The only reason I mentioned it - Baez isn't yet a regular for the Cubs, yet a semi-regular that could provide 25 HR pop while bouncing around (while making nothing) would be awesome.
Arizona Fall League Game Thread
- Thread starter rico43
- Start date
The only reason I mentioned it - Baez isn't yet a regular for the Cubs, yet a semi-regular that could provide 25 HR pop while bouncing around (while making nothing) would be awesome.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Dylan Moore is an interesting prospect. Racked up some impressive stats as an "old for the league" guy, but 2016 was only his second year as a pro. College senior who was drafted in the 7th round by Texas in 2015 and signed for a peanut-level bonus. He probably starts at AA in 2017 and if he's up to the challenge, he has an interesting skill set that could translate well for him.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I'm pretty excited about Moore's potential. Basically only got him for international slots and Frenchy
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/fall-league-daily-notes-october-21/
Daily reminder that we got Demeritte for Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez.
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Game of Friday, Oct.21
Salt River 3, Surprise 2
Demeritte 2B 1-3, R, BB, SB (.235)
Peterson LF 3-4, R, SB (.333)
Scivicque C 2-4, RBI (.273)
SP: Ellis 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Phillips 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
WP: Morris (1-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Salt River 3, Surprise 2
Demeritte 2B 1-3, R, BB, SB (.235)
Peterson LF 3-4, R, SB (.333)
Scivicque C 2-4, RBI (.273)
SP: Ellis 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Phillips 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
WP: Morris (1-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
He's featured on MiLB today as well:
Over the past four seasons, Travis Demeritte has garnered a reputation as one of the best power hitters in the Minors. In the Arizona Fall League, he hopes to take a step toward becoming one of its most complete hitters as well.
"It's an awesome experience and a great test for me to gauge where I'm at in my career," Demeritte said. "It's a great opportunity for me to work on things that have been giving me issues. I'm working on making more solid contact, and since I'm seeing better breaking balls here, I'm working on recognizing them and grinding out at-bats."
A turbulent 2015 season didn't seem to have any lingering effects on the Braves' No. 9 prospect in the early going of 2016. After being suspended 80 games for testing positive for a banned substance in June 2015, Demeritte worked quickly to get back on track and got off to a roaring start with Class A Advanced High Desert. A first-round pick in 2013 out of Winder-Barrow High School in Georgia, Demeritte clubbed eight home runs in April and was named the California League Player of the Month.
Demeritte continued to slug the ball through the summer, notching 25 homers in 88 games with the Mavericks before Texas dealt him to Atlanta days before the trade deadline for pitchers Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez. The move came as a bit of a shock to the second baseman.
"We were doing really well as a team up to that point. We were joking around about a few of our guys possibly getting traded and I actually got dealt, so the joke was kind of on me," Demeritte said. "It was definitely different, having been drafted by Texas and having to pack up and move in the middle of a great season, it was pretty tough, since I was with those guys for the first four years of my career."
Leaving the hitter-friendly confines of the California League to the more pitcher-friendly Carolina League was going to take some adjusting for the 22-year-old, and while his power numbers took an expected dip, his walk rate increased from 11 to 17 percent.
"It was a big change, but once I came over to Atlanta, those guys welcomed me with open arms and it's pretty awesome to be traded to my hometown team, so maybe one day I can be playing in front of family and friends," Demeritte said.
Demeritte, who is slashing .222/.276/.407 with a homer and two RBIs through six games with Salt River, knows his job with Salt River is to work on his contact rate and plate discipline. He's already shown an ability to leave the park consistently, but as he continues to make his way up the organizational ladder, he will face tougher pitchers, which is why he's happy to have the opportunity to play against some of the best young arms in the game in the AFL.
"I'm learning how to actually get the bat on the ball. That's the whole point," Demeritte said. "I just want to make good contact and learn to do what the game is asking me to do by making adjustments on the fly. And this is a good chance for me to do so more consistently. I know what I'm capable of, and I just want to use this season to learn a little bit more about myself."
His only real weakness defensively is apparently his arm, so I would say he definitely doesn't.
It's an interesting issue. He is evidently a potential elite defender at 2B who can't really play 3B, and the same is true of Albies. I don't know what we'll do, but if Demeritte's stock is up, we could try to flip him in a package for something.
