A while ago we debated who took the biggest step forward and who took the biggest step back this season. Now that the year is complete, we have a bigger sample to look at, and we can re-visit this question. Don’t necessarily just pick the guy with the best/worst statistics, consider what was expected of that player before the season. For example, it’s tough to call Welinson Baez a step back this year, when most people assumed that he was bordering on non-prospect status entering this season anyway. So, consider expectation and performance, and then list your biggest step forward and biggest step back.
12 thoughts on “Biggest step forward/back”
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Phuture Phillies 
Andrew Carpenter deserves the biggest step forward award for leading the Threshers to the Florida State League championship.
Others: Mike Zagurski, Jason Donald, Quintin Berry, Brad Harman, Ron “Bear” Hill
Biggest step backwards was Kyle Drabek, who had high expectations but didn’t progress at all due to his injury and Tommy John surgery. Not that he can’t come back, but this was a major blow.
Others: Zack Segovia, Edgar Garcia, Danny Sandoval, CJ Henry
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Biggest step forward – Dominick Brown (although mainly 2nd half) Honorable Mention — Donald, Harman, Marson
Biggest step back — Zack Segovia; Dishonorable Mention — Dan Brauer
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Clearly the Aussies have stepped up. Gegg Legg in Williamsport comparing Drew Naylor to Brett Myers and Brad Harman delivering under pressure of must wins down the stretch and in the FSL playoff finals. Both did not impress in 06. I was shocked by the inability of Carrasco and Outman to have command and control to dominate at the AA level.
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Kinda harsh to put someone on the “biggest step back” list for getting hurt.
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Back: Segovia (from almost making the majors to oblivion in six months – pretty stunning), Happ (still has a great future, but I thought he’d be in the Phils rotation by now), Bisenius (a bit like Happ – I expect he’ll be a good candidate for the biggest step forward next year – his game-to-game stat.s are wildly inconsistent which makes me believe he is struggling with command – when he gets it down he’ll be quite good), Pfinsgraff (maybe he’s hurt, I don’t know, but he got roughed up pretty good for a while there)
Forward: Harman, Marson, Costanzo (okay, how many of you predicted he’d hit 27 homers in AA with a decent obp?), Donald (hit the pedal to start the season and never backed off), Bastardo (three months ago it was like “who?” – now we know), and Carpenter (if you keep winning, people notice).
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Taco Pal: I didn’t read where it said injuries don’t count. Anyway, TJ surgery is commonplace now so Drabek should recover, but there’s no doubt it set him back a year.
Now if you had said it was harsh to list Sandoval among the those who took a step back, you’d be on to something. Sandoval, 28, was in a position to get over the hump this season but made an early exit from Spring Training after a few awful errors and never quite stepped out of that shadow. I realize the Phillies projected him as a utility infielder at best, but I’m not so sure they feel even that much anymore. They signed Gookie Dawkins as a FA and with the younger middle infielders making such great progress, I think Sandoval’s days may be numbered in the Phillies system. Perhaps he’d improve with a change of scenery…
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For biggest step forward, how about a group nomination for the Clearwater Bullpen? Those guys were lights out in the playoffs, throwing out some old-school two and three inning saves in one run games. Given that the Big Club’s pen has difficulty securing five run leads, Hopefully, a member or two of that group will be able to help the Phillies in ’08.
Step back: Segovia, Bisenius. I don’t know if Roberson took a step back, but he certainly should start considering a different career path, since “speedy outfielder” seems to be a pretty crowded place in this organization.
– Jeff
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Back: Segovia and Happ definitely went back and you’d have to consider Drabek going back as well as D’Arby Myers who had us all excited before the year started. And now??
Forward: Definitely Donald, Harman and Berry as well as Carpenter and Bastardo. But leading the list has to be Kyle Kebdrick, followed by Zagurski. Who had Kendrick penciled in for 10 wins in the majors this year?? I’d also put Golson on the forward list for at least making AA.
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x-factor
Edgar Garcia actually finished off the season well. Didn’t he? His last six starts were good.
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Murray: You’re right about Kendrick. With Hamels out, Kendrick is the Phillies ace. That’s a long way from AA. I didn’t list him because he’s on the active roster, but in retrospect he wins the best progress award by a landslide. Bastardo, yes. Golson, not so much.
Dan: You’re right, Garcia finished strong and he’s still a great prospect but he began the season ranked as the 4th best prospect in the system, so expectations were much higher for him than for his peers. He struggled early and especially on the road. Still, he’s young and talented and has a bright future.
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Heh. Yeah, this award could be re-named “The Kendrick.” He went from not even being invited to Spring Training to (probably) a ten game winner, ROY consideration and the only reliable pitcher on the staff during a stretch run (well, Eaton is reliable, you can count on him to give up about five runs each start)
– Jeff
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Yeah, of course – Kendrick and Zagurski are at the top of the step forward list. Kendrick is a source of amazement to me with his poise and VERY low strikeout to inninings pitched ratio. I wonder if he can keep it up next year. I hope so as I like him; he has ice water coursing through his veins.
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