Thank you for posting this. I seriously feel like my head is going to explode when fans either praise or criticize deals by team prospect ranking systems, because without any context they're completely irrelevant. The #1 prospect in one system might be the #15 prospect in another... or vice versa, etc. In the case of the Astros, the system is perceived as being weak now, so the numbers are inflated. I certainly haven't seen any projections of Sutton being more than a good bench player, so I wouldn't lose sleep if he is the PTBNL.
Actually, I probably started the whining if it were Sutton that they traded. Again, it's nothing against Keppinger nor in praise of Sutton that I made such a comment. What I said was that Ed Wade just gave up young for what seems like an older version of the same player. However, that is why you have scouts and you look at guys to make sure you know what you're getting. That Cincy was really close to letting Keppinger go because they wanted to go younger for the same job makes one think that either the prospects that the Reds think they have are much better than the prospects that Houston has that the Astros would not consider elevating not only Sutton but Chris Johnson as well or the Reds can't see the value of Keppinger and have scouts who really suck!
So that tells you right there that Wade *had* to make this deal and now he has to hope it works out. Keppinger isn't someone you go looking for per se, I don't care what stats say. He's been at best a utility player his major league time. But you know, if this is how it has to be because this is making lemonade out of lemons, then it's a good thing on Wade's part. But what I hear fans, media and pundits continue to say is why are the Astros constantly pretending to be in contention when they would be better off just giving jobs to youngsters and letting them play. Someone rightfully said it: trading your only prospects from the minors for average players is not the way to rebuild the farm club nor have youngsters ready for callup when you need them. But that is because Houston doesn't rebuild, they reload. Want any more evidence than this that this is your Houston Astros?
But Sutton isn't officially the guy traded so it's all a moot point until he is on his way to Cincy.
