Minorleagueball top 20

[Krgrecw]

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/...pects-for-2017




finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player.

1) Dansby Swanson, SS, Grade A: Age 22, still eligible for rookie consideration just under the limit at 129 at-bats; should hit for average (.280-.300 and occasionally higher) and get on base, provide speed and occasional power with the defensive chops to remain at shortstop; obviously nothing left to prove in the minors after strong run down the stretch. ETA 2017.

2) Ozzie Albies, INF, Grade A-: Age 19, excellent in Double-A (.321/.391/.467) but weaker after moving up to Triple-A (.248/.307/.351) though very young for the level; should be excellent defender at second base and can still play shortstop if needed; high-batting average contact hitter with speed and may develop more gap power than commonly anticipated. ETA: late 2017.

[atl717]

This list is really bad. And Sickels scouts the stat line, that's it. He doesn't have much in terms of sources. He will use what others have already said.

[rico43]

This list is really bad. And Sickels scouts the stat line, that's it. He doesn't have much in terms of sources. He will use what others have already said.

I read your comment before I looked at the list. Aside from Toussaint at No. 10, how is it a bad list? In many years, any of those people could have been No. 1 or No. 2 on the Braves' list during the Wren era. But he like most others is selling Minter way too short. Just because he's a reliever, he's not top 10 or 15???

[atl717]

Dustin Peterson not in the top 20. Wiegel behind Rob Whalen. Really? And Wiegel isn't a low 90s sinker baller like he described.

[thethe]

I don't care how different outlets rank them. Bottom line is the braves are absolutely loaded and will add a top 5 pick talent in the summer.

[dak]

From the comments section . . . some insight on Chuck Hernandez's philosophy.

From a bit of an insider's perspective
I think the view of your statistical model is tremendous, but sometimes it can miss on when an organization is pushing forward a philosophy intended to help long-term success of their pitchers. That’s what the Braves have been doing with many of their "stud" arms. The focus has been on taking off a tick or two of velocity on the fastball to focus on movement and command of the pitch down in the zone, and pairing the fastball primarily with the change early in counts, using their breaking stuff as an attack pitch later in the zone.

That has led to a number of guys struggling with their control and giving up more than their share of contact, primarily due to that being a new approach for the guys new to the organization and in their first full season in the organization. There’s been adjustment to mechanics, position on the rubber, and other mechanical tweaks to help this primary focus as well. That would include basically all pitchers on this list outside of Povse and maybe Sims, so that makes perfect sense that Povse was the only one to work within the generated metrics you put together.

The guys I noted this strongest with were Newcomb, Fried, and Toussaint, and frankly, I’d be very intrigued to see how things would run if you ran their July 1st on for each guy as they each took some time to work their way into the approach and compared them to overall season numbers in your system. I’m not saying they’d suddenly grade out as plus, but I do believe you’d see a big difference.

The guy who has been teaching this in the organization is now working as the major league pitching coach.

[striker42]

I don't care how different outlets rank them. Bottom line is the braves are absolutely loaded and will add a top 5 pick talent in the summer.

My thought exactly. The amount of talent in this system is just ridiculous.

[thethe]

My thought exactly. The amount of talent in this system is just ridiculous.

It's absolutely mind blowing what this front office was able to accomplish in 2 years. Hey even found a way to salvage the disaster Olivera deal assuming Kemp continues to rebound back to career norms.

[gilesfan]

From the comments section . . . some insight on Chuck Hernandez's philosophy.

Wait, we want our pitchers to throw slower and pitch to contact? Sounds awesome...

[sturg33]

It's absolutely mind blowing what this front office was able to accomplish in 2 years. Hey even found a way to salvage the disaster Olivera deal assuming Kemp continues to rebound back to career norms.

It's really not that mind blowing... we traded away amazing assets that were also young

1. Heyward
2. Upton
3. Gattis
4. Kimbrel
5. Wood
6. Peraza
7. Simmons
8. Shelby


I'm probably forgetting someone.

All young. All good.

it's not too challenging to stock the system with that.

Then we've had two high drafts and spent (well) in the intl market

[mqt]

It's really not that mind blowing... we traded away amazing assets that were also young

1. Heyward
2. Upton
3. Gattis
4. Kimbrel
5. Wood
6. Peraza
7. Simmons
8. Shelby


I'm probably forgetting someone.

All young. All good.

it's not too challenging to stock the system with that.

Then we've had two high drafts and spent (well) in the intl market

To be fair, we had one year of Heyward and Upton, and Shelby really shouldn't be included if we're talking about the FO taking what they had and turning it into what we now have. Also, Gattis wasn't particularly young or good.

[chop2chip]

Wait, we want our pitchers to throw slower and pitch to contact? Sounds awesome...

Where did you read pitch to contact?

There's nothing wrong with deemphasizing MPH.

[50PoundHead]

Nice to see Didder get some mention in the C+ category. Curious to see where he ends up next season. Obviously he can't count on getting hit by pitches to pad his OBP as he moves up to better competition, so he'll have to show he can hit.

I don't know if Dustin Peterson should in the Top 20, but I think he's higher than a C+. Probably doesn't have that high a ceiling, but he looks to have a solid floor.

[Preacher]

It's really not that mind blowing... we traded away amazing assets that were also young

1. Heyward
2. Upton
3. Gattis
4. Kimbrel
5. Wood
6. Peraza
7. Simmons
8. Shelby


I'm probably forgetting someone.

All young. All good.

it's not too challenging to stock the system with that.

Then we've had two high drafts and spent (well) in the intl market

A lot of teams have high draft picks and international money and fail to get the talent that Atlanta has aquired in those areas.

They've also done a really good job with minor deals involving players like KJ and Harrell - guys who didn't hold much value that they've flipped for solid young pieces.

[gilesfan]

Where did you read pitch to contact?

There's nothing wrong with deemphasizing MPH.

Isn't there a correlation between velocity and contact rate? Does taking some ticks off the fastball to focus on command sound a lot like pitching to contact?

[thethe]

Isn't there a correlation between velocity and contact rate? Does taking some ticks off the fastball to focus on command sound a lot like pitching to contact?

Maybe the Braves are preaching movement over velocity?

[gilesfan]

Maybe the Braves are preaching movement over velocity?

Yeah, thats the problem.

[thethe]

Yeah, thats the problem.

Is there a study that velocity produces more weak contact than movement?

Honest question...I'm interesting in reading the study.

[clvclv]

Isn't there a correlation between velocity and contact rate? Does taking some ticks off the fastball to focus on command sound a lot like pitching to contact?

Depends on the pitcher, doesn't it?

Seems that the harder Folty throws, the further they fly sometimes. LOL.

[thethe]

Depends on the pitcher, doesn't it?

Seems that the harder Folty throws, the further they fly sometimes. LOL.

Folty seemed to perform his best when his fastball was at 94-96 and not 97-99.