BA: Revised Texas top 20

by aCone419 on Aug 6, 2007 4:08 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

In the lastest Ask BA, Callis put out this list. He is discounting Salty, Volquez, Botts, and Gabbard.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264614.html

"1. Eric Hurley, rhp
Never got the hype of the DVD trio but will eclipse them all.
2. Blake Beavan, rhp (2007 first-rounder)
6-foot-7 frame, mid-90s fastball, nasty slider make for intimidating combo.
3. Kasey Kiker, lhp
2006 first-rounder may not be big, but he's a lefty with three quality pitches.
4. Johnny Whittleman, 3b
Has rebounded from disastrous 2006 to become best bat in system.
5. Taylor Teagarden, c
Hitting better than expected; needs to get healthy go he can go behind plate again.
6. Elvis Andrus, ss (Teixeira trade)
Slick fielder has much to prove with the bat, but he's still 18.
7. Michael Main, rhp (2007 first-rounder)
Has best pure velocity in system but needs to add polish, reduce effort.
8. Julio Borbon, of (2007 supplemental first-rounder)
Easily the best college center fielder in the 2007 draft.
9. Omar Poveda, rhp
Held his own in low Class A last year at age 18; tearing it up this year at 19.
10. Joaquin Arias, ss
Shoulder surgery wiped out his season, but he still has lots of tools and is just 22.
11. German Duran, 2b
Has come out of nowhere to hit .311 with 21 homers in Double-A.
12. Chris Davis, 3b
Best power hitter in system will have to answer questions about contact, defense.
13. Fabio Castillo, rhp
Crown jewel of club's strong international push in 2006 can touch 97 mph.
14. Neftali Feliz, rhp (Teixeira trade)
Had best fastball in Braves system, reaching mid-90s with ease.
15. Matt Harrison, lhp (Teixeira trade)
Polished lefty needs to prove his shoulder is healthy, then miss some more bats.
16. John Mayberry Jr., of
Owns legitimate power but can be exploited by more advanced pitchers.
17. Marcus Lemon, ss
$1 million fourth-rounder is showing solid tools (except for power) in first full season.
18. Max Ramirez, c (Lofton trade)
Futures Gamer would rank higher if he had the defense to be an everyday catcher.
19. Neil Ramirez, rhp (2007 supplemental first-rounder)
Stock slipped during inconsistent spring, but he'll flash a plus fastball and curve.
20. Engel Beltre, of (Gagne trade)
Very raw but has drawn comparisons to Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Darryl Strawberry."

Some surprising rankings. I find it strange that Matt Harrison went from the Braves 3rd best prospect this off-season to the Rangers 15th best without changing noticeable as a prospect.

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Beavan, Harrison, Boggs

With Harrison, keep in mind that his stock has dropped this year, and he would have dropped in the Braves rankings even if he hadn't been moved. This year he was repeating AA, and though his ERA looks nice, his peripherals are not any better than last year. A 16% k-rate is just not going to move you up the rankings.

I'm surprised he puts Beavan that high since he hasn't pitched in pro ball yet and likely won't until at least next year while Main has started already and looked very good. He does have potential, though. Hopefully he signs soon.

Brandon Boggs should probably be on there somewhere in the teens. He has always shown patience, and his power has increased at each level. His defense in CF looks good, too. He mashes lefties while hitting at least adequately (about an .800 OPS) against righties.

by t ball on Aug 6, 2007 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Harrison

It's a bit misleading to say he's "repeating" AA. This is his first full season there.

I don't disagree with you about his prospect status overall, but I just find it strange that he would drop so far when most all of the concern about him were present last year. It isn't like he has been bad this year. Just seems inconsistent on BA's part.

by aCone419 on Aug 6, 2007 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His status

to me is a tad underrated actually and I think Daniels is taking a gamble that he and Gabbard might be good fits in TX. His numbers aren't sexy, but a lefty groundball control pitcher who keeps the ball in the park is just about exactly what you want in Arlington.

by t ball on Aug 7, 2007 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of the deepest

systems in baseball IMO. I have to say with the draft and at the deadline Texas made some solid moves.

by sagecoll on Aug 6, 2007 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Response

True, Harrison didn't change much . . .he's still not that much of a prospect. About the only thing that changed is that he's been hurt this year, which obviously isn't helping him.

It's a nice looking system, but then you look at the major league roster and you just shake your head. They could have half this list live up to a reasonable level of their ability and they're still going to be a pretty bad team.

by mrkupe on Aug 6, 2007 4:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My god...

...that system is officially LOADED.

(And yes, I realize that their top tier prospects are on par with other good systems, but that 9-20 is freaking ridiculous)

"Free Jason Botts" -Grrrranderson

by uga007 on Aug 6, 2007 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

teagarden

aren't the health concerns overblown? he's playing full time, catching part time, throwing very effectively....seems to me smart not to play him full time at C, but caution during a period or rehab doesn't really raise a red flag for me.

to me he's a real top flight prospect.

by scooter on Aug 6, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

for real

You're right on. The Rangers are just being smart not catching him every day as he recovers from surgery. He's catching 2-3 times a week, and his bat has been awesome this year. This team is stacked with intriguing catchers right down to rookie ball.

by t ball on Aug 7, 2007 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rockies & Indians

The strengths and weakenesses of the Rangers' system reminds me, somewhat, of the Rockies and Indians systems, where there are just a ton of either solid or potential breakout players, but very few clear A-/A type studs. What other systems right now have this kind of really interesting depth? Maybe Tampa, but they're out of this world, as they have the interesting depth (Hellickson/Jennings/F. Perez/H. Rollins/etc) plus they're loaded with stud-like guys.

How do you handle a system like the Rangers, if you're the GM? Do you begin packaging some guys for young players? Do you wait and see who rises?

I would identify 5-6 guys that I would ride either into my next contract or new job, and utilize the rest for trade purposes. My riders here: Salty, Hurley, Beaven, Kiker, Borbon, Feliz, Beltre, and Teagarden if Salty becomes my first baseman.

by gogotabata on Aug 6, 2007 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs