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CJ Abrams
#31 · February 26, 2021, 3:35 pm
Quote from TucsonClip on February 26, 2021, 10:17 amOne would think you want to see Abrams continue to improve at the plate, right? He has very limited experience seeing good pitching, so let him focus on his bat getting him closer to San Diego, and not throw in a new position right away. Ease him into a new role when the bat proves reliable against better competition.
This argument gets made a lot. When you first hear it, it sounds reasonable. But think for a second.... it's the MINORS. I just don't see how a young 18-19 yr old guy going out to 2B or CF in some A-ball games instead of SS "affects his bat"?? The games are exponentially less meaningful...
Jake Cronenworth is a perfect example. He's 27, played 5 full seasons in the Minors, we may end up counting on him to play significant corner OF innings in a division race vs LAD with no margin for error... and he's played 6 innings total OF in his career. WHHHYYYY?!? Just feel like the Minors, not MLB is where you should get the exposure & "feel" for what it's like to take the field outside your primary position. Versatility is SO important in today's MLB game, don't understand why it's not focused on more sharply in the minors.
#32 · February 26, 2021, 5:56 pm
Shifting Abrams will come but there is some value in STARTING his full season minor league work in a one position development plan. I think that is all the Padres are suggesting. Start him in a “comfortable” position (SS) and make sure his bat and base running are developing as desired.
At some point ... guessing Fall Instructs then 2022 he gets his OF development work. From early scouting (in his showcases) and his athletic skills few doubt he can make the OF transition easily and quickly. May not be gold glove on day 1 ... but are Pham, Profar, Myers? Personally, my preference would make a “clean” shift at some point so he can focus on mastering the target position rather that jerking him back and forth (even if he can handle it).
Starting CF will happen.
Could that shift be in mid-2021 ... maybe IF in the first half of the season his bat is just elite enough to project as helping the ML club in 2022.
#33 · February 26, 2021, 6:04 pm
Listened to an interview suggesting the Abrams has the elements to be a “face of the Padres” or “face of MLB” a la Tatis.
I guess that was him having the talent as a base but the “personality’ / “character” to make him a fan / media favorite.
Could you imagine TWO Padres with that level of national appeal! Each at a high profile position with Tatis at SS and Abrams at CF.
#34 · February 26, 2021, 7:02 pm
Quote from fenn68 on February 26, 2021, 6:04 pmListened to an interview suggesting the Abrams has the elements to be a “face of the Padres” or “face of MLB” a la Tatis.
I guess that was him having the talent as a base but the “personality’ / “character” to make him a fan / media favorite.
Could you imagine TWO Padres with that level of national appeal! Each at a high profile position with Tatis at SS and Abrams at CF.
Or a double play combo, Tatis at SS and Abrams at 2B.
#35 · February 27, 2021, 5:24 am
Quote from BoosterSD on February 26, 2021, 7:02 pmQuote from fenn68 on February 26, 2021, 6:04 pmListened to an interview suggesting the Abrams has the elements to be a “face of the Padres” or “face of MLB” a la Tatis.
I guess that was him having the talent as a base but the “personality’ / “character” to make him a fan / media favorite.
Could you imagine TWO Padres with that level of national appeal! Each at a high profile position with Tatis at SS and Abrams at CF.
Or a double play combo, Tatis at SS and Abrams at 2B.
Hope not since that would mean BOTH Cronenworth and Kim become total busts.
Abrams apparently has way too much athletic ability to "waste" at 2B ... especially in an era of the shift that makes range / speed secondary for a 2B.
CF on the other hand requires that premium range / speed ... plus the Padres are not flush in premium CF options beyond Grisham and a significant OF need post-Pham, Myers (2023).
#36 · February 27, 2021, 8:26 am
No, just more of a harken back to the days when double play combos were exciting, like Trammell and Whitaker.
And when teams had truly great 2B like Alomar and Jose Lind and others.
#37 · March 4, 2021, 5:26 pm
In case you want to get more excited about CJ 🙂
https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/cj-abrams-showing-padres-he-deserves-top-prospect-status
#38 · March 5, 2021, 7:09 am
I know that he hasnt played above A ball yet; however, Preller has a history of challenging guys that he thinks can handle the competition. So with that in mind, and Tatis in place for 14 years, Cronenworth controlled for 5 more years, and Kim for 4 years, I believe it is time to get this kid off the dirt. I know, he has more prospect value as a SS. Well its time to not worry about what his prospect value is, and get to his real value for the ML team will be, and that is batting lead off and playing CF. They can write all the articles they want about how he can "stick" at SS, everyone in the baseball world knows this kid is not going to replace Tatis at SS.
So suck it up buttercup (Preller), and start getting reads on fly balls in CF!
#39 · March 5, 2021, 8:13 am
Quote from BoosterSD on March 5, 2021, 7:09 amI know that he hasnt played above A ball yet; however, Preller has a history of challenging guys that he thinks can handle the competition. So with that in mind, and Tatis in place for 14 years, Cronenworth controlled for 5 more years, and Kim for 4 years, I believe it is time to get this kid off the dirt. I know, he has more prospect value as a SS. Well its time to not worry about what his prospect value is, and get to his real value for the ML team will be, and that is batting lead off and playing CF. They can write all the articles they want about how he can "stick" at SS, everyone in the baseball world knows this kid is not going to replace Tatis at SS.
So suck it up buttercup (Preller), and start getting reads on fly balls in CF!
I agree Booster. Abrams is flashing the "top of MLB prospects ability" in a Tatis like way. Something that's gotten forgotten about Tatis is that he really struggled for the 1st month+ at each level of Minors; b/c he got pushed up so aggressively. But he always overcame it, and obviously didn't struggle when he did reach MLB.
The more I see Abrams, the more likely AA looks. If he starts 2021 there... he has to be in the 2022 Padres plans. If THAT is true... have to expose him to the OF. He looks like ANOTHER versatile middle INF who can handle OF, but all this "his best value as a prospect is at SS" talk just makes me go .... WHAT?!?!? It's denying the blatantly obvious fact that he's blocked at SS by one of the best players in MLB, but could be on track to arrive in MLB as soon as next season... when we have an OF spot opening.
Not saying stick him in LF for 125 games, but EXPOSE him to the OF position/s in game settings! I know we'll all be watching those Minors box scores to see where they play him...
#40 · March 5, 2021, 8:56 am
IF we buy the ST hype on Abrams and link that with Preller's aggressive placement model ... Abrams in AA would seem logical.
I would just put him in CF with an eye on having him be in the 2022 Padres OF. Low probability the will NEED him anywhere in the INF with Tatis, Kim, Cronenworth, Machado, and Marcano around is small but the NEED in the OF in 2022 is big post Pham and with the likely DH. (note: believe the Padres love Profar being that super utility guy showing up everywhere ... so maybe less likely to gain a starting role in LF/CF).
Why would they keep him at SS may be the belief that he would be capable of move to OF with very little work there (and given the OF defense on the team and around the league ... probably a fair line of though). I suspect they have seen him play the OF before to make the assessment (pre draft, AZ instructs, alt site in 2020). Meanwhile developing his bat to ML quality will be harder and a focus on developing his hitting skills might work better at a familiar defensive position so he can focus solely on the bat.
INF to OF is a move I would do as a full move since the skills are very different ... wouldn't bounce back and forth (like they do between SS and 2B). If you want him to learn the OF to become a ML starter ... he needs full emersion. If a bench super utility, maybe get away with a bound around development approach.
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