Rank the Farm Systems

by Montreal97 on Dec 20, 2007 1:02 PM EST

Stealing the thread idea from Roo. Just thought it might be better to put it out there with another title.

Let's rank the top 10 farm systems.

In no particular order:

Rangers
Reds
Tampa Bay
Padres
Red Sox
Yankees
Dodgers
Rockies
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now it gets tough for me
----------
Athletics (before the Haren trade this might have been the D-Backs)
Washington

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Atlanta Braves are top-15

With 11 prospects in the B+, B, B- range, the Atlanta Braves should definitely be considered a top-15 system. Despite the fact that they don't have any grade A prospects, they have a fair amount of depth.

by alexwithclass on Dec 20, 2007 12:52 PM EST reply actions

Braves

Do we think they traded too much talent at the deadline last year though?

I'm not overly familair with the Braves system, just though I'd throw it out there.

by Montreal97 on Dec 20, 2007 12:57 PM EST reply actions

Renteria

They did add Jurrjens and Gorkys though, so that helps negate it a little bit.

by killa on Dec 20, 2007 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Depends a lot on Andrus...

Saltalamacchia was the centerpiece of the deal, and he's pretty clearly going to be a good hitter if they keep him as a catcher. The real wild card, and question mark for whether it was a good or a bad deal, is Elvis Andrus. Matt Harrison and Beau Jones have limited upside and are pretty marginal in the scheme of a trade for a guy like Teixeira, and Neftali Feliz is a young live arm who may never pan out.

If Andrus lives up to his hype, the trade will have been a coup for Texas. If not, I don't think the Braves traded too much away. Hernandez and Jurrjens are probably comparatively safer bets than Andrus and Feliz.

by alexwithclass on Dec 20, 2007 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Trade

Remember that Salty would not be eligible for the fram anyway, so if you balance what they got for Renteria and what they gave for Tex, I think it's fairly close...That plus what they already had makes them top 10 in my mind.

by killa on Dec 20, 2007 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe Top 10

I think a lot of people would put the Braves in the top 10. Not based on who left, but who is left.

by parish on Dec 20, 2007 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

Braves

I dont see how they cant be a top 10 team, and sure as hell have a better system than the nationals.

They have a nice blend of talent ready to step in at the ML level in Jurrjens/Jones/Lillibridge with Schafer believed to be half a season ready.

They have tons of high upside talent below AA in Hernandez/Heyward/Hanson/Rohrbough/Locke/Teheran/Johnson.
Most of the braves top prospects now werent even in the organization a year ago. Rohrbough was a draft and follow, Teheran was a recent signing who managed to be 10th on the braves BA top 10 list just based on what he was throwing in the instructional league, and Jurrjens and Hernandez were top 5 prospects of the Tigers. Even Schafer wasnt even a top 20 braves prospect until his incredible breakout year.

I think the braves are a good bet to start the season with the best Low A team in baseball and maybe finishing the year with the best High A team. The braves havent seen a concentration of talent like this since Meyer/Davies/Francoeur/McCann were at Low A together.

by cajunrevenge on Dec 21, 2007 12:13 AM EST up reply actions

Mariners

I also thought about adding the Mariners because they as much start level talent as other organizations out there with Triunfel, Clement, Morrow and Jones. Than I noticed Morrow and Jones no longer qualify.

by Montreal97 on Dec 20, 2007 1:00 PM EST reply actions

But

between Clement, Triunfel and Balentien, they do have 3 legitimate top-50 guys, which is better than most systems can say.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 20, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Tampa

I really don't see any good reason to rank anyone but the Rays number 1 on this list. Too much potential impact talents. They have 6 guys who would head the list of 10-12 teams in baseball. They also have at least 4 guys that would head the lists of 20 teams in baseball.

by NMUWildcat027 on Dec 20, 2007 1:10 PM EST reply actions

Without a doubt

Tampa has a deep system with a load of impact talent. The best of both worlds as it were.

I think there's a lot of discussion though about who might belong in the top ten. How the Rangers stack up against Boston. Has Washington really replenished their system?

by Montreal97 on Dec 20, 2007 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

Lower levels

I love Washington's lower levels (second only to the Yankees I think, without doing a deep inventory), but they're weak as all getout in the upper levels. It's Marrero and a bunch of role players.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 20, 2007 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I posted this in Roo's thread

But I really think that strength in the lower levels - fueled mainly by 2 great drafts in 2006 and 2007 - puts them on the fringe of the top 10.

