A Good Read

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that I've joined up a new blog at www.thepoweralley.blogspot.com . It's full of writers a lot more talented than I, so come over and check us out and you don't have to read about baseball all the time you can get your fix of other sports as well.

Top 25 Under 25 In 25: #10

Admittedly real life has gotten in the way of blogging a bit in the past couple of weeks. But once I get back to school I'll definitely have more free time, so hang in there readers, all three of you....

10. Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Even though he is ranked #10 here, I'm not as high on Kendrick as many baseball experts seem to be. Granted, I'm not as smart as guys like Nate Silver and Joe Sheehan, and I realize Kendrick is a second baseman, but I don't see him having a lot of power and I don't think his OBP will be too much higher than his batting average since he swings at a lot of pitches-both good and bad. That being said, Kendrick will probably develop into a guy who hits 12-15 homers a year and will hit .320 or so, so when he wins a couple of batting titles and has OBPs north of .400, I guess everyone can show me this article and laugh.

Former #1 Pick Switches from Short to the Mound

Matt Bush, who the Padres drafted number one overall back in 2004 has officially moved from shortstop to pitcher. There was much speculation about the move, and it was well deserved, since Bush hit just .221/.291/.276 in three years of pro ball spread out at four different levels. Also, Bush suffered some minor injuries which helped decrease his range in the field. However, Bush still possesses a fantastic arm, and has topped out at 98 mph so far on the mound.

Bush will probably end up being the type of pitcher who will sit in the mid 90s and then rear back when he needs to to get to 98. This is a positive move all around, as Bush was seen as one of the biggest busts ever for a #1 pick, but this switch to the mound is the first step to hopefully a major league career for Matt Bush.

Lee signs with Senators

North Dakota defenseman Brian Lee, Ottawa's first round pick in 2005, has signed a deal with the Senators, forgoing his last two seasons of eligibility. At this point the native of Moorhead, Minnesota is the Fighting Sioux's only loss on the blueline. Lee totaled 53 points in two seasons in Grand Forks. Lee's departure will probably be felt much more on paper than on the ice. Lee's lackluster defensive efforts led to Blake Wheeler's overtime winner in the 2007 WCHA Final Five, along with Boston College's first empty net goal in the Frozen Four.

Top 25 Under 25 In 25: #11

11. Jeremy Bonderman, SP, Detroit Tigers

Bonderman, who before a couple of years ago was probably best known as the pitcher who caused Billy Beane to throw his chair in the book Moneyball, has lowered his ERA by a half run in each of his major league seasons. Last year he also topped the 200 strikeout plateau for the first time in his major league career. This year he also has a 4 defense independent ERA, which is a full half run lower than the league average. Also, this year is on pace to have his lowest walk total of his career. Bonderman should continue to put up large strikeout numbers, and if he keeps his walk numbers down he could develop into the best starter in the AL not named Santana.

Top 25 Under 25 in 25: #12

12. Felix Hernandez, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Felix is on the shortlist for best young pitchers in the game today. Felix has amazing stuff and tons of potential, but he hasn't quite harnessed it yet. Hernandez allowed 23 homers in his 31 starts last year, even though he struck out 176 batters. His mechanics have some slight problems in that he falls off to the first base side sometimes when he pitches and he uses his arm way too much to generate his power instead of using his considerable girth. But the thing to remember with Felix is that he's only 21, and he is striking out 8.9 batters per 9 innings this season, and I have to believe that he will dominate the American League in the coming years.

Top 25 Under 25 In 25: #13

13. Tim Lincecum, RHP, San Francisco Giants


It took the Giants awhile to bring Lincecum up, but thank God they did. Many people have expressed concerns over Lincecum's mechanics, but really they aren't bad at all. Lincecum has been compared to many pitchers, ranging from Koufax to Hershiser to Oswalt, but really he has a style all his own. He really rotates his hips so they almost face second base, and that, along with his tremendous arm speed helps generate his unbelievable velocity. Perhaps Lincecum could run into arm troubles later in his career due to the tough workload he went through at the University of Washington, but Lincecum has to be the best pitching prospect in the game today.

Top 25 Under 25 In 25: #14

14. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington Nationals

Zimmerman, the should have been NL ROY last year, is having a down year this year with the Nats. Zimmerman was drafted in 2005 out of the University of Virginia and was compared to Brooks Robinson defensively. Zimmerman has almost as many errors this season already (12) as he did last season (17). He had a 22 FRAA last season and just a 14 so far this year. Offensively Zimmerman hit 20 homers last year in RFK, arguably the best pitchers park in the majors. Even so, Zimmerman himself said he didn't have much power, and the homers were mostly a result of his line drives. Zimmerman doesn't have the upside of some of the people on this list, but he is almost a sure bet to be a steady contributor for the next decade.

