Prospect Insider - Wrapping Spring Training Week

Wrapping Spring Training Week

By Jason A. Churchill

By 03-21-2011

PEORIA, ARIZONA -- It was Class-A day at the Peoria Sports Complex with the Texas Rangers visiting the grounds. The High Desert group consisted of some aggressive assignments (just for the day, not necessarily for the new season), including international signee Esteilon Peguero.

Peguero showed right away that he's not a shortstop, aside from lacking the foot speed and athleticism to even play second base. He's awfully raw and his swing is going to need a complete revamping if he's to develop average or better offensive production.

We'll have a short video of Peguero coming this week.

Others we'll have video of include Hassiel Jimenez behind the plate, right-hander George Mieses (plus radar readings), third baseman Ramon Morla, left fielder Guillermo Pimentel, right-hander Tyler Burgoon, outfielder Dennis Raben and a few of Rangers prospects, including Kellin Deglan, Jake Skole, and Eric Hurley.

The three things that stood out most for me this week:

1. James Paxton, LHP
He's clearly been throwing during his down time, but to see him hit the mid-90s and throw all of his pitches without bouncing the offspeed stuff to the plate or throw any fastballs to the backstop was a good sign.

2. Carlos Triunfel, SS
For Tri, it's both good and bad. He's in terrific condition, his swing is much better this spring than last, but he's still making fundamental mistakes on routine plays. He made two in four days, which is too many when he's been making them for four years.

3. Power Bats
Johermyn Chavez and Guillermo Pimentel -- and to a lesser extent Jabari Blash -- the M's have legit power in their system. The plate skills are still below average for all three, but Chavez shows a resistance to being bated by breaking balls out of the zone. He does chase fastballs up, but has time to mend such a concern.

Pimentel was overmatched Sunday by Neil Ramirez, who is almost four years older than Pimentel, but there is a lot to like in that swing.

We'll continue to bring coverage of what's happening down on the farm as spring training concludes in two weeks, including more video as mentioned above.

wrapping-spring-training-week

Comments
The following 35 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Rick Randall on 03-21-2011 10:02:19
The mystery man has some serious pop in his bat, too!

2. By: Edman on 03-21-2011 13:10:08
Mystery man? Did I miss something?

3. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-21-2011 15:19:23
Edman,

There is a player in AA/AAA camp that nobody knows. Not even his teammates. He's a Latin layer built like the present Big Papi, but he appears to be in his mid to late 20s. Has power, lefty stick, but his coaches and teammates have yet to be able to give a name.

Pretty funny. We think maybe he's a lost Padres' minor league free agent signing.

4. By: rocketdawg31 on 03-21-2011 16:11:38

Jason-
Finally took some time away from the writing projects (of which there are many) and got myself up to speed with PI reporting. Crackerjack work! And MUCH appreciated.

Blood's beginning to simmer again with impending spring, as it always does with me come late March....it is hard NOT to be excited with all the kids that I can see have promise in the system.

While the odds say there'll be a few disappointments here and there, the odds also say that a few of these guys ARE gonna work out- and I've got more hope (that I'd consider realistically-based) than I can remember having in years about that.

Thanks for all that you, Chris and Rick do.

5. By: rocketdawg31 on 03-21-2011 16:24:59

With Dave Niehaus' passing, I have to admit- I'd had a small little piece of doubt about this year, whether or not that old familiar rush of "springtime simmer" I mentioned in the previous post would be there or not.

But it is. And I probably should've known better than to doubt or worry. It'll be hard at times (TWSS!)...and probably even strange this year without hearing that familiar voice of Dave.

But baseball's gonna go on. Always has, always will.

I've got no illusions about this team, this is going to be an uphill season. But I can't wait for it anyway!

6. By: Missthosepilots on 03-21-2011 16:25:11
Sidd Finch comeback? Thanks for the updates!

7. By: elzee on 03-21-2011 16:33:08
Edman- it could be Luis Antonio Jimenez 6'4' 1B signed out of the Winter League on the Rainiers roster.

8. By: bavasisabum on 03-21-2011 18:24:10
Saw Cole left after 2 innings today. Anyone know what happened

9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-21-2011 18:43:42
Cole was on a pitch count because he throws again Friday. Not injured.

