Braden is not even on the list? Considering how their is barely any info on Ramon Alvarado, who dominated rookie league but ist 21 years old, i would have thought you would not even have him on the list.

The inclusion of Jared Burton is somewhat surprising. He dominated high A, but is 24 years old. My guess is that his sudden improvement was in become a closer (permanent reliever) rather than a swingman type. All his peripherals shot up significantly. I honestly don't know what kind of stuff he has though. Can you enlighten?

Also would have though Gregorio Petit makes it over someone like Alvarado. He's younger, 2 levels higher, has GG potential on defense... And had a good year with the stick. I thought he would be a C+ or something...

Another omission (IMO): Jason Windsor. Though you can't fit everyone.

One question: Do you know anything about Anthony Recker?

Overall, it's pretty much what i thought. A few high upside guys, with mostly "solid" prospect depth all the way down.

I wrote about the A's top 20 prospects a few weeks ago, with comments. I'll post just the list with my projected (at the time) grades as well.

I should have replaced Recker/Webb with Sellers/Shull though.

1)Daric Barton: A-
2)Javier Herrera: B+
3)Cliff Pennington: B
4)Travis Buck: B
5)Kevin Melillo: B
6)Craig Italiano: B
7)Dan Meyer: B
8)Santiao Casilla: B
9)Vincent Mazzaro: B-
10)Shane Komine: B-
11)Jared Lansford: B-
12)Dallas Braden: B-
13)Danny Putnam: B-
14)Richie Robnett: B-
15)Jason Windsor: C+
16)Jason Ray: C+
17)Kurt Suzuki: C+
18)Ryan Webb: C+
19)Gregorio Petit: C+
20)Anthony Recker: C

I should have taken Recker and Webb off, their numbers simply weren't good enough. I also noted Alvarado, though since i have basically no info on him didn't include him. Should have left in Sellers and Shull.

I've seen it spelled both ways.

Thanks a lot!

In general, which do you grade higher with similar talent: a player coming off an extended injury, who has yet to play since the injury but has a clean bill of health, or a player who has been producing well recently, but has a very injury prone past?

.300 75  20  80  0  type seasons makes him a middle tier 1B. Not sexy at all. Im not sold on him and I think he is a guy to trade- talk to me, people.

Does Craig T. Italian(aka C. Thomas Italiano) have the stuff to be a starter or do you think that he'll eventually move to the bullpen?

Why the full letter drop for Richie Robnett?  Is it strictly on his poor strike zone judgement?  You commented last year how you felt more sure about Robnett than Hererra, yet the grades don't reflect that now.  I'm curious as to what you see for both players now.

Do you feel that Jason Windsor's struggle at AA is a bad sign for him, or do you expect him to rebound next year?

If Brian Snyder and Landon Powell comeback healthy next year, is it likely they climb back to the B range, or are they more likely AAAA guys?

i'd also move rheinecker up. he's pretty much major-league ready (not that there's an opening in this organization) and had been consistently decent prior to pitching great and then getting hurt in '05. the finger injury is an issue, but it's not a long-term crippler like an elbow or shoulder, at least in my mind.

Braden was a year removed from NCAA and was struggling with fatigue and he still pitched decent in AA.

Burton was drafted in 2002...Out of college no less, and was still in High A. I wouldn't consider him a top 50 prospect in the system, let alone in the teens, ahead of Jason Ray, Dallas Braden etc