BA recently ran down the list of “the prospects we just can’t help but to root for” for each major league team, and Kenny Maiques was their guy-
The Cardinals have always loved closers in the minor leagues, and Maiques might have as good an upside as any of them. A Tommy John survivor, Maiques is undersized, but can run his fastball into the mid 90s and uses a hard slider as an out pitch.
I’d have to say Maiques is my guy too. I agree that he may have just as much upside as Chris Perez after seeing him pitch several times and talking to him.
Just for fun, who is your guy? Who is the prospect who is sort of under the radar so to speak that you just can’t help but to root for?
Filed under: Kenny Maiques
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
My number one guy is Josh Kinney. My number two guy is Tyler Henley.
Kinney is number one for me, not just because we hung out quite a bit in college-Quincy University it’s a great day to be a Hawk-but because he never quit. Being a 28 year old guy he wasn’t even drafted, making no money, and sticking with it despite arm pain shows an impressive attitude. When he finally got called up to the majors, the very first pitch of his career ended up in the stands as a home run. A lot of guys would have crumbled from that moment, instead he kept working. Everyone should be rooting for Josh as he recovers from Tommy John and a broken elbow. He doesn’t take his career for granted. If anyone wants to see a refreshing bit of film, track down the piece where he was interviewed the game after he got called up. He talks about how awesome even the food is, much less how crazy it is to walk onto the field.
Jose Martinez
I like Arni Cruz. I know he is more off the radar after being on the radar early on but I like the way he finished the year strong. He put up respectable numbers for a guy who advanced so quickly and it will be nice to see him next year with more experience.
My guy would be Jason Motte. Here’s a guy who hasn’t pitched since little league, but agrees to convert from catching as a last chance to achieve his dream. In his first full season pitching he manages to have an era below 2.0 (combining Palm Beach and Springfield) with an awesome BB/K ratio. How can you not pull for the kid?
Daniel Descalso
I’m tempted to say Chuckie Fick after all the unfair things I blurted out after we drafted him—only to see him pitch effectively as a pro.
Gonna go with Jameson Maj, though. A power pitcher with a 72:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 6 earned runs allowed over 54 college innings last season has got to translate into something useful in the pros.
For his name alone, I’m pulling for Beau Riportella.
For his bloodlines: Blake King, nephew of Mickey Mantle (and possessor of a live arm).
For his ability, Jon Edwards. We could use a power-hitting right fielder with a cannon for an arm.
For his potential, I like Jon Jay — a solid leadoff-type hitter who can get on base, drive the ball to all fields, and hold his own in the field. Another guy along those lines is Tyler Henley.
I like that story about Kinney, for me the guy I really wanted to succeed before this season was Brendan Ryan and I still want to see him do good but for next season my favorite guy to watch will be Kozma because I want him to just starting building a good career and I hope he doesn’t have too large of a season but a very good developmental one so that when he reaches AA in 09 he can break out then.
Nathan Southard and Mark Hamilton because I watched ‘em both play in college.
Eddie Degerman. He’s fun to watch and has a pretty sick curve.
Their’s a handful of guys that I like to follow. A couple of whom I’ve gotten to know personally over the years in following the Cards minor league system.
- Cody Haerther - great swing and his D improved quite abit this past summer. I still think he should try converting to 2B.
- Kyle McClellan - Battled back from TJ surgery in 2005 to have an outstanding 2007 season at Palm Beach and Springfield. A St Louis native.
Jose Martinez - My top choice as an underdog. Not much has been said about him before the 2007 season, but he let his bat do the talking for him in hitting the magic .300 mark at Springfield.
Jason Motte - Converted from catching to pitching in 2006. I saw him pitch several times for Springfield this past summer. His fastball was sitting in the 95-97 MPH range plus he hit 99 mph when I saw him pitch on the 4th of July. I look for him to be added to the 40 man roster this winter.
deryk (james)hooker and jarret hoff. i just like both of the guys, and am working on a pilot for cbs staring both of them entitled:
“hooker and the hoff”
it’s going to be a crime drama with lots of robots.