The 2044 AAA Sleeper Lineup
Sept 25, 2017 20:13:39 GMT -5
Texas Rangers, craigWhiteSox, and 6 more like this
Post by Wilson_DodgersGM on Sept 25, 2017 20:13:39 GMT -5
I am interested in players who succeed despite their ratings. There are many players who fail to break into the bigs because of their lackluster ratings even if they demolish their AAA colleagues. The list is definitely not perfect because it is heavily influenced by the position the GM has currently set for the player but whatever.
Eligibility- Must have 1 star Potential Rating at their current position and have yet to make their ML debut. FA's are not eligible.
Grading Criteria- AAA stats, minor league career, and likelihood of succeeding in the majors as they are now.
He isn't great defensively and struggled with injuries in 2043 but last season he looked like a phenom at the plate. In 89 games, he provided 3.9 WAR while slashing .337/.425/.657. His OPS+ was 160 and he also hit 25 dongs. Although his ratings indicate that he would likely have to be limited in PA's vs RHP, he was better against righties last year. Against RHP, he slashed .353/.441/.693 in 281 PA. I think Hall could be a fine backup catcher in the majors.
Although he has been a good hitter at every level (162 game average .255/.353/.494 and 3 WAR), last season was his best. He slashed .293/.382/.561, OPS+ 131, and 33 HR. He was equally dangerous versus both RHP and LHP. If he played any other position, I believe he would be starting this season on some ML roster. As it is, 1B is not a position that is easy to trust to a 30 year old, career minor leaguer. He still deserves a shot at making an ML roster and if his power is truly still developing, he could be a good bench bat or a platoon partner.
Last season he slashed a respectable .299/.394/.446 with 10 HR and an .840 OPS. Not numbers that will blow you away but here's the thing, he is really fucking fast. I don't value speed very highly and my bottom of the league SB rate will show that but Hirose stole 52 bags with an 85% success rate. This coupled with a .394 OBP is something that could help him make a successful jump to an ML roster as a backup infielder. He doesn't wow you with the glove and will probably be below average defensively at any position other than 2B and he can't hit lefties at all, but hey, it's second base. He also has high work ethic and intelligence which means he could develop a little more since he is only 24.
I almost left this slot blank because of lack of ML worthy talent but heeeeeeeeere's Mark! He made this list solely because of his season at AAA last year. I don't think he would be a 25-man roster worthy player but I'll try to make the case for it. Last season he slashed .299/.373/.483 for an OPS+ of 111 and 14 HR. He is from a town called Battle Creek which is a cool name for a hometown. His ratings vs RHP are not very good but he was still respectable against them last season. His ability to get on base is the one thing that could get him on an ML roster. He is also dumb, disloyal, and lacks leadership. His ceiling seems to be a backup infielder on a non-competing team needing a platoon partner for a lefty 3B.
Hernandez didn't blow the league away with his bat but I still believe he can be a solid utility infielder for a Major League club. He slashed .253/.376/.368 with 10 HR in 100 games. He was slightly better against lefties and this is backed up by his ratings (contact vs LHP is 6). He is a good defender and can play 2B and SS very well and can probably improve at 3B too. Another source of optimism is his track record the previous 2 years. In 2041 he put up 4.2 WAR in (A+) and then 5.1 WAR the next season in (AA). I think he could be a solid utility infielder for a lefty heavy infield.
Moreno had a very good 2043 even though he only made it into 70 games. Reminder to keep in mind the importance of sample sizes! To shrink the sample size even more, (Sorry!) against RHP Moreno slashed .377/.447/.651. His career success against RHP makes me more confident in placing importance on his success last year. I included his GAP rating because it is notable and a reason why his slugging may translate to the bigs. He also has ++ speed and a career SB success rate of 88% He could be a good backup outfielder, just DON'T LET HIM HIT LEFTIES!
Valdez made the lineup but if he does get to the majors he should NOT be in center. He doesn't have the range to play it and last season had a ZR of -9.0. He should be an above average corner outfielder however. Despite his trials in center, he still was a 4.7 WAR player last season. He slashed .353/.460/.638 for an OPS+ of 170 with 25 HR. He also stole 21 bases and was only caught twice. Somehow even with his meager batting ratings against lefties, he had an OPS+ of 153 against them. I would not expect this to translate to the bigs though where he will most likely need a platoon partner. I think he could be a very solid backup corner outfielder and could possibly even win a starting job somewhere.
Perkins is one of those players that on paper looks unimpressive but he has hit well at every level and last year was no exception. He slashed .376/.446/.575 for an OPS+ of 147 and 5.3 WAR. He only had 6 HR so how did he slug like that? Answer: doubles. He had 34 doubles and 9 triples. He also had 37 SB and was caught twice. He played gold glove defense in RF and it seems like he could even step into center when needed. He will most likely not be of value against lefty pitching in the majors but could be a utility outfielder. His EYE rating is scary low but who am I to argue with a .446 OBP? He enjoys boating in the offseason.
Eligibility- Must have 1 star Potential Rating at their current position and have yet to make their ML debut. FA's are not eligible.
Grading Criteria- AAA stats, minor league career, and likelihood of succeeding in the majors as they are now.
C- Shawn Hall, 28 yrs old, CLE
Bats: R --- CON:5 --- POW:6 --- EYE:5/6 --- DEF:5
He isn't great defensively and struggled with injuries in 2043 but last season he looked like a phenom at the plate. In 89 games, he provided 3.9 WAR while slashing .337/.425/.657. His OPS+ was 160 and he also hit 25 dongs. Although his ratings indicate that he would likely have to be limited in PA's vs RHP, he was better against righties last year. Against RHP, he slashed .353/.441/.693 in 281 PA. I think Hall could be a fine backup catcher in the majors.
1B/DH- Juan Gonzales, 30 yrs old, SFN
Bats: R --- CON:5 --- POW:6/7 --- EYE:6 --- DEF:6
Although he has been a good hitter at every level (162 game average .255/.353/.494 and 3 WAR), last season was his best. He slashed .293/.382/.561, OPS+ 131, and 33 HR. He was equally dangerous versus both RHP and LHP. If he played any other position, I believe he would be starting this season on some ML roster. As it is, 1B is not a position that is easy to trust to a 30 year old, career minor leaguer. He still deserves a shot at making an ML roster and if his power is truly still developing, he could be a good bench bat or a platoon partner.
2B- Katsuhiko Hirose, 24 yrs old, TOR
Bats: L --- CON:5 --- POW:3 --- EYE:6 --- DEF:6
Last season he slashed a respectable .299/.394/.446 with 10 HR and an .840 OPS. Not numbers that will blow you away but here's the thing, he is really fucking fast. I don't value speed very highly and my bottom of the league SB rate will show that but Hirose stole 52 bags with an 85% success rate. This coupled with a .394 OBP is something that could help him make a successful jump to an ML roster as a backup infielder. He doesn't wow you with the glove and will probably be below average defensively at any position other than 2B and he can't hit lefties at all, but hey, it's second base. He also has high work ethic and intelligence which means he could develop a little more since he is only 24.
3B- Mark Sloan, 29 yrs old, SFN
Bats: R --- CON:4/5 --- POW:4 --- EYE:5/6 --- DEF:5
I almost left this slot blank because of lack of ML worthy talent but heeeeeeeeere's Mark! He made this list solely because of his season at AAA last year. I don't think he would be a 25-man roster worthy player but I'll try to make the case for it. Last season he slashed .299/.373/.483 for an OPS+ of 111 and 14 HR. He is from a town called Battle Creek which is a cool name for a hometown. His ratings vs RHP are not very good but he was still respectable against them last season. His ability to get on base is the one thing that could get him on an ML roster. He is also dumb, disloyal, and lacks leadership. His ceiling seems to be a backup infielder on a non-competing team needing a platoon partner for a lefty 3B.
SS- Ramon Hernandez, 25 yrs old, MIL (Promoted)
Bats: R --- CON:5 --- POW:4 --- EYE:7 --- DEF:7
Hernandez didn't blow the league away with his bat but I still believe he can be a solid utility infielder for a Major League club. He slashed .253/.376/.368 with 10 HR in 100 games. He was slightly better against lefties and this is backed up by his ratings (contact vs LHP is 6). He is a good defender and can play 2B and SS very well and can probably improve at 3B too. Another source of optimism is his track record the previous 2 years. In 2041 he put up 4.2 WAR in (A+) and then 5.1 WAR the next season in (AA). I think he could be a solid utility infielder for a lefty heavy infield.
LF- Tomas Moreno, 25 yrs old, SDN
Bats: L --- CON:5 --- GAP:7 --- POW:4 --- EYE:4/5 --- DEF:8
Moreno had a very good 2043 even though he only made it into 70 games. Reminder to keep in mind the importance of sample sizes! To shrink the sample size even more, (Sorry!) against RHP Moreno slashed .377/.447/.651. His career success against RHP makes me more confident in placing importance on his success last year. I included his GAP rating because it is notable and a reason why his slugging may translate to the bigs. He also has ++ speed and a career SB success rate of 88% He could be a good backup outfielder, just DON'T LET HIM HIT LEFTIES!
CF- Gustavo Valdes, 28 yrs old, SLN
Bats: L --- CON:5 --- POW:6 --- EYE:6 --- DEF:4
Valdez made the lineup but if he does get to the majors he should NOT be in center. He doesn't have the range to play it and last season had a ZR of -9.0. He should be an above average corner outfielder however. Despite his trials in center, he still was a 4.7 WAR player last season. He slashed .353/.460/.638 for an OPS+ of 170 with 25 HR. He also stole 21 bases and was only caught twice. Somehow even with his meager batting ratings against lefties, he had an OPS+ of 153 against them. I would not expect this to translate to the bigs though where he will most likely need a platoon partner. I think he could be a very solid backup corner outfielder and could possibly even win a starting job somewhere.
RF- Jonathan Perkins, 24 yrs old, NYN
Bats: L --- CON:5 --- GAP:7 --- POW:3 --- EYE:3 --- DEF:8
Bats: L --- CON:5 --- GAP:7 --- POW:3 --- EYE:3 --- DEF:8