Your 2009 B.C. Manatees -- Latest: Schafer Sidelined

[Mass Haas]

The Manatees site with more details on their All-Stars.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Beast on the basepaths

Brevard County's Farris far ahead in season steals

BY MARK DeCOTIS

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Eric Farris' run to the Florida State League stolen base title this season has been nothing short of remarkable.

 

After Tuesday night's game at Clearwater, the Brevard County Manatees second baseman had stolen 68 bases in 74 attempts leaving the Class A Florida State League's other swipers in the dust.

 

But thievery on the bases is nothing new for the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Sacramento, Calif. native.

 

After all, he stole:

 

Sixty bases in 78 attempts in 151 games in three seasons at Loyola Marymount University.

 

Twenty one bases in 26 attempts in 63 games with Helena in the Pioneer League in 2007.

 

Thirty two bases in 42 attempts in 103 games with West Virginia in the South Atlantic League in 2008.

Also, he ranks fourth in Florida State League in batting with a .295 average, is tied for third in hits (136) and seventh in runs scored (64). He not only gets on base but makes opposing teams pay for allowing him to do so.

 

When he does reach, his prowess is more about feel than it is pure speed.

 

"I'm not the fastest runner, but I feel as if I'm smart on the base paths and I get good jumps and I pick the right times to run," Farris said. "I don't think base running's really about speed, it's just about making the right decisions out there.

 

And he's made the right decisions, basing them on feel.

 

"The thing that helps me is if I feel like I don't got it, I'll shut it down before it even gets going," he said. "I think that's mainly why I'm successful. If I think I'm going to go and I don't get the jump that I was looking for, I'll just stay . . . I'm not going to try to force anything. Get a good jump and don't force it, just let it happen."

 

Farris is closing in on the Manatees team record of 71 steals, set by Julio Ramirez in 1998. The Florida State League record is 116 steals, set by Allan Lewis of Leesburg in 1966.

 

Farris' goal coming into the season, in consultation with Manatees Manager Mike Guerrero, was to reach 70.

 

"He thought I could do it, I thought I could do it," Farris said.

 

He's almost there.

 

But all of his thievery wouldn't be possible if he didn't reach base.

 

"You can't steal first base," he said with a smile.

 

Guerrero credited Farris' skills, which fit into the Manatees and parent Milwaukee Brewers philosophy of being aggressive on the bases. The Manatees are playing that to the hilt, leading the league in steals by wide margin and approaching 200 for the season.

 

"We run the bases, steal bases, take that extra base when you can," Guerrero said. "You get thrown out, so what.

 

"You take chances. That's how you develop players."

 

That being said, the art of stealing takes a blend of skill and willingness to learn.

 

"You can teach a lot," Guerrero said. "You teach how to read pitchers, what their first movement (is). A lot of pitchers set themselves a different way when they're going to pick to first. If you learn how to read the pitchers, learn their first movement, learn when they're going to pick, what counts and all that, you're going to have your opportunities."

 

Farris has gotten them and taken advantage of them, using a quick first step and an equally as fleet finish.

 

"You've got to start strong, finish strong," he said.

 

Additional Facts about Eric Farris

 

Full name: Eric Michael-Jay Farris

 

Born: March 3, 1986, Sacramento, Calif.

 

College: Loyola Marymount

 

Height: 5-foot-10

 

Weight: 170

 

Bats: Right

 

Throws: Right

 

Manatees tenure: First season

 

Steals this season vs. righthanders: 46

 

Steals vs. lefthanders: 19

 

Brevard County Manatees infielder Eric Farris leads the Florida State League in steals this season. (Craig Rubadoux, FLORIDA TODAY)

 

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20090902&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=909020325&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

[Mass Haas]

Good news for Manatees' fans, family and friends --

I'm trying to alert Brewers fandom that I'll be webcasting the Brevard County Manatees' playoff games next week.

 

The Manatees don't have a radio contract this year. I moved to Space Coast about three months ago and volunteered to do it for free over the Internet. They said yes.

 

We'll be webcasting this weekend's regular season homestand finale 9/4-9/6 against the Tampa Yankees as a "playoff preview." The playoff series is 9/8-9/10, with Game #1 in Tampa before returning to Brevard.

 

The webcast link will be available through both ManateesBaseball.com (which is MiLB.com's site) and my site SpaceCoastBaseball.com. It'll start at 6:50 PM EDT (5:50 Central).

 

Since my site is a newbie, there isn't much original content (yet) but you will find some video clips and photos of Brewers minor leaguers playing for the Manatees.

 

Thanks for your time.

Stephen Smith

SpaceCoastBaseball.com

 

***

 

From Stephen's "About" page:

SpaceCoastBaseball.com began in August 2009, shortly after baseball fan Stephen C. Smith moved to the Space Coast from California, where he'd lived since birth. Stephen was - and remains - a lifelong Angels fan.

But Stephen is also a fan of baseball's history, and believes it is very important to document its history as it unfolds. That's why in 1998 he founded FutureAngels.com, a web site that follows the Angels minor leagues. FutureAngels.com has documented the Angels' minor league history with photos, audio interviews and video clips.

Stephen's goal with SpaceCoastBaseball.com is to do the same with professional and amateur baseball in the Space Coast.

SpaceCoastBaseball.com is a service-oriented, non-commercial web site. We don't accept ads, although we would consider a sponsorship similar to how public televsion and radio work. Think of SpaceCoastBaseball.com as the PBS and NPR of Space Coast baseball. You will soon have the opportunity to voluntarily donate to help cover our operating expenses.

Because Stephen is new to the Space Coast, he welcomes your advice and guidance in covering baseball in the Space Coast. Please feel free to e-mail Stephen at home@spacecoastbaseball.com.

 

***

 

We've known about FutureAngels.com since Brewerfan's inception, an awesome resource for Angels fans. Thanks, Stephen!

[battlekow]

The Manatees ended up with the fifth-best winning percentage among full-season affiliates across all of MiLB.

[Mass Haas]

From Adam McCalvy:

Two Brevard County players were honored for their August contributions. Right-hander Amaury Rivas was the Brewers' Minor League pitcher of the month after going 5-1 with a 2.10 ERA, and infielder Eric Farris was the system's player of the month after batting .400 (38-for-95) with 10 RBIs and 19 steals in 25 games.

[Mass Haas]

Eric Farris was also named the FSL Player of the Week for the final week of the season.

[JohnBriggs12]

Anyone more in the know may correct me, but it seemed as if the Brewers were determined to keep the Brevard core together for a full season and into the playoffs rather than gradually be promoting the many deserving guys to Huntsville which for a few exceptions (Lucroy, Braddock), was a roster full of veterans with not much future.

 

I would expect the bulk of the core that got it done in Brevard to be together to start 2010 in Huntsville after all get some major league camp experience next spring. By end of 2010, it would not shock me in the least for a guy like Rivas or one of the other pitchers to have found his way to Milwaukee.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Great season ends early for Manatees

BY MARK DeCOTIS

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Brevard County Manatees Manager Mike Guerrero believes he has found a home base in Brevard County.

 

He owns a residence in Suntree, has two children in Brevard schools and is fond of the area.

 

Also, his extended family -- his players -- just concluded one of the best seasons statistically in franchise history. Whether that's enough to keep him here for another season in the notoriously nomadic world of minor league baseball remains to be seen.

 

And while he expects a decision by October, he also knows what lies ahead is out of his hands. It's up to executives of the Manatees' parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

In fact, before the stadium lights were turned off following Wednesday's season-ending playoff loss to the Tampa Yankees, two Manatees, third baseman Zelous Wheeler and infielder/outfielder Steffan Wilson, were moved up to the Class-AA Huntsville Stars for the playoffs.

 

"Anything is possible in baseball," Guerrero said Wednesday night. "Anything can happen. (Pitcher John) Axford started the season with us and as of today he's in the big leagues. People don't know how close you are to the big leagues, especially here, especially with a good, talented team like this one."

 

Despite the obviously talented Manatees getting swept in the best-of-three divisional playoff by a red-hot Tampa team that won 48 of its 67 second-half games and now will play Charlotte for the Florida State League championship, Guerrero was pleased.

 

"I enjoyed myself and I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as I did watching these kids grow through the season," he said, terming 2009 as outstanding.

 

"For our organization, it was probably one of the best seasons a minor league team has had."

 

The numbers tell the story:

 

The best winning percentage -- .622 -- in franchise history.

 

Leading the league in multiple categories: batting average (.267), earned run average (2.75), shutouts (18), saves (46), fewest hits allowed (891), fewest runs (427) and the fewest earned runs allowed (340), strikeouts recorded (1,005), stolen bases (207).

