That was a very fair review of the limited Aero talent, not nearly your standard Tony Pollyanna stuff.

BA rates Adams as Tribe's No. 8 prospect, Chen #26, Packer #29, McFarland #21, Cook below 30th.

Packer projects as a 40 on the 20-80 grading chart which is no more than 5th starter.
McFarland a grade 45. Chen a 45 but also a "high risk" of reaching his peak.
Adams rates a 50, but as a "high risk" of achieving that level in the majors. A 50 means a 4th starter on a playoff team. Not sure what they equals on a 500 club, which is where Adams is working.

Tony puts Thomas Neal at No. 19. [Recently identified by Paul Hoynes as Neil Thomas] Pitcher Clayton Cook No. 20. BA leaves both of them off their Top 30. No. 21 Matt Packer LHP who had a fine 2011 and not much of a 2011. At 18 Tony dumps the diappointing Cord Phelps, who probably should be traded for his own good.

I have a list of 16 possible names to fit into the 17 spots Tony has left. Perhaps he will include Jason Knapp again for old times sake.

Here's some free Tony. There is also more Tony by subscription only.

Myles is off and running this spring

Photo: IPIBy Tony Lastoria
March 16, 2012 ShareThis

Like a lot of the top talent in the lower levels of the Cleveland Indians’ farm system, outfielder Bryson Myles is young, raw and has a lot of his potential based on projection and very little based on actual performance.

Myles, 22, was selected in the 6th round of last year’s draft out of Stephen F. Austin State University. He offers an intriguing skill set where he runs very well and combines that plus speed with some good size and solid power. Last season in 50 games at short season Single-A Mahoning Valley he showed that power-speed combo – though mostly just the speed portion of it – as he hit .302 with 1 HR, 15 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and .795 OPS.

After reporting and participating in Instructional League during the fall, Myles returned home for the offseason. But before departing the Indians told him to drop some weight so he could come into spring training a little leaner in order to be an everyday center field option in 2012.

“When I left Instructs I was told that the reason they wanted me to drop weight was because they want me to be an everyday center fielder,” Myles said in an interview on Wednesday. “I know that I have the versatility to play any of the three positions and I enjoy playing all of them, but if I had to pick I would much rather be in center field.”

Myles has his own live in training partner as his brother Candon Myles worked out with him all offseason. Last year Candon was selected in the 12th round of the 2012 Draft out of high school by the Pirates and is about three years younger than Bryson. Both pushed each other all offseason to do whatever it took to improve their game, get in great shape, and be ready for their first full seasons as a professional.

“I came down to Instructs [in the fall] and when I left they told me they wanted me at a specific weight and body fat,” Myles said. “My brother plays with the Pirates and so we were up every morning at 5:30AM just going at it and making sure that we came into spring training in shape. I am happy with the progress I made over the offseason, not only physically, but with my skills on the field.”

Both of them are very competitive and work hard to bring their weaknesses up to par with the other’s strengths. This helps push each of them to their limits.

“It has always been like that as growing up we have always been really competitive,” Myles said. “Right now I got him on the strength side, so he was working hard trying to catch up to me. He has a couple of steps on me as far as speed goes, so with all the agility and sprint drills I was always the one trying to play catch up. We both benefitted from each other.”

Even after a good pro debut last year, Myles is looking to become a more complete player. Offensively he wants to tweak his approach some so he better utilizes the entire field, and become a more efficient runner on the basepaths.

“At college I was able to limit myself more up the middle of the field and pulling the ball to left field,” Myles said. “This year I want to be able to use more of the field. It is not only going to help cut down on the strikeout rate, but also some doubles that I will get this year that last year may have rolled over to the shortstop just because I am focusing on staying in on the ball instead of pulling off more.”

While Myles has the ability to play anywhere in the outfield, his fringy arm makes him a better long term option in left field and center field. He needs to shore up his defense; something that he feels is further away than his offense at this point.

“I feel that if I get better in the defensive aspect of the game that it is only going to make me that much better,” Myles said. “I feel like I am a pretty good defensive player, but I feel like I have a lot more to go defensively than I do offensively. That was really one of my main focuses in the offseason.”

Myles missed about 20-some games last season because of a hamstring issue. Once the offseason officially got underway he went right to work strengthing up his legs in order to help protect himself from such injuries in the future.

“Through all the sprints and the drills and the weight training that my brother and I did, it was really focused on strengthening up my legs,” Myles said. “Not only to make me faster, but also to get me through a 142-game season.”

Myles and every other player from last year’s draft are experiencing their first spring training and many of them will get their first taste at full season ball when camp breaks in a few weeks.

“I’m really excited,” Myles said. “I know that it is going to be a long season, but this is something that I need to get used to if I want to continue to play this game as a career. This is something that I am going to have to do year in and year out. One of my focuses this year is to have a more positive attitude as it is going to help me get through the season that much easier if I go into it wanting to be here and wanting to do the extra work.”

One thing Myles never realized until spring training kicked off this year is how many minor league players are in the Indians’ organization. With over 175 players in camp, it can be a bit overwhelming for some guys.

