Off Topic
From the Offices of Amit Hahn, Chief Stats Dork
Bikini Krill
October 5, 2062
Per direction of the General Manager, I have undertaken a review of 18-year-old infielder Marcos Cortez. I understand the context of the question is to help complete the debate regarding Cortez's readiness for a billet in the club's development program on Pain Island this off-season despite his age and current assignment in the ball club's International Complex.
First, let me present Cortez's current baseline assessments:
Marcos Cortez (2B) Age OVR CON BABIP AvK GAP POW EYE Level: INT 18 20/60 3/8 2/7 3/8 2/6 2/6 2/8 Age: 18 * IFR IFE IFA TDP OFR OFE OFA Bats-Throws: S/R * 5 5 3 5 5 4 2 Height: 5'11" * SPD AGR STE RUN CBK CFR CAR Weight: 170 * 7 5 6 4 1 1 1 Source: Disc
OVERVIEW
Cortez is 5'11, and listed at 170 pounds, though he is clearly still a growing boy and my information says that his favorite locations are Cessilita's Taco and Empanada Emporium and Sweetness, a taffy maker and bakery near the Bikini International Complex. There is some likelihood this estimate is already out of date. We note he came to the organization at 162 pounds.
He is considered a good teammate among his peers, perhaps due to his propensity to take them to Cessilita's.
He was assigned to the team's to the team's International Complex in March of 2060, and has made steady progression ever since, mostly playing in the infield with a focus on second base. We assume it is this progress that has triggered this request for analysis.
Since we do not have access to statistics his performance has generated (nor information about his true competitive environment, this report will focus on more empirical information than any more foundational metrics.
PROGRESSION
Hitting: Since arriving at the team's IC, Cortez has continuously registered improvements in mechanics and strength that has caused observers to get quite excited. Raw measures of bat speed and plate discipline, and both swing selection and contact on swings have raised rapidly, both of which augment and support the line-of-sight reports coming from baseball people on site. In other words, if Cortez does grow into the player some are suggesting he could, it seems clear he would be a major force on a BBA team.
- Cortez-2B-250.png (204.54 KiB) Viewed 176 times
He is a switch hitter, also. Though it is early, he shows no obvious signs of strong splits to one side or the other. This, too, would seem to raise his value.
Running: While not holding elite speed, he runs well enough, and seems to make reasonable choices while in the basepaths. I see no information to debate suggestions that he would be at least competent as a big-league player.
Fielding: However. While we cannot fully confirm observational data that suggests his defensive prowess at second may be sub-standard, three-passes of video evidence through TOBI (our Total Baseball Imitator) Simu-Scan Analyzer suggests that the player is not quick off the mark, nor seems to intuitively understand the dynamics of spin as a baseball bounces in his direction.
PROJECTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The idea of applying extra work on Pain island is not misplaced. As to the question of whether such an improvement would yield, well, that's harder to call. There is no data in his profile that suggests he will learn any more rapidly or slowly than anyone else.
He is still young, however, and the team has had some success in providing off-season programs that help young players mature more rapidly. In addition to Front Office questions regarding any possible stint on Pain Island, I might suggest consideration be given to that kind of support.
I should note that TOBI has a strong viewpoint that despite Cortez, relatively slight presence, would be better placed at first base, and that his bat would still strongly suffice. Regardless of whether the club gave him one of our coveted slots in Pain Island, I feel comfortable saying he should be promoted into Rookie ball next year in Ogden where his numbers may or may not wind up being particularly worthy, he would be able to study under current hitting coach Ronnie Hubbard.