ESPN's MLB Future Power Rankings

[jersey cubs fan]

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7574220/mlb-future-power-rankings-2012-nos-20-11

 

Like most things ESPN this thing is more convoluted than it needs to be.

 

If you're a fan of the Chicago Cubs, you're familiar with the phrase "Wait till next year!" But what about the year after, and the year after that? That's where ESPN Insider comes in.

 

While the baseball world gears up for spring training, we've decided to take the long view and asked our three top baseball analysts -- Jim Bowden, Keith Law and Buster Olney -- to rank all 30 teams in five different categories (see table) in attempt to measure how well each team is set up for sustained success over the next five years.

 

CATEGORIES

MAJORS (full weight): Quality of current big league roster

MINORS (full weight): Quality and quantity of prospects in their farm system

FINANCE (2/3 weight): How much money do they have to spend?

MANAGEMENT (2/3 weight): Value and stability of ownership, front office and coaching staff

MOBILITY (1/3 weight): Do they have a lot of young, cheap players, or old immovable guys?

 

They released 21-30 yesterday and today is 11-20.

 

The Cubs were....

 

13

Chicago Cubs

LAST SEASON: 71-91 (fifth place NL Central)

 

The lowdown

There isn't much talent on the North Side right now, but there is still reason to be excited. The Cubs just brought in a group of execs (led by team president Theo Epstein) who helped the Red Sox break their 86-year title drought, and Epstein & Co. have already begun the process of shedding the dead weight on the Cubs' roster.

 

Based on how well Epstein was able to build a farm system when he was Boston's GM, it's easy to foresee success in Chicago, particularly since the Ricketts family will give him money to spend once the team is ready to compete. Don't expect a miracle in 2012, but this team is already on track for success. -- Buster Olney

 

The next step

How do Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer replicate the development machine that produced Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis? Stay the course and don't deviate with free agents until they're ready to win. Fans will need patience. -- Jim Bowden

 

[bukie]

I think the Cubs' minor league talent is getting shafted in that poll, but it's just whatever Law ranked them. No real arguments otherwise.

[UMFan83]

For those that can't see the article, the Cubs ratings were (on a scale of 1-30, 30 being the best)

 

Majors talent: 6

Minors talent: 11

Finances: 25

Management: 27

Mobility: 20

 

Most of that seems fair except the minors talent category. That should be in the 15-20 range IMO. The Cubs have good management now, and they obviously have or will have money to spend so those categories are good. The Cubs have a lot more mobility than they had even a year ago, but still have some players (Soriano) and contracts (Zambrano) on the payroll that hamper them so 20 is about right.

[CarolinaCubFan]

"particularly since the Ricketts family will give him money to spend once the team is ready to compete."

 

We seem to have our SS, 1B, and CF, which in my opinion are great positions to have taken care of. Once a few more prospects are able to step up, we will have a young core offense. Depth and trade bait in the farm system and a fat checkbook should fill in the gaps. I'm excited.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'm guessing our management ranking would have been a bit lower under the previous regime.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

i'm guessing our management ranking would have been a bit lower under the previous regime.

 

Just a smidge lower.

 

Farm system should have gotten an 16-18 if not a little higher.

[Cubswin11]

WTF is mobility? Freedom to make trades, signings, etc.?

[UMFan83]

WTF is mobility? Freedom to make trades, signings, etc.?

 

Yeah, whether or not you are at your teams financial limit, how many bad unmovable contracts you have, etc.

[Sammys Boombox]

Any idea where the NL Central teams landed?

 

I know the AL Central looks like this.

 

11. Royals

12. Tigers

25. Twins

27. Indians

28. White Sox

 

I'm sure the Royals currently being about middle of the road at the MLB level, having I'm guessing one of the top 3 farm systems, and I'm sure they have "mobility" and money to spend are reasons they've landed this high.

 

I'll be curious to see if they actually are going to spend the money when it's time for the prospects to get paid. Their owner (David Glass) has the money and has been pocketing large profits from the team for years. He has been operating the same way for such a long time that I just don't see him changing his ways. That is where this system is flawed. The Royals are in a position to be very strong in the future, but if you look at the track record of their owner they should get very poor management scores.

[jersey cubs fan]

WTF is mobility? Freedom to make trades, signings, etc.?

 

Yeah, whether or not you are at your teams financial limit, how many bad unmovable contracts you have, etc.

 

MOBILITY (1/3 weight): Do they have a lot of young, cheap players, or old immovable guys?

 

I'm not sure why they didn't just call it flexibility.