By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
March 5, 2012
Here comes number 10 in the great Academy Awards, also known as our top twelve list from the Compton Academy showcase in February. I’ve got Tim Lopes, infielder, from Christian Lopes/Henry Owens High (Edison).
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
February 15, 2012
Ron Miller’s got raw power. I wrote over the summer that this guy has the bat speed to kill a guy and I’m right.
I was standing alongside the first base dugout with a bunch of other guys Saturday when he cut loose a swing and rifled a foul ball thataway. I mean, this ball was ON YOU. At first, Miller smiled, I am sure he was thinking, either, a) oh crap, I killed a scout, or b) if I killed a scout, maybe it’s one who doesn’t like me, or c) Nobody hurt? Then it’s all good.
But wait, there’s more. A pitch or two later, he fouled another one off the light tower. Literally, the glass from the broken light bulb showered down upon us. It was as close to The Natural as I’ll ever get, so I’d like to thank Ron for that. I sort of felt like hobbling around the complex and pumping my fist in the air, but resisted the temptation. The guy next to me was actually shaking broken light bulb bits out of his air. It was awesome, thanks for the memories.
If the rotting outfield signage is any indication of MLB’s commitment to the upkeep of its wonderful Academy, I’m sure that bulb will be replaced sometime in the year 2018, at which point, Ron might be mashing in the majors and the Academy will be watching him in that big screen in the conference room and putting his name in all its press releases. It is wise never to walk away from raw, plus, plus, right-handed power.
Back to the scouting. Miller’s body looks a lot trimmer. I’ve seen the underground video of him jump roping and lifting weights – I think he ought to take that jump rope out to the on-deck circle in front of all the scouts who go to see him and jump. Do it. Show them the feet are enough for first base because the question they are all asking is what position are you going to play? Miller took ground balls for probably the first and last time at shortstop and his hands were fine. His feet were completely adequate for first. His arm is enough for first. Hey, guess what? From what I saw, I think if he put his mind and body to it, he could train himself to play third, though most people would tell him his feet don’t work well enough for that and he’ll never get the chance. I say, get the jump rope, and check back in a few years. At the very least, the guy can play first base in the National League, so I think he’s helped dispel the notion that he’s an AL or nothing guy. That’s a big step ahead at this stage of his career.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
August 9, 2011
I woke up this morning to pick up a newspaper (for those of you reading at home who might be too young to remember what a newspaper is, it was like a text message, but with sentences) to find a wire story about the soccer club Real Madrid signing a seven-year old prospect to a contract. Yes, seven years old.
Then I headed over to Blair Field to watch all the old geezers, the 16, 17 and 18-year olds, play Day 5 of the Area Codes, the last full day. Man, how it must stink to be over the hill at age 17. Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you. Satchel Paige said that. No, I don’t have time to explain who Satchel Paige was, other than to say, there ain’t no Satchel here this year. (more…)
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
August 8, 2011
By the end of the fourth game of the day, my hand was molded in the shape of a stopwatch grip. My finger was pressing the button with each pitch. One problem — no stopwatch in the hand. That’s what 29 innings in one day will do to a guy. It took three phantom timings for me to realize, oh, my watch is on my lap, not in my hand. It’s time to time out.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
December 26, 2010
Tim Lopes is some guy’s brother. No, just kidding, he’s his own guy in his own right. Here’s a look.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
November 24, 2010
Had a few looks at the Brewers elite team this fall. As usual, I didn’t see each guy, each week. Here’s what the notes say, alphabetically.
By The Baseball Beginnings Guy
August 5, 2010
Rouric Bridgewater hit the hardest ball of the five-hour long BP session Thursday in the opening of the Area Code Games. Bridgewater, and some of the players who also had good rounds, are among players to keep an eye on in this event. Call it the kickoff of the new Draft cycle, even though a draft cycle never really starts, and it surely never ends.
