6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Angels-n-Dodgers, in the order they were given. The articles are available at ESPN Insider for the total list in one place -- odd that BA doesn't carry it that way -- and at BA in four parts: 76-100, 75-51, 26-50, and 1-25.

5. Joel Guzman, ss, Dodgers: "He's Juan Gonzalez waiting to happen." -- American League scout.
6. Casey Kotchman, 1b, Angels: "He's such a good hitter and he's still developing. I think he'll easily hit 30-plus homers in the majors." -- NL scout.
12. Dallas McPherson, 3b, Angels: "Every mistake we made, he made us pay for. He has an easy swing and natural power." -- San Antonio manager Dave Brundage.
19. Chad Billingsley, rhp, Dodgers: "He's just a kid with an overpowering fastball and overpowering slider. He's mature beyond his years." -- Dodgers scouting director Logan White.
30. Edwin Jackson, rhp, Dodgers: "He had a rough year but I'll take him any day of the week. He's dominant when he has his command." -- AL scout.
62. James Loney, 1b, Dodgers: "He can really swing it, and he's really smooth over there at first. He will save his team runs. If he has power it will be a bonus." -- NL scout.
67. Jeff Mathis, c, Angels: "If you miss on Mathis' bat, he's still a catcher with great makeup. I love the guy. He's hard not to." -- AL scout.
74. Andy LaRoche, 3b, Dodgers: "He's got bat speed, strength in his hands and is a true profile at third base, offensively and defensively." -- AL scout.
76. Kendry Morales, of, Angels: "He's a middle-of-the-order hitter that's getting ready to play in the big leagues. He's on the big-league roster going into camp with a chance to win a job." -- Angels scouting director Eddie Bane.
83. Brandon Wood, ss, Angels: "He's slender but he can jolt the ball, and he makes the plays at shortstop." -- AL scout.
89. Russell Martin, c, Dodgers: "He's very advanced in all aspects defensively, but the thing we really got excited about was the way his bat came around in the Arizona Fall League." -- Dodgers scouting director Logan White.
100. Greg Miller, lhp, Dodgers: "He's going to be fine. We're going to make some corrections to make him more comfortable in his delivery." -- Dodgers farm director Terry Collins.

In Friday's chat wrap, John Manuel writes

Q:	Joshua Heines from Trenton, NJ asks: What are the top five minor league systems in baseball?
A:	John Manuel: You'll have to buy the book to get the order, but alphabetically (considering Anaheim, not LA, as the Angels' home, because that court fight isn't over), we have them as Anaheim, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Minnesota.

Also, for you Weaver-philes looking for explanations as to why the Angels didn't sign him at Boras' asking price:

Q:	Josh from St. Pete, FL asks: Would Jered Weaver have ranked ahead of Jeff Niemann (#20) if he had signed with the Angels? If I'm not mistaken Niemann is the highest ranked player from last year's draft. Also, why no Delwyn Young love in the Top 100? Left off the Dodgers Top 10 also? Is there something that I'm not seeing because 22 Hrs for a middle infielder in the FSL is awesome. Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: I've answered the first question from my standpoint (no); Young probably isn't a middle infielder. He's similar to Willy Aybar in that both are offense-first 2Bs who profile better defensively at other positions. Young's better power makes him the better prospect in our estimation, and he could be a big league regular as a corner OF, but that helps explain his absence from the Top 100.
Q:	Jeff from Los Altos, CA asks: Do guys like Weaver and Townsend benefit from having time off? I always here about some college pitchers being overworked. Can this layoff for these two actually be a plus?
A:	John Manuel: I don't think the time off helps; I wrote a Prospect Pulse over the winter about how clubs like to get their pitchers on throwing schedules and strength programs that put them in line with other pitchers in the organization. Townsend is working out at IMG's facilities in Florida, and Weaver's throwing at the Scott Boras Corperation's facility, so both guys are throwing, but I think it would help more if they were in spring training camps. I think both players would rather be in camps too. Too much time off, I believe, counts pitchers muscle memory and arm strength. Weaver was used very judiciously in college as well; sorry, coach Graham, but Wade was ridden a little harder at Rice. But he hasn't pitched competitively since last June, and that's not good for anybody. Same goes for Weaver.

