New Baseball America Rangers Top 20

by uthornfan on Aug 4, 2007 12:11 AM CDT Comment 41 comments

Edited to show the link, not the entire content of the article.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264614.html

The latest edition of Ask Baseball America has an updated Rangers top 20 list. I found it a great read and it should make for some good discussion. One of the questions was from our very own Adam J. Morris.

Top 10

Hurley, Beavan, Kiker, Whittleman, Teagarden, Andrus, Main, Borbon, Poveda, Arias.

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Comments

Beaven

I certainly wouldn't have guessed BA to have him #2.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Aug 4, 2007 12:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Me either....

seems to high. Mayberry seems to low. Not sure how I'd reorder but that was my gut feel when I read it.

by bdavison94 on Aug 4, 2007 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diary worthy?

yep. Good stuff. If it's been posted I hadn't seen it.

Might have gone with a link instead of a cut and paste though. I would think BA would appreciate the traffic.

by bdavison94 on Aug 4, 2007 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

BA can go to hell

They have never liked the Rangers prospects

by hurlerhurley on Aug 4, 2007 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please just

go to bed.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Z

I can't seem to sleep...

by hurlerhurley on Aug 4, 2007 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Going to sleep

First, put down the drink, then turn off the computer. Next, turn out the lights and go into the bedroom. There should be a bed in there - get into it and under the covers. Now, close your eyes and try to sleep.

The next morning, have a long talk with your wife about how you're going to stop drinking and call AA. Come back here in a year or so and tell us how it all went. Good luck.

mmmmmm...64 slices of American cheese...

by t ball on Aug 4, 2007 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diamond

didn't even make the top 20, huh? Is Volquez still considered a prospect?

If Rangers Make Playoffs, I will be a Hundredaire via Online Betting....Let's Do This!

by SMITTY on Aug 4, 2007 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They address that in the article...

Jason Botts and Edinson Volquez will lose their prospect eligibility by the end of the season.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Aug 4, 2007 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Borbon

I hope they're right.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on Aug 4, 2007 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Very interesting, obviously

Beavan 2 and Main down at 7? Whittleman still at 4? MaxRam and Mayberry look too low to me, Borbon a tad too high. Interesting that Harrison was #3 on the Braves then #15 on ours with his performance not dropping all that much. Other than that, looks ok.

Not really surprised about anyone he left off, but the other guys I think have a good shot at making the Handbook top 30:

Brigham
Santana
Galarraga
Boggs
Hunter
Reed
Font
West
Diamond
Phillips
Herren
Tracy
B Jones

You have to love the depth in this system that's developing.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Andrus

I think Andrus will be higher when the book comes out. Remember, Callis is the one person at BA who isn't a big fan of his.

by uthornfan on Aug 4, 2007 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that you're right

Unless Callis takes over the Rangers assignment for some reason, you can assume that whoever does likes Andrus better. Plus, that guy will get feedback from the Rangers who like him a lot.

I still don't get the Beavan/Main separation though. Beavan went seven slots higher, but won't pitch, as we've discussed, and Main has shown well. Maybe it goes to BA ranking our top three picks 13, 23 and 19 in their big pre-draft thing (though that was updated leading into the draft), and Callis having some input there.

Either way, I do think that it's correct to rank them highly like he did and not ignore them like we did in our community poll.

Also, I've got to wonder if Wilmer Font doesn't belong not too far from Castillo and Feliz. He may not throw quite as hard (though he does have a good arm still), but he's so young and doing so well. And we know that the organization is high on him.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 1:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Community Poll

I just didn't want people trying to vote on people they knew nothing about. (Me included.)

I mean, I'd rank Blake Beaven over Michael Main... but why? I don't know anything about them. I'd be voting one guy over another based solely off of draft position. I didn't think that was right.

Maybe I was wrong...

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Aug 4, 2007 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This statement......

Johnny Whittleman, 3b
Has rebounded from disastrous 2006 to become best bat in system.

