A few notes of interest from ESPN legend Peter Gammons latest chat:
- From the sound of things, Gammons thinks Clayton Kershaw is certain to be a factor for the Dodgers this year. Their main concern is limiting his inning early so he finishes in the 150-160 IP range.
- Tigers manager Jim Leyland thinks Detroit’s first pick in the 2007 Draft, Rick Porcello, will be with the big league club some time this season.
- Gammons also notes that players like Porcello, the Yankees Austin Jackson, Andrew Brackman, and Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox Lars Anderson, Ryan Kalish, Anthony Rizzo, David Mailman, and Will Middlebrooks, will have a serious impact on this year’s draft. Of course these players are all now top prospects who were drafted way above slot in later rounds.
- Picking player comparables is always tricky business, but Gammons thinks the best comparable he’s heard for Yankees SP Ian Kennedy is the Blue Jays SP Shaun Marcum.
MLB Prospect News on March 24th 2008 in 1B, 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, 2B, 3B, Andrew Brackman, Anthony Rizzo, Austin Jackson, Clayton Kershaw, David Mailman, Dodgers Prospects, Ian Kennedy, Lars Anderson, MLBPN Top Prospects, OF, P, RP, Red Sox Prospects, Rick Porcello, Ryan Kalish, SP, Tigers Prospects, Top 5 Prospects, Will Middlebrooks, Yankees Prospects
- The Rockies 3B prospect, Ian Stewart, continues to struggle a bit with the transition to 2B. He’ll need to figure this transition out if he plans to make it in Denver any time soon; Atkins has 3B nailed down for the foreseeable future, as does Tulo at SS.
- Great article in the Rocky Mountain News about Dexter Fowler, an early round talent who dropped to the Rox in the 14th round due to signability concerns. He continues to have a great Spring.
- Max Scherzer, The DBacks top draft pick in 2007, pitched two innings today and gave up a monster bomb to Joe Crede. But, it was the only hit he gave up.
- In discussing Rick Porcello’s successful outing yesterday, BA’s John Manuel mentioned that of Porcello, Andrew Brackman, and David Price, the Yankees’ Brackman has the best stuff. Of course Brackman is out this year recovering from TJ surgery.
- The Pirates were impressed with their top prospect’s performance in today’s game. Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 with an RBI double and 2 runs scored.
- Mariners’ OF prospect Wladimir Balentien had quite a game today. He hit 2 HR with 3 RBI. In the same game, Padres 3B/OF prospect Chase Headley hit a 2-run HR with 4 RBI.
MLB Prospect News on March 1st 2008 in 2008 Fantasy Draft Sleepers, 2B, 3B, Andrew Brackman, Andrew McCutchen, CF, Chase Headley, Daily Pepper, David Price, Dexter Fowler, Diamondbacks Prospects, Ian Stewart, LF, Mariners Prospects, Max Scherzer, OF, P, Padres Prospects, Pirates Prospects, Rays Prospects, Rick Porcello, Rockies Prospects, SP, Tigers Prospects, Wladimir Balentien, Yankees Prospects