Horsehide Harry
<B>Mr. Free Trade</B>
Swanson at 3B, Albies at SS, Demeritte at 2B. Swanson gives you above average defense at 3B, above average offense for a third baseman except significantly below average power. Albies at short gives you at least average defense and potentially average offense (good average, OBP, short on power), Demeritte at 2B gives you potentially above average defense, average to above average offense, significantly above average power.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I'd be hesitant to deal Demeritte... he has true 5 tool ability if he can improve his contact and K rate. That power at second base would be a huge advantage for us. He's still a year or two away, most likely... so we have some time to sort it out but he could make things interesting if he keeps developing. All of the recent reports about him are just glowing. I imagine we will see him jump up quite a bit in the rankings to start the year.
Hmmm. I have not really seen the scouting reports that say he has tried 3rd and couldn't do it. Is that just conjecture based on message board chatter, or is there something to go on?
I don't like the idea of moving SS defense from outstanding (Swanson) to good (Albies) to make room for Demerrite. I suspect Swanson wouldn't feel real good about being moved from the most important defensive position on the field to make room for someone who is not as good as he is.
I would like to see some serious effort to find out if he can play 3rd. If that has already been tried, okay, but we on the board tend to jump to conclusions like "He can't play 3rd" on the basis of an off-hand comment by a poster with no real evidence that its true..
Way too much baseball to be played before we start wondering what to do with Demeritte. He still has to prove he can handle top tier pitching in the upper levels while maintaining his improvements with plate discipline, and Albies needs to prove he can both handle major league pitching and hit for power there.
Horsehide Harry
<B>Mr. Free Trade</B>
Swanson probably won't be moved off short. But it's not unheard of.
Demeritte may be able to play third OR the Braves might get bold and use Albies as part of a package in trade.
If you think about it, Jace has been OK at 2B, not great but OK. If Albies is going to be a LO type guy, does he displace Inciarte or Mallex? Can Swanson be a 3 hole guy or is he stuck as a 1 or 2?
If Demeritte projects as even or better defensively as Albies at 2B, then he may have more value because he brings a different type of offense than Albies to the Braves. If Demeritte can be a 5 or 6 in a line-up while Albies is limited to 1,2 or 8, I think you have to consider how the pieces fit together in putting together the long term offense: Inciarte, Swanson, Freeman, Left Field, Right Field, 3B, Catcher, Albies vs. Inciarte, Swanson, Freeman, RF, Demeritte, LF, Catcher, Mallex
Or maybe they keep Albies and Demeritte can play 3rd or LF with Riley playing 3rd or LF.
I guess I just don't believe you will see an offense with Inciarte, Swanson, Albies AND Mallex all as starters. Maybe 3 of 4 but NOT all 4.
Demeritte may be able to play third OR the Braves might get bold and use Albies as part of a package in trade.
If you think about it, Jace has been OK at 2B, not great but OK. If Albies is going to be a LO type guy, does he displace Inciarte or Mallex? Can Swanson be a 3 hole guy or is he stuck as a 1 or 2?
If Demeritte projects as even or better defensively as Albies at 2B, then he may have more value because he brings a different type of offense than Albies to the Braves. If Demeritte can be a 5 or 6 in a line-up while Albies is limited to 1,2 or 8, I think you have to consider how the pieces fit together in putting together the long term offense: Inciarte, Swanson, Freeman, Left Field, Right Field, 3B, Catcher, Albies vs. Inciarte, Swanson, Freeman, RF, Demeritte, LF, Catcher, Mallex
Or maybe they keep Albies and Demeritte can play 3rd or LF with Riley playing 3rd or LF.
I guess I just don't believe you will see an offense with Inciarte, Swanson, Albies AND Mallex all as starters. Maybe 3 of 4 but NOT all 4.
I could easily see that. I don't care about whether a guy is a 1, 2, 5, 6, etc. I just care that he's good. Swanson and Albies will both probably be good. Inciarte is fine and Mallex could be pretty good as well.
There is a ton of value in having a lineup full of guys who are good hitters and get on base. Albies is more likely to be a good major league hitter than Demeritte.
Horsehide Harry
<B>Mr. Free Trade</B>
If you play all four of those guys, I think you put a ton of pressure on the rest of the hitters to supply power and production.
I think there is a difference between it should work or there's no reason it shouldn't work and it historically worked.
I continue to think you're letting that one basic stat (that really hasn't even been analyzed much at all) restrict you.
I'm not suggesting trading Albies, but we do seem to have a nice little pipeline of 2B that we could play the numbers on over the next few years.
Jace, Camargo, Moore, Demeritte, Seymour, Dykstra
The only player I see Albies traded for is that young cornerstone corner outfielder that we don't have in the pipeline.