Tony Sanchez continues to destroy low-A
by mak_DC on Jul 11, 2009 8:17 AM EDT
27 comments
After hitting his first homer last night, our much-maligned first round pick is now hitting 433/541/700 at W. Virginia. Naturally, it's only through a week's worth of games, but the common logic is that low-A is too low to start a high draft pick coming out of college. So what should the Pirates do with Sanchez? Let him continue to maul low-A pitching for the rest of the year and then start him at Lynchburg next year? Move him up sometime before the end of this year? Does he start next yeat at Altoona (I think so)?
How ironic would it be if Sanchez beats Alvarez to the majors? I'm certainly not rooting for that to happen, but it doesn't seem impossible sitting here today.
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We’ll see how he hits when he comes to AA. I hope he doesn’t pass Pedro. I’m surprised how poorly Pedro has played for the Curve. Hopefully he can turn it around soon.
"Baseball is better than football. Think about it, eighty degrees, a cold beer and a short-sleeve shirt is better than 30 degrees, a hip flask and six layers of clothes under a lap blanket. Take your pick: suntan or frostbite. " - Thomas Boswell
Tony Was The One That Everybody Was Upset That We Drafted Because He Wasn't Good Enough For A First Rounder
I’d be willing to bet real money that Tony Sanchez makes it to the majors before Pedro Alvarez.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 11, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
That isn't the argument.....
at all. He was in almost everybody’s top 30 prospects. (Some) fans were upset, the knowledgeable ones, because he wasn’t the most projectable of the easily signable guys. You’re statement is completely off.
And why would you possibly bet real money that he’ll beat Alvarez to the majors? Tell me what you know based on his one week of at bats in Low A vs. Alvarez’s month or so at AA? Sure it could happen, but you are sounding like you have some real insight here. Please share it.
Everything I’ve read about him says that he’s defensively ready for the majors right now, and they’re only going to try to get his bat in serviceable major league shape before they bring him up. Meanwhile, Pedro Alvarez is still trying to learn how to not strike out against AA pitching.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 11, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
That isn't how you develop your prospects
He’s defensively advanced. That doesn’t mean “ready for the major leagues now.” Also, what do you think they are going to do, bring him up and sit him behind Doumit? I’ll be shocked if he is up before September of next year at the earliest.
They are going to try to develop him and his bat and not rush him to the majors. There even a need at this point. One week of at bats in Low A and you have him ready for the bigs. Silly.
All I Know Is What I Read
And what I read says that he’s defensively ready for the majors right now.
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 11, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmm...defensively ready??
He’s played 12 games (4 at SC, 8 at WV) and already has 4 errors (1 at SC, 3 at WV). That doesn’t sound like defensively ready to me.
As For Doumit
The trade deadline is still weeks away…
by Androgen Jar Jimmy on Jul 11, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Tony isn’t Matt Wieters or Buster Posey (who I wanted the Bucs to pick in 07 and 08), but it could still be a very valuable pick just because catcher is the hardest position to fill with a top talent. If he becomes one of best catchers (even top 10), Huntington looks like a genius.
by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions
Not sure its important who reaches the majors first
Because:
1. We need both of them firing if the Bucs are to make a real run at championships. Just like PA’s strikeouts are concerning, we need to wait to make sure Sanchez can keep doing this at all levels
2. Catchers-esp elite ones- move through the levels faster than position players. But we need Sanchez to become an elite hitter as well, if he is to make an impression
Obviously we’re talking about a very small sample size, but the utter lack of K’s and the power he’s shown are very positive signs. This is what Alvarez should have done in low A ball. He’ll probably have some things to learn against better breaking pitches in the high minors, but for now, I’m very pleased. If he’s still hitting like this in a week or two, we might as well promote him.
charity standing orders
I was not a fan...
of the Tony Sanchez pick, but I would be absolutely thrilled to see him prove me wrong. He’s off to a great start, hopefully he keeps it up. You never know with these cold-weather players (I’m from New England, I should know!).
Please, please do not rush him. There is no need to do that, at all. The fans are already mad about past draft failures, do not give Sanchez a chance to look bad at the ML level before he is ready. If Sanchez comes up and his bat is still stuck in high-A, it will be a PR nightmare, and potentially stall his development. Let him develop at his own pace. It’s not like the team is winning anytime soon anyways, so what’s the harm of letting him mash minor league pitching?
Too early for a promotion.
I think he’ll get the call to at least Lynchburg this year, and maybe Altoona to finish out the season. But doing it after a week is WAY too soon. Let’s just enjoy the fact that he’s hitting well right now and see how it plays out.
As for next season, I think he starts in AA, moves up to AAA at the halfway point, and based on his performance there may or may not crack the ML lineup before the rosters expand. I think a September call-up is likely next year, though.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 11, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions
This guy.....
is FOUR levels below the MLs and you have him coming up in 14 months. Man it is amazing what one good week does.
Or I’m going by the fact that he’s a college player that the front-office has all but said is on the fast track.
www.sixtyftsixin.com
by Sixty Feet, Six Inches on Jul 11, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Even mega-prospects Ryan Braun, Evan Longoria and Matt Wieters weren’t called up the year after they were drafted. I think we’re getting way ahead of ourselves.
by Gorkys n' Beans on Jul 11, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You’ve got a front office that says he’s on the fast track, but yet most scouts and evaluators say if his bat doesn’t come around, he could be a career backup in the big leagues. We all need to step back and not get ahead of ourselves. I think this guy is going to be a solid starting catcher in the big leagues one day because he’s a lot better hitter than people give him credit for, but there’s no way he gets called up in September next year. He’s not Pedro Alvarez. He’s not on that kind of fast track. I’m excited about him and what he can do in the future, but we need to curb our enthusiasm just a little bit.
For this organization...
one level a year IS fast track.
I don't really care if he's on the fast track...
… or if Pedro is, for that matter. I’m just enjoying the fact that there is some real baseball talent in each level of the minor league system for a change. When was the last time we could actually say that?
Wasn't Thirlled
When we took him at 4. But once I dug around it started to make sense, and actually I can buy into it.
His performance in the Cape Cod league in 08 is impressive. His numbers.
AVG G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI SH SF HP BB IB SO SB CS DP SLG OBP
326 34 92 9 30 45 6 0 3 18 1 2 12 13 0 20 1 4 3 .489 .462
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