Someone voted for Russ Adams?!

   I voted for Russ Adams, and so did one or two others.  Perhaps I'm over-optimistic, but here's my reasoning:  Adams racked up 63 RBIs, 27 doubles and 11 stolen bases as a 24-year-old rookie in the major leagues.  That's pretty good production for a rookie shortstop, even if his defence was inadequate.  Recently he's been showing flashes of that offensive potential again in Syracuse  (four hits last night, for example).   If he can figure out how to be consistent defensively at the 2B position, he could still be what we always expected:  a good double-play combination with Aaron Hill.  It's too early to write him off, and it's too early to say that he'll definitely be worse than the just-drafted kids -- some of whom might never even make it to the majors.

It's too early to write him off, and it's too early to say that he'll definitely be worse than the just-drafted kids -- some of whom might never even make it to the majors.

.271/.349/.419 is Adams' line after his 4 hit game. He'll be 27 later this summer. While I would agree that there's a good chance he'll be better (or has already been better?) than at least one or two of the just-drafted (that's just what happens to draftees), it's hard to see him as a prospect anymore. But it's not like anyone voted him in the top five (right?), so it's no big deal. There is a distinct lack of hitters in AAA on this list overall, although Thigpen should still there (and possibly Lind as well), which would help things look better. Why isn't he in the minors playing every day and working on whatever position the Jays want him to play (rhetorical question, I realize there are no answers for the Jays prospect development sometimes)?

 Fasano continues to dominate AAA with an OPS of 1.020 : FREE SAL! movement, anyone?

There's no reason for Sal not to be on the roster ahead of Phillips. No reason other than Phillips is Gibbons' buddy. I don't dislike Phillips like I disliked Sturtze or Terry Adams, but he's terrible defensively and there's no evidence he's a better hitter than Fasano.

Adams is weird. In the upper minors, he was consistently around 280/350/400. In his first full season in the majors (age 25), he hit 256/325/383. That's not an all-star, but it's respectable enough, and you'd expect him to improve.

But then, bam, he lost it. 219/282/319 in the majors last year at age 26. He had a nice stint at AAA (311/374/404), but has struggled so far this year.

So I don't know what to think any more. He was on the way to being a productive player - not a shortstop, admittedly, but a pretty decent second baseman - fell off, and hasn't been able to recover. Prior to last year, he always looked like a major league hitter; is he broken now? I think he can come around, and at least become a quality bench player, but I don't know how much I'd bet on it.

As usual, the group has, I think, outperformed each of the individual voters.  I guess that is what happens when you live in a socialist country!

Though there is cleavage separating Ryan Patterson and Yoherman Chavez from the top seven, those two are definitely interesting prospects.  If Ryan hadn't injured himself in ST, I wonder if he'd not be in Mathews' spot in the listing.  He's a promising hitter.  Chavez just turned 18 in January and already has a season of Rookie ball under his belt.  Why there's cleavage between him and some of the recent draftees is a little puzzling.  Maybe he needs a new publicist.  Maybe he needs a publicist.

Someone voted for Russ Adams?!

Everyone voted for Sergio Santos?!

I see the hitters as folows:

I'm not considering anyone below full season. Even JP Arencibia who is 22, and closest to the bigs, is still at least 3 years away...the rest are 4 to 6 years away from even making an apparence.

SO, I see:

1) Snider - in a class of his own. Heads and shoulders above any other guy in the system.

2) and 2) (Tie) - Lind and Patterson. Lind in his first major league year is showing he'll be a VERY good regular in the years ahead. Could be an all-star once or twice - if the power comes. Patterson was hurt this year but has real legit power and is a legit everyday prospect. IF, he can stay healthy.

4) and 4) (Tie) - Adams MIGHT be a regular 2nd baseman - a reasonable utilityman at worse. Thigpen is either a 2nd baseman or forget it. He has no pop, is not as good a hitter or catcher as Diaz. 2nd base or bust. Has a REAL chance after off-season training to challenge for 2nd.- Hill to SS.

6) Santos. So big, so strong, an arm like Clemens - if this sucker could only hit!  Still young enough to make the climb to the bigs. Most likely a bust - BUT if he makes it could be our 3rd, 2nd, or SS of the next 10 years.

7) John Ford Griffin. One of th GREAT hitters for average in US College history. With us, can't hit for average - lost that ability trying to hit for power.  At best - a filler in left, DH and 1st. Most likely - so long been good to know you.

8) Diaz. Punch and Judy hitter. Pitchers hate(ish) him. No real future....could he play 2nd?

9) Mathews. Could he beat out Wells, Rios, Lind or Johnson? Johnson maybe in a few years... a number 4 guy at best. Could make the team - could be useful.

10) Hatch. Still a suspect and a prospect. Next year last chance.

11) Kreuzer. Should be higher on this list. Could be a regular 1st baseman. BIG sucker, still low in the minors.

12) Jon Baksh thinks he's a five tool player. Is he just a tool?

Cannon, Pettway, and others - no real chance.

