ESPN's law ranks the farm systems

[Radar3454]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

[KingCubsFan]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

Just quickly glancing at this, it seems like he looks at who has super-prospects close to the majors and judges entire systems based on that. Who does KC have besides Gordon and Butler? Who do the Yankees have besides Hughes? Both these systems, while strong at the top, are quite thin in terms of depth

[Mephistopheles]

Like BA he's a second-hand knowledge guy. The Yankees PR department just a good job.

[CubinNY]

Like BA he's a second-hand knowledge guy. The Yankees PR department just a good job.

 

Yes. ESPN just ranked them in the top 10 becuase of Hughes and Tabata.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=2742549

[Geech]

Felix Pie is enigmatic?

[illiniguy]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

Just quickly glancing at this, it seems like he looks at who has super-prospects close to the majors and judges entire systems based on that. Who does KC have besides Gordon and Butler? Who do the Yankees have besides Hughes? Both these systems, while strong at the top, are quite thin in terms of depth

Luke Hochevar

Chris Lubanski

Zach Greinke

Mitch Maier

Justin Huber

Tyler Lumsden

Billy Buckner

 

KC has a much better farm system than we do

[Transmogrified Tiger]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

Just quickly glancing at this, it seems like he looks at who has super-prospects close to the majors and judges entire systems based on that. Who does KC have besides Gordon and Butler? Who do the Yankees have besides Hughes? Both these systems, while strong at the top, are quite thin in terms of depth

Luke Hochevar

Chris Lubanski

Zach Greinke

Mitch Maier

Justin Huber

Tyler Lumsden

Billy Buckner

 

KC has a much better farm system than we do

 

Hochevar hasn't pitched above A ball, Greinke's no longer a prospect, and Lumsden, Buckner, and Maier are all varying levels of meh. Lubanski looks like a solid prospect and Huber can rake(though I think he's been a hot prospect for about 31 years) though.

[illiniguy]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

Just quickly glancing at this, it seems like he looks at who has super-prospects close to the majors and judges entire systems based on that. Who does KC have besides Gordon and Butler? Who do the Yankees have besides Hughes? Both these systems, while strong at the top, are quite thin in terms of depth

Luke Hochevar

Chris Lubanski

Zach Greinke

Mitch Maier

Justin Huber

Tyler Lumsden

Billy Buckner

 

KC has a much better farm system than we do

 

Hochevar hasn't pitched above A ball, Greinke's no longer a prospect, and Lumsden, Buckner, and Maier are all varying levels of meh. Lubanski looks like a solid prospect and Huber can rake(though I think he's been a hot prospect for about 31 years) though.

Hochevar pitched in the AA playoffs. Was great one game and meh the other, that said we all think Jeff ND is a great prospect and in all reality he isn't anywhere near what Luke is.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Other teams of interest

 

1. Tampa Bay

2. Colorado:

3. Arizona:

4. Kansas City:

5. N.Y. Yankees:

9. Milwaukee:

14. Boston

15. Cincinnati

16. Chi. White Sox

18. Houston:

20. Pittsburgh:

28. St. Louis

30. San Diego

Just quickly glancing at this, it seems like he looks at who has super-prospects close to the majors and judges entire systems based on that. Who does KC have besides Gordon and Butler? Who do the Yankees have besides Hughes? Both these systems, while strong at the top, are quite thin in terms of depth

Luke Hochevar

Chris Lubanski

Zach Greinke

Mitch Maier

Justin Huber

Tyler Lumsden

Billy Buckner

 

KC has a much better farm system than we do

 

Hochevar hasn't pitched above A ball, Greinke's no longer a prospect, and Lumsden, Buckner, and Maier are all varying levels of meh. Lubanski looks like a solid prospect and Huber can rake(though I think he's been a hot prospect for about 31 years) though.

Hochevar pitched in the AA playoffs. Was great one game and meh the other, that said we all think Jeff ND is a great prospect and in all reality he isn't anywhere near what Luke is.

 

Agreed, I was speaking in the "near the major leagues" context of the previous posts when talking about Hochevar.

[nilodnayr]

where are the dodgers and angels?

[Drew Doughty]

where are the dodgers and angels?

 

8. L.A. Angels: The next wave of Angels arms is coming, led by Nick Adenhart and Jose Arredondo. Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are both above-average prospects who are close to reaching the majors.

 

17. L.A. Dodgers: No team was hurt more in these rankings by promotions than the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp would be one of the top 10 prospects in baseball if he qualified, and Chad Billingsley spent most of last year in the majors when the initial plan was to give him a year in Triple-A. Scott Elbert's control troubles are also a concern.

[nilodnayr]

where are the dodgers and angels?

 

8. L.A. Angels: The next wave of Angels arms is coming, led by Nick Adenhart and Jose Arredondo. Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are both above-average prospects who are close to reaching the majors.

 

17. L.A. Dodgers: No team was hurt more in these rankings by promotions than the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp would be one of the top 10 prospects in baseball if he qualified, and Chad Billingsley spent most of last year in the majors when the initial plan was to give him a year in Triple-A. Scott Elbert's control troubles are also a concern.

 

Speaking of Kemp, is he going to get any playing time with the Gonzo signing?

[Guest]

where are the dodgers and angels?

 

8. L.A. Angels: The next wave of Angels arms is coming, led by Nick Adenhart and Jose Arredondo. Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are both above-average prospects who are close to reaching the majors.

 

17. L.A. Dodgers: No team was hurt more in these rankings by promotions than the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp would be one of the top 10 prospects in baseball if he qualified, and Chad Billingsley spent most of last year in the majors when the initial plan was to give him a year in Triple-A. Scott Elbert's control troubles are also a concern.

 

Speaking of Kemp, is he going to get any playing time with the Gonzo signing?

He'll be fighting Ethier for time in RF.

[Drew Doughty]

where are the dodgers and angels?

 

8. L.A. Angels: The next wave of Angels arms is coming, led by Nick Adenhart and Jose Arredondo. Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are both above-average prospects who are close to reaching the majors.

 

17. L.A. Dodgers: No team was hurt more in these rankings by promotions than the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp would be one of the top 10 prospects in baseball if he qualified, and Chad Billingsley spent most of last year in the majors when the initial plan was to give him a year in Triple-A. Scott Elbert's control troubles are also a concern.

 

Speaking of Kemp, is he going to get any playing time with the Gonzo signing?

He'll be fighting Ethier for time in RF.

 

And Loney.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

where are the dodgers and angels?

 

8. L.A. Angels: The next wave of Angels arms is coming, led by Nick Adenhart and Jose Arredondo. Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are both above-average prospects who are close to reaching the majors.

 

17. L.A. Dodgers: No team was hurt more in these rankings by promotions than the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp would be one of the top 10 prospects in baseball if he qualified, and Chad Billingsley spent most of last year in the majors when the initial plan was to give him a year in Triple-A. Scott Elbert's control troubles are also a concern.

 

Speaking of Kemp, is he going to get any playing time with the Gonzo signing?

He'll be fighting Ethier for time in RF.

 

And Loney.

 

Don't think Loney will have much of a chance defensively though.

[Bruno7481]

Like BA he's a second-hand knowledge guy. The Yankees PR department just a good job.

 

Wondering if you could elaborate on why you think BA is second-hand?

 

Who is first-hand?

 

I have to disagree with you, having done some work for BA in the past.

[Mephistopheles]

Unless I'm mistaken BA employs very few scouts. Keith Law and ESPN employ even fewer.

[CuseCubFan69]

I just want the Cubs to be able to plug a guy from their farm into their team every year and it really doesn't matter to me if they have all the top prospects. I like how the Yanks sell theirs as being good and if Hendry could market his as well he could get some decent players in trades. The key to me is that Hendry and staff evaluate correctly and trade the guys that have value but will not turn into MLB players and keep the ones that are going to be. The Yanks do an incredible job of this.

