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[Dunt]

I was taking a look through Jonathan Mayo's top 10 prospect by position lists and came across Keon Barnum being ranked 8th. Didn't really realize that position was that shallow in the minors as I would consider him a top 10 of any sort. Of course, this is one random ranking, but it was interesting nonetheless. Hopefully he can turn it around here and he seems to be pretty lost.

[NorthSideSox72]

Also saw a recent article, can't remember where now, talking about how very thin the 1B position is in the the minors generally right now.

 

Not to dismiss Barnum, as he does have special power and some decent patience for a kid his age... but 1B is a very weak position in the minors at this time.

 

[Dunt]

Also saw a recent article, can't remember where now, talking about how very thin the 1B position is in the the minors generally right now.

 

Not to dismiss Barnum, as he does have special power and some decent patience for a kid his age... but 1B is a very weak position in the minors at this time.

 

Going off that, do you think we see a transition in 1B mentality? No longer are teams concerned about guys that are going to hit 30-40 HR a year and instead they look for high OBP and good defense?

[witesoxfan]

Going off that, do you think we see a transition in 1B mentality? No longer are teams concerned about guys that are going to hit 30-40 HR a year and instead they look for high OBP and good defense?

 

No. I think what you see happening is that teams are pursuing players who can play up the middle because they are going to be your best athletes while practically anybody can play 1B. Guys will start to weed themselves out and through the mere channels of supply, guys will be put at 1B who simply can't handle it defensively at 2B, 3B, C, LF, or RF. Similarly, guys who are typically going to be very good prospects out of high school and college traditionally play more demanding positions in college, and teams will realize they need to move to extend their careers (Delgado, Konerko, Pujols). The Twins have started this process with Mauer as well.

 

I think teams will always try and put a bat, no matter what type, at 1B. If it's OBP, average, or power, they want a guy who can be good for them offensively. Teams are just going about it a different way. In the case of Keon Barnum - a guy who may be able to hit 30-40 homers some day - teams will make the exception. Let's just hope he works out.

[caulfield12]

Going off that, do you think we see a transition in 1B mentality? No longer are teams concerned about guys that are going to hit 30-40 HR a year and instead they look for high OBP and good defense?

 

 

That's probably a stretch.

 

It depends on what type of talent you have at other positions, for example, the Dodgers carried James Loney for a long time at 1B, but there were always naysayers because he wasn't a huge power threat (and he's having a fine season for TB this year).

 

There are many other examples, in the past, like Mark Grace.

 

Even with the crackdown on PED's, you have to get power from somewhere, and it's still most likely be from the corners (LF/RF/3B/1B) and the DH spot.

 

That has changed to an extent with 2B emerging as a new power position, and 3B falling off...

 

There will always be a place on NL rosters for players that are DH's but don't fit into any other position, the Billy Butler's and Adam Dunn's of the world. Either there or in LF.

 

If you look at all the "power" shortstops of 10-15 years ago, guys like Garciaparra, Jeter, Tejada and A-Rod...well, it's pretty obvious that a lot of the power there was coming from steroids.

 

As mentioned in the previous reply, teams are going for athletic up the middle players (in our case, Tim Anderson, who could just as easily end up in CF or 2B) with the renewed focus on speed and defense and OBP, as power numbers are generally down and pitching has trended up in the last 2-3 season. So you focus on CF/SS/2B and catcher, then work your way outwards with players who have hit tools but can't hold down those positions adequately.

 

 

So, for example, if we go with a Conor Gillaspie at 3B, and aren't getting any homers from SS, that means we HAVE to get some power from CF to counterbalance it.

Edited July 1, 2013 by caulfield12

[southsider2k5]

No. I think what you see happening is that teams are pursuing players who can play up the middle because they are going to be your best athletes while practically anybody can play 1B. Guys will start to weed themselves out and through the mere channels of supply, guys will be put at 1B who simply can't handle it defensively at 2B, 3B, C, LF, or RF. Similarly, guys who are typically going to be very good prospects out of high school and college traditionally play more demanding positions in college, and teams will realize they need to move to extend their careers (Delgado, Konerko, Pujols). The Twins have started this process with Mauer as well.

 

I think teams will always try and put a bat, no matter what type, at 1B. If it's OBP, average, or power, they want a guy who can be good for them offensively. Teams are just going about it a different way. In the case of Keon Barnum - a guy who may be able to hit 30-40 homers some day - teams will make the exception. Let's just hope he works out.

 

This is it. 1B aren't grown in the farm system. Our 1B's are a former C and former 3B and a former LF/RF.