MLB Top Prospects

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/02/15/alex-verdugo-back-injury-stress-fracture/kyr228wSA8JsMHJMXqKSaN/story.html%3foutputType=amp

I said at the time that I would be wary of the back problem but it appears Boston we’re completely aware.

Still, Verdugo should make a full recovery.

Should…..

Anybody read the Larry Bowa interview on the astros and redsox cheating. Or is that old news. Bowa of course is old old school and his remedy is let the pitchers handle it old old school. He says Steve Carlton would of tatood their buts every time he heard the damn trash can lid bang. I support the old school method. Those guys deserve it. Just below the waste stuff…a knee or a shin. Ouch.

How stupid do you think Friedman is?

I wondered why Verdugo was accepted in the trade with Boston. I read about 6 weeks ago that he still was not ready to participate in any base ball activities(throwing, running , hitting etc.). I see Bumsrap mentioning a possible stress fracture. Is this rumor or did you read it in an article somewhere? I assumed when the trade went through that he must have been able to resume some activities or why would Boston ever agree to the trade?

Damn, this whole cesspool with the Astros is getting REAL. Alot of players throughout the league are putting them on full blast. Deservedly so, the owner made it even worse with his press conference the other day. Feel for Dusty Baker, I don’t think he realized what a smoldering pile of dung heap he was stepping into. Gonna be a long year for him, it’s probably gonna age him about 10 years. The Commish totally could have avoided this, and now he has a circus on his hands. Wow.

This is really strange. I assume that all the players in the first iteration of the trade were medically checked. That is why Boston didn’t want Graterol. They certainly knew that Verdugo missed the second half of last season, so one would think they would have been particularly careful here. Then the trade was redone, and I’m sure that Downs and Wong were checked as well, , maybe Verdugo again? And now suddenly they discover a stress fracture? Who discovered that, and was it the same doctor who had passed him before? Was it something he developed in the last week? Very odd altogether. Of course, I remember Ned Colletti, I think it was, acquiring Jason Schmidt, after his velocity had markedly declined in his last year with SF, and then it was discovered later that he had a torn labrum, and I think he won one game in the three years he was under contract with the Dodgers.

I believe the trade is official.

So they cannot back out at this time.

If Verdugo actually does have a stress fracture in his back might Boston try to pull out of the trade?

Lots of fans look at relievers and see their statistics of last year.

Some want Aaron Bummer because they look at last season and see his 2.13 ERA, but in the two previous years, his ERA was 4.26 and 4.50. Maybe he will put up another year of 2.13… but maybe he will put up a 4.00!

Many Dodger fans pine for Ken Giles who had a 1.87 ERA last year, but they forget that in the three years before that, he had ERA’s of 4.12, 4.99, and 4.65. Again, what he did last year may or may not be duplicated.

No, actually… I do not think he will duplicate that. In fact, I would bet the over.

Many wanted Edwin Diaz before he became a trainwreck last year.

Believing that Giles or Bummer will put up their same numbers in 2020 is purely delusional and wishful thinking. Maybe as delusional as believing Kershaw, Jansen, Kelly, Treinan, and others are done.

Remember this. Write it down and watch. You will learn that the flavor of the week usually changes!

Very pleased for Kyle Garlick. I have followed his career very closely and he is one of those players who has literally willed himself to make it to MLB for ever how long that might be. He is a grinder. I really hope he makes the Phillies.

Sorry to see Garlick go too, but he’s 28 and has no chance with the Dodgers. Maybe he can earn an outfield spot with the Phillies.

The Dodgers are adding another interesting lefty, who has been bringing down his SO/W Ratio quite a bit over the past several years and has a 93 MPH Fastball with a “developing “cutter. He has an opportunity in middle relief.

Dusty Baker is asking MLB to help protect his players from beanballs. Alex Wood had an interesting take:

Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood balked at the idea that Astros players were not disciplined for the sign-stealing scandal — they traded honest testimony in interviews with MLB for immunity from punishment — but others could be disciplined for throwing at them.

When MLB determines the intent of a pitch is to hit a player, it typically levies a suspension for between three and five games.

“Somebody will take it into their own hands, and they’ll get suspended more games than any of those guys got for the biggest cheating scandal in 100 years,” Wood said. “It’ll be pretty ironic when that happens, because I’m sure that’s how it’ll end up playing out.”