 

Second baseman Eric Farris winning the stolen base title -- 70, tying a team record in the process.

 

Center fielder Logan Schafer winning the batting title -- .313.

 

"If you look at the things we have accomplished this year, to develop our guys and the way they play the game, there's a lot to be proud of," Guerrero said.

 

"Did we run into a hot team? We did, but that's part of the game too."

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America's Top 20 Florida State League Prospects List is out --

 

No Amaury Rivas, no Evan Anundsen...

 

No Logan Schafer (!) -- what?

 

Caleb Gindl's at 16, Mark Rogers at #20.

 

Zach Braddock not enough innings and/or time there? Plus they focus on starters...

 

Considering this is only a 12-team league, safe to say there was some hosing of the Manatees here.

 

BA Subscribers can click here for a 3:00 PM Central Time chat Wednesday afternoon. Let them have it!

[battlekow]

That's really quite surprising. I didn't expect Anundsen to be on there, and Schafer's a little old, but man.

[TheCrew07]

I can understand Anundsen as he's not projectable, but no Rivas or Schafer is complete garbage. I understand that Rivas is one of my guys so I might be biased but he was top 5 in most categories statistically and top 10 in all, by what measure is he not a top prospect in that league? Gutierrez ranked higher than Rivas, seriously? He only pitched 54 innings in the FSL and got lit up at AA in almost the same number of innings, not to mention Carlos' peripheral numbers stink at every level. Schafer won the batting title (AVE) and put up an OPS over .800 as a CF at 22 years of age, he didn't turn 23 until 9/8. He'll be in AA as a 23 year old, he's right on track. The list seems to be based on power projection until you get down to Galvis who's more of an Escobar type SS.

 

Vitters is good, but how can he be on both the FSL and MWL lists? Shouldn't he be one place or the other, probably the MWL since he wasn't promoted until late in the season?

[colbyjack]

Keep in mind stats aren't the things that make one prospect stand out from another. And at a quick glance, there isn't too much shame in having some notable players not make the list, as the league was loaded with top prospects. The top 15 guys are so are all guys that are going to factor prominently into BA's top 100 list when it's released next spring.

 

I agree that Rivas' exclusion is a little bit of a surprise, but age may be working against him just like it seems to be for Schafer. I made sure to ask the question where those two along with Anundsen and Farris (who was mentioned in the league lead-in) factored in, so hopefully that question will be answered.

 

And players can appear on as many lists as they qualify for. Gallardo and Braun were both prominently listed in both the FSL and SL the year the two of them spent time at both levels.

[colbyjack]

There are already two questions asking about Schafer's exclusion. Here's one of the responses from Cooper that sums it up the best while also pointing out how statistics can't be over-analyzed:

 

Mark (Fremont, CA): How in the world can Logan Schafer be left off the top 20? He lead the league in hitting, committed one error in CF, had an .OPS .816 and had 16 OF assists. Please explain.

 

J.J. Cooper: Because we're not ranking players based on their contribution to winning in the Florida State League. If that was the case, Darrin Downs and Zach Lutz would be on here as well. With Schafer even though he had a solid OPS this season, there are some concerns that he's a tweener at the big league level.

 

Another person (BA chat stalwart Jaypers) asked about Anundsen's exclusion, with the expected answer that his stuff wasn't good enough to make the list.

[TheCrew07]

Well you got your question answered.

[marty22]

weird...I always thought Schafer was a plus defender in center, if not at least average

[battlekow]

weird...I always thought Schafer was a plus defender in center, if not at least average

Agreed. He doesn't sound like a tweener to me. Caleb Gindl is your stereotypical tweener.

The list seems to be based on power projection until you get down to Galvis who's more of an Escobar type SS.

Starlin Castro at #6 seems a lot like Escobar.

[colbyjack]

Well you got your question answered.

 

I did and I didn't. Cooper did reply to my question, but he really didn't answer why Rivas didn't make the cut. He admitted that his FB was in the 90-94 range and he had the best changeup in the league. I don't think an inconsistent slider would keep him from the top 20, even with the talent as deep as it was given the combination of success and stuff. I do think his relative unknown status hurts his prospect status a little, because if Cooper would have said that it was because Rivas was 23, soon to be 24, I would have gone for that more.

 

Not to nitpick, because the league-by-league top prospect lists are probably my favorite BA feature.

 

Agreed. He doesn't sound like a tweener to me. Caleb Gindl is your stereotypical tweener.

