new Klaw article. Loves Acuna hates Riley

[GovClintonTyree]

Did someone say sliders?

Bravo. Midseason form!

[GovClintonTyree]

He'd be another slider-speed bat guy who did alright for himself. If he indeed does have a slider-speed bat, Riley will have to make adjustments, but it's not like adjustments can't be made.

Freddie Freeman has carved out a decent early career as a poor man's Mark Grace.

[GovClintonTyree]

http://espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/in...ingfulmeracuna

Riley has slider bat speed and 20 foot speed. Don't expect him on our top prospect list from Klaw.

Third baseman Austin Riley, the team's third pick (41st overall) in 2015, couldn't have looked any worse. The team's No. 12 prospect showed slider bat speed that had him behind average fastballs from Sanchez, and he also struck out on a slider well below the zone. He showed 20-grade speed (on the 20-80 scouting scale) running out a double play that he should have beaten, and he fell down on a ground ball hit right at him at third base because he couldn't move his feet enough to allow him to handle the ball cleanly. Instead, he tried at the last second to backhand it and fell down. He has a 70 arm and is clearly very strong, enough to run into some power, but this was not a great look for his hit or glove tools.

Holy ****. I'll be surprised if the guy can feed himself after that hatchet job.

[Tapate50]

Third baseman Austin Riley, the team's third pick (41st overall) in 2015, couldn't have looked any worse. The team's No. 12 prospect showed slider bat speed that had him behind average fastballs from Sanchez, and he also struck out on a slider well below the zone. He showed 20-grade speed (on the 20-80 scouting scale) running out a double play that he should have beaten, and he fell down on a ground ball hit right at him at third base because he couldn't move his feet enough to allow him to handle the ball cleanly. Instead, he tried at the last second to backhand it and fell down. He has a 70 arm and is clearly very strong, enough to run into some power, but this was not a great look for his hit or glove tools.

Holy ****. I'll be surprised if the guy can feed himself after that hatchet job.

Wow

[striker42]

Judge Riley for yourself. He's got a nice looking swing. Honestly, he looks like a prototypical mashing third baseman. Also, you don't hit like he did last year without being able to catch up to a fastball. Rookie ball is full of guys with good fastballs who throw them a lot.

[Hudson2]

I agree striker. He has better than slider bat speed. Law just dislikes certain people and never gets over it. This season will tell a big story but I'm predicting 18-20 homers for Riley this year.

[bravesfanMatt]

I agree striker. He has better than slider bat speed. Law just dislikes certain people and never gets over it. This season will tell a big story but I'm predicting 18-20 homers for Riley this year.

I think his offense will be fine.. his play at 3rd will be the story this year.. is he going to have to move to 1B?

[rico43]

I think his offense will be fine.. his play at 3rd will be the story this year.. is he going to have to move to 1B?

WOuld that be such a bad thing. Not exactly overflowing with 1B prospects shouldl Freddie go down for any reason.

[Tapate50]

WOuld that be such a bad thing. Not exactly overflowing with 1B prospects shouldl Freddie go down for any reason.

I wouldn't consider it positive. Full time 3b>backup 1B

[CJ9]

Saw a Perfect Game employee on Twitter last week that was watching Braves guys. He said Riley is a prototypical right field profile. It sounds like the athleticism is the question here, which made me wonder how he could possibly play RF, but that would seem to be a big help with our corner OF prospect issue. Although it's not like we're overflowing with 3B prospects, either.

[weso1]

Third baseman Austin Riley, the team's third pick (41st overall) in 2015, couldn't have looked any worse. The team's No. 12 prospect showed slider bat speed that had him behind average fastballs from Sanchez, and he also struck out on a slider well below the zone. He showed 20-grade speed (on the 20-80 scouting scale) running out a double play that he should have beaten, and he fell down on a ground ball hit right at him at third base because he couldn't move his feet enough to allow him to handle the ball cleanly. Instead, he tried at the last second to backhand it and fell down. He has a 70 arm and is clearly very strong, enough to run into some power, but this was not a great look for his hit or glove tools.

