Business is about to pick up in the sport of baseball, and business picked up last night on The Baseball Show, Clint Evans of Diamond Hoggers and M.J. Lloyd of Off-Base Percentage and Halo Hangout discussed the following with me:
Grinnell College catcher Mike Nodzenski ’12 has been named a Preseason First-Team All-American by D3baseball.com.
Nodzenski, from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North) earned All-America recognition as a junior from both ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com. He claimed spots on the second and third teams, respectively.
Nodzenski is a three-time Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year and ranked among the national leaders last season in several categories. He was fourth in slugging percentage (.850), fifth in batting average (.465) and on-base percentage (.556) and sixth in home runs (12).
He led the MWC in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, RBI (47) and total bases (91) and was second in on-base percentage and runs scored (38). He established Grinnell school records for RBI and home runs in a career, as well as RBI in a game (nine), home runs in a game (three) and home runs in a season.
Joey Gallo is a physically strong, 6-foot-5, 205-pound, CI/RHP from Bishop Gorman HS (NV). One of the elite bats in the 2012 draft class, Gallo possesses power to all fields with exceptional pull-side power. However, it’s not just the left-handed hitter’s bat that intrigues scouts – Gallo also has potential on the mound.
With a low-90s arm across the diamond, scouts will continue to debate whether Gallo is more projectable as a position player or pitcher. Given his 6-foot-5 frame, he has impressive athleticism and exhibits natural defensive actions at third base. However, he isn’t an elite defender and will probably never grade higher than a 55 at the hot corner.
Gallo’s best tool is without a doubt his power, which has the potential to be a 65 or 70 by the time he arrives in the Major Leagues. Last season at Bishop Gorman, he batted .471 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI while posting a 24/17 BB/K rate. In 2010, Gallo swatted 15 bombs while posting a .474 batting average.
His raw power was on full display this past summer at the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park where he belted a 442-foot home run – the 10th longest in the park’s history. The only knock on Gallo’s potential as a hitter is that, like most young power hitters, he has a tendency to drift and over-commit with his front side which causes his bat to drag. In turn, he struggles to hit quality offspeed pitches at times. But when he learns to adjust to such pitches, Gallo’s hit tool has the potential to be about a 60.
On the bump, Gallo’s fastball has already been clocked at 94 mph, and his size suggests there could be more in the tank. While his arm works well, Gallo is a big, powerful kid, and his mechanics can get a bit inconsistent at times and therefore affect his command. As for offspeed, Gallo features an above average breaker and a change up that needs some development.
Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 21 prep prospect, Gallo is in a precarious position headed into the 2011 season. He will be scrutinized until the draft as both a third baseman and pitcher, and disagreement about which position offers a higher ceiling could affect his stock. What could ultimately happen is something similar to when Kaleb Cowart was drafted 18th overall by the Angels in 2009 as a switch-hitting third baseman. If Gallo’s bat never develops at the professional level, he still possesses a potential 60-70 arm that could be utilized on the mound.
If Gallo isn’t drafted favorably he will head to Louisiana State, which, in reality, might not be a terrible idea if his bat and/or secondary offerings need further development.
While most of LoMo’s video spots on the MLB Network generally have been pretty stupid, this one is actually pretty funny. Plus, he incorporates Eric Hosmer into his act to pull off the Step Brothers-like dual interview.
However, I’ll be pretty disappointed if LoMo-ing suddenly takes America by storm.
On the latest installment of The Baseball Show, Clint, MJ, and I discussed the week’s most interesting story lines as well as our usual assortment of nonsense.
We started things off by discussing Yu Darvish and how his signing was inevitable after the Rangers posted a $51.7MM bid, so it’s no surprise that they ultimately paid $111MM. According to MJ, Darvish would have to produce a 22 WAR over the next six years to justify his price. But what separates Darvish from previous imports like Hideo Nomo and Dice-K?
We also debate whether or not Darvish will perform like the No. 1 starter that Rangers expect him to be.
We discuss MJ’s Baseball Prospectus debut, “The Advantage of Low Expectations,” which has been well received throughout the baseball blogosphere.
A day after our last show, the Yankees and Mariners conducted a big-time prospect swap, as the Bronx Bombers sent Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Mariners for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. We evaluate the trade and can’t help but feel that the Yankees were on the winning end of this swap.
Who has received the best return for their starting pitcher this offseason? Although we agree the Padres received a great haul for Mat Latos, we unanimously agree the A’s received the best return this offseason.
And of course, what would The Baseball Show be without “Ask MJ…”
Clint:
Would you take a job in the Angels front office if it were offered to you today?
Yes
Cure for hangover? No booze – note: you can’t say “more booze.”
You’re going to have to find a Waffle House and order the greasiest Cheese Stake plate with hash browns and jalapeños to get through it.
Weirdest thing you’ve ever owned or collected?
I was a huge baseball card fan, but mainly when I was growing up I spent a lot of money on hockey cards for some reason. I doubt I could get anything for my Pavel Buree rookie card. I do have an autographed John Smoltz Starting Lineup figurine still in its package.
If you could sit at a bar and have a drink with any three sports figures, who would it be and why?
1) Mickey Mantle – We’re going to have a good time and hopefully get into some trouble
2) Wayne Gretzky – He was my hero growing up
3) Dana White – I like I guy who curses every other word
4) More so 3a) Mike Trout received an honorable mention provided that MJ can find him a semi-decent fake I.D.
Clint:
1) Mickey Mantle
2) Willie Mays, but he’s just an old saltry prick
3) Joe Nameth – he likes to drink Johnny Walker
4) Babe Ruth – The more drunk Yankees the better
Mike:
1) Mickey Mantle
2) Michael Jordan
3) Mark Grace
We agree that Vin Scully would have to be there to narrate the entire night.
Mike:
If you could sponsor one BR page, regardless of price, who would it be?
Too easy. I literally sat around waiting for Mike Trout to buy his page. If not, then it would probably be Barry Bonds.
Your favorite Disney movie?
Cinderalla, and you’re not going to believe his response…
Rookie of the Year or the Sandlot?
The Sandlot. No question.
Celery or Celery Salt?
Celery. They should just re-name it “ranch shovel”
Jered Weaver: Long hair or short hair?
Long hair! Come on, he’s a dirt bag.
If you could assume a fake identity, what would it be?
MJ: Viagra Nopantsman, a middle-aged pitcher; Hunter Dye and he’d carry around a shotgun like Omar from The Wire.
February 13, 2012
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Posted by Mike Rosenbaum
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