He was rated the 4th best player in the Southern League, which was rated the best by Baseball America. McCarthy and Anderson were 8 and 9 in the IL, which ranked as 4 stars out of 5 in talent.

He was rated the 4th best player in the Southern League, which was rated the best by Baseball America.  McCarthy and Anderson were 8 and 9 in the IL, which ranked as 4 stars out of 5 in talent.

 

Any others in SL?

Jenks was 13th, but that is it. No Sweeney, Owens, Fields, Haigwood or Tracey. They would probably be top 20's in different leagues, but the SL is so deep and good.

I really figured Haigwood for one of the two leagues he played in. I thought the Carolina League was more likely, but him missing isn't a shocker. Had he thrown as well as he did for a whole season in one of the leagues, he may have made the list.

 

Sweeney, Rogo and Tracey not making it do not surprise me. Owens being left off does a little bit. It just goes to show you that prospect lists are different. Owens makes the league post-season all-star team and Young does not. Yet Owens can't sniff the Top 20.

Do you think age was a large factor in that?

Could be age, could just be that Owens wasn't a "prospect" coming into the season. It will be interesting to see the complete list when it comes out because there will be a lot of familiar names on it. The league was pretty well loaded this year.

Do you think age was a large factor in that?

 

I think it was the fact that this was the most talented league in all the minors this year.

 

Owens is a Pods-type player, and those guys rarely rate highly on prospect lists because they don't WOW scouts with power or defensive ability (although Owens is much better defensively than Pods)...

 

It didn't help that just by looking at the numbers, Owens didn't wow you with his success rate stealing bases, THE NUMBERS don't indicate he could carry that base-stealing ability to the next level...

 

Sweeney has been a favorite of BA from day one, but the one thing everyone has been waiting for has yet to appear. I'm not all that concerned yet, but I can see how he might start to slip considering the lack of power. He's hit like a lead-off man this year but he plays RF... hard to rate that in a league as deep and talented as the SL this year...

 

 

 

Here is the BA Southern League Top 20:

1. Delmon Young, of, Montgomery

2. Jeremy Hermida, of, Carolina

3. Jeff Francoeur, of, Mississippi

4. Chris Young, of, Birmingham

5. Chad Billingsley, rhp, Jacksonville

6. Joel Guzman, ss, Jacksonville

7. Andy LaRoche, 3b, Jacksonville

8. Felix Pie, of, West Tenn

9. Brian McCann, c, Mississippi

10. Russell Martin, c, Jacksonville

11. Scott Olsen, lhp, Carolina

12. Matt Murton, of, West Tenn

13. Bobby Jenks, rhp, Birmingham

14. Jonathan Broxton, rhp, Jacksonville

15. Rich Hill, lhp, West Tenn

16. Dustin Nippert, rhp, Tennessee

17. Ricky Nolasco, rhp, West Tenn

18. Renyel Pinto, lhp, West Tenn

19. Chuck James, lhp, Mississippi

20. Elijah Dukes, of, Montgomery

BA's snippets:

 

4. CHRIS YOUNG, of, Birmingham Barons (White Sox)

Age: 21 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 182 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: White Sox '01 (16)

 

 

Young's game can be summarized by his performance Aug. 21 against Mobile, when he hit two solo home runs, bunted twice for hits and stole two bases in the same game. That's Young: an electric, five-tool player who does it all. He nearly put together a 30-30 season for the Barons despite missing two weeks with a minor oblique strain, and he still topped the league in runs, doubles and homers.

 

A terrific center fielder whom managers rated as the league's best outfield defender, Young invites Mike Cameron comparisons. Just as impressive as his athleticism is his outstanding work ethic. He showed a lot of maturity for a 21-year-old who skipped a level. He still strikes out too much, but has learned to stay back on breaking balls and use the opposite field.

 

"He's doing a great job learning the zone," Barons manager Razor Shines said. "Early he made some mistakes at the plate, but this guy is getting it quick. Just from spring training till now, it's amazing the adjustments he's made."

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

466 100 129 41 3 26 77 70 129 32 6 .277 .377 .545

 

13. BOBBY JENKS, rhp, Birmingham Barons (White Sox)

Age: 24 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 240 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Angels '00 (5)

 

The Angels designated Jenks for assignment after the 2004 season, in which he worked just 18 innings because of a stress reaction in his elbow and repeated off-the-field transgressions. The White Sox claimed him off waivers, and after he returned to health and cleaned up his act, he was closing games in the majors by September.

 

Jenks long had been a recognizable prospect because of his ability to reach triple digits with his fastball. He complements his explosive fastball with a knee-buckling hammer curveball, and he's dabbling with a slider.

 

"I think he's got the mentality to be an outstanding closer," Shines said. "Obviously he has the arm strength and enough weapons in his repertoire to do that. When you throw the ball 100 miles an hour and then command a wicked breaking ball, I don't think you need much more."

