Off Topic
Off-Season Assessment
If the 2057 class came in too hot, and the 2058 class came in too cold, 2059 was perhaps in the Goldilocks zone of "just right."
With only three years of time since the draft concluded, the parent club has had to players make an impact. On the opposite side, only one player remains in the organization from the 13th round or later, though a few are still in other organizations, and it would see that outfielder Karsten Diomedes still holds some hope to make his living on a diamond someplace. It's also of note that 8th round selection Eugene Arnold was sent to Long Beach in the deal that brought us Julio Lopez, and Armold looks like he should be a very solid BBA reliever.
On the whole, twenty-four of the thirty-two BBA teams have seen players yield from this season's draft, four (as noted in the 2058 rundown) having benefited from 10 or more WAR (and Hawaii at 9.1 WAR is close to a fifth).
Anyway, here is the breakdown of the whole Bikini class by selection:
2062 BBA Arrivals
For the first time, the team actually hits fairly big on a first round selection, as Paul Worboys made it to the team this season. It's arguable that he might have made it here last year, but a late-season injury removed that decision from concern. Regardless, we see him as a very solid #3, and a pretty reasonable #2. If that 70/75 is real, then he'll eventually be in the conversation for ace-dom, but his numbers in 2062 don't quite back that kind of assessment up right now.
Fifth-round pick, reliever Antonio Salazar also bumped into a solid pitcher, and spent about half the season on the big league roster. The team has hopeful expectations for him and fellow arrival in 2057s Brain Capps.
Yet To Come?
There is apparently serious consideration being given to handing the starting first base job to RHB Guillermo Arce (4th round) who appears to be at least serviceable. If his recent Power bump is real, that might even work, at least while he's on his cheap minimum salary seasons. His numbers have been good as he's moved through the organization. Time will tell what happens, but it's not going too far to say he looks to be about as ready as he'll ever look.
Not Dead Yet?
Second round pick Brian Carroll has gathered some attention as he's moved through the organization, but a recent potential downgrade has dimmed excitement a bit. We will have to watch and see if that's real, or if we'll see him come back. His propensity to give up the longball will limit him, regardless. Still, he's not dead, yet.
Catcher David Castillo (3rd round) is going to hit. That much is certain. He's going to need some more movement on the gloveside if he's going to have a career, however. The "glass is half full" people will say he's already bumped a little, and the team has had some success improving their catcher's defensive acumen. The "glass is full of piss" people will say he's got way too far to go for it to matter. All we can say for certain is that he's going to keep getting chances until the chance well runs dry.
Two others who are off-radar, but of some merit to watch are fellow catcher Takiji Takata (taken in the 5th round due to his glove alone), and 3B Eiichi Shimida who, given Kata Ishibashi's difficulties at 3B may well be given this spring just to see what he might amount to. At 24, the time is now or never.
Class Grade
If the club got nothing but a top-flight Paul Worboys out of this class, you'd call it a success. Adding Salazar to it makes it a happy class, and if one of the others yield anything, it's icing on the brownie.
B- with Aspirations for a B or B+
If the 2057 class came in too hot, and the 2058 class came in too cold, 2059 was perhaps in the Goldilocks zone of "just right."
With only three years of time since the draft concluded, the parent club has had to players make an impact. On the opposite side, only one player remains in the organization from the 13th round or later, though a few are still in other organizations, and it would see that outfielder Karsten Diomedes still holds some hope to make his living on a diamond someplace. It's also of note that 8th round selection Eugene Arnold was sent to Long Beach in the deal that brought us Julio Lopez, and Armold looks like he should be a very solid BBA reliever.
On the whole, twenty-four of the thirty-two BBA teams have seen players yield from this season's draft, four (as noted in the 2058 rundown) having benefited from 10 or more WAR (and Hawaii at 9.1 WAR is close to a fifth).
Anyway, here is the breakdown of the whole Bikini class by selection:
2062 BBA Arrivals
For the first time, the team actually hits fairly big on a first round selection, as Paul Worboys made it to the team this season. It's arguable that he might have made it here last year, but a late-season injury removed that decision from concern. Regardless, we see him as a very solid #3, and a pretty reasonable #2. If that 70/75 is real, then he'll eventually be in the conversation for ace-dom, but his numbers in 2062 don't quite back that kind of assessment up right now.
Fifth-round pick, reliever Antonio Salazar also bumped into a solid pitcher, and spent about half the season on the big league roster. The team has hopeful expectations for him and fellow arrival in 2057s Brain Capps.
Yet To Come?
There is apparently serious consideration being given to handing the starting first base job to RHB Guillermo Arce (4th round) who appears to be at least serviceable. If his recent Power bump is real, that might even work, at least while he's on his cheap minimum salary seasons. His numbers have been good as he's moved through the organization. Time will tell what happens, but it's not going too far to say he looks to be about as ready as he'll ever look.
Not Dead Yet?
Second round pick Brian Carroll has gathered some attention as he's moved through the organization, but a recent potential downgrade has dimmed excitement a bit. We will have to watch and see if that's real, or if we'll see him come back. His propensity to give up the longball will limit him, regardless. Still, he's not dead, yet.
Catcher David Castillo (3rd round) is going to hit. That much is certain. He's going to need some more movement on the gloveside if he's going to have a career, however. The "glass is half full" people will say he's already bumped a little, and the team has had some success improving their catcher's defensive acumen. The "glass is full of piss" people will say he's got way too far to go for it to matter. All we can say for certain is that he's going to keep getting chances until the chance well runs dry.
Two others who are off-radar, but of some merit to watch are fellow catcher Takiji Takata (taken in the 5th round due to his glove alone), and 3B Eiichi Shimida who, given Kata Ishibashi's difficulties at 3B may well be given this spring just to see what he might amount to. At 24, the time is now or never.
Class Grade
If the club got nothing but a top-flight Paul Worboys out of this class, you'd call it a success. Adding Salazar to it makes it a happy class, and if one of the others yield anything, it's icing on the brownie.
B- with Aspirations for a B or B+