Elite Pitching Prospects: 2003 through 2006

Last week, I looked at the Top 25 Pitchers in 2011 (according to Fangraphs WAR) and how they were rated as prospects. Today I'm doing something slightly different, and looking at all pitching prospects that I rated Grade A or A- between 2003 and 2006.

I'm not doing earlier years because the way I rated players in the old STATS Minor League Scouting Notebooks was slightly different than the way I do it in the Baseball Prospect Book. I'm not looking at years past 2006 because I want to look at guys who are firmly established. I am not looking at players who had lower ratings than Grade A- because I want to keep the focus manageable and looking just at the super-elite, top 20 type guys. Keep in mind that there is often not a lot of difference between a Grade B+ and a Grade A-.

First, here is how I define Grade A/A- prospects in my book:

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Last week, I looked at the Top 30 Position Players in 2011 (according to Fangraphs WAR) and how they were rated as prospects. Today I'm doing something slightly different, and looking at all prospects that I rated Grade A or A- between 2003 and 2006.

I'm not doing earlier years because the way I rated players in the old STATS Minor League Scouting Notebooks was slightly different than the way I do it in the Baseball Prospect Book. I'm not looking at years past 2006 because I want to look at guys who are firmly established. I am not looking at players who had lower ratings than Grade A- because I want to keep the focus manageable and looking just at the super-elite, top 20 type guys. Keep in mind that there is often not a lot of difference between a Grade B+ and a Grade A-.

First, here is how I define Grade A/A- prospects in my book:

Continue reading this post »

Before I get going to much here, I want to be up front with you guys. I have not seen every player in my top 100 lists. I haven't seen any of them in person. I have seen several of them multiple times on TV though. These five I have seen play at least once and as many as four times in live games as well as multiple showcase videos or other video from game situations. I have a very good feel for these guys.

There are others I don't have a great feel for, and I will say that when it applies. I will likely reference other articles that I have read as well as link to video. I hope to link to a video for every player so you can see what I am seeing as well. This summer I hope to attend at least one showcase if not more so I can see some of these guys in person. That's my goal. Without further ado, here is the first five.

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I don't see much of a reason to talk about baseball today, so here is a Super Bowl discussion thread for you.

We shall return to regular baseball coverage tomorrow.

This question was raised in the AQA yesterday. Someone asked me if I would prefer to have the Seattle Mariners Trio of pitching prospects (Taijuan Walker, A-; Danny Hultzen, A-: James Paxton, strong B+) or the Oakland Athletics Quartet of pitching prospects (Jarrod Parker, A-; A.J. Cole, B+; Sonny Gray, strong B, Brad Peacock, strong B).

I said I wasn't sure, given the attrition rate of pitching prospects, quantity had a quality of its own. What do you guys think? Which group of pitching prospects would you rather have?

The 2012 Baseball Prospect Book should start showing up in mailboxes today. Who has a book?

This is an All Questions Answered thread.

Ground Rules:

1) one question per poster

2) don't try to disguise multiple questions as one

3) this is rapid-fire format. Questions requiring large amounts of research may be punted or turned into a different post.

NO MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE. I HAVE PLENTY TO WORK THROUGH.

Enjoy!

There will be an All-Questions Answered Thread on Friday, February 3rd, beginning at 9 AM CST.