Community Prospect Rankings: #4

by BK on Dec 22, 2008 10:09 PM EST in Community Prospect Rankings

Frazier takes the 3 spot, in pretty much a landslide. I have a feeling this next one will be much closer. If it stays as close as I think it will, we could run this all the way through the holidays. The candidates will be the same as the last vote, minus Frazier of course, just because I don't think there's anyone else you could put in that could make a case to be better than the rest of those guys. Vote below.

Chris Valaika, SS:

John Sickels rank: 3
Redsminorleagues rank: 5
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (pick 84), Reds, 2006
Last Level Played: AA (Chattanooga)

2008 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 32 G, 135 AB, .363/.393/.585
Chattanooga (AA): 97 G, 379 AB, .301/.352/.443
Peoria (AFL): 27 G, 95 AB, .311/.346/.437

Drew Stubbs, CF:

John Sickels rank: 5
Redsminorleagues rank: 3
Age: 23
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (pick 8), Reds, 2006
Last Level Played: AAA (Louisville)

2008 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 86 G, 303 AB, .261/.366/.406
Chattanooga (AA): 26 G, 92 AB, .315/.400/.402
Louisville (AAA): 27 G, 95 AB, .311/.346/.437
Peoria (AFL): 22 G, 85 AB, .200/.306/.329

Kyle Lotzkar, RHP:

John Sickels rank: 8
Redsminorleagues rank: 7
Age: 19
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (pick 53), Reds, 2007
Last Level Played: A (Dayton)

2008 Statistics:
Dayton (A): 10 GS, 37.2 IP, 29 H, 24 BB, 50 SO, 3.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP

Zach Stewart, RHRP:

John Sickels rank: 7
Redsminorleagues rank: 8
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 3rd round (pick 84), Reds, 2008
Last Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2008 Statistics:
Texas (College): 20 G, 3 GS, 47 IP, 48 H, 21 BB, 43 SO, 4.98 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
Dayton (A): 11 G, 16.1 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 13 SO, 0.55 ERA, 0.80 WHIP
Sarasota (A+): 13 G, 16.2 IP, 16H, 11BB, 23 SO, 1.62 ERA, 1.62 WHIP

Juan Francisco, 3B:

John Sickels rank: 10
Redsminorleagues rank: 10
Age: 21
Draft/Acquisition Details: Signed in 2004 out of Dominican Republic
Last Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2008 Statistics:
Sarasota (A+): 127 G, 516 AB, .277/.303/.496
Gigantes del Cibao (DWL): 39 G, 158 AB, .361/.420/.671

Poll

Who is the #4 prospect in the Reds system?

Chris Valaika

52 votes

Drew Stubbs

90 votes

Juan Francisco

62 votes

Kyle Lotzkar

4 votes

Zach Stewart

36 votes

244 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I love Licecum as much as the next guy

But no way Stubbs is only the 4th best prospect in the system. Criminally underrated by us.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 22, 2008 10:12 PM EST reply actions

you love lice cum?

gross

Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill

by chandrathan on Dec 22, 2008 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

Dangit

We really need an ‘edit comment’ feature.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 22, 2008 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

DREW STUBBS!!!!

The way we have been ranking guys I wouldn’t be surprised if Juan’s 50 some at bats in the DWL push him in front of Stubbs. Stubbs is our #2 prospect, maybe #3 with #2 going to Frazier.

I am hoping Stubbs turns out to be ED reincarnated.

by Dave from Louisville on Dec 22, 2008 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

ED died?

by Red Menace on Dec 22, 2008 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

ED doesn't kill all of you, just certain parts.

"Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est."

by jch24 on Dec 23, 2008 7:32 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

sad rec

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 23, 2008 8:07 AM EST up reply actions

who is Tim Lincecum?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 23, 2008 8:06 AM EST up reply actions

I hope your joking

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3696269

http://www.mymlbdraft.com/2006

by Dave from Louisville on Dec 23, 2008 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

yes i am

im just tired of the whole Stubbs/Lincecum conversation, especially the charge that because im a Reds fan, i resent Stubbs for it. of course i would rather have Lincecum right now, but that is no reason to turn Stubbs into David Espinosa.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 23, 2008 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

HEY!

Did i ever mention I called Lincecum before the draft?

by obc2 on Dec 23, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

i think you sent your call in from cuba with justin

Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill

by chandrathan on Dec 23, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

i finally voted for stubbs

Think of me what you will...I gotta little space to fill

by chandrathan on Dec 22, 2008 10:13 PM EST reply actions

Wish it were Francisco...

