Tigers Promote Avisail Garcia to Erie

**STLTiger69** · 07-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Antrat

Nor Berkman, nor Swisher.

or ....Suzuki or Hunter

I mentioned them because they may well be the sort of "filler" players the Tigers might sign short term and somewhat reasonable cost wise instead of the big names like Josh Hamilton. I agree with you guys, I don't like this idea, but it's what might be what is on the menu...

**TigerNation** · 07-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by toadhunter911

Here's what Mark said about Garcia...

Am I being too optimistic about what Garcia could be? Is .275/.330/.450 with 20HR power and good RF defense too much?

If he hits .275 his OBP would be more like .300.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 07-05-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by TigerNation

If he hits .275 his OBP would be more like .300.

That would fit right in with this club!

**tiger337** · 07-05-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by pyrotigers

I can't even begin to describe how hilarious it is to me that a scout would think Avisail Garcia and Miguel Cabrera had similar projections as suggested in that 'implied both' tweet. Even ignoring that Garcia has basically been ignored as a prospect by every ranking system and has shown none of the advanced hitting of Cabrera, there is the little 'Cabrera was in MLB while a year younger than Garcia after hitting .365 .429 .609 in AA' aspect.

So I guess Garcia will put up a 1+ OPS in AA and save us from Brennan Boesch. yaaaaaay. Or more seriously I'm just going to assume that scout works for the Tigers and it would really explain a lot about the organizations decisions.

I'm not hearing anything that makes me think they are very similar players. It sounds as if Garcia is more athletic and might be able to contribute more defensively. On the other hand, I can't imagine any scout thinks he will hit like Cabrera. So, I'm, wondering in what way other than their physical appearance they are similar.

**wockenfussy** · 07-05-2012, 02:15 PM

It would be incredible to see Granderson return to Detroit. I think it's highly unlikely but it would be marvelous.

**Yoda** · 07-05-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

I'm not hearing anything that makes me think they are very similar players. It sounds as if Garcia is more athletic and might be able to contribute more defensively. On the other hand, I can't imagine any scout thinks he will hit like Cabrera. So, I'm, wondering in what way other than their physical appearance they are similar.

They may be similar in terms of raw power, or projected power.

**hueytaxi** · 07-05-2012, 04:06 PM

Garcia is far more physically fit. Don't believe the weight in his bio, I would guess he is more like 265. I don't see the similarity to Cabrera other than shoulder width.

**Yoda** · 08-11-2012, 12:30 AM

In 36 games (136 AB's) Avisail is hitting .305/.351/.468 (.819) with 4 HR, 6 BB and 31 K.

He got off to a shaky start but he's been killing it over the last few weeks.

**Nastradamus** · 08-11-2012, 01:23 AM

That's pretty damn encouraging if I may say so

**pyrotigers** · 08-11-2012, 01:39 AM

Ok, I know I'm the primary Garcia hater, so this won't come as a surprise...but while this is encouraging and better than I expected it's still not very good. It's basically Brennan Boesch in AA. If he hit exactly like that over a full season you'd be talking about 25 walks, 125 strikeouts, and 16 homers. That's not a very exciting trio even with the solid slash line.

That said, hitting at all in AA at age 21 is impressive. I think he's a guy who still needs another full year or two in the minors, but he's showing that his ability to hit the ball with authority is at least legit. If he gains more power as he gets a year or two older he could be a really interesting player even if his plate discipline never improves.

**tiger337** · 08-11-2012, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by hueytaxi

Garcia is far more physically fit. Don't believe the weight in his bio, I would guess he is more like 265. I don't see the similarity to Cabrera other than shoulder width.

How is his attitude? He appeared kind of lackadaisical when I saw him last week. He failed to run out an infield grounder, made a base running mistake. It could have just been one bad game though, so it doesn't mean much.

**hueytaxi** · 08-11-2012, 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by tiger337

How is his attitude? He appeared kind of lackadaisical when I saw him last week. He failed to run out an infield grounder, made a base running mistake. It could have just been one bad game though, so it doesn't mean much.

You saw his downside, which pops up on occasion.

**Shinzaki** · 08-11-2012, 08:48 AM

Last summer, there was a certain amount of sturm and drang over the trding of Francisco Martinez because he was a 20 year-old "raking" in AA. Garcia doesn't seem to be similarly valued even though he's only a few months older but his OPS in AA ball is about 100 pts higher than Martinez.

This...like magnets and traffic round-abouts...confuses me.

**Yoda** · 08-11-2012, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by pyrotigers

Ok, I know I'm the primary Garcia hater, so this won't come as a surprise...but while this is encouraging and better than I expected it's still not very good. It's basically Brennan Boesch in AA. If he hit exactly like that over a full season you'd be talking about 25 walks, 125 strikeouts, and 16 homers. That's not a very exciting trio even with the solid slash line.

That said, hitting at all in AA at age 21 is impressive. I think he's a guy who still needs another full year or two in the minors, but he's showing that his ability to hit the ball with authority is at least legit. If he gains more power as he gets a year or two older he could be a really interesting player even if his plate discipline never improves.

Like you said, he just turned 21. He's only going to get stronger. Being able to hit for average is pretty encouraging since he can't get on base via walking.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 08-11-2012, 10:11 AM

He didn't walk his way off the island. :-)

Although the walks are low right now, he's clearly far advanced over Boesch in his contact rate, at least the numbers suggest that. And as mentioned only 21 and has been aggressively advanced.

**Euphdude** · 08-11-2012, 10:40 AM

Other than the typical Tiger prospect low walk rate, I'm excited by Garcia's numbers. Here's hoping he'll be a good MLB player for us in the near future!

**Yoda** · 08-11-2012, 10:46 AM

He also has 8 steals in 10 tries for Erie. On the season, 22 steal with 6 CS. Despite being so big, he's a legit 20 SB guy. Having good speed and a big arm would be awful nice to have in the Tigers OF.

**irvink** · 08-11-2012, 12:50 PM

Also, unlike Boesch, Garcia is an excellent defensive outfielder. While he has "the classic RF profile" he is holding his own in CF at AA.

**pyrotigers** · 08-11-2012, 02:41 PM

If he can actually play CF that would make me like him a lot more. I tended to assume that was just 'lots of guys play positions they have no hope of sticking at in the minors' type of thing. + defense would definitely make him more exciting as a prospect.

**plantcitytigersfan** · 08-11-2012, 04:36 PM

While Avisail plays a very good RF and has a legitimate plus arm, the couple of times I saw him play CF I was not impressed. As for his attitude, never saw it (Roger sits next to the dugout and sees stuff I don't). This is why I am surprised that they put Castellans in RF. If anyone has ever played the OF, you know the ball comes off the bat different in right and has a tendancy to slice. With Nick playing the left side of the IF, I would think him adapting to LF would have been much easier (its not like we dont have an opening over there).

As for Yoda's comments on a different thread about Al Kaline, I agree with him. I have never asked him for an autograph ( was warned not to bother) but watching him from afar for five years, you can tell when someone thinks their "stuff" don't stink. Kaline teaching Nick RF is nothing more than a publicity thing for Kaline. One of my first interactions with Kaline was when an usher at a Flying Tiger game had to stand next to Kaline's seat for 9 innings so none of the 350 fans in attendance would approach him. From the talks with some other Flying Tiger Fans, the assumption is that Kaline is just a grumpy old man.

Larry
2012 AAT Brandon Loy

**Shinzaki** · 08-11-2012, 06:13 PM

I don't blame Kaline one bit...If I was an old guy trying to watch a ball game the last thing I would want is a steady procession of sunburned yahoos bugging me.

**TigersSlappy** · 08-11-2012, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Shinzaki

I don't blame Kaline one bit...If I was an old guy trying to watch a ball game the last thing I would want is a steady procession of sunburned yahoos bugging me.

I was never sunburned.

**ToledoTigerFan** · 08-11-2012, 07:58 PM

Avisail Garcia sounds a whole lot like a play whose name I can't recall. He was also a Latin American guy and was one of those 5-tool guys. He was an outfielder. Anyone remember this guy? He was around about 5-6 years ago. Anyone remember this guy?

**Euphdude** · 08-11-2012, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

Avisail Garcia sounds a whole lot like a play whose name I can't recall. He was also a Latin American guy and was one of those 5-tool guys. He was an outfielder. Anyone remember this guy? He was around about 5-6 years ago. Anyone remember this guy?

Juan Encarnacion?

**STLTiger69** · 08-11-2012, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Euphdude

Juan Encarnacion?

Geraldo Rivera?

**AtemHutlrt** · 08-11-2012, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

Avisail Garcia sounds a whole lot like a play whose name I can't recall. He was also a Latin American guy and was one of those 5-tool guys. He was an outfielder. Anyone remember this guy? He was around about 5-6 years ago. Anyone remember this guy?

Gorkys Hernandez?

**Shinzaki** · 08-11-2012, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by TigersSlappy

I was never sunburned.

Well played....:)

**alwaysthrowheat** · 08-12-2012, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by pyrotigers

Ok, I know I'm the primary Garcia hater, so this won't come as a surprise...but while this is encouraging and better than I expected it's still not very good. It's basically Brennan Boesch in AA. If he hit exactly like that over a full season you'd be talking about 25 walks, 125 strikeouts, and 16 homers. That's not a very exciting trio even with the solid slash line.

That said, hitting at all in AA at age 21 is impressive. I think he's a guy who still needs another full year or two in the minors, but he's showing that his ability to hit the ball with authority is at least legit. If he gains more power as he gets a year or two older he could be a really interesting player even if his plate discipline never improves.

He does need a year or two more at the MiLB level. However, a 21 YO with those numbers in AA is pretty good. Even if he's not walking. Being able to make solid contact, and showing some semblance of power is encouraging. I'd be surprised if he doesn't crack the top 100 prospect lists after this season.