His article indicates Peacock has the inside track for SP5. Again, I’m totally ok with James and Cionel Perez behind Osuna-Pressly-Rondon-Harris-Devenski.
Of the top prospects misses of the Luhnow era, he's the one that disapponted me the most. I was really confident he would become a good big league hitter, more confident than any prospect except Correa. But that's why they're just prospects.
This dude has been really impressive this Spring. He has to show that he can maintain his stuff over a significant number of innings, but he looks to have three plus pitches. At the least, he should be a weapon in the pen for the playoffs.
From position players, I'd have Bregman, and Tucker ahead of him. I trust contact skills more than power especially from players that play tougher defensive positions (i.e., they get longer leashes in majors). I'd put Martes, Appel in the same class as disappointment, though pitchers are more likely to falter. That said, I am still surprised no other team gave up something of low value for him. He's only got 150 PAs in the majors. Singleton got 420.
I was talking strictly about ability in the batters box compared to other prospects. I thought Bregman and Tucker were better prospects because of their other tools, but I didn't think Bregman would ever hit for too much power, and I've always had Tucker pegged more in the Hunter Pence mold. I thought Reed had all the tools to be a perennial masher, he seemed to have flick of the bat power. I think his power grade was 60 and that felt conservative to me. The fact that his average and K-rate were so good for a guy with that much power impressed the hell out of me even with his long swing. and yeah, the Astros haven't given him much of a chance. We're trying to win so it's understandable, but I would have been all over him if I were one of the many rebuilding cubs. It's worth a try, he seems to be getting worse every year offensively.
I was talking strictly batter's box as well. Contact skills beat being able to mash a fastball for reliability of hitting skills translating to the majors. Being better at defense gives a player more time in the batter's box. Reed's chances of being 30+ homer hitter may have been greater than Tucker or Bregman, but Tucker and Bregman both had greater chances at being a good hitter, IMO, because they were much more likely to be able to hit the ball and were much more likely to get more time in the batter's box to adjust. Not sure what the Hunter Pence comment is suppose to mean. Pence was a good hitter. Reddick has been a good hitter. I think there is a good chance Tucker hits as well as Reddick did with a decent chance of being able to mash (HR/AAA PA is almost equal to Reed's). Reed had a chance at being like Gallo or Singleton. Reed may be able to be an average MLB hitter right now. Reed likely can hit MLB pitching better than he has just as Tucker is likely able to hit better than he has. Tucker being able to play OF is going to get him more chances than Reed got.
Reed could still have a very productive career. It will almost surely be with another team, though. Luhnow’s Matt Adams comparison is accurate. He just can’t find the consistent ABs in HOU. Maybe it’s just a matter of time until Reed is traded to BAL? Or another team that can afford to give him consistent ABs. Problem for him is, there’s such a glut of players that are already what he’s trying to be. Cron et al are a dime a dozen and very attainable.
How old are you (i only ask, because my wife didn't learn what this meant until she was in her 50s - probably me too)
AB's (ML level) 2016- 122 (.497 OPS) 2017- 6 2018- 3 http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/33674/aj-reed Your sure right about that.