10. By: Lonnie on 03-21-2011 22:18:49
Jason,

I had a blast down there for ST and I wanted to thank you for all of your insight and for suffering through my sometimes inane questions/comments/whatever.

Let's do this again, but this time you have to be down there for a full week, and none of that family stuff BS!

;)

Lonnie

11. By: Lonnie on 03-21-2011 22:23:56
elzee sez:
"Edman- it could be Luis Antonio Jimenez 6'4' 1B signed out of the Winter League on the Rainiers roster."

That's him! I asked just about every coach down there, and none knew who he was! I asked player after player, and they too didn't know. Finally, on Saturday I found a coach who knew his name (or, had probably just learned it), and it was Jimenez.

I kind of wish I had taken a picture of the guy while I was down there (I'll have to check, he might be in one of the 2000 that I took). When you see him you'll understand the comparison to Carlos Silva...

Lonnie

12. By: carstensm on 03-21-2011 22:54:50
Where does Paxton start?

13. By: dewey on 03-21-2011 23:04:41
Sounds like Pineda needs more time in minors even that he throws 97. Bedard is part of our 4 man rotaion who is number 5? What hapopens when Bedard gets hurt..yes we all no that will happen its not a matter of if its a matter of when i think. Just interested i know this isnt about that just interested a little bit about major league roster. Has Smoak looked any better ?

14. By: sexymarinersfan on 03-22-2011 00:23:15
Paxton will probably start out in AA. Just my opinion.

15. By: Apostle on 03-22-2011 01:37:40
My money is on Pineda starting the season in Seattle as the #5 starter.

Jason, what do you think?

16. By: dawgncarolina on 03-22-2011 01:41:08
AA for Paxton is WAAAAAAY aggressive. The only way I can see that is if they want to protect his arm from the Midwest League cold and his head from the Cal League flyballs.

My best guess would be High Desert, but I would guess Clinton before I'd guess Jackson. With a guy like that who's been out so long, it's far more important to get him back into a rhythm than it is to test him against the toughest possible competition.

I could see him reaching Double A before the year's over (in fact, I'd expect it). But starting out there is highly unlikely, in my opinion.

17. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-22-2011 02:05:03
I'd be shocked if Paxton breaks camp with any affiliate.

18. By: dawgncarolina on 03-22-2011 02:15:07
Good call, Jason. He'll most certainly stay in extended ST for a period of time. Any guesses where he heads first after that?

19. By: Edman on 03-22-2011 14:45:01
So Ryan is the starting shortstop and Wilson is the secondbaseman. Kind of a "neither here, or neither there" move. But, it makes sense. Wilson is gonna be paid, Ackley is probably not ready defensively, and it certainly has to be a step up defensively, over last year. Kennedy will likely share some time at second too. Yet, I read people complaining about it "hurting" Jack Wilson's trade value. How does that happen? Really, doesn't everyone around the majors know what Jack can bring? Does he have to play there to retain his value? I think some worry too much about trade value. Wilson, unless he hits the hell out of the ball, isn't going to have a lot of trade value, anyway. So why worry about it? Just let the best team play and let him occupy the position until Ackley is ready. He's paid no matter what, so use him.

Cameron wrote a piece how Jack is "not the future". So what? The future is probably going to be in Tacoma. Jack isn't keeping him from making the team. Experience at the position is a greater factor.

I'm kind of excited to see balls stopped that would have gotten through, last year.

I suppose if that's the greatest of our worries, things aren't going horribly.

20. By: acqb1424 on 03-22-2011 16:13:21
Jason,

I know this isn't on topic, but has anything changed since the last draft update in regards to the top of the draft? I haven't been able to follow Rendon's numbers as close since then but have seen Cole's. Is Rendon still DHing?

21. By: rjfrik on 03-22-2011 18:16:12
Rendon had a very good week last week, hit a few bombs and many extra base hits. His bat is finally starting to come around. But he still is DHing so that is, as of now, a bit of a red flag.

Bottom line is Cole has, in my opinion, supplanted himself as the best talent in this draft and has a lock on the number one pick.

