Posts belonging to Category Major League Baseball

Shortly after the turn of the New Year, we began unveiling our Top 50 Prospects for the 2011 season.  The list is the product of hours of deliberation between Dee and myself, and is far from your average, cookie-cutter top prospect list.

Our rankings are based on a number of criteria such as ceiling, refinement, age, level, performance, and health thus far.  Positional scarcity and chances to stay at a premium position in the Major Leagues carries some weight too, but is a lesser component. No pitcher rankings are based off of potential as relievers because no top arm ends up in the bullpen unless the front office decides to lose its mind.

In case you have missed any player on our list, here is a recap of 40-50:

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As a senior on the Deerfield High School baseball team in 2004, I had the opportunity to watch Jason Kipnis first-hand as my shortstop counterpart for rival Glenbrook North High School in the northern suburbs of Chicago.  Amongst my teammates, he quickly earned the reputation as one of the most impressive hitters in the conference, and with good reason.  Kipnis ultimately garnered All-State honors – we were actually the two All-Conference shortstops in the Central Suburban North – and went on to have a tremendous high school career.

Although I graduated from high school a year before him, the strong impression that Kipnis left fueled my interest to track his career.  After all, it’s not everyday that a player who directly intertwined with your own career reaches the Major Leagues.

Continue Reading ‘Former rival Jason Kipnis continues to produce’ >>

The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: J.J. Hardy and Rob McElhenney from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”

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#40 Grant Green – Oakland Athletics

SS

DOB: 9-27-87

ETA: 2012

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The Golden Sombrero presents Rookie Card Corner: Jim Thome 1991 Bowman

Fun Fact: In 1999, Jim Thome joined a very exclusive club, becoming the seventh player to lead his league in walks and strikeouts. The other six are Babe Ruth (1923, 1924, 1927, and 1928), Hack Wilson (1930), Dolph Camilli (1939), Mickey Mantle (1958), Mike Schmidt (1983), and Dale Murphy (1985).