 

G GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

35 0 1 2 19 2.85 41.0 34 17 13 1 20 48 .224

I really figured Haigwood for one of the two leagues he played in.  I thought the Carolina League was more likely, but him missing isn't a shocker.  Had he thrown as well as he did for a whole season in one of the leagues, he may have made the list.

 

Sweeney, Rogo and Tracey not making it do not surprise me.  Owens being left off does a little bit.  It just goes to show you that prospect lists are different.  Owens makes the league post-season all-star team and Young does not.  Yet Owens can't sniff the Top 20.

 

Well, Haigwood doesn't have the "tools" that really catch the eye... he just knows how to get guys out. It's always very difficult to project how that translates as a guy moves up.

 

For example, here's BA's list of the top 10 5 years ago...

 

FIVE YEARS AGO 

1. *Corey Patterson, of, West Tenn (Cubs)

2. *Ben Sheets, rhp, Huntsville (Brewers)

3. *Jon Rauch, rhp, Birmingham (White Sox)

4. *Joe Crede, 3b, Birmingham (White Sox)

5. *Sean Burroughs, 3b, Mobile (Padres)

6. *Felipe Lopez, ss, Tennessee (Blue Jays)

7. *Matt Ginter, of, Birmingham (White Sox)

8. *Adam Eaton, rhp, Mobile (Padres)

9. *Mark Buehrle, lhp, Birmingham (White Sox)

10. *Juan Pierre, of, Carolina (Rockies

 

Interesting to see who has been the most productive out of that list, isn't it? Pierre and Buehrle without the eye-popping tools perhaps being the most productive major leaguers on the list... Sheets is no slouch, but the rest have underwhelmed...

Well, Haigwood doesn't have the "tools" that really catch the eye...  he just knows how to get guys out.  It's always very difficult to project how that translates as a guy moves up.

 

For example, here's BA's list of the top 10 5 years ago...

Interesting to see who has been the most productive out of that list, isn't it?  Pierre and Buehrle without the eye-popping tools perhaps being the most productive major leaguers on the list... Sheets is no slouch, but the rest have underwhelmed...

 

 

Well 2 be fair Sheets is still probably the best player on that list just injuries have gotten to him. But yeah funny how so far the 9 and 10 guys have had the best careers.

I was a bit surprised to see Jenks so low. I understand that he didn't pitch as well in AA as he has in the bigs ERA wise, but talent wise he's got to be at the top of the pitchers. That also shows the depth of the league that a guy who is looking like a solid closer very soon is only the 13th best prospect in the league. The top 20 top to bottom is absolutely loaded. Young at 4 shows me how much BA and company are jumping on his bandwagon this year.

Edited October 4, 200520 yr by danman31

I was a bit surprised to see Jenks so low. I understand that he didn't pitch as well in AA as he has in the bigs ERA wise, but talent wise he's got to be at the top of the pitchers. That also shows the depth of the league that a guy who is looking like a solid closer very soon is only the 13th bets prospect in the league. The top 20 top to bottom is absolutely loaded. Young at 4 shows me how much BA and company are jumping on his bandwagon this year.

 

I have a very good "source" at BA, and their biggest concern with Jenks is his "make-up". They don't feel like he'll be able to pitch more than 3 or 4 years in the majors with his current physique and mentality. They love his stuff, but don't project him as having it for a very long time. They do love Chris Young though.

I have a very good "source" at BA, and their biggest concern with Jenks is his "make-up".  They don't feel like he'll be able to pitch more than 3 or 4 years in the majors with his current physique and mentality.  They love his stuff, but don't project him as having it for a very long time.  They do love Chris Young though.

 

I find that funny to en extent. Take this constructive criticism back to your source at BA.

 

One of BA's shortcomings is that they almost refuse to give up on a player. It seems once they have made a decision on a player, that opinion sticks until they have no choice to back off of it.

 

I see a similarity in this case. Coming into this season those were the two knocks on Jenks. I can see that "mental makeup" is still somewhat of a concern unitl he proves otherwise for more than one season. But if they did some homework, they might realize that he has lost a ton of weight since the beginning of the season and that everyone around him this year raved about his dedication to turning things around. Of course there can always be a regression, but it just seems to me, that they seem to be slow to change information on a guy.

 

A prime example is when a player is reported to throw mid-90's and then throws a whole season in the minors barely ever reaching 90, yet he still gets labeled a hard thrower. They just seem slow to change opinions on players. Not sure if it is a lack of homework and allowing reputation to precede facts, or what.

One of BA's shortcomings is that they almost refuse to give up on a player.  It seems once they have made a decision on a player, that opinion sticks until they have no choice to back off of it. 

 

This whole post is dead on-the-money. I think you described it perfectly, Rex.

He was rated the 4th best player in the Southern League, which was rated the best by Baseball America.  McCarthy and Anderson were 8 and 9 in the IL, which ranked as 4 stars out of 5 in talent.