These lists are becoming like those power rankings that fluctuate every time the wind blows. In it for the long haul.
Baseball America Braves Top 10
- Thread starter CJ9
- Start date
These lists are becoming like those power rankings that fluctuate every time the wind blows. In it for the long haul.
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
We've missed the droll troll! Welcome back!
Tapate50
Well-known member
This
There it is!!
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
Allard's stock down because fastball wasn't as dominant as it used to be. He did show plus command and changeup so if he ever gets that fastball back he could be something special.
Kinda helpful to be a subscriber - when you read the report instead of quoting what you read a year ago, you find that that's apparently not the case. Only because people continue making that statement...
"Riley has embraced the Braves' focus on improving his nutritional habits. He appears slimmer, stronger and quicker than he was when drafted. He also has shortened his swing and improved his bat speed, helping him to more consistently get to his plus power potential and alleviating concerns about his now average hit tool. Riley's biggest improvement has come defensively. He has alleviated fears he would need to move to first base and is now an above-average third baseman. His plus-plus arm is still his calling card, but he also improved his first-step quickness."
Good effort to assume I'm quoting stuff from a year ago, but Keith Law actually said it 10 days ago after watching Riley in the AFL: http://meadowparty.com/blog/2017/10/13/klawchat-101317/
Greg: What’s your view on Austin Riley?
Keith Law: Same problem as before – doesn’t have the bat speed to get around on good velocity. Homered on a breaking ball yesterday, was behind two fastballs he put in play.
I wouldn't argue with a columnist/editor at an influential Braves blog. Clv is the foremost thinker when it comes to the Braves.
His Sale for Jenkins trade proposal is the stuff of legend. He also thinks the Braves can get Odorizzi for Matt Adams, which is either groundbreakingly genius, or complete ignorance about player value...I'm leaning towards genius.
Longenhagen recently said he is 1b only, and likely doesn't have the bat to carry him there. This "above average 3b" talk is coming strictly from BA.
Riley is undoubtedly a hitter worth keeping an eye on, but he isn't the Braves 6th best prospect.
Although, this does play into my "sell high" opinion of him right now.
You think Law's opinion comes exclusively from seeing three Riley at bats in the Arizona Fall League? I know people have differing opinions on Law, but of course he's talking to other scouts across the country, too. Come on.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
chop2chip
Well-known member
I think the only conclusion we can draw from these mixed reports is that there is likely a mixed perception of Riley amongst teams.
That means that there is an excellent opportunity to cash in on a team that values him more than we do (if one exists). To Coppy's credit, he was always very good with this sort of thing in minor league trades. Hopefully, this is more of a positive reflection of our scouting department rather than innate skill Coppy possessed.
Me too, which is why I put most stock into the guy who watches more prep and minor league talent in a single day than the BA guys watch in a whole month.
From 10/17:
Logan: Has Austin Riley done anything in Arizona to enhance your opinion of him?
12:10
Eric A Longenhagen: He looks more loose and fluid than he has in the past but hasn’t moved the needle all that much.
Where was the needle?
"He has plus raw power (at least) and has improved his body composition since high school (when he was a heavy 230). But at just 19, with some general stiffness to his actions, Riley is pretty likely to kick over to first base as he matures."
Couldn't that be argued of every prospect writer then?
