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Yesterday's and Monday's articles were just the warm-up acts. And tomorrow, we’ll have some rising and falling prospects who didn’t make our Top 30. Today, it's the main attraction: the Top 10 prospects in the entire Blue Jay farm system, according to your minor-league correspondents. Read ‘em all, and then tell us what you think of our Top 30: anyone we missed? Anybody too high or too low on the list? Who do you think should be #1?




10. Francisco Rosario, RHP
Born September 28, 1980. Signed as an amateur free agent in 1999.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200222A1313610676.750.671.8910.532.56
200222A+1312330634.710.433.579.291.29
200423A+66110178.311.045.718.314.67
200423AA1212240489.001.123.008.444.31
200524AAA30182721168.591.243.266.203.95

Rosario makes the Top 10 on the basis that his ceiling is very high. His 2005 numbers would not justify the ranking, but we were mindful of the fact that it often takes two years or more for pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery to regain form. Prior to his TJ surgery after the 2002 season, he was a Top pitching prospect with everything included. He had a 95+ mph fastball, good off-speed stuff, good control and the numbers to match. Since the surgery, the fastball is back, but he has fully regained neither his off-speed stuff nor his control. In 2005, his strikeout rate took a discouraging tumble and he was sent to the bullpen in Syracuse. This might end up working out well; Rosario potentially has the stuff to be a closer, and the reduced innings load couldn’t hurt. (MG)



9. Shaun Marcum, RHP
Born December 14, 1981. Selected in the 3rd round of the 2003 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200321A-210118343.970.261.8512.441.32
200422A1313740797.290.801.829.463.19
200422A+1212320699.610.780.529.353.12
200523AA99710537.430.841.696.752.53
200523AAA18186401049.721.481.577.854.95

Shaun Marcum was a third-round selection by the Blue Jays in 2003. Marcum is a control pitcher with a fastball that usually hangs around 88 mph. Although he doesn’t blow hitters away, his off-speed pitches and his command make up for it -- Marcum's walk rates have always been very low. In addition to his fastball, Marcum throws a change-up, a slider, and a curveball. As befits someone with a below-average heater, Marcum says his change-up is his best pitch (though others, including Dick Scott, suggest his slider is better).

Marcum began 2005 in AA and dominated hitters in eight starts, posting an ERA of 2.53. He went on to make 18 starts for Syracuse, with mixed results: a 4.28 ERA in June jumped to 8.28 in July, but dropped to 3.40 in August/September. His Triple-A WHIP was 1.25 and his K/9 rate was 7.81 -- both figures 12% better than league average -- and his WHIP dropped below 1.00 in August. His walk rate was a minuscule 1.56 in AAA, more than 100% better than league average. His problem was the home run ball: 17 round-trippers in 103.2 innings, the second-highest rate on the team (behind only Jason Arnold). The home runs and the overall repertoire is what generate the comparisons with Josh Towers, who gave up 16 homers last year in 116 big-league innings. Marcum, however, has been able to sustain a high strikeout rate, something Towers never did. Even though he has spent September in Toronto, Marcum should return to Syracuse for 2006; command-and-control types generally take a little longer to hit their stride. (GM)



8. Josh Banks, RHP
Born July 18, 1982. Selected in the 2nd round of the 2003 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200320A-1515720677.830.131.3510.932.43
200421A+1111710607.350.601.209.001.80
200421AA1817660918.771.482.767.495.03
200522AA272781201628.821.000.618.053.83

About halfway through the season, I was concerned about Josh Banks. Even though he was in the midst of assembling a stunning BB/K ratio, he was getting hit hard and often, and appeared to be treading water at Double-A when he should have been attacking Triple-A hitters like Shaun Marcum was. But in the second half, Banks turned things around, as these numbers attest:

