I'd be curious to see the minor league guru's Top 10 Sox prospect lists now that the 2008 minor league season has drawn to a close (and Kenny hasn't had a chance to trade anyone yet). For arguement's sake, lets leave out Richard and Broadway with their time they have had up here (if they were going to be listed anyway).

1. Gordon Beckman

2. Aarron Poreda

3. Chris Getz

4. John Shelby

5. Dexter Carter

6. Justin Cassel

7. Jose Martinez

8. Jordon Danks

9. Brandon Allen

10. Tyler Kuhn

1. Gordon Beckman

2. Aarron Poreda

3. Chris Getz

4. John Shelby

5. Dexter Carter

6. Justin Cassel

7. Jose Martinez

8. Jordon Danks

9. Brandon Allen

10. Tyler Kuhn

 

Getz is probably a little to high IMO. I would still include Fields in the 8-10 range and I'd add Daniel Hudson over Tyler Kuhn. Also, flip Allen and Martinez

I'll take a stab at it, but had to do top 15.

 

1. Aaron Poreda

2. Gordon Beckham

3. Brandon Allen(hard to keep him out of the top 5 now)

4. John Shelby

5. Stephen Upchurch

6. Jordan Danks(already 22 years old beginning his ascent)

7. Jose Martinez

8. Brent Morel

9. Jacob Rasner (really think he's set to break out next year)

10. Eduardo Escobar

11. CJ Retherford(a little old, but could be a late bloomer 3B option in a year or so)

12. Dexter Carter

13. Daniel Hudson

14. Tyler Kuhn(old for the league, but can't ignore the overwhelming production)

15. Nevin Griffith

 

 

Didn't include Getz because he's 25 and has a little MLB time now. If I had to throw him in there, it would be in the 7-11 range.

Edited September 18, 200817 yr by Palehosefan

Extended mine to 15 as well.

 

1. Gordon Beckham

2. Aaron Poreda

3. Brandon Allen

4. Jordan Danks

5. John Shelby

6. Dexter Carter

7. Steven Upchurch

8. Chris Getz

9. Daniel Hudson

10. Jack Egbert

11. Jose Martinez

12. Lucas Harrell

13. Nevin Griffith

14. Brent Morel

15. Juan Silverio (Mr. X factor)

11. CJ Retherford(a little old, but could be a late bloomer 3B option in a year or so)

 

Come on Palehose... picking on my boy.

 

Actually CJ is 8 days younger than Shelby.

 

Both just turned 23 in August. So they'll both play almost a full season of AA ball next year at age 23 (then be 24 in AAA). That's not bad. The only starter at Birmingham this year younger than 23 was Brandon Allen.

Edited September 18, 200817 yr by scenario

lol yep Scenario, couldn't help it. When are you going to post your top 10-15?

Just thinking out loud...

 

One of the things I look for when trying to determine a players potential is their age for their level. It's not the main factor, of course, but it is interesting to take a look at who the players are that are the youngest on their team.

 

As a guideline, I assume the following league/age relationships (keep in mind this is just my opinion... no science):

- Rookie (Bristol): 19/20

- Advanced Rookie (Great Falls): 20/21

- Low A: 21

- Advanced A: 22

- AA: 23

- AAA: 24

 

(Each of the numbers above is below the league averages.)

 

So, for example, I think of players at Winston-Salem who are 22 for the majority of the year as being 'on the curve' or the normal progression path for their age. And players who are younger than 22 being ahead. (Etc., same concepts applied for different leagues/levels).

 

Just for interests sake, here are the players at Winston-Salem younger than 22: Justin Edwards (just turned 21 on September 7th); Jacob Rasner (turns 22 in December); Cleveland Santeliz (turned 22 on September 1st); and Sergio Miranda (just turned 21 in May).

 

Players at Birmingham younger than 23: Aaron Poreda (21), Brandon Allen (22), and Kanekoa Texeira (22).

 

Players at Charlotte younger than 24: None. (Although both Gio and Ryan Sweeney would have qualified if we still had them.)

 

When you do the same for the other teams, it creates an interesting list. I'll probably put it together later when I get a little more time. This is not to say that these are the best prospects or that other players who are league age or older are not prospects. I just find it interesting that these players were 'advanced ahead of their ages'... and therefore probably worth paying attention to.

Edited September 18, 200817 yr by scenario

lol yep Scenario, couldn't help it. When are you going to post your top 10-15?

 

I'm still chewing on it... and doing a little more digging on the younger guys.

 

 

Weren't there a lot of people on this board AGAINST drafting Jordan Danks? And now look at him.

Weren't there a lot of people on this board AGAINST drafting Jordan Danks? And now look at him.

 

 

People were against (scared of) overdrafting Jordan Danks. I dont know if anyone is truly upset about us drafting him when we did this year

Continuation of my "youngest on their team" list above...

