A little help from the minor league experts here

[NomarSammy]

I dont know if this is an acceptable topic around here, but I was hoping for a bit of help from some of you who are experts with the minor leaguers. i am in a pretty competative NL only fantasy league and I am looking for the top 15 position prospects in the NL. Any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[BeerHere]

I'm certainly NOT a minor league expert by any means. BaseballAmerica publishes it's top 100 list every year and the 2008 version is linked below. No subscription needed. I hope this helps.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2008/265655.html

[Outshined_One]

I'm certainly NOT a minor league expert by any means. BaseballAmerica publishes it's top 100 list every year and the 2008 version is linked below. No subscription needed. I hope this helps.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2008/265655.html

 

Going down the list according to his criteria...

 

1) Jay Bruce

2) Colby Rasmus

3) Cameron Maybin

4) Andrew McCutchen

5) Fernando Martinez

6) Matt LaPorta

7) Jordan Schafer

8) Chris Marrero

9) Jason Heyward

10) Andy LaRoche

11) Chase Headley

12) Angel Villalona

13) Ian Stewart

14) Josh Vitters

15) Joey Votto

16) Geovany Soto

17) Matt Antonelli

18) JR Towles

19) Chin-Lung Hu

20) Neil Walker

21) Brandon Jones

22) Dexter Fowler

23) Tyler Colvin

24) Adrian Cardenas

25) Bryan Anderson

26) Steve Pearce

27) Gorkys Hernandez

28) Hector Gomez

29) Drew Stubbs

 

Some general comments...

 

-Be very wary of selecting Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, given Dusty Baker being at the helm.

-Guys I really like in terms of future 5x5 fantasy value: Jay Bruce (if he gets enough playing time), Colby Rasmus, Cameron Maybin, Jason Heyward, Ian Stewart, Geovany Soto, Matt Antonelli, and Steve Pearce

-Guys I'm leery about: Jordan Schafer, Tyler Colvin, Matt LaPorta (where the hell will he play if Braun is in LF?), Drew Stubbs, Andrew McCutchen (where's the power?), Dexter Fowler (ditto), and Chin-Lung Hu.

[NomarSammy]

thanks for the help guys--I really appreciate it!

[badnews]

Jason Heyward is already major league ready?! Good Lord.

[sneakypower]

i wish this team didnt draft so poorly

[javy knows my name]

Jason Heyward is already major league ready?! Good Lord.

Given that Vitters is on there, I don't think the list is saying that at all.

[Outshined_One]

Jason Heyward is already major league ready?! Good Lord.

 

He wasn't asking for major league-ready prospects.

[badnews]

I guess I didn't understand the question... since you mentioned LaPorta being stuck behind Braun I thought we were talking about prospects who would make a major league impact.

[Outshined_One]

I guess I didn't understand the question... since you mentioned LaPorta being stuck behind Braun I thought we were talking about prospects who would make a major league impact.

 

LaPorta's biggest problem is that the Brewers managed to paint themselves into a corner in terms of playing time. Prince Fielder is going nowhere any time soon. LaPorta wasn't a very good catcher in college. Braun is currently slated to play LF, but supposedly he can play CF. However, that's not a guarantee. Moreover, with Mike Cameron in the mix getting a 1 year contract with a club option, it's very possible Cameron could be the Brewers' CF for the next two years (with Gwynn filling in until he returns). Also, Corey Hart's not going to go anywhere any time soon, considering his productivity.

 

To me, LaPorta is the biggest unknown of all of them. He also would have tremendous value in the AL, where a team can stick him at DH/1B/LF and not worry about putting him in the field very much. If I were in an NL only league, I'd worry about the Brewers pulling the trigger on a deadline deal this season and trading him to an AL team. It might not happen, but again, you get back to the playing time argument above.