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Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
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Eric A Longenhagen
12:58
Cookie Face
12:59
For those who don't know, Cookie Face is the contest where the contestants put like an Oreo on their forehead and then have to try to move it into their mouth without using their hands. When a good cameraperson shoots it just right, it's tense and hilarious.
1:01
My favorite to do during my IronPigs era (we were often plants for this sstuff on the field, idk if the franchise didn't have insurance for the actual fans to do them or what)  was the bungie cord run. You know what I mean, when two people are tied by a bungi cord at the waist and have to fill a bucket will baseballs in opposite directions?
big_carlos
1:02
What do you think of the Ryan Weathers return for Miami?  Do you think there is a centerpiece in that deal?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:08
Definitely behind the other packages we've discussed today. Weathers hasn't been as great (though he's definitely a rotation piece) as the other two guys, nor as healthy. Matheus is my favorite from the guys they got because I think he has the best chance of actually hitting. Lewis is probably second, his tools are huge.
Broken Bat
1:08
Eric, really enjoy these Friday chats. I have a question on the Mets trade with the Brewers, #1, I am nit a Met fan, but seemingly Stern has IMO made them the NLE. favorites. My ? Is regarding Sproat and Tong. They re both ranked high by you and other publications. I feel certain Brewers had to get Sproat as their preferred young pitcher over Tong. Brewers have SP options w/o pushing Sproat this year. Was it a coin flip between these two? Who would you have asked for between them, and why?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:12
I think if you're a pitcher on the 40-man roster then you're almost certainly going to be in the big leagues at some point. I agree that Sproat, who has all three of his options remaining, is unlikely to break camp in the big leagues because of that. I also agree that he is more stylistically similar to a lot of the Brewers starters, which doesn't really have the Tong-style vertical fastball guy (Miz is a freak just take him off the board, that guy isn't a "type" he's his own thing).
Sproat I prefer to Tong if you ensure me his changeup from '24 and prior comes back
MLB Rooney Rule
1:13
I hear less about summer wood bat leagues in scouting reports these days across the board. With BBCOR bats muddying power grades in the NCAA that doesn't make much sense to me. Shouldn't scouts be prioritizing those looks? Cap Cod and Northwoods League Trackman data feels like it should be highly coveted info for teams. It's becoming clear the Cubs have done so in recent drafts. I just don't see the same in other teams or public evals.
Eric A Longenhagen
1:13
I think everyone cares about that stuff. Cape data tends to be in small samples and is tougher to source (at least for me) than the pro and NCAA stuff.
Wood would be great to use everywhere. It's expensive and tough to travel with when you're a college program.
Adobe
1:14
I'm struck by the way the D-backs seem to collect these 40-45 types in a way that's well outside the norm. Who drives the player acquisition strategy? Any idea why this is the preferred strategy? I get the feeling that they're a team that has long relied on inexpensive player to "subsidize" a star or two and so these are the potential subsidies. But it comes at the cost of drafting potential stars. What gives?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:15
IDK if that's true, remember there was a point when one could have considered Corbin Carroll to be one of those little 45-grade types.
1:16
I think the DBacks do a good job of balancing guys like Corbin, Kayson Cunningham, Alek Thomas with toolsy, bigger-framed dudes. Especially when you account for their approach internationally. Crisantes is a good little guy, too.
Lowe Distribution System
1:18
How come the tippity top of Japanese pitchers are premier aces in MLB but the tippity top of Japanese hitters are maybe above average dudes?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:23
Mmmm, I think Ichiro and Ohtani and Hideki Matsui are top of the heap guys. The best Japanese hitters might not necessarily be able to hit MLB pitching, and we don't know until they try. Pitching is in control of the pitcher. There's going to be a higher rate of wrongness when evaluating the hitters in an environment that doesn't really replicate he one you're projecting them into.
1:24
We maybe could do a population-based study on elite MLB players per capita and see if Japan is truly not producing elite guys as often as the D.R. or wherever, but they gave us literally the best guy.