 

Players at Kannapolis who are younger than 21...

Leroy Hunt (20)

Hector Santiago (20)

Eduardo Escobar (19)

Jose Martinez (20)

Sergio Morales (20)

 

 

Players at Great Falls who are 20 or younger...

Nevin Griffith (19)

Jesus Avila (19)

Jordan Cheatham (20)

Kent Gerst (20)

 

 

Players at Bristol who are 19 or younger...

Steven Upchurch (19; just turned 19 in September)

Kenneth Gilbert (19)

Juan Silverio (17)

Hancer Vargas (19)

*Brandon Short (just turned 20 in September)

*Murillo Gouvea (just turned 20 in September)

Edited September 18, 200817 yr by scenario

How would you guys rank our system by area?

 

I'm not good at this stuff and I don't get to see these guys play, but I read about them so I'll take a stab:

 

Corner OF/1B/DH prospects:

1. B Allen

2. J Shelby

3. J Martinez

4. C Marrero

5. D Cook

6. MS Gartrell

 

CF prospects:

1. J Danks

2. K Gerst

3. K Williams, Jr.

4. S Sanchez

5. S Morales

 

3B prospects:

1. Beckham

2. Morel

3. Retherford

4. J Castillo

5. L Johnson

 

2B prospects:

1. Beckham

2. Getz

3. Bourgeois

4. L Johnson

5. D Mollenhauer

 

SS prospects:

1. Beckham

2. E Escobar

3. S Miranda

4. G Paiml

5. T Kuhn

 

Catching prospects:

1. D Lucy

2. C Armstrong

3. K Dubler

4. M Inouye

5. F Hernandez

 

SP prospects:

1. A Poreda

2. C Richard

3. N Griffith

4. S Upchurch

5. D Carter

6. C Shirek

7. A Carter

8. J Egbert

9. J Cassell

10. J Rasner

11. L Harrell

12. L Broadway

13. L Maxwell

14. W Whisler

15. J Ely

 

RP prospects:

1. A Poreda

2. D Rodriguez

3. K Texeira

4. J Link

5. A Russell

6. D O'Neil

7. J Lujan

8. M Socolovich

9. H Mabee

10. R Strauss

11. F Hernandez

12. B Omogrosso

13. M Long

14. S Luis

15. C Torres

Omogrosso and Long should be much higher on your RP list. Especially Omogrosso. He has a pretty nice arm when healthy.

Two other pitchers who should appear somewhere on prospect lists... Leroy Hunt and Johnnie Lowe

 

Their stats may not be impressive so far. But they are probably two of the best arms in the system.

 

Am I the only doubting Nevin Griffin will do anything ever? He hasn't been healthy since we drafted him and now he is going into his third year of pro ball with a total of like 11 innings in his career.

Am I the only doubting Nevin Griffin will do anything ever? He hasn't been healthy since we drafted him and now he is going into his third year of pro ball with a total of like 11 innings in his career.

I don't buy any of Griffin's hype. Until he shows he can stay healthy, he doesn't belong on any prospect list. Its not like he has "ridiculous" stuff. Sure its good, but it ain't #1 stuff.

Its not like he has "ridiculous" stuff. Sure its good, but it ain't #1 stuff.

 

Outside of Poreda, you could say that about every pitcher in our minor league system.

 

As for Nevin's injury problems, he was hit on the elbow by a line drive in his third start and didn't pitch since. Not much you can do about that.

My list...

 

 

10 Position Players

1. Beckham

2. B Allen

3. J Shelby

4. J Danks

5. J Martinez

6. Morel

7. K Gerst

8. Getz

9. S Miranda

10. E Escobar

 

(Retherford makes the list with a good year at Birmingham next year.)

 

 

10 Pitchers:

1. A Poreda

2. S Upchurch

3. D Carter

4. C Shirek

5. J Rasner

6. J Ely

7. K Texeira

8. B Omogrosso

9. Leroy Hunt

10. Daniel Hudson

 

(Nevin Griffith probably belongs on the list, but I'd like to see him pitch a full season first.)

 

 

Interesting note... I had to cut several pitchers who I like. The position player list wasn't nearly as difficult.

Edited September 22, 200817 yr by scenario

I feel like such a slacker b/c I just don't know my minor leaguers like I used to due to just being too busy to follow much anymore. However, I'll give it a shot...

1) Gordon Beckham

2) Aaron Poreda

3) Brandon Allen

4) Jordan Danks

5) Jose Martinez

6) John Shelby

7) Dexter Carter

8) Steven Upchurch

9) Brent Morel

10) Justin Cassel

OK, here is the categorized NorthSideSox72 prospect list for this offseason. Two notes...

