westsider

I despise the Obama presidency and just about everything that he has done and I truly fear for America if he gets a second term.

 

That said I haven't read one post in this thread nor will I. These absurd assertions about Obama's lineage and place of birth do nothing other then make those that throw them about look foolish. It also takes focus away from the real issues which is exactly what the Obama machine wants.

I remember Joe Scarborough saying on the night of the 2008 election (may have been 2004, but I'm thinking it was 2008) that gerrymandered districts that heavily favored one party or another made it much easier for the representatives of those districts to take extreme positions. He was lamenting the shrinking lot of moderates and the desire to work together with those on both sides of the aisle.

Bottom line ... his mother is a natural-born American citizen. Therefore, he is, too.

Hamilton was an athlete on scholarship to play footballat Miss St. he was raw in baseball skills...He is progressing way better than was expected...

Again, no comparison.

Are you a Reds fan is my first question? It sounds like you just said you are in a previous post but I just want to make sure...Its nice to be able to get excited over certain players as a fan for the future, every prospect has question marks thats what makes them a prospect...Much of the nation is drooling over Billy Hamiltons Speed, improved switch hitting ability and incredible range in the field...He switch hits and slaps the ball around and will be a lead off hitter he doesnt need pop...His hit tool is compared to Jose Reyes and he could actually hit around 10 HRs a year in the Bigs...He has 16 BBs and 27 Ks on the year and a +.400 obp so far, he seems to improve every year...

Hamilton has six homers in 1,100+ minor league ABs ... he's going to have a hard time hitting 10 a year in the majors. And, as I said, his high-strikeout total in Low-A ball is something to warrant some concern.

As for this year ... we're barely a month into the season and he is playing in a hitters' league. I'd give him at least a half-season at High-A before even thinking about a move up.

Hamilton ... compared to Reyes? At age 20, Reyes was playing Triple-A ball and was later promoted to the Mets. Hamilton, at age 20, was playing Low-A ball.

No comparison.

I post updates about the Reds top prospects in its own thread...I posted an update on Hamiltons average and SBs and Westsider made it a point to say that he is only in A ball...He has never given any prospect love...Link I dont really care but I think its crazy to try to down play what some one has done just because its A ball...

http://bluegrasspreps.com/major-league-baseball/reds-down-farm-234827.html

Nope no one is too west...He always finds something negaitve with a player, he is apparently the guru of the Reds Farm system...He is fascinated with numbers more than anyone I have ever seen...He doesnt like to take into account raw skills and intangibles along with the ability for players to improve...He even likes to downplay Billy the kids numbers in High A because he is in High A...As if its Hamiltons fault that he is in High A its not his choice...A near .350 avg more steals than games played and it doesnt matter because he has never been above High A...Im glad he isnt a talent scout for the Reds because until a player has had success in the Bigs for about 5 years he is no good...Im glad someone sees what I have been seeing...

Just because westsider doesn't drool over every Reds prospect doesn't mean he's wrong. Nothing about Frazier's minor league resume suggests that he will put up a high batting average, on base percentage or power numbers. A .261 average with 234 hits and 232 strikeouts and .335 on base percentage in 1007 AAA plate appearances does not project out to a player with a high ceiling. He has a good glove and can't do much worse than Rolen but he is more likely to be a utility player than an every day, middle of the order hitter on a good team.

Frazier has a pretty low ceiling ... if he can't get on base at much better than a .300 clip, he'll never be a decent major league regular.

I think its funny that Kemp, Braun and Gonzalez are on their way which I guess means they still havent reached superstar status...I do agree with his statement that Miggy is for sure...Votto definitely is, Reyes, Tulo, Cargo, Longoria, Cano, Granderson, Texiera and many more hitters are also superstars today...The key word is today you dont have to hit 40 dingers and drive in 150 runs to be among the faces of the game, a game changer which is what a superstar imo is...Once again Josh Hamilton should also be in this category imo and even before this year I would have included him...

Your definition of superstar is a little looser than mine.

I know it pains you to give any Reds player credit, but you can include Votto in that group. (As well as Pujols)

Who is a superstar then?

Yep and when the horse lies to you there isn't a whole lot you can do about it.

I could be wrong, but I would say most people hit more homeruns in their own homepark than they do on the road. Unless a guy plays say in San Diego, or now the new Miami ballpark. Most people will hit better at home, because of familiairty with things such as the background. Half a players games are at home, so the background of where they see the pitches does make a difference. So most likely Hamilton just like most players will have better numbers at home than on the road.

Not sure if MVSU had the money to keep him. I'd guess Morehead, while certainly not rolling in dough, probably has a few more assets to offer. I've often wondered how difficult it is to recruit at historically black colleges like MVSU?

Interesting, if true ... I'm guessing Mississippi Valley didn't step up to the plate to keep him there after he got them to the NCAA Tournament. The road to the dance has a few more potholes in the OVC than the SWAC.

Around 15 years ago I was in Provo, Utah. I drove up to the base of the mountain, as far as the road would go, not too far from Brigham Young University's football stadium. I looked to the west, overlooking the city, Provo Lake beyond that and another mountain range beyond that. It was a breathtaking scene.

Leake, Soto and Gregorius...Thats how much this trade would probably take...With Leake they get a young Starter, Soto is insurance for Howard amd Gregorius can replace the aging Rollins in a couple years...However I would pull the trigger...

Rush has very little credibility in any discussion about the sanctity of marriage ...

Since Tim Riley was passed over at Henderson County, he and Christian County would seem to be a really good fit.

I saw Hatton in the state tournament two years ago and my first impression was "bad body for Division I." At this point, is he any more than mid-major material at best?

Baseball Prospectus on Billy Hamilton...Baseball Prospectus | BP Unfiltered: Billy Hamilton is Very Fast

 

Here are some interesting facts from the article...

 

Hamilton has been hot all year, but he kicked it up a notch over the past week, going 13-for-28 with 15 stolen bases in his last seven games. That's not a typo: Fifteen.

I just went through Billy Hamilton's game logs for 2012, and I'm a little shaky. Really. Got a little sweat, got a little short breathing. The 29 stolen bases in 23 games are just the beginning.

Billy Hamilton has reached on eight infield singles. He has been thrown out by infielders 14 times. When Billy Hamilton hits the ball on the ground to an infielder, and the infielder fields the ball cleanly, Billy Hamilton is hitting .364.

He also reached on an error. So when Billy Hamilton hits the ball at an infielder, he reaches nearly 40 percent of the time.

Billy Hamilton has also reached on a catcher's throwing error on a third strike. He has also advanced on a catcher's throwing error, and on a pitcher's errant pickoff attempt. He has scored on a fielder's choice when the catcher dropped a throw home.

Billy Hamilton has advanced seven bases on wild pitches.

Pitchers have committed three balks while Billy Hamilton was on base.

Billy Hamilton has scored from third when the catcher threw to first to complete another batter's strikeout.

And Billy Hamilton scored the walk-off run on April 20 on a sacrific fly. To the second baseman.

With Trinity and Ballard rolling, the Eastern job comes with some pretty tough competition. I suspect Couch may have just had enough of the Louisville scene.

Dusty will keep Stubbs in the 2 hole all year so get used to it...I'm not the only one thinking that it's the best spot for him, he has already been tried everywhere else...He will come back to earth no doubt about it but the Reds are winning games with him there and you if it ain't broke don't fix it...

It was really close to getting done allegedly. I think the Braves backed out at the last second.