Apr 1-Jun 30  7-6, 4.33, 16 GS, 87 IP, 91 H, 8 BB, 81 K, 13 HR, 23.0% KBF

Jul 1-Sep 30  1-6, 3.24, 11 GS, 75 IP, 68 H, 3 BB, 64 K,  5 HR, 21.8% KBF
Forget the W-L record -- that says more about the Fisher Cats' awful offence. Notice instead the drop in hits allowed per IP, and the significant drop in home runs allowed. Notice also that his strikeout rate declined in the second half. I don't think that's a coincidence. In the first half, Banks was around the plate too much -- he was getting his K's, but he was also getting rocked. From July onwards, he evidently made some adjustments, because hitters were no longer getting good wood on his pitches. And he didn't have to sacrifice his remarkable control to accomplish this -- in fact, his command actually improved. Banks may well have learned the difference between throwing strikes and throwing hittable pitches. If he continues to master this key difference, he'll be in Toronto this time next year. He is definitely back among the organization's elite pitching prospects. (JF)



7. Ricky Romero, LHP
Born November 6, 1984. Selected in the 1st round of the 2005 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200318NCAA236300567.700.642.907.403.20
200419NCAA222214401558.500.522.407.303.37
200520NCAA181813501346.900.402.309.302.89
200520A-1100029.000.004.509.000.00
200520A+881003110.570.592.096.563.82

How does a pitcher with just 33 innings under his professional belt rank in the Top 10 prospects of an organization rich in young pitching? Simple -- by being the first pitcher selected in the 2005 amateur draft. You just don’t get picked that high without being way out in that real skinny portion on the right-hand side of the baseball talent bell curve. One of the youngest collegiate players in the draft, Romero had enough polish on his tools for the Jays to challenge him almost immediately with the High-A Florida State League, something they did not do with their two older first-round pitchers last year. Ricky held his own nicely, and will start there again next year. Expectations are very high: if he’s not in the Top 5 a year from now, 2006 will be considered a disappointment. (JG)



6. Guillermo Quiroz, C
Born November 29, 1981. Signed as an amateur free agent in 1998.

YearAgeLevelAB2B3BHRBBKSBCSAVGOBPSLG
200321AA36927020458300.282.372.518
200422AAA2551918285400.227.309.404
200422MLB522002810.212.263.250
200523A+381022800.237.326.421
200523AAA8330691900.229.309.482

Can Quiroz stay healthy? This year, it was another surgical procedure for the collapsed lung that sent him to the DL for months. Last year, it was a broken wrist and the first occurrence of the lung problem. In the process, Q’s defence has acquired a little rust, but there is little doubt that if he can stay healthy, he will be at least an adequate defender. He has a fine arm and is reasonably mobile.

Quiroz seems to have lost some of his ability to hit line drives; his batting average and doubles totals were off in 2004 and 2005, but he can and will hit the long ball. If he’s healthy, he’ll probably open 2006 in Toronto as Gregg Zaun’s platoon partner. Zaun will make a fine mentor for Quiroz, and there will be little offensive pressure; it shouldn’t be too difficult for Guillermo to Top Ken Huckaby’s numbers. It still remains to be seen whether a full-time catcher's job is in his future. I think it will be, if he stays off the 60-Day DL. That's a big if. (MG)



5. Adam Lind, OF
Born July 17, 1983. Selected in the 3rd round of the 2004 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelAB2B3BHRBBKSBCSAVGOBPSLG
200319NCAA2091528182411.349.398.555
200420NCAA23222212262181.392.456.659
200420A-2662307243610.312.371.477
200521A+49542412497721.313.375.487

The leftfielder with the sweet swing basically duplicated his 2004 Auburn campaign in Dunedin in 2005. He turned 22 in July, and the question is whether some of his doubles (42 in 495 at-bats) will turn into homers as he gets older and stronger. He is going to be, at best, passable defensively, and he's not a speed merchant, so to succeed he’ll need to hit. That doesn’t appear like it’ll be a problem. Lind doesn’t walk as much as one would like, but he also strikes out relatively infrequently, and so hits .30. Right now, I think of him as a left-handed Lou Piniella. He’ll start 2006 in New Hampshire, and if everything breaks right, he could be in Toronto the following year. (MG)



4. Zach Jackson, LHP
Born May 13, 1983. Selected in the 1st round (supplemental) of the 2004 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200320NCAA21197601139.670.962.325.994.31
200421NCAA181810701218.430.452.099.473.58
200421A-440001512.000.603.606.605.40
200522A+1010810598.490.460.917.282.88
200522AA99430549.500.502.007.174.00
200522AAA884404711.600.574.016.315.13

