Womack put up relatively similar numbers in '98, compared to '97, with a small,
but unsurprising drop in power as the main difference. He appears to have
gotten a little better defensively, with the numbers suggesting that he's still
a little below average in the league. He was the topic of a lot of rumor, trade talk or a switch to CF
this offseason, but at this point it looks like he'll be back as the starting 2Bman.
He was eligible for arbitration this offseason, which seemed to make his departure a
smidgen more likely, but he signed a one year deal in mid-January for $1.65M.
Womack is often "discussed" in hyperbolic terms either
as a horrible player or a very good player. He's a player who is exciting to
watch, particularly when he's on the basepaths, but so far, while not close to
horrible, he's been a below average 2B in the majors (average on Offense, below
average on Defense in '97 - while below average on Offense and slightly below average on
Defense in '98). Now, IMO, would be the perfect time to trade him, because he has
some value, but the odds are greatly against him from showing improvement.
In the majors thus far, he appears to have maxed out his primary offensive
ability (his BA) while his BB rate and his power have been on the high end of his projected ability
as well. Particularly, given his skills, his batting style, and his age,
improvement in any of those areas are highly unlikely. His '98 season was a tale
of two seasons in that he was horrible in the first half, but put up very
good numbers in the second half. He was lucky in that in early '98, the
Bucs didn't really have any replacements for him. If not traded, he'll be
the starting 2Bman in '99, but with Morris and Patzke likely to be at AAA, he'll
need to perform to keep the job.
Previous Womack reports
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
91 A- 166 46 3 0 1 17 39 26 5 277/344/313
92 A 380 93 8 3 0 41 59 50 25 245/318/282
93 A+ 304 91 11 3 2 13 34 28 14 299/328/375
AA 247 75 7 2 0 17 34 21 6 304/348/348
PIT 24 2 0 0 0 3 3 2 0 083/185/083
94 AAA 421 93 9 2 0 19 76 41 10 221/255/252 181/ 242/
PIT 12 4 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 333/429/333
95 AAA 107 30 3 1 0 12 11 7 5 280/353/327
AA 332 85 9 4 1 19 36 27 10 256/296/296
96 AAA 506 151 19 11 1 31 79 37 12 298/339/385 258/ 314/
PIT 30 10 3 1 0 6 1 2 0 333/459/500 000/000/000 333/459/500
97 PIT 641 178 26 9 6 43 109 60 7 278/326/374 310/360/357 270/318/379
98 PIT 655 185 26 7 3 38 94 58 8 282/319/357 244/302/268 295/326/387
There are a couple options for a MLB back-up at second base for the Bucs:
Doug Strange, and Mike Benjamin, are both 2B-backup possibilities
that are listed in other areas of the scouting report.
Nashville AAA
Jeff Patzke: 25-11/19/73; #5 '92 (TOR); Klamath Union HS (OR)
2B, B-R, 6-0 170
Jeff was acquired early in the '98 season from Toronto in exchange for
Mike Halperin. A 6-year minor league free agent, he was resigned by the
Bucs early in the offseason. Jeff has consistently put up a solid BA and
OBP numbers at higher levels. He has somewhat of a platoon split where
he's better from the left side of the plate. Initially, he began his career
as a SS; most scouting reports list him as a solid defensive 2Bman (from
average to decidely above average), though his demise in the Toronto
organization was partially due to some of their scouts perceiving a lack
of range at 2B. I personally think he'd be a better player (on both offense
and defense) than Tony Womack if Patzke was installed as the Buc's starting 2Bman.
That won't happen unless Womack is traded and even then, Jeff would be competing
with Warren Morris for the job. Patzke will be competing this spring for the
utility IF/LH PH job mostly against Doug Strange -- Jeff's the dark horse
primarily because of Strange's $550K guaranteed contract. The most likely
scenario is that Patzke starts the year in Nashville as the utility IFer even
though he's a better bet than any of the likely middle IFers for the Bucs
(Womack, Benjamin, Bournigal, and Strange) to put up above average numbers
in Pittsburgh in '99.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
92 R 21 2 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 095/208/095
R+ 193 42 4 0 2 17 42 3 1 218/281/269
93 R+ 273 80 11 2 1 34 31 5 7 293/374/359
94 A 271 55 10 1 4 36 57 7 3 203/300/292
95 A+ 470 124 32 6 11 85 81 5 3 264/377/428
96 AA 429 130 31 4 4 80 103 6 5 303/418/422
97 AAA 316 90 25 2 2 51 66 0 3 285/384/396 123/ 327/
98 A+ 62 18 0 0 0 9 18 0 1 290/380/290
AAA 361 108 16 0 7 48 74 5 6 299/394/402 292/398/375 302/392/411
Chris Wimmer: 28-9/25/70; #8 '92 (SFG); Wichita St.
2B, R-R, 5-11 175
(6-yr minor league free agent currently unsigned)
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
93 A 493 130 21 4 3 42 72 49 264/
94 AA 462 131 21 3 4 25 56 21 284/
95 AAA 449 118 23 4 2 31 49 13 263/
96 AAA 345 86 11 2 2 16 41 11 249/
97 AAA 12 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 167/ /167
AA 371 102 15 3 2 23 37 23 271/
98 AA 218 59 7 1 1 20 32 15 8 271/335/326
AAA 135 46 6 0 1 5 19 5 2 341/366/407
Altoona AA
Warren Morris: 25-1/11/74; #5 '96; LSU
2B, L-R, 5-10 175
Morris was acquired in midseason '98 from Texas along with Todd Van Poppel
in exchange for Esteban Loaiza. Morris has now put up two excellent seasons
at the plate with a wooden bat. He's been a tad old for the level he's
played at, but his strong numbers in the AFL this fall suggest that should not
be a hindrance at higher levels. Morris was extremely consistent bewteen Tulsa and
Carolina as well as AFL in 1998 -- that's why I think he won't have problems adjusting
to higher levels.
When he initially came out of LSU, there were
question marks about his defense, but thus far, reports suggest he's been more
than adequate at the keystone position. Depending on the fate of Tony Womack (whether
he'll be traded or not), Morris will either find himself in contention for
the starting 2B job, or find himself ticketed to AAA Nashville. The most
likely scenario has him starting in Nashville with, at the minimum, an
appearance in Pittsburgh in September.
Previous Morris Reports.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
97 A+ 494 151 27 9 12 62 100 16 5 306/390/470
AAA 32 7 1 0 1 3 5 0 0 219/286/344
98AATUL 390 129 22 5 14 43 63 12 7 331/401/521
AACAR 151 50 8 3 5 24 34 5 2 331/419/523
AFL 137 42 7 1 8 11 29 3 3 307/356/547
Sergio Nunez: 24-1/3/75; NDFA '92 (KC); Santo Domingo, DR
2B, R-R, 5-10 170
Nunez was signed to a minor league contract this offseason to give us another
possible body in the middle IF at AA. Strictly a 2Bman, he's a relatively weak
hitter with a below average BB rate and a ton of SB. Up to '96, surprisingly,
his age-matched numbers aren't all that different from our Nunez (Abe).
Hindered by injuries in '97, he's still young enough that he could develop
into a servicable backup. I expect he'll be the main 2B at Altoona in '99.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
94 R 232 92 9 7 5 32 17 37 12 397/474/560
95 A+ 460 109 10 2 4 51 66 33 19 237/317/293
96 A+ 402 109 23 6 3 38 54 44 11 271/339/381
97 R 14 4 1 1 0 0 4 2 0 286/333/500
AA 137 38 1 1 1 6 17 12 3 277/308/321
98 AA 435 106 8 0 1 38 59 26 7 244/307/269
Lynchburg A+ (full season, high)
Luis Lorenzana: 20-11/9/78; #3 '96; Montgomery HS (CA)
2B/SS, R-R, 6-0 165
At a young age, Luis has progressed in the organization up to the high A level.
