Yes Its the 2nd week in September and all I can think about is next year already. Its gonna be an interesting offseason for the Yankees in so many different ways and now is the time to start focusing on how we get this team back to the top of the East. I firmly believe that only a few moves need to be made to get this team back to where it belongs.2 Key acquisitions need to be made this winter that could change the outlook of this team immensely. First and foremost…do what ever it takes to sign CC Sabathia. Second, lure and woo Mark Texiera. Both of these guys are young, in their prime and have a history of staying healthy.
Guys we previously considered “untouchable” last year are gonna make for very good and interesting trade bait for other teams and if the Yanks play their cards right, we could make out like bandits this winter. Guys like Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Wilson Betemit and even Robbie Cano as
well as bullpen pitchers like Jose Veras, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez. We need to say bye to all these guys except maybe Cano but I think we may be able to make a marquee deal with him as the centerpiece this offseason.We have guys
like Abreau, Giambi, Pavano, Pettitte and Mussina all becoming free agents this year and we need to sit down and decide who stays and who goes. Obviously we aren’t bringing back Pavano by any means. The tougher questions are the other guys. Pettitte and Moose I believe we’ll bring back next year.I’d like to see
us part ways with Giambi and Abreau. If we sign Texiera, we arent gonna need to pick up Giambi’s option so we can let him go and Id really love to see us move
Nady to right feild, play Johnny Damon in left field and start playing Brett Gardner in Center full time next year, and keep Justin Christian as our 4th outfielder. So if we go with an outfield like that…we really have no more need for Bobby Abreau who has been nothing but streaky in his 2 and a half years in
pinstripes.From what I understand, Hideki Matsui is expected to be back next year. I’m kinda iffy on that but what choice do we have. I DON’T like the idea of having a full time DH, especially since Jorge Posada will be back next year and playing little to no defense. So if we can find an effective way to rotate Posada and Matsui at the DH role, that could work. We need to keep Pudge and Molina behind the plate for next year. I’ll be honest I don’t know if either Pudge Rod or Jose Molina are expected to be free agents or not, I haven’t heard anything so at this point I would expect them both to be back.Now assuming that
we can stay for the most part healthy next year God willing…I firmly believe a rotation of 1. C.C. Sabathia, 2. Chien Ming Wang, 3. Mike Mussina, 4. Andy Pettitte and 5. Alfredo Aceves can be a strong enough rotation to win the east next year. A starting rotation like that and a nice looking bullpen with Joba
Chamberlain and Mo Rivera in the 8th and 9th innings and guys like Brian Bruney, JB Cox and Mark Melancon…Phil Coke can be the long reliever and/or 6th starter when necessary. Id like to see either Alan Horne or Chase Wright from Scranton AAA participate in our bullpen, both are starters in the minors and can all be long relievers or 6th starters on days when one of our starting 5 cant make a start.Here’s a lineup card I would personally love to see next year.
