Pirates New Top 30 Prospects

[soccerman034]

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/8/9 ... new-top-30

1. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Altoona
2. Jose Tabata, CF, Indianapolis
3. Tim Alderson, RHP, Altoona
4. Brad Lincoln, RHP, Indianapolis
5. Gorkys Hernandez, CF, Altoona
6. Tony Sanchez, C, West Virginia
7. Starling Marte, CF, West Virginia
8. Robbie Grossman, LF, West Virginia
9. Bryan Morris, RHP, Lynchburg
10. Jeff Locke, LHP, Lynchburg
11. Chase D'Arnaud, SS, Lynchburg
12. Victor Black, RHP, State College
13. Daniel McCutchen, RHP, Indianapolis
14. Rudy Owens, LHP, Lynchburg
15. Neil Walker, 3B, Indianapolis
16. Brooks Pounders, RHP, Bradenton
17. Trent Stevenson, RHP, Bradenton
18. Argenis Diaz, SS, Indianapolis
19. Quincy Latimore, LF, West Virginia
20. Evan Chambers, CF, State College
21. Danny Moskos, LHP, Altoona
22. Jarek Cunningham, 3B, State College
23. Jordy Mercer, SS, Lynchburg
24. Quinton Miller, RHP, West Virginia
25. Shelby Ford, 2B, Altoona
26. Josh Harrison, 2B, Lynchburg
27. Nathan Adcock, LHP, Lynchburg
28. Diego Moreno, RHP, West Virginia
29. Eric Hacker, RHP, Indianapolis
30. Rogelio Noris, LF, Bradenton

That's a TON of talent.

 

[plainwhitejerseys]

Looking forward to seeing those guys in Yankees and Red Sox uniforms before too long!

 

[soccerman034]

Looking forward to seeing those guys in Yankees and Red Sox uniforms before too long!

True enough, man I hate the owner of the Pirates (I forget his name)....I am impressed with how they reloaded the farm system though. Hopefully they have the patience to bring these guys up and watch them flourish (like McCutchen).

 

[darocker80]

Nice Alderson #1 pitcher.

And wow Neil Walker has fallen quite a bit!

 

[soccerman034]

For comparisons sake, here is BA's Pirate info preseason:


TOP TEN
PROSPECTS
1. Pedro Alvarez, 3b
2. Andrew McCutchen, of
3. Jose Tabata, of
4. Brad Lincoln, rhp
5. Bryan Morris, rhp
6. Neil Walker, 3b
7. Jeff Sues, rhp
8. Shelby Ford, 2b
9. Daniel McCutchen, rhp
10. Robbie Grossman, of

BEST
TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Pedro Alvarez
Best Power Hitter Pedro Alvarez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jim Negrych
Fastest Baserunner Jose de los Santos
Best Athlete Andrew McCutchen
Best Fastball Jeff Sues
Best Curveball Brad Lincoln
Best Slider Daniel Moskos
Best Changeup Ronald Uviedo
Best Control Daniel McCutchen
Best Defensive Catcher Steve Lerud
Best Defensive Infielder Luis Cruz
Best Infield Arm Jordy Mercer
Best Defensive Outfielder Andrew McCutchen
Best Outfield Arm Austin McClune

PROJECTED 2012
LINEUP
Catcher Ryan Doumit
First Base Adam LaRoche
Second Base Shelby Ford
Third Base Pedro Alvarez
Shortstop Jarek Cunningham
Left Field Nate McLouth
Center Field Andrew McCutchen
Right Field Jose Tabata
No. 1 Starter Brad Lincoln
No. 2 Starter Ian Snell
No. 3 Starter Bryan Morris
No. 4 Starter Paul Maholm
No. 5 Starter Tom Gorzelanny
Closer Matt Capps

 

[subject to change]

If you want an even more striking comparison, check out the BA top 10 going into 2008. I believe Brad Corley cracked the top 10, while Moskos was in the top 5. The number of prospects that have come into the system is almost staggering, even if the system may still be lacking players with superstar type potential. The recent signings of Von Rosenberg, Cain, and Dodson would presumable all fit somewhere in that top 30, as well.

 

[jjj7880]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

 

[darocker80]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

thought hed be dealt? haha

 

[plainwhitejerseys]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

They dealt Maholm?

 

[jjj7880]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

They dealt Maholm?

No they still have Maholm, but Zach Duke is their best pitcher hands down.

 

[jjj7880]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

thought hed be dealt? haha

I was actually hoping he would go to the phillies when they were talking about it but they were able to get Cliff Lee so they didn't pursue Duke. He would have actually gotten some run support...

