Thomas Neal

Posted by Steve L. on January 26th, 2013 · Comments (8)

I actually like this deal.

Filed under Roster Moves · ·

Comments on Thomas Neal

LMJ229

January 26th, 2013 | 10:00 pm

Steve, can you expand on why you like this deal?
LMJ229

January 26th, 2013 | 10:06 pm

I think it’s pretty clear by now what Cashman’s strategy is in filling the team’s need for a right handed hitting outfielder. It’s the equivalent of throwing 10 spitballs up at the ceiling to see which one sticks.

Or … for all you Cashman disciples out there … you can liken it to finding lightening in a bottle. (Which I imagine is quite hard to do.)
Steve L.

January 26th, 2013 | 11:09 pm

LMJ229 wrote:

Steve, can you expand on why you like this deal?

I think this kid has a clue at the plate. He could be a useful part. It’s a reach. But, there’s no downside. If he cannot make it, waive him. He’s still young. And, he’s right-handed. Bench or platoon player at best ‘tho.
Evan3457

January 27th, 2013 | 1:59 am

I believe Neal was once a fairly highly ranked prospect in the Giants system (drafted by…Sabean, I guess). He was even rated #96 in the Baseball America top 100 in March 2010.

He didn’t hit well in the PCL, but did much better (relatively speaking) in his 2nd try at AAA in the Intenational League last season.

He was the #4 prospect in the Giants’ system in 2010…At that time, BA said he had good bat speed and pole to pole extra base power, but that he was a below average runner, and would have trouble with breaking balls at higher levels.
Raf

January 27th, 2013 | 2:26 am

LMJ229 wrote:

I think it’s pretty clear by now what Cashman’s strategy is in filling the team’s need for a right handed hitting outfielder. It’s the equivalent of throwing 10 spitballs up at the ceiling to see which one sticks.
Or … for all you Cashman disciples out there … you can liken it to finding lightening in a bottle. (Which I imagine is quite hard to do.)

Or when they work out we can hear people like you chirp about how lucky Cashman was… Like after the Marcus Thames, Bartolo Colon and Aaron Small deals, for example
LMJ229

January 27th, 2013 | 6:06 pm

@ Steve L.:
@ Evan3457:
thanks for the info.
LMJ229

January 27th, 2013 | 6:17 pm

Raf wrote:

Or when they work out we can hear people like you chirp about how lucky Cashman was… Like after the Marcus Thames, Bartolo Colon and Aaron Small deals, for example.

Well when you consider the (small) chances of such moves being successful, then it is quite lucky when they work out. Cashman himself calls them “a roll of the dice” so he’s referring to a game of chance. Here’s the thing though: these moves might work for a short period of time, but Cinderella’s coach always turns back into a pumpkin eventually. Aaron Small is a perfect example of that.

But hey, that fits the organization’s MO this year. Every move they make is short-term.
Steve L.

January 27th, 2013 | 7:16 pm

@ LMJ229:
Then again, this could turn out as well as that Hoffman kid (IIRC) that people thought would be a sleeper RH-4th-OF too.