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Greg Cleveland
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Remember when this was an important issue? I don't know if they even attempt to do it anymore, but it wasn't like back in the day. For those too young (or too new to the hobby) to remember, in the Febrary issue, Beckett would list all rookie cards from that year. They would also provide a synopsis of each player and compare them to a current or former major leaguer. Some worked out, some...not so much.
Here's a look courtesy of the Wayback Machine... (and if you want to know what they list as rookie cards of a certain player, just let me know.)
Name--analysis--compared to
Jose Bautista--Starting 3B, but can play outfield--Adrian Beltre
Jason Bay--Solid fourth outfielder--Eric Byrnes
Taggert Bozeid--is developing more power--Andres Galarraga
Matt Cain--Middle rotation starter in majors to begin with--Roy Halladay
Shin Soo Choo--Starting outfielder, #3 hitter--Darin Erstad
Prince Fielder--Cleanup hitter with decent average to boot--Cecil Fielder (way to take a risk there)
Gavin Floyd--Top of rotation starter--Mike Mussina
Jeff Francoeur--Nice blend of power and speed--(a right handed) Shawn green
Johnny Gomes--Developing solid mix of power and speed--Ron Gant
Curtis Granderson--Disciplined hitter; Starting outfielder, #3 or #6 in batting order--Tony Gwynn
Khalil Greene--Starting shortstop with All Star skills--Alan Trammell
Zack Greinke--Middle of rotation starter in majors--Wade Miller
Cole Hamels--Top of the Rotation Starter--Eric Milton (wha--Eric Milton??)
Jeremy Hermida--Starting outfielder in majors--JD Drew
Josh Johnson--Potential to be top of rotation starter, but needs time to develop--Josh Beckett
Scott Kazmir--Top of rotation starter, very polished early in career--Ron Guidry
Cliff Lee--Solid #3 starter--Al Leiter
Jon Lester--Fouth or fifth starter--Mark Langston
Franciso Liriano--Potential #2 or #3 starter if he can stay healthy (NO KIDDING!! Sorry, the Twins fan in me jump out for a moment); may move to bullpen role in the future--Wilson Alvarez
James Loney--Potential future batting champion--John Olerud
Joe Mauer--Has a sky-high ceiling and should develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter--(a young) Dale Murphy (Hmmm...oops sorry. did it again)
Brian McCann--Braves believe he can develop into a good hitting backstop--Jorge Posada
Franklin Nunez--With improved control, could be a dominatingf closer in majors--Mariano Rivera
Alex Rios--After injuries early in carrer, beginning to live up to promise--Mike Cameron
Chris Snelling--Starting outfielder and #2 hitter--Lenny Dykstra
Denard Span--Future Centerfielder in majors--Kenny Lofton
Nick Swisher--Starting first baseman with some upside; could also play in outfield--Scott Spezio
B J Upton--Outstandin athlete and shortstop with all the tools--Alfonso Soriano
Jose Valverde--Closer potential, but needs some seasoning--Francisco Cordero
Joey Votto--Potential above-average catcher in majors--Todd Hundley
Dontrelle Willis--#2 or #3 starter in majors; lively fastball great control--Mark Mulder
C J Wilson--Bottom of rotation starter--Bruce Chen
David Wright--Starting third baseman with power--Scott Rolen
Those are the players you know. It's also reading about the guys who never made it being compared to guys who were average at best. Really, how would you like to be Freddie Money--reserve outfielder and pinch runner--Jason Tyner. Ouch. Always fun to look back though.
Here's a look courtesy of the Wayback Machine... (and if you want to know what they list as rookie cards of a certain player, just let me know.)
Name--analysis--compared to
Jose Bautista--Starting 3B, but can play outfield--Adrian Beltre
Jason Bay--Solid fourth outfielder--Eric Byrnes
Taggert Bozeid--is developing more power--Andres Galarraga
Matt Cain--Middle rotation starter in majors to begin with--Roy Halladay
Shin Soo Choo--Starting outfielder, #3 hitter--Darin Erstad
Prince Fielder--Cleanup hitter with decent average to boot--Cecil Fielder (way to take a risk there)
Gavin Floyd--Top of rotation starter--Mike Mussina
Jeff Francoeur--Nice blend of power and speed--(a right handed) Shawn green
Johnny Gomes--Developing solid mix of power and speed--Ron Gant
Curtis Granderson--Disciplined hitter; Starting outfielder, #3 or #6 in batting order--Tony Gwynn
Khalil Greene--Starting shortstop with All Star skills--Alan Trammell
Zack Greinke--Middle of rotation starter in majors--Wade Miller
Cole Hamels--Top of the Rotation Starter--Eric Milton (wha--Eric Milton??)
Jeremy Hermida--Starting outfielder in majors--JD Drew
Josh Johnson--Potential to be top of rotation starter, but needs time to develop--Josh Beckett
Scott Kazmir--Top of rotation starter, very polished early in career--Ron Guidry
Cliff Lee--Solid #3 starter--Al Leiter
Jon Lester--Fouth or fifth starter--Mark Langston
Franciso Liriano--Potential #2 or #3 starter if he can stay healthy (NO KIDDING!! Sorry, the Twins fan in me jump out for a moment); may move to bullpen role in the future--Wilson Alvarez
James Loney--Potential future batting champion--John Olerud
Joe Mauer--Has a sky-high ceiling and should develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter--(a young) Dale Murphy (Hmmm...oops sorry. did it again)
Brian McCann--Braves believe he can develop into a good hitting backstop--Jorge Posada
Franklin Nunez--With improved control, could be a dominatingf closer in majors--Mariano Rivera
Alex Rios--After injuries early in carrer, beginning to live up to promise--Mike Cameron
Chris Snelling--Starting outfielder and #2 hitter--Lenny Dykstra
Denard Span--Future Centerfielder in majors--Kenny Lofton
Nick Swisher--Starting first baseman with some upside; could also play in outfield--Scott Spezio
B J Upton--Outstandin athlete and shortstop with all the tools--Alfonso Soriano
Jose Valverde--Closer potential, but needs some seasoning--Francisco Cordero
Joey Votto--Potential above-average catcher in majors--Todd Hundley
Dontrelle Willis--#2 or #3 starter in majors; lively fastball great control--Mark Mulder
C J Wilson--Bottom of rotation starter--Bruce Chen
David Wright--Starting third baseman with power--Scott Rolen
Those are the players you know. It's also reading about the guys who never made it being compared to guys who were average at best. Really, how would you like to be Freddie Money--reserve outfielder and pinch runner--Jason Tyner. Ouch. Always fun to look back though.