He's not a very good hitter, though since it's so early in his career and he does appear
to have a decent batting eye, he still has time to develop into one. The
reason he's been promoted so steadily is that his defense is solid. He may be in
Altoona in '99 but with the various signings at higher levels and his age I
think it's more likely that he'll start '99 in Lynchburg.
Previous Lorenzana reports
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
96 GCL 53 8 1 0 0 12 8 0 1 151/313/170
A- 128 25 8 1 0 16 26 1 4 195/293/273
97 A 288 68 11 1 0 31 66 4 5 236/314/281
98 A+ 283 67 7 2 2 35 62 2 2 237/329/297
Hickory A (full season, low)
Terrance Freeman: 24-1/24/75; #31 (D&F) '94 (Oakland); Edison CC (FL)
2B, B-R, 5-9 165
(gone via minor league Rule V draft)
Williamsport A- (short season)
Victor Araujo: 19-1/16/80; NDFA '97; San Pedro de Macoris, DR
2B/SS, R-R, 6-0 180
Araujo played mostly SS in Bradenton while exclusively playing 2B at
Erie. He actually was called up to Erie in July due to a relative dearth of
2B, sent back to Bradenton in late July when Ravelo was promoted to Erie, and
then came back to Erie in late August. For a 17-year old, he accorded himself
quite well, particularly the power he showed at Erie. I'd expect that he'll
be in Williamsport in '99 though probably as a SS.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
98 R 95 27 1 1 1 5 9 11 4 284/320/347
A- 63 15 2 0 2 1 18 1 0 238/262/365
Billy Bone: 23-1/5/76; NDFA '98; Valdosta St.
2B/3B, R-R, 6-1 180
Bone was a non-drafted senior out of Valdosta State and initially signed with the
Springfield Capitals of the Frontier League. In late July, the Bucs bought his
contract, and then he hit very well in limited time at Erie. His strong '98
numbers, coupled with the lack of depth at high A, he's almost certain to be in
Hickory in '99, but there's a slight chance he'll see Lynchburg.
He only saw a few games of action at the hot corner with Erie, but he played primarily 3B
in the independent league.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
98NCAA 156 48 6 0 7 36 31 14 7 308/437/481
98 IND 79 24 1 1 5 - - 7 - 304/ /532
A- 58 20 2 0 2 11 12 2 1 345/444/483
Manny Ravelo: 17-8/8/81; NDFA '98; Santo Domingo, DR
2B, R-R, 5-10 155
Ravelo handled himself quite decently at Bradenton and Erie given that he
was a 16-year old. The downside is that his main skill is his speed and
at this point, he has no plate discipline. He definitely has the attention
of the Pirates scouting staff as Paul Tinnell at one point noted he was our
best 2B prospect. He'll get plenty of chances in the organization, and it'll
be interesting to see how he develops. I'd expect he'll start '99 in
Williamsport.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
98 R 95 24 1 2 1 3 17 9 1 253/270/337
A- 93 19 2 1 0 5 26 2 4 204/253/247
Gulf Coast (Rookie League)
Jonathan Prieto: 19-6/24/80; NDFA '97; San Bernardino, VEN
2B, B-R, 5-11 170
Prieto hit the best of the 2Bmen that played in Bradenton, but he's also slightly
older and doesn't have the speed of the other two (Ravelo and Araujo). Given
his BB rate and BA in '98, I'd like to see how he'll do at a higher level. He
may get lost in a numbers crunch (visas plus other 2Bmen), but I'm guessing he'll
get some PT in Williamsport in '99.
AB H 2B 3B HR BB SO SB CS BA/OBP/SLG vs LHP vs RHP
98 R 129 39 7 2 0 18 19 7 6 302/385/388
Projections:
| Bucs: | Womack |
|
| Nashville: | Morris | Patzke
|
| Altoona: | S. Nunez | |
|
| Lynchburg: | Lorenzana | |
|
| Hickory: | Bone | |
|
| Williamsport: | Ravelo | Prieto |
|
| Gulf Coast League: | draft pick |
|
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Take a look back at the 1998, the 1997,
and 1996 Scouting Reports