#3 2020 Prospect: Ryan Mountcastle - LF/1B

[Frobby]

7 hours ago, wildcard said:

Why do you think Mountcastle will play in the OF when he is likely to be only adequate.   Hays, Mullins, Diaz and Santander all project to be better defensive OFers.

It depends on who hits, and whether Mancini is healthy and hits.   

[Sports Guy]

8 hours ago, wildcard said:

Why do you think Mountcastle will play in the OF when he is likely to be only adequate.   Hays, Mullins, Diaz and Santander all project to be better defensive OFers.

I’m not sure Santander is really more than adequate out there and he is older, so skills could diminish faster.  
 

Where Mountcastle ends up will probably be based on what Diaz, Mancini and, to a lesser extent, Santander do.  Mountcastle will have a spot, that’s for sure.  Where will be determined by others.

[Tony-OH]

45 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I’m not sure Santander is really more than adequate out there and he is older, so skills could diminish faster.  
 

Where Mountcastle ends up will probably be based on what Diaz, Mancini and, to a lesser extent, Santander do.  Mountcastle will have a spot, that’s for sure.  Where will be determined by others.

Santander is a better defensive outfielder than Diaz.

[NCRaven]

9 hours ago, wildcard said:

Why do you think Mountcastle will play in the OF when he is likely to be only adequate.   Hays, Mullins, Diaz and Santander all project to be better defensive OFers.

If he’s adequate in the field, the bat is better than all of those other guys.  And if he eventually replaces Mancini at first, so be it.

[Tony-OH]

3 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I feel better about the choice I just made regarding the prospect list.

This is not your first rodeo with these lists and polls. You know how to read the tea leaves a bit.

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

Santander is a better defensive outfielder than Diaz.

That’s interesting, hadn’t heard that before.    

[Tony-OH]

12 minutes ago, Frobby said:

That’s interesting, hadn’t heard that before.    

Santander has a better and more accurate arm and overall probably runs better consistent routes from what I've seen in the past and heard this year. Santander was a 1 OAA and 1% success added outfielder in RF so basically a little better than league average, so I'm not really sure where all of this negative opinion on his defense is coming from of late here on the board.

Personally, I like Santander a lot and my only concern with him is the same I have for Hays, and that's his ability to stay healthy over a 162 games schedule.

[Sports Guy]

If Santander is a better defensive player than the scouting reports on Diaz have been way wrong.

 

[DrungoHazewood]

21 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

If Santander is a better defensive player than the scouting reports on Diaz have been way wrong.

 

I'll admit to not paying that close attention, but I thought Diaz was a prototypical RFer with a plus arm.  Guess not.

[Sports Guy]

28 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

I'll admit to not paying that close attention, but I thought Diaz was a prototypical RFer with a plus arm.  Guess not.

That’s the same thing I have read over the years.  Now, what I don’t know is if his injuries (particularly all the lower body injuries he has had) have zapped him of some of his range.  I guess that’s possible.

I haven’t read anything stated that though.

[jamalshw]

I *HOPE* Mountcastle ends up at 1B/DH because that means enough of our OF prospects panned out. I think he could become an adequate LF with more time and more reps, but IF Santander, Hays, Mullins, Diaz and eventually Kjerstad break into the majors and prove themselves, there is just no room out there.

Ideally, we are looking at an OF of Santander, Hays and Diaz with Mullins as the 4th OF and Mountcastle and Mancini sharing 1B/DH by end of year next year. Of course, that means Hays needs to stay healthy and produce, Santander needs to be the guy we saw this year and Diaz needs prove himself all while Mancini shows he's healthy enough to play and get close to his previous self.

In an ideal world, Mountcastle is our first baseman for a long time. BUT...if Hays can't stay on the field and Mullins can't hit enough and Santander turns back to a .300-OBP guy there may be more of a need in the OF. Hopefully they keep developing some of the versatility for now.

[Can_of_corn]

He's adequate now.  He didn't hurt the team while he was out there.