So good to hear from original 1995 STATS AOL roto ace Justynius, that we've got to return fire off his driveby:
Don't think Franklin can quite be grouped in the same talent class as Pineda/Ackley/Smoak, but do see him with the potential for an All-Star career similar to Mike Young or Stephen Drew. Not many SS's with 20+ HR power, double digit SB's, and the ability to hit for average despite high K's and moderately low BB's.
Pineda (rated top 5 SP), Ackley (#11 on 2010 list), and Smoak (#13 on 2010 list) are all undeniable Top 25 talents. Franklin is a Top 50, maybe a Top 25. Saunders (#30 on 2010 list) and Moore (#83 on 2010 list) are definite Top 100 talents.
Poythress (.950 OPS at A+ in first full season) and Halman (#57 on 2009 list, 32 HR in 399 AB at AAA) are strong candidates for next year's Top 100.
In addition to those EIGHT, you've also got possibles in Triunfel (#89 on 2009 list), Liddi (.812 OPS in age 21 season at AA, 1.000+ OPS at A+ last year), and Seagar (.344/.419/.492 at A+ in first full season).
Then even on top of that, you've got the #3 pick in next year's draft - which is already hyped as having the franchise MLB ready college bat and three #1 overall caliber college arms. And there's a guy in the majors named Felix Hernandez who is signed through 2014 and still the age of most rookies.
I do believe the M's need to sign a frontline SP (and have the money to do it), but they've got to be near the front of the pack in both top-end rookie/prospect talent and depth. Could really see Ichiro being the weak link in the offense in 2012.
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=== Top 12 ===
Here, let's put that into the format of an org top twelve. Even though it was a driveby and probably not his serious list, we still feel like tabling it out:
- 1a Pineda
- 1b Ackley
- 1c Smoak
- 4 Franklin
- 5 The number three in the draft (presuming this is where Justin would peg that pick)
- 6a Saunders
- 6b Moore
- 7 Poythress
- 8 Halman
- 9a Triunfel
- 9b Liddi
- 9c Seager
So that's talking about a dozen guys who could feasibly be in a top-100, if it weren't for the fact that nobody would ever allow that many players from one org. Of those 12, five of them would be the #1 in a lot of org's.
You're talking about the kind of gold mine that Texas has had recently, that Tampa had a few years ago and that the Angels were vaunted to have before that. Back in the early '90's the Braves had this kind of crop.
When Justin gets into any kind of Ultra/Keeper league, he immediately starts trading his quality major leaguers for super-upside blue chippers. We remember one time he did this in a STATS league and, though finishing not much above .500 in year one, already had a team capable of blowing away the league by like 20 games the next. :- ) He's pretty good at sifting gold from grime when it comes to projecting the hype jobs.
So, we're optimistic that the scenario the M's have developed here, may lure Justin out of dormancy into his best M's writing ever. LOL.
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=== Nick Franklin ===
Interesting to hear Justyinius' take that Franklin has the potential for a Mike Young career ... leaving a 6-time All-Star's career clearly short of the projections for Dustin Ackley, Smoak and even Pineda. :- )
SSI reiterates that Ackley and Smoak are as much of a slam-dunk as you're going to get, short of the Griffeys and ARods and Josh Hamilton. SSI still thinks that Ackley and Smoak, while definitely appreciated, are actually underrated by most Seattleites.
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=== Distribution ===
When you look at the distribution of the ten legit blue-chippers, you like the spread. 1B Smoak, 2B Ackley, SS Franklin are flanked by 3B Liddi/Mangini and SS/3B Triunfel makes the triangle there. Most of the rest of the guys are OF; Poythress goes DH; Seager gives you just the right overlap in the infield.
The fact that all of the top prospects are batters, is itself great distribution. Run prevention is the easy part in Safeco. The '70's Dodgers had run prevention as a given, the snapped their IF crew into place, and enjoyed a generation's worth of dominance.
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The M's on the field right now aren't nearly as much fun as this is. SSI plans to wallow in the jello this winter.
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Part 2
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