Holy ****. I'll be surprised if the guy can feed himself after that hatchet job.

Is he talking about just watching him play in one game? He could have just had a bad game. Maybe could have even not been feeling well or something. The video posted itt shows a different player than what K-law is essentially describing as a bumbling baffoon.

[striker42]

Saw a Perfect Game employee on Twitter last week that was watching Braves guys. He said Riley is a prototypical right field profile. It sounds like the athleticism is the question here, which made me wonder how he could possibly play RF, but that would seem to be a big help with our corner OF prospect issue. Although it's not like we're overflowing with 3B prospects, either.

Word is that Riley showed up to camp in much better shape. Still don't see him as RF. Maybe LF but not right.

[GovClintonTyree]

I agree striker. He has better than slider bat speed. Law just dislikes certain people and never gets over it. This season will tell a big story but I'm predicting 18-20 homers for Riley this year.

Right, Huddy. What happens is, he sees a guy once, formulates his opinion, never deviates. Then gets lauded in some quarters for "speaking his mind" and "sticking to his guns", when what he really is is sloppy and lazy.

I'll put a lot more credence in just about any opinion over KLaw's, including and especially the several guys on our board who follow the minors. It's a shame Law is the one with the bully pulpit.

[GovClintonTyree]

Saw a Perfect Game employee on Twitter last week that was watching Braves guys. He said Riley is a prototypical right field profile. It sounds like the athleticism is the question here, which made me wonder how he could possibly play RF, but that would seem to be a big help with our corner OF prospect issue. Although it's not like we're overflowing with 3B prospects, either.

Maybe he should get more than 60 games as a professional baseball player to mature, get in shape, and learn before he's labeled a DH with a slider speed bat at 19.

[GovClintonTyree]

Right, Huddy. What happens is, he sees a guy once, formulates his opinion, never deviates. Then gets lauded in some quarters for "speaking his mind" and "sticking to his guns", when what he really is is sloppy and lazy.

I'll put a lot more credence in just about any opinion over KLaw's, including and especially the several guys on our board who follow the minors. It's a shame Law is the one with the bully pulpit.

By the way, I mean that. Rico, nsacpi, et al, I don't have a chance to follow the minors and I greatly appreciate the thought and work you guys put into your posts.

[GovClintonTyree]

Word is that Riley showed up to camp in much better shape. Still don't see him as RF. Maybe LF but not right.

Thought his arm was terrific. A LF is a RF without an arm, right? If he's got one fielding tool wouldn't you take advantage of it?

I saw him at third in the video from Striker. I liked his hands and thought he looked skilled enough. If he lost 10 pounds of bad weight I think he'd be fine at 3B. If he's a 30-35 HR guy, I might confuse him with Brooks Robinson over there.

[mqt]

Unless there's more to that post about Riley, I don't see the Law hate. He's scouting based on what he saw. I'm pretty sure that is how scouting works. You make reports based on what you observe. He's not saying that Riley has no future.

[nsacpi]

I think Law caught Riley on a bad day in terms of footwork at third. The reports last year suggested he was surprisingly nimble for a big guy. It is highly premature to consider moving him to the outfield.

This will be a big year for Riley, Acuna, Yepez and possibly Isranel Wilson if he plays at Rome. Full-season ball is a big test and hopefully one or more of these guys use it to show they are a Top 100 prospect.

[smootness]

I plan to be in Rome a lot, and I'll let you guys know what I see. That will be the definitive scouting report on him, so we can disregard Law at that point.

[JohnAdcox]

I plan to be in Rome a lot, and I'll let you guys know what I see. That will be the definitive scouting report on him, so we can disregard Law at that point.

I'd love to make the drive and join you for a game. Who's in?