Post by Philadelphia 76ers on Mar 3, 2008 21:49:23 GMT -5
with a twist. This ranking is about which organization has the most talent that is closest to breaking into the majors.
1 Dodgers
2 Yankees
3 Astros
4 Indians
5 Reds
6 Red Sox
7 Rays
8 Rockies
9 Cardinals
10 Twins
11 Pirates
12 Mariners
13 Athletics
14 Cubs
15 Orioles
16 Angels
17 Padres
18 Brewers
19 Marlins
20 Diamondbacks
21 Braves
22 Tigers
23 White Sox
24 Royals
25 Rangers
26 Phillies
27 Nationals
28 Mets
29 Giants
30 Blue Jays
A Closer Look
Dodgers: Matt Kemp, James Loney, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton form perhaps the top collection of players with one to three years of service time in the major leagues. Their farm system ranks second among National League teams in the Prospect Handbook, with its top five prospects already in Double-A and ready to join the team in Los Angeles very soon.
Yankees: While the Yankees’ strategy in recent years has been to be the major player in an expensive free agent market, a more recent shift in strategy toward cultivating homegrown talent finally has the organization’s top prospects on the bubble of breaking through to the majors.
Astros: Seeing the Astros score this highly on the talent location spectrum was the biggest surprise to me, at first. But when a team gives away top draft picks through free agent signings, then doesn’t even sign the top players it drafts, what else should we expect? The mediocre players at the high level of the system to rise to the top, if only because they’re closer to the big leagues and are more likely to provide at least some value to their major league team. However, the team’s top three prospects—catcher J.R. Towles, righthander Felipe Paulino and center fielder Michael Bourn—all seem like certain bets to make the major leagues, something that can’t be said of many other systems’ top three prospects.
Indians: The Indians aren’t known for going over-slot in the draft or signing teenagers in the international market to seven-figure bonuses, but they have consistently built through the farm system, be it by signing amateur players or acquiring them via trade. Having a steady stream of players like righthanders Adam Miller and Jensen Lewis and lefthander Aaron Laffey all ready to contribute in various roles in Cleveland at salaries well below market value continues to be a strength for the Indians.
Reds: A large part of my inspiration for doing this analysis, the Reds ranked among the highest of prospects closest to the major leagues as I had expected–though I thought they would be No. 1. Led by Minor League Player of the Year Jay Bruce, the Reds have four legitimate rookie of the year candidates for 2008.
Red Sox: With righthander Clay Buchholz and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury at the top, along with righthander Justin Masterson and shortstop Jed Lowrie in the top five, the Red Sox have plenty of high-grade talent that should add value to the major league team in 2008. What makes the Red Sox’ system so good is the depth and diversity of talent at all levels, making it likely that the Red Sox could have a CTM Score among the highest in baseball for several years to come even as they graduate prospects to the major leagues.
Rays: The Rays perennially have picked at the top of the draft, but one of the reasons for their position on the CTM spectrum is the 2004 draft, when they drafted righthander Jeff Niemann fourth overall. That Niemann ranks behind lefthander Jake McGee, righthander Wade Davis and shortstop Reid Brignac—all Rays draft picks in 2004—is a tribute to the quality of their draft and the key reason for their 3.58 CTM Score.
Cardinals: The Cardinals have slowly crept up Baseball America’s organizational talent rankings in recent years. Their score near the top here is primarily a function of having their top five prospects receive Level Scores of 4 for completing the Double-A requirements.
On the flip side, what about the teams that find themselves sinking toward the bottom of the list, with their top prospects further away from the majors?
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have only one prospect among their top seven who completed the playing time cutoff for at least high Class A. Outfielder Travis Snider is a fine No. 1 prospect, but the Blue Jays rank toward the back of our organizational talent rankings, and five of their top seven prospects were playing high school or college baseball until Toronto drafted them last year.
Giants: The Giants didn’t have a pick in the first three rounds of the 2005 draft, and the rapid ascension of 2006 first-rounder Tim Lincecum means the Giants have a very young system, personified by 17-year-old top prospect Angel Villalona. The Giants have three high-ceiling teenagers as their top three prospects and two more 2007 first-round picks from the high school ranks in their top 10.
Mets: Prior to the Johan Santana trade, the Mets ranked in the middle of the pack with a 3.29. The trade dropped them to the bottom of the list, leaving them low on high-quality talent and far away from the majors.
Nationals: The Nationals revamped a desolate farm system with the best draft in 2007, but that talent is still a few years away from the majors. Only righthander Collin Balester (No. 3) and lefty John Lannann (No. 10) received Level Scores higher than 3, while five players received Level Scores of 1.
Rangers: While most teams with lower CTM Scores tend to rank lower in Baseball America’s talent rankings, that can’t be said of the Rangers and Nationals. Three of the Rangers’ top four prospects received Level Scores of 3 for meeting the high Class A requirements, while righthander Eric Hurley (No. 3) received a 5 and should compete for a major league role in spring training. After them, though, eight out of the next 10 players on the Rangers list were teenagers last season, and there’s considerable buzz even beyond those prospects, as Chris Kline noted last week.
www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=754
Interesting read.
