Toby Ziegler

Borenstein isn't going to AA, although he should already be there, as should Yarbrough, Stamets, and Snyder. The organization gave him an ultimatum. If he wants to go to AA, he has to play in the field, which he feels he's not ready to do yet. It's okay for him to DH in Advanced-A but not in AA. Makes no sense.

But he's a top 100 prospect! I mean no one could have misjudged him that much. That never happens.

All he really wants (and what minor leaguer doesn't want this?) is to be in an organization where he'll get an opportunity to play with the big club down the road. As it stands right now, the Angels don't look like that organization. Pujols isn't going anywhere. Hamilton isn't going anywhere. Trout really isn't going anywhere. Trumbo probably isn't going anywhere. Bourjos and Calhoun will get looks before Zach. It's a crowded outfield. It's a crowded roster. And unless something drastically changes, I don't see how the Angels fit him into their plans. Sciosciapath also isn't known for grooming young players or giving them much of a leash. The organization seems to value a bunch of other guys ahead of him and so do a lot of you fans, something many of you have made abundantly and, in some cases, obnoxiously clear. When prospects having mediocre and even atrocious seasons are higher up on the totem pole, it's time to get out. No one wants to be in a place where he's not wanted. Call me a whiner all you want. Call me stupid. Call me a jerk. I've kind of heard it all here. I'm just being a realist, and I'm only looking out for his best interests.

Damn.

If they had kept Corbin and/or signed Greinke after giving away Segura for a 2-month rental... different story.

He's entrenched on the roster (be it at 1st now that Pujols is out or in the OF or DH). Kubel isn't a long-term solution and is having a terrible season. Parra has always been regarded as a 4th OF. Ross is mediocre against righties and is more of a platoon player. Eaton is unproven. Pollock is similar to Ross. Marte is also unproven. Yeah, I'd say it's safe to say that Trumbo is more entrenched than any of those guys.

None of those guys are nearly as entrenched as Trout, Trumbo, and Hamilton. I think it's hilarious that you think offering Zach is a buy-low whereas Cowart et al are untouchable. I guess we just have a different sense of humor.

Good. Trade Borenstein and a few others for him.

Because I definitely said that verbatim, and you're not exaggerating or putting words in my mouth at all... The only stupid people are people who resort to ad hominem or strawman because they can't actually form a real argument. Love you Halos fans. I can really feel the love here. And the trade deadline isn't over yet...

I don't really see how you can say they have more power than him. As you said, he hits for more power in games. He also hits rockets and has light tower power in BP and in games. Grichuk is only a year younger than Zach, almost a year exactly. I don't see how his projectability is so much more awe-inspiring. And for the record Zach was 22 for the entire season, up until a few days ago. Cron has more fat than muscle from what I've seen. His build isn't all that impressive. Zach, on the other hand, is a gym rat and has a great physique. He's kind of a freak of nature. I believe scouts saw what they wanted to see in Zach. He played in the Midwest for a small college in a conference that isn't a big name. There is most certainly regional bias when it comes to scouting. Do not misunderstand me. I'm not saying the Angels organization doesn't have class. But from my perspective and from my family's perspective, they haven't gone out of their way to give Zach his due, and his opportunities for real advancement appear to be limited. That's where I'm coming from. There is a better situation out there for him, that much I'm sure of.

Love the condescension... Scouts are not the be-all and end-all. That should be abundantly clear to anyone who follows the game closely. Perhaps I dismiss them too easily, but you give them far too much credit. Scouts have and will continue to make monumental mistakes. They get it right a lot of the time, too. But they also miss quite a few things. It's about as hit and miss as any line of work. I don't deny my bias. I also don't think that necessarily undermines anything I said. My arguments are impassioned, but they're also completely reasonable. I never said I "called around." I don't have any GMs on speed dial. But I did make inquiries. Whether or not those inquiries are taken into consideration is out of my control. If there's one thing I've learned it's that people need advocates. If no one else is willing to go to bat for my brother, I'll gladly do it. Clearly, most of you could care less. And that's fine. You've got your own lives to worry about. Your own families. To demean someone for only wanting what is best for his family is crazy. The fact that he was drafted in the 23rd round only serves to illustrate my point about scouts. Thanks for bringing that up. Again, go ahead and demean me and him. I really don't care. For you and your ridiculous tone. I suggest you go f*** yourself.

I'm only making suggestions. Nothing else. Dipoto can do what he likes.

I agree with you wholeheartedly; Zach should have been stretching on his own. Just common sense. Still doesn't excuse the trainer for his negligence, though. Treating and preventing injuries - that is his job. And I'll reiterate: What trainer doesn't make his players stretch?

Not his agent. Doesn't mean I can't be proactive. The Angels need SP pretty bad. I would think Zach and others could bring in some quality pitching.

Did the Cal League's hitting environment also inflate Grichuk and Cron's power numbers? Can't have it both ways. For reference, Zach has actually done quite well at San Manuel Stadium, which as you say is not a hitter's park. Cron was awful there last year and if you're going to criticize Zach's plate discipline, what about Grichuk and Cron, who are hackers? You're right about the offensive environment. I was at High Desert. Crazy how the ball carries there and how windy it gets. But Zach doesn't normally hit wall-scrapers or wind-aided HRs, either. As far as him being ranked 15th being on the generous side... well, we'll just have to vehemently agree to disagree on that one. I'll be honest. I wouldn't mind seeing him traded before the deadline. As a matter of fact, I've already made some inquiries... The Angels haven't exactly given him a huge vote of confidence. From sending him to extended Spring Training at the start of last season where he wasted away to keeping him down in Advanced-A for no good reason. Not to mention the fact that Inland Empire's trainer doesn't make any of the players stretch and they didn't give him an MRI after he strained his hip flexor. Had he been stretching, the injury could have been avoided in the first place. A trainer's job is to both treat and prevent injuries. Stretching obviously helps to prevent injuries. I ask you: What competent trainer doesn't make his players stretch? The Angels are stuck with the albatross contracts of Pujols and Hamilton and their precipitous decline. As it stands right now, I don't see how the Angels will make room for Zach with Trumbo, Bourjos, and Calhoun also in the mix. It goes without saying that Trout isn't going anywhere. Yes, I wouldn't mind at all if he were traded.

My opinion is just as valid as your average scout. Scouts get it wrong all of the time. They are hardly infallible, and neither are you. Keith Law graded Chris Sale's slider as below average and thought he wouldn't amount to anything. He also thought Paul Goldschmidt (never a highly rated prospect) would be a bust. The examples of embarrassing evaluative failures go on and on and on... Forums are supposed to be a place where ideas are exchanged, and people have an open mind. None of you seem to have an open mind. Sorry if my opinions are so offensive. I'm not going to filter myself on a public forum. And I really haven't done anything wrong. But if you guys can't handle someone who offers a different perspective, I'm not really sure what you're playing at then.

What is this? The playground? Don't care who you are, either. Attack the argument, not the person. He just turned 23 a few days ago, which by the way is the league's average age if you look it up. And it's not his fault he's not in AA. That's on the organization. As I already said, the organization put him in a tough spot. He can only go to AA if he plays in the field, which he feels he's not ready to do yet. He's 6+ months younger than Cron (since age is so important to you) and having a much better season than he had last year at Inland Empire. But Cron was drafted in the 1st round and given a huge signing bonus. Therefore, he is better. Whatever. I'll tell you something else. Yarbrough is much better than Lindsey, and Synder is much better than Cron. My brother, Yarbrough, Snyder, and Stamets should all be in AA right now. Actually, they should have been promoted weeks ago. Again, that's on the organization.

Dur, reading comprehension? I never said anything about Calhoun. He's not 100% healthy, so he's been a DH since he came off the DL. Yet the Angels told him they wouldn't promote him to AA unless he played in the field. Very short-sighted on their part. Why can't he DH for the rest of the season in AA? He's better than Cron, Cowart, Lindsey, Grichuk, and Witherspoon.

lol at none of Borenstein's tools standing out. He has a ton of power. He has hit balls over 450 feet this year and last year. How many other prospects in your system have done that? Do scouts even watch these games? Ranked 15th is a joke. But I guess that's better than being left out of the top 50 like last year. Scouts are so bad it's not even funny. Would love to see my brother get traded before the deadline to a competent organization that will actually give him opportunities. Also just noticed that Snyder didn't even crack the top 20... Wow. As I said, this is a joke.

Calhoun should be on the team right now. Shuck has zero upside, is a liability in the field, and he's hitting for an empty average.

Trading Segura for a Greinke rental which ultimately led to nowhere may go down as the worst trade in this organization's history. Not sure how you guys can sugarcoat it. Segura looks like he could be a perennial All-Star at a premium position. And he's young. We could be looking at the next Jose Reyes. Hamilton and Pujols aren't aging well. Trout and Segura would have been an awesome duo at the top of the lineup for the next decade or so. I also think Corbin is legit, so that one will hurt as well.

Yeah, he didn't produce at all last year... 15th best SLG (ahead of Cowart and everyone else on CR), 26th best OPS (3 points behind Cowart, ahead of everyone else on CR) in the Midwest League, 25 doubles in under 300 ABs Prorate his numbers to a full season and the counting stats would jump out at you. Projecting his 79 games in CR to a 162-game season comes out to: 23 HRs, 52 doubles, 7 triples, 103 RBIs, 87 runs scored, 27 SBs, 9 CS, 56 BBs, 295 total bases When a young hitter's power develops, a lot of those doubles turn into HRs.

lol Not a pithy statement. He's my brother. I've known about his talent all my life.

He wasn't in Arizona last year; he was in Cedar Rapids. And when he was in Arizona he didn't get regular playing time. Labeling what kind of player a kid is after 136 PAs in his first taste of pro ball is extremely short-sighted. Ike Davis didn't hit a HR in 239 PAs when he was in low-A. Guess that means he has no power. Last year in CR he more than held his own out there, and instead of toiling away in extended spring training for reasons beyond comprehension he should have started the season in CR. I would go so far as to say he was the best player on that team. His numbers compared favorably to Cowart's. All I'm saying is him being left off a list of your top 50 prospects before the season started was a monumental oversight on somebody's part, and if no one is willing to eat crow for it then you're all ridiculously stubborn. If I come off as bitter, maybe I am. And maybe it feels pretty good right now to see him validate everything I've just said, and then some.

Pretty awesome that my little bro, Zach, was left off this list completely. Boy, do you guys look spectacularly stupid. Just goes to show how scouts screw up all of the time.