Catcher – Agree – Whether you you Teagarden or Ramirez, the Texas catcher will be better
First Base – Agree – I dislike Carter (who was not used) and doolittle is good, but not smoak good
Second Base – Agree – Cardenas is the better player, but really thats not saying much
Shortstop – Agree – is this even in question?
Third Base – N/A – Guzman is with the giants now and whittleman is just bad. I just say its a null tie because they both are terrible
OF (1) – Disagree – Borbon is a good player, but not a great player and is closer to a 4th OF than an everyday starter. Cunningham appears to have the talent to play everyday, so I’d side with him
OF (2) – Agree – I dislike Beltre, but he’s still better
OF (3) – Agree – Its an uneven matchup because its a known commodity versus something still developing. Its close though, but I’m relatively high on Golson
OF (4) – Disagree – Is lemon even an OF? I have him listed in the infield, but I can’t come up with a good replacement. If so, I still think sulentic. I think he has a better chance of becoming an everyday player and think his output this year was relatively real.
DH – Unsure – I like Ramirez better as a catcher, and while he is a true hitter, I’m not sure he will ever provide the thump expected as a DH. Carter on the other hand, I dislike as a prospect overall, but for a DH only role where his defense (or lack thereof) is removed from the equation, its a much closer matchup.
SP (1) and (2) – I don’t understand why you matched up Holland/Cahill and Anderson/Feliz. I think the more correct matchups are Cahill/Feliz and Anderson/Holland, which I think would both fall in favor of the Athletics. As the matchup stands, the result is accurate
SP (3) – Disagree – I have large issues with Inoa, just on the whole, and really like Main. So I’d favor Main until I actually saw Inoa throw a pitch
SP (4) – Disagree – I still like Gonzalez and think he could be 3/4 type player while Perez, while a good pitcher, is really too far away to get a good judge. Gonzalez still has upside and is close to the majors while Perez is light years away. Goes to Gonzalez
SP (5) – Agree – I agree, but that doesn’t obscure the fact I think both of these players are consistently overrated.
SP (6) – Agree, kind of – Based on the matchup, I’d choose Simmons. But, I don’t think Kiker is necessary the next best guy. Depending on who one may like (Hurley/Poveda/Beavan in mind), they could jump ahead of Simmons, who I think is sorely overrated as well
CL – Tie – In my mind, no one can be considered a closer prospect when they are still a starter, therefore, as long as those two are still starting, they are both ineligible.

So I think my scoring is 8-7-3? I may not be able to count though

and it’s cute to act like this post has merit…but everyone does realize that this is the dumbest fucking way to compare the systems, right?…other than nationalB.

Note: I am not saying this isn’t a way to do it…Just the stupidest way a competent person could.

2nd Note: The Rangers system is better.

3rd Note: Dewey still owes me ten bucks on what would be the bigger movie – E.T. or Krush Groove.

Funny how it is mostly A’s fans that dont like this thread.

Anyways, Cardenas should be listed as a SS, and lose to Andrus.
I would also put Cunningham slightly ahead of Borbon.

if you do future roster than Texas has an obvious edge.

C Suzuki vs Teagarden Winner: Texas
1B Smoak vs Doolittle Winner: Texas
2B Kinsler vs Weeks Winner: Texas
SS Andrus vs Christian Winner: Texas
3B Young vs Cardenas Winner: Texas
OF Beltre vs Cunningham Winner: Texas
OF Hamilton vs Buck Winner: Texas
OF Borbon vs Dixon Winner: Texas
DH Davis vs Carter Winner: Texas
SP Feliz vs Cahill Winner: Texas
SP Holland vs Anderson Winner: Oakland
SP Inoa vs Main Winner: Texas
SP Duchscherer vs Kiker Winner: Oakland
SP Simmons vs Ramirez Winner: Texas
CL Rodriguez vs Beaven Winner: Oakland

12-3. I think it is pretty clear who has the better future.

Just curious,

What makes Weeks better than Vallejo? I don’t know much of Weeks.

If you really wanted to compare systems in this way, I think it would be better to judge based on all the prospects at a given position, not just top one. Just judge on C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, SP, RP and look at all the prospects at a given position.

As far as the systems go in total I would give the edge to the Rangers but I wouldn’t say it was domination. I don’t really think the argument over depth is really productive, once you get to C+/C prospects it’s hard to really say which ones are objectively better, especially on a fan site like this.

this thread is entirely pointless. Clearly Rangers fans are going to agree with these comps and A’s fans are going to disagree. What’s the point? In the end, everyone gets pissed at each other, flame wars start, and the rest of the fans on this site look even more badly upon A’s and Rangers fans.