“There is definitely a lot more people here than I thought was actually going to be here,” Myles said. “We have a ton of outfielders and a lot of tough competition. All it makes me want to do is just get better day in and day out. We are all fighting for those three spots on the big league club, so you have to find what it is that separates you apart from the rest of the outfielders. I know I am out here for a reason, which is to get better.”

Getting better is going to be Myles’ battle cry all season. If he plays and produces like he is capable, he will raise his stock considerably by the end of the season with in the Indians’ organization.

“Whenever the end of the season comes up I want to be able to leave and get on that flight home knowing that I did something this season that really made the organization notice me more than they do now,” Myles said. “That is going to come from going out every single day and playing as hard as I can and producing. In the game of baseball you have to produce, so I feel like if I can produce and be consistent day in and day out, then I feel that the Indians’ organization at the end of the year will really know who Bryson Myles is.”

One thing I dont get. Who the hell is Tony to think that I would pay for his rose colored garbage? Why would I possible want to pay for his stuff?

Yeah, good thing I'm not having to pay for all this brown-colored garbage.

Well we all hope Jason Knapp turns out to be what he might have could have been.

2012 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #16 Jason Knapp
The 2012 IPI Indians Top 50 Prospect countdown continues with #16 right-handed pitcher Jason Knapp. He has struggled with a right shoulder injury since he was acquired from the Phillies in July of 2009 and has since had two significant shoulder surgeries. He has frontline stuff and ability, but health is a major concern right now, and Tony looks into whether he still has a chance to realize his potential.

I missed Tony's take on Jake Sisco at No. 18 and Phelps is 17.

The 2012 IPI Indians Top 50 Prospect countdown rolls on with #18 right-handed pitcher Jake Sisco. He is a high profile selection from last year's draft that has a lot of talent and potential where he could some day be a Top 5 prospect in the Indians' system. Tony profiles him and shows why he has so many people excited about him.

It looks like Tony is going to overrate Myles who the "experts" say has good low minor league tools but doesn't project well. His remaining 15 will be, in some order:

very Low minors mostly under age 20. Lindor, Howard, Luigi Rodriguez, Tony Wolters, Elvis Araujo, Felix Sterling, Ronnie Rodriguez and LeVon Washington, Myles and Jesus Aguillar

Older dudes, mostly 24+: Hagadone, Lee, Barnes, Adams, McAllister

civ, what is the early word on Knapp's health. Sea just going to see Knapp would be worth a drive the the Indians minor league complex. Report back what you see.....

I guess if I paid $30 to subscribe to Tony's site I would have an answer. But have not done so. Does the Forum want to chip in for a subscription?

2012 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #15 Bryson Myles
The 2012 IPI Indians Top 50 Prospect countdown rolls on with #15 outfielder Bryson Myles. He is yet another 2011 draftee that is in the Indians' Top 50 listing, and he has all the tools and potential to become a bonafide Top 5-10 prospect come this time next year. Tony talks about his very good power-speed combination and if his raw abilities can be harnessed so he can become a legit Major League option down the road


[Myles is my protypical breakout player, who never get anywhere. So I'm not choosing him this year and maybe he'll get a lift from that.]

AS Tony moves up to the higher prospects it's interesting that they're not really that much better than the past dozen. No. 14 Jesus Aguillar, the only power hitter in the organization, who runs like a tank, is rumored to be unable to play a defensive position (although Atkins claims he is pretty good 1st baseman) and strikes out too much. But when is the last time we produced any power hitter? He finished 2011 at Kinston and will return there to start 2012.
He's NO. 25 on the BA list and they don't even project his ceiling as very high a 45, equivalent to big starts like Mike Rayl, Cord Phelps and

No. 13 Zach McAllister who has pretty mediiocre stuff but is consistent with it. Seems unlikely to have a ceiling about No. 5 starter. BA rates him as Tribe's No. 6 which is as telling an indication of the weakness of the system as anything.

I'd expect Tony to move on to Scott Barnes and Levon Washington before he reaches his Top 10.

Tony:

2012 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #12 Felix Sterling
The 2012 IPI Indians Top 50 Prospect countdown continues with #12 right-handed pitcher Felix Sterling. He is as raw as they come, but there is no denying the tools and potential with him. He has prospect helium where with a good season of development this year he could find his way into the Top 10 next year. Tony breaks down his talent and where he needs to improve.



BA rated him only No. 20 in the Prospect Handbook. and says: He throws a fastball inthe low 90s and gets up to 96. He has a mature frame and thick lower half so he doesn't project to have more velocity. While he had little use for a changeup in the past, he threw it more often last season. It's now his No. 2 pitch and shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch. The rest of his game is still raw. His breaking ball is a slurvy slider whith loose, erratic rotation. He can overthrow and come out of his delivery which hampers his command. Some scouts see Sterling as a reliever but he'll remain a starter for now. He'll step to High A to open 2012.

He turned 19 last week, so he's moving up fast.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... erli001fel

After being rained out on Sunday the Indians' minor leaguers were back in action on Monday. Here is a recap of all five games involving over 100 players from Monday, led by huge days from Ronny Rodriguez and Jake Lowery who both had two homer games.