Thursday, April 30, 2015
Week 3 Hero of the Week
Zach Cozart was named Hero of the week for back to back weeks 6/24 3HR 7RBI, 5runs, 1SB. At one point during the week Cozart held down the top spot on player rater for SS's.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Week 2 Little Hero of the Week
9. Dilson Herrera, 2b, Mets
Dilson HerreraTeam: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .441/.472/.647 (15-for-34), 7 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 K, 2-for-4 SB
The Scoop: Everything is going right for the Mets right now. They have the best record in baseball and a franchise-best 11-game winning streak. And they have one of the most talented teams in Triple-A, which has provided the depth needed to survive injuries to Travis D’Arnaud, David Wright and Bobby Parnell. But the Mets’ success might slow down Herrera’s return to the big leagues. If the Mets had struggled, second baseman Daniel Murphy would likely be a trade target. But now it’s hard to see that happening, which means Herrera will continue teaming with Matt Reynolds for one of the best middle infield combos in the upper minors. In 14 games this year, Herrera has nine multi-hit games.
Dilson HerreraTeam: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .441/.472/.647 (15-for-34), 7 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 K, 2-for-4 SB
The Scoop: Everything is going right for the Mets right now. They have the best record in baseball and a franchise-best 11-game winning streak. And they have one of the most talented teams in Triple-A, which has provided the depth needed to survive injuries to Travis D’Arnaud, David Wright and Bobby Parnell. But the Mets’ success might slow down Herrera’s return to the big leagues. If the Mets had struggled, second baseman Daniel Murphy would likely be a trade target. But now it’s hard to see that happening, which means Herrera will continue teaming with Matt Reynolds for one of the best middle infield combos in the upper minors. In 14 games this year, Herrera has nine multi-hit games.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
Sneak Peak 2016 Draft
Here is an early look at the Heroes 2016 Draft board. Down on many of the SP's in this class.
Write ups from http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2015-mlb-draft-rankings-april-edition/
1. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary HS (FL), Florida State commit Video: Rodgers has been seen a ton, standing out early in his high school career and going to tons of events where he faced top pitching with a wood bat. He developed physically last summer and now has plus bat speed and raw power, though his power plays closer to average in games. He’s an average runner with a plus arm and some scouts see a lack of the loose, flashy actions and say he isn’t a shortstop, but some scouts literally haven’t seen him misplay a ball in dozens of games over the last few years, so that opinion is becoming less popular. He’s struggled at times against crappy prep pitching this spring, but has performed everywhere that matters in a predictive sense and has been hitting for power all spring. He isn’t the strongest #1 pick in recent years, but he’s still the clear choice for me at this point.
2. Alex Bregman, SS, LSU Video: Some scouts see the 6’0/185 Bregman field grounders and say he’s a second baseman. I’ve seen him a lot the last three years and his unique approach to defense–charge everything and never slow down–works for him and I think it’ll work in the big leagues. He has 12-15 homer power in games, advanced feel for contact and average to above speed along with all the gritty makeup stuff you could ask for. He nearly signed out of high school if not for an ACL tear and toyed with the idea of catching then, though that probably won’t happen now.
3. Kyle Tucker, RF, Plant HS (FL), Florida commit: Tucker has one the prettiest swing many scouts have ever seen, with comparisons to Ted Williams, Daryl Strawberry and Ken Griffey, mechanically-speaking. Tucker is 6’4/190 with fringy speed, a solid average arm, plus current raw power and more coming along with the effortless all-fields ease to his swing that scouts are looking for. Some are turned off by Tucker’s low energy approach to the games while others see his confident, laid-back demeanor will allow him to get through the grind of pro ball. Tucker can also get passive at the plate and get opposite-field happy and slap at the ball, but he will also go through stretches where he looks like an unstoppable hitting machine, which has been happening more and more often down the stretch.
4. Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt Video: Swanson was an advanced defender with a light bat in high school, then played second base his first two years at Vanderbilt and over the summers. Scouts got their first recent look at him playing short this spring and it still works. Swanson is a plus runner with fringy raw power and a strong 6’1/190 frame. He’s a contact hitter with more 10-13 homer power that wears out the gaps and would be a nice 6th-10th overall pick most years, but a high probability shortstop with some ceiling is hard to ignore in this draft.
5. Ian Happ, RF, Cincinnati Video: Happ has been moving up and down in the 5-20 range for me all spring. He played shorstop as a freshman and second base two summers ago on the Cape, but has been a corner outfielder since. Some scouts think he can still play second or third and that makes his above average bat and power from both sides of the plate even more attractive.
6. Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg HS (PA), Alabama commit Video: Nikorak was a revelation last summer as an unknown who hit 97 mph and flashed a plus curve from a 6’5/220 frame. His velo dipped later in the summer but he worked in a solid average changeup. Nikorak’s velo is back, sitting 93-96 and hitting 98 mph this spring, checking all the boxes for a projection prep arm with limited miles on the odometer.
6. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville Video: Funkhouser has been a plus fastball, above average to plus slider, average changeup, good enough command guy for a couple years, then he took a step forward last week (where the video is from). He sat 93-96 and hit 98 mph with more life and now has that #2/3 starter look if he can keep it up. Funkhouser has a bulldog’s 6’3/225 frame and approach, but had struggled with command at time earlier this spring, so that will be something to watch down the stretch.
7. Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt Video: I’m the high guy on Fulmer, but I think teams are coming around on him. There’s some effort to the delivery, but he’s never been hurt, goes deep in games, has succeeded hugely as a starter and reliever at the highest amateur levels, is hyper-aggressive and strong-bodied. At his best, Fulmer sits 92-96 and hits 97 mph with life, an above average to plus hook and an above average changeup. If the starting thing doesn’t work out, he’s a closer that could be big league ready in no time, where some scouts think his delivery and approach fit best, while other see Sonny Gray. If I’m betting on someone in this draft class to succeed more than the industry consensus, I’m rolling with the dude that’s never failed before, that’s never been hurt before, that has has plus stuff and that has performed everywhere, delivery and height be damned.
8. Dillon Tate, RHP, UC Santa Barbara Video: Tate was a reliever getting into the mid-90’s last spring after a low-profile high school career, then he got famous last summer for Team USA when he hit 99 mph along with a 65 slider, though he tired late in the summer. He was supposed to relieve this year until an injury just before opening day gave him a rotation spot (for the first time in his career) that he hasn’t given up since. He sits in the mid 90’s with heavy life, a plus slider and at least an average changeup. Tate is super loose and athletic but only 6’1 or 6’2 and there’s enough effort to the delivery and general crudeness that some scouts say he’s still a reliever (I don’t), but either way, it’s among the best balls of clay a development staff could receive.
9. Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Post-Grad (FL) Video: Aiken is a massive question mark at this point. He has that #1 overall ability in him and he’s recovering from Tommy John surgery, so many fans just assume he’ll go from a top 3 pick to a top 10-15 pick and that’s that. There is persistent, consistent and detailed buzz coming from many sources that there is more to Aiken’s injury than just a clean surgery like Erick Fedde, Jeff Hoffman or Lucas Giolito from recent years
10. Daz Cameron, CF, Eagle’s Landing Christian HS (GA), Florida State commit Video: Son of Mike Cameron was hyped early in his high school career as a potential 1-1 but hasn’t made the expected progress since then. He’s an above average to plus runner with the same kind of bat speed and average raw power, but the game performances were only okay over the summer and he’s facing weak competition this spring. He could easily go in the top 5-10 picks, but some teams don’t like him in the top 20.
