Cardinals a top-10 farm systemAcc

Flowers was set to be the 8th spect I think in the Braves system and I doubt Lillibridge would have been in the top 15-20 given his down year in AAA. I don’t see how that takes the Braves from arguably a top 5 system to out of the top 10 completely.

As far as your list, I have no idea how the Giants system is #1 unless you think Posey will be Wieters, Villalona will move back to 3B and actually develop, both of Alderson/Bumgarner become at least really good #2s and the rest of the system has incredible depth because I just don’t see how it’s possible with the way it looks currently. They are in the discussion for top 5 (perhaps ahead of the Braves now but I don’t think so) but there is no way they are #1.

is that, with rankings, to each their own, as everyone judges differently. So certainly, I’m not critiquing your opinion, as your opinion is, well, yours.

It sounds like you are arguing that the depth of the Twins system overcomes their weakness at the top right now. If that’s the case, I understand, but I don’t subscribe to that principle personally. I remember, as a Cubs fan, either in 2005 or 2006 when we were ranked a 16-20 system, and my first question was, how? There was absolutely no upside for us. That said, 3 years later, some decent, useful players have developed, so you balance perspectives.

For me, I just think a system needs some top level talent. With the Twins right now, and certainly graduations have hurt, they have two guys that are elite, and some would probably debate how elite Revere and Hicks are. I’m not one that buys into pen depth unless it’s closing capability, and there’s only a couple of arms that even look like closing material. I don’t see the ready starting pitching depth, as guys like Mulvay/Humber/Swarzak are end of the rotation types. Thing is, each system always has end of the rotation types (as a Cubs fan, I don’t think the difference between say, Mulvey/Humber and Caridad/Atkins is all that much). Where’s the positional depth?

I think, the reason people look for the top talent, which sometimes overshadows depth, is that you can find these stopgap guys. You can find the middle relievers, the end of the rotation starters. Comparing it to the Braves system right now, and I’m not sure how it’s close. I think guys like Schafer and Hernandez are about equal to Revere/Hicks. Maybe you give, like John did, Revere/Hicks a slight edge (personally I think it’s all balanced, and I’d probably lean to the Braves twosome to be honest), but the difference isn’t by much. The Braves trump their own OF’s with Heyward/Freeman, and they have other positional depth hanging around, like Hicks. Short of it is, I see better elite positional players and more positional depth. Looking at the pitching charts, and I think the Braves 2nd tier pitchers, guys like Locke and Rohrbough, are equal or better than the Twins top level arms, and the Braves have depth behind them, along with the trump card of a Tommy Hanson ahead of them. Maybe the Twins have better pen depth, but a guy like Kimbrel is equal or better than Delaney.

I just don’t see the elite talent, and a system that’s filled with a bunch of guys that might get a cup of coffee in the bigs isn’t a top system to me. Now, in saying this, I think there’s enough upside in the Twins system that I could change my mind in a year. Maybe I was a bit harsh in saying 16-20 earlier, but I think John’s current placement of the Twins, as an organization in that 11-15 range, is probably fair.

That said, to each their own. Happy New Year.