Great job AC! I have never been one to get hung up with lists and how our prospects are rated by others. I do pay attention to them, but I just haven’t been able to figure out how the ratings are established. Also, I don’t what the difference in talent would be between a player rated in the top 5 and one rated 20-25. Certainly there are those generational talents that come along every so often that are truly can’t miss prospects. But for everyone of those there is a Gregg Jeffries, Ben McDonald, Andy LaRoche or Drew Henson. Plus, these lists always seem to ignore the prospects that may have much more drive and heart than talent (i.e. Matt Beatty). That said, it’s still good to know that we have a stable of good prospects, with more young pups on the way.

2 updates:

1 – the Dodgers traded Kyle Garlick to the Phillies

2 – Alex Verdugo has a stress fracture in his back according to the Bosox

I will reiterate that a lefty reliever is one of our question marks. I also think a number 2 starter is in question. The starter could emerge between kershaw, price, urias, or may. I love May but I think his starting pitching Arsenal is a bit short. He must think that also because he is working on a curve and change. I also read where in minor league evaluation they saw him as a great closer. Gonsolin could have a big year. I hope urias is the one who steps up he seems to have the best arsenal. On the lefty reliever search, v Gonzalez anyone?

Well, I am not a fan of the work of Scott Alexander. His good year or so with the Royals are a while ago, and he’s been notably ineffective since he’s been here. Ferguson seems like a much better potential pitcher, he seemed to settle down when he pitched later in the season, after not doing well earlier. He has very good stuff. I’d rather have him on the roster than Alexander, whom Roberts would keep bringing in with runners on base, hoping fora double play from his sinker, but mostly seeing base hits and runs instead. I am surprised that Alexander keeps making the roster and staying up; I guess he has no options, and they’d have to lose him, which to me would not be a bad thing.

I enjoyed your article, AC, talking about all the rankings of MLB prospects. I know these are not highly rated prospects, at least not now, but can you tell me what teams the following players will probably be on this year? They are: Logan Boyer, Jack Little, Braidyn Fink, and Zack McAllister. Thanks for your input on this.

Hey Mark, not sure if you knew, but the 2021 NBA All Star weekend will be in Indi. I went 2 years ago when the event was in LA, and it’s a lot of fun.

Good column AC.

There is a group of Dodgers prospects who live in Glendale in order to work out at Dodger Stadium. Some of the top prospects who have already reached the Majors (like May) also have stayed in the off season to work on improving. The LA Times had a story on what it takes to survive on a minor league salary, the sacrifices players make in pursuit of the major league dream. Dodger staff is involved in the workouts and I’m guessing that includes Rob Hill who lives in Whittier, a short distance from Dodger Stadium. If I recall correctly, a couple of Dodgers pitchers have mentioned working with Hill this off-season along with other pitching coaches.

Amazing just how good the Dodgers minor league system has become. Not only do they draft well, but they now seem to have turned the corner on the international level. The player development system is first class. Now all they need to do is increase pay for minor leagues, following the lead of Toronto.

Good to hear Alexander is 100%. I posted two days ago that I doubted his early availability because of last seasons surgery and thought the Dodgers would “slow play” his spring. Having said that I think Kolarek and Ferguson offer much more by way of being the LHRP’s the Dodgers might need out of the pen.

Alexander hasn’t shown me much, but then again perhaps his arm ailment kept him from realizing his full potential last year. He’ll need to stay in the strike zone with more consistency as it seems he was all over the place and he’ll need to get ground ball outs. If he is indeed 100% effective the BP decisions are going to be tough to sort out for Doc and Mark Prior. A good problem to have.

Great article AC. I’m happy to let you do the hours of research and then post it here in an easy to read format.

I’ve always been a Hand fan but I also noticed that he isn’t quite what he used to be.

Here’s something to think about for a future article – RHRP who have good numbers against left handed batters. As long as a reliever can get out left handed batters on a regular basis , I couldn’t care less which hand he throws with.

Is the need for a lefty reliever diminished this year with the 3 batter minimum. Say A guy like Kolarek gets Soto out then gives up two bombs to the next 2 right handed hitters? I’m sure managers will be staggering their lineups this year between lefties and righties to take advantage of this rule

A lot of websites and blogs are assuming that Adam Kolarek will be one of the Dodgers’ LH options out of the pen. I think that is a presumptuous assumption.

Jamey Wright has re-joined the Dodgers’ organization as a Special Assistant to pitchers. This is yet another move to facilitate player development.

SoCal dont know if u can answer this but Dustin May said he worked all offseason on his pitches, can we assume he worked with driveline or could it have been just with dodgers pitching coaches, weird question I know but from all the talk about how great driveline is I was just curious?

Scott Alexander has already thrown a bullpen and is 100% healthy. That is good news for the start of spring training.