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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sickels: Kansas City Royals Top 20 Prospects for 2009

1) Mike Moustakas, 3B, Grade A-: I put him ahead of Hosmer right now since he’s played pro ball and performed well.

2) Eric Hosmer, 1B, Grade A-: Nothing wrong with Hosmer, I think he’ll be excellent.

3) Kila Ka’aihue, 1B, Grade B: A tough grade, but I think his breakthrough this year was mostly for real. Could rank anywhere from 3 to 8 depending on how you value pitching vs. hitting.

4) Daniel Cortes, RHP, Grade B: A solid all-around pitching prospect.

5) Carlos Rosa, RHP, Grade B: A solid all-around pitching prospect.

6) Daniel Duffy, LHP, Grade B: Great stats. Worried about fly ball tendency and perhaps durability.

7) Michael Montgomery, LHP, Grade B: Strong debut.

8) Tim Melville, RHP, Grade B: Want to see some pro numbers before ranking higher.

9) Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Grade B-: Good numbers right out of college.

10) Dan Gutierrez, RHP, Grade B-: Sleeper.

00) Colt Griffin, RHP, Grade Z-: Farmer

Repoz Posted: October 15, 2008 at 09:12 AM | 19 comment(s)
Related News: General, Kansas City, Prospect Reports, Scouting

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1. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 15, 2008 at 10:38 AM (#2982757)

Not a bad-looking farm system, honestly. Maybe a little pitching-heavy for my taste, but that's not too big a deal.

2. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: October 15, 2008 at 10:45 AM (#2982765)

Its a lot of "high upside" pitchers, which means that in five years, either the Royals will be loaded with a good pitching staff, or Dayton Moore will be fired.

Kinda surprised he had Kila that high. I really don't know what to make of Kila. He was terrible in 2006, okay in 2007 and out of this world in 2008.

3. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: October 15, 2008 at 10:55 AM (#2982770)

Really? The Royals need hitters bad, and there's basically nothing in the high minors. This system looks pretty bare to me.

Kaaihue could be good, but doesn't seem to have much power for a 1B. Also, isn't he in the Atlanta system?

EDIT: There's a KALA KAAIHUE? How could there be a guy with almost that exact same name who plays the same position? That's not like a Chris Carter or Alex Gonzalez type name.

4. JJ1986 Posted: October 15, 2008 at 11:09 AM (#2982782)

EDIT: There's a KALA KAAIHUE? How could there be a guy with almost that exact same name who plays the same position? That's not like a Chris Carter or Alex Gonzalez type name.

I think they're twins. They're definitely brothers.

5. BaseballDIY Posted: October 15, 2008 at 11:12 AM (#2982785)

All Hawaiians are related.

6. Billy Wagner's tears Posted: October 15, 2008 at 11:26 AM (#2982798)

Srul Itza Kaaihue?

7. Le Metaphysicien Posted: October 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM (#2982833)

They aren't twins, but they were born on the same day, one year apart. Which is creepy enough, when combined with the fact that everything about them is exactly the same.

8. Jimmy P Posted: October 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM (#2982841)

Really? The Royals need hitters bad, and there's basically nothing in the high minors. This system looks pretty bare to me.

Totally agree. The only young hitters on the major league roster that are decent are Dejesus, Gordon, and Butler. 2 of those 3 are potential with little MLB performance. At least the Royals have Greinke and Soria to hang their hats on pitching wise.

9. Nasty Nate Posted: October 15, 2008 at 12:09 PM (#2982845)

They aren't twins, but they were born on the same day, one year apart. Which is creepy enough, when combined with the fact that everything about them is exactly the same.

does that count as Irish Twinhood?

10. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 15, 2008 at 12:26 PM (#2982867)

"Really? The Royals need hitters bad, and there's basically nothing in the high minors. This system looks pretty bare to me."

I'm not talking about whether it's a system that's ready to start helping the Royals right now, or whether the distribution of prospects fits the Royals' needs. I'm just talking about whether it's a system that has, in isolation, a good amount of talent.

11. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: October 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM (#2982872)

All Hawaiians are descended from Benny Agbayani.

12. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: October 15, 2008 at 01:06 PM (#2982901)

It's not Kaaihue, it's Ka'aihue. Don't forget the 'okina, god damnit!

Profile of Micah Kila Ka'aihue and Isaiah Kala Ka'aihue

BB-ref thinks Kila's name is Ka'aihue and Kala's name is Kaaihue. The SABR minor league database is not aware of any 'okinas at all.

Kala Ka'aihue Senior

13. BaseballDIY Posted: October 15, 2008 at 01:45 PM (#2982920)

Don't forget the 'okina, god damnit!

Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish!

14. Dingbat Charlie Posted: October 15, 2008 at 02:04 PM (#2982937)

Ryan Braun and Nick Markakis, however, were born on the exact same day. I'm rather certain this is a sign from the baseball gods that they are destined to meet in what will be the greatest world series ever. It will be decided in the 9th inning of game seven by a mammoth blast off the bat of Oriole Jesus. A blast that is likely to enter the heavenly stratosphere, perhaps triggering the apocalypse. My best guess for when this will occur is 2012, that being the 20th anniversary of Don Sutton stealing the AL East crown against Palmer, nearly making me cry (I even watched that game on the lucky and previously infallible black-and-white TV).

15. flournoy Posted: October 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM (#2982944)

I assume you mean 30th anniversary. It's okay, it's natural for your memories to get hazy in your old age.

16. Walt Davis Posted: October 15, 2008 at 02:11 PM (#2982946)

Ryan Braun and Nick Markakis, however, were born on the exact same day. I'm rather certain this is a sign from the baseball gods that they are destined to meet in what will be the greatest world series ever.

It didn't work out that way for Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas. Bagwell did at least get a few ABs in the 2005 Series.

Also Bagwell is Thomas' most sim player ages 31-37 (and Thomas for Bagwell ages 32-35).

17. Dingbat Charlie Posted: October 15, 2008 at 02:20 PM (#2982950)

I should proofread my metaphysical geezerly baseball rants more carefully.

18. Mike Emeigh Posted: October 15, 2008 at 08:27 PM (#2983227)

About what I expected.

I'm not buying on Gutierrez. Not yet, anyway. He needs to show what he can do in a full season at an age-appropriate level.

-- MWE

19. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: October 15, 2008 at 09:02 PM (#2983269)

Kila is too high - he's probably a AAAA guy coming off a career year. (Note: I'm only posting because of my Kala fandom , post 18).

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sickels: Kansas City Royals Top 20 Prospects for 2009

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