http://www.scoutingbook.com/ We Keep Up on Baseball Prospects, Rookies and Closers so you don't have to. For Fans and Fantasy Players. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:01:00 GMT Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:01:00 GMT Top/Sports/Baseball en-us http://www.scoutingbook.com/gifs/scout-rss-title.gif http://www.scoutingbook.com/ 144 36 07 Jul 2008 00:35:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/cc-sabathia-trade-for-prospects http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/cc-sabathia-trade-for-prospects (TOP STORY) 2008 is just entering those days when teams decide whether they're real competitors and become either buyers or sellers. The Milwaukee Brewers have made the biggest splash early by announcing the trade of four prospects to the Indians for pending free agent CC Sabathia. Everyone knows what CC represents, but since this is Scouting Book, we'll focus on the prospects who are on their way to Cleveland, and what they could mean to the Indians in the near future. [more...] http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?BOS90 http://www.scoutingbook.com/closers/?BOS90 Update: BOS -- Justin Masterson, once considered a closer candidate, is being returned to a bullpen role. He'll start in AAA, but Boston will want him in the big league bullpen for September, if not sooner. It's usually a bad idea to mess with roles like this in mid-season, but Masterson always has projected as a better reliever than starter. Hopefully for Boston, their regular rotation will hold up and they won't need to re-re-deploy Masterson again. (7/7/2008) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?rss-up7/8/2008 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?up7/8/2008 These prospects have moved up in our composite rankings recently: Jeff Clement (#22)... Steve Pearce (#29)... Alexei Ramirez (#34)... Matt LaPorta (#37)... Masahide Kobayashi (#54)... Brett Anderson (#65)... Aaron Laffey (#83)... Alcides Escobar (#87)... Bryan Anderson (#94)... Yonder Alonso (#119)... Jeremy Hellickson (#130)... Michael Aviles (#141)... Steve Garrison (#162)... Brent Brewer (#167)... Jose Arredondo (#173)... Michel Inoa (#180)... Mat Gamel (#189)... Jeff Samardzija (#195)... Rob Bryson (#196)... Brett Gardner (#230)... Jhoulys Chacin (#252)... See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (7/8/2008) http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down7/8/2008 http://www.scoutingbook.com/?down7/8/2008 These prospects have moved down in our composite rankings recently: Homer Bailey (#40)... Lars Anderson (#47)... Matt Antonelli (#64)... Carlos Triunfel (#75)... Chris Marrero (#85)... Jacob McGee (#124)... See our detailed prospect rankings for more info. (7/8/2008) 5 Jul 2008 22:30:00 PDT http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Closers-in-Waiting-Jul-2008-NL After dealing with the AL last time, let's take a look at some of the more volatile, confusing, or just plain interesting closer situations in the Senior Circuit, starting with the nation's capital. [more...] 02 Jul 2008 00:15:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/Closers-in-Waiting-Jul-2008-AL As the season hits its midpoint, the ever-volatile closer situation is showing no signs of settling down. Here's a quick look at a number of future AL closers who appear to be on the cusp of getting their shot. For more, bookmark our Closer Watch page for daily updates. [more...] 09 Jun 2008 22:12:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/2008-draft-first-round-picks-pt2 On Friday we looked at the top twelve players taken in the 2008 Amateur Draft and shared our notion of how valuable those players would turn out to be. Today we'll wrap up the rest of the first round. [more...] 06 Jun 2008 00:30:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/2008-draft-first-round-picks-pt1 The 2008 Amateur Draft is in full swing, and most of the early picks are as-expected. There were a few head scratchers, though. Here's a quick look at the top dozen players taken so far, so you can start to get used to reading about them while we get them added to our Prospects database. [more...] 30 May 2008 15:01:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/best-closers-so-far-june-2008 As the one third mark on the season passes this weekend, we hand out the prizes for baseball's Top Five Closers of the season so far. Which ninth inning artists have racked up the most saves to date? Unless you've been paying close attention, the answer might surprise you. [more...] 22 May 2008 05:06:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/cubs-double-rookies-fukudome-soto-2008 It's hard to imagine two more different players than Kosuke 'F-Bomb' Fukudome and Geovany 'Go-Go' Soto. One's a rookie in name only, a seasoned professional meeting everyone's expectations after making the move across the ocean to compete in a new league. The other's a genuine rookie phenom who's had to prove and reprove himself to doubters who considered his early success to be a fluke. What they have in common, of course, is that they're both early Rookie of the Year candidates who are carrying the Cubs on their backs. Together, they'll be the key to the Cubs success or failure in 2008. [more...] 19 May 2008 16:05:00 PST http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/prospects-on-deck-for-callups-june-2008 Six weeks into the season, some of baseball's hottest prospects are already seeing major league action. But some of the most promising haven't seen the big leagues yet. Who's next, and when will they get their chance in The Big Show? [more...] 7 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/AL-Bullpen-Report-May-2008 With the season creeping up on its sixth week, who are the closers worth their contracts, and who are near collapse? The AL might not be as crazy as the NL this season, but there are still a few closer situations in flux. [more...] 4 May 2008 11:00:00 PDT http://www.scoutingbook.com/ http://www.scoutingbook.com/blog/NL-Bullpen-Report-May-2008 The season's only a month old, and already the business of closing is a messy, exciting business indeed. We sort out the early returns to see who's on fire... and who's flaming out. [more...]