KLaw's Top 100 Prospects List For 2012

[Tomlinson21RB]

Has anyone done a year by year comparison of hits/misses between BA and Law? Not just who ranked who higher or lower, but who was more accurate?

 

[DaveH]

i like the Machado, D'Arnaud, and Baez rankings... i think this is one of KLaw's better lists.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I don't agree with his Machado ranking being so high, but I like it since I just picked this up:

 

[ahill1]

Kind of suprises to see Brett Jackson, and Javier Baez so low and Chris Archer so high

 

[padremurph]

Interesting list. Haven't seen Alonso that low on anyone's list. Glad to see Rymer pretty high and Joe Ross in the top 50 was unexpected, but I'll take it.

People are going to have a field day with the Casey Kelly ranking. It's interesting that he's always fairly high (although I think this is as high as I've seen him) yet people seem to always disagree.

 

[19braves77]

Has anyone done a year by year comparison of hits/misses between BA and Law? Not just who ranked who higher or lower, but who was more accurate?

Define "more accurate"

Until someone can tell you or me what the difference is between a #6 prospect and a #15 prospect, a prospect list is just good bathroom reading. The first thing I do with a list is separate players that are on the list mainly more then their defense rather then their offense and then wipe.

 

[Jaypers]

People are going to have a field day with the Casey Kelly ranking. It's interesting that he's always fairly high (although I think this is as high as I've seen him) yet people seem to always disagree.

His numbers have yet to match up to his projection.

 

[DaveH]

Kelly is not in my top 100

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Has anyone done a year by year comparison of hits/misses between BA and Law? Not just who ranked who higher or lower, but who was more accurate?

Define "more accurate"

Until someone can tell you or me what the difference is between a #6 prospect and a #15 prospect, a prospect list is just good bathroom reading. The first thing I do with a list is separate players that are on the list mainly more then their defense rather then their offense and then wipe.

I guess that's kind of where I'm going. People were making fun of his list before it even came out. What makes him worse than the great Baseball America? I'm sure BA misses just as much as Law, but at least Law gives a couple paragraph breakdown on each one of his rankings. If nothing else, I find it more informative than BA and allows the reader to see why he ranks each player where he does.

The other thing to consider is that Law is one person doing ranks, and I would assume BA is formed with multiple opinions. There might be people at BA that would put out a very similar list, but the outlier ranks are corrected by averaging a couple opinions.

 

[Adam G]

I've said some harsh things about KLaw in the past, but I think this is probably his best list I've ever seen. I can't argue with his top 25, and even his 25-75 is hard to find fault with.

My favorites:

#1 Trout -- KLAw makes a good argument, citing his offense,defense,speed.
#7 Profar -- I'm big on Profar, like seeing him almost crack the top 5
#24 Walker -- Would've liked to see him in the top 20, but that's what the mid-season lists are for, right?
#56 Schoop -- He was doing great in A ball, didn't adjust well to A+, but KLaw likes him

 

[Huffamaniac]

Archie bradley over Bauer, that is interesting

 

[jbhofmann]

Archie bradley over Bauer, that is interesting

Bauer has too many Lincecum lovers riding his wave.

 

[SINFULONE]

Awesomeness, I saw at least a half dozen Cardinals in the rankings.Good thing I bought my Miller patch card when I did.

 

[bballcardkid]

Re: KLaw's Top 100 Prospects Coming Tomorrow

Klaw would be more respected if he wasn't a pompous tool. He certainly doesn't take criticism of his opinions graciously like most of the BA staffers do.

If you ever listen to him speak or read his analysis you'd realize that what you're perceiving as pompousness is simply his reaction to irrational criticism - he's sarcastic - it's something that's made him exceptionally popular. To say that he's not well respected within the industry is a gross inaccuracy.

If you consider sarcasm to read like a superiority complex loaded with insults, then we will have to agree to disagree. The fact that many members seem to discount his opinions is an indication to me that he isn't as expected as he thinks he is.

It certainly doesn't surprise me that many members here discount Law's opinion. Some prospectors seem to be among the most sensitive people around. Any perceived negativity towards their 'guy' is taken as an outright attack. Unlike most, Law doesn't mince words so I can only imagine the feathers he ruffles here.
I understand why some people don't like him but amongst the big evaluators his qualifications are no doubt the strongest. The guy has worked in an MLB front office, been a scout, and a writer. What more can you ask for in terms of qualifications?I often roll my eyes at his tweets but I'm not sure there's a baseball guy whose opinion I take more seriously.
Also helps that my two passions outside of baseball are food/cooking and literature.

