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2022 Minor League Thread

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Top 5 prospects...
Criznit....................GSon..............
1. Espino............1. Valera...........
2. Freeman........2. Rocchio.......

3.Rocchio..........3. Espino.........
4.Valera..............4. Arias............

5.Arias................5. Freeman.....
We differ on the arrangement.. not who..
 
Alright, why don't we do this! Do your top 10 MLB ready and then a top ten prospect list....

Top 10 prospects

1) Freeman
2) Valera
3) Espino
4) Arias
5) Rocchio
6) Jones
7) Logan Allen
8) Tena
9) Angel Martinez
10) Gavin Williams

Most MLB ready prospects

1) Jones
2) Arias
3) Morris
4) Palacios
5) Kwan
6) Freeman
7) Myers
8) Logan Allen
9) Battenfield
10) Lavastida

I was debating with Rocchio on that top ten, but I have a hunch Lavastida's bat is actually very close and with Hedges health issues, I think he will make his MLB debut in 22...

Guardians rookie of the year candidate...

I'd go Nolan Jones... I think he could easily get a platoon detail in a corner OF spot with Mercado...
 
Most MLB ready prospects

1) Jones
2) Arias
3) Morris
4) Palacios
5) Kwan
6) Freeman
7) Myers
8) Logan Allen
9) Battenfield
10) Lavastida

I was debating with Rocchio on that top ten, but I have a hunch Lavastida's bat is actually very close and with Hedges health issues, I think he will make his MLB debut in 22...

Guardians rookie of the year candidate...

I'd go Nolan Jones... I think he could easily get a platoon detail in a corner OF spot with Mercado...
Strong disagree on this part. Most MLB ready on the position side has got to start with Kwan and Palacios. I'd give the edge to Kwan because of the absurd contact he makes and already strong experience playing OF. With Palacios's speed though he could be able to surpass Kwan as a defensive OF at some point.

Especially, Jones is in no shape to get called up for a while especially to play some kind of platoon role. If he is destined for a platoon role I don't think it'll be before all the effort is put into getting him to hit lefties in AAA.

Arias's plate discipline slipped as the season went on. I'd like to see him get a little better there before getting the nod. Really only thing holding him back for me but it's no easy thing to fix.
 
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Strong disagree on this part. Most MLB ready on the position side has got to start with Kwan and Palacios. I'd give the edge to Kwan because of the absurd contact he makes and already strong experience playing OF. With Palacios's speed though he could be able to surpass Kwan as a defensive OF at some point.

Especially, Jones is in no shape to get called up for a while especially to play some kind of platoon role. If he is destined for a platoon role I don't think it'll be before all the effort is put into getting him to hit lefties in AAA.

Arias's plate discipline slipped as the season went on. I'd like to see him get a little better there before getting the nod. Really only thing holding him back for me but it's no easy thing to fix.

Kwan and Palacios have less time in the upper levels than the other two hitters so on paper, I put Jones and Arias above them because of experience. I want to see if Kwan and Palacios can continue the work they did in 21. I also believe Jones will be better in 22 which if that hunch is correct, he is the most MLB ready. Now that being stated Kwan's profile is one with a contact focus so it won't be as hard of a jump.

Also it's not that uncommon for a lefty hitter to get platooned when they are called up so Jones being a platoon as a rookie actually is a legitimate thing in my mind cause of his history facing lefties and the fact Francona does it fairly often with players.

So what is your list?
 
My top five are

Rocchio
Freeman
Valera
Espino
Arias

MLB ready does not necessarily correspond to Guardian ready, because of our present roster. If the roster stays as is, which won't be the case, the most Guardian ready are probably...

Palacios
Kwan
Morris
Lavastida
Arias
Mikolajchak

That list will change quickly as additions and subtraction are made.

If we look at which ones are most ready to compete for a MLB roster, any roster, on opening day, it might change to...

Arias
Morris
Palacios
Kwan
Gonzalez
Mikolajchak

All played in Columbus last season and produced.
 
With a focus on 2022, lets look at how our rated prospects did last season, using fangraphs list. They all had either seen some MLB time or had 2021 ETAs.