I would not say it's Marrero and a bunch of role players. Marrero and Detweiler are as close to a sure thing as you'll get out of that system, but there is tons of high upside talents (especially pitchers) that are 2-3 years away.

by guru4u on Dec 20, 2007 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

re:

You've misread his post. He's saying the upper levels are Marrero and a bunch of roles players. Why else would he say he loves their lower levels?!

by McLovin on Dec 20, 2007 10:23 PM EST up reply actions

me

1 Tampa Bay
2 Reds
3 Boston

Dodgers
Yankees
Oakland
Padres
Rockies
Rangers
Royals

by Galt on Dec 20, 2007 1:23 PM EST reply actions

yeah...

Its those first three in that order, and then everyone else.

by daveh33 on Dec 20, 2007 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

funny thing is

that wasn't even intentional. While I completely agree that it's those three and then a pretty big gap, for some reason the board separated the #3 and #4 on my list.

I've posted the list twice, and the same thing happened.

by Galt on Dec 20, 2007 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

hahahaha

the board gods agree with me... no it happened to me too...it took like three times till i got it right

by daveh33 on Dec 20, 2007 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

A month into the season

The Rangers will make a big jump. They are graduating nobody until at least the all-star break. Tampa will still be the clear #1, but the Reds will have graduated Bruce, Votto, and Bailey. Boston will have graduated Buckholz and Ellsbury. Dodgers - Probably Laroche. Yanks - Joba, etc etc...

by rothe on Dec 20, 2007 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

I wish the search function were better

I seem to remember arguing with people here (I think it was on this board - may have been PP) that both San Diego and Texas had made huge strides in their systems and were both top 15 teams.

This was late summer, and now I can't find it.

by Galt on Dec 20, 2007 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

I think I put

the Rangers at #5. Tampa, Cincy, Boston, Dodgers, Rangers. Once the top few from Boston and especially Cincy graduate, they move to #3 and I can see them passing the Dodgers during the year as well. They just have soooo many guys that could be top 25 prospects by the end of '08. Davis, Andrus, Kiker, Beaven, Main, Poveda, Teagarden at least are possibilities and I think you could throw in about 10 more names that could potentially be top 50-100 prospects by the end of '08.

by rothe on Dec 20, 2007 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely agree with your first three

After that, not so much.

by parish on Dec 20, 2007 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Rangers

I put the Rangers 3, mainly because I dont see Ellsbury or Lowrie as star type players.

by Kanst42 on Dec 20, 2007 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

But

the Red Sox still have Buchholz. What star-type players do the Rangers have? Teagarden and Hurley project to be solid, and Andrus has upside, but I have trouble thinking of too many good names after that....

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 20, 2007 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

That was kind of my thought process

I think Teagarden is going to be an All Star, in the Pudge mold, with a little less offense.

I have Davis projecting into basically Ryan Howard, a little better defensively and arriving earlier.

Im not ready to give up on Thomas, Tommy John, Diamond. I still think he's going to have an impact some way some how.

Hurley will be a front end pitcher.

Book is still out on Botts, who I dont think qualifies.

I really like Duran, if the Rangers decide to move Kinsler to center in the future, I think Duran could rival Robinson Cano for years as the best 2b in the AL.

I think Whittleman is a B+.

And Im really big on Elvis. If people love Lowrie, they should really love Elvis. He will be a better defender, and should turn out to be a better hitter, although its way too early to tell.

by Roo @ Minor League Ball on Dec 20, 2007 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

Not to mention...

Michael Main, and then my favorite... Blake Beavan.

by ISC on Dec 20, 2007 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Texas

"I have Davis projecting into basically Ryan Howard"

Chris Davis will be basically Ryan Howard?

by McLovin on Dec 21, 2007 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Wow

I missed that comment the first time around, but I have to comment, b/c that's crazy... and I really, really like Chris Davis.

by alskor on Dec 21, 2007 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

If I am the rangers

I prefer 4 4 stars to 1 5 star.

by Kanst42 on Dec 20, 2007 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

1 and 2

Rays and Reds are definitely 1-2. After that, it's fuzzier. I don't see the Rangers in my top 5 though. They're deep, but don't have much impact talent.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 20, 2007 2:05 PM EST reply actions

My problem is...

I don't know who qualifies for these teams.

Do Ubaldo Jiminez and Franklin Morales still qualify for Colorado? Brandon Jones for Seattle?

If someone would do a post with a quick in/out list on questionable guys for these teams, it'd make this exercise a lot easier for amateur prospectophpiles like me.

I almost never get attacked by birds. It's uncanny.

by thedirkatron on Dec 20, 2007 6:29 PM EST reply actions

re:

Ubaldo - no
Morales - yes
ADAM Jones - no

by doublestix on Dec 20, 2007 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

Rays should be #1

I know my screenname might seem biased but check out these players:
Wade Davis, Jacob McGee, David Price, Evan Longoria, Reid Brignac, Desmond Jennings, and Jeremy Hellickson.

Everyone of those guys should get an A or A-.
Another list:
Jeff Niemann, Ryan Royster, Fernando Perez, Chris Mason, Heath Rollins, Justin Rugginano, John Jaso, Eduardo Moran and Glen Gibson.

Everyone of these players should get some type of a B grade. Obviously there are some guys I left off but I think these are the top 16 players in our system. Nick Barnese, Frank De Los Santos, Alex Cobb, and Matt Moore are other players who could get a B grade but they are very young and just drafted in 07 so I could see them being a C grade.

by raysfan1988 on Dec 20, 2007 6:52 PM EST reply actions

I can go top 3.... then I am not to sure

1. Devil Rays
<gap>

Reds
Red Sox

<gap>
Not really sure where to go from here, but a grouping of the Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers and Marlins making a push for the next few spots. Maybe the Mariners, Oakland and Houston in the next few spots.

Kidding about Houston.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Dec 20, 2007 7:25 PM EST reply actions

Reminds me of that joke....

What's green and has wheels?

Grass. I was kidding about the wheels.

I'd say Rays are easily #1.

Maybe I'm just not a big fan of the Reds. Yeah, Jay Bruce....I was high on Cueto (less potent form of Peyote), but his flyball tendencies are gonna hurt in that ballpark. I still like that other pitcher they have. Other than those three, what impact players do they have? (Oh yeah, I guess Votto counts.) They're definitely good, but I don't think I'd put them #2.

by omambiyick on Dec 20, 2007 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

Impact players

Well you just named 4 impact players. That is pretty huge to start with and only a few teams can compete with that to begin with. Then there are still guys like Todd Frazier, Drew Stubbs, Devin Mesoraco and Kyle Lotzkar that are big time potential players.

Then they have tons of depth.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Dec 21, 2007 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

speaking of...

the rangers system
what are your guys thoughts on german duran?
i saw him during the futures game last year and liked what i saw

u think the rangers will give him a shot at 2B with kinsler there or will he get traded sometime down the line?

by manny59 on Dec 21, 2007 7:01 AM EST reply actions

Utility

Rangers are looking at him as a guy who could be a utility player for them this year.

by northtexan95 on Dec 21, 2007 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

This year?

I doubt he'd be ready that soon. Should be there in '09, though.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by Rangers Farmhand on Dec 21, 2007 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

My Top 10

Tampa Bay- Easily #1
Cincinnati- Great Top 7 or so, kind of falls off after that
Boston- They are close with Cincy but I like the Reds Top 7 over the Red Sox and their better depth
Texas- Great draft and great trades provided a huge boost for their farm system.
Los Angeles(NL)- Not as much talent as their used to be but there are still plenty of good players
New York(AL)- Not sold on their depth but they do have some good players in their system.
Colorado- Huge Franlin Morales fan and the re-emergance of Stewart and Nelson helps
San Diego- Their #1 prospect from a year ago(Cedric Hunter) is now their #8 prospect and he didn't even play that bad.
Los Angeles(AL)- Still have some pretty good players
Washington- Pretty much all potential here. I like that Colton Willems is their #10 prospect. That tells me that have a pretty good system.

I kind of gave up after 8.

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 21, 2007 8:06 PM EST reply actions