Sunday, February 15, 2009
Dream League Prospects (21-39)
21. Roger James, P, New York
Triple A, 22, L/L
Forever the pitching gem of the NY organization, James has about capped his potential in three seasons at AAA. Next year will determine if he’s going to be the next Andy Pettitte or the next Phillip Hughes. We’ll take Pettitte, minus the steroid “experiment” and the big honker.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #3 starter
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22. Harold Obermueller, SS, Pawtucket
High A, 24, R/R
It’s a quandary in the bigs. Do we start a SS who can hit but has a decent glove, or a great glove but hits like Tony Pena Jr at the plate? Obermueller brings the best of both worlds – to High A. Slow advancement through the system is all that’s holding Obermueller back. Recent reports have it ownership is looking to replace the farm instructor if Obermueller doesn’t reach the majors soon.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Gold Glove SS
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23. Dante Alexander, OF, Tampa Bay
Triple A, 22, R/R
Remember the public advertising Durham posted about grabbing future All-Star Dante Alexander? Njohnson78 may have been right after all, and TB was right in grabbing the talented OF. Alexander looks to be along the lines of Bobby Abreu.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #3 hitter, okay, we’ll call him an All-Star too
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24. Josh Holden, C, Tacoma
Triple A, 23, R/R
Right ahead of Pep McGowan stands Holden. Okay, not literally. But on the rankings, Holden nudges Holden with a little better pitching calling, a comparable bat and incredible durability. Holden caught all of a 2-1, 22-inning marathon in the heat of July last season, then followed with the nightcap of the doubleheader. Afterwards, Holden cleaned the dugout, washed the bleachers and ran back to his apartment.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: Gold glove fixture for the Thunderbirds for the next decade
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25. Pep McGowan, C, Colorado
High A, 19, R/R
This brotha’ can call a game, gun out runners, blast it deep and pick up the big butted blondies the game. “Lemme put some pep in your step” is his big catch line as he brushes up against the ladies on the dance floor. On the field, McGowan is close to big league ready already, but a few years of seasoning will make him the Charles Johnson who doesn’t hit .216 but .316 instead.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: All-Star Catcher
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26. Dennys Shin, P, San Diego
Triple A, 25, S/L
Smuggled in from the Far East on a docket of Nintendos, Shin adapted to American life roughly. Shin still gets tongue-tied in post-game interviews and on first dates. Which is why Shin switched to Matchmaker.com and paid the media relations intern to post his profile.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #2 or #3 Starter
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27. Jose Acosta, P, San Francisco
Double A, 22, R/R
Acosta quietly was obtained midseason when Vancouver decided to go empty net on prospects in pursuit of the World Series trophy. Everyone oohs and aahs so much at Seguignol and Hughes, that Acosta has flown under the radar. About like being the third singer in Hall & Oates.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: #1 or 2 starter
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28. Kelvin Sveum, P, Kansas City
Triple A, 23, R/R
Sveum arrived in the Midwest in one of chadrader’s first trades as the club’s GM. Sveum has gradually moved up the ranks and looks to crack the rotation next season. But with a solid rotation ahead, Sveum will have break in as a long reliever or wait for an injury. With Mac Perry on the roster, that may be next week.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #3 starter
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29. Johnny Lowe, P, Tucson
Double A, 20, R/R
Despite mediocre splits, Lowe blows scouts away with his health, stamina, patience, control, fastball, knuckleball and palmball. Yes, the famous palmball. The palmball separates Lowe from the rest of the Tucson prospects, which is a good thing because Lowe absolutely blows in handball and pinball.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: #2 starter
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30. Armando Garces, P, Atlanta
Triple A, 21, L/L
After an appeal from Atlanta owner zedonk, Garces indeed qualified for the list with just 6 MLB appearances. Which begs the question, why did zedonk start Garces' MLB clock towards arbitration over 2 games in Season 3 and 4 games in Season 4? Answer: The Mexican mafia. Threatened by Garces' connections from his native city of Juarez, zedonk folded like a house of cards in Garces desire to get an MLB check, and get mas chicas.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #3 Starter
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31. Clay Walker, P, Scranton
Triple A, 24, L/L
Walker may be confused with the country singer, but he doesn’t mind. In fact, his game revolves around it, telling young 20-year-olds that he’ll leave tickets at the upcoming concert. Little did Walker know that the baseball schedule takes you through towns more than once a year until he found out the hard way when a rifle-armed brunette pegged Walker with a can of peas during an 8th inning no-hit bid in August.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #4 Starter
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32. Danys Olivares, P, Tacoma
Triple A, 23, R/R
Part of the fallout of the Nick Black scandal (the horrifying “Dirty Sanchez” scene), Olivares was shipped to Tacoma for a bag of balls and a fungo bat to be named later. Olivares may not be extraordinary on the splits, but his control, changeup and curve rank among the best in the game.
ETA: Season 5
Projection: #3 starter
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33. Torey Lima, 3B, Buffalo
High A, 19, L/L
Yet another in the legendary bloodlines from San Pedro de Macoris, Lima signed as an IFA with Tacoma before being shuffled to Buffalo this past year. Solid all-around with extraordinary power, Buffalo has the farm system to polish off this 19-year-old. Both on and off the field.
ETA: Season 8
Projection: #6 hitter, starting 3B
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34. Herb Brooks, 2B, Scranton
Low A, 19, L/R
Herb may top father, Hubie, in career totals, since Herb can actually run faster than a dandelion. And Herb can field too. And he can hit. Which doesn’t explain why Brooks was traded last season like a game of hot potato. Perhaps the leak during spring training that he had gonorrhea may have had something to do with it.
ETA: Season 7
Projection: #2 hitter, 2B or CF
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35. Paul Barber, C, Scranton
High A, 20, R/R
Dubbed “The Barber of Seville” and “The Barber Did It” by Scranton’s own birdbrain Michael Scott, Barber actually can hit. And hit well. If Scranton can swallow average pitch calling, Barber will be the next Mike Piazza. And maybe Michael Scott will get a nickname.
ETA: Midseason, Season 5
Projection: #5 hitter
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36. Jolbert Johnson, P, New York
Double A, 21, L/L
Like many of the New York’s top prospects, Johnson has taken the slow walk up through the Gridlock system. The lefty could be the best of the four pitchers NY has listed, but still has to shake post traumatic stress disorder of when he was a kid on the street found by a stranger AJF … nevermind.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: #2 or #3 starter
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37. Quinton Morgan, P, Rochester
Double A, 21, L/L
With more pitches and deliveries than Luis Tiant, Morgan can fool hitters from any angle. The behind-the-back-fake-pitch always throws lefties for a loop, aside from Taylor Dickson blasting it a mammoth 542 feet in a game last season.
ETA: Season 6
Projection: #2 or #3 starter
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38. Rich Varitek, C, Kansas City
Triple A, 24, S/R
Varitek idolized his step-brother, Jason, and followed suit as a catcher. Except he isn’t even the top catching prospect in his organization. Lodged behind Ronn Webster, Varitek appears to be needing to either settle for a backup role or moving out from the plate much like his predecessor in KC, Neil Clyburn. That won’t stop GM chadrader from throwing a glove on him and sticking him in left field. Rader would stick David Ortiz in left if he could in WIS. After all, its just a sim, right?
ETA: Season 5
Projection: C, 1B or traded
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39. Howard McGee, P, Montgomery
Double A, 24, S/R
McGee was born overseas in South Korea, as his father was stationed at Camp Casey, an hour north of Seoul. His Korean mother taught him and Byung-Hung Kim the side-armed delivery. Scouts worry that McGee may suffer the same mental instability as Byung-Hung One High, but Hornets GM rootgargle thinks a daily serving of kim chi will keep his head on straight.
ETA: Late Season 5
Projection: #4 starter
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