Scouting Report: Matt Den Dekker, CF, New York mets
Best known for his version of “The Catch” in this year’s College World Series, Den Dekker had a stellar career at the University of Florida prior to signing for a considerable bonus given his status as a fourth year senior. At 23, he’s currently sporting a .346/.404/.471 line in the South Atlantic League entering playoff action. Is this a sign of things to come? Or is Den Dekker taking advantage of lesser pitching than he faced in the SEC?
Scouting Report: Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt had arguably the most impressive set of tools I saw all season. With a .253/.280/.332 line, the production has obviously not matched the skill set as Bethancourt has struggled in his first taste of full season baseball. At 18, Bethancourt is likely to repeat the “Sally” in 2011 to continue working on his offense and receiving skills. However, Bethancourt’s arm is big league ready and could quickly become the stuff of legend.
Chris Balcom-Miller a BoSox
Scouting the Sally favorite Chris Balcom-Miller was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in a swap for somewhat disappointing reliever Manny Delcarmen in a small deal, but one which reminds me of why I write in the first place. At the end of July, I wrote a report on “CBM” after watching him throw seven near perfect frames in Savannah.
Pet Peeves: SABR vs. Bunting
Talk to most fans of advanced metrics and it seems as if bunting is the archenemy of winning baseball. Throughout my playing career, it was ingrained into my train of baseball thought that bunting was a key to winning championships. From emulating Brett Butler during his Giants and Dodgers days, to having to lay down [...]
Scouting Report: Jiwan James, CF, Philadelphia Phillies
Lean, wiry, and projectable, his appearance draws ones eye almost immediately. After watching him play, I wonder just how much of a mulligan he receives simply because he resembles Domonic Brown? Is he a prospect? Most definitely, but the comparisons to baseball’s best prospect are, in my opinion, amongst the laziest in the industry.
Atlanta Braves Prospect Christian Bethancourt Shows Growth at the Dish, as well as Behind It.
The first game I went to last season was started by Mets prospect Kyle Allen, making his first Sally League start. Here’s this young kid from Florida on a cold, blustery night in Rome facing a major league Hitter, rehabbing Atlanta Braves catcher David Ross, and not having much success. Allen looked completely overmatched against Ross and he was. Showcasing one pitch that evening, a decent two-seem fastball, Ross sat on the pitch and hit a ball over 400 feet for a home run.
Yankees Prospect Brett Marshall Dominates the “Sally” Mets
Yankees prospect Brett Marshall turned in the most impressive pitching performance I’ve seen this season. In facing only a single batter over the minimum, Marshall used a four pitch mix including a four seam fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup to stymie the Savannah Sand Gnats, the South Atlantic League’s New York Mets affiliate.
Scouting Report: Juan Lagares, OF, New York Mets
Mets prospect Juan Lagares was in the midst of a career campaign prior to suffering a broken ankle in late July which prematurely ended his season. Overall, the outfielder finished up with a line of .279/.296/.414 including twenty-five steals in thirty attempts. Whether fragile, or simply unlucky, Lagares has missed significant time due to injury leading two and a half full seasons worth of lost playing time. Having begun the season as an afterthought within the organization, Lagares was exceeding expectations prior to injury. Just how much has his prospect stock rebounded?
Stick and Move: Peter Gammons Takes a Jab at Baseball Bloggers
Let’s face it, Peter Gammons is an icon. When “Baseball Tonight” first started, he was the reason I tuned in. On a show which spent 98% of its air time talking about current happenings in the Major Leagues, Gammons would talk prospects at a time when few bothered to even familiarize themselves with their favorite organization’s top-10. Fast forward to baseball in the age of the Internet and fans are more educated than at any point in the history of the game. From SABR to scouting reports, baseball fans I speak to feel the need to know more than ever before. As somebody who attributes my love of prospects in part to Peter Gammons, I was surprised when he posted the following tweet.
Game Report: Tanner Bushue, P, Houston Astros
Earlier this season, I had the opportunity to catch a start by Houston Astros prospect Tanner Bushue. Entering 2010, the former second rounder was ranked as the second best pitching prospect in the system behind 2008 Lexington Legend hurler Jordan Lyles. While Bushue did not disappoint from a projection standpoint, his present stuff was more reminiscent of a control artist and not the young power pitcher he was billed to be.