1. Johnny
Damon LF2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Mark Texeira 1B
4. Xavier Nady RF
5. Alex Rodriguez
3B6. Hideki Matsui / Jorge Posada DH
7. Robinson Cano 2B
#8. Jose Molina / Pudge
Rodriguez C ##9.Brett Gardner CF#
I have the asterisk next to Robbie cuz I’d like to see him get dealt, but until that happens, I’ll have to assume he’s back next year.## Not sure whether either Pudge Rod or Jose Molina are gonna return
or notYou may notice I have A-Rod batting 5th instead of 4th. My reasoning is quite simple really…He’s proven time and time again that he’s just not comfortable being the centerpiece of our lineup. I think batting him 5th even 6th if necessary may get him to see different pitches and if he plays to his potential could add a spark to the bottom half of our lineup. That and hopefully
he wont find himself in the situation he has failed in so many times this year which is the typical 7th 8th or 9th inning, runners in scoring position, Yanks down by 1 or 2 and A-Rod either strikes out, pops up or most commonly grounds into a double play. I can go on and on about A-Rod or A-Fraud as Laura likes to call him, but I’m getting tired and irritated just thinking about him. I really do believe that batting him 5th as the protector rather then the protected could to wonders to our lineup.Lets be honest though, Girardi wont make this extremely necessary move that could really make our lineup more potent. Thus just one of the many reasons I wish the Yanks would say goodbye to Girardi, but that initself is a whole other long and drawn out blog in itself.Long story short…I believe Girardi is to blame for a good 30 % of our losses this year with his never changing the lineup and leaving tired inneffective bullpen pitchers in too
long and taking out pitchers who are doing good too soon. But I’ll back off Girardi because like it or not, he’s coming back next year so we need to figure out how to win with him as our manager. That being said…expect A-Rod batting 4th
as usual next year.To wrap this long blog up…I know its a long shot being able to sign both CC Sabathia and Mark Texiera, but the Yanks need to do everything necessary to sign both these guys and get rid of all the guys I said above. If we unload all the necessary players and sign and trade for the right guys, I
feel we are truly a few good moves from being back on top of the East. From one disgruntled Yankee fan to another…Lets hope this winter is one of the best winters ever, or it could be another long season next year.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
"I'm Just Saying" By Cameron
Today we have a guest blogger, a fellow Yankee Die Hard fan - Cameron. You may have heard me talk about Cameron before as he inspired my "I'm Just Saying" blog. Cam has a wealth of knowledge about the Yankees and this is what he has to say about their current state and yes...next year
Sunday, September 7, 2008
More on the Bleich Debut
More information on the Bleich debut as promised. It has been released that this start was a tuneup for the newest Yankee preparing him to start in the playoffs. This is how the Yankees treated 2006 1st Round Pick Ian Kennedy, who like Bleich signed on deadline day.
It has also been released that Bleich threw 47 pitches in the 3 innings he pitched, which means he threw an average of 15 pitches an inning. Not a bad statistic for a debut, eventually the Yankees would like Bleich to sit around 10-12 pitches an inning, so not too far off.
In terms of his pitching, the 1st inning Bleich experienced some command issues hitting a batter, giving up a HR and then a double, but then took care of the next 8 hitters he faced.
His fastball was consistantly hitting the upper 80's - from around 88 all the way to the low 90's around 91-92.
His curveball was sitting in the mid to upper 70's - 75 to 79 range. That's pretty solid for a curveball, especially considering Bleich's development level. Curveballs are typically thrown at this speed or a little faster.
Assuming his next start is in the playoffs, look for Bleich to go around 5 innings possibly 6, with the pitching staff trying to keep him below 80 pitches.
It has also been released that Bleich threw 47 pitches in the 3 innings he pitched, which means he threw an average of 15 pitches an inning. Not a bad statistic for a debut, eventually the Yankees would like Bleich to sit around 10-12 pitches an inning, so not too far off.
In terms of his pitching, the 1st inning Bleich experienced some command issues hitting a batter, giving up a HR and then a double, but then took care of the next 8 hitters he faced.
His fastball was consistantly hitting the upper 80's - from around 88 all the way to the low 90's around 91-92.
His curveball was sitting in the mid to upper 70's - 75 to 79 range. That's pretty solid for a curveball, especially considering Bleich's development level. Curveballs are typically thrown at this speed or a little faster.
Assuming his next start is in the playoffs, look for Bleich to go around 5 innings possibly 6, with the pitching staff trying to keep him below 80 pitches.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Bleich Debut: My Take
The Yankees highest signed draft pick, LHP Jeremy Bleich, has made his much awaited debut.
In General
3 Innings Pitched
4 Strikeouts
0 Walks
2 Hits
2 Runs
1 HR
6.00 ERA
1 Hit Batter
What's Not To Like
Obviously, the ERA. But keep in mind, Bleich has not seen game action since the College World Series, so he was limited in innings.
The homerun, obviously never good to give up a homerun.
