Help Me Rank These AL Prospects

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 12:02 PM EST

I am looking for a little help. I have listed 37 American League prospects below in alphabetical order by first name. I am looking for a ranking of 1 through 37. I have my thoughts; but would really like to hear what you guys think. Thanks in advance for your help.

Brandon Marrow (p): M's
Bill Rowell (3b): O's
Brian Barton(of): Indians
Bryce Cox (p): Red Sox
Chris Parmalee (of): Twins
Chuck Lofgren (p): Indians
Clay Buckholz (p): Red Sox
Curtis Thigpen (c): Blue Jays
Daniel Bard (p): Red Sox
Edison Volquez (p): Rangers
Erick Aybar (ss): Angles
Eric Hurley (p): Rangers
Evan Longoria (3rd/ss): D'Rays
Gio Gonzalez (p): White Sox
George Kottaras (c): Red Sox
Hank Conger (c): Angles
Humberto Sanchez (p): Yankees
Ian Kennedy (p): Yankees
John Marberry Jr. (of): Rangers
Jeff Mathis (c): Angles
Joba Chamberlain (p): Yankees
Kevin Slowey (p): Twins
Kurt Suzuki (c): A's
Lars Anderson (1b): Red Sox
Luke Hocheveur (p): Royals
Matt Sulentic (of): A's
Max Ramirez (c): Indians
Michael Bowden (p): Red Sox
Nolan Reimold (of): O's
Oswaldo Sosa (p): Twins
Radhames Liz (p): O's
Tony Sipp (p): Indians
Travis Snider (of): Blue Jays
Trevor Crowe (of/2b): Indians
Tyler Clippard (p): Yankees
Vince Mazzaro (p): A's
Wade Davis (p): D'Rays

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Help us help you...

Assuming this is for an AL only draft, what are the other league settings - roto, points, categories, etc. And, are you rebuilding or looking to for help right now to win?

by cooper7d7 on Jan 17, 2007 12:19 PM EST reply actions

more info.

Yes, this is for an AL only draft. Due to a couple player promotions and some bad drafts, I am in the process of rebuilding my farm system from scratch. The league has been around for a couple of years so most of the "top guys" are already on teams. It is a roto league with the following scoring categories; hit: ops, avg, hr, rbi, tb, sb, r & pitch: w, k, era, whip, hold, save, opsa. I am looking for prospects that will help me now and in the future.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

Me too.

I've been a perrenial doormat in my league, so last year I started rebuilding.

Mine's 12 team, AL only, 5x5 roto, 23 man, $260 cap auction, 8 keepers + 3 Minors spots.

by FtheNYY @ Minor League Ball on Jan 17, 2007 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

Pick#

Where are you picking? Is Matsuzaka eligible? Iwamura?

by cooper7d7 on Jan 17, 2007 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

mixed draft

Yes, both Dice-K and Iwamura are eligible in this draft. It is a mixed, major and minor league draft. I will most likely be in the middle of the draft order and teams can draft either a major or minor league player at any time.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Other potential hitting prospects

OF Jason Place BOS
3B Josh Fields CHW
OF Aaron Cunningham CHW
OF John Drennan CHW
OF Chris Lubanski KC
INF Alexi Casilla MIN
OF Javier Herrera OAK (steroids aside)

Fields may already be on a roster, but the other guys are likely available. Lubanski, Casilla and Herrera should all be in the Majors at some point in 2007.

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

Actually, that's OF John Drennen - CLE!

Hello doug frobel,

I just noticed

"OF John Drennan CHW";

I think the player you are referring to is

OF John Drennen CLE - the one who hit the HR off of Roger Clemens in his Low-A Rehab start (for Lexington against Lake County, the Indians' Low-A affiliate.)

Just a clarification; it's likely most already know who Drennen is and what system he is actually a part of. :-)

Take care and have a great day!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Jan 17, 2007 10:51 PM EST up reply actions

Drennen

Of course, you are right Indians' fan. I get typing and every so often my brain doesn't keep up with my fingers. :)
Thank you for your grace in correcting me. It's a lot different & more preferable than getting ripped for switching Clippard's "handedness."

by doug frobel on Jan 18, 2007 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

That's okay - I know the feeling myself! :-)

Hello doug,

I know the feeling; my fingers often get on a roll and my brain can't keep up, or sometimes, vice-versa, my brain has many ideas, but my fingers can't keep up, then I forget about a few of the ideas before I can type them, but either way, they're not on the same wavelength sometimes. No problem!

