifo.  not sure what Luis is going to be, but he's such a different player.  I think he at least ends up a decent util.  

He's probably right about Suarez.  He gives up a lot of base runners.  

 

I don't think anyone was pretending Suarez was more than a #4 or 5 starter, maybe a #3 at the best. So the scouting report on him doesn't surprise me. I just think that Eppler has shown that failed starters and non-prospects can often become value major league starters. So even someone like Suarez can prove to be quite valuable in the majors, even if it's in a Jose Alvarez type of role. Of course he isn't as good as Canning, but they can both turn into valuable major leaguers depending on how they're used. 

And yeah, I don't get why they're comparing Cowart and Rengifo, but I understand why the scout likes Cowart. Scouts have loved him for years. I'm sure he'll latch on somewhere after the Angels lose him next Spring. Rengifo though, his tools may not play up, but I'm thinking there's more than meets he eye, like with Fletcher. He's better than his tools suggest he should be. And Cowart appears to be the inverse. 

[greginpsca]

10 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

Steve Garvey was just 5-10, even shorter than Thaiss.   It didn't stop him from being a many times All-Star/GG 1B.

Garvey came up as a third baseman. That is, until he hurt his arm and could no longer throw. The Dogs had a first baseman named Seinsoth who was an All American out of USC who was suppose to be their first baseman. Seinsoth was killed in a car accident just before his rookie year. His death opened up first base for Garvey. No telling what would have happened to Garvey if Seinsoth wasn't killed.

[Jeff Fletcher]

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/13/another-shohei-ohtani-angels-looking-for-more-two-way-players-in-minors/

intersting wrinkle for Walsh and Way.

[ten ocho recon scout]

6 hours ago, greginpsca said:

Garvey came up as a third baseman. That is, until he hurt his arm and could no longer throw. The Dogs had a first baseman named Seinsoth who was an All American out of USC who was suppose to be their first baseman. Seinsoth was killed in a car accident just before his rookie year. His death opened up first base for Garvey. No telling what would have happened to Garvey if Seinsoth wasn't killed.

How is this not AO posting this?

[tdawg87]

9 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

How is this not AO posting this?

USC isn't Long Beach State.

[totdprods]

5 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/13/another-shohei-ohtani-angels-looking-for-more-two-way-players-in-minors/

intersting wrinkle for Walsh and Way.

Awesome - seems to boost Walsh's chances of being added to protect from the Rule V

[m0nkey]

 

[Second Base]

7 hours ago, totdprods said:

Awesome - seems to boost Walsh's chances of being added to protect from the Rule V

It think that sort of versatility had to exist when the Shohei Ohtani signing limited our ability to keep an additional bench player.  We had a 4th outfielder, a back up catcher and utility infielder, which is really all you need.  However, carrying a power bat off the bench, or a specific speed guy, or even a defensive specialist seems to be what the most successful teams tend to do.  Making one of your positional bench players an additional relief pitcher solves that issue. 

I think Walsh or Way could be that.  Walsh would definitely qualify as the power bat off the bench while Way is a good defensive CF.  Both would likely be lefty specialists if given a shot to pitch in relief. And while we already have that in Jose Alvarez, he could take on a Yusmeiro Petit type of role in the pen if pressed to do so. 

[Vlad27Trout27]

Do you guys think we'll be a surprise team bedding on Mesa? looks like he could move across a system fast and has star potential 

[Taylor]

21 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

Do you guys think we'll be a surprise team bedding on Mesa? looks like he could move across a system fast and has star potential 

 

[Angelsjunky]

You mean this guy? Fabio?

 

[stormngt]

4 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

It think that sort of versatility had to exist when the Shohei Ohtani signing limited our ability to keep an additional bench player.  We had a 4th outfielder, a back up catcher and utility infielder, which is really all you need.  However, carrying a power bat off the bench, or a specific speed guy, or even a defensive specialist seems to be what the most successful teams tend to do.  Making one of your positional bench players an additional relief pitcher solves that issue. 

I think Walsh or Way could be that.  Walsh would definitely qualify as the power bat off the bench while Way is a good defensive CF.  Both would likely be lefty specialists if given a shot to pitch in relief. And while we already have that in Jose Alvarez, he could take on a Yusmeiro Petit type of role in the pen if pressed to do so. 

Is it top late to make Cowart a RP as well as utility if?

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, stormngt said:

Is it top late to make Cowart a RP as well as utility if?

No, but so far the organization hasn't tried to have him do both, which I find strange. Maybe they were still holding out hope that he'd be A position player worthy of a starting gig. 

I'd to see them give it a shot this winter. Granted, I don't think he'll be touching 97 on the mound like he did in high school, but I bet with some conditioning he could get back up to 92-93 consistentl. A fantastic arm. 

But ultimately the decision is his. The team may want him to do something but if he doesn't feel like it's in the best interest of his career, then he wouldn't. 

[tdawg87]

Cowart's glove will keep him in the majors. He's not worth a roster spot here anymore but he'll stick somewhere.

[stormngt]

7 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

No, but so far the organization hasn't tried to have him do both, which I find strange. Maybe they were still holding out hope that he'd be A position player worthy of a starting gig. 

I'd to see them give it a shot this winter. Granted, I don't think he'll be touching 97 on the mound like he did in high school, but I bet with some conditioning he could get back up to 92-93 consistentl. A fantastic arm. 

But ultimately the decision is his. The team may want him to do something but if he doesn't feel like it's in the best interest of his career, then he wouldn't. 

He has had plenty of at bats.  He needs to realize that's his best option because he cant hit well enough to be a starter.

[Docwaukee]

https://whosonfirstball.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/quick-hits-2-0-instructional-league/