Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-28-16

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Kyle Tucker looked like a really good ball player for them. That swing is sexy -- controlled and smooth. And he was very disciplined at the plate. He was willing to wait and take pitches and accept a walk. And when he did hit the ball, he hit it hard. He looked damn good in the first game. In the second game, he couldn't figure Kellogg out. Kellogg froze him twice for K's looking. And Tucker just didn't look the same against him. After the first game, I was thinking, "Damn, this Tucker kid is at another level at the plate. He looks like a professional hitter. He's too talented for a guy like Steele or any of those relievers to fool him." But Kellogg gave him some fits.

 

Daz Cameron looked pathetic at the plate. He was horrible. Much worse than Martinez. Martinez's biggest problem was that he just wasn't making hard contact. Cameron just didn't make contact, period. Kellogg was toying with him. That wasn't a fair match-up.

 

Cameron and Tucker swapped between right and center in the two games. Neither did that much. Cameron's definitely fast. He's not blazing fast, though. And he certainly isn't like his dad out there. I don't see how Tucker can stick in center, especially if he fills out. But he has good instincts.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Yeah, I hope I just caught a bad night from Eddy. I'm hopeful that he can sway me when I see them next week. I would like to see more from Dewees, too. I want to see his speed in action. And I want to see more from him in the field. I'm also going to be paying much more attention to Higgins, to see what kind of athleticism he has and see how he looks behind the plate.

[sneakypower]

Real devil's advocate would be that Almora couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag for two years and is currently in (arguably) the most hitter friendly league in the pros.

Joey Gallo's the only player Almora's age (or younger) hitting better in that same hitter friendly league

[David]

Real devil's advocate would be that Almora couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag for two years and is currently in (arguably) the most hitter friendly league in the pros.

Joey Gallo's the only player Almora's age (or younger) hitting better in that same hitter friendly league

 

He already dug his heels in. He won't change courses unless or until he's completely proven wrong.

[sneakypower]

also fun to compare Almora's numbers to top-25 prospect Manuel Margot right now, considering Margot's perceived to be performing in line with expectations thus far

[Thrilho]

also fun to compare Almora's numbers to top-25 prospect Manuel Margot right now, considering Margot's perceived to be performing in line with expectations thus far

 

To me, these guys are the OF equivalents of a Barney or LeMahieu prospect in the IF - contact, defense, and competent or better baserunning. A bad team doesn't mind starting one, first division teams usually have these guys on the bench. In Almora's case, the bench seems like a bad way to use a #6 overall pick so his best use to the org is as a pretty solid looking trade chip.

 

Do these first division teams usually have to pay an infield filled with All Stars as well as a $180 million RF? It would be awesome to sign Dex to a 4 year deal, but the early contract extensions are going to start coming soon and it would be real nice to have a 3 WAR center fielder playing for free.

[TruffleShuffle]

Real devil's advocate would be that Almora couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag for two years and is currently in (arguably) the most hitter friendly league in the pros.

 

first of all, the california league is obviously the most hitter-friendly league in baseball.

 

second, the reason that the PCL is hitter-friendly is because of all the teams based at higher altitudes. iowa hasn't played in any of those parks yet. they've played mostly in iowa (pretty neutral run environment), plus a couple of games in round rock (generally pretty neutral) and new orleans (generally run-suppressing). so the fact that the PCL tends to be hitter-friendly has zero bearing on what almora has done so far this year.

[TruffleShuffle]

okay so maybe it's arguable; what's not arguable is that almora hasn't gotten an offensive boost from playing in iowa, round rock and new orleans this year.