Overall - this is a pretty ugly set of hitters. Fortunately, there are a whole group of beasties below this that could make the next few years lists look better.

Why did I vote for Sergio Santos?

I can see him as a major league third baseman in a year, and as an everyday player- .260, 20 homers, 50 walks.  There is no one other than Snider right now I see as a star.  Well, actually I really like Joel Collins, but he wasn't eligible.

Russ Adams has been hot lately batting .410 in his last 10 games.

Eastern League All Stars Rob Cosby, Robinzon Diaz, Aaron Mathews, Sergio Santos and Tracy Thorpe.

New Hampshire Sunday News breaks down the 2007 Fisher Cats at midseason, sizing up some future big leaguers while analyzing the talent.

Best Future Major Leaguer: Robinzon Diaz. The catcher hits everything near the zone and strikes out once every 18 at-bats.

Santos reminds me of Tony Batista. Good pop, not a lot of patience, somewhere between a shortstop and a third baseman defensively. I think he's got a few good years in him, particularly if he can play shortstop for a few of them.

Mylegacy,

Just curious, but why do you think that Thigpen is an inferior hitter when compared to Diaz. As far as I can tell, outside of BA there isn't anything of significance that would infer that - maybe I am missing something?

I also was wondering about your assessment of Santos ("Most likely a bust....") - while his average is lower than hoped he has shown improvement in his BB rates and considerably more power.

Santos reminds me of Tony Batista. Good pop, not a lot of patience, somewhere between a shortstop and a third baseman defensively. I think he's got a few good years in him, particularly if he can play shortstop for a few of them.

Good assessment, and Batista at SS is a heck of a lot more valuable than Batista at 3B, because then you're basically another Pedro Feliz, and he isn't exactly near the top of the list in terms of desirables.

Santos' defence at short is apparently poor.  It is generally better to not stretch a player's defensive capabilities, lest it interfere with their offensive development (see Adams, R).

Hodgie

Thigpen, IM(H)O, is a step up on a slap hitter, basically just an OK slap hitter with a better than average OBP (for a slap hitter). I'm not impressed with what I've seen so far. He projects best, NO QUESTION, at 2nd. While fast for a catcher he's slow for everywhere else. My grandmother, on my fathers side, has more pull power. However, the guy is a gamer, while I know for a fact that granny likes to go for the gaps.

Diaz is a slap hitter...but...he could be a terrific slap hitter. Not great praise for sure. IF, and that's a big IF...he got some plate discipline he could be special. Then if goats could fly they'd be special too.

Why did I vote for Sergio Santos?

My point was that Russ Adams got votes for the same reason Sergio Santos finished second.  If you are going to make a top ten list then you need ten names.  The 2007 draft better have been a good one, this is a hard list to look at.

My Legacy,

Buchholz says that DIaz is the toughest out he has faced all year, and from what we read up North, Buchholz has got to be the man.

Thigpen, IM(H)O, is a step up on a slap hitter, basically just an OK slap hitter with a better than average OBP (for a slap hitter). I'm not impressed with what I've seen so far. He projects best, NO QUESTION, at 2nd. While fast for a catcher he's slow for everywhere else. My grandmother, on my fathers side, has more pull power. However, the guy is a gamer, while I know for a fact that granny likes to go for the gaps.

Diaz is a slap hitter...but...he could be a terrific slap hitter. Not great praise for sure. IF, and that's a big IF...he got some plate discipline he could be special. Then if goats could fly they'd be special too.

Your scouting reports on both Diaz and Thigpen are special.  More from your grandmother?  What's up?

 

 

As far as what you think; FranklyScarlet, I don't give a damn! (My apologies to Rhett Butler and his alter ego Clark Gable)

Seriously, that's interesting to hear that Buchholz thinks so highly of Diaz. However, Diaz has near zero power and if he don't get on hitting, he don't get on! For some reason Diaz feels he don't need no stinkin' walks.

As to my grandmother on my fathers side (the one on my mother's side is a whole different stroy) my Dad would prefer it if I didn't  say too much about her. He's afraid everyone will beocme aware of her drinking problem and that affair with the milkman, not to mention the steroids she sold to Barry's trainer. Did I mention the steroids?

At what point does Lind's season count as a full year of playing time? I prey he doesn't reach that this year, and instead we get a cheap year from him 6 years from now.

Also, did we loose a year of control for Rios after his first year?

At what point does Lind's season count as a full year of playing time?

My understanding is this...
Service time is counted in days. Lind had 31 days last year, and 172 days make up a full year. Coming up mid-April, he'll finish with 1 year, 15 days (or so). If he goes down for at least a month when Johnson comes back he'll be short of a full year, and have another 6 full seasons before free agency. He will, however, get to arbitration a year earlier as a "Super Two".

This is a great resource for roster and transaction rules, and service time (to the day) can be found here.

Also, did we loose a year of control for Rios after his first year?

From the same site, Rios finished last year with 2 years, 130 days. So no, the first year did not count as a full year towards free agency.

Grand, thanks a mill!