Feb
14
2012

Prospect Retro: Darryl Strawberry

An article by Former Writers

I was looking around my university’s library this afternoon and I came across one of the best books I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s a book called The Scouting Report: 1983. Just as the title implies, the book is a compilation of scouting reports on every Major Leauge Baseball player going into the 1983 season, and it is co-authored by our very own Ralph Kiner.

It just so happens that 1983 was The Straw’s rookie season, but luckily the book still included the promising prospect of the Mets. Here is what they had to regarding Strawberry’s going into his rookie season:

Hitting:

DARRYL STRAWBERRY OF, No. 18 LL, 6-6, 190 lbs Born: 3-12-62 in Los Angeles, CA

As a minor league hitter, Darryl Strawberry was powerful and productive and had few flaws. He swings easily, but the ball jumps off his bat. He has enough power to hit balls out to right and left-center field. He can, and does, hit the ball to all fields, but as he matures, he probably will pull more.

He likes the ball low and out over the playe where he can take best advantage of the power in his long arms. Off-speed pitches will pose problems for him until he adjusts to the major leagues. He walked frequently in the Double A league–100 times in 129 games last season–but also strikes out too often–145 times. Strawberry should become a solid No. 3 or 4 hitter.

Baserunning:

Darryl has exceptional speed, and was the fastest player in the Mets’ minor league organization last season. He knows how to use his speed, and stole 45 bases last season. He is a threat to steal virtually anytime that he is one base.

Fielding:

He has better than average range, and a powerful arm, though his throwing accuracy is weak. He has good instincts and appears to know how to play the game. With increased playing time in the majors that he is expected to get, Strawberry has the potential to develop into a better than average outfielder.

Overall:

Thus far, on the minor league level, Darryl Strawberry has proven that he is capable in the five key areas. He can hit, with power, run, throw and catch. He appears to have the potential to be above average in four of those areas–all except throwing. He has also demonstrated an ability to hit well in clutch situations, and rises to he occasion. Strawberry has star potential.

As a Mets fan and prospect lover, who was not old enough to witness this time in Mets history, I just love reading things like this.

It is a time capsule of information that gives a perspective with hindsight removed. The are only so many things you can conclude by looking at a player’s baseball card, but something like this gives you those extra details that make it special.

And to their credit, in a time when following prospects wasn’t a very popular practice, they sure nailed Strawberry’s future on the head.

I am definitely considering buying the set of this series for myself, so I can place them in my house when I am older, and hopefully when my future son his older he will want to pick it up and enjoy it as much as I am right now. Amazing stuff.

About the Author: Former Writers

9 Comments + Add Comment

Nester February 14, 2012 at 9:32 am

Nice post. This was a pretty cool glimpse at what was to come with Straw who would go onto winning the NL ROY that year. I wonder if they had Dwight Gooden listed yet? Or any other interesting names
darth minaya February 14, 2012 at 9:48 am

I was 8 when Straw came up, and it was a pretty exciting time. The Mets were pretty awful in those days, and Darryl was the first “star” player the Mets had produced in a while. We probably gave him *too* hard of a time most of the time, because we selfishly expected him to become the second coming of Willie Mays, instead of the very good player he was. Would’ve been interesting to see what his career would have been like without the issues. Still probably my favorite Met of all-time.
Metsie February 14, 2012 at 9:52 am

Well Nick I will forgive you for not being alive back then to know but prospects were just as closely followed back then as they are now!
The only difference was there were no websites that sell subs and advertising based on the information that was available if you read the right newspapers and magazines!

The mets yearbook every year would focus on the rookies you were likely to see that year and give mention to those who were due to come up in the next few.

It may appear that these days there is more focus but the truth is there are just more people all trying to cash in by making a list to put on the web as a draw for their statistical data they put up to get yuou to subscribe!
- Nicholas Pugliese February 14, 2012 at 2:34 pm
  
  Well see you learn something new everyday, lol. I always had the impression that “prospecting: has taken a huge step forward over the last few years and that it is dramatically different today than it was even in the early 2000′s. But everything you said does make perfect sense so I won’t disagree with you!
  - Metsie February 14, 2012 at 5:50 pm
    
    nah really all that has changed is there are much more statistical records being kept in the Minors and much more importance is put on them in the media when they come up!
    
    If your not a ROY your nothing!
    
    Look at all the hoopla over Gee…practically non-existant yet he won how many games in a row right out of the gate?
    
    They were focused on back then just that people didn’t expect anything from them or worry about what they MIGHT do until they got promoted.
    Remember back in the say that was pretty much the ONLY way new players made the team!
    
    Now that Free Agency is here there is actually LESS focus on them franchise wide, They either play well or they get traded these days. Back then you HAD to make them good or you had no player for that positioon! Today you just buy one for the guy who busted!
darth minaya February 14, 2012 at 9:56 am

Shawn Abner, y’all!
srt February 14, 2012 at 10:11 am

Well into my young working career at the point that Straw and Doc came up. I remember their debuts well.
I also remember anytime I had a game on back in the day, making sure I was in front of the TV anytime Straw came to bat. You almost had the feeling he could hit it out anytime he was up at bat.
- Joe D February 14, 2012 at 10:25 am
  
  Do you remember when Joe Pignataro added strawberries to his tomato garden at Shea right after the Mets drafted him?
  - srt February 14, 2012 at 10:26 am
    
    hahaha – I forgot about that.

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