Last week, I mentioned that excess at a given position can be caused by either an embarrassment of riches or by poor planning. Every GM worth their salt tries to stockpile talent, and it's not their fault when their best prospects turn out to play the same position. But some teams gather talent more effectively than others.
The Braves, Twins, Indians, and Angels are all prime examples of teams that recently have been able to balance strength at the major league level with successful development of minor league talent.
It reflects poorly on a franchise, however, when not only the major league team struggling in one facet of the game – be it pitching or hitting – but their minor league talent is mainly in the positions where the major league club already has sufficient depth.
One of the team that falls into this category and my focus is on the Colorado Rockies. Two of their best hitting prospects happen to play the same positions as the two best players on the major league roster: third baseman Ian Stewart and first baseman Joe Koshansky.
Joe Koshansky, 1B (blocked by Todd Helton)
Drafted as a first baseman out of Virginia, Koshansky, 24, might also be able to help the Rockies as a pitcher. Koshansky was a dominant pitcher in his final two collegiate seasons, but Colorado chose to develop him as a hitter. And he’s been no slouch at the plate, putting up .284/.371/.526 vitals in Double-A Tulsa this past season.
The 6th round (170th overall) draft pick from 2004 will almost assuredly start next season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but the subsequent step is currently blocked by former All-Star Todd Helton and his 30 year contract.
At this stage of Helton’s career, Koshansky might be just as valuable of a player, as the two are both athletic, left-handed first basemen who play good defense and pack a lot of offensive punch. Nonetheless, given Helton’s contract, I’d expect Koshansky to be traded sooner rather than later.
Ian Stewart, 3B (blocked by Garrett Atkins)
Stewart’s defense is average, and luckily for him so is Atkins’. Their projected offensive ceilings are also similar.
What the major league team needs more than corner infielders is pitching depth and Stewart or Atkins could bring that depth in a trade. The Rockies probaby won't be competetive until Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez make the majors, so trading Atkins might be a good move considering they won't need Stewart to produce for a few years.
Garrett Atkins and his breakout .329/.409/.556 2006 season is the present, assuming he can maintain his dominance at the plate. Stewart, who took a slight step backwards in his development this season, and who could repeat next year with AA-Tulsa, represents a long term commitment to winning; likely a more promising future given their current scarcity of quality arms.
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The Project Prospect Geek Test
In the last four MLB amateur drafts, the Colorado Rockies have selected a total of four pitchers in the first and second rounds. Of the four, which pitchers have advanced the highest in the Colorado system? Name the level and the players.
Last Week's Answer: Jorge Cantu, Dan Micelli and Juan Salas
Congratulations to R.J. White who was the first prospect geek to respond with the correct answer!
Patrick is wondering what would happen to baseball if bats were also stored in Colorado humidors. You can tell him your opinion or try to answer this week’s trivia question at theblacktornado@gmail.com.