Who Is Your Top Pirates (#2) Prospect?

[Jaypers]

Since we all know Alvarez is #1, who would follow him on your list? Vote above.

 

[Casey2884]

Tabata .... just turned 21 last month and in AAA hitting well

 

[NECpilgrims8]

Tony Sanchez

Completely proved everyone wrong, while producing at the most demanding position in baseball. From the way it's looking, Pirates are looking like genius' for a change.

 

[cgilmo]

although I am impressed by sanchez


Alderson has that low floor that puts him ahead of the other guys.

 

[Jaypers]

Bump for the afternoon crowd.

 

[subject to change]

I'd rate Tabata at number two, under the assumption his power will develop. He has held his own since entering the Pirates organization, and I think he will be a solid major league right fielder.

I like Alderson, but without having seen him in person, I am a bit hesitant raking him that high due to some of the things I have read about his fastball and lack of velocity.

Whoever the two votes for Neil Walker came from...thanks for the laugh.

 

[Brett Keith]

although I am impressed by sanchez


Alderson has that low floor that puts him ahead of the other guys.

As a catcher who was well regarded defensively, that is now showing that he's above average with the bat, doesn't Sanchez have a higher floor than almost any pitcher? When the Sanchez for Alderson deal was made, I said Alderson had probably improved his stock since last year, then I went and looked at the numbers, I then realized that I hadn't really paid much attention to him since the beginning of the season. Reports I'm reading don't seem to be encouraging either. He could bounce back a bit next year, but everything considered, I think Sanchez is the better prospect. I actually didn't even consider Alderson when thinking about this, it was between Sanchez and Lincoln for me.

 

[DaveH]

yuck. Alderson is weak.

I'm working on a top 100 right now. so far Alderson is not in the top 110.

Tabata and Sanchez are close in the 75-85 range, and I'm giving the slight edge to Tabata right now. but that could change by the time I'm done with this

 

[jbone17]

yuck. Alderson is weak.

I'm working on a top 100 right now. so far Alderson is not in the top 110.

Tabata and Sanchez are close in the 75-85 range, and I'm giving the slight edge to Tabata right now. but that could change by the time I'm done with this

Tabata and it isn't even close. The kid has had an incredible bounce back year. I have seen Alderson pitch and the kid has great stuff, but Tabata has great all around tools. Scouts were skeptical on him that the move to AAA would hurt him coming into this year, but he has proved them wrong. My top 5 looks like this:

Alavrez
Tabata
Alderson
Sanchez
Lincoln

 

[subject to change]

What numbers are you looking at? His strikeouts seem low, but he showed good control and put up a very good era for a 20 year old in AA.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well Sanchez adjusted to professional ball. However, I think his ceiling is ultimately lower than Tabata and Alderson. With that said, I will gladly sacrifice offensive production for having above average defenders at C and SS, especially if the Pirates continue to have a pitch to contact staff.

although I am impressed by sanchez


Alderson has that low floor that puts him ahead of the other guys.

As a catcher who was well regarded defensively, that is now showing that he's above average with the bat, doesn't Sanchez have a higher floor than almost any pitcher? When the Sanchez for Alderson deal was made, I said Alderson had probably improved his stock since last year, then I went and looked at the numbers, I then realized that I hadn't really paid much attention to him since the beginning of the season. Reports I'm reading don't seem to be encouraging either. He could bounce back a bit next year, but everything considered, I think Sanchez is the better prospect. I actually didn't even consider Alderson when thinking about this, it was between Sanchez and Lincoln for me.

 

[Wes]

It's Sanchez for me. After reading Goldstein's piece about velocity and it's mention of Alderson, I'll take their catcher of the future.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/ ... id=4441862

 

[Brett Keith]

What numbers are you looking at? His strikeouts seem low, but he showed good control and put up a very good era for a 20 year old in AA.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well Sanchez adjusted to professional ball. However, I think his ceiling is ultimately lower than Tabata and Alderson. With that said, I will gladly sacrifice offensive production for having above average defenders at C and SS, especially if the Pirates continue to have a pitch to contact staff.


[quote="Brett Keith":xw7ujfbu]

although I am impressed by sanchez


Alderson has that low floor that puts him ahead of the other guys.

As a catcher who was well regarded defensively, that is now showing that he's above average with the bat, doesn't Sanchez have a higher floor than almost any pitcher? When the Sanchez for Alderson deal was made, I said Alderson had probably improved his stock since last year, then I went and looked at the numbers, I then realized that I hadn't really paid much attention to him since the beginning of the season. Reports I'm reading don't seem to be encouraging either. He could bounce back a bit next year, but everything considered, I think Sanchez is the better prospect. I actually didn't even consider Alderson when thinking about this, it was between Sanchez and Lincoln for me.

[/quote:xw7ujfbu]

I imagine I'm looking at the same #'s you are. His K's are down and he's giving up more hits. That alone might not be a huge deal, but I've read that his stuff is down this year, not just from one person. It could just be nothing more than a down year for a young player, but it could be something more, and because he's a pitcher I have greater concern. I'm not saying he's not a good prospect anymore, I'm just saying I was wrong when I said he had raised his stock this season, and that I'm a little concerned. If Alderson was having a repeat year from last season, I'd have no problem rating him #2, but even if he was performing upto that level, I still wouldn't say his ceiling is that much higher than Sanchez, who if he even hits close to .280 with 20 HR and solid or better defense, will be an all-star candidate. Tabata, I loved him back when he first burst upon he scene, but with questions linger about how his body projects, about his power. He just seems like for whatever reason, he's an underachiever. I think there's still a good chance he becomes a solid player, with some seasons of "starish" numbers, but Sanchez still beats him in my eyes. Now next year around this time, I hope we're debating whether Jarek Cunningham is #2...or #1, I'm not picky.

 

[card-treasury]

Since we all know Alvarez is #1, who would follow him on your list? Vote above.

Overall in my book.

What good has Neil Walker ever done on a baseball field?

 

[card-treasury]

Tabata .... just turned 21 last month and in AAA hitting well

Are you out of school yet?

 

[DaveH]

yuck. Alderson is weak.

I'm working on a top 100 right now. so far Alderson is not in the top 110.

Tabata and Sanchez are close in the 75-85 range, and I'm giving the slight edge to Tabata right now. but that could change by the time I'm done with this

Tabata and it isn't even close. The kid has had an incredible bounce back year. I have seen Alderson pitch and the kid has great stuff, but Tabata has great all around tools. Scouts were skeptical on him that the move to AAA would hurt him coming into this year, but he has proved them wrong. My top 5 looks like this:

Alavrez
Tabata
Alderson
Sanchez
Lincoln

but it is close. Tabata doesn't do one thing extremely well. I know he's got great ARL, but lately it seems like we've been far too gracious with these Triunfels. Villalonas, and Tabatas.

for a corner OF, Tabata has to get much better, currently his OBP is good and his contact is good, that's about it. If Sanchez' bat is for real, then he is definitely more valuable than an avg.-hitting corner OF.

 

[DaveH]

Since we all know Alvarez is #1, who would follow him on your list? Vote above.

Overall in my book.

yr serious?
:?

 

[subject to change]

While I'm hesitant to say that this holds true to the current management/coaching staff, the Pirates have been guilty of undercoaching and underdeveloping prospects in the recent past. A lot of the guys that have made it to Pittsburgh have been self-teaching types, often from the lower half of BA's top 30 (Mike Gonzalez, Ian Snell, Nate McLouth, etc), while many of the top prospects have stagnated once they hit higher levels (JJ Davis, Chad Hermansen, Van Benschoten, JR House). The same may not hold true for the current management team, but until I see proof otherwise, I'm hesitant to put too much faith in tools alone.

 

[card-treasury]

Since we all know Alvarez is #1, who would follow him on your list? Vote above.

Overall in my book.

yr serious?
:?

Absolutely

 

[Casey2884]

[quote="card-treasury":24x2mxwo]

Since we all know Alvarez is #1, who would follow him on your list? Vote above.

Overall in my book.

yr serious?
:?

Absolutely[/quote:24x2mxwo]

Agreed. I think it will probably go to Heyward or Montero, but Alvarez is top-5 easily.

And Mike, not out of school yet - finishing my 4th year now and then 8 more years of meagerly-paid slavery.

 

[soccerman034]

Tabata is # 2 in my book, followed by Sanchez and Alderson.