BP tabs Phillies Top 11 prospects
From prospectnik Kevin Goldstein. Domonic Brown predictably checks in first (as a five star prospect). Surprises include Phillippe Aumont (ranked second, as a four star prospect), and J.C. Ramirez (ranked eleventh, as a two star prospect).
The rankings and Brown's scouting report are available to non-subscribers, with the rest reserved for those with a BP subscription.
5 months ago
PhillyFriar
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James
I really hope “Jiwan James” isn’t Dutch for “D’Arby Myers.”
That said, I’m really starting to be intrigued by him.
Good work as always by Goldstein.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
We simply have no idea.
I just picked a language.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Feb 16, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
I think if you’re going to make an argument that James can succeed where Myers has — thus far, at least — failed, it really comes down to understanding the strike zone.
d’Arby Myers (1063 PA): 5.5% BB — 21.2% K
Jiwan James (134 PA): 8.2% BB — 18.2% K
KG was even saying after Myers’ eye-opening GCL performance that, “He’s still very raw, particularly in his approach.” Whereas with James now, he’s at least saying things along the lines of, “He showed intriguing natural hitting ability last summer despite the rustiness, with a good idea at the plate, and he has the ability to use all fields.”
by PhillyFriar on Feb 16, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
I was kind of making a joke..
Further, my understanding of Myers is that he wasn’t really a “raw, rusty tools” kind of guy but was more of an intellectual, brainy type who would get by on guts and guile. Am I misremembering?
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Feb 16, 2010 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
Ha gotcha. +5 points for drawing a random language out of a hat.
Anyway, I think you’re right in one sense — Myers is supposed to be a bright kid, but I think he’s still a quick twitch athlete in the Brown/Gillies/Gose/James/Castro/Collier/Hewitt/Hudson/Altherr/Warren mold.* He’s an extreme long shot to ever put it together at this point, but for what it’s worth, Mike Newman from Scouting the Sally says not to give up completely.
*Yes, I had to double check to see if I missed anyone. And yes, that looks like a pretty ridiculous flag football team.
by PhillyFriar on Feb 16, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Can anyone explain what this means:
…. swing that is on more of a single plane than one that provides loft and backspin.
which was said about Brown. Sounds like scout speak.
I suppose it’s scout speak, but it means pretty much what it says: that some scouts think Brown profiles as more of a gap-to-gap hitter than a pure power threat because his swing is more geared to line drives than long flies.
Incidentally, my understanding of Brown’s development is that he was a bit overly focused on contact before this year at the expense of sapping his power production. It seems he did a much better job picking his spots to drive the ball this year — a .214 ISO in the FSL is pretty darn impressive — so I think the power potential is still there. But if KG’s thoughts on the swing plane are correct, the hope may have to be for more of an Utley-type “the hard hit line drives turn into home runs” power threat, as opposed to a classic power hitter.
Wasn't the same thing said about Taylor?
A line drive swing is fine if you have natural power. Brown’s big frame should help out there.
And I think the skepticism will remain for both Taylor and Brown until they can translate their physical size into home run power at the big league level.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Feb 20, 2010 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
You’re right, the same thing is said about Taylor (and about Kyle Blanks, too). The big frame should help some of those line drives turn into home runs, but unless you have perfect swing mechanics and incredible strength a la Albert Pujols, a line drive swing won’t produce anymore than 30 home runs tops. Which is fine, obviously, but maybe not the power that scouts would project from Taylor and Brown athletically.
by PhillyFriar on Feb 21, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
So, here’s my guilty admission that I haven’t yet subscribed to BP, and can’t read beyond Brown’s description.
That admitted, can anyone shed light on what Goldstein’s high opinion of Aumont is based on? It’s not that I don’t think it’s warranted, I’m just wondering if it’s reflective of his move back to starting prospect or something Goldstein sees in his pitching. Basically, should we hedge our optimism more on positional value or skill?






















