Comments on: erik’s sleepers

By: the red baron

the red baron — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:16:21 +0000

Bob-

Outstanding work digging up those numbers. Amazing what you can come up with if you’re willing to do some sifting.

Carlos-

I was only peripherally aware of Lara, mostly thanks to his occasional appearances in the DPR last season. I didn’t realise he had put up the numbers he did, though. He’s definitely on my radar now; good call. Do you happen to know any more about him; scouting reports on his defense or anything?

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:06:24 +0000

My Sleeper is Edgar Lara. He had 8 jacks in the GCL, is only 18 and was signed for $250,000 out of Dominican Republic.
Also Elvis Hernandez has done well @ every level he has pitched him and I look for him to have a good year @ palm beach this year.

By: siddfynch

siddfynch — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:30:31 +0000

My sleeper is Jon Edwards. I think at age-20 in the A-, he can put up some good power numbers and advance to A+ by the end of the year. I like the OBP and the power potential, and hope he can cut back on the K’s a little (or a lot).

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:21:44 +0000

I’m not concerned at all (yet) with Riportella’s lack of pop. It’s not so unusual for 18-year-olds, even big ones, to have a miniscule isolated slugging%. Our own Scott Rolen, for instance. Like the Ripper, Rolen played in the Appy League at 18. While there, Scott managed just a .062 IsoSlg. And there are other examples:

Matt Kemp .076
Richie Sexson .061
Tony Clark .069
Carlos Lee .018(!)

At age 17, Miguel Cabrera had a .088, and Carlos Delgado just .056. Shoot, Reggie Sanders–not quite as big a guy as those others, I grant you–had a mere .057 when he was 20 years old in the rookie level Pioneer League.

As far as Riportella playing in a hitters park, his road IsoSlg was .106 (overall road OPS well over .900), so I’m optimistic about future power developing….

By: hugo

hugo — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:15:18 +0000

You know I would be VERY interested in a FGC and Picklefork guest post a few times during the season. At least on Cards Talk they seem to be very up on the system and knowledgeable of what is going on, I think there are others here as well that I don’t want to leave out but those two impressed me a lot this past season.

By: easy

easy — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:22:44 +0000

Agree with Bob and the Red Baron about Riportella. He was 18 and hitting over .400 in the Appy League when he had some sort of injury. He disappeared for a while and his stats took a dive when he returned. He’s gotten so little attention that I think he does qualify as a sleeper. Very good speed and the size to develop power.
My sleeper, Nick Derba. Low ceiling for sure but may be the surest shot of the ‘07 draft to have a real career. A 24 th round pick who is apparently a superb catcher who gets a lot of walks and has occasional power. He may be somebody’s backup catcher when he’s 35.

By: erik

erik — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:49:19 +0000

fgc, that may be another writer on the blog’s sleeper that you’ll read more about tomorrow…maybe…

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:44:08 +0000

I´m not baffled by Ripotela´s lack of attention but of his lack of power. How can a guy that is 6´3″ and 210 lbs have an ISO slugging .062 in what I believe is a hitter´s park.

By: fewgoodcards

fewgoodcards — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:30:42 +0000

my sleeper would be brett zawacki. i know he is undersized, but i just love his stuff.

By: SleepyCA

SleepyCA — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:27:31 +0000

What about skinny Andres Rosales? He may be a bit far away, but Luhnow seemed really high on him in the interview you guys did with him back in October- and lol, while searching for that interview, I came across this post by erik.

Silly me, thinking I could guess a sleeper y’all hadn’t already thought of.