Jackson throws a 87-90 mph fastball, a cut fastball that comes in around 85 mph, a change-up and a curveball, complemented by a funky delivery. The cutter was added by the Jays last year in instructional league and has been a very good addition to Jackson's arsenal of pitches. He was assigned to Dunedin to open the season and pitched well there, save for one start in April in which he allowed 9 runs in 3.2 innings, inflating his ERA. Jackson's May ERA in 5 starts was just 0.82, earning him a promotion to AA New Hampshire. Jackson recorded a 4.00 ERA in nine starts in AA, with mixed results: he allowed just 3 earned runs in his first three starts combined, but 19 runs in his next 4. But in his final two starts, he allowed just 2 runs. By mid-July, Syracuse was short on pitchers, so the Blue Jays elected to promote Jackson -- probably earlier than they would have ideally wanted, but they obviously felt he could handle the move. Jackson made eight starts for Syracuse and posted a 5.13 ERA -- not great on initial review, but considering Jackson’s lack of pro experience, it was a very creditable performance. At Double-A, Jackson's WHIP and BB/9 were both better than league average, while his K rate was slightly below (96%). His walk rate doubled in the International League, as he was worked better by the higher-caliber hitters.

Jackson has been compared to Gustavo Chacin -- both lefties, both with a fastball around 90 mph , a cutter, and off-speed pitches. Chacin's change and curve are more advanced than Jackson's, which is to be expected at this stage of their careers. Chacin's numbers in the Eastern League last year were slightly better than Jackson’s -- but Chacin was 23 last year and had spent parts of four seasons at Double-A, while Zach turned 22 midway through the season. Jackson needs another season at AAA to understand how to use his reportoire against hitters with major-league experience. (GM)



3. Casey Janssen, RHP
Born September 17, 1981. Selected in the 4th round of the 2004 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200321NCAA16146607211.62-3.129.125.88
200422NCAA171710401176.710.542.317.953.16
200422A-1010310528.190.351.747.843.48
200523A77400465.280.000.787.431.37
200523A+1010610606.940.301.817.692.26
200523AA993304310.260.630.849.842.93

Casey Janssen had one of the best seasons in the minor leagues in 2005. He started at Low-A ball, jumped to High-A after seven starts, and then to Double-A after just ten starts for Dunedin. Janssen put in another nine starts for New Hampshire before his season was cut short by an ankle injury.

Janssen started the year with a bang, allowing no hits over seven innings in his debut. After Midwest League batters hit just .167 off him, the Jays promoted Janssen to Dunedin, where FSL batters could do little better, just .208; his last High-A start on July 4th Janssen saw him give up just one hit and one walk over seven innings. Double-A hitters appearsed to do better, batting.288 against Janssen -- but in his first 25.3 innings, Janssen allowed 19 hits. In his last 17.2 innings, he yielded 30 safeties. Many players reach a down period late in their first full season, and that’s most likely what happened to Casey.

Janssen throws five pitches for strikes in an arsenal that is somewhat similar to Josh Banks’. He brings to the mound a 89-92 mph fastball, a cutter, a slider, a change-up and a curveball. Late in the season, Blue Jays minor-league roving pitching instructor Dane Johnson suggested that Janssen's secondary pitches were better than Banks'. The 2006 campaign should deliver the proof. (GM)



2. David Purcey, LHP
Born March 29, 1982. Selected in the 1st round of the 2004 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200321NCAA2610331738.920.505.088.305.2
200422NCAA18189501196.750.384.109.863.11
200422A-32100124.500.000.759.751.50
200523A+2121540947.630.765.3411.073.63
200523AA88430436.700.425.239.422.93

The imposing lefty with the size-18 shoes has all the stuff you could want: a 93-94 mph fastball, a sharp curve, and a reluctance to allow home runs. The only issue with him is control: he walks more than 5 batters per 9 innings and goes deep into counts. The organization has rightly been watching his pitch counts, so he has often been taken out in the 5th inning despite giving up zero or one run.

