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Best Farm System and Best Tools in the Minors

Started by ucahogfan, March 06, 2014, 03:34:53 pm

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Which organization currently has the best farm system

Red Sox
2 (13.3%)
Astros
4 (26.7%)
Cubs
2 (13.3%)
Twins
1 (6.7%)
Other
6 (40%)

Total Members Voted: 15

ucahogfan

BA Top 100 - http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-baseball-america-top-100-prospects-free/

MLB Top 100 - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2014/

The Boston Red Sox might have the deepest farm system right now in the minors as they had something like 8 player in Baseball America's Top 100.  They don't quite have the impact potential of other farm systems.  Henry Owens is their top prospect and he is a borderline top 30 prospect.  The Red Sox do have the farm system with most of their top prospects ready to graduate so if you are looking for immediate impact, it probably doesn't get much better than with the Bo Sox.

The Houston Astros will be my vote as the top farm system as they are insanely deep (7-8 prospects in the top 100) and have a lot of top tier talent.  Their top prospect is 2012 #1 overall pick Carlos Correa who is a legit top 10 prospect who has a very bright future ahead of him.  George Springer is another prospect of note as he almost went 40-40 last season splitting time between AA and AAA and should find himself patrolling CF in Houston this year.  He has been getting a lot of Mike Cameron comps if he makes consistent contact which is a big if.  Another part of why I voted for the Astros is because they have the #1 overall pick in 2014 which will be NC State LHP Carlos Rodon and will give them 2 future aces in Mark Appel and Rodon.

The Chicago Cubs have done an excellent job building their farm system since Theo Epstein took over.  They have a nice combo of depth (6-7 in the top 100) and talent (most of them in the top 50) and are a close #2 to the Astros IMO.  They have the best collection of power in the minors and it isn't even close.  #2 overall pick in 2013 Kris Bryant grades out as 70 power which means he could hit 30-40 HRs on the MLB level.  2011 1st round pick Javier Baez has 70 power as well.  Cuban defector Jorge Soler grades out at 65 on power as well.

The Minnesota Twins don't have the depth of the other farm systems, but bring plenty of top tier talent.  It starts out with Byron Buxton who was the #2 overall pick in the draft.  He is the top prospect in baseball, but it will probably be 2016 before he is patrolling CF at Target Field.  Miguel Sano is another top 5-10 prospect in the system who might have the most usable power in the minors right now.  It will probably be 2015-2016 before he graduates as well.  Their top 2 pitching prospects are also top 50 prospects types in Kohl Stewart and Alex Meyer.  Stewart was a top 5 pick last year and was a 2 sport signee with TAMU and Meyer played his college ball at Kentucky.

Here are my picks for best tools in the game based on the two links I posted:

Top Prospect - Byron Buxton
I thought we might never see another player like Mike Trout, but Buxton will give him a run for his money.  MLB Network did a comparison between the 2 and Buxton actually grades out higher.  Both grade out as 70 hitters, 60 power, 80 runners, and 75 fielders, but Trout's arm isn't as strong as Buxton's who has a 70 arm.  Fans in Minnesota (ErieHog) should be excited about having this guy in their farm.  He has done much better than scouts expected him to do.

Top Hitter for Average - Byron Buxton
Oscar Tavares grades out higher as hitting for average (75 to 70), but Buxton was healthy for a full season last year.  Both hitters should hit .315+ at the ML level, but I'm giving my edge to Buxton because he can use his speed for hits that Tavares won't get.

Top Hitters for Power - Joey Gallo
He has close to 80 power and lead the minors in HRs last year at the age of 19.  He might hit 50 HRs on the major league level playing in Arlington, but might also strike out 300 times a year.  He struck out 172 times in 411 ABs last year which is insane.  He also hit 40 HRs.

Best Speed - Billy Hamilton
If there ever was a category to give a prospect higher than an 80, it is Billy Hamilton's speed.  He has posted some of the fastest times ever at the minor league level and set a stolen base record in 2012.  People are predicting him to steal 60+ bases this year for the Reds.

Best Defense - Francisco Lindor
Think he can be an Omar Vizquel type SS for the Indians.  Picked right with Javier Baez in the 2011 draft, he is the elite defensive SS while Baez is the elite offensive SS who might have to move the 3B in the future.

Best Arm - Byron Buxton
This is what sets him apart from Trout as a prospect.  Trout has a slightly above average major league arm while Buxton has a cannon.

I'm going to make this easy when it comes to the pitching categories and only include best fastball and best breaking ball.  Rockies prospect Jon Gray wins both with his 100 MPH heater with sink and his wipeout slider.

Baseball Hog

If Billy Hamilton was in the AL he'd be the first ever 160lb full time DH.  Dude is an awe on the basepaths.  Can't catch a ball to save his life.

As for your question, I'd say the Astros.  Being horrible for a decade does have its advantages.

 

ErieHog

I'd still take Sano as the best prospect for power, though his Tommy John surgery is going to set his development curve back pretty severely.
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ucahogfan

Quote from: Baseball Hog on March 07, 2014, 11:46:24 am
If Billy Hamilton was in the AL he'd be the first ever 160lb full time DH.  Dude is an awe on the basepaths.  Can't catch a ball to save his life.
I have seen where scouts are joking around saying that it is unfair to put Hamilton's speed at 80 with other people.  They said his speed grades out at 90-100.  If he can get on base at a .330 clip or more, we might see him steal 100+ bases each of the next 5-10 years.  His speed is that legit.

Quote from: Baseball Hog on March 07, 2014, 11:46:24 am
As for your question, I'd say the Astros.  Being horrible for a decade does have its advantages.
Give them 3-4 years to get their top prospects in Houston and we might see a team that could challenge .500 in a given season.  Their season sorta reminds me of the Rays system back in 2005-2006 before they started their run.

Quote from: ErieHog on March 07, 2014, 11:50:17 am
I'd still take Sano as the best prospect for power, though his Tommy John surgery is going to set his development curve back pretty severely.
The power category was probably the toughest category to select for me.  There is a whole lot of pop in the minors right now.  Sano is someone who could hit 40+ although it will be tough playing his home games in Minnesota and in the AL Central with a lot of big parks such as Comerica and Kaufmann.  The Cubs have several big power prospects.  Kris Bryant hit 31 HRs last year at San Diego.  To put that in perspective, the Hogs only hit 27 as a team and it is said to be tougher to hit one out on the West Coast than in SEC country.  I think there are like 10 players on the top 100 lists that grade out as a 70 on higher on power which means they are projected to hit 35+ at the ML level.

It is rough that Sano is going to lose a year to TJ and hopefully it doesn't take away any of his power.  He also makes more contact than Gallo and is a surer bet to be a star at the ML level.

superior_wang

i consider my local team , the colorado Rockies, to be  a farm team for the rest of MLB..do they count? bout the time they get a good player built up, he gets swiped....cheap arsed owners wont pay.

ucahogfan

Quote from: superior_wang on March 07, 2014, 01:58:08 pm
i consider my local team , the colorado Rockies, to be  a farm team for the rest of MLB..do they count? bout the time they get a good player built up, he gets swiped....cheap arsed owners wont pay.
What about Tulo?  He got PAID big by the Rockies and will be there until 2020.  You also have CarGo locked downed until 2017.  Is there anyone else on the Rockies worthy of big money?  They are two of the best players in the game and put up huge numbers, but who doesn't at Coors.

The trouble the Rockies have is getting good pitching to come in.  You have two of the best in the minors in Jon Gray and Eddie Butler.  Both are power pitchers who should do well trying to neutralize Coors.

superior_wang

Quote from: ucahogfan on March 07, 2014, 02:42:25 pm
What about Tulo?  He got PAID big by the Rockies and will be there until 2020.  You also have CarGo locked downed until 2017.  Is there anyone else on the Rockies worthy of big money?  They are two of the best players in the game and put up huge numbers, but who doesn't at Coors.

The trouble the Rockies have is getting good pitching to come in.  You have two of the best in the minors in Jon Gray and Eddie Butler.  Both are power pitchers who should do well trying to neutralize Coors.

yes they paid tulo...and hes hurt ...alot.....cargo is wonderful..cant argue that... thing is, Coors field is a HUGE draw, fan wise... 3 mill plus each season (for dismal baseball)...and yet the rocks are dead in the middle spending... prob is the owners..they have a cash cow and they know it..

as for pitching, i hope you are right, but we hear that crud every year about having "great arms in the minors"..hasnt panned out as of yet. De la rosa COULD be a stud... we shall see.

my prediction for the season: Rox fighting SD for the NL west cellar.

ucahogfan

Quote from: superior_wang on March 07, 2014, 03:02:45 pm
yes they paid tulo...and hes hurt ...alot.....cargo is wonderful..cant argue that... thing is, Coors field is a HUGE draw, fan wise... 3 mill plus each season (for dismal baseball)...and yet the rocks are dead in the middle spending... prob is the owners..they have a cash cow and they know it..

as for pitching, i hope you are right, but we hear that crud every year about having "great arms in the minors"..hasnt panned out as of yet. De la rosa COULD be a stud... we shall see.

my prediction for the season: Rox fighting SD for the NL west cellar.
2012 was the only year where Tulo hasn't played at least 75% of the games since 2009 and has been a stud every year outside of 2012 hitting 25+ HRs and driving in 80+ runs.  He is the best offensive SS in the game and it isn't even close right now.  I guess you could argue Han Ram, but you never know with him.

The Braves also draw a lot of fans and our ownership is very tight with the pocketbook as well.  Outside of the Dodgers, Tigers, Yankees, Phillies, and Red Sox, most teams are going to be tight with the pocketbook unless it is a stud in your own system or someone who you think is really going to contribute.

Gray has the best fastball in the minors and is graded out as good as it can be at 80.  His slider is a legit 70 tool as well.  He was probably the best player in last year's class and it was a shock he made it to the Rockies.

The NL West has a lot of solid teams with the Dodgers being the best and no really horrible teams.  It is the one division where I could see any team finishing in any position.

Oklahawg

I voted Cubs because they have so many high-level, impact players. As noted, the BoSox have more but fewer likely to be perennial all-stars.

The Rockies have a fine track record with position players. They manage to get guys to be productive, not unlike the Cardinals - guys you don't really consider a "prospect" becomes a contributor. Rutledge and Dickerson for the Rockies, ala Carpenter and Jay for the Cards.

Rockies need Gray to bury the "Rockies can't have good pitchers" deal. Texas (basically) has done that. Gray is a monster.
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