Others can make a decent argument for the Orioles (post-Bedard trade), Padres, and Nationals.

Derek (wisconsin): Best SS prospect in the NL Central? Kozma?

SportsNation Jim Callis: Good question . . . Yes, Pete Kozma (Cardinals) would be the pick for me. I’m not a huge Alcides Escobar (Brewers) fan, and Todd Frazier (Reds) will move off short at some point.

I still hate the pick. But I hated the Mortensen pick and I’ve softened up on that. . .there was a lot of talent left on the board for the Cardinals pick. Time will tell if they made the right decision.

What I am essentially saying is that, while they gave him a good review, they, at the time, had underestimated his capabilities. The Cardinals, either by luck or design, knew that they liked Bruce #1 on their board, then Rasmus #2…. most rank them very closely like that in the overall minors now (Rasmus b/w #3 and 7 for most).

So either the Cardinals knew better than most all others concerning Rasmus, and others were behind (BA), or they just got lucky. In any case, BA did not recognize his potential being *this* high. All I am saying is that Kozma may have a ceiling higher than what they project for him, and may end up more like a Renteria-type in the future, making him a very good pick (even if we did pass on Porcello). Maybe the Cardinals realize this and it will just take time for his production to prove it.

I’m hopeful that Dan Fox is going to run translations for between the leagues. At first I was skeptical about how fielding would translate between levels but the more I think about it, the more I think the relative baseline for each level is going to be significantly better. That is to say Hoff and Craig looking average/neutral at lower levels wouldn’t look that way in the majors. But that’s largely speculation until Fox does the leg work.

Farm systems that are definitively better than the Cardinals (imo):
Rays
Red Sox
Rangers
Braves
Reds
Dodgers

Trey Hearne? Two years old for his league in ‘06, mediocre strikeout numbers, too many HR’s allowed, and just 128 innings. Not a prospect, even with the low, low ERA in 2006. And that’s what I’d have said then, too.

Thanks a lot for mentioning Mike Ferris, by the way, who the Cards picked just 5 spots before the Red Sox chose Dustin Pedroia. Aaaaaargh! You really know how to hurt a guy.

Yup. Cards. Top 5. Keep taunting me, and I’ll say they’re number two behind only Tampa Bay…and I’ll assault you with at least 17 reasons why.

My vote: top 16 system, not top 5.

Just keep telling yourself that.

I think you can take stats and make them say what you want to hear. I’m certainly not disparaging of stats, but you can come up with some “misnomers” if you will when you evaluate farm systems on them alone. i use them a ton, but i prefer to go by the eyes and projectabilitly.

Fun AA shortstop comparison for Card fans: Reid Brignac (b. 1/86) v. Jose Martinez (b. 1/86)

Defense: Brignac +5 runs in 2007, Martinez +15
Offense: Brignac OPS 26 points above his league, Martinez 63 points.
Walk/strikeout ratio: Brignac .59, Martinez .58

Brignac is a unanimous top 50 overall prospect, therefore I’d say Martinez…well, at least deserves a closer look. Much closer.

Thanks, Charlie, for the John Sickels insight about Allen Craig.

p.s. Cards are *still* a top 5 system. Woo-hooo! (In Homer Simpson voice.)