Purcey has got a chance to be a great pitcher, but whether and when is anybody’s guess. A pitcher’s negotiation with the strike zone is often more protracted than peace-treaty discussions, and with about the same rate of success. I expect Purcey to start 2006 in the New Hampshire rotation. Progress will be measured in his walk rate and his innings pitched. If he's consistently going 6 innings or more and walking 1 every 2 innings or less in New Hampshire, while maintaining his usual strikeout rate, a rapid ascent is certainly possible. (MG)



1. Dustin McGowan, RHP
Born March 24, 1982. Selected in the 1st round (supplemental) of the 2000 amateur draft.

YearAgeLevelGGSWLSVIPH/9HR/9BB/9K/9ERA
200321A+1414560767.370.122.977.852.85
200321AA1414700779.160.122.238.453.17
200422AA66200316.971.164.358.424.06
200523A+55010219.000.862.148.574.29
200523AA66020359.001.542.578.493.34

Here’s what you need to know about Dustin McGowan: after catching him earlier this season, Gregg Zaun said of him, “If he gets fastball command, he’s Curt Schilling.” That is more or less the future that everyone has been predicting for McGowan virtually since the day the Blue Jays selected him as a supplemental first-round pick in 1999 (thanks again, Graeme Lloyd!) Can he achieve it?

McGowan came out of high school with a fastball already in the mid-90s, a sharp curve and an above-average slider. After battling control problems as he entered his 20s, McGowan had broken through and was ripping up the Eastern League last summer: Syracuse was in his immediate future and Toronto was in his sights. And then a pre-existing tear in his elbow, which had almost caused the Blue Jays to void his contract when they discovered it post-draft, finally gave way. He underwent Tommy John surgery, which normally takes 18 months to recover from; but McGowan was back on a Dunedin mound in June and found himself in Toronto in August, a remarkably rapid comeback.

I’ve now seen McGowan a few times in a Blue Jays uniform, and there’s no question that his breaking stuff, the part you worry about post-surgery, is back. He also hasn’t lost much, if anything, off his heater. At this point, penciling him into the fifth spot in the rotation for 2006 seems possible -- but there are some caveats. First, his command has to come all the way back, and that’s still a lengthy road for someone who struggled for years with his control. Second, his fastball at times has looked (to me and others) pretty straight, and even the fastest straight fastballs end up over the fence -- he needs to rediscover the sizzle and movement on his heater. And third, Curt Schilling is a championship pitcher today -- but it wasn’t until his fifth season and third pro team that it all came together. McGowan is our choice as #1 prospect, and he could be an ace pitcher: it’s that simple. But nothing is guaranteed with prospects ... and you know what? That’s the fun part. Cross your fingers, watch the boxscores and catch every game in which these players appear. We hope you enjoy the whole process as much as we’ve enjoyed doing it with you this year. (JF)



Mike Green has asked to me insert the following paragraph at the end of this final Top 30 installment. Ever your humble sevant, I comply.

As Jordan has alluded to in his last Game Report, he will be moving on to other good works next year. The rest of us on the minor-league crew wish to express our thanks for his fine work, his leadership and his collegiality. \\"General Manager Emeritus\\" fits neatly. (MG)

Top 30 Blue Jays Prospects: #10- #1 | 33 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Pistol - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#129015) #
Once again, excellent job all season ML crew.

For what it's worth here's how I would rank the Top 10 (I use the 'if I could only have one of these two players who would I rather have' method of ranking players):

1. McGowan
2. Romero
3. Janssen
4. Lind
5. Purcey
6. Marcum
7. Jackson
8. Banks
9. Cannon
10. Quiroz

The 2004 draft is looking great right now - Purcey, Jackson, Lind, Janssen, Cannon and Thigpen all in the Top 13.
Wildrose - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 10:38 AM EDT (#129016) #
Thanks to all involved, we sometimes forget how much work goes in to all this and how lucky we are to have such good free content, a real labour of love.

I'd like the writers comments on who, five years from now, if we looked back on this list, would be the Top 3 producing players? Any "sleeper" picks?

Where would Brandon League be placed on this list?

I'll go:

McGowan
Purcey
Rosario

My sleeper is Ryan Roberts.
PeterG - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 10:40 AM EDT (#129017) #
My question concerning Rosario is whether he is now out of options? If his year long stint on the DL is not taken into account, then he is. If so, I imagine he will likely be included in a deal to a team that can carry him at the back of a major league pen. If he has another option, the Jays can give him more needed time in Triple A. I think he does project well as a reliever, either closer or set-up. I'm just not sure whether his major league opportunity will be with Toronto.

Perhaps one of the minor league gurus could clear up the option question. With this information available, it will be easier to discuss his value to the Jays as a prospect.
Dean - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#129018) #
BA in their Top 20 prospects for the FSL has Purcey @#9 & Lind @#13.
Jordan - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#129019) #
I'd like the writers comments on who, five years from now, if we looked back on this list, would be the Top 3 producing players? Any \\"sleeper\\" picks?

Wildrose, tomorrow we'll have a brief feature called \\"Rising and Falling,\\" where we profile ten players not on this list who are either moving up or moving down. That will include a few sleepers, though these days, it's hard to find sleepers with so many people looking so closely at the minors.

For myself, I think Adam Lind has a very bright future, and that David Purcey, if he can find his command (no sure thing), could be a dominant left-hander. And watch Janssen and Marcum: both of these guys were also position players in college and are still learning the full-time craft of pitching (Marcum especially).

The mention of Brandon League reminds me to note (though I'm sure it's pretty obvious) that we didn't consider League, Gabe Gross or Aaron Hill to be prospects anymore. Were League eligible, he'd have certainly been Top 5.

Mike Green - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 11:34 AM EDT (#129021) #
Picking 3 Top producers is a very subjective thing. The Jays do not have any Grade A prospects in the system; there are no Delmon Youngs or Felix Hernandezes lurking. But, what they do have is a large number of Grade B prospects of different types. David Purcey could be Sudden Sam McDowell by 2008-10 or he might still be struggling mightily for control. Shaun Marcum could be Doug Drabek in 2008-10, or he might be out of the league having had a short failed stint as a middle reliever.
JayWay - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 11:37 AM EDT (#129023) #
“If he gets fastball command, he’s Curt Schilling.”

He's going to be a fat, big mouthed Republican drama queen?
Pistol - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 11:48 AM EDT (#129024) #
"David Purcey, if he can find his command (no sure thing), could be a dominant left-hander"

Are there good comparable players who had high walk rates and were able to get that under control?

Purcey, including his college numbers, is consistently in the 4-5 walks/9 innings range. I can't sTop thinking that he might end up like Victor Zambrano (whose walk rate in the minors was better than Purcey's). Of course, that's not the worst thing in the world, but I think everyone's expectations are more than that.
Ducey - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#129025) #
Sleepers?:

Jaspe and Stone w/ Pulaski. Young but hit well considering their positions (C & SS)

Fowler who will make the show as a Loogy if nothing else

How about Hattig? If he can ever get healthy, he has the man strength to hit in the majors.

Ryan Houston. Good fastball I believe: 2.68 ERA 26H 50K in 40 IP with opponents hitting .183 off him.

Isenberg is still hanging around. So is Vito if he can ever stay healthy.

Pettway did not make the list but could easily turn it on next year

Jonny German - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#129027) #
Are there good comparable players who had high walk rates and were able to get that under control?

Naturally, there's a good comparable player for pretty much any prospect. In this case, how about a tall hard-throwing lefty who didn't reach the majors to stay until he was 25, whose BB/9 was often well over 4.50 and didn't get under it until he was 29? Here's the link if you want to check out Randy's early numbers yourself.

Nigel - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#129029) #
I agree with everything that's been said about Purcey. The one thing to note though is that he's not particularly young. It's one thing to look at a Scott Kazmir (who put up very similar numbers to Purcey) and project success because he was doing what Purcey did in AA after having just turned 20. At Purcey's age its harder to project that growth. Of course it could happen and Johnson is a prime example of that, but it's just less likely to happen. This is what makes Purcey (as Mike Green notes) a B prospect rather than an A prospect.

Jdog - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 12:32 PM EDT (#129030) #
Great Job guys....I love this stuff!

Well you wanted to know our thoughts on who's too high or too low.

