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Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:03
Howdy, everyone. Hope you've all had a pleasant week. I'm enjoying the last little bit of mild weather here in Tempe and looking forward to conference tournament play.
12:04
Brewers list went up yesterday:
12:05
I'll probably keep things tight to an hour today. I'm flying to Florida next Friday and I'm going to chat earlier in the day, so be on the lookout for that next week.
12:06
Okay, let's address your many queries.
Rockies Optimist
12:06
Adael Amador looks not great, but maybe its the Rockies stink? Also, Jared Thomas/Kyle Karros legit? Karros seems more floor and Thomas more ceiling.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:07
I do think it's time for some change in Colorado. I, too, have fits and starts of Rockies optimism because I think they scout well in the amateur space, especially internationally...
12:10
But many of their players plateau or get worse. For instance, Sandy Ozuna's velo is down and his delivery is suddenly more violent and seemingly ill-timed. This is one example of a kind of pervasive thing...
on Amador, I'll think he'll be okay. The trajectory of Luis Garcia, Jr.'s career is what I think is a reasonable expectation for him. Luis García Jr. - Stats - Batting | FanGraphs Baseball
12:11
He's young, he has barrel feel, the switch-hitting utility is nice...he'll be okay.
I agree with you o the prospects and their respective variances.
AthleticsFan2195
12:11
Could the A's call up Denzel Clarke anytime soon, or sometime this year at all? The lineup is clearly in a decent spot, but the defense has been horrible, and JJ Bleday is not hitting enough to offset the worst CF defense in the sport.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:15
I think your logic is sound. You could maybe argue CF defense matters slightly less in that ballpark, but Clarke is the kind of guy who robs a double a game, you'd at least be running someone out there who has a true, elite skill.
Mike
12:15
Any draft buzz you’re hearing for the Red Sox?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:16
I don't have any team-specific dope that deep in the round.
Guest
12:17
since graduating has Barger developed in any surprising ways?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
His swing is different. He still has a pretty elaborate leg kick but it's it's now more "in-and-out" rather than "up-and-down", if that makes sense. Here's the old one:
12:19
You can see how explosive he is, it just took him until he was 25 to find a swing that worked for him and actual, MLB-viable versatility on defense.
drplantwrench
12:19
do you have any takes on who the angels should draft at 2? my fellow fans are conflicted with "wasting" the pick on a college pitcher, is that the right move anyway?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:22
If I were LAA I'd be trying to cut, I think. If you like one of the HS shortstops (I like Carlson, I'd be trying to levy hometown this and that) but they don't have a home until pick 10-ish, that's the group I'd be drilling down to see if it's a fit for an underslot deal...
12:23
But their tendencies have been, ya know, the college guys.
I like the college arms, fwiw, and it'd be fine if that's what they do. That's just not what *I'd* be looking to do by default if I were picking 2.
Cat Latos
12:24
Small sample, but are you seeing anything that suggests LAD 2B Kim has made improvements since arriving to the states?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
I think he's a great little athlete who'll be a good defender at a bunch of key positions over time, he seems like a sunny, happy guy who'll be cool with playing that role and good to have around. I don't think he's an impact regular or anything like that. Luxury utility type.
Meidroth Muscle
12:25
What are your thoughts on what the white Sox did with colson Montgomery.  Seems a little unorthodox.  Is this a last ditch effort on a once promising, but fading prospect?  I say fading, but he’s still young and time to turn it back around
Eric A Longenhagen
12:27
I'm not sure what the right answer is, but I also think it would have been cruel and counterproductive to keep running him out there to K half the time.
Oaktown Blues
12:28
Gage Jump has been great so far this year; does he look any different than he did pre-draft?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:29
Breaking stuff is playing much, much better. Definite arrow up guy.
Scotty
12:29
Carson Whisenhunt is showing much improved command in AAA... you buying it at all?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:32
Not *totally*, I think he's kinda just aiming down the middle with his fastball which is helping him avoid walks, but his fastball is getting blasted...
Opponents are slugging .700 against his fastball this year.
12:33
I think he's good, clearly, he's on the hondo. But I don't think he's suddenly a 3% walk rate guy.
Mario
12:34
CJ Kayfus.. will be be on this year's CLe team list? can you share your thoughts on him?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:34
Yep, Guardians list is next, he'll be on there...
12:36
It's fascinating, really, his profile has totally flipped...
12:37
His contact rate is way, way down (like 66%), low enough that it's a concern if you're looking at someone context-free and see they're whiffing that much...
12:40
But he's hitting the ball much harder. Is he destroying it? No. But he is noticeably stronger than before and seemingly swinging harder, with a lot of visible effort (a common thing in CLE's system, even on the Complex. And if you told me eventually his contact rate would normalize but he'd get to keep this power, I'd be excited about that.
12:41
I don't think he's an impact player but I think he's got a shot to be a nice lefty piece, 350-400 PA type guy who could take a Pavin Smith type turn later in his 20s.
Phil
12:41
I am starting to have serious doubts about whether Casas is ever going to be the guy at 1st, between injuries, bad defense, and extreme passivity as a hitter. If that's right, is the next everday 1st baseman even in the organization? Assuming of course it's not the guy who keeps saying he doesn't want the job.
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