Write ups from http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2015-mlb-draft-rankings-april-edition/
1. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary HS (FL), Florida State commit Video: Rodgers has been seen a ton, standing out early in his high school career and going to tons of events where he faced top pitching with a wood bat. He developed physically last summer and now has plus bat speed and raw power, though his power plays closer to average in games. He’s an average runner with a plus arm and some scouts see a lack of the loose, flashy actions and say he isn’t a shortstop, but some scouts literally haven’t seen him misplay a ball in dozens of games over the last few years, so that opinion is becoming less popular. He’s struggled at times against crappy prep pitching this spring, but has performed everywhere that matters in a predictive sense and has been hitting for power all spring. He isn’t the strongest #1 pick in recent years, but he’s still the clear choice for me at this point.
2. Alex Bregman, SS, LSU Video: Some scouts see the 6’0/185 Bregman field grounders and say he’s a second baseman. I’ve seen him a lot the last three years and his unique approach to defense–charge everything and never slow down–works for him and I think it’ll work in the big leagues. He has 12-15 homer power in games, advanced feel for contact and average to above speed along with all the gritty makeup stuff you could ask for. He nearly signed out of high school if not for an ACL tear and toyed with the idea of catching then, though that probably won’t happen now.
3. Kyle Tucker, RF, Plant HS (FL), Florida commit: Tucker has one the prettiest swing many scouts have ever seen, with comparisons to Ted Williams, Daryl Strawberry and Ken Griffey, mechanically-speaking. Tucker is 6’4/190 with fringy speed, a solid average arm, plus current raw power and more coming along with the effortless all-fields ease to his swing that scouts are looking for. Some are turned off by Tucker’s low energy approach to the games while others see his confident, laid-back demeanor will allow him to get through the grind of pro ball. Tucker can also get passive at the plate and get opposite-field happy and slap at the ball, but he will also go through stretches where he looks like an unstoppable hitting machine, which has been happening more and more often down the stretch.
4. Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt Video: Swanson was an advanced defender with a light bat in high school, then played second base his first two years at Vanderbilt and over the summers. Scouts got their first recent look at him playing short this spring and it still works. Swanson is a plus runner with fringy raw power and a strong 6’1/190 frame. He’s a contact hitter with more 10-13 homer power that wears out the gaps and would be a nice 6th-10th overall pick most years, but a high probability shortstop with some ceiling is hard to ignore in this draft.
5. Ian Happ, RF, Cincinnati Video: Happ has been moving up and down in the 5-20 range for me all spring. He played shorstop as a freshman and second base two summers ago on the Cape, but has been a corner outfielder since. Some scouts think he can still play second or third and that makes his above average bat and power from both sides of the plate even more attractive.
6. Mike Nikorak, RHP, Stroudsburg HS (PA), Alabama commit Video: Nikorak was a revelation last summer as an unknown who hit 97 mph and flashed a plus curve from a 6’5/220 frame. His velo dipped later in the summer but he worked in a solid average changeup. Nikorak’s velo is back, sitting 93-96 and hitting 98 mph this spring, checking all the boxes for a projection prep arm with limited miles on the odometer.
6. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville Video: Funkhouser has been a plus fastball, above average to plus slider, average changeup, good enough command guy for a couple years, then he took a step forward last week (where the video is from). He sat 93-96 and hit 98 mph with more life and now has that #2/3 starter look if he can keep it up. Funkhouser has a bulldog’s 6’3/225 frame and approach, but had struggled with command at time earlier this spring, so that will be something to watch down the stretch.
7. Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt Video: I’m the high guy on Fulmer, but I think teams are coming around on him. There’s some effort to the delivery, but he’s never been hurt, goes deep in games, has succeeded hugely as a starter and reliever at the highest amateur levels, is hyper-aggressive and strong-bodied. At his best, Fulmer sits 92-96 and hits 97 mph with life, an above average to plus hook and an above average changeup. If the starting thing doesn’t work out, he’s a closer that could be big league ready in no time, where some scouts think his delivery and approach fit best, while other see Sonny Gray. If I’m betting on someone in this draft class to succeed more than the industry consensus, I’m rolling with the dude that’s never failed before, that’s never been hurt before, that has has plus stuff and that has performed everywhere, delivery and height be damned.
