Thread: Official Dodger Prospects Thread

I hear the issue with Elbert as a starter is his control.

I hear the Dodgers didn't want to convert Delmonico this year, but next year... ?

As good a job as Logan White has done, Ned sheds prospects faster than he can find 'em. Is it just me, or are we pretty thin these days?

It might seem like we are thin with top prospects at the moment. But we have Withrow and Ethan Martin who I imagine will be top pitching prospects in a year or two(if they can stay healthy), because thats what Logan does...he knows arms. Then we have Kyle Russell and Lindblom, who I think can be special.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

I hear the issue with Elbert as a starter is his control.

True, his command is not that great. His BB/9 is at about 6+change in AA. Not great, what keeps his ERA numbers down is his strikeout ratio.

He has had less that 100 innings of AA ball though, because of injury. So he still has some development to go through. If the Dodgers want him in the majors ASAP he can stick as a power lefty in the pen. I think he has the "stuff" to pull it off. But it is more beneficial long term if he can make it as a starter. A full season of AA ball next year will give us an idea if he can do it. Provided he stays healthy of course.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

I hear the Dodgers didn't want to convert Delmonico this year, but next year... ?

Yea, if they want him to convert to catcher they'll due it in instructional league this fall. Since Delmonico was a college draft pick that made the CWS he signed late. It would have been pointless to have him start catching in the middle of short season rookie ball. Better to let him play a natural position to see what he could do with his bat. A lot of it is mental too I'd imagine. If Delmonico started catching immediately, it's very possible his hitting would have suffered as well. Not a good way to start a professional career.

Originally Posted by Wolvie

As good a job as Logan White has done, Ned sheds prospects faster than he can find 'em. Is it just me, or are we pretty thin these days?

The system has thinned out, that is for sure. The good thing is that part of it is graduations. The bad part is some trades. And the other bad part is some guy's not performing up to expectations.

I'm not against trading prospects, after all that's part of the reason you want a strong system, to get proven players when you need them to put the big team over the top. I just wish the trades weren't so ill advised. Probably the worst part is that we are now including prospects in deals so we don't have to pick up any salary. That is just ridiculous.

Didn't Martin have surgery?

Originally Posted by ASUcruz

I'm not against trading prospects, after all that's part of the reason you want a strong system, to get proven players when you need them to put the big team over the top. I just wish the trades weren't so ill advised. Probably the worst part is that we are now including prospects in deals so we don't have to pick up any salary. That is just ridiculous.

The silver lining is that, it at least appears like, for now, they've done a good job of knowing which prospects to keep. Makes me cringe to wonder how many times Ned's lips said no when his mind was probably thinking, "We don't really need to keep _____, do we?" Hopefully, guys like Billingsley, Kemp, Ethier, Loney, and Martin are still here because the GM has some clue (or at least knows when to trust the guys around him that do).

Originally Posted by Claw21

Didn't Martin have surgery?

Yes, knee surgery. I think he hurt it during a fielding drill.

Dodgers minor-league star McDonald waits for his turn - LA Daily News

Originally Posted by sarf

It might seem like we are thin with top prospects at the moment. But we have Withrow and Ethan Martin who I imagine will be top pitching prospects in a year or two(if they can stay healthy), because thats what Logan does...he knows arms. Then we have Kyle Russell and Lindblom, who I think can be special.

The development of Withrow and Martin will be really important. Can't afford to miss on first rounders these days.

The 2008 draft in general has to be a good one for us. As Wolvie has pointed out the system has thinned out some. I have high hopes for Martin, Lindblom, and Russell as well.

Also let's hope the Delmonico transition to catcher works well. He seems to have a nice bat, if his conversion works well that would be huge, since Lucas May has taken a huge step back.

But yea, 2008 draft has to be a hit, it is hard to critisize the 2006 draft because it landed us Kershaw and helped us get Manny (Morris) but other than that, there are no real promising players. I think Thomas Giles has a chance, he has a solid season in High Class A, but not much else from that haul it seems like.

Regarding the recent two wins over the Rockies, "Dodgers publicity reported that it was the first time No. 1 picks (Billingsley 2003; Kershaw 2006) won back-to-back games since Rick Sutcliffe (1974) and Bob Welch (1977), Sept. 19-20, 1979." (Source: Scout.com)