November 10, 2009

Future Shock Blog

November 10

by Kevin Goldstein

the archives are now free. All Baseball Prospectus Premium and Fantasy articles more than a year old are now free as a thank you to the entire Internet for making our work possible. Not a subscriber? Get exclusive content like this delivered hot to your inbox every weekday. Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get instant access to the best baseball content on the web.

Subscribe for $4.95 per month Recurring subscription - cancel anytime. Subscribe for $39.95 for one year a 33% savings over the monthly price! Purchase a $39.95 gift subscription a 33% savings over the monthly price! Already a subscriber? Click here and use the blue login bar to log in.

When position means everything

Matt McBride, C/1B, Indians (AFL: Peoria Saguaros)
Yesterday's stats:2-for-4, 3B, HR (4), 2 R, RBI, K

A second-round pick in 2006, the story on McBride has always been the same. He can hit a bit, but he's not a good defensive catcher, and he can't stay healthy. He stayed healthy in 2009, batting a whopping .405/.453/.667 in the Carolina League before slumping to a line of .247/.301/.427 at Double-A, but he didn't catch. He split time between first base and left field primarily, two positions where you can't just hit a bit; you have to mash. The big story here is that he's catching again, which is the difference between him being kind of a prospect or not a prospect at all.

Late-round bullpen find No. 1

Mickey Story, RHP, Athletics (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

A 31^st round pick in 2008 out of Florida International, Storey pitched for all four Oakland full-season affiliates in 2009, compiling a Gibson-esque 1.22 ERA with a downright silly 71-8 strikeout to walk ratio in 51 2/3 innings while allowing just 27 hits. Closer of the future? Probably not. Command, location and deception are the name of the game for Storey, but he does have enough stuff for scouts to believe he's more than just a smoke-and-mirrors charlatan who will never have big league success.

Late-round bullpen find No. 2

Josh Judy, RHP, Indians (AFL: Peoria Saguaros)
Yesterday's stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

When you think about college baseball, the Indiana Institute of Technology is probably not one of the first schools to come to mind, but the Indians found an arm there in Judy, who was taken in the 34th round of the 2007 draft. Pitching at Double-A Akron this year, Judy limited the Eastern League to a .198 average while striking out 63 in 49.1 innings, and more importantly the scouting reports match the stats. Both his 91-94 mph sinking fastball and slider rank as plus pitches, and while he doesn't project as a late-innings type, getting anything in the 34th round is gravy.

Slipping away

Taylor Green, 3B, Brewers (AFL: Peoria Javelinas)
Yesterday's stats: 2-for-5, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, BB, K

After a bit of a breakout year in 2008, Green's 2009 campaign was just as big a step in the wrong direction. Plagued by injuries, he played in just 87 games for Double-A Huntsville during the regular season, hitting an unimpressive .258/.330/.356 line in the process. Things aren't going any better for the Javelinas, as he's now down to .184 without an extra base hit in 12 games. After narrowly missing last year's Top 11 prospect list, he's suddenly facing a bit of a make-it-or-break-it 2010 campaign.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see Kevin's other articles. You can contact Kevin by clicking here