I fully expect Rendon to be available when we pick second. And if he isn't then we just landed a major major ace!!

Either way the M's can't lose.

22. By: Marco on 03-22-2011 19:33:49
Jason, sorry for going off topic. How do you compare Peter Bourjos' speed to Mike Trout's ? Also, can anyone imagine how hard will be to hit linedrives in the gap vs those two players in the same outfield ?

23. By: acqb1424 on 03-22-2011 20:44:35
Thanks rjfrik! I know when Jason mentioned in the draft update a few weeks back that it was possible that Rendon would be on the board I got very excited. No matter who we get it's going to be exciting. We either get to think of an infield of Smoak, Ackley, Franklin and Rendon or a pitching staff of Felix, Cole and Pineda (yes I know the risks, can't always bank that everyone pans out, etc).

24. By: d2ret on 03-22-2011 23:12:53
'Bottom line is Cole has, in my opinion, supplanted himself as the best talent in this draft and has a lock on the number one pick.'

How could he 'supplant himself' rjfrik?

25. By: dawgncarolina on 03-23-2011 00:24:56
Hey now, what Cole does to himself in his own time is his own business...

26. By: d2ret on 03-23-2011 00:54:32
lol.
I got a question, if rendons health looks questionable on draft day, would YOU Jason take Starling??

27. By: sexymarinersfan on 03-23-2011 01:16:08
I've seen him answer this question before and I believe it was "depends on how bad his health is." But Rendon is a shoo-in over Starling straight up!

28. By: rocketdawg31 on 03-23-2011 01:19:10

I'm with you on that question,too, d2ret.

Starling's upside, I have to admit, looks fiendish good. He doesn't offer a return as fast as Cole likely would, but dayyyum. I am starting to wonder if the talent he's got is worth foregoing another pretty good piece for strongly contending in, say, 2013.

29. By: rocketdawg31 on 03-23-2011 01:22:52

Blast, forgot to get this in that last post:

"But on the other hand, if Rendon's healthy and can play the field? Sitting at #2? I take him, absolutely."

30. By: dewey on 03-23-2011 02:10:57
? A friend of mine saw you down there Jason and said you looked busy but my buddy told me something i couldnt believe ? Tell me it isnt true but Tony B was caring a dog with him and was very rude to our minor league players is this true? What is wrong with this club why cant we figure out how to run this thing since Gillick?

31. By: rjfrik on 03-23-2011 09:17:11
Ha Ha d2ret. Sorry I had a long day.

Just my two cents on anyone outside of Rendon question, specifically Starling. I'm not sure it would be Starling over Rendon at two in that scenario. Starling hasn't started playing ball yet and the High School player who has helped himself most so far and vaulted up into a surefire top 10 and possibly top5 pick is Lindor, the SS out of Miami. The kid is the real deal. If he keeps showcasing his tools the way he is he very well could cause some serious discussions in M's camp come draft day.

32. By: safecochatter on 03-23-2011 09:20:07
BA just came out with their organizational rankings.should know better than to listen to them. m's system ranked 18th. The M's with playoffs at almost every level last year. And several players mlb ready or damm near,i wonder how they figure 18th? M's probably aren't top ten,but 18th??

33. By: Edman on 03-23-2011 13:34:17
dewey, did you have a point, other than passing on a rumor? Who cares if Tony B was carrying a dog? Was he suppose to meet a certain profile that you and your friend have pictured in your mind? Care to define what your friend defines as "rude"? And, your Gillick comment was off target, unless you have personal knowledge of how camps were run when he was at the helm.

I just hate that kind of rumor mongering. It has nothing to do with anything, other than to take some easy shots at someone.

34. By: dawgncarolina on 03-23-2011 13:49:54
Gotta agree with Edman here, that story is pretty weak. "Oh no, he had a dog with him!!!!"

lol

Dudes on a message board can be worse gossips than chicks at a hair salon.

Much ado about nothing.

35. By: maqman on 03-23-2011 14:20:34
ESPN's Keith Law came out with his revised 2011 draft picks and he has Cole at #1, Rendon at #2 and Starling as #3.

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