The Groudout-flyout ratio. He had 1 groundout compared to 4 flyouts. The biggest knock on Bleich is he puts up too many balls in the air, be it flyouts, extra base hits or the HR. Pitchers want to give more grounders up than flyouts, obviously because they are easier to make a play on, do less damage and stay in the park. Most would like to see Bleich close this gap as quickly as possible and make that a better ratio.
The hit batter, noone likes to see control issues, but it's not a tendency of Bleich, esp with it being in the 1st inning, I say it was more nerves than anything.
What's to Like
The performance. Like I said, it's been awhile since Bleich has seen gameplay, even though he has been throwing and pitching and conditioning...etc...game time is different. Plus, I was a little concerned with the injury, the Yankees not announcing his debut made me feel that were going to push it to winter ball to give him healing time, plus look at Andrew Brackman...
The Strikeouts, the other knock on Bleich was he wasn't a strikeout pitcher, not sure where that knock came from, I wouldn't say it's a huge part of his game, but he'll get his share of K's. Anyway, 4 strikeouts in 3 innnings is pretty good work.
The pitchcount. Bleich suffered an elbow injury earlier and as I have said, hasn't seen game action, so his performance is encouraging. Staten Island has not yet released his pitch count, as the game is not over yet, but he faced 12 batters, so I would guess it would be in the range of 40-50 pitches, possibly as low as 30 considering there were no walks.
Overall Grade: I give Bleich an B+ around a grade of 87 out of 100
Keep in mind this is my own grading style that I will have to explain next blog
Innings Pitched/Pitch Count: 9/10
Strikeouts: 8/10
Walks/Hit Batters: 9/10
Base Hits: 9/10
Extra Base Hits:7/10
Extra Variable (experience, age, injuries, etc): 10/10
Composure/Poise: 10/10
Groundout/Flyout Ratio: 5/10
Command: 10/10
Improvement from last performance: 10/10 (His last performance was against much less competition, so that along with this being his MiLB debut, I will give him the full 10 points.)
In General
3 Innings Pitched
4 Strikeouts
0 Walks
2 Hits
2 Runs
1 HR
6.00 ERA
1 Hit Batter
What's Not To Like
Obviously, the ERA. But keep in mind, Bleich has not seen game action since the College World Series, so he was limited in innings.
The homerun, obviously never good to give up a homerun.
The Groudout-flyout ratio. He had 1 groundout compared to 4 flyouts. The biggest knock on Bleich is he puts up too many balls in the air, be it flyouts, extra base hits or the HR. Pitchers want to give more grounders up than flyouts, obviously because they are easier to make a play on, do less damage and stay in the park. Most would like to see Bleich close this gap as quickly as possible and make that a better ratio.
The hit batter, noone likes to see control issues, but it's not a tendency of Bleich, esp with it being in the 1st inning, I say it was more nerves than anything.
What's to Like
The performance. Like I said, it's been awhile since Bleich has seen gameplay, even though he has been throwing and pitching and conditioning...etc...game time is different. Plus, I was a little concerned with the injury, the Yankees not announcing his debut made me feel that were going to push it to winter ball to give him healing time, plus look at Andrew Brackman...
The Strikeouts, the other knock on Bleich was he wasn't a strikeout pitcher, not sure where that knock came from, I wouldn't say it's a huge part of his game, but he'll get his share of K's. Anyway, 4 strikeouts in 3 innnings is pretty good work.
The pitchcount. Bleich suffered an elbow injury earlier and as I have said, hasn't seen game action, so his performance is encouraging. Staten Island has not yet released his pitch count, as the game is not over yet, but he faced 12 batters, so I would guess it would be in the range of 40-50 pitches, possibly as low as 30 considering there were no walks.
