Minor League Ball :: John’s Favorite Current Pitching Prospect
Chuck James of the Braves is my current favorite pitching prospect. That doesn’t mean I think he’s the best, rather he is just my favorite.
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i like him also:@
:7))3 (my band director)
Question, Mac and others:
Is Chuckie Smith READY for prime time…ready to fill the MISSING starting lefthander for the Braves next year?
Frankly, he maybe better now even then Kyle Davies and we need a lefty once we TRADE HORAM’S ASS so maybe we should save some more money and just PLAY Chuckie?
He is similar to Capellan in that they both had meteoric rises through the minors from Myrtle Beach to Richmond dominating at every stop. But they are different in thatJames is a more complete pitcher hwo actually has a good change up.
James doesn’t throw 100 like Capellan, though. He probably doesn’t throw 90. Some people suspect that being deceptive won’t work in the majors. I don’t know.
I was surprised that Sickels likes James so much–he has not been all that generous with Braves’prospects (witness his commentary on the Appalachian League). I wish that Sickels had gone a bit further: is James a potential #1 starter or #3 or someone who can play the Remlinger role?
That said, I suspect that James is a great story in the making. Two broken wrists before he was drafted allowed the Braves to get him in the 20th round in 2002 and prompting him to turn down a chance to pitch for Kennesaw State University.
His progress would have been even more rapid had he and teamate/prospect William Esquivel, not gotten in an unspecified incident (possibly a bar fight)in Charleston in 2004.
James is arriving at the right time. While the Braves’ bullpen woes have been well documented, their starting pitching has also been weakened. Hampton will be out next year, they may not resign Thompson and Horatio Ramirez has been disappointing to say the very least.
I would not be surprised to see the Braves keep Thomson and have the follwing rotation: Smoltz, Hudson, Thomson, Davies and James. Sosa would go back to the bullpen and Horam might bring another reliever in a trade.
The Braves would still have Lerew (who could use a bit more experience) at AAA.
http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/1005/11braveschart.html
Further proof that David O’Brien has no f-ng clue what he’s talking about. He got more then half this list dead wrong.
who the hell would overpay Reitsma? Even the Yankees aren’t that DUMB.
Alex, what he means is that Reitsma will get a big raise in arbitration, because he had 15 saves and a sub-4.00 ERA. He’ll probably double his salary, and who needs him at $3 million? I sure wouldn’t. The Braves might keep him if he’ll settle for a marginal raise. More about this whenever I write the bullpen entry.
Who needs him at 1.5 million ? Martin Gryboski, Kolb and Reitsma don’t have the it.
I have to put the blame for the bullpen on JS, Cox and (who knows what input he has on this) Leo. All these bad relievers and you can add Benero to it were doing the best they could but nobody thought that relievers were worth spending any monmey on if it weren’t for the 2 steals(Sosa and Farnsworth)which cost them very little the bullpen would have been unbearable. Hope they have learned that lesson.
For something completely different, what do you guys think of this trade: Adam LaRoche for Scot Shields? Shields is already 30, but he has two more years of arb time left (I think), made 925 grand this year, and can start or close. He has filthy stuff. I would love to turn him into a 3rd starter for a couple years.
The Angels have been looking for a 1b, and LaRoche certainly has more power than Erstad does. The Angels also have the bullpen depth to lose Shields. They might not covet LaRoche enough – maybe throw in someone like Anthony Lerew.
Thoughts?
If the Angels are looking for a first baseman, I’d be happy to take Casey Kotchman off their hands. So would the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the Mets…
Amen. I’ve heard over and over again that they tried to get Sweeney during the year and might sign Konerko, so who knows.
How about the Rockies as a potential trade partner? They need all kinds of pieces, and they have two stud first basemen.
I know it probably won’t happen, as Shealy’s too young and valuable, and Helton’s too expensive, but there’s always a shot they could part with Shealy for the right price.
Stephen, the rotation of Smoltz, Hudson, Thomson, Davies and James is just too weak. The Braves are supposed to return the starting pitching rotation to be their number one priority. Don’t forget the Braves started last season with a rotation of Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton, Thomson, and Ramirez. I fully expect the Braves to trade for a frontline starting pitcher this off-season.
You are probably right–though I think that either Davies or James could probably match Ramirez. Such a rotation might also provide future stability.
However, it may come down to just how good they think James will be in 2006. What has been impressive about James is that he has posted stunning levels at every level (actually quite unlike Capellan who stormed through the minors in little more than a year) and it maybe that the Braves believe that he will be sound as a rookie. I also think that Davies will be pitch better if he is given a consistent role (and can improve his command).
While I would not be surprised to see the Braves trade for one (or more) starting pitchers, they also have to rebuild the bullpen.
If they follow their recent MO, that means trading James before they’re forced to consider him for a spot.
