Here come the prospect rankings
The first set of Tigers prospect rankings is out with the Baseball Prospectus top 11 list. You'll need a subscription to read the scouting reports, but you can at least read the list itself and how they grade without paying. What you'll see is two five-star prospects (Cameron Maybin and Rick Porcello) and a bunch of two-star prospects. There are no four-star guys, and the three players who grade out to three stars were all drafted last summer. The system as a whole is described as below-average. Andrew Miller was not included in the rankings because of the time he spent in the big leagues this past season.
"The good news,"
Joe SheehanKevin Goldstein wrote, "is that they are still a primarily young, talented team at the big league level. The bad news is that any real help after Maybin might be a while in coming."
Update: Corrected the name of the author in the above graph. Sorry, I was looking at another story on the site when I put that in. Also, from the promotional plug department, look for MLB.com's organizational report on the Tigers system (without rankings) the week after Thanksgiving.
Both Jones deals are stop-gap types of deals. Good value for Omar but not the guy you really need to put the lineup over the top.
I figure Marcus is now at the top of the list....as trade bait. Too bad--nice guy and someone who can hit 30 for someone somewhere else.
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The guy that wrote this, Kevin Goldstein, must smoke crack.
He rated Larish only 2 stars.
He hit .267, 25 2B, 28 HR and 101 RBI's in 2007 at Erie.
He only gives Vasquez a 'Just Miss' What in the world?
Larish's ave isn't where it needs to be yet, but will be in a year or two. Plus he pounds the ball.
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Oops, it was Kevin Goldstein, not Joe Sheehan. I corrected that above. Thanks for noticing that, Ty.
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Jason - No problem. :-)
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Did ya'll see this:
"Like his general manager did a day earlier,Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Wednesday that under "certain circumstances," he would welcome a fourth marriage between the club and free agent pitcher Kenny Rogers. Hicks also made clear what those "certain circumstances" would entail: Some degree of a public apology from Rogers for the way his last tour with the Rangers ended in 2005." -- Dallas Morning News
I think that will do it - he'll be back in Detroit in 2008.
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Dan, I can't agree. This lineup is already over the top. You have to get all the way down to the nine hole before you even come close to a weak spot, and there's no guarantee that Inge will repeat his 2007 season. With health, these guys statistically challenge the 1927 Yankees.
No, the problem, if there is one, will be, as always, pitching. And I want full credit for sneaking five commas into one sentence. :-)
Re rankings, we traded away a boatload of talent as the big club got older. Kind of an uncomfortable feeling. That's why health has to figure into every prediction for 2008.
Ty, if Rogers goes to Texas, he's going to need to apologize to Detroit too. He'd be one sorry guy, wouldn't he?
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Rich, I agree.
Pitching is def a concern, as always. Have to sure up the starting group and add another pen arm. I think that should do it then.
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The 1927 Yankees hit.307. Ruth hit 60 and Gehrig hit 47.
At this point we do NOT have a for sure Home Run Hitter. Sheffield is another year older and coming off a significant injury that could hamper his power output.
We need another starter regardless. Even if Rogers were to sign he has a huge physical challenge ahead of him.
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