Farmers Only: Prospects on the Hot Seat

He was #14 on our list in January.

Here’s what was written about him then:

2007 first round pick has yet to show skills at the plate, although his peripherals are improving, and this year’s numbers were likely depressed by the Florida State League. Has improved his line drive rate and isolated power each year in the minors, and walk rate this year was a very solid 10%. Defensively, still a work in progress, but improving: threw out 30% of attempted stealers this year. Still young, but needs to perform in 2010.

Baseball America rank: NR
2009 RR CPR rank: 11
2010 John Sickels Rank: NR
Age: 22
Draft/Acquisition Details: 1st round (15th pick), Reds, 2007
Highest Level Played: A+ (Sarasota)

2009 Statistics:

Sarasota (A+): 92 G, 312 AB, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 0 SB, .228/.311/.381/.692

Does anyone know when and how the decision will be made about where to put him in 2010? If the organization wants to put some pressure on hi, do they start him out in AA or would that be setting up for possible failure. What is usually done in a situation like this where a highly drafted player hasn’t shown that he’s ready to start climbing the ladder but there aren’t any clear options as to what to do with him?

Chappy for 2011….if he hasn’t already won ROY and Cy Young

..I’ve seen an ‘organizational depth chart’ or two on other sites. Does anyone have a favorite (most trusted.. most recently updated) that they could point me to?

Maybe we could get one of those? I mean.. just in case the Reds win 80 games this year and keep Slyde from shutting this site down.

lotzkar and dorn were immediate throw-aways since they don’t typically get included in conversations about the future. we don’t have a whole lot invested in them so if they were to break out, it would be a nice surprise (kind of like heisey). if not, we’re no worse off.

mesoraco: close… but in my mind he’s only 21, has no AAA experience, and catchers take longer to develop. if he were 23, maybe… plus we’re in a pretty good situation for the future with hanigan and castillo.
alonso: no… with no AAA experience we can’t tell him to shit or get off the pot.. he’s still very much in the plans and he’s expected have success.
chapman: eh… if he doesn’t crack the MLB roster this year it’s not like we’re going to give up on him.

that leaves maloney and valaika who are starting to get older (for a prospect) and can’t seem to get over that proverbial hump.

maloney has indicated that he can be a competent major leaguer so in my opinion that bought him some time. if he tanks in his 5th spot role (which i think is his to lose), we can send him down to AAA. if he tanks there too, he’s in trouble, but not screwed.

valaika can’t afford to take another shit this year because that will pretty much cement him as a career AAAA 2B. in my opinion, his urgency to turn his career around is much greater than maloney’s. if he OPSs .615 again, he’s in deep shit.

i guess we all might have different meaning for the words “hot seat” but to me it’s like you’re wondering “according to the front office, it is imperative that [NAME] has the best year” rather than “who will the one with the most to prove”.

Still, this is an interesting quote about END, from Dusty, via McCoy:

He still has work to do because he is extremely aggressive," said Baker. "He has a problem with pitch selection, so pitchers start to go out of the zone on him, knowing he’ll chase ‘em. I’m confident he’ll make the adjustment. Those other teams read what you do

That’s pretty encouraging that they recognize his shortcomings.

this is his last option year. if he doesnt establish himself as a major leaguer this season then he gets himself in a real tight spot.

He’s still a prospect, and has a shitload to prove in 2010.

I vote Drew Stubbs. Show me something, Robert!

Huge investigation by the NCAA going on about the recruiting of your top player. Sorry, guys.

Mesoraco is the one I’d consider much more on the “hot seat” in terms of actual consequences should he fail, but I think it’s undeniable that Chapman is under considerably more pressure than Mesoraco.

Can we see the Top 25 on the main page sidebar? I guess it is a little crowded now, but it’d be cool to see the Late Greats followed by the Upncomers.

On the hot seat? I should think so!

Is this the year he makes the big club? If so, what kind of playing time (At bats) might he get this year?
vr, Xei

I voted for Mr. Alonso, since I think he’s got multiple things to prove with a shortened window in which to do it.

He’s coming back from a wrist injury while playing a position that requires power hitting, he’s yet to prove he’s a solid defender at 1B, and he’s going to be asked to try other positions in order to stick with the Reds’ organization. Given that we’re still keeping him on the 40 man and is almost out of options (2010, 2011, depeding on who you talk to), and I think it’s paramount that he have a solid year.

Harang, Arroyo, Cabrera, and Clutch-Man-Monie all could be traded at some point this year (depending upon how good or how bad we’re performing) for a playoff-push upgrade or a stock-the-farm reload, and I think Yonder could very well be lumped into a trade to add value to the return. The Reds need him to perform to have other organizations value him as much as we do, so he’s got to be hot from the start this year.