 

Again, I don't meant to nitpick, but I too was confused by the word "'tweener," because it wasn't used how I am accustomed to. Cooper admitted that Schafer was a good CF with good speed, but that it was his bat that left scouts wondering if he was a backup at the highest level. That's not a 'tweener, so I would be interested to hear Cooper explain that one a little further.

 

I got the most recent print issue of BA today, in which all of the league top prospects are listed. I won't spoil all of the fun for everyone else, but I was pleased to see three prospects make the PCL list, which is due up online next week. SL is up tomorrow...

[TheCrew07]

I did and I didn't. Cooper did reply to my question, but he really didn't answer why Rivas didn't make the cut. He admitted that his FB was in the 90-94 range and he had the best changeup in the league. I don't think an inconsistent slider would keep him from the top 20, even with the talent as deep as it was given the combination of success and stuff. I do think his relative unknown status hurts his prospect status a little, because if Cooper would have said that it was because Rivas was 23, soon to be 24, I would have gone for that more.

I guess that's my whole problem here. Rivas throws every bit as hard as Gutierrez, and actually consistently a tick harder, with much better results. Gutierrez doesn't profile as a guy who's going to miss many bats, and his control isn't any better than Rivas, Amuary actually walked 1 less batter in 26 more IP on the season while striking out nearly twice as many hitters. I'm unsure how Rivas continues to fly under the radar? What do the scouts and managers see that we don't? He's got legit stuff, backs it up with production, what more could he do? TMJ surgery did set him back a little but missing 2 years and being a strict pitch count didn't keep Rogers off of the list.

 

In the end maybe it's as simple as he's just not a "name" prospect who was drafted highly with all of the fanfare. I feel bad for Amaury but maybe he'll use this as fuel and work even harder in the future.

 

edit.

Starlin Castro at #6 seems a lot like Escobar.

That's probably true, but I keep reading he's got power potential, which is why I didn't initially include him.

[pingman]

...an age of 23/24 in a high-A league raises a red flag in the projectability category....how much better is he going to get? especially when compared to talented 19/20 year old prospects....

 

BA's ratings aren't perfect, it's just their way of evaluating talent....I consider BA the "anti-moneyball" although that's not 100% fair

[Tedaldtada]

Gindl is too low. This is nothing new for him, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is never highly rated (top 5-10 talent) as he progresses. I can't remember a Brewer OF who was so young and so successful. The only thing holding him back in these rankings is height, right?

[battlekow]

Gindl is too low. This is nothing new for him, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is never highly rated (top 5-10 talent) as he progresses. I can't remember a Brewer OF who was so young and so successful. The only thing holding him back in these rankings is height, right?

His height, yes, inasmuch as it contributes to the perception that he has a low offensive ceiling. Even if he never turns into a sluggardly slugger corner outfielder, his excellent defense should make some of that value back up, but it seems like BA still sees him as a fourth outfielder. Like I said above, he's the stereotypical tweener in their eyes: can't quite handle center defensively, but can't quite hit enough to man a corner. Still, Gindl actually got better this year only to have that improvement masked by the overall lower level of offense in the FSL relative to the SAL, so there's reason for optimism.

[colbyjack]

I felt Gindl at #16 in an extremely deep league was pretty high praise considering questions about his height. I again agree with battlekow's assessment about Gindl's defensively capability, as BA's scouting report mentioned that he would be restricted to left field given his overall physical limitations, which goes against most of what we've heard about him since he was drafted. He's proven that he can play CF in a pinch, and has good enough wheels and a strong enough arm to play on either corner.

[battlekow]

BA's scouting report mentioned that he would be restricted to left field given his overall physical limitations.

Bizarre given that all we hear about is his great arm; it's not like people rave about his range, though the center field dalliances and great zone ratings indicate he's a plus in that regard, as well. BA should know better than anyone that he was a potential draft pick as a LHP with a nice fastball.

[captkirk16]

I absolutely love this kid. He has a plus arm, decent range and the ball flys off his bat like no one his age. Every year he has gotten better. I think he will hit for average and power (20-30 dingers) the higher he goes up because of his plate discipline. The strike zone gets smaller the higher you go and the fact that he is of high character, this kid will continue to impress. He seems to go out and prove everybody wrong every year, seems like he is humble and hungry!

Can't wait till next year, love to see the crew in the playoffs!

[twobrewers]

captkirk16-

 

You've been pimping Gindl for years now. Do you know him?