Depth Charts; Left Field

Depth Charts

I figured we’d handle all three outfield spots separately, even though a few of these guys are probably interchangeable within the three positions. Some guys to consider

Quintin Berry (23) — Michael Taylor (22) — Jermaine Williams (21) — Matt Spencer (22)  — TJ Warren (19)

Jermaine Williams has some of the worst statistics imaginable. But I listed him because he’s still young. McDonald and Warren both have played more in RF than LF, but one/both could end up in LF I guess.

32 thoughts on “Depth Charts; Left Field”

  3. Berry and Spencer seem to be the only realy prospects in the bunch- I think its reasonable to expect Spencer to pop 20+ homers in the Sally league next year.

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  4. Taylor is an impressive figure, but he just doesn’t have the Raw power Howard did for a man of similar size. If he’s gonna become any kind of prospect he needs to seriously commit to tightening up his athleticism and getting some more juice into is bat.

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  6. Berry is by far the best of the bunch. Some guys never learn plate discipline; Berry, on the other hand, has a tremendous approach. I expect Berry to have a breakout campaign and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes an appearance this Fall when the rosters expand.

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  7. Actually, I think Berry’s emergence allowed the Phils to trade Bourn. You really only need so many players like that.

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  8. I personally think it’s Spencer > Berry and then a whole lot of hoping and praying. Spencer has the tools to be an .820-.850 OPS guy in the majors, Berry’s hope is probably to be a Bourn type starter, but more likely a great 4th OF.

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  9. McDonald did leave to play football at Wyoming next season.
    My Vote for today Spencer,Berry,Taylor,Warren,Williams

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  10. 1. Berry
    2. Spencer
    3. Moran — wasn’t sure where to put him as he can play all three OF positions; could see him in Bourn role

    Taylor, Williams, and Warren are marginal prospects.

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  11. I think Victorino is our CF for the next 5 seasons. So, the corner OF spots may well be filled by guys currently thought of as CF or IF. I think Cardenas, Golson, or Dominick Brown are all likelier to grab a corner OF spot than any of these guys. Among those listed, I think Spencer has the highest reasonably achievable ceiling and Berry likeliest to make it to majors. So, I’ll say:
    Spencer, Berry, Taylor, and the others really don’t seem like baseball players.

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  12. I thought Berry was a CF. I like him a lot less if he has to play a corner spot and not CF. There’s no question that Matt Spencer could become a major league OF. If he hits 20 homers this upcoming season, last year’s draft will look pretty good. Also, doesn’t Ken Milner play LF? I really like Milner and I think he could be an unexpected surprise this year. And, where’s the love for the return of the wrong Blalock? Hank looks good but appears to be nothing more than a journeyman. Michael Taylor has the potential to become a decent player but I don’t know if he ever will. For LF, I take Spencer, Milner, Taylor, Blalock and I’ll assume Berry to be a CF.

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  13. I dunno – one out of every six of Williams’ hits last year was a homer. That’s pretty decent poop, I mean pop.

    Spencer, then Berry. Hopefully Taylor does a bit better than he did last year.

    – Jeff

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  14. Spencer is the only one of these guys with more than a prayer of making a difference in the bigs.

    I suppose berry might make it as a 4th outfielder type, but I also think we phillies fans are pushing the idea of speedy, slap-hitting, high OBP (at low levels) players because that’s what we’ve got to push (see bourn), not because that’s what helps a team win at the major league level. How many of those types do you see getting many ABs on the good teams?

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  15. Also, I am not putting words in anyone’s mouth. when I say “we phillies fans pushing the idea…” I just mean that berry has been getting much pub at all in the general phillies community.

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  16. Another possibility is D’Arby Myers, who is young and was doing just fine prior to his wrist injury.

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  17. Spencer is definitely underrated as a prospect because he is now a little more tools than production. But I have warmed to the choice over the past 6 months after thinking he was overdrafted upon his selection. Unlike Mach, he is not too old for his level and has tools that give hope for his projection. He should probably be listed as a RF if the reports of his 94 mph fastball from the mound are true. I agree that is Spencer then Berry then suspects from the above list. Taylor, Warren and McDonald bring up the rest of the list.

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  18. I have seen D’Arby Myers play in the corner positions as well as centerfield. He is a centerfielder who can play any OF position very well.

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  19. I think the reason people see Berry as a good 4th OF is that we need a speed guy currently to “caddy” for Burrell in the last few innings of a game. That need might not be there in a year, or two years, or 5 years, but maybe it will. Manuel likes putting a strong defensive lineup out there for the last few innings. Again, who knows how long he’ll be around. But Berry fits that mold, and he’ll be a cheap guy to put there, instead of having to spend a million bucks on a guy like Taguchi, or a complete zero like Roberson was last year.

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  20. Spencer, D. Myers, Berry, Taylor. The rest of the guys are pretty much non-prospects.

    Jermaine Williams is probably the worst (statistical) player I’ve seen in my life. An OPS of .206 and .271 in the last two seasons, respectively, is not exactly cause for confidence. I don’t care how young you are, if you can’t hit a baseball, there’s no way you’ll make it as a professional baseball player.

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  22. Guess Aussie outfielder Angus Roeger will be coming over to play in the GCL. He will turn 18 in April and is now playing in the Claxton Shield tournament over there. Has gone 5 for 12 so far. Was in the top five in triples, total bases, walks, and stolen bases with an .841 OPS in the MLB Australian Academy Program in 07.

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  23. I’m interested to see the eventual list of guys coming over from Australia and Latin America. Valenzuela and Roeger should be interesting to track in the GCL this summer.

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  24. Lots of very early promise far away from majors in Spencer, Myers, Taylor, Brown. Some decent ceiling, so if 1 or 2 make it, I will see that as a success.

    Berry has matured a bit and is closer, but his ceiling is lower, maybe a 4th OF, maybe a 5th.

    Agree Cardenas could well be in LF. Based on Amaro chat on MLB today, they will keep him at 2B, likely because they think that is where his max value is. Depending on how he develops, how much they like him fitting in clubhouse wise, and what hapens to other players in LF, 3B, 1B, 2B, he could wind up anywhere.

    I will have to go with Brown as our best pure corner OF prospect, but he could be our future RF.

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  25. Jeremy Slayden should be on this list too. He’s been underpromoted by the Phils, but has hit at every level. He has a better chance to make the bigs (at least in a part time role) than a lot of names mentioned. So my revised list would be

    1. Berry
    2. Spencer
    3. Slayden
    4. Moran

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  28. Actually, allentown, it’s a lot different in right field than it is in left. The reads on the ball are different and in most parks right field has more territory to cover than left field. Also, right fielders tend to have better arms than left fielders, so maybe Slayden would have more value in right if he’s got a gun for an arm.

    Saying that he can play LF if he can play RF is like saying Ryan Howard could play third if he can play first. The dynamics of the respective positions are a lot different. Some guys can do it, some guys can’t.

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  29. Slayden’s arm was being questioned before because of a surgery in college. But he only played 5 games there. I guess you could put him in there, but then I guess you could put Cardenas there too, and Harman, and anyone else you wanted to, since they could end up there.

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  30. As you said Rob, rightfield is the more difficult position- angles are different, i know i couldn’t play right field- I had troubles with judging the ball there- but a professional player who can play right field, well, i’ve never heard of a pro who could play right field but not make the adjustment to left.

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  32. Would have to agree the RF to LF transition is not difficult, It is going from more to less dificult position. The 1B to 3B analogy is not appropriate. That is going from one of the two easiest positions to a harder one. Any decent RF can play LF. That is a true statement.

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