Prospect Analysis: Clay Buchholz

Name: Clay Buchholz
Organization: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Born: 8/14/1984
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2005, 1st Round (45th Overall)

Technically he's still considered a prospect, even though he threw a no-hitter against Baltimore last season. SoxProspects.com says that "Buchholz has a low-to-mid 90s four-seam fastball, a two seam fastball with decent movement, a slider, a hard 12-6 curveball, and a changeup." His best pitch is the curveball, followed by the changeup, then the 90 mph fastball.
In an early 2008 spring training session, according to rotowire.com, "Red Sox hitters were raving about Buchholz' 40-pitch batting practice session on Tuesday, the Boston Herald reports. "He has a fastball that moves, a really good changeup, and a good curveball," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "That's a pretty good mix to have when you can throw them all for strikes, and I think that's what separated him when he came up last year, that he threw them all for strikes." Kevin Cash caught Buchholz during the session and was equally impressed. "He was filthy." Cash said, "His changeup and curveball were great, but his changeup was even better than his curve. He really has them all, a 12-to-6 curveball, the changeup, and his slider is really nasty, too. He pretty much had it all going today." Buchholz, who is competing for the fifth starter spot in the rotation, will make his spring debut Sunday against Minnesota.

IGN Reviews MLB 2K8

The Fall Classic is back and better than last year.

by Nate Ahearn

January 25, 2008 - Remember the days before exclusivity deals? Back when it was exciting to see how the two videogame iterations of our favorite sports stacked up against each other. EA Sports adds right analog stick, next year 2K would follow suit. 2K Sports adds in leagues for online play, next year EA Sports would do the same. The competition was fierce and the consumer benefited because of it.

Times have changed, though. With the NFL siding with EA and Major League Baseball going with 2K Sports (at least for third-party publishers) one might think that the feature set for each game would dwindle. After all, where's the incentive to push the envelope? Thankfully that hasn't been the case, as each franchise has been able to refine its game while still adding new elements each season. We've had a preview build of MLB 2K8 for a few days now and are happy to report that the same holds true with America's favorite pastime. Last year's MLB had far too many bugs and glitches to go along with its general lack of gameplay fluidity. Not only have 2K Los Angeles smoothed things out, but they've added new control dynamics that will likely change the way you experience videogame baseball.

When people think of baseball they think of four key elements: batting, pitching, fielding, and throwing. 2K Sports has changed the way you'll be doing each of these for MLB 2K8. We'll start with the simplest of them all: throwing. In every baseball game for the past several years the shape of the diamond has been mirrored by that of the face buttons. A button was home plate, Y was second; hopefully you can fill in the rest. Now things are a bit different. Keeping in the tradition of sports games changing their control schemes to hinge on the right analog, MLB 2K8's now does the same. To throw to first you'll need to hold the stick to the right which then brings up a meter that has been partitioned into three distinct parts.

Stop your throw (by releasing the stick) too soon and you'll release the ball too early, sending it high. Hold it too long and your throw will short-hop the base. Not only will you have to worry about when to release the right analog, the precise direction of your stick matters as well. The goal is to hold the stick as close to the cardinal direction as possible, but if you miss then your throw will go slightly astray. Sometimes you'll get lucky and the baseman will be able to adjust, other times it will result in a wild throw.

To finish reading this article, click here.

Prospect Analysis: Eric Hurley

Name: Eric Hurley
Organization: Texas Rangers
Position: Pitcher
Born: 9/17/1985
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2004, 1st Round


Eric Hurley, for the second consecutive season, was named the top prospect in the Rangers organization. Oddly enough, Hurley was passed on for a late 2007 September call up.
Hurley throws a fastball that averages anywhere between 94-96 mph, and is developing a slider and a changeup, both being good candidates for out-pitches in the major leagues someday.
Hurley started last season in Double-A, posting a 7-2 record with a 3.25 ERA. He was promoted to Triple-A where he struggled a bit (4-7, 5.52 ERA). His strikeout to walk ratio also dipped with the move, but was still consistent (he walked 27/28 in AA/AAA).
What Scout Magazine likes most about Eric Hurley is his mound presence; "The former first-round pick never appears flustered in any situation, and refuses to back down to any hitter."
We're not sure what to make of Hurley; his numbers fluctuate whenever he is initially promoted to another level, but eventually level off after spending another season at that level. Evidence located here courtesy of First Inning.

