I had the right 10 in the wrong order ….
- Chris Marrero, OF/1B
- Ross Detwiler, LHP
- Collin Balester, RHP (I had #6)
- Michael Burgess, OF
- Jack McGeary, LHP
- Josh Smoker, LHP (I had #3)
- Jordan Zimmermann, RHP (I had #10)
- Glenn Gibson, LHP (I had #9)
- Justin Maxwell, OF (I had #7)
- Colton Willems, RHP (I had #8)
The chat with Aaron Fitt is up at 2:30PM. If you have any questions and don’t have a BBA account, let me know and I’ll see what I can pull together.
John | 07-Nov-07 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
Thanks Brian. I’m curious if Marrero will be a full time 1B. I got that impression from an interview with Bob Boone.
I guess some of that could depend on Wily Mo. If he becomes an impact player and is signed long term, then Marrero is blocked from the OF(assuming Burgess is the RF).
Scott | 07-Nov-07 at 2:08 pm | Permalink
Brian -
Care to name your next 5: #11 -#15?
Brian Oliver | 07-Nov-07 at 2:15 pm | Permalink
Easily Shairon Martis. I’d also add in Smiley Gonzalez, Jhonny Nunez, Ian Desmond, and then it depends on what you value. Adam Carr or Zech Zinicola as bullpen arms. Stephen Englund as a CF option. Jake Smolinski seems like he could develop into a solid option as well
VladiHondo | 07-Nov-07 at 2:51 pm | Permalink
Wow!
You were 10 for 10!
pahou | 07-Nov-07 at 3:02 pm | Permalink
mark my words, Colin “little boy” Balester will never make the big leagues until he chooses to grow up.
EdDC | 07-Nov-07 at 5:10 pm | Permalink
Are any of these top 100 in BBA?
Brian Oliver | 07-Nov-07 at 5:26 pm | Permalink
Ed - I’d guess that Marrero and Detwiler are in. After that, not so sure. Balester made the back end of this year’s list but not sure if he stays on it. I’d imagine that no more than four guys make it.
Dick | 07-Nov-07 at 7:38 pm | Permalink
Interesting comment from pahou. Hopefully, he can elaborate?
pahou | 08-Nov-07 at 8:20 am | Permalink
I watched him cry for a 1/2 year until the Nats sent him to AAA. Hes just not a nice person he has no time for the fans. He acted like he was already in the Hall of Fame,which he will never make. He was neither overpowering or very consistent. We never saw him pitch his way to a win if I remember right he got beat up several times. Plus on a personal note he believes that it is alright to lie to the fans. Some guy huh
Hartmanbirge | 08-Nov-07 at 9:05 am | Permalink
BA really blasted Gonzalez and Zinicola… looks like last year was the rise of Desmond and the falling out of Smiley… I would think that Smolinski has got to be in the top 15 as well… I’d love to see their top 30 but I can’t imagine a top 15 that doesn’t also include Smolinski, Martis, Carr, Lannan, and Nunez.. As for Ballister sounds like he has a bit of a nasty streak - far preferable than having a marshmellow… I bet that Clemons isn’t that nice to people either… I pay to watch them pitch, not to chit chat with them…
Chris | 08-Nov-07 at 9:24 am | Permalink
Couple of notes from the scouting reports:
I thought I was bullish on Marrero but they have him starting in AA this year, in the majors by the end of the year and “a fixture in the middle of the lineup” by 2009. Learning a new position and given his struggles late last year I would like to see him start in Potomac again. He doesnt turn 20 until July
Also, they project Smoker and McGeary to start in Low A. I think both of them are as adavnced as Gibson and he started at Vermont. I would be suprised if both (especially McGeary) start in Low A. Is McGeary in school right now?
Great work Brian, keep it up. Cant wait for spring training.
Brian Oliver | 08-Nov-07 at 9:39 am | Permalink
There is little to no chance McGeary is in Hagerstown with the deal he has. Pitching in short season Vermont fits perfectly with his schedule. As for Smoker, I guess they could challenge him but I see more value in tracking him exactly like they did Willems & Gibson this past season.
Collin | 08-Nov-07 at 12:52 pm | Permalink
hey pahou who are you why dont you use your real name. And what are you talking about. Dont worry i will prove you wrong because all you can do is sit on here and Type away, and bash on players yeah and your telling me to grow up.
Chris | 08-Nov-07 at 2:49 pm | Permalink
I really hope thats not the real Collin Balester
pahou | 08-Nov-07 at 3:30 pm | Permalink
sure sounds like him, come back to harrisburg and i will remind you who I am. Sorry Brian, I know that this is not what your web page is for, and it is the best on the web.
Collin | 08-Nov-07 at 3:40 pm | Permalink
what are you trying to say pahou??
Andrew S | 08-Nov-07 at 4:14 pm | Permalink
Who the heck is pahou? Balester is a good guy. I know from personal experience.
Basil | 08-Nov-07 at 6:40 pm | Permalink
I think the next time Collin’s in Harrisburg, he should give him the Deion/McCarver ice water treatment.
Or, assuming Collin is never sent back to Harrisburg, maybe he could send Pahou a postcard reminding the tough guy here that he’s not in a Double-A city anymore.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 08-Nov-07 at 7:37 pm | Permalink
Sounds like Pahou has an ax to grind. All I can tell you is that I saw Balester track pitches nearly every night he wasn’t pitching in Potomac 2006 and gave fans the time of day (read: an autograph) anytime they asked.
Sterl | 15-Nov-07 at 12:18 am | Permalink
Assuming that you, Mr… Pahou, is it?, have never had an actual conversation with Collin, or even human contact… How can you make such harsh remarks and assume they are facts, about a kid you know nothing about past his era? Its nothing short of lying, and you are simply asinine.
Spinning Man | 21-Nov-07 at 6:05 pm | Permalink
Balester is the poster boy for the Nats. they love this guy. They won’t trade him away. Balester will be in the bigs next year 95 to 97 mph is impressive but his curve is his KKKKKK out pitch.
By the way I know first hand he loves being around his fans. Maybe Yahoo guy (Pahou) isn’t the best judge of character. Lets say it is the mistaken Identy sydrome he has. Ballester will be a Star.
He is awesome in the clubhouse.
i know of a story that when he went to AAA Columbus he took some of his teammates to the REEBok store and let them get stuff. Free Balester has a contract deal with REEbok He is sharing the wealth.
Anything else needed to be said.
By the way no Future ” Hall of Famer” as you called him, would reply to your blog anyway.