http://www.scoutingbook.com/ We Keep Up on Baseball Prospects, Rookies and Closers so you don't have to. For Fans and Fantasy Players. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:54:00 GMT Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:54:00 GMT Top/Sports/Baseball en-us http://www.scoutingbook.com/gifs/scout-rss-title.gif http://www.scoutingbook.com/ 144 36 08 Feb 2012 00:03:40 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/was-washington-nationals-top-prospects-2012 http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/was-washington-nationals-top-prospects-2012 (TOP STORY) The Nationals pretty much invented the modern prospect era of super-hype with their back to back pickups of Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in consecutive draft years. Since then, they have quietly continued to build a powerful farm that could propel the Nats into contention very, very soon. [more...] http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?SEA338 http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?SEA338 Update: SEA -- Seattle took a flier on the sometimes dominant lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo today, signing him to an incentive-laden 1-year deal. Kuo, one of baseball's best lefthanders the last decade or so, struggled with both physical and emotional turmoil in his last year as a Dodger. (2/6/2012) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?rss-up2/9/2012 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?up2/9/2012 These prospects have moved up in our composite rankings recently: Jean Segura (#42)... Leonys Martin (#68)... Javier Baez (#73)... Jake Marisnick (#85)... Jorge Soler (#99)... Jose Iglesias (#100)... Nathan Eovaldi (#142)... Rex Brothers (#167)... Christian Colon (#172)... Roman Hernandez (#290)... Destin Hood (#373)... Julio Morban (#432)... See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (2/9/2012) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down2/9/2012 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down2/9/2012 These prospects have moved down in our composite rankings recently: None. See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (2/9/2012) 05 Feb 2012 17:44:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/fantasy-baseball-rankings-for-you-1512 Is fantasy baseball a distraction from the real thing? Maybe, but who couldn't use a little fantasy distraction now and then? We don't do much fantasy-specific info here at Scouting Book. Instead, we usually ask ourselves whether information would be useful and/or interesting to both fantasy players and regular fans. If the answer is yes, we do it. But we get so many, many, many requests for draft help that we finally caved in a little, and decided to have some fun of our own by doing a little fantasy ranking for your enjoyment. [more...] 03 Feb 2012 01:13:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/baseball-top-lhp-best-left-handed-pitching-prospects-2012 The next few years will not be fun for left-handed hitters, especially in the American League. [more...] 01 Feb 2012 01:48:23 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/nym-new-york-mets-top-prospects-2012 It's so hard being a big market ballclub. Unfairly forced to compete on an uneven playing field while smaller teams scout, draft and moneyball all the good talent away. All the persecuted big market teams can do is burn suitcases full of money in a desperate attempt to keep up with the Royals and Rays. [more...] 31 Jan 2012 00:16:21 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/cle-cleveland-indians-top-prospects-2012 The Indians are an enigma. Despite lacking enough talent to compete just yet, the team still made a huge move last year by trading away not just one, but two top pitching prospects for righthander Ubaldo Jimenez. While Jimenez is certainly a legitimate ace talent, it's hard to see how the Indians of the near-future would not have benefited more from the services of the now-departed Alex White and Drew Pomeranz for the next six or seven years. [more...] 28 Jan 2012 12:33:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/new-scoutingbook-website-2012-for-ipad-iphone-bigger-and-smaller-02812 Did you ever start a home-renovation project that just got completely out of hand? At first, you think you're just repainting an old bathroom. And while you're at it, maybe fix that leaky shower head. And the crooked mirror. And... well, before you know it, you're digging under the foundation and running new sewer lines. [more...] 27 Jan 2012 00:07:05 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/lad-la-dodgers-top-prospects-2012 Pity the Dodgers, one of baseball's signature franchises now fallen on hard times. The club is stuck between gears, halfway in forward and half in idle, trying to win now as well as win later, all with a suspended budget, a lame duck owner and a desperation that's almost palpable. The headless franchise certainly looked it last season, trading away five-tool prospect Trayvon Robinson to the Red Sox for... not much. [more...] 25 Jan 2012 01:17:58 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/baseball-top-of-best-outfield-prospects-2012 Outfielders don't get enough love. They're responsible for the biggest parts of the field and need to make the longest and most difficult throws, all while dealing with blinding sun and unruly fans as they try to calculate the flight a ball that's only the size of a pin-head when it starts zooming toward them from three hundred feet away. And so how do we judge the best outfielders? By their bats, of course. [more...] 24 Jan 2012 00:17:15 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/baseball-top-ss-best-shortstop-prospects-2012 Along with centerfield, shortstop is baseball's glamor position. The best Little Leaguers slot in at shortstop, and as they grow bigger and stronger, the best ones stay there. By the time they're pushing out of their teens, anyone still playing shortstop is certainly one of baseball's best all-around players. [more...] 22 Jan 2012 01:43:16 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/laa-los-angeles-angels-top-prospects-2012 The Angels have always taken a balanced approach to teambuilding. Never afraid to open the checkbook for a big free agent, the team once again nabbed the best bat and the best starter available this offseason in Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. [more...]