his peripherals scare the hell out of me. I wrote a fatal flaw piece on him in August discussing it.

Halman

The scouts are getting this one right. Triunfel has been horribly rushed in our system, so it’s really hard to judge him based on his stats. Hopefully Zduirencik will cool aggressive promotion thing and let him sit around to eat up a single season somewhere. Maybe that’ll help you understand.

Generally here are a few good things to look at:

Age vs. Competitive level (18 years old vs. high A ball stuff)
ISO power increase to .119 from last year.
30 walks to 52 strikeouts is a good ratio, which also means he wont strike out a lot (strikeout ratio a mere 12 percent)
30 stolen bases in 108 games.

Quit looking at minor league stat lines and thinking that he has to be X in order to be a good prospect. Triunfel is going to be fine. You can still leave him as a B+ prospect if you must, citing tools, youth, etc… but he’s amongst the top position prospects in baseball at a very very young age.

I thought about bumping him from the list to make room for Mike Wilson or Adcock but realized it doesn’t really matter.

I’ve got

1.) Carlos Triunfel, SS - starting to show some pop and still a teenager. I agree with the Tejada comp, but a bit more athletic.
2.) Phillippe Aumont, RHSP - has the stuff, just needs to fix mechanics
3.) Michael Saunders, OF - not a lot of power, but I think he’s a safe bet to be an MLB contributor
4.) Greg Halman, CF - Awful K:BB rates hold him back
5.) Juan Ramirez, RHSP - Doesn’t have the numbers but is polished for his age/level
6.) Adam Moore, C - Could be complete package behind the plate. Not great at any aspect, but very solid all around.
7.) Michael Pineda, RHSP - Needs better secondary stuff, but control is phenomenal.
8.) Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B - Turned it on late in the year. Swing/approach has been compared to Piazza, FWIW
9.) Mike Carp, 1B - Lyle Overbay
10.) Dennis Raben, OF/1B - Similar to Carp, but much more power potential
11.) Jharmidy DeJesus, 3B - Young, but looks very good already. Defense is iffy.
12.) Rob Johnson, C - Solid backup, or Dan Wilson-like starter.
13.) Mario Martinez, 3B - Looks solid so far, could develop solid power
14.) Maikel Cleto, RHSP - A lot to work on, but great arm
15.) Nathan Adcock, RHSP - Overshadowed by other pitching prospects, but looks like a potential #3-4
16.) Shawn Kelley, RHRP - Good reliever, great slider. Mechanics will cause injuries until fixed
17.) Gabriel Noriega, SS - Great defender, switch hitter. some power potential
18.) Efrain Nunez, CF - 17, but switch hitter with raw power and decent approach
19.) Gaby Hernandez, RHSP - lost his curveball and a few MPH, but still just 22 and could have been top 10 last year
20.) Mike Wilson, COF - getting old, but is doing better since dropping the switch hitting act. big time power

I have very very little faith in Halman, and I think Raben and Ramirez will have very strong years. I’m starting to like Tuiasosopo more and more, too.

21-25 I’ve got LHRP Justin Thomas, CF Julio Morban, CF Ezequiel Carrera, RHSP Brett Lorin and CF Tyson Gillies.

Some other interesting names could be RHSP Fabian Williamson, CF Denny Almonte, RHSP Aaron Pribanic, RHSP Steve Hensley, RHP Luke Burnett, LHSP Donnie Hume

You must be trolling. It’s thin at the top for pitching, but it’s not the worst. The Mariners have some extremely talented players in the lower farm.

Bavasi gutted us pretty badly with the Bedard trade, but there’s still a lot here to work with. Only a blind idiot would call this the worst system.

Even though it appears I’ve tarnished my good name in Mariner-Land…here’s my list. I’m only going to do a top 12 because I really think this is a bad system….or shall I say, a “non-elite” system…

1) Carlos Triunfel, B: I like his plate discipline at such an early age and I like that he’s got a full compliment of tools and makes contact. I worry about the lack of a power a bit.

2) Phillippe Aumont, C+: Solid numbers. Health an issue.

3) Jeff Clement, C+: I liked him alot more last year at this time. I was really high on him 2 years ago. His MLB experience hasn’t looked good thus far…and that disturbs me.

4) Greg Halman, C+: Average or slightly above numbers thus far, but strikes out a ton and his power numbers have went down.

5) Brandon Morrow, C+: Throws Ks, but gets knocked around. A move to closer could help, or could be the end…50/50 at this point.

6) Wladimir Balentien, C+: Like Clement, the potential to breakout and hit is there…maybe .290 and 25 HRs. Or, the potential is there to hit .200 and 7 HRs. Could go either way at this point.

7) Dennis Raben, C+: Nothing spectacular thus far, but he’s young and I like him.

8) Michael Saunders, C+: Much like Balentien, could go either way. I don’t think he has the upside of Balentien so he’s ranked slightly lower.

9) Juan Ramirez, C: Improving his walk rate, like his strikeout rate. He’s young and it’s early, but I think there’s some talent here.

10) Matt Mangini, C: Thus far the numbers haven’t looked good. I still think there’s some potential here.

11) Adam Moore, C: Followed up a good season last year with another good season in 2008. If he does this at AAA, Clement may have to watch his back.

12) Josh Fields, C: Last time I checked, he still wasn’t signed. If he signs, I’d put him at #12…he does have some good stuff to become a quality closer. Unfortunately, it looks like Seattle is going to take the 1st rounder and let him go.

Honorable Mention: Nick Hill

Going from all prospects, much better lineups can be made.

C - Adam Moore
1B - Dennis Raben
2B - Carlos Triunfel
3B - Jharmidy DeJesus/Matt Tuiasosopo.. even Jose Lopez
SS - Gabriel Noriega (or anyone else, just as long as Betancourt isn’t around in 5 years)
LF - Michael Saunders
CF - Greg Halman
RF - Ichiro (I think he’s under contract through 2013) or Wlad Balentien
DH - Jeff Clement

That looks a bit more solid, and that’s obviously not counting our many 2009 draft picks.

There’s no way Raben is the Mariners #1 prospect. Yes, he’s showed extremely good plate skills and advanced discipline but he’s also a college player so this SHOULD be what he does to low A pitching. You’re letting the impressive number line mean way too much. It’s only 91 at bats…

Yes, the scouts like his approach, too, but I can’t put him over more ML ready players like Saunders nor can I put him over the incredible tools that Aumont, Ramirez, Halman, and Triunfel have.

That’s a leap I’m not willing to follow.

Aumont would need to walk people at an alarming rate and not be able to go past the fifth. Thats a very bad comp.

There are many 1B/OF/DH types in the system, many of them better than Peguero. He’s unlikely to stick in the outfield and his K/BB ratio is awful. Really nothing special.

I think next season Ramirez is going to pull away from Pineda. By all accounts Ramirez is much better and much more polished overall. Pineda put up great numbers because of his great control. Control in A-ball is going to work out fine. He doesn’t have a complete arsenal, though, and he’ll need one to get it done in higher levels.

I think Ramirez establishes himself big-time next season.

Corona’s a C guy to me, so toss him in the pile of “other guys”, but Lugo I could see being a useful LOOGY type in the George Sherrill mold. Still probably not enough to warrant more then a C at this point with his control issues.