[Disclaimer: I am not a professional scout, just a rabid baseball fan who likes to watch as many games as possible, at whatever level, and who is always on the lookout for potential future stars. The reports here are strictly one person's opinion, based solely on empirical (as opposed to statistical) data, often gathered from an extremely limited sample (possibly as little as a single game). These are not endorsements or recommendations for or against any particular player -- that's the job of scouts. My intent here is simply to point out some players who stood out in my mind based on what I saw and to introduce them to you, the reader, so that you (and I, for that matter) might remember their names further on down the road if and when they appear on the prospect scene. Also, I sometimes make comparisons between the players I see and current or former major leaguers. This generally refers to physical appearance, mannerisms, "type" of player, etc., and is not meant to project future performance; in other words, I am simply telling you who someone reminds me of, nothing more. Finally, if you're looking for some good, cheap entertainment, I highly recommend getting out to your local college or high school and supporting their baseball team. You can spend a couple bucks to sit in the sun watching a game without salary disputes, work stoppages, etc. What more could you ask for?]
Well, the draft is just about here, so let’s take one final look at some players who figure to be selected. The Rice Owls came to San Diego in March ranked #1 in the nation — no small feat for a school of about 3000 students. They fell out of the top spot shortly after leaving the West Coast but have since reclaimed it as the College World Series draws near.
Rice features several talented players, many of whom will be drafted. We looked at a couple of them in last year’s report on former Owl and current Los Angeles Dodger minor leaguer Bubba Crosby. Let’s check back in on junior righthander Jeff Nichols and senior shortstop Damon Thames.
Jeff Nichols RHP 6-3 190 lbs, B-R, T-R
ERA W-L G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB Avg WP HBP BK SFA SHA 4.98 14-3 21 20 3 1 0 123.0 150 82 68 40 105 32 5 5 497 .302 12 17 0 3 6
I had the opportunity to see Nichols pitch in 1998, as a sophomore, and he reminded me of Andy Ashby, in both body type and pitching style. He wasn’t overpowering but had an understanding of how to pitch, as well as good mound presence. After last season he pitched for Team USA, and I was looking forward to watching him again this year. Unfortunately, due to prior commitment I was unable to attend the game he started, so I can’t give you a first-hand report. I can, however, tell you that Baseball America rated Nichols their #52 college prospect coming into the season. In the latest issue (June 27) Nichols has slipped to the #32 prospect in the state of Texas. Even though he gave up a ton of hits this year, he did manage to keep the ball in the park. He’s got a good arm, he has an idea of what he’s doing, and scouts have liked him in the past. I’d still expect him to go in the first 10-15 rounds, and long-term I like his future.
Damon Thames SS 6-1 170 lbs, B-R, T-R
AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG BB HBP SO GDP OBP SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD .387 68 287 80 111 23 5 9 65 171 .596 27 6 33 9 .444 4 5 14-15 103 212 21 .938
Thames, drafted in the 10th round by the New York Yankees last June, opted instead to return to Rice for his senior season. Despite his gaudy numbers in 1998, I was not overly impressed with Thames when I saw him play. Based on what I’ve seen of him this year, my opinion has not changed. He is very strong and can damage a fastball out over the plate. But he has a long swing and exhibits below average pitch recognition. Breaking balls and off-speed pitches are his kryptonite. Defensively he moves well to either side but his ability to field ground balls fluctuates, and his arm is neither strong nor accurate enough for a shortstop. He’ll move to second base as a pro. Ranked #51 among college prospects prior to the season, Thames’ disappointing power has caused his stock to drop. He is now rated the #30 prospect from the state of Texas and will probably be taken around the same time he was last year, possibly a little lower. Sometimes coming back for that final season helps, sometimes it doesn’t.
Now for a few new faces.
Mario Ramos LHP 6-0 165 lbs, B-L, T-L
ERA W-L G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB Avg WP HBP BK SFA SHA 2.15 13-1 22 18 6 1 2 142.1 105 44 34 43 135 13 1 6 505 .208 5 11 3 2 4
Short and with a small frame, Ramos bears some physical resemblance to fellow diminutive southpaws Ron Guidry and Jim Parque. Because of his size, stamina will always be a concern, real or imagined by those whose opinions most matter. His delivery to the plate is compact and smooth, and doesn’t appear to place too much strain on the arm. A little “hop” in his motion looks like it could lead to possible knee or hip problems down the line, but I’m not an expert on kinesiology, and Ramos’ legs are certainly orders of magnitude stronger than mine. Ramos features a plus fastball, which looks even better than it is because he sets it up with a sweet slow overhand curve. He’ll throw inside to righties, and his control is generally good. When I saw him pitch he seldom missed with the breaking stuff but occasionally left the fastball upstairs, especially from the 7th inning on, when he seemed to tire. Ranked the 39th best college prospect coming into 1999, Ramos is now listed as the #21 Texas prospect and is a good bet to go in the first 5 or 6 rounds. Baseball America says, “He’s an undersized pitcher and isn’t overpowering, making up for it with an advanced understanding of pitching.”
Will Ford OF 6-0 190 lbs, B-R, T-R
AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG BB HBP SO GDP OBP SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD .399 64 238 59 95 21 3 11 68 155 .651 26 3 31 5 .459 3 6 4-7 90 4 3 .969
Ford began the season as the #89 college prospect in the nation. He ended it outside of the top 35 prospects from Texas, and I’m hard pressed to tell why. He has a nice line drive stroke and uses the whole field. He plays a passable right field. The only thing I can figure is that he’s one of those guys who doesn’t have any one tool that stands out — does everything okay but nothing spectacularly. He can hit, though, and someone should grab him.
Charles Williams OF 6-0 185 lbs, B-S, T-L
AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG BB HBP SO GDP OBP SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD .366 68 295 76 108 21 8 7 47 166 .563 45 4 58 4 .454 2 1 10-13 114 7 4 .968
Williams has been getting a lot attention lately. Unfortunately my notes on him are pretty sparse. I know he batted leadoff and did a nice job of working the pitcher when I saw him play. Nothing else really stood out in his game, and yet he’s ranked #14 among Texas prospects. Baseball America calls him “…one of the highest potential picks that nobody seems to talk about. Most scouts see his present tools as solid across the board and disagree on how projectable he is.” Like Ramos, Williams will likely be drafted fairly quickly.
Amazingly, Rice has even more good players on the way next year, but we’ll deal with them another day. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and good luck to your team in the draft!
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