Makes me wonder how closely Callis is paying attention and whether all of this isn't just pulled from his rear end. Whittleman has been inconsistent at best the second half of the season and having difficulties adjusting to High A at Bakersfield. He sure isn't the "best bat" in the system.

by doolindalton on Aug 4, 2007 5:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who would you say is the best bat in the system

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 4, 2007 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that's a problem

It's my biggest issue with the way this group drafts. They are way too much into all around tools and not enough into pure hitting ability for my taste. I know that some of you have argued this point with me, but go back to Adam's post just above. With all of the talent that has been brought into this system, why aren't there any better candidates for "best bat"?

Whittleman and Ramirez are two who I think you could argue was obtained because of their pure hitting ability, as you might be able to Matt West.

But these players all are prospects primarily because of other tools, and other than Whittleman, Ramirez and West, these are the guys on whom they've used all of their resources and put their hope into:

Mayberry
Boggs
Davis
Arias
Borbon
Andrus
Teagarden
Lemon
Santana
Yan
Solis

I'm not sure where to place Herren and Tracy, because they haven't really been what their will billed to be in either direction.

Draft more pure bats, Ron.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Max Ramirez

is to me the best bat in the system right now.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Duran?

Why not?

by 3Bagger on Aug 4, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mainly because

Ramirez has hit like this at every level, while Duran hasn't really had a top offensive season until this one. Ramirez looks like more of a pure hitter, and his BB/SO ratios are quite a bit better.

Duran is a good prospect who's having a great year, more than a pure, top hitting prospect...at least to me.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diamond

Man, that surgery and new talent on the farm have really hurt his ranking. He's probably ranked in the early 20s now, but that's a big slide considering BA had him at #4 coming into the season (behind Danks, Hurley and Volquez).

Still, when a 24 year old power guy (who had 10 K's per 9 IP for Frisco last season and was the Rangers pitcher of the year season before last) can't make your top 20 list...you're future looks pretty bright.

by rangeressary on Aug 4, 2007 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yah

I was actually wondering if he just forgot about Diamond. For Arias to slip 4 spots due to a season ending injury, and then have Diamond slip 17+ spots because of a season ending injury just doesn't compute with me, especially with the track record of pitchers coming back from Tj surgery just as strong as before.

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Aug 4, 2007 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Link

How do I get the link to be blue so it will go to the site?

by uthornfan on Aug 4, 2007 12:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Like this

New BA Rangers top 20

People rarely live up to their baby pictures.

by rooster on Aug 4, 2007 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

great find, great diary

Thanks!

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Aug 4, 2007 12:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Omissions

I guess it's a pretty good sign when you have players like Boggs and Phillips that aren't in the top 20.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Aug 4, 2007 12:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

BA = BS

BA has been so wrong for so long.

I have a huge problem with writers at BA that said in 2004 that Chris Young was a pitcher that would fail and not be a legit starter.

by hurlerhurley on Aug 4, 2007 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

also

BA said Eric Hurley was not that good of a pitcher. BA even bashed Hurley back in 2005,

I hate BA

by hurlerhurley on Aug 4, 2007 12:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yet they still rank him no.1

in a system that they acknowledge is growing and becoming a lot better...
grow up peter pan.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Aug 4, 2007 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My list

Here is the list I made up off the top of my head for a thread on Jamey's minor league board. I haven't change it since I originally posted it. I accidentally left Diamond off, but he would be near the end if I put him on there. I also didn't put on Beltre because he is so raw and so far away from the minors. If he hits well until the end of the year, he will be around #15 I think. Poveda and Phillips didn't make the list because they are repeating Low A and don't have great stuff, although the reports that Poveda is hitting 93 mph now could change all that.

