Thread: Official Dodger Prospects Thread

Today, Jon Meloan had one of his better starts in Vegas so far this year.

Code:

Player Record IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Meloan (W, 5-9)	7.0	8	3	3	1	4	2	5.18

Meloan's transistion back to a starting pitcher has been rocky. His numbers aren't that great:

Code:

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
LVG	PCL	5	9	5.18	20	19	0	0	0	99.0	115	71	57	7	56	92	0.82	.294

With Saito going in for an MRI today on his elbow I figured now would be a good time to post up Meloan's profile. I think it was a good idea to have him go back to being a starter but the results haven't really been great. If Saito is out we'll need a dependable bullpen arm and Meloan could be that guy. What do you guys think? Abandon Meloan's move to starting pitching for now? Or leave him in Vegas to start?

#8 Jonathan Meloan
RHP
B-R
T-R
6-3 225

Originally Posted by Baseball America

After going 27-2 as a starter in his last two years at Arizona. Meloan has become a dominant pro reliever with remarkable consistency. He spent the first half of 2007 dealing in Double-A before climbing to Triple-A and eventually Los Angeles.

A ferocious competitor with championship makeup, Meloan has an aggressive approach to pitching, pounding the zone with four offerings. His 89-94 MPH fastball and mid-80s slider are his bread and butter. His fastball has occasional plus sink. It shows armside run at times and he can cut it with action away from righthanders as well. His plus slider has tight spin and filthy bite. He also throws a curveball and changeup as complementary offerings. He gets ahead with his fastball and has above-average command.

Meloan's tightly bound frame lacks looseness. His delivery has flaws, including recoil. He missed time in 2006 with elbow soreness, and his durability might determine his ultimate value. A potential power set-up man with the consistency managers love, Meloan will report to spring training with the opportunity to win a role in the Los Angeles bullpen. The Dodgers have been pleased with his resiliency, and they've discussed moving him back to the rotation if he returns to Triple-A.

Well, for me, i guess it depends how serious Saitos injury is.... if it's something that will keep him out months, then I would have Meloan coming out of the bullpen in AAA now, and bring him up later. But if Saito isn't out too long, I'm ok with sticking Meloan as a starter for the year.

BA Chat Wrap

Matt, Indiana: Jim, any thoughts on Preston Mattingly? Is he ever gonna put it together?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:35 PM ET ) No, I don't think so. I'd move him to the outfield and see if that helped jump-start his bat at this point.

paul (vancouver BC): Bumgarner or Kershaw?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:38 PM ET ) Kershaw. He and David Price are the two best prospects in the minors right now.

From Keith Law

Paddy (St. Louis, MO): Sorry about the DH stir, Keith. I like your chats, but not a fan of the DH obviously (my opinion is if you can only hit, then golf). I think one of the more exciting things about the game today is the amount of young players with so many tools. If you're GM of the Dodgers what do you do about Furcal's situation? One year deal with incentives? or gamble on Hu?

SportsNation Keith Law: (2:01 PM ET ) I'd gamble on Hu or DeJesus, who was pretty impressive on Sunday. DeJesus is Hu with a little more bat. Plus Hu has this recurring eye problem that is going to make any team reluctant to commit to him as the full-time SS.

Our second round pick, Joshua Lindblom made his pro debut today with the Class-A Loons.

Code:

Player IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Lindblom  2.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0.00

Lindblom is one to keep an eye on. Big kid with velocity. He started today and the plan seems to be to have him start but I think he'll end up in the bullpen when it is all said and done.

Yes, hes the kind that is best suited to come out of the pen. Really like the pick.

Originally Posted by sarf

Yes, hes the kind that is best suited to come out of the pen. Really like the pick.

Yea, he seems like a "smaller" version of Broxton. I do like the idea of trying him out as a starter though.

Kershaw and Elbert pitched very well last game, each giving up a hit each:

Kershaw (W, 2-3) 5.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1.91
Elbert (H, 4) 3.0 1 0 0 2 3 0 2.42

I can't believe a hold is a stat.