Mailbag

Mailbag

Got a few questions, so here are the answers, as best as I can do..

From Dan

With Adrian Cardenas as our top position prospect at a position where we already have a superstar in Chase Utley, where do you see Cardenas ending up position-wise, if he ever makes it to the big leagues? BaseballAmerica intimated that he could move to Right Field, do you agree?

I think they will keep him at 2B up through AA, at which point they will evaluate what is happening at the big league level. He might not have the arm strength to play 3B or RF, and he won’t have the range for CF, which means LF might be the final stopping point. For now, though, I think he’ll remain at 2B.

From Avery

Do you have any info on crosscutters pitcher drew naylor? Whats his stuff like? What are his pitches? Whats his makeup like? Also, why did he only start 2 of his 12 games last year. Basically what im asking
is: is he a legit prospect for the phils?

and similarly, from tua36564

Just wanted to know your thoughts on Drew Naylor a RHP at Williamsport. Pitched his third game today and has three wins. He also has let up only one ER in 22 innings pitched. He’s averaging almost a strikeout per inning and has walked only three while sporting a 1.14 Ground/Fly ratio. Is he the real deal, or will he come back down to Earth?

Drew Naylor seems to be springing to everyone’s mind with his quick start. Naylor, for those who don’t know, is one of our Australian signings, and made his US debut in 2006. Just turning 21, Naylor has a solid pitcher’s build, at 6’4, 210 lbs, but did not dominate in his first pro action, posting a 4.66 ERA in 36.2 IP, allowing 43 H, 9 BB and only 22 K. Lack of strikeouts is of course a red flag, as is the hittability, though his walk rate was solid. Well, Naylor has gotten off to a much better start this season;

22 IP, 0.41 ERA, 9 H, 3 BB, 21 K

Obviously that’s a huge improvement. The strikeouts are the most encouraging thing, and he’s been much less hittable. Is he a legit prospect? Yeah, because this is only his second season in pro ball, and he moved up a level, he’s not just repeating the GCL. What does he throw? I’ve never seen him pitch in person, and he was not on anyone’s radar, so there isn’t a lot of info there. I think I remember reading somewhere that he throws a typical fastball/changeup/slider combination. From the looks of his numbers, he must have sharpened his secondary pitches, because the strikeouts are way up and the walks are still way down. He’s definitely a guy to keep an eye on, but he needs to keep steadily moving if we’re to consider him a legit prospect.

10 thoughts on “Mailbag”

  2. Yeah I do. He hasn’t shown it yet, but he’s only 19. I see 20 HR as realistic, and maybe more. If he hits for a high average, which he should, he could turn into Chase Utley lite….and that’s plenty good for left field.

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  3. ive heard about mach, but how are some of the other college kids doing in their first few weeks in the pro ranks. Has anyone else been opening any eyes? We drafted so many older college players with power that i was hoping one or 2 would jump out.

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  4. Hi FTN,

    I think Cardenas has plenty of arm for 3B–he played a little SS last year and in minor league ST again this year, and when I saw him in FL he was throwing well from the “hole”…I hope the Phils move him before AA to 3B…it’s just confusing having him at 2B right now. he should be learning what he has to do to field well at 3rd as soon as possible.

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  5. Hey! Love your web site. I was wondering if you had any information on Zachary Sterner? He was drafted in the 17th round last month. All I can find is his basic info (Age, Size, School). In a few short outings he’s gone from the Gulf Coast team to Lakewood, having success in both places. This guy appears to be a sleeper. Any info that you have would be greatly apprecaited.

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  6. Hey Chuck, good to see you. I wasn’t sure on his arm, I’ll take your word on it. I knew the thing holding him back from playing SS was his range, wasn’t sure on the arm, but I thought I read that he definitely didn’t have the arm for RF, so wasn’t sure if it would play at 3B.

    I think the idea of leaving him at 2B this season is fine. It’s his first full season, he’s had to adjust to better pitching, best to not jerk him around this year. I think they might work on getting him some action at 3B during Instructs, or maybe even in the AFL. He could see time there next year in Clearwater. Too early to really say. Obviously he won’t play 2B in the majors, but I want him to focus on his hitting now and worry about where to play him later.

    As for Sterner, I don’t know much about him at all right now.

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  7. My preference is to always develop the prospect at the position where he has the most value. For Cardenas I think that means 2B for the near future. Only when he gets closer to the majors should the team think about switching him to a position of need. The whole Utley to 3B move was stupid IMO and might have cost him a half year in the majors.

    If Cardenas develops as a 2B he would have lots of trade value if his offense continues to progress. While I love Cardenas as a prospect, I would not hesitate to trade him for another prospect or player in a position of need if it came down to that. GMs that fall in love with any player/prospect are limiting their options.

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  8. Cardenas is playing 2B? I must be out of the loop… I thought the Phills moved Cardenas to 3B, leaving Donald at SS. But now with Donald in Clearwater, I expected Cardenas to either remain at 3B or switch back to SS. Well, whatever they do, I want to see this kid in action… get him up to Clearwater and see what he can really do (even at 3B, he has to be better than the players we’ve had playing the hot corner this year… Baez, Made, Antoniato).

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  9. I join those who want Cardenas to remain at 2nd base…for this season for sure.

    However, I hope he can continue at 2nd IF he is a superior fielder…i.e., Utley is greatly improved but could move to LF to accomodate “Cardy.”

    This is because I am hoping (praying?) for a slugging RIGHT-HAND-HITTING 3RD BASEMAN which our future lineup is almost desperate to have. Leaving room at 3rd for that player is important it seems to me.

    Of course, we lack a good righty left fielder…so IF he could fall on us, that would partially solve the lineup problem…but, honestly, I’m holding that position open for Mach in 2 seasons….

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  10. I think Greg Golson is slowly inching his way back to top prospect status. In his last ten games he is batting .357 with 7 runs, 2 hr’s, 9 RBI’s and 2 SB. Is it possible that he could earn a promotion to Reading in the next month if he keeps this up

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