Baseball America Yankees Top 30 Prospects January 30, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Baseball America Top 30 Prospects.trackback
This from Peter Abraham–Baseball America prospect books have hit the shelves (or, the mailboxes), and Peter Abraham got his. He has revealed who the Yankees Top 30 Prospects, per BA, are:
1. Joba Chamberlain, RHP
2. Austin Jackson, OF
3. Jose Tabata, OF
4. Ian Kennedy, RHP
5. Alan Horne, RHP
6. Jesus Montero, C
7. Jeff Marquez, RHP
8. Brett Gardner, OF
9. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP
10. Andrew Brackman, RHP
11. Mark Melancon, RHP
12. Humberto Sanchez, RHP
13. Dellin Betances, RHP
14. Dan McCutchen, RHP
15. Kevin Whelan, RHP
16. Carmen Angelini, SS
17. George Kontos, RHP
18. Ivan Nova, RHP
19. Collin Curtis, OF
20. Jairo Heredia, RHP
21. Juan Miranda, 1B
22. Austin Romine, C
23. Francisco Cervelli, C
24. Dave Robertson, RHP
25. Mike Dunn, LHP
26. J.B. Cox, RHP
27. Mitch Hilligoss, INF
28. Scott Patterson, RHP
29. Edwar Ramirez, RHP
30. Zach McAllister, RHP
BA and I agree on #’s 1-5. I have previously stated my opinions on #’s 7-9. If you’re too lazy to check the link, in short, I think they underrate Dellin Betances, Dan McCutchen, and (as we now see), J.B. Cox, and way overrate Jeff Marquez, Brett Gardner, and Ross Ohlendorf. We also agree on #11. However, I think Whelan is overrated for a guy who walked 7 (7!!) per 9 in Trenton. We essentially agree on Angelini and Kontos, though #18 Nova and #19 Curtis don’t appear in my ranking–this, of course, is because I think there are better prospects out there. Heredia at 20 is probably right, because I get the feeling that I underrated him in my ranking. Miranda at #21 doesn’t match how they raved about him during the AFL season, and, to me, he’s another underrated prospect by BA. Austin Romine doesn’t appear on my rankings, though, by 2008, I’m sure he’ll be there (if all goes right for him). However, I think Francisco Cervelli is way underrated at #23–I think his bat will be good (enough, at least) to force playing time with his outstanding defense. At #24, Robertson is slightly underrated (17 on my ranking), because with his improved and improving control, and solid stuff, he will be a solid major league set-up man. While I understand the ranking because nothing about him is outstanding, and there are other relievers (or potential relievers) who will get more looks and longer looks for the pen, I still think he’s slightly underrated. Mike Dunn at #25 doesn’t appear on my ranking, but he’s a find, up-and-coming lefty in the system. At #26, J.B. Cox is way low, but this is probably because of his recovering from elbow surgery, while still not having the best stuff ever to start with. Edwar Ramirez and Scott Patterson, due to their long track records and ages, aren’t prospects to me–they shouldn’t be considered for a spot like this–and Zach McAllister at #30 is simply a poor job by the scouting team.
Overall, I think this is a below-average job by the BA team. They underrated some key prospects, and way overrated some others. Eric Duncan, who many forget is only 22 (going on 23) at AAA and still has a shot, is not even in the book, and neither is Chris Garcia (who has as good stuff as Phil Hughes when healthy) or Brad Suttle (though I smell bust on this one). However, younger prospects (Nova) are included, as are questionable prospects (Curtis, Ramirez, Patterson). This is the marquee name in prospecting, but, gee, I don’t know about this one.
You may disagree with Baseball America’s assessment, but it’s tough to say they did a poor job. I can only assume that they have a much better ability to talk to those within the organization that see these guys play every day as well as watch them play in person than yourself, but I admit, this is just an assumption on my part.
Also, understand that BA will take a young guy with great toolsand bad stats over an older guy with average tools and decent stats in almost every instance. This isn’t a flawed scouting theory, it just may be different than yours.