1st Annual S.S. Poseidon Award: Washington Nationals

by John Sickels on Nov 23, 2025 1:04 PM EST in News

The readers of MinorLeagueBall.com have awarded the Washington Nationals with the 2005 S.S. Poseidon Award, honoring the Nationals as having the worst, most disasterous farm system in baseball.

The Nationals garnered 29% of the votes cast. Second place went to the New York Yankees with 24%. Third place went to the San Diego Padres with 12%, with the Cincinnati Reds right behind at 11%.

I am surprised that the Yankees came in second place. Their farm system is hardly good, but it has improved in the last couple of years, and I don't think it is as bad as some of the others. This may reflect some anti-Yankee bias among Minor League Ball voters.

But in the end, I agree with the choice of the voters that the Nationals are worst overall.

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please explain

I understand that something must be bad about the S.S. Poseidon. I am curious what exactly happened to that ship. Can someone give a short bio.
Thanks

by RJB7 on Nov 23, 2025 1:27 PM EST reply actions

actually it wasn't all that bad

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069113/

by LindInMoskva on Nov 23, 2025 1:35 PM EST reply actions

In fact...

...I rather enjoyed it. At least, the originally. I didn't bother with the made-for-tv remake. Why do producers always feel the need to remake semi-good to good (or even bad) movies? Is Hollywood that bereft of ideas? (On second thought, don't answer that...)

by RVachon on Nov 23, 2025 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

I think it's pointless to make a diary about this

But i had another suggestion for articles that you could write. THere were a lot of things (much like the Top 20 Reviews) before the season that could be looked at again, such as Young Pitcher Symposiums (it would be interesting to rehash the Harden/Beckett debate), PECOTA/Community projections etc.

by ohad on Nov 23, 2025 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Pointless?

A little rough there ohad. I found it worthwhile. Especially if you factor in John is assholes-and-elbows busy right now with a new baby and trying to get his book done. The more in depth stuff can wait, it's only November.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Nov 23, 2025 2:41 PM EST reply actions

saying

"assholes-and-elbows busy"

I've never heard that before. I've got to use that the next time I'm out at a bar in Armory Square...

by akk99 on Nov 23, 2025 8:37 PM EST up reply actions

I think

Ohad wasn't saying that John's post was pointless, but that it would be pointless for him (Ohad) to post a separate diary to make the request he was making.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 23, 2025 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

Never mind...

Obviously Ohad made the exact same point further down. Note to self: always read the whole comment thread before making a late addition.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 23, 2025 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

The Past

Are there any organizations from the past that clearly stand out as being worse than this years 2005 S.S. Poseidon Award winner, honoring the Nationals.

by Mo Wily Mo in Cincy on Nov 23, 2025 3:02 PM EST reply actions

Yankees....

the system sucks, but not as much as the Padres or even the O's.

The problem with the Yankees is that most of their top end talent is yeeeeeeears away, well, that and the pitching sucks.

by SenorGato88 on Nov 23, 2025 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Does not

Actually the pitching doesn't suck, but as with the position prospects, it is mostly in the lower levels. To name a few: DeSalvo, White, Clippard, Cox, Hughes, Schmidt. Maybe even Marquez, Hoover, Kroenke, Patterson, Japa.

by 12to6 on Nov 23, 2025 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

sean henn sean henn

why does nobody mention Sean Henn? .. he's close to tbe majors, and good. alot of the above mentioned will be moving to AA and beyond.. the yankees have fairly decent pitching prospects.. not the best, but no-where near the worst

by ufo on Nov 25, 2025 8:23 PM EST up reply actions

re-phrasing

i didn't mean this diary was pointless. It came out totally wrong. I meant that it was pointless for me to make my comment into a diary, so i'd add it in here.

by ohad on Nov 23, 2025 4:35 PM EST reply actions

On Behalf of Nats Fans Everywhere

I'd like to thank the voters for this most prestigious award. I'd also like to thank Omar Minaya, without whom this moment would not have been possible. He'll be missed, but Jim Bowden, I'm sure, will carry the torch. I'd especially like to thank Bud Selig and Jeffrey Loiria. Not only did they did they ruin the franchise, but they profited from its demise. We're already working hard on winning this again next year. Our instructional league was cancelled for the 5th consecutive season due to a lack of hotel rooms for the players, which makes me proud. And I'm sure we'll sign Matt Morris and Jaun Encarncion, giving our first and second round picks to St. Louis and Florida.

See you next year....and thanks!!!!

by vaclipper on Nov 23, 2025 6:33 PM EST reply actions

LOL

I can only hope that I can have the same levels of both acceptance and bitterness necessary to do the same if the Astro's win this one year...(and with Uncle Drayton at the helm, it's very feasible)

by joeficarra on Nov 23, 2025 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Encarnacion

Just the thought makes me blind with rage. Who knew that finally getting a team after 30+ years would just open us up to new, innovative forms of torture at the hands of baseball's ruling cabal? I was really hoping that Bowden would get the Boston job.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Nov 23, 2025 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Please no.

If Bowden comes here, I move to Portland and become a Sea Dogs fan.

Unless he trades them all for... God, lemme think here... I bet he'd love to trade to acquire a Proven Winner like Russ Ortiz.

by abbreviatedman on Nov 24, 2025 3:27 AM EST up reply actions

Yanks

I think the Yankees were overrepresented because there is a certain proportion of the population that will vote against the Yankees whenever possible.

I'm no fan of the Yankees, but there are several worse farm systems out there.

by FI on Nov 23, 2025 9:03 PM EST reply actions

Nationals are not the worst

Any team that has atleast one prospect who is predicted to be a solid regular or star(Zimmerman) cant be the worst system. Overall they are bad, but I still say the Padres are worse. Now that I have seen BAs Pirates top 10, I am almost inclined to vote for them. They have no prospects, but atleast a couple of guys have recently joined the big league club and have potential to make it.

by Jeremy1Esq on Nov 24, 2025 8:15 PM EST reply actions

No prospects?

Neil Walker is a VERY good prospect. He may even turn out to be better than Zimm. Zimm is very good defensively and is very polished/MLB ready overall, but I think Walker has more natural talent. Same can be said of McCutchen.

I don't care if the Nats have Delmon, one prospect does not make the system. They are horrible. The Padres also have some pretty good players in the low-mid minors.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Nov 24, 2025 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

mcutchen walker duffy

the pirates are underrated like ALWAYS .. they have alot of prospects.. they dont have a delmon young type, but these 3 are gonna be good .. and their pitching isn't bad either (malholm, gordzelany, bullington, ect)

by ufo on Nov 25, 2025 8:27 PM EST reply actions

replying to your previous comment

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by calabrohuaca on Dec 22, 2025 10:42 AM EST reply actions