The 2008 BA Prospect Hot Sheet Thread

[TruffleShuffle]

Q: Cub Fan from Chatham IL asks:

What position does Flaherty profile best since he's started off roughly at short? Thanks for the chat.

 

A: Ben Badler: You're welcome. At best, second or third base, because he won't stick at shortstop in pro ball.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/chat.php?id=2008080801&rnd=21

 

:x

 

i still say that if he gives you a good bat at SS, leave him there unless he's really bad.

[Guest]

Q: Cub Fan from Chatham IL asks:

What position does Flaherty profile best since he's started off roughly at short? Thanks for the chat.

 

A: Ben Badler: You're welcome. At best, second or third base, because he won't stick at shortstop in pro ball.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/chat.php?id=2008080801&rnd=21

 

:x

 

i still say that if he gives you a good bat at SS, leave him there unless he's really bad.

 

11 errors in 30 gamews already and he has poor range.

[TruffleShuffle]

Q: Cub Fan from Chatham IL asks:

What position does Flaherty profile best since he's started off roughly at short? Thanks for the chat.

 

A: Ben Badler: You're welcome. At best, second or third base, because he won't stick at shortstop in pro ball.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/chat.php?id=2008080801&rnd=21

 

:x

 

i still say that if he gives you a good bat at SS, leave him there unless he's really bad.

 

11 errors in 30 gamews already and he has poor range.

 

i guess 2B it is, then.

[Guest]

Josh Vitters becomes the second Cub to make the hot sheet this year (Samardzija was the first right before his call up):

 

August 22 Hot Sheet[/url]"]No. 12 JOSH VITTERS, 3B CUBS

Team: Short-season Boise (Northwest)

Age: 18

Why He's Here: .333/.371/.576, 4 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5 SO, 26-game hitting streak

The Scoop: It's been an up-and-down season for Vitters, who was sent to Boise after an injury-marred four-game stint with low Class A Peoria. But Vitters is definitely ending the season on a high note. He matched the Northwest League's hitting streak record with a 26-game string before it was snapped with an 0-for-5 day on Wednesday. Vitters hit .372/.388/ .549 during the streak, including just three walks. He started a new streak on Thursday with a home run and a double in a 2-for-5 effort.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/jvitters08100140.jpg

 

Not sure where they got the 26 game hit streak, the Boise announcers kept saying he just missed the record by having a 25 game hit streak.

[Guest]

Q: Ead Bortman from Chicago, IL asks:

How does Vitters compare to Moustakas at this point? Where do you see Vitters starting out next spring (Peoria/Daytona)?

 

A: Ben Badler: Boise is a great place to hit, so Vitters is definitely benefiting from that. I'll take Moustakas, who is a better power hitter and is actually in a full season league, which is where the No. 2 or 3 pick in the draft from the previous season should at least be.

[badnews]

Q: Ead Bortman from Chicago, IL asks:

How does Vitters compare to Moustakas at this point? Where do you see Vitters starting out next spring (Peoria/Daytona)?

 

A: Ben Badler: Boise is a great place to hit, so Vitters is definitely benefiting from that. I'll take Moustakas, who is a better power hitter and is actually in a full season league, which is where the No. 2 or 3 pick in the draft from the previous season should at least be.

 

When I say something like that though I'm the bad guy. That's what I don't understand. High schoolers drafted in the same draft as Vitters, who are pretty much the same age as him are succeeding in Advanced A. That is something to be more legitimately excited about. I mean you expect more out of Josh Vitters than Nick Noonan, right? I don't know. I think if Brewers fans were being obnoxious about a prospect of theirs like that that's the first thing I would point out. How many top high school position prospects drafted so highly were in short season more than one full calendar year after the draft?

 

Another thing, I see some people have latched onto the "Howie Kendrick with power" comparison in the other topic, but 7 or 8 months ago I floated a name up there no one seemed to want to commit to: Nomar Garciaparra. Isn't Nomar Garciaparra in his heydey "Howie Kendrick with power?" Look at Nomar's numbers 1998-2000 and 2002-2003. High average from a "swing early, swing often" line drive approach, more power than you can imagine Kendrick to have, fewer walks from putting the ball in play early... can someone explain to me why Garciaparra doesn't fit better than "Kendrick with power?"

[Scotti]

Q: Ead Bortman from Chicago, IL asks:

How does Vitters compare to Moustakas at this point? Where do you see Vitters starting out next spring (Peoria/Daytona)?

 

A: Ben Badler: Boise is a great place to hit, so Vitters is definitely benefiting from that. I'll take Moustakas, who is a better power hitter and is actually in a full season league, which is where the No. 2 or 3 pick in the draft from the previous season should at least be.

 

When I say something like that though I'm the bad guy. That's what I don't understand. High schoolers drafted in the same draft as Vitters, who are pretty much the same age as him are succeeding in Advanced A. That is something to be more legitimately excited about. I mean you expect more out of Josh Vitters than Nick Noonan, right? I don't know. I think if Brewers fans were being obnoxious about a prospect of theirs like that that's the first thing I would point out. How many top high school position prospects drafted so highly were in short season more than one full calendar year after the draft?

 

Noonan... If Vitters were hitting .277/.312/.403/.716 in High A this year folks would go cataleptic. .335/.369/.524/.893 (SS/Low A combined) hasn't been enough to earn Vitters (18 y/o) a reprieve. For many, Vitters hitting .277/.312/.403/.716 would not be considered "succeeding" regardless of where he was doing it and at what age (see earlier in this very thread). No bridge would be safe if Vitters were hitting .258/.296/.357/.653 in the second half (as is Noonan in 213 AB).

 

Moustakas (full season league)... Moustakas is a FULL year older than Vitters (09/11/1988 - 08/27/1989). Either age means something or it doesn't. If Vitters had started out .228/.285/.386/.671 in the first half of the year (as did Moustakas over 259 AB) he would have needed a Secret Service detail if not the Witness Protection Program. His age is very league appropriate (and then some) and his success this year has kept some fans off his back. Some.

 

And about power... Moustakas has almost exactly double Vitters' AB this year (465/233). Moustakas has 47 Xtra base hits--a good total for a 19 y/o in Low A. Vitters has 32 Xtra base hits--also a very nice total for a 18 y/o kid in SS and a far better ratio than Moustakas. Even with Moustakas' extra HR's his isolated power is .198 and Vitters' is .189. I think the jury is out on who will hit for better power.

 

"Boise is a great place to hit"... Vitters is hitting .333/.361/.541/.902 on the road and a nearly mirrored .352/.397/.519/.915 at Boise. 38 hits at home and 37 hits on the road. Vitters has hit the ball Home (.352) and Away (.333), Left (.382) and Right (.329), Day (.385) and Night (.340), June (.357), July (.315) and August (.356).

 

The kid has hit. Period.

 

This isn't taking away from other team's prospects. Putting up less than awful numbers as an 18 or 19 y/o in full season is really pretty good. It is, however, a reflection of Vitters' talent. Putting up awesome numbers in SS is pretty darn good too.

[badnews]

I still don't see much of a track record for high school position players drafted as high as Vitters and still in short season more than a calendar year after the draft. I haven't done any research into that, just going on memory, which is asking for trouble but I'm also curious.

 

I just think if you draft guys that high they should be moving like Chris Marrero and company. I hope somebody posts the list of high school position player high draft picks who were in short season a year after they were drafted. Maybe there will be some reassuring names in the list.

[SouthSideRyan]

I still don't see much of a track record for high school position players drafted as high as Vitters and still in short season more than a calendar year after the draft. I haven't done any research into that, just going on memory, which is asking for trouble but I'm also curious.

 

I just think if you draft guys that high they should be moving like Chris Marrero and company. I hope somebody posts the list of high school position player high draft picks who were in short season a year after they were drafted. Maybe there will be some reassuring names in the list.

 

What's Vitters supposed to do if the Cubs don't want to move him up? What level of play from him in Boise would make you think he could be something??

 

You're telling me if Vitters was born about a week later, then you'd be happy with his line?

[Guest]

Q: Ead Bortman from Chicago, IL asks:

How does Vitters compare to Moustakas at this point? Where do you see Vitters starting out next spring (Peoria/Daytona)?

 

A: Ben Badler: Boise is a great place to hit, so Vitters is definitely benefiting from that. I'll take Moustakas, who is a better power hitter and is actually in a full season league, which is where the No. 2 or 3 pick in the draft from the previous season should at least be.

 

When I say something like that though I'm the bad guy. That's what I don't understand. High schoolers drafted in the same draft as Vitters, who are pretty much the same age as him are succeeding in Advanced A. That is something to be more legitimately excited about. I mean you expect more out of Josh Vitters than Nick Noonan, right? I don't know. I think if Brewers fans were being obnoxious about a prospect of theirs like that that's the first thing I would point out. How many top high school position prospects drafted so highly were in short season more than one full calendar year after the draft?

 

Noonan... If Vitters were hitting .277/.312/.403/.716 in High A this year folks would go cataleptic. .335/.369/.524/.893 (SS/Low A combined) hasn't been enough to earn Vitters (18 y/o) a reprieve. For many, Vitters hitting .277/.312/.403/.716 would not be considered "succeeding" regardless of where he was doing it and at what age (see earlier in this very thread). No bridge would be safe if Vitters were hitting .258/.296/.357/.653 in the second half (as is Noonan in 213 AB).

 

Moustakas (full season league)... Moustakas is a FULL year older than Vitters (09/11/1988 - 08/27/1989). Either age means something or it doesn't. If Vitters had started out .228/.285/.386/.671 in the first half of the year (as did Moustakas over 259 AB) he would have needed a Secret Service detail if not the Witness Protection Program. His age is very league appropriate (and then some) and his success this year has kept some fans off his back. Some.

 

And about power... Moustakas has almost exactly double Vitters' AB this year (465/233). Moustakas has 47 Xtra base hits--a good total for a 19 y/o in Low A. Vitters has 32 Xtra base hits--also a very nice total for a 18 y/o kid in SS and a far better ratio than Moustakas. Even with Moustakas' extra HR's his isolated power is .198 and Vitters' is .189. I think the jury is out on who will hit for better power.

 

"Boise is a great place to hit"... Vitters is hitting .333/.361/.541/.902 on the road and a nearly mirrored .352/.397/.519/.915 at Boise. 38 hits at home and 37 hits on the road. Vitters has hit the ball Home (.352) and Away (.333), Left (.382) and Right (.329), Day (.385) and Night (.340), June (.357), July (.315) and August (.356).

 

The kid has hit. Period.

 

This isn't taking away from other team's prospects. Putting up less than awful numbers as an 18 or 19 y/o in full season is really pretty good. It is, however, a reflection of Vitters' talent. Putting up awesome numbers in SS is pretty darn good too.

 

Nice to see you around, Scotti.

[illiniguy]

I still don't see much of a track record for high school position players drafted as high as Vitters and still in short season more than a calendar year after the draft. I haven't done any research into that, just going on memory, which is asking for trouble but I'm also curious.

 

I just think if you draft guys that high they should be moving like Chris Marrero and company. I hope somebody posts the list of high school position player high draft picks who were in short season a year after they were drafted. Maybe there will be some reassuring names in the list.

 

What's Vitters supposed to do if the Cubs don't want to move him up? What level of play from him in Boise would make you think he could be something??

 

You're telling me if Vitters was born about a week later, then you'd be happy with his line?

Oh he could do what Soto did last year. Get so sexy that the club has no choice but to promote him. Vitters has raked. I still like Moustakas too though. Both the Cubs and Royals should be happy with what each guy is doing.

[Outshined_One]

The Cubs have one entry in this week's list...on the Not So Hot Sheet.

 

Link

 

• Matt Cerda, c, Cubs. Fourth-round pick Matt Cerda had a miserable week for the AZL Cubs. A shortstop in high school, the Cubs have put Cerda behind the plate as a professional. The tough transition could be affecting his hitting. This week, Cerda went 1-for-20 with one walk and five strikeouts for a line of .050/.095/.050.