Adobe
1:24
Maybe a question for Ben Clemens, but I get a weird sense that the Ketel Marte trade rumors held up the market, and when he was finally pulled off the market, things started to flow. Coincidence or could there be a shred of truth there?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:26
Maybe a shred of truth since the market this offseason has seemed to flow in the way you're describing: The top player signs or gets traded and then there are dominoes as the runner-up teams scramble to find a dance partner. I don't know how close Ketel trade talks came to any kind of actual deal, though.
Alec
1:26
Was reading some Pipeline articles this week for their take on top ten prospects at each position and was surprised they called out Hao-Yu Lee as a potential RoY candidate at third base. Do you share a similar level of optimism for Lee? I'm a bit skeptical that he'll have enough playing time this year to make an impact, but he's taken a steady rise through the minors that Detroit seems to prefer their prospects complete before debuting.
Eric A Longenhagen
1:27
Definitely a player who looks awesome on the Trackman spreadsheet. Like him, think he's more of a part time player especially with that club. They have depth among players like him both in front and behind, it's too crowded a group for me to consider him a RoY fave, but I do think he's a good hitter.
Brett
1:27
Post-prospect, I know, but is Acuna going to be the de-facto CF for the ChiSox?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:29
You guys should feel free to ask me about whoever, I don't stop watching or caring when they're not rookies anymore, they just leave the board and such. I bet he roves 2B/OF.
On a contending team that guy is a utility payer, might as well start moving him around now.
Guest
1:29
I haven't seen an article on the site about the Peralta trade so wanted your feedback. Being a Brewer fan and having seen them function, I trust they did their homework and will get the most out of Sproat and Jett. What realistic outcome do you see for the pair and how do you think the Brewers did in the trade?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:30
Brendan wrote that one up.
1:31
Again, quickly: I like both guys. Sproat I like more, especially if Milwaukee recaptures 2020-2024 Sproat. Jett is tougher, he's mold-breaking, he hasn't gotten better at throwing from shortstop and has barely played CF or 2B. He'd be a defensive liability if you put him on a big league field tomorrow. Love the power/speed combo and think he's going to produce as a hitter despite K's.
MLB Rooney Rule
1:31
What NCAA tactic do you want to see Vitello deploy at the MLB level that'll have more traditional fans up in arms?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:33
I just think it'll be fascinating to see his (and Drew Gilbert's) brand of machismo interacts with the culture of the city/region.
romorr
1:34
So do you agree that we might be just a few short years away from no HS players in the draft? 20 round draft down to 10?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:34
Yes, this has been a rumor for a while. Cut another minor league affiliate, centralize more games onto the spring training complexes, no HS players in the draft and instead one-and-done style in college like the NBA.
1:36
Owner incentives: If there are no HS players in the draft then we can't really have 19-20 year old debuts, and then we don't have to pay 26-year-old Manny Machado as a free agent, we pay 28-year-old Machado instead.
Adam
1:37
Is Jadher Areinamo going to be the next out of nowhere Rays prospect?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:38
Been a pretty good prospect since '23 imo, good hitter. He's a lot of fun to watch swing. Below avg athlete with below avg power at 2B. Nice player, but not Junior Caminero or anything like that.
Johnny5Alive
1:39
Y'all were high on Alex Freeland last year and he performed well again in AAA. But he's also a dodgers prospect so will he get a real shot there or does he need to be traded to get real run in the bigs?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:40
I bet he takes some at-bats away from Edman (against righties), and if an OF gets hurt then their best alignment might be Mookie --> OF Freeland starts at SS. I know the Roster Resource fellas have Rojas in there right now but I think Freeland is a better roster fit at the moment.
Adam
1:41
What are your thoughts on Xavier Isaac? Is his prospect status basically the same as entering last year?
Eric A Longenhagen
1:42
He had brain surgery last year, I have no idea how to account for that from a eval/value standpoint. I'm really glad it seems like he's gonna be okay.
romorr
1:43
When you see a 17 year old hit A ball, and strike out 50% of the time in 100 PAs, like Stiven Martinez, not a lot of weight put on that, right? He should be in A-, but since there isn't one anymore...
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