But he’s just way to raw to rate ahead of Stubbs. If Dickerson is hovering around replacement level, I see no reason at this point not to call up Stubbs and let him take his lumps at the plate while providing us with plus plus defense in CF. There’s only so much a guy can learn about hitting in AAA, because you’re either facing AAAA pitchers without an out pitch or raw prospects who are young for the level but “don’t know how to pitch” yet.

by teb7 on Dec 22, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions

Valaika!

If he can stick at short with that bat, Sea Bass just might be out of a job.

by ken on Dec 22, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions

Sea Bass

is gone after this year anyway.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Dec 23, 2008 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

Only 2 years too late

I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. - Bill Veeck

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 23, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions

Didn't you see what fransisco did the other night?

3 home runs in one game! If you extrapolate that over the course of a season thats 486 homers. Bing bong! Check please.

No bees? Then who will sting me and walk on my sandwiches?

by The Crushinator on Dec 22, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions

I've gone back and forth between Stubbs and Valaika

but it came down to the fact that Stubbs has a ++ skill in his defense at a key defensive position. If he can just manage to get on base at a decent rate, he’ll have a long career in the Majors.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 22, 2008 10:56 PM EST reply actions

I thought Valaika would win for sure after this

by ken on Dec 23, 2008 7:11 AM EST up reply actions

Drew Stubbs is the guy

Plus defense.
Learning curve with the bat has really looked well. Two years ago he struggled big time in Billings. This past year he finished the year with strong numbers all the way up to AAA. He is making more contact (striking out less), hitting more line drives and walking more than he ever has before. He will be a major league average hitter for CF, but his defense is whats going to make him an above average player.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Dec 22, 2008 11:29 PM EST reply actions

so

why are we in such a hurry to find a CF?

by sharks on Dec 23, 2008 5:15 AM EST up reply actions

Hey, im putzing around mlb.com and decided to watch a game

Does anyone know who threw the most strikeouts in a single game this season? Id like to see that.

No bees? Then who will sting me and walk on my sandwiches?

by The Crushinator on Dec 23, 2008 12:15 AM EST reply actions

Not Drew Stubbs

On September 28th against the Dodgers.

by Red Menace on Dec 23, 2008 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

ouch

Also, I’ve been looking through the first round picks of the past 5 or 6 years. At least we got a guy who’s going to play in the majors.

No bees? Then who will sting me and walk on my sandwiches?

by The Crushinator on Dec 23, 2008 1:10 AM EST up reply actions

Before last year

I wouldn’t have liked his chances to play in the majors. That’s what jumping three levels in a year will do for you. And now he’s got my vote.

by Red Menace on Dec 23, 2008 1:19 AM EST up reply actions

Stubbs.

He’ll hit enough, provide GG defense at a premium position, will get on base an acceptable amount and can steal bases. Although his samples at AA and AAA are small, he’s been productive there.

We Are ... Marshall!

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 23, 2008 8:16 AM EST reply actions

ive been debating this one since yesterday

Stubbs vs. Valaika. Stubbs’ defense is damn sexy, but Valaika could be a valuable bat at a defense-first position. i have a lot of confidence in both these guys, and i think they will both end up being above average major leaguers. but i went with Stubbs because 1) he’s a year closer, and 2) his defense is a sure thing. you cant say that about Valaika’s bat because bats are never sure things, and he may not stick at SS. but it was very close.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 23, 2008 8:19 AM EST reply actions

I want to hear from people voting for Francisco

Is it all because of the DWL? His career minor league line is .275 /303/.467 compared to Stubbs at .269/.367/.415 and Valaika at .306/.357/.467. It seems to me that some people are wrapped up in 170 at bats in the DWL.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 23, 2008 8:50 AM EST reply actions

Ive voted for Fransisco

Im voting for who I would least like to give up over the long run. It seems to me that every team needs a couple impact bats to succeed, and all the plus defenders in the world won’t make up for that. the walks that he is taking in the DWL show me that he has an understanding of the importance of plate discipline. It may be a bit too leatherpantsian, but thats at least how I’ve voted up to this point.

No bees? Then who will sting me and walk on my sandwiches?

by The Crushinator on Dec 23, 2008 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

Stubbs

Really, I think you can flip a coin between Stubbs and Valaika at this point in terms of “potential”, but Stubbs was a level ahead by the end of the year (to be fair, through necessity).

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Dec 23, 2008 9:49 AM EST reply actions