Figured I might as well try, although I don’t think we see eye-to-eye much on a prospect level

1) He has the same tools and ability last year. That hasn’t really changed.
2) Balancing out his horrific go with the Yankees and his prolific run after being traded to the Pirates, and you get a good, but not great prospect.
3) Dealing with adversity – some players just don’t do it well. That’s why NY teams constantly “test” players ability to handle NY. Unfortunately, Tabata was not yet mature enough to handle the pressure of the NY media market who expected the world of him. Many other players have needed an organizational change, and Tabata’s may be just what he needed, both to mature as a person and as a player.
4) Youth – Even though there are spotty reports regarding his conditioning, he’s still young enough and now outside the major media markets that he can put it all together and realize his potential. I guess the best barometer of maturing as a player would be the condition he enters camp next year.

In summary – he still has all the tools and abilities that made him a top 50 prospect last year, except now his maturity/conditioning have questioned his drive to improve. Under constant scrutiny, Tabata seemed incapable of handling the pressure or maybe the constant scrutiny made him think so highly of himself that he did not work at the trade, who knows. But, the games played did show some resurgence of the player everyone once thought he was, and the player he still could be. Hence, right now Tabata is pretty risky, but the reward could be great. So, depending on how much you value his outing with the Pirates AA club likely will factor whether you truly consider Tabata as a list candidate.

Brought to you by the List Committee for Tabata

OTOH, Noonan has performed well as a pro in every category except plate discipline, which needs work but is not terrible.

No, 4.4% is pretty terrible… especially when you K 19% of the time.

Performance: advantage: Valbuena

Projection: Your analysis that height = projection is way off. Noonan is taller, and Valbuena has a thicker lower half, much better ability to turn on inside pitches, and is significantly stronger.

Power: Noonan’s Iso: .136 in A- (in the SAL league, which favors hitters
Valbuena’s: .179 in AA (in the Southern League, which favors pitchers),
  Full disclosure: Valbuena’s power all but disappeared in AAA after his promotion, but has re-emerged in the VWL this winter. If it’s still gone when he starts 2009 in triple-A there may be cause for concern, but right now I’m not worried.

Plate Discipline. Huge advantage Valbuena.

Defense: Advantage Valbuena, large advantage when age is taken into account (Noonan has 3 years to gain weight and lose range, and the defensive age curve can be VERY harsh to young middle infielders. Valbuena is much closer to the physical condition he’ll be in when he reaches his peak offensive years, and has maintained his plus range and instincts).

Baserunning: advantage Noonan.

Polish: Valbuena >>>>>>>>>>> Noonan.

Overall you have a much more polished prospect who’s a very good chance to be a regular. The lack of past rankings is 100% irrelevant. Valbuena was rushed to Double-A before he mastered High A and took a season to adjust to the level. When a 22 year old middle infielder has a plus glove and bats .300/.380/.480 with plus contact and patience in double-A he’s a good prospect regardless of his past pedigree.

Noonan is a much higher risk without a much higher upside. His floor is a player who tops out at AA because he never learned how to hit. He doesn’t have an appreciably higher ceiling, except as a base stealer. At present, he is a below average player for his league surviving on scouting reports.

You’re way overrating Noonan and way underrating Valbuena, whose floor at this point is slightly above replacement level in the majors, and whose ceiling is something like a +3.5-4 win player with defense considered.

But he looks like Jo-Jo Reyes to me

I’m a Mets fan and I think he belongs on the top 100, and has been underrated by many. With that said, there are guys remaining with better upside and strong performance. I think we’re a few slots away from Niese.

-1

Converted Pitcher with a small hitter sample size? No. And I love Bogey (Go Green Wave!)

I too haven’t figured out what makes Gorkys is so intriguing.

Have been voting Jones for awhile now, but since he was taken off the list Donald gets my vote.

ugh, he sucks. well, not thad awful, but …yeah, he sucks.

That’s it. I have no further argument. :)

I went Donald.

Not exactly the best competition.

Plus it’ll help to see Taylor make it through higher levels at a reasonable age before we put him in the top 100. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him follow the John Mayberry Jr. path.