KingKongvs.Godzilla

Anyone have any thoughts on who the best stuff belongs to of the recent IFA signings? Also, what's the next step for Jeffery Baez, a young OF they signed that I think might become interesting? What's the difference between DSL 1 and 2?

I thought the same about Urlacher. He's only 33!

Like most I'd like to see him get a start in September, if anything to see how and what he's throwing nowadays.

Career home line: .248/.336/.398 Career road line: .261/.343/.422

On his Perfect Game profile it says elite athlete, 5 tool potential, hits 94 on the mound. Sounds like the Bubba Starling of the draft.

Figgins wouldn't be a bad pick up IMO. He's capable of throwing up a good offensive season and would give them a real option if Ramirez doesn't come back. I thought when they drafted DeVoss they kind of hinted they want to introduce Figgins type athletes/players into the system.

Probably because that's not an accurate assessment of his production the last three years. He was bad in 2009...offensively anyway. He was a 4+ win player in 2010, which isn't bad at all. He's been about league average (OPS-wise) this season. People look at batting average and think he's a bad player. Accept the fact that he isn't going to hit for a great average and that he's going to strikeout quite a bit. Then realize that he runs well, can hit for decent power, is capable of drawing some walks, and plays a pretty good CF. I'm curious to see what he could do with a change of scenery and a more hitter-friendly environment. His OPS has been nothing to write home about either. If he was at least in the high .700s, that would be one thing, but his OPS over the past 3 years has been I think .650 something, .740 something, and .701 this season. Again, I'd take him, but wouldn't overpay for him. He's been a league average hitter the last two years with a really bad '09 offensively. Even then he was a very efficient double digit SB guy (this year he's been off) and a top tier defensive CF. Depending on the price, he's the kind of player I think the Cubs should be looking for as well as big name superstars.

Three things that are against Baltimore: 1: They're Baltimore. 2: They are runned by Peter Angelos. 3: They're in the AL East. No worries about the Orioles. That should be reason #1. It wasn't always so bad to be Baltimore. They were very good from '66-'83, and the 90's had a couple of teams that tried and then lost their pitching to the Yankees (Wells and Mussina).

I think Diekroeger will climb this year. He's got the talent to be top 5 in this draft. He might be more Crosby than Tulo, but I thought his conditioning, bat speed, and swing mechanics improved a little last year a little bit. It'll depend on how he does this year both for scouts and the analysts.

Baltimore? They're more likely to get a big name than Tampa Bay, but right now they're a far 5th in that division. I doubt anyone the Cubs will lose sleep over is a serious candidate for that job. Sure if every big name turns the job down it might get a little screwed, but overall I think they'll end up hiring a touted first timer in the lines of Oppenheimer, Levine, Cherington, Ng, and so on.

I specifically remember the game, the player, the pitcher, the season, the series...

He's a guy who if he's around next year should be around as arguably the first player off the bench the OF and possibly 1B. Honestly I'd like to see him finish strong this year so that he piques the interest of another team as trade bait.

Scouting wise as a shorter player, the high fastball would be a natural enemy. It's a pitch that looks tempting all the time, but it's arguably the toughest pitch to hit when set up correctly. At the major league level that's a fairly easy trait to exploit, and he'll have to make adjustments. That could take a while. He's also one of those guys who gets the body + athleticism tag. There's already worry that he fills out his lower body too much as he gets older and starts heading the way of an all or nothing guy. As far as showing up in the numbers, just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. I have to bring it back to the leagues and parks he's played in. I believe that his K:BB is influenced by the very favorable hitting environments he's played in, and helped hide some of his weaknesses. Those things get scouted and exploited VERY quickly at the major league level. Is your argument that nobody has noticed that yet at the MLB level or that nobody has been able to exploit it yet? Patience possibly. I could be wrong on that point, but I'd still take Vitters in the long run (no homer).

Harper is probably a grade A douche, but I think he's going to be a sick player.

Neither of these guys will sign to DH, but that doesn't necessarily eliminate teams like the NYY. Teixeira could be moved to the OF. It's not going to happen. It's just fun to talk about because they're the Yankees. There's no reason for him to say otherwise.

Scouting wise as a shorter player, the high fastball would be a natural enemy. It's a pitch that looks tempting all the time, but it's arguably the toughest pitch to hit when set up correctly. At the major league level that's a fairly easy trait to exploit, and he'll have to make adjustments. That could take a while. He's also one of those guys who gets the body + athleticism tag. There's already worry that he fills out his lower body too much as he gets older and starts heading the way of an all or nothing guy. As far as showing up in the numbers, just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. I have to bring it back to the leagues and parks he's played in. I believe that his K:BB is influenced by the very favorable hitting environments he's played in, and helped hide some of his weaknesses.

Pawelek also had mechanics formed from the fire of hell itself or sumthin.

I think he can end up a Marcus Thames-esque power bat off the bench. maybe ... but he's really got to change everything, imo, from his swing to his approach, to really have a shot to work his way up the ladder. Just have never been a huge fan of his (thought Graham Hicks was the most interesting piece from that trade last year, too bad he got injured, although I don't seem to recall what the injury was). I'm a Hicks fan too. Tall, young lefty who can spin a breaking ball and hit 90? That's going to be someone to follow. Burgess needs to get into better shape and then get more aggressive at the plate. He's kind of a three true outcomes guy right now, and that's not a compliment when it's round 3 at High A. That said, his pedigree and toolset will keep him interesting until he completely bombs out.

Shawn Marshall is one of my favorite LHs to watch pitch. Makes me wonder how he'd do as a starter again, but it's probably not going to happen.

Prince is already a better hitter than his dad ever was, if you were srs.

Moustakas' contact issue comes in the scouting. He swings at crap and still has trouble with breaking balls. He likes the high fastball too much, and it's an easy pitch to get beat on.

What's the difference? They're both fat. They're both black. What else could make them different from each other? I rotfl'd. I'm still chuckling a little actually. Just chortled, then I guffawed.

moustakas' ratio was 34 bb/67 k in 534 plate appearances last year. vitters has 21 bb/52 k in 465 plate appearances this year, and that's an improvement over previous years. Fair enough. I'm still far less worried about Vitters' ability to make contact than I am with Moustakas, and I'd still take Vitters in the long run.

Why? Because he's more touted right now? that and the 1.000 ops he posted in AA/AAA at age 21 while vitters has an ops below .800 in AA at age 22. and vitters is a bad fielder. Texas League and PCL = Much better hitting environments than the Southern League, and IIRC the Royals' minor league teams are supposed to have very nice hitters parks within those leagues. That doesn't cover everything, but throw in poor K:BB numbers and The PCL especially is just a ridiculous hitting environment. The average hitter in the PCL this year is throwing up an .810 OPS, it's that over the top when it comes to hitting over there. I'm actually very interested to see what Vitters does in AAA next year, because I think he can really break out in the forgiving PCL environment. I also have alot of trouble buying minor league defensive reputations. There's been plenty of players who made very good and even great careers at positions they weren't going to make it at. Also, Moustakas isn't a very good defensive 3B either. Personally, I like Vitters' contact, line drive based offensive game more when it comes to the long term. He's also bigger, a touch more athletic, and a little younger too, so I'm hoping for and thinking we'll see more impressive power (particularly doubles). Lets not forget that Moustakas went into 2010 with his prospect status up in the air, and things changed fast. Edit: 2010 Texas League OPS: .721...2010 Royals' Texas League Team's OPS: .817.

Why? Because he's more touted right now?