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

 

[LazerShow15]

Harper does not weight 245 and is not 6 2 the last time I saw him.

 

[Jaypers]

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

Craig (Toronto)
You are one of the only prospect evaluators that is this high on Hutchison. Why is it that you think other evaluators aren't so high on him?

Klaw (1:15 PM)
You should ask them.

Kevin (Los Angeles)
Why do you have eleven guys on a "Ten Who Just Missed" list?

Klaw (1:16 PM)
Because this one goes to eleven.

John (Denver, CO)
I was a little surprised to see Jesus Montero ranked as high as he was. He didn't have a great year at AAA, and obviously, as a DH, brings no defensive value to the table. I must be missing it, is his bat really that special?

Klaw (1:18 PM)
Yes, it is, or I wouldn't have ranked him where I did.

Darren (LA)
Junior Lake good enough to be in Cubs top 10 within a year?

Klaw (1:58 PM)
Only if someone teaches him how to play baseball.

 

[phillyfan0417]

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

Craig (Toronto)
You are one of the only prospect evaluators that is this high on Hutchison. Why is it that you think other evaluators aren't so high on him?

Klaw (1:15 PM)
You should ask them.

Kevin (Los Angeles)
Why do you have eleven guys on a "Ten Who Just Missed" list?

Klaw (1:16 PM)
Because this one goes to eleven.

John (Denver, CO)
I was a little surprised to see Jesus Montero ranked as high as he was. He didn't have a great year at AAA, and obviously, as a DH, brings no defensive value to the table. I must be missing it, is his bat really that special?

Klaw (1:18 PM)
Yes, it is, or I wouldn't have ranked him where I did.

Darren (LA)
Junior Lake good enough to be in Cubs top 10 within a year?

Klaw (1:58 PM)
Only if someone teaches him how to play baseball.

I will say he's honest and some of those questions deserve the answers they get. Who cares why he listed 11? is that really an important question?

 

[Wes]

Re: KLaw's Top 100 Prospects Coming Tomorrow

Klaw would be more respected if he wasn't a pompous tool. He certainly doesn't take criticism of his opinions graciously like most of the BA staffers do.

If you ever listen to him speak or read his analysis you'd realize that what you're perceiving as pompousness is simply his reaction to irrational criticism - he's sarcastic - it's something that's made him exceptionally popular. To say that he's not well respected within the industry is a gross inaccuracy.

If you consider sarcasm to read like a superiority complex loaded with insults, then we will have to agree to disagree. The fact that many members seem to discount his opinions is an indication to me that he isn't as expected as he thinks he is.

It certainly doesn't surprise me that many members here discount Law's opinion. Some prospectors seem to be among the most sensitive people around. Any perceived negativity towards their 'guy' is taken as an outright attack. Unlike most, Law doesn't mince words so I can only imagine the feathers he ruffles here.
I understand why some people don't like him but amongst the big evaluators his qualifications are no doubt the strongest. The guy has worked in an MLB front office, been a scout, and a writer. What more can you ask for in terms of qualifications?I often roll my eyes at his tweets but I'm not sure there's a baseball guy whose opinion I take more seriously.
Also helps that my two passions outside of baseball are food/cooking and literature.

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

It's also the reason that so many like him.

 

[superwhat]

Harper does not weight 245 and is not 6 2 the last time I saw him.

Looks like he uses the weight/height they has at the beginning of the season to show you what they did with their numbers.

He has Mason Williams at 6-0 150 and he's at 6-2 175 now.

 

[jbhofmann]

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

Craig (Toronto)
You are one of the only prospect evaluators that is this high on Hutchison. Why is it that you think other evaluators aren't so high on him?

Klaw (1:15 PM)
You should ask them.

Kevin (Los Angeles)
Why do you have eleven guys on a "Ten Who Just Missed" list?

Klaw (1:16 PM)
Because this one goes to eleven.

John (Denver, CO)
I was a little surprised to see Jesus Montero ranked as high as he was. He didn't have a great year at AAA, and obviously, as a DH, brings no defensive value to the table. I must be missing it, is his bat really that special?

Klaw (1:18 PM)
Yes, it is, or I wouldn't have ranked him where I did.

Darren (LA)
Junior Lake good enough to be in Cubs top 10 within a year?

Klaw (1:58 PM)
Only if someone teaches him how to play baseball.

This is why Law is awesome.