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August 13, 2008

Future Shock

Scouting Notebook, Part 1

by Kevin Goldstein

Detroit Tigers

Featured in a recent Monday Ten Pack, Tigers outfielder Wilkin Ramirez is finally staying healthy and has begun to employ the tools and develop the potential always expected of him. One veteran scout who recently evaluated Ramirez came away highly impressed. "I like the way he goes about everything," said the scout. "He has power, on-base skills, and don't forget that he's a 60 [on the 20-to-80 scouting scale] runner as well. His defense is adequate, but I think he's the kind of guy who is an everyday corner outfielder on a first-division team—he could be pretty special."

Recently joining Ramirez at Double-A Erie has been catcher James Skelton, who baffles scouts because there's just been no precedent for a player like him. Skelton hit .307/.468/.406 at High-A Lakeland and drew 64 walks in 282 PA there, but few players elicit more wide-ranging opinions. He has very little power, and at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, he's bone-thin and just doesn't look right when he gears up and crouches behind the plate. A scout who has been following Skelton for years remains unsure what to make of him, and finds it nearly impossible (as do many who have seen him), to get past the slender body. "He has me scratching my head twenty times and flipping coins," joked the scout. "He has a feel for hitting, there's no question about it, and he has catch-and-throw, receiving, and on-base skills. When you see him, there has to be durability questions—I don't even think he's as big as listed." Asked what could be done, the scout remained baffled, and admitted that he had some hopes of a position change in Skelton's future. "Hell, if he was a second baseman, I'd love him," he joked.

Boston Red Sox

Mixing a high-ceiling power prospect with the Southern Division of the California League usually results in some monster numbers, but that hadn't been the case for Red Sox first baseman Lars Anderson earlier this year. While it would be ridiculous to classify a .317/.408/.513 line as a disappointment, it still fell below some rather lofty expectations, but Anderson has been even better after a promotion to the much tougher environs of the Eastern League, batting .319/.422/.551 in 22 games for Portland. One scout who saw Anderson for the Sea Dogs found it hard to control his excitement. "I haven't fallen in love with a hitter like this since I fell in love with Travis Snider," said the scout. "He's one of the best hitters I've seen all year. I don't see anything negative in his game offensively—every at-bat is well-done, and he controls the count and always has an idea of what to do."