Positional Depth: 1B

[CheezWizHed]

So, we start the year by not re-signing Chris Carter, but instead sign Thames and claim Aguilar. Then Cooper goes off on AAA.

 

Add in Jake Gatewood's eye exam and suddenly meeting his draft promise.

 

Gabriel Garcia and Ronnie Gideon add some more interest from the draft last year.

 

That is quite a turn around at the 1B depth in the organization.

[JohnBriggs12]

Aguilar's bat would play almost anywhere but 1B. Not sure he's not a better overall hitter than Thames. Even with Cooper's amazing season, he may not ever get more than a few cups of coffee in the big leagues.

[AKCheesehead]

Aguilar's bat would play almost anywhere but 1B. Not sure he's not a better overall hitter than Thames. Even with Cooper's amazing season, he may not ever get more than a few cups of coffee in the big leagues.

From the games I've watched this year, Aguilar's bat and approach look legitimate.

[FVBrewerFan]

Of all positions, was never worried about 1B depth. Virtually any OF, 3B, C in the system could be moved to 1B.

[CheezWizHed]

That was generally how I've seen the 1B future also (probably with Santana moving to 1B). But its interesting how, in less than a season we suddenly have 3 players contending for playing time at 1B (including Cooper deserving to be promoted here).

 

I doubt all three will be legit long term 1B and time will flush out which are the pretenders, but its still a better situation than last year when we were just happy to have CC breaking even (positive O, negative D). 1B has been a massive hole since Prince left and its good to see we finally have some legit options.

 

So who do people see as the favorite to play 1B long term? Certainly Thames' contract gives him the upper hand, but its not a massive contract to eat (or bench) if he is outplayed.

[jerichoholicninja]

After what we've seen the last few years, how can anyone still think "we can just move anyone to 1B"?

[FVBrewerFan]

After what we've seen the last few years, how can anyone still think "we can just move anyone to 1B"?

 

The system is vastly different than it was a few years ago. Multiple guys at every level from MLB down to A ball already are, or could play 1B.

[82brewcrew82]

After what we've seen the last few years, how can anyone still think "we can just move anyone to 1B"?

 

I just think that in general, the system has far more athleticism that it has had.............maybe ever.

[CheezWizHed]

After what we've seen the last few years, how can anyone still think "we can just move anyone to 1B"?

 

The system is vastly different than it was a few years ago. Multiple guys at every level from MLB down to A ball already are, or could play 1B.

 

Maybe my prospect threshold level is higher, but I don't see a legit MLB 1B prospect at each level, let alone multiple.

 

Cooper at AAA has hit his way to be considered as a prospect. He deserves a shot to become Overbay, even if his OPS away from CS is only 800. No one else should be considered at 1B.

 

Demuth is a poor-man's Cooper. He has done better than expected, but I wouldn't consider him a legit prospect. I suppose Nottingham is the other 1B possibility.

 

Gateway is a legit prospect. And if he can continue anywhere close to this year's production is probably the 1B of the future. Ghelfi has been playing C, but I'm not sure his bat plays at 1B. Erceg could be considered, but I think he has proven enough to say he will stick at 3B defensively. And his bat will determine if he makes the MLB level.

 

Ronnie Gideon hit the cover off the ball last year, but he needs to do it against players his age before I consider him a prospect. And he isn't doing it this year. No one else at A ball is considered a 1B.

 

Gabriel Garcia is interesting to me. Came out of no where, but hit well against players his age and doing so again this year (limited ABs). Chad McClanahan is another possibility if he can't manage 3B defense. But at best, both are fringe prospects.

 

So, by my count, there is Gatewood, Nottingham, Cooper, and Garcia as prospects in my eyes. Gideon, McClanahan, and Ghelfi have some more to prove before I put them in prospect status.

 

We aren't flush with prospects, but still much better than before, especially at MLB/AAA level.

[Jenkins5]

Think with the north of a million dollar signing bonus they gave McClanahan last year, he is a guy who is a prospect. More to show of course but think he has really good potential.

 

Peyton Henry is another kid who could shift over to 1st down the line. Big bat & bigger frame. See how his catching progresses down the line. So far, I've read good things & he is getting nearly all the work in Helena.

[FVBrewerFan]

All those names you mentioned are possible. Some names not mentioned: Shaw, possibly Braun or Santana, Cordell, Coulter. Think about it, not long ago Gatewood was struggling and wasn't even a 1B. I wasn't too confident about Hart moving to 1B, but he played really well there. Not pretending all these guys will turn out, but there's a lot to choose from here. After OF, more depth at 1B position than any other position.

[82brewcrew82]

After what we've seen the last few years, how can anyone still think "we can just move anyone to 1B"?

 

The system is vastly different than it was a few years ago. Multiple guys at every level from MLB down to A ball already are, or could play 1B.

 

Maybe my prospect threshold level is higher, but I don't see a legit MLB 1B prospect at each level, let alone multiple.

 

Cooper at AAA has hit his way to be considered as a prospect. He deserves a shot to become Overbay, even if his OPS away from CS is only 800. No one else should be considered at 1B.

 

Demuth is a poor-man's Cooper. He has done better than expected, but I wouldn't consider him a legit prospect. I suppose Nottingham is the other 1B possibility.

 

Gateway is a legit prospect. And if he can continue anywhere close to this year's production is probably the 1B of the future. Ghelfi has been playing C, but I'm not sure his bat plays at 1B. Erceg could be considered, but I think he has proven enough to say he will stick at 3B defensively. And his bat will determine if he makes the MLB level.

 

Ronnie Gideon hit the cover off the ball last year, but he needs to do it against players his age before I consider him a prospect. And he isn't doing it this year. No one else at A ball is considered a 1B.

 

Gabriel Garcia is interesting to me. Came out of no where, but hit well against players his age and doing so again this year (limited ABs). Chad McClanahan is another possibility if he can't manage 3B defense. But at best, both are fringe prospects.

 

So, by my count, there is Gatewood, Nottingham, Cooper, and Garcia as prospects in my eyes. Gideon, McClanahan, and Ghelfi have some more to prove before I put them in prospect status.

 

We aren't flush with prospects, but still much better than before, especially at MLB/AAA level.

 

I don't think your threshold is any higher than that of anyone else. I just think your definition/evaluation of a prospect is based almost entirely on a stat line, which is fine. You're not the only one by a long shot. Others tend to give some, or more, weight to things like tools and upside. This is why most top prospect lists made by folks who do that sort of thing for a living will have a McClanahan ranked much higher than a Gabe Garcia. A board like this one, where all we really have are stat line and the occasional scouting report, will probably look at a Garcia more favorably than those other lists.

[nate82]

 

So, by my count, there is Gatewood, Nottingham, Cooper, and Garcia as prospects in my eyes. Gideon, McClanahan, and Ghelfi have some more to prove before I put them in prospect status.

 

We aren't flush with prospects, but still much better than before, especially at MLB/AAA level.

 

So where does Ernesto Martinez, Jr. fit here assuming he is not an OF I think he is more of a 1B than an OF?

 

Gatewood is probably the best overall prospect at 1B.

[CheezWizHed]

I don't think your threshold is any higher than that of anyone else. I just think your definition/evaluation of a prospect is based almost entirely on a stat line, which is fine. You're not the only one by a long shot. Others tend to give some, or more, weight to things like tools and upside. This is why most top prospect lists made by folks who do that sort of thing for a living will have a McClanahan ranked much higher than a Gabe Garcia. A board like this one, where all we really have are stat line and the occasional scouting report, will probably look at a Garcia more favorably than those other lists.

 

Folks who do this type of thing for a living are often incorrect or disagree. And no, my opinion is not based solely on stat lines. Yes, McClanahan was drafted a little higher and given a much larger signing bonus. But once in house, Garcia had some pretty nice scouting reports too. McClanahan obviously didn't play great year last year, but also had some reports that he was farther away than hoped. So yes, its a combo between the two. Reality is both have a long way to proving their prospect status. Having Garcia at fringe and McClanahan just outside doesn't mean there is a chasm between the two. If you think McClanahan is better, you could've simply said so instead of being derisive.

 

So where does Ernesto Martinez, Jr. fit here assuming he is not an OF I think he is more of a 1B than an OF?

 

I generally wait for them to at least hit Helena before I pay much attention. So many kids fail out of DSL or AZL, I just don't have the bandwidth to watch and read that deep about them unless they are are a big signing like Lara or McClanahan (He and Henry were the only ones in AZ that followed last year).