Top 25 In 25 Under 25: #15

15. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Longoria, the D Rays first pick last year, is already the best prospect in the system, and in Tampa that's saying something. Last season, Longoria split time among three levels and hit .315/.360/.597. Yes thats right, a .597 slugging percentage. This year, in his first full season in AA, Longoria is hitting .274/.385/.520. Many people compare him to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, but in reality he has a much higher upside. He is younger and has put up better numbers so far, and Longoria will be a 10 time all star and will eventually be the among the best third basemen in the majors.

Top 25 Under 25 In 25: #16

16. Chris Young, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Young is a player who fits the old mold of what makes a good baseball player (athletic, fast, projectable) rather than the newfangled model (patient, hits for tons of power), but he still gets here at #16. Why? Well, while he wont hit for a high average, and his OBP is godawful (.288 so far this season), but he is projected to have a 20/20 season and is right on that pace, and in the future you could easily see him hitting 25 homers and stealing 30 bases a year, all while playing a plus centerfield (although it will be interesting to see what happens when 2005 #1 overall pick Justin Upton comes up).

Top 25 Under 25 in 25: #17

Admittedly I've been a little slow to update this what with the draft and the college baseball going on. Hopefully you all can forgive me as we jump back into it

17. Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

Last year Cano had a .308 EqA and a 8.9 WARP3. He also had a very good 28 BRAA (Batting Runs Above Average). Cano isn't blessed with much power, and he doesn't run extremely well, but he plays acceptable defense, and he can hit extremely well. He was third in the majors in hitting last year, and while that season appears to be an anomaly, he should keep building up from his 2005 season and develop into one of the best second basemen in the majors.

Pick #30- New York (AL)

30. Andrew Brackman, RHP, NC State

A potentially top 3 selection, Brackman hasn't pitched in about a week due to a tired arm. Brackman played basketball as well at NC State and although he has a lot of developing to do, he is still a 7 footer who can throw nearly 100 MPH

Pick #29- San Francisco

29. Wendell Fairley, OF, George County-Lucedale HS, Mississippi

Another fast player, Fairley will be a centerfielder who is the prototypical five tool player. Probably a bit of a reach, but Fairley is a high ceiling player who will be signable after those two other first rounders.

Pick #28- Minnesota

28. Ben Revere, OF, Lexington HS, Kentucky

An extremely fast runner, Revere wasn't very high on a lot of players boards. An extremely good athlete, the Twins are going to have to develop him a bunch and hopefully he can end up being a long term replacement in center field.

Pick #27- Detroit

27. Rick Porcello, RHP, Seton Hall Prep, New Jersey

Probably the highest ranked high school pitcher, Porcello is going to command an extremely large bonus. He has four quality pitches, but I think in the end he'll either go unsigned or he'll cost too much for his value.

Pick #26- Oakland

26. James Simmons, RHP, UC Riverside

Had a 1.18 ERA in the 06 Cape Cod League. He has good upside and excellent command. He doesn't have too much in the way of hard breaking stuff, but he can certainly keep hitters off balance. And oh yeah, a huge suprise as the A's take yet another college player.

Pick #25- Chicago (AL)

25. Aaron Poreda, LHP, U of San Francisco

Poreda doesn't have much in the way of secondary pitches, but he throws extremely hard and can get a lot of guys out since he gets ahead of a lot of batters. He has kind of come out of nowhere so it will be exciting to see how he develops.

Pick #24- Texas

24. Michael Main, RHP, Deland HS, Florida

Main began the year as one of the top high school arms in the draft. He can throw in the high 90s, and he is extremely athletic. He has a good breaking ball, and can spot it wherever he wants to. Texas has a terrible pitchers park, but Main has the type of arm to get it done.

Pick #23- San Diego

23. Nick Schmidt, LHP, Arkansas

Schmidt has been flying up draft boards and was even rumored to be a top 10 pick, which would have been a reach. Schmidt will probably reach the majors very quickly, but he may or may not develop into anything more than he already is.

Pick #22- San Francisco

22. Tim Alderson, Horizon HS, Arizona

A big kid at 6'7", Alderson probably won't be a starter. A wierd thing about him is he doesn't throw out of the windup. He has very good command, especially for a high school player. His delivery may be cause for concern, which is why he will be a reliever.