Interestingly, even though Manny's batting average at Augusta was nearly twice as high as it was in San Jose, his line drive percentage was actually higher in San Jose.

It seemed as though a good part of Manny's greater success in Augusta than in San Jose came from his line drives falling in at a higher rate and his being able to beat out FAR more ground balls.  It is possible that Burriss actually hit the ball as well or even better in San Jose than in Augusta, although he clearly didn't get anywhere near the same results.

But given Manny's great speed, it may be that the ground balls he hit at San Jose (He beat out only one.) were hit harder, while he topped more balls in Augusta and used his speed to beat out double digit ground ball hits on the infield.

What discourages me about Manny isn't his time in San Jose.  It is that he has averaged only 1.18 bases per hit.  The only player I can find who averaged that few bases per hit in the low minors and went on to a long big league career was Jose Vizcaino, who was probably overrated by many of his managers and whose batting numbers were rather abysmal over his career, despite its longevity.

And Viz was a couple of years younger than Manny in the low minors -- and indeed was a major leaguer by the time he was Burriss's age.

I see 2008 as a key year for Manny.  He could easily fall from prospect to suspect if he doesn't hit well in at least AA this season.  He needs to start bumping up that meager 1.18 bases per hit.  With his speed, he should average that many merely by hitting the ball into the outfield on occasion.

Seven members of Oakland's top 10 came over in the Haren and Swisher deals. The guys who would have been ranked fourth through 10th previously now help comprise what is probably the best Nos. 11-20 of any team in baseball. 1B Sean Doolittle, RHP Andrew Bailey and OF Jermaine Mitchell would have cracked several top 10s. They're Nos. 16, 17 and 18 here. ... Herrera is falling out of the overall top 150, but there's still hope for him if he's willing to work harder and he has better luck with injuries. When it comes to ability, he isn't far behind Carlos Gonzalez. ... Smith, a product of the Haren trade, is a polished potential fourth or fifth starter. ... Rodriguez has the best stuff in the organization, though he still needs to learn how to pitch. He might end up as a closer. ... Powell seemed to be emerging as one of the game's better catching prospects before getting hurt yet again last year. This will be his age-26 season, so he desperately needs to put his physical problems behind him.