1 Dodgers
2 Yankees
3 Astros
4 Indians
5 Reds
6 Red Sox
7 Rays
8 Rockies
9 Cardinals
10 Twins
11 Pirates
12 Mariners
13 Athletics
14 Cubs
15 Orioles
16 Angels
17 Padres
18 Brewers
19 Marlins
20 Diamondbacks
21 Braves
22 Tigers
23 White Sox
24 Royals
25 Rangers
26 Phillies
27 Nationals
28 Mets
29 Giants
30 Blue Jays
A Closer Look
Dodgers: Matt Kemp, James Loney, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton form perhaps the top collection of players with one to three years of service time in the major leagues. Their farm system ranks second among National League teams in the Prospect Handbook, with its top five prospects already in Double-A and ready to join the team in Los Angeles very soon.
Yankees: While the Yankees’ strategy in recent years has been to be the major player in an expensive free agent market, a more recent shift in strategy toward cultivating homegrown talent finally has the organization’s top prospects on the bubble of breaking through to the majors.
Astros: Seeing the Astros score this highly on the talent location spectrum was the biggest surprise to me, at first. But when a team gives away top draft picks through free agent signings, then doesn’t even sign the top players it drafts, what else should we expect? The mediocre players at the high level of the system to rise to the top, if only because they’re closer to the big leagues and are more likely to provide at least some value to their major league team. However, the team’s top three prospects—catcher J.R. Towles, righthander Felipe Paulino and center fielder Michael Bourn—all seem like certain bets to make the major leagues, something that can’t be said of many other systems’ top three prospects.
Indians: The Indians aren’t known for going over-slot in the draft or signing teenagers in the international market to seven-figure bonuses, but they have consistently built through the farm system, be it by signing amateur players or acquiring them via trade. Having a steady stream of players like righthanders Adam Miller and Jensen Lewis and lefthander Aaron Laffey all ready to contribute in various roles in Cleveland at salaries well below market value continues to be a strength for the Indians.
Reds: A large part of my inspiration for doing this analysis, the Reds ranked among the highest of prospects closest to the major leagues as I had expected–though I thought they would be No. 1. Led by Minor League Player of the Year Jay Bruce, the Reds have four legitimate rookie of the year candidates for 2008.
Red Sox: With righthander Clay Buchholz and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury at the top, along with righthander Justin Masterson and shortstop Jed Lowrie in the top five, the Red Sox have plenty of high-grade talent that should add value to the major league team in 2008. What makes the Red Sox’ system so good is the depth and diversity of talent at all levels, making it likely that the Red Sox could have a CTM Score among the highest in baseball for several years to come even as they graduate prospects to the major leagues.
Rays: The Rays perennially have picked at the top of the draft, but one of the reasons for their position on the CTM spectrum is the 2004 draft, when they drafted righthander Jeff Niemann fourth overall. That Niemann ranks behind lefthander Jake McGee, righthander Wade Davis and shortstop Reid Brignac—all Rays draft picks in 2004—is a tribute to the quality of their draft and the key reason for their 3.58 CTM Score.
Cardinals: The Cardinals have slowly crept up Baseball America’s organizational talent rankings in recent years. Their score near the top here is primarily a function of having their top five prospects receive Level Scores of 4 for completing the Double-A requirements.
On the flip side, what about the teams that find themselves sinking toward the bottom of the list, with their top prospects further away from the majors?
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have only one prospect among their top seven who completed the playing time cutoff for at least high Class A. Outfielder Travis Snider is a fine No. 1 prospect, but the Blue Jays rank toward the back of our organizational talent rankings, and five of their top seven prospects were playing high school or college baseball until Toronto drafted them last year.
Giants: The Giants didn’t have a pick in the first three rounds of the 2005 draft, and the rapid ascension of 2006 first-rounder Tim Lincecum means the Giants have a very young system, personified by 17-year-old top prospect Angel Villalona. The Giants have three high-ceiling teenagers as their top three prospects and two more 2007 first-round picks from the high school ranks in their top 10.
Mets: Prior to the Johan Santana trade, the Mets ranked in the middle of the pack with a 3.29. The trade dropped them to the bottom of the list, leaving them low on high-quality talent and far away from the majors.
Nationals: The Nationals revamped a desolate farm system with the best draft in 2007, but that talent is still a few years away from the majors. Only righthander Collin Balester (No. 3) and lefty John Lannann (No. 10) received Level Scores higher than 3, while five players received Level Scores of 1.
Rangers: While most teams with lower CTM Scores tend to rank lower in Baseball America’s talent rankings, that can’t be said of the Rangers and Nationals. Three of the Rangers’ top four prospects received Level Scores of 3 for meeting the high Class A requirements, while righthander Eric Hurley (No. 3) received a 5 and should compete for a major league role in spring training. After them, though, eight out of the next 10 players on the Rangers list were teenagers last season, and there’s considerable buzz even beyond those prospects, as Chris Kline noted last week.
www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=754
Interesting read.