Biggest step forward/backward?

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Another open discussion question. Which propsect (or two) do you feel has taken the greatest step forward this season, and on the flip side, which guy has taken the biggest step backward? My answer will come tomorrow.

20 thoughts on “Biggest step forward/backward?”

  2. I’d have to go with Donald for step forward. Zagurski and Kendrick could probably qualify, considering the former’s rapid ascension to (and moderate success in) the Bigs. Kendrick certainly has been solid, and you could even say he has been a lifesaver for the Phils this year – while his stats are extremely pedestrian, he has given the team a chance to win every start, which is more than you can say for a bunch of their other starters.

    Zegovia took a step back. Actually he is falling over backwards. Matt Smith and Joe Bisenius would also be in the step back category.

    – Jeff

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  4. I would go with Outman and Donald as the prospects who have taken the biggest steps forward. I still don’t understand why they haven’t moved Outman up to Reading.

    Zegovia and Henry have taken the biggest steps backward, with an honorable mention to Baez. I could easily see Baez and Henry be out of baseball by this time next year.

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  5. Biggest step forward: Carrasco, Cardenas, Donald, Outman/Kendrick and Zagurski (for making it to the bigs)

    No steps at all: Costanzo

    Biggest step backwards: Segovia, Baez, Henry, Bisenius, Geary, Smith

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  7. Assuming Kendrick & Zagurski are not included:

    Forward:
    1 – Carrasco
    2 – Outman
    3 – Donald
    4 – Cardenas
    * – Honorable Mention to 2 older prospects: Merchan & Jacobs

    Backward:
    1 – Segovia
    2 – Bisenius
    3 – Henry

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  8. Golson is clearly one of the prospects who has taken the biggest steps forward. He continues to have significant flaws as a prospect, but he’s shown more improvement than any position player in the system, and that’s the relevant question.

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  9. I’ve got to agree with the Taco man, Golson has shown vast improvement and will be at AA last year. Outside of Kendrick and Zagurski, Jason Donald, Outman, and Marson have really established themselves as good players at Clearwater. Gus Milner has quietly been having a solid year as well.

    Players who have taken step backs include Segovia, Happ, and Baez, I’m reluctant to add Henry to the list as his past performances have never suggested any possible future above Lakewood anyway.

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  10. Forward:
    1. Carrasco
    2. Cardenas
    3. Merchan (yes, he’s been absolutely incredible at the plate this year)
    4. Marson
    5. Golson/Donald (I’m not sold on Golson yet, and Donald is steady)

    Backward:
    1. Happ
    2. Segovia
    3. Henry (does he even deserve to be on this list? just awful)
    4. Smith

    A little of both:
    Pfinsgraff

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  12. I didn’t put Henry on my list due to the fact that he’s been really awful (batting around .170 now). I’d be surprised if he makes it through the season. Thinking about it, I guess that means he’s moving backwards.

    Golson certainly has made some strides – although his strikeouts are too high and his walks too low. I would say that he has take a step forward, but not as much as some of the other guys.

    I think that Quentin Berry warrants mentioning as well – he has improved his numbers from 219/314/248 to 314/403/387, reduced his strikeouts (from roughly 25% to 14% of his at bats), and has almost 40 steals

    – Jeff

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  13. Not as clear choices as many of the guys mentioned, but Milner deserve credit for improvement. About on a par with Berry improvement.

    Brauer and Carpenter can go in the step back category.

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  14. Backwards…Fabio Castro. No one even mentions him, that is how much of a forgetible season he has had. I thought he’d be either a good reliever with the Phils, or a dominate starter with AAA. After the winter he had, I expected more. Maybe he is just worn down and started to get nicked up. I thought if he was going to be in the minors, it would be as a starter and he’d be the first one called up when one of the starters went down.

    Up…I like Zagerski more than Kendrick. Kendrick reminds me of Brandon Duckworth. Zagerski is a gamer who wants to be on the mound. He wants the ball. I like him.

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  15. Until just recently in AAA, Fabio had been having a very good season in the minors. His July has been bad, but otherwise I’d say you’re off base.

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  16. Outman had a pretty great outing today, with improved command.

    7IP 2R 2ER 6H 1BB 12 K

    He needs to be moved up to Reading very soon so that he can have time to get comfortable before an offseason trip down to the AFL. The one knock on him lately is the questions about his command. 1 walk in 7IP with 12K looks like he is spotting pitches pretty nicely at the moment and needs a chance to escalate his game at the next level.

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  17. I sure hope Allentown isn’t referring to Drew Carpenter with the step back comment, because I hardly think that would be a fair comment. While I’d be happier if his BB/K ratio was a little stronger, I don’t think we can be that disappointed in a guy in his first full season of pro ball with over 100 IP and a sub 4 ERA.

    Step Forward: Cardenas, Donald, Golson, Myers, Berry
    Step Backward: Baez, Henry, Segovia

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  18. I agree that Carpenter has been more of a positive than a negative this year. Decent K rate, lots of innings, pretty good HR rate. He’s no better than the fourth or fifth best rotation prospect at the top three levels (Carrasco, Maloney, Outman, Happ if/when he gets straightened out) right now, but at 22 he’s doing fine.

    Segovia’s definitely my biggest disappointment, though C.J. Henry has been far worse than I could have imagined (and I wasn’t a fan to start with). But he’s more farce than tragedy at this point…

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  19. Although this goes slightly off topic, Carpenter’s last start was a Complete Game Shutout with 3 Hits, 2 Walks, and 10 K’s….I’d call that VERY positive. Oh yeah, and he only has 5 ER in his last 35 IP!

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  20. Lest we forget that Carp recently became the first pitcher in Clearwater Thresher’s history to post a 10 win season… as of right now he’s sitting at 11-5… how is that a step backward when very little was expected out of him in his first full season.

    Donald WILL be in AA by the end of the season. Golson… well, I personally think he lacks heart. The skills are present, but he just doesn’t seem to care. Marson is having another great season behind the plate. His batting numbers have been ‘decent’ but it is his work with the pitchers that really impresses me.

    The Phills should just cut Baez and quit wasting their money… my 80 year old grandmother gets down to field the ball better than this guy. When you add to that the fact that he runs like he has bad knees and flails at pitches like a Little Leaguer, it just makes you wonder what the brass see’s in this guy.

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