IL Prospect Rankings

by Roberto on Oct 6, 2008 12:37 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

According to Baseball America Andrew McCutchen is the number 2 prospect in the International League, Neil Walker is the number 6 prospect, and Brandon Moss is the number 14 prospect. The only real surprise is Walker. The BA writer argues that Walker had an unusually low BABIP, and of course BA loves his defense at third.

Obviously Walker is not ready for the majors, but if McCutchen is (or is close to), this could have real implications for the Pirates. An outfield with McLouth in left, McCutchen in center, and Moss? in right would be a significant defensive upgrade all around.

Equally obviously, the Pirates should trade San Diego for Paul McAnulty. The opportunity to have the first all Scots outfield should not be missed.

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Question for anyone, namely WTM and Vlad

How much of McCutchen’s ranking is based on his pedigree of being a 1st round pick, starting well in the low miinors, and skipping a level? I’m no IL expert, but 2nd best prospect can’t be based on his output this year, can it?

by azibuck on Oct 6, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, yes and no.

McCutchen’s ranking is mostly tools and age-relative-to-level. A .283/.372/.398 season would be OK but nothing special from a 25-year-old CF, but a 21-year-old doing that against 25-year-olds is pretty impressive. And the scouting reports love his broad base of tools (wrists, eyes, speed, and range), so they’re giving him a good bit of forward projection (even to average power down the road).

If the Pirates have McCutchen repeat the level next year (at least at the start), he’ll probably see a pretty decent offensive bounce.

by Vlad on Oct 6, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The business about chasing sliders away is ominous, though. It’s been a big problem for him all along. He’s clearly made strides—for about three months at AA, that’s all anybody ever threw him and it worked consistently. But not every hitter gets over that. Most of the Pirates’ current roster are still suckers for sliders away.

I can’t see Moss as a starter long-term, btw. I really hope by early 2010 the OF will be McLouth, McCutchen and Tabata.

by WTM on Oct 6, 2008 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Moss could be a starter

He’d have to max out his projection, though. I wouldn’t bet on it, but it’s not impossible.

by Vlad on Oct 6, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check out that list from five years ago.

The only guy on it who isn’t at least an average regular is Claussen, and that’s mostly because he blew out his arm.

by Vlad on Oct 6, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scots?

Do you mean Irish, or do I have my nationality-based slurs mixed up?

by DJAnyReason on Oct 6, 2008 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If they were Irish

It would be O’Louth, O’Cutchen, and O’Nulty.

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Oct 6, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I took Roberto to mean “”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_people" >Scots-Irish," which is not a slur. I’m not sure where the “Mc” comes from exactly, but presumably lots of Scots-Irish have names that begin with “Mc.”

by Charlie on Oct 6, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops. Link here.

by Charlie on Oct 6, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny, in a social perspective way

I figured Scots to mean maybe a high school or college nickname, or something along those lines. Something entirely not related to nationality.

by azibuck on Oct 6, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McLouth to Yankees?

SI “Truth and Rumors” had a Yankee rep denying that there were any talks “at this time” about the Yanks getting McLouth to go w/X-man. The Yanks current center fielder, Melky Cabrera, has worn out his welcome and would be voted off the island if the fans had their way. Meanwhile, the reliever we didn’t get wowed Yank fans down the stretch – a left-hand power pitcher w/good control who did well in the September call-up. They’re already mentioning him like the did Hughes, Kennedy, etc.

by Trogluddite on Oct 6, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rosenthall reports...

that the Pirates have no intentions of trading McClouth unless someone really overpays to get him.I don’t see a match with the Yankees but if there ever were a team that would overpay it would be them. Still don’t see it happening. Laroche to the Yankees I could see though.

by Slick1 on Oct 6, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really hate these NY rumors. The underlying assumption is that the Yankees simply have to decide they want a guy and he’s theirs for whatever crap they deign to offer. I guess it says something that they’ve at least heard of McLouth. When the Red Sox got Bay, a lot of people in Boston seemed to think he was just some bum.

by WTM on Oct 6, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I was on MLB trade rumors yesterday and from reading all of the Yankee posters NY is going to have quite an off season. They are going to sign CC and Texiera, Then they are going to trade Cano, Hughes and Kennedy for Peavy. After which the will sigh Orlando Hudson. Pretty good off season I’d say.

by Slick1 on Oct 7, 2008 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Umm..don’t really think McCutchen’s a Scot…

by rissaldar on Oct 7, 2008 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ahahahahahahaa

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Oct 10, 2008 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I can say....

… is that Melky Cabrera has worn out his welcome. I don’t think the Yanks will go for Big Luigi – I’ve dealt w/rabid Yanks fans since 2005 and as a team they have a bad April, May, and June. Big Luigi will do nothing to change that. Also, I think they will go after a premier 1b free agent, adding to the logjam they already have there. Xman could sell them on Nate the Great, who would also make their roster younger. They have some speedy, contact/no power outfielders in the minors who could play center and we could possibly pick up some more of their pitching (because the what’s his name’s sons can’t help but meddle w/decisions Cashman should be making).

But having said all of that, this came from the “Truth & Rumors” sight. If you believe everything you see there, I also own this neat little bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you.

by Trogluddite on Oct 8, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs