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by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, Scout's Eye View, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

Free agency is upon us. It's been 15 days since the Yankees hoisted the World Series trophy, and with that, players on the market can officially begin discussing deals with teams other than the one they played for last season.

Yes, it's the unofficial opening of Hot Stove season, a time when dollar figures dance around the imagination and anything seems possible for all 30 teams (OK, maybe not for the Nationals, Royals or Pirates). It's a season that's almost as much fun as the regular one, so why not kick it off with a look at the top commodities available.

After the jump, FanHouse's in-house professional scout Frankie Piliere ranks the top 50 free agents on the market this year. Get the skinny on the best talents, bargains and potential busts.

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]]> Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-20T08:30:00 00:00 Scouting Notes: Braves Shopping Pair of Arms, and Both Could Be Bargains http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/scouting-notes-braves-shopping-pair-of-arms-and-both-could-be/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/scouting-notes-braves-shopping-pair-of-arms-and-both-could-be/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/scouting-notes-braves-shopping-pair-of-arms-and-both-could-be/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, Scout's Eye View

Derek Lowe / Javier Vazquez

On the free-agent market, all the focus has been on John Lackey. On the trade market, the talk has been about Roy Halladay. The consolation prize for teams seeking a top-flight arm may come out of Atlanta.

The Braves have two of their top starters on the block, Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez, and there's little doubt that at least one of those two pitchers will be moved, according to multiple major league sources. With strong resumes for both, there should be teams lined up for their services.

One source said that the Braves intend to move one of the two pitchers, and who goes will depend on the offers they receive.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingderek loweDerekLowejavier vazquezJavierVazquez Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-18T23:58:00 00:00 MLB Live Chat: Free Agency Nears http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/mlb-live-chat-free-agency-nears/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/mlb-live-chat-free-agency-nears/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/18/mlb-live-chat-free-agency-nears/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, MLB Rumors, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Chone Figgins

Hot Stove season will get in to full swing on Friday, the first day free agents are allowed to discuss finances with teams other than the one they played for in 2009.

With the market about to open, FanHouse's National Baseball Analyst Frankie Piliere is assembling his list of the top 50 free agents. While he won't unveil the whole thing until Friday, he is ready to talk about the lay of the free-agent landscape, address some of the biggest rumors, size up the intentions of buyers and sellers and, of course, talk prospects.

Piliere chatted live on Wednesday afternoon. After the jump, read a wrapup.

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]]> Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-18T14:25:00 00:00 Marlins Ready to Replenish Again http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/marlins-ready-to-replenish-again/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/marlins-ready-to-replenish-again/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/marlins-ready-to-replenish-again/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Marlins, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Mike Stanton

It can be frustrating to be a Florida Marlins fan as star after star is sent on their way to richer organizations. One thing has remained constant, however. The talent continues to flow throughout their player development system. They draft well, coach well, and even without shelling out the big bucks, they find talent through international free agency.

Maybe they have trouble holding onto these guys once they blossom into big-league stars but there is no end in sight to their seemingly endless pipeline of young talent. So, as we continue to examine farm systems that could have an impact on 2009 and beyond, Florida has to be taken into account. No, it will not be dealing away any prospects but the outstanding minor-league depth once again will allow it to sell off its more expensive major leaguers.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScouting Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-15T19:00:00 00:00 Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/deep-farm-gives-yanks-plenty-of-chips/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/deep-farm-gives-yanks-plenty-of-chips/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/deep-farm-gives-yanks-plenty-of-chips/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Yankees, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Andrew Brackman

Prospects exist to help their team fortify their future, be it years down the road, or, in some cases, the not-so-distant future. These prospects can become valuable chips in blockbuster trades. Each team with a player on the block this offseason will come to the negotiating table with stacks of detailed scouting information on the prospects of buyers out there like the New York Yankees.

So, what should teams like the Blue Jays, Tigers or any other club rumored to be in talks with the Yankees be looking to get in return? We'll take a look from a scouting perspective at just what potential trade partners should be looking for as they sift through the crop of New York prospects, with a focus on some who may be flying under the radar.

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]]> advanced scouting Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-13T08:00:00 00:00 MLB Live Chat: Hot Stove, Prospects http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/mlb-live-chat-hot-stove-prospects/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/mlb-live-chat-hot-stove-prospects/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/11/mlb-live-chat-hot-stove-prospects/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, MLB Rumors, MLB Transactions, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Stephen Strasburg

With the season wrapped up, we can collectively turn our attention to off-the-field topics. As always, there is plenty to be discussed with the Hot Stove already burning. As each team turns their attention to 2010 there a number of questions to answer. How will each trade and free-agent signing impact the clubs involved? Which prospects, like Washington's Stephen Strasburg pictured on the right, can fans look forward to next year?

MLB FanHouse's Frankie Piliere examined all those questions and more, after the jump, in a live chat on Wednesday afternoon.

Piliere, who spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers this year, now serves as a National Baseball Analyst for FanHouse.

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]]> Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-11T12:45:00 00:00 Hermida Could Pay Off Big for Red Sox http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/hermida-could-pay-off-big-for-red-sox/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/hermida-could-pay-off-big-for-red-sox/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/09/hermida-could-pay-off-big-for-red-sox/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Brewers, Marlins, Red Sox, Twins, White Sox, MLB Transactions, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down offseason moves from a scouting perspective.

It hasn't taken long for the Hot Stove to get heated up as we roll past the World Series. Some key players have already been locked up and some high upside trades have already gone down. What do these moves mean for each club involved and how will the players dealt respond to their new homes? Just as significant, how important will the prospects dealt turn out to be?

From Mark Teahen headed to Chicago, to the Carlos Gomez for J.J. Hardy swap, to Bobby Abreu's new deal with the Angels, each move had a distinct impact. Perhaps the most interesting of these, however, was Jeremy Hermida being shipped to Boston. For the price of a pair of young lefties, the Red Sox took a gamble that may prove very worthy.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingbobby abreuBobbyAbreucarlos gomezCarlosGomezjeremy hermidaJeremyHermidamark teahenMarkTeahen Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-11-09T00:49:00 00:00 Maestro Martinez Mixes Way to Success http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/maestro-martinez-mixes-way-to-success/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/maestro-martinez-mixes-way-to-success/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/maestro-martinez-mixes-way-to-success/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

The approach was there, the execution was there, but Pedro Martinez's stuff was just short of allowing him to completely shut down the New York Yankees. All in all, the Phillies have to be more than pleased with just a few runs in six innings for their veteran right-hander. At least for a little while, he had the Yankees eating out of the palm of his hand.

It can't be said enough: The best way to stop New York's lineup is often by allowing their patient approach to work against them. Martinez has the type of command and moxie to pull off such an approach. By letting Martinez consistently get ahead 0-1 and 0-2, you give him multiple pitches to play with and different ways of getting you out.

FanHouse World Series Coverage: Mariotti | Olson | Moore | Price | Fletcher
Game 2: Yankees 3, Phillies 1 | Box Score | Series Home

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingaj burnettAjBurnettpedro martinezPedroMartinez Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-30T02:40:00 00:00 Four Scouting Keys to World Series http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/four-scouting-keys-to-world-series/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/four-scouting-keys-to-world-series/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/four-scouting-keys-to-world-series/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Unless you are a fan with a rooting interest in this World Series, it's nearly impossible to not appreciate how good of a matchup this World Series is. Both the Phillies and Yankees have dominant aces they can rely on, sluggers that pound the ball with the best of them, and tenacious hitters who seem to make every at-bat an epic battle.

In such an even matchup, it's difficult to find glaring edges for either club, and that is where advanced scouting can come into play. Knowing how to pitch a certain dangerous hitter in order to neutralize him or what to look for against a particular pitcher could be what wins or loses a potentially tight series such as this. So, where are those holes each team can exploit and what will it take for them to come out on top?

More: FanHouse Predictions | Schedule | Full Coverage

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingbrad lidgeBradLidgecc sabathiaCcSabathiaryan howardRyanHoward Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-28T00:45:00 00:00 Poor Pitch From Hughes the Difference http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/poor-pitch-from-hughes-the-difference/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/poor-pitch-from-hughes-the-difference/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/poor-pitch-from-hughes-the-difference/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, American League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Pointing a finger at a manager is an easy thing to do after a heart-wrenching loss. Sometimes the hard truth of a loss is little more than a lack of execution by the players. The Angels' Game 5 victory came down to a poorly executed pitch from the hand of Phil Hughes. That simple of an answer might be difficult to swallow, but that single offering has, at best, delayed the Yankees' return to the World Series.

Make no mistake, New York is at this point in the postseason because of the performance of its young relievers. But, youthful mistakes and jitters cost the Yankees dearly Thursday night. Until Game 6 begins on Saturday night, the pitch every Yankee should be replaying in their head is a fastball in a 1-2 down the heart of the plate to Vladimir Guerrero.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingjohn lackeyJohnLackeyphil hughesPhilHughes Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-23T02:36:00 00:00 Kazmir Helps Lineup in Need of None http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/kazmir-helps-lineup-in-need-of-none/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/kazmir-helps-lineup-in-need-of-none/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/kazmir-helps-lineup-in-need-of-none/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, American League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

The contrast between Tuesday night's starting pitchers could not have been more stark. CC Sabathia was efficient, mixed his pitches and threw nothing but strikes. Scott Kazmir, on the other side, never seemed to find any kind of rhythm and essentially played right into the strengths of the Yankee lineup.

New York's lineup is difficult enough to navigate without giving them any assistance, and assistance is exactly what Kazmir gave them. If you intend to have success against them, you must establish a secondary pitch in the early innings. Especially given the issues their lineup has had against the breaking ball in the early part of the ALCS, Kazmir's ability to locate his slider was going to be crucial to his outing.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingcc sabathiaCcSabathiahowie kendrickHowieKendrickscott kazmirScottKazmir Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-21T02:55:00 00:00 So What, Exactly, Might Girardi Have Been Thinking in Game 3? http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/so-what-exactly-might-girardi-have-been-thinking-in-game-3/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/so-what-exactly-might-girardi-have-been-thinking-in-game-3/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/so-what-exactly-might-girardi-have-been-thinking-in-game-3/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, American League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

It's easy to be pessimistic after a team suffers a crushing loss, mostly because fans and broadcasters alike like to zone in on intangibles like momentum and the players' psyche. But if you are a New York Yankees fan and looking for reasons to be worried, there are some perfectly logical and tangible ones to focus on.

From the performance of Joba Chamberlain, to many of the Yankee hitters' struggles against the breaking ball, to the decision most New York fans will be screaming about, the removal of David Robertson from the game in the 11th inning in favor of Alfredo Aceves, there are more than enough tangible reasons to be concerned about the Yankees. And from a scouting standpoint, there are certainly points of intrigue in New York's weaknesses.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingandy pettitteAndyPettittehowie kendrickHowieKendrickjoba chamberlainJobaChamberlainvladimir guerreroVladimirGuerrero Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-20T00:51:00 00:00 Good Pitching or Poor Hitting in Game 2? http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/good-pitching-or-poor-hitting-in-game-2/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/good-pitching-or-poor-hitting-in-game-2/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/good-pitching-or-poor-hitting-in-game-2/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, American League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Was it the pitching or the offense's inability to produce? It's the question we always want the answer to when pitching shuts down a lineup over an extended period. In Game 2 of the ALCS, we watched two teams scratch and claw through extra innings to push runs across. Of course, there can never be a completely definitive answer, but Saturday night there were some instances where there were some answers.

In Joe Saunders, the Yankees faced a pitcher that generally thrives on throwing first-pitch strikes and changing speeds. And in A.J. Burnett, the Angels faced a pitcher that must be forced out of the strike zone to get him out of his groove. One could argue that both lineups could have done a better job with their approach against these pitchers.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingaj burnettAjBurnettalex rodriguezAlexRodriguezbrian fuentesBrianFuentes Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-18T02:48:00 00:00 Sabathia, Yankees Win by Setting Tempo http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/sabathia-yankees-win-by-setting-tempo/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/sabathia-yankees-win-by-setting-tempo/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/17/sabathia-yankees-win-by-setting-tempo/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Angels, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, American League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Few pitchers in baseball proudly carry the title of ace, but CC Sabathia is one of them. If there was any doubt about that fact, it was all put to rest on Friday night against the Angels. Between his absolute mastery of the Los Angeles lineup and the pace of the game that New York set in the early innings, this was the formula every team wants to avoid in order to hang with the Yankees.

With the Angels unable to get runners on base to start the engines of their running game and the Yankees doing what they do best by taking pitches, this was a Yankee-paced game. If the Yankees are allowed to dictate tempo, they will come out on top more often than not.

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]]> advanced scoutingcc sabathiajohn lackeyvladimir guerrero Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-17T02:04:00 00:00 Predictability Doomed Hamels in Game 1 http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/predictability-doomed-hamels-in-game-1/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/predictability-doomed-hamels-in-game-1/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/predictability-doomed-hamels-in-game-1/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Dodgers, Phillies, MLB Playoffs, Scout's Eye View, National League Championship Series

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

In a matchup of elite lefties, both Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels appeared to run into brick walls in Game 1. Kershaw, as dominant as he looked early on, was exposed by a good lineup as an immensely talented, but ultimately inexperienced pitcher. Hamels, on the other hand, took a little different path to his problems in the middle innings.

Out of the gate, Hamels looked amped up. It showed very early with his velocity topping out at 96 mph and sitting around 93-94. However, the location was not there and he was quickly burned by a second inning home run off the bat of James Loney.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingcole hamelsColeHamels Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-16T03:36:00 00:00 Confidence Makes All Difference in 'Pen http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/confidence-makes-all-difference-in-pen/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/confidence-makes-all-difference-in-pen/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/confidence-makes-all-difference-in-pen/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Phillies, Rockies, MLB Playoffs, National League Division Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

There is one lesson that we learn year in and year out as the postseason unfolds. The team that has their bullpen clicking is often the team that wins. Game 4 on Monday night was a microcosm of the series between the Phillies and Rockies. While they were not dominant out of the 'pen, the Phillies were able to slam the door where Colorado could not.

In the final two innings of Monday's game, the Philadelphia bullpen surrendered just one walk against Colorado's four. As close as the Rockies came to winning the game, it is unrealistic to feel confident in winning a contest in which your bullpen surrenders that many free passes to a lineup that hardly needs the help.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingcarlos gonzalezCarlosGonzalezcliff leeCliffLeehuston streetHustonStreet Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-12T23:58:00 00:00 In Case You Were Wondering, A-Rod as Locked In as Ever This October http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/in-case-you-were-wondering-a-rod-as-locked-in-as-ever-in-octobe/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/in-case-you-were-wondering-a-rod-as-locked-in-as-ever-in-octobe/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/in-case-you-were-wondering-a-rod-as-locked-in-as-ever-in-octobe/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Red Sox, Twins, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series, Scout's Eye View

Alex Rodriguez

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Rest easy Yankee fans. It appears that you finally have the real Alex Rodriguez at just the right time. Sure, it's easy to say it's early, A-Rod still has much to prove and has many demons to overcome, but this is not just about results. Looking at him simply from a mechanical and approach standpoint, Rodriguez looks absolutely locked in.

Many sluggers like Rodriguez can overcome a poor approach at times and get by on pure ability, and to an extent the same goes for him. But, when you are looking for the super-human results that Yankee fans expect, look no further than his comfort level with his mechanics at the plate.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingalex rodriguezAlexRodriguezcarl pavanoCarlPavanojonathan papelbonJonathanPapelbon Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-12T02:03:00 00:00 Padilla Flashes Raw Stuff of Ace http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/padilla-flashes-raw-stuff-of-ace/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/padilla-flashes-raw-stuff-of-ace/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/11/padilla-flashes-raw-stuff-of-ace/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Cardinals, Dodgers, MLB Playoffs, National League Division Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

The St. Louis Cardinals may have beaten themselves in getting swept by the Dodgers, but Game 3 left us with a classic question. Was Vicente Padilla's strong pitching performance all him or the opposing lineup's doing? On this particular night, there was probably little the Cardinals could have done to stop him.

Padilla brought the raw stuff of an ace to the hill, touching 97 mph and sitting around 93-96 most of the night. Most importantly he was able to locate his fastball inside to righties with some running action.

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]]> advanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingjohn smoltzJohnSmoltzmanny ramirezMannyRamirezvicente padillaVicentePadilla Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-11T00:13:00 00:00 Forget Home Runs, Drama in Bronx Built Pitch by Pitch http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/forget-home-runs-drama-in-bronx-built-pitch-by-pitch/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/forget-home-runs-drama-in-bronx-built-pitch-by-pitch/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/forget-home-runs-drama-in-bronx-built-pitch-by-pitch/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Twins, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

Pitch selection, execution of those pitches, and the situation those pitches are thrown in is never more scrutinized than it is in the playoffs. Time and time again, one pitch in a given situation drastically swung the momentum of Game 2 between the Yankees and Twins Friday night in the Bronx. The game may have ended with home run heroics, but the tone was set by the pitchers throughout, whether it was in a positive or negative fashion.

First, there were the two starters who in their own ways came up big. Nick Blackburn took a strategy to the mound that has proved again and again to be the most successful against the New York lineup.

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]]> advanced scoutingaj burnettAjBurnettalex rodriguezAlexRodriguezjoe nathanJoeNathannick blackburnNickBlackburnphil hughesPhilHughes Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-10T02:24:00 00:00 Cards Show Manny Isn't Same Manny http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/cards-show-manny-isnt-same-manny/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/cards-show-manny-isnt-same-manny/ http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/09/cards-show-manny-isnt-same-manny/#comments

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Cardinals, Dodgers, Phillies, Rockies, MLB Playoffs, National League Division Series, Scout's Eye View

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down the playoffs from a scouting perspective.

The Dodgers have gotten by down the stretch and in the playoffs despite a less than dynamic Manny Ramirez. While still productive, it's becoming blatantly obvious to opposing teams that Ramirez isn't as dangerous as he once was. The reality may be that he is a diminished player.

Of course, a diminished Ramirez is still a well above-average player. He's just not the out of this world hitter we've come to know.

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]]> adam wainwrightAdamWainwrightadvanced scoutingAdvancedScoutingmanny ramirezMannyRamirez Frankie Piliere frankie-piliere 2009-10-09T02:00:00 00:00