Author Topic: ESPN.com: Ranking the Farm Systems (Read 4757 times)

ValpoCory · « **on:** February 08, 2012, 03:53:51 pm »

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove11/story?id=7547640&_slug_=san-diego-padres-best-farm-system-baseball-mlb&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fhotstove11%2fstory%3fid%3d7547640%26_slug_%3dsan-diego-padres-best-farm-system-baseball-mlb

Anyone have Insider access to see where they rank the Astros? Thanks in advance.

Travis · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2012, 03:58:08 pm »

27. Mentions that would probably have been last without the trades.

Texifornia · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2012, 04:31:12 pm »

Quote from: Travis on February 08, 2012, 03:58:08 pm

27. Mentions that would probably have been last without the trades.

27th? How can that be true? Bud Selig said that the franchise was in the best condition in its history.

roadrunner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2012, 04:59:23 pm »

But from the Cards (#4) blurb....

"They've drafted very well in the past few years, which has to be heartening to Astros fans, as Houston just hired Jeff Luhnow, who oversaw the Cards' recent drafts, as GM. St. Louis also has done an excellent job of developing the players it's drafted. I really like how the Cards are set up to contend continuously during the next five years."

Reuben · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2012, 06:18:46 pm »

Twenty-fucking-seventh. I was surprised they were that low, until I saw who wrote the article.

Bench · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2012, 06:28:32 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on February 08, 2012, 06:18:46 pm

Twenty-fucking-seventh. I was surprised they were that low, until I saw who wrote the article.

Subtext:

"And that's why I was forced[\I] to pass on the job offer.

moriartp · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:12:22 pm »

I'll be surprised if BA ranks the Astros much higher than that. The issues I've got with Keith Law have nothing to do with any sort of supposed bias against the Astros.

Hornstros · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:27:35 pm »

Quote from: moriartp on February 08, 2012, 08:12:22 pm

I'll be surprised if BA ranks the Astros much higher than that. The issues I've got with Keith Law have nothing to do with any sort of supposed bias against the Astros.

I don't have a link because i only have the hard copy of the prospect handbook but BA has the Astros at 17 on their organization talent rankings

moriartp · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:38:34 pm »

Quote from: Hornstros on February 08, 2012, 08:27:35 pm

I don't have a link because i only have the hard copy of the prospect handbook but BA has the Astros at 17 on their organization talent rankings

Well, shows what I know. I'm getting far too accustomed to the taste of crow.

MusicMan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:38:58 pm »

Quote from: moriartp on February 08, 2012, 08:12:22 pm

I'll be surprised if BA ranks the Astros much higher than that. The issues I've got with Keith Law have nothing to do with any sort of supposed bias against the Astros.

You have a Venn diagram of "Keith Law ignorance" (largest circle); "ESPN minor league ignorance" (next smallest circle); "Keith Law just got rejected" (minor circle) and "Astros irrelevance" (not a minor circle) all intersecting on that article.

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:04:05 pm »

Lyles. Altuve. JD Martinez. Paredes. All kids that'd still be in the minors for most other teams, but are MLBers for the Astros. Not a comment on anything other than the system certainly wouldn't have been 27th in anyones book had they still been MiLBers...

mrpink · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2012, 07:12:05 am »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on February 08, 2012, 11:04:05 pm

Lyles. Altuve. JD Martinez. Paredes. All kids that'd still be in the minors for most other teams, but are MLBers for the Astros. Not a comment on anything other than the system certainly wouldn't have been 27th in anyones book had they still been MiLBers...

I agree with you with the exception of Martinez. 24 players taken in the 2009 draft have at least sniffed the majors. That's including Michael Fiers who was taken in the 22nd round from, strangely enough, Nova Southeastern University.

I think J.D. put up numbers that most teams would find difficult to keep in the minors. Your point though is well taken. You put those other three (all top 10 prospects according to Goldstein) back in the system and they'd have to be in the middle of the pack somewhere.

Houston · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2012, 07:22:22 am »

Here's what the article said about the Astros:

27. Houston Astros
The Astros might have been last if they hadn't traded Hunter Pence or Michael Bourn in July. Even though neither haul was that great, the prospects represented a major infusion into a barren system.

mrpink · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2012, 07:41:45 am »

Quote from: Houston on February 09, 2012, 07:22:22 am

Here's what the article said about the Astros:

27. Houston Astros
The Astros might have been last if they hadn't traded Hunter Pence or Michael Bourn in July. Even though neither haul was that great, the prospects represented a major infusion into a barren system.

What a fucktard. Makes me wonder what he thinks would be a great haul for Pence.

MusicMan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2012, 08:46:11 am »

Quote from: mrpink on February 09, 2012, 07:41:45 am

What a fucktard. Makes me wonder what he thinks would be a great haul for Pence.

Law thinks the US got screwed in the Louisiana Purchase.

mrpink · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:56:49 am »

Quote from: MusicMan on February 09, 2012, 08:46:11 am

Law thinks the US got screwed in the Louisiana Purchase.

Boston should have included Clemens in the Larry Andersen deal.

JimR · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:21:50 am »

Quote from: MusicMan on February 09, 2012, 08:46:11 am

Law thinks the US got screwed in the Louisiana Purchase.

HOF caliber post

VirtualBob · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:52:52 am »

Quote from: mrpink on February 09, 2012, 09:56:49 am

Boston should have included Clemens in the Larry Andersen deal.

Meaning France should have thrown in what ... Bordeaux? Surely not Algeria or Cambodia.

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2012, 11:04:32 am »

Quote from: VirtualBob on February 09, 2012, 10:52:52 am

Meaning France should have thrown in what ... Bordeaux?

He does blog about food, whine...er wine, etc...

OregonStrosFan · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:26:30 pm »

Quote from: mrpink on February 09, 2012, 07:12:05 am

I agree with you with the exception of Martinez.

Fair statement, and I'd agree with your assessment.

Reuben · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2012, 06:01:37 pm »

Quote from: OregonStrosFan on February 09, 2012, 12:26:30 pm

Fair statement, and I'd agree with your assessment.

I don't really (not that my opinion matters jack shit in such affairs). Martinez had raked, sure, but he jumped straight from low-A to AA in 2010, and from AA to MLB in 2011. Most teams would not have been able to find a spot for him so soon; at best he'd have been a September call-up on most teams, and thus still eligible on prospect and farm-system rankings. Which raises another question: how many of those four would've appeared on your average Top 100 list? The Astros had 3 on pretty much all lists; if they had added Altuve, maybe Martinez, Lyles was on most last year, all of the sudden you've got 5 or 6 guys in the Top 100 prospects, which is not bad at all.

Also, Fuck Keith Law and his prissy fucking arrogance.

GreatBagwellsBeard · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:05:25 pm »

From Law's chat:

Quote

John (Cincy)

Do you credit Luhnow for the improvement in the Cards system, and should the Astros expect to be in the top 5 in 5 years?
Klaw (1:33 PM)

Luhnow and his staff in St. Louis, yes. They'll have a lot of high picks in Houston to restock that system.

Quote

Jason (NJ)

Fast forward one year, is Appel the #1 pick overall considering Houston's lack of pitching depth?
Klaw (1:45 PM)

Fast forward four months, you mean? Right now, he's the #1 pick because he's the best player on the board. But this isn't Strasburg or Harper where we knew on February 9th they were the top guys.

JJ (Liberty Twp, OH)

Any chance the Astros don't draft Mark Appel #1 overall in June (barring injury)?
Klaw (2:15 PM)

Substantial chance, IMO.

Ron Brand · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2012, 05:25:41 pm »

Mr. Law, we'll be happy to keep your resume on file for six months. If anything pops up that we think you'd be a fit for, we'll give you a call. Thanks for interviewing with us, and good luck to you!

Mr. Karma will show you out.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2012, 01:45:43 am »

Quote from: Ron Brand on February 10, 2012, 05:25:41 pm

Mr. Law, we'll be happy to keep your resume on file for six months. If anything pops up that we think you'd be a fit for, we'll give you a call. Thanks for interviewing with us, and good luck to you!

Mr. Karma will ~~show~~ kick you out.