Printer-friendly

Contact Author

April 16, 2008

Future Shock

Ten Pack for Haters

by Kevin Goldstein

The world is a more negative place than it once was. For evidence of that fact, I recently got some feedback on the weekly Ten Pack asking why I didn't list players that were doing poorly. To appease this reader and any other nattering nabobs of negativism, here's a bonus mid-week Ten Pack: ten players from this year's Top 100 who are off to disappointing starts. Just remember that it's early.

8. Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals
Despite some whispers that he'd open the year in the majors, the plan all along was to have Rick Ankiel in center field this year and then slide him over to a corner in 2009, because while the current combination of Chris Duncan and Ryan Ludwick is off to a great start, someone, likely Ludwick, will need to move into a reserve role next year. This year, however, their jobs are safe for now, as Rasmus isn't doing anything to help rush himself to the big leagues, hitting .204/.298/.286 in his first 12 games for Triple-A Memphis. He also has just one home run in 49 at-bats, after leading the Texas League with 29 a year ago.

19. Mike Moustakas, SS (for now), Royals
Moustakas tweaked his hamstring over the weekend, but a few days off might be for the best at this point. He committed three errors in his second game of the season, has yet to register a multi-hit game or extra-base hit, and after eight contests with Low-A Burlington he's hitting just .172/.226/.172. One can't help but wonder if the second overall pick from last year's draft is taking his defensive struggles with him to the plate, and one also can't help but wonder if the Royals are going to move him over to second or third base sooner rather than later; everyone still thinks he can hit, but nobody thinks he can stay at short.

23. Chase Headley, OF, Padres
The former third baseman had a strong enough spring training to nearly win a big league job at his new position; maybe losing out to Paul McAnulty in the end burst his bubble temporarily, as he's currently at .250/.318/.350 in 10 games for Triple-A Portland, and that's only because he's gone 5-for-13 in his last three games. More alarming early numbers include just one home run in 40 at-bats, and four walks against 15 strikeouts from a player with one of the best approaches in the organization. Still, with McAnulty struggling once again to hit big league pitching, Headley could be just a two- or three-week hot streak away from getting his chance.

48. Jose Tabata, OF, Yankees
Just 19 and already in Double-A, Tabata is one of the more gifted hitters in the minors, with a lightening-quick bat and excellent hand/eye coordination. At the same time, the excuses about his lack of power (a wrist injury here, a tough park there) are beginning to wear thin, and even though he's now in his fourth pro season, he remains smallish and skinny, with a single-plane swing. Currently hitting .244/.346/.267 in 12 games for Trenton with just one extra-base hit, the average will certainly come up, but he's finding fewer takers these days when it comes to future power projection.