Overall Grade: I give Bleich an B+ around a grade of 87 out of 100
Keep in mind this is my own grading style that I will have to explain next blog
Innings Pitched/Pitch Count: 9/10
Strikeouts: 8/10
Walks/Hit Batters: 9/10
Base Hits: 9/10
Extra Base Hits:7/10
Extra Variable (experience, age, injuries, etc): 10/10
Composure/Poise: 10/10
Groundout/Flyout Ratio: 5/10
Command: 10/10
Improvement from last performance: 10/10 (His last performance was against much less competition, so that along with this being his MiLB debut, I will give him the full 10 points.)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Bleich Update
Jeremy Bleich, the 1st Round Sandwich pick and highest signing draft pick, has not yet made his debut. It is currently unknown (or just unannounced) when he will do so. The popular view was that he would be sent straight to Staten Island, another view had him making a GCL start first.
My take is that the Yankees are proceeding with caution. Even though Bleich's injury has seemed to heel perfectly, the Yanks don't want to take a chance on reinjuring it. With the Staten Island season almost over, why rush a pitcher who suffered an earlier injury, who has not competively pitched since the College World Series, into a team where he gets less than 5 starts - more like 2.
I think we will see Bleich added to the Hawaii Winter League as Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain were to make his debut like his predicessors. Bleich is technically eligable for the Arizona Fall League, but it seems like the Yankees have filled almost all the spots they have been alotted and adding Bleich doesn't make too much sense.
I think most fans will be pleasantly surprised with the young left handed pitcher. I had my Be sure to check out his stats on http://www.gostanford.com/ and keep watching for the Bleich debut. I will post if I find out what the Bleich plans are.
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
My take is that the Yankees are proceeding with caution. Even though Bleich's injury has seemed to heel perfectly, the Yanks don't want to take a chance on reinjuring it. With the Staten Island season almost over, why rush a pitcher who suffered an earlier injury, who has not competively pitched since the College World Series, into a team where he gets less than 5 starts - more like 2.
I think we will see Bleich added to the Hawaii Winter League as Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain were to make his debut like his predicessors. Bleich is technically eligable for the Arizona Fall League, but it seems like the Yankees have filled almost all the spots they have been alotted and adding Bleich doesn't make too much sense.
I think most fans will be pleasantly surprised with the young left handed pitcher. I had my Be sure to check out his stats on http://www.gostanford.com/ and keep watching for the Bleich debut. I will post if I find out what the Bleich plans are.
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Brett Marshall: 6th Round
The 6th Round Selection, 200th Overall Pick: Brett Marshall (HS)
Backround: 6'' 186 lbs. Right Handed Started Pitcher
High School: Had gone completely unnoticed until his senior year when he added 10mph to his fastball. Was rated overall 87th in draft (so basically we got a steal with the 200th selection)
Marshall went 9-1, 2.33 this spring with 84 K’s in 67 innings, while also hitting .500.
College: Broke his commitment to College Baseball Powerhouse Rice to sign with New York.
His Stuff: He tops out with a 97 mph 4-seam fastball (Gerrit Cole who?) and is considered a plus pitch already. His slider was characterized as a "knock out pitch" which he uses to bolster his strikeout numbers. He also throws a wicked splitter around 91 mph. His circle changeup rounds out his plus pitches. The ball seems to jump out of his hands coming out easily and he attacks hitters with his fast pace.
Needs To Improve On: His delivery. Not quite consistant, which is ok since he is only 18 and he won't be rushed through the system thanks to a deep farm system.
Love the Attitude: Says if it was any other team, he'd be in college right now.
My Take: Love the pick. I'm normally not a big fan of taking high schoolers, esp pitchers, but in the 6th Round the kid was a huge steal. He'll have as much time as needed to make his way through the system, but gauging our current Yankee starters' ages and such, we may see Brett in NY around 2013 making him 23 years old.
GCL Life: Brett has started 2 games, with serious pitch counts. His 1st game he was only allowed 1 inning where he struck out 1, had 1 groundout, 1 flyout and 1 walk. His second outing gave him 2 innings, with 1 hit and 3 strikeouts. So far, total 3 innings, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 hit, no runs.
