KLaw ranks Indians farm system #5
Not only do the Indians have an elite system -- most agree that there's a big drop-off after the top six or seven -- but according to KLaw, our main divisional rivals don't even crack the Top 20.
5. Indians - "They are one of a half-dozen teams whose prospect lists genuinely run 12 to 15 names deep."
12. Royals - "The Royals have good pitching depth but are a little light on impact talent after Hosmer."
21. Twins - "Beyond their top four or five guys, their system is full of players who don't fit any conventional molds and have to prove it in the high minors or majors before other teams will buy into them."
23. White Sox - "Although I wasn't sure how much weight to give the Cuban third baseman in the rankings, I settled on 300 pounds."
28. Tigers - "When Cale Iorg is one of your top three or four prospects, your system is down. "
For comparison, here's how BA's Jim Callis ranks those systems:
7. Indians
9. Royals
14. White Sox
22. Twins
25. Tigers
Pretty nice to be both the preseason favorite and also club with the best farm system.
about 3 years ago
Jay
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wow yesterday. and wow indians.
Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.
by Gradyforpresident on Jan 21, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions
don’t fit any conventional molds
only when you forget that the mold of a twins player isn’t very conventional.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
They also tend to eat the molds if you do get them in there…
by Logodaedalus on Jan 21, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
The mold looks something like this.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jan 22, 2009 1:23 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Still can’t believe Shapiro turned two months and change of Casey Blake into this:
13 Carlos Santana C Cleveland Indians
TOP ’08 LEVEL: AA (Akron) UR 22
In 2007, Santana hit .223/.318/.370 in the Midwest League, didn’t make Baseball Prospectus’ list of the top 11 Dodgers prospects, and didn’t crack the top 20 on Baseball America’s list. Now, after hitting a combined .330/.435/.569 in high-A — walking more than he struck out — he projects as a middle-of-the-order, switch-hitting run producer who, by the way, is a legitimate big league catcher. Santana has a very compact swing and makes a lot of hard contact, but he also has enough strength in his upper body to generate power despite the short swing. Behind the plate, he’s a good receiver and has an above-average arm, but needs to work on his game-calling. Given his tremendous control of the strike zone and above-average power, he has very little to do to turn into an average big league catcher, but there’s a high probability that he develops into much more.
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
Yeah, i dropped my Insider subscription last summer after months of lazy monthly auto-renewals. The content was honestly no longer worth $5/month, so I miss out on the few things per year that interest me, such as this.
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
If you pay annually it’s only $40, which isn’t bad. I mostly bought it just to read Rob Neyer, but now he’s back to being free, I think.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Jan 22, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
Yea, it comes free with a subscription to ESPN Mag. I was receiving the mag didn’t even realize I could automatically enroll in Insider. Pretty good deal if you can find a cheap subscription
I’m starting to feel that way too, especially with all the Steelers crap coming my way
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on Jan 22, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
I think I mentioned this before, but if you don’t read your magazine you can call customer service and have it sent to someone else. I never like it so I had it sent to my younger brother who doesn’t get any sports magazines and he loved it. I think you can also have it sent to a soldier overseas, which is a nice gift for someone who probably doesn’t get to follow sports very much if they’re in the military. So I would suggest looking in to that if you don’t want the magazine.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Jan 22, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
This is really cool, I might do that
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on Jan 23, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
He’s # 27 and described as “stuck at first base”. Up from #37 last year.
Don't forget to pay your parking ticket.
by TheVanillaGorilla on Jan 22, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
Law seems to dock players for not being especially strong defensively. He mentioned in the chat that Mills has a nice bat, but no position
Well, that’s justifiable isn’t it? We can’t have a team full of 9 DHs.
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on Jan 22, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He just answered a question of mine in his chat:
Joe (Irvington, NJ): How close was Beau Mills to making the top 100? He looks to have star potential hitting ability.
Keith Law: (2:00 PM ET ) It’s a good bat, not a star-caliber bat, and I think he’s a DH. If he could really play first, I’d like him a little more. Cleveland’s 11-20 prospects list is full of guys who can hit somewhat but can’t play a position, like Mills and Wes Hodges.
I’m disappointed he sees him as a DH. That guy went from possibly playing 3b to being a 1b to probably a DH way too fast for my liking.
Very disappointing, indeed. I’d love to have a 3B prospect we could relly root for. I’m jealous of Mets and Rays fans… all I ever wanted was a studly 3B to idolize.
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on Jan 22, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
me neither
Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.
by Gradyforpresident on Jan 22, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
Klaw has also refered to Mills as Garkoesque, so he’s obviously not a fan.
Is there reason to believe that Mills’ defense is so bad he can’t play 1st? From my understanding, the only reason he moved from third was because he loss strength in his shoulder after an injury in college.
by world dictator on Jan 22, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
a little off topic…but do we still have sal fasano? and if not? why? the touch of his mustache alone is enough to calm a crying infant or adult. and i hear he eats lightning and farts thunder…
The Cleveland Indians: Minor League Farm Team Affiliate of the MLB
by HireRockyColavito on Jan 22, 2009 8:36 PM EST reply actions
As far as I can tell, he has not signed another deal this offseason, but he is not under contract to the Tribe either.
I think it’s unlikely we’ll sign a veteran catcher, given that both Gimenez and Toregas need to be getting Triple-A at-bats.
We actually have a similar situation in Columbus to what we have in Cleveland … two underperforming guys at 1B/DH and two more solid guys at C threatening to take those at-bats away at DH.
I think LaPorta plays both LF and 1B this year. Will patrol left at times when Vic needs a day at 1B and will be playing 1B when Vic is behind the plate
I think … LaPorta plays basically no 1B this year, unless more than one player among the four C/1B/DH guys is off the 25-man roster.
I know everyone is eager to say he’s a 1B, but the Indians haven’t said that, and you might notice that the Indians basically never move a guy off his most valuable defensive position. Jhonny is still a shortstop, Victor is still a catcher.
I just really get the feeling the team wants to be as versatile as possible, playing multiple guys at multiple positions
In general, yes, but they don’t do that with good hitters that they’re challenging to succeed at a position. They do that with guys who are marginal hitters, or who have shown a knack for versatility from earlier in their careers.
Hasn’t LaPorta already shown a "knack for versatility " by switching from 1B to LF, and moving back to 1B would take even less versatility?
If a projection of future needs is added to the equation, coupled with questions regarding Mill’s defensive abilities at 1B, wouldn’t it make more sense for LaPorta to be at 1B with Weglarz & Brantley as LF prospects?
Being limited to the easiest two positions on the field isn’t “versatile.”
Like the Brewers, the Indians want to maximize LaPorta’s value by using him in the outfield, since anyone — like whoever has a bad hamstring this week — can play first base.
The outfield is a challenge for him, not beyond his reach, but a challenge. So if you’re committed to maximizing his value, you leave him out there until there is a very, very good reason not to.
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