Help with minor leaguers

by El Hombre on Aug 30, 2006 11:55 PM EDT

Here are a few guys who dont seem to get much attention but are having some pretty solid seasons...

Please offer any insights or projections for these guys.. thanks!

- State College
- Nate Southard (Nice Obp,Avg,Sb)
- Eddie Degerman (High draft pick, but didnt make the cut for the community top 20 prospect list)

- Quad Cities
- Matt Trent (#'s look pretty solid)

- Palm Beach
- Matt Scherer (Awesome K's per BB)
- Mike Sillman (PB closer... having a spectacular season)
- Dennis Dove (Was having a nice season for PB, Has struggled in AA)
- Zachary Zuercher (Saw him pitch a no hitter with Rhode Island, is left handed, I think they have converted him into a reliever though..)

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sillman caught my eye

a while back:

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/story/2006/6/11/103812/890

degerman is one to watch; apparently has a very unorthodox delivery that makes him difficult to hit. has been erratic w his control so far, but aside from that he's off to a good start: 11+ strikeouts per 9 innings; 46 strikeouts vs just 1 hr allowed.

dove throws very hard and will be pitching in the arizona fall league.

by lboros on Aug 31, 2006 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

Degerman

unorthodox might be a bit of an understatement. He throws overhand...his arm comes in straight over the top, in a perfect line with his body. It seems to do a couple of things for him: keeps everything down (hence the low HR rate) and make his curveball bite harder and also less distinguishable from his fastball. He struggled with his command the first few times I saw him. My guess is that he might end up in the bullpen b/c he only has 2 pitches, but if that is the case he might be up as soon as next year.
Sillman I got to watch pitch many times when he was at Nebraska. Used to be a starter and throw 3/4 but blew out his elbow. Now throws from the side. He's a great athlete (used to pinch run for the Huskers), has good movement on a 90-92 fastball, and throws a nice slider. His control has improved a great deal this year, and he might be able to contribute at some point.

by sdangler on Aug 31, 2006 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

thank you

for the impressions of degerman ---- i knew he had a strange motion but never knew what was strange about it

by lboros on Aug 31, 2006 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Degerman

I thought he was topping out in the high 90's with his fastball during the college world series this year, maybe i'm mistaken though. I think he could be a solid middle relief guy if he can get his control in order.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Aug 31, 2006 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Degerman

It sounds like Kevin Appier kind of - is that what it looks like?

by Toddius396 on Aug 31, 2006 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Appier, IIRC

was a drop and drive pitcher, with a standard arm motion - ball comes over his right shoulder

This kid has a very upright delivery, very straight arm, and twists his body such that the ball comes directly over his head, maybe just left of center (rather apt description).

I could be wrong about the specifics of his motion, but that was the impression I got from a few minutes of watching pitch in the College World Series.

by Solanus on Aug 31, 2006 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Jon Jay

This my favorite prospect currently outside of Rasmus. Hitting .350 for Quad Cities this year, has great speed, and pretty good gap power (lots of doubles). He won't hit many homeruns though, and I haven't heard much about his defense. I hope he starts next season in AA.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Aug 31, 2006 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

eventhough...

he was just drafted, he is 21 so he isn't young for Low-A. If he doesn't jump to AA and play well next year, he'll likely fall into the Nick Stavinoha, Cody Haerther, etc. backup OF category. Also he doesn't have much power which hurts him. Remember Rasmus is at a higher level and is a year young than Jay. Rasmus is clearly a far better prospect.

"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen." -Mike Shannon

by DJ87 on Aug 31, 2006 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It's hard to blame Jay

for the Cardinals defunct minor league system when it comes to promoting players. There is such a clog at the AA/AAA levels with roster fillers that don't get released that it makes it hard for better players to move up. Also, by your logic, Rasmus if falling into the Stavinoha/Hearther backup OF category by not producing in A+ this year.

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Aug 31, 2006 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

21 isn't that old for the midwest league

but it does make your numbers a little suspect when you come out of an established collegiate career, because you're expected to be more polished.

I wish the Cardinals had drafted somebody with more upside that early in the draft, but Jay certainly seems like he'll be a good borderline-starter/fourth outfielder in the bigs at this point.

by DanUpBaby on Aug 31, 2006 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

i've seen

jay, he struck me to be very polished. I think he does belong in A ball at least.

aka "the Rev"

by erik on Aug 31, 2006 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Went to the QC game a few weeks ago...

and saw Jay and talked with him a few minutes. Seemed like a good guy talked a little bit about the grind of playing ball every day and getting used to being away from home said it helped having others around him who were going through as well. He had a pretty good game, getting on base all four times, knocked a double and a single if I remember correctly and scored two runs. Won't have a lot of power but has a Eric Davis like ability to slice doubles the opposite way. Very patient hitter, at least what I saw on the night.

He rocked the hits of Smit, who is high prospect in the Twins org.

by Brock20 on Sep 1, 2006 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Not true...

Rasmus is only 20 years old which is young for High-A. and while he struggled at first he has improved and is now hitting High-A pretty well over the past month. Rasmus is head and shoulders about Jay, Stavinoha, and Haerther despite his struggles. Jay is dominating low-A with a great lineup around him at 21 years old. He is a good prospect, but needs to move through the system quickly (i.e. start at AA and stick there next year) to be considered a possible starting OF. I believe he will be a valuable 4th OF when all is said and done.

"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen." -Mike Shannon

by DJ87 on Aug 31, 2006 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I didnt mean to imply I thought Jay was at all better then Rasmus. I truly believe Rasmus has the ability to be as good as Grady Sizemore if he can put all his tools together.

With as bad as our minor league system has been lately, guys like Jay give me some hope :P

That's beer, that's Budweiser.

by Ankiels Missing Curveball on Aug 31, 2006 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

My evaluation

Nathan Southard, RH OF, 22, Short Season
He started out hot after being drafted and signed this year and has cooled off a little bit. Probably didn't get promoted (eventhough he may have deserved it) due to the surplus of OFs at Quad Cities. Being a polished 22 year old college hitter and at short-season A ball he should be dominant. He has a chance to be a 4th or 5th OF in the future if he moves quickly through the system.

Eddie Degerman, RH SP, 22, Short Season
Degerman is to pitching what Southard is to OFs basically. He is a polished college pitcher and should be dominanting short season. He is 22 and needs to move quickly in order to be considered a possible starter in the future. Other than his wackey delivery, I don't know much about his stuff.

Matthew Trent
He is 24 and pitching at low-A ball probably a longshot despite good numbers.

I don't know much about Scherer or Dove other than Dove has gotten rocked at AA which isn't a good sign.

Mike Sillman, RH RP, 24, High-A
He has dominated at Palm Beach being almost unhittable in the closer role. Sort of old for high-A ball. He has a chance to be a middle relief pitcher probably. Likely not a closer in the big leagues.

Zach Zuercher, LH RP, 22, High-A
Could possibly be a valuable LOOGY in a few years for the Cardinals.

"The right-hander is throwing up in the bullpen." -Mike Shannon

by DJ87 on Aug 31, 2006 4:58 PM EDT reply actions