Baseball America has begun its annual series of the best tools by minor league level, starting with the Pacific Coast League. Included are Weaver, Gant, Kelly and Clapp.
Kelly and weaver being named best pitching prospect and best defensive catcher is IMPRESSIVE.
Gants mention tells me bullpen soon for him. Nothing wrong with that.
Everyone loves stubby clapp… I am a bit worried that they might fire matheny and hire him. No real reason just seems like something they would do for a lot of reasons.
Magneuris Sierra fastest baserunner and best defensive OF. Matt Pearce best control and Casey Grayson top defensive 1B. #STLCardshttps://t.co/mytXP2w3JX
I encourage those whose are members to read Derek Shore’s Springfield Notebook today, and specifically Johnny Rodriguez’ extensive remarks on leadership and what he expects from his players. I found it incredibly refreshing.
For example,
“It can happen in the big-leagues. It should be done in the big-leagues, and at any level, there should be an urgency to get better all the time.
“If not, what are we doing? I myself try to get better every day. Teams that win are the ones that have an urgency to get better.”
It was great to see Rodriguez mentioned in the BA survey, though realistically, the experience a 60-something year old baseball lifer brings to the table seems less valued in today’s game run by 30-something Ivy League MBAs hiring first-time managers of comparable age.