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Around the League...non Padres
#951 · March 25, 2021, 11:14 am
Food for thought... this from MLBTR:
The White Sox have had extension talks with top prospect Andrew Vaughn, (#1 CWS Prospect, #14 in MLB) the No. 3 overall pick from the 2019 draft, but they’re willing to carry him on the Opening Day roster even without a long-term deal in place, writes USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. White Sox vice president Kenny Williams wouldn’t directly confirm that Vaughn is likely to make the Opening Day roster, though he certainly implied that could be in the works.
“We’d like to have that message coming from the manager,” Williams tells Nightengale, “and not me through USA Today.” Sox skipper Tony La Russa tells Nightengale that Vaughn “hasn’t made the club yet” but has made a “very good impression” to this point in camp.
That’s probably understating the matter. Vaughn has never played a game at the Double-A level, but he’s nevertheless tattooed Cactus League pitching at a .289/.396/.489 clip through 53 plate appearances. He’s fanned just nine times against an impressive seven walks, adding a pair of homers, a double and a triple to the mix.
So they're basically saying they may go the route the Padres did with Tatis in 2019....
Player PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS BA OBP OPS OQ
Marcano to 3/23 36 14 4 1 1 8 4 5 1 2 .467 .543 1.310 6.8
Vaughn to 3/23 57 14 2 1 2 5 7 10 1 0 .286 .386 .876 6.4
Tatis to 3/23 25 9 0 0 2 5 2 5 1 0 .391 .440 1.092 6.8
Tatis 2019 ST 54 13 3 1 2 4 6 15 2 2 .241 .317 .761 ?
"OQ" is "Opponent Quality" where 10 = highest = all MLB established P's faced in ST... this means the average quality of the P faced in ST by Marcano is the same as Tatis this year, and actually nominally BETTER than what Vaughn has faced.
So Marcano is having a vastly better ST than a top 15 MLB prospect having a ST so strong his team is thinking of moving him from High-A in 2019 to MLB in '21. Also a better ST than one of the best players in MLB & his 340 MM extension having a fantastic if minor injury/health issue riddled/shortened ST.
I realize the samples are ridiculously small, but don't think enough are recognizing/appreciating exactly what Marcano's doing. He is really looking like he might be the LH (ideal) version of what we thought Luis Urias was going to be a few years ago. His swing is SOOO fast... I watched Kim, Profar, Marcano AB 2 nights ago when Marcano had the game winning double. Profar & Kim were taking BAD swings at breaking stuff outside zone. I do like Kim's stance/balance. I'm no scout, but just couldn't believe how fast Marcano's swing was on the hit; it looked like the ball was practically at home plate before he started the swing. REALLY jumped out even to this NON: coach (above age 12:)/player (also 12:)/ scout
#952 · March 25, 2021, 11:54 am
Well I am totally sold on Marcano ML future ... I like more than the hitting (swing) ... he does seem to be athletic and baseball smart.
Just a question as to what position and when ... have to consider the "upsides" and alternatives with Cronenworth, Abrams, and Kim. If want to give them all a fair shot to achieve their potentials ... a dilemma in parsing out the requisite ML paying time in 2021 without a DH and with Profar - Mateo - O'Grady in hand.
I am sure in time a few will eliminate themselves (performance or injury) ... just too soon to be sure who.
Just as most have been suggesting that a move of Abrams to the OF would seem prudent ... Kim is already getting OF reps ... so should a move of Marcano ... all three would have an OF/INF resume and realistically one replaces Pham in 2022, one is the DH, one is the utility option (or insurance if the other fails). All would still have the INF chops if Cronenworth takes a dive.
In a different Padre season he would be a starter on opening day ... but not 2021. Not sure a bench role serves him or the Padres best to start the season. Probably giving him regular minor league AB and OF time at the beginning of the season will prepare him best for a mid to late season call up for either an INF or OF slot due to injury or lack of performance (and I expect that to happen).
Add him in with Abrams ... loose Pham add the DH ... and hope Kim meets his upside .... 2022 and beyond looks very good.
