The last of our predictions is finally here with the forecast of the Hagerstown pitchers. If I’m right about the composition and wrong about the timing, this is arguably the most exciting starting five of the four full-season affiliates*, with four of the team’s Top 30 pitching prospects per Baseball America, including the #1 overall, …
While this is third in our series, it’s the fourth staff to be set at the end of spring training, which often leads to some disappointment for the fans… and the players. At least at the outset. Thanks to the half system — and a steady stream of pitchers working their way back from injury …
Well, nothing like a trade on the first day of Spring Training to [fudge over] this series of posts. Anyway, to pick up where we left off yesterday (and staying in format)… the 2014 Senators just got a whole lot more interesting, but before we take a look at this year’s guess, let’s see how …
RHP Nathan Karns was dealt away today to the Tampa Bay Rays for backup catcher Jose Lobaton, LHP Felipe Rivero, and OF Drew Vettleson. The move is expected to put an end to one of the few position battles this spring and clouding the future for a pair of longtime backstops, Jhonatan Solano and Sandy …
Now that we’ve taken a swag at the position players, it’s to time to project the four full-season pitching staffs. This is only the third time I’ve attempted this and I’m reminded every time I work the board why I resisted trying this in the first place: It’s really difficult. The previous two times, I …
For the third straight spring, I think we’re looking at a spring training with not much drama for the minor-leaguers. This, of course, is a good thing in the bigger picture of the organization. Contenders don’t come into camp raving about how their kids are going to make this season a championship run. It also …
We finish this little exercise in killing time forecasting with a look at the Harrisburg Senators. But first, let’s review my picks for last year’s 2013 AA squad (mistakes in red, wrong roles in blue, not quite right in purple): CA – Jeff Howell 1B – Matt Skole 2B – Ricky Hague SS – Jason …
Picking Low-A is a matter of guessing who will move along from Auburn and who might be held back. The former is fairly common, but the latter isn’t. With High-A, it’s not so much who might be held back but who will be kept down by the FAs in AA and AAA (this is less …
We’re a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting, and if aging veteran minor-league backup catchers are getting this much press, then it’s safe to say that folks are wee bit desperate for spring training to start. In that spirit, it’s time for my annual humbling as I guess how the rosters (position players) for …
Picking up where we left off, here are Washington’s nos. 16 through 31 in the 2014 Baseball America Prospect Handbook: 16. Pedro Severino 21. Jefry Rodriguez 26. Nick Lee 17. Drew Ward 22. Nick Pivetta 27. Robert Benincasa 18. Aaron Barrett 23. Blake Treinen 28. Rafael Bautista 19. Jeff Kobernus 24. Christian Garcia (6) 29. …