Quiroz is definitely too high in my opinion.
I liked the Top three selections thats how i had them lined up. With Romero its hard to rank him cause all we have to go on is his draft selection.

I also like Houston as a sleeper, and i hope he is protected from Rule 5 draft.

Thats all , thanks for all the updates
Mike Green - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#129031) #
The problem with the Randy Johnson model of development from the Jay perspective is that he really had significant value only in his late-arb (expensive) years, and his peak was so late that it really was irrelevant to the team that drafted him (and that is why he was included as part of a package for a few months of Mark Langston).

It is not perhaps well understood, but if the Jays had in their farm one pitcher who was going to deliver Mike Mussina's career and another who was going to deliver Randy Johnson's, the Mike Mussina clone would have much more value.
Jonny German - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#129032) #
Outstanding point, Mike. Value to the drafting club almost never gets due consideration when prospects are discussed.
Jim - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:17 PM EDT (#129039) #
To answer a few of the questions posed at the Top:

I’d say that Quiroz is too high. If he ends up as more then a catch and throw backup I’d be surprised. I’d actually be surprised if he even can stay healthy.

As far as sleepers, I’d throw out Jesse Carlson. He might have a few years where he can get a few out for you out of the bullpen.

Based on your methodology I thought you might end up with Janssen at #1, thinking that most would like him at 2 or 3 and that no one would have him much lower then that. I might put him at 1 on this list because I like his balance of potential with a little less risk then a McGowan or a Purcey.

If I was the GM of a major league team and I was told I could have one player from the system for nothing I would take Ricky Romero.
Ryan Day - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:46 PM EDT (#129040) #
I'm not too worried about Quiroz's health. He's had some pretty freaky, unlikely-to-be-repeated injuries: The collapsed lung, which is supposed to be permanently repaired; a broken hand from a pitch, which can happen to anyone; and a back/shoulder muscle - admittedly a more common ailment.

The bigger question would be whether he can pick up where he left off two years ago, or if he's missed too much development time and is now destined for a career as a backup.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:49 PM EDT (#129042) #
Eight of the 10 are pitchers ... no real surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.

But I wonder, what would Jays fans consider a "successful haul" from this crop of eight Top prospect hurlers? Two regulars in the rotation and two in the bullpen? Maybe less than that -- three out of eight sounds about right, and actually is pretty optimistic.
BrockLanders - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:54 PM EDT (#129043) #
If J.P. can deal 2 of the 5 (Marcum, Banks, Romero, Purcey, Jackson)for a bat I'll be happy. At least half aren't going to work out for a host of reasons.
Sherrystar - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#129044) #
Excellent work and a pleasure to read! Makes me think that as a Jay fan (compared with my Leafs), the future is indeed bright!

Side note: didn't know where to post this but, there is an article in one of the Florida papers saying Marlins fans should expect Burnett in a Jays uniform and he is quoted as saying that he (Burnett) would only get to the "elite" level of pitcher is under the watch of Arnsberg. And it said he would sign at less then $10M per year. Interesting...
Blue in SK - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:59 PM EDT (#129045) #
Just like to add my thanks to the contributors to the Top 30 list.

I know it doesn't get said enough (especially by me), but I do appreciate all the hard work that goes into keeping Da Box current and fresh. I find the authors on the site are far better than what I read online or in the paper.

As well, all the comments made by posters allow me to keep an open mind. Better to have too many points of view than just one, or worse none.

Keep up the good work fellas (and gals). I'm already looking forward to an off-season full of promise, speculation, second guessing, trades, FA signings and rumors.
Ron - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 01:59 PM EDT (#129046) #
I generally agree with the rankings except Quiroz at number 6. Granted he has suffered some serious injuries but his hittling line at AAA and MLB has been awful. I didn't see him in the minors so I really can't comment on his D.

From everything I've heard, the plan is for JP to give GQ the backup job next season. I wonder why? GQ should earn the job and not have it given it to him. Looking into my crystal ball, I don't see GQ in the Jays organization 2 years from now.
Mike Green - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#129047) #
Mick, 2 or 3 out of 8 Grade B pitching prospects succeeding is about par for the course. The funny thing about pitchers is that the number might be only 3-3.5 out of 8 for Grade A prospects.

