Class A Baseball America Tools - McCovey Chronicles

BOCOCK!!

I R 5

by say hey nation on Aug 19, 2009 11:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw him commit 2 errors in one game. Fail.

Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard

by SoFa King Mike on Aug 19, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude's got a slick glove

and no bat

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.

by delorean on Aug 19, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So he’s kinda like Burriss, just with good defense

Adopted brother of Jason Jarvis.

by j14 on Aug 19, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And with a worse bat, somehow

Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)

by CB30 on Aug 19, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely an important tool.

by Evan on Aug 19, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Batting Prospect: Thomas Neal (over Posey, which I found interesting)

I think the consensus was always that Posey was a very good hitter at a premium position, not necessarily an elite hitter regardless of position.

by deuce deuce on Aug 19, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

of course

he’s hit like an elite hitter regardless of position so far.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 19, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except he’s been an elite hitter and was one of the top college bats in his draft class. Didn’t matter whether he was a C or not, he was still one of the best hitters in the draft. And with his track record as an amateur player I’m surprised Neal was voted over him by Cal League Managers. But then again Neal has pretty much torn the cover off the ball all year, so it’s hard to argue with him.

by Hobbes2d on Aug 19, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s just be happy they’re both in the Giants organization!

by deuce deuce on Aug 19, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this reflects my earlier comments elsewhere: Posey is a good hitter, and an especially good hitter for a catcher, but no more than that. Neal appears to be the kind of hitter we hoped (are still hoping?) Villalona would be. That, to me, is the difference that explains Neal’s selection over Posey.

Sergio Romo: striking out professional hitters since 2005. And winner of the 2012 NL Fireman of the Year Award!

by Lyle on Aug 19, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is best TOOLS though...

not best stats/performance. Seems like they’re trying to bring more scouting into the mix.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Aug 19, 2009 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was projected to hit something like .290/.370/.480 – great for a catcher, but by no means elite overall.

HA HA HA LOOK AT ME I'M ALL HAPPY AND STUFF NO REALLY CAN WE STOP WITH THE COOKYMAN IS SAD JOKES?

:-) :-) :-)

by Cookyman on Aug 19, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True but scouting projections go out the window when the pro career actually begins. After all, Mike Piazza was projected to flail around in the Florida State League for a couple years and then retire.

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Aug 20, 2009 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still think most people don’t really expect him to hit for great power in the majors. And anyway, Hobbes2d talking about the draft.

HA HA HA LOOK AT ME I'M ALL HAPPY AND STUFF NO REALLY CAN WE STOP WITH THE COOKYMAN IS SAD JOKES?

:-) :-) :-)

by Cookyman on Aug 20, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not great power, but given his performance this year I think it’s reasonable to expect we might be getting a 20-25 HR guy with solid OBP. That would be insanely valuable if it’s attached to an elite defender at catcher.

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Aug 20, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, “attached to an elite defender at catcher” is the key. Purely hitting wise, he’s not projected to be crazy good.

HA HA HA LOOK AT ME I'M ALL HAPPY AND STUFF NO REALLY CAN WE STOP WITH THE COOKYMAN IS SAD JOKES?

:-) :-) :-)

by Cookyman on Aug 20, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. He looks like he could be Pablo with more OBP, that would be pretty valuable on this team.

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Aug 20, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not saying Posey’s not an elite prospect, I just on’t think it’s true he’s considered an elite bat, regardless of position.

HA HA HA LOOK AT ME I'M ALL HAPPY AND STUFF NO REALLY CAN WE STOP WITH THE COOKYMAN IS SAD JOKES?

:-) :-) :-)

by Cookyman on Aug 20, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Combine them and you have one super prospect

Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)

by CB30 on Aug 19, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

VOLTRON

Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard

by SoFa King Mike on Aug 19, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

CARLOS VOLTRON

by jctGamer on Aug 19, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ewww

Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard

by SoFa King Mike on Aug 19, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoo Thomas Neal

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 19, 2009 11:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

lol Andy Skeels best managing prospect though… wasn’t he hitting Neal 9th for like the first two months of the season?