Take care and have a great day!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Jan 18, 2007 1:48 AM EST up reply actions

Well...

Why dont you just look at our latest poll? That has many of these guys listed.

by rhd on Jan 17, 2007 12:33 PM EST reply actions

Top 20

I don't want to go through all 37 because that would take far too long, but here's my top 20 (too many pitchers, not enough infielders)...

Longoria (easy)
Slowey (underrated, great command)
Hochevar (less of a track record than Slowey, but has pedigree
Hurley (difficult for pitchers to establish career in Arlington)
Sanchez (all a question of command/role)
Aybar (ready to play everyday in Majors, but no opportunity in Anaheim, exciting talent)
Buchholz (just a notch below the 4 pitchers above)
Snider (can just hit)
Suzuki (catchers are hard to evaluate, but his numbers make me believe he'll have a productive, lengthy career)
Conger (not as far along as Suzuki, but could easily pass him next year)
Lofgren (solid #2 or #3 down the road)
Gonzalez (interchangeable with Lofgren)
Clippard (this type of LH is always underrated. I wish I could put him higher.)
Crowe (a poor man's Brett Butler?)
Morrow (best of a bad M's system)
Reimold (I want to see what he can do one season as a fully-healthy slugger before he's written off.)
Davis (another of X. Hernandez's protogees)
Mathis (still opportunity in Anaheim, has he stalled completely?)
Bill Rowell (if he turns out to be Jim Thome, he's obviously slotted too low, too early to tell, but from all accounts, he will be a 1B)
Chamberlain (need to see more, could rocket up this list)

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 12:36 PM EST reply actions

thanks doug

I appreciate your input. I agree that there are too many pitchers listed and I am in the process of trying to find some more bats to add to the list. I agree that Longoria is the clear cut #1, probably should have left him off the list since I most likely won't get him.

Anyone else?

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

Omissions

Potential top 5 guys - Maybin, DET, Tabata NYY, Lind TOR, Adam Miller CLE, Andrew Miller DET

also Tampa Bay's Brignac and McGee, Baltimore's Erbe, Boston's Ellsbury, KC's Butler, Minnesota's Garza, ChiSox' Danks, Oakland's Barton, Anaheim's Adenhart and Statia (a personal fav. of mine :))

Some of this list may not be available due to already being on rosters. I don't know. If not, they are names to consider as most would be competing for the upper levels of the top 20 list I just posted.

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

mostly gone

All of those guys are gone except for J.McGee and H.Statia. Thanks for the heads up and I will add them to my list.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

On Davis

I don't think Wade Davis has worked with Xavier Hernandez yet, other than maybe during spring training. X-Man was pitching coach in AA last year, will be in AAA next year. I'd still put him higher than he's listed here.

Generally, my list would differ wildly from Doug's. IMO, Slowey is a future #3/#4 type and would be tanked accordingly, while Lofgren would go higher. Joba would also go much higher, provided that he's healthy. Aybar goes lower, because he won't have a lot of fantasy value (much more valuable in real life than in fantasy).

One name not on the original list at all who might be worth looking at is Dellin Betances. I'd draft him ahead of about 10 of the guys listed here.

by Brickhaus on Jan 17, 2007 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

Betances

I don't know much about him so i will have to do a little research. Thanks for the heads up.

Aybar's value or lack of value will have a lot to do with playing time. In my opinion the Angels will have to move a couple of their young infield guys if they want to contend this year. So I am willing to wait and see what his playing time situation will be in 2007.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

clippard

"Clippard (this type of LH is always underrated. I wish I could put him higher.)"

what type of left-hander is that? the right-handed kind?

by wily mo on Jan 17, 2007 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Clippard

Sorry I typed in left-handed instead of right-handed. You didn't have to be so snarky. This type of comment is how a thread ends up being contentious.

As for my comment, Clippard is always ranked low on "stuff," yet his K rate was over 1/IP at AA and he threw a no-hitter for whatever that's worth.

I think that's pretty cool that a guy who is considered as lacking in raw stuff has the ability to miss bats at such regularity at the upper levels of the minor leagues.

by doug frobel on Jan 17, 2007 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

contentious

no it isn't, you stinking meerkat

by wily mo on Jan 17, 2007 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

The reason

why guys like that are "underrated" in the minor leagues is because 9 times out of 10 they suck in the major leagues. See Yusmeiro Petit for the most recent example, and he was much more dominant in the minors than Clippard.

by Brickhaus on Jan 17, 2007 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

For starting an AL-Only post! No matter how hard I try, I can't even fake interest in AAAA, I mean the NL. Best thread ever!

by FtheNYY @ Minor League Ball on Jan 17, 2007 1:04 PM EST reply actions

My Opinion

I'll make a , just for argument's sake. I'm basing it more on potential than major league readiness.

