Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
powered byJotCast
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:17
Hi hello how are you, it's another 115+ degree day here in Tempe, time to chat.
Big Fan
12:17
Philosophically, do you feel like contenders value their prospects too much?  Not enough?  The right amount?  I'm sure the answer varies by team, but it'd be interesting to hear which teams typically fall in which bucket.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:19
It varies by executive even more than team. The small market teams covet the surplus value, and the way GM trees have grown the last 20 years has made it so the folks who helm those teams have migrated to the bigger markets, and those philosophies are then employed by the Dodgers, Mets, etc. One's need to hug prospect is inversely related with their ability to draft and make more. WHen you're a well-oiled machine like the Rays, you should be more aggressive and push the chips in now and then.
aglossman
12:20
I have no interesting or original questions to ask. Do you think the Sox will trade Arias? I hope not
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
Nah, if they do it'd have to be for someone so good you might feel otherwise after it's done.
Big Fan
12:20
The Braves have recently promoted a handful of prospects.  Do you think the timing was to juice their value in models without giving a player long enough to be exposed at a new level?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:21
I mean, maybe? But if decisions are being made by the seat of peoples' pants and their updated output has changed meaningfully purely because of the promotion, I'd feel worried about that team.
Andre Mouchard
12:21
Two things: 1. The deadline prospect updates are great. Thanks. 2. In the Dodgers update I might’ve missed K. Lindsey (sp?)… Is he trending down? Stats aren’t bad.
Eric A Longenhagen
12:22
Underlying miss is bad and he's fallen from SS (with hope he could play CF if he can't play SS) to 2B.
Cal League surface stats, just toss 'em
Baseball Learner
12:22
How do we feel about Ben Hess? And is Henry Lalane the real deal?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
I'm working on a Yankees update. Hess has added a cutter, strikes still aren't there. No change to him. Lalane stock up. Both secondaries playing like plus pitches, velo is up. Strikes just okay but enough to start
Dave
12:25
Happy Max Clark Day to all who celebrate!  In your opinion, does he possess any particular traits that might lead to either a quicker- or longer-than-average adjustment period in the bigs?  What should Tigers' fans expectations be?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
I just hope the whole social media entourage thing doesn't become a circus at the big league level. I bet he's gonna be good pretty quickly, at hitting anyway.
matt
12:26
It seems to be reported that Dodgers like Quintero more than Siroto, how unpopular of a take is that?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:26
It's not crazy, Sirota's in-zone whiff rates are scary.
12:27
Sirota has more overt big league physicality and playable power right now. Quintero is a pup still and a better CF glove by a good bit, better contact hitter by a little bit.
Matt
12:27
Arias seems more highly rated across the board than Wolcott. What's the main reason there? Does Wolcott's injury have anything to do with it?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:29
Arias has also been an elite contact hitter. We're all just letting Walcott breath coming off the injury, he's been back for like a week. The offseason might yield a different pref, but right now I feel like the guy who has been healthy and who you've seen play defense for the last two years (while Sebby has mostly not) is who you take right now
Dell's Lemonade
12:29
I recognize that Brendan published the Brewers update, but is it your understanding that Frank Cairone's recovery from his off-season accident is too uncertain to remain on the list?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:30
He's on there still, sitting 87-90 in AZ. Deserves a beat to return to form, but glad he's well enough to pitch.
war2d2
12:31
Ericccc! The Cubs did their annual leaking of a “we’re in on <top free agent>” story to a favorite beat writer this week. Like Dan said in chat yesterday, they _should_ be in on Skubal, given how much of a difference he’d make to this particular team, but I just don’t see Jed pulling the trigger on anything that big. For the sake of argument let’s say they did. What would that look like? It feels like they’d have to at minimum give up Shaw and Ramirez, and probably at least a couple more org top-20 guys. Would you do it if you were the shot caller? What about if you were the Tigers? Feels like they should expect to get a league-top-20 prospect back, and that’s not coming from the Cubs (unless you count Shaw).
Eric A Longenhagen
12:32
I'm happy to deal Shaw and fine dealing Pedro. I don't think Shaw is very good.
doughboy
12:34
Reports state that the Tigers want a major league ready arm in any deal for Skubal. Dodgers and Brewers are able to provide this. Do you see anyone in the Rays, Cubs, and Braves systems who can do this alongside another 50 FV-ish position player?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:35
Any of the Rays offseason 40-man additions would qualify for me, so:
12:36
Hopkins, Baumeister, Suarez, Ty Johnson, Forret, maybe GGH and TJ Nichols but def a tier below the others.
12:37
The Brewers have less in the way of these guys, but you might consider Sproat, Henderson, Gasser as options because of how controllable they remain.
Hardin
Salty
12:38
In the blurb for Benny's kid Bruin, it's mentioned he has low avg bat speed.  What is the best way for a player to improve on that?  Bat swing/stance adjustments or just maturing physically with tailored exercises/workouts?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:40
I can be a multitude of things, you mentioned several. It does tend to be a sticky, talent-related thing a lot of the time. But clearly it can take time to find the right recipe and we get Jake Bauers
crossedup
12:41
Any prospects, whether on a team trading prospects or not, you think needs a change of scenery/org?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:41
Leo Bernal
oaktownblues
12:42
How did Tommy "Tanks" White go from averaging 25 HR per year in college to looking like he has below average power now? F change in approach? Were the college numbers always a metal bat mirage?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:42
Yes, plus elements of his swing that limit his ability to pull the baseball which have always been there and have been the reason he's tended to be lower on my A's pref.
I don't think he's bad, I just think he's a 40.
12:44
Like a lot of the A's guys, I'm pretty insulated and don't know what the general enthusiasm is for these dudes online beyond what ends up in my chat, via which I learned you guy love Colby Thomas, Henry Bolte, and White.
filter2
12:44
Why do some players have an asterisk at the end of their names on The Board?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:44
They were draft eligible sophs, I need to go in and delete those.
They should exist on the amateur board only
scioscia
12:45
What would a Milwaukee package for detmers look like? Something close to Gore’s return?
Connecting…