Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Dr B's 2014 Giants Top 50 Prospects: Honorable Mention Part I

No particular order here.  I just went through the different levels and picked out guys who didn't make the list, but I thought were worth mentioning.

Brett Bochy, RHP.  6'2", 190 lbs.  DOB: 8/27/1987.
AAA:  1-1, 3.99, 56.1 IP, 16 BB, 57 K, 5 Saves, GO/AO= 0.44.  Melonhead Jr. is a guy who always seems to look better on stat sheets than scouting reports.  Those are very respectable numbers for the PCL.  The extreme flyball tendency may play better in AT&T Park and the other west coast ballparks.  Not sure how the nepotism angle plays out, but you have to think he's going to get his chances.

Chris Dominguez, 3B/OF/1B.  B-R, T-R.  6'5", 235 lbs.  DOB:  11/22/1986.
AAA:  .294/.334/.464, 15 HR, 23 BB, 112 K, 466 AB.  Dominguez had run extremely hot and cold throughout his pro career, so the consistency he showed in 2013 was pleasantly surprising, at least to me.  He hit over .290 in both halves of the season.  He appeared to dial back on the power a bit in order to increase his contact rate.  The result was actually more HR's just because you aren't going to hit dingers if the only contact you are making is with air molecules!  The problem for Chris is he is blocked at 3B in SF, he's not getting any younger and now Adam Duvall is arriving to compete with him for 3B PT.  I could see him being another Chris Carter for another organization.

Ryan Lollis, OF.  B-L, T-L.  6'2", 185 lbs.  DOB:  12/16/1986.
AA:  .267/.345/.377, 8 HR, 50 BB, 61 K, 469 AB.  37'th round draft pick in 2009.  Has gradually moved up the ladder.  I think he is an underrated hitter.  Look at those K and BB ratios!  Longshot, but could be a 5'th OF for somebody. Can play CF.

Jack Snodgrass, LHP.  6'6", 210 lbs.  DOB:  12/10/1987.
AA:  12-4, 3.70, 141 IP, 39 BB, 81 K, GO/AO= 1.51.  27'th round draft pick in 2011.  Was Co-Pitcher of the Year for San Jose in 2012 and had more success at AA level in 2013.  Low K, ground ball pitcher.  His nearly sidearm delivery might be better suited to the lefty specialist role in the majors.  Pitchers with his profile tend to not fare too well in the PCL.

Myles Schroder, 3B/Utility:  B-S, T-R.  5'11", 180 lbs.  DOB:  8/1/1987.
High A:  .296/.359/.467, 6 HR, 12 SB, 25 BB, 73 K, 291 AB.  Schroder is from the East Bay.  Drafted  out of Diablo Valley CC in 2007.  Did not make his pro debut until 2011.  Not sure what happened in between.  I wasn't able to dig up anything on Google.  Had a bit of a breakout season in 2013 after hitting under .200 for Augusta in 2012.  Probably an organizational player, but I like his versatility, scrappiness and athleticism.  Has played all 4 IF positions plus catcher.  Switch-hitter.  Outside chance at having a Rex Hudler type utility career.

13 comments:

  1. I can see Dominguez getting a lot of reps at first base for the Grizzlies. What say you? Think Villalona is given that? Minnicozzi??

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    1. I think either Villalona or Oropesa will be the starting 1B in Fresno. Dominguez will either split time at 3B/DH with Duvall or 3B/OF.

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  2. Great job as usual! I'll join the small-time pitchfork crowd on NVT but it ain't no thing one way or the other!

    Looking at Lollis, the Giants really do get a bunch of defensive first hitters they're hoping will turn a corner. It hasn't worked yet, but in a way it has - Andres Torres and Gregor Blanco are two beloved Gigantes with rings. Sometimes you don't get what you want, you get what you need.

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    1. Thanks, Shankbone. It's not so much that I hate Vander Tuig, but the system is so deep, who was I going to leave off? In the end, I just wasn't going to drop high ceiling kid for a college pitcher who got torched in his pro debut, not matter the sample size.

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    2. I would also add, there is a reason why a college ace like Vander Tuig was still available in Round 7 or wherever he was drafted.

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    3. System is deep! That's the big point to take away. NVT was 6th round, and I'll give you a good reason: 10 of 30 teams were already playing draft games with slot in the 6th. Most of those teams? Did it on a smaller scale (undercutting slot by 100K or a little more) in the 5th. But you're also right, his velocity is such he's a 4-7 round guy, not top of the draft. 10 innings after being the horse who took down the national title? Can't really say anything about it. Its a friendly kid, nothing more.

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    4. There is a long list of college pitchers who took down national titles who got torched in the pros. Not saying NVT's experience was anything more than fatigue and a SSS, but to me, he has to prove it.

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    5. How about Ty Blach in round 5?

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    6. Don't be daft, you and Shank are talking about college pitchers selected in this section of the draft.

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    7. Well the most recent example would be... USC's Michael Roth? Drafted in the 9th, rushed to the show, hasn't done well but he did make the show, an achievement in itself. LSU had Anthony Ranuado, he is a decent prospect, 39th overall and the Eastern pitcher of the year. Justin Wilson from Fresno State? 5/144, he made his MLB debut this year. But we get to OSU's teams and then we do run into some trouble... that the Giants drafted! Joe Peterson and Daniel Turpen, the Mets took Eddie Kunz early. He made the show, but hasn't stuck.

      Actually based on going back that far, I think that NVT has a pretty nice set of comps, a lot of guys who pitched in the CWS to success have been popped and grinded it through to the show. Can't go farther back right now, ran out of time.

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    8. Since when is Anthony Ranaudo a comp for Nick Vander Tuig? They were both college pitchers for elite programs. That's pretty much the beginning and end of what they have in common. Whattheheck does Ty Blach have to do with anything? OK, let me tell you about Ty Blach. A LHP with a FB that touches 94 is not similar to a soft tossing RHP who happens to win a College World Series. Ty Blach did not pitch the summer he was drafted in 2012. Guess what? I didn't rank him! Look, I hope Nick Vander Tuig gets assigned to San Jose and shuts down the Cal League. If he does, he'll get at least a top 15 ranking next year. Any bets on that happening?

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    9. Nah... just listing out the pitchers who were important for the CWS as a bit of fun, not trying to comp a 2.5MM bonus baby, calm down.

      But if you're talking velocity, NVT hits 92, down from pre-TJ 93. He's not a soft tosser.

      I don't bet anymore on the interwebz. I keep winning, people keep shirking... But yeah, I think there is a decent chance NVT or Pat "The Stork" Young might hit the top 15 next year. Let's find out!

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