FavreFan wrote:
Apologist wrote:
Some of you guys should chill on Semien. I'm willing to wager he has better numbers than Beckham by years end.. (low bar, yes)
What makes you think that? You obviously know the game better than I do but he looks awful.
Call it approach, call it makeup, adjustments... he doesn't have tools. I've looked at a couple guys the last few years that weren't prospects come up into timeshares, blossom into ASG type players in Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter. They are contact hitters that have a plan up there, and call it feel, but i see the same makeup in young Marcus. Semien is almost the reverse of what folks on this board will correctly deride as KW types; unlike previous and current White Sox prospects in that
he draws tons of walks and has good contact numbers. His career arc is similar to the 2 players I mentioned, here is a quick summary:
Simien had a monster So. year at Cal, but only hit about .275 with no power as a Jr.
After falling to the WS as an unnotable draftee, he held his own in Low-A (.253/.320/.376) despite being just 20. Most guys that age will be in rookie league.
In 2012, he had a bustout of sorts (.273/.362/.471) hitting 14 HR at High A Winston-Salem. I had the chance to observe him and a couple other, more heralded draft picks down there. *
2013 in AA saw him win the leagues MVP (.290/.420/.483) with a 15 HR/ 20 SB campaign in 393 at-bats, and spend brief times with the AAA and MLB clubs.
He's basically played 2 full seasons at the professional level and shown remarkable improvement. Obviously, you guys are watching the games (I have not been able to view either game live) and his career may wound up as a journeyman. I'm just saying give him time to get acclimated, he can play all of the infield positions adequately to above average, and has the arm strength to play 3B or SS. He has shown the ability to improve at each level.
*I can understand if you think I may conflate his value, or have a personal interest in seeing him succeed, as everyone likes to find a diamond in the rough after seeing some guy that nobody heard of in the minors. Only time will tell.
Some of the rude members of this board might write something like "wordy mfer'. Rest assured I would not