About Guzman:

Q:	Phil Coyle from Boulder, CO asks: Joel Guzman has put up solid, if perhaps unspectacular, power numbers in the minors. What is a realistic time frame for his arrival in Los Angeles, what position will he play and what kind of homerun numbers do you see in his future ?
A:	John Manuel: He seems to be making his own timetable; if he progresses as quickly as he did last year, who's to say he can't help in LA this year? More realistic, he probably could use one more year in the minors to face upper-level breaking stuff, then another to learn another position. We see him as a 30-homer corner OF down the line, but he can play shortstop very competantly now. He's just probably not going to do it when he fills out and finishes growing, when he might be 6-foot-7, 250 pounds. If he's playing SS at that size . . . well, then we should have ranked him first!

About Chuck Tiffany:

Q:	Jon Lasken from Clifton, VA asks: How far away was chuck tiffany from making the top 100 and what does he project to in the majors? In a chat on the dogders it was suggested he would actually make it. Thanks!
A:	John Manuel: Tiffany was in the discussion a bit; lots of Dodgers were. He's got a stocky body and will have to watch his weight and his mechanics to make sure he stays on top of his stuff throughout his career. That's a concern for me, he wasn't in my Top 100.

On Ervin Santana:

Q:	Sarub from Eugene, OR asks: How could you guys leave Ervin Santana off the Top 100 list when all he had was a injury filled year that shouldn't affect his long term potential.
A:	John Manuel: Because he was hurt twice, shoulder and elbow, and didn't show a whole lot of desire to come back this year, causing the Angels to question his makeup and desire to be great? He just missed the cut, and we like his upside, but the chances of him reaching his upside went down this year, considerably so.

Only the Loney:

Q:	Connor from Hartford, CT asks: What's the more likely scenario: a) James Loney has a huge breakout year, proving his top prospect status or b) Loney has another injury-filled disapointing season, which takes him off these lists?
A:	John Manuel: I'm saying A, but good point, Connor; Loney needs to stop tantalizing (remember last spring?) and start producing in the regular season to keep his prospect status, and I'm sure he's already lost that for many people. Southern League scouts really, really liked him last summer, though.

A D-Mac shootout at the BA Corral...

Q:	Matthias Peters-Kroll from Scottish Parliament asks: Who has the better career, Marte or McPherson...same question regarding Capellan and Dan Meyer?
A:	John Manuel: Marte; McPherson is an interesting prospect, hard to get past the power, but also the strikeouts . . . maybe he's Adam Dunn at 3b? I'll take Dan Meyer personally over Capellan, who doesn't have great secondary stuff and might be a reliever, Meyer is pretty darn good.

Kendry Morales:

Q:	Sean from Seattle WA asks: I've heard Kendry Morales compared to Miguel Cabrera, but he ranks pretty far down on the top 100. Are there a wide range of opinions on his abilities ? What is your opinion for his impact for this year and beyond.
A:	John Manuel: Impact for this year will be somewhat muted, the transition is difficult, but he's a long-term regular with power, possible all-star corner OF or 1B.

Greg Miller:

Q:	John from Burlington, Ky asks: Why is Greg Miller so low? Is his shoulder that much of a concern, and does he still have a chance to be a #1 starter?
A:	John Manuel: Because he's had two shoulder surgeries and missed a whole year of development.

Minor league swagger rights:

Q:	Craig M from Los Angeles asks: It appears that Dodger fans should keep tabs on their AA team in Jacksonville, will be that be the most talented team in the minors this year with, Guzman, Billingsley, LaRoche, Young and probably Loney on the team?
A:	John Manuel: That team should be absolutely loaded, I agree completely.

Stoneman, you eeeediot!

Q:	Blair from Greater Los Angeles Anaheim asks: Hi John, thanks for the chat as always. Why aren't the Angels even considering Casey Kotchman as their DH this year. Why wouldn't they put him there over DaVanon, Rivera, Quinlan, etc. There's been so much talk about Kendry Morales even starting there over Kotchman. If they aren't going to use him, why wouldn't they trade him? Thanks again.
A:	John Manuel: I can't answer that one, I don't see why he's not a lock for the major league club, but the options they have are actually pretty solid, particularly Morales and Quinlan.