Open Thread Experiment

Grant Desme, OF, Athletics (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: Did not play

After pounding out 10 homers in his first 12 games, Desme hasn't hit a home run in his last eight games. He's still hitting .370/.457/.802, and I'm not sure there's a prospect generating more debate in baseball right now. I've talked to three scouts this week who saw him at various stages of the season. One saw him at Low-A Kane County, one saw him at High-A Stockton, and one saw him in Arizona. All three had wildly varying opinions on Desme, with projections ranging from never getting to the big leagues to hitting 30 home runs there. We know he has power, we know he has speed, we know he strikes out at a disturbingly high rate, and he's also incredibly streaky. Throw in the age factor because of all the injuries and there are just so many big positives and glaring negatives that it's just plain hard to figure him out. So how about an open thread on the subject? What is Grant Desme four years from now, an All-Star or in Triple-A?

Bonus round: Are we even sure he's better than the similarly skilled/tooled Corey Brown?

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When position means everything

Matt McBride, C/1B, Indians (AFL: Peoria Saguaros)
Yesterday's stats:2-for-4, 3B, HR (4), 2 R, RBI, K

A second-round pick in 2006, the story on McBride has always been the same. He can hit a bit, but he's not a good defensive catcher, and he can't stay healthy. He stayed healthy in 2009, batting a whopping .405/.453/.667 in the Carolina League before slumping to a line of .247/.301/.427 at Double-A, but he didn't catch. He split time between first base and left field primarily, two positions where you can't just hit a bit; you have to mash. The big story here is that he's catching again, which is the difference between him being kind of a prospect or not a prospect at all.

Late-round bullpen find No. 1

Mickey Story, RHP, Athletics (AFL: Phoenix)
Yesterday's stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

A 31^st round pick in 2008 out of Florida International, Storey pitched for all four Oakland full-season affiliates in 2009, compiling a Gibson-esque 1.22 ERA with a downright silly 71-8 strikeout to walk ratio in 51 2/3 innings while allowing just 27 hits. Closer of the future? Probably not. Command, location and deception are the name of the game for Storey, but he does have enough stuff for scouts to believe he's more than just a smoke-and-mirrors charlatan who will never have big league success.

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From overrated to underrated?

Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies (AFL: Scottsdale)
Yesterday's stats:3-for-4, 2 HR (3), 3 R, 3 RBI, SB

After a breakout year in the Pioneer League in 2008, Rosario hit just .266/.297/.404 at High-A Modesto this season, but there are plenty of mitigating factors, as he was one of the youngest players in the league at the toughest position and constantly beset by injuries. He clearly found a grove towards the end of the season, batting .319/.365/.507 after the break, and now he's swinging the bat well in Arizona. Ignore the overall numbers; he's still an outstanding catching prospect.

More convincing than ever

Andrew Cashner, RHP, Cubs (AFL: Mesa)
Yesterday's stats: 4 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

After giving up three runs over two innings in his first start for the Solar Sox, Cashner has given up just one in his last three—a span of 11 2/3 innings. The 2008 first-round pick has been sitting at 93-97 mph with his fastball, to go with his plus to plus-plus slider and, arguably more importantly, he's been throwing a ton of strikes, including 35 of 49 pitches on Thursday. The debates as to his future being a reliever or starter still goes on, but more and more are ending up on the side of the latter.

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