Evan Longoria
Luke Hochevar (ace potential)
Travis Snider (big-time power)
Eric Hurley
Billy Rowell (the next Richie Sexson?)
Chuck Logfren (Should be solid #2)
Kevin Slowey (solid mid-rotation starter)
Humberto Sanchez
Clay Buchholz
Chris Parmalee
Wade Davis
Lars Anderson (Big sleeper, huge potential)
Brandon Morrow (Great stuff, needs experience)
Brian Barton (age is the only downside)
Daniel Bard (Most potential in Bosox system)
Kurt Suzuki
Trevor Crowe (average regular at best)
Joba Chamberlain
Hank Conger (If he can stay at C)
Eric Aybar (prototypical speed + d SS)
Jeff Mathis (he sould rebound somewhat)
Michael Bowden
John Mayberry Jr.
Edinson Volquez (May not reach high potential)
Nolan Reimold (often overrated IMO)
Bryce Cox
Gio Gonzalez
Matt Sulentic (big sleeper)
Tyler Clippard (fringy stuff)
Radhames Liz (has less opportunity than cox)
Max Ramirez (Needs more time)
Ian Kennedy (average stuff)
Tony Sipp (Good relief prospect)
Curtis Thigpen (Needs more HR power)
Vince Mazzaro
Oswaldo Sosa

I may have left someone out, If McGee's out there I would put him in between Buchholz and Parmalee.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Jan 17, 2007 1:52 PM EST reply actions

Is this a keeper league?

This strategy might not make sense if you'll have to give some of the low A ball guys up in two or three years, as they'll just be breaking into the bigs then.

Quickly, I like Longoria and think Tampa Bay's Brignac might be flying under the radar a bit. If he sticks at SS he could be a monster. Even better than Brandon Wood.

If fact, given their showing at AA I'd list Longoria and Brignic 1 - 2.

by Montreal97 on Jan 17, 2007 3:40 PM EST reply actions

yes

yes, it's an unlimited keeper league.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jan 17, 2007 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

Crowe - average regular at best?!

Hello Congo Hammer,

With all due respect to your list (and it's pretty solid - even Crowe's placement is pretty accurate in my opinion,) I'm a little confused by your comment about Crowe - "average regular at best"?!

As I mentioned in one of the community prospect threads (I think it was #65, but I'm not entirely sure on that,) if you're just basing that on Crowe's AA numbers, you are arguably missing part of the picture - Crowe was two different players at AA - the one who concentrated on and played strictly in the OF, the one who hit .341 (29 of 85) up until the day he made his first start at 2B, then hit .121 (4 of 33) the rest of the regular season, then hit .382 in the AA playoffs while only playing the OF (CF in fact.)

Personally, I think Crowe should be able to steal 20-40 bases a year and hit around or even over .300 at the ML level - how is that an average regular at best? May I presume that Ellsbury will only be an average regular as well, or if not, what is different about the two? If you're going to mention Ellsbury's defense or that he played in CF in the AFL over Crowe, as I mentioned in the other thread, Ellsbury was Boston's "priority or central player" (I'm guessing Kouzmanoff was the Indians'); that is the reason he got to play CF over Crowe. Being that the Indians already have Sizemore in CF, the Indians probably had no objection to Crowe playing LF, but Crowe's defense in CF is quite good in his own right; there's some talk that Sizemore should be shifted to LF for Crowe, but that probably won't happen due to Sizemore's popularity and the amount of money he is now making, but there has been some talk of it when Crowe arrives in the Majors. His CF defense is good in his own right, and if I'm correct, his arm is stronger than Grady's (the main reason why some are advocating Grady should be shifted to LF when Crowe arrives, as well as the fact that Grady's offensive numbers would fit well in LF as well.)

I'm not trying to call you out, but I'm a bit puzzled by that comment - what makes you think that Crowe will only be an average regular at best? He's arguably the third-best prospect in the Indians' system (which is still a Top 10 system with considerable depth,) only behind Miller and Lofgren, so he is arguably the best position-prospect in the Indians system. From what I have heard and seen, Crowe should be at least an above-average top-of-the-order player, something the Indians could certainly use, since they haven't had a true speed threat since Kenny Lofton was in his prime in the mid-90s. In my mind, that's not "an average player at best."