Can’t say enough about your efforts in compiling what should be the most conclusive list this comunnity has compiled. No disrespect to all the work pinstripes and KBR have done, but this list obviously won’t have the same “ballot-stuffing” concerns among other things.

although Carter/Tillman/Samardizja/Arrieta/Villalona/McDonald are high IMO while Santana/Anderson/McCutchen are a little low I.M.O.

about Alderson that seperate him from someone like Brett Anderson (hes the closest pitcher in rank who is comparable)

the first is home run rates (which some say should regress for Alderson, but I’ll take 4 HR in 145 innings at face value) and even though Alderson’s GO/AO ratio (40/60) isn’t indicitive of someone who will never give up home runs, a 10% infield fly% is, as it implies (and this is going to sound incredibly stupid) that even when hitters do hit his pitches in the air they aren’t making good enough contact to drive it far (15% LD rate is good but not great).

Secondly is the factor of age for his level. Succeeding in this fasion (ok, its not domination, although it was an incredibly season) as a 19 year old in a league where he wouldn’t be faulted for being 20-21. If he had pitched more his rookie year he could’ve gotten some innings in AA and that would’ve been ridiculous. But that is neither here nor there.

Also, coupled with realistic strand rate (71%) and a fairly advanced arsenal (3 pitches, 2 of which grade out as potential plus pitches, his fastball and curveball, and a decent change that with more use should become an above average pitch). He has shown the ability to stay healthy, so I’m not worried about this kid.

I was focusing on Alderson and completley lost sight of the second question.

On McDonald, I’m fearful that he moves to the bullpen, his HR rate is high (12 HR in 118 IP at AA this past year) and that isn’t because of an inflated BABIP (.274). High infield fly rates are encouraging, but a spike this past year in LD% (12% in 06 and 07 but 17.5% between two levels this year). Also he doesn’t get many swinging strikes for a strikeout pitcher.

On Max Ramirez, being 22 in A+ last year and 23 this past year (and we can expect he’ll be in AAA for the majority of this year) means that he wont be nice and ready by 25. Thats not the be-all end-all, we know very well that older prospects can succeed, but its not a plus for him. Walk rate is nice, but his strikeout rate isn’t excellent (if he was given 600 PA he would have 110-120 K). I’m still not sold on his defense being average or above average either (I want to see it for myself, but god knows that’ll seemingly never happen with the Rangers’ influx at the position). Maybe I’m a little down on him, although Victor Martinez upside in his prime is fair, his downside? I dunno. Kelly Shoppach without the defense?

On Feliz its all based on fears that he might move to the bullpen, if he does his value plummets so I can’t put him higher right now.

On Jones, people (like me) are down on Rasmus for having his 2008, but look at Daryl Jones’ 2007. You can’t be the .217/.304/.297 type of abysmal in a full season of at plate appearances (nearly 500) as a 20 year old in A ball and expect me to forget about it. I also don’t have much faith in his power developing. 10-15 HR with 25-30 SB and good BB rates if he catches some breaks and hits his prime.

Dominguez was originally in around 55, but I kept rethinking his placement. Not only am I not a fan of the incredibly young players (don’t throw Madbum/Alderson/and Heyward in my face =p) to start off, but before I give him the Troy Glaus comparison (which is a viable one) he needs to start taking more walks. I do trust the power, but if he doesn’t start taking walks then pitchers will take advantage of him and that could lead to his average dropping, and hes not the kind of power hitter that can hit .220 with a .280 OBP and still be successful at the major league level because every time he makes contact it goes out of the park. He does play very good defense and the power is there and its not like he makes horrible contact (from what I’ve read) but the BB rate is real low… He should probably be above Villalona, however, after further review.

Alderson, well the explanation is in the post above

Gamel kind of gives me the Mike Sweeny feel, 20/25 HR with solid averages, except he exchanges the glove for some better shoes. This upside is pretty low considerng where he is on the list, but I think he is ready to produce a .310/.370/.470 line in the majors if not by opening day then by midseason or opening day 2010 and that kind of closeness to the majors is valuable.

Chacin is debatable (although hes probably my favorite pitcher behind Cha-Seung-Baek) anyway… He may not have a ++ pitch, but he has three plus pitches (the curve is debatable) and pitched well in a hitters park for the majority of this past year. That kind of ground ball rate is nothing to sneeze at