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You heard it here first:
Expect the Royals to end their suckitude in the next few seasons (if that suckitutde becomes mediocritude or contention(itude?) depends on if Dayton Moore can improve his ability to create a major league roster to 1/10th his ability to evaluate minor league players)
Expect the Rays to continue to be a factor in the AL East
Expect the Astros to continue to suck, for the foreseeable future
The Pirates are also moving up in the world. They are still years away, but there is hope
This article from Fangraphs fist in nicely here as well
There were 11 Grade A prospects (10.6%). The Grade A prospects averaged 36.0 WAR over the course of their respective careers — or, 3.8 WAR per season over 9.4 seasons. All 11 of these prospects played in the Majors. Two of them (Chipper Jones and Jim Thome) played in 2010.
This was great, thanks for bringing it to our attention. I loved looking at the spreadsheet with all of the prospects listed by grade. Looks like Scott Brosius, and especially Brian Jordan, got a lot more talented as they matured.
Looking at all the names was a fun reminder of some of these guys, I had not thought about them in years. Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes, Grade D, who as I recall once hit three homeruns on opening day for the Cubs, but that turned out to be the zenith of his career. John Jaha, Grade C prospect, who had a terrific 1995 Strat-O-Matic card when he hit 20 homeruns in 316 at bats...and then came to the A's as a washed up 33 year old in 1999..and staged a career year for Oakland. .276-.414-556. He was hurt and hit poorly when he did play over the next two years, and then was out of the Show for good. And Bob Hamelin, Grade C, who won the ROY award with the Royals in '94, and then was injured and less and less effective over the rest of his six year career.
Finally, Cistulli inserted this disclaimer:
Quote:
Please note that it is not my intention here to comment upon the “validity” or “accuracy” of James’ assessments at the time. Whether correct or not, I’m taking for granted that his assessments were as accurate as possible given the available information. Rather, the intention here is, as I say, to see what we might mean — or, at least, what James meant — by a Grade A or B or whatever prospect.
...which I thought a little strange since he is providing us with the all the information needed to evaluate James' accuracy. If such evaluation was outside his purpose, why include the spreadsheet?
And...turns out that James was awfully damn accurate.
1. Kansas City Royals
About a month or so after Dayton Moore took over as the Royals' GM, he told me that he was alarmed to find how little pitching inventory he had in his new farm system and that addressing that vacuum would be a major priority for his front office. The phrase "Mission Accomplished" has acquired an ironic connotation of late, but if anyone could use the phrase earnestly to describe his own efforts, it would be Moore, as the Royals have arms coming out of their ears.
...
It's to the credit of Moore, the Royals' amateur scouting staff (led by J.J. Picollo after two solid drafts by Deric Ladnier after Moore took over), their international scouts and player development that a farm system that was a borderline laughingstock has, inside of five years, turned into the toast of baseball.
2. Tampa Bay Rays
Probably second even before they dealt Matt Garza, they're now No. 2 with a bullet and not far behind Kansas City for No. 1. They're absolutely loaded, with top-end talent near that of K.C., but not the extensive depth of prospects the Royals have. The Rays have focused on arms and impact bats in the middle of the field, mixing in the occasional corner bat (Josh Sale), but mostly recognizing that replacement level is so low right now for certain positions and roster spots that there's still some hidden value to be found. They also boast more picks in the first three rounds of the 2011 draft than any other club, so look for the prospect-rich to get richer.
So...start laying the groundwork now by telling your friends that the Royals are going places
Amazing how the Phillies still have a good farm system despite all the talent they've traded away the past couple of years. They have loads of talent at the A-ball level that will be ready just around the time that the core of the team is aging.
given how tremendously strong the 2011 draft is supposed to be – Keith Law says that there could be as many as 20 top-100 caliber prospects in this class and that it looks, at least right now, like the best class since he joined the baseball industry. Using the draft order from our own Mike Axisa at River Avenue Blues, here are the teams that can really invigorate their systems with either high quality picks, a large quantity of picks, or both.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Top 90 picks: #3 #7 #43 #63
the Diamondbacks first two picks alone could be worth of upwards of $25 million in surplus value, plus another $3.5 million for picks 43 and 63.
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 90 Picks: #24, #31, #32, #38, #41, #42, #52, #56, #59, #60, #75, #89
the Rays could realize around $31 million in surplus value from these picks
San Diego Padres
Top 90 Picks: #10 #25 #48 #54 #58 #82
The Padres right now are looking at just under $20 million in surplus value out of these picks.
1. Kansas City Royals. Kansas City has a plethora of top-end impact talent and loads of depth throughout. The best system in baseball and a reason to follow America's pastime for long-suffering Royal fans.
1. Mike Moustakas / 3B
2. Eric Hosmer / 1B/OF
3. Mike Montgomery / SP
4. Wil Myers / C/OF/1B
5. Daniel Duffy / SP
6. John Lamb / SP
7. Jake Odorizzi / SP
8. Christian Colon / SS
9. Chris Dwyer / SP
10. Johnny Giavotella / 2B
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