#1 Jones
#2 TMac
#9 Arias
#13 Hentges
#14 Miller
#16 Johnson
#18 Clase
#33 Stephan
#37 Bradley
#41 Hill
#42 Morgan
#44 Sandlin
#45 Moss
#46 Mejia
 
Last 2 months Arias had 22 K%/5 BB%... while the AVG and more end-result numbers were good, I do not really think this shows a readiness offensively at MLB level. IMO 2022 Arias is at a very similar place to 2021 Gimenez - more than ready with the glove with a lagging bat. Hope we can see a little progress there because he actually went downhill as the season progressed in 2021 in that regard. I read that San Diego put him through some kind of plate discipline training which seems to have paid dividends in early 2021 before he may have reverted more to old ways as the season progressed. I don't know what Guardians player development thinks about this situation but I hope they have some answers. If not, I expect Rocchio/Freeman to formally pass as early as 2022 in MLB readiness.
 
Kwan and Palacios have less time in the upper levels than the other two hitters so on paper, I put Jones and Arias above them because of experience. I want to see if Kwan and Palacios can continue the work they did in 21. I also believe Jones will be better in 22 which if that hunch is correct, he is the most MLB ready. Now that being stated Kwan's profile is one with a contact focus so it won't be as hard of a jump.

Also it's not that uncommon for a lefty hitter to get platooned when they are called up so Jones being a platoon as a rookie actually is a legitimate thing in my mind cause of his history facing lefties and the fact Francona does it fairly often with players.

So what is your list?
I don't know all these players that well so I'd be inventing stuff a bit but I think Kwan/Palacios/Morris for top 3, I guess technically Jones could be like a #4 but it'd be to play the kind of role you described which is not going to happen in 2022 unless they're making a playoff push so I would put him lower down the list.

I don't see the time at AAA as much of an issue at all, they were simply held back from AAA due to the COVID shortened season, and essentially showed their worth against real live AA/AAA pitchers. They are much more polished players than Arias/Jones and can play much closer to their potential next year.
 
Most MLB ready prospects is kinda a crapshoot - but Jones it is not.

1. Palacios - think he is the most likely of the group to break camp
2. Kwan
3. Arias - could pop into the #1 spot due to trades/injuries.
4. Morris - sort of..
5. Lavastida
6. Jones - is he a 3rd baseman or an OF? Both?
 
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Most MLB ready prospects is kinda a crapshoot - but Jones it is not.

1. Palacios - think he is the most likely of the group to break camp
2. Kwan
3. Arias - could pop into the #1 spot due to trades/injuries.
4. Morris - sort of..
5. Lavastida
6. Jones - is he a 3rd baseman or an OF? Both?
hmm...

Palacios is one of those guys I refer as an a-lister.. he's got skills.. no doubt.. he's got the pedigree.. he just needs a chance to show what he can do at the highest level. If he doesn't get there this year.. the guys coming behind him are going to steam roll him right out of the organization.. For this reason (and the skills) he needs an opportunity sooner rather than never. He'd slot in nicely in the two hole (if Amed is moved) or at the bottom of the order creating a pair of bat on ball, speed merchants rounding the bottom of the order into the top.. Cleveland.. doesn't do a lot of emergency/shock promotions.. This could hurt Palacios' chances more than anything..

Kwan presents as a AAAA player reaching prime age and skills.. this he has on his side.. He has to prove himself at every stop.. including instructs, fall, winter and spring training.. Even if he does well at every stop, it's not guarantee he gets the shot.. It's a cruel business telling someone who's dreamed of being a big leaguer.. that they won't be.. or won't be for long, a MUCH more difficult thing to do..

Arias is like a lot of the young studly studs currently vying for attention as the best pound for pound player in the show. There isn't anything Arias can't do and do well right now and always.. That is, unless he lets what's between his ears get in the way of what he does best: Play baseball.. w/r to breaking camp & heading north to face the Royals.. his inclusion would be about service manipulation, I'm afraid.. The CBA that defines free agency by age... would dramatically improve the CleFO rosterbation tactics and strategy if that was to come to pass..

Cody Morris made my top ten last year for ability reasons.. (9th, I think.. ) FB/SL-CB/CH are all thrown for strikes.. good velo and separation.. He throws them all for strikes in any count and any handedness of hitter. His 2021 was a microcosm of his career.. If he can stay out of the trainers room.. he can be an important part of the future.. perhaps starting.. perhaps as a middle reliever.. perhaps as part of an opener/multiple inning reliever paired with another arm.. Breaking with the parent club at the outset of the 2022 season.. will depend greatly on the status of guys like Sandlin Stephan and Vargas.. with Morris currently behind Sandlin & Stephan.. but ahead of Vargas.. Vargas has better stuff.. and could pass him if he can work out his above the neck issues..

