Most talented affiliate

by tedfordfan on Mar 4, 2009 8:44 AM EST

I was wondering what teams will have clusters of minor league talent this year.

As a Giants fan, I'm extremely excited to see how the collection of prospect in San Jose in the Cal League perform in April/May. It seems that the Giants brass doesn't like sending top prospects to AA Connecticut in the Eastern League due to the cold weather. Thus, word is that the following prospects will start off in single A San Jose:

C Buster Posey

1B Angel Villalona

2B Nick Noonan

3B Conor Gillaspie

OF Roger Kieschnick

OF Thomas Neal

SP Madison Bumgarner

SP Tim Alderson

Probably short stays for Posey, Bumgarner and Alderson, and possibly for Noonan and Gilaspie if they start off well.

There are another bunch of interesting prospects that could be assigned there as well, including:

SP/RP Henry Sosa

SP/RP Waldis Juaquin

SP Scott Barnes

SS Brandon Crawford

If you're anywhere near a Cal League affiliate, get out to see San Jose when they come to town early in the season. By June, I have a feeling Connecticut will be a hot ticket.

Fans of other teams - which affiliate has the most talent in a single place? Which teams will be most interesting to follow, especially early in the season?

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Frisco Roughriders

Derek Holland may start the season out in AAA but if that rotation is too full he will start in Frisco. If he is in Frisco they would feature a rotation of Holland, Neftali Feliz, Kasey Kiker, Omar Poveda, and Guillermo Moscosco. On offense Justin Smoak looks to start there (or be there very very quickly), Jose Vallejo, Marcus Lemon, Manuel Pina, and Greg Golson.

By the end of the year after Feliz and Holland have moved up there is a good chance they will be replaced with Micheal Main and/or Blake Beavan in the rotation.

As far as strictly rotations, along with Frisco the Rangers Low A affiliate in Hickory looks to feature a rotation of Marin Perez, Wilfredo Boscan, Neil Ramirez, Carlos Pimental, Joe Weiland, and possibly Wilmer Font and Robbie Ross

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Mar 4, 2009 10:35 AM EST reply actions

+1

like it better than San Jose

by alskor on Mar 4, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

A's AAA rotation

Not sure exactly who’ll make the majors, but you could have Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez & Viz Mazzarro all pitching in that rotation.

The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.

by mckeeno on Mar 4, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Plus James Simmons and possibly Jerome Williams or Josh Outman.

Although with Duke’s injury, i think Gio is almost a lock for a spot in Oakland with a good spring. He has looked good so far. I think of the MAC might be able to find a spot with a great spring as well.

by UOSportsDude on Mar 4, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

Tampa Yankees

Rotation of Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances, Jeremy Bleich, Jairo Heredia, and Wilkins de la Rosa (or possibly Chris Garcia).

Lineup will include Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, and Brad Suttle, and possibly guys like Carmen Angelini and Abraham Almonte as well (though both may start in Charleston due to tough seasons last year).

Should be the most exciting Yankee affiliate by far this year.

http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/

by lemonjello on Mar 4, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions