John Sickels braves top 20

Krgrecw

**NOT ACTUALLY RACIST
https://www.minorleagueball.com/2018/10/29/18040366/atlanta-braves-top-20-prospects-for-2018

1) Ian Anderson, RHP, Grade A-: Age 20, first round pick from high school in New York in 2016, posted 2.49 ERA in 119 innings between High-A and Double-A, with 142/49 K/BB, only 87 hits and two homers allowed all year; plus fastball, curveball and change-up have all developed nicely, throws strikes, no deterioration in performance after being promoted; in my opinion he has the best combination of upside and polish of all the Braves pitching prospects; ETA late 2019.
 
I just don't get having Allard that high. The absolute highest I could justify putting Allard would be 10th and even that is iffy. I think all four of our top positional prospects are better than him (Riley, Pache, Waters, Contreras). I honestly think I'd take Gohara, Wilson, Wentz, and Muller over him as well at this point as well. I think slotting him in that Greyson Jenista/Tristan Beck area is about where I would have him. He still has some glimmer of hope left, but not a whole lot.
 
I just don't get having Allard that high. The absolute highest I could justify putting Allard would be 10th and even that is iffy. I think all four of our top positional prospects are better than him (Riley, Pache, Waters, Contreras). I honestly think I'd take Gohara, Wilson, Wentz, and Muller over him as well at this point as well. I think slotting him in that Greyson Jenista/Tristan Beck area is about where I would have him. He still has some glimmer of hope left, but not a whole lot.

I’m higher on Jenitsa than Allard.
 
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Braves having a bunch of guys big league ready soon ie: Touki, Allard, Gohara, Muller, Wilson, Wright, Soroka pretty much means you gotta use them as trade chips to improve the big league team.

But the Braves being linked to Realmuto is weird given AA works quietly and his moves come outta nowhere but maybe it happens.
 
Braves having a bunch of guys big league ready soon ie: Touki, Allard, Gohara, Muller, Wilson, Wright, Soroka pretty much means you gotta use them as trade chips to improve the big league team.

But the Braves being linked to Realmuto is weird given AA works quietly and his moves come outta nowhere but maybe it happens.

Just throwing everyone off our real target, buster posey
 
But the Braves being linked to Realmuto is weird given AA works quietly and his moves come outta nowhere but maybe it happens.

This keeps crossing my mind, too. I remember when AA was hired, a Blue Jays fan did a long write up about him. One of the things it said was we'd likely be linked to a ton of players in trade rumors, but then AA would strike out of nowhere and deal for a player that hadn't been mentioned by anyone.
 
I don't know where to put Allard, but Sickels is pretty clear in the text that accompanies the rankings that his feelings on Allard are intuitive and he readily admits he may be out-of-step with other analysts. For my part, I think if Allard puts another few inches on his fastball, he could be someone like Alex Wood.
 
Sickels has always been one of my favorite sources and he has always been closely attuned to the Braves farm system. I know why people are down on Allard but I think people are over reacting. Also dont know why people are so high on Jenista. Feels like watching Charlie Brown try to kick the football with these college bats over the years. Absolutely hate college bats. Wont be surprised if he tops out at AAA while Allard actually finds a useful role in the majors.
 
If other teams feel the same way about Allard as our fans do then it would not be wise to trade him this offseason.
 
This keeps crossing my mind, too. I remember when AA was hired, a Blue Jays fan did a long write up about him. One of the things it said was we'd likely be linked to a ton of players in trade rumors, but then AA would strike out of nowhere and deal for a player that hadn't been mentioned by anyone.

Gausman kinda came out of nowhere... he was always rumored to be on the block but I never remember us being linked to him. We were Archer Archer Archer all day long and then bam Gausman... could be a huge smoke screen with someone big we never thought of.
 
Sickels has always been one of my favorite sources and he has always been closely attuned to the Braves farm system. I know why people are down on Allard but I think people are over reacting. Also dont know why people are so high on Jenista. Feels like watching Charlie Brown try to kick the football with these college bats over the years. Absolutely hate college bats. Wont be surprised if he tops out at AAA while Allard actually finds a useful role in the majors.

People with Allard's velocity just don't succeed this day and age, its pretty simple. Jenista slumped after the promotion but he hit the cover off the ball in his first pro experience... I don't get what's not to like
 
Had Soroka not been injured, I bet Realmuto is a Brave right now. He and Riley were likely going to Miami as part of a package for him.
 
Had Soroka not been injured, I bet Realmuto is a Brave right now. He and Riley were likely going to Miami as part of a package for him.

It was interesting to see Riley mentioned as a trade candidate. if we do in fact trade Riley this offseason I think it would make Josh Donaldson a strong possibility with Camargo as the supersub getting 400-450 plate appearances.
 
It was interesting to see Riley mentioned as a trade candidate. if we do in fact trade Riley this offseason I think it would make Josh Donaldson a strong possibility with Camargo as the supersub getting 400-450 plate appearances.

I’d be perfectly fine with that scenario.
 
I just don't get having Allard that high. The absolute highest I could justify putting Allard would be 10th and even that is iffy. I think all four of our top positional prospects are better than him (Riley, Pache, Waters, Contreras). I honestly think I'd take Gohara, Wilson, Wentz, and Muller over him as well at this point as well. I think slotting him in that Greyson Jenista/Tristan Beck area is about where I would have him. He still has some glimmer of hope left, but not a whole lot.

Kinda disqualifies the whole list, and him as an "expert", imo. I mean seriously, his argument is literally, "I like him more than some other analysts do for intuitive reasons I can’t explain very clearly". That's the kind of statement I expect from derpi-Braves around here, not a professional prospect writer.

Anyone who still thinks this highly of Allard clearly isn't very knowledgeable about prospects. The fact his blurbs just spout off stats easily scraped from each player's page makes it even worse.

I would just stick with Longenhagen and Kiley. Kiley still has some clear Braves bias cooking, but he is still pretty good...and EL is by far the best in the public sphere. You'll see their player blurbs full of scouting takes on the prospect, most of which are from first hand viewings.
 
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Prospecting is far from an exact science. Bold prediction time.... Allard comed into spring training throwing harder.
 
Kinda disqualifies the whole list, and him as an "expert", imo. I mean seriously, his argument is literally, "I like him more than some other analysts do for intuitive reasons I can’t explain very clearly". That's the kind of statement I expect from derpi-Braves around here, not a professional prospect writer.

Anyone who still thinks this highly of Allard clearly isn't very knowledgeable about prospects. The fact his blurbs just spout off stats easily scraped from each player's page makes it even worse.

I would just stick with Longenhagen and Kiley. Kiley still has some clear Braves bias cooking, but he is still pretty good...and EL is by far the best in the public sphere. You'll see their player blurbs full of scouting takes on the prospect, most of which are from first hand viewings.

I thought you liked Ben whoever the best
 
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