BA's MWL Top 20

3 Cubs - Vitters at 3, Archer at 16, Carpenter at 20.

I'm fairly ... stunned with this list, tbh. Vitters not at 1 doesn't bother me ... Hicks there does surprise. I can buy Gordon if you buy him as an elite shortstop, so I'm okay with that. Castro seems a bit low - he's a very, very exciting arm, and Jaff Decker, IMO, should be higher - he can hit, but isn't in the best shape, but that bat is good. I think Scarpetta and Pollock are both a tad high for my tastes and Desme seems a bit low.

Very surprised that Kyler Burke didn't make it. Very surprised that Archer was safely in at 16. Very surprised Carpenter barely made it in. I'll try to add other thoughts later, but a fairly stunning list right now.

over 2 years ago toonsterwu 12 comments 0 recs |

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Reading the chat comments

and he said Brett Jackson would’ve ranked 3rd on the MWL had he qualified. Wow. I’m floored. I was actually fine with the pick, unlike many … but 3rd and ahead of Vitters? Wow.

by toonsterwu on Oct 1, 2009 2:15 PM CDT reply actions

Vitters

Did he mention any specifics as to why he would pick Jackson over Vitters?

by Tate491 on Oct 1, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought Vitters might be first

and since his struggles didn’t happen in the MWL I’m kind of surprised by this. I’m not even very high on Vitters because of his inability to walk, but still would have thought number 1.

How does the guy who has a .900+ OPS not make the Top 20 list?

Archer had a real good season so seeing him on the list isn’t that surprising, but seeing him above Carpenter is. Again though I think Carpenter’s success in other leagues this year comes to my mind. The Jackson thing is really surprising, rating him above Vitters in a league that Vitters tore up. Makes me think Jackson could be much better than was thought when he was drafted.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 1, 2009 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

In the chat

he indicated that

a) he entered thinking Vitters would be ahead of Jackson but that scouts loved Brett Jackson that much. Unlike most, I was fine with the Jackson pick … but I’m stunned by that comment today.

b) Burke didn’t make it due to his platoon splits, speed, and his inability to stick in CF. None of that makes sense to me in that, he hit lefties alright, he has solid speed for the type of player he is (power hitter), and I don’t think anyone is expecting him to be a centerfielder, so I don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an ardent “I’m putting my money down on Kyler reaching the bigs” guy, but the explanations seemed … off.

c) Carpenter may actually rank higher in other leagues (if he qualifies) than he did in the MWL, where he was a bit older and working through kinks early. I wouldn’t read too much into Carpenter’s 20th ranking as reflective on his value. Archer mildly surprised me at coming in 16th. I thought there was a chance of him making it on the end, but there’s still some concerns about his ability to stick as a starter, and as a pen arm, his value goes down. That said, he is still young, and if is more consistent with the curve and improves the change, he’s something to watch.

by toonsterwu on Oct 1, 2009 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Are they going to do this for every league?

It would be really cool to see where they have Castro, Cashner, and Jay Jackson rated in their leagues, though Jackson’s season was strange so who knows how that would work.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 1, 2009 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

yes

BA does league rankings every year, top 20. It’s heavily influenced by scouts from the respective leagues, whereas, IIRC, the team lists are influenced by organizational sources.
The players have to qualify, though. I don’t remember what the barriers are for BA in regards to IP and AB’s.

I would caution against expecting high rankings on our guys left, relative to how Cubs fans feel about them. Castro should be ranked rather high, and probably is the Cubs top prospect right now for lists, but Cashner and Jay Jackson are tougher to figure. BA has never been as interested in Jay Jackson as Cubs fans are. This year, when Jackson was dominating early, BA didn’t really show that much intrigue (although one BA guy was supposedly really high on him, I forget who, right now).

by toonsterwu on Oct 1, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions

That is strange that outside people aren't as high on Jackson

Though I guess my opinion on Jackson reflects exactly what you are stating. I guess knowing that BA doesn’t like him, and the fact that he kind of jumped around I won’t expect Jackson to be on the lists.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Oct 1, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

There's probably an outside shot

that he might be able to crack Southern League top 20, as that’s more influenced by scouts, but he also ended his tenure badly there, so who knows.

Team list, I am expecting him outside of the top 5 right now, whereas for my own personal lists, I have Jay 3rd in our system right now.

Top 100, there’s an outside chance he sneaks in on the back end, 90-100 range, though I’m not expecting it.

Tbh, these lists, while more insightful than many things online, as they typically reflect some scouting opinions, still, like most prospect rankings, hold more value for discussion purposes than anything. I’m not going to change my mind about that much about our system based on these lists, and in general, I am very pleased with the direction of the farm system, particularly the leap it has made in the past year.

by toonsterwu on Oct 1, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

No Lansing Lugnut prospects.

Thanks Blue Jays. Can we re-affiliate with the Cubs? Please???

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 2, 2009 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

every indication is that

the Cubs are quite happy with Peoria. That said, I guess you never know what might happen when the next round of re-negotiations come up.

by toonsterwu on Oct 2, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah. Lansing was apparently a stop gap until Peoria became available.

Too bad. Olds Park was filled MUCH more than it is now…

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 2, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

Vitters

I’ve seen the kid play on more than one occasion and the guys holding out hope that he’s the next superstar hitter in Chicago are wasting their time. Yes, he’s a fine hitter but until he figures out that plate discipline is a must if you’re going to cross that “difference-making” hitter threshold, he’s going to be left at being nothing but average. He certainly hits balls hard with regularity but pitchers that have good enough command can eat him up.

Mind you, he’s got a ways to go and improvement is obviously not out of the question. But based on his body of work right now, he’s got a loooongggg way to go before he’s a fixture in the middle of a lineup any higher than where he’s at right now.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Oct 2, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions