Amir

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

Quote from: desco80 on February 21, 2012, 01:52:32 PM

Amir looked great last night.  And his baseball career is far from a sure thing.  If I remember correctly he hasn't played baseball since he was sophomore in high school right?    Now granted, the Reds saw enough in the one tryout to draft him on talent alone.  But I wouldn't say it's a forgone conclusion that his future is in baseball. 

And fwiw, he's easily my favorite player on this team.

Desco...if I'm not mistaken he played travel ball right up until before his senior year of HS. And while anyones baseball career is far from a sure thing, the Reds didnt just draft him...they drafted him and gave him a million dollars to sign, which is the equivalent of first round money. The last two picks in the first round didnt even get that much. Not saying that makes him a sure thing, but the Reds didnt just take a flyer on him. They made a major investment in him and they're going to want to see a return.

Did he play travel?  I didn't realize that.
And yea I knew the Reds paid way over "slot" for him.  Nobody in the 22nd round is getting anywhere close to that kind of bonus.  So you're right, they clearly saw enough to make that investment.   I guess we'll have to wait and see.   
It'll be interesting to see how his minor league experience goes.  I could see him either blossoming, and having a pitching coach get in his ear about what could be if he devoted himself full time to baseball.  Or, conversely, I could see him getting frustrated with a game he's only been partially devoted to the last few years.   Don't forget these will be pros he's going up against now.   Guys who have been hitting college or minor league pitching for years.   That could be a rude awakening for him

Oh, and I looked it up tnice, you're definitely right he was playing some ball up till his senior season at Findlay.  Because i found an article that mentioned he was at USA Baseball tryouts in the summer of 2010. 

If Amir begins his professional baseball career this summer, as have been reported, will he still be eligible to continue playing basketball for us?

Yes, you can be a professional in one sport and still be an amateur in another. If he wanted he could pitch in the minors all summer and play basketball all winter for St. John's until he graduates.

Only question is will he? It's probably 50-50 him coming back next year only because he'll probably be playing rookie and low A ball.

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

I think he loves the game too much to just quit. Especially since he's been evolving as a player these last few games. He develops his jumper a bit more, he could be a DJ Kennedy type player for us.

Quote from: Mparty7441 on February 21, 2012, 03:48:42 PM

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

I think he loves the game too much to just quit. Especially since he's been evolving as a player these last few games. He develops his jumper a bit more, he could be a DJ Kennedy type player for us.

He goes up stronger than anyone. That's why I think Postell is a good comparison. I think of DJ as more crafty. Garrett wants to dunk everything. He's like the guys from the 98-99 team.

Quote from: Mparty7441 on February 21, 2012, 03:48:42 PM

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

I think he loves the game too much to just quit. Especially since he's been evolving as a player these last few games. He develops his jumper a bit more, he could be a DJ Kennedy type player for us.

I like the DJ comparison.  I think it's a good one because he boards and is unselfish to a fault at times.   
But I'm not sure he "loves the game too much to just quit".

"he says baseball is his "first love." His father, Darrow, chooses to describe Amir as "a baseball player who plays basketball"

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/luke_winn/06/06/amir-garrett-st-johns-mlb/index.html#ixzz1n3QVGFwf

Quote from: redstorm212 on February 21, 2012, 04:14:15 PM

Quote from: Mparty7441 on February 21, 2012, 03:48:42 PM

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

I think he loves the game too much to just quit. Especially since he's been evolving as a player these last few games. He develops his jumper a bit more, he could be a DJ Kennedy type player for us.

I like DJ comparison.  I think it's a good one because he boards and is unselfish to a fault at times.   
But I'm not sure he "loves the game too much to just quit".

"he says baseball is his "first love." His father, Darrow, chooses to describe Amir as "a baseball player who plays basketball"

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/luke_winn/06/06/amir-garrett-st-johns-mlb/index.html#ixzz1n3QVGFwf

Well he shows the most heart and emotion of anyone on the team it seems (D'Angelo too). And if he didn't have a passion for basketball why not go straight to baseball? I doubt he planned on only playing his freshman year when he signed up.

Quote from: tnice on February 21, 2012, 03:13:23 PM

Quote from: desco80 on February 21, 2012, 01:52:32 PM

Amir looked great last night.  And his baseball career is far from a sure thing.  If I remember correctly he hasn't played baseball since he was sophomore in high school right?    Now granted, the Reds saw enough in the one tryout to draft him on talent alone.  But I wouldn't say it's a forgone conclusion that his future is in baseball. 

And fwiw, he's easily my favorite player on this team.

Desco...if I'm not mistaken he played travel ball right up until before his senior year of HS. And while anyones baseball career is far from a sure thing, the Reds didnt just draft him...they drafted him and gave him a million dollars to sign, which is the equivalent of first round money. The last two picks in the first round didnt even get that much. Not saying that makes him a sure thing, but the Reds didnt just take a flyer on him. They made a major investment in him and they're going to want to see a return.

Did he play travel?  I didn't realize that.
And yea I knew the Reds paid way over "slot" for him.  Nobody in the 22nd round is getting anywhere close to that kind of bonus.  So you're right, they clearly saw enough to make that investment.   I guess we'll have to wait and see.   
It'll be interesting to see how his minor league experience goes.  I could see him either blossoming, and having a pitching coach get in his ear about what could be if he devoted himself full time to baseball.  Or, conversely, I could see him getting frustrated with a game he's only been partially devoted to the last few years.   Don't forget these will be pros he's going up against now.   Guys who have been hitting college or minor league pitching for years.   That could be a rude awakening for him

Oh, and I looked it up tnice, you're definitely right he was playing some ball up till his senior season at Findlay.  Because i found an article that mentioned he was at USA Baseball tryouts in the summer of 2010.

Yep. Part of the reason he was kind of a late bloomer who shot up the rankings was because he was really more of a baseball player than a hoopster before his senior year.

I dont see his baseball career interfering with his SJU hoops for at least a few years. At the level he'll be playing at, he'll be playing against other guys his own age and relative (in)experience, but those leagues are much shorter seasons than the majors or even higher level minors. Whoever mentioned the Arizona Fall League...they usually dont send 19 year old kids there (unless your name is Bryce Harper). I dont see us losing him, but I also wouldnt count on him improving much.

And btw, he's one of my favorites too. If you could put his personality/aggressiveness into Mo, Mo would be Kevin Durant.

Look how hard Amir worked just so he could get here in december to play for St Johns. He easily could have said screw it and decided to play baseball.

I think he's coming back next year

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

His bonus is spread out over 5 years because he is a 2 sport player. He is guaranteed the same money if he plays baseball year round (less  the minor league salary), no incentive for him to quit basketball unless he is knocking on the REds parent club door to earn the MLB minimum.

personally id be surprised if he didnt come back

Its hard for me to believe that he busted his butt to qualify, just to play 1 semester of basketball.

We seem to have a propensity to discuss one of our guys leaving us after he has a good game.  We had Mo going first round next year earlier in the season, now some think Amir will not be back.  Some were right with Nuri being a "one and done", unless you count the nine games he played, as a "nine and done".  Malik leaving us in mid season was a bit of a shocker.

While none of us knows what the future will bring for any of this year's team, enjoy the ups and downs of the Fresh Five this season.

Schedule-wise, Amir, as a rookie, should not have a conflict with playing both sports. Stamina may dictate otherwise, but hey, playing as many minutes as he has this half of the season should prepare him for two sports.  As he moves up in the baseball ranks, he might have to decide on being a one sport athlete.  For now, he is some exciting college BB player.

Quote from: Mparty7441 on February 21, 2012, 03:48:42 PM

Just a total guess, but I  would say it's more likely than not that Amir does not play basketball for us next season.

His bonus is spread out over 5 years because he is a 2 sport player. He is guaranteed the same money if he plays baseball year round (less  the minor league salary), no incentive for him to quit basketball unless he is knocking on the REds parent club door to earn the MLB minimum.

That makes a ton of sense.  Great point. 
I guess the incentive for him wouldn't be immediate, it would be in terms of time spent doing one is preventing him from being better at the other.  If he reaches a certain point he might say, I'm getting paid the same, but if I take off another winter I'll be behind the 8-ball compared to the other prospects I'm competing against in spring training. 

Don't think we're there yet.  But excellent point about his bonus being guaranteed. 

Its hard for me to believe that he busted his butt to qualify, just to play 1 semester of basketball.

This is a good point.

Quote from: desco80 on February 21, 2012, 03:49:17 PM

Quote from: tnice on February 21, 2012, 03:13:23 PM

Quote from: desco80 on February 21, 2012, 01:52:32 PM

Amir looked great last night.  And his baseball career is far from a sure thing.  If I remember correctly he hasn't played baseball since he was sophomore in high school right?    Now granted, the Reds saw enough in the one tryout to draft him on talent alone.  But I wouldn't say it's a forgone conclusion that his future is in baseball. 

And fwiw, he's easily my favorite player on this team.

Desco...if I'm not mistaken he played travel ball right up until before his senior year of HS. And while anyones baseball career is far from a sure thing, the Reds didnt just draft him...they drafted him and gave him a million dollars to sign, which is the equivalent of first round money. The last two picks in the first round didnt even get that much. Not saying that makes him a sure thing, but the Reds didnt just take a flyer on him. They made a major investment in him and they're going to want to see a return.

Did he play travel?  I didn't realize that.
And yea I knew the Reds paid way over "slot" for him.  Nobody in the 22nd round is getting anywhere close to that kind of bonus.  So you're right, they clearly saw enough to make that investment.   I guess we'll have to wait and see.   
It'll be interesting to see how his minor league experience goes.  I could see him either blossoming, and having a pitching coach get in his ear about what could be if he devoted himself full time to baseball.  Or, conversely, I could see him getting frustrated with a game he's only been partially devoted to the last few years.   Don't forget these will be pros he's going up against now.   Guys who have been hitting college or minor league pitching for years.   That could be a rude awakening for him

Oh, and I looked it up tnice, you're definitely right he was playing some ball up till his senior season at Findlay.  Because i found an article that mentioned he was at USA Baseball tryouts in the summer of 2010.

Yep. Part of the reason he was kind of a late bloomer who shot up the rankings was because he was really more of a baseball player than a hoopster before his senior year.

I dont see his baseball career interfering with his SJU hoops for at least a few years. At the level he'll be playing at, he'll be playing against other guys his own age and relative (in)experience, but those leagues are much shorter seasons than the majors or even higher level minors. Whoever mentioned the Arizona Fall League...they usually dont send 19 year old kids there (unless your name is Bryce Harper). I dont see us losing him, but I also wouldnt count on him improving much.

And btw, he's one of my favorites too. If you could put his personality/aggressiveness into Mo, Mo would be Kevin Durant.

Say WHAT?

As a JUNIOR, he led Luezinger High School to the Califorinia CIF Championship.    HE was CIF D-A Player of the Year.  He was first team all-state, first team "Best in the West".      THEN he transferred to Findlay for his senior year.  BTY, Leuzinger has had one other CIF Player of the year in their history.   Kid named Russell Westbrook.

If he has not pitched much in last few years Reds will want to limit his innings making it likely he will be back for at least one more year.

If he has not pitched much in last few years Reds will want to limit his innings making it likely he will be back for at least one more year.

This. More than anything else, Amir is going to a short season affiliate to control his innings. Based on the Reds' past practice I'd say the Pioneer League Billings Mustangs or the DSL Reds. Both seasons end by late August/early September. Even if Amir pitches lights out, he will be shut down at the end of the season and can be back on campus for the beginning of the semester. He'll be back next year. No doubt.   

Quote from: Celtics11 on February 21, 2012, 09:40:33 PM

If he has not pitched much in last few years Reds will want to limit his innings making it likely he will be back for at least one more year.

This. More than anything else, Amir is going to a short season affiliate to control his innings. Based on the Reds' past practice I'd say the Pioneer League Billings Mustangs or the DSL Reds. Both seasons end by late August/early September. Even if Amir pitches lights out, he will be shut down at the end of the season and can be back on campus for the beginning of the semester. He'll be back next year. No doubt.   

If he hasn't been playing organized ball; they're going to want to work with him during the limited time they have.  I'd suspect he reports to extended spring training and spends the majority of his spring/summer in Arizona getting instruction and working with their rehabing players and other prospects. 

Quote from: jcoast12 on February 21, 2012, 10:01:26 PM

Quote from: Celtics11 on February 21, 2012, 09:40:33 PM

If he has not pitched much in last few years Reds will want to limit his innings making it likely he will be back for at least one more year.

This. More than anything else, Amir is going to a short season affiliate to control his innings. Based on the Reds' past practice I'd say the Pioneer League Billings Mustangs or the DSL Reds. Both seasons end by late August/early September. Even if Amir pitches lights out, he will be shut down at the end of the season and can be back on campus for the beginning of the semester. He'll be back next year. No doubt.   

If he hasn't been playing organized ball; they're going to want to work with him during the limited time they have.  I'd suspect he reports to extended spring training and spends the majority of his spring/summer in Arizona getting instruction and working with their rehabing players and other prospects. 

Agreeing with you that they'll want to work with him as much as they can, but I think he has a program worked out with the team to begin arm strengthening workouts as soon as the bball season ends.  Then he'll report to Arizona after he finishes with finals for further conditioning and instruction, and will join a competitive short season team come June. No inside info, just my opinion. Each team has a different philosophy, though, so little surprises me anymore.