Baseball America: Top 100 Prospects

GatewaySnayke · Post by **GatewaySnayke** » March 1 07, 1:11 pm

Michael wrote:
GatewaySnayke wrote:I like the Overbay comparison.
Maybe as a hitter but Barton's defense isn't even close.

I wasn't aware that Overbay was a good fielder, but yeah, I meant his hitting.

What are the chances really that Barton develops enough power to warrant a spot over Swisher or whoever the A's get to be their DH after Piazza?

Hungary Jack · Post by **Hungary Jack** » March 1 07, 1:12 pm

GatewaySnayke wrote:I like the Overbay comparison.

I don't know. Overbay slugged .531 in 1985 MiLB AB.

Barton is at .468 in 1139 AB.

Barton is still very young (21) and I think he has time to develop power, but I am not sure he's Lyle Overbay in waiting.

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » March 1 07, 1:55 pm

Perhaps he is James Loney in waiting?

BW23 · Post by **BW23** » March 1 07, 2:58 pm

RC21 wrote:Perhaps he is James Loney in waiting?

Who is usually compared to Mark Grace....

JL21 · Post by **JL21** » March 1 07, 3:09 pm

BW23 wrote:
RC21 wrote:Perhaps he is James Loney in waiting?
Who is usually compared to Mark Grace....

True.

It's basically a nice way of saying "He can get lots of singles".

Though I was rolling the injury thing into it. That's why I went with Loney.

Jocephus · Post by **Jocephus** » March 1 07, 3:18 pm

RC21 wrote:
BW23 wrote:
RC21 wrote:Perhaps he is James Loney in waiting?
Who is usually compared to Mark Grace....
It's basically a nice way of saying "He can get lots of singles".

greenback44 · Post by **greenback44** » March 1 07, 4:35 pm

Hungary Jack wrote:
GatewaySnayke wrote:I like the Overbay comparison.
I don't know. Overbay slugged .531 in 1985 MiLB AB.

Barton is at .468 in 1139 AB.

Barton is still very young (21) and I think he has time to develop power, but I am not sure he's Lyle Overbay in waiting.

Overbay was much older (wasn't even drafted until he was 22) and played in some real nice hitters parks in the minors. I prefer the Nick Johnson comparison, although Barton doesn't look that talented.

I'll repeat what said elsewhere, that the Hardball Times used a purely statistical approach (yeah, I know) to evaluate prospects and had Barton #5 overall. Chris Young was #1, Colby Rasmus #17.

skmsw · Post by **skmsw** » March 1 07, 5:32 pm

Doesn't anyone think Barton's drop in power had anything to do with being 20 years old and in AAA? Or missing a hundred games with a broken elbow??

I'll ignore the numbers for a minute. Barton has a beautiful line drive stroke and one of the most mature approaches to an at-bat I've ever seen. Watching him play, I still think he is going to be an extremely good hitter. He strikes me as someone who will routinely hit 45 doubles, 20 homers, and put up an OBP over 400. If he performs at those levels he'll be an extremely valuable hitter.

His stock has definitely fallen -- he hasn't done anything interesting in awhile and lots of sexier prospects have passed him by. But I have a hunch he'll hit about .380 in AAA, be in the majors before August, and be a 900-OPS hitter by 2008.

Dillagii · Post by **Dillagii** » March 1 07, 5:36 pm

skmsw wrote: But I have a hunch he'll hit about .380 in AAA, be in the majors before August, and be a 900-OPS hitter by 2008.

Thats a very bold prediction. I dont think its gonna happen. Bring up this thread in 2008.

picklefork · Post by **picklefork** » March 1 07, 6:08 pm

Scott Hatteberg