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BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base

I skipped the second base positional rankings because no Indians showed up there (though as they noted in the article, 2B prospect rankings are always thin since it seems that it mostly ends up being failed SS at 2B), but the rankings for third are up & they feature an Indian, though likely not one you would've expected about a year & a half ago:

7. Wes Hodges, Indians
Age: 22.9
Hitting: .299/.372/.465 at High-A (76 G)

A second-round pick last year who got first-round money (a cool million), Hodges has been impressive in his pro debut. He's a gifted hitter who should hit for a good batting average, but it will be the development of his secondary skills that defines his future value. Right now he draws an acceptable number of walks, and hits for a decent amount of power. If he can bring either of those pieces into the above-average range, he's far more dangerous. If he can improve both--and, according to scouts, the potential is there--look out.

Also (speaking of 3B prospects), I hadn't noticed this before, but Jared Goedert came back to Kinston on 7/19 after over a month on the DL. He was part of last night's 22-10 victory over Lynchburg with a 5 RBI evening, though he was outdone by Josh Rodriguez' 9 RBI.

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Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Our third base prospects have me drooling! If only Marte would pick it up.

I have this feeling thought that Marte will be like Garko was when he went back down to AAA. Produce medicore numbers but then does well in the ML.

by world dictator on Aug 3, 2007 11:16 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
They also mention Beau Mills in the article, though only in passing & mostly just note that he's not likely to stay a third baseman for very long.

by zempf on Aug 3, 2007 11:21 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Wow, no Marte mention at all? I wonder if the consider him out of prospect status at this point.

by afh4 on Aug 3, 2007 11:32 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Yeah, not a mention. I went into the article figuring he'd be there with a "he's not as good as he looked but is still a prospect," which they did with a few other guys, but nada.

by zempf on Aug 3, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
I would think Marte has too much ML service time (between Cleveland and Atlanta) to qualify for these rankings, no?

by ManchildinBeantown on Aug 3, 2007 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Even before this season, Marte was already outside of rookie/prospect status based on service time and plate appearances.

by Jay on Aug 3, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Service time aside who do you guys think is a better third base prospect at this time? Marte or Hodges?

by hans on Aug 3, 2007 12:32 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
It's got to be Marte, who is only 11 months older.  Marte hasn't really given us any reason to doubt that he's already a replacement-level 3B in the majors.  It's circumstance that has kept him down, nothing more.

Hodges has done well for himself, but next season is really make-or-break for him.  If he doesn't break out at Akron, at age 23, then the chances that he'll be a significant major leaguer shrink considerably.  College prospects are funny like that.

by Jay on Aug 3, 2007 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
A sub .200 BA and a .614 OPS is replacement level? Circumstance is the problem? This sounds like indiansfan making excuses for Crowe.

I'd have to choose Hodges by default.

by oxforddave on Aug 3, 2007 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
I guess you missed the part where Marte did that in the majors while Hodges put up a pretty "meh" line IN HIGH-A BALL.

It's Marte, and it's not even close.

by Kos @ Let's Go Tribe! on Aug 3, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
No, what I actually sound like is half the users on this site clamoring for Garko at the start of 2006.

He's been very young, and anyone can go through a bad stretch.  Marte did decently enough for a rookie at the end of 2006.  At no other time has he gotten even 40 AB in a month.  You wouldn't expect any player necessarily to do well breaking in the way that he's been forced to.

The history of the game is replete with guys who struggled as 21- and 22-year-old rookies, then went on to be solid or even great players.  If you look, you might even find some on our roster.

by Jay on Aug 3, 2007 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Is this another way of saying, "The EPS is so high on Marte that it might take two bad years, not months, to knock him out of the top three"?

by fleerdon on Aug 3, 2007 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
Yep.  I am moved somewhat by the "old players skills" argument, but I still contend that Marte's fit with that profile is not perfect, and that the evidence is weak as applied to young prospects rather than older players.

by Jay on Aug 4, 2007 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
What Hodges is doing at 22 in High A, Marte did better at 19! It's quite an insult to Marte to say he loses by default to this guy that's nowhere near the prospect he is.

by Joe. on Aug 3, 2007 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
My enthusiasm for Marte's prospects is diminished by his trend line in 3 years at AAA:


Year  Avg  OBP  SLG  BB  K
2005 .275 .372 .506  64 83  
2006 .261 .322 .451  34 81
2007 .242 .277 .432  12 45

No doubt, his performance in 2005, as a 21-yr old, was impressive.  But it looks like he's got it stuck in reverse.

by CaptainEasy on Aug 3, 2007 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
There just is no real precedent for a guy putting up consistently great numbers (by age) from 18 to 21, and then declining at ages 22 and 23.  Something else is going on here.

It amazes me that as much as people here still complain to this day about Sizemore being "blocked" by Juan Gonzalez having a healthy hamstring for one day, there is no sympathy for Marte, who earned a real shot almost two years ago and still hasn't gotten one.

by Jay on Aug 4, 2007 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
my thing now is 'i wish there was somewhere to put him'.  i think that's the same thing.  at the same time 'i'm glad we don't need him'.  i think most peoples' "he's being blocked" energy is being funneled to the nixon-gutz situation.

by Brick. on Aug 4, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
I've basically put Marte out of my mind at this point.  It's not that I think he will or will not make it, I've just decided not to think of him at all.  That way, if he provides anything at all, I'll consider it a plus.

by APV on Aug 4, 2007 1:16 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: BP's Positional Rankings: Third Base
That's where I'm at right now. He was handed the starting 3B job at the beginning of the season and played himself out of it. That doesn't mean he won't produce in the future; I'm not sure he should have strted at the ML level this season, so I'm not expecting anything one way or the other.
Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Aug 4, 2007 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

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