Hurley
Andrus (upside)
Kiker
Beavan (upside)
Teagarden (possible injury concerns keep him from cracking the top 4)
Harrison (would be higher, but injury questions dropped him)
Volquez (still love his arm, I just think he may end up a reliever)
Main
Duran
Ramirez, Neil (lots of upside)
Arias (still think he can be a big league shortstop, not sure if he will hit)
Ramirez, Max (I really like his bat and think he will stay at catcher)
Whittleman (questions about his defense cause him to fall)
Mayberry (will he ever make enough contact to be a big league regular?)
Galaragga (After seeing him revert to his 2005 form, I really like him and think he could be in the ML rotation by next July)
Davis (strikeouts and defense need to improve)
Feliz (raw, but big time arm)
Castillo (love his arm, results have not been that great this year)
Boggs (won't be a star, but he is close to ML ready right now)
Jones, Beau (I really like his arm and think he will move to the rotation in Clinton. Low to mid 90s LH heat has me excited)

by uthornfan on Aug 4, 2007 12:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Please God

sign these draft picks......id be heartbroken if we dont

by slash on Aug 4, 2007 2:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I also hope they sign

Renaudo, Pomeranz, and O-Campo who are projectability-type HS pitchers drafted in rounds 11-13.

People rarely live up to their baby pictures.

by rooster on Aug 4, 2007 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Out of curiosity I would like to

know how many of the highly rated guys who pass on the money actually become excellent major league players. I know both Zito and Teixeira come to mind as guys who were drafted, didn't sign then got drafted again, signed and now are great. Don't a lot of those guys end up sucking, especially the pitchers? I think it really demonstrates a character flaw if they turn down a fair offer which is usually at or higher than slot. Maybe they are not confident in their own abilities or they are just plain nuts or not to bright. In any case, if your goal is to be a professional baseball player you better sign on the dotted line because that chance may never come around again. It would be stupid, stupid, stupid for Beaven or any of the other ranger draftees to turn down a fair offer and get their asses in a uniform in playing. If they don't sign, then I say good riddance because they probably wouldn't have helped in the long run anyway.

by gp on Aug 4, 2007 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or maybe

some of them just want to go to college.

It makes sense to me, especially for a hitter. A pitcher takes an awful risk going to college, since the coaches there have no interest in the long term health of your arm and will likely over use you.

But for a hitter... what's the downside? You get to hone your skills against good competition for three years, and you get to do it while having the college experience, which is actually FUN, as opposed to spending three years riding busses in the low minors.

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Aug 4, 2007 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep

Some families put a lot of emphasis on education and the college experience. I think it's especially true for families that are financially secure enough that the immediate reward of the signing bonus doesn't influence them.

by Randy Richardson on Aug 4, 2007 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

college

I mostly agree with you. And it seems much more advantageous for a pitcher to forego college, because they can really learn their craft better in professional baseball. I'm not naive about the number of guys who go to college to get a degree. That being said, I would bet that it is much more common for a player to graduate or accumulate enough hours to make it fairly easy to go back and finish, than for a guy to start college in his mid-20's or 30's after he has left baseball.

by Randy Richardson on Aug 4, 2007 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

That's a very different view of the low minors than I've heard other places.

And if the low minors really are much more fun than college... then sign me up.

They hold tryout camps, right? I wonder if there's an orginizational need for untalented 26 year old former high school middle infielders who hate 'Million Dollar Baby'...

Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas.

by thedirkatron on Aug 4, 2007 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BGL

What's your take on the 30ish round high school draft pick that signs for nothing and is 95% destined to be released in 2-3 years.

Wouldn't he be better off going to college. He doesn't have what it takes to stick in pro ball, but does have what it takes to maybe pitch at big time DI program.

I know here in the midwest Wichita State, Arkansas, OU, OSU, etc. The guys that play there and succeed there are legends. Even the one's that go on to not be drafted. They play in front of huge crowds and have a chance to go to CWS.

Isn't that better than beating the bushes for a couple of years.

by badradiorules on Aug 5, 2007 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andrew Miller

is someone who comes to mind as a first rounder who went to college and actually improved his stock. But yeah, I would say that with pitchers in particular high picks probably tend to lose draft status from HS to college, not gain it.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 4, 2007 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neil Ramirez

so if this guy does know what he's talking about, he thinks we'll sign Neil...that's different from what I've been hearing about him on here.

I'm a little surprised about Whittleman's high rankings, but I must plead ignorance...it seems to me though that Chris Davis, Teagarden, Max Ramirez, German Duran and a few other of our guys could be ranked as better hitters in our orgainization?

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Aug 4, 2007 12:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs