Off Topic
Travelblog of Thom S. Hunter
Editor’s Note: This is a running blog that will cover minor league players in the Yellow Springs organization. We initiated it because this kid reporter was hired without my knowledge and we needed to do something with him. He seems flaky to me. Seems like a waste of good cash. But what do I know? Good luck.
September, 2046: Whereabouts Unknown – A legend that runs through the YS9 organization is that the club had attempted to trade Sazui Kawashima several times but the guy just never aroused much passion. It got to the point, they say, that the front office sometimes put Kawashima into a deal merely to see what kind of reaction they got. It was fine with the club, though. Kawashima has always looked like exactly what he is today—a solid outfielder who will put hit enough to put up a couple WAR a season. This is made even better when you pair him with a platoon mate like Brett Powers, who adds his own two to the mix and adds up to something like 4.5ish WAR a year from the right field slot.
Good times.
You see where I’m going, right? If only the club had another Sazui Kawashima in the wings.
(#1)
There are some people who walk the planet who think 20-year-old Luis Rivera will match Kawashima in production, and to be fair, I suppose I can see the chances—especially after a couple tall cold ones. There is, I’ve determined, a zone of beer intake during which things seem to be pretty good, and another zone after which you cross into the Doom-and-Gloom mode. For me with Luis Rivera, the entry point is roughly 2.765 bottles, and the exit is something around five.
I mean, the AA numbers are nice to look at. Two seasons, 1.9 WAR in the first, 3.9 the second. And you can’t blast 30 homers without raising some eyebrows. But context matters, you know, and this is Santa Cruz. A lotta guys have put up career looking numbers in Santa Cruz. To make matters worse, Rivera strained a rotator cuff in the post season. So now we’ll have to see how he convalesces—and to pile on a little, Rivera’s reputation around the front office is more one of annoyance than excitement. The thought is that he’s that guy who will go to the gym, and stand around spotting everyone else while … um … people watching.
I’m just saying.
My personal belief is that those people who believe in Luis Rivera are most likely clinically insane, and would benefit from some serious mescaline therapy.
So, don’t get your hopes up.
That said, I’ll grant you he could be something. Maybe 2 WAR. Maybe. Get him out of Santa Cruz and let me see the numbers then, and I’ll be willing to slide a chip or two onto the table around that bet. But for now, I’m playing it safe. Sure, Rivera is #1 on the list, but that’s just because the rest of the list really just doesn’t exist.
# See what I mean? Nothing looks good right out of the box.
Sure, Paul Mitchell has the power you like to see. So does Matt Lewis, And Vasa Kontic can make some contact. Maybe. I’d guess one of the two might bump a little and maybe offer a real glimmer of hope, but unless that bump is made with Thor’s Hammer, you’re not going to be riding these guys to any Heartland titles anytime soon.
So, really, something has to be done about Right Field.
ORGANIZATIONAL PROSPECT DEPTH CHART
September, 2046: Whereabouts Unknown – A legend that runs through the YS9 organization is that the club had attempted to trade Sazui Kawashima several times but the guy just never aroused much passion. It got to the point, they say, that the front office sometimes put Kawashima into a deal merely to see what kind of reaction they got. It was fine with the club, though. Kawashima has always looked like exactly what he is today—a solid outfielder who will put hit enough to put up a couple WAR a season. This is made even better when you pair him with a platoon mate like Brett Powers, who adds his own two to the mix and adds up to something like 4.5ish WAR a year from the right field slot.
Good times.
You see where I’m going, right? If only the club had another Sazui Kawashima in the wings.
(#1)
There are some people who walk the planet who think 20-year-old Luis Rivera will match Kawashima in production, and to be fair, I suppose I can see the chances—especially after a couple tall cold ones. There is, I’ve determined, a zone of beer intake during which things seem to be pretty good, and another zone after which you cross into the Doom-and-Gloom mode. For me with Luis Rivera, the entry point is roughly 2.765 bottles, and the exit is something around five.
I’m just saying.
My personal belief is that those people who believe in Luis Rivera are most likely clinically insane, and would benefit from some serious mescaline therapy.
So, don’t get your hopes up.
That said, I’ll grant you he could be something. Maybe 2 WAR. Maybe. Get him out of Santa Cruz and let me see the numbers then, and I’ll be willing to slide a chip or two onto the table around that bet. But for now, I’m playing it safe. Sure, Rivera is #1 on the list, but that’s just because the rest of the list really just doesn’t exist.
# See what I mean? Nothing looks good right out of the box.
Sure, Paul Mitchell has the power you like to see. So does Matt Lewis, And Vasa Kontic can make some contact. Maybe. I’d guess one of the two might bump a little and maybe offer a real glimmer of hope, but unless that bump is made with Thor’s Hammer, you’re not going to be riding these guys to any Heartland titles anytime soon.
So, really, something has to be done about Right Field.
ORGANIZATIONAL PROSPECT DEPTH CHART
| Level | Player | Age | B | OVR | HITTING | DEFENSE | Ceiling | Arrival | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | Luis Rivera | 20 | L | 35/35 | 6/8/7/6/5 | 5/4/9 - | 2 WAR/Platoon | 2047-2048 | Rotator Cuff |
| SA | Paul Mitchell | 20 | L | 20/40 | 5/7/8/6/5 | 5/5/8 - | |||
| SA | Vasa Kontic | 19 | L | 25/30 | 7/8/5/3/9 | 4/5/9 - | |||
| SA | Jose Ramos | 20 | R | 25/40 | 6/7/8/6/5 | 2/6/11 - | DH | ||
| R | Matt Lewis | 19 | L | 20/40 | 4/8/9/6/3 | 3/5/9 - | DH | ||
| A | Hyun-suk Kim | 19 | R | 25/40 | 7/7/7/6/7 | 3/4/8 - | DH |