You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat
powered byJotCast
Eric A Longenhagen
12:01
Oh hi hello, Eric Longenhagen here from relatively chilly Tempe (38 degrees this morning). I hope you're all ready for baseball. It approaches.
Some stuff really quick...
12:02
And wrote up Conner Greene, who was dealt over the weekend: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/scouting-the-talented-frus...
Okay chat, let's do this.
Greg
12:02
Favorite under the radar Braves prospect?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:03
'Favorite' as in the guy I like watching? Would have been Randy Ventura before he was traded, is now probably Josh Graham. Love his stuff, think it's three 55 or better pitches.
Dilly Dilly
12:04
If Barreto is moved to CF, how much is his MLB timeline pushed back?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:04
Totally depends on his feel for the position and how quickly it comes if it isn't already there. No real set timetable for that kind of thing.
GP
12:04
Huge discrepancies on prospect lists for Nick Gordon. What's your take?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:06
This is a great opportunity to remind everyone of some stuff we believe here at FG. First and foremost, as I’ve said before, I try not to comment on the work of other publications for a number of pretty obvious reasons.
12:07
Second, remember that that 1-to-100 number next to the prospect’s name isn’t what you want to be thinking about, that’s why we try to have a FV grade for everyone on team lists and overall lists and trade write-ups, etc. The talent gap between the #4 overall prospect and the #54 overall prospect is probably very big, the talent gap between prospect #54 and prospect #104 is probably not, so just a half grade difference in opinion of a single player can really alter where they are on a list. For example, on my summer top 100, the tier of 55 FVs started in the early 30s but there are 50 FV guys running into the 120 range, so there might be a 100 place gap between two guys that aren’t wildly unequal talents.
12:09
Lastly, if you believe in the work/process of the person/publication you're reading and such discrepancies DO exist, I think it says more about the player than the publication. Read the scouting reports. See what the language in them indicates about what the writer has seen or has from sources in baseball. That should tell you why they do or don't like the player and it paints an even more well-rounded picture of that player than just reading one publication's work.
Luke
12:09
When looking at young (18-20 year old) players, what common mechanical flaw - in the swing for position players or in the delivery for pitchers - is most easily correctable?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:11
For hitters there isn't a lot of great lower half use. I used to be very laissez-faire about pitching mechanics but I'm warming to proactively improving arm actions through things like weighted ball training, though I admit it bothers me that we don't have data on what that does to pitchers who do that stuff for 10+ years, entire careers.
Anthony
12:11
Do you see any more velocity for Allard, or is he destined to be like 89-91? Everything else in the profile seems great, no?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:13
Like most pitchers drafted out of HS, going every fifth day instead once a week and pitching for 6 months takes a toll on your velo. I'd guess this is close to where his fastball settle but agree, the rest of the profile is very good and he'll be fine.
Barry Bonds
12:13
Giants made a lot of good, not great moves--i think they are done other than maybe a few minor league signings and  non roster invites to spring training--your thoughts??
Eric A Longenhagen
12:14
I think they make another move yet, just nothing as splashy as the Longoria or Cutch trades.
Anthony
12:15
Do you see any offensive upside with Melendez? Is he KC's best prospect for you?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:16
Yup, really like him. Not sure if I like him better than Pratto but I think it's close. Chance for a plus-plus glove, plus arm, plus power. Amateur scouts were worried about the swing and miss, scouts who saw him in AZ thought he was one of top 5 guys in loaded AFL class and a bunch had him #2 behind Adell.
Trent
12:16
Hey Eric, I saw on the Fangraphs youtube page you recently put up a lot of videos on the Angels prospects. What can you tell me about the pitchers Jose Soriano, Stiward Aquino and Christopher Molina? Thanks
Eric A Longenhagen
12:18
Angels list is done and should be up tomorrow, maybe Thurs? Soriano is my favorite of those three -- up to 96, great curveball feel, frame, athleticism -- while Aquino is a developmental project but 6-foot-6 and also already up to 96. Molina has interesting stuff but is a distant third of that group.
Captain Jerkface
12:19
Now that FG has 2 excellent prospect experts on staff, will the team Top Prospect lists be released with greater frequency?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:19
yep
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
12:19
How is command projected?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:20
Some combination of present command + athleticism (looseness, fluidity) and other traits that indicate the pitcher will eventually learn to repeat the delivery.
Anthony
12:20
Is Guillorme an 80 defender at SS? Are there are other players that would be in the conversation for an 80 glove?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:22
80 hands and actions for Guillorme but not the overall defense. Simmons is an 80, maybe you slap an 8 on Lindor. Not Guillorme, but he is freaking great.
ericstephenisgod
12:22
How would you rank the following Dodger outfield prospects? Diaz, Heredia, Kendall, Peters, & Verdugo
Eric A Longenhagen
12:24
Off hand, Verdugo, then Heredia, then Kendall and Diaz in some order (Kendall is riskier because of the bat but his tools are better, so that depends on your preference) then Peters who is similar to Kendall from an offensive standpoint, but his frame is so big he's more likely to move to a corner than Kendall.
ericstephenisgod
12:25
Favorite Dodger sleeper?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
Rick
12:25
What kind of offensive player do you see Jeimer Candelario turning into?  Had a great debut for DET last year
Eric A Longenhagen
12:25
Think he's a good everyday player, a 50 or 55.
Deathclaw
12:26
Does Pedro Gonzalez still have as high of an upside as anyone in the Rangers system?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:26
Think he's way up there with Leody and Bubba Thompson, yeah.
12:27
And I think the light started to turn on in the fall for PGon. He was a monster during instructs.
YouthBerry
12:27
What sort of power upside does Nick Madrigal have?
Eric A Longenhagen
12:28
Small guy so very little projection on the body and, it follows, the raw power. But, I think the contact quality will be so good that he still hits 18 or so, annually.
Load More Messages
Connecting…