Backround: 6'' 186 lbs. Right Handed Started Pitcher
High School: Had gone completely unnoticed until his senior year when he added 10mph to his fastball. Was rated overall 87th in draft (so basically we got a steal with the 200th selection)
Marshall went 9-1, 2.33 this spring with 84 K’s in 67 innings, while also hitting .500.
College: Broke his commitment to College Baseball Powerhouse Rice to sign with New York.
His Stuff: He tops out with a 97 mph 4-seam fastball (Gerrit Cole who?) and is considered a plus pitch already. His slider was characterized as a "knock out pitch" which he uses to bolster his strikeout numbers. He also throws a wicked splitter around 91 mph. His circle changeup rounds out his plus pitches. The ball seems to jump out of his hands coming out easily and he attacks hitters with his fast pace.
Needs To Improve On: His delivery. Not quite consistant, which is ok since he is only 18 and he won't be rushed through the system thanks to a deep farm system.
Love the Attitude: Says if it was any other team, he'd be in college right now.
My Take: Love the pick. I'm normally not a big fan of taking high schoolers, esp pitchers, but in the 6th Round the kid was a huge steal. He'll have as much time as needed to make his way through the system, but gauging our current Yankee starters' ages and such, we may see Brett in NY around 2013 making him 23 years old.
GCL Life: Brett has started 2 games, with serious pitch counts. His 1st game he was only allowed 1 inning where he struck out 1, had 1 groundout, 1 flyout and 1 walk. His second outing gave him 2 innings, with 1 hit and 3 strikeouts. So far, total 3 innings, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 hit, no runs.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Yankees Sign Bleich, No Go On Cole and Bittle
The Yankees have come to terms with sandwich pick Jeremy Bleich, LHP from Stanford, last night 2 hours before the signing deadline. Bleich's deal was a signing bonus of $700,000, well under the $863,000 slot. It was believed since the deal was taking so long that it would be above slot, that proved to be false. Bleich, however, made a huge mistake by not signing earler. It is widely believed that he is now the top LHP prospect in the Yankees's system. If he had signed earlier, he could be in Charleston or Tampa right now. With Andy Pettite close to retirement and the Yankees with only unproven Chase Wright, Bleich could have flown to the minors on Joba pace and taken Pettite's spot in 2 years. Now the lefty will most likely head to Staten Island and hope to begin next year in Tampa rather than Charleston.
Gerrit Cole, 17 year old RHP, the Yankees 1st Round Pick chose to attend UCLA over signing with the Yankees. Cole had made it clear before the draft that he wanted to play pro, but on draft day got cold feet and had a change of heart. The Yankees will receive a 1st Round Compensation Pick in 2009.
Right handed Closer Scott Bittle, the Yankees' 2nd Round Pick also went unsigned. A physical showed wear and tear on his throwing shoulder and the Yankees wanted him to take less money because of that. Bittle countered with multiple doctor reports, including 1 by Dr. Andrews, showing that he was indeed fine. Bittle desperately wanted to sign with the Yankees, but they were convinced by the initial report and gave a reported much lower than slot offer. The Yankees will receive a Compensation Pick in the 2nd Round of the 2009 draft.
I wish Bleich would have signed a month ago, first so we could see how his heeled injury was and so he could move through the system quicker. He played in the Power House PAC-10 for 3 years and is no doubt a guy that won't have to stay in the farm for a long period of time, but he may have given Chase Wright a slight edge, as he is already in Scranton.
As far as Cole, I was never big on that pick. He is often characterizerized as immature, selfish and a horrible teammate. I also have a real problem with his "sudden" change of heart that occured just after it was released that he was seeking $7 million. My take is, he got rejected on the $7 million and the Yankees are clearly not going to give a 17 year old a Major League Contract, so like the big baby he is, he refused to hear any other offer. Jokes on you Cole. It is believed by most, including me, that Cole had the most to lose by going to college. He is headed to UCLA, a school with a lackluster team, which about guarentees he will not even come close to the first round when he is eligable again. Also, the fuss about Cole was he had the strongest high school arm, after college 90% of the competition will have caught up to him. My guess is the highest he goes is 3rd Round, but I doubt it.
