Baseball America apparently thinks we are trending down, and yet they say this:
Highs: Minor league talent has improved considerably since Jeff Luhnow took leadership of scouting department, with prospects like Colby Rasmus and Chris Perez nearly ready to contribute in the big leagues . . . Double-A
Arkansas[ed] Springfield won first- and second-half division titles in the Texas League and placed five players in the Texas League Top 20 Prospects.
Let’s not also forget they placed three prospects in the Gulf Coast League Top 20, too. I think they are saying we are trending down because of the firing of Walt Jocketty and some of his anti-change cronies, which I take as addition by subtraction. 2 or 3 years ago I never thought I’d find myself saying that, of course.
So far Deric McKamey, Baseball Prospectus and now Baseball America are all saying the farm system has dramatically improved under Luhnow, yet the general consensus of sportswriters continue to believe it’s horrid. They need to take another look.
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erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
Who wouldn’t think we’re trending down after going from a world championship to a losing season to an offseason that looks possibly worse yet. The farm may be up but the org as a whole is down. Way down.
I think after Colby and Chris are contributing to the MLB team the sportswriters may change their view and by the time they are full time contributors there will be plenty more taking their place a top the charts. Thankfully they should be on the pitching side.
It was a pretty superficial report for BA. We are obviously trending down short term and have lots of uncomfortable issues to sort out e.g. the Scott and Tony soap opera, the new GM, and, most of all, the plan to have Tony manage a team transitioning to younger players. Considering the fact that the transition was inevitable, though, and that we seem to be jumping into it rather than avoiding it I would say we’re on the upswing.
Why did you include the part about AA Arkansas? Just wondering.
that’s BA own typo. goof balls, i didn’t notice
I think the Cardinals minor league system seems to be on the upside in that it is not complete crap, but I think they are a long ways away. It seems the trend is bullpen arms which are nice I guess but you can find bullpen arms anywhere. It also appears a bunch of IF guys are future utility guys so I would not call that upside. I think the system is on the rise but the Cardinals have very few high ceiling guys. There are safe guys to make the show at somepoint but that does not mean they will be great or future all stars.
http://www.projectprospectbeta.com/audio/13
nice conversation about bruce versus rasmus