This Week's Hot List is Live!

200lbhockeyplayer said:

Change that blue font...I just went into a seizure.

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Jaypers said:

Interesting timing on Maybin, considering what just sold.

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Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

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Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

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200lbhockeyplayer said:

Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

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I completely agree with everything about Matt LaPorta. Of course, the thing that shocked me more than anything was that Milwaukee allowed message board quarterbacks to draft him #7 overall. It was crazy. No paid baseball scouts thought he would be anything more than a AAAA player at best so for Milwauke to not only allow the ridiculous pick, but then to pay him that kind of money for a signing bonus was truly insane. Seriously, $2 million for a guy that nobody talked about as a top draft pick leading into the 2007 draft is nuts.

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leatherman said:

Jaypers said:

Interesting timing on Maybin, considering what just sold.

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With Maybin and Laporta on the cold list, I'm taking it personally.

Had Volstad been on there too, I'd be running to Kansas with a can of whoop ass.

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Reds in 2009 said:

Were those 5 Matt LaPorta chromes or base?

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200lbhockeyplayer said:

Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

Click to expand...

I completely agree with everything about Matt LaPorta. Of course, the thing that shocked me more than anything was that Milwaukee allowed message board quarterbacks to draft him #7 overall. It was crazy. No paid baseball scouts thought he would be anything more than a AAAA player at best so for Milwauke to not only allow the ridiculous pick, but then to pay him that kind of money for a signing bonus was truly insane. Seriously, $2 million for a guy that nobody talked about as a top draft pick leading into the 2007 draft is nuts.

And I also agree with Moustakas, if message board nerds weren't riding his jock, there's no way he would have led the minors in HR, 2nd and RBI while hitting an over-hyped .322 this season.

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Mudcatsfan said:

200lbhockeyplayer said:

Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

Click to expand...

I completely agree with everything about Matt LaPorta. Of course, the thing that shocked me more than anything was that Milwaukee allowed message board quarterbacks to draft him #7 overall. It was crazy. No paid baseball scouts thought he would be anything more than a AAAA player at best so for Milwauke to not only allow the ridiculous pick, but then to pay him that kind of money for a signing bonus was truly insane. Seriously, $2 million for a guy that nobody talked about as a top draft pick leading into the 2007 draft is nuts.

And I also agree with Moustakas, if message board nerds weren't riding his jock, there's no way he would have led the minors in HR, 2nd and RBI while hitting an over-hyped .322 this season.

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Seems like Baseball America thought he was the 20th best player in the country. Not exactly AAAA type player.

20. Matt LaPorta, 1b
School: Florida. Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 215. Birthdate: 1/1/85.
Scouting Report: LaPorta led the nation in home runs as a sophomore in 2005, slugging 26 to set a school record. His power binge continued during that summer, when he anchored the heart of the order for Team USA's college national squad. His junior season was another story. He strained an oblique muscle in February, missed 13 games and never got untracked. The Red Sox drafted him in the 14th round last June, but he stuck to his bonus demands, reportedly $1 million, and returned to Gainesville for his senior season, with outstanding results. His .579 on-base percentage led the nation, as did his 1.432 on-base plus slugging. He has improved his approach and kept his hands inside the ball better this year, making better contact, and his plus-plus raw power remains a game-changing tool. When he gets his arms extended, he can launch balls out to all parts of the park. He's a below-average defensive player who is relegated to first base as a professional, but could be taken in the top half of the first round this year nonetheless. His adviser is Scott Boras, which can always be a factor in where a player goes.

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.423 156 57 66 10 0 19 49 2

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Mudcatsfan said:

Mudcatsfan said:

200lbhockeyplayer said:

Joshua.Roundtree said:

Matt LaPorta = Classic example of a player hyped only by people on message boards, any scout could tell you LaPorta wouldn't hit higher level pitching, but it's just so fun to look at the those High-A and AA stats and fall in love right guys. Good ole Metal Bat Matt, maybe he'll finish his career with 100+ MLB HRs but I doubt it. Of course these same people that overhyped LaPorta are now saying Mike Moustakas is the greatest baseball player in the minors........ :lol:

Click to expand...

I completely agree with everything about Matt LaPorta. Of course, the thing that shocked me more than anything was that Milwaukee allowed message board quarterbacks to draft him #7 overall. It was crazy. No paid baseball scouts thought he would be anything more than a AAAA player at best so for Milwauke to not only allow the ridiculous pick, but then to pay him that kind of money for a signing bonus was truly insane. Seriously, $2 million for a guy that nobody talked about as a top draft pick leading into the 2007 draft is nuts.

And I also agree with Moustakas, if message board nerds weren't riding his jock, there's no way he would have led the minors in HR, 2nd and RBI while hitting an over-hyped .322 this season.

Click to expand...

Seems like Baseball America thought he was the 20th best player in the country. Not exactly AAAA type player.

20. Matt LaPorta, 1b
School: Florida. Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 215. Birthdate: 1/1/85.
Scouting Report: LaPorta led the nation in home runs as a sophomore in 2005, slugging 26 to set a school record. His power binge continued during that summer, when he anchored the heart of the order for Team USA's college national squad. His junior season was another story. He strained an oblique muscle in February, missed 13 games and never got untracked. The Red Sox drafted him in the 14th round last June, but he stuck to his bonus demands, reportedly $1 million, and returned to Gainesville for his senior season, with outstanding results. His .579 on-base percentage led the nation, as did his 1.432 on-base plus slugging. He has improved his approach and kept his hands inside the ball better this year, making better contact, and his plus-plus raw power remains a game-changing tool. When he gets his arms extended, he can launch balls out to all parts of the park. He's a below-average defensive player who is relegated to first base as a professional, but could be taken in the top half of the first round this year nonetheless. His adviser is Scott Boras, which can always be a factor in where a player goes.

AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB
.423 156 57 66 10 0 19 49 2

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They also ranked him as the 3rd best power hitter and the 2nd best strike zone judgement for college hitters, sounds like a good combo.

But you're right, no scouts liked him.

BEST POWER HITTER
College
1 Kyle Russell, of, Texas (35)
2 Beau Mills, 3b/1b, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) (12)
3 Matt LaPorta, 1b, Florida (20)


BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT
College
1 Josh Horton, ss, North Carolina (64)
2 Matt LaPorta, 1b, Florida (20)
3 Matt Wieters, c, Georgia Tech (2)

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