I’d like to take this opportunity to agitate for John Thomson. He’s not the kind of guy that you get excited about or disgusted with — he appears average in every respect, right down to his name. But there was some small measure of anticipation when he arrived — that he would make a fine Leo disciple after pitching his entire career in pitchers parks on bad teams with lousy defenses. After some early struggles last season, he put it together after the ASB, and was our most reliable starter from that point until his injury this year.
Because of the injury (a freak thing not likely to hamper him going forward), his price should be reasonable, and I find it exceedingly likely that he’ll be a good value. He appears to be an even-keel guy who will show up ready to go next spring. A healthy season could bring 17 wins and a 3.25 ERA, I’d bet on it.
lerew has closer like stuff
estrada, laroche,and HR for shields and minor league infielder?
sansho, i agree 1oo percent with you on Thomson. He is completely underrated. He is definately good for 15 wins and an ERA around 3.50. A good 3rd starter and a helluva 4th starter IMO.
Shealy’s career minor league line is something like .320/.415/.595. Yowza.
And that’s not just Colorado Springs, either. He’s excelled at every level. He’s a young 26 (August).
I would say there’s no way the Rocks trade him, but his knees won’t let him play anything but first, and there’s already a first baseman in Colorado who’s too expensive to move. If I were the Rocks, I’d go to the winter meetings and take the highest bidder. Colorado has too many holes for a hitter like Shealy to waste away in triple A.
Gammons says the Braves will collect 50% of Hampton’s salary from insurance, but not until June. Which is not such a great thing unless timing can be fudged (which I assume is at least possible). So this basically becomes a wash, at least at some point, again assuming that 50% of the salary has truly been stashed away.
All this assumes Gammons is right… something I’m not willing to bet on.
How about this idea?
Andruw to the Rangers for Mench and Young.
Estrada, Thomson, LaRoche to the Reds for Dunn.
Sign A.J. Burnett.
Feel free to mock my fantasy.
I say we keep thompson. When healthy, his numbers as a Brave have been improving. Also, his 4.75 million option is really 4.25, when you consider we’d have to pay the 500K buyout. If Jon gave 4 million to Albie “freaking” Lopez, we can surely give it a guy that will keep his ERA under 4.00 and eat some innings.
I say dump laroche for bullpen help. I’ve been sick of his attitude. You dont have to talk like Ricky Henderson or Barroid to be a prima donna. Laroche should’ve been dumped last year when Gammons couldnt stop pumping him up. Chipper to first, with Julio spelling him, needs to happen sooner rather than later. Betemit and Marte could play 3rd and start developing into MLB hitters.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Fookie is gone to NY. Hopefully with the mets, and in their free agents tradition, his new nickname will be Dookie next year. I love watching over paid met free agents fail.
Stop gap, BILL E. HALL. with Giles hitting leadoff. At least until Jon Jr. is given the spot just before his father’s forced retirement.
That would be fine, except:
The Braves would never make the Andruw trade. Andruw is 30,000 times the player either Mench is, and Young doesn’t make up the difference. Don’t let the hitter’s park stats fool you. Check out Mench’s away numbers.
The Reds would never give away Dunn for that. Maybe after last year, but, regardless of reality, Thomson looks like damaged goods now, and Estrada and LaRoche aren’t hot like they were.
A.J. Burnett is the kind of attitude problem from which the Braves traditionally shy away. And, even with those trades, the Braves probably couldn’t afford him.
Stu, Thats some good sh}t you are smoking.
AJ Burnett??? Besides the fact that he SUCKS and will be waaaayyyy overpriced for his mediocre “stuff”, he has a bad attitude and that is something the Braves avoid.
Trading Andruw after the season he just had??? For Mench and Young? That doesn’t even dignify a response.
The Dunn deal would never happen either.
Everything you just mentioned would be a detriment to this team. Thank god JS is the GM and not you….
That was a joke, guys. Definitely got the responses I was looking for. I’m just trying to point out how ridiculous most of these trade “proposals” are. Nobody is ever right. JS will do his thing and nobody will see whatever move(s) he makes coming.
Phil, the correct way to say what you’re trying to would be, “I won’t dignify that trade proposal with a response.” What you said, “That doesn’t dignify a response,” doesn’t make any sense. At least, not in English. Nice try, though.
I have to differ from phil on one point. AJ Burnett is quality. He might have an attitude problem, but his stuff is golden. He could win a Cy in the next couple of years, depending on where he signs.
Rangers Thoughts from a Braves Fan in Dallas:
What about Kenny Rogers? He’s Leo’s kind of pitcher, could be a bargain b/c of his anger issues.
also, I know Mench’s #’s aren’t that different from what Langerhans could probably give us this year, but he’s one of those guys you have to see live to get a feel for. His hustle and attitude and everything just reminds me of Klesko. If we want to pose hypothetical trades to the Rangers, why not Chipper instead of Andruw? The Rangers need a DH. No way you get Young from them, he is easily the most popular Ranger.
[BOILERPLATE]CHIPPER IS A TEN AND FIVE MAN AND CAN NOT BE TRADED WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE FORTHCOMING.[/BLOCKQUOTE]