Is Felix Pie an "elite" prospect?

[TysonCBulls423]

I don't really know so I was hoping you guys could help. I know some people believe he isn't worth trading for Griffey and then others believe he definitely is. What's your take?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

[TruffleShuffle]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

[cubfan1955]

Put me on the list to NOT give him up in a Griffey or Dunn deal.

[inari]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

By absolutely no stretch of the imagination is that true. He's a good prospect, but not elite.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't really know so I was hoping you guys could help. I know some people believe he isn't worth trading for Griffey and then others believe he definitely is. What's your take?

 

Few people who aren't Cubs fans would classify him as one.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

 

There's a rather significant difference between evaluating Felix Pie prior to 2007, and evaluating Felix Pie as of now when he's putting up a 1.000 OPS in AAA at age 22, while raising his BB% and LD% slightly, and dropping his K% a significant amount.

[illiniguy]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

 

There's a rather significant difference between evaluating Felix Pie prior to 2007, and evaluating Felix Pie as of now when he's putting up a 1.000 OPS in AAA at age 22, while raising his BB% and LD% slightly, and dropping his K% a significant amount.

Wait, you mean a guy under 25 can get better?

[TruffleShuffle]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

 

There's a rather significant difference between evaluating Felix Pie prior to 2007, and evaluating Felix Pie as of now when he's putting up a 1.000 OPS in AAA at age 22, while raising his BB% and LD% slightly, and dropping his K% a significant amount.

 

His BABIP is .423. Yeah, he's had a good year, but I don't think he's unquestionably a top 25 prospect.

[illiniguy]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

 

There's a rather significant difference between evaluating Felix Pie prior to 2007, and evaluating Felix Pie as of now when he's putting up a 1.000 OPS in AAA at age 22, while raising his BB% and LD% slightly, and dropping his K% a significant amount.

 

His BABIP is .423. Yeah, he's had a good year, but I don't think he's unquestionably a top 25 prospect.

Well a lot of the guys from the lists you were talking about have graduated to the big leagues. I think he is in the top 20 right now.

[Jazz]

I think there is a small misconception about Pie's prospect status, partly because of how long he has been in the minor league system. The average of of a Triple-A player is around 23, and Felix is under that at 22. At every level he has played at, he has been younger than the mean, but since he's been around for 5+ years, people might perceive that he should have been in the big leagues by now, and maybe even producing. The fact remains that if felix is a great talent, that is benefiting from a patient development cycle. I agree with the sentiment that he is a top 25 prospect, and this is partly due to the crop of last year's top prospects maturing to MLB rookie status. I wouldn't be very happy if we were to see him ago, unless he brought a great talent back.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Felix is an elite prospect. Top 25 in the game.

 

all three writers who did top 50 rankings for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook disagreed with you after last season. Two didn't have him in their top 50.

 

There's a rather significant difference between evaluating Felix Pie prior to 2007, and evaluating Felix Pie as of now when he's putting up a 1.000 OPS in AAA at age 22, while raising his BB% and LD% slightly, and dropping his K% a significant amount.

 

His BABIP is .423. Yeah, he's had a good year, but I don't think he's unquestionably a top 25 prospect.

 

Well, yeah, his BABIP is going to be off the charts when he's hitting .377. Even with the bump in average he's still improved on all the areas of his peripheral game. More line drives, more walks, more extra base hits, and fewer strikeouts.

[Cubsown2007]

I think there is a small misconception about Pie's prospect status, partly because of how long he has been in the minor league system. The average of of a Triple-A player is around 23, and Felix is under that at 22. At every level he has played at, he has been younger than the mean, but since he's been around for 5+ years, people might perceive that he should have been in the big leagues by now, and maybe even producing. The fact remains that if felix is a great talent, that is benefiting from a patient development cycle. I agree with the sentiment that he is a top 25 prospect, and this is partly due to the crop of last year's top prospects maturing to MLB rookie status. I wouldn't be very happy if we were to see him ago, unless he brought a great talent back.

 

Good post. Pretty much how I feel on the situation.

 

Do I think he's a great prospect? Absolutely. Elite? I wouldn't go that far, lets see how he matures. Do I think he can help us win a WS this year?

 

I don't really see it. But he will be our CFer of the future if the FO continues to be very gentle with his development. And a lock at CF is one thing that we CANNOT give up for the future.

[davearm]

This is just like the "natural SS" nonsense.

 

Come up with a universally-accepted definition of "elite prospect," and we can answer the question.

[brinoch]

This is just like the "natural SS" nonsense.

 

Come up with a universally-accepted definition of "elite prospect," and we can answer the question.

 

That debate wasn't nonsense. This forum allows people to discuss Cubs topics (as well as other topics) and express their opinions on said topics. A poster expressing their opinion is not 'nonsense.'

 

Also, there is no universally accepted definition of just about any subjective topic or phrase. If there were, there would be no need to discuss or debate prospects, players, or teams.

[davearm]

This is just like the "natural SS" nonsense.

 

Come up with a universally-accepted definition of "elite prospect," and we can answer the question.

 

That debate wasn't nonsense. This forum allows people to discuss Cubs topics (as well as other topics) and express their opinions on said topics. A poster expressing their opinion is not 'nonsense.'

 

Also, there is no universally accepted definition of just about any subjective topic or phrase. If there were, there would be no need to discuss or debate prospects, players, or teams.

Fair enough.

 

I still say that the ambiguous nature of the question inevitably will lead to this thread devolving into a long and ultimately hopeless semantic argument over what constitutes an "elite" prospect.

 

If there's value in that exercise, then carry on.