Forgot this got aired last night and also forgot to watch it. They have a quick count down Mlb networks page under videos.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/161986068/ml...r-fielder-lists

 

MLB Network's top 10 center fielders

1. Mike Trout

2. A.J. Pollock

3. Lorenzo Cain

4. Andrew McCutchen

5. Jason Heyward

6. Adam Eaton

7. Kevin Kiermaier

8. Randal Grichuk

9. Carlos Gomez

10. Adam Jones

 

 

Interesting rankings. I'd say Eaton is closer to 9 or 10. Kiermaier, Gomez & Jones are better players, IMO.

Interesting rankings. I'd say Eaton is closer to 9 or 10. Kiermaier, Gomez & Jones are better players, IMO.

 

Mookie Bettsis a fast riser although he may get bumped to RF

 

I think that Heyward is going to have a tough transition playing CF. He's 6'5 240, it's going to take a tremendous toll on his body and affect his performance. I usually like what Theo and Jed have in store but I think that moving Heyward to CF is a terrible decision.

I definitely agree with Heyward being too big for CF but there are a few things the cubs FO might be thinking.

 

1) Heyward can opt-out after three years and the cubs are thinking Heyward can hold up until them.

 

2) It might be easier for the big man to cover the short alleys in LC/RC than the long line in RF?

 

3) At this point, Heyward is probably their best bet in CF since the cubs lost Jackson and Fowler to FA.

 

Anyway, back to the top ten. I would put Heyward further down the list only because he hasn't played much CF and Eaton should be at the bottom of the top ten.

I'd say:

 

1. Mike Trout

2. A.J. Pollock

3. Andrew McCutchen

4. Lorenzo Cain

5. Jason Heyward

6. Kevin Kiermaier

7. Adam Eaton

8. Mookie Betts

9. Adam Jones

10. Carlos Gomez

 

Very similar to MLBN.

 

I definitely agree with Heyward being too big for CF but there are a few things the cubs FO might be thinking.

 

1) Heyward can opt-out after three years and the cubs are thinking Heyward can hold up until them.

 

2) It might be easier for the big man to cover the short alleys in LC/RC than the long line in RF?

 

3) At this point, Heyward is probably their best bet in CF since the cubs lost Jackson and Fowler to FA.

 

Anyway, back to the top ten. I would put Heyward further down the list only because he hasn't played much CF and Eaton should be at the bottom of the top ten.

 

Which is why I have a feeling they trade Soler and a prospect for Odorizzi and then sign Fowler.

Which is why I have a feeling they trade Soler and a prospect for Odorizzi and then sign Fowler.

That would make a ton of sense. I laughed yesterday when I read something about how the cubs said they might be done for the off season. I don't buy it and believe they are still looking for a younger cost-controlled SP. I think it's possible the reason AZ paid such an insane price for Miller was because at the time, the cubs were rumored to be offering Soler as the headliner in a package for Miller.

That would make a ton of sense. I laughed yesterday when I read something about how the cubs said they might be done for the off season. I don't buy it and believe they are still looking for a younger cost-controlled SP. I think it's possible the reason AZ paid such an insane price for Miller was because at the time, the cubs were rumored to be offering Soler as the headliner in a package for Miller.

 

Also would explain why Fowler doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry to do anything

Also would explain why Fowler doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry to do anything

Yep. Although I noticed earlier today when I googled his name he has been rock climbing recently.

 

 

Don't know if anyone noticed but in the top ten for Shortstop Marcus Semien was listed at #8 .

Pollock has had one elite season to date, he shouldn't be above McCutchen or Cain until he shows he can do it again.

Don't know if anyone noticed but in the top ten for Shortstop Marcus Semien was listed at #8 .

 

I was surprised. I thought he was having an atrocious season defensively but by the metrics he was okay.

I was surprised. I thought he was having an atrocious season defensively but by the metrics he was okay.

he showed serious improvement in the 2nd half once he got coaching for the first time in his career on the basics of playing SS. Whether that will hold up, who knows, but here's the money line:

Semien has gone from awful to asset. In short, he's looking like a shortstop.

The line all season was to attack Semien on his error total and not his actual effectiveness...and overlook the cost factor as well.

 

Also not considering his bouncing around from spot to spot with the White Sox without ever becoming comfortable, the improvement defensively over the second half, the fact his offensive numbers were being put up in Oakland and the fact he never received the individualized mentoring he got from Ron Washington last year. Knowing you're important to a team's future and that they're willing to invest in you makes a huge difference.

 

It always felt like the White Sox perceived him more as a utility guy than a regular...even during his minor league career.

Do you have a source that says it's the first time he has ever been coached?

"He’s a tremendous student; he’s very smart," Washington adds. "He just didn’t know his position. It wasn’t his fault that he was making the mistakes that he was making -- he just didn’t know. Now he knows. You look at Marcus out there now, and he’s in charge -- he’s in charge of himself, and he’s in charge of the people around him."

There's one of the several money quotes on it from that article.

There's one of the several money quotes on it from that article.

 

Damn.

 

That does not look good for the Sox org. Even if its not a definite knock on them, maybe he didnt listen to what he was being told when he was here and could have been the same exact thing that they are teaching him there. But either way a comment like that doesnt look good.

So Oakland hired Washington during the season. Why didn't they "coach" Semien before that? I still don't think he is a SS.

I don't take that as "he's never been coached." I take it as the Sox played him at 2B/3B and didn't view him as a SS. He settled in as SS. Though the A's have always neglected defense as a whole. I think it's a matter of player evals rather than coaching.

Games played per position in the minors for the White Sox:

SS: 250

3B: 40

2B: 77

LF: 11

 

That's a lot of games to have played at SS to "not know" about the basic footwork.

I guess, it just seems like a lot of assumptions that fit your narrative.

It appears Saladino and Sanchez know what they are doing defensively, no they had the same coaching.

Do you have a source that says it's the first time he has ever been coached?

 

Its funny because a guy like Saladino seems like he has been coached just fine...

Also would explain why Fowler doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry to do anything

 

 

He's asking for 4 years and $60 million and has a draft pick attached.