If people really want to start a positive discussion about these two teams, have an objective source (preferably Sickels himself) do a head to head comparison. But even then, I doubt any productive discussion can come out of comparing A’s and Rangers prospects.

based on a comparison of 17 players from each system. that being said, i agree that the rangers system is stronger, but i wouldnt say the difference between the two is huge. and one thing is for sure, both systems are very strong.

would you take oakland OR texas, the answer is YES

Stu (Dallas, Tx): Hey Jim, a group of us are having a huge argument over the Rangers and A’s prospects. Which one right now would you take head to head? Also, which out of Cahill/Anderson or Feliz/Holland would you take?

SportsNation Jim Callis: Anderson/Cahill.

Provide some explanations please. Because right now, you just look misinformed and biased

Danny (Monmouth): Which pitcher will have the most impact in the majors in 2009 Neftali Feliz, Brett Anderson or Madison Bumgerdner? Are any #1 starter material?

SportsNation Aaron Fitt: Hi everyone, happy to pinch-hit for Jim Callis today as he works feverishly to get our Prospect Handbook out the door by the end of the week. For me, it’s Anderson. I life Feliz’s stuff better, but he’s still got to refine his secondary stuff somewhat. Anderson is more polished and I suspect he’ll be in Oakland’s rotation by the All-Star break. Feliz could get big league hitters out right now with just his fastball, but the Rangers have no reason to rush him — they can leave him in the minors to develop his breaking ball. I do think Feliz gets called up sometime in the second half, however.

C Taylor Teagarden vs Suzuki – Winner: Oakland easily
Same age, Suzuki will have a much better career.
Teagarden is better.
1B Justin Smoak vs Barton – Winner: Oakland
1 year difference in age. Barton was rushed. He will be a better all round player than Smoak. Smoak will hit for more power. Barton will be better all round.
2B Jose Vallejo vs Jemile Weeks – Winner: Oakland
Agreed
3B Johnny Whittleman vs ?? – Winner: Texas Easily.
Outside of Carter, Oakland has no 3B prospects. If Carter sticks, then he is easily the best prospect of either organization at 3B.
SS Elvis Andrus vs Nino D Leyja – Winner: Draw
Leyja looks to be Andrus with better baserunning skills.
OF Julio Borbon vs Aaron Cunningham – Winner: Draw
OF Engel Beltre vs Chris Carter – Winner: Oakland
Carter’s best position looks to be OF. He has the physical ability. He is not a lumbering giant.
OF Greg Golson vs Rashun Dixon – Winner: Oakland
10 triples in 40+ games. Dixon, if he stays healthy, will a top prospect next year. Is Golson even a prospect? A’s have 4 or 5 better than him.
OF Chad Tracy vs Matt Sulentic – Winner: Oakland
Sulentic is a surprisingly good OFer and a very good hitter. Showed 2007 was an aberation.
SP Derek Holland vs Trevor Cahill – Winner: Oakland Easily
Not even close.
SP Neftali Feliz vs Brett Anderson – Winner: Oakland
Take into account the injury starts (Anderson started 4 or 5 games he should have sat out due to injury) and Anderson would be considered at the Price level. He hits 95 and usually sits in the low 90s.
SP Michael Main vs Vin Mazzaro – Winner: Oakland
Mazzaro was the AA pitcher of the year at 21. His stretch of dominance at AA is significant on top of the fact he throws 4 quality pitches for strikes. Mazzaro will probably be the AAA pitcher of the year if he stays there that long. He was scheduled for A+ again in 2008 but he showed up in spring training as a different player. He projects to be a 2/3 starter on stuff alone.
SP Martin Perez vs – Gio Gonzalez Winner: Draw
SP Neil Ramirez vs – Josh Outman Winner: Oakland
Outman has a 95+ (averages 94) MPH FB and his control (much improved with A’s compared to Phillies) is not that bad. BTW, is also left handed.
SP Kasey Kiker vs James Simmons – Winner: Oakland
CL Blake Beavan vs Andrew Carignan – Winner: Oakland easily
Carignan has some control problems, but averaged about 12k’s/9 this year. Carigan throws mid to high 90s with a wicked slider. This is not close. Beavan averages about 5 k’s/9.
FINAL SCORE: 12-13- (A’s system much better. Not even close. Rangers will not have any pitchers that succeed.)