Comments on: John Sickels 2008 Cardinal Top 20 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/ Baseball's Future in the Gateway City Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:30:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: cardsfan1 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13455 cardsfan1 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:11:03 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13455 Just and FYI I know the cardinals have started inviting players to big league camp. Also, before spring training they are having a mini camp with about 6 of the minor league pitchers and all the pitching coaches and the new minor league head of pitching and the new pitching mechanics guy. Just and FYI I know the cardinals have started inviting players to big league camp. Also, before spring training they are having a mini camp with about 6 of the minor league pitchers and all the pitching coaches and the new minor league head of pitching and the new pitching mechanics guy.

]]> By: UncleBuck44 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13451 UncleBuck44 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:28:32 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13451 SleepyCA, here's what John has to say about his grade system: "GRADES AND WHAT THEY MEAN Grade A prospects are the elite. They have a good chance of becoming stars or superstars. Almost all Grade A prospects develop into major league regulars, if injuries or other problems don't intervene. Note that is a major "if" in some cases. Grade B prospects have a good chance to enjoy successful careers. Some will develop into stars, some will not. Most end up spending several years in the majors, at the very least in a marginal role. Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don't make it at all. A major point to remember is that grades for pitchers do NOT correspond directly to grades for hitters. Many Grade A pitching prospects fail to develop, often due to injuries. Some Grade C pitching prospects turn out much better than expected. Also note that there is diversity within each category. I'm a tough grader; Grade C+ is actually good praise coming from me, and some C+ prospects turn out very well indeed. Finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. You have to read the full comment for my full opinion about a player, the letter grade only tells you so much. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player." One thing to keep in mind, Matt Scherer was rated by Sickels as the Cardinals 13th best prospect last year. He gave him a C+. Most of us really thought Scherer wasn't anything too special last year. A little surprised Scherer made the cut last year, and high up, and Jason Motte didn't make it this year. SleepyCA, here’s what John has to say about his grade system:

“GRADES AND WHAT THEY MEAN

Grade A prospects are the elite. They have a good chance of becoming stars or superstars. Almost all Grade A prospects develop into major league regulars, if injuries or other problems don’t intervene. Note that is a major “if” in some cases.

Grade B prospects have a good chance to enjoy successful careers. Some will develop into stars, some will not. Most end up spending several years in the majors, at the very least in a marginal role.

Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don’t make it at all.

A major point to remember is that grades for pitchers do NOT correspond directly to grades for hitters. Many Grade A pitching prospects fail to develop, often due to injuries. Some Grade C pitching prospects turn out much better than expected.

Also note that there is diversity within each category. I’m a tough grader; Grade C+ is actually good praise coming from me, and some C+ prospects turn out very well indeed.

Finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. You have to read the full comment for my full opinion about a player, the letter grade only tells you so much. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player.”

One thing to keep in mind, Matt Scherer was rated by Sickels as the Cardinals 13th best prospect last year. He gave him a C+.
Most of us really thought Scherer wasn’t anything too special last year.
A little surprised Scherer made the cut last year, and high up, and Jason Motte didn’t make it this year.

]]> By: the red baron http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13447 the red baron Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:58:53 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13447 Lawless- I didn't see that. When I first read your post, I thought it contained a typo and you meant MRI. I immediately began panicking. I have to say here, I'm really high on David Kopp. Great frame and all that, and I really love his delivery. Very low stress, appears quite repeatable, and still manages to generate more than adequate power to get the job done. I think he's going to be really good. Lawless- I didn’t see that. When I first read your post, I thought it contained a typo and you meant MRI. I immediately began panicking.

I have to say here, I’m really high on David Kopp. Great frame and all that, and I really love his delivery. Very low stress, appears quite repeatable, and still manages to generate more than adequate power to get the job done. I think he’s going to be really good.

]]> By: lawless http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13437 lawless Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:34:49 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13437 Did anyone else see the news that the club gave Jaime Garcia an NRI. Verrrryyyyy interesting. If you buy the major league equivalency projections he could do a better job then most of the other Cards back of the rotation fodder. My fear though is that if Jaime's arm is hurting in big league spring training will he report it.... Sickels grades are encouraging though I agree with SleepyCA in terms of the would you trade for analogies. Obviously the Cards dont value Haerther as much as Sickels as they put 4 unranked relievers on their forty man before one Cody Haerther... Did anyone else see the news that the club gave Jaime Garcia an NRI. Verrrryyyyy interesting. If you buy the major league equivalency projections he could do a better job then most of the other Cards back of the rotation fodder. My fear though is that if Jaime’s arm is hurting in big league spring training will he report it…. Sickels grades are encouraging though I agree with SleepyCA in terms of the would you trade for analogies. Obviously the Cards dont value Haerther as much as Sickels as they put 4 unranked relievers on their forty man before one Cody Haerther…

]]> By: erik http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13436 erik Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:26:49 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13436 yeah, i agree. the reds is by far and away the best in our division yeah, i agree. the reds is by far and away the best in our division

]]> By: Shhh http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13435 Shhh Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:11:59 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13435 Oh, and thats nothing against our farm, I just don't think it's top 10. Oh, and thats nothing against our farm, I just don’t think it’s top 10.

]]> By: Shhh http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13434 Shhh Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:11:01 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13434 Um, theres no way you could say the Cards are just as good or even better than the Reds. These 5 teams Sickels clearly thinks are better: Athletics Rays Red Sox Reds Rangers The Dodgers, Yanks, and if A. Jones and F. Pie were considered prospects their teams would be up their or better than the Cards in my opinion. Then theres probably another couple teams I'm leaving out. Even though Sickels' grades may disagree it looks like he was a little generous with the Cards, other than Anderson who I would have given a straight B to. Just my opinion though. Um, theres no way you could say the Cards are just as good or even better than the Reds. These 5 teams Sickels clearly thinks are better:

Athletics
Rays
Red Sox
Reds
Rangers

The Dodgers, Yanks, and if A. Jones and F. Pie were considered prospects their teams would be up their or better than the Cards in my opinion. Then theres probably another couple teams I’m leaving out. Even though Sickels’ grades may disagree it looks like he was a little generous with the Cards, other than Anderson who I would have given a straight B to.

Just my opinion though.

]]> By: Phil http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13428 Phil Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:30:53 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13428 If you look at the grades he gives the other systems, The Cardinals are in the top 5. If you look at the top 15 only you could say that the Cardinals are as good, or even better, as the Reds, since they only have 11 B- or better when we have 12. The only one that looks better for sure is the Devel Rays. If you look at the grades he gives the other systems, The Cardinals are in the top 5. If you look at the top 15 only you could say that the Cardinals are as good, or even better, as the Reds, since they only have 11 B- or better when we have 12. The only one that looks better for sure is the Devel Rays.

]]> By: SleepyCA http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13426 SleepyCA Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:11:10 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13426 "he explains the grades on his site" Well, I can't find it; probably should be a sticky or something, since I'm sure it's a FAQ kind of thing. I love the Minor League Ball logo though... “he explains the grades on his site”

Well, I can’t find it; probably should be a sticky or something, since I’m sure it’s a FAQ kind of thing. I love the Minor League Ball logo though…

]]> By: fewgoodcards http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13422 fewgoodcards Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:59:20 +0000 http://futureredbirds.com/2008/01/11/john-sickels-2008-cardinal-top-20/#comment-13422 he explains the grades on his site, and if you want his reports on individual players you have to by his book. he explains the grades on his site, and if you want his reports on individual players you have to by his book.

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