Floor to Ceiling: Buxton, Gordon, Kepler

Until they make it in big league any player's floor is bust

Interesting takes. Would it be possible to get some major league comparisons for both boom and busts for each player?

"Running down balls in center field and going from first to third on a single is a skill that can't be taught."    My understanding is that speed is a talent more than a skill.   His talent is unique.    The skill is what IS taught.   For example, most people have the talent to nitpick, but I have developed my talent so I have the skill.

Buxton: He's already reached his floor. Fast as hell, yet just a so-so base stealer despite his speed. Hasn't learned to lay off the sucker curve off the outside corner, the same pitch that sent young Torii Hunter back to AAA. Yet when he connects with a baseball, it's usually a hard line drive. Defensively, seems like no fly ball is a sure hit, but he needs to stop running into walls and people. Haven't really seen him show off the arm yet. Can he learn how to steal bases? Can he learn to lay off the sucker curve? I'd bet on it. 

Kepler: Der Kid just keeps getting better at this odd American game. He has already passed his floor as a fourth outfielder. He's starter quality now, if he just gets a chance. No reason to think he won't continue to improve, he appears very coachable. I just wish he'd get rid of that thick Ohio accent. ;-)

Gordon: Haven't seen him play, so I have no idea. 

Buxton:   Ceiling all star CF. Top of the order bat, 35-50 SB, and defensive game changer.  Floor: Defensive stud with 35 SB and a .260 hitter.  Still a really good player.

Gordon:  Ceiling.  Above average defensively.  League average bat. I don’t see him as an all-star.  You have Lindor and Bogarts in the AL.   Floor:  Does not make the major leagues.

Kepler:  I buy 20/20. I am not sure if that is an all star though in the OF.  Ceiling: 4th OF.  Totally agree.

I mostly agree but Gordon makes the majors barring injury. Given his "entirely adequate" skillset, he has a floor of futility guy. He's not exceptional at anything - at least it appears that way - but he's not bad at anything, either (unlike Polanco and Vielma). That guy makes the majors almost every time. In essence, he'd be Levi Michael with defensive ability. If Michael could play short, he's probably with another team in the majors as a backup infielder going into Opening Day.

The problem with a guy like Gordon is, he is going up against two guys that may excel at something that more than make up for their issues.    If Polanco could put up a .750 or .800 OPS maybe you live with a ball or two getting through. 

A. Simmons has a career OPS of .666 an yet has a WAR of 17 across four seasons.  So if Vielma can improve his bat a little bit maybe you live with it?  
 

Possibly... but each of those players require pretty drastic improvement in some facet of their game where Gordon merely has to keep doing what he's been doing to reach the majors in some capacity. I think you're undervaluing the "acceptable at everything" aspect of Gordon, especially from a guy at shortstop.

Maybe, I just hope that with the crop of SS we have in our system, the one that is the major league SS for the next ten years is not just sort of OK at everything.  A meh kind of player.

There's no way you should have a guy in your lineup with a low .600s ops, even if he is near Simmons-level defensively (which I doubt Vielma is given how incredible Simmons is.)

Fangraphs has him 5th in WAR from 2013 to 2015 among SS. And .666 is not in the low .600's.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2015&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

Sure, I understand that... But it's possible, maybe even likely, that Gordon improves as much or more than the other guys in the system. It's possible he becomes a very good defensive SS who posts a .750 OPS in the majors. In today's game, that's a top five shortstop.

Possible, but in my opinion unlikely Gordon has a .750 in the majors.   Most prospects see their numbers go down as they advance, not increase.

Sure, I understand that... But it's possible, maybe even likely, that Gordon improves as much or more than the other guys in the system. It's possible he becomes a very good defensive SS who posts a .750 OPS in the majors. In today's game, that's a top five shortstop.

Possible, but in my opinion unlikely Gordon has a .750 in the majors.   Most prospects see their numbers go down as they advance, not increase.

Sure, I understand that... But it's possible, maybe even likely, that Gordon improves as much or more than the other guys in the system. It's possible he becomes a very good defensive SS who posts a .750 OPS in the majors. In today's game, that's a top five shortstop.

Possible, but in my opinion unlikely Gordon has a .750 in the majors.   Most prospects see their numbers go down as they advance, not increase.

They all have the same floor we do- homeless tweaker meth-heads.  Hopefully that's no more realistic for them than it is for us.  Well, for me anyway.  I don't know what other people have going on.  Good luck to us all.

I always like looking at comps for prospects. How does Michael Brantley (healthy version) sound as a nice ceiling comp for Max Kepler?

I said in another thread, but a comp to Mark Kotsay sounds fair.  Kepler gets alot of love for his 2015 season but he needs to prove it was the REAL Kepler (which I believe it was) and not a mirage.  Kepler doesn't have one outstanding tool but rather is good across the board; he's a tweener.  Doesn't cover enough ground to be a CF daily and doesn't project to be a big power threat as a LFer.  So ya I'm holding to Kotsay prime, 20/20ish .290/.350/.450/.800