Johnny Giavotella

Discuss this awesome prospect.

Tell me how crazy I am for rating him #6. (click the link above)

Yes I am self promoting.

11 months ago doublestix 25 comments 0 recs |

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If you rank Giavotella #6, then Dickerson should be in your top 10

They are both players who are likely to make it to the majors and contribute, but neither has great upside. In short, they are both likely to be ok in the majors, but very unlikely to be genuinely good in the majors. I think that kind of prospect has value, but in this organization more like borderline top 10 value. But if your philosophy puts one of them in the top 10, then the other should be as well.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 5:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree with you 100%

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Dec 3, 2008 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

disagree

Dickerson: 22 years old, drafted in 2005 in the 4th round (112th overall), cumulative OPS over 4 years of pro ball (2 in rookie league, 1 in low-A, 1 in high-A) is 788. Projects as a corner outfielder

Giavotella: 21 years old, drafted in 2008 in sandwich round ( ), was agressively started in Low-A immediately after signing, posted a .776 OPS, projects as a second baseman

To summarize, Giavotella is a year younger, was a higher draft pick, started immediately in Low-A while Dickerson spent 2 years in rookie league, has stats that are just as good as Dickerson’s (Dickerson’s line from Low-A at the same age as Giavotella: .354/.375/.729), and plays a much more valuable defensive position.

by kcdc1 on Dec 3, 2008 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

grrr....

Forgot to read through before hitting post. giavotella was drafted in the second round, 49th overall. Anyway, more to the point, Dickerson has had a .729 and a .818 OPS at two levels of A-ball. Unless you have reason to believe that will continue improving as he moves up, a player with a .770 OPS in Triple-A doesn’t play corner outfielder in the Majors. A player with a .770 OPS at second base in Triple-A does play in the Majors.

by kcdc1 on Dec 3, 2008 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unless you have reason to believe that will continue improving as he moves up, a player with a .770 OPS in Triple-A doesn’t play corner outfielder in the Majors. A player with a .770 OPS at second base in Triple-A does play in the Majors.

I think Dickerson is a likely 4th OFer in the majors and Giavotella is a likely utility IFer in the majors. Both could be good in those roles, but below par as a starter.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But can Dickerson stick at CF?

His CF defense is by almost all accounts significantly below average, and if he can’t hack it in CF, that seriously harms his value as a 4th OFer. I would consider Johnny G the more valuable prospect in part because of that.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 3, 2008 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he’d be able to handle CF on an occasional basis, but not as the #1 CF backup. He is more of a corner OFer. My worry about Gia is his bat. I don’t know if he projects as an average MLB 2B hitter. We’ll see if he can hit his weight outside of the bus leagues.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Basically...

Dickerson needs to improve his hitting, Giavotell needs to maintain his level. Edge to Giavotella at the moment.

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Dec 3, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So Gia needs to maintain the level that he managed in one half of one season in low-A ball?

Ok, as long as you realize that we really don’t know how good Gia is from that tiny sample of stats.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 6:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

everyone is a 4th OFer to you.

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Dec 3, 2008 10:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even you

and me!

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 4, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno about that

306008 looks like he could be a legit power hitting LF.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 4, 2008 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Giavotella has A LOT more upside in my opinion. To start, Giavotella plays 2B while Dickerson is a corner outfielder. That lowers the offensive bar considerably. Second, Giavotella has more in game power right now, although he doesn’t have quite the projection for strength of Dickerson. That said, I don’t really like Dickerson’s swing to hit for much power while Giovatella’s short, quick, and compact swing will allow some power. Seriously, JG has a great swing in my opinion.

I made it clear in my post I think Johnny will be a hell of a player. I think he’s an .800+ OPS second baseman which is instantly one of the best 2B’s in the league. I don’t believe that his upside is low at all.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 3, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know you've written it here before

but, without considering position, what do you see Dickerson’s likely major league “three slash” line?

Also, now considering his position, is he a plus defender in the corners?

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 3, 2008 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

something like .280/.330/.400

I’d consider him a pretty good corner outfielder now. He’s fast, still needs to improve route running though. Then again, Chris Lubanski was also a good defender when he was 21 (then he got huge, even if it was mostly muscle). Doesn’t have much of an arm if that means anything.

Kinda like Teabags with more contact ability but less strike zone judgment. And without the ability to randomly hit a monster home run.

Seems like my goal here is to put down Dickerson…I try not to. Just think he’s a bit overrated. Would love to be proved wrong.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

I have a hypothesis (just a hypothesis — not promoting it) that corner OF players who are below positional average offensively but good enough defensively to cover the difference are undervalued. It’s not quite as relevant for younger guys (who come cheap anyway), and a .730 OPS would be low for a starter… But I really think there’s something to guys like Franklin Gutierrez, who hit worse than that this year (under .700 OPS), but (if you buy def. stats, which I know you don’t much, doublestix, but bear with me) was about +20 runs on defense. So even with the crappy hitting, he’s a good enough defender in right field that he’s about a league average player. Not the kind guy to spend a ton of money for on the FA market, but at $400,000, a league average player is a HUGE bonus for a team.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 3, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dustin pedroia good!

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Dec 3, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

are you not with MVN anymore?

by royalsreview on Dec 3, 2008 12:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

are you confusing me with someone else?

i was never with MVN, although I was offered it at one point.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 3, 2008 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not enough perks, huh?

got$ to get paid

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 3, 2008 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you can get paid

it’s not very much IIRC. i just never got back to the guy who offered it to me.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 3, 2008 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha.. I was being a bit funny

getting paid to blog would rule. You would have been good at it. I’m not putting down the guy who does it now — although I do know I don’t go there much (this is the only Royals blog I’m at frequently, other than yours when you post links, and, of course, any Rowdy Hardy news).

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 3, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs