Bernie on the Scene: Every Day is the Same

Hello from my home in Cave Creek, Arizona. I can't tell the difference between Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Friday, Thursday, Sunday or Wednesday. But I'm still sane.

Count me among those who believe we will have a baseball season. It might only be 100 games, but I can't see the owners letting an entire season pass without revenue. They might not have attendance at the parks, but they will still have television and streaming rights if they play games.

The playoffs can be extended, with more teams involved. That will bring even more revenue to the coffers. The owners can do two things to keep the game going into November. They can add to the number of teams that qualify for the playoffs and they can extend the number of games required to win a particular series.

There is no precedent to follow. Everything can be on the table. In essence, to keep money flowing in the game, ownership can even move late fall games to warm weather cities, assuring streaming and broadcast rights. There won't be any home-team advantage in empty stadiums.

Obtaining Player Association approval for any change in the norm would not likely be an issue. The players want those paychecks. They want to play the games.

Isn't it amazing how lucky the NFL has become? Here we are, in the midst of every in-season sport totally shut down, and football is once again king. They can begin their new season and conduct business as usual. The only difference between now and past years? They are literally the only game in town and we all cling to every transaction. Amazing.

I think television coverage of the NFL Draft may become one of the highest-rated sports shows ever. By that time, we will all be ready for the loony bin.

I want to share some thoughts on several players. I will be doing that every week.

SIX PACK

Prospect Grades

Here's a bit of an explanation of the grades I provided the players below:

45 — utility player
50 — everyday player at his position (might get the large end of a platoon)
55 — better than the average major league player at his position.

Trevor Larnach, Twins, OF, BL, 6-4, 223

Larnach was a first-round pick in 2018 (20th overall) out of Oregon State. He has a measured swing and has the ability to use the entire field. A solid contact hitter, Larnach does not hunt home runs, taking the pitch where it is thrown.

Big and strong, power will be natural. He projects as a 20 home run hitter, and that will increase over time. His best tool is his ability to hit for average. At Double-A Pensacola he hit .295 in 181 plate appearances last year. He hit .316 at High-A Ft. Myers in 361 plate appearances.

He has a strong enough arm to stick in right field.

Still only 23, Larnach is a candidate to graduate at some point in 2021. Grade: 55

Greg Deichmann, A's, OF/3B/1B, BL, 6-2, 190

Deichmann is a big, strong left-handed hitter with excellent power. He hit nine home runs in the Arizona Fall League, and I saw a good number of them. When he barrels the ball, it's gone.

There's too many strikeouts in his game, but the power can't be denied. It may be tough for him to move in the Athletics organization due to his less-than-stellar batting average. However, he really is a good trade chip for a team like Oakland that is always looking to deal players.

Deichmann has a solid swing and really isn't over-aggressive at the plate. His hitting mechanics are simple and smooth. He has a very strong arm, making right field a natural position for him. He's also eligible at corner infield positions, improving his fantasy value. I just really like this guy's power — and I think he'll get better as a hitter. He's still only 24, and his power may even increase. Grade:  50

Braden Bishop, Mariners, OF, BR, 6-1, 190

I have been intrigued by Bishop's game since I first saw him as a raw rookie after he was drafted out of the University of Washington in the third round in 2015.

Bishop is not a true power-hitting outfielder. He is, however, a guy who hit .292 in three seasons at Washington and has a .291 composite average in the Mariners system. Even though he declined at the plate in batting average last year, his career average speaks to what I have observed.

Bishop hit eight homers last year at Triple-A Tacoma. He's much more a gap doubles hitter, but maybe his power will increase a bit. I wouldn't count on that. He's already 26 and we've never seen the long ball.

Bishop doesn't have much uppercut in his swing, choosing to barrel the ball with a more measured approach. His defense in the outfield is superb, and he may make the team for that reason alone.

My judgement on Bishop will become clearer this season. For now, I find him a late stash in AL-only leagues who may pay dividends in fantasy. Grade: 45

Kyle Isbel, Royals, OF, BL, 5-11, 183

A third-round draft pick in 2018, Isbel is a very athletic, speedy outfielder. He is a line-drive, gap type hitter without much power … yet. That may come. His game will be in his ability to get on base, steal and score runs. He stole six bases in seven attempts in the Arizona Fall League, where I saw him play.

When I saw him in spring training early in March, Isbel was making contact and using a measured stroke to get on base. He has a good eye, but with his speed, he should take more pitches and accept more bases on balls. That may improve. He just turned 23 in early March.

Isbel was a .322 hitter at the University of Nevada in three seasons before the draft. I don't see him approaching that type of batting average due to slowish bat speed and a lack of patience. But he's a guy that will improve with exposure to quality pitching and repetition. Grade: 50

Jeter Downs, Red Sox, SS/2B, BR, 5-11, 180

At age 21, Jeter Downs was an important component of the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. The Red Sox didn't obtain Downs to keep in their minor league system. They got him to plug their hole at second base, as soon as 2021.

The Reds selected Downs in the first round (No. 32 overall) of the 2017 draft out of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Florida.  He was traded for Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig after the 2018 season.

Downs is a selective hitter, capable of using the entire field. A smart baseball player, Downs knows his own skills well, picking times to run and steal bases. His speed is only a tad above average, but he uses it very well. He stole 24 of 32 bases last year combined between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.

Downs has some power in his strong frame to hit the gaps and add in some homers with a natural swing.  Grade: 55

Jared Oliva, Pirates, OF, BR, 6-2, 195

Oliva was a seventh-round selection in the 2017 draft out of the University of Arizona. He hit .280 in his three-year career. 

Oliva stole 36 bases in 46 attempts while playing at Double-A Altoona last season. He stole an additional 10 bases in 13 attempts in the Fall League. Even though he hit .312 in the AFL, speed is Oliva's best and most advanced tool.

At age 24, Oliva is a savvy hitter. He knows how important it is for him to be patient and accept walks. He doesn't have much power, but his frame may continue to develop and he can hit a few balls out of the park. 

Given the current state of the Pirates, and their need for virtually every position in their organization, Oliva has enough potential to gain attention in the organization. Grade: 50

DRIBBLERS

• When I was in Ft. Myers early in spring training, I warned of my concern for Chris Sale. At the time I was at their camp, Sale had just had his second exam. Now the team has finally announced he will undergo Tommy John surgery. There is no doubt in my mind the delay of the start of the baseball season made that decision much easier. 

• The Red Sox rotation is now a further mess. Look for Ryan Weber to be one of their starters. He was at camp on a minor league invitation. I'm not a fan. He likely will join oft-injured Nathan Eovaldi and very hittable Martin Perez along with Eduardo Rodriguez (who I do like) in one of the worst rotations in the American League. Lefty Brian Johnson also has a shot at pitching in the Red Sox woeful rotation.

• If you follow me on Twitter, there will be days when I take questions on my Twitter feed. My intent is to keep baseball conversation going. Feel free to join the conversation.

• One thing I know for certain. I'm helping out my cable company by renting plenty of movies. I'm always looking for good movies to watch, so slip me the names of some thrillers or mysteries in the comment section below. No science fiction, or war movies, please.

EXTRA INNINGS

I write seven articles a month for forbes.com. If you are looking for baseball reading material, just hit forbes.com, tap the looking glass and type in PLESKOFF. All my Forbes articles will appear. Thanks for reading them.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and bring your friends. We'll get through this.