A's farm system rated top in the majors by BP

[il Padrino Ute]

There is no way to scientifically predict what will happen in any playoff series.

Dart board.

Care to rebut?

[Hot Lunch]

Why can't we use the Red Sox as an example? They are a team that uses advance statistical methods in evaluating talent and making trades.

DePodesta is working for the San Diego Padres right now.

The Sox are stats mixed with a FAT ASS pocket book.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Funk can you give me the review on the Giants? Thanks in advance.

Giants made a huge jump from 25 to 6.

6. San Francisco Giants
Last Year's Ranking: 25
Why They Might Be Better Than This: Madison Bumgarner had the best season of any pitcher in the minors, jumps to Double-A this year, and could move quickly; the team abandoned their previous approach to the draft (cheap, miserly) by taking Buster Posey in the first round; big spending in the Dominican has added high-ceiling talent.
Why They Might Be Worse: Angel Villalona is only 18 years old, and there are already questions about his conditioning; it's one of the more top-heavy systems around, as two-star prospects creep into the back end of their Top 11; other than Posey, there is very little up-the-middle talent.
Outlook For 2010: The elite prospects in the system have ETAs of 2010, which should keep the Giants near the top; the sixth overall pick should add another outstanding player.

Also, for Mark Grace, the message board poster not the terrible baseball broadcaster, I will ignore your shot at the A's and give you the Cubs ranking.

26. Chicago Cubs
Last Year's Ranking: 16
Why They Might Be Better Than This: Josh Vitters is one of the best pure hitters in the minors; 2008 top pick Andrew Cashner's post-draft struggles were a fluke and his stuff will play; Jeff Samardzija finally began figuring things out.
Why They Might Be Worse: Other than Vitters, there is really not a single hitter in this system that excites anyone; the weakness in terms of the organization's depth is the key reason that the long-rumored Jake Peavy deal never went down.
Outlook For 2010: Samardzija is the only player who is likely to lose his prospect status; there's no reason to see them moving up considerably.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Sox are stats mixed with a FAT ASS pocket book.

That doesn't mean that there methods for putting the team together were not solid. So let me get this straight, it only counts if you 1) win the World Series and 2) don't have a high payroll in winning the World Series.

[cougjunkie]

Giants made a huge jump from 25 to 6.

6. San Francisco Giants
Last Year's Ranking: 25
Why They Might Be Better Than This: Madison Bumgarner had the best season of any pitcher in the minors, jumps to Double-A this year, and could move quickly; the team abandoned their previous approach to the draft (cheap, miserly) by taking Buster Posey in the first round; big spending in the Dominican has added high-ceiling talent.
Why They Might Be Worse: Angel Villalona is only 18 years old, and there are already questions about his conditioning; it's one of the more top-heavy systems around, as two-star prospects creep into the back end of their Top 11; other than Posey, there is very little up-the-middle talent.
Outlook For 2010: The elite prospects in the system have ETAs of 2010, which should keep the Giants near the top; the sixth overall pick should add another outstanding player.

Also, for Mark Grace, the message board poster not the terrible baseball broadcaster, I will ignore your shot at the A's and give you the Cubs ranking.

26. Chicago Cubs
Last Year's Ranking: 16
Why They Might Be Better Than This: Josh Vitters is one of the best pure hitters in the minors; 2008 top pick Andrew Cashner's post-draft struggles were a fluke and his stuff will play; Jeff Samardzija finally began figuring things out.
Why They Might Be Worse: Other than Vitters, there is really not a single hitter in this system that excites anyone; the weakness in terms of the organization's depth is the key reason that the long-rumored Jake Peavy deal never went down.
Outlook For 2010: Samardzija is the only player who is likely to lose his prospect status; there's no reason to see them moving up considerably.

Nothing about Mark Pawelek? My how far has he fallen. Typical Springville grad.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Nothing about Mark Pawelek? My how far has he fallen. Typical Springville grad.

Yes, Pawelek didn't make the cut on the Cubs top 11 prospects or even the just missed the list.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I am not really concerned about the Dodgers farm system right now. There core group of guys are all young right now that are up in the bigs. The dodgers have a chance to keep these guys together for awhile.

Kemp
Martin
Loney
Either
Billingsly
Kershaw
Mcdonald
Dewitt

All of these guys are under the age of 25.

De Jesus is a stud and it is unfortunate what happened to him this Spring. Also not mentioned is Xaiver Paul who is having a great Spring and played well last year.

I will give the Dodgers credit their top 10 under 25 is actually looking really damn good, but that doesn't preclude them from still having a good farm system. In fact, you would think that with all their old school scouts that they would still be able to draft well and keep the farm system stacked. BP has their top 10 under 25 as follows:

1. Chad Billingsley, RHP
2. Clayton Kershaw, LHP
3. Matt Kemp, OF
4. James Loney, 1B
5. Jonathan Broxton, RHP
6. Ethan Martin, RHP
7. Blake DeWitt, 2B/3B
8. Ivan De Jesus Jr., SS/2B
9. James McDonald, RHP
10. Scott Elbert, LHP

[il Padrino Ute]

Nothing about Mark Pawelek? My how far has he fallen. Typical Springville grad.

Pawelek would have benefited from a few years of college ball. The level of competition wouldn't have been so tough and would have been a nice buffer for him between facing better players than he is and dominating the high school ranks.

[MarkGrace]

Pawelek hasn't been a prospect for years. The kid is lazy and unmotivated.

[cougjunkie]

Pawelek would have benefited from a few years of college ball. The level of competition wouldn't have been so tough and would have been a nice buffer for him between facing better players than he is and dominating the high school ranks.

Pawelek would have benefited from his dad not acting like his last name is Marinovich. The Cubs brought in the best sports phsychologist in the country to work with him, the guy was there for 2 hours and walked out and said he would never work with Pawelek again. His dad wants him to throw 150 pitch bullpen sessions between starts and is pissed that the Cubs wont let him. Now they are trying to force a trade.

[il Padrino Ute]

Pawelek would have benefited from his dad not acting like his last name is Marinovich. The Cubs brought in the best sports phsychologist in the country to work with him, the guy was there for 2 hours and walked out and said he would never work with Pawelek again. His dad wants him to throw 150 pitch bullpen sessions between starts and is pissed that the Cubs wont let him. Now they are trying to force a trade.

I agree 100% with this. Pawelek's dad is the ultimate Little League parent.

Still, college ball would have been good for him. Watch what happens with the careers of Pawelek and the Robles kid out of Cottonwood who is now at Oregon State. I'd say that barring injury, Robles will end up with a better pro career because he didn't jump right into the fire.

[cougjunkie]

I agree 100% with this. Pawelek's dad is the ultimate Little League parent.

Still, college ball would have been good for him. Watch what happens with the careers of Pawelek and the Robles kid out of Cottonwood who is now at Oregon State. I'd say that barring injury, Robles will end up with a better pro career because he didn't jump right into the fire.

I agree with you. Also Aaron Jensen from S-ville went straight to the pros and he has flamed out as well.

[il Padrino Ute]

I agree with you. Also Aaron Jensen from S-ville went straight to the pros and he has flamed out as well.

Very few kids are Doc Gooden. It's a shame they don't have the guts to listen to that when they're told.

[The_Tick]

I thought the A's have always been the best farm team in MLB. Something change?

[MartyFunkhouser]

Very few kids are Doc Gooden. It's a shame they don't have the guts to listen to that when they're told.

In another 15-20 years instead of people saying "Very few kids are Doc Gooden" people will be saying "very few kids are Michael Ynoa."