[Tracer Bullet]

Unless I'm mistaken BA employs very few scouts. Keith Law and ESPN employ even fewer.

 

I'm likewise confused by your original statement about being "second-hand." You seemed to imply that Law ranks the Yankees highly based on what the Yankees say about their own players. Is that really what you were saying?

[CoolHandLuke]

Unless I'm mistaken BA employs very few scouts. Keith Law and ESPN employ even fewer.

 

I'm likewise confused by your original statement about being "second-hand." You seemed to imply that Law ranks the Yankees highly based on what the Yankees say about their own players. Is that really what you were saying?

 

I think he is saying that BA rarely goes out and watches the players and comes up with their own independant opinions. They go out and interview the scouts, managers, etc. and compile their opinions. Firsthand info would come from the scouts, secondhand info would come from getting the first hand info from the scouts.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think he was being facetious.

[craig]

insider - http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith#20070126

 

fyi - He values prospects close to the majors highly

 

19. Chi. Cubs: Other than the enigmatic Felix Pie, there isn't much close to the majors here.

 

Not to be a huge homer. But I think how the Cubs rank in lists like this and BA's depends on who is included. All the lists use basically the same cutoff: guys who would be rookie eligible.

 

Guzman, Marshall, and Marmol will not be rookie eligible, so of course are not included. But all three are intended for Iowa, health permitting, and should have been at Iowa or below last year, health/performance permitting.

 

I'm not sure an Iowa with Guzman, Marshall, Marmol, Mateo, Ryu, Cherry, Rapada, and Novoa is exactly lacking in pitchers who are "close" to the majors. Pie and Patterson are also reasonably close. And I suppose Moore, too, if you like him.

 

I'm just thinking that an Iowa with Guzman, Marshall, Marmol, Pie, and Patterson isn't exactly 19th in terms of close-to-majors-ready minor leaguers. And it's not like Guzman, Marmol, and Pie are real low-ceiling prospects, either.

[Mephistopheles]

Unless I'm mistaken BA employs very few scouts. Keith Law and ESPN employ even fewer.

 

I'm likewise confused by your original statement about being "second-hand." You seemed to imply that Law ranks the Yankees highly based on what the Yankees say about their own players. Is that really what you were saying?

 

I think he is saying that BA rarely goes out and watches the players and comes up with their own independant opinions. They go out and interview the scouts, managers, etc. and compile their opinions. Firsthand info would come from the scouts, secondhand info would come from getting the first hand info from the scouts.

From my understanding most of their scouting reports come from either the managers and coaches of the player or the managers and coaches of opposing teams. The latter see the player two or three times a season, so it's not really a fair assessment.

 

My main reasoning was saying that it's not physically BA doing most of their scouting and ESPN does a LOT less scouting than BA. Of course BA's work is a lot better than Laws because I would assume they have more contacts.

[CoolHandLuke]

Unless I'm mistaken BA employs very few scouts. Keith Law and ESPN employ even fewer.

 

I'm likewise confused by your original statement about being "second-hand." You seemed to imply that Law ranks the Yankees highly based on what the Yankees say about their own players. Is that really what you were saying?

 

I think he is saying that BA rarely goes out and watches the players and comes up with their own independant opinions. They go out and interview the scouts, managers, etc. and compile their opinions. Firsthand info would come from the scouts, secondhand info would come from getting the first hand info from the scouts.

From my understanding most of their scouting reports come from either the managers and coaches of the player or the managers and coaches of opposing teams. The latter see the player two or three times a season, so it's not really a fair assessment.

 

My main reasoning was saying that it's not physically BA doing most of their scouting and ESPN does a LOT less scouting than BA. Of course BA's work is a lot better than Laws because I would assume they have more contacts.

 

Thats exactly what I was trying to say.

[Mephistopheles]

I was agreeing with you.