#953 · March 25, 2021, 8:33 pm
If any of you play any form of Rotisserie/Fantasy Baseball and are looking for a good way to get the juices flowing and prep for your own auction/draft, I have a recommendation ... Doubt Wars!
https://toutwars.com/doubt-wars-2021/
IMO, there are 3 "expert leagues" worth following: LABR, CBS, and Tout Wars ... and the best part of Tout Wars is Doubt Wars, where you get to pick your own team from the Tout auction prices, and then they output a standings of all the entries at the end of the year! So ... while you are all prep'd for your auction/draft and ready to go, create an entry and either follow along or forget-about-it ... there's no transactions, nothing to worry about in-season ... just a way to see how you stack up against some experts and a lot of us amateurs ... I've enjoyed it every year I've entered 🙂
#954 · March 27, 2021, 6:37 am
Old friend Greg Garcia was released by the Tigers today, Hard to believe he wasn't good enough to make their sorry team
#955 · March 27, 2021, 7:52 am
Padres are one of the "Big Three"! "Top Tier"!
https://www.mlb.com/news/ranking-2021-mlb-team-tiers
Life is good Into 2021 we go ... and beyond! 🙂
#956 · March 28, 2021, 9:51 am
Taylor Trammell selected by Mariners; will start in LF or CF
Some other former Pads released: Nick Vincent (may get re-signed by Texas), Christian Bethancourt
Many others to Minors: Jankowski, Brad Wieck, etc
#957 · March 28, 2021, 11:29 am
- Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, and Logan Allen were all competing for the final two spots in the Indians’ rotation, and McKenzie and Allen have won the jobs, though their roles have yet to be specifically determined. (The Athletic’s Zack Meisel was among those to report the news.) McKenzie and Allen could be used in regular turns throughout the rotation, or the Tribe might use either in piggyback outings, or perhaps use an opener for an inning or two before giving way to McKenzie or Allen as the bulk pitcher. Quantrill might factor into this situation as well, since Quantrill also made the roster and will work out of the bullpen.
#958 · March 31, 2021, 10:54 pm
#959 · April 1, 2021, 10:50 am
A's announce: Trevor Rosenthal (right shoulder inflammation) on the injured list
The shoulder troubles for Rosenthal, meanwhile, are a concerning development. The righty was slowed by a groin strain late in Spring Training, but a shoulder issue is of greater concern. There’s no indication that the injury is especially serious at the moment, but arm troubles of any kind for a pitcher who has a somewhat recent Tommy John surgery in his history (2018) raise a red flag.
Looks so far like I was so dead wrong pounding table for Kirby or Trevor vs. Preller's bargain pickups of Melancon & Kela
#960 · April 1, 2021, 11:25 am
It's DFA time as teams finalize O.D. rosters & Non roster guys making squads squeeze guys off full 40-man rosters.
Pads haven't announced but seem certain to 60-day Michel Baez to open the spot for selecting Nabil Crismatt.
But with SOOO many guys on IL, I would not be surprised to see Preller playing the Waiver Claim/PBTNL trade game to get a little temporary depth and maybe being able to retain players in thinned out upper levels of Minors with subsequent early season DFA as guys come off IL...
Too many out of options guys already, so NO more-- Full Stop. But these guys all have 1 option left:
- Skye Bolt OF (27 y.o.) - A's. MLB.com #17 & BA #25 A's prospect, but they are one of the very worst systems. I'd say < O'Grady, but > all other AAA/AA non roster guys. "SH better from Left... teases with athletic skill set but yet to fully capitalize on it... keen eye at plate.... fringe-average hit tool... can play all 3 OF positions... 55 Run/Field/Arm... has struggled with injuries since being drafted. MLB debut last year: 1-10, 2B, BB. AAA Vegas 2019: .269/.350/.459
- Edgar Garcia RHRP (24) - Reds. Good ST & very good AAA & AA #'s in 2018-2019 (part time closer), but bad #'s in MLB with Philly in 2019 & cameo with Rays 2020
- Meibrys Viloria C (24) - Royals. ... has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Royals but managed only a combined .215/.266/.287 batting line through 201 trips to the plate. He batted .264/.334/.332 in 248 Double-A plate appearances in 2019 but hasn’t played a game at the Triple-A level, in part due to last year’s canceled minor league season. Viloria has never been expected to hit much, but he’s regarded as a sound defender with a rocket arm — a trait reflected in his career 34 percent caught-stealing rate.