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 19, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bocock DH?

by jctGamer on Aug 19, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bocock was hitting second the game I went to last month.

Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: Fred "OBP and UZR, Dammit!" Lewis

by jcb9 on Aug 19, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Following in Bochy's footsteps

Maybe he’s just been watching the big club’s lineups?

by FireBrianSabean on Aug 19, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He managed Augusta last year and won the title with them. I’m thinking he’s one to be groomed in the system as a future coach.

Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Aug 19, 2009 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I must admit when I saw the title, I thought this thread is about Sfgate and Baggs comment posters.

by jctGamer on Aug 19, 2009 11:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well played

Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)

by CB30 on Aug 19, 2009 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 19, 2009 11:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, I guess I can get excited about Neal now.

Jesse Foppert: I Still Believe. Maybe a little less now.
"I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen." ~Bob Lemon,

by AndYourBirdCanSing on Aug 19, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Shit, now other GMs might ask about Neal

I R 5

by say hey nation on Aug 19, 2009 11:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Posey pretty much as to be a top 50 prospect now, no?

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Aug 19, 2009 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

^ @#$#@

I meant Neal (before Zod)

Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?

by shikantaza on Aug 19, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Most lists I’ve seen on minorleagueball (obviously not gospel or anything but) have him in the top 30-40.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.

by jponry on Aug 19, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Mayo didn’t have him in his top 50 (3 weeks ago), but he did have AnVil at #50. I don’t really like the list myself, but he did have Mad Bum at #2 and Posey #5, so that was ok.

Of course, with all of the new talent coming in after the draft signings, things could get full in the top 50 once again.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 19, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well also

Top prospect lists often vary in this regard due to how the person making the list prioritizes his order. Whether it’s based on pure raw talent, or how close they are to the big leagues etc. Players who have struggled but who still show the raw talent and who have a strong amateur pedigree often will get the benefit of the doubt, while lesser known prospects will not. Age is also a factor.

by Hobbes2d on Aug 19, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baseball America also didn’t have him in it’s midseason top 50. I think a lot of folks around here are going to be disappointed where he winds up off on lists this offseason, I doubt he makes many top 50s.

by FluLikeSymptoms on Aug 19, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, but...

in a recent Ask BA, they did say that Neal was under consideration for their minor league player of the year award.

Still the loving, adoptive father of Hector Sanchez. And who doesn't love switch-hitting catchers with power and patience?

by tedfordfan on Aug 19, 2009 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

they also suggest that he will probably lose out because of the fact that he is not a major prospect

Greg (Anaheim): Thomas Neal, is he in the running for MLPOY? Has he established himself as a legit LF prospect for the Giants? Even the Cal league is a hitters paradise, SJ Municipal Stadium, his home park, is a pitchers park and he is still putting up better numbers than his more heralded teammates.

J.J. Cooper: He’s in the running. It’s hard to believe he’ll top Montero, Heyward or Bumgarner when you consider their prospecty-ness, but he and Jon Gaston are having seasons that are so good you have to take a look at them.

by FluLikeSymptoms on Aug 19, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that’s saying Neal’s not a prospect. Just that he’s not as much of one as Montero, Heyward, and Bumgarner. Which is hardly a damning remark.

Brian Sabean wants to kick tires. I want to kick Brian Sabean.
Adopted Giant: Fred "OBP and UZR, Dammit!" Lewis

by jcb9 on Aug 19, 2009 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it means he’s not a major prospect (like not a top 50 prospect)

by FluLikeSymptoms on Aug 20, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seems to me it’s saying he’s not a Top 5 or 10 prospect. Montero, Heyward, and Bumgarner are all in BA’s Top 5. That said, Montero and Heyward are both two years younger than Neal and both having exceptional success at a higher level than Neal. And there “prospecty-ness” is because both are building off very successful ‘08s, while Neal’s been essentially rehabbing for a couple years.

He’s definitely putting himself in a Top 50 conversation at this point, though, but not being a Heyward or Montero’s certainly no great criticism.

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Aug 20, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn, their prospecty-ness

My Bucardo is better than yours.

A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.

by Roger on Aug 20, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs