Since I've still getting emails about why certain farm systems weren't reviewed (you didn't review this system, you ignored this prospect, you suck you Yankee/Red Sox hater, etc), I figured, what the hell, let me just start a regular feature.

Introducing The Prospect Six Pack, where I'll pick six random prospects and post up the mini scouting reports, semi-inspired by Kevin Goldstein.  Enjoy.

Prospect Six Pack

Carlos Gomez (CF) – Mets

• DOB:  12/4/85
• Signed:  2002, Dominican Republic
• 2008 Club:  Birmingham Mets (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-2/170
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny:  Gomez has been aggressively promoted by the Mets for quite some time, but when Lastings Milledge, Moises Alou and Shawn Green all got hurt around the same time, the Mets were forced to call up Gomez and put him into service.  The result was predictable, as Gomez was undisciplined, raw and clearly not ready.
• The Good:  Part of the reason why Milledge was dealt was because the Mets feel that ultimately, Gomez will be better.  He’s a great athlete with remarkable speed, a solid defender, and good power potential.
• The Bad:  As I said, Gomez was rushed and the result was poor plate disciplined, power potential that is undeveloped and some rawness in the field as well.  The Mets need to have him in the minors, as he shouldn’t be on a major league bench. 
• Projection:  Average.  Gomez really had no business playing in the majors last year and the Mets gambled on him not getting his development stagnated by promoting him.  That said, he could still be a quality prospect if the Mets don’t do anything stupid.
• What He Can Be:  An above average centerfielder with an exciting speed and power combination.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Gomez will likely be back in Double A, where regular playing time against appropriate competition should help him continue his development process.  I’m hoping the Mets don’t pull a stunt like they did last year again.

Rick Porcello (RHP) – Tigers

• DOB: 12/27/88
• Drafted:  1st Round, 2007, New Jersey High School
• 2008 Club:  West Michigan Whitecaps (Low A)
• Height/Weight: 6-5/195
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Regarded to be the best prep pitcher since Josh Beckett, Porcello certainly looked it at times during his senior year at Seton Hall Prep and was reportedly considered by the Royals at two.  However, what happened was that Porcello’s advisor, Scott Boras, demanded Beckett’s contract, which was a 4 year Major League Deal, plus a bonus adjusted for inflation.  The result was that Porcello fell until the Tigers picked at 27, where they took the chance on him and gave him what Boras wanted, drawing the ire of Major League Baseball in return.
• The Good: Porcello was described to be the best prep prospect in the class and has drawn Josh Beckett like comparisons.  He throws a fastball that sits around 94-95 mph and hits 96, all with good movement on both his two and four seamer.  He throws a curve in the low 70’s and a slider that sits at around 80.  Finishing it all is his changeup, which is already a plus pitch and complements his curve well.  All in all, that’s a hell of an arsenal, especially when you consider that most high school prospects only have two pitches when drafted.
• The Bad: Porcello's command and control have been inconsistent.  Many also wonder about his durability, as he hasn’t pitched as much because of the weather in the Northeast.  The final flag is that because of his deal, Porcello has four years to develop and get to the Majors, whether he is ready or not.
• Projection:  Very High.  Porcello could be the next Beckett, but he could also be god awful, as the contract is a contract that could stunt his development, especially if he struggles.  So, he had better be what Boras has advertised.  And, to be quite honest, I’m not sure that Porcello is much better than Jarrod Parker, whom the Diamondbacks took higher up and got for a less money than Porcello.
• What He Can Be:  A bonafide Ace.
• 2008 Course Of Action: Like it or not, the clock is ticking and Porcello will likely begin the season with the White Caps, where hopefully he’ll be ready for action.

Jay Bruce (CF) – Reds

• DOB: 4/3/87
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2005, Texas High School
• 2008 Club:  Louisville Bats (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 6-3/195
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  Drafted by the Reds in the first round, Bruce has been compared by scouts to former major leaguer Larry Walker.  Since coming into the system, Bruce has done nothing but hit for power and play some mean defense and is now on the fast path to the majors for the Reds.  He’s already jumped from High A to Triple A and didn’t even stay long in Double A because he was so dominant. 
• The Good:  Bruce has great tools all around the board.  He’s got 30 home run potential and hits to all fields.  Though he’s got only average speed, he’s a great base runner.  He's got a strong arm and he has the range to play centerfield.  He does have some issues hitting lefties, but he’s improved enough where he shouldn’t have many issues with them.
• The Bad:  His swing can get long, resulting in lots of strikeouts.  And, while Bruce is average as a centerfielder now, it’s likely that he’ll eventually move to right field as his body fills out.
• Projection:  Average.  Bruce has been translating his tools into performance for the past couple of seasons and he's moving faster than expected.  He’s moved a lot faster than anyone could have anticipated.  He’s also got the potential to get a lot better than he already is, a sobering thought.
• What He Can Be:  An All Star Quality Right Fielder, Like Larry Walker.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Josh Hamilton was traded to the Rangers to eventually open up a job for Bruce, should he win one in Spring Training.  However, it’s more than likely that Bruce will start the season in the minors before being called up at midseason, depending on where the Reds are in the standings as well as when Ken Griffey Jr. makes his inevitable trip to the DL.

Colby Rasmus (CF) – Cardinals

• DOB: 8/11/86
• Drafted: 1st round, 2005, Alabama High School
• 2008 Club:  Memphis Redbirds (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 6-2/185
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  Rasmus, the top prospect in the Cardinals system, enjoyed a breakout year in Double A and has rapidly developed faster than a lot of people may have thought possible, but it really shouldn’t be a surprise considering all the excellent prep outfield prospects drafted in 2005 (Jay Bruce, Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutcheon, just to name a few).
• The Good: Rasmus is one of the most athletic players in the Cardinals system with loads of tools.  He’s got a quick bat and solid power potential to make him a 25-homer threat in the majors.  He’s got good pitch recognition and should draw a good amount of walks in the majors.  He’s also a dynamic centerfield, with good range and a strong arm. 
• The Bad: Rasmus has some problems with lefties and he can be over aggressive, leading to strikeouts and being caught stealing. 
• Projection:  Average.  Rasmus is nearly ready for the show and he’ll only get better as time goes on.  Given time, he should be all that and more than what Jim Edmonds was for the Cardinals.  Long term, Rasmus gives the Cardinals another middle of the order bat to plug in behind Albert Pujols, which should help the big man’s chances to see some pitches.
• What He Can Be:  A star center fielder.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  In spite of what the Cardinals are saying about Rasmus being in the mix for their starting centerfielder job, that’s a hell of a jump to go from Double A to the Majors.  Rasmus is going to be starting for the Redbirds, where he’ll get some more seasoning, and could perhaps see some action with the Cardinals come August, as he’s not ready yet.

Will Middlebrooks (SS) – Red Sox

• DOB:  9/9/88
• Drafted:  5th Round, 2007, Texas High School
• 2008 Club:  Lowell Spinners (Short Season)
• Height/Weight: 6-4/200
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  A Top baseball and football prospect (QB), Middlebrooks' two-sport status may have lead to his falling down to the 9th round of the draft.  Boston, never a stranger to taking high ceiling talent in the lower rounds, pulled the trigger and signed him for almost a million dollars.
• The Good: A fantastic athlete with potential on the field and on the mound, Middlebrooks has good power potential and makes good, solid contact with the bat.  He’s got good speed and is an excellent baserunner as well.  Middlebrooks also has a strong arm and exceptional hands defensively.
• The Bad:  Middlebrooks lacks range, making a move to third base all but inevitable.  And while his speed is solid now, that could change as he continues to fill out and mature. 
• Projection:  High.  I like Middlebrooks and felt that Boston stolen him in the 5th round, which more than made up for their lack of a first rounder in 2007.  While he didn’t make my top 15 of Sox Prospects, he could easily rise up that list, depending on his campaign.
• What He Can Be: A power hitting third baseman in the mold of Troy Glaus.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  I think Middlebrooks will be kept at shortstop for now and will be worked with in extended Spring Training until Lowell starts their season, after which, he’ll being the year as the Spinners’ starting shortstop.

Daniel Moskos (LHP) – Pirates

• DOB:  4/28/86
• Drafted: 1st round, 2007, Clemson
• 2008 Club:  Hickory Crawdads (High A)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/200
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  Moskos was one of the top left handed college talents in the country that’s money as a closer.  However, there’s so much more to Moskos that just that.  There is the potential for more if he gets drafted in the right organization.  Because of the financial concerns that came with the Boras clients, the Pirates shied away from the mass of Boras arms available and instead took Moskos, who was a massive overdraft. 
• The Good:  Moskos has good velocity, throwing in the low 90’s while working up as high as the mid 90’s as a closer.  His fastball has great movement and he’s got a nice delivery.  He compliments this fastball with a filthy slider.  He’s also working on a changeup as a third pitch and many feel that he could be an excellent starter.
• The Bad:  The changeup is still a work in progress, so there’s no guarantee that he can get it up to a major league level pitch.  Plus, at his size, with a max effort delivery, Moskos is probably best-suited for the bullpen long-term.
• Projection: Low if he’s a closer.  He could probably setup in September, similar to what Andrew Miller did.  As a starter, I would say he’s going some average projection left.
• What He Can Be: A dominant closer
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Moskos has been told by the Pirates that he will remain as a reliever and he could very well enter the season as the Pirates' closer if they choose to go that route.  It’s more likely, however, that he’ll begin the season in Hickory.

   

Hope you enjoyed it.  If you want to see anyone in particular, leave a comment or send me a line at the email of FoxMail.