 

[darocker80]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

thought hed be dealt? haha

I was actually hoping he would go to the phillies when they were talking about it but they were able to get Cliff Lee so they didn't pursue Duke. He would have actually gotten some run support...

Aww and would have a more respectable record too!

 

[jjj7880]

They didn't even have Zach Duke in the top 5 for starters... Now he is their # 1....

thought hed be dealt? haha

I was actually hoping he would go to the phillies when they were talking about it but they were able to get Cliff Lee so they didn't pursue Duke. He would have actually gotten some run support...

Aww and would have a more respectable record too!

Yeah, today he pitches 7.1 IP and has 2 ER. His bullpen gives up 4 ER's and blow the game tonight...

 

[darocker80]

Yeah its tough.

The bull pen blew lincecum's win a couple days ago

Carpenter haren cain and wainwright are behind him right now but lincecum needs turn it up a notch and have a couple shut outs (one against the dodgers would be nice)

 

[cgilmo]

Yeah its tough.

The bull pen blew lincecum's win a couple days ago

Carpenter haren cain and wainwright are behind him right now but lincecum needs turn it up a notch and have a couple shut outs (one against the dodgers would be nice)

how in the hell did you make this about Lincecum?


seriously man, you have issues

 

[Card Magnet]

I'll have to watch a few of those guys in Altoona before they get called up and soon shipped out.

 

[The_ReverendAct2]

Yeah its tough.

The bull pen blew lincecum's win a couple days ago

Carpenter haren cain and wainwright are behind him right now but lincecum needs turn it up a notch and have a couple shut outs (one against the dodgers would be nice)

how in the hell did you make this about Lincecum?


seriously man, you have issues

and i thought i was bad with schaub and hodges.

 

[Jaypers]

From today's Ask BA:



With the recent signings of Zack Von Rosenberg, Colton Cain, Zack Dodson and Trent Stevenson, how much does that change your opinion on the Pirates' draft this year? Also who do you like more, Tony Sanchez or Von Rosenberg?

John Bruni
Pittsburgh

What do you think of the Pirates' draft now that they have managed to sign all of those prep pitchers generally thought headed to college? They have signed their top nine picks, including Zack Von Rosenberg, Colton Cain, Brooks Pounders, Zack Dodson and Trent Stevenson. And while they did reach for Tony Sanchez with the No. 4 overall pick, he did sign quickly for a discount and has been playing well all summer. Did they get enough potential impact talent for the money they spent?

Ian Leyda
Pittsburgh


After ranking fourth in baseball by spending $9,780,500 on draft bonuses in 2008, the Pirates are at it again. Pittsburgh started by signing seventh-rounder Stevenson for $350,000 in late July. That bonus was $200,000 over MLB's maximum recommendation for picks after the fifth round, making it easily the biggest over-slot deal at the time.

But the Pirates were just getting started. In the last three days, they have handed out the two biggest deals after the first round ($1.2 million to sixth-rounder Von Rosenberg and $1.125 million to eighth-rounder Cain) and also signed fourth-rounder Dodson for $600,000 (more than double MLB's $261,000 recommendation).

Kudos to the Pirates. Small-revenue clubs can't compete with big-revenue teams for big league free agents, so they have to build aggressively through the draft, and that's exactly what Pittsburgh has done in its first two drafts under GM Neal Huntington and scouting director Greg Smith. Some teams considered Von Rosenberg and Cain borderline first-round talents, and the Pirates were able to land them because they were willing to spend. Pounders (a second-rounder), Dodson and Stevenson also rank on the system's short list of top pitching prospects.

I'd take Sanchez over Von Rosenberg, but it's close. Though Sanchez is off to a .321/.430/.500 start through 28 pro games, I still think the Pirates could have done better with the No. 4 overall pick. He's a quality defender but I heard too many scouts question his bat before the draft.

If it were my call, I would have spent what it took to sign the best player on the board, which would have been a high school pitcher such as Tyler Matzek or Jacob Turner. If my ownership wasn't willing to do that and wanted to limit my spending to the $2.5 million bonus Pittsburgh gave Sanchez, I would have taken someone like Fort Worth Cats righthander Aaron Crow, North Carolina righty Alex White or Southern California shortstop Grant Green. They may have made noise about wanting more than $2.5 million, but would they really re-entered the draft in the end?

That said, Sanchez is hitting well for now and the most important thing is the Pirates have signed more than their share of talent. That's exactly what a team that hasn't had a winning season since 1992 should be doing.