8. Dillon Tate, RHP, UC Santa Barbara Video: Tate was a reliever getting into the mid-90’s last spring after a low-profile high school career, then he got famous last summer for Team USA when he hit 99 mph along with a 65 slider, though he tired late in the summer. He was supposed to relieve this year until an injury just before opening day gave him a rotation spot (for the first time in his career) that he hasn’t given up since. He sits in the mid 90’s with heavy life, a plus slider and at least an average changeup. Tate is super loose and athletic but only 6’1 or 6’2 and there’s enough effort to the delivery and general crudeness that some scouts say he’s still a reliever (I don’t), but either way, it’s among the best balls of clay a development staff could receive.
9. Brady Aiken, LHP, IMG Post-Grad (FL) Video: Aiken is a massive question mark at this point. He has that #1 overall ability in him and he’s recovering from Tommy John surgery, so many fans just assume he’ll go from a top 3 pick to a top 10-15 pick and that’s that. There is persistent, consistent and detailed buzz coming from many sources that there is more to Aiken’s injury than just a clean surgery like Erick Fedde, Jeff Hoffman or Lucas Giolito from recent years
10. Daz Cameron, CF, Eagle’s Landing Christian HS (GA), Florida State commit Video: Son of Mike Cameron was hyped early in his high school career as a potential 1-1 but hasn’t made the expected progress since then. He’s an above average to plus runner with the same kind of bat speed and average raw power, but the game performances were only okay over the summer and he’s facing weak competition this spring. He could easily go in the top 5-10 picks, but some teams don’t like him in the top 20.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Week 1 Little Hero of the Week
Manuel Margot, cf, Red Sox
Manuel MargotTeam: high Class A Salem (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .409/.435/.773 (9-for-22), 6 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Margot is an at-times brilliant defensive center fielder with the routes and jumps to range farther than his above-average but not spectacular speed would seem to indicate. At the plate, he shows an advanced approach with gap power, but already he’s starting to show indications that he may grow into solid-average power down the road. It’s also hard not to notice Margot’s professional but enthusiastic approach to the game, which includes the charming trait of thanking the pitcher after he finishes his rounds of pre-game batting practice.
Runner Up
Trevor Williams, rhp, Marlins
Trevor-WilliamsTeam: Double-A Jacksonville (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.75, 2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 14 SO
The Scoop: Williams drew the Opening Day assignment for Jacksonville after closing out the 2014 season with three Southern League starts. More of a control-oriented, groundball-generating starter in the past, he has seen his strikeout rate spike early this season with a sharper slider and more confidence in his ability to retire Double-A batters. Clearing that hurdle can be challenging, but Williams is one of the more cerebral pitchers in the Marlins system, so a quick ascension can’t be ruled out.
Manuel MargotTeam: high Class A Salem (Carolina)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .409/.435/.773 (9-for-22), 6 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Margot is an at-times brilliant defensive center fielder with the routes and jumps to range farther than his above-average but not spectacular speed would seem to indicate. At the plate, he shows an advanced approach with gap power, but already he’s starting to show indications that he may grow into solid-average power down the road. It’s also hard not to notice Margot’s professional but enthusiastic approach to the game, which includes the charming trait of thanking the pitcher after he finishes his rounds of pre-game batting practice.
Runner Up
Trevor Williams, rhp, Marlins
Trevor-WilliamsTeam: Double-A Jacksonville (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.75, 2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 14 SO
The Scoop: Williams drew the Opening Day assignment for Jacksonville after closing out the 2014 season with three Southern League starts. More of a control-oriented, groundball-generating starter in the past, he has seen his strikeout rate spike early this season with a sharper slider and more confidence in his ability to retire Double-A batters. Clearing that hurdle can be challenging, but Williams is one of the more cerebral pitchers in the Marlins system, so a quick ascension can’t be ruled out.
Week 1 Hero of Week
OF Kevin Kiermaier started the year off in a good way 8/21 2HR 4RBI 6Runs, 2BB, 1.387OPS
Heroes fall 7-9 to playoff hopeful Ball Busters.
Heroes fall 7-9 to playoff hopeful Ball Busters.
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