This is something I’ve been spending a lot of time working on with the completion of my Reader Top 30, and I feel like I have things where I want them, so I wanted to make another detailed post talking about my new creation, the SONAR score. If you’ve been around for a while, you read my introduction pieces here and here back in November. Like any good social scientist, I set out with a goal; to try and figure out a way to evaluate minor league prospects across all leagues, factoring in all of the aspects of the game that can be accurately measured, to try and evaluate what prospects have done, and which players might succeed/struggle going forward based on their peripherals. Along the way, I encountered many difficulties, including the simple amount of work it entails to code over 5,000 players into a system, and then trying to figure out if the formulas I used were accurate, helpful, or off the mark. My test run was published in November, and then I started to do position by position breakdowns. It was during this process, when I was looking at the numbers in depth (and based on reader feedback) that I discovered some of the flaws in the system, and I set about fixing the errors, making adjustments, and trying to make the system the best it can be. As any person who tries to create something new, the first run (or first 10 in this case) rarely is ever perfect. But a good scholar always tries to improve, to figure out what is missing, and to try and make it the best it can be. So that is where we are now. Check below for the details.
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Lehigh Valley and Reading pitching staffs
I figured we’d start off trying to figure out who is going to be where by looking at both Reading and Lehigh Valley. We’ll then move on to the A ball affiliates, and after we cover pitching, we’ll try and sort out the position players in the system and who will be playing where. The minor league work out groups have been posted, and they will be continually updated throughout the rest of spring training, and eventually players will be assigned to their respective affiliates. But it doesn’t hurt to start speculating now. Check below the fold for more…
Monday Discussion/Game at 1PM on MLB Network
Monday’s ST game against the Yankees will be on MLB Network at 1PM. I’m not sure of their blackout rules during ST, but if the game is being aired in Philly or New York (its one of them, obviously) then you might be blacked out via MLBN, but you can still watch on whatever the local affiliate is. Probably going to see more of the MLB regulars as the games progress, but still time to catch a bunch of prospects before re-assignments. I’m going to try and catch the game as it happens, and if I can, I’ll post some thoughts in real time.
In the meantime, a few articles. Zolecki talking with Phillippe Aumont about reverting back to his pre-draft mechanics. I’m optimistic about this. Delco Times article on Domonic Brown. He appears to be meeting everyone’s expectations so far in ST.
Check below for my in game thoughts
Continue reading Monday Discussion/Game at 1PM on MLB Network
Reader Top 30 Spreadsheet
Is now located under the “Top 30 Prospects” page at the top of the site. Head over there, scroll under the chart that I’ve made, and you’ll see a link to click to view it in Google Documents. Enjoy.
On an unrelated note, in my wordpress dashboard where the admin type stuff is, I can see what people are clicking, where links to this site are posted, etc etc, and I’ve noticed that every day, the “make a donation” button is getting 15-20 clicks, and there are no actual donations. If you’d like to donate (and as always, its 100% optional, but obviously greatly appreciated) and you’re having an issue with paypal, please send me an e-mail and I can try to help. Or maybe you just click the button out of habit, I understand that too. Either way, it was kind of a curiosity, and I wanted to make a note.
Comments on this are closed, if you want to comment on Reader Top 30 submissions, do it at the above link. Thanks.
Friday ST discussion
Tyson Gillies goes yard. Discuss it here.
Make or break seasons in 2010
The next in the line of topics to discuss as the season approaches, I’m going to single out a few prospects that I feel are entering their make or break year. This is subjective, of course, some guys are just late bloomers, though many never bloom at all. I’m only going to highlight guys who need to be placed on the 40 man roster after 2010. Guys who will have at least one season left aren’t in danger so I’m not going to worry about those guys. College guys (19 and older) drafted in 2007 and prep players (18 and under) from the 2006 draft/international signing period are the guys we’re focusing on here. Check below for my list…
Poll Question: Biggest MLB Impact in 2010?
I meant to post this earlier today but haven’t had time, so this works for today/tomorrow. This is simple one, which prospect (ie, has prospect status under the MLB guidelines) will have the biggest impact on the big league club this season? I’ll include the realistic choices in the poll, as well as the OTHER option, if I’m missing someone you want to write in. Again, this isn’t the most improved prospect or anything, just the guy that will have the most positive impact/value at the big league level. Check below for the poll
Poll of the Day
Just a quick update. In the next day or two I’m going to put together the spreadsheet with all of the submissions for the Reader Top 30 and then post it. Also, since I’ve completed my own Top 30 list, I’ve had some time to work on other projects here, and one of them has been to make some changes and improvements to the SONAR system. The feedback I’ve gotten (from those who’ve participated in the discussions) was positive, and just like anyone who creates anything, I always want it to improve and become more useful, so I’ve been able to make some changes that I think accomplish just that. I’m hoping to have a writeup on Friday with the changes and new data, so check back for that. Also, as we get closer to spring training games starting, I’ll try and put up a daily thread where you can discuss the prospects’ performance. But for today, I thought we’d just do a fun informal poll/discussion, so check below…
Last call for Reader Top 30 submissions
I’m going to put them into a matrix and upload it to the site over the weekend, so if you want to submit a personal top 30 list, please send it to phuturephillies at gmail dot com and also include the display name you’d like attached to your list. Thanks.
Baseball America’s Top 100
Today Baseball America released their Top 100 list for 2010, and two Phillies made the list
15. Domonic Brown
93. Phillippe Aumont
In the accompanying piece, they incorrectly list the Phillies as having 3 guys on the list, but the above 2 are the only 2 I found. More interestingly, the Phillies were 2nd in the category of “most prospects on list by original organization”, as there were 6, behind only Tampa Bay at 7. The other four were Drabek (25), Taylor (29), Knapp (64), and D’Arnaud (81). All of that said, I’m still glad we’ve made the moves we have. Another pennant, the best pitcher on the planet, and three good prospects is a worthwhile return for the prospects given up.
Phuture Phillies 