Bryan Lavastida, right now, has a very small chance of breaking with the parent club.. even with only one C on the current active roster.. He's between an Austin Hedges and a Gary Sanchez, defensively.. and light years ahead of Hedgie with the lumber.. A WHOLE LOTTA DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT will be needed this winter to make that happen.. I just don't see it..

Nolan Jones is fast approaching a make it or break it point in his career.. he's fortunate to be with an organization that rewards being a hard worker.. Rewards are fleeting if performance doesn't follow.. With the ankle surgery and expected recovery time.. his winter will be spent rehabbing. It will take a miracle and two trades for him to make the opening day roster.. imho..

Thoughts?..
 
hmm...

Palacios is one of those guys I refer as an a-lister.. he's got skills.. no doubt.. he's got the pedigree.. he just needs a chance to show what he can do at the highest level. If he doesn't get there this year.. the guys coming behind him are going to steam roll him right out of the organization.. For this reason (and the skills) he needs an opportunity sooner rather than never. He'd slot in nicely in the two hole (if Amed is moved) or at the bottom of the order creating a pair of bat on ball, speed merchants rounding the bottom of the order into the top.. Cleveland.. doesn't do a lot of emergency/shock promotions.. This could hurt Palacios' chances more than anything..

Kwan presents as a AAAA player reaching prime age and skills.. this he has on his side.. He has to prove himself at every stop.. including instructs, fall, winter and spring training.. Even if he does well at every stop, it's not guarantee he gets the shot.. It's a cruel business telling someone who's dreamed of being a big leaguer.. that they won't be.. or won't be for long, a MUCH more difficult thing to do..

Arias is like a lot of the young studly studs currently vying for attention as the best pound for pound player in the show. There isn't anything Arias can't do and do well right now and always.. That is, unless he lets what's between his ears get in the way of what he does best: Play baseball.. w/r to breaking camp & heading north to face the Royals.. his inclusion would be about service manipulation, I'm afraid.. The CBA that defines free agency by age... would dramatically improve the CleFO rosterbation tactics and strategy if that was to come to pass..

Cody Morris made my top ten last year for ability reasons.. (9th, I think.. ) FB/SL-CB/CH are all thrown for strikes.. good velo and separation.. He throws them all for strikes in any count and any handedness of hitter. His 2021 was a microcosm of his career.. If he can stay out of the trainers room.. he can be an important part of the future.. perhaps starting.. perhaps as a middle reliever.. perhaps as part of an opener/multiple inning reliever paired with another arm.. Breaking with the parent club at the outset of the 2022 season.. will depend greatly on the status of guys like Sandlin Stephan and Vargas.. with Morris currently behind Sandlin & Stephan.. but ahead of Vargas.. Vargas has better stuff.. and could pass him if he can work out his above the neck issues..

Bryan Lavastida, right now, has a very small chance of breaking with the parent club.. even with only one C on the current active roster.. He's between an Austin Hedges and a Gary Sanchez, defensively.. and light years ahead of Hedgie with the lumber.. A WHOLE LOTTA DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT will be needed this winter to make that happen.. I just don't see it..

Nolan Jones is fast approaching a make it or break it point in his career.. he's fortunate to be with an organization that rewards being a hard worker.. Rewards are fleeting if performance doesn't follow.. With the ankle surgery and expected recovery time.. his winter will be spent rehabbing. It will take a miracle and two trades for him to make the opening day roster.. imho..

Thoughts?..
The only way Lavastida breaks camp with the team will a series of injuries to our catchers at the cusp of the season. Even then it could be as temporary as possible, unless they rather uncharacteristically say F-it, sink or swim buddy.

But if hits .800 with a dozen bombs in ST, then maybe.. lol
 
This might be the worst system ranking I have ever seen.
Most of these "rankings" are Fantasy based. Doesn't make them much better.

Probably a good time to plug mine, lol

Started the countdown, writeups can be found in the comments



This covers prospects loosely ranked from 76 on, but anything this far out is difficult and useless to rank, that's why I opted for groupings and writeups.
 
Most of these "rankings" are Fantasy based. Doesn't make them much better.

Probably a good time to plug mine, lol

Started the countdown, writeups can be found in the comments



This covers prospects loosely ranked from 76 on, but anything this far out is difficult and useless to rank, that's why I opted for groupings and writeups.

I am talking more the descriptions of players. The "high-effort delivery" being the worst of the worst.

Nothing exposes these places lack of attention to detail or lack of man power to actually see these kids play than saying stuff like that. Like they haven't seen Espino throw in person since High School or pre-draft showcase games.

There is nothing "high-effort" about him at the moment on the mound.
 

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