Wednesday Pebble Report/Rockpile: Dexter Fowler, a top prospect in the NL

by Russ Oates on Jan 14, 2009 8:16 AM MST in Rockpile Comment 21 comments

Baseball America's Jim Callis was asked for his top 10 prospects in the National League. There's a familiar name on that list:

8. Dexter Fowler, of, Rockies
Colorado has done a fine job of developing the once-raw Fowler.

But let's breakdown the list just a little bit. The Marlins have three prospects on the list (6, 9, 10), the Braves netted two (5, 7), and the Giants have two in the top five (2, 4). And Pedro Alvarez of the Pirates takes Callis's top spot. Colby Rasmus of the Cardinals and Fowler occupy the last two spots. The NL East looks to have a strong future.

A year from now, maybe even halfway through the 2009 minor league season, I expect Callis to have Jhoulys Chacin on that list.

Also, Jason Grilli will pitch for Italy in the World Baseball Classic:

"Obviously, I love the United States," he [Grilli] said. "But I'm also proud of my lineage. No doubt you get some national pride, and I'm in the books in Italian baseball, and that's good. Major League Baseball wants the game to grow globally, and I'm happy to be a part of that."

Did you know he could have been joined by Chris Iannetta?

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According to babelfish

Gas Can translates to il gas può in Italian.

by moomacher on Jan 14, 2009 8:38 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Nerd alert

So I happen to speak italian and “il gas puo” means “The gas is able”. When you think about it you can see how a translator would come up with that, translating the verb can instead of the noun can.

How about “latta della benzina”.

by Roberbola on Jan 14, 2009 9:31 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense.

I don’t speak Italian, (my sister does) but it doesn’t take a lot of Spanish knowledge to recognize the verb there.

"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski

by DbacksSkins on Jan 14, 2009 9:41 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

last year the gas was able! No seriously now that I look at its pretty similar to the verb poder in spanish.

by moomacher on Jan 14, 2009 9:49 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Me too

Sort of. I had to take two years of a language in college and to please my dad, who served a church mission in Italy, I took Italian. I don’t remember a whole lot.

But one phrase my dad taught me (there’s a long story behind it) that I think could be quite applicable to many (but hopefully not too many) Rockies games is “Un guaio é successo.” It means “A woe has happened.” My family uses it all the time.

by holly96 on Jan 14, 2009 11:53 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I've got to disagree with Callis a little on Posey...

I wouldn’t rank him that high until he shows a little more professionally, but it still shows the talent the Giants have, especially when you consider that Tim Alderson and Angel Villalona would probably make it into the next ten as well.

The comment about developing Dexter is interesting too, as the Rockies have been hit and miss lately when it comes to turning raw tools into performance. If you break down the toolsiest position players that are lacking in polish that the team’s drafted or signed over the years, Fowler’s more an exception than a rule:

Matt Holliday – big hit, but it took awhile
Fowler – hit
Chris Nelson – hit then miss then hit then miss, will it be hit again in 2009?
Hector Gomez – ? somewhat of a miss too at the plate, but his injuries last year might be messing with that evaluation.
Cole Garner – still hasn’t shown what he’s capable of
David Christensen – mostly miss at this point
Scott Robinson – one of my favorite sleepers in the system, would have to be considered a hit in 2008
Leo Reyes – less of a hit
Carlos Martinez – miss so far
Wilin Rosario – big hit in 2008

But still, I guess that’s enough of a success rate to encourage the team to keep looking for these types of players in the later rounds or via international scouting.

by Rox Girl on Jan 14, 2009 8:50 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Christensen is

“mostly a miss at this point?” What’s the good thing he’s done so far?

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Jan 14, 2009 9:05 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

not turned 21 (for another month) playing at single A

without getting demoted. It’s not as easy a feat as it sounds, you should try it sometime.

What, are you just trying to bait me or something? I’m not defending him as a prospect here, I’m just acknowledging that the player can’t even get a beer yet, so maybe there’s still some hope for him.

by Rox Girl on Jan 14, 2009 9:38 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately

In today’s world we too often forget that most of these Purps are still just kids trying to master a sport few will ever succeed at.

TGFPR!!

by jlot10 on Jan 14, 2009 10:50 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 14, 2009 10:59 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

you could look at the empty part of the glass and note that he will be 21 in a month, will be at A ball, wasn’t so good, and had an OBP of .288, which goes hand in hand with a 38.8% K rate. And, Jeff Locke of the Braves was picked a few slots later.

If you wanted to leave a little water in the glass, you could say Christensen has improved in some offensive categories (oddly, by a .4 points each) at each level, which is something positive. And, while getting a little old to have his stats at that level, surely there have been other 2nd round picks that bloomed late. Is his defense good or something?

by deacs on Jan 14, 2009 11:29 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, Jason Grilli will pitch for Italy in the World Baseball Classic:

[….]

Did you know he could have been joined by Chris Iannetta?

I wonder if Mike Piazza is going to play for Team “Italy”.

It’s times like this that I’m tempted to make a wop joke, and then I remember that my last name is Lacovara.

"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski

by DbacksSkins on Jan 14, 2009 9:03 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I remember

reading that he’s the team’s hitting coach.

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Jan 14, 2009 9:16 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Man that guy could rake..

He nearly hit my dad in BP one day while he was waiting in line at the Left Field concourse to get a hot dog.

I wonder if Piazza will also be a position coach? He could call a pretty good game, not so hot with the run game though.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Jan 14, 2009 11:01 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

He has

the longest homerun in Coors Field History at 497 ft to the right field upper deck. I think either L. Walker or Bonds are next at 496.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
JFK

by jrockies on Jan 14, 2009 2:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Walker's would have flown further...

But a fan clutching a beer snagged the ball as it was rocketing out of the stadium robbing him of distance.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Jan 14, 2009 11:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The good thing about Grilli pitching for Italy as far as the Rockies are concerned.....

….is that Italy probably won’t be in it long. Grilli should be back in Tucson in short order.

by pedalpusher on Jan 14, 2009 11:14 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Along those lines

I’m hoping that DR (Jimenez) and Venezuela (Morales) also get knocked out fast and get back to our coaching and development staffs.

Follow me on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/rockiesmagicnum

by Andrew Martin on Jan 14, 2009 4:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Panama

let’s get Corpas back quick too, so he doesn’t mess things up. Although being away from bob might not be too bad.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
JFK

by jrockies on Jan 14, 2009 5:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs