Barton and Marte for next year?

[Half Massed]

Even if you want to throw out power numbers, Barton still strikes out less and hits for a higher AVG than Giambi did. But you don't like Giambi comparisons? How about others?

Jim Thome A stats:
Age AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG SLG
19 117 19 36 4 1 4 16 24 26 .308 .462

Extrapolate those out to approx. 600 ABs:
Age AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
19 585 95 180 20 5 20 80 120 130

How about Helton at A?

Age AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG SLG
21 201 24 51 11 1 1 15 25 32 .254 .333

Extrapolated:
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
603 72 153 33 3 3 45 75 96

Huff at A?
Age AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG SLG
21 265 38 85 19 1 13 54 24 40 .321 .547

Extrapolated:
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
596 86 191 48 2 29 122 54 90

Here's Barton's again:
Age AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG SLG
18/19 605 123 197 39 2 21 129 131 93 .326 .511/.469


Minor league stats are no certain indicator of success, especially at single A (see: Helton), and I'm not claiming Barton to be the next Pujols (although he does fine against Pujols A #'s as well), I'm just justifying why he's thought of highly. He stacks up pretty well with these guys who have proven themselves at the MLB level as top quality. Next year he probably will not make much of an impact, but in the future there's a good chance he'll be quite good.

[thedude]

I unstand this post is a little old, but....


Minor league numbers aren't the be all and end all. They are one tool used to evaluate a player. Another (maybe just as important) is his tools. His maturity. There are plenty of guys who didn't have great minor league numbers, but were considered good prospects and became great Major leaguers. Numbers are useful, but their other important ways to evaluate talent and project prospects.

[SHOCKandAWE]

How and why is Daric Barton so special? Unless Im missing something, he appears nothing more than an above average minor league player according to his stats

He hasnt shown a BA over .318 and had a measly 13HR in 500+ ABs last year through 2 stops in 2005. His one big positive is his plate discipline which has allowed him to take more BBs than Ks.

Arod Minor league stats:

No better than .315 with 21 Homers in 425+ at bats


While he had 8 more homers I hardly think you can say that stats are the only indicator on the potential of a player. I have heard a few major league managers say that some players spend their minors getting ready for the bigs while they cahnge and enhance their stance and hitting techniques.