 

1. The following players have spent too much time in the majors, so I don't really consider them prospects anymore: Jerry Owens, Ehren Wassermann, Mike MacDougal, Boone Logan, Brian Anderson

 

2. The rankings are balance between ceiling and likelihood of reaching major league value.

 

 

SP

Aaron Poreda

Clayton Richard

Justin Cassel

Lucas Harrell

Charlie Shirek

Leroy Hunt

Dexter Carter

Dan Hudson

Jack Egbert

Lance Broadway

Anthony Carter

John Ely

Levi Maxwell

Gregory Infante

Matt Zaleski

Nevin Griffith

 

RP

Kanekoa Teixera

Adam Russell

Jon Link

Henry Mabee

Brian Omogrosso

Kevin Asselin

Ryan Strauss

Steven Upchurch

Stephen Sauer

Ryan O’Neill

Jon Link

Jon Lujan

Brent DeFoor

Justin Kuehn

Po-Yu Lin

 

1B/DH

Brandon Allen

Jorge Castillo

 

SS/2B

Gordon Beckham

Chris Getz

Sergio Miranda

Tyler Kuhn

Eduardo Escobar

Victor Mercedes

Greg Paiml

Juan Silverio

 

3B

Josh Fields

CJ Retherford

Brent Morel

Logan Johnson

 

OF

John Shelby

Jordan Danks

Jose Martinez

David Cook

Justin Bourgoeis* (utility, also IF)

Kent Gerst

Johny Celis

Steven Gartrell

Jordan Kendall

Jim Gallagher

 

C

Cole Armstrong

Kevin Dubler

Matt Innouye

Donny Lucy (this is highly dependent on his injury recovery - could be anywhere from #1 to #5 or not even on this list)

Francisco Hernandez

So I would be curious to see everyone's updates lists after the Viciedo signing, along with the Vazquez and Swisher trades! How do those top 10's look now? The second question is where about do people think the Sox farm system ranks in the overall scheme of things on a general basis ?(Top 10, top 5, middle 10, etc.)

So I would be curious to see everyone's updates lists after the Viciedo signing, along with the Vazquez and Swisher trades! How do those top 10's look now? The second question is where about do people think the Sox farm system ranks in the overall scheme of things on a general basis ?(Top 10, top 5, middle 10, etc.)

1. Beckham 2. Flowers 3. Poreda 4.Viciedo 5. Lillibridge 6. Getz 7. Gilmore 8. Allen 9. Shelby 10. Danks

 

id say we are now probably near 20th in terms of farm systems

1. Beckham 2. Flowers 3. Poreda 4.Viciedo 5. Lillibridge 6. Getz 7. Gilmore 8. Allen 9. Shelby 10. Danks

 

id say we are now probably near 20th in terms of farm systems

 

Nah...

 

No way there are 20 teams with a better top group than us right now.

 

I think we're in the top 15... possibly close to #10.

 

 

OK, here is the categorized NorthSideSox72 prospect list for this offseason. Two notes...

 

1. The following players have spent too much time in the majors, so I don't really consider them prospects anymore: Jerry Owens, Ehren Wassermann, Mike MacDougal, Boone Logan, Brian Anderson

 

2. The rankings are balance between ceiling and likelihood of reaching major league value.

 

 

SP

Aaron Poreda

Clayton Richard

Justin Cassel

Lucas Harrell

Charlie Shirek

Leroy Hunt

Dexter Carter

Dan Hudson

Jack Egbert

Lance Broadway

Anthony Carter

John Ely

Levi Maxwell

Gregory Infante

Matt Zaleski

Nevin Griffith

 

RP

Kanekoa Teixera

Adam Russell

Jon Link

Henry Mabee

Brian Omogrosso

Kevin Asselin

Ryan Strauss

Steven Upchurch

Stephen Sauer

Ryan O’Neill

Jon Link

Jon Lujan

Brent DeFoor

Justin Kuehn

Po-Yu Lin

 

1B/DH

Brandon Allen

Jorge Castillo

 

SS/2B

Gordon Beckham

Chris Getz

Sergio Miranda

Tyler Kuhn

Eduardo Escobar

Victor Mercedes

Greg Paiml

Juan Silverio

 

3B

Josh Fields

CJ Retherford

Brent Morel

Logan Johnson

 

OF

John Shelby

Jordan Danks

Jose Martinez

David Cook

Justin Bourgoeis* (utility, also IF)

Kent Gerst

Johny Celis

Steven Gartrell

Jordan Kendall

Jim Gallagher

 

C

Cole Armstrong

Kevin Dubler

Matt Innouye

Donny Lucy (this is highly dependent on his injury recovery - could be anywhere from #1 to #5 or not even on this list)

Francisco Hernandez

 

 

You probably mean Jason Bourgeois, he's actually gone now. Part of the Brewers organization. I always thought he deserved a shot, but apparently Andy Gonzalez & Dweezy's power outshined him.... in '07 and '08.