BA John Manual's Farm Rankings

by laxtonto on Dec 3, 2009 5:31 PM EST

BA writer John Manual ranked the farm systems of all 30 teams for CNNSI. It is intersting tha the did it on teirs more than individual rankings. Right now I would expect the Sox to fall closer to 6 than to 15...

Link

Best of the rest (6-15 range)

Braves: Depth took a hit in '09, but outfielder Jason Heyward lifts system himself.

Brewers: Alcides Escobar (still barely eligible), '09 draft pitchers keep Milwaukee strong.

Marlins: Still thin on arms, but Florida's bats, led by OF Mike Stanton, still impress.

Orioles: If Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder are legit corner IF bats, O's could be interesting.

Pirates: Impressive depth behind top prospects Pedro Alvarez, Tony Sanchez.

Red Sox: System is very young, but SS/RHP Casey Kelly, OF Ryan Westmoreland could be special.

Rockies: Four impact pitching prospects, led by '09 first-rounder Tyler Matzek.

Royals: Excellent top-level pitching supplemented by strong '09 draft class.

Twins: Solid upper-level hitters aided by influx of draft and international talent in '08.

Yankees: Slugging catcher Jesus Montero ranks among minors' best hitters.

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The thing with Boston's system right now...

Is that it’s got a lot of depth in the lower ranks that should produce more high-tier talent as the years go on. As a result, it’s underrated now due to only having 2 marquee names (N/I Lars Anderson, given his fall off). Of course, it’s quite possibly OVERRATED now just because people are assuming that’s a sure thing, which it isn’t.

The system is sort of at a transition point now between the years of Pedroia and Buchholz, and the years of Kelly and Iglesias, largely because Lars and Lowrie took a step back and we graduated Bard pretty early (at least when you consider how he was a wreck in 2007).

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions

Add to it that it is actually unlikely

that the Sox will see as high of a success rate on their depth in low levels as has happened in the past. As much as the Sox approach to minor leagues helps in the progression of players there is a huge luck component that for the most part, the Sox have done well in.

JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook

by laxtonto on Dec 3, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

The Sox stock it full of high-risk high-reward guys.

I’m not sure how it’s particularly paid off more than usual. They’ve had plenty of busts to go with their successes. See: Jason Place, Kris Johnson, Craig Hansen, and Jon Egan to say nothing of the group that could still flame out at higher levels (Bowden, Anderson) or never make it beyond bench status (Bates, Murton).

The reason they produce so many guys is because they sign their top picks, they mine the international market, and they go after “unsignables” both early and late. It’s a smartly run FO.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 9:52 PM EST up reply actions