I really feel for Bittle. I love this kid and his incredible arm. Looking at his workload this past season, I don't see where they are getting this injury stuff. Plus, even Dr. Andrews, the guru of MLB injuries, gave Bittle a clean bill of health. Bittle is said to have been willing to take the slot offer and he would have been an incredible addition to our pen. Best of luck to Bittle at Ole Miss and I hope to see him in pinstripes someday.
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
Gerrit Cole, 17 year old RHP, the Yankees 1st Round Pick chose to attend UCLA over signing with the Yankees. Cole had made it clear before the draft that he wanted to play pro, but on draft day got cold feet and had a change of heart. The Yankees will receive a 1st Round Compensation Pick in 2009.
Right handed Closer Scott Bittle, the Yankees' 2nd Round Pick also went unsigned. A physical showed wear and tear on his throwing shoulder and the Yankees wanted him to take less money because of that. Bittle countered with multiple doctor reports, including 1 by Dr. Andrews, showing that he was indeed fine. Bittle desperately wanted to sign with the Yankees, but they were convinced by the initial report and gave a reported much lower than slot offer. The Yankees will receive a Compensation Pick in the 2nd Round of the 2009 draft.
I wish Bleich would have signed a month ago, first so we could see how his heeled injury was and so he could move through the system quicker. He played in the Power House PAC-10 for 3 years and is no doubt a guy that won't have to stay in the farm for a long period of time, but he may have given Chase Wright a slight edge, as he is already in Scranton.
As far as Cole, I was never big on that pick. He is often characterizerized as immature, selfish and a horrible teammate. I also have a real problem with his "sudden" change of heart that occured just after it was released that he was seeking $7 million. My take is, he got rejected on the $7 million and the Yankees are clearly not going to give a 17 year old a Major League Contract, so like the big baby he is, he refused to hear any other offer. Jokes on you Cole. It is believed by most, including me, that Cole had the most to lose by going to college. He is headed to UCLA, a school with a lackluster team, which about guarentees he will not even come close to the first round when he is eligable again. Also, the fuss about Cole was he had the strongest high school arm, after college 90% of the competition will have caught up to him. My guess is the highest he goes is 3rd Round, but I doubt it.
I really feel for Bittle. I love this kid and his incredible arm. Looking at his workload this past season, I don't see where they are getting this injury stuff. Plus, even Dr. Andrews, the guru of MLB injuries, gave Bittle a clean bill of health. Bittle is said to have been willing to take the slot offer and he would have been an incredible addition to our pen. Best of luck to Bittle at Ole Miss and I hope to see him in pinstripes someday.
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Chris Smith - 5th Round: 170th Overall Pick
Chris Smith - OF 5th Round, 170th Overall Pick (Centennial HS) - Broke commitment to USC to sign with New York
Chris Smith
6'' 190 lbs
Bats: Left Handed
Throws: Left Handed
Position: Left Field - can also play 1st Base
A Geniune Good Kid
Chris Smith is one of those guys you want to see make it to majors, a guy who could be a role model for the fans and for teammates. In his high school days, Smith took on the role of mentor to his younger teammates, helping them on and off the field, as well as helping the general youth in Compton, California.
High School Days:
Note: No, this is not a mad stretch of typos
.708 average, 12 homers in 20 games, 1.361 slugging percentage, OPS: 2.105 You want more? He struck out just 3 times in 72 at bats. He also stole 24 bases out of 26 attempts.
He also played Quarterback for the football team and Point Guard for the basketball team - so he knows how to lead a team.
Summing up Smith
Great athleticism. Smith can and will run all over teams, stealing bases and working the hit and run. Obviously with those numbers, the kid can hit with some incredible power. Striking out only 3 times out of 72 at bats tells me he also is great with making contact, along with having the aforementioned pop. Smith is strong defensively, the best spot for him is in Left Field, but you have to love those Lefty OF's that can also play 1st Base.
GCL
Not really playing well up to date, but as I keep saying in previous posts and will continue to say, especially in high schoolers, but generally young players in their 1st MiLB season always seem to hit a wall, even in GCL. They are now pitching against not only the best former high school seniors, but keep in mind, Andrew Brackman, who was the Yankees 1st Round Pick last season and a college junior was headed there until they decided on surgery. So he is facing alot more talent then he ever has and he is really just getting his feet wet. That being said, he is hitting only .143, 8 RBIs, 1 stolen base, with 24 strikeouts. Also, one of the first to sign, he has had more time than most there to get acclamated.
My Take
I have heard the 5th Round was a reach on Smith and I didn't quite see that with the numbers he had in high school. However, that is an extremely bad start even if you take his age, experience, and surrounding talent into consideration. I wouldn't start calling it a bad pick yet, let's see how he responds after 1 year in the pros, since he is only 18 we can afford to do that here. As far as when to expect him in the majors, right now I'd say he would be in the minors at least until 2014 (Age 24-25), but with how poorly he is performing, I wouldn't be surprised if it took longer as he may need a 2nd year in GCL.
NEXT UP: 6th Round Pick BRETT MARSHALL (RHP) - be sure to check this one out, as he is one of the more highly regarded picks
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
Chris Smith
6'' 190 lbs
Bats: Left Handed
Throws: Left Handed
Position: Left Field - can also play 1st Base
A Geniune Good Kid
Chris Smith is one of those guys you want to see make it to majors, a guy who could be a role model for the fans and for teammates. In his high school days, Smith took on the role of mentor to his younger teammates, helping them on and off the field, as well as helping the general youth in Compton, California.
High School Days:
Note: No, this is not a mad stretch of typos
.708 average, 12 homers in 20 games, 1.361 slugging percentage, OPS: 2.105 You want more? He struck out just 3 times in 72 at bats. He also stole 24 bases out of 26 attempts.
He also played Quarterback for the football team and Point Guard for the basketball team - so he knows how to lead a team.
Summing up Smith
Great athleticism. Smith can and will run all over teams, stealing bases and working the hit and run. Obviously with those numbers, the kid can hit with some incredible power. Striking out only 3 times out of 72 at bats tells me he also is great with making contact, along with having the aforementioned pop. Smith is strong defensively, the best spot for him is in Left Field, but you have to love those Lefty OF's that can also play 1st Base.
GCL
Not really playing well up to date, but as I keep saying in previous posts and will continue to say, especially in high schoolers, but generally young players in their 1st MiLB season always seem to hit a wall, even in GCL. They are now pitching against not only the best former high school seniors, but keep in mind, Andrew Brackman, who was the Yankees 1st Round Pick last season and a college junior was headed there until they decided on surgery. So he is facing alot more talent then he ever has and he is really just getting his feet wet. That being said, he is hitting only .143, 8 RBIs, 1 stolen base, with 24 strikeouts. Also, one of the first to sign, he has had more time than most there to get acclamated.
My Take
I have heard the 5th Round was a reach on Smith and I didn't quite see that with the numbers he had in high school. However, that is an extremely bad start even if you take his age, experience, and surrounding talent into consideration. I wouldn't start calling it a bad pick yet, let's see how he responds after 1 year in the pros, since he is only 18 we can afford to do that here. As far as when to expect him in the majors, right now I'd say he would be in the minors at least until 2014 (Age 24-25), but with how poorly he is performing, I wouldn't be surprised if it took longer as he may need a 2nd year in GCL.
NEXT UP: 6th Round Pick BRETT MARSHALL (RHP) - be sure to check this one out, as he is one of the more highly regarded picks
Pinstriped As Always,
Laura
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
