BP's Top 11

by Snake the Jake on Nov 13, 2008 2:21 PM EST Comment 25 comments

1. Yonder Alonso *****

2. Todd Frazier; 3. Drew Stubbs ****

4. Chris Valaika; 5. Neftali Soto; 6. Yorman Rodriguez; 7. Juan Duran; 8. Juan Francisco; 9. Kyle Lotzker ***

10. Daryl Thompson; 11. Devin Mesoraco **

Summary: "The Reds system isn't what it used to be, but after putting as much talent in the majors as they did in 2008, fans have nothing to complain about. There's still a nice collection of hitting prospects here, but when it comes to pitching, which remains a big need at the major league level, the system is paper-thin."

Why does everyone think pitching is such a huge need for the Reds? Also, I think Thompson is listed to low and Yorman and Juan are both too high.

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That's at worst a very solid list of prospects.

Valaika’s value appearsto have increased because of his play in the Arizona Fall League, where he has convinced several scouts that he can stay at shortstop.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Nov 13, 2008 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised Soto doesn't get more love

.326/.343/.500 as a 19-year old in Dayton is impressive. I’m sure there is some concern over his lack of walks, but he put up the best numbers for an under 20 in the Midwest League. I think there is a case to be made that he’s the #2 prospect in the organization right now.

"You never want to give up a 7-0 lead, in your rival's ballpark, that would put them in first place. Never want to do that." - Ron Darling

by Slyde on Nov 13, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Its probably why I ranked him #2 with consideration of #1. Guys that strike out less than 17% of the time and carry an isoP over .170 at his age are very rare.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Nov 13, 2008 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i was at soto's first game in dayton

i hadn’t heard he had been promoted, and he didn’t have his name on his back, and i was only paying half attention at the start, but i remember thinking to myself, who the heck is that? when i watched him. then he hit one way out, and i realized it was soto, and i thought, this guy has something rare. he has that thing, that “it.” you don’t see that often.

Yes We Did!

by Daedalus on Nov 13, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Now, now.

You know that “it” can’t be statistically quantified, so Slyde is going to fine you for mentioning it.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Nov 13, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

what’s the fine, some sort of spreadsheet covered in coffee and beer stains?

Yes We Did!

by Daedalus on Nov 13, 2008 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

i think they have Soto too low. i would have him right there next to Frazier as a 4-star, maybe even a 5-star. the kid has enormous power and great K-zone judgment. how often is that displayed by a kid his age? maybe im just more bullish on Soto than most.

as for Y-Rod and Duran, Goldstein notes that it was tough to read them. they are still children, but they got huge signing bonuses for a reason. still, its not a list you can argue much with. well, maybe misspelling Kyle Lotzkar’s name.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Nov 13, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I personally think Soto is 1st or 2nd in the system...

…but it’s tough for me to argue that he should be ranked ahead of the more proven guys (Valaika, Stubbs, Frazier). I think Soto is way ahead of Yorman and Duran though.

by Snake the Jake on Nov 13, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the name "Y-Rod"

Although one can say that Yorman is really just another Duran. Two Durans. Duran Duran, if you will.

I’ll be here all night! Try the prime rib!

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Nov 13, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

too funny!

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Nov 13, 2008 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If only Bill Doran will still around

by Brendanukkah on Nov 13, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he is

i got his autograph during spring training and felt quite shy about it, too. for me it’s easier to ask for autographs of twenty-something kids than it is of forty-somethings, for some reason. i think it’s on the eric davis ball.

Yes We Did!

by Daedalus on Nov 13, 2008 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

har har har har har

i’m sick of the -X rod names, though

Yes We Did!

by Daedalus on Nov 13, 2008 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Island Update: Francisco, Richar(d), Castillo

Speaking of Juan Francisco here is his current line with the Gigantes del Cibao:

G- 18 AB- 80 R- 18 H- 25 2B- 2 3B- 0 HR- 6 RBI- 18 BB- 6 SO- 18 SB- 0 AVG.- .313 OBP- .375

I think his slugging comes out to .563. He is currently tied for third in the league in homeruns.

Also stats for Danny Richard and Wilkin Castillo:

Danny Richard, Azucareros Del Este

G- 20 AB- 71 R- 10 H- 18 2B- 3 3B- 1 HR- 0 RBI- 4 BB- 8 SO- 11 SB- 8 AVG.- .254 OBP- .329

Wilkin Castillo, Leones Del Escogido

G- 4 AB- 7 R- 2 H- 2 2B ~~0 3B~~ 0 HR- 0 RBI- 0 BB- 1 SO- 0 SB- 0 AVG.- .286 OBP- .375

Here is a link to all of the current rosters and stats for all the teams in DR winter league, the site where I found this information. Anyone know of anyone else from the Reds system that is down here?

Here is also a link to the current winter league leaders.

I am hoping to make it to a game in the next week when Francisco comes into town. If I do, I’ll try and find a camera to take some photos and write up a nice report.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Nov 13, 2008 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do you know if Castillo has been catching?

Is there any possibility that he is the backup catcher in ’09?

by Brendanukkah on Nov 13, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure.

He is listed as a catcher on the roster but hasn’t played in over a week. It looked like he only started one of those games but… ah okay, now I see. It looks like the Leones’ starting catcher is Anthony Recker from Allentown, PA.

I will keep my eye and ears out to try and figure out if Castillo is still on the team.

Didn’t realize until now that mlb.com is running such comprehensive news and stats about the DR league and all of the other winter leagues in Latin America.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Nov 13, 2008 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BP Radio

Here’s an interview with Terry Reynolds, director of player development, from the BP Radio folks. This is a link to the actual mp3.

Just listening to Reynolds, it’s easy to be excited about the future — though most of the guys he discusses are A/instructional league, so they are a ways off. Easy to be optimistic when they are that far from the bigs.

Still, it’s good to hear BP saying good things about these guys, and it’s good to hear the Director of Player Development hyping his players. Maybe he should get a memo to Marty!

by bbjones on Nov 13, 2008 5:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Alonso went oppo with a walkoff homer last night

here’s Doug’s post on Yonder: http://redsminorleagues.com/2008/11/13/there-it-goes-way-out-yonder/

He looks primed to wreck mead benches and gobble up Danes by the hundreds once he gets the hang of hitting pro lefties.

What a picture of domestic tranquility... Hemlock on the hearth and my wife feeding the piranha.

by Man Mountain on Nov 13, 2008 7:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Have you read "Grendel" by Gardner?

by Brendanukkah on Nov 13, 2008 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, i've actually never read that

A lot of my students have, however. I get the feeling that it’s become a staple of high school reading lists.

What a picture of domestic tranquility... Hemlock on the hearth and my wife feeding the piranha.

by Man Mountain on Nov 14, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably

I first read it in high school, but then was assigned it again in college. Grendel’s mindset very much reflects a petulant adolescent, which might explain why I loved it so much the first time I read it. I still like it, but after I had Grendel’s immaturity pointed out to me in college, it soured just a little. It was one of those, “That’s not true! That’s IMPOSSIBLE!” moments. But then I searched my feelings and knew it to be true.

Still a good read, and definitely worth your time.

by Brendanukkah on Nov 14, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs