Community Prospect Rankings: Voting for #3

by KLSnow on Dec 19, 2008 12:00 PM CST in Minor League Notes Comment 17 comments

So Mat Gamel was resoundingly chosen as the Crew's second best prospect, as expected. Here are the nominees for #3:

Lorenzo Cain, OF

Rankings:
Brewerfan.net Power 50: 8
John Sickels: 7
Baseball Prospectus: 6

Age: 22
Seasons in minors: 4
Top level reached in 2008: AAA

2008 Statistics:
Nashville (AAA): 19 AB, .158/.273/.158
Huntsville (AA): 148 AB, .277/.363/.486
Brevard County (A+): 317 AB, .287/.358/.448

Jeremy Jeffress, RHP

Rankings:
Brewerfan.net Power 50: 3
John Sickels: 4
Baseball Prospectus: 4

Age: 21
Seasons in minors: 3
Top level reached in 2008: AA

2008 Statistics:
Huntsville (AA): 14.2 IP, 5.52 ERA, 1.91 WHIP
Brevard County (A+): 79.1 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.34 WHIP

Brett Lawrie, C

Rankings:
Brewerfan.net Power 50: 6
John Sickels: 3
Baseball Prospectus: 2

Age: 18
Seasons in minors: 0
Top level reached in 2008: Canadian Olympic Team

Did not appear in the minors in 2008

Jonathan Lucroy, C

Rankings:
Brewerfan.net Power 50: 7
John Sickels: 5
Baseball Prospectus: 8

Age: 22
Seasons in minors: 2
Top level reached in 2008: A+

2008 Statistics:
Brevard County (A+): 236 AB, .292/.364/.479
West Virginia (A): 239 AB, .310/.391/.510

Angel Salome, C

Rankings:
Brewerfan.net Power 50: 4
John Sickels: 6
Baseball Prospectus: 5

Age: 22
Seasons in minors: 5
Top level reached in 2008: Major Leagues

2008 Statistics:
Milwaukee (NL): 3 AB, .000/.000/.000
Huntsville (AA): 367 AB, .360/.415/.559

Poll

Who is the Brewers #3 prospect?

Lorenzo Cain

16 votes

Jeremy Jeffress

171 votes

Brett Lawrie

55 votes

Jonathan Lucroy

22 votes

Angel Salome

62 votes

326 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 17 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Had to go with Lucroy

I don’t know if it is because I so desperately don’t want some gritty veteran behind the dish in 2010. It was between Angel and his bat but bad glove and Lucroy. Lucroy had heads when I flipped the coin. The coin came up Heads.

I am just not sold on Jeffress. His numbers in what is supposed to be pitchers league in a pitchers park – suck for someone who is supposed to be a top prospect. 3 Seasons in the minors and only in high A?? The only reason that he was promoted to AA was so that he play in the AFL not because his numbers merited a promotion.

by Saberilliterate on Dec 19, 2008 1:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm also not sold on Jeffress

Worth noting (and worrying about): He’s never thrown 100 innings, and this year complained of shoulder fatigue afted 91.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 19, 2008 1:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

http://www.brewcrewball.com/2008/9/5/607957/how-good-is-jeremy-jeffres

I’ll also add that he had a 3.32 tERA at Brevard this year, and a neutralized 3 FIP. He is really, really good. Guess you know who I voted for.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 19, 2008 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll also add that he had a 3.32 tERA at Brevard this year, and a neutralized 3 FIP. He is really, really good. Guess you know who I voted for.

Yep – In High A ball in his third year…. Imagine how much better it would be if he wasn’t walking 4.84 per 9. He is, at best, 2 more years out. He pitched all of 97 innings this year with fatigue at the end – if you push him – and add 30 IP to his line every year so that he is ready in two years… what is that going to do to his arm and his 100mph fast ball that he can’t control. Or is all of the walks a result of developing a change up or curve ball or additional pitches? If those walks are a result of developing pitches, then I reserve the right to retract my dislike

by Saberilliterate on Dec 19, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I suspect a lot of HS pitchers (even the highly-rated ones) are in High A ball in their third pro year

Start at rookie ball and go up one level each season.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 19, 2008 6:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Saber

Thanks for summarizing my thoughts almost to the T. Saved me the work.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 19, 2008 4:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Komatsu

How long before we can start placing write in votes for Erik Komatsu?

by Infield Fly Rule on Dec 19, 2008 1:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My guess is his name will start coming up around prospect #15.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 19, 2008 1:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm ready for Taylor Green

to be an option. I dig any guy who takes a ball to the face not once but twice in one season.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 19, 2008 4:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does he not know he can use a bat?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 19, 2008 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Jeffress

But don’t think he will pan out… pitchers are a crap shoot.

Now for this voting, is this the player who is most likely to make a solid contribution to the club, or the player who is most likely to be an all-star and our next Ryan Braun… or the first player to get called up? Basically is it the player with the best talent, or the player most likely to contribute on a major league level?

Jeffress is a high risk, high reward, especially with the recent shoulder fatigue, and yet to even pitch in AAA. His stuff looks good on the limited video I have watched…

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Dec 19, 2008 3:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Now for this voting, is this the player who is most likely to make a solid contribution to the club, or the player who is most likely to be an all-star and our next Ryan Braun… or the first player to get called up? Basically is it the player with the best talent, or the player most likely to contribute on a major league level?

Yes.

Most prospect rankings end up being a total value assessment. A guy in AAA who projects to be little more than a big league role player is completely different from a lights out flamethrower in A ball, but they might get rated similarly because the AAA guy is more or less a sure thing, while the flame thrower’s career could be over with one pop in his elbow.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 19, 2008 5:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Headin' for a showdown.....

I’m smelling a Salome VS Lawrie showdown in the next round. That’s gonna be fun.

It is dangerous for an athlete to believe his own publicity, good or bad - Bob Uecker, 1982.

by Adam P on Dec 20, 2008 2:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll be on Lucroy again...

I think he’ll overtake Salome on a lot of lists by the end of the next season..
I worry about Salome sticking behind the plate.
And I can’t vote for Lawrie that high until he gets some minor league stats under his belt.

Lucroy looks as sure as a catcher in high A can look… which is not all that sure.

by Braun Holio on Dec 20, 2008 10:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no such thing as a pitching prospect

As I have heard many times from sabermetric types, there is no such thing as a pitching prospect, only pitching survivors. I will take stick with hitters for some time before I put a pitcher who is as young as Jeffress, who has way too high of a chance to get hurt (ie. like all young pitchers).

I went with Lucroy.

by badgermaniac on Dec 21, 2008 12:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm going with Lucroy as well after this

But it should be tight in the next few rounds — lots of different levels and skillsets that all amount to about the same value at the moment.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 21, 2008 2:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yup

I went with JJeff here, but I’ll go to Lucroy now too. Given the nature of prospect rankings, I can’t put Lawrie this high yet, but I think he’s in the top 3 after next year.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 21, 2008 2:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Search

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

New FanPost All FanPosts

NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	44	39	.530	0	Lost 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	43	38	.530	0	Won 1
Cincinnati Red Reporter	40	39	.506	2	Won 1
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	39	39	.500	2.5	Lost 1
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	38	41	.481	4	Lost 2
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	37	44	.456	6	Lost 1