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Wittes End
May 23, 2015 12:27:32 GMT -5
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Post by moonstone2 on May 23, 2015 12:27:32 GMT -5
I find most of the time that the older high performing AA hitters are fools gold. Older players have a certain guile that they are able to use to exploit younger more talented players who are still learning. That tends to run out once players reach higher levels with more veteran players. Yes I know that some older players make it, but it seems to me that most of the are just Darin Ruff. Ruff destroyed the competition all the way up to AA but his talent caught up with him at higher levels.
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Post by prometheus on May 23, 2015 13:02:57 GMT -5
I find most of the time that the older high performing AA hitters are fools gold. Older players have a certain guile that they are able to use to exploit younger more talented players who are still learning. That tends to run out once players reach higher levels with more veteran players. Yes I know that some older players make it, but it seems to me that most of the are just Darin Ruff. Ruff destroyed the competition all the way up to AA but his talent caught up with him at higher levels. Agreed that age is probably one of if not the most important factor when looking at minor league numbers. However there are some positive signs for Witte. He left college after 4 years so it makes sense that he is a little bit behind the ball in terms of age relative to level. His numbers versus left handed pitching are particularly interesting, as so far he has been mashing lefties at every level. He has also cut down on K's while moving up to AA which isn't common. No doubt the odds are against him as he has been old at every step so far, but he becomes more interesting as he continues to hit his way up the system.
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danr
Veteran
Posts: 1,871
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Post by danr on May 23, 2015 13:23:55 GMT -5
I know very little about Witte, but I have looked at his stats. This is only his third year in the system and only his second full season. So, unlike many players old for their levels, he hasn't exactly been bouncing around the low minors. My hackles raise a little when conclusions are made about a player based simply on his age or his height or his weight. Players should be judged on their skills, talent and potential. What do we know about this player?
He didn't hit very well his first year, but he certainly did last year and he is hitting now about the same as he did in Greenville. His HR and 2B rates are about the same. He is hitting better than any other 1B in the system. There are some comments about defensive weakness but no real scouting report on either his defense, or his offense.
There certainly are many examples of players who briefly rake before their weaknesses are discovered, and sometimes those weaknesses aren't discovered until AAA or the majors. But anyone who hits at this rate and maintains it should get some attention. It will be interesting to see if he still is at this level in a month or two.
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Wittes End
May 23, 2015 14:52:51 GMT -5
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Post by jmei on May 23, 2015 14:52:51 GMT -5
Witte has been discussed on the last two SoxProspects podcasts. In short: long swing, muddling batspeed, limited power ceiling, fringy defender. Scouts almost uniformly don't think he has much potential, which is a big red flag.
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Post by geezergeek on May 30, 2015 7:57:24 GMT -5
Witte has been discussed on the last two SoxProspects podcasts. In short: long swing, muddling batspeed, limited power ceiling, fringy defender. Scouts almost uniformly don't think he has much potential, which is a big red flag. That is why I suggested he move along to AAA so the sox can figure out if there really is something there. Shaw is not exactly killing the ball in Pawtucket. Even if his hitting is relegated to singles and doubles with fringy defense he still conjures up images of another similar hitter from AAA in days past who more than succeeded in the majors. .
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Wittes End
May 30, 2015 11:56:29 GMT -5
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Post by moonstone2 on May 30, 2015 11:56:29 GMT -5
For all of you scouting Witte's stat line...name 3 25 year old AA hitters who went on to be average major league regulars. It doesn't happen. So no he shouldn't be at AAA absent injuries. That he has hit well is almost completely irrelevant to his major league future.
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Post by Smittyw on May 30, 2015 12:13:28 GMT -5
Does Witte have less upside or chance of success in the major leagues than Travis Shaw? That's really the relevant question, it seems. No one's predicting a great major league future for him, but bringing him up to a somewhat more age-appropriate level to see if he continues his present success isn't exactly an outrageous suggestion. It's not like we have a legit prospect in Pawtucket blocking him.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on May 30, 2015 20:38:30 GMT -5
Does Witte have less upside or chance of success in the major leagues than Travis Shaw? Absolutely.
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Wittes End
May 31, 2015 11:00:35 GMT -5
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Post by moonstone2 on May 31, 2015 11:00:35 GMT -5
Does Witte have less upside or chance of success in the major leagues than Travis Shaw? Absolutely. I agree. I am not a big fan of Shaw's and I think the Sox made a mistake protecting him over Jason Garcia. But at least he has big league power. He's also three months younger. Bringing up Witte and benching or ditching Shaw....because of their respective stat lines makes no sense.
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