| | Despite a few minor leaguers putting up impressive numbers, ESPN.com minor-league analyst John Sickels reminded users it is awfully early to get overly excited about seeing those players in the major leagues any time soon.
Sickels debuted his season-long chat show on May 17 and talked about a few of the names making waves in the minors. He also talked about a few major leaguers who have been demoted and updated users on a few injuries.
If you are a minor-league baseball fanatic and you missed Sickels' chat, an edited transcript follows:
|  | | Todd Walker is one opening-day starter back in the minors. |
Joe Hebert: What are the respective statuses of the following two stud pitchers: John Patterson (Arizona) and
Josh Beckett (Fla.)? Also, is there any hope that Nick Neugebauer (Mil) will ever put his control
problems behind him and fulfill all that potential?
John Sickels: Patterson has an elbow injury ... a bad one. The last I heard, he was getting a second opinion, but
the consensus was that he would have to have Tommy John surgery to repair a blown out
ligament. Beckett has a sore shoulder, but it isn't supposed to be anything serious. Neugebauer
has an awesome arm, and while it is true his control is awful, he's still just 19. I wouldn't be
surprised if he turns into a closer eventually, though I'm sure the Brewers will keep him in starting
as long as they can.
#1PhilsFan: Your 2000 Minor League Scouting Notebook was great! You called Hank Blalock a hitter in the
mold of George Brett. He seems to be playing well for Texas' A-ball affiliate. Any thoughts on his
progress or arrival?
John Sickels:
Thanks for the compliment about the book. Comparing Blalock to Brett was the biggest risk I
took in the book. So far, it looks OK -- Blalock is hitting .329 with power and excellent strike zone
judgment in the South Atlantic League. His fielding is still rough, and as long as the Rangers are
happy with Mike Lamb, I doubt they will rush Blalock. I think he'll keep hitting, but his position
may end up being a problem. Or not; it's hard to know about how 19-year olds are going to
develop. But so far he is doing fine with the bat.
Derek: In your book, you asserted that you felt Rob Bell was due for a major injury. Do you still feel that
Bell is due for a major breakdown? It appears to me that the Reds are treating him with kid
gloves and that is why he's (arguably) been the club's best pitcher thus far.
John Sickels:
I think they are handling him fairly carefully, which helps load the odds in his favor. I love Bell's
ability. All young pitchers have a tendency to get hurt easily. Keeping his workload under control
helps control the risk, but it doesn't eliminate it.
David Eadington: With Dave Martinez being traded, will Bubba Trammell finally get his shot at regular play, or will
the Rays give the job to Jose Guillen?
Does Trammel need to go to another organization to get his shot at a regular job?
John Sickels:
Well, the Devil Rays love guys with tools, so I think Guillen will get the majority of playing time.
He's still young enough to become a good player. Trammell already is, at least with the bat, but it
is fairly clear that the D-Rays don't appreciate it much. There are several teams that could use
Trammell's bat, but Lord knows if they will try and pick him up or not. It's too bad, too, he can hit.
He deserves a job a lot more than some stiff like Felix Jose.
Max: What's going on with Todd Greene at Syracuse? Seems to be hitting well -- 7 HR in 90 AB -- and
has been hot lately. I saw him getting playing time in OF and at DH, I think also a few games
catching. Once projected by some to be a 25-30 HR slugger, he has not panned out. I know,
horrible strike zone judgment and injuries -- but is there still potential there? Could he platoon with
Fullmer as DH and play a bit in the field to get the Jays some more power?
John Sickels:
Greene has what he has always had: home run power. I think the Angels did him a disservice by
trying to make him a catcher, when it was obvious he wasn't good at it and kept hurting his
shoulder behind the plate. Yeah, he'd make a good platoon DH, if he became a bit more patient.
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SICKELS' FILE
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Sickels worked as Bill James' research assistant from 1993 to 1996. He's authored five editions of the STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook. In addition, Sickels provides minor-league profiles for ESPN.com. Sickels received his BA in European history and philosophy from Northwest Missouri State University in 1990, and his MA in modern European history from the University of Kansas in 1993. John lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife Jeri, his son Nicholas, and their two cats. He spends his days talking care of Nicholas and his nights being a baseball fan.
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Patrick: What do you think about Rafeal Furcal with the Braves? Was he really that good when he was in
the minors? Is he for real?
John Sickels:
Yes, Furcal is for real. Yes, he was really good in the minors. I had him rated as the No. 15
prospect in baseball, which if anything was too low.
Dulinor: What do you think of Willie Bloomquist (Mariners)? Will he be able to keep it up at Triple-A?
John Sickels:
I loved Bloomquist in college, but I have to admit I'm surprised he has done as well as he has so
quickly. Most guys jumping to Triple-A with so little experience at the lower levels struggle. It's
too early to say what will happen with Bloomquist. I do think he'll be a fine player eventually, and
let's face it, the Mariners may find themselves in need of a shortstop.
wjw: What about Ryan Mills? He seems to be pitching a lot better this year, albeit at a lower level. Is
there any hope for him turning his career around?
John Sickels:
The Twins sent him down a level to the Midwest League, so he could work on fixing his
mechanics and regaining his confidence against younger competition. He hasn't dominated, but at
least he isn't walking everyone in sight, and is fanning a few people. I don't think we can say he is
back on track until he returns to the Florida State League, where he failed last year, and pitches
well.
Littledog2: No one can tell me what's happening with Nick Johnson other than he's injured much more badly
than originally thought. Is this going to be one of those injuries that hurts a player for his whole
career?
John Sickels: Hand injuries often take a long time to heal, and have a tendency to sap power. It is sometimes
more than a year before a player gets all of his power back after a severe hand injury. At this
point, we simply don't know how Johnson will react or how well the healing process will go. He's
such a pure hitter, I think he'll still be great, but the timetable has definitely been pushed back. Too
bad, too, because the Yankees could have used him this year, not that anyone feels sorry for
them.
Rick: What's your current assessment of Wily Mo Pena, Yankees prospect? He's batting .170 with 8 HR
and 50-plus Ks. Do you think it's too early to tell if he'll be any good?
John Sickels:
Well, Rick, he's still young, but those numbers are pretty bad, aren't they? His strike zone
judgment is terrible, which limits the usefulness of his power. The Yankees do understand the
importance of plate discipline, so maybe they can help him.
James: What about two Royals prospects, Junior Guerrero and Dermal Brown? How are they
progressing and do they have a shot at the bigs in the near future?
John Sickels:
I talked with some Wichita people over the weekend, and they told me that Guerrero is throwing
hard, but hasn't found the groove yet on his breaking stuff this year. His numbers are fair at
Wichita, but not dominating so far. Brown is struggling against Triple-A pitching so far, but he can
be streaky and I think he'll pull out of it if they are patient. Either or both could see the majors in
September, but next year is a better bet.
Bobby: Do you think that Eddie Furniss has a good shot at making a career in MLB?
John Sickels:
He has a shot, but only if he starts blasting the ball in Double-A this year. Furniss has ability, but
not enough to interest people if his performance isn't eye-catching soon. He may get typecast as a
minor-league slugger.
JeffoPA: When is Pat Burrell ever going to play for the struggling Phillies? Why don't they just give the guy a
chance to play and move or sit Ron Gant or Rico Brogna?
John Sickels:
Well, Burrell got off to a slow start. He is hitting very well now, and personally, I think he's ready
for the majors. But the Phils wanted to get him readjusted to playing first base after being in
the outfield last year. Also, the longer they delay calling him up, the less service time he racks up
towards arbitration and free agency. He should get a chance soon I would imagine.
Chris: Bobby Bradley's Class A stats are unbelievable so far. Is he this good or is the competition that bad? Is
this guy a candidate to be fast-tracked to the majors? What would be a realistic time table for his
progression?
John Sickels:
Bradley is a very polished young pitcher, with a good fastball, a terrific curve, and great control.
I think he'll breeze through Class A. How he does in Double-A, probably next year, will tell us
exactly how advanced he really is.
Diamond Jaxx: What's wrong with Corey Patterson? Are our expectations too high?
Also, I'd like to know what you think of Carlos Zambrano: 19-years old, 95 MPH heater, excellent
sinker. Is he an elite pitching prospect now that he's dominating the SL at such a young age?
John Sickels:
I don't think there is anything wrong with Patterson that more experience won't cure.
Remember, he's as old as most college sophomores, and is already in Double-A. Zambrano
was mediocre in the Midwest League last year, but seems to have taken a major step forward
this year due to better control. He throws 95 MPH, and if he keeps this performance up, then
certainly he would be regarded as an elite prospect.
Bobby: I am sometimes appalled at the pitch counts that college baseball pitchers rack up. Especially at
tournament time, top starters seem to go 100-plus pitches one day and then relieve for a couple of
innings two days later. Do you agree that top college pitchers are often abused and are young
pitchers treated more responsibly in the minor leagues?
John Sickels:
Yes, many top college pitchers are abused badly. Yes, many (though not all) organizations take
better care of their minor league pitchers than colleges do. But that doesn't necessarily mean
that a top high school pitcher should go pro rather than go to college. It has to be a
case-by-case basis. College does a lot to mature people. I think back to when I was 18, then
compare myself to when I was 22. I did a lot of growing up in those four years. Plus, I think
just getting an education is important. If my 19-month old boy turns into a pitching prospect
(unlikely if he inherited my athletic ability), I don't know if I would want him to go to college or
sign with the pros. I guess it would depend on which team drafted him, which college wanted
him, and how emotionally mature he is at the time.
Rugdog: Twins 2B Todd Walker since being sent down to Salt Lake City last week. Any trade
rumors that you're aware of?
John Sickels:
Not that I'm aware of right now. Walker is hitting very well at Salt Lake, but is still having
trouble fielding. I think the Twins sort of jumped the gun on this one; even if they concluded that
Walker wasn't part of the future for the team, by sending him down they ruined his trade value.
He hit over .300 in 1998 and for much of 1999. I know he was struggling this year, and his
confidence was down. But from a talent-management standpoint, it was an odd decision.
Mike: With Rickey Henderson gone, can Jason Tyner be the leadoff hitter the Mets need despite his
lack of power?
John Sickels:
Tyner is good at sneaking his way on base and creating havoc once there. I love the word
"havoc." Tyner could be something like Tom Goodwin with a somewhat higher on-base
percentage.
Well, thanks for all the questions. I wish I could answer them all, but there isn't enough time.
See you in a few weeks. Take care. | |
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