Off Topic
2061 Season Snapshot
Third Base is an interesting position for Bikini. At the big league level we’re young (as, to be fair, we are at most positions), but in Kata Ishibashi we’ve got a confusingly good situation of having a guy pounding the ball, but with ratings that make you wonder for how long that will happen. But then there’s Manuel Martinez and Run-ming Gui, the young and the old, who can play the position, too.
And down in the organization, there are even more great ideas going on. Arguably, I like eight prospects at the hot corner—including one in the International Complex. Of course, that’s a problem because no organization has that much playing time to distribute. It leaves me with a quandary, though. I’ve been trying to limit these lists to the top 5 in the organization. What do we do with eight?
Sigh. It sucks to be me, am I right?
So, let’s take a look at them, shall we?
#1 – Benji Amberman
When I drafted Amberman back in 2057, the plan was that by now they would either be playing on the atoll or at least sitting in AAA and knocking on the door. Alas, the powers that control the baseball magic have been persnickety. Amberman remains in A-Ball at Lake City, and while the glow remains, it has dimmed to a degree. Last year I said I thought this year was the turning point for Amberman, that they needed to show serious progress or face an ungly reality of rating degradation. What actually happened was that Amberman had a medium-okay year on the field, and also suffered a slight rating fade. That 80 potential of a few years back is now a 60, meaning they are still a solid prospect.
At the end of the day, my suggestion for him last year was probably too aggressive, but this year, again, I think to myself that it’s a big season in the Amberman household. He’s 21. Those ratings need to come further in.
2062 Projection: Spend the off season in the development lab, go to spring training, and start in A-Ball Lake City to hopefully get promoted to AA Kamloops.
#2 – Tye Eissens
I could put the next several guys (at least three?) in a couple different orders, I suppose. I’ve dropped a few guys down a notch simply because they are you and hence development risks. Eissens goes up a bit not only because he’s nearly developed, but because he’s got a few factors I like. First, he looks like a true switch hitter. Second, besides that bazooka he’s got on his shoulder, he can play the outfield, too. And third, his bat has some pop from both sides, and three-run homers do a lot to erase warts. Fourth, he’s durable.
The best ability is availability, right?
That said, he’s had an adventurous time of it since we signed him as am minor league free agent. 2060 was a monster 4.2 WAR year. 2061 was…um … not.
2062 Projection: We think he’s ready for AAA.
#3 – Tony Welburn
Again with the switch hitter, right?
I noted elsewhere that I have grown a small crush on Welburn, probably because he came to the organization on a medium-cheap IFA contract and I brought him to the R-Ball level as a very young kind. This means his numbers have been quite ugly for two years, and only this season did they begin to resemble something you would call a real player’s output. So the facts here say it’s way to early to be making any solid statements about Tony Welburn except that the scouts say he’s a solid contact/line-drive kind of profile, and he’s got a great work ethic.
I’m fine with him at #3 on the 3B prospect depth chart. Or #5. Whatever.
2062 Projection: I expect I’ll give him the season at Short-A Port au Prince ans see what happens.
#4 – Ken Haupt
I could certainly see Ken Haupt listed over both Eissens and Wellburn. On paper his hitting profile is probably stronger, and his glove, too, probably works better. I love, again, that he’s a switchie. And he’s also had a small bump already, though who can tell if that’s real yet. On top of that, he can run a little bit, too. Stole three bases after we drafted him in the 6th round last year.
The kid is 17, though.
Those raw ratings have a very long way to go, and though his ceiling is a little higher than the others, it’s not THAT much higher. That said, he’s quite interesting, and if he doesn’t lose a step next year, I’d expect him to be higher on the list if we do this again.
2062 Projection: Start full time in Ogden R-ball.
#5 – “Not That” John Reed
Another guy drafted last season but who received only limited playing time. His power projects out to the best of the class, and his glove is the equal to Haupt, which is good, not great. Add that up and I could see him up the list a little, I suppose. But his intangible scores aren’t as strong as some of the others, and (again) he’s 17. He can play left field, too, it appears.
The game scores him at 45, and I can see that as practical.
So, yeah, color me interested, but check in again next year.
2062 Projection: Full season in Ogden R-ball, split between LF and 3B when Haupt rests.
The Others
As I noted above, three other guys have my eye, though I’m not sure what to make of them:
Manuel Mata (24 – AAA) – He probably belongs up in the actual list simply because he could probably play in the BBA right now, though wouldn’t be a mega-impact player. He turned 2.6 WAR in AAA during 2060, but fell to 0.7 this year, so….hmm. Expect him back at AAA or to be traded to a team that wants a low-grade steady guy on minimum salary.
Eiichi Shimda (23 – AA) – Shimda is a interesting looking left-handed batter with a solid enough defensive profile. He needs a good bump in either power or eye to have a real shot at the BBA, but he’s 23 and a hard worker, so I’m not ruling him out yet.
Alcander Mercouri (16 – INT) – Perhaps the most intriguing guy on the board. He’s a blank slate, really, though team insiders like his intangibles and his projection as a pull hitter with solid contact. Does that mean power might grow? Who knows? The kid is 16.
Third Base is an interesting position for Bikini. At the big league level we’re young (as, to be fair, we are at most positions), but in Kata Ishibashi we’ve got a confusingly good situation of having a guy pounding the ball, but with ratings that make you wonder for how long that will happen. But then there’s Manuel Martinez and Run-ming Gui, the young and the old, who can play the position, too.
And down in the organization, there are even more great ideas going on. Arguably, I like eight prospects at the hot corner—including one in the International Complex. Of course, that’s a problem because no organization has that much playing time to distribute. It leaves me with a quandary, though. I’ve been trying to limit these lists to the top 5 in the organization. What do we do with eight?
Sigh. It sucks to be me, am I right?
So, let’s take a look at them, shall we?
#1 – Benji Amberman
| Benji Amberman (3B) | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level: A | 21 | 20/60 | 4/9 | 4/8 | 3/8 | 6/6 | 3/3 | 4/7 |
| Age: 21 | * | IFR | IFE | IFA | TDP | OFR | OFE | OFA |
| Bats-Throws: R/R | * | 7 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Height: 6'6" | * | SPD | AGR | STE | RUN | CBK | CFR | CAR |
| Weight: 195 | * | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Source: DR57.1 |
At the end of the day, my suggestion for him last year was probably too aggressive, but this year, again, I think to myself that it’s a big season in the Amberman household. He’s 21. Those ratings need to come further in.
2062 Projection: Spend the off season in the development lab, go to spring training, and start in A-Ball Lake City to hopefully get promoted to AA Kamloops.
#2 – Tye Eissens
| Tye Eissens (3B) | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level: AA | 23 | 30/40 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 6/7 | 6/6 | 5/5 |
| Age: 23 | * | IFR | IFE | IFA | TDP | OFR | OFE | OFA |
| Bats-Throws: S/R | * | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Height: 7'2" | * | SPD | AGR | STE | RUN | CBK | CFR | CAR |
| Weight: 185 | * | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Source: MLC |
I could put the next several guys (at least three?) in a couple different orders, I suppose. I’ve dropped a few guys down a notch simply because they are you and hence development risks. Eissens goes up a bit not only because he’s nearly developed, but because he’s got a few factors I like. First, he looks like a true switch hitter. Second, besides that bazooka he’s got on his shoulder, he can play the outfield, too. And third, his bat has some pop from both sides, and three-run homers do a lot to erase warts. Fourth, he’s durable.
The best ability is availability, right?
That said, he’s had an adventurous time of it since we signed him as am minor league free agent. 2060 was a monster 4.2 WAR year. 2061 was…um … not.
2062 Projection: We think he’s ready for AAA.
#3 – Tony Welburn
| Tony Welburn (3B) | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level: R | 19 | 20/40 | 3/7 | 1/7 | 3/6 | 2/5 | 3/4 | 2/5 |
| Age: 19 | * | IFR | IFE | IFA | TDP | OFR | OFE | OFA |
| Bats-Throws: S/R | * | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Height: 6'0" | * | SPD | AGR | STE | RUN | CBK | CFR | CAR |
| Weight: 180 | * | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Source: IFA58 |
I noted elsewhere that I have grown a small crush on Welburn, probably because he came to the organization on a medium-cheap IFA contract and I brought him to the R-Ball level as a very young kind. This means his numbers have been quite ugly for two years, and only this season did they begin to resemble something you would call a real player’s output. So the facts here say it’s way to early to be making any solid statements about Tony Welburn except that the scouts say he’s a solid contact/line-drive kind of profile, and he’s got a great work ethic.
I’m fine with him at #3 on the 3B prospect depth chart. Or #5. Whatever.
2062 Projection: I expect I’ll give him the season at Short-A Port au Prince ans see what happens.
#4 – Ken Haupt
| Ken Haupt (3B) | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level: R | 17 | 20/45 | 2/6 | 2/5 | 3/7 | 4/7 | 4/6 | 3/5 |
| Age: 17 | * | IFR | IFE | IFA | TDP | OFR | OFE | OFA |
| Bats-Throws: S/R | * | 6 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Height: 6'0" | * | SPD | AGR | STE | RUN | CBK | CFR | CAR |
| Weight: 160 | * | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Source: DR61.6 |
The kid is 17, though.
Those raw ratings have a very long way to go, and though his ceiling is a little higher than the others, it’s not THAT much higher. That said, he’s quite interesting, and if he doesn’t lose a step next year, I’d expect him to be higher on the list if we do this again.
2062 Projection: Start full time in Ogden R-ball.
#5 – “Not That” John Reed
| John Reed (3B) | Age | OVR | CON | BABIP | AvK | GAP | POW | EYE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level: R | 17 | 20/45 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 2/6 | 3/4 | 4/7 | 3/5 |
| Age: 17 | * | IFR | IFE | IFA | TDP | OFR | OFE | OFA |
| Bats-Throws: R/R | * | 6 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Height: 6'2" | * | SPD | AGR | STE | RUN | CBK | CFR | CAR |
| Weight: 185 | * | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Source: DR61.9 |
The game scores him at 45, and I can see that as practical.
So, yeah, color me interested, but check in again next year.
2062 Projection: Full season in Ogden R-ball, split between LF and 3B when Haupt rests.
The Others
As I noted above, three other guys have my eye, though I’m not sure what to make of them:
Manuel Mata (24 – AAA) – He probably belongs up in the actual list simply because he could probably play in the BBA right now, though wouldn’t be a mega-impact player. He turned 2.6 WAR in AAA during 2060, but fell to 0.7 this year, so….hmm. Expect him back at AAA or to be traded to a team that wants a low-grade steady guy on minimum salary.
Eiichi Shimda (23 – AA) – Shimda is a interesting looking left-handed batter with a solid enough defensive profile. He needs a good bump in either power or eye to have a real shot at the BBA, but he’s 23 and a hard worker, so I’m not ruling him out yet.
Alcander Mercouri (16 – INT) – Perhaps the most intriguing guy on the board. He’s a blank slate, really, though team insiders like his intangibles and his projection as a pull hitter with solid contact. Does that mean power might grow? Who knows? The kid is 16.