Prospect Analysis: Travis Snider

Name: Travis Snider
Organization: Toronto Blue Jays
Position: Outfield
Born: 2/2/1988
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 2006, 1st Round (14th Overall)


Snider has been given the honor by multiple big league scouts of being the best hitting prospect selected in the 2006 draft. We like him just for the fact that he played for the Lansing Lugnuts, leading them offensively as he tore through minor league pitchers.
Selecting Snider was a major organizational shift for the Blue Jays, who previously frowned upon selecting players right out of high school. Consider this a wise move. According to Scout Magazine, one National League Scout had this to say of Snider; "The Blue Jays have themselves a legitimate threat. He's going to be a 10-time All-Star in the American League. I see him causing havoc in the major leagues within the next two years."
Snider is expected to begin the 2008 season with Dunedin, but will most likely be promoted to New Hampshire come the summer. The Jays are taking their time with Travis, but once he reaches the majors, lookout.

Prospect Analysis: Tyler Colvin

Name: Tyler Colvin
Organization: Chicago Cubs
Position: Outfield
Born: 9/5/1985
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 2006, 1st Round (13th Overall)

Immediately thrust into High A-Ball, promoted to Double-A, Floorida State League All-Star, selected to Team USA, walk-off grand slam against Oral Roberts in the College World Series Super Regional Round; Colvin's career has been peppered with highlights and accolades, and he's just 22-years old.
Colvin finished the season batting .299 with 16 home runs and 81 RBIs, all while nursing a sore shoulder.
According to Scout Magazine, the 6'3'' Colvin "has drawn comparisons to such big league outfielders as Steve Finley and Shawn Green." If Colvin adds some muscle to his lanky frame, he'd be capable of going yard 20-30 times a season.
It may be another year or two before you see Colvin in the majors, with the Cubs having a crowded outfield.

Prospect Analysis: Andrew McCutchen

Name: Andrew McCutchen
Organization: Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: Outfield
Born: 10/10/1986
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2005, 1st Round (11th Overall)

The Pirates, mired in a "culture of losing", did everything necessary to purge the organization of the old regime this offseason. GM's, managers, farm directors, and the team president were fired, replaced, or eased out. The only holdover was the hot dog salesman in section 39.
The future for the Bucs, however, may begin to get a little brighter. McCutchen is the jewel of an otherwise barren farm system, outside of 1B/OF masher Steve Pearce.
Despite struggling in Double-A last season, McCutchen was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, playing in seventeen games. McCutchen caught a fire, batting .313, up from .258 in Altoona. In the Arizona Fall League, McCutchen helped his team win the championships, but his numbers again fluctuated. He finished the season batting .286, but hit .342 in the last 10 games of the season.
To say McCutchen is streaky, is an understatement.

Prospect Analysis: Jay Bruce

Name: Jay Bruce
Organization: Cincinnati Reds
Position: Outfield
Born: 4/3/1987
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 2005, 1st Round (12th Overall)

LOOKOUT! An expression that Ken Griffey, Jr will be hearing all season long if Jay Bruce doesn't break camp with the Reds in 2008. At the ripe old age of 20, Jay Bruce is slated to become Junior's replacement, its just a matter of "when".
Bruce was named Cincinnati's Minor League Player of the Year in 2007, hitting .319 with 46 doubles, 8 triples, and 26 home runs to go along with 89 RBI. Those numbers were combined stats resulting from time spent in Single, Double, and Triple-A ball. No matter where Bruce went, he hit.
Much of the same could be expected if Bruce heads north with the Reds this season. Scout Magazine describes Bruce as a five tool player without many flaws; "Add to that an impressive work ethic, and Bruce may have fans pushing to see the 20-year-old in Cincinnati by the end of the 2008 season."