Don't forget though about the pitching prospects lower down. Davis Romero is a B- to B prospect; among him, Perkins, Cheng, Vermilyea, Ray, Fowler, Phillips, Gronk Litsch and Reidier Gonzalez, probably 2 or 3 will emerge and contribute at the big-league level.

Youneverknow, but the pitching on this club should be good for a number of years.
MatO - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 02:42 PM EDT (#129049) #
I agree that only 3-4 of the Top pitching prospects will pan out but let's not overlook the fact that a Grade B pitching prospect can turn himself into a Grade A one.
Twilight - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#129050) #
Wow, that is some great info. Thanks for all the reports!

I think from what I have seen, Marcum could easily provide long-relief support right now (although as we know there are a ton of pitches who could occupy that spot). He seems to have great control with the exception of the first batter he faces, and does not seem like a guy that gives up too many long balls with all the breaking stuff he throws.
Pistol - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#129052) #
I don't have Quiroz as high as 6, but his AAA and MLB ABs have been fairly sporadic due to his injuries. He had a heck of a year in AA in 2003 at 22 so there's something there to not write him off yet.

At this point he needs to play a lot, which I believe is the plan - first the AFL and then some winter ball. If that goes well and spring training goes well I think it's reasonable to see him in Toronto on opening day, but I don't think he's going to be handed the spot just because he'll be better than Huckaby.
Jim - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 03:01 PM EDT (#129056) #
' but I don't think he's going to be handed the spot just because he'll be better than Huckaby.'

He's going to have to be or he'll be lost on waivers.
greenfrog - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 04:19 PM EDT (#129062) #
It's great to read these reports so soon after the end of the minor-league season. The Jays do have some interesting pitchers, although the lack of solid position prospects in the system is striking.

I'm definitely not sold on Quiroz. He reminds of Rios, in a way--both had very good AA seasons in 2003, which established their reputations as prospects, but neither has done much since (Rios has arguably had a respectable first full season in the bigs). Between Romero (#7) and Quiroz (#6), I'd definitely take Romero.

Mark - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#129065) #
I remember an article in August Elliot wrote about jays prospects. He quoted a scout as saying Perkins has the most potential of any jays prospect. If a scout is seeing a player not in this Top ten as perhaps the best prospect, it figures that understanding what players other teams might value is as important as figuring out who you value when discussing prospects in a trade. My question is, when dealing prospects do you think it is the team trading the prospects or the team receiving the prospects that mentions names.
Is it what do you want for Huff? or
We'll give you Banks and Cannon for Huff? or
We'll give you Huff for McGowan, Purcey, and Rosario?
Also, should you worry when Beane or Schuerholz ask for your 15th ranked prospect? (Perkins)
slitheringslider - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 05:12 PM EDT (#129068) #
2 D-Jays made the FSL Top 20 prospects in BA.
David Purcey at #9 and Adam Lind at #13.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/05league20s/fsl.html

Pistol - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 05:21 PM EDT (#129069) #
"My question is, when dealing prospects do you think it is the team trading the prospects or the team receiving the prospects that mentions names."

I'm sure it's a little of both. The team looking for the minor leaguers might make the first move, or give some guidelines of what they're looking for (for example a LH OF) but there's probably a lot of back and forth in every trade discussion.

"Also, should you worry when Beane or Schuerholz ask for your 15th ranked prospect? (Perkins)"

Only if you're insecure about your own evaluation skills.
Ducey - Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 05:51 PM EDT (#129072) #
Lots of questions regarding Jay's Dunedin prospects:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/chat/050928jjc.html

including that Adam Lind is apparently a future DH/ 1B
CeeBee - Tuesday, November 29 2005 @ 07:52 PM EST (#133689) #
Great report guys. Thanks for the hard work and giving us something fun and insightful to read on these dreary winter nights :)
Jim - Wednesday, April 16 2008 @ 11:07 PM EDT (#182836) #
Say enough stupid things... sooner or later something will be right:

\\"As far as sleepers, I’d throw out Jesse Carlson. He might have a few years where he can